Month: March 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
No compulsory quarantine of visitors to Thailand amid COVID-19 outbreak: Health ministry
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BANGKOK: Thai health authorities on Friday (Mar 6) said they would not order the compulsory quarantine of visitors from countries hit hard by coronavirus, as the kingdom struggles to balance health fears with the needs of its flatlining economy. The holidays of possibly tens of thousands of people were cast into doubt on Tuesday when the
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
US delays returning more 1MDB funds to Malaysia, sources say
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KUALA LUMPUR: The US Department of Justice has delayed the return to Malaysia of another US$240 million of recovered money allegedly stolen from the 1MDB sovereign fund, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said on Friday (Mar 6), with one citing political uncertainty. Malaysia was plunged into turmoil when 94-year-old prime minister Mahathir Mohamad
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
COVID-19 crisis threatens to silence Japan’s tourist boom
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TOKYO: The restaurants at the Exitmelsa shopping centre in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza district are usually packed with Chinese tourists. But on a recent weekday, many lunchtime tables were empty, a sign of the toll that the coronavirus is taking on tourism. For Japanese who have grown dependent on Chinese tourists for business, like waiter Kiyotake
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
2 new COVID-19 cases in Philippines, including man who had travelled to Japan
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MANILA: Philippines announced two more COVID-19 cases on Friday (Mar 6), bringing the country’s total number of infections up to five, the department of health said. In a press release, the health department said the fourth case was a 48-year-old Filipino man with a travel history to Japan. The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Japan reached the
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
More options for buskers with busking zones at Singapore River and Ang Mo Kio
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SINGAPORE: Buskers will have more flexibility when it comes to choosing their busking locations from April, with the introduction of the first two busking zones at the Singapore River and Ang Mo Kio, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Baey Yam Keng said on Friday (Mar 6). Each zone will be made up of
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
COVID-19: Aerial images reveal virus emptying famed sites
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BEIJING: Empty public squares, a ghostly train station and deserted holy sites – a series of striking satellite images have revealed the impact of the coronavirus epidemic on some of the world’s busiest spaces. The aerial photographs, released by Colorado-based space technology firm Maxar, show normally bustling spots from Mecca to Beijing thinned of people. Advertisement
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
S$1.6 million set aside for arts and culture sector amid COVID-19 outbreak
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SINGAPORE: About S$1.6 million will be set aside for the arts and culture sector as part of support for the community amid the COVID-19 outbreak, and to prepare the sector for “post-disease recovery”, announced Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Culture, Community and Youth Baey Yam Keng on Friday (Mar 6). “We want cultural performances to continue
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
Free entry to public swimming pools and gyms for Singaporeans aged 65 and above
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SINGAPORE: Singaporeans aged 65 and above will be able to use all ActiveSG swimming pools and gyms for free from next month, it was announced on Friday (Mar 5). “Not forgetting those who are less youthful, we will ensure everyone has opportunities to lead full and active lives,” said Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
COVID-19 cases in Wuhan may drop to zero by end-March: China
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BEIJING: Wuhan, the epicentre of China’s coronavirus epidemic, will likely see new infections drop to zero by the end of this month, an expert with the country’s top panel on battling the illness said on Thursday (Mar 5), even as the city reported a quicker rise in new confirmed cases. Mainland China had 139 new confirmed cases
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
COVID-19 spread can be contained with concerted response: WHO
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GENEVA: The COVID-19 infection spreading around the world can be contained and controlled, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday (Mar 5), but only with a concerted response by all governments. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus voiced concerns at the growing number of countries with cases, especially those with weaker health systems and called on governments
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
Elderly US traveller is Bhutan’s first COVID-19 case, prompting travel restrictions
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THIMPHU: Bhutan announced its first positive case of the novel coronavirus on Friday (Mar 6), prompting school closures and travel restrictions, according to a Facebook post from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The 76-year-old patient from the US was confirmed to have the disease on Thursday night, and the results were validated on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement He was
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
COVID-19: Pregnant women scared to give birth in virus-hit China
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BEIJING: Scared of the deadly new coronavirus that has swept China, pregnant women and new mothers are giving birth alone, keeping their newborns inside and switching to pricier private hospitals to avoid the risk of infection. One new mother, surnamed Xie, told AFP she gave birth to her baby girl in Wuhan earlier this month
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 6, 2020
Singapore Philatelic Museum to reopen next year as dedicated children’s museum
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SINGAPORE: When it reopens in 2021, the Singapore Philatelic Museum will become a dedicated children’s museum targeted at those aged 12 and below, it was announced on Friday (Mar 6). “The Singapore Philatelic Museum will be revamped as a dedicated children’s museum where children can learn about a wide range of themes, including the heritage
Commentary: COVID-19 will hit gig workers particularly hard
NEW YORK CITY: Investors in the gyrating US stock markets might be forgiven for feeling seasick this week. On Wednesday (Mar 4), share prices rose more than 4 per cent after the Super Tuesday primaries and approval by the House of Representatives of a US$8 billion package to combat the coronavirus outbreak. Advertisement Advertisement It