Day: March 31, 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Husband of woman killed by falling tree in Botanic Gardens sues NParks
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: The husband of a woman who was killed by a falling tree in the Singapore Botanic Gardens three years ago is suing the National Parks Board for damages. In documents seen by CNA, widower Jerome Rouch-Sirech claims that NParks’ negligence led to the collapse of the Tembusu tree on Feb 11, 2017, pinning his 38-year-old
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
COVID-19: Wife of critically ill Bangladeshi man in Singapore gives birth to baby boy
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: The wife of a Bangladeshi worker, who tested positive for COVID-19 in Singapore, has given birth to a baby boy in Bangladesh, the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) said on Tuesday (Mar 31). The Bangladeshi national, who is case 42, tested positive for the disease on Feb 8 after being admitted to the intensive care unit at
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
‘Talk like Doraemon’: Malaysian ministry issues tips for wives during COVID-19 movement control order
News Business Article
KUALA LUMPUR: Married women in Malaysia have been issued a set of recommendations on how to manage their households and husbands during the movement control order, including speaking in “Doraemon’s voice” and giggling coyly. The Women and Family Ministry on Monday (Mar 30) posted several tips on social media on how to avoid domestic arguments between husband
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
China delays college entrance exam as fears grow over risk of coronavirus second wave
News Business Article
SHANGHAI/BEIJING: China will delay its national college entrance exam by a month as it grapples with a coronavirus pandemic as travellers returning from abroad are fuelling new cases and boosting concern over the threat of a second wave of infections. The two-day “gaokao” annual test will be pushed back to Jul 7 and 8, China Central
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Man admits molesting, sexually assaulting 12-year-old boy who was at public pool for swimming lesson
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: A 61-year-old man molested a 12-year-old boy before his swimming lesson at a public swimming complex and sexually assaulted him in the washroom after the lesson was over. Supermarket sales assistant Lum Siew Hon, now 63, pleaded guilty on Tuesday (Mar 31) to two charges of sexual penetration of a minor and one charge
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
UK police criticised for overzealous lockdown response
News Business Article
LONDON: Some British police might have gone a “little too far”, a minister said on Tuesday (Mar 31) after warnings some forces were turning Britain into a police state by abusing powers to enforce a coronavirus lockdown. New regulations brought in on Thursday give police the power to issue instant 30-pound (US$37) fines to people
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Japan’s Abe, deputy avoid joint meetings to cut COVID-19 risk as lockdown pressure builds
News Business Article
TOKYO: Japan’s prime minister and his deputy won’t attend meetings together to cut coronavirus risks as pressure for a lockdown builds, with domestic cases topping 2,000 and a minister saying the country’s containment strategy was stretched to the limit. Shinzo Abe told cabinet members on Tuesday (Mar 31) that his second-in-command, Taro Aso, would no
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
COVID-19: MINDEF defers all ‘non-operations-essential’ in-camp training, waives IPPT requirement for affected NSmen
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: All “non-operations-essential” in-camp training (ICT) will be deferred with immediate effect until Apr 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced on Tuesday (Mar 31). The ministry will also waive the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) requirement for affected operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen). Advertisement Advertisement “To further safeguard SAF
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Despair and pride in China’s Wuhan as COVID-19 lockdown eases
News Business Article
WUHAN, Hubei: Residents of China’s Wuhan city, ground zero for the coronavirus pandemic, have mixed emotions as containment measures are lifted and the community infection rate slows to a trickle, with some praising the government and others rueing the economic costs. The strictest curbs on movement and business were in the Hubei provincial capital of
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
All three men to appeal dismissal of their challenges against Section 377A
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: The three men who mounted challenges against Section 377A, a law that criminalises sex between men, are disappointed by the High Court’s dismissal of their cases and will be taking to the highest court in the land to appeal against the decision. Disc jockey Johnson Ong Ming, retired general practitioner Roy Tan Seng Kee and
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
New York hospital doctor prepares for the worst
News Business Article
NEW YORK: With the rapid rise of hospitalizations and a health system nearly at capacity, New York doctor Shamit Patel is preparing for the worst over the next few days, all while hoping he won’t have to start choosing which coronavirus patients to treat. Just 10 days ago, only half of the 46-year-old internist’s patients at
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
19 killed in massive China forest fire
News Business Article
BEIJING: Eighteen firefighters and one forestry guide died while fighting a huge forest fire in southwestern China, the local government said on Tuesday (Mar 31). State television footage showed large flames shooting into the sky from the mountains above the city of Xichang in Sichuan province, turning the sky orange. Advertisement Advertisement Heavy clouds of smoke
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Thailand reports 127 new COVID-19 cases and 1 more death
News Business Article
BANGKOK: Thailand reported on Tuesday (Mar 31) 127 new COVID-19 cases and one more death. The latest number raise the total number of confirmed infections in Thailand to 1,651 cases and 10 deaths since the country’s first case was reported in January, a health official said. Advertisement Advertisement Infections in Thailand are likely to keep rising,
Commentary: BBC Dad has learnt a thing or two about working from home
SEOUL: Three years ago, my family and I briefly became famous for a blooper which became an online sensation. I was speaking on BBC News about South Korean politics. My young children burst into the room, onscreen behind me, and then my wife tried frantically to pull them out of my office. The whole thing