Reality: a persistent illusion?

Reality, as we see it is pretty pliable. If we can create a virtual reality simulation, indistinguishable from reality, can we even guess what reality is, in the first place?

Johnson threw envoy 'under a bus'

Senior politicians in the United Kingdom have criticized leadership contender Boris Johnson over his role in Kim Darroch's resignation as British ambassador to the United States, after he repeatedly declined to rule out replacing the diplomat in a live TV debate.

Chernobyl exclusion zone will be a tourism magnet

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on Wednesday to turn the exclusion zone surrounding Chernobyl, the site of the world's worst nuclear accident in 1986, into a tourist site.

South Korea seeking US help in bitter trade spat with Japan

SEOUL - South Korea is seeking help from the United States in a bitter diplomatic row with Japan, another US ally in Northeast Asia, over Tokyo's moves to tighten controls on some high-tech exports.

Experts call on China, Japan to deepen cooperation

China and Japan should jointly resist protectionism and uphold multilateralism as well as the free trade system in order to repair the broken global industrial and supply chains, said former vice-premier Zeng Peiyan in Tokyo on Thursday.

IN BRIEF (Page 12)

UK PM hopefuls clash in TV debate

The two contenders to be the United Kingdom's next prime minister - Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt - went head to head in a lively and occasionally bad-tempered TV debate, clashing over Brexit, tax cuts, and the country's relationship with US President Donald Trump.

China urges joint efforts against terror

China's counterterrorism and de-radicalization campaign is part and parcel of the global fight against terrorism, the Chinese ambassador to the United Nations said on Tuesday.

Kenyans may grow temperate fruits

Despite being in a tropical region, Kenya can still produce high yields of temperate fruit trees like apples, pears, peach, plums, and grapes if the right technologies and cultivars are used, according to Tao Jianmin, professor of grape planting and breeding at Nanjing Agricultural University.

Japan's asteroid probe set for final touchdown

TOKYO - Japan's Hayabusa2 probe began descending on Wednesday for its final touchdown on a distant asteroid. It aims to collect samples that could shed light on the evolution of the solar system.

24 killed in brutal tribal massacres

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea - Twenty-four people have died - including two pregnant women - in tribal fighting in Papua New Guinea's highlands, prompting the prime minister on Wednesday to promise swift justice.

Europe urges Iran to stick to troubled deal

TEHERAN - European powers urged Iran on Tuesday to reverse its move to increase uranium enrichment "without delay", as a French envoy arrived in Teheran to boost efforts to save a landmark 2015 nuclear accord.