Month: March 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
COVID-19 Pandemic could make another 25 million jobless: UN
News Business Article
GENEVA: The COVID-19 pandemic will significantly increase global unemployment, leaving up to 25 million more people out of work, and will dramatically slash workers’ incomes, the United Nations said Wednesday (Mar 18). In a fresh study, the International Labour Organization warned that the economic and labour crisis sparked by the spread of the new coronavirus, which
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Indonesia reports 14 more COVID-19 deaths, bringing death toll to 19
News Business Article
JAKARTA: Indonesia reported 14 more COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday (Mar 18), taking the death toll to 19, a health ministry official said. This marks the country’s biggest single-day increase in fatalities. Advertisement Advertisement “The total death toll until Mar 18, 12pm is 19,” Achmad Yurianto, the government’s spokesperson for the COVID-19 pandemic said at a press conference. A total of
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Food supplies still coming, but other Singapore firms brace for disruptions from Malaysia’s shutdown
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Local food importers heaved a sigh of relief as their supplies from Malaysia arrived as planned, uninterrupted by the country’s movement control order which kicked in on Wednesday (Mar 18). However, that is not the case for those in other sectors. From construction to manufacturing, some Singapore businesses are bracing for supply disruptions of key
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Most imports of fresh food from Malaysia arrived as normal, other goods also allowed in: Chan Chun Sing
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Most imports of fresh food from Malaysia arrived as normal this morning, with other goods such as medicine and infant diapers also allowed through checkpoints, Minister for Trade and Industry Chun Chun Sing said on Wednesday (Mar 18). “I am glad to see that the supply of fresh food has not been fully disrupted
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Thousands of Muslim pilgrims brave COVID-19 to gather in Indonesia
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JAKARTA: Thousands of Muslim pilgrims from across Asia gathered in Indonesia on Wednesday (Mar 18), despite fears that their meeting could fuel the spread of a coronavirus, just two weeks after a similar event in Malaysia caused more than 500 infections. Organisers and regional officials said the event in the world’s fourth most populous nation
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
St Andrew’s Cathedral closes for 2 weeks after church member infected with COVID-19
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: St Andrew’s Cathedral will be closed for two weeks after a church member was confirmed to have COVID-19. The church said in a Facebook post that it was alerted to the case on Wednesday afternoon (Mar 18). Advertisement Advertisement READ: COVID-19: Catholic Church suspends mass; other religious groups turn to livestreaming, among other measures “We regret
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Malaysia reports 117 new COVID-19 cases, remains hardest-hit Southeast Asian country
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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia reported 117 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (Mar 18), bringing the total number of infections in the country to 790. In a statement, Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said that of the 117, 80 cases related to the mass religious gathering that took place in Sri Petaling from Feb 27 to Mar
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Johor state government hopes to reopen border with Singapore for some workers, students
News Business Article
ISKANDAR PUTERI, Johor: The Johor state government is seeking special approval from the Malaysia federal government to reopen the land checkpoints with Singapore for workers in certain industries, students, as well as Singaporeans who live in Johor. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday (Mar 18), Johor Chief Minister Hasni Mohammad said the Johor state
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Cabby behind fatal Gleneagles Hospital crash jailed, banned from driving
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: A taxi driver behind a collision in the driveway of a hospital that killed one and injured five others was on Wednesday (Mar 18) sentenced to three weeks’ jail and banned from driving for four years. Ho Kee Hoe, 64, had accidentally stepped on the accelerator pedal instead of the brake, sending his taxi
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Chinese students flock home as COVID-19 shuts Western campuses
News Business Article
BEIJING: Packed onto a plane full of fellow Chinese students heading home from the United States, 20-year-old Harvard University undergraduate Roger Zhang wore goggles to ward off the coronavirus for hours until they became just too uncomfortable. Zhang is among tens of thousands of overseas Chinese students making the journey back to China, where the
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Taiwan to ban entry for most foreigners to control virus
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TAIPEI: Taiwan will ban entry to the island for most foreigners as part of coronavirus prevention measures, excluding foreign resident permit holders and diplomats, the government said on Wednesday (Mar 18), as it battles a rise in imported cases. Taiwan has won plaudits from health experts for its efforts to effectively control the spread of
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Hari Raya Bazaar at Wisma Geylang Serai deferred due to COVID-19 concerns: PA
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: The Hari Raya Bazaar at Wisma Geylang Serai will be deferred due to COVID-19 concerns, said the People’s Association (PA) on Wednesday (Mar 18). The annual bazaar, which was also going to be held at Our Tampines Hub and in Woodlands, will not be organised, as they would normally attract large crowds, PA said in a media release.
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 18, 2020
Woman asked maid to punch herself 50 times, strike her teeth with meat pounder until they ‘dropped’
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: A woman abused her maid over eight months, asking her to punch herself in the face 50 times and use a meat pounder to hit her mouth until a tooth “dropped”. The victim struck her own mouth with the pounder about 50 times, but her teeth did not fall out. Three were loosened and one
Commentary: COVID-19 reveals cracks in Indonesia’s leadership
SYDNEY: As he rose rapidly from furniture businessman to mayor of Solo and governor of Jakarta to president of Indonesia, Joko Widodo stuck to the same approach to politics: Build things, cut some red tape, improve access to basic services (though not necessarily their quality), and lean on civil servants to be more efficient. It