YANGON -- The Golden Education Sharing Center in Yangon's Hlaingthaya township buzzes with students switching between Myanmar and Chinese language classes.
For many of them, Chinese is no longer just another class on the timetable. It has become a gateway to higher-paying jobs, competitive scholarships, and a future filled with possibilities, the students said. (Myanmar-Chinese Language)
- - - -
TOKYO -- The Japanese government recently approved a supplementary budget proposal for fiscal 2025 (April 2025-March 2026), boosting defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) ahead of schedule, a move that has sparked concerns across various sectors in Japan.
Included in the budget proposal approved by the cabinet on Friday is 1.1 trillion yen (about 7.04 billion U.S. dollars) in additional defense spending. Including the 9.9 trillion yen in the regular budget, total defense-related spending for the current fiscal year would reach about 11 trillion yen to meet the government's target of bringing it to 2 percent of GDP. (Japan-Defense Spending)
- - - -
HONG KONG -- Alice Mak Mei-kuen, secretary for home and youth affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, said on Sunday that the HKSAR government will ensure residents affected by the Tai Po fire receive free housing until their homes are rebuilt.
Speaking on a TV program, Mak said that the HKSAR government's goal is to relocate around 1,900 affected households into transitional housing or other accommodations within one to two weeks, and so far, over 1,800 units have been secured. The HKSAR government will adopt flexible arrangements to meet the housing needs of each household, she said. (HK-Fire)
- - - -
HONG KONG -- The Hong Kong police said on Sunday the casualty enquiry unit has confirmed the safety of 159 residents previously reported missing after a major fire broke out in a residential complex on Nov. 26.
Speaking at a press briefing, Tsang Shuk-yin, officer in charge of the casualty enquiry unit of the Hong Kong Police Force, said that as of 4 p.m. local time on Sunday, the death toll from the fire had risen to 146, with 79 people injured. (HK-Fire)
- - - -
COLOMBO -- Adverse weather in Sri Lanka has killed 334 by 6 p.m. local time on Sunday, Sri Lanka's Disaster Management Center (DMC) said.
The DMC said at least 370 people remain missing and 1,118,929 individuals from 309,607 families have been affected by heavy rains, flooding, and landslides. (Sri Lanka-Extreme Weather-Deaths) Enditem
京公网安备 11010802027341号