Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization representing thousands of survivors of the 1945 U.S. atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, was announced as the recipient of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, Oct. 11. The survivors, also known as hibakusha, were honored for their activism against nuclear weapons. “The hibakusha helps us describe the indescribable,…

As Hurricane Milton was nearing landfall, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., took aim at bad dog owners. DeSantis vowed to punish those pet owners who left their canines tied up as the storm made its way to the coastline. DeSantis responded to a video posted on social media on Wednesday, Oct. 9, by the Florida State…

One of the world’s premiere locations to celebrate Halloween is taking steps to crack down on crowds. Tokyo’s Shibuya ward has officially “closed for Halloween” this year, as authorities move to prevent chaos experienced in recent times. Shibuya has a reputation for street parties, drawing crowds since the early 2010s. As the crowds grew, so…

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un threatened to use nuclear weapons if South Korea or its allies attempt to encroach on North Korea’s sovereignty, state media reported Friday, Oct. 4. Kim’s comments followed South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s warning that any nuclear aggression from the North would lead to the collapse of Kim’s regime…

A chemical that could offer better protection against the sun’s harmful UV rays has been on the market for over 20 years. But the chemical, bemotrizinol, hasn’t yet been on sale in the U.S. Now the federal government may finally be ready to approve bemotrizinol, which would be the first new sunscreen ingredient in decades.…

South Korean police have detained a North Korean defector who attempted to return to the North by stealing a bus and crashing it into a barricade on the heavily guarded border. The man, in his 30s, had defected to the South more than a decade ago, but South Korean authorities say he was apprehended early…

Big changes are coming to South Korea as the country prepares to put an end to the centuries-old practice of serving and eating dog meat. The government is announcing new measure to rehome hundreds of thousands of dogs, and support farmers ahead of the ban taking effect. On Thursday, Sept. 26, South Korea’s Agriculture Ministry…

North Korea’s provocative balloon launches have prompted repeated airport shutdowns in South Korea, sparking public anxiety and disrupting air travel since late May. The disruptions have been substantial, with runway closures totaling 413 minutes across 20 separate days. According to South Korean officials, more than 5,500 balloons carrying trash, including paper, plastic, vinyl, and manure,…

China announced on Wednesday, Sept. 25, that it test-fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) into the Pacific Ocean. The country is reportedly bulking up its nuclear arsenal, and the rare public test is sparking international concerns. The People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLAARF) announced that the ICBM with a dummy warhead landed accurately in a…

North Korea resumed its missile program Thursday, Sept. 12, launching several short-range ballistic missiles from Pyongyang that traveled 220 miles toward the East Sea, landing outside Japan’s exclusive economic zone. This series of launches marks North Korea’s return to missile testing after a two-month break. The missile tests followed an unusual incident in which North…