Lifestyle

China’s two largest cities, Beijing and Shanghai, were inching closer to living with the COVID-19 virus on Monday, December 16. Millions have been infected with the virus around the country. After years of draconian anti-coronavirus restrictions, President Xi Jinping abandoned the country’s zero-COVID policy in response to protests and an escalating outbreak. After the first shock of the policy reversal …

If Rudolph wanted to join a herd of elephants helping Santa Claus deliver presents in Thailand, he would need something more than a red nose—he would need a trunk. This week, as part of an annual tradition, mahouts dressed up as Santa Claus escorted the gentle giants to a school in the central region of Thailand where they distributed Christmas …

After coming under fire from users and consumer safety groups over its removal, Twitter reinstated a feature that suggested suicide prevention hotlines and other safety options to users seeking for particular content. This tool was previously available on Twitter. According to a story that was published by Reuters on Friday, the function was removed a few days ago. The post …

Cebu Pacific commended the decision by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to remove the initial security screening at the gates of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminals on Wednesday, December 21. Cebu Pacific stated in a statement that it “completely supports” MIAA’s goal of reducing passenger lines at the Philippines’ primary airport. MIAA demonstrated this week that it …

Bernard Arnault, who with his family is now wealthier than Elon Musk, turned LVMH into a global luxury empire by purchasing legendary companies, cementing his reputation as a tough and voracious businessman. The 73-year-old Frenchman and his family ascended to the top of Forbes’ billionaire list on Thursday with a net worth of US$184 billion, dethroning the CEOs of Tesla, …

According to a study by the non-profit International Rescue Committee, climate change would exacerbate humanitarian crises worldwide in 2023, compounding the problems caused by armed conflict and economic downturns (IRC). The agency, which is headquartered in New York and managed by former British politician David Miliband, reported that the number of people in need of humanitarian assistance has risen over …

The new law, dubbed the “Bali bonking ban,” punishes unmarried couples who engage in sexual activity with up to a year in prison, or six months for those who cohabit. However, the governor of Bali, a popular tourist destination, stated that authorities would not verify the marital status of tourists. The law is scheduled to go into force in three …

The recently passed Indonesian criminal code will not endanger visitors to Bali, according to the island’s governor, who dismissed worries that amended regulations criminalizing sexual activity outside of marriage may deter tourists from visiting the island. The Indonesian parliament enacted the contentious measure prohibiting cohabitation between unmarried couples last week. In an effort to reassure tourists, Bali’s governor Wayan Koster …

Maria Ressa, Nobel laureate and CEO of Rappler, presented her book How to Stand Up to a Dictator in the Philippines at the Estancia mall at Capitol Commons in Pasig City on Saturday, December 10, the International Day of Human Rights. In attendance were former Supreme Court Justice Antonio Carpio, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay, economist Winnie Monsad, and architect …

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is advocating for a bill that will institutionalize the inclusion of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the Department of Foreign Affairs’ legal aid fund (LAF) (DFA). This week, Migrant Workers Undersecretary Bernard Olalia emphasized the need to increase the LAF’s coverage at a House of Representatives meeting. He said that despite the fact that …