
South Korea landslides, floods kill more than 20, over 4,000 evacuated
By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -Twenty-two people have died, 14 were missing and thousands evacuated in South Korea as of
2023-07-15 17:54

Killings of 3 women in Long Island went unsolved for more than a decade. Here's how authorities tracked down the suspect
After the remains of four women were found near a beach in Long Island, New York, more than a decade ago, investigators say DNA evidence and cellphone data now point to a murder suspect -- a local architect whose internet history showed him often searching the status of the case and details about the victims.
2023-07-15 17:46

Hungary fines book chain for selling British author’s LGBT+ novels
A legal battle appears set to erupt over the sale of a British author’s LGBT+- themed webcomic and graphic novel in Hungary, after Viktor Orban’s government attempted to ban a bookshop from selling it without closed packaging. The country’s second largest bookshop chain Lira has announced that it plans to take legal action after a Budapest government office fined it 12 million forints (£27,500), claiming it broke the law by selling Alice Oseman’s Heartstopper among other books for young adults without wrapping them in plastic foil. The sale of the Kent-born author’s book has fallen foul of a law passed by Mr Orban’s strongly Christian-conservative government banning the “display and promotion of homosexuality” to under-18s, a move viewed as resonating with rural voters ahead of his fourth-term election win in 2022. While the passage of the law in 2021 came despite strong criticism from human rights groups and the EU, the large fine now handed to Lira emerged on the same day that 38 countries, including Germany and the US, urged Budapest to protect the rights of LGBT+ people and scrap its discriminatory laws. Krisztian Nyary, a well-known author who works as creative director at Lira, told Reuters the fine was disproportionate, and criticised the law as vaguely worded as he indicated that the bookshop would respond legally. “As this is a resolution about a fine it cannot be appealed, it can only be attacked – in what way, our lawyers will assess,” he said. “We will use all legal means at our disposal.” Mr Nyary said that some publishers had already voluntarily wrapped their books in plastic coverings in an attempt to comply, but warned that it was not clear whether it was sufficient to place books affected by the law on a shelf for literature aimed for adults. He also said it was uncertain whether LGBT+-themed books meant for adults would also have to be wrapped up or if those could be sold without packaging, adding: “This is all not clear.” The law, which the government claims is aimed at protecting children, has caused anxiety in the LGBT+ community. It currently bans the display of LGBT+ content to minors in schools, literature, films, TV and adverts, while prohibiting the public display of products depicting gender reassignment. More than a dozen EU member states have backed legal action against the law – branded a “disgrace” by European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen – in the European Court of Justice. In a statement reported by state news agency MTI this week, the Budapest metropolitan government office said an “investigation found that the books in question depicted homosexuality, but they were nevertheless placed in the category of children’s books and youth literature, and were not distributed in closed packaging”. While it is not the first time a Hungarian government office has fined a bookshop for violating the law, the fresh fine came ahead of a Pride march in Budapest on Saturday. Heartstopper has sold millions of copies and has been read more than 50 million times online, prompting streaming giant Netflix to release an adaptation of the ongoing series last April. Ms Oseman, a 28-year-old born in the Kent town of Chatham, who first secured a publishing deal aged 17, was handed two prizes at last year’s Children's and Family Emmy Awards and was nominated for a Bafta over the Netflix adaptation of Heartstopper, which also won Waterstones Book of the Year in 2022. Additional reporting by Reuters Read More Hungary's Orban bemoans liberal 'virus' at CPAC conference ‘Less drag queens, more Chuck Norris!’: Hungary’s Orban wows Republicans The Independent Pride List 2023: The LGBT+ people making change happen Netflix announces Heartstopper season 2 release date
2023-07-15 16:49

'I want to be left alone': 93-year-old Hilton Head Island woman is in a legal battle over her family's land
Josephine Wright and her late husband, Samuel Wright Sr., moved from New York to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, nearly 30 years ago to seek peace and relaxation on a family-owned property.
2023-07-15 16:29

Man in his 60s dies after hitting ditch in Donegal
The incident happened at about 16:30 local time on the R238 at Tooban, County Donegal, on Friday.
2023-07-15 16:29

Man arrested after woman's body found in Cork
Irish police discovered the body of a woman in her 30s in the Wilton area of the city on Friday.
2023-07-15 15:51

Pfizer’s $43 Billion Seagen Takeover Faces EU Investigation
Pfizer Inc.’s proposed $43 billion takeover of Seagen Inc. will face an investigation from the European Union’s merger
2023-07-15 15:50

South Korea's President Yoon visits Ukraine
By Joyce Lee SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was visiting Ukraine on Saturday for talks with President
2023-07-15 15:45

AI facial recognition tech brings 'airport-style security' to UK stores, says human rights group
A rising number of British stores are using a facial recognition system powered by artificial intelligence to identify repeat shoplifters in what one human rights group has called the spread of "airport-style security" on the high street.
2023-07-15 15:26

Seven dead and thousands evacuate homes in South Korea due to heavy rain
Seven people have died and thousands have evacuated their homes in South Korea due to heavy rain.
2023-07-15 14:58

Philippine Central Banker Keeps Door Open to Further Rate Hike
New Philippine central bank Governor Eli Remolona signaled that further monetary policy tightening is still on the table
2023-07-15 14:55

Germans Aren’t Buying Scholz’s Plan to Keep Them Safe and Rich
Chancellor Olaf Scholz is struggling to persuade Germans he can handle the litany of troubles looming over the
2023-07-15 13:46