South Korean officials said Wednesday they have stopped businessmen from bringing North Korean paintings into the country that a report said were purchased at an art studio under UN sanctions.
Observers say similar incidents could occur frequently as South Korea's liberal government pushes for deeper exchanges with North Korea.
The Korea Customs Service said it has nine North Korean paintings that an unidentified number of businessmen tried to bring into the country after a trip to Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, last November. It said the businessmen did not have the required South Korean government permission to bring in North Korean products.
South Korea's largest newspaper, Chosun Ilbo, reported Wednesday that the paintings were purchased from Pyongyang's Mansudae art studio, which is on a U.N. sanctions blacklist.
The studio is subject to an asset freeze and travel ban because of its dispatch of artists and other workers abroad to do projects to generate revenue for the North ..

South Korea seizes North Korean paintings due to sanctions

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The bone-shaking "Viking thunderclap" made famous by Iceland fans at Euro 2016 has become a smash hit in the most unlikely of places -- at the Asian Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
An expression of solidarity between supporters and players, the iconic slow chant -- accompanied by a single clap in unison -- has been adopted by fans of teams including China, India, Thailand, Lebanon and Iran.
India captain Sunil Chhetri led his team of unlikely Vikings in a lusty thunderclap after the Blue Tigers thrashed Thailand 4-1 in Abu Dhabi.
Chinese fans followed suit after their team's 2-1 win over Kyrgyzstan, and it has gathered pace since.
"Nobody does it like we do of course -- but it's really cool that more countries are using it to support their team," Hilmar Jokull, vice chairman of Iceland's noisy Tolfan supporters group, told AFP.
"We're just a tiny country in the middle of nowhere and we're not expecting anyone to copy us -- especially countries of more than a billion people.
"The ...

That Viking feeling: Iceland 'thunderclap' takes Asian Cup by storm

Japan welcomed a record 31 million foreign visitors in 2018, official data showed Wednesday, as the country gears up to host the Rugby World Cup this year and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
The world's third largest economy, also known for its ancient temples and vibrant pop culture, welcomed 31.2 million visitors in 2018, up 8.7 per cent from the previous year, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation.
Fellow Asian countries dominated the inbound tourist figures, with more than eight million Chinese tourists (up 13.9 per cent) and 7.5 million South Koreans (up 5.6 per cent) visiting Japan.
Taiwanese tourists were next, accounting for 4.8 million people.
Collectively the visitors, which include business people with limited-term stays, spent a record 4.5 trillion yen ($41.5 billion) in Japan, according to the Japan Tourism Agency.
Chinese visitors were the biggest spenders, spending a whopping 1.54 trillion yen -- or just more than one third of total tourism outlay.
Japan is ...

Japan sees record 31 million tourists in 2018

Malaysia's government will alter an elementary-school textbook which suggested girls should dress modestly to prevent sexual assault, authorities said Wednesday, after it sparked widespread anger.
Social media exploded with outrage after images circulated of a section of the book, which is used by nine-year-olds, entitled "Saving one's modesty".
It featured a series of pictures of a fictional girl called Amira, whose parents advise her to protect "the modesty of her sexual organs" by wearing the correct attire.
They also tell her to keep the door of her room closed when changing clothes, and to avoid spending time in quiet locations alone.
If she fails in her efforts to prevent an assault, Amira would bring shame on her family, be shunned by her friends and face emotional problems, the book said.
Activists said the book was teaching children from a young age that female victims of sex attacks only had themselves to blame.
"We are appalled," said Meera Samanther, vice president of ...

Anger at Malaysia textbook telling girls to 'protect sex organs'

Indra Nooyi is among the candidates being considered by the White House to head the World Bank after the India-born former PepsiCo CEO's name was floated by Ivanka Trump, the president's influential daughter, a top American daily reported.
Nooyi, 63, stepped down as PepsiCo's chief last August after leading the company for 12 years.
She "has been courted as an administration ally by Ivanka Trump, the president's eldest daughter who is playing a role in the selection of a nominee," the The New York Times said.
The report, which cited several people familiar with the process, said the decision-making process for the top post at the World Bank is "fluid and in its initial stages and early front-runners and candidates often fall off the radar, or withdraw from consideration, before the president (Donald Trump) makes his ultimate pick".
It is unclear whether Nooyi would accept the nomination if chosen by the Trump administration.
The first daughter, who has tweeted that she views Nooyi as .

Indra Nooyi being considered to lead World Bank: report

Fasting can boost the body's metabolism and help protect against age-related diseases, a study has found.
The circadian clock operates within the body and its organs as intrinsic time-keeping machinery to preserve homeostasis in response to the changing environment.
While food is known to influence clocks in peripheral tissues, it was unclear, until now, how the lack of food influences clock function and ultimately affects the body.
"We discovered fasting influences the circadian clock and fasting-driven cellular responses, which together work to achieve fasting-specific temporal gene regulation," said Paolo Sassone-Corsi, a professor at University of California, Irvine in the US.
"Skeletal muscle, for example, appears to be twice as responsive to fasting as the liver," said Sassone-Corsi.
The research, published in the journal Cell Reports, was conducted using mice, which were subjected to 24-hour periods of fasting.
While fasting, researchers noted the mice exhibited a reduction in .

Fasting may help keep age-related diseases at bay: Study

Researchers have created a durable silicone polymer coating capable of repelling ice from any surface.
Icy weather is blamed for multi-billion dollar losses every year in the US, including delays and damage related to air travel, infrastructure and power generation and transmission facilities, said researchers from the University of Houston.
Finding effective, durable and environmentally stable de-icing materials has been stymied by the stubborn tenacity with which ice adheres to the materials on which it forms, they said.
In the journal 'Materials Horizons', the researchers reported a new theory in physics called stress localisation, which they used to tune and predict the properties of new materials.
Based on those predictions, they have created a durable silicone polymer coating capable of repelling ice from any surface.
"We have developed a new physical concept and the corresponding icephobic material that shows extremely low ice adhesion while having long-term mechanical, ...

Novel ice-repelling coating developed

One in three staff and non-staff personnel at the UN experienced sexual harassment in the last two years, a new report released by the world body said, amid the global #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault.
The confidential survey obtained information on sexual harassment across the United Nations system and related entities globally. The survey was completed by 30,364 staff and non-staff personnel from across 31 entities, representing a 17 per cent response rate overall.
The survey 'Safe Space: Survey on Sexual Harassment in our Workplace' found that one in three (33 per cent) respondents reported that they had experienced at least one instance of sexual harassment in the last two years.
Overall, 10,032 out of the total 30,364 respondents (33 per cent) had experienced an incident of sexual harassment in the last two years.
One in five survey respondents (20.2 per cent) reported experiencing at least one type of sexual harassment prior to 2016. The overall prevalence ..

One in three UN workers experienced sexual harassment in last 2 years: Survey

Former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie feels the current Indian bowling attack led by Jasprit Bumrah makes the team one of the favourites for the upcoming ICC World Cup, along side hosts England.
"I think the Indian attack is well balanced. Bumrah has been rested for obvious reason but their attack is still quite good," Gillespie told PTI in an interview.
"Everyone offers different things, and you add Bumrah to it, so they are well placed to mount a challenge for the World Cup. I think England are the obvious favourites, but India won't be far behind," he insisted.
Gillespie singled out Bumrah for special praise and said the young right-arm pacer's unorthodox action makes him a different bowler from others.
"I enjoy watching Bumrah bowl. He just ambles in but when he gets to the crease, he almost has a slingshot action. He bowls at good pace, hurries the batsmen up, and he can also change his pace a lot. He is a very fine bowler," the 43-year-old former pacer said.
"His action ..

Bowling attack makes India WC favourites along side England, says Gillespie

US President Donald Trump has said that fundamental human right to religious freedom is under attack and rued that over time, legislative and political attacks on it have given way to actual violence.
Stating that attacks on people of different faith and their worship areas have increased, Trump said that his administration is taking action to protect religious liberty and to seek justice against those who seek to abridge it.
"Unfortunately, the fundamental human right to religious freedom is under attack. Efforts to circumscribe religious freedom -- or to separate it from adjoining civil liberties, like property rights or free speech -- are on the rise," Trump said on Tuesday in a proclamation on the occasion of the Religious Freedom Day.
He said: "Over time, legislative and political attacks on religious freedom have given way to actual violence. Last October, we witnessed a horrific attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- the deadliest attack on the ...

Fundamental human right to religious freedom is under attack: Trump

Syria's Kurds on Wednesday rejected a US proposal for a "security zone" under Turkish control along the Syrian side of the two countries' border.
Senior political leader Aldar Khalil said the Kurds would accept the deployment of UN forces along the separation line between Kurdish fighters and Turkish troops to ward off a threatened offensive.
"Other choices are unacceptable as they infringe on the sovereignty of Syria and the sovereignty of our autonomous region," Khalil told AFP.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Ankara would set up a "security zone" in northern Syria suggested by US President Donald Trump.
Erdogan's comments came a day after he had a telephone conversation with Trump to ease tensions after the US leader threatened to "devastate" the Turkish economy if Ankara attacks Kurdish forces in Syria.
Turkey has welcomed Washington's planned withdrawal of some 2,000 US troops from Syria but the future of US-backed Kurdish militia forces labelled ...

Syria Kurds reject 'security zone' under Turkish control

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that Moscow was ready to work with Washington to save a key arms control treaty, after fresh talks to salvage the accord went nowhere.
"We are still ready to work to save the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty," Lavrov told reporters, calling on Europe to help in the negotiations.

Russia ready to work with US to 'save' INF arms treaty: Lavrov

Leading Zimbabwean activist Evan Mawarire was detained by police on Wednesday, AFP reporters witnessed, when he was taken away from his house in the capital Harare.
Armed police had been at Mawarire's property for more than two hours before he was driven away in a pick-up truck as security forces crack down after anti-government protests.
"Armed police surrounded his residence this morning and he has been picked up. We don't know for what purpose," Teldah Mawarire, his sister, told AFP.
"We are not aware of where he has been taken... I was directly in contact with him until he was taken and he could no longer be online. We are very concerned."
Security forces have shot dead at least five people and wounded 25 others during a crackdown since nationwide protests on Monday, according to Human Rights Watch.
"Those responsible for using unlawful lethal force should be promptly investigated and held accountable," Dewa Mavhinga, Southern Africa director at HRW, said in a statement.
It said ..

Police detain leading Zimbabwe activist after protests: AFP

An Indian-American doctor, indicted in one of the largest healthcare fraud cases in the US history involving a USD 464 million conspiracy, was freed on a record-setting USD 7 million bond.
Rajendra Bothra, 77, who was awarded Padmashri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, was indicted along with five other physicians in the alleged USD 464 million healthcare fraud conspiracy, which the federal government said fuelled the opioid epidemic.
US District Judge Stephen Murphy granted the bond for him despite the government's concern that the doctor has hidden money that could bankroll an escape to his native India.
Bothra, of Bloomfield Hills, who will be released on home confinement and tracked by a GPS tether, must identify all assets under penalty of perjury, Detroit news reported.
Being the lead defendant in one of the largest healthcare fraud cases in the US history, he must liquidate a USD 8.5 million retirement account to cover the bond, a process that could take three days, it ...

Indian-origin doctor embroiled in healthcare fraud in US freed on record USD 7 mn bond

People began to live alongside dogs and may also have used them for hunting as early as 11,500 years ago in what is now northeast Jordan, according to a study.
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and University College London in the UK suggest that the introduction of dogs as hunting aids may explain the dramatic increase of hares and other small prey in the archaeological remains at the site.
Dogs were domesticated by humans as early as 14,000 years ago in the Near East, but whether this was accidental or on purpose is so far not clear.
The study, published in the Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, suggests that humans valued the tracking and hunting abilities of early dogs more than previously known.
The research on animal bones from the 11,500 year old settlement Shubayqa 6 in northeast Jordan not only suggests that dogs were present in this region at the start of the Neolithic period, but that humans and dogs likely hunted animals together.
"The study of .

Dogs helped humans hunt 11,500 years ago: Study

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said Wednesday that all Islamists who had stormed an upmarket hotel complex had been "eliminated" after an almost 20-hour siege that left 14 dead.
"I can now confirm that... the security operation at Dusit is over and all terrorists have been eliminated," Kenyatta said in a televised address to the nation.
He said 14 people had been killed and 700 civilians rescued from the building, but did not clarify if people were still hiding in the complex.

Kenyan president says Nairobi attackers 'eliminated', 14 victims

Singer Rihanna is suing her father for trying to exploit her name to further his entertainment business.
In a federal lawsuit, the pop star alleges that her father, Ronald Fenty, is trading on their surname, Fenty, which she made famous, for financial gain, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The famous singer was born Robyn Rihanna Fenty.
In the lawsuit, the 30-year-old singer says that her father and his partner have violated her trademark and falsely suggested that their business, Fenty Entertainment, is affiliated with her.
She has used the name for her cosmetics brand, Fenty Beauty, and other businesses, including Savage X Fenty and Fenty PUMA, since 2012.
Rihanna has asked the court to bar the firm from using the Fenty name for business.
The lawsuit claims Rihanna owns trademarks in the US for the Fenty name and has sent formal "cease and desist" requests.
It said that on one instance, Fenty Entertainment accepted a 2017 offer by a third party for Rihanna to perform 15 shows in 

Rihanna sues her father over Fenty name

Spaniard Oriol Mena rode flawlessly to break into top 10 in the overall rankings with a 12th place finish in stage 8 as Hero MotorSports continued to make gains in the 41st Dakar Rally here.
Mena's teammate Joaquim Rodrigues of Portugal too had a good outing on Tuesday as he finished the stage in the 13 spot to be placed 18th in the overall rankings.
Mena finished 24 minutes and 13 seconds behind stage 8 winner Matthias Walkner  of KTM (3 hours 55 minutes and 25 seconds).
Pablo Quintanilla of Husqvarna Factory Racing finished the stage in the second spot ahead of KTM Factory Racing's Toby Price.
Price is leading the overall rankings with a total timing of 28 hours 53 minutes and eight seconds ahead of Quintanilla and another KTM rider Matthias Walkner.
The riders encounter yet another day of fog, dust and fast riding as the stage 8 went underway from San Juan De Marcona to Pisco.
Unlike the first half of the rally where Hero riders were marred by crashes, Mena and Rodrigues have ...

Mena breaks into top 10, Rodrigues in top 20 after stage 8 of Dakar

Veteran star Glenn Close is set to receive the Oscar Wilde Award, the US-Ireland Alliance has announced.
Close, 71, will be receive the honour from Melissa McCarthy during the 14th Annual Oscar Wilde Awards.
McCarthy is a past recipient of the award, being honoured with it in the year 2012.
Close is currently receiving critical acclaim for her portrayal of an aggrieved wife in  Bjorn Runge's drama "The Wife". She recently won the Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Motion Picture  Drama for the film.
Previous recipients of the Oscar Wilde Awards include Saoirse Ronan, Ruth Negga, Paul Rudd, James Corden, Michelle Williams, Colin Farrell, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, and Brendan Gleeson, among others.
The US-Ireland Alliance had announced that "Game of Thrones" star Aiden Gillen will be receiving an honour at the awards.
The 14th Annual Oscar Wilde Awards will be held at director JJ Abrams's Bad Robot in Santa Monica on 21 February 2019.

Glenn Close to receive Oscar Wilde Award

Director Jason Reitman is planning to make a new "Ghostbuster" film.
Reitman, whose directorial credits includes movies such as "Juno", "Up in the Air" and most recently the political drama "The Front Runner", will direct the latest installment of the famed franchise.
His 72-year-old father, Ivan, had directed the original "Ghostbuster" films which featured Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis as parapsychology professors who hunts ghosts.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Reitman penned the script along with Gil Kenan and the filmmaker plans to shoot the project this summer. Sony Pictures is looking at a date in summer 2020.
His project would not be a continuation of Paul Feig's all-women reboot, which released in 2016 and featured Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones and Chris Hemsworth.
Instead, the new film will be a follow-up of the original films.

Jason Reitman to direct new Ghostbusters' movie

Country's challenge at the men's doubles event of the Australian Open came crashing down in a single day with three pairs featuring Indians suffered first round defeats, here Wednesday.
The 15th seeded Indian team of Rohan Bopanna and Divij Sharan, who began their partnership with a bang in Pune, lost 1-6 6-4 5-7 to the unseeded Spanish pair of Pablo Carreno Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.
It is second straight first round defeat for the new Indian team on the tour after their triumph at the Tata Open Maharsahtra. Last week, they had lost the round of 16 at the Sydney International.
Competing in his 24th Australian Open, veteran Leander Paes and his partner Miguel Angel Reyes-Varela saved a few match points but eventually fell 5-7 6-7(4) to American-Kiwi combo of Austin Krajicek and Artem Sitak.
Also making the first round exit was Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan and his partner  Nicholas Monroe, who lost 6-4 6-7(8) 5-7 to Kevin Krawietz and Nikola Mektic after fighting hard for two hours and 

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