According to a recent United Nations report, the world population of 7.6 billion is expected to reach 8.6 billion in 2030, 9.8 billion in 2050 and 11.2 billion in 2100. 　Roughly 83 million people are expected to be added to the world's population every year, even though fertility levels are assumed to continue declining. 　Among the 10 largest countries worldwide, Nigeria is growing the most rapidly. The population of Nigeria -- currently the world’s seventh largest -- is projected to surpass th

World Sept. 25, 2017

Leaves use carbohydrates (sugars) to continually produce chlorophyll, which makes the leaves green; the chemical absorbs the blue and orange components of sunlight and converts them into energy for the tree.

Technology Sept. 24, 2017

　The Ring of Fire is a 40,000-kilometer horseshoe-shaped area of intense volcanic and seismic activity that follows the edges of the Pacific Ocean. The Ring of Fire includes 75 percent of the world‘s active volcanoes and is also responsible for 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes.　The Ring of Fire is an arc of mountains, volcanoes and oceanic trenches that stretch from New Zealand northward along the eastern edge of Asia, then east across the Aleutian Islands of Alaska and south along the west

World Sept. 21, 2017

World Sept. 20, 2017

　Hunger is on the increase across the globe once again after a decade of declines, a UN report said.　Most of the world‘s hungry people are in Asia and Africa, with 520 million and 243 million, respectively. But proportionally Africa is hardest hit, with 20 percent of people not having enough food -- in Asia the ratio is 11.7 percent, according to the report.　Overall, the number of chronically hungry people rose to 815 million, or 11 percent of the world's population, in 2016. The figure represen

World Sept. 19, 2017

　Many countries with land borders in Asia have long remained peaceful, others remain tense. Five Asian countries have no land border with other countries. 　In a world of connected societies, border demarcation has been essential. When countries share a border, territorial disputes arise over tracts of land or water that are claimed by different independent countries.　China, the most populous nation on the planet, has 16 unique land neighbors, with 22,147 kilometers of land borders. It has border

World Sept. 18, 2017

　According to an OECD report, Korea was one of the smallest investors in families among member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2013. The country allocated 1.13 percent of its gross domestic product to family benefits spending, ranking No. 32 among 35 OECD member states surveyed.　The family benefits cited by the report consist of public money allocated to enhance family units, including financial support exclusively for members of households and children, ac

World Sept. 17, 2017

　London remains the world‘s most attractive financial center despite fear mongering over Brexit, according to the Z/Yen Group’s latest Global Financial Centres Index.　The City was placed ahead of New York on factors such as infrastructure and access to high-quality staff.　Hong Kong leapfrogged Singapore into third place.　Six Asian countries ranked in the top 10 in the index of global financial centers.　

World Business Sept. 14, 2017

　About 90 percent of South Koreans are expected to go on a trip during the Chuseok holiday, which begins late this month, a survey showed Monday.　The government has designated Oct. 2 as a one-off holiday to bridge the Sept. 30 weekend with the Chuseok holiday (Oct. 3-5), National Foundation Day (Oct. 6) and Hangeul Day, which commemorates the invention of the Korean alphabet that falls on Oct. 9.　Of 623 people surveyed by hotel and restaurant reservation app Dailyhotel, 89 percent said they woul

National Sept. 13, 2017

　Nearly 300,000 Rohingya people have fled to Bangladesh to escape the violence in Rakhine state, the United Nations said Saturday, while the Myanmarese government for the first time offered humanitarian aid to members of the Muslim minority still in the country.　The UN is bracing for a further surge in arrivals to Bangladesh. Tens of thousands more are believed to be displaced in Rakhine, fleeing burning villages, the army and ethnic Rakhine mobs, who Rohingya refugees accuse of attacking civili

World News Sept. 12, 2017

 The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale rates hurricanes from 1 to 5 based on sustained wind speed to estimate potential property damage. Hurricanes reaching Category 3 and higher are considered major hurricanes because of their potential for significant loss of life and damage. Category 1 and 2 storms are still dangerous, however, and require preventive measures.

World Sept. 11, 2017

　Top of the list for new sanctions on North Korea after its sixth nuclear test is an oil embargo, which analysts say would have a crippling effect on the wider economy - but might do little to curb its weapons programs.　North Korea has little oil of its own and relies on fuel imports to keep its citizens and soldiers moving.　China is by far its biggest trading partner, responsible for around 90 percent of its commerce, according to Agence France-Presse.　Figures from the International Trade Cente

North Korea Sept. 10, 2017

　South Korea’s ice cream sales have declined in the past few years in the face of fewer children and the growing popularity of alternatives, such as iced coffee and shaved ice, a report said.　Per capita annual consumption of ice cream fell to 58 servings in 2015 from 71 servings in 2013, according to the report written by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.　The report attributed the decrease to the drop in the number of kids, the main consumers of ice cream, and the drastic rise

Business Sept. 7, 2017

　Average daily spending of mobile credit cards came to 57.9 billion won ($51.2 million) in the first half of this year, up 41.2 percent, data showed　The hike comes as a growing number of Koreans utilize smartphones to buy products ranging from clothes to electronic goods.　South Korea is one of the most wired countries in the world, with one of the highest smartphone penetration rates. Eight in 10 South Koreans use a smartphone, according to government data.

Business Sept. 6, 2017

　This graphic shows countries known to receive North Korean laborers, according to reports by the UN and academics. Expatriate workers are an important revenue source for Pyongyang

North Korea Sept. 5, 2017