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South Korea Convicts Care Home Director in Landmark Disability Abuse Case
4 days ago•Source: BBC
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Singapore's 'FirstDate' Pilot Uses Nobel Algorithm to Match Civil Servants
Singapore’s Government Technology Agency (GovTech) launched 'FirstDate,' a pilot matchmaking service for public sector employees aged 21 to 35. The platform utilizes the Nobel Prize-winning Gale-Shapley algorithm to provide users with a single, stable match per cycle, aiming to reduce 'swipe fatigue' and address the city-state's record-low fertility rate. While the initiative offers identity verification and compatibility scoring, it has sparked debate over its exclusivity to civil servants and age restrictions.
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Arson, blasts and a robbery rock Thailand’s three southern provinces
A string of attacks including arson, explosions, tire burning and a robbery struck Thailand’s three southern border provinces—Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat—late Saturday night, damaging government vehicles, telecom towers, signs, CCTV cameras, and a 7‑Eleven, prompting security teams to inspect the affected areas.
Hong Kong Tiananmen Vigil Leaders Guilty in National Security Trial
A Hong Kong court convicted veteran pro-democracy activists Lee Cheuk-yan and Chow Hang-tung of incitement to subversion for organising the Tiananmen vigil, a verdict tied to a broader crackdown on dissent under the national security framework; they could face up to 10 years in prison, with sentencing to come.
Zamboanga high school shooting: Grade 9 student livestreams deadly attack on classmates
In Zamboanga City, Grade 9 student Mohammad Mael Jalani opened fire inside a high school attached to Ateneo de Zamboanga University, killing a Grade 10 student and apparently himself; the attacker wore a body camera and livestreamed parts of the attack, police recovered pistols, and hundreds of students were evacuated as investigators probe motive and premeditation.
Thai teen shooter’s father issues apology as school rampage leaves eight dead
A 14-year-old boy opened fire at a Thai school, killing eight people and injuring more than 20 in what authorities call Thailand’s deadliest mass shooting since 2022. Investigators say the boy learned how to use a firearm via social media and watched violent content online; a BB gun had been confiscated by a teacher the previous year. The shooter’s father publicly apologized, saying, “I am deeply sorry to all the families.” Officials are discussing tighter gun controls and school-safety measures, including mental health screenings and emergency drills, in response to the incident.
Indonesian Highway Crash Kills 13, Including Wedding Guests
A pickup truck carrying wedding guests collided on an Indonesian highway, killing at least 13 people and injuring several others after the impact hurled passengers onto the road; police said the overturned vehicle was then struck in the opposite lane by another truck, with five survivors hospitalized and authorities launching an investigation into the crash. Officials note deadly traffic accidents are common in Indonesia due to overloaded vehicles and gaps in road-safety enforcement.
Truck crash during Thai monks’ pilgrimage leaves eight dead, a child in custody
An 11-year-old boy driving a pickup plowed into a line of monks on a 260-km pilgrimage in northeastern Mukdahan province, Thailand, killing eight monks and injuring 14 others; the driver is in custody as police and state child-protection officers investigate, with witnesses saying the vehicle swerved before the impact.
Thai monk procession tragedy: nine dead after 11-year-old driver crashes pickup
Nine Buddhist monks were killed and several others injured in Mukdahan province, Thailand, after an 11-year-old boy drove his parents’ pickup into a procession; the vehicle has been seized for forensic examination, the child is in guardianship and being cared for, preliminary information says he has special needs, and authorities urge road-safety awareness as hospitals treat the wounded.
Yawata mayor makes history by taking maternity leave
Shoko Kawata, 35-year-old mayor of Yawata city in Kyoto Prefecture, plans to take 16 weeks of maternity leave around the birth of her child—eight weeks before and eight weeks after—believed to be the first time an incumbent Japanese mayor steps away for childcare. Her decision highlights Japan’s work‑life balance challenges and the lack of legal protections for elected officials on maternity leave, as she appoints a deputy to run the nearly 70,000‑strong city and stays connected by email amid a broader national debate on gender equality and declining birth rates.
Laos cave survivors crawl to safety after 11-day ordeal
Five men trapped for 11 days in a flooded cave in central Laos crawled about 850 feet through waterlogged passageways to the cave mouth after the floodwaters receded, an unaided escape that shocked rescuers. Their escape was aided by a multinational team that pumped water, cleared routes, and used diving gear for safe passages; the survivors slept huddled together, clung to hope of reuniting with loved ones, and credited fear as the source of their courage. Two other men remain missing as rescuers reassess conditions and plan deeper searches.
Sri Lanka’s senior Buddhist monk arrested in alleged minor abuse case
Police in Sri Lanka arrested Pallegama Hemarathana, one of the country’s most senior Buddhist monks and chief custodian of a Bodhi-tree shrine, on suspicion of abusing a minor in 2022; the survivor’s mother was also arrested for alleged abetting. Hemarathana was taken from hospital and will appear in Colombo court as authorities imposed a travel ban while investigating an alleged abduction and prolonged sexual abuse of the girl. The case marks the highest‑ranking monk to face such allegations in Sri Lanka, arising after a March complaint and ongoing child-protection inquiries.