KAKAMMPI News

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea experienced its hottest April since comprehensive records began in 1973, the state weather agency said Tuesday, with average daily temperatures more than 2.5 degrees higher than in previous years. "The highest average national temperature for April (is) 14.9 degrees Celsius (58.8 degrees Fahrenheit) in 2024", the Korea Meteorological Administration said, adding it was the highest recorded in April since the national weather observation network was established in 1973. The previous record was 14.7 degrees Celsius, set in April 1998, KMA said. Average nationwide temperatures in April surpassed the 1991-2020 April average of 12.1 degrees Celsius, it added. The average daily high also reached a record-breaking 21.1 degrees -- which is an increase of 2.5 degrees from the average from 1991 to 2020. April 14 saw especially high temperatures, as the daytime mercury in the greater Seoul region and areas of Gangwon province soared to approximately ...

LONDON, United Kingdom — Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca on Wednesday said it was withdrawing Covid vaccine Vaxzevria, one of the first produced in the deadly pandemic, citing "commercial reasons" following a slump in demand. "As multiple, variant Covid-19 vaccines have since been developed there is a surplus of available updated vaccines. This has led to a decline in demand for Vaxzevria, which is no longer being manufactured or supplied," an AstraZeneca spokesperson added in a statement. "We will now work with regulators and our partners to align on a clear path forward to conclude this chapter and significant contribution to the Covid-19 pandemic." AstraZeneca rapidly developed the successful Covid-19 jab during the coronavirus pandemic which erupted in the first half of 2020. Vaxzevria, developed alongside Oxford University, was at first offered at cost but Astra decided in late 2021 to sell it for profit. But the world pivoted towards mRNA va...

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Four Chinese coastguard ships briefly sailed through Taiwan's "prohibited" waters, Taipei said, urging Beijing to stop actions that "endanger" navigation safety. China claims self-ruled democratic Taiwan as part of its territory, and has said it will not rule out using force to bring the island under Beijing's control. The Chinese ships entered waters south of Taiwan's outlying island of Kinmen, five kilometres (three miles) from the Chinese city of Xiamen, around 3:30 pm (0730 GMT) on Monday, Taiwan's coastguard said in a statement later the same day. The ships "sailed out of our prohibited and restricted waters" about an hour later, the agency said, urging Beijing to immediately stop "behaviour that endangers navigation safety". China has in recent years ramped up sorties of aircraft and naval vessels around the island. Monday's incident comes two weeks before the May 20 inauguration of Taiwan's pre...

TOKYO, Japan — Japan hit back Saturday at US President Joe Biden's comments about the Asian ally being "xenophobic" like China and Russia, calling the characterization "unfortunate" and misguided. Biden lumped together allies Japan and India with rivals China and Russia at a recent campaign event, arguing the four economic powers were struggling because of their unwillingness to accept immigrants. "Why is China stalling so badly economically? Why is Japan in trouble? Why is Russia in trouble? And India? Because they're xenophobic. They don't want immigrants," the president said on Wednesday. "One of the reasons why our economy is growing is because of you and many others. Why? Because we welcome immigrants," the president added. In response, Tokyo on Saturday said it was "unfortunate that comments not based on an accurate understanding of Japan's policy were made", according to a government statement. The Japanese g...

RAFAH, Palestinian territories — Hamas on Monday said it accepts a proposal for a truce in the seven-month-old war in Gaza, as Israel renewed an order for Palestinians in Rafah to evacuate ahead of a long-threatened invasion of the city. The Hamas announcement brought cheering crowds onto the street amid tears of happiness, chants of "Allahu Akbar" ("God is greatest") and celebratory shooting in the air. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the proposal "is far from Israel's essential demands", but the government will send negotiators for talks "to exhaust the potential for arriving at an agreement". Close Israel ally the United States said it was "reviewing" the Hamas response. Hamas member Khalil al-Hayya told the Qatar-based Al Jazeera channel the proposal agreed to by Hamas includes a three-phased truce. He said it includes a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the return of Palestinians displaced ...

GENEVA, Switzerland — United Nations experts on Monday condemned "unacceptable" violence by the Israeli military against women and children during the ongoing war in Gaza, particularly sexual violence and enforced disappearances. "We are appalled that women are being targeted by Israel with such vicious, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks, seemingly sparing no means to destroy their lives and deny them their fundamental human rights," the seven special rapporteurs said in a statement. Special rapporteurs are independent experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. They do not speak on behalf of the United Nations. The statement pointed to "continued reports of sexual assault and violence against women and girls, including against those detained by Israeli occupation forces". They cited UN reports saying women and girls in Gaza were victims of enforced disappearances. Referring to Hamas, which runs the besieged Palestinian territory, Isra...

Mikhail KLIMENTYEV / SPUTNIK / AFP MOSCOW, Russia — President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to hold nuclear weapons drills involving the navy and troops based near Ukraine, the defense ministry said Monday. Putin has upped his nuclear rhetoric since the Ukraine conflict began, warning in his address to the nation in February there was a "real" risk of nuclear war. "During the exercise, a set of measures will be taken to practise the preparation and use of non-strategic nuclear weapons," the defence ministry said. Non-strategic nuclear weapons, also known as tactical nuclear weapons, are designed for use on the battlefield and can be delivered via missiles. The ministry said the exercises would take place "in the near future" and were aimed at ensuring Russia's territorial integrity in the face of "threats by certain Western officials". Aircraft and naval forces will take part, as well as troops from the Southern Militar...