Helping, listening, caring: Japanese prefecture leads dramatic decrease in suicides, Asia News,AKITA, Japan – Taeko Watanabe awoke one cold March night and found a trail of blood in the hallway, a bloody cleaver on her son Yuki's bed and no trace of him in the house. Then police discovered a su
China cuts international flights, bars foreign residents, China News,China will drastically cut its international flight routes and bar entry to returning foreigners based in the country to stem the spread of the coronavirus, authorities said Thursday. The country has not reported any new domestic C
For Putin, World Cup shows Russia cannot be caged by hostile West, World News,MOSCOW – Vladimir Putin is struggling to get a summit with Donald Trump, has little hope of ending Western sanctions, and is seen in much of the West as a pariah. So hosting the World Cup this month is a welcome moment in
She went from handling passports to moving 500kg crates at Changi Airport, Lifestyle News,In this series, AsiaOne speaks to individuals who find themselves changing careers and steering their lives in a new direction, whether by choice or circumstance. Since the pandemic began, Aisha Abdul Rahman ha
Coronavirus: 1 new cluster, fewer community cases as number of infections crosses 28,000 in Singapore, Singapore News,[UPDATED, 11.19pm] The Ministry of Health (MOH) has reported 682 new coronavirus cases in Singapore today (May 17). Of these, five cases are from within the community — four Singapor
16 killed in Burkina Faso mosque attack, underscoring govt's difficulties in battling extremists, World News,OUAGADOUGOU – Armed men stormed a mosque in the volatile north of Burkina Faso as worshippers were at prayer, killing 16 people and sending residents fleeing, security sources and locals
Coronavirus: 5 imported cases and 1 community case reported on Sunday, Singapore News,The Ministry of Health (MOH) has preliminarily confirmed an additional 313 cases of Covid-19 infection in Singapore as of Aug 2, 12 noon. The vast majority of the cases are Work Permit holders residing in foreign w
Marriage just a click away for China's desperate single men, China News,Marriage to a Vietnamese bride is just a click – and a few thousand dollars – away on a blizzard of Chinese websites promising to solve the \”single problems\” of China's men. A decades-long one-child policy has created
Coronavirus: Maldives confirms first 2 cases; 2 islands locked down, World News,MALE – The Maldives on Saturday (March 7) reported its first two confirmed cases of new coronavirus, and placed two of its island resorts under lockdown, as authorities conducted further tests to try to limit the spread
Sri Lanka completes payment for Russian coal cargoes, easing power crisis, Asia News,COLOMBO — Crisis-hit Sri Lanka has paid for two Russian cargoes to Suek AG's Singapore unit through a telegraphic transfer, two senior government officials told Reuters, in a move that is likely to help ease th
Thailand looks to Indian weddings to boost tourism revenue, Asia News,BANGKOK – Thailand hopes to boost its tourism revenue to between 600 billion (S$23 billion)-700 billion baht by year-end, by targeting high-spending groups like Indian wedding parties and honeymooners, a senior tourism official sa
7 Covid-19 cases picked up in Henderson HDB block mass testing, Singapore News,SINGAPORE – Seven Covid-19 cases have emerged from the mass testing of residents and visitors of 105 Henderson Crescent, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Monday (June 28). The positive cases were reported last Friday
Philippines to deploy riot police for Boracay tourist closure, Asia News,Manila – The Philippines is set to deploy hundreds of riot police to top holiday island Boracay to keep travellers out and head off potential protests ahead of its six-month closure to tourists, the government said Tuesday. Pre
Taiwan says not invited to WHO meeting after China's 'obstruction', Asia News,TAIPEI – Taiwan is yet to receive an invite to a key World Health Organisation (WHO) meeting this week expected to focus on the Covid-19 pandemic due to \”obstruction\” from China, the island's foreign mi
How safe are takeaway containers?, Health News,How often do you drop by your neighbourhood food court to take home some hot, piquant and savoury hawker fare? This isn't just about the calories, but something far worse- toxic chemicals from plastic containers lurking in your food. A study by Geo
Indonesian court disbands Islamic State-linked group for 'terrorism', Asia News,JAKARTA – An Indonesian court disbanded the country's largest Islamic State-linked group, Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD), on Tuesday for \”conducting terrorism\” and affiliating itself with the foreign militan
Serbian president accuses Ukraine and EU country over Air Serbia bomb threats, World News,BELGRADE — Serbia's president Aleksandar Vucic accused Ukraine and an unidentified European Union country late on Sunday (April 17) of being behind a series of false bomb threats to Air Serbia passenger pl
Malaysian mothers win lawsuit in 'sexist' citizenship case, Malaysia News,A group of Malaysian mothers won a legal battle on Thursday (Sept 9) for the right to pass their nationality to children born overseas – a landmark ruling that campaigners said could spur efforts to reform discrimina
#MeToo activists use blockchain to skirt China censors, China News,Beijing – Attempts to silence a student who drew attention to sexual abuse allegations at a Chinese university have inspired tech-savvy activists to use blockchain technology to dodge censors and keep the fledgling #MeToo movement al
True story: Slapped by an ajumma at a Korean bathhouse, Lifestyle News,Ever since the onset of the pandemic, there’s been lots of talk about the importance of “self-love” — in everyday conversations, in the media, on social media, and advertisements for all kinds of products that promise to deliver
China's planned anti-sanctions law for Hong Kong unsettles financial sector, Money News,HONG KONG – Global banks and other financial institutions in Hong Kong are scrambling to find out details of China's planned imposition of an anti-sanctions law on the city, and trying to understand how
Philippines tightens border controls to keep out Omicron variant, Asia News,MANILA – The Philippines on Sunday (Nov 28) further tightened border controls to keep out the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus, adding seven European countries to a travel ban that initially covered seven African natio
Indonesia destroys over 2 tonnes of crystal meth, Asia News,JAKARTA – More than two tonnes of crystal methamphetamine were destroyed on Friday (May 4) as Indonesia stepped up its drugs crackdown in one of the biggest such operations of recent years. The South-east Asian country has some of the world
US charges 3, including Harvard researcher, with lying about China ties, World News,WASHINGTON – A Harvard University department chair and two Chinese nationals who were researchers at Boston University and a Boston hospital were charged on Tuesday (Jan 28) for lying about their links to the Chinese
Beijing works from home, Shanghai says victory against Covid-19 getting closer, China News,BEIJING/SHANGHAI — Streets in China's capital Beijing were quiet on Friday (May 13) as residents heeded the advice of authorities to work from home to stop the spread of Covid-19, while officials in locke
China to increase coordination with Russia, says senior Chinese diplomat, China News,BEIJING – China told Russia it will continue to increase \”strategic coordination\” with it regardless of international volatility, the foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday (April 19). Chinese Vice Foreign
Google CEO spars with lawmakers on bias, privacy, World News,Google chief executive Sundar Pichai parried US lawmakers Tuesday over complaints of political bias and intrusive data collection as the internet giant came under heavy criticism from conservatives. \”We build our products in a neutral way,
Meta probing Sheryl Sandberg's use of company resources, WSJ reports, World News,Lawyers are investigating Meta Platforms Inc's outgoing operations chief Sheryl Sandberg's use of company resources over several years, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday (June 10), citing people
China condemns US Senate measure on Hong Kong rights, China News,BEIJING – China on Wednesday (Nov 20) condemned a US Senate measure on Hong Kong, vowing to take the steps necessary to safeguard its sovereignty and security. The US Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed legislation aimed at protecting
Singapore, KL leaders seek talks to resolve maritime dispute, Singapore News,As the stand-off between Singapore and Malaysia over maritime boundaries enters its second week, leaders on both sides have made calls for talks to resolve the simmering dispute. Both countries, though, have their own views
US Defence Secretary sees Indonesian forces drink snake blood, roll in glass, Asia News,JAKARTA – United States Defence Secretary James Mattis saw Indonesian troops drink snake blood, roll in glass, break bricks with their heads, walk on fire, and more, in a rare military demonstration on Wednesday
Thailand to reopen to more vaccinated visitors from November, Asia News,BANGKOK – Thailand will waive its mandatory quarantine requirement in Bangkok and nine regions from Nov 1 to vaccinated arrivals, authorities said on Monday (Sept 27), as the country tries to boost its immunisation rate and revi
Pregnant S'porean mum and family thankful to be alive after dream holiday turned into Covid-19 nightmare, Singapore News,SINGAPORE – A dream holiday to Europe that a family had planned for six months turned out to be a nightmare which they are grateful to have survived. Three days after the Ng-
Australia in travel talks with Singapore, Japan, Korea as coronavirus cases ease, Asia News,Australia is in talks with Japan, South Korea, Singapore and South Pacific nations on reopening travel as coronavirus infections ease, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday. Australia shut its borders
China calls for restraint in Ukraine, rejects the term 'invasion', China News,BEIJING – China reiterated on Thursday (Feb 24) a call for all parties involved in the situation in Ukraine to exercise restraint and rejected a foreign journalist's description of Russia's actions as a
All parties must honour terms of water agreement: Singapore, Singapore News,SINGAPORE – Singapore has reiterated that all parties to the water supply agreement with Malaysia must adhere to its terms, after the Johor state government announced on Friday (March 1) plans to produce its own treated wate
Canada strips Aung San Suu Kyi of honorary citizenship, World News,OTTAWA – Canada's parliament voted unanimously on Thursday to effectively strip Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi of her honorary Canadian citizenship over the Rohingya crisis. Ottawa had given the long-detained democracy advocate
Europe to launch multibillion euro tech fund: France, World News,PARIS – A new publicly funded multi-billion euro fund is being created to boost investment in Europe’s tech sector, to allow it to compete with US and Asian rivals, France’s finance minister said on Monday (Feb 7). Mr Bruno Le Maire sa
Taiwan fights to attend WHO meeting, but China says no, Asia News,TAIPEI – Taiwan will fight to the end for an invitation to a World Health Organisation (WHO) meeting this month, its foreign ministry said on Monday (May 10), but China said there was no room for compromise over the island that Beijin
Thailand prepares airports for quarantine-free travellers, Asia News,BANGKOK – Thai government officials on Wednesday (Oct 20) inspected the readiness of the country's airports to welcome quarantine-free travellers, due to return next month after almost two years of strict Covid-19 rules that h
Goldman Sachs apologises for ex-banker's role in 1MDB scandal, World News,BENGALURU – Goldman Sachs Group Inc Chief Executive Officer David Solomon on Wednesday apologised to the Malaysian people for former banker Tim Leissner's role in the sovereign wealth fund 1MDB scandal, but said the
Ottawa says second Canadian questioned in China now 'missing', World News,BEIJING – Ottawa on Thursday (Dec 13) identified the second Canadian questioned in China as Michael Spavor, and said he has been missing since he last made contact with Canadian officials. Mr Spavor, who is based in
In Asia, US Secretary of State Pompeo expected to bolster allies against China, Asia News,NEW DELHI – US Secretary of State of Mike Pompeo is flying to India next week to strengthen strategic ties with a nation that is locked in a military standoff with China, in Washington’s latest effort to bolste
Syria denies kidnapping or holding US journalist missing for 10 years, World News,AMMAN – Syria on Wednesday (Aug 17) denied kidnapping or holding a US journalist who disappeared a decade ago a week after President Joe Biden demanded that Damascus let him go home. Austin Tice, a former US Marine, wa
North Korea says US is setting up Asian Nato; vows stronger defence, Asia News,SEOUL – North Korea has accused the United States of setting up a military alliance like Nato in Asia, saying the unwavering US aim to oust North Korea's government compelled it to develop stronger defences. The Nort
