Straits Times News Feed

ST Picks: Are current vaccines still effective against new Covid-19 variants? Read more: https://bit.ly/3wBQnB8

China warns Taiwan of reprisals over Lai inauguration speech BEIJING - China on May 21 slammed the inauguration speech of new Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te as a “confession of Taiwan independence”, and warned it would take “countermeasures”. Read more: https://bit.ly/3V9qxO1

Israel confiscates AP camera equipment over live feed to Al Jazeera JERUSALEM - The Israeli authorities confiscated camera equipment belonging to the Associated Press (AP) on Tuesday, saying the news agency was breaking the law by providing a live broadcast to Al Jazeera television, AP and Israel's Communications Ministry said. Read more: https://bit.ly/4bKRhtV

Ukraine says it destroys Russian missile ship in Crimea strike The Ukrainian military said on Tuesday it destroyed the last Russian warship armed with cruise missiles that was stationed on the Moscow-occupied peninsula of Crimea during an operation over the weekend. Read more: https://bit.ly/3VaDg3h

20 taken to hospital after bus crashes into road blocker at Terminal 3 The road blocker was suddenly activated after the bus was cleared to proceed, said Tower Transit. Read more: https://bit.ly/3yuv5G4

Monastery marks Vesak Day with ‘three steps, one bow’ ritual Around 10,000 devotees took part in the ceremony, which started in the evening of May 21 and ended the next morning. Read more: https://bit.ly/3yuv7Oc

Journalist Benjamin Kang Lim, ‘towering figure’ in covering China, dies at age 65 During a journalism career spanning four decades, he had broken some of the biggest stories out of China. Read more: https://bit.ly/3QWsDhP

Malaysian PM Anwar announces rationalisation of fuel subsidies Malaysia’s Cabinet has agreed to rationalise subsidies for diesel and RON95 petrol. Read more: https://bit.ly/3V9DaZK

Vatican wants to upgrade relations with China, top cardinal says VATICAN CITY - The Vatican would like to establish a permanent office in China in what would be a major upgrade of diplomatic relations with Beijing, Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin said on Tuesday. Read more: https://bit.ly/3V8swCf

Glue traps for pests can’t be used in outdoor areas where wildlife can get caught This is one of NParks' new recommendations to prevent the traps from ensnaring wildlife. Read more: https://bit.ly/3KaT13W