This was supposed to be the comeback year for the world economy following the Covid pandemic. Instead, 2022 was marked by a new war, record inflation and climate-linked disasters. It was a “polycrisis” year, a term popularised by historian Adam Tooze. Get ready for more gloom in 2023. “The number …
Read More »US weighs new Covid rules for travelers from China
The U.S. government may impose new Covid-19 measures on travelers to the United States from China, U.S. officials said on Tuesday. The move comes after Japan, India and Malaysia announced stepped up rules on travelers from China in the last 24 hours, citing a rise in infections there. Japan has …
Read More »Philippines hunts for 26 still missing after weekend weather disaster
Rescue teams across nine provinces in the Philippines raced on Wednesday to try to locate 26 people missing after weekend rains, floods and landslides that have killed at least 25 people, in one of its deadliest weather events this year. The national disaster agency on Wednesday said casualties reported so …
Read More »Singaporeans hit the malls on smart shopping spree before sales tax hike
Singaporean Soif Noor has already bought furniture and appliances for his new home, four months before he can move in. Like many residents, he’s been on a spree – because on Jan. 1Singapore’s sales tax goes up for the first time in 15 years. From next year, the sales tax …
Read More »Two people get 9-month flight bans for smoking onboard
The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has banned two men from flying for nine months for smoking on a plane. The men from Hai Duong and Dong Thap provinces cannot fly until September 30 next year. The agency also said a person from the southern province of Kien Giang has …
Read More »‘Think twice before posting online’: information ministry on fake news
People should think twice before posting online to avoid spreading fake news, the information ministry advises in a handbook it released Tuesday. Le Quang Tu Do, Director of the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information, said fake news is becoming increasingly prevalent and elusive these days, and even experts on …
Read More »No immediate surge of Chinese tourists expected after re-opening
China’s relaxation of Covid-19 rules for international arrivals has raised hopes that its multi-billion dollar travel business will soon flourish again but countries longing for the return of Chinese tourists will likely face more of a wait. China’s National Health Commission announced on Monday that inbound travellers would no longer …
Read More »Northern Vietnam enters frigid year-end
Temperatures in northern Vietnam are set to drop to 13-15 degrees Celsius as a cold front descends Wednesday morning. Mountainous regions will get cold first in the days before the new year. The midlands and plains will then be struck by the same winds, gloomy skies and cold temperatures, according …
Read More »1,100 karaoke parlors, bars suspended in Hanoi over fire safety violations
Hanoi has suspended over 1,100 karaoke parlors and bars over the past two months due to insufficient fire safety measures. At a Monday conference on fire safety held by the Hanoi People’s Committee, Pham Trung Hieu, head of the Firefighting and Rescue Office of Hanoi Police Department, said that there …
Read More »Foreign affairs minister reprimanded over pandemic flight scandal
Vietnam’s foreign affairs minister has been reprimanded by the Communist Party’s Politburo over management negligence that led to violations in organizing Covid repatriation flights. Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was deemed responsible for violations made by the ministry’s Party Committee in the 2016-2021 term, which violated democratic centralism …
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