• The grave for Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which was retired by the company earlier this week after 27 years, on the rooftop of a cafe in South Korea's southern city of Gyeongju. AFP
    The grave for Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which was retired by the company earlier this week after 27 years, on the rooftop of a cafe in South Korea's southern city of Gyeongju. AFP
  • The grave for Microsoft's Internet Explorer. AFP
    The grave for Microsoft's Internet Explorer. AFP
  • This undated handout photo provided courtesy of Kiyoung Jung on June 17, 2022 shows a grave for Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which was retired by the company earlier this week after 27 years, in honour of the browser's "death", on the rooftop of a cafe in South Korea's southern city of Gyeongju. - A South Korean engineer who built a grave for Internet Explorer -- photos of which quickly went viral -- told AFP on June 17 that the now-defunct web browser had made his life a misery. (Photo by Kiyoung Jung / Courtesy of Kiyoung Jung / AFP) / ---- EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Courtesy of Kiyoung Jung" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
    This undated handout photo provided courtesy of Kiyoung Jung on June 17, 2022 shows a grave for Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which was retired by the company earlier this week after 27 years, in honour of the browser's "death", on the rooftop of a cafe in South Korea's southern city of Gyeongju. - A South Korean engineer who built a grave for Internet Explorer -- photos of which quickly went viral -- told AFP on June 17 that the now-defunct web browser had made his life a misery. (Photo by Kiyoung Jung / Courtesy of Kiyoung Jung / AFP) / ---- EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Courtesy of Kiyoung Jung" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
  • The Internet Explorer logo. Photo: Microsoft
    The Internet Explorer logo. Photo: Microsoft

RIP Internet Explorer: software engineer's tombstone for Microsoft browser goes viral


  • English
  • Arabic

A South Korean software engineer who built a grave for Internet Explorer — pictures of which quickly went viral — said that the now-defunct web browser had made his life a misery.

South Korea, which has some of the world's fastest average internet speeds, remained bizarrely wedded to Microsoft's Internet Explorer, which was retired by the company earlier this week after 27 years.

In honour of the browser's “death”, a gravestone marked with its signature “e” logo was set up on the rooftop of a cafe in South Korea's southern city of Gyeongju by engineer Kiyoung Jung, 38.

“He was a good tool to use to download other browsers,” the gravestone's inscription reads.

Images of Mr Jung's joke tombstone quickly spread online, with users of social media site Reddit upvoting it tens of thousands of times.

Once dominant globally, Internet Explorer was widely reviled in recent years due to its slow speed and glitches.

But in South Korea, it was mandatory for online banking and shopping until about 2014, as all such online activities required sites to use ActiveX — a plug-in created by Microsoft.

It remained the default browser for many Seoul government sites until very recently, local reports said.

The Microsoft Internet Explorer logo is projected on a screen in Los Angeles. AP Photo
The Microsoft Internet Explorer logo is projected on a screen in Los Angeles. AP Photo

The websites of the Korea Water Resources Corporation and the Korea Expressway Corporation only functioned properly in Internet Explorer until at least June 10, according to a report by the Maeil Economic Daily.

As a software engineer and web developer, Mr Jung told AFP he constantly “suffered” at work because of compatibility issues involving the now-defunct browser.

“In South Korea, when you are doing web development work, the expectation was always that it should look good in Internet Explorer, rather than Chrome,” he said.

Websites that look good in other browsers, such as Safari or Chrome, can look very wrong in Internet Explorer, which often forced him to spend many extra hours working to ensure compatibility.

Mr Jung said that he was “overjoyed” by the browser's retirement.

But he also said he felt genuinely nostalgic and emotional about the browser's demise, as he remembers its heyday — one of the reasons he was inspired to erect the grave stone.

He quoted Japanese animator Hayao Miyazaki: “People are often relieved that machines don't have souls, but we as human beings actually give our hearts to them,” Mr Jung said, explaining his feelings for Internet Explorer.

He said he was pleased by the response to his joke grave and that he and his brother — who owns the cafe — plan to leave the monument on the rooftop in Gyeongju indefinitely.

“It has been very exciting to make others laugh,” he said.

____________________________

Inside Google's new self-developed Bay View campus

  • A bicycle path along Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
    A bicycle path along Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
  • Workstations in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
    Workstations in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
  • Sitting area at Google's Campfire Corner in Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
    Sitting area at Google's Campfire Corner in Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
  • Sitting area at Google's Campfire Corner in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
    Sitting area at Google's Campfire Corner in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
  • Interior view in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
    Interior view in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
  • Interior view of Google's Campfire Corner in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
    Interior view of Google's Campfire Corner in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
  • Interior view in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
    Interior view in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
  • An exterior view of building BV200 and Google shared bicycles during a tour of Google's new Bay View Campus. Reuters
    An exterior view of building BV200 and Google shared bicycles during a tour of Google's new Bay View Campus. Reuters
  • A seating area in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
    A seating area in Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
  • Google announced the opening of its new Bay View campus in Silicon Valley, representing the company's first time developing its own major campus. EPA
    Google announced the opening of its new Bay View campus in Silicon Valley, representing the company's first time developing its own major campus. EPA
  • Art work in Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
    Art work in Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
  • An Office directory in Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
    An Office directory in Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
  • Interior and ceiling view of BV200, Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
    Interior and ceiling view of BV200, Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
  • The Google bicycle Pedal Park inside Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
    The Google bicycle Pedal Park inside Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
  • Binary code and art work on the window of Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
    Binary code and art work on the window of Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
  • The side of Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
    The side of Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
  • An outdoor weight room in front of Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
    An outdoor weight room in front of Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
  • Binary code on the window of Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
    Binary code on the window of Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
  • The Google logo in front of Google's Bay View Building. EPA
    The Google logo in front of Google's Bay View Building. EPA
  • An interior view of BV200, Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
    An interior view of BV200, Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
  • An Interior view of BV200, Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
    An Interior view of BV200, Google's new Bay View campus building. EPA
  • A Google Android bot in the lobby of BV100, Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
    A Google Android bot in the lobby of BV100, Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
  • The Bay View campus was designed by architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Heatherwick Studio, as well as Google's design and engineering teams and spans 42 acres adjacent to the open space, two office buildings, and 1,000-person event centre. EPA
    The Bay View campus was designed by architects Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) and Heatherwick Studio, as well as Google's design and engineering teams and spans 42 acres adjacent to the open space, two office buildings, and 1,000-person event centre. EPA
  • A coffee table made out of a wood stump in the sitting area at BV200, Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
    A coffee table made out of a wood stump in the sitting area at BV200, Google's new Bay View campus. EPA
  • Google employees in the cafeteria area in Mountain View, California. EPA
    Google employees in the cafeteria area in Mountain View, California. EPA
  • A Google employee in the cafeteria area in Mountain View, California. EPA
    A Google employee in the cafeteria area in Mountain View, California. EPA
  • A worker inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg
    A worker inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg
  • A seating area inside Google's new Bay View campus. Bloomberg
    A seating area inside Google's new Bay View campus. Bloomberg
  • Inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg
    Inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg
  • Workers inside Google's new Bay View campus. Bloomberg
    Workers inside Google's new Bay View campus. Bloomberg
  • A mural inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg
    A mural inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg
  • Inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg
    Inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg
  • Workers in one of the many dining areas inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg
    Workers in one of the many dining areas inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg
  • Inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg
    Inside Google's new Bay View campus in Mountain View, California. Bloomberg
  • Desks inside Google's new Bay View campus. Bloomberg
    Desks inside Google's new Bay View campus. Bloomberg
  • One of nine pieces of art created by Bay Area artists for the campus. Reuters
    One of nine pieces of art created by Bay Area artists for the campus. Reuters
About Takalam

Date started: early 2020

Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: HealthTech and wellness

Number of staff: 4

Funding to date: Bootstrapped

Tips%20for%20holiday%20homeowners
%3Cp%3EThere%20are%20several%20factors%20for%20landlords%20to%20consider%20when%20preparing%20to%20establish%20a%20holiday%20home%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3ERevenue%20potential%20of%20the%20unit%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20location%2C%20view%20and%20size%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EDesign%3A%20furnished%20or%20unfurnished.%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Is%20the%20design%20up%20to%20standard%2C%20while%20being%20catchy%20at%20the%20same%20time%3F%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EBusiness%20model%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20will%20it%20be%20managed%20by%20a%20professional%20operator%20or%20directly%20by%20the%20owner%2C%20how%20often%20does%20the%20owner%20wants%20to%20use%20it%20for%20personal%20reasons%3F%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3E%3Cstrong%3EQuality%20of%20the%20operator%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20guest%20reviews%2C%20customer%20experience%20management%2C%20application%20of%20technology%2C%20average%20utilisation%2C%20scope%20of%20services%20rendered%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESource%3A%20Adam%20Nowak%2C%20managing%20director%20of%20Ultimate%20Stay%20Vacation%20Homes%20Rental%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo

Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm

Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm

Transmission: 6-speed auto

Price: from Dh155,000

On sale: now

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Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

'Gehraiyaan'
Director:Shakun Batra

Stars:Deepika Padukone, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Ananya Panday, Dhairya Karwa

Rating: 4/5

Super Saturday race card

4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EHakbah%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENaif%20AbuSaida%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESaudi%20Arabia%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E22%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24200%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3Epre-Series%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%20and%20Aditum%20Investment%20Management%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MO
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECreators%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Ramy%20Youssef%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Amer%2C%20Teresa%20Ruiz%2C%20Omar%20Elba%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Airev
Started: September 2023
Founder: Muhammad Khalid
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: Generative AI
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
 
Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

Terminator: Dark Fate

Director: Tim Miller

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Mackenzie Davis 

Rating: 3/5

'Peninsula'

Stars: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun, Lee Ra

Director: ​Yeon Sang-ho

Rating: 2/5

Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR

US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.

KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.

 

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

What%20is%20Dungeons%20%26%20Dragons%3F%20
%3Cp%3EDungeons%20%26amp%3B%20Dragons%20began%20as%20an%20interactive%20game%20which%20would%20be%20set%20up%20on%20a%20table%20in%201974.%20One%20player%20takes%20on%20the%20role%20of%20dungeon%20master%2C%20who%20directs%20the%20game%2C%20while%20the%20other%20players%20each%20portray%20a%20character%2C%20determining%20its%20species%2C%20occupation%20and%20moral%20and%20ethical%20outlook.%20They%20can%20choose%20the%20character%E2%80%99s%20abilities%2C%20such%20as%20strength%2C%20constitution%2C%20dexterity%2C%20intelligence%2C%20wisdom%20and%20charisma.%20In%20layman%E2%80%99s%20terms%2C%20the%20winner%20is%20the%20one%20who%20amasses%20the%20highest%20score.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

Updated: June 17, 2022, 6:54 AM