In a tragic turn of events, Malaysian rescuers have recovered five more bodies from the waters off northern Langkawi island, bringing the death toll to 12 after a boat carrying migrants from Myanmar capsized last week. The bodies, including those of two men, two women, and a boy, were found near the Thailand border, according to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. First Admiral Romli Mustafa stated that approximately 70 people were on board the ill-fated vessel, based on survivors’ accounts. So far, 13 individuals have been rescued, leaving dozens still unaccounted for. Officials revealed that the migrants were part of a larger group of around 300 people who departed from Buthidaung in Myanmar’s Rakhine state. Upon nearing Malaysia, the passengers were reportedly divided into three smaller boats, one of which sank near Tarutao island in southern Thailand last Thursday. The exact timing and location of the incident remain unclear, and the fate of the other two boats is still unknown. Malaysian rescuers, aided by air surveillance, expanded their search area on Monday and will continue their efforts on Tuesday. Authorities have identified some of the survivors as Rohingya Muslims, a persecuted minority in Myanmar. Malaysia, with its predominantly Malay Muslim population, has historically been a destination for Rohingya seeking refuge. However, the country has recently tightened its borders, turning away boats carrying refugees to prevent a mass influx. Currently, around 117,670 Rohingya are registered with the U.N.’s refugee agency in Malaysia, constituting 59% of the country’s total refugee population.
博客
-
Chinese medical team sets up health education column in PNG newspaper
In a groundbreaking initiative to enhance public health awareness, the 15th Chinese medical team in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has introduced a health education column in the Post-Courier, one of the nation’s leading newspapers. This marks the first time in the 62-year history of Chinese medical aid abroad that such a collaboration has been established. The column’s debut aligns with Movember, a global campaign focused on raising awareness about prostate and testicular cancer, addressing significant gaps in knowledge and screening for prostate diseases among PNG’s male population. Dr. Zhang Teng, the team’s urology specialist, authored the inaugural piece, detailing the causes, early symptoms, screening methods, and preventive measures for prostate cancer. The article also provides practical self-care advice, such as maintaining a healthy diet and regular exercise, and underscores the importance of seeking medical attention for symptoms like blood in urine, difficulty urinating, and lower back pain. Team leader Xu Wei highlighted the column’s role in deepening public health services in PNG, with plans for monthly updates covering various medical fields, including thoracic surgery, neurosurgery, gynecology, cardiology, neonatology, dentistry, and traditional Chinese medicine. The 15th Chinese medical team, comprising eight experts from top-tier hospitals led by the Chongqing University Cancer Hospital, arrived in PNG on October 13 for a one-year mission at the Port Moresby General Hospital. This initiative builds on a longstanding medical collaboration that began in 2002 when Chongqing first dispatched a medical team to PNG, marking China’s first medical mission in the South Pacific region.
-
Belgium’s Courtois likely to miss World Cup qualifiers due to muscle injury
Real Madrid’s star goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, is likely to miss Belgium’s crucial World Cup qualifiers due to a muscle injury. The 33-year-old sustained damage to the long abductor muscle in his right leg, as confirmed by Real Madrid in a statement on Monday. While the club did not provide a specific timeline for his recovery, they indicated that his progress would be closely monitored. This setback comes as a significant blow to Belgium’s national team, which is already grappling with the absence of midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who is sidelined for several months with a severe thigh injury. Belgium currently leads Group J in the qualifiers, ahead of North Macedonia and Wales. Their upcoming matches include a clash with Kazakhstan in Astana on Saturday, followed by a home game against Liechtenstein in Liège on November 18. A victory against Kazakhstan would secure Belgium’s direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Courtois’ return to the national team in March marked the end of a 21-month hiatus, following a highly publicized fallout with former coach Domenico Tedesco in June 2023. Their dispute, dubbed ‘Courtoisgate,’ stemmed from a captaincy disagreement and led to a fractured relationship. The appointment of Rudi Garcia as the new coach this year facilitated Courtois’ comeback. The veteran goalkeeper has earned 107 caps for Belgium, making his absence a notable challenge for the team.
-
Train collision in Slovakia leaves 13 hospitalized as prime minister says human error likely cause
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Slovak authorities confirmed on Monday that thirteen individuals injured in a train collision near Pezinok, north of Bratislava, remain hospitalized. The incident occurred on Sunday evening when an express train collided with the rear of a passenger train. Out of approximately 800 passengers, 79 were transported to hospitals, primarily with minor injuries. Health Minister Kamil Sasko assured that none of the hospitalized individuals are in life-threatening condition. Prime Minister Robert Fico attributed the collision to human error and declined to accept the resignation of Transport Minister Jozef Raz. This marks the second such incident within a month, following a collision on October 13 in eastern Slovakia that left dozens injured, including two in critical condition.
-
China launches low Earth orbit satellite group
In a significant stride for its space program, China successfully deployed a new cluster of low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites on Monday, November 10, 2025. The launch took place at the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site, located in the southern island province of Hainan. At precisely 10:41 am Beijing Time, the Long March-12 carrier rocket propelled the satellites into their designated orbit, marking the 13th installment in a series of launches aimed at building a comprehensive internet constellation. This latest achievement underscores China’s growing capabilities in space technology and its commitment to enhancing global connectivity through advanced satellite networks. The successful deployment of these satellites is expected to bolster communication infrastructure, particularly in remote and underserved regions, while also contributing to scientific research and technological innovation. The launch reaffirms China’s position as a leading player in the global space race, with its ambitious projects continuing to shape the future of space exploration and satellite technology.
-
Real Madrid star Valverde picks up muscle injury ahead of Uruguay matches
MADRID — Real Madrid has announced that midfielder Federico Valverde sustained a muscle injury in his right leg during the team’s recent Spanish league match against Rayo Vallecano. The incident occurred on Sunday, November 5, 2023, when Valverde was substituted in the 83rd minute, making way for Trent Alexander-Arnold. The match concluded in a 0-0 draw. The club has not yet disclosed the severity of the injury or whether it will prevent Valverde from participating in Uruguay’s upcoming international fixtures against Mexico and the United States. Medical staff are closely monitoring his condition to determine the next steps in his recovery process. Valverde’s absence could pose a significant challenge for both Real Madrid and the Uruguayan national team, given his pivotal role in midfield.
-
The Democrats who backed Republican shutdown deal – and why
In a pivotal move to resolve the longest-ever US government shutdown, seven Senate Democrats and one independent joined Republicans on Sunday to pass a deal aimed at reopening federal operations. This bipartisan breakthrough ended weeks of gridlock, during which Democrats had resisted pressure to compromise, primarily over concerns about expiring healthcare subsidies that would impact millions of households.
-
Intense fighting in central Sudan displaces 2,000 people in just days, a UN agency says
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has intensified, with recent clashes in central regions displacing approximately 2,000 people over the past three days, according to the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM). The conflict, which has ravaged the nation for over two years, has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions. The latest wave of displacement occurred in the Bara area of North Kordofan province, where residents fled escalating violence between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Kordofan and Darfur have emerged as the epicenters of the conflict, with the RSF recently capturing the strategic city of el-Fasher in Darfur, resulting in hundreds of deaths and forcing tens of thousands into overcrowded camps. Reports from aid groups and UN officials highlight atrocities committed by the RSF, including mass killings and the destruction of evidence. The war, which began in 2023 following a breakdown in relations between the military and RSF, has displaced 12 million people and killed at least 40,000, though aid organizations suggest the actual death toll is significantly higher. In late October, RSF attacks in Bara killed at least 47 civilians, including women and children. Meanwhile, the RSF has reportedly advanced into Babanusa in West Kordofan, prompting further displacement. Satellite images analyzed by the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab suggest the RSF has been burning bodies in el-Fasher to conceal evidence of their crimes. The humanitarian crisis continues to deepen, with no end to the conflict in sight.
-
Dozens of inmates found hanged in Ecuador prison
A tragic incident at El Oro prison in Machala, southern Ecuador, has left at least 31 inmates dead, with 27 found hanged and four killed in violent clashes between rival gangs. The violence erupted in the early hours of Sunday, injuring more than 30 others. Security guards, alerted to renewed gang activity, discovered the hanged victims on the prison’s third floor. This marks yet another deadly episode in Ecuador’s overcrowded prison system, which has seen hundreds of fatalities in recent years due to riots and gang conflicts. The latest violence was reportedly sparked by plans to transfer inmates to a newly constructed facility. El Oro prison has a grim history, including a September incident that claimed 13 inmates and a guard. Relatives of the prisoners have urged authorities to enhance security measures, including separating rival gangs, while local residents have long advocated for relocating the prison from its central city location. In response to the crisis, President Daniel Noboa’s government announced the construction of El Encuentro, a maximum-security prison in Santa Elena province, set to open in late November with advanced security features. Prison gangs, such as Los Lobos and Los Choneros, have significantly contributed to Ecuador’s escalating violent crime, leading to their designation as Foreign Terrorist Organisations by the US Department of State in September.
-
Murder trial of suspect in Christmas market car-ramming attack opens in Germany
A 51-year-old Saudi doctor, Taleb al-Abdulmohsen, stood trial on Monday in Magdeburg, Germany, facing charges of murder and attempted murder following a devastating car-ramming attack on a Christmas market last December. The attack, which lasted just over a minute, claimed the lives of five women and a boy, leaving many others injured. The defendant, transported to a specially constructed courtroom by helicopter, was seated behind bulletproof glass as proceedings began. Prosecutors allege that al-Abdulmohsen acted out of personal frustration, deliberately targeting as many people as possible to gain attention. The trial, expected to continue until March, could result in a life sentence if he is convicted. Investigators revealed that the attack was carried out using a rented BMW X3, reaching speeds of up to 48 kph (30 mph). They noted that the suspect was not under the influence of alcohol and appeared to have acted alone, motivated by dissatisfaction with a legal dispute and failed criminal complaints. Al-Abdulmohsen, who arrived in Germany in 2006 and held permanent residency, described himself as an ex-Muslim critical of Islam and expressed far-right sympathies on social media. Despite previous threats, he had no history of violent acts. The incident has reignited debates on migration in Germany, particularly in the lead-up to the national election in February.