Day: April 8, 2020
COVID-19: Sungei Tengah Lodge declared an isolation area under Infectious Diseases Act
SINGAPORE: A fourth foreign worker dormitory has been gazetted as an isolation area, following a rise in COVID-19 cases. Sungei Tengah Lodge was declared an isolation area under the Infectious Diseases Act “for the purpose of preventing the spread or possible outbreak of the infectious disease COVID-19”, according to a notice by the Ministry of
Bernie Sanders suspends 2020 Democratic campaign
WASHINGTON: Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders suspended his campaign for the White House on Wednesday (Apr 8) during a conference call with staff, making former Vice President Joe Biden the presumptive nominee to face Republican Donald Trump in the Nov 3 election. Sanders plans to address supporters during a livestream at 11.45 ET (1545 GMT), a
Hyflux applies to postpone scheme meetings, extend moratorium due to COVID-19 safe distancing rules
SINGAPORE: Embattled Hyflux said on Wednesday (Apr 8) that it has applied to the Singapore High Court to postpone its scheme meetings scheduled this month, due to the heightened safe distancing measures put in place by local authorities to combat COVID-19. It is also seeking a three-month extension of its debt moratorium, which currently grants
Grab forced to close centre after crowd forms to collect food delivery bags amid COVID-19 measures
SINGAPORE: Ride-hailing firm Grab was forced to close one of its offices on Wednesday (Apr 8) after a large number of drivers turned up to collect food delivery gear, on the second day of “circuit breaker” measures aimed at stopping the spread of COVID-19. Photos and videos circulating on social media showed long queues outside the operator’s
Malaysia’s COVID-19 cases cross the 4,000 mark, new sub-cluster detected in Negeri Sembilan
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia reported another 156 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday (Apr 8) as total cases crossed the 4,000 mark. The country’s cases had earlier pushed past 3,000 last Thursday. With a total of 4,119 infections, Malaysia is still the worst-hit country in Southeast Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Health Ministry director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah announced at a press conference
India considers narrowing lockdown to coronavirus hotspots
NEW DELHI: India is considering plans to seal off coronavirus hotspots in Delhi, Mumbai and parts of the south while easing curbs elsewhere as a way out of a three-week lockdown that has caused deep economic distress, officials said on Wednesday (Apr 8). The sweeping lockdown of India’s 1.3 billion people to prevent an epidemic
Police warn of fake cash giveaways on social media
SINGAPORE: There has been a spike in the number of scam cases involving fake cash giveaways on social media, said the police on Wednesday (Apr 8), adding that there had been at least 13 reports lodged since December last year. Scammers would use social media platforms like Facebook to advertise the giveaways, instructing victims to share
New S$30 million grant to help Singapore farms speed up production of eggs, vegetables and fish
SINGAPORE: The agri-food industry will receive a S$30 million boost to speed up the production of commonly consumed food items like eggs, vegetables and fish. Called the 30×30 Express grant, it is aimed at further strengthening Singapore’s food security, as part of its goal of meeting 30 per cent of the country’s nutritional needs with food produced locally by 2030. Advertisement
Woman masterminded pubs’ S$1 million tax evasion, gets jail and penalty of S$1.2 million
SINGAPORE: A woman who masterminded the evasion of about S$1 million in income and Goods and Services Taxes by two pubs over four years was given 41 weeks’ jail on Wednesday (Apr 8). Ann Phua Si Si, 53, was also ordered to pay a total of S$1.2 million in penalties. Advertisement Advertisement She did not
‘Painful lesson’: How a military-style lockdown unfolded in Wuhan
BEIJING: As the world grapples with the escalating coronavirus pandemic, China reopened the city of Wuhan on Wednesday (Apr 8), allowing its 11 million residents to leave for the first time in more than two months, a milestone in its effort to combat the outbreak. But while the operation to contain Wuhan’s coronavirus outbreak has
Man jailed for trying to smuggle 11 pieces of rhino horn via Singapore to Vietnam
SINGAPORE: A South African man was sentenced to 17 months’ jail on Wednesday (Apr 8) for trying to smuggle 11 pieces of rhinoceros horn through Singapore to Vietnam. Thurman Shiraazudin Aiden Matthews, 45, had travelled from South Africa to Vietnam, via Singapore, three times to familiarise himself with the route before carrying out the deed.
Volunteers rush to deliver laptops to families in need before full home-based learning kicks in
SINGAPORE: When Mdm Nor learnt that schools would go into full home-based learning on Wednesday (Apr 8), she thought it would be “so impossible” for her and three kids. There was only one laptop at home, which belongs to her 17-year-old daughter. It is “very laggy” and “hanged” all the time due to heavy usage for school. Mdm
Trains full on first day of Japan’s COVID-19 emergency, but some shops shut
TOKYO: Commuters heading to work packed into trains in the Japanese capital on Wednesday (Apr 8), the first day of a state of emergency aimed at containing the COVID-19 outbreak, with some expressing confusion over how best to restrict their movements. The scenes across central Tokyo contrasted with deserted streets and tough lockdowns elsewhere in the world
More TV programmes, support for telcos among initiatives to help Singapore residents during ‘circuit breaker’ period
SINGAPORE: To help Singapore residents through their efforts to stay home in a bid to curb the spread of COVID-19, a series of media and digital-related initiatives was announced on Wednesday (Apr 8). These include providing more content for viewers on free-to-air channels, as well as on Singtel and StarHub’s pay-TV platforms. Advertisement Advertisement The Infocomm Media Development Authority
