CORONA VIRUS PANDEMICLeave a comment

LOL: Double-masked flautists in ad spark ridicule

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A Hong Kong video showing schoolchildren wearing double masks while performing the flute has drawn ridicule on social media. The ad, released by Hong Kong’s Education Bureau, was posted ahead of China’s National Day on 1 October. It also comes after Hong Kong earlier announced a further extension in Covid-19 restrictions, including masking. It is one of the few remaining cities that have retained strict Covid-19 measures since the pandemic struck. The video, titled “Young China Says”, which is centred around Hong Kong’s youth, shows various schoolchildren performing a variety of artistic activities, including singing, calligraphy, martial arts and musical … Continue reading LOL: Double-masked flautists in ad spark ridicule

CORONA VIRUS PANDEMICLeave a comment

Hong Kong to end controversial hotel quarantine policy

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Hong Kong’s government says that from Monday people arriving in Hong Kong will no longer have to go into mandatory hotel quarantine. Travellers will also no longer have to show a negative Covid-19 test before boarding a plane to Hong Kong. Instead they will monitor themselves for possible infection for three days. The news sparked a rush for flight tickets to Hong Kong, with the Cathay Pacific website operating a queuing system to book. Hong Kong has had some of the world’s toughest rules as it follows China’s zero Covid-19 policies. So its departure from what the mainland is doing … Continue reading Hong Kong to end controversial hotel quarantine policy

DRUG TRAFFICKINGLeave a comment

Ten people killed in cartel shooting at Mexico pool hall

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The Santa Rosa de Lima cartel has allegedly claimed responsibility for the violent scene at the bar in the Tarimoro municipality, in the state of Guanajuato, Infobae reported. The assailants ambushed El Jarras pool hall, an establishment in the area downtown, where local festivities were taking place. Nine people died on the scene and one victim succumbed to their injuries after being transported to a hospital. Gruesome images of the attack on Wednesday night began circulating online shortly after. In a harrowing video reportedly recorded by the attackers, shots can be heard as an injured man is shown lying on the … Continue reading Ten people killed in cartel shooting at Mexico pool hall

CRIMELeave a comment

Chinese man gets 24 years for brutal group attack on women

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A court in northern China sentenced one man to 24 years in jail Friday for his role in a vicious attack on four women, as well as other crimes including robbery and opening an illegal gambling ring. The Guangyang Disrict People’s Court in northern Hebei province announced in a statement that the man, Chen Jizhi, was a ringleader of a criminal gang and had conducted criminal activities for years. The court also sentenced 27 others. The charges against them include opening casinos, robbery, assisting in cybercrime activities, picking quarrels and provoking trouble and sentences range from 6 months to 11 … Continue reading Chinese man gets 24 years for brutal group attack on women

FOOTBALLLeave a comment

Spain women’s players demand the sack of coach Jorge Vilda

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Spain’s football federation says 15 players have said they will resign from the women’s national team unless head coach Jorge Vilda is sacked. The RFEF said the players claim his tenure is affecting their emotional state and health. However, the RFEF said it “is not going to allow the players to question the continuity of the national coach”. “These types of manoeuvres are far from exemplary and outside the values ​​of football and sport,” they said. “Making those decisions does not fall within their powers.” It warned refusing to play for the national team was “a very serious infraction and … Continue reading Spain women’s players demand the sack of coach Jorge Vilda

DIPLOMACYLeave a comment

The father of US secretary of state Donald Blinken has died

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Donald Blinken, a former US diplomat and father of current US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has died at the age of 96, his son has said. Antony Blinken tweeted that his father, who served as US Ambassador to Hungary between 1994 and 1997, was “a source of love and inspiration” and had inspired him to join the public service. Born in New York, Mr Blinken Sr served in the Army Air Corps in World War Two. He graduated with a degree in Economics from Harvard in 1948. In 1966, he co-founded the investment banking firm EM Warburg, Pincus & Co, … Continue reading The father of US secretary of state Donald Blinken has died

BUSINESSLeave a comment

Tesla ordered to recall more than a million US cars

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Tesla is recalling nearly 1.1 million cars in the US because the windows might close too fast and pinch people’s fingers. Documents produced by American regulators show the windows may not react correctly after detecting an obstruction. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says it is a safety-standards violation. Tesla says a software update will fix the problem. The world’s largest electric-vehicle manufacturer has had repeated run-ins with federal safety regulators, whom chief executive Elon Musk calls “the fun police”. Previous recalls have been due to: rear-view cameras, bonnet latches, seat-belt reminders and sound-system software. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk … Continue reading Tesla ordered to recall more than a million US cars

ILLEGAL MIGRATIONLeave a comment

Dozens of migrants killed as boat sinks off Syrian coast

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At least 34 migrants have died after the boat they were travelling in sank off Syria’s coast. Twenty survivors are being treated in a hospital in the southern Syrian city of Tartus, the country’s health ministry said. Quoting survivors, officials said the boat was carrying between 120 and 150 people from Minyeh, near the Lebanese port city of Tripoli. They said rescue operations were ongoing in challenging conditions. Located on Syria’s Mediterranean coast, Tartus is located about 30 miles (50 km) north of the Lebanese port city of Tripoli. Lebanon hosts an estimated 1.5 million Syrian refugees, and almost 14,000 … Continue reading Dozens of migrants killed as boat sinks off Syrian coast

MIDDLE EASTLeave a comment

Update: Iranian President says police custody death must be investigated

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said the death of a woman in police custody must be investigated after it sparked widespread protests. Speaking on a visit to the UN General Assembly in New York, Mr Raisi accused the West of hypocrisy for raising concerns over Mahsa Amini’s death. She died hours after morality police arrested her for allegedly breaking headscarf rules. Ms Amini, a Kurdish woman from the north-western city of Saqez, died in hospital in Tehran on Friday following three days in a coma. At least 17 people have died in the worst unrest in Iran for years. Mr … Continue reading Update: Iranian President says police custody death must be investigated

RACISM & HATE CRIMELeave a comment

Update: Australian Football League racism allegations prompt calls for inquiry

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Prominent Australians have called for an inquiry into racism in the Australian Football League (AFL) amid a furore over allegations at one club. Indigenous players at the Hawthorn Football Club were isolated from family, told to leave their partners, and one alleges he was asked to end a pregnancy, the ABC reported. The league has vowed an investigation into the allegations at Hawthorn. Former coaches at the centre of the accusations have denied wrongdoing. The allegations have reportedly emerged from a review of Hawthorn’s treatment of Indigenous people which is yet to be released. Australia’s government called the claims “nothing … Continue reading Update: Australian Football League racism allegations prompt calls for inquiry

TRAVEL and TOURISMLeave a comment

Japan to lift restrictions on foreign tourists

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Japan will open its doors back up to vaccinated foreign tourists, after more than two years of closed borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Tourists will be able to visit the country without a visa, and will no longer need to go through a travel agency, from 11 October. A cap on daily arrivals will also be lifted. Visitors will still need to prove their triple vaccination status and submit a negative Covid-19 test result to enter. The anticipated influx of travellers will be a welcome boost to government and local businesses, and comes as the Japanese yen has slid … Continue reading Japan to lift restrictions on foreign tourists

PRESS AND JOURNALISMLeave a comment

CNN cancels interview with Iranian president over headscarf demand

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Veteran CNN journalist Christiane Amanpour cancelled an interview with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi after he demanded she wear a headscarf for their meeting in New York. Amanpour pointed out that no previous presidents had requested this when she interviewed them outside Iran. She says a Raisi aide told her it was because of “the situation in Iran”. The death of a woman detained in Iran for allegedly breaking headscarf rules has sparked violent unrest there. Mahsa Amini, 22, fell into a coma last week, hours after morality police arrested her. Officers reportedly beat Ms Amini’s head with a baton and … Continue reading CNN cancels interview with Iranian president over headscarf demand