Section: Asian Correspondent
Thailand to double visa-on-arrival fee
THAILAND’S Immigration authorities will begin imposing new charges for Visas on arrivial beginning next month, raising the current fee from 1,000 baht to 2,000 baht, local media reported. The new fee, which is expected to take effect starting Sept 27, would be imposed on foreign tourists from 18 countries and one economic zone. According to...
Malaysian photographer lied about Fukushima aftermath shots, say critics
AFTER becoming an instant online sensation for a series of photographs showing the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster recently, several quarters have begun questioning the veracity of Keow Wee Loong’s claims that he entered the exclusion zones in Japan. Polish photographer and filmmaker, Arkadiusz Podniesiński, was one of the...
Families of flight MH17 crew members sue Malaysia Airlines
THE families of crew members on board the ill-fated Flight MH17 which was shot down over Ukraine nearly two years ago have filed lawsuits against Malaysia Airlines for alleged negligence and breach of contract. Eleven next-of-kin of the cabin crew launched the legal action at the High Court Registry yesterday to seek compensation, the New Straits...
What is Russia’s design for ASEAN?
TRADE and security issues, to no one’s surprise, took center stage during the ASEAN-Russia Summit in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi. The summit, hosted by Vladimir Putin, welcomed the 10 ASEAN member nations as he seeks to improve Russia’s strategic regional influence after being rightfully shunned by the West for its meddling in...
Freedom of the Press Index: Press freedom declined to its lowest point in 12 years in 2015
TODAY marks the observance of World Press Freedom Day, which only serves to highlight the sobering fact that last year saw the global level of press freedom sink to its lowest point in 12 years, according to the Freedom of the Press 2016 index. The index was released as part of the Freedom of the Press 2016 report, which put the global average...
2 years on, flight MH370 disappearance remains history’s most baffling aviation mystery
IN early March 2014, the world was captivated in a way never seen before by the news of a missing Malaysian Airlines flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, MH370. The last voice contact with the flight crew was early morning March 8 somewhere over the South China Sea, just over an hour after take-off. Soon after the plane disappeared from Malaysian...
Singapore: Regulator confirms plans to introduce 4th telco
The Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) has confirmed plans to introduce a fourth telco in Singapore. It is seeking to facilitate the entry of a new mobile network operator (MNO) to “enhance innovation and competition in the mobile market” and it is confident that a fourth telco is likely to increase innovation and spur competition. The entry of...
Celebrating cultural diversity at a Swiss Hospitality School
In this blog, Singaporean student Jeeva Sandran explains how students at IMI International Management Institute Switzerland host an International Night twice a year to celebrate the diverse mix of cultures and nationalities at the school… The big day has finally arrived, International Night 2016. Our students were all extremely keen on showcasing...
Asian nations and international organizations condemn North Korea’s bomb test
THE reaction to North Korea’s announcement that it conducted a hydrogen bomb test Wednesday has been swift with Asian nations and international organizations vowing a tough response. This compilation of reports from the Associated Press presents the reactions from nations like South Korea, Japan, Australia and China, along with...
China says it is building second aircraft carrier
BEIJING (AP) — China says it is building its second aircraft carrier, this time entirely with domestic technology. Defense Ministry spokesman Col. Yang Yujun told reporters at a news conference Thursday that the 50,000-ton vessel is being built in the northern port of Dalian. China currently operates one refurbished aircraft carrier purchased...
