Joint sit in

HAIFA: The United Nations and European members of the Security Council on Friday (Saturday in Manila) called on Israel to stop demolitions of Bedouin settlements in the Jordan Valley and for humanitarian access to the community living in Humsa Al-Baqaia. In a joint statement at the end of a monthly session of the Security Council on the conflict in the Middle East, Estonia, France, Ireland, Norway and Britain said they were “deeply concerned at the recent repeated demolitions and confiscation of items, including of EU- and donor-funded structures carried out by Israeli authorities at Humsa Al-Baqaia in the Jordan Valley.” It said the concern was also focused on the 70 people or so living in the Bedouin community, including 41 children. “We reiterate our call on Israel to halt demolitions and confiscations,” the statement said. “We further call on Israel to allow full, sustained and unimpeded humani­tarian access to the community in Humsa Al-Baqaia.” Humsah Al-Baqaia sits in ... » Learn More about Stop demolitions, UN, EU tell Israel

LOS ANGELES: The time has finally come for audiences to hear Meghan and Harry describe the backstory and effects of their tumultuous split from royal life. Sunday night’s airing of a two-hour special hosted by Oprah Winfrey will provide the first, and unprecedented, peek into the couple’s departure from royal duties and the strains it has placed on them. How it’s received is likely to depend on which side of the Atlantic Ocean viewers are on. The show, which includes Winfrey’s interviews with Meghan and Harry, will air first in the United States — Meghan’s home country — at 8 p.m. Eastern. Hours earlier, Harry’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, will deliver a royal address before Commonwealth Day. British audiences will wake up Monday to headlines and social media posts about Winfrey’s special, but won’t be able to see the full interview until Monday night when it airs on ITV. Royal interviews that aren’t tied to a specific topic are rare, and prior televised sessions have ... » Learn More about Harry, Meghan to delve into tough royal split with Oprah

YANGON: Myanmar's major trade unions called on members to shut down the economy from Monday (Mar 8) to back a campaign against last month's coup, raising pressure on the military government as its forces fired weapons and occupied hospitals in the main city Yangon after a day of massive protests. Witnesses reported sounds of gunfire or stun grenades in many districts of the commercial capital after nightfall, as soldiers set up camp in hospitals and university compounds, local media reported. It was not clear whether anyone was hurt. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a non-profit, said the army was "intentionally terrorising residents" in Yangon. The show of force came after some of the largest nationwide protests since the Feb 1 coup, and an alliance of nine unions said they planned a “full extended shutdown" of the economy. "To continue economic and business activities as usual...will only benefit the military as they repress the energy of the Myanmar ... » Learn More about Unions call for total strike in Myanmar; Aung San Suu Kyi party official dies in custody

An athlete is considered a professional if he or she gets paid but does not play for the country. Otherwise, the athlete is an amateur. That’s how the new Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) and the Games and Amusement Board’s (GAB) Joint Resolution No.2020-01 signed last October 16 drew the line between a professional and an amateur athlete in the country. The two government agencies crafted the resolution for them to help better know their areas of responsibilities and improve their regulation of the businesses under their respective jurisdictions PSC is mandated to watch over the amateur sports development and amateur athletes, while GAB is the body that regulates professional sports and athletes. The joint resolution of the two government agencies, however, raised some eyebrows, as semi-professional leagues and athletes are now burdened to keep up with the technical standards of professional sports. For starters, these athletes now have to obtain a professional license ... » Learn More about GAB: We’re just doing our job

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani (right) receives Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney in the capital Tehran on Sunday. TEHRAN: Iran's President Hassan Rouhani Sunday urged Europe to avoid "threats or pressure" in any negotiations with Tehran, as he received Ireland's foreign minister amid diplomatic efforts to revive a landmark nuclear deal. Ireland is currently "facilitator" for the United Nations Security Council resolution that enshrined the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran and six major powers, according to the Irish foreign ministry. The deal, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), has been hanging by a thread since former US president Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from it in 2018 and reimposed punishing sanctions on Tehran. Following Joe Biden's US presidential election victory in November, the US, the European parties to the deal -- France, Germany and Britain -- and Tehran have been trying to salvage the accord. "The best way to solve ... » Learn More about Iran’s Rouhani urges Europe to avoid ‘threats or pressure’

Chompoo, 24, has dreamed of working at an airline for years. With this goal in mind, the aspiring flight attendant majored in English and Mandarin at university to help give her an edge over other applicants. But one year after graduation, the Thai woman's dream has yet to take flight. She failed an interview with a local airline in February, and with global aviation and tourism now battered by the coronavirus pandemic, there are no jobs to apply for. Nevertheless, Chompoo is not lying idle. She is seizing the chance to improve her service skills and command of Mandarin, because she wants to work with regional airlines whose main customers are Thailand's largest group of foreign visitors: Chinese tourists. To boost her skills, Chompoo has also enrolled in a flight attendant workshop - classes which have risen in popularity over the years as instructors meet the demand of training aspiring workers. In Thailand, many young people dream of working as a flight attendant, seeing a ... » Learn More about For aspiring Thai flight attendants, the sky’s the ticket to a good life