Month: March 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
Singapore ready to deploy third stimulus package if COVID-19 outbreak worsens: DPM Heng
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SINGAPORE: The Government is ready to deploy a third stimulus package if the COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore deteriorates, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Monday (Mar 30). “If the situation continues to worsen, we’ll be prepared to have a third package,” he said. “I would like to reassure Singaporeans that we have the
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
Temporary job placements, training opportunities for members of sports community affected by COVID-19
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SINGAPORE: Sport Singapore (SportSG) introduced a round of measures aimed at helping members of the sports community here whose livelihoods have been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, including temporary job placements and training opportunities. These were announced by SportSG chief executive officer (CEO) Lim Teck Yin during a media briefing on Monday (Mar 30), conducted
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
Turkey detains 11 over COVID-19 house party
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ISTANBUL: Turkish police have detained 11 people, including the organisers and a DJ, after a weekend coronavirus house party in Istanbul where some guests dressed up as doctors, local officials said. The party, thrown at a villa in the Buyukcekmece district Saturday (Mar 28) night, was shared live on social media but received criticism for ignoring
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
Postponed Tokyo Olympics to open Jul 23 next year
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TOKYO: The Tokyo Olympics will begin on Jul 23 next year, organisers said on Monday (Mar 30), after the coronavirus forced the historic decision to postpone the Games until 2021. “The Olympics will be held from Jul 23 to Aug 8, 2021. The Paralympics will be held from Aug 24 to Sep 5,” Tokyo 2020 chief Yoshiro
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
COVID-19: National Wages Council suggests management lead by example when cutting pay
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SINGAPORE: With the unprecedented economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, struggling companies considering wage cuts should have their management teams lead by example, the National Wages Council (NWC) said on Monday (Mar 30). Its recommendation came after official estimates released last week showed that Singapore’s economy contracted by 2.2 per cent year-on-year in the first
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
COVID-19: No guests allowed at SAF BMTC on Pulau Tekong on enlistment day
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SINGAPORE: Guests will not be allowed at the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) on Pulau Tekong on enlistment day as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “We will not be inviting guests to BMTC on enlistment day to avoid the presence of large crowds during enlistment,” BMTC commander
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
Taiwan says WHO not sharing COVID-19 information it provides, pressing complaints
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TAIPEI: The World Health Organization (WHO) has not shared with member states information Taiwan has provided on the coronavirus including details on its cases and prevention methods, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday (Mar 30), ratcheting up its complaints. Taiwan’s lack of membership of the UN body, due to Chinese pressure which claims the island as
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
Renault says China, South Korea plants restarting after COVID-19 shutdown
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PARIS: French automaker Renault said on Monday (Mar 30) it was resuming production at two factories in China and South Korea after they were shut down as authorities tried to limit the coronavirus outbreak. “All of the group’s factories are currently shut down, except for the factories in China and South Korea, which have resumed operations or
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
Jokowi government formulating regulation that would facilitate city lockdowns to tackle COVID-19
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JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced on Monday (Mar 30) that the government is formulating a regulation that would pave the way for cities and provinces across the country to impose a virtual lockdown, so as to contain the spread of COVID-19. The regulation would serve as a guideline for regional governments to implement what
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
Japan ‘not planning’ a coronavirus emergency but entry bans loom
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TOKYO: Japan has no plan to declare a state of emergency from April, its top government spokesman said on Monday (Mar 30), seeking to dispel mounting fears a recent spike in coronavirus cases could lead to a first-ever lockdown of the capital, Tokyo. As the number of infections grows globally, however, Japan will raise its
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
Coronavirus fails to dampen South Korea’s fever for exam success
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SEOUL: Choi Young-eun is so concerned about her teenagers’ education as South Korea’s schools stay shut that she has been sending them to a private tuition centre to make sure they don’t miss out. Choi, a stay-at-home mum of two high schoolers, is one of the millions of parents keeping South Korea’s cut-throat “hagwon”, or
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
Indonesia confirms 129 new COVID-19 cases and 8 more deaths
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JAKARTA: Indonesia confirmed 129 new COVID-19 cases on Monday (Mar 30), taking the total to 1,414 in the country. There were also eight more deaths, taking the total to 122, said health ministry official Achmad Yurianto. He added that 75 patients had recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Indonesian President Joko Widodo said earlier on Monday that he plans to
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 30, 2020
COVID-19: ComfortDelGro Taxi extends daily rental relief to September in move costing up to S$80 million
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SINGAPORE: ComfortDelgro Taxi announced on Monday (Mar 30) it was extending its daily rental relief until September to hirers affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. Hirers currently receive a total of S$46.50 per taxi per day in rental relief, which comprises S$36.50 from the the company and S$10 from the Government’s Special Relief Fund. Advertisement Advertisement The relief
Commentary: Sweden’s COVID-19 approach has been too relaxed. But this decision is justified
LUND: A growing number of Swedish doctors and scientists are raising alarm over the Swedish government’s approach to COVID-19. Unlike its Nordic neighbours, Sweden has adopted a relatively relaxed strategy, seemingly assuming that overreaction is more harmful than under-reaction. Advertisement Advertisement Although the government has now banned gatherings of more than 50 people, this excludes