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Korea Herald
11-08-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
[Editorial] Avoid overoptimism
NK begins to dismantle loudspeakers; Strong military is basis for detente North Korea on Saturday began dismantling some of its loudspeakers installed along the border for noise campaigns against South Korea, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The move is encouraging in that the North seemingly took a corresponding measure after the South finished removing its anti-Pyongyang loudspeakers. But it is premature to conclude based on this response alone that inter-Korean tensions have begun to thaw. The South Korean military suspended the propaganda broadcasts it had been sending to North Korea through its loudspeakers on June 11. About eight hours later, the North turned off its loudspeakers that since last year had jarred the nerves of South Korean residents in border towns by blaring eerie noises. However, Kim Yo-jong, a high-ranking official of the North Korean Workers' Party and sister of its leader Kim Jong-un, said on July 28 that the South's suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts was not worthy of evaluation. She also said that there is no way for the North to sit across from the South for talks. Yet, Seoul took another step to appease Pyongyang. On Aug. 7, it postponed about half of some 40 field training drills in the annual South Korea-US combined Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise set to take place later this month. Then two days later, the North was spotted dismantling some of its loudspeakers. North Korea's removal of loudspeakers could be seen as a sign of positive change in South-North relations. Pyongyang has ignored Seoul since it ended communication with the South unilaterally in April 2023. But overoptimism is dangerous. Even though the government in Seoul seeks to ease inter-Korean tensions, it should not make one-sided concessions. It should not try to meet the North's unreasonable demands, either. However, the Lee administration's measures toward North Korea are worrisome. It may be going too far to appease the North. The decision to push back some training of the Ulchi Freedom Shield came after Kim Yo-jong condemned the South Korea-US joint drills. After her condemnation, South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young reportedly said he would suggest to the president that the military exercise be rescheduled, and part of it actually was rescheduled. It is hard to exclude the possibility that South Korea might have first asked to postpone parts of the exercise in an effort to curry favor with the North. But soldiers who train less or do not train at all would not be able to defend their country in a time of emergency. South Korea's military strength reportedly decreased from 560,000 in 2019 to 450,000 in July this year. Two years ago, it fell below the 500,000 mark regarded as the minimum level needed in the state of armistice between South and North Korea. Now, it is 50,000 short of that very level. Due to the decrease in military strength, the number of division-level units is said to have gone down from 59 in 2006 to 42. Diminishing force and unit dissolutions could produce ill effects for national security in many ways. South Korea must not forget that Kim Jong-un has defined South Korea as its unchangeable No. 1 enemy state. The North, while persistently upgrading its nuclear weapons and missiles, has even accumulated combat experience by sending its soldiers to Russia to fight against Ukraine. It is also expanding weapons and technology deals with Russia. China and Russia conduct joint marine training, posing a great threat to East Asia. There are growing calls in Washington for South Korea to take on more leading roles in responding to the North's threats. It is part of a strategy for US forces, including in Korea, to be operated flexibly to focus on checking China. It is hasty at this stage to view North Korea's dismantling of some of its loudspeakers favorably. Above all, a strong military must be the basis of steps to relax tensions with North Korea.
Korea Herald
10-08-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
What North Korea's removal of loudspeakers means for South Korea
NK's removal of loudspeakers signals tension alleviation, but risks exist, experts say North Korea's recent move to dismantle some of its loudspeakers along the border can be interpreted as a sign of Pyongyang seeking alleviation of military tension between the two Koreas, but several risks exist, experts said Sunday. 'North Korea has immediately reacted to South Korea's decision to dismantle its own loudspeakers targeting the North along the border, and this can be seen as Pyongyang's intention to avoid further escalation of tension,' Lim Eul-chul, a professor at Kyungnam University's Institute for Far Eastern Studies, said. 'This is a strategic choice aiming to control the level of inter-Korean tension and conveys the North's preference towards military tension alleviation on the Korean Peninsula at the moment,' he added. On Saturday, the South's military noted that the North had begun dismantling some loudspeakers used to broadcast its propaganda for its regime across the border. The signs came within a week after the South completed the removal of its own 'anti-Pyongyang' loudspeakers amid the Lee Jae Myung administration's efforts to improve inter-Korean relations. Lim added that the North's recent reaction to the South's 'preemptive' move to alleviate tensions is expected to define Pyongyang's stance towards inter-Korean ties. 'This is a reaction to the South's preemptive action, and it presents a possibility that the North will continue to react whenever the South decides to make such moves to alleviate the tension first,' he said. Another North Korean expert echoed Lim's sentiment, saying that the North's dismantling of its loudspeakers is Pyongyang's 'new way' of dealing with relations with the South. 'It can be interpreted as the North's new way of dealing with its ties with the South and a passive move towards the Lee administration's active and preemptive measures,' Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said. But uncertainties exist: the latest exchange in actions lacked a solid communication channel or an agreement on the process, the Seoul-based North Korea expert noted. Yang believes a lack of "agreements based on face-to-face negotiations, ... presents uncertainties and limits to (this new type of inter-Korean exchange).' 'It means that the tension could always escalate again when either the South or the North misinterprets gestures and signs,' he added. Lim also pointed out that the North's decision to only partially remove its loudspeakers at the moment means that Pyongyang is seeking to 'only cooperate when its conditions are met.' Instead of expressing willingness to fully revive dialogue with the South and cooperate with Seoul, Pyongyang seems to be strategically focusing on short-term outcomes, he added. Since 1963, both the South and the North have engaged in a low-level military conflict involving loudspeaker broadcasts along the border, following the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice, not a truce or a peace treaty. Both sides have repeatedly halted and revived the loudspeaker broadcasts depending on inter-Korean relations.
Time of India
09-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
This common ingredient in the diet may feed cancer
You are what you eat. We all have grown up hearing this adage. And guess what, today it carries more weight than ever. Diet plays a crucial role in your health. A poor diet can even increase your risk of certain types of cancers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A compelling new study found that a source of dietary fat, rather than fat mass itself, plays a significant role in cancer development in obese people. A decade-long study led by Ludwig Princeton's Lydia Lynch found how a certain dietary fat may actively suppress the immune system and accelerate tumor growth. The findings are published in . Obesity and dietary fat (Pic courtesy: iStock) is linked to an increased risk of at least 13 major cancers, including those of the breast, colon, and liver. Excess body fat is also linked with impaired immune response that targets tumors and is stimulated by cancer immunotherapies. However, for years, researchers have wondered whether these effects stem from the sheer adiposity, or mass of fat, in people living with obesity or from the specific dietary fats they consume. The new study provides a deep insight into this. 'Our study reveals that the source of dietary fat, not adiposity itself, is the primary factor that influences tumor growth in obese mice. We found that high-fat diets derived from lard, beef tallow, or butter compromise anti-tumor immunity and accelerate tumor growth in several tumor models of obese mice. Diets based on coconut oil, palm oil, or olive oil, meanwhile, do not have this effect in equally obese mice. Our findings have implications for cancer prevention and care for people struggling with obesity,' Lynch said. The researchers added that instead of consuming animal fats, plant fats could be beneficial for obese patients undergoing treatment for cancer. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These dietary changes could also potentially lower cancer risk for people living with obesity. The study Lync and her colleagues' previous research has shown that obesity weakens the immune system and contributes to the progression of the tumor. It does so by impairing the body's cancer surveillance system, undermining the ability of immune cells such as cytotoxic T cells (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells to infiltrate tumors and, once there, kill their cancerous quarry. In a new study, Lynch and her team explored it further. They found that certain byproducts of animal fats in the diet damage NK cells and CTL function, speeding up cancer growth in obese mice. Interestingly, this effect wasn't seen in obese mice that ate plant-based fats. A diet rich in palm oil, a plant fat, even boosted anti-cancer immunity and slowed tumor growth in obese mice. No more guesswork: Doctor busts common myths about women's health 'These findings highlight the significance of diet in maintaining a healthy immune system. More importantly, they indicate that modifications to fat in the diet may improve outcomes in obese people undergoing treatment for cancer and suggest such measures should be clinically evaluated as a potential dietary intervention for such patients,' Lynch said.
Bloomberg
01-08-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
The Anti-US Axis Isn't Dead, Just Resting
June was a bad month for the theocrats in Tehran, what with all those Israeli and American bombs falling on them. It also seemed — at least superficially — to be a setback for a larger constellation that has concerned strategists in the US for the past two years: the formation of an anti-American and anti-Western 'axis' among China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. Since Russia's full-bore invasion of Ukraine, these CRINKs, as they're also called in Washington, seemed to be coalescing into a coordinated, if not united, front against the US and its partners. But when America dropped its bunker busters on the I, the C, R and NK notably failed to lift a finger.
Daily Mirror
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Charlotte Tilbury fans can grab best-selling Pillow Talk lipstick for £11
This limited-edition Charlotte Tilbury set includes four Pillow Talk products at a great price - but it's likely to sell out soon When it comes to Charlotte Tilbury products, there are few that are as iconic as the Pillow Talk Lipstick. The universally flattering shade, loved by none other than supermodel Kate Moss, has become a must-have for makeup fans around the globe - but its price is a bit steep for some, coming in at £29. However, we've spotted a limited-edition lip kit that features not one, but four popular Pillow Talk products for £43, meaning shoppers can bag the best-selling lippy for £11.50 in time for payday week. One customer gave it five stars for being 'great value', while another said it's 'worth every penny'. Ideal for those who loves the romantic, nude-pink hue that Pillow Talk exudes, the Iconic Lip and Cheek Secrets kit is sold on Cult Beauty, containing a travel-size Matte Revolution Lipstick in Charlotte Tilbury's beloved sultry shade, a full-size Pillow Talk Big Lip Plumgasm gloss and a travel-size Pillow Talk Lip Cheat lip liner. Plus, to help them achieve a noticeable glow, beauty lovers also get a travel-size Pillow Talk Beauty Light Wand highlighter blush all for £43, which works out at £11.50 per item. Not only is the kit a great way to save on Charlotte Tilbury must-haves, and the perfect gift for a beauty fan, but it also gives shoppers a chance to level up their makeup routine with products that deliver a cult-favourite shade. The Matte Revolution Lipstick is said to have a long-lasting, hydrating formula with a velvety finish while the Lip Cheat Liner has a smooth texture for a fuller-looking pout. To complete the look, customers can add the Big Lip Plumpgasm for a glossy finish, then swipe on the viral Beauty Light Wand which is formulated to melt seamlessly onto skin. Similar sets on Space NK include the NARS Mini Afterglow Liquid Blush & Lip Shine Duo, which includes a buildable blush and lip gloss, costing £29. The travel-sized set aims to give the wearer a natural-looking flush and hydrated lips. Meanwhile, REFY has slashed the price of a lip gloss and cream blush set worth £32, down to just £25.20. Available in six shade duos, the kit has already been praised for being 'perfect for summer' and 'excellent quality'. While we adore all products in the Charlotte Tilbury Lip and Cheeks set, the best product for us has to be the Pillow Talk lipstick, and with more than 700 five-star reviews on Cult Beauty alone, it's easy to see why it's one of the most popular items in the makeup world. Calling it the 'perfect matte nude', one shopper said: "Blends perfectly and lasts all day suits my skin perfectly and works well with many other products." Another wrote: "Always come back to this, the best lipstick, nice feeling on the lips and lasts a long time." Reviews for the Pillow Talk Iconic Lip and Cheek Secrets have been glowing as well, with one person saying: "This is great value and stays on really well. Definitely worth it." A second said: "Always wanted to try out Charlotte Tilbury's lip products and this set definitely didn't disappoint! Worth every penny." However, one person wished the products inside were bigger. They said: "Really cute set. Gutted they are only small items though, they are for my niece for Christmas so I'm sure she'll be thrilled." The Iconic Lip and Cheek Secrets kit is available here. More Charlotte Tilbury products can be found on the brand's website.
