- Court limits screenings of videos in France mass rape case
- Gurbaz century takes Afghanistan to 311-4 in 2nd ODI
- Central banks face 'difficult balancing act': IMF chief
- McLaren's Norris sets Singapore pace as struggling Verstappen 15th
- Guardiola tells players to lead change over workload fears
- Paris Olympics sports equipment moves to new homes
- 'Happy' Kinghorn relishing life at Toulouse
- Norris sets Singapore pace as Verstappen only 15th
- 8 dead in Israeli strike, source says Hezbollah commander killed
- Germany to bid to host women's Euro 2029
- Portugal brings deadly forest fires under control
- Postecoglou defends Solanke after slow start to Spurs career
- US nuclear plant Three Mile Island to reopen to power Microsoft
- Arteta urges Arsenal to take next step in Man City showdown
- Stock markets fall after Fed-fuelled rally
- Top Hezbollah commander 'killed' in Israel strike
- Poland charges Russian over attack on Navalny ally: prosecutors
- Man City have rest 'advantage' in Arsenal showdown: Guardiola
- Maresca has 'no doubt' in Jackson as Chelsea's number nine
- EU chief announces 35 bn euro loan plan for Ukraine before winter
- From TikTok to Hollywood, the irresistible rise of Italy's Khaby Lame
- Verstappen punished for swearing in Singapore press conference
- Sri Lanka lead by 202 in first New Zealand Test
- Brook 'not too fussed' by England's batting in heavy Australia loss
- India's Ashwin 'happy' to embrace pressure
- A modern 'Trojan Horse': two days of mayhem in Lebanon
- Third of Burundi mpox cases in children under five: UN
- Man Utd appoint Foster + Partners to develop Old Trafford 'masterplan'
- Israel-Hezbollah exchanges intensify on Lebanon border
- French mayor sorry for 'no one died' remark over mass rape trial
- Mohamed Al-Fayed, outsider shunned by British high society
- Lawyers say 'monster' late Harrods owner abused dozens of women
- India in box seat after Bumrah takes four against Bangladesh
- Taiwan retains death penalty but limits use to 'exceptional' cases
- Ferrari's Leclerc sets early pace in Singapore ahead of Norris
- 10 years into Huthi rule, some Yemenis count the cost
- France poised to finally get new govt
- Kompany, Alonso call for action on player workload amid strike talks
- Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson doubtful for Bournemouth clash
- Bumrah takes four as India bowl out Bangladesh for 149
- Sri Lanka 134-1 to take upper hand in first New Zealand Test
- Bayern's Kompany calls for game cap for players amid strike talks
- Christie's expands Hong Kong footprint in hope of art market 'pickup'
- Sultry screen legend Sophia Loren turns 90
- Cambodian opposition figure in court on incitement charge
- Bumrah takes three wickets to have Bangladesh in trouble at 112-8
- Kimchi threat as heatwave drives up South Korea cabbage prices
- UK economic data delivers fresh blow to new govt
- China to 'gradually resume' seafood imports from Japan after Fukushima ban
- India minister blames dam release for flooding
RBGPF | 5.79% | 60.5 | $ | |
RYCEF | 0.14% | 6.96 | $ | |
CMSC | 0% | 25.12 | $ | |
AZN | -0.82% | 78.255 | $ | |
GSK | -1.43% | 41.035 | $ | |
NGG | 0.96% | 69.5 | $ | |
SCS | -2.03% | 13.045 | $ | |
BTI | -0.47% | 37.395 | $ | |
BCE | -0.77% | 34.92 | $ | |
BCC | -0.87% | 143.44 | $ | |
CMSD | 0.08% | 25.03 | $ | |
VOD | -0.35% | 10.025 | $ | |
RELX | -0.11% | 48.075 | $ | |
BP | -0.44% | 32.616 | $ | |
JRI | -0.74% | 13.301 | $ | |
RIO | -2.08% | 63.85 | $ |
Taiwan welcomes foreign tour groups as border fully reopens
Taiwan welcomed its first batch of international tour groups after the island fully reopened its borders Thursday, ending strict quarantine rules in place since the coronavirus pandemic began.
A group of holidaymakers from Thailand arrived shortly after midnight and were greeted at Taoyuan airport with flower garlands and an exuberant dancing bear mascot.
Valaisurang Bhaedhayajibh, 53, said she was visiting Taiwan the first time in 20 years and was accompanied by her daughter Sisiree.
"I heard about the lakes and all the nature, and also shopping. She's on her school break so I am bringing her over here," she told AFP.
"It's very convenient. We didn't have to do anything much, you know, in terms of preparation. But we got vaccinated and everything."
Pairry Kalong, another Thai tourist, said she planned to eat hot pot "first thing" as well as visit Ximending, Taipei's neon-lit shopping district.
Tanachot Jaiungwattana said he was last in Taiwan shortly before the pandemic sealed the borders.
"I miss here very much," he said. "I love the people and food."
Taiwan has won praise for how it handled the pandemic, although like nearby Japan and Hong Kong it has been very cautious in reopening.
As most countries vacillated on restricting travel at the start of the pandemic and saw deaths soar, Taiwan quickly shut its borders and stamped out the first wave.
It remained comparatively coronavirus-free at the expense of closed borders. Tourism industries suffered badly but the island's export-driven economy continued to grow.
Like Hong Kong, which also fully reopened to tourists recently, Taiwan is among the last places in the world to end mandatory quarantine.
Mainland China is the last remaining major economy that is still keeping its borders sealed.
Under Taiwan's current rules, three days of hotel quarantine have been replaced with seven days of "self-monitoring" where tourists are expected to keep an eye on their health and wear face masks indoors and outdoors.
The system will operate largely on trust, with tourists given coronavirus test kits on arrival to use throughout their stay.
That contrasts with Hong Kong where tourists must submit to regular tests for a week after their arrival and cannot enter bars and restaurants for the first three days.
G.Stevens--AMWN