Author - jessie tan

Rumours and fears as China tech hub Shenzhen under pressure to contain coronavirus outbreak

As new coronavirus cases reach fresh highs in Hong Kong, the neighbouring city of Shenzhen is also feeling the pressure to contain its worst outbreak fuelled by a new Omicron sub-variant. To help prevent transmission, Shenzhen has put cross-border drivers under greater scrutiny. From Tuesday (March 1), drivers must show a negative nucleic acid test result from...

South Korea rolls back Covid-19 vaccine pass as infections burden testing centres

South Korea will temporarily lift a requirement for vaccine passes or negative Covid-19 tests at a number of businesses to ease the strain on testing centres, authorities said on Monday (Feb 28), as the country faces a wave of Omicron infections. The move will allow public testing and health facilities to devote more resources to battling...

‘Delay means death’: UN climate report urges immediate, drastic action

Climate change is already disrupting billions of lives and humanity is not doing enough to limit the suffering, the United Nations (UN) climate science panel warned in a major report on Monday (Feb 28). Noting that nearly half the world's population was already vulnerable to increasingly dangerous climate impacts, the report calls for drastic action on...

Daily roundup: Family of 6 opens up about living with Covid-19 in a 2-room flat — and other top stories today

Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. 'I can't afford to get infected': Family of 6 on living with Covid-19 in a 2-room flat As the unit's sole bedroom became his daughters' isolation room, the family tried to make do with the rest of the space they had 2. K-drama Squid Game wins big...

North Korea resumes missile tests with first launch in a month

A North Korea flag flutters next to concertina wire at the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on March 9, 2017.Reuters file North Korea fired what could be a ballistic missile on Sunday (Feb 27), military officials in South Korea and Japan said, in what would be the first test since the nuclear-armed country conducted...

Hong Kong allows Covid-19 home testing as daily cases soar

Children rest at a community vaccination centre, after receiving a dose of Sinovac Biotech's CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine, following the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak, in Hong Kong, China, on Feb 25, 2022.Reuters Hong Kong health authorities said on Saturday (Feb 26) they would adjust Covid testing procedures to allow some people to test from home to ease long...

Ukraine invasion: Malaysia says evacuation of diplomatic staff went according to plan

Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said the evacuation of its diplomatic staff in the under-siege Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Saturday (Feb 26) was part of a detailed plan previously endorsed by the country’s top leaders, and refuted claims that the effort was bungled. The South China Morning Post had reported based on multiple government...

Singapore to impose sanctions on Russia, will continue to take strong stance against invasion of Ukraine: Vivian Balakrishnan

Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan will also participate in the Asean Foreign Ministers' Retreat on Wednesday and Thursday.The Straits Times file Singapore will impose export controls on items that can be used directly as weapons in Ukraine to inflict harm or to subjugate the Ukrainians, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told Parliament on Monday (Feb 28). It will also...

Aretha Franklin’s Granddaughter Grace Franklin Auditions for ‘American Idol’ – Find Out How She Did!

American Idol is back! Season 20 of the singing competition series premiered on Sunday (February 27) on ABC. The premiere followed judges Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Richie traveling around the country to auditioning singers hoping to make it in Hollywood. One of those singers that auditioned was 15-year-old Grace Franklin – the granddaughter of the late music icon Aretha Franklin!   “I was really close to...

‘Euphoria’ Kills Off Fan-Favorite Character in Season Two Finale

SPOILER ALERT – Do not read ahead if you haven’t watch the latest episode of Euphoria! The season two finale of Euphoria aired on Sunday night (February 27) and sooo much drama unfolded. While Lexi’s play came to an end, we also had to say goodbye to a fan-favorite character.   In the episode, Fez (Angus Cloud) is getting ready to leave for...