BANGKOK – More than 1.5 million doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines donated by the United States arrived in Thailand on Friday (July 30) to much fanfare. In nearby Vietnam, the authorities are administering five million doses of Moderna vaccine donated by the US earlier this month. Washington’s vaccine diplomacy is in full swing. Please subscribe […]
HANOI (REUTERS) – Vietnam’s health ministry issued an urgent appeal on Friday (July 30) for private hospitals to treat Covid-19 patients as the South-east Asian country battles a surge in infections driven by the highly contagious Delta variant. After successfully containing the virus for much of the pandemic, Vietnam has been facing record daily increases […]
'Fight continues' for Tokyo Frenchman who ends three week hunger strike over his 'abducted' children
TOKYO (AFP) – A Frenchman who went on hunger strike in Tokyo seeking access to his children said on Friday (July 30) that he had ended his protest to undergo surgery on his finger after a fall. For three weeks, Mr Vincent Fichot sat outside a train station near the Olympic Stadium in a bid […]
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – A controversial British former media adviser to Malaysian ex-leader Najib Razak has had money-laundering charges dropped after agreeing to pay US$1.7 million (S$2.3 million) to scandal-hit sovereign wealth fund 1MDB, officials said Friday (July 30). Paul Stadlen is believed to have left the country shortly after his boss, former prime minister […]
SINGAPORE – People facing a mental health crisis and needing urgent care after a traumatic event will be able to seek short-term treatment at a new unit at the Institute of Mental Health. The Short Stay Unit, which is expected to open later this year, will provide up to 72 hours of monitoring and management […]
SINGAPORE – The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) will be chaired by a new president from next week, as its current president steps down after completing his term. Mr Mohamed Sa’at Abdul Rahman, 60, will be the council’s ninth president. He will be taking over from Mr Mohammad Alami Musa, 65, on Aug 7. […]
NEW DELHI (REUTERS) – India reported on Friday (July 30) 44,230 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, government data showed. The nationwide tally of infections reached 31.57 million, according to the health ministry. The country reported 555 deaths overnight, taking the overall tally to 423,217 fatalities, data showed. Repeated lockdowns have caused unemployment […]
WELLINGTON (REUTERS) – New Zealand introduced on Friday (July 30) legislation that proposes up to five years in prison for practices intended to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression, known as LGBT conversion therapy. The proposed measures were aimed at ending such practices, which do not work, are widely discredited, and […]
NEW YORK (REUTERS) – Britain’s UN ambassador warned on Thursday (July 29) that half of Myanmar’s 54 million people could be infected with Covid-19 in the next two weeks as Myanmar’s envoy called for UN monitors to ensure an effective delivery of vaccines. Myanmar has been in chaos since the military ousted an elected government […]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate on Thursday prepared to tackle the details of a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill backed by President Joe Biden, with the possibility of weekend work looming after lawmakers voted to advance the measure.A screen displays the U.S. President Joe Biden’s remarks on American manufacturing on the trading floor at […]