Chile Congress lifts abortion ban

Chile's Congress on Wednesday eased a strict ban on abortion in effect since the final days of the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship nearly three decades ago.

World’s blind population to soar: study

The world's blind will increase threefold from about 36 million today to 115 million in 2050 as populations expand and individuals grow ever older, researchers said on Thursday.

At least 29 killed in Afghan Shiite mosque attack

A suicide bomber and a gunman killed at least 29 people and wounded 63 at a packed Shiite mosque in Afghanistan's main western city of Herat Tuesday, the latest attack to highlight the country's deteriorating security situation.

Thai ex-PM Yingluck defiant as verdict looms

Embattled Thai ex-premier Yingluck Shinawatra was in defiant mood on Tuesday as she prepared to give a closing defence at her trial for negligence linked to a rice subsidy policy that could see her jailed.

US to cut 755 US diplomatic staff in Russia, says Putin

President Vladimir Putin on Sunday said the United States would have to cut 755 diplomatic staff in Russia and warned of a prolonged gridlock in its ties after the US Congress backed new sanctions against the Kremlin.

 

Billionair Jack Ma reveals his secrets

Jack Ma, the founder and executive chairman of China’s e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, talks to the Nation Co-founder Suthichai Yoon about Thailand’s main strength and weakness when it comes to e-trade, and the anti-globalisation trend, China’s ‘negative’ image as well as his retirement plan. Here are excerpts from an exclusive interview conducted at Alibaba’s HQ in Hangzhou, China.

 

ASEAN at 50, more a neighbourhood than a community

Southeast Asian countries today are far more integrated than they have ever been in the modern history of the region, but ASEAN has some way to go before it can call itself a real community. The 10 member countries grouped in the Association of Southeast Asean nations (ASEAN) are glued together more because of their geographical proximity, and out of that perhaps comes a sense of shared destiny. 

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