Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Indonesia to suspend all foreign arrivals, barring a few exceptions
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JAKARTA: Indonesia’s Foreign Minister said on Tuesday (Mar 31) the government has decided to ban all arrivals and transits by foreigners in Indonesia to prevent a further spread of the coronavirus. Foreigners with stay permits and some diplomatic visits will be exempted from the ban, Retno Marsudi said, adding that the government aims to issue
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Ramadan bazaars may proceed if SOP followed: Malaysian health ministry
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KUALA LUMPUR: Ramadan bazaars will be allowed to operate during the fasting month provided that vendors and customers adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOP), such as safe distancing and crowd control. Health director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press conference on Tuesday (Mar 31) that as long as precautionary measures are taken, it is advisable for
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Indonesian President Jokowi announces large-scale social restriction and emergency status to curb COVID-19
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JAKARTA: Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on Tuesday (Mar 31) that he has signed the regulations needed for cities and provinces to enforce what the government described as “large-scale social restrictions” amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The president said he signed a government regulation on “Large-Scale Social Restrictions” and a presidential decree on “Public Health Emergency
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Study shows middle-age COVID-19 mortality risk
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PARIS: Middle-aged people, and not just the elderly, have a dramatically higher risk of dying or developing serious illness from COVID-19, new research from Britain showed Tuesday (Mar 31). The findings came in a new comprehensive analysis of virus cases in mainland China. Advertisement Advertisement Researchers from Britain analysed more than 3,600 confirmed COVID-19 cases
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Husband of woman killed by falling tree in Botanic Gardens sues NParks
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SINGAPORE: The husband of a woman who was killed by a falling tree in the Singapore Botanic Gardens three years ago is suing the National Parks Board for damages. In documents seen by CNA, widower Jerome Rouch-Sirech claims that NParks’ negligence led to the collapse of the Tembusu tree on Feb 11, 2017, pinning his 38-year-old
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
COVID-19: Wife of critically ill Bangladeshi man in Singapore gives birth to baby boy
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SINGAPORE: The wife of a Bangladeshi worker, who tested positive for COVID-19 in Singapore, has given birth to a baby boy in Bangladesh, the Migrant Workers’ Centre (MWC) said on Tuesday (Mar 31). The Bangladeshi national, who is case 42, tested positive for the disease on Feb 8 after being admitted to the intensive care unit at
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
‘Talk like Doraemon’: Malaysian ministry issues tips for wives during COVID-19 movement control order
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KUALA LUMPUR: Married women in Malaysia have been issued a set of recommendations on how to manage their households and husbands during the movement control order, including speaking in “Doraemon’s voice” and giggling coyly. The Women and Family Ministry on Monday (Mar 30) posted several tips on social media on how to avoid domestic arguments between husband
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
China delays college entrance exam as fears grow over risk of coronavirus second wave
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SHANGHAI/BEIJING: China will delay its national college entrance exam by a month as it grapples with a coronavirus pandemic as travellers returning from abroad are fuelling new cases and boosting concern over the threat of a second wave of infections. The two-day “gaokao” annual test will be pushed back to Jul 7 and 8, China Central
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Man admits molesting, sexually assaulting 12-year-old boy who was at public pool for swimming lesson
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SINGAPORE: A 61-year-old man molested a 12-year-old boy before his swimming lesson at a public swimming complex and sexually assaulted him in the washroom after the lesson was over. Supermarket sales assistant Lum Siew Hon, now 63, pleaded guilty on Tuesday (Mar 31) to two charges of sexual penetration of a minor and one charge
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
UK police criticised for overzealous lockdown response
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LONDON: Some British police might have gone a “little too far”, a minister said on Tuesday (Mar 31) after warnings some forces were turning Britain into a police state by abusing powers to enforce a coronavirus lockdown. New regulations brought in on Thursday give police the power to issue instant 30-pound (US$37) fines to people
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Japan’s Abe, deputy avoid joint meetings to cut COVID-19 risk as lockdown pressure builds
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TOKYO: Japan’s prime minister and his deputy won’t attend meetings together to cut coronavirus risks as pressure for a lockdown builds, with domestic cases topping 2,000 and a minister saying the country’s containment strategy was stretched to the limit. Shinzo Abe told cabinet members on Tuesday (Mar 31) that his second-in-command, Taro Aso, would no
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
COVID-19: MINDEF defers all ‘non-operations-essential’ in-camp training, waives IPPT requirement for affected NSmen
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SINGAPORE: All “non-operations-essential” in-camp training (ICT) will be deferred with immediate effect until Apr 30 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) announced on Tuesday (Mar 31). The ministry will also waive the Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) requirement for affected operationally ready national servicemen (NSmen). Advertisement Advertisement “To further safeguard SAF
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 31, 2020
Despair and pride in China’s Wuhan as COVID-19 lockdown eases
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WUHAN, Hubei: Residents of China’s Wuhan city, ground zero for the coronavirus pandemic, have mixed emotions as containment measures are lifted and the community infection rate slows to a trickle, with some praising the government and others rueing the economic costs. The strictest curbs on movement and business were in the Hubei provincial capital of
Commentary: BBC Dad has learnt a thing or two about working from home
SEOUL: Three years ago, my family and I briefly became famous for a blooper which became an online sensation. I was speaking on BBC News about South Korean politics. My young children burst into the room, onscreen behind me, and then my wife tried frantically to pull them out of my office. The whole thing