Author: Reporter

Surfing is life: Senior Japanese surfer inspires Fujisawa’s surf culture by catching waves at 90

Surfing is life: Senior Japanese surfer inspires Fujisawa’s surf culture by catching waves at 90

Posted by | Mar 30, 2023

Fujisawa, a coastal city located in the Kanagawa prefecture of Japan, has long been known for its picturesque beaches. The city attracts surfers from all around the world, who come to catch the waves and experience the unique and thriving surf culture that has developed there. A busy company owner for the early part of his life, Seiichi Sano began anew at 80 by climbing Mt. Fuji. Apparently not challenged enough by Japan’s highest peak, he almost immediately took up surfing. Sano turns 90 later this year, and after being recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest male...

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Hostage Taking: Russia’s secretive FSB arrests first U.S. correspondent since Cold War on allegation of spying

Hostage Taking: Russia’s secretive FSB arrests first U.S. correspondent since Cold War on allegation of spying

Posted by | Mar 30, 2023

Russia’s security service arrested an American reporter for “The Wall Street Journal” on espionage charges, the first time a U.S. correspondent has been detained on spying accusations since the Cold War. The newspaper denied the allegations and demanded his release. Evan Gershkovich was detained in the city of Yekaterinburg while allegedly trying to obtain classified information, the Federal Security Service, known by the acronym FSB, said on March 30. The service, which is the top domestic security agency and main successor to the Soviet-era KGB, alleged that Gershkovich “was acting on instructions from the American side to collect information...

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Survivors struggle with shelter and sanitation a month after powerful earthquake in Türkiye and Syria

Survivors struggle with shelter and sanitation a month after powerful earthquake in Türkiye and Syria

Posted by | Mar 29, 2023

A little more than a month after a powerful quake devastated parts of Türkiye and Syria, hundreds of thousands of people still need adequate shelter and sanitation, and an appeal for $1 billion to assist survivors is only 10% funded, hampering efforts to tackle the humanitarian crisis, a United Nations official said on March 13. The February 6 earthquake and strong aftershocks have killed more than 52,000 people in Türkiye, destroyed or damaged around 230,000 buildings, and left hundreds of thousands of people homeless — making it the worst disaster in Türkiye’s modern history. The U.N. estimates that the...

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Cost of damage from earthquake in Türkiye reaches $100 billion as donors pledge funds to assist recovery

Cost of damage from earthquake in Türkiye reaches $100 billion as donors pledge funds to assist recovery

Posted by | Mar 26, 2023

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on March 20 that the cost of the damage from last month’s devastating earthquake had risen to $104 billion, as donors at a conference in Brussels vowed funds to help Türkiye and Syria. The European Union and international donors pledged 7 billion euros ($7.5 billion) to help the two nations in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated parts of the neighboring countries last month. The European Commission said after the fundraising conference in Brussels that 6.05 billion euros of the total pledge will be going to Türkiye, in grants and loans. “The...

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Holy month of Ramadan begins for Muslims across the world amid high costs and hopes for peace

Holy month of Ramadan begins for Muslims across the world amid high costs and hopes for peace

Posted by | Mar 26, 2023

Hundreds of millions of Muslims began the first daily fast of Ramadan on March 23, as parts of the Middle East approached crucial junctures in high-stakes peace negotiations during the holy month, traditionally a time of reconciliation. During Ramadan, observant Muslims abstain from food and water from dawn to dusk, before gathering with family and friends for indulgent nighttime meals. According to Islam, fasting draws the faithful closer to God and reminds them of the suffering of the poor. For the next 30 days, many will strictly observe prayers, read the Quran, and donate to charity as they seek...

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World Bank report puts cost of rebuilding Ukraine from Russia’s invasion at $411 billion over next decade

World Bank report puts cost of rebuilding Ukraine from Russia’s invasion at $411 billion over next decade

Posted by | Mar 25, 2023

A World Bank report released on March 22 puts the cost of Ukraine’s recovery and rebuilding from Russia’s invasion at $411 billion over the next decade, with the cost of cleaning up the war rubble alone at $5 billion. The report detailed some of the toll of Russia’s war in Ukraine: at least 9,655 civilians confirmed dead, including 461 children; nearly 2 million homes damaged; more than one out of five public health institutions damaged; and 650 ambulances damaged or looted. In all, the World Bank calculated $135 billion in direct damage to buildings and infrastructure so far, not...

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