World News

The latest fiasco in K-pop has seen Taeil, a major star from boy group NCT, dropped by his label after it emerged that he was being investigated over an unspecified sex offence. It is by no means the first time the industry has been rocked by allegations of this kind, with the most notorious case in its history seeing three singers jailed for sexual crimes. A host of stars have been disgraced, with others facing charges for rape, blackmail, drug abuse and drink driving, with many believing they would be protected by their fame. In an industry that prides itself on its star's clean cut and 'perfect' images, the emergence of a much more sinister reality has been laid bare over recent years.

The floating carcasses created a silvery blanket across the port of Greek city of Volos and a stench that alarmed residents and authorities who raced to scoop them up before the odour reached nearby restaurants and hotels. 'It spans kilometres,' city council member Stelios Limnios said. 'It's not just along the coast, but also in the centre of the Pagasetic Gulf,' he said, referring to the area offshore Volos whose coast is lined with holiday homes. On Wednesday, trawlers dragged nets to collect the fish that were then dumped in the back of trucks. On Tuesday alone, authorities removed 57 tons of the dead fish washed up on beaches near Volos. The city's mayor, Achilleas Beos, said the smell was unbearable. During a press conference he blamed the government for not dealing with the problem before it reached his city.