Actor George Clooney injured in scooter accident in Italy: media

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In this file photo taken on June 07, 2018 US actor George Clooney attends the 46th American Film Institute Life Achievement Award Gala at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. (AFP)
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A scooter stands next to a car following an accident near Olbia, on the island of Sardinia, Italy, Tuesday, July 10, 2018. (AP)
Updated 10 July 2018
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Actor George Clooney injured in scooter accident in Italy: media

  • Clooney, 57, had just left his hotel on a motor scooter when he crashed into a small truck
  • He was taken to hospital with a possible injury

ROME: The American actor and director George Clooney was injured in a scooter accident on the Italian island of Sardinia where he is working on a minizeries, Italian media reported on Tuesday.
Clooney, 57, had just left his hotel on a motor scooter when he crashed into a small truck, Italy’s Chi magazine said on its Web site.
He was taken to hospital with a possible injury and later discharged from the emergency room with a slight contusion on his knee, state news agency Ansa said.
Local police are investigating the accident, Ansa said. Clooney is in Sardinia to film a minizeries based on Joseph Heller’s book “Catch 22,” the news agency said.
Clooney achieved fame for his part in the medical drama ER. He has since won an Oscar for his role in the movie Syriana in 2006 and for co-producing the film Argo in 2012.


Thai coffee chains cut default sugar content in coffee and tea drinks in a new health push

Updated 11 February 2026
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Thai coffee chains cut default sugar content in coffee and tea drinks in a new health push

  • The Health Department says Thais consume 21 teaspoons of sugar daily, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended six teaspoons
  • Officials warn this increases obesity and diabetes risks. A survey found iced coffee and bubble tea contain high sugar levels

BANGKOK: For many Thais, a meal doesn’t feel complete without an iced coffee or tea so sugary it could pass for dessert. The government, concerned about the health consequences, wants them to dial it back.
Starting Wednesday, nine major coffee chains across the country have pledged to cut the default sugar content in some of their drinks by half in a government initiative aimed at tackling excessive sugar consumption.
According to the Health Department, Thais consume an average of 21 teaspoons of sugar per day, more than three times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of six teaspoons. Health officials warn that such high intake increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and other diseases.
The initiative is the first significant step to change consumers’ sugar consumption behavior, said Amporn Benjaponpitak, the director general of the department.
Pakorn Tungkasereerak, the department’s deputy, said 2025 data show that about 45 percent of Thais aged 15 and older are obese, while 10 percent of the population has diabetes.
A survey by the Bureau of Nutrition found that a 22-ounce (650-milliliter) iced coffee contains an average of nine teaspoons of sugar, while a 10-ounce (300-milliliter) serving of bubble milk tea — an iced milk tea with tapioca pearls known as boba — can contain as much as 12 teaspoons.
Sirinya Kuiklang, an office worker, said she approves of the changes. She already orders her drinks at just 25 percent of the standard sugar level, but she is aware that many others consume too much sugar.
“It’s good for Thai people,” she said.
Another office worker, Porwares Tantikanpanit, said he has enjoyed his non-coffee beverages at their current sugar levels but is willing to adjust if shops reduce the sweetness.
However, putting the policy into practice may prove challenging. Officials have said each brand can apply the initiative as they see fit.
Some customers have expressed confusion in response to social media posts promoting the initiative, asking how to order drinks with the level of sweetness that they prefer. Several brands said that the reduction applies only to certain menu items.