The steep slope, heavy traffic of large vehicles, and frequent congestion have made drivers wary of crossing Phu My Bridge, a crucial gateway in the southern part of HCMC linking District 7 and Thu Duc. On the afternoon of Aug. 11, a line of trucks and containers queued to cross …
Read More »Vietnam legislators propose making trading fetuses a human trafficking crime
The National Assembly is debating whether the trading of fetuses should be classified as human trafficking, a move that some delegates believe would strengthen preventative measures, while others argue it is not appropriate. During a Tuesday session to discuss the draft amendment to the law on preventing and combating human …
Read More »Quiz: Which city is safest in Asia?
Statistics site Numbeo ranks this city safest among 76 metropolises in Asia.
Read More »Malaysia loses $700M due to online scams
Malaysia lost a total of 3.18 billion RM (US$700 million) due to online scams that involved more than 95,800 victims between 2021 and April 2024, said Malaysian Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. He noted the figure can be higher as many victims may not have reported to the authorities for …
Read More »Climate change intensified rain that caused deadly Indian landslides, study finds
Heavy rain made about 10% stronger by human-caused climate change triggered the landslides that killed more than 200 people in India’s southern state of Kerala last month, a team of international scientists has concluded. The landslides on July 30 in the coastal state’s Wayanad region were its worst disasters since …
Read More »Japan’s Kishida announces he will not run in September, paving the way for a new prime minister
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in a surprise move Wednesday, announced he will not run in the upcoming party leadership vote in September, paving the way for Japan to have a new prime minister. Kishida was elected president of his governing Liberal Democratic Party in 2021 and his three-year term …
Read More »Thai court dismisses PM Srettha over cabinet appointment
Thailand’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday dismissed Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin for appointing to his cabinet a former lawyer who served jail time, raising the spectre of more political upheaval and a reset of the governing alliance. Real estate tycoon Srettha becomes the fourth Thai premier in 16 years to be …
Read More »Malaysia to acquire trains through $2.4B leasing deal with China
Malaysia plans to pursue a US$2.4 billion deal to acquire new passenger trains for state rail company Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) via a leasing agreement with China, the transport minister said on Wednesday. In the first phase from 2024 to 2027, the government aims to acquire 62 new passenger …
Read More »WHO official advocates for tobacco tax increase in Vietnam to curb smoking rates
The WHO representative in Vietnam is urging the country to implement a flat tobacco tax as a strategy to reduce the number of smokers. At a Tuesday conference on the adverse effects of tobacco and the role of tax policies in mitigating them, Angela Pratt, WHO representative in Vietnam, highlighted …
Read More »People leave New Zealand in record numbers as economy bites
People are leaving New Zealand in record numbers as unemployment rises, interest rates remain high and economic growth is anaemic, government statistics show. Data released by Statistics New Zealand on Tuesday showed that 131,200 people departed New Zealand in the year ended June 2024, provisionally the highest on record for …
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