As the coronavirus death toll surpasses 250,000 and the world scrambles to find a vaccine, a new scientific task force is headed to the wilderness to try and stop the next pandemic.After decades of patchy global investment into researching the linkages between animal and human health, more than 40 scientists will embark on an Australian government-funded programme that will teach veterinary surgeons in Southeast Asia and the Pacific how to detect infectious diseases – before they make the leap…
In Bangkok, street food and takeaway alcohol are back on the menu but nightlife stays on ice
Hair salons, restaurants and even street-food stalls in Bangkok’s Chinatown came back to life this week, albeit with social distancing in place, as Thailand eased its lockdown rules and an alcohol ban after making progress in controlling the spread of Covid-19.The country has reported single-digit increases in cases in recent days, and has 2,988 confirmed infections and 54 deaths. More than 2,700 patients have recovered from the disease.However, it will be some time before the Thai capital’s…
India to lure firms fleeing China with land offering nearly double the size of Luxembourg
India is developing a land pool nearly double the size of Luxembourg to lure businesses moving out of China, according to people with the knowledge of the matter.A total area of 461,589 hectares has been identified across the country for the purpose, the people said, asking not to be identified because they are not authorised to speak to the media. That includes 115,131 hectares of existing industrial land in states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, they said…
‘I’m a sovereign’: Singapore woman who refused to wear face mask cites radical US movement
A Singapore woman who refused to wear a mask in public and proclaimed herself a “sovereign” who is above the law has left many scratching their heads over her comments, which were captured in video clips that have since gone viral.Police said on Monday the 40-year-old Singaporean, who allegedly assaulting a 47-year-old woman at Shunfu Mart, would be charged in court on Tuesday.They added that this is not the first time the woman has breached regulations that were put in place to stem the spread…
Pompeo reaffirms US wants to denuclearise North Korea, won’t speculate on Kim Jong-un’s health
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday reaffirmed that the United States remains committed to convincing North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons and to creating “a brighter future” for the North Korean people, as the country’s leader Kim Jong-un re-emerged after his unexplained three-week absence.Speaking to broadcaster ABC, Pompeo refused to be drawn in on speculation about Kim’s health, after rumours that he had undergone surgery and was “gravely ill”.“Regardless of any of that, our…
Indonesian, Malaysian Tablighi Jamaat members left stranded by India’s coronavirus lockdown
Indonesia is trying to repatriate 727 of its citizens from India who attended a mass gathering organised by Muslim missionary group Tablighi Jamaat in New Delhi in March and ended up trapped by the country’s lockdown to battle the coronavirus outbreak. The Indonesians form the bulk of more than 1,000 foreigners from Asia and the Middle East who attended the ijtema gathering and were not able to leave the country, with the group including 17 Malaysians. Some of the foreigners were quarantined…
Dependent on China? How Japan wants to tackle the coronavirus disruption
Japan will launch a subsidy programme to encourage domestic manufacturers to transfer their overseas production bases to Southeast Asia, as the coronavirus pandemic has greatly disrupted their supply chains heavily dependent on China.The 23.5 billion yen (US$220 million) programme, incorporated into the government’s emergency stimulus package to ease the economic fallout from the pandemic, will help firms diversify their supply chains by financially assisting the construction of production…
How coronavirus pushes Hong Kong domestic workers into debt traps
When Rose, a Filipino domestic worker in Hong Kong, learned that a relative had developed cancer, she felt she had no option but to turn to a loan company. The migrant worker, who has lived in the city for about a decade, borrowed about HK$20,000 at the end of last year so she could help with the necessary medication and treatments.Rose promptly started paying back the loan in HK$3,000 monthly instalments – more than half of her salary. But then the coronavirus crisis hit Hong Kong late in…
Headless body found in Philippines belongs to Chinese adventurer, officials suspect
Philippine military officials said on Saturday the headless body of a man, and a boat, have been found in the south and authorities were verifying if he could be a Chinese adventurer who went missing while rowing across the Pacific Ocean last year.Regional military commander Lieutenant General Cirilito Sobejana said the head of the man found in the southernmost province of Tawi Tawi may have been severed by strong waves as the body drifted in the high seas for a long time.Ransom-seeking Abu…
Coronavirus: Singapore to ease ‘circuit breaker’ partial lockdown starting May 5
Singapore on Saturday announced that it would gradually ease its partial coronavirus lockdown as the number of cases in the community dipped, with businesses to resume operations in phases starting on Tuesday.Traditional Chinese medicine clinics will be allowed to resume acupuncture and selling goods first, followed by other businesses, including stand-alone food outlets, laundry services and barber shops, to resume operations from May 12. Schools will also bring back students from the…