Crawling to extinction: S’pore turtle haven fights for life

SINGAPORE: Hundreds of turtles and tortoises, including rare and endangered species, face an uncertain future after their Singapore sanctuary — a Guinness World Record holder — was forced to relocate due to government redevelopment plans. At its peak around 1,000 of the creatures were housed at The Live Turtle and Tortoise Museum, which opened in 2001 at popular tourist spot Chinese Gardens. It also showcased specimens and memorabilia such as figurines and stuffed toys. AFP

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3,000-kg garbage collected from Mt Everest region

KATHMANDU: A total of 3,000 kg of solid waste has been collected from the Mt Everest region since the beginning of the Nepal government-backed Sagarmatha Cleaning Campaign on April 14, the media reported on Monday.Dandu Raj Ghimire, Director General of Department of Tourism, informed that of the total garbage collected so far, 2,000 kg has been sent to Okhaldhunga while 1,000 kg has been brought to Kathmandu using Nepali Army helicopters for disposal, reports The Himalayan Times. IANS

Succession this week will shrink Japan's imperial heirs to 2

TOKYO:  Japan's imperial family is relatively small and will shrink further in the coming years. Only one of Emperor Akihito's four grandchildren is a male who can ascend to the throne. The three princesses likely will lose their royal status eventually, since they are required to do so if they marry commoners. Akihito's daughter lost her imperial status after marrying a local government official. AP

Unstoppable

MEXICO: Central American migrants climb on a train known as ‘The Beast’, continuing their journey towards the United States, in Ixtepec, Mexico, on Sunday. REUTERS