Month: March 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
Trump names Meadows as fourth chief of staff
News Business Article
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump announced Friday (Mar 6) he had chosen staunch ally Mark Meadows to be his new chief of staff – the fourth person to hold the position since he took office. Meadows, a Republican congressman from North Carolina, will replace the ultra-conservative Mick Mulvaney, who had been serving as acting chief
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
China exports plunge on COVID-19 epidemic
News Business Article
BEIJING: China’s exports plummeted in the first two months of this year on the back of a coronavirus epidemic that forced businesses to suspend operations, disrupting the world’s supply chains. Exports fell 17.2 per cent, the biggest drop since February 2019 during the trade war with the United States, and imports dropped 4 per cent, according
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
COVID-19: Hong Kong asks residents to defer non-urgent travel
News Business Article
HONG KONG: The Hong Kong government has warned the city’s residents to consider deferring all non-essential travel outside of the territory, as the coronavirus becomes increasingly prevalent around the world. It had already placed a red alert – the second-highest warning in Hong Kong – on travelling to South Korea and the Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy and
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
‘It’s humiliating’: China’s COVID-19 controls raise hackles
News Business Article
BEIJING: An elderly man in virus-hit China pops out to use a public toilet without wearing a compulsory face mask. The next thing he knows, police are ordering him into a van to be taken into quarantine. A video of the incident in the northern province of Hebei has been widely shared on social media
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
4 people arrested over Carousell face mask scams
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Four people have been arrested after numerous reports of scams involving face masks sold on e-commerce platform Carousell, the police said in a news release on Saturday (Mar 7), as they warned the public to be especially vigilant during the COVID-19 outbreak. “Between January and February 2020, the police received many reports from persons
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
‘It’s pandemonium’: Coronavirus panic-buying hits Los Angeles
News Business Article
LOS ANGELES: Sprinting shoppers, rationed mineral water and not a roll of toilet paper to be seen: panic-buying sparked by the new coronavirus soared in Los Angeles this week. Two days after California declared a statewide emergency, wholesale stores visited by AFP on Friday (Mar 6) were unable to keep up with soaring demand for
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
South Korea confirms 174 new COVID-19 cases, total to 6,767
News Business Article
SEOUL: South Korea on Saturday (Mar 7) reported 174 additional coronavirus cases from late Friday, taking the national tally to 6,767, the Korea Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (KCDC) said. The death toll remained unchanged at 44 from late Friday, the KCDC added. Advertisement Advertisement READ: South Korea’s central bank burns, quarantines cash in COVID-19
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
Sanders hits Biden over Social Security, trade, as new US presidential contests loom
News Business Article
WASHINGTON: Two former presidential rivals endorsed Joe Biden on Friday (Mar 6) in the latest sign that the Democratic establishment is coalescing around the former vice president to stop the candidacy of Bernie Sanders, who ratcheted up attacks on his rival ahead of crucial contests next week. Former Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and John Delaney, a
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
Grow meat at home from stem cells? It’s coming, says Shiok Meats CEO
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: What if you are able to “grow” your own meat at home? Would it change the way your family eat? The idea is not in the realms of science fiction any more, according to stem cell scientist Sandhya Sriram. Advertisement Advertisement She envisions that people could have a small bioreactor — “a fancy name”
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
Singapore reports 13 new COVID-19 cases in largest single-day spike
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Singapore announced 13 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday (Mar 6), the highest daily jump since the outbreak started here. This brings the total number of new coronavirus cases in Singapore to 130 since the first case was confirmed on Jan 23. Advertisement Advertisement One more patient has recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
SXSW festival in Texas cancelled over coronavirus fears
News Business Article
HOUSTON: The South by Southwest festival in Texas has been cancelled due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus, organizers and the host city of Austin said Friday (Mar 6). The decision comes as coronavirus concerns grow stateside and pressure ramps up over whether to cancel entertainment and sporting events that draw large
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
21 in cruise ship off US test positive for coronavirus
News Business Article
WASHINGTON: Twenty-one people on board a cruise ship stranded off the coast of San Francisco have tested positive for the new coronavirus, United States Vice President Mike Pence said on Friday (Mar 6). “Among those positive for coronavirus were 19 crew members and two passengers,” said Pence, who has been tasked by President Donald Trump to
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 7, 2020
Spain virus death toll hits eight as infections jump
News Business Article
MADRID: Spain reported five new deaths due to the novel coronavirus on Friday (Mar 6), bringing the toll to eight as officials shuttered elderly care centres across Madrid after a spike in cases. The disease claimed the lives of three elderly men in the Madrid region, as well as that of an 87-year-old woman in Badalona
Commentary: What does Ronan Keating know about Singapore ports?
SINGAPORE: Irish singer and former Boyzone star Ronan Keating recently posted a scenic sea view picture on Instagram that broke the Internet in Singapore. The funny thing is: I have a sunset version of a similar shot, taken on a flight back to Singapore after a long trip. It was a sight that warmed the