Month: March 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Malaysia bars citizens from going overseas, foreigners from entering country for 2 weeks to curb COVID-19 spread: PM Muhyiddin
News Business Article
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will bar citizens from going overseas and foreigners from entering the country for about two weeks starting Wednesday, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in a televised address on Monday (Mar 16). The rules are part of a “restricted movement order” established by the Malaysian government to prevent further spread of the COVID-19,
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
‘We are at war’: France imposes lockdown to combat COVID-19
News Business Article
PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday (Mar 16) ordered stringent restrictions on people’s movement to slow the spread of the coronavirus, and said the army would be drafted in to help move the sick to hospitals. France had already shut down restaurants and bars, closed schools and put ski resorts off limits, but Macron
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
WHO chief calls for widespread coronavirus testing as Europe locks down
News Business Article
GENEVA: The head of the World Health Organization on Monday (Mar 16) called for every suspected coronavirus case to be tested, as countries across Europe tightened their lockdowns and global stock markets tumbled again. “You cannot fight a fire while blindfolded,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists. “Test, test, test. Test every suspected case.”
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Italy reports 349 new coronavirus deaths, taking total to over 2,000
News Business Article
ROME: Italy on Monday (Mar 16) reported 349 new deaths from the novel coronavirus, taking its total since last month to 2,158, the most after China. The number of official COVID-19 fatalities has more than doubled since Thursday, when Italy’s toll topped 1,000 for the first time. Italy now has 27,980 infections, compared to 15,113 four
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Coronavirus kills senior cleric as Iran toll hits 853
News Business Article
TEHRAN: The novel coronavirus killed a top Iranian cleric on Monday (Mar 16), the Islamic republic said as it reported yet another record high single-day death toll in one of the world’s worst-hit countries. The latest 129 deaths brought the overall toll to 853 fatalities among nearly 15,000 infections since Feb 19, when the government announced
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
Russia ramps up coronavirus controls, bans public events and closes schools
News Business Article
MOSCOW: Russia on Monday stepped up efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus by banning major sporting events across the country and by shutting state schools and limited gatherings of people in the capital. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin prohibited all outdoor events and limited public indoor events to no more than 50 people until Apr 10,
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 17, 2020
17 new COVID-19 infections in Singapore in largest single-day increase to date
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health (MOH) reported 17 new COVID-19 cases on Monday (Mar 16), bringing the country’s total to 243. This is the largest single-day increase in novel coronavirus cases in Singapore to date and comes just one day after a daily increase of 14 was reported. Advertisement Advertisement Eleven of the new COVID-19 infections are
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 16, 2020
3 arrested for attempting to rob Liberian-flagged ship in Singapore Strait
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Three people were arrested after they attempted to rob a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier in the Singapore Strait on Monday (Mar 16), said the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in a media release. The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore’s (MPA) Port Operations Control Centre received a report at around 5am that robbers had boarded the ship Sam Jaguar.
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 16, 2020
SMU exchange student from Spain has COVID-19, three flatmates on home quarantine
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: A exchange student from Spain with the Singapore Management University (SMU) was confirmed to have COVID-19, the university said in a statement on Monday (Mar 16). “We have been informed that one of our exchange students from Spain has been diagnosed with COVID-19 on 14 March 2020. He reported onset of symptoms on 13
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 16, 2020
UK supermarkets call for calm as coronavirus fears trigger panic buying
News Business Article
LONDON: British supermarkets have called on consumers to be more considerate and reiterated they have adequate supplies, as the coronavirus saw shelves plundered and a surge in online orders. The country’s leading groceries retailers, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose, penned a joint letter to customers, which ran in newspapers on Sunday and Monday (Mar 16) appealing
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 16, 2020
Mosques to remain closed until Mar 26 amid risk of large COVID-19 cluster forming from Malaysia gathering
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: All mosques in Singapore will remain closed until Mar 26 to prevent further spread of COVID-19, said the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) on Monday (Mar 16). MUIS first announced on Mar 13 that mosques would close for five days for cleaning after several congregants tested positive for the coronavirus following a religious gathering
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 16, 2020
Sengkang Fire Station disinfected after SCDF officer tests positive for COVID-19
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: The Sengkang Fire Station has been disinfected after a fire and rescue specialist based there tested positive for COVID-19, said the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) on Monday (Mar 16). MOH announced 17 new cases on Monday and provided more information on previously announced cases, including case 219. Advertisement Advertisement According to MOH’s press
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 16, 2020
Wall Street halts trading after S&P 500 tumbles 9% at opening
News Business Article
NEW YORK: The S&P 500 tumbled 9% at opening on Monday (Mar 16), triggering an automatic 15-minute halt of Wall Street’s three main indexes for the third time in six days, as traders reacted to drastic weekend measures from the Federal Reserve to stave off a global recession. The halt at the opening was the third
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 16, 2020
Jakarta faces backlash over reduced public transport services in fight against COVID-19
News Business Article
JAKARTA: The Jakarta government’s decision to limit the use of public transportation in view of the COVID-19 outbreak has backfired, with commuters complaining about the chaos and long queues at bus and train stations on Monday (Mar 16). The services of Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Light Rail Train and TransJakarta buses were reduced, as announced
