GLOBAL SNAPSHOT

1 Strength of swears

LONDON: Muscle strength and stamina can be boosted by letting out profanities, a study has found. Swearing may help a cyclist struggling up hill to summon extra pedal power, or give a boost to free a stubborn bolt or jammed bottle top. Psychologists conducted tests in which volunteers had to swear before intense sessions on an exercise bike or squeezing a device that measures hand grip strength. Peak power was increased by an average 24 watts by swearing.

2 Student uses Force

ASHWAUBENON: A student dressed as a storm trooper for Star Wars Day has prompted a US high school to be evacuated after a frightened parent saw the costumed figure entering the facility and called 911. Police in Ashwaubenon, in Wisconsin, say the parent saw the student going through a back door wearing body armour and a mask, and carrying a bag. Police Captain Jody Crocker says the parent did the right thing, given the suspicious situation, and any perceived threat cannot be taken lightly. School officials say that they will re-emphasise the district’s no-costume policy.

3 Military inspection

SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has inspected a military unit responsible for bombarding a southern island. Pyongyang fired 170 artillery shells on to Yeonpyeong Island in November 2010, killing four in the first North Korean attack on a civilian area since the Korean War. Tensions have recently soared on the Korean peninsula amid a string of missile launches by Pyongyang and speculation the regime was preparing to conduct a sixth nuclear test.

4 Not quite Wikipedia

BEIJING: An online Chinese encyclopedia to rival Wikipedia is in the works – but without the participation of the public. Scholars and experts handpicked by Beijing to work on the project say only they will be able to make entries.

5 Peak numbers

KATHMANDU: A Nepalese official says Sherpa workers are fixing the final route to the summit of Mount Everest and the first climb of the season could be days away. The Nepalese Tourism Department has issued a record number of permits to 317 climbers.

6 UN takes aim

MANILA: The UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions has rebuked Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against drugs, saying world leaders have recognised it doesn’t work. She said badly thought out policies fail to address drug abuse and trafficking – and that they actually compound the problem.