Latest news with #disaster relief
Japan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Japan Times
Japan expands aid for the elderly and people with disabilities in emergencies
The government on Tuesday approved expanded disaster relief to better support the elderly and people with disabilities during emergencies, including armed attacks. At a Cabinet meeting, the government approved a revision to a cabinet ordinance, adding "provision of welfare services" to the scope of relief under the civil protection law. The change came after a similar provision was added to the revised disaster relief law enacted in May. Under the civil protection law, municipalities are responsible for relief during emergencies, such as setting up shelters and providing medical care. However, there are concerns about disaster-related deaths, as some evacuees die due to their health deteriorating after evacuation. The government also sees a need to strengthen protection for evacuees in the event of armed attacks.
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Running Man' host Yu Jae-seok, ‘Squid Game' star Yim Si-wan lead celeb support for flood-hit South Koreans
SEOUL, July 20 — South Korean celebrities are stepping up with donations to help victims of the country's deadly floods that have left at least 14 dead and 12 missing since last Wednesday. Entertainer Yu Jae-seok and actor Yim Si-wan each donated 50 million won (RM135,000) to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association last Friday, new outlet Korea JoongAng Daily reported today. 'My heart felt heavy with sorrow to see so many people's lives harmed by the heavy rain. I hope the damage doesn't get worse,' Yu, one of Korea's most beloved TV hosts known for Running Man and Infinite Challenge, was quoted as saying. Yim, who starred in Squid Game 2 and breakout drama Misaeng, joined him in donating the same amount. Veteran actress Lee Hye-young, known for Queen of Housewives and her fashion career, contributed 20 million won. More K-stars like singer-actress Kim Se-jeong followed suit. K-stars Yu Jae-seok (left) of 'Running Man' fame and Yim Si-wan who acted in 'Squid Game 2' each donated 50 million won (RM135,000) to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association on July 18, 2025. — Pictures from Instagram/jaesukkie1408 and yim_siwang The star of rom-com hit Business Proposal and fantasy series The Uncanny Counter, donated 10 million won last Saturday. Winner member Kang Seung-yoon, who also acted in Prison Playbook and released solo tracks like It Rains, contributed 12 million won. Celebrity couple Park Si-eun and Jin Tae-hyun, both known for their acting work and charitable efforts, gave 10 million won. 'We thank everyone who has helped us with their warm hearts. 'We will make sure to deliver such kindness to the people who have suffered,' the Hope Bridge was quoted as saying in response. News agencies reported torrential rain had triggered landslides and flooding across the country this week, with Gapyeong – a resort town northeast of Seoul – among the hardest hit. Two people were killed and two others are missing in Gapyeong, after a landslide engulfed homes and floodwaters swept away vehicles. The heavy rains, which first hit the south, moved north overnight and were expected to taper off yesterday with a heatwave forecast to follow, the news agency reported, citing the Korean weather agency.
Malay Mail
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
‘Running Man' host Yu Jae-seok, ‘Squid Game' star Yim Si-wan lead celeb support for flood-hit South Koreans
SEOUL, July 20 — South Korean celebrities are stepping up with donations to help victims of the country's deadly floods that have left at least 14 dead and 12 missing since last Wednesday. Entertainer Yu Jae-seok and actor Yim Si-wan each donated 50 million won (RM135,000) to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association last Friday, new outlet Korea JoongAng Daily reported today. 'My heart felt heavy with sorrow to see so many people's lives harmed by the heavy rain. I hope the damage doesn't get worse,' Yu, one of Korea's most beloved TV hosts known for Running Man and Infinite Challenge, was quoted as saying. Yim, who starred in Squid Game 2 and breakout drama Misaeng, joined him in donating the same amount. Veteran actress Lee Hye-young, known for Queen of Housewives and her fashion career, contributed 20 million won. More K-stars like singer-actress Kim Se-jeong followed suit. K-stars Yu Jae-seok (left) of 'Running Man' fame and Yim Si-wan who acted in 'Squid Game 2' each donated 50 million won (RM135,000) to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association on July 18, 2025. — Pictures from Instagram/jaesukkie1408 and yim_siwang The star of rom-com hit Business Proposal and fantasy series The Uncanny Counter, donated 10 million won last Saturday. Winner member Kang Seung-yoon, who also acted in Prison Playbook and released solo tracks like It Rains, contributed 12 million won. Celebrity couple Park Si-eun and Jin Tae-hyun, both known for their acting work and charitable efforts, gave 10 million won. 'We thank everyone who has helped us with their warm hearts. 'We will make sure to deliver such kindness to the people who have suffered,' the Hope Bridge was quoted as saying in response. News agencies reported torrential rain had triggered landslides and flooding across the country this week, with Gapyeong – a resort town northeast of Seoul – among the hardest hit. Two people were killed and two others are missing in Gapyeong, after a landslide engulfed homes and floodwaters swept away vehicles. The heavy rains, which first hit the south, moved north overnight and were expected to taper off yesterday with a heatwave forecast to follow, the news agency reported, citing the Korean weather agency.
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US neo-fascist group claims it is part of Texas floods relief efforts
A US racist and neo-fascist hate group that has become a public fixture in recent years has descended on central Texas in a stunt it claims is part of the 'disaster relief' efforts under way after the devastating flash floods hit the region last week. Patriot Front, founded following the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, after which its leader, Thomas Rousseau, a Texan, was later charged for his participation, has claimed on its Telegram app channel that it has shown up in the areas near Camp Mystic, where 27 young campers lost their lives. 'Patriot Front is here in central Texas,' Rousseau declares in a video statement, amid the backdrop of what sounds like buzzing chainsaws in the flood-ravaged community, 'responding to the flooding, which has destroyed communities and taken the lives of scores of Americans.' Rousseau goes on to claim that his so-called 'activists' are distributing supplies to survivors, but clarifies that his group is prioritizing their 'people' and 'European peoples' in those operations. The far-right compulsion to disguise racist actions under the terms of humanitarianism has its roots in Adolf Hitler's autobiography, Mein Kampf, in which he prescribes to his readers to take pride in keeping their collective communities strong as a not-so-hidden metaphor for cleansing it of what is deemed other, undesirable peoples. Similarly, American hate groups, second amendment-oriented militias and neo-Nazi street gangs have long shown up as community relief cadres across the US, in a sort of ploy to whitewash their images as dangerous forces in the country. After hurricanes struck the Carolinas and Florida in fall 2024, Patriot Front also exploited the moment during a particularly polarizing presidential campaign season, showing up to clear debris in badly hit communities. 'It's not surprising to see Patriot Front inserting itself into disaster relief in Texas,' said Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, who has researched rightwing extremism in the US for decades. 'The group was founded there, and like other extremist groups, they want to take advantage of relief efforts to mainstream their ideas, present themselves as non-threatening and helping the community, and ultimately use what they hope will be positive PR to recruit and grow,' Beirich noted that everyone from Klansmen to armed militias have seen value in public appearances providing disaster aid. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion 'We've seen David Duke do this in the past, and more recently Veterans on Patrol inserted themselves into the relief efforts in Asheville after last year's hurricane,' she said. 'The concern is that it works – and Patriot Front's white supremacist agenda gets laundered as positive, and that helps them spread hate and recruit.' Last week, Patriot Front caused a stir in Louisville, Kentucky, over the holiday weekend when its masked members marched to the beat of drums in downtown streets while holding a Confederate banner – which has become a commonplace demonstration for the group, having previously appeared in Boston around the Fourth of July weekend in 2022. Patriot Front's Rousseau has sometimes tried to soften his image in public statements, referring to himself and his crew merely as political 'activists'. But recent Guardian reporting shows the group has increasingly allied itself with the neo-Nazi Active Club movement and the white supremacist leader Robert Rundo.
The Guardian
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
US neo-fascist group claims it is part of Texas floods relief efforts
A US racist and neo-fascist hate group that has become a public fixture in recent years has descended on central Texas in a stunt it claims is part of the 'disaster relief' efforts under way after the devastating flash floods hit the region last week. Patriot Front, founded following the deadly 2017 Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where its leader, Thomas Rousseau, a Texan, was later charged for his participation, has claimed on its Telegram app channel that it has shown up in the areas near Camp Mystic, where 27 young campers lost their lives. 'Patriot Front is here in central Texas,' Rousseau declares in a video statement, amid the backdrop of what sounds like buzzing chainsaws and a flood ravaged community, 'responding to the flooding, which has destroyed communities and taken the lives of scores of Americans'. Rousseau goes on to claim that his so-called 'activists' are distributing supplies to survivors, but clarifies that his group is prioritizing their 'people' and 'European peoples' in those operations. The far-right compulsion to disguise racist actions under the terms of humanitarianism, has its roots in Adolf Hitler's autobiography, Mein Kampf, where he prescribes to his readers to take pride in keeping their collective communities strong as a not-so-hidden metaphor for cleansing it of what they deemed other, undesirable peoples. Similarly, American hate groups, second amendment-oriented militias, and neo-Nazi street gangs have long shown up as community relief cadres across the US, in a sort of ploy to whitewash their images as dangerous forces in the country. After hurricanes struck the Carolinas and Florida in fall 2024, Patriot Front also exploited the moment during a particularly polarizing presidential campaign season, showing up to clear debris in badly hit communities. 'It's not surprising to see Patriot Front inserting itself into disaster relief in Texas,' said Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, who has researched rightwing extremism in the US for decades. 'The group was founded there, and like other extremist groups, they want to take advantage of relief efforts to mainstream their ideas, present themselves as non-threatening and helping the community, and ultimately use what they hope will be positive PR to recruit and grow,' Beirich noted that everyone from Klansmen to armed militias have seen value in public appearances providing disaster aid. Sign up to Headlines US Get the most important US headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning after newsletter promotion 'We've seen David Duke do this in the past, and more recently Veterans on Patrol inserted themselves into the relief efforts in Asheville after last year's hurricane,' she said. 'The concern is that it works – and Patriot Front's white supremacist agenda gets laundered as positive, and that helps them spread hate and recruit.' Last week, Patriot Front caused a stir in Louisville, Kentucky, over the holiday weekend when its masked-members marched to the beat of drums in downtown streets holding a Confederate banner, which has become a commonplace demonstration for the group having previously appeared in Boston around the fourth of July weekend in 2022. Thomas Rousseau has sometimes tried to soften his image in public statements, referring to himself and his crew, merely as political 'activists'. But recent Guardian reporting shows the group has increasingly allied itself with the neo-Nazi Active Club movement and the white supremacist leader Robert Rundo.
