Australian animals living in specific habitats, such as mountain lizards, leaf-tailed geckos and pear-shaped frogs, are battling the threat of extinction after fierce bush fires razed large areas of their homes, a new Reuters analysis shows.Fire has destroyed more than two-thirds of a northeastern zone sprawling over 12 sq km (5 sq miles) where a type of lizard, the Mount Surprise Litter-skink, lives, the analysis of known habitats and satellite-detected fire activity shows.“The Mount Surprise…
Asian health officials fear Wuhan coronavirus outbreak is larger than China’s letting on
Health authorities across Asia are concerned the outbreak of the mysterious new coronavirus is larger than Chinese authorities have stated, amid a surge in the number of people infected in mainland China and as three other countries in the region confirm cases.The number of people confirmed to have contracted the disease on the mainland jumped from 41 to more than 300 this week, with six deaths so far, while Thailand has reported two cases and Japan, Taiwan and South Korea have reported one…
Singaporean start-up’s portable ‘kidney’ could shrink dialysis machines, giving patients their freedom back
For the past seven years, 70-year-old Singaporean Julia Lee has rarely travelled overseas. Her most recent trip was one night away, in neighbouring Malaysia.Since being diagnosed with kidney disease, Lee has spent 10 hours each day hooked up to a 20-kilogram machine, making it difficult to move around.Chronic renal disease results in a loss of kidney function, meaning the patient’s body is unable to clear the blood of waste and excess fluids. Dialysis – the treatment Lee goes through which…
China coronavirus: all travellers from China to undergo temperature screening at Singapore’s Changi Airport
From Wednesday, all inbound travellers arriving at Changi Airport on flights from China will have to undergo temperature screening.The Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement on Monday it is taking this precautionary measure in light of the increase in cases of novel coronavirus pneumonia in Wuhan and exported cases to other cities and countries, as well as the anticipated increase in travel volume ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.Individuals with pneumonia and travel history to Wuhan…
Trump, Abe seek stronger alliance as they mark 60th anniversary of US-Japan security treaty
US President Donald Trump marked the 60th anniversary of the signing of the security treaty between the United States and Japan with a call for a stronger and deeper alliance between the two countries, despite criticising the pact six months ago.“As the security environment continues to evolve and new challenges arise, it is essential that our alliance further strengthen and deepen,” Trump said in a statement dated January 18.“I am confident that in the months and years ahead, Japan’s…
China looms large even in its absence at India’s Raisina Dialogue, as experts discuss trade and security
During a panel discussion at last week’s Raisina Dialogue featuring top military officials from India, Australia, France and Japan, the moderator turned to the Indian navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh and asked: “How true is the statement that the number one, two and three concerns of this [Indo-Pacific] region are China, China and China?” There was stifled laughter from the audience in New Delhi but Singh calmly listed India’s concerns. The Chinese presence in the region, he said, had grown…
Facebook apologises for rude translation of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s name
Facebook Inc said on Saturday it was working to find out how Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s name appeared as “Mr S***hole” in posts on its platform when translated into English from Burmese, apologising for any offence caused and saying the problem had been fixed.The error came to light on the second day of a visit by the president to the Southeast Asian country, where Xi and state counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi signed dozens of agreements covering massive Beijing-backed infrastructure plans.A…
Taal Volcano: Philippine city turns ash into bricks to aid rebuilding efforts
A Philippine city shrouded in ash from the nearby Taal Volcano has turned adversity into an opportunity to help neighbouring towns hit by the natural disaster.The mayor of Biñan, in the neighbouring province of Laguna, has ordered residents to collect ash blanketing homes, cars and roads and put it in sacks to be sent to a state-owned factory and turned into bricks.“When the ash came, we thought we’d exchange the white sand which we mix with plastics to be converted into bricks with ash. We did…
World’s shortest man, Khagendra Thapa Magar, dies in Nepal at 27
The world’s shortest man who could walk, as verified by Guinness World Records, died on Friday at a hospital in Nepal, his family said.Khagendra Thapa Magar, who measured 67.08cm (2 feet 2.41 inches), died of pneumonia at a hospital in Pokhara, 200km (124 miles) from Kathmandu, where he lived with his parents.“He has been in and out of hospital because of pneumonia. But this time his heart was also affected. He passed away today,” said his brother, Mahesh Thapa Magar.Magar was first declared…
In fake news case, Singapore government says ordinary person would have misread SDP’s posts
The Singapore government on Friday argued that online posts made by an opposition party would have misled people into thinking local jobs were being lost to foreigners, as the city state’s first fake news hearing wrapped up.The Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (Pofma) – which allows ministers to order corrections on statements they determine to be false and which harm public interest – came into force last October and has been invoked four times in under a month, primarily…