| | | | | | | Hello. As the search continues for survivors of Japan’s New Year’s Day earthquake, Jean Mackenzie finds the worst-hit town burnt, broken and largely empty. In the US, Madeline Halpert explains how “cyber kidnappers” can extort ransom money without ever having contact with their victim. And scroll down for the verdict of critic Caryn James on the latest series of True Detective. Now, I’m off to find out whether the UK’s new favourite teenage sensation - yes, he really is just 16 - can become world darts champion. Why not follow along with me? |
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| | | | | | AT THE SCENE | Wajima, Japan | | The eerie search for earthquake victims | | | | The destruction has left more than 30,000 people in shelters across Japan. Credit: EPA | | With rescuers continuing the desperate search for survivors of Japan’s earthquake, our team has reached the west coast fishing town of Wajima, close to the epicentre. They had spent two days negotiating severed roads, arriving just hours after rescue teams to find a ghost town, burned and broken. | | | The remnants of its old marketplace are still smouldering. A fire broke out when the earthquake hit, and spread instantly, incinerating the wooden stalls and some surrounding homes. Twisted fragments of corrugated iron are scattered among the ash. Firefighters are still combing the smoking debris, checking for unextinguished flames. Throughout the town, people's traditional wooden homes lie splintered on the ground, collapsed; not made to withstand Japan's endless earthquakes.
One woman, sheltering at the evacuation centre with her injured husband, told us there was not enough food and water, and the queues at the only open shop snaked down the road. Toshio Iwahama, 82, said his home had been badly damaged. "We always have earthquakes here, but I just didn't think we'd get a big one like this," he said. "I didn't take it seriously. I thought we were safe.” He is worried about how he will pay for repairs. Now it is the aftershocks that concern him. There have been more than 200 tremors since the earthquake struck. |
| | | | • | Death toll: At least 73 people are known to have died in the quake. That number is expected to rise but is unlikely to reach the tens of thousands killed by tremors of similar magnitude elsewhere. Science correspondent Jonathan Amos explains why. | | • | Airport fireball: A coastguard aircraft helping with earthquake relief efforts had not been cleared for take-off before it collided with a Japan Airlines jet at Tokyo's Haneda airport, authorities have said. Read the transcript of the crucial moments. |
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| Questions Answered | | The strange trend of cyber kidnapping | | | | The perpetrators had sent a ransom demand and photo to Kai Zhuang’s parents in China, claiming he had been abducted. Credit: Riverdale Police Department |
| | The case of a Chinese exchange student found in a tent in rural Utah, after his family had paid $80,000 (£62,600) to scammers who convinced him to isolate, has highlighted the trend of “cyber kidnapping”. Experts say there have been several cases of foreign students being coerced into staging their own abductions. | | | | Madeline Halpert, BBC News |
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| | What is a cyber kidnapping? | | Typically, cyber kidnappings involve criminals calling or messaging a victim to trick them into thinking a loved one has been kidnapped, though the person is actually safe, said Joseph Steinberg, a cyber security specialist. Victims have reported hearing screaming on the phone while the perpetrator claimed their loved one was in danger to secure a ransom. | | How common is it? | | No data is available on the frequency of virtual kidnappings, which go largely unreported, experts said. They emphasised, however, that advances in technology have facilitated the crimes. Mr Steinberg said he worries about the use of artificial intelligence to impersonate loved ones' voices and coerce them into paying ransoms. Social media also allows perpetrators to study and collect information on victims before they make contact. | | How can the crimes be prevented? | | The first step is simply being aware of the problem, knowing what personal information is public and staying vigilant, Mr Steinberg said. After initially receiving an emergency call or message, Mr Steinberg also recommends trying to reach the loved one to verify their location. Families can also come up with specific phrases or keywords to use in emergency situations, he said. | | | | | | |
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| | The big picture | | Cold spell grips northern India | | | | Water bodies in Kashmir have partially frozen. Credit: Getty Images |
| | A severe cold wave has gripped parts of northern India, with temperatures as low as 7C (44.6F) in Delhi and falling below -5C (23F) in Indian-administered Kashmir. Photographers have captured the struggles of daily life in the icy weather. | | | | |
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| | | For your downtime | | Suspenseful drama | | True Detective's fourth chapter finally lives up to the promise of its first, says Caryn James. | | |
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| | And finally... in Wales | | The discovery of a medieval cemetery in Wales has left archaeologists scratching their heads. Unusual details in the well-preserved skeletons, such as teeth worn in a way that indicates they were used as tools, and unexpected artefacts are also emerging from the site. Dig into this fascinating tale, from science reporters Rebecca Morelle and Alison Francis. |
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