Author Dav Pilkey, best known for his children’s book series Captain Underpants, and Scholastic publishing have pulled his 2010 graphic novel The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future off the shelves over what they dubbed “passive racism.”The book, a spin-off of the Captain Underpants series, follows two caveboys named Ook and Gluk who learn kung fu from a martial arts instructor, Master Wong.“The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future was intended to…
US suspends trade deal with Myanmar after junta’s deadly crackdown
The United States on Monday suspended a trade pact with Myanmar as it voiced outrage over the military junta’s killing of more than 100 democracy protesters over the weekend.The Trade and Investment Framework, which laid out ways to boost business but was not a fully-fledged deal, will remain suspended until democracy is restored, President Joe Biden’s administration said.“The United States strongly condemns the Burmese security forces’ brutal violence against civilians,” US Trade…
Stanwell joins $600m solar thermal plan for Mount Isa
Australia’s Queensland government-owned energy generator Stanwell will provide financial support to Vast Solar’s 50 megawatt hybrid solar thermal project to be developed in Mount Isa, Queensland at a cost of $600 million.
Islamic State terror network behind Palm Sunday suicide bombing at Indonesian church, police say
The suicide bombing at an Indonesian cathedral on Palm Sunday was carried out by two members of a pro-Islamic State extremist group blamed for other church blasts, including a deadly 2019 attack in the Philippines, police said.About 20 worshippers were injured by the powerful explosion outside the church in Makassar city on Sulawesi island as they celebrated the start of Holy Week.Both suspects in the attack were killed as they rode a motorbike into the compound of the church, setting off what…
Malaysia’s Umno won’t work with Muhyiddin at next election, party president says
Malaysia’s biggest political party and key ruling coalition ally Umno on Sunday said it will not cooperate with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s alliance in the next national election, deepening conflict within the ruling pact.Muhyiddin’s 13 months in office have been beset with infighting and a leadership challenge from opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, amid the Covid-19 pandemic that has wrecked havoc on the economy.Umno, or the United Malays National Organisation, is the largest bloc in…
Hundreds protest against Turkey’s withdrawal from landmark women’s treaty
Hundreds of women across Turkey on Saturday took to the streets for the second weekend in a row to protest against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s decision to withdraw from the world’s first binding treaty to combat violence against women.Erdogan last weekend sparked anger with his withdrawal from the 2011 Istanbul Convention that conservatives claim is hurting family unity in Turkey.Justifying the decision to withdraw, the presidency last week claimed the treaty had been “hijacked by a group…
In Cambodia, a property tycoon beats his wife in a Facebook video – and she gets blamed
Sophea* froze when the footage of Cambodian cosmetics entrepreneur Deth Malina being battered by her then-husband flashed up on social media. “It was difficult to watch,” the mother-of-three, 36, recalled. “It reminded me of my home life and what I had to escape.”On March 15, Deth published on Facebook an hour-long compilation of clips that showed displays of violence that have torn the nation in half. In one scene, property tycoon Duong Chhay, 31, lunges across his child to beat Deth, also 31…
Russia seeks stronger military ties with Myanmar amid international condemnation over coup
Russia wants to strengthen military ties with Myanmar, its state media reported on Friday, after a meeting between top defence officials and a junta condemned by Western countries for killing hundreds of civilian protesters.Russia’s deputy defence minister, Alexander Fomin, on Friday met junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, who seized power in a February 1 coup that triggered weeks of nationwide protests and a lethal response by security forces.In Naypyidaw, Fomin said Myanmar was a…
Mandatory Covid testing in force in some UAE business sectors
Staff in certain public-facing business sectors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be required to take a Covid-19 PCR test once every 14 days if they have not already been vaccinated, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has announced.
Lease arrears: options for landlords in England and Wales
Commercial landlords in England and Wales must consider their approach to the increasing level of arrears given further extensions to restrictions on remedies.