A fire broke out on Thursday at India’s Serum Institute, the world’s largest maker of vaccines, with television channels showing thick clouds of grey smoke billowing from the site in Pune.The institute is producing millions of doses of the Covishield coronavirus vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University, but a source said the blaze was at a new plant under construction and “is not going to affect production of the Covid-19 vaccine”.An official at the local fire station said that…
Pet food: Malaysian woman’s koi soup raises eyebrows after she makes meal out of dead fish
Japanese koi are typically thought of as expensive ornamental fish rather than food, so a Malaysian woman caused quite a stir on social media when she shared pictures of her dead pet koi being turned into a soup.Amanda Omeychua first posted the photos on a Facebook group with more than 2 million members called “Masak Apa Tak Jadi Hari Ni”, which roughly translates as “Cooking Fails Of The Day”.The montage of six pictures showed almost two dozen dead fish laid out on a floor, with Omeychua…
Thailand approves Bangkok airport upgrade plan
A Bt60 billion ($1.99bn) upgrade plan for Suvarnabhumi airport, the main international gateway to Bangkok, has been approved.
China’s belt and road: what’s holding up the trains from Pakistan to Turkey via Iran?
Recently, Turkey, Iran and Pakistan announced they would revive the Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) railway, a project launched in 2009. Despite several test runs, the railway link had not become fully operational.At the Economic Cooperation Organisation transport and communications ministers meeting held virtually last month, Turkish Transport Minister Adil Karaismailoglu announced that the project would be relaunched this year. After finalising tariff rates and a timetable, the service will…
In Vietnam, world’s largest cave still attracting tourists – but only locals
Vast rock formations the size of multistorey buildings loom above Ho Minh Phuc, as he picks a path through the gloom inside the world’s largest cave.Phuc, who once earned a living through illegal logging, is a porter for the small tour groups that explore Vietnam’s Son Doong – a cave so large it has its own ecosystem and weather patterns.Home to flying foxes and a 70-metre rock formation resembling a dog’s paw, the cave is an otherworldly wonder that has reshaped the lives of the surrounding…
Tax issues for UK businesses in 2021
With public sector debt at a record high and tax revenues down, the big question for 2021 is whether we will see any UK tax increases, one-off taxes or radical changes to the system.
Thailand jails woman for more than 43 years for insulting monarchy
A Thai woman accused of insulting the royal family was jailed Tuesday for more than 43 years, a legal rights group said, the harshest punishment ever handed out under the country’s strict lese majeste laws.The verdict comes as Thailand ramps up its use of the controversial legislation against democracy protesters, whose demands include reforms to the ultra-powerful monarchy.Ostensibly meant to shield the royal family from defamation, insults or threats, section 112 of the penal code is…
Coronavirus: Malaysia expands lockdown to all but one state; Singapore ramps up vaccine plans
Every state in Malaysia except Sarawak is set to be placed under lockdown from Friday, a senior minister said on Tuesday according to reports.The country’s so-called movement control order will be extended to cover the states of Kedah, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Terengganu and Perli, Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was cited as saying by local media outlet Today Online.The order, which will be in place until at least February 4, is being enforced following advice from the Health…
Malaysian permanent residents of Singapore get new travel rights
Malaysians who are permanent residents (PR) in Singapore will be able to travel to Malaysia for short term leave and return under new changes to the Periodic Commuting Arrangement (PCA).
Japan and Britain schedule security talks, aiming to counter China in Indo-Pacific
Japan and Britain plan a videoconference of their foreign and defence ministers in February to boost security cooperation, amid China’s rising assertiveness in the East and South China seas, sources close to the matter said Monday.If realised, the ministers will likely agree to work closely on Britain’s plan to dispatch an aircraft carrier strike group, centred on the warship Queen Elizabeth, to the western Pacific for joint naval exercises, the sources said.They are expected to share concerns…