Japanese cult also used VX; survivor recounts how it felt

In this March 20, 1995, file photo, subway passengers affected by sarin gas planted in central Tokyo subways are carried into St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo. The doomsday cult that carried out the deadly nerve gas attack on Tokyo’s subways in 1995 also used the VX nerve agent suspected in the killing of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s half brother.

Japan starts weekend early to improve work-life balance

Office workers of Tokyo area toast during a “Premium Friday” event in Tokyo Friday, Feb. 24, 2017. The event to mark the launching of “Premium Friday,” a joint project or concept endorsed by public and private sectors to promote work life balance as well as to revitalize economy by encouraging companies and workers to finish work at 1500 in the afternoon on every last Friday of the month.

Norway, Germany give $394 million to help African region

COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende says his country is giving 1.6 billion kroner over a three-year period to prevent a famine in the African countries around the Lake Chad Basin, while Germany on Friday added 120 million euros . Brende says there is “a serious humanitarian situation” in the region encompassing Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, adding there “is urgent need to stop the crisis unfolding in an area with 26 million people.”

Author pens an epic Norse saga

He was last seen in the Lynn News in October 2011 after completing a 10,000 mile cycling adventure across the globe. And now Theodore Brun, who divides his time between London and Great Massingham, is back in the news as an author.

Life expectancy is going up everywhere except in the U.S.

Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events Elderly people work out with wooden dumbbells in the grounds of a temple in Tokyo to celebrate Japan’s Respect for the Aged Day. The estimated number of people ages 80 or older topped the 8 million mark for the first time in Japan.

North Korean Assassination: What Is VX Nerve Agent?

North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, , sits with his first-born son Kim Jong Nam, in this 1981 family photo in Pyongyang, North Korea. Kim Jong Nam was attacked by VX nerve agent on Feb. 13. Soon after having his face rubbed with a cloth by two women at the airport in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the exiled North Korean complained of facial pain, had a seizure and died.

Israeli prime minister meets Australian opposition leader

Australia’s opposition leader Bill Shorten says he raised his Labor Party’s concerns about Israel’s settlements in Palestinian territories during discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The pair talked for almost an hour in Sydney on Friday, the third day of the first Australian visit by a serving Israeli prime minister.

Welsh national success for Worcester fencer Abigail

The 15-year-old Royal Grammar School pupil from St John’s finished 15th out of 54 fencers in the Under 23s British Championships at Leon Paul Fencing Centre, London. As well as being a Welsh youth champion, Watkins is now ranked seventh Great Britain under 20 junior, the highest in Wales, and 18th senior.

3,000 customers without power overnight

The remaining outages are largely due to individual faults in pockets stretching from Castlebar and Sligo across to Drogheda and Dundalk, including parts of Cavan and Longford. RTE.ie is the website of Raidio Teilifis Eireann, Ireland’s National Public Service Broadcaster.

China urges Myanmar to act after workers raid factory

Chinese embassy to Myanmar lodged solemn representations to local authorities on Thursday after a Chinese factory was raided by striking workers, The Paper reported. A Chinese-invested garment factory in an industrial zone in Hlaingtharyar, a new satellite town in the north of Myanmar’s Yangon, was raided by employees Thursday.

China becomes Germany’s most important trading partner

China for the first time became Germany’s most important trading partner in 2016, overtaking the United States, which fell back to third place behind France, data showed on Friday. German imports from and exports to China rose to 170 billion euros last year, Federal Statistics Office figures reviewed by Reuters showed.

US envoy vows no mass deportation to pacify Mexico

Top US envoys on a working visit to Mexico on Thursday tried to allay fears that their government was preparing to massively deport undocumented migrants back across the border. The reassurances came during a joint press conference by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, following their meeting with Mexico’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Interior, Luis Videgaray and Miguel Angel Osorio Chong, in Mexico City.

Duke of Cambridge to visit Gwent next week

THE Duke of Cambridge will launch the Skill Force Prince William Award at Llanfoist Fawr Primary School, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, next Wednesday, March 1. Skill Force works with education partners across the UK to help children and young people aged 5-19 to develop self-confidence, resilience and character. The Duke’s visit to Gwent comes a week after the Duchess of Cambridge visited two projects helping children in Gwent as part of her first trip to see the work they do since becoming their patron.

New CBA head Yao says reform is priority

Newly appointed chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association Yao Ming gives a certificate of appointment to Li Jinsheng, one of the nine vice-chairmen elected to assist him, at the CBA’s ninth national congress on Thursday. [Photo by MENG YONGMIN/XINHUA] Yao Ming, the former NBA star and newly appointed chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association, has put reforming the domestic game’s management at the top of his agenda.

Ten photos from across China: Feb 17 – ” 23

Hollywood actor Lee Pace spends time with pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Sichuan on Tuesday. Pace was named a panda ambassador in Chengdu and said he would work to draw attention to pandas and their living environment. [Photo/China Daily]

Call of love: Couple entrepreneurs

As the government rolls out more incentives to encourage mass entrepreneurship, more are responding to the call with actions. While some have started their business on their own, others have partnered with their loved ones.

Starc strikes twice to leave India reeling before lunch

PUNE, India: Australia paceman Mitchell Starc ripped the heart out of India’s top order with two wickets in three balls to help reduce the hosts to 70 for three at lunch on the second day of the opening test on Friday. Cheteshwar Pujara was dismissed for six, while India captain and batting mainstay Virat Kohli was despatched for a two-ball duck as the touring side fought back strongly in the first of the four-match series between the world’s top two sides.

North Korea has large chemical weapons stockpile: Seoul

North Korea has not signed a global chemical weapons convention that prohibits the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. Kim Jong-Nam , the murdered half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un AFP/Toshifumi KITAMURA, Ed JONES SEOUL: North Korea has up to 5,000 tonnes of chemical weapons, South Korean experts said Friday , including the toxin used to assassinate its leader’s half-brother.