World News
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Sponsored Why retirees in Thailand are choosing long-term health insurance over quick fixes
Retirees in Thailand are increasingly seeing the importance of health insurance in protecting their well-being during retirement. With insurance requirements for retirement visas and rising healthcare costs, many are moving away from short-term plans and choosing long-term coverage. Long-term health...
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Singapore’s travel pass site went down as applications for Malaysians open
The SafeTravel website of Singapore, which allows foreign visitors to apply for a vaccination travel pass before entering, was down for several hours yesterday, which was the first day people from Malaysia could apply. Around noon, the website had a message that said “it was undergoing regular maintenance.” It was then restored around 3pm, but a text box recommended customers to…
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Philippines waives quarantine for “Green List” countries
The Philippines is waiving quarantine requirements for fully vaccinated visitors from countries classified on the government’s “green list.” The Philippines, home to over 7,000 islands in Southeast Asia, is now accepting fully vaccinated visitors from countries on the “Green List”, but they must submit a negative RT-PCR test done within 72 hours of departure, rather than quarantine or an on-arrival…
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Brazil’s skateboarders who choose self-confidence over crime
When it comes time for Sandro Soares’ free lessons, the kids and teens usually knock on the gate with their skateboards. Soares, known to most as Testinha, in June resumed training sessions several times a week after classes were put on hold for many months due to the coronavirus pandemic. His wife Leila, an educator, supports the passionate 43-year-old skateboarder.…
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Sudan: Is Hamdok’s return a signal of democracy or military victory?
Sudanese protesters have taken to the streets to call for democracy and an end to military rule after the deposed civilian prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, pledged to return to the government jointly led with the military. Nearly four weeks after a military coup, Hamdok was reinstated on Sundaywhen he signed a 14-point power-sharing deal with General Abdel-Fattah Burhan. “Sudanese blood…
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Kenya ramps up fight against COVID
The Kenyan government over the weekend issued new health regulations to prevent a surge of COVID-19 cases. From December 21, Kenyans will have to prove they are fully vaccinated to gain access to government services in hospitals, education, tax and immigration offices, as well as many public places, including national parks, bars and restaurants. Workers in the public transport sector…
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India farm laws — what impact will the repeal have on Modi’s standing?
Thousands of farmers continue to protest in India even after Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday unexpectedly rolled back contentious agricultural laws his government rammed through parliament last year arguing that they would modernize the nation’s farm sector. The laws sparked yearlong protests from tens of thousands of farmers, who feared new rules would dramatically reduce their incomes. The row…
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Uptick in road crashes in Laos, speeding and drink driving major causes in Vientiane
A recent survey focused on Laos’ increase in traffic crashes found that over three-quarters of drivers in the capital Vientiane are habitually breaching speed limits and about a third of individuals driving in the evening have consumed alcohol. The country’s Department of Transport lead the surveys, with technical and financial support from the World Bank. Researchers also documented accounts from…
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Xinjiang footage sheds new light on Uyghur detention camps
A 20-minute video featuring more than a dozen detention facilities in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has offered fresh evidence and renewed the discussion around China’s large-scale crackdown on ethnic minorities in the region. The video was filmed by a Chinese man named Guanguan, who went to Xinjiang after reading a series of articles from US news outlet BuzzFeed News,…
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International Criminal Court pauses probe into Philippines president’s bloody war on drugs
The investigation into Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s bloody war on drugs has been temporarily suspended by the International Criminal Court. The ICC launched the probe into alleged human rights violations during the president’s campaign against illegal drugs where thousands have died since Duterte took office in June 2016. The Court has reportedly halted the investigation to review a deferral request…
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15 Burmese pilgrims drown while crossing flooded causeway to reach Buddhist temple
At least 15 pilgrims have drowned and at least 3 more are missing after trying to cross a flooded causeway in Myanmar. According to an AFP report, the incident occurred near the town of Thanbyuzayat in the state of Mon. The victims were among thousands of religious pilgrims who were attempting to reach the Kyeik Hne pagoda. The Buddhist temple…
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Chinese tennis player speaks to Olympic official, insists she’s “safe and well”
Following mounting concern about her welfare, Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai has spoken to the International Olympic Committee to say she’s safe. According to a Reuters report, Peng had a 30-minute video call with IOC president, Thomas Bach. The call came as Western governments expressed concern when the player had not been seen in public for nearly 3 weeks. Her…
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Thailand’s climate pledges slammed as “critically insufficient”
Climate research group Climate Action Tracker says Thailand’s pledges at the recent COP26 summit in Glasgow, Scotland are “critically insufficient”. A report issued by the group has slammed the targets that were agreed, saying Thailand, like most other countries, has not improved on its goals in any way that will make enough of a difference. The report says Thailand needs…
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China fines Alibaba, Tencent in anti-monopoly crackdown
As part of a larger anti-monopoly crackdown, China fined tech giants including Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings for not reporting 43 acquisitions over the past eight years. The State Administration for Market Regulation said the companies “failed to declare illegal implementation of operating concentration.” The acquisitions involved are assets in the areas of technology, medical technology and mapping. Each violation…
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Free NFTs! Art project website releases thousands of NFTs
In what he described as an art project that was designed to show how ridiculous the new fad is, an Australian man has made thousands of NFTs free on a website. Non-fungible tokens are unique digital units that use blockchain technology to give proof of ownership to digital assets, including easily copyable things like photos and videos. Enthusiasts view NFTs…
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Yemen: Journalists fear for their lives
It happened on Tuesday morning, two weeks ago. The journalists Rasha Abdullah al-Hazari and her husband Mahmud al-Utmi were about to drive to a hospital in Aden for a check-up on Rasha’s pregnancy. But when the couple got into their car, a car bomb exploded. Rasha died on the spot, along with her unborn baby. Her heavily injured husband was…
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3 Cathay Pacific pilots broke Covid-19 rules, got fired and infected
After what Cathay Pacific described as a serious breach of pandemic regulations, 3 cargo pilots were fired after becoming infected with Covid-19 and putting many others at risk. An internal investigation found the pilots for Hong Kong’s flagship airline broke Covid-19 safety rules while abroad in Frankfurt, Germany. The airline is known for being very proactive about Covid-19 safety and…
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Belarus crisis: Airlines threatened with sanctions
Once things started to move, they did so very quickly. On Wednesday evening, just 48 hours after the EU introduced new sanctions in response to crisis at the border between Poland and Belarus, the Lebanese Transport Ministry announced that it, too, would allow only Belarusians, Lebanese citizens with valid visas and foreign citizens with permanent residence permits to fly to…
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Sudan’s protest movement: ‘Now we are driven by anger’
The messages came in without prior warning. On Thursday evening, millions of texts, photos and videos about the protests and the violent clampdown finally reached cell phones in Sudan. “The footage is horrific,” Rania Aziz, a 36-year-old activist in Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, told DW in a video call. Then she started crying. “We are experiencing a national shock now,” she…
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West Bank: Harvesting olives under rabbis’ protection
On a sunny autumn day, Palestinian Bashar Sharab is busy pouring freshly brewed coffee in small paper cups for Israeli and Palestinian volunteers who are helping him pick olives near the village of Awarta, near the West Bank town of Nablus. Pickers are perched on ladders to reach the small fruits, while others lay plastic sheets underneath the trees to…
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Sea gypsies hope better livelihood ahead upcoming local elections
Local elections are coming up and it will be the first time many of Thailand’s Moken tribes, or also known as sea gypsies, will be voting in the Tambon Administration Organisation elections. The indigenous Moken tribes are known for their lifestyle of semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers for centuries in the Andaman Sea. They are known to be able to hold their breath…
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Singapore-Malaysia Vaccinated Travel Lane starts Monday, 6 airlines offer flights
With Singapore and Malaysia’s so-called “Vaccinated Travel Lane” launching Monday, allowing quarantine-free travel for those going to and from the two countries, six airlines will offer flights under the scheme. AirAsia, Jetstar Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Malindo Air, Scoot, and Singapore Airlines are set to fly between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur under VTL programme, starting Monday, according to the Civil Aviation…
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China’s lobbying for Myanmar junta to join Xi Summit met with opposition
China’s Special Envoy of Asian Affairs Sun Guoxiang has pressed Southeast Asian governments to allow Myanmar’s military ruler to attend a regional meeting hosted by China’s President next week, but has faced heavy opposition, diplomatic sources told Reuters reporters. He visited Singapore and Brunei last week, but was told that Myanmar military junta chief Ming Aung Hlaing would be unable…
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Thai Foreign Minister reportedly admits to meeting with Myanmar’s military junta
Following reports in Burmese media that Thailand’s Foreign Affairs Minister visited Myanmar’s capital Naypyidaw last weekend to meet with the military junta and coup leader, the minister has reportedly revealed details about his trip, saying he discussed humanitarian aid for the country’s citizens. Foreign Affairs Minister, Don Pramudwinai, who also serves as Deputy PM, reportedly admitted to meeting with coup…
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New Covid-19 treatment from AstraZeneca could make “significant difference”
Studies show that a new Covid-19 antibody treatment from AstraZeneca offers 83% protection over 6 months. According to a Reuters report, the pharmaceutical giant says the new treatment could offer hope to people who don’t respond well to vaccines. Executive Vice President Mene Pangalos says the evidence shows it could make a significant difference. “These new data add to the…
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Anti-doping agency bans Thailand from hosting international football tournaments
The World Anti-Doping Agency has hit Thailand with a number of sanctions over its failure to comply with WADA conditions. The ruling means Thailand cannot host any international football tournaments and the Thai flag cannot be displayed at such events. It’s understood the ruling is a result of Thailand’s failure to follow WADA’s 2021 code. According to a Bangkok Post…
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Belarus deeply divided over migrant arrivals
It was a spontaneous decision. “I packed a wool coat, vest, warm scarves, mittens, a blanket and jacket,” writes a Minsk-based blogger, who requested anonymity. The items were part of an impromptu donation drive to support migrants holed up in the Belarus capital. She describes in the Facebook post how “grateful” they were to receive the clothing. “The black coat…
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China: Detained journalist Zhang Zhan on ‘brink of death’
Detained journalist Zhang Zhan is reportedly on the “brink of death” amid a hunger strike, as international pressure mounts on the Chinese government to release her. Zhang was also unveiled as the recipient of the 2021 Press Freedom Award in the courage category, by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), on Thursday. She was arrested in May 2020, after posting dozens of…
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China: Detained journalist Zhang Zhan on ‘hanging by a thread’
Detained journalist Zhang Zhan is reportedly on the “hanging by a thread” amid a hunger strike, as international pressure mounts on the Chinese government to release her. Zhang was also unveiled as the recipient of the 2021 Press Freedom Award in the courage category, by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), on Thursday. She was arrested in May 2020, after posting dozens…
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Greece: NGO workers could face 25 years in prison for helping migrants
When Sean Binder and Sarah Mardini were arrested and put in prison on the Greek island of Lesbos in February 2018, the police report referred to them as “No. 7” and “No. 8.” “I am actually not sure if I am seven or eight, but it was me and Sara in the police station that day, so I am definitely…
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Greece: NGO workers could face prison for helping migrants
When Sean Binder and Sarah Mardini were arrested and put in prison on the Greek island of Lesbos in February 2018, the police report referred to them as “No. 7” and “No. 8.” “I am actually not sure if I am seven or eight, but it was me and Sara in the police car that day, so I am definitely…
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