Japan’s Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are due to visit the Philippines in what will be the first visit to Southeast Asia by a reigning Japanese royal. Though the Emperor now serves as a national figurehead expected to abide by the general rule that his visits should never have a political agenda, the trip is symbolic. It comes as the two countries celebrate 60 years since the reestablishment of diplomatic relations and illustrates a shift […]
International
Interesting things happen only in extremely cold weather in China
INTERESTING things were observed lately in the extremely low temperature in north China. Hot water instantly turned into icy fog when thrown into the outdoor air of minus 39 degrees Celsius. A soap bubble could turn “white” and crack in seconds. Everyone knows pears are for eating. However, no one wanted to have a bite when they became deadly frozen. Instead, people would make use of them as round-looking hammers. Once put up to […]
Hong Kong sees coldest weather in nearly 60 years
(Reuters) — Hong Kong on Sunday (January 24) recorded the coldest temperature in nearly six decades. Hundreds of firemen were dispatched to rescue hikers who had hoped to see snow but ended up stranded at the city’s tallest mountain, according to local reports. “We have recorded 3.1 degrees Celsius (37.6 Fahrenheit) in the afternoon at around 3:30, which is the lowest since the last record in 1957,” said Hong Kong Observatory’s Senior Scientific officer […]
Taiwan braces for rare snow
A STRONG cold air brought a rare snowfall to high mountain areas in China’s Taiwan Province Saturday evening, attracting a large number of visitors to enjoy the beautiful winter scenery. With abundant moisture and continued dropping temperatures at night, the peaks of Taipei’s Yangming and Taiping mountains have been in the grip of snow, packed with strong winds. Many visitors have seen snow for the first time. “I’m very excited. And this is the […]
Monster snowstorm cuts power supply in Maryland
A BLIZZARD swept across the entire eastern part of the United States starting Friday afternoon, killing 17 people and paralyzing traffic and power supply in some of the worst-hit areas nearby Washington D.C. The blizzard is the most severe ever since 1922. In the county of Montgomery of the State of Maryland, the monster snowstorm cut power supply to 288 households and weighed down houses in a community. “This is horrible. We got no […]
Egypt launches Fossil and Climate Museum
CAIRO, Egypt – The United Nations Development Program, in cooperation with the Italian government, has opened a Fossil and Climate Museum south of Cairo, Egypt in the location known as the Valley of Whales. Said museum features the largest pair of whale skeleton and is intended to develop eco-tourism in the said area. (Eagle News Service Described by Jay Paul Carlos, Video Editing and Uploaded by Vince Alvin Villarin)
Thousands protest in Moldova after PM hastily sworn in at midnight
(REUTERS) — At least 8,000 people protested in the Moldovan capital on Thursday (January 21) against the appointment of Prime Minister Pavel Filip, whose hasty swearing-in ceremony at midnight prompted a government spokesperson to resign. Demonstrators near the parliament and government in Chisinau on Thursday waved flags and listened to speeches delivered amid chants of “We are the people.” “Neither the president notices us, nor the parliament. Someone could have come out at least and […]
North Korea detains U.S. student for ‘hostile act’
North Korea said on Friday (January 22) it had detained a U.S. university student for committing a “hostile act” and wanting to “destroy the country’s unity”, the third western citizen known to be held in the isolated state. The North’s state-run television KRT said the student, Otto Frederick Warmbier, entered North Korea as a tourist and “was caught committing a hostile act against the state”, which it said was “tolerated and manipulated by the U.S. […]
IMF boss Lagarde says will run for second mandate
The managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said on Friday (January 22) she will run for a second term. Christine Lagarde has no obvious challengers and has said previously she was open to serving another term. “Yes I am candidate to a second mandate. I was honoured to receive from the start of the process the backing of France, Britain, Germany, China, Korea, Mexico,” she told France 2 television in an interview from […]
U.S. presidential candidate Rubio makes first appearance during ‘Tonight Show’
(REUTERS) — U.S. Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio appeared on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” for the first time on Thursday (January 21). During this appearance, host Jimmy Fallon joked about Rubio wearing boots with high heels during campaign event in New Hampshire. “I love these boots, by the way and people made a big deal that you had heels on your boots, who cares?” Fallon joked. “These are great boots, by the way, these are […]
Powerful snowstorm threatens U.S. East Coast, flights canceled
A massive winter storm was barreling toward Washington D.C. on Friday, (January 22) with the system poised to drop near-record snowfall on the U.S. capital before walloping New York and other East Coast cities with blizzard conditions. The National Weather Service described the storm as “potentially crippling” for a swath of the Northeast, with snowfall exceeding two feet (61 cm) in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. metro areas. In the suburbs of the nation’s capital, […]
Japan’s PM says calls for larger Japan worldwide leadership role, defends security policy
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addressed the country on Friday (January 22) from the parliament building, saying he expected the country to take on more international leadership in the coming year. Abe pointed out that Japan should take on a stronger role especially as it is to host a G7 gathering later in the year. “There is no end in the pursuit of the international community for a better future and a better world. In […]
