A jumble of shipping containers hold all that remains of the demolished public school in Newtok, Alaska, where on a recent visit, a few stray dogs and a lone ermine prowled among the ruins.

Late in 2024, the final residents of this sinking village near the Bering Sea left behind the waterlogged tundra of their former home, part of a fraught, federally funded effort to resettle communities threatened by climate change.

Nearly 300 people from Newtok have moved 9 miles across the Ninglick River to a new village known as Mertarvik, but much of the infrastructure there is already failing. Residents lack running water, use 5-gallon buckets as toilets, and must contend with intermittent electricity and deteriorating homes that expose them to the region’s fierce weather.

Newtok’s relocation was supposed to provide a model for dozens of Alaskan communities that will need to move in the coming decades. Instead, those who’ve worked on the effort say that what happened in Newtok demonstrates the federal government’s failure to oversee the complex project and understand communities’ unique cultural needs. It also highlights how ill-prepared the United States is to respond to the way climate change is making some places uninhabitable, according to an investigation by The Washington Post, ProPublica, and KYUK Public Media in Bethel, Alaska.

Choi Do-yeon, a gaming streamer struggling to make ends meet in a semi-basement rental, receives a game link from “Sakje-hyung,” a senior from his hometown and a fellow content creator who has always supported him. Without giving it much thought, he downloads [Heart-pounding Ghostly Poem], only to encounter eerie figures that should never have appeared. Before he can even process what’s happening, he finds himself trapped in a high-stakes dating simulation—with vengeful spirits.

Warning this series contains horror themes regarding ghosts and depictions of dismembered bodies that may make some readers feel uncomfortable.

Chapter 17

The stevedores at the port in Fos-sur-Mer outside Marseille have refused to load crates of links used to assist the rapid fire of bullets aboard the cargo vessel, the CGT trade union said.

Links are small metal pieces, used to connect machine gun bullets and allow rapid bursts of fire. There has been concern in media and among rights groups that they have likely been used against civilians in the Gaza Strip.

The CGT said the move made clear its refusal to "participate in the ongoing genocide orchestrated by the Israeli government." Leading rights groups, including Amnesty International, have accused Israel of committing genocide in its military campaign, a charge vehemently rejected by the Israeli government.

Japan’s struggle to encourage couples to have more children has been given greater urgency after data showed the annual number of births dropped to below 700,000 for the first time since records began more than a century ago.

According to government data released this week, the number of births reached 686,061 in 2024, a decline of 5.7% from the previous year and the lowest since statistics were first kept in 1899. The data excludes babies born to foreign residents.

The fertility rate – the average number of children a woman has in her lifetime – also fell to a record-low of 1.15, down from 1.20 in 2023, the health ministry said. That is well below the rate of 2.1 needed to keep the population stable. The ministry said 1.6m deaths had been recorded in 2024, up 1.9% from a year earlier.

If current trends persists, Japan’s population of about 124 million is projected to fall to 87 million by 2070, when 40% of the population will be 65 or over.

A shrinking and ageing population could have serious implications for the economy and national security, as the country seeks to boost its military to counter potential threats from China and North Korea.

Cheongha Kim, a legendary swordswoman from the Joseon era, awakens centuries later in the body of Dajin Park, a quiet high school student. Armed with deadly combat skills, Cheongha must face school bullies, navigate the chaos of modern-day life, and find her place in a world far different from her own. The halls of Juwon High are about to meet a warrior unlike any they’ve seen before.

Warning the series contains themes regarding bullying and violence that may be upsetting to some readers.

tags : fantasy, reincarnation, action, school life, violence

Episode 29

Vietnam has scrapped its longstanding two-child policy as it aims to reverse its declining birthrate and ease the pressure from an ageing society.

All restrictions were removed this week, and couples will be free to have as many children as they choose, according to Vietnamese media.

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan said that a future shrinking population “threatens Vietnam’s sustainable economic and social development, as well as its national security and defence in the long term,” the Hanoi Times reported.

Between 1999 and 2022, Vietnam’s birthrate was about 2.1 children per woman, the replacement rate needed to keep the population from shrinking, but the rate has started to fall, the news outlet said.

In 2024, the country’s birthrate reached a record low of 1.91 children per woman.

Trump said the measure was spurred by a makeshift flamethrower attack on a Jewish protest in Colorado that US authorities blamed on an man they said was in the country illegally.

The move bans all travel to the United States by nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Trump also imposed a partial ban on travelers from seven countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela. Some temporary work visas from these countries will be allowed.

The bans go into effect on Monday, the White House said.

Life isn’t always perfect, but love certainly makes it better. The exciting tale of young love continues a year following the story “Seasons of Blossom.” Bomi and her university classmate Pureum’s lives center around a new place, “Cafe Blossom & Nemone Art Studio,” as they navigate the joy and hardships of university and professional life.

Episode 40

The Korean Publishers Association (KPA) and the Korea Electronic Publishing Association, both comprising multiple webtoon and web novel companies, as well as iOS app developer Dan Scalise and Korean app developer PangSky (collectively, the plaintiffs, or KPA et. al), filed a class-action lawsuit against tech giant Apple on May 23, alleging past and ongoing anticompetitive behavior. It was filed at the U.S. Northern District Court of California.

They seek damages due to the revenue lost from Apple’s “anticompetitive conduct,” which mandated that most digital purchases related to an iOS app must use its payment system, of which Apple took a 30% cut. iOS app developers weren’t allowed to suggest their own payment services within the app, and weren’t allowed to link out from the app to external payment options. The 30% fee also applies to purchases on the App Store. App distribution via third-party app stores, which could’ve provided lower fees, isn’t permitted on iOS (except in the E.U.).

In a world filled with monsters and magic, a cat and a hunter named Hawk begin their adventure with different purposes but with the same goal in mind: to protect something precious and seek revenge.

Episode 11

A massive wall of dust enshrouded the city of Chicago recently, forcing a ground stop at the Midwestern hub’s airports and stunning the city’s more than 2.6 million residents.

But, while sudden dust storms can be dangerous, the lesser known harms lie in the windswept particles themselves — with the Chicago dust storm likely to contain lead, farm chemicals and particles that aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma. “I’m sure people will have some health issues after it,” said Karin Ardon-Dryer, an assistant professor at Texas Tech University, said of Saturday’s event.

Like other blowing dust, the composition of the Illinois dust could include heavy metals. Lead exposure is another concern, according to U.C. Merced researcher Estrella Herrera. Exposure can result in reproductive issues, high blood pressure, hypertension, nerve disorders, muscle and joint pain, and memory and concentration problems in adults. In children, it can lead to hearing problems, slowed growth, headaches, learning and behavioral difficulties, lowered IQ, and damage to the brain and nervous system.

Archive : https://archive.ph/vUDSo

As reported in Wall Street Journal on 1 June 2025, the overseas travellers are opting out of US vacations, citing concerns over the Trump administration's immigration crackdowns and tariff threats.

With summer travel season underway, this downturn is projected to cost US a £9.6 billion ($12 billion) in 2025, threatening small businesses and local economies.

The perception of the US as an unwelcoming destination is gaining traction. The Wall Street Journal report noted that a 6% drop in foreign arrivals at major US airports over the past four weeks compared to last year, with airline bookings from Europe down 12% through August.