Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine appears safe, triggers antibodies in trial in children: Researcher

The preliminary data was from Phase I and II clinical trials involving over 500 people.Reuters Sinovac Biotech's Covid-19 vaccine appears to be safe and able to trigger immune responses among children and adolescents, according to preliminary results from early and mid-stage trials, the company said late on Monday (March 22). The preliminary data was from Phase I...

Is North Korea’s move to cut ties with Malaysia a ‘test’ for Joe Biden?

Twitter/imnormgoh A move by Pyongyang to sever ties with Malaysia, following the extradition of a North Korean national to the United States on money-laundering charges, could be aimed at testing the administration of US President Joe Biden, according to analysts. Pyongyang announced on Friday that it was cutting diplomatic ties after a Malaysian Federal Court panel earlier...

Malaysia sets up compensation fund for Covid-19 vaccinations

Under the new fund, individuals requiring extended hospitalisation due to a vaccine reaction will be eligible for RM50,000 (S$16,333).Reuters Malaysia on Monday (March 22) announced it had established a RM10 million (S$3.3 million) compensation fund to provide cash assistance for any Covid-19 vaccine recipients who suffer severe reactions due to inoculations. The South-east Asian country has inoculated...

NUS hostel residents to be swabbed after traces of Covid-19 found in wastewater

Swabbing stations would be set up at UTown Residence on March 23, 2021. Residents of a hostel block at the National University of Singapore will need to be swabbed after traces of Covid-19 were detected in its wastewater. Staff and students were informed in a circular seen by The Straits Times on Monday night (March 22). Dr...

Police Arrest Dato Sri Nicky Liow Soon Hee After Searching For 18 Hours

The Dato and Dato Sri titles are meant to be titles that honour the individuals to whom it is bestowed upon. Curiously enough, the actions of some individuals don’t match the honour. The police recently arrested Dato Sri Nicky Liow Soon Hee, a 33-year-old businessman. He is allegedly involved in money laundering and a commercial crime...

Did Dr. Noor Hisham Flout SOPs During Daughter’s Recent Wedding?

In case you missed it, the daughter of our Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, Khairin Afiqah, officially got married to her beau (known as Hazim) during the past weekend. The reception was held at the BoraOmbak Marina wedding hall in Putrajaya yesterday (Sunday, 21st March). TV personality, Ahmad Fedtri Yahya, took to his Instagram...

Heavy rains in Australia’s east bring worst floods in 50 years

  Heavy rains along Australia’s east coast over the weekend have brought the worst flooding in half a century in some areas, authorities said on Sunday, forcing thousands to evacuate and damaging hundreds of houses. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the downpour across the state, Australia’s most populous with 8 million people, was worse than...

Philippines tightens coronavirus curbs as cases top 7,000 for third day

A worker in a hazmat suit disinfects a street as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) at a village in Manila, Philippines, March 19, 2021.Reuters The Philippines will expand tighter Covid-19 rules to include four provinces surrounding the capital Manila, and restrict travel to and from these areas for two weeks beginning...

Dozens of Thai protesters injured after rally near king’s palace

Riot police beat a protester (C) during anti-government protests in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 20, 2021.Reuters More than 30 civilians and police were injured in anti-government protests in Thailand, an emergency medical centre said on Sunday after police used water cannon, teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the rally the night before. Video circulated on social media...

Chinese city bans ‘vulgar’ wedding hazings after string of incidents take tradition too far

Zouping city said it wanted to make weddings civilised.Multifolds A city in eastern China has formally banned a notorious wedding tradition where guests are allowed to tease the new couple and their bridesmaids, after a series of incidents when the joke went too far. The authorities in Zouping, a city in Shandong province, issued a notice on...