10/24/2016  WHO: SUGARY DRINKS SHOULD BE TAXED
The World Health Organization says drinking a lot of sugary beverages is a major reason for a rise in the rates of obesity and diabetes. Now, a WHO report says people should pay more for the unhealthy products so that they may cut down on consumption.The report recommends a tax of at least 20 percent on the retail price of sugar-laden drinks. It says the move would lead to improvements in the health of young people and those with low incomes. WHO officials add that a tax could cut healthcare costs, ease people's suffering, and even save lives.They say half a billion people aged 18 or older are obese. Close to the same number has diabetes.Mexico has already introduced a tax on non-alcoholic beverages with added sugar. Officials in Britain, the Philippines, and South Africa are considering similar moves.
10/25/2016  BOB DYLAN WINS
American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has won this year's Nobel Prize in Literature. He is being honored for breathing new life into the American music scene. It is the first time the honor went to a musician.
(The Swedish Academy)"The Nobel Prize in Literature for 2016 is awarded to Bob Dylan for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition."
Dylan made his record debut in 1962. His songs, including "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Like a Rolling Stone," made him the voice of a generation. They served as anthems during the civil rights movement and protests against the Vietnam War in the 1960s and '70s.Dylan has won a number of awards during his 50-year career, including Grammys, an Academy Award, and a Pulitzer Prize. Nobel judges say Dylan's influence on contemporary music has been profound.
10/26/2016  THAILAND MOURNS KING'S PASSING
People in Thailand are in mourning following the death of their nation's father figure, King Bhumibol Adulyadej. He passed away on Thursday at a hospital in Bangkok. The king was the world's longest-reigning monarch at the time of his death.The king ascended the throne in 1946 at age 18. He earned the adoration of the Thai people through his work promoting public health and rural development.The king was regarded as a pillar of stability and sometimes served as a mediator in Thailand's turbulent politics. The country has experienced more than 10 military coups since the end of the absolute monarchy in 1932.
10/27/2016  KOIKE PUSHES COST-CUTTING WITH IOC
Tokyo's governor has scored a minor victory in her efforts to curb ballooning costs for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. Yuriko Koike met with the head of the IOC in Tokyo on Tuesday to discuss how to cut spending. The pair ended the meeting by agreeing to continue discussions.A task force recently appointed by Koike estimated the price of the Tokyo Games could grow to about 30 billion dollars. That's about four times the original estimate. The panel advised the governor to review the current venues for three events, including rowing and canoeing. Koike is considering scrapping plans that require new facilities and instead use existing locations to save money.But changing plans needs the approval of the IOC. During the meeting, Bach was receptive to the panel's findings.
(Thomas Bach / IOC President)"There we see a great potential of a reduction with regard to the figures mentioned in this report."
Bach proposed setting up a framework for more dialogue.
10/28/2016