Month: December 2021

Islamic countries pledged on Sunday to set up a humanitarian trust fund for Afghanistan as, with millions facing hunger and a harsh winter setting in, Pakistan’s prime minister warned of chaos if the worsening emergency was not urgently addressed.The crisis is causing mounting alarm but the international response has been muted, given Western reluctance to help the Taliban government, which seized power in August.“Unless action is taken immediately, Afghanistan is heading for chaos,” Prime…

A landslide victory in a crucial state election for a coalition of parties allied to Malaysia’s federal government has strengthened Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s ruling alliance and exposed the opposition’s weaknesses, analysts said.Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) on Saturday retained its hold on power in Malaysia’s largest state by capturing 76 of the Sarawak state assembly’s 82 seats, bettering their performance in 2016 by four seats.Opposition parties, meanwhile, only managed to secure…

Two days after celebrity Taiwanese-American singer-songwriter Wang Leehom announced he was divorcing his Taiwanese wife Lee Jinglei, she responded with an Instagram post alleging a long list of indiscretions including infidelity and soliciting prostitutes.Wang almost immediately came under fire from Asian netizens and within hours began being dropped as spokesperson by various brands.Lee, married to the famous crooner for eight years, unleashed her nine-page tirade on Friday evening, covering…

At least 33 people were killed in the strongest typhoon to hit the Philippines this year, official tallies showed on Saturday.More than 300,000 people fled their homes and beachfront resorts as Typhoon Rai ravaged the southern and central regions of the archipelago, knocking out communications and electricity in many areas, ripping off roofs and toppling concrete power poles.Rai was a super typhoon when it smashed into the popular tourist island of Siargao on Thursday, packing maximum sustained…

The World Health Organization has given emergency approval to a coronavirus vaccine made by US-based Novavax and the Serum Institute of India, paving the way for its inclusion in the UN-backed programme to get such vaccines to poorer countries around the world.The vaccine, known as Covavax, is the ninth to be granted an emergency use authorisation from the UN health agency, marking a vote of confidence for Novavax that could also mean the shots will be accepted by some countries that only admit…

Hundreds of inmates set fire to a prison in southern Thailand in a riot over demands for better medical care for those suffering from Covid-19, officials said Friday.Some 400 inmates at Krabi’s main provincial prison became violent late Thursday night when a core group demanded that those infected with coronavirus be removed from the facility for treatment, according to Justice Minister Somsak Thepsuthin.They began by destroying property in their sleeping area and setting fires, said Police…

Blockchain-based non-fungible tokens (NFTs) could change the way we interact in the digital world. Such tokens help to distinguish between original and counterfeit, between genuine and fake. However, they also bear potential for disputes, as in the recent ‘MetaBirkins’ case.

Authentic leadership and mentoring programmes are essential tools for employers to put in place to combat imposter syndrome – the psychological phenomenon estimated to affect up to 70 per cent of people.

Citizens of either Singapore or Malaysia will be able to travel between the two countries via the land vaccinated travel lane (VTL) effective from 20 December.

Businesses are unlikely to get certainty on UK rules on the enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights concerning the sale of goods until complex issues concerning trade to and from Northern Ireland are resolved.