Is it Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year? Depends who you ask
Hong Kong CNN — Last week, K-pop singer Danielle Marsh asked her online fans what they were doing for Chinese New Year. A profuse apology followed two days later, in which she promised to “try to be more careful” and acknowledged the “hurt” she had caused. Her crime? The “Chinese” that preceded “New Year.” A […]
Waterboy Mike Scott: ‘I can still step into the songs and connect with them emotionally, even if my own feelings have changed in the meantime’
Mike Scott was browsing through a shop in London recently when he ran into Lenny Henry. He saw me and he said: ‘You wrote ‘The Whole of the Moon’!’ And he was praising the song. And I said ‘ah yes but I loved your singing on that song by Kate Bush’ [‘Why Should I Love […]
Our toughest blind taste test yet – can our writers pick out the more expensive mochi?
This rice cake challenge proved tough for even our most experienced mochi eater. It is time once again for our famous Gourmet Writers’ Rating Check, in which the team at SoraNews24 show off how refined their palettes are by blind taste testing two food products and picking out which one is more expensive. The food […]
The anime girl English teacher textbook character that stole Japan’s heart has gotten a promotion
Ellen-sensei is in charge of more than just the English class now. Let’s take a moment and think back to the spring of 2016. The school year had just started in Japan, and students across the country were being issued new textbooks for their classes. It was then that Japan fell in love with English […]
Taiwan Strait: Are US-China gambling or guardrailing?
The over-militarized thinking among US policy circles has rung alarm bells among both policymakers and scholars. As a result, we see a fixation on projections made in March 2021 by the former Commander of the USINDOPACOM, Admiral Phillip Davidson, that China could take over Taiwan by 2027. Representational image. Image Courtesy AP At a press […]
Cyber criminals syndicate operating from China and Dubai unearthed, had cheated 11,000
Delhi Police has unearthed an international gang of cyber crooks based in China, and Dubai, and a mastermind in Georgia, who have defrauded 11,000 people on the pretext of providing online work from home jobs in Amazon, an official said on Friday. Advertisement The gang duped people of crores of rupees on the pretext of […]
Senior US general warns of possible conflict with China, most likely over Taiwan
Representational image. AFP Washington, United States: A four-star US Air Force general has warned of a conflict with China as early as 2025 –- most likely over Taiwan –- and urged his commanders to push their units to achieve maximum operational battle readiness this year. In an internal memorandum that first emerged on social media […]
Academy launches probe after indie’s surprise Oscar nod
LOS ANGELES, California: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (Ampas) said on Friday it was launching a review of Oscar campaigning, days after a small independent film surprised industry watchers with a shock nomination to Hollywood’s most prestigious awards. That film, “To Leslie,” had taken just $27,000 at the box office when star […]
‘You’re not alone’: Parties reach out to axed Umno leaders
PETALING JAYA, Selangor – Perikatan Nasional (PN) leaders have reached out to the leaders who were suspended and sacked by Umno on Friday to tell them that they are not alone. Arau MP Shahidan Kassim, a former Umno top gun who himself was sacked from the party recently, called Umno “a mad party which is […]
Popular Japanese grocery store, Mitsuwa Marketplace, opens new location in Northridge
NORTHRIDGE, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — The San Fernando Valley can finally experience a little taste of Japan. The largest Japanese grocery chain, Mitsuwa, held a grand opening ceremony for its new location in Northridge. “I really love it. I don’t have to travel too far to find the stuff I usually need. You know everything […]
Alibaba, Tencent ‘golden shares’: China is pulling different strings to control Big Tech
Hong Kong CNN — Investors have raced back into Chinese tech stocks this year, encouraged by an apparent truce in a two-year battle between some of the country’s most powerful regulators and its biggest internet companies. But the enthusiasm may prove to be premature; Beijing is tightening its grip on household names such as Alibaba […]
Biden extends deportation protection for Hong Kong residents
US President Joe Biden. ANI Washington: President Joe Biden on Thursday signed off on a two-year extension of a program that protects Hong Kong residents in the U.S. from deportation, renewing the protection until January 2025. Biden first authorized the program, the Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain Hong Kong Citizens, in August 2021 for 18 […]
Hong Kong to ban CBD, categorises it a ‘dangerous drug’
Representational image. Flickr Hong Kong: Hong Kong will ban CBD starting Wednesday, categorising it as a “dangerous drug” and mandating harsh penalties for its smuggling, production and possession, customs authorities announced Friday. Supporters say CBD can treat a range of ailments including anxiety and that, unlike its more famous cousin THC — which is already […]
Philippines to appeal ICC resumption of drug war probe
Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte. AP Manila, Philippines: The Philippine government said Friday it intended to appeal an International Criminal Court decision to reopen an inquiry into Manila’s brutal anti-drug campaign, which left thousands dead. The Hague-based tribunal launched the enquiry in 2019 but suspended it later that year at the request of the government […]
Japan’s drainage canal has koi fish swimming in them
The video reveals a man recording a drainage system in Japan. Inside the drainage waters, a school of koi fish of various shapes, sizes, and colours can be seen swimming. If you talk about the most developed country in the world, Japan is surely in contention. From astounding skyscrapers to mesmerising robotics and mind-blowing automobile […]
Budget 2023-24 Expectation: Shift focus towards preventive healthcare
Representational image. Image courtesy: AFP/ Manjunath Kiran The public healthcare budget in India continues to be extremely low at less than 2 per cent of the GDP. Compare this to developed countries where spending stands at 10-15 percent. Although, the Ayushman Bharat program for public healthcare launched by the government is a good effort, this […]
The 8 at 8: Thursday
LAST UPDATE | 22 minutes ago GOOD MORNING. Here’s all the news that you need to know as you start your day. Government action on climate 1. In our main story this morning, Lauren Boland reports that young people are the age group least confident that the Irish government is taking the necessary actions to […]
Tesla made an annual profit of $12.6 billion in 2022, expects strong demand in 2023
Despite price cuts of up to 20 per cent on some of its vehicles, Elon Musk says demand for Tesla products is strong and that sales are constrained only by production. Image Credit: Tesla Tesla on Wednesday posted record net income in the fourth quarter of last year, and the company predicted that additional software-related […]
Another bomb threat at a Quezon City school
STUDENTS and personnel were evacuated to safer ground as classes were temporarily halted following another bomb threat sent through social media at a Quezon City high school on Thursday morning. Lawmen from the Police Station-7 immediately responded and secured the entire Ponciano Bernardo High School in Barangay Kaunlaran, Cubao. Police said they received the report […]
India face Japan at Hockey World Cup 2023, worst-ever classification looms
Rourkela: Already facing a huge backlash after failing to make the quarter-finals, India could end up with their worst-ever placing in the FIH Men’s World Cup if they lose their 9th-16th classification match against Japan in Rourkela on Thursday. A loss to the 2018 Asian Games gold medallists could push the hosts to play the […]
Club Med names new vice president of marketing
Club Med has named Valerie Loy as its new vice president of marketing in East, South Asia and Pacific. Loy will lead the marketing team in the region, leveraging on her experience as a digital and social native and employing the art and science of storytelling with a special focus on data-driven integrated and omni-channel marketing. […]
The Marcos delegation: Who joins the President’s trips abroad?
MANILA, Philippines – Since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed office and embarked on his first trip abroad, Malacañang has not released in an official manner the delegation that he brings with him to state visits, summits, and general assemblies outside of the country. It’s a less-than-ideal situation for media covering the President and an even […]
Donald Trump to be allowed back on Facebook after 2-year ban
FACEBOOK parent Meta said Wednesday it will restore former President Donald Trump ‘s personal account in the coming weeks, ending a two-year suspension it imposed in the wake of the January 6 insurrection. The company said in a blog post it is adding “new guardrails” to ensure there are no “repeat offenders” who violate its […]
Brazil’s Lula urges EU-South America regional trade deal before China talks
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. AP Montevideo: Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday called for the South American trade bloc Mercosur to urgently seal a free trade agreement with the European Union before negotiating with China. Lula made the comments in Uruguay, which has been pursuing its own commercial deal […]
Imran Khan confident of election win, backs IMF role in Pakistan
Pakistan’s ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan said he’s confident of returning to power this year, and would back a continued role for the International Monetary Fund to prop up the economy and stave off a growing risk of a debt default. The former cricket star, who was removed from office in a confidence vote last […]
As schools are set to resume face-to-face classes in Hong Kong, mainland Chinese students face adjustment problems
Representational image. AP New Delhi: Thousands of children who live in mainland China and attend Hong Kong schools will return to their campuses for the first time in three years, parents and teachers of students said. According to a report in the South China Morning Post, After disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Hong […]
Promising gene therapy delivers treatment directly to brain
When Rylae-Ann Poulin was a year old, she didn’t crawl or babble like other kids her age. A rare genetic disorder kept her from even lifting her head. Her parents took turns holding her upright at night just so she could breathe comfortably and sleep. Then, months later, doctors delivered gene therapy directly to her […]
Palace pays tribute to ‘SAF 44’
MALACAÑANG on Wednesday paid tribute to the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) personnel who perished in a police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao eight years ago. In a message posted across all its official social media accounts, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) remembered the sacrifices of the fallen commandos. “Ngayong ika-25 ng Enero, ating inaalala ang […]