- Thursday, 29 May 2025
Israel announces major expansion of settlements in occupied West Bank
Israeli ministers say 22 new Jewish settlements have been approved in the occupied West Bank - the biggest expansion in decades.
COVID-19 surges in Thailand with 67,484 cases in 7 days
The dominant strain is the Omicron variant JN.1, with a cumulative total of 211,717 cases and 51 deaths this year. Since the Songkran period, 14 clusters have been identified, the department added. According to DDC spokesperson Dr Jurai Wongsawat, the Covid-19 mortality rate has remained low at 0.02% since after Songkran, with most patients experiencing mild symptoms. However, during weeks 19–21 of 2025, the number of infections exceeded the five-year median and was higher than the same period in 2024.
One killed, 48 wounded as forces open fire on Gaza crowd
At least one Palestinian was killed and 48 others wounded when forces opened fire on a crowd overrunning a new aid distribution site in the Gaza Strip set up by an Israeli and U.S.-backed foundation, Gaza's Health Ministry said Wednesday.
SpaceX launches another Starship rocket
After back-to-back explosions, SpaceX launched its mega rocket Starship again on Tuesday evening, but fell short of the main objectives when the spacecraft tumbled out of control and broke apart.
Putin-Zelensky meeting possible, but as result of Moscow-Kiev talks — Kremlin
The Ukrainian delegation had previously insisted that Putin meet with Zelensky during the talks in Istanbul. Immediately after the meeting in Turkey, the Kremlin spokesman emphasized that such contacts are possible if the delegations of the two countries reach certain agreements. He also noted that a potential meeting between Putin and Zelensky would not resolve the fundamental issue of who would be authorized to sign documents on the Ukrainian side: the powers of the head of the Kiev regime as Ukrainian president have expired.
China to trial visa-free policy for Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain
China will trial a policy granting ordinary passport holders from Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain visa-free entry into China up to 30 days from June 9, 2025, to June 8, 2026, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Wednesday. At a daily press briefing, Mao elaborated on China's recent announcement of a unilateral visa-free policy for the four Gulf countries on a trial basis.
US halts student visa appointments and plans expanded social media vetting
US President Donald Trump's administration has ordered embassies to stop scheduling appointments for student visas as it prepares to expand social media vetting of such applicants.
Crowds overrun US-backed group's new aid distribution site in Gaza
Thousands of Palestinians have overrun an aid distribution site in Gaza set up by a controversial US and Israeli-backed group, a day after it began working there.
NA to vote on bill legalising assisted dying
France's lower house of parliament is set to vote Tuesday on a bill that would allow adults suffering from incurable illnesses to voluntarily end their life by taking a lethal substance prescribed by med
Ukraine solder dies brutally in Russian prisons
Ukrainian soldier Serhii Hryhoriev said this so often during brief phone calls from the front that his wife and two daughters took it to heart. His younger daughter, Oksana, tattooed the phrase on her wrist as a talisman.
Over 65,000 new Covid-19 cases recorded in Thailand last week
Thailand reports over 65,000 new COVID-19 cases and eight deaths from 18–24 May.
Digital Equity Act tried to close digital divide in USA
One program distributes laptops in rural Iowa. Another helped people get back online after Hurricane Helene washed away computers and phones in western North Carolina. Programs in Oregon and r
Monsoon lashes Mumbai as rains arrive early in India
Lashing rains swamped India's financial capital Mumbai on Monday as the annual monsoon rains arrived some two weeks earlier than usual, according to weather forecasters. Heavy rains cooling temperatures -- welcomed by farmers for their crops but which cause havoc each year in cities by flooding transport infrastructure -- are normally expected in the southwestern state of Maharashtra in early June.
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