Asia
China’s Xinjiang Hosts World Media Summit Amid Human Rights Concerns
October 18, 2024
China’s Xinjiang Hosts World Media Summit Amid Human Rights Concerns
China held its sixth World Media Summit in Urumqi, Xinjiang, from October 14-17, attracting over 500 participants from 208 media organizations, VOA reported yesterday. The event, co-hosted by Xinhua News Agency and the Xinjiang regional government, focused on “Artificial Intelligence…
Vietnam to Host First National Halal Conference
October 18, 2024
Vietnam to Host First National Halal Conference
On October 22, Vietnam will host its inaugural National Halal Conference in Hanoi, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministries of Science and Technology and Agriculture and Rural Development, VOV World reported yesterday. The event…
Restoration of Bibi Khanum Mosque to Begin with International Support
October 15, 2024
Restoration of Bibi Khanum Mosque to Begin with International Support
The restoration of Uzbekistan’s iconic Bibi Khanum Mosque, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Samarkand, is set to commence through a partnership between the Qatar Fund for Development and Uzbekistan’s Art and Culture Development Foundation, AKDN reported yesterday. The Aga…
‘Extremely valuable’ secret tomb unearthed in Jordan’s Petra
October 15, 2024
‘Extremely valuable’ secret tomb unearthed in Jordan’s Petra
Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in Petra, Jordan, unearthing a 2,000-year-old tomb beneath the iconic Treasury, Arab News reported yesterday. The joint US-Jordanian team recovered 12 well-preserved skeletons and hundreds of artifacts, including bronze, iron, and ceramics. This find…
TikTok Lays Off Nearly 500 Employees in Malaysia, Shifts to AI for Content Moderation
October 14, 2024
TikTok Lays Off Nearly 500 Employees in Malaysia, Shifts to AI for Content Moderation
TikTok has laid off nearly 500 employees in Malaysia, primarily from its Trust and Safety Regional Operations, which handled content moderation, RFA reported yesterday. This decision, made by parent company ByteDance, aims to replace human moderators with artificial intelligence tools,…
ASEAN Summit Highlights Challenges in Addressing Myanmar’s Violence and Stalled Peace Efforts
October 12, 2024
ASEAN Summit Highlights Challenges in Addressing Myanmar’s Violence and Stalled Peace Efforts
The recent ASEAN summit in Vientiane, Laos, focused on Myanmar’s escalating violence and the stalled implementation of the Five-Point Consensus, a peace plan established nearly four years ago, VOA reported yesterday. This plan aims to end violence, facilitate dialogue, provide…
Nepal’s Nima Rinji Becomes Youngest Climber to Scale All 14 Peaks Above 8,000 Meters
October 11, 2024
Nepal’s Nima Rinji Becomes Youngest Climber to Scale All 14 Peaks Above 8,000 Meters
18-year-old Nepali climber Nima Rinji Sherpa has made history by becoming the youngest person to ascend all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters (26,247 feet), Anadolu Agency reported yesterday. He reached this milestone on October 9, after summiting Mt. Shishapangma, which…
Charges Against Ex-Officers for 2004 Thai ‘Massacre’ Face Dismissal
September 30, 2024
Charges Against Ex-Officers for 2004 Thai ‘Massacre’ Face Dismissal
Lawyers and rights groups in Thailand express concern that the 15 former military, police, and government officials charged in connection with the 2004 Tak Bai Massacre may evade court appearances before the statute of limitations expires on October 25, VOA…
Nepal Closes Schools Amid Severe Flooding That Claims Over 150 Lives
September 30, 2024
Nepal Closes Schools Amid Severe Flooding That Claims Over 150 Lives
Nepal has suspended classes for three days following devastating landslides and floods caused by two days of heavy rain, resulting in 151 fatalities and 56 individuals reported missing, Reuters reported yesterday. The floods severely disrupted normal activities in the Kathmandu…
Death Toll From Nepal Flooding and Landslides Rises to 66; 69 Missing
September 29, 2024
Death Toll From Nepal Flooding and Landslides Rises to 66; 69 Missing
Deaht toll from continuous rainfall and subsequent devastating flooding and landslides in Nepal has risen to at least 66, with 69 people missing, Associated Press reported on Saturday. The downpour, which began Friday night, is expected to persist over the…