Tokyo (AFP) – The governor of the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa, Genta Koja, says there is an “urgent need” to reduce the burden of US bases after the murder of a woman allegedly committed by an American Marine. The case has triggered outrage in Japan, where any crimes involving US forces have long inflamed criticism of the troops’ presence.
Buenos Aires (Argentina) (AFP) – Fans and the national coach share their emotions as Lionel Messi retires from international football after helping his side beat Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. “He is a one-of-a-kind footballer,” says Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni. “Messi united us as a country and made us care more for one another as people,” says Argentina fan and graphic designer, Boris Bonifasich.
Stockholm (AFP) – Sweden will send its Patriot air defence system to protect a Polish base used for military and civilian support of Ukraine, says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. According to a statement from the Swedish Armed Forces, the air defence system and around 100 troops would be sent to protect the NATO logistics hub in Rzeszow, arriving in December to take over from a Dutch contingent.
Lake Issyk-Kul (Kirghizstan) (AFP) – In the middle of Kyrgyzstan’s largest lake, a team of scientists and divers uncover the remains of a submerged city. Found on an ancient trading route between China and Europe, little is known about the history of the once-thriving settlement under Lake Issyk-Kul or how it came to be flooded an estimated 800 years ago. “For now, we can’t even say for sure how many sites there are, or exactly what periods the underwater remains belong to,” explains expedition director Maxim Menshikov.
Lake Issyk-Kul (Kirghizstan) (AFP) – In the middle of Kyrgyzstan’s largest lake, a team of scientists and divers uncover the remains of a submerged city. Found on an ancient trading route between China and Europe, little is known about the history of the once-thriving settlement under Lake Issyk-Kul or how it came to be flooded an estimated 800 years ago. “For now, we can’t even say for sure how many sites there are, or exactly what periods the underwater remains belong to,” explains expedition director Maxim Menshikov.
Sofia (Bulgaria) (AFP) – Bulgaria is conducting a “rescue operation” after drones hit two commercial ships in the Black Sea off the country’s coast, says Prime Minister Rumen Radev. One ship’s crew has been rescued and authorities have launched a major search for the missing crew of the second sunken vessel. The dual strike came a day after another ship caught fire and sank off the Romanian coast in what Ukraine said was a Russian-launched drone attack.
Sofia (Bulgaria) (AFP) – Bulgaria is conducting a “rescue operation” after drones hit two commercial ships in the Black Sea off the country’s coast, says Prime Minister Rumen Radev. One ship’s crew has been rescued and authorities have launched a major search for the missing crew of the second sunken vessel. The dual strike came a day after another ship caught fire and sank off the Romanian coast in what Ukraine said was a Russian-launched drone attack.
New York (AFP) – Leading artificial intelligence companies “don’t fully control” their models yet, says former OpenAI and Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon. Speaking as he testifies before the New York City Council, the whistleblower, who resigned from Anthropic last month, calls on companies “to be far more transparent with the public and independent experts,” adding that he believes “we should slow down frontier AI development until we can be confident that it’s safe.”
New York (AFP) – Leading artificial intelligence companies “don’t fully control” their models yet, says former OpenAI and Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon. Speaking as he testifies before the New York City Council, the whistleblower, who resigned from Anthropic last month, calls on companies “to be far more transparent with the public and independent experts,” adding that he believes “we should slow down frontier AI development until we can be confident that it’s safe.”
Batangas (Philippines) (AFP) – A humble yam that has cast a purple hue across cities from Seoul to London to Los Angeles, the Filipino ube has enjoyed a global boom in popularity. Once processed, the crop, which can take nine months to grow, can be used in coffee, cakes, ice cream, spreads and make-up, among other products, with its rise attributed to social media. With farmers in the Philippines struggling to keep up, and with fears that overseas cultivation could swoop in to fill the gap, the government has banned the export of raw ube. “I want to be able to have a stronger Philippine ube industry,” says Al Bonifacio, a farmer and exporter processed ube.
Busan (South Korea) (AFP) – A wayward shark has become an unlikely celebrity in South Korea, drawing an estimated one million people to a waterfront park in Busan after it was spotted swimming in its waterway. The predator — believed to be a bull shark — popped up this month and several attempts by coast guard boats to guide it back to the sea have failed. “It feels like a message of hope,” truck driver Park Gab-mok tells AFP. “That good luck will come if I see it.”
Busan (South Korea) (AFP) – A wayward shark has become an unlikely celebrity in South Korea, drawing an estimated one million people to a waterfront park in Busan after it was spotted swimming in its waterway. The predator — believed to be a bull shark — popped up this month and several attempts by coast guard boats to guide it back to the sea have failed. “It feels like a message of hope,” truck driver Park Gab-mok tells AFP. “That good luck will come if I see it.”
