Search｜Photos & Images & Videos｜KYODO NEWS IMAGES INC

Thailand to waive visa requirements for Chinese nationals

STORY: Thailand to waive visa requirements for Chinese nationals SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 2, 2024/File DATELINE: Jan. 2, 2024 LENGTH: 00:02:18 LOCATION: Bangkok CATEGORY: POLITICS SHOTLIST: 1. various of Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin 2. various of airports, temples, and seashores in Thailand STORYLINE: Thailand will permanently waive visa requirements for Chinese citizens starting March 1, announced Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin on Tuesday. During a press conference after a cabinet meeting at the government house, Srettha said Thailand had previously granted a temporary visa waiver status for visitors from China, which was set to end on Feb. 29, 2024. After negotiations with related Chinese authorities, the Thai government has now opted to adopt a permanent visa-free policy for Chinese citizens from March. He said that this measure will not only boost Thailand's tourism industry but also signify further improvement in the friendly relations between the two countries. Tourism plays a crucial rol

E

Thailand to offer visa-free entry for visitors from China, Kazakhstan

STORY: Thailand to offer visa-free entry for visitors from China, Kazakhstan DATELINE: Sept. 14, 2023 LENGTH: 00:03:23 LOCATION: Bangkok CATEGORY: POLITICS/ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Thai cabinet meeting 2. various of Thai airports STORYLINE: Thailand has approved a temporary visa waiver for visitors from China and Kazakhstan during the year-end high season in support of its vital tourism industry. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Wednesday that the policy will allow Chinese and Kazakh tourists to enter the Southeast Asian nation without visa requirements beginning on Sept. 25 until the end of February 2024. The government would evaluate the impact of this temporary scheme after it ended, Srettha told a news conference after his first cabinet meeting. "We have discussed this with all relevant agencies to ensure that we are fully ready," he said. As a key driver of growth, Thailand has planned to reinvigorate its tourism industry by introducing promotional materials to inform prospectiv

E

THAILAND-VISA-FREE ENTRY-CHINA-KAZAKHSTAN

(230913) -- BANGKOK, Sept. 13, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Tourists take photos at the Grand Palace scenic spot in Bangkok, Thailand, June 15, 2023. Thailand has approved a temporary visa waiver for visitors from China and Kazakhstan during the year-end high season in support of its vital tourism industry. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

E

THAILAND-VISA-FREE ENTRY-CHINA-KAZAKHSTAN

(230913) -- BANGKOK, Sept. 13, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Tourists take photos at the Wat Arun in Bangkok, Thailand, June 16, 2023. Thailand has approved a temporary visa waiver for visitors from China and Kazakhstan during the year-end high season in support of its vital tourism industry. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

E

THAILAND-VISA-FREE ENTRY-CHINA-KAZAKHSTAN

(230913) -- BANGKOK, Sept. 13, 2023 (Xinhua) -- Tourists take photos at the Grand Palace scenic spot in Bangkok, Thailand, June 15, 2023. Thailand has approved a temporary visa waiver for visitors from China and Kazakhstan during the year-end high season in support of its vital tourism industry. (Xinhua/Wang Teng)

E

The United States and Chile sign a Bilateral Agreement to Preven

SANTIAGO, CHILE – JULY 31: Chilean Ambassador to the United States Juan Gabriel Valdés (R), together with Chilean Undersecretary of the Interior and Public Security Manuel Monsalve (L), speaks to the press during a meeting as part of the Visa Waiver program at the Palacio de La Moneda on July 31, 2023 in Santiago de Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

E

The United States and Chile sign a Bilateral Agreement to Preven

SANTIAGO, CHILE – JULY 31: Chilean Undersecretary of Interior and Public Security Manuel Monsalve (L), and US Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan (R), shake hands after signing the bilateral implementation agreement for the Prevention and Combat of Serious Crimes during a meeting as part of the Visa Waiver program at the Palacio de La Moneda on July 31, 2023 in Santiago de Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

E

The United States and Chile sign a Bilateral Agreement to Preven

SANTIAGO, CHILE – JULY 31: Chilean Undersecretary of the Interior and Public Security Manuel Monsalve (L), together with the United States Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan (R), show the folders containing the signature of the bilateral implementation agreement for the Prevention and Combat of Serious Crimes during a meeting as part of the Visa Waiver program at the Palacio de La Moneda on July 31, 2023 in Santiago de Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

E

The United States and Chile sign a Bilateral Agreement to Preven

SANTIAGO, CHILE – JULY 31: United States Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan gives a speech during a meeting as part of the Visa Waiver program at the Palacio de La Moneda on July 31, 2023 in Santiago de Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

E

The United States and Chile sign a Bilateral Agreement to Preven

SANTIAGO, CHILE – JULY 31: Chilean Undersecretary of Interior and Public Security Manuel Monsalve (L), together with the US Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan (R), observe during a meeting as part of the Visa Waiver program at the Palacio de La Moneda on July 31, 2023 in Santiago de Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

E

The United States and Chile sign a Bilateral Agreement to Preven

SANTIAGO, CHILE – JULY 31: Chilean Undersecretary of Interior and Public Security Manuel Monsalve (L), together with the United States Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan (R), sign the bilateral implementation agreement for the Prevention and Combat of Serious Crimes during a meeting as part of the Visa Waiver program at the Palacio de La Moneda on July 31, 2023 in Santiago de Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

E

The United States and Chile sign a Bilateral Agreement to Preven

SANTIAGO, CHILE – JULY 31: Minister of the Interior and Public Security of Chile Carolina Tohá gives a speech during a meeting as part of the Visa Waiver program at the Palacio de La Moneda on July 31, 2023 in Santiago de Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

E

The United States and Chile sign a Bilateral Agreement to Preven

SANTIAGO, CHILE – JULY 31: United States Ambassador to Chile Bernadette Meehan gives a speech during a meeting as part of the Visa Waiver program at the Palacio de La Moneda on July 31, 2023 in Santiago de Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

E

The United States and Chile sign a Bilateral Agreement to Preven

SANTIAGO, CHILE – JULY 31: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chile Alberto Van Klaveren gives a speech during a meeting as part of the Visa Waiver program at the Palacio de La Moneda on July 31, 2023 in Santiago de Chile. (Photo by Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro)

E

Indian gov't exempts basic customs duty on drugs for rare diseases

STORY: Indian gov't exempts basic customs duty on drugs for rare diseases DATELINE: March 31, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:09 LOCATION: New Delhi CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of India gate 2. various of buildings 3. various of hospitals 4. various of medicine shops STORYLINE: The Indian government on Thursday said basic customs duty on all imported drugs and food for special medical purposes for personal use for the treatment of all rare diseases listed under the National Policy for Rare Diseases 2021 has been exempted. According to the federal finance ministry, an individual importer has to produce a certificate from the health department officials to avail exemption. Drugs and medicines otherwise attract basic customs duty of 10 percent, while some categories of lifesaving drugs and vaccines attract a concessional rate of 5 percent or nil. As per the official notification, the import duty waiver will come into effect from April 1. Officials said the exemption will result in substantial cost sa

E

N. Korea urges Japan to include Korean schools in tuition aid

PYONGYANG, North Korea - Song Il Ho, ambassador for normalization talks with Japan, speaks in an interview with Kyodo News in Pyongyang on April 17, 2010. Song urged Japan to include pro-Pyongyang schools in Japan in a tuition waiver program for high school students ''as early as possible.''

E

Signature collection for N. Korea-linked schools

KITAKYUSHU, Japan - Students of North Korea-linked junior and senior high schools for Korean residents of Japan collect signatures in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, on March 11, 2010. The schoolgirls took part in a rally to drum up support for the inclusion of such schools in a proposed government tuition waiver program.

E

Ex-premier Mori wants Mongolia's permanent visa-waiver for Japanese

ULAN BATOR, Mongolia - Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori (2nd from R) is in talks with Mongolian Prime Minister Miyeegombyn Enkhbold in Ulan Bator on July 9. Mori proposed that Mongolia's temporary visa-waiver arrangement for Japanese tourists be made permanent.

E

Retailer Iwataya to seek 28 bil. yen debt waiver

FUKUOKA, Japan - Kenichi Nakamuta, president of Iwataya Department Store Co., speaks at a press conference in Fukuoka on Feb. 26 about the company's three-year restructuring program. Under the program, Iwataya will seek a debt waiver of about 28 billion yen from its main creditor banks.

E

Retailer Iwataya to seek 28 bil. yen debt waiver

FUKUOKA, Japan - Fukuoka-based Iwataya Department Store Co. (photo), announces on Feb. 26 a three-year rehabilitation plan, under which it will seek a debt waiver of about 28 billion yen from its main creditor banks and will aim to restructure under the umbrella of major department store chain operator Isetan Co.

E

Kumagai Gumi to ask for 450 bil. yen debt waiver

TOKYO, Japan - File photo shows the Tokyo head office of debt-ridden contractor Kumagai Gumi Co., which sources close to the company said will request its major creditors to forgive debts totaling 450 billion yen as part of a rehabilitation plan.

E

New Zealand logs 5,312 new COVID-19 community cases as border fully opens

STORY: New Zealand logs 5,312 new COVID-19 community cases as border fully opens DATELINE: Aug. 2, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:24 LOCATION: Wellington CATEGORY: HEALTH SHOTLIST: 1. various of Wellington 2. various of airports 3. various of COVID-19 vaccinations and tests STORYLINE: New Zealand recorded 5,312 new community cases of COVID-19 and 28 more deaths, the Ministry of Health said on Monday. New Zealand's international border opened to all visitors from 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, with visitors from non-visa waiver countries and international students able to apply for a visa to enter New Zealand, marking the final step in the government's reconnecting plan. There are currently a total of 1,502 deaths confirmed as attributable to COVID-19, either as the underlying cause of death or as a contributing factor since the pandemic began in New Zealand, the health ministry said. Among the new cases reported over the last 24 hours, 269 COVID-19 cases have recently traveled overseas, it added. Currently, 759 COVID-19 p

E

SWITZERLAND-GENEVA-WTO-MC12

(220617) -- GENEVA, June 17, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on June 15, 2022 shows a view of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva, Switzerland. WTO Members have agreed on key issues such as pandemic response, TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver related to COVID-19, food security, World Food Programme Food Purchases Exemption, fishery subsidies, e-commerce and WTO reforms. (WTO/Handout via Xinhua)

E

SWITZERLAND-GENEVA-WTO-MC12

(220617) -- GENEVA, June 17, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken on June 15, 2022 shows a view of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva, Switzerland. WTO Members have agreed on key issues such as pandemic response, TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver related to COVID-19, food security, World Food Programme Food Purchases Exemption, fishery subsidies, e-commerce and WTO reforms. (WTO/Handout via Xinhua)

E

SWITZERLAND-GENEVA-WTO-MC12

(220617) -- GENEVA, June 17, 2022 (Xinhua) -- The World Trade Organization's (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (L) speaks at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva, Switzerland, June 15, 2022. WTO Members have agreed on key issues such as pandemic response, TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver related to COVID-19, food security, World Food Programme Food Purchases Exemption, fishery subsidies, e-commerce and WTO reforms. (WTO/Handout via Xinhua)

E

SWITZERLAND-GENEVA-WTO-MC12

(220617) -- GENEVA, June 17, 2022 (Xinhua) -- The World Trade Organization's (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala speaks at the WTO's 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva, Switzerland, June 15, 2022. WTO Members have agreed on key issues such as pandemic response, TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver related to COVID-19, food security, World Food Programme Food Purchases Exemption, fishery subsidies, e-commerce and WTO reforms. (WTO/Handout via Xinhua)

E

WTO's 12th ministerial meeting opens in Geneva to tackle key issues

STORY: WTO's 12th ministerial meeting opens in Geneva to tackle key issues DATELINE: June 13, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:22 LOCATION: GENEVA, Switzerland CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: SOUNDBITE(English): NGOZI OKONJO-IWEALA, WTO Director-Generalvarious of the meetingvarious of the meeting complex STORYLINE: The World Trade Organization's (WTO) 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) opened Sunday at WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. During the four-day meeting, members of the trade organization will hold discussions on such issues as TRIPS (Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) waiver for COVID-19 vaccines, pandemic response, fishery subsidies, agriculture, food security, as well as the WTO's reform and its future work priorities. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that the world is currently facing multiple crises such as the epidemic, food shortage, climate change and regional conflicts, and she called on all parties to work together to overcome the difficulties. "No one

E

NEW ZEALAND-BORDERS-REOPEN

(220502) -- AUCKLAND, May 2, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People arrive at Auckland International Airport in New Zealand, May 2, 2022. From midnight Sunday, New Zealand's borders have opened to visitors from 60 visa waiver countries for the first time since closing its international borders in March 2020 over COVID-19. (Photo by Zhao Gang/Xinhua)

E

NEW ZEALAND-BORDERS-REOPEN

(220502) -- AUCKLAND, May 2, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People arrive at Auckland International Airport in New Zealand, May 2, 2022. From midnight Sunday, New Zealand's borders have opened to visitors from 60 visa waiver countries for the first time since closing its international borders in March 2020 over COVID-19. (Photo by Zhao Gang/Xinhua)

E

NEW ZEALAND-BORDERS-REOPEN

(220502) -- AUCKLAND, May 2, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People arrive at Auckland International Airport in New Zealand, May 2, 2022. From midnight Sunday, New Zealand's borders have opened to visitors from 60 visa waiver countries for the first time since closing its international borders in March 2020 over COVID-19. (Photo by Zhao Gang/Xinhua)

E

NEW ZEALAND-BORDERS-REOPEN

(220502) -- AUCKLAND, May 2, 2022 (Xinhua) -- People arrive at Auckland International Airport in New Zealand, May 2, 2022. From midnight Sunday, New Zealand's borders have opened to visitors from 60 visa waiver countries for the first time since closing its international borders in March 2020 over COVID-19. (Photo by Zhao Gang/Xinhua)

E

New Zealand reopens border for tourism, economic recovery

STORY: New Zealand reopens border for tourism, economic recovery DATELINE: March 16, 2022 LENGTH: 00:01:23 LOCATION: Wellington CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. Various of scenes of planes taking off and landing in Auckland Airport 2. Various of Air New Zealand preparing to welcome international passengers STORYLINE: The New Zealand government is bringing forward the date for opening the border to tourists in time for the Australian school holidays, in a move that will help accelerate the economic recovery from COVID-19, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Wednesday. From 11:59 p.m. local time on April 12, Australians will be able to travel to New Zealand isolation-free, and then two and a half weeks later from 11:59 p.m. local time May 1, vaccinated travelers from visa-waiver countries such as Britain, the United States, Japan, Germany, South Korea and Singapore, and those with valid visitor visas, will be able to arrive, Ardern told a press conference. "Closing our border was one of the first actions w

E

Protest ageinst Angela Merkel visit - Washington

Protesters hold a 'die-in' rally outside the White House during German Chancellor Angela Merkel visit in Washington on July 15, 2021. German government has opposed plans for an emergency World Trade Organization waiver for coronavirus (COVID-19) intellectual property. Photo by Yuri Gripas/ABACAPRESS.COM

E

Protest ageinst Angela Merkel visit - Washington

Protesters hold a 'die-in' rally outside the White House during German Chancellor Angela Merkel visit in Washington on July 15, 2021. German government has opposed plans for an emergency World Trade Organization waiver for coronavirus (COVID-19) intellectual property. Photo by Yuri Gripas/ABACAPRESS.COM

E

Protest ageinst Angela Merkel visit - Washington

Protesters hold a 'die-in' rally outside the White House during German Chancellor Angela Merkel visit in Washington on July 15, 2021. German government has opposed plans for an emergency World Trade Organization waiver for coronavirus (COVID-19) intellectual property. Photo by Yuri Gripas/ABACAPRESS.COM

E

Protest ageinst Angela Merkel visit - Washington

Protesters hold a 'die-in' rally outside the White House during German Chancellor Angela Merkel visit in Washington on July 15, 2021. German government has opposed plans for an emergency World Trade Organization waiver for coronavirus (COVID-19) intellectual property. Photo by Yuri Gripas/ABACAPRESS.COM

E

Protest ageinst Angela Merkel visit - Washington

Protesters hold a 'die-in' rally outside the White House during German Chancellor Angela Merkel visit in Washington on July 15, 2021. German government has opposed plans for an emergency World Trade Organization waiver for coronavirus (COVID-19) intellectual property. Photo by Yuri Gripas/ABACAPRESS.COM

E