Booster shot improves immune response of chemotherapy patients; post-Covid depression helped by widely used drugs

An Israeli woman receives a third shot of the Covid-19 vaccine in Tel Aviv, Israel on Aug 30, 2021.Reuters file The following is a summary of some recent studies on Covid-19. They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that have yet to be certified by peer review. Chemo patients' response to vaccine improves...

WHO is sending Covid-19 aid for North Korea

A logo is pictured at the World Health Organisation (WHO) building in Geneva, Switzerland, on Feb 2, 2020.Reuters file SEOUL - The World Health Organisation (WHO) says it is sending Covid-19 aid for North Korea through China's border port of Dalian, despite few signs North Korea has eased strict border lockdowns to keep the virus out. In...

Pontian Wanton Noodles staff caught chopping meat on floor, SFA investigating

An incident in which employees of Pontian Wanton Noodles were seen chopping and handling meat on the floor at its Paya Lebar Square outlet.Stomp The Singapore Food agency (SFA) is investigating an incident in which employees of Pontian Wanton Noodles were seen chopping and handling meat on the floor at its Paya Lebar Square outlet. A Stomp contributor...

Is Blahaj the shark plushie really ‘going extinct’? Ikea Singapore says otherwise

Twitter/oaksandcompany What's something that can cause more panic than a pandemic or the Evergrande crisis? A blue plushie shark from Ikea called Blahaj. Over the past few days, the internet has gone haywire over news that the popular toy will be discontinued next year and Chinese microblogging platform Weibo has been stormed with distressed comments. However, Singaporean fans don't have to worry...

No joke: Man gets $1,700 sushi restaurant bill in Hong Kong after QR code prank

A sushi enthusiast shared a photograph of his meal on Facebook, only to be pranked by netizens who ordered more food for him via the QR code in the image. On Saturday (Oct 2), a man in Hong Kong posted in a sushi and sashimi interest group on Facebook, showing him dining in at Genki Sushi...

Mark Zuckerberg Reportedly Lost RM29 Billion Following Facebook Disruption

Since last night (Monday, 4th October), it’s been reported that the Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp platforms (owned by Mark Zuckerberg’s Facebook Inc. company) had experienced an unexpected glitch, resulting in users around the world failing to access their accounts. The problem, which was initially expected to only last for a short period of time, had prolonged...

The ‘CEO’ is a man: How Chinese artificial intelligence perpetuates gender biases

Unsplash As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into modern society, evidence suggests that the algorithms meant to help eliminate cultural biases have problems of their own, and Chinese companies are no different. A report published on Monday (Oct 1) by the Mana Data Foundation, a Shanghai-based public welfare foundation, and UN Women, found systematic prejudices against women...

Russia to host first royal wedding in more than a century

Grand Duke George, the Head of the Russian Imperial House Grand Duchess Maria's son, will marry his Italian fiancee on Oct 1, 2021 as the country's first royal wedding since the Russian Revolution of 1917 will take place in the city of St Petersburg.Reuters MOSCOW - Russia's former imperial capital is set to play host to...

Girl visits doctor for stomach ailment, misses PSLE English paper due to PCR test

Pupils on Covid-19 quarantine orders and leave of absence can sit the exams if they test negative.The Straits Times SINGAPORE - Financial manager Sally Ang's daughter had a stomachache the night before her first Primary School Leaving Examination paper on Thursday (Sept 30) but the doctor found signs of a respiratory infection and had her tested...

France plans to extend Covid state of emergency until next summer

A tent for rapid coronavirus disease (Covid-19) test is seen on the Champs-Elysees near the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Sept 3, 2021.Reuters file France plans to extend the state of emergency until next year's summer to deal with the continuing coronavirus epidemic, government spokesman Gabriel Attal said on Wednesday (Sept 29). "What we will propose...