Author: News Desk

Seoul: Tickets for the long-awaited comeback concert by BTS in central Seoul were snapped up almost instantly, as authorities predicted that as many as 260,000 fans could descend on the capital for the group’s first full-scale performance in nearly four years. When ticket sales opened at 8 pm for the free March 21 concert at Gwanghwamun Square, more than 100,000 users surged onto the booking website at once, causing screens to crash and reservation systems to freeze. Around 15,000 tickets for the performance at the historic plaza in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace were gone within moments. To improve their chances,…

London: Mainstream schools across the UK are set to receive direct funding to better support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) as part of a sweeping £4bn reform package aimed at making the education system more inclusive. The major government overhaul will fund targeted interventions such as small-group language programmes and provide support for staff to implement adaptive teaching methods tailored to individual pupil needs. Central to the reforms is a £1.6bn ‘inclusive mainstream fund,’ which will be distributed over three years to early years settings, schools, and colleges. In addition, £1.8bn over the same period will finance…

New York: A powerful winter storm swept across the US Northeast on February 23, shutting down schools, disrupting transport networks, and prompting emergency declarations as officials warned of heavy snowfall, strong winds, and dangerous travel conditions. Children across large parts of the region were told to stay home as school districts canceled classes. In New York City, the nation’s largest public school system closed all public-school buildings for a traditional snow day, with no remote instruction and all after-school activities canceled. The storm snarled travel along the East Coast from Washington to New England. Airlines canceled more than 5,000 flights…

Washington DC: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is suspending the TSA PreCheck and Global Entry airport security programmes as a partial government shutdown continues, a move expected to cause disruptions for travellers. The two programmes are designed to speed registered passengers through airport security and customs lines. TSA PreCheck allows approved travellers to use expedited screening lanes at US airports, reducing wait times, while Global Entry provides faster customs and immigration clearance for pre-approved, low-risk international travellers entering the United States. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Customs…

Bangkok: Thailand has launched a renewed push to curb sugar consumption, with nine of the country’s major coffee chains agreeing this month to halve the amount of sugar classified as ‘normal sweetness’ in selected beverages. The move is part of a broader government campaign aimed at resetting consumer taste preferences and improving public health. The initiative comes as Thai people consume an average of 21 teaspoons of sugar per day, more than three times the six teaspoons recommended by the World Health Organization. Sugary drinks are a primary contributor, with Thailand historically ranking among Asia’s largest consumers of calories from…

Southampton: A newly developed medical tampon could help detect the earliest signs of ovarian cancer, with researchers in Southampton preparing to begin a clinical trial of the device. The tampon works by identifying biological signals in vaginal fluid that may indicate the presence of cancer. Scientists hope it could offer a breakthrough in early detection, particularly as there is currently no national screening programme for ovarian cancer. Around 7,600 new cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year, and many are identified only once the disease has reached an advanced stage. The new study, called Violet, will…

São Paulo: Brazil striker Neymar has admitted he could retire by the end of the year, despite recently extending his contract with his boyhood club Santos FC. The 34-year-old forward returned to Santos in January 2025 and played a pivotal role in ensuring the club’s survival in Brazil’s top flight. He ended the campaign in strong form, scoring five goals in his final five matches. The player’s resurgence prompted hopes of a late-career revival, with observers wishing for one last defining chapter in what has been a career marked by brilliance and setbacks. However, Neymar’s recent seasons have been disrupted…

Norfolk: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the younger brother of King Charles III, was released under investigation after arrest over claims he passed confidential government documents to the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor, who turned 66, was questioned throughout the day by detectives from Thames Valley Police. Earlier this month, the force confirmed it was examining claims that he shared official papers with Epstein during his tenure as the UK’s Special Representative for Trade and Investment. The arrest of a senior royal, eighth in line to the throne, is unprecedented in modern times. Police later confirmed that ‘the arrested…

Wellington: A tiny, critically endangered moth named after the blockbuster Avatar films has been crowned New Zealand’s Bug of the Year, shining a spotlight on environmental concerns linked to proposed mining activity threatening its only habitat. The Avatar moth won by a wide margin, securing 5,192 votes out of more than 11,000 cast, 2,269 votes ahead of the runner-up, the mahoenui giant wētā, one of the largest insects in the world. Other contenders included the strikingly spiky hellraiser mite (Neotrichozetes spinulosa), the country’s heaviest spider known as the black tunnelweb, a giant glow-in-the-dark earthworm, the blue damselfly (Austrolestes colensonis), and…

London: Following the release of the Epstein files, British royal Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the second son of the late Queen Elizabeth, has been arrested. Reports indicate that the arrest occurred, coinciding with Andrew’s 66th birthday. The arrest comes after official government records surfaced showing that Andrew had provided information to Jeffrey Epstein. Earlier this month, police confirmed that an investigation into Prince Andrew was underway. Prince Andrew had been under pressure to cooperate with officials investigating the sexual crimes of convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein. While Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the new disclosures released by the US Department of Justice,…