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Fog causes major car crash on bridge in China’s Zhengzhou -state media

Dozens of vehicles crashed in major car pileup on a bridge in the central Chinese city of Zhengzhou in Henan province because of extremely foggy conditions on Wednesday morning, state media CCTV reported. Several cars and trucks could been seen crumpled and piled on top of each other on the Zhengxin Huanghe bridge in pictures […]

Thanko’s lucky bag for 2023 brings the heat in more ways than one

It even brings the cold at times. Thanko is a Japanese company that blurs the line between novelty items and home appliances. Or, to put it another way, they are the closest thing to a real-life Acme Corporation for all us coyotes in pursuit of the roadrunner that is quality of life. So, it truly […]

What is Title 42?

The ‘American Dream’ will remain just that for many migrants who are fleeing violence and inequality in Latin America and elsewhere to reach the United States after the top court of the nation voted to keep in place Title 42 indefinitely. In a ruling on Tuesday, the US Supreme Court extended a temporary stay that […]

Is the End Near? Nuclear war threat, climate change, and other signs 2022 gave us

Washington: For thousands of years, predictions of apocalypse have come and gone. But with dangers rising from nuclear war and climate change, does the planet need to at least begin contemplating the worst? When the world rang in 2022, few would have expected the year to feature the US president speaking of the risk of […]

Jubilant Chinese plan trips as inbound Covid quarantine set to end

Beijing: People in China reacted with joy and rushed to book flights overseas Tuesday after Beijing said it would scrap mandatory Covid quarantine for overseas arrivals, ending almost three years of self-imposed isolation. In a snap move late Monday, China said from January 8 inbound travellers would no longer be required to quarantine on arrival […]

Asia’s 2 richest men have multiplied their fortunes since 2020, but they’re known to spend them very differently. Here’s how the tycoons’ wealth, businesses, and properties stack up.

Mukesh Ambani (L) and Gautam Adani (R) have grown their empires for years without competing directly with each other.Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto via Getty Images and Prodip Guha/Getty Images Two of Asia’s moguls now rank among the world’s top 10 wealthiest people. Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani own giant multi-sector companies in a rapidly developing India. The […]

Asia’s 2 richest men have multiplied their fortunes since 2020, but they’re known to spend them very differently. Here’s how the tycoons’ wealth, businesses, and properties stack up.

Mukesh Ambani (L) and Gautam Adani (R) have grown their empires for years without competing directly with each other.Debajyoti Chakraborty/NurPhoto via Getty Images and Prodip Guha/Getty Images Two of Asia’s moguls now rank among the world’s top 10 wealthiest people. Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani own giant multi-sector companies in a rapidly developing India. The […]

‘Covid return’: Will next wave of pandemic change world again?

I was not supposed to be writing on this subject in this particular column – in this particular week. I mean, we are just days away from the year coming to a draw and there’s a rather infectious air of positivity and optimism all around that is hard not to soak in. Plans for Christmas, […]

‘Covid return’: Will next wave of pandemic change world again?

I was not supposed to be writing on this subject in this particular column – in this particular week. I mean, we are just days away from the year coming to a draw and there’s a rather infectious air of positivity and optimism all around that is hard not to soak in. Plans for Christmas, […]

Explained: Why China is conducting record military incursions into Taiwan

China sent a record number of military aircraft to menace self-ruled Taiwan in a large show of force to the Biden administration, signalling that Beijing wants to maintain pressure on Taiwan even as some tensions between the superpowers are easing. The swarm of Chinese fighter jets, maritime patrol planes and drones that buzzed the airspace […]

Russia adds Bulgarian investigative journalist on its ‘wanted’ list

A Bulgarian investigative journalist Christo Grozev has been put on Russia’s ‘wanted’ list for unspecified reasons. According to information issued by the Russian Interior Ministry, Grozev, who is part of a Netherland-based journalism group called Bellingcat, is “wanted under an article of the Criminal Code.” However, the ministry hasn’t specified the article. Independent human rights […]

Taiwan to extend mandatory military service from four months to one year over China threat

Representational image. AP Taipei, Taiwan: Taiwan is expected to announce on Tuesday an extension in mandatory military service from four months to one year, citing the threat from an increasingly hostile China, local media reported. Self-ruled, democratic Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which considers the island a part of its […]

Taiwan to extend mandatory military service from four months to one year over China threat

Representational image. AP Taipei, Taiwan: Taiwan is expected to announce on Tuesday an extension in mandatory military service from four months to one year, citing the threat from an increasingly hostile China, local media reported. Self-ruled, democratic Taiwan lives under the constant threat of invasion by China, which considers the island a part of its […]

UN agency probes origin of Rohingya refugees in Indonesia

PIDIE – A United Nations agency is seeking information about the voyage of over 100 Rohingya Muslim refugees who landed on an Indonesian beach this week, and warned Tuesday that there will likely be more. A distressing video circulated widely in social media showed the dehydrated and exhausted Rohingya, crumpled weakly and emaciated, many crying […]

WRAPUP 3-Chinese make travel plans as COVID rules ease further

Chinese people, cut off from the rest of the world for three years by COVID-19 curbs, flocked to travel sites on Tuesday ahead of borders reopening, even as rising infections further strained the health system and roiled the economy. Zero-tolerance measures – from shuttered borders to frequent lockdowns – have battered China’s economy since early […]

Japanese fintech leader Smartpay first to launch the next phase of digital consumer finance through open banking

Launching Smartpay Bank Direct, Japan’s first digital payment service to offer installments directly from users’ bank accounts TOKYO, Dec. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Japan-based fintech Smartpay has launched Smartpay Bank Direct, the country’s first digital consumer finance service that allows customers to pay for online installment purchases straight from their bank accounts. Smartpay Bank Direct […]

Japanese fintech leader Smartpay first to launch the next phase of digital consumer finance through open banking

Launching Smartpay Bank Direct, Japan’s first digital payment service to offer installments directly from users’ bank accounts TOKYO, Dec. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Japan-based fintech Smartpay has launched Smartpay Bank Direct, the country’s first digital consumer finance service that allows customers to pay for online installment purchases straight from their bank accounts. Smartpay Bank Direct […]

Japanese fintech leader Smartpay first to launch the next phase of digital consumer finance through open banking

Launching Smartpay Bank Direct, Japan’s first digital payment service to offer installments directly from users’ bank accounts TOKYO, Dec. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Japan-based fintech Smartpay has launched Smartpay Bank Direct, the country’s first digital consumer finance service that allows customers to pay for online installment purchases straight from their bank accounts. Smartpay Bank Direct […]

UN says 180 Rohingya adrift on boat feared dead

Representational image. AP Dhaka: Relatives of around 180 Rohingya refugees adrift on a boat for weeks in the Indian Ocean presume that all those on board are now dead, the UN refugee agency said. Thousands of the mostly Muslim Rohingya, heavily persecuted in Myanmar, undertake risky sea journeys from Myanmar and refugee camps in Bangladesh every […]

News that made us happy in 2022

Not all was bad in 2022. Despite being a year ravaged by war, climate crisis and nuclear threats, the year also brought some cheer Let’s look at the good news from India and around the world that gave us hope amid all the permacrisis and whatnot. India clocks 75 years of Independence There was much […]

Covid runs rampant in China, as government washes hands

On 23 December, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs tweeted, “China’s COVID situation is predictable and under control.” Just four days earlier, the Chinese government reported its first COVID-related deaths -just two of them, mind you – since Beijing released a ten-point easing plan on 7 December. This signaled a turnaround from the nation’s controversial and […]

Suu Kyi lawyers set to make final arguments in junta trial

File image of Aung San Suu Kyi. AFP File Yangon: A Myanmar junta court is expected to hear closing arguments for the last remaining charges against jailed democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Monday, after the UN Security Council called for her release. Suu Kyi has been a prisoner since the military toppled her […]

Tales of Covid deaths out on Weibo but China playing censor-in-chief

Speculation about China’s Covid-19 death count is rife. The country’s National Health Commission estimated that the virus infects 37 million people a day. Beijing will stop sharing daily Covid data as it targets herd immunity. India and China held the 17th round of military talks on the Chinese side to resolve issues in Eastern Ladakh. A new section […]

Philippines floods force tens of thousands to flee homes

This handout photo taken on 25 December, 2022 and received on 26 December from the Philippine Coast Guard shows rescuers evacuating people from a flooded area in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental. AFP Manila: Christmas Day floods in the Philippines forced the evacuation of nearly 46,000 people from their homes, civil defence officials said Monday. Two […]

‘It looks like Christmas has been sick all over my 70s house

Every homeowner has their own taste and style when it comes to their home interior. Some people opt for the more traditional look with timeless pieces that they can treasure for years to come, whereas others prefer much more modern decor and like to keep up with the latest trends. Our homes often tell a […]

As MMFF 2022 opens, here are the eight films you can watch

MANILA, Philippines – The Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) makes its return to cinemas on Sunday, December 25, and a new slate of eight Filipino films is set to premiere. From the usual Vice Ganda and Coco Martin starrers we see almost every year, to a movie retelling of the Mamasapano clash, to a techno-horror […]