World

  • World NewsFrance detects new Covid variant “IHU,” believed to be highly transmissible

    France detects new Covid variant “IHU,” believed to be highly transmissible

    While the world is grappling with new spikes in Covid-19 cases due to the Omicron variant, scientists in France have discovered another variant. The newly-discovered variant, called B.1.640.2, was found in 12 patients near Marseille and features 46 mutations, making it vaccine-resistant and contagious. Also known as “IHU,” the strain was detected by scholars at the IHU Mediterranee Infection on…

  • World NewsHong Kong police raid pro-democracy news media, arrest 6 people

    Hong Kong police raid pro-democracy news media, arrest 6 people

    About 200 Hong Kong police stormed local pro-democracy news media outlet Stand News in the early morning today, arresting six employees for allegedly publishing stories against the state following the massive and frequently violent democratic protests two years ago. Stand News interim editor-in-chief Patrick Lam was amongst those who got arrested, including Hong Kong pop diva Denise Ho, barrister Margaret…

  • Thailand NewsEU now accepts Thailand Covid-19 vaccination certificates

    EU now accepts Thailand Covid-19 vaccination certificates

    Thailand’s Covid-19 certification is now linked to the EU’s digital certification system, according to Deputy Head of Delegation European Union Giuseppe Busini, who tweeted the announcement. He wrote that Thailand’s Covid-19 certifications will be accepted in the European Union, while Thailand will recognise the EU Digital Covid Certificate. The European Commission approved certifications given by Thailand, Montenegro, Taiwan, Tunisia, and…

  • World News5 Omicron cases reported in South Korea

    5 Omicron cases reported in South Korea

    South Korea reported its first five cases of the new “Omicron” virus on Wednesday amongst its 5,000 in a single day as infection rates soared for the first time, raising concerns about a sudden spike. The new variant was followed by a fully vaccinated couple who came back from Nigeria last week and was promptly transmitted to two family members…

  • Covid-19 NewsUPDATE: What we know about “Omicron,” new travel restrictions to Thailand

    UPDATE: What we know about “Omicron,” new travel restrictions to Thailand

    An increasing number of countries are taking precautionary steps to halt international flights. There are already many travel bans from several southern African nations following the discovery of a newly identified Covid-19 variant called “Omicron”. Is Omicron in Thailand? The Omicron Covid-19 variant has not been detected in Thailand, according to the director-general of the Department of Disease Control, assuring…

  • World NewsWorld’s largest Ikea store opens in Philippines

    World’s largest Ikea store opens in Philippines

    The Swedish ready-to-take furniture giant has made its first appearance in Manila, Philippines by opening its largest store in the world, with a new 730,000-square-foot facility that includes a 2-story, 270,000-square-foot store, dining area, and showroom, as well as warehouses, an e-commerce centre, and a call centre. The opening ceremony of Ikea Pasay City was held at the store’s restaurant…

  • World NewsNorth Korea sentences man to death for smuggling copies of Netflix’s “Squid Game”

    North Korea sentences man to death for smuggling copies of Netflix’s “Squid Game”

    A man has been sentenced to death by firing squad in North Korea. A student has been jailed for life, and his teachers and school administrators were fired, facing banishment to work in remote mines or themselves. Six people were also sentenced to five years in prison. And their crime? Smuggling and watching Netflix’s most popular South Korean TV show,…

  • Covid-19 NewsBlackpink’s Lisa tests positive for Covid-19

    Blackpink’s Lisa tests positive for Covid-19

    A Thai-born Lisa Manoban of the K-pop girl group “Blackpink” has been diagnosed with Covid-19, according to reports. A South Korean news outlet Daum said Lisa was diagnosed with the coronavirus today, and her management YG Entertainment was awaiting the results of RT-CPR tests performed on three other members of the group. BLACKPINK YG Thailand, a Facebook page founded by…

  • World NewsThai research institute identifies global post-pandemic trends

    Thai research institute identifies global post-pandemic trends

    There is no doubt that in many ways, the world looks like a very different place now than it did before Covid-19. The Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) has identified a number of global megatrends that they say will be a big part of post-pandemic life. The institute says that industries will have to learn to adapt to these new…

  • World NewsPhnom Penh governor says public must follow Covid-19 measures during Cambodia’s water festival

    Phnom Penh governor says public must follow Covid-19 measures during Cambodia’s water festival

    The governor of Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh is warning the public to abide by Covid-19 prevention measures while travelling and gathering for the Royal Water Festival, known as “Bon Om Touk,” marking the the end of the monsoon season with celebrations and dragon boat races. The popular three-day festival, begins today and people throughout the country gather for boat races.…

  • World NewsSingapore vows to continue hosting F1 Grand Prix – Transport Minister

    Singapore vows to continue hosting F1 Grand Prix – Transport Minister

    Good news for Formula One enthusiasts in Singapore as the Transport Minister says discussions with Formula One management and race organisers Singapore GP on a new contract are ongoing, despite the cancellation of this year’s race owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. Minister S. Iswaran said at a press conference that Singapore is in talks to host the F1 Singapore Grand…

  • World NewsStudents in lower-risks area return to classrooms as the Philippines reopens schools

    Students in lower-risks area return to classrooms as the Philippines reopens schools

    Thousands of the Philippines students returned to school on Monday for the first time in nearly two years as a hundred public schools in lower-risk areas have started a two-month pilot program to hold courses in person. As approved by President Rodrigo Duterte, a total of 100 public schools will participate in the two-month pilot program. On Monday, 30 private…

  • World NewsSingapore lifts entry curbs for 5 more countries under vaccinated travel lane scheme

    Singapore lifts entry curbs for 5 more countries under vaccinated travel lane scheme

    Beginning November 29, Singapore will allow vaccinated travellers from five more countries, including Indonesia and India, to enter the country without undergoing a quarantine or isolation period. The effort is part of the country’s vaccinated travel lane scheme and will be expanded to cover travelers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates beginning early next month, according to…

  • World NewsSingapore looks to Esports to help reboot tourism

    Singapore looks to Esports to help reboot tourism

    As Singapore slowly reopens to foreign travellers, the country is hoping that Esports might be a new way to attract more tourists back to the island. Singapore has invested heavily in both digital and physical infrastructure, and has become Southeast Asia’s primary hub for Esports viewing and revenue, according to Bloomberg. Dr. Tan See Leng, Minister of Manpower and Second…

  • World News7 people arrested over kidnap and torture of a cryptocurrency investor in Hong Kong

    7 people arrested over kidnap and torture of a cryptocurrency investor in Hong Kong

    Seven people were arrested by Hong Kong police on Sunday over alleged involvement in the kidnap for ransom and torture of a man who was entangled in a cryptocurrency scam. According to police, the victim was badly beaten and assaulted with hammers and metal chairs by a gang and held captive for about a week. The 39 year old victim…

  • World NewsBiden-Xi summit begins, tensions high between China and the US

    Biden-Xi summit begins, tensions high between China and the US

    A highly anticipated virtual meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping has begun as tensions are high between the two countries, especially over the status of Taiwan, which is a self-ruling democracy claimed by Beijing. Speaking through a translator, Biden told Xi… “As I’ve said before, it seems to me our responsibility as leaders of China…

  • Environment NewsPM says Thailand will step up fight against climate change

    PM says Thailand will step up fight against climate change

    Thai PM Prayut Chan-o-cha has vowed to step up Thailand’s focus on tackling climate change. He made this announcement yesterday in Glasgow at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of the Parties, also known as the COP26. This convention is a forum in which world leaders can meet and make plans to address relevant climate issues. Prayut…

  • World NewsStabbing spree on Tokyo train Halloween night injures 17

    Stabbing spree on Tokyo train Halloween night injures 17

    A man dressed in what appears to be a costume of Joker from the Batman comics and movies allegedly went on a stabbing spree on a Tokyo train Halloween night, injuring 17 people. The train had to make an emergency stop and riders escaped the train through the windows. The alleged attacker, 24 year old Kyota Hattori, was arrested and…

  • World NewsIndonesian president proposes travel lane for vaccinated visitors from Australia

    Indonesian president proposes travel lane for vaccinated visitors from Australia

    A so-called travel lane between Indonesia and Australia for those who are vaccinated against Covid-19 is being proposed by the Southeast Asian country’s president Joko Widodo. A report from Bloomberg says the route is intended to boost tourism and economic ties between the two countries. Indonesia’s popular tourist island Bali reopened last month to foreign visitors from 19 countries, but…

  • Covid-19 News5 million deaths – 22 months of Covid-19

    5 million deaths – 22 months of Covid-19

    Covid-19 has killed more than 5 million people across the globe, a grim milestone after nearly 20 months of lockdowns, information overload, misinformation and misery. The US has contributed the largest single body count from the coronavirus – 4% of the world’s population but 15% of the total deaths. Covid-19 is now a leading cause of death in the US,…

  • World NewsLast US troops leave Afghanistan, ending 20-year war

    Last US troops leave Afghanistan, ending 20-year war

    Ending the 20-year war, the longest in American history, the United States completed its withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan yesterday, leaving the country in hands of the Taliban. The Islamic militant group swiftly took over the country’s capital, Kabul, earlier this month. Gunshots were fired in celebration after the last US soldiers left Afghanistan. In an Al Jazeera TV yesterday, Taliban…

  • World NewsBiden stands by decision to withdraw troops, says no leaving without ‘chaos ensuing’

    Biden stands by decision to withdraw troops, says no leaving without ‘chaos ensuing’

    Following Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan’s capital Kabul with thousands now trying to evacuate the country, US President Joe Biden sat down with an ABC News reporter for a one-on-one interview, standing by the decision to withdraw US troops after occupying the area for two decades. While acknowledging that he was stunned by the swift takeover of the US-backed Afghan government,…

  • World NewsMyanmar’s economy to shrink by 18% due to military coup and Covid-19

    Myanmar’s economy to shrink by 18% due to military coup and Covid-19

    The civil unrest following the February military coup, paired with the a spike in Covid-19 infections, is expected to cause Myanmar’s economy to contract by 18% this year, according to the World Bank. Since the military takeover, ousting the country’s elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi of the National League for Democracy, it’s estimated that more than 900 people have been killed…

  • World NewsSingapore plans to vaccinate 80%, reopen with quarantine-free travel by September

    Singapore plans to vaccinate 80%, reopen with quarantine-free travel by September

    Singapore plans to fully vaccinate 80% of the population and reopen with quarantine-free travel in September. As the Southeast Asian country accelerates its vaccination campaign to hit its target within the next month, officials are preparing to reopen the country and are working to establish travel corridors with countries that have low Covid-19 infection rates. Finance Minister Lawrence Wong told…

  • World NewsIndonesia now Asia’s Covid-19 epicentre as daily cases exceed India

    Indonesia now Asia’s Covid-19 epicentre as daily cases exceed India

    Indonesia has become the epicentre of Covid-19 in Asia as the daily case count has exceeded India’s. The country reported 56,757 new cases and 982 coronavirus-related deaths yesterday, surpassing India’s count of 39,072 new cases and 544 deaths. With the highest number of daily cases, the archipelago country of 270 million people is now the new Covid-hotspot in Asia, and…

  • World NewsVietnam considers strict regulations for social media live streaming

    Vietnam considers strict regulations for social media live streaming

    Regulations on social media live streaming could soon be tightening in Vietnam and affect so-called “influencers” who make money off of marketing. In an effort to crack down on “fake news” and offensive content, the country’s Ministry of Information and Communications is proposing regulations on the live videos streamed through Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. Under the proposed measures, reported by…

  • World NewsIndonesia bars unvaccinated foreign visitors as Delta variant spreads

    Indonesia bars unvaccinated foreign visitors as Delta variant spreads

    Foreign nationals who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 will be barred from entering Indonesia as the Southeast Asian country works to contain the more transmissible Delta variant. The order goes into effect tomorrow. The government made an announcement yesterday saying that along with being vaccinated, foreign travellers must test negative for Covid-19 and undergo an 8-day quarantine upon arrival.…

  • Thailand NewsSunday Update: 5,916 new infections, provincial totals, news briefs

    Sunday Update: 5,916 new infections, provincial totals, news briefs

    Today the public health department has announced 5,916 new infections and 44 Covid-related deaths. 39 of the total are attributed to Thai prisons. The report indicates a stabilisation of numbers after 3 days hovering around the 6,000-per-day level of new cases. But Sundays often return lower-than-usual reports. Since April 1, 2021 there’s been 254,204 people infected, 2,132 dead (+44 today), 59,938 remain in care, 2,147…

  • World NewsASEAN delegation to visit Myanmar to help find a solution to ongoing crisis

    ASEAN delegation to visit Myanmar to help find a solution to ongoing crisis

    To help find a solution to the ongoing situation in Myanmar following the military coup, an ASEAN delegation will visit Myanmar tomorrow to meet with the leaders of the junta’s State Administrative Council, which has taken the place of the elected civilian government led by the National League of Democracy. Since the February military takeover, an estimated more than 800…

  • Covid-19 NewsSoutheast Asia: The new covid-19 epicentre

    Southeast Asia: The new covid-19 epicentre

    Some western countries appear to have turned the tide against Covid-19 (China and India have also administered between 640 million and 208 million doses, respectively). The middle East is showing promise in vaccinating its citizens. But health experts predict some countries could be months or even weeks from being able to come out on the other side of their current…