BANGKOK (THE NATION/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – As high-quality face masks to protect users against dangerous smog are in short supply, research found that common face masks with several levels of additional tissue paper or a folded handkerchief inside may suffice to protect Bangkok residents from small airborne dust particles. The research, which is being widely circulated […]

Originally subsidies for Hajj helped poorer sections of the community go on the pilgrimage many could not afford. New Delhi, India – The Indian government has announced the end of a decades-long policy of giving subsidy to thousands of Muslims heading to the holy city of Mecca to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, […]

TOKYO (AFP) – A volcano erupted on a small island in southern Japan on Thursday (Jan 17), the country’s meteorological agency said, spewing ash and smoke into the air over the sparsely-inhabited area. Public broadcaster NHK said there were no reports of injuries or damage yet from the eruption of the volcano on Kuchinoerabu island […]

After an upset win against Bahrain in the semis, Oman will challenge the UAE for the region’s biggest football title. The final of the Gulf Cup will be held on Friday with Oman facing the United Arab Emirates. It’s a tournament that has demonstrated the region’s complex politics, mixed with its love of football. Al […]

BERLIN (Reuters) – The German government on Wednesday confirmed reports that said it was pushing for an extension of Jens Weidmann’s contract as president of the Bundesbank, Germany’s central bank, for another eight years. Weidmann’s first term expires at the end of April. The extension would in theory keep Weidmann in the mix as a […]

SINGAPORE – Salary is not the biggest driver of satisfaction among Singaporean employees, according to a study by data collection platform Qualtrics with more than 500 Singaporean participants. These results are part of a larger survey on more than 6,000 participants globally, including countries like Australia and the United States. The survey was done in […]

(Reuters) – Neel Kashkari, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and a critic of big banks, on Wednesday said the biggest U.S. banks are “unquestionably” safer than they were before the 2007-2009 financial crisis. The Fed’s ability to use monetary policy to safeguard the financial system is about even with the pre-crisis era, […]

LONDON (Reuters) – While markets are buying the view that the historic defeat suffered by Prime Minister Theresa May in parliament cuts the chances of a chaotic Brexit, some financial advisors are urging clients not to overestimate their ability to make bets on British politics. The overwhelming rejection of May’s deal to leave the European […]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – The Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach on Wednesday said they set all-time records for moving cargo in 2018, after U.S. retailers and manufacturers pulled forward imports to avoid higher tariffs on Chinese goods. The Port of Los Angeles, North America’s busiest container port, handled 9.46 million 20-foot equivalent units […]

Top court had previously ordered theatres to play the national anthem before film screenings to instill “patriotism”. India’s Supreme Court has reversed an earlier order that mandated theatres to play the national anthem before film screenings to instil “a sense of committed patriotism and nationalism” in citizens. A 12-member government panel will examine and recommend […]