SINGAPORE – Another key member of a syndicate which duped SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) into wrongfully disbursing over $40 million was dealt with on Wednesday (Aug 18). Andy Quek Sze Leng, 41, was sentenced to jail for 11 years and a month over his role in the largest case of fraud perpetrated against a public institution […]
WELLINGTON (AFP) – New Zealanders must brace for additional Covid-19 cases from an outbreak that has plunged the previously virus-free country into a snap lockdown, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern warned on Wednesday (Aug 18) after six more positive tests were reported. Ms Ardern confirmed New Zealand was dealing with the highly transmissible Delta variant linked […]
HONG KONG (BLOOMBERG) – Within 30 minutes of Hong Kong reversing its seven-day quarantine policy, Ovolo Hotels’ switchboard was swamped with calls. The operator of two facilities in the city’s mandatory quarantine programme also got more than 850 e-mails, as frantic travellers sought to adjust their bookings. Hong Kong’s about-face – coming less than two […]
SINGAPORE – Local budget carrier Jetstar Asia will require all employees to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by October 1. The move takes reference from a Government advisory issued on July 2, which stated that employers may make vaccination a requirement for staff in higher-risk settings. Jetstar Asia said on Wednesday (Aug 18) that it […]
TOKYO – In the trail of the Tokyo 2020 Games, the Olympic motto of “Faster, higher and stronger” could have described the state of Covid-19 infections in Japan’s capital. Every day marks a new record high infection number as the more potent Delta variant quickly outpaces other strains. Nationwide, daily cases hit 20,000 for the […]
One issued official blessings for the suicide bombers who killed scores in Afghanistan’s cities. Another enthusiastically deployed these bombers, as well as the gunmen who terrorized Afghan civil society in dozens of targeted assassinations. These are the top leaders of the Taliban, men who have spent years on the run, in hiding, in jail and […]
YANGON (BLOOMBERG) – Myanmar’s runaway virus outbreak is presenting wealthy nations donating Covid-19 vaccines and supplies with a tough choice: Work with the generals that overthrew the civilian government, or let the situation spiral further out of control. Since the military took over in a coup more than six months ago, virus infections and deaths […]
BANGKOK • Thai police used water cannon to break up a rally at the national police headquarters yesterday, a day after clashes left a young protester in a coma with a bullet lodged in his head. Protesters gathered in central Bangkok for a third successive day to demand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha resign amid rising […]
For nearly two decades, Zabihullah Mujahid was the voice of the Taliban, but only on Tuesday did the world get its first look at his face, when he appeared before reporters in a jam-packed Kabul briefing room to discuss what the insurgents plan to do with their newly won country. Mr. Mujahid appeared at pains […]
DOHA (AFP) – The Taleban gave the first indication on Tuesday (Aug 17) since coming to power that they would not make the full burqa compulsory for women as they did when they last ruled Afghanistan. Under the militants’ hardline 1996-2001 rule, girls’ schools were closed, women were prevented from travelling and working, and women […]