The country would reopen to foreign tourists this winter

Thailand's government is considering scrapping the Test & Go entry scheme and Thailand Pass registration next week to attract more visitors and boost the tourism industry.

TOKYO - Visitors to Japan will have to pay a 1,000 yen (S$12.50) levy when leaving the country from next Monday (Jan 7), Japanese media reported.

The Pablakhali Wildlife Sanctuary in Rangamati, rarely visited by tourists or researchers, is beautiful with mighty garjan and civit trees and home to hundreds of Hill Mynahs and families of Hoolock Gibbons.

A soldier and eight Abu Sayyaf fighters have died after an attempt to free hostages held by the Islamist militant group, the Philippine army said.

New Zealand swing pair Tim Southee and Trent Boult will look to put the hosts' new-look batting lineup to the sword at the Gabba from Thursday as the tourists chase their first series win in Australia for 30 years.

Thai police say the trail had gone cold in the hunt for a bomber a week after 20 people were killed in the country's worst bomb attack.

37 people, mostly foreigners, are killed and 36 injured in an attack on a beach in the Tunisian resort town of Sousse, according to the health ministry.

China will create a "blacklist" of its tourists who behave badly overseas, state-media reported, after several embarrassing incidents involving Chinese travelling abroad.