Tension in India’s Hyderabad city after anti-Islam remarks by politician

By Shakir Husain NEW DELHI, Aug 25 (NNN-Bernama) — Tension prevailed in the southern Indian city of Hyderabad after a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released a video insulting the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The BJP suspended its Telangana state assembly member T. Raja Singh after…

Monsoon rains, floods kill 903 people in Pakistan in three months

By Shakir Husain NEW DELHI, Aug 25 (NNN-Bernama) — Monsoon rains and floods have killed 903 people in Pakistan since June, the country’s Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman said. The death toll includes 326 children and 191 women, and the number of those injured is 1,293. “Record rains have caused…

No recreational use of cannabis in Malaysia

By Linda Khoo Hui Li BANGKOK, Aug 25 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysian Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin on Wednesday assured that the government will not allow recreational use of cannabis in Malaysia. Khairy is here on a four-day working visit to study the practices, cultivation methods, research, and the use of cannabis…

Malaysia’s ex-PM Najib can apply for royal pardon; needs to serve jail time first

By Nor Fariza Mohd Razhi KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (NNN-Bernama) — Former Malaysian prime minister, Najib Razak, can apply for a royal pardon, but must serve jail terms for a certain period of time first, said legal practitioners. According to lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla, the pardon process will take…

WP Engine announces APAC expansion plans with new Singapore presence

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (NNN-Bernama) — WP Engine, the world’s most trusted WordPress technology company has announced its APAC expansion plans with a new presence in Singapore. “Working directly with the incredible APAC brands and agencies innovating websites and digital experiences every day is a privilege for us,” said VP…

Bank Indonesia unexpectedly raises interest rate to 3.75 pct

From Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar JAKARTA, Aug 23 (NNNBernama) — Bank Indonesia (BI) has raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 3.75 per cent from 3.5 per cent for the first time since 2018. Governor Perry Warjiyo said the preemptive and forward-looking decision would mitigate the…

COVID-19: Singapore to start booster shot for children aged 5 to 11 years in 4Q

By Massita Ahmad SINGAPORE, Aug 24 (NNN-Bernama) — Singapore is preparing to start boosting children aged five to 11 years with PfizerBioNTech/Comirnaty vaccine in the fourth quarter of this year, the Health Ministry said Wednesday. The ministry said it has accepted the recommendations by the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination…

COVID-19 jab to remain a condition for new long-term passes and work passes in Singapore

By Massita Ahmad SINGAPORE, Aug 24 (NNN-Bernama) — COVID-19 vaccination will continue to be a condition for the approval of all new applications for long-term passes and work passes in Singapore, the Health Ministry (MOH) said Wednesday. In a statement issued, the ministry said this is to sustain the high…

Malaysia targets to be in world’s top 20 global startup company ecosystem by 2030

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), Aug 24 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia aims to be in the world’s top 20 Global Startup companies ecosystem, through the Malaysian Startup Ecosystem Roadmap (SUPER) 2021-2030, in line with national policies and initiatives to generate high-tech innovation. Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Dr Adham Baba,…

Domino’s Pizza Malaysia set to join largest international Domino’s group

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (NNN-Bernama) — Domino’s Pizza Malaysia is set to become part of the largest Domino’s network outside of the United States (US) via a proposed acquisition by Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd (DPE). DPE is an Australian-based group that operates more than 3,400 Domino’s stores in ten markets around the world. DPE has…