NEW DELHI – Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s major cabinet reshuffle is being seen as a course correction amid criticism of the government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic as well as a political reset ahead of crucial state elections. Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who prematurely declared the “end game” of Covid-19 was in sight ahead of […]
SINGAPORE – A woman accused of withholding information from a contact tracer on the whereabouts and activities of her husband, who tested positive for Covid-19, said she had difficulty communicating with the officer. Chinese national Shi Sha testified in court on Thursday (July 8) that she felt that the conversation in Mandarin between her and […]
TOKYO (REUTERS) – Despite public opposition in Japan over fears of new coronavirus surges, the Tokyo Olympic Games that were postponed last year will get under way on July 23, with spectators now barred from all events. The delay and crowd restrictions on the Games, which will end on Aug 8, have been expensive in […]
In this week’s edition, find out more about the political uncertainty that has rocked Malaysia after Umno resolved to withdraw support for Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Also, read about the further relaxation of Covid-19 curbs in Singapore in sync with the Republic’s rising vaccination rate. Political uncertainty in Malaysia The decision by the United Malays […]
KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia saw a record 135 Covid-19 deaths on Thursday (July 8), the highest since the pandemic started, and a spike in new daily infections to 8,868. This comes as health authorities announced more beds, equipment and staff to prop up the healthcare system at risk of collapse. The new infection figure – […]
SINGAPORE – Fewer people were diagnosed with HIV/Aids last year, continuing the overall downward trend from the peak in 2012, when 469 people were diagnosed. The 261 new cases last year, comprising 241 men and 20 women, were 20 per cent fewer than the 323 in 2019. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading […]
SINGAPORE – Businesses that sent their workers for reskilling and training have reaped revenue benefits, according to a new study by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The study found that for every 10 per cent of the local workforce that companies supported for training, the company’s revenue was about 0.7 […]
SINGAPORE – Young people now have a new platform to get involved in sustainability efforts, with the launch of a year-long programme. They will have the opportunity to initiate and lead projects or movements to tackle pressing environmental issues under the Youth for Environmental Sustainability (YES) Programme launched by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on […]
SEOUL (THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – Discussions are underway between South Korea and the US on details of their annual summertime joint military exercise, according to Seoul’s Defence Ministry. A ministry spokesperson told a press briefing Monday (July 5) that the timing, scale and exact manner of the upcoming drill had not yet been […]
SINGAPORE – Regeneron Pharmaceutical’s Covid-19 antibody cocktail – which can be used to treat patients who are mildly sick but are at risk of severe illness – will likely be used in Singapore once it is available, said the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID). This follows results from a large British study published on […]