Indonesia Teams Up With UNESCO To Advance Human Rights Agenda

JAKARTA, Dec 28 (NNN-Bernama) — The Indonesian National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) is seeking UNESCO Jakarta’s assistance in strengthening and mainstreaming the human rights agenda in the country. Both parties will work more closely towards their shared common goals with key focus areas include freedom of expression, media…

Malaysia’s Trade Hits Historical High In Jan-Nov 2021, Surpasses RM2 Trillion Mark

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysia’s total trade surpassed the RM2 trillion (US$478 billion) mark for the first time in history, expanding 24.6 per cent year-on-year (y-o-y) to RM2.01 trillion (US$480 billion) from January to November 2021. Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade) said during the period, exports increased…

Petronas: Recovery Outlook In 2022 To Remain Fragile, Uncertain

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 (NNN-Bernama) — Malaysian state oil firm Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) expects the path towards sustained demand recovery to remain fragile and uncertain next year as the oil market adjusts to both short and long-term landscapes, driven by the resumption of economic activities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.…

Myanmar: UN Special Envoy Calls For New Year Ceasefire

By Linda Khoo Hui Li BANGKOK, Dec 28 (NNN-Bernama) — The newly appointed United Nations special envoy to Myanmar Noeleen Heyzer called for a new year ceasefire between the military and its opponents amid escalating violence in the country. In her first statement since taking on the new role, Heyzer…

Ringgit Opens Higher Against US Dollar

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 (NNN-Bernama) — The Malaysian ringgit climbed against the US dollar at the opening on Tuesday, despite some strength gained by the greenback from the rising US Dollar Index, which rose 0.07 per cent to 96.085 points amid thin liquidity in the markets, an analyst said. At…

Bank Accounts Of Mother Teresa’s Charity Frozen In India

By Shakir Husain NEW DELHI, Dec 28 (NNN-Bernama) — The bank accounts of the late Nobel Peace Prize winner Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity have been frozen in India over foreign funding. The Roman Catholic organisation’s renewal application under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) was rejected on December 25…

International Travellers To Malaysia’s Sabah Must Complete Seven To 14 Days Quarantine

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), Dec 28 (NNN-Bernama) — Travellers arriving from countries that are subject to temporary travel restrictions and COVID-19 high-risk countries will not be allowed to enter east Malaysian state of Sabah until they completed their seven to 14-day quarantine period, effective Monday. State Local Government and Housing…

US-ASEAN Council Ready To Help Malaysia’s Economic Recovery

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar JAKARTA, Dec 27 (NNN-Bernama) — The United States-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) members stand ready to support Malaysia’s efforts and programmes in the post-pandemic economic recovery, including in returning the country’s position in regional and global supply chains. The USABC opined that policymaking that prioritises digital…

Seven Workers Killed In East India Food Factory Explosion

By Shakir Husain NEW DELHI, Dec 27 (NNN-Bernama) — Seven workers were killed and many injured in a boiler blast in a food processing plant in the east Indian state of Bihar. Their bodies were pulled out of the plant’s debris after the explosion in an industrial area in Muzaffarpur,…

Singapore Adjusts Approach In Managing Omicron

By Massita Ahmad SINGAPORE, Dec 27 (NNN-Bernama) — As international evidence indicate the Omicron variant of COVID-19 is likely to be more transmissible yet less severe than the Delta variant, and that vaccines especially boosters help retain substantial protection against hospitalisations, Singapore will adjust its approach in managing the spread…