Month: March 2020
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
Iran to use phone checks for coronavirus, school closure extended
News Business Article
DUBAI: Iran will keep schools and universities closed for another two weeks and check up on people in the worst affected areas by telephone, the health minister said on Thursday (Mar 5), after concerns were raised an earlier plan for home visits could spread the disease. The country, which has one of the highest numbers
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
Increased student care subsidy for lower-income families
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Student care subsidy under an assistance scheme will be increased for lower-income families starting Jul 1 this year, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim announced on Thursday (Mar 5). Eligible families will have their student care fees subsidised by up to S$60 more each month
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
Catholic Church to resume mass, puts necessary COVID-19 precautionary measures in place
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: The Catholic Church in Singapore will resume mass from next week, when all churches have put in place the necessary precautionary measures. Sunset and Sunday masses will resume on Mar 14 and Mar 15 while weekday masses may also be resumed on Mar 16, subject to prevailing Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines, the Church
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
Indonesian surgical mask manufacturers raise production amid COVID-19 fears
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JAKARTA: Surgical mask manufacturers in Indonesia are ramping up production to cope with rising demand as the country reported its first two cases of COVID-19, but they may soon face a shortage of raw materials. Indonesian Medical Equipment Association’s executive director Ahyahudin Sodri told CNA that there are seven major surgical mask manufacturers in Indonesia. “These companies have increased
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
CapitaLand offers tenants rental rebates; Retail, F&B bodies urge other landlords to follow suit
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: About 1,000 tenants in urban and suburban malls have been offered rental rebates by CapitaLand, Singapore’s biggest mall operator, the Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) said on Thursday (Mar 5). The RAS, citing a letter issued to tenants on Wednesday, said CapitaLand has reviewed sales and footfall data for February and will “grant a rental rebate
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
Iran announces 15 new COVID-19 deaths, raising total to 107
News Business Article
TEHRAN: Iran on Thursday (Mar 5) reported 15 new deaths from COVID-19 and 591 fresh cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the toll to 107 dead and 3,513 infected. “Until today, samples have been taken of 23,327 suspected cases, only 3,513 of which have been confirmed,” health ministry spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour told a televised
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
COVID-19 hit to airlines could exceed US$100 billion
News Business Article
LONDON: The coronavirus epidemic could cost passenger airlines up to US$113 billion in lost revenue this year, an industry body warned on Thursday (Mar 5), more than three times a projection it made just two weeks ago as the virus continues to spread around the world. The warning from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
Online portal to be set up to provide early support to couples considering divorce
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: An online portal will be set up to make it easier for couples considering divorce to gain access to marriage counselling as well as information on issues such as housing and finance, announced Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee on Thursday (Mar 5). The first phase of the portal is expected to be
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
Multiple realignments in Malaysian state assemblies after switch in federal power
News Business Article
KUALA LUMPUR: As the dust settles in Putrajaya with a new Cabinet set to be announced, the picture at the state level appears to be far more complex, with coalitions being formed sometimes without regard for the political divide. States helmed by Pakatan Harapan (PH) now find themselves facing uncertainty, with the departure of Parti Pribumi Bersatu
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
New COVID-19 test kits used to screen swab samples collected at Singapore checkpoints
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: Newly developed COVID-19 test kits will be used to test swab samples collected Singapore’s checkpoints from Thursday (Mar 5), promising results within three hours. A collaboration between the Home Team Science & Technology (HTX) and Verdus Laboratories, the HTX COVID-19 test kit has an accuracy of more than 99 per cent and is able
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
Sri Lanka seizes record US$33 million drugs haul at sea
News Business Article
COLOMBO: Two foreign trawlers packed with more than US$$33 million worth of heroin and crystal methamphetamine were seized in Sri Lanka’s biggest-ever drugs bust at sea, a navy spokesman said Thursday (Mar 5). Troops found 400kg of heroin and 100kg of Ice on board the two vessels, spokesman Isuru Sooriyabandara said. Advertisement Advertisement The street value of
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
New nutrient summary labels for pre-packaged drinks to be rolled out
News Business Article
SINGAPORE: A new nutrition summary label called Nutri-Grade will be introduced from the end of 2021 to help consumers better gauge how healthy pre-packaged drinks are at a glance, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Thursday (Mar 5). Similar plans are also underway to introduce such labels to freshly-prepared beverages. Advertisement Advertisement Explaining the
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 5, 2020
Taiwan says China forced Malaysian state to ban Taiwanese entry on COVID-19 fears
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TAIPEI: Taiwan’s foreign minister said on Thursday (Mar 5) that China had forced the Malaysian state of Sarawak to reinstate a ban on travellers from the island as part of coronavirus control steps, saying Beijing was taking “joy” in the measures. Taiwan says the World Health Organization’s (WHO) inclusion of the island as part of
Commentary: US grapples with the potential impact of quarantines on workers and incomes
BOSTON, Massachusetts: The COVID-19 outbreak appears headed for the US, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are urging Americans to prepare now, such as by stocking up on food and prescription drugs. But since the US economy and its workforce are also at risk of getting sick – a concern you can see