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Express Tribune
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Thailand's pygmy hippo Moo Deng celebrates first birthday amid fading internet fame
Moo Deng, Thailand's internet-famous pygmy hippo, marked her first birthday on July 10, 2025, drawing loyal fans despite her fading online fame. A four-day celebration is underway at Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chonburi province, where Moo Deng first captured global attention with her playful behavior and chubby appearance. First birthday of Thailand's pygmy hippo Moo Deng celebrated with four-day festivalhttps:// — AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 10, 2025 The young hippo, whose name translates to 'Bouncy Pork' in Thai, skyrocketed to fame last year and amassed over five million social media followers. Born at just 5kg, she now weighs 93kg and resides in a public enclosure that was once livestreamed around the clock to feed the internet's fascination. Celebrations for her birthday included a $3,000 fruit-covered cake sponsored by a skincare brand and a themed lecture titled 'Moo Deng's cheekiness.' Among those in attendance was Malaysian fan Jennifer Tang, who took a week off work to visit the zoo. She described Moo Deng as a 'chaos rage potato' and added, 'She's really special to me, she makes me happy.' Tang insisted the hippo remains 'sassy and funny' despite becoming more reserved with age. Moo Deng's handlers noted the shift in her behavior as she matures. 'She used to be very naughty and jumped around all the time,' said handler Attaphol Nundee. 'Now she only eats and sleeps.' While they admit her popularity has slowed, fans—both old and new—still flock to see her. As Moo Deng's playful days fade, experts suggest her waning popularity may reflect broader trends in internet virality. 'Maybe part of our appreciation of cuteness is knowing that it doesn't last very long,' said Joshua Paul Dale, a professor at Chuo University in Japan. Though her fame may have peaked, Moo Deng remains an iconic figure of online animal stardom. Handlers have hinted that some of her belongings may soon be auctioned.
Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
'Japan's Baba Vanga's' terrifying prediction comes true after 'disaster' warning
Ryo Tatsuki, who has earned a reputation as 'Japan's Baba Vanga', has apparently seen one of her most chilling predictions come true today, while tourists have been left too spooked to book flights A psychic hailed as 'Japan's Baba Vanga' has seen another of her predictions come true - and believers have been left scared enough to change their travel plans. Manga comic book artist Ryo Tatsuki has drawn comparisons with the famed Bulgarian mystic on account of her eerily prescient premonitions, detailed in her 1999 book, The Future as I Saw. This creepy tome details a number of Ryo's dreams, some of which have purportedly come to pass. It garnered particular interest after the devastating 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which Ryo appeared to anticipate, with her prior warning of a major natural disaster set to unfold in March 2011. Naturally spooked, followers of Ryo's work have also been fearful of another date which is fast approaching - July 5, 2025. And there are those who believe her chilling vision has already come true, partly at least. Foretelling a calamitous disaster in an updated version of her book, published four years ago, Ryo wrote: "The ocean floor between Japan and the Philippines will crack. Huge waves will rise in all directions. Tsunamis will devastate the Pacific Rim countries. "A tsunami three times higher than that of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011 will strike the southwest of the country." It has been noted that part of Ryo's prediction has already come true, two days early, with a 5.5-magnitude earthquake rocking Japan today. As reported by the AFP News Agency, authorities have urged 89 residents of the small southern island of Akuseki to evacuate "to a school playground" after a quake powerful enough to make it "difficult to remain standing". Thankfully, Japan's Meteorological Agency has advised that a tsunami warning has not been put in place. Ayataka Ebita, director of the earthquake and tsunami observation division of the agency, told reporters: 'In areas where the tremors were strong, there is an increased risk of collapsed houses and landslides. Please be aware of earthquakes of similar magnitude for the foreseeable future." Although disruptive, today's incident is nowhere near in the same league as the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, which resulted in thousands of deaths and widespread destruction. Whether it comes to pass or not, Ryo's premonition has had real-world knock-on effects for the tourism sector. CN Yuen, managing director of Hong Kong-based travel agency WWPKG, informed CNN that bookings to Japan had halved over the Easter holidays, with further dips expected over the coming two months. It's believed anxious travellers, all too aware of Ryo's frightening reputation for accuracy, may have been spooked by this particular prediction and thought twice about any trips to Japan. Meanwhile, Eric Zhu, Bloomberg Intelligence's analyst for aviation and defence, revealed: "The quake speculations are definitely having a negative impact on Japan tourism, and it will slow the boom temporarily. Travellers are taking a risk-averse approach given the plethora of other short-haul options in the region.' With this in mind, however, Ryo has previously cautioned people to remember that she is "not a prophet", reminding them to put their faith in experts, not just dreams.
The Journal
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
US moves staff from embassy in Iraq as tensions with Iran over nuclear deal increase
THE US IS reducing the number of its staff at its embassy in Iraq and other bases in its control in the Middle East over security concerns as tensions with Iran have escalated. Iran and the US have concluded their fifth round of nuclear talks, seeking to reach a replacement of the 2015 accord, seeking that Tehran dismantle its nuclear weapons capabilities, that President Donald Trump scrapped in 2018. Iran this evening threatened to target US military bases in the region if conflict breaks out. Trump has said he is 'less confident' that a nuclear deal can be reached. Since returning to the White House in January, the Trump administration has sought to impose pressure on Iran to reach a deal. It has warned of a military response, if it fails. Speaking this evening, Iran's defence minister Aziz Nasirzadeh said all of US-controlled bases in the region are 'within out reach' and that they will be targeted 'without hesitation' if conflict breaks out. 'God willing, things won't reach that point, and the talks will succeed,' the minister said, adding that the US side 'will suffer more losses' if it came to conflict. In January 2020, Iran fired missiles at bases in Iraq housing American troops in retaliation for the US strike that killed top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani days before at Baghdad airport. Dozens of US soldiers suffered traumatic brain injuries. Cargo ships travelling through the Persian Gulf have also been advised to proceed with caution by the British-navy-run UK Maritime Trade Operations agency. Advertisement The US has multiple bases in the Middle East, with the largest located in Qatar. Sources have told the AFP News Agency that staff at an embassy in Iran have been reduced today. Trump, tonight, has confirmed reports that staff have been removed from 'dangerous' locations in the Middle East. It comes as talks between Iran and the US have reached an impasse in recent weeks over Tehran's uranium enrichment operations – which it has said is a 'non-negotiable'. The country currently enriches uranium – meaning, to increase its concentration – to 60%. It is far above the 3.67% limit set in the 2015 deal. Enriching uranium can assist in the production of nuclear warheads – though Iran's operations are still short of the 90% concentration needed to create the weapons. Trump had expressed optimism about the talks securing an end to Iran's programme during a trip to the region last month, but he told US media today that he feels 'less confident' that a deal can be reached. He has discussed the possibility of his country and Israel working together to get Iran to reach a deal, or cooperating militarily if not. The intenrational nuclear watchdog met this week and concluded yesterday that there has been 'less than satisfactory' cooperation from Tehran , particularly in explaining past cases of nuclear material found at undeclared sites. Iran has criticised the report as unbalanced, saying it relied on 'forged documents' provided by Israel. - © AFP 2025 , with reporting by Muiris Ó Cearbhaill
The Journal
04-06-2025
- General
- The Journal
Trump-Putin phone call will not lead to 'immediate peace in Ukraine', US President says
A CALL BETWEEN the US and Russian Presidents will not lead to 'an immediate peace' in Ukraine, Donald Trump has said. In a post to Truth Social , following the first call between the two presidents since the illegal invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin in 2022, Trump said the leaders discussed the war. A recent and sophisticated attack by Ukraine's Secret Service on more than 40 Russia's bombing planes , which have targeted civilian locations and infrastructure in the past, was discussed during the call, Trump said. The attack saw many Ukrainian drones make their way into Russia's borders using a shipping container before taking off, destroying the planes and the containers used to transport the weapons. It is the largest attack on Russian military infrastructure that has taken place inside the country's borders since the beginning of Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine over three years ago. Advertisement Trump wrote that, during the hour and 15-minute phone call, Putin said 'very strongly' that he will have to respond to the recent attack on the airfields. He did not say whether he had warned Putin off any such retaliation against Ukraine, which Washington has supported through financial and military support in its fight against Russia. 'It was a good conversation, but not a conversation that will lead to immediate peace,' he added. The Republican has repeatedly alarmed Ukraine and Western allies by appearing to side with Putin over the war. This included a blazing Oval Office row with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. But Trump has also showed growing frustration with Putin as Russia has so far derailed the US president's efforts to honour a campaign pledge to end the war within 24 hours – even if he never explained how this could be achieved. Includes reporting by AFP News Agency Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Remember That Wild Photoshoot of Young Barron Trump and His Many Toys?
'Abundance for me but not for thee' seems to be Donald Trump's new motto. The president's argument that children should just have fewer dolls rattled the nation last week. Trump's tariffs proposals—which were discovered and confirmed by the White House to be based on bad math—have sent markets tumbling and pushed the U.S. economy closer toward a recession. The boss of the biggest shipping port in the country told AFP News Agency that American consumers can expect 'less choice and higher prices' once current inventory runs out, which he predicted would occur within the next five to seven weeks. In the face of rising costs and a slowing job market, Trump's solution is just as simple as it is un-American: Buy less. 'I don't think a young lady, a 10-year-old girl, 9-year-old girl, 15-year-old girl, doesn't need 37 dolls. She can be very happy with two or three or four or five,' Trump reiterated to reporters aboard Air Force One Sunday. But Trump—whose net worth is estimated by Forbes to be $5.1 billion—wouldn't know the first thing about living a modest lifestyle. His own children have been photographed in the lap of luxury, playing with lavish toys backdropped by the ornate interiors of his New York City penthouse, as the internet was quick to point out. Some of Barron Trump's childhood toys included a customized mini Mercedes convertible featuring a 'BARRON' license plate, several life-size stuffed animals, and famously, a Louis Vuitton 'soot-case' that reportedly now retails for nearly $10,000. They resided in an entire floor of Trump's apartment, which Barron apparently had all to himself, Melania told Entertainment Tonight in 2010. Other images of Trump's brood include photos of Melania holding a baby Barron in front of golden doors, marble floors, and an elaborate pram.
