Vietnam: Nothing funny about laughing gas

Vietnam

Nothing funny about laughing gas

A hospital in Hanoi is treating a 20-year-old woman who was admitted for losing feelings in her legs while her arms were numb after she spent three years inhaling laughing gas. Tests showed that her spinal cord was damaged, causing cartilage tissue, intervertebral discs, and vertebral bones to be seriously damaged. Nitrous oxide balloons, also known as ‘funky balls,’can be inhaled for recreational purposes. These may cause euphoria and slight hallucinations but can also cause neurological damage. Prolonged use can lead to poisoning, nerve damage and potentially coma and death. Only 47 per cent of cases recover completely after treatment. VN Express

Singapore

5th least corrupt country in world

Global anti-graft watchdog Transparency International has ranked Singapore as the fifth least corrupt country in the world, with a score that also places the Republic as the least corrupt country in Asia. Singapore scored 83 out of a possible 100 on the group’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), the same result it achieved last year. The highest score it recorded was 87 when the metric was revamped in 2012. The CPI surveys experts and business people, and scores 180 countries and territories on a scale of 0 to 100 by their perceived levels of public sector corruption. Denmark (90) topped the overall index, maintaining their position for the sixth consecutive year, followed by Finland (87), New Zealand (85) and Norway (84). The Straits Times

Pakistan

12.8 crore eligible to vote

The unprecedented surge in the number of voters has made Pakistan the fifth largest democracy in the world, trailing India, Indonesia, United States of America and Brazil. This is also the first time that the country has registered more women voters as compared to men in between two elections. This was disclosed by a Fafen report, titled ‘Electoral Rolls, General Election 2024’. The report says that with the fifth-highest number of registered voters globally, Pakistan has a record 12.85 crore people registered as voters on the Final Electoral Rolls (FER) for the upcoming February 8 elections. The final rolls reflect encouraging progress in narrowing the gender gap in voter registration. Dawn

The Philippines

17,600 children suffered abuse

The government recorded at least 17,600 child abuse cases in 2023, reveals Council for the Welfare of Children Executive Director Angelo Tapeles. He said majority of these cases violated Republic Act (RA) Number 7610 or ‘Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act.’ He is citing data from Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Center (PNP WCPC). (In 2023, based on the data of PNP WCPC, there are 17,681 VAC cases.) Tapeles noted that by the third quarter of 2023, there were at least 1,000 children who were victims of Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children. There are 300-plus cases filed now. However, the centre lacks data on the conviction rate for perpetrators. Inquirer

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