Some 1.4 million vaccine applications cannot be processed

A health worker prepares a shot of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be administered under the national Covid-19 immunisation programme. Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today reminded applicants that full details are needed in order to secure an appointment for vaccination. Photo: Bernama Some 1.4 million applications for vaccination under the government’s Covid-19 immunisation programme cannot...

Myanmar declares martial law in Yangon townships after deadly day

Anti-coup protesters scatter during the ongoing police crackdown during a protest in Sanchaung township, Yangon, Myanmar, on March 14. A number of people were shot dead during protests in Myanmar's largest city on Sunday, as security forces continued their violent crackdown against dissent following last month's military coup. Photo: AP Myanmar’s junta late Sunday imposed martial...

K-pop band BTS lose at Grammys, as Beyonce, Megan Thee Stallion among early winners

Beyonce and Megan Thee Stallion.Reuters and Instagram/theestallion Megan Thee Stallion, Beyonce and Billie Eilish were among the early winners on Sunday but K-Pop band BTS were defeated in their bid to win a first Grammy award. BTS lost in the best pop duo or group performance against Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande for their single “Rain on...

AstraZeneca finds no evidence of increased blood clot risk from Covid-19 vaccine

AstraZeneca Plc said on Sunday (March 14) a review of safety data of people vaccinated with its Covid-19 vaccine has shown no evidence of an increased risk of blood clots. AstraZeneca’s review, which covered more than 17 million people vaccinated in the United Kingdom and European Union, comes after health authorities in some countries suspended the...

London police face backlash after dragging mourners from vigil for murdered woman

Police detain a woman as people gather at a memorial site in Clapham Common Bandstand, following the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard, in London, Britain, on March 13, 2021.Reuters London police faced a backlash from the public on Sunday and an official inquiry into their actions after using heavy-handed tactics to break up an outdoor...

Japan worshippers brave smouldering coals to pray for safety

Buddhist monks spreads ambers in a bonfire at the fire-walking festival, called hiwatari matsuri in Japanese, at Mt.Takao in Tokyo, Japan, on March 14, 2021.Reuters Japanese worshippers prayed for the safety of themselves and their families on Sunday by walking barefoot with Buddhist monks over smouldering coals at an annual festival near Mt. Takaosan. The fire-walking was...

Drenched in purple, South Korean islands draw tourists

A general view of the Purple Island in Shinan, South Korea, March 9, 2021. Reuters Dressed all in purple, bent-over women held long rakes aloft as they walked in a line to a lavender field to carry out some pruning on an island in southwest South Korea. Residents dressed in purple clothing work in a lavender field...

Chinese ‘polar bear hotel’ opens to full bookings, criticis

cnsphoto via Reuters A hotel that bills itself as the world’s first “polar bear hotel” has opened in China’s far northeastern Heilongjiang province, drawing both guests and criticism for its central feature: live polar bears. The Polar Bear Hotel, part of the Harbin Polarland theme park in Heilongjiang’s capital and largest city, Harbin, opened its doors on...

Malaysia defends coronavirus fake news law amid outcry

FILE PHOTO: Malaysian Foreign Minister Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah speaks during the news conference at the end of the meeting September 12, 2019 at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Beijing, China.Andrea Verdelli/Pool via REUTERS Malaysia’s government on Friday (March 12) defended a new law aimed at tackling rampant fake news related to Covid-19 and an ongoing state of...

‘Everyone expects me to be more than perfect’: Malaysian influencer Cathryn Li posts photo of alleged suicide attempt after controversy

Malaysian influencer Cathryn Li has said that the recent vitriol against her online has driven her to suicide. In an Instagram post on Saturday (March 13), Li detailed how she suffered an emotional collapse and "tried to end all the pain". An accompanying photo showed angry red marks around the middle of her neck. She wrote in the...