Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
PM Modi tells Indians to save themselves from coronavirus as Delhi locks down
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NEW DELHI: Streets were deserted in Delhi on Monday (Mar 23) and office buildings shuttered as a lockdown to halt the spread of the coronavirus began and Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to stay at home and save themselves. India has reported 415 cases of the coronavirus and seven deaths but health experts have
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
Malaysia government allocates additional RM600 million for Health Ministry to combat COVID-19
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PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian government will channel additional funds worth RM600 million (US$135.28 million) to the Health Ministry to support its efforts in combating COVID-19, said Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday (Mar 23). Speaking during a televised press conference, Mr Muhyiddin said the additional funds will be used to purchase equipment like ventilators and personal protective equipment (PPE)
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
Singapore core inflation falls into negative territory for the first time in a decade
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SINGAPORE: Singapore’s main price gauge slipped into deflation for the first time in more than a decade in February, data showed on Monday (Mar 23). Prices fell 0.1 per cent from a year earlier, according to a joint release by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI). Advertisement Advertisement Economists polled by Reuters had been
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
Indonesia invokes emergency measures in Jakarta, bonuses for doctors
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JAKARTA: Indonesia’s capital Jakarta shut cinemas and other public entertainment on Monday (Mar 23) at the start of a two-week emergency period to try to slow the accelerating spread of the coronavirus in Southeast Asia’s biggest city. The new measures, which include urging people to work from home, still fall short of the tougher lockdowns
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
‘Joy of spring’: Japan fetes cherry blossoms despite virus
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TOKYO: The crowds might be thinner and parties smaller, but warnings from officials over the coronavirus have done little to stop Japanese celebrating as the country’s famed cherry trees explode into bloom. Over a warm long weekend in Tokyo, people packed into traditional blossom hotspots, many not even wearing face masks, to admire the fluffy
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
Malaysia reports one more COVID-19 death, bringing total to 11
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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia on Monday (Mar 23) reported one more COVID-19 death, bringing the death toll to 11 in the country. In a Facebook post on Monday, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the latest fatality is a 70-year-old Malaysian man – Case 1,070 – with a history of chronic illness. Advertisement Advertisement “He had travelled
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
Man gets jail, caning for raping maid after asking her for massage
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SINGAPORE: A man raped his maid after asking her for a massage, going on to molest another woman and assault a third while on court bail. The 43-year-old man, who cannot be named due to a gag order, was sentenced on Monday (Mar 23) to about 11 years and seven months’ jail and nine strokes of
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
Italy sees 651 new coronavirus deaths, toll nears 5,500
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ROME: Italy’s world-topping toll from the coronavirus pandemic approached 5,500 on Sunday (Mar 22) after the Mediterranean country reported another 651 deaths. The latest daily toll was smaller than Saturday’s record 793 fatalities but still the second-highest registered during Italy’s month-long crisis. Advertisement Advertisement The number of infections rose by 10.4 per cent to 59,138. Italy’s
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
Thailand reports 122 new coronavirus cases, raising total to 721
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BANGKOK: Thailand has 122 new coronavirus cases, raising the total to 721, a health ministry spokesman said on Monday (Mar 23) at a news conference. The new cases include 20 patients linked to previous cases, 10 new imported cases, and 92 cases that tested positive and are awaiting investigation into how they contracted the disease, Taweesin
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
Singapore’s average sea level now 14 cm higher than ‘pre-1970 levels’: Met Service
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SINGAPORE: The average sea level has risen 14 cm from “pre-1970 levels” for Singapore, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) in its 2019 Annual Climate Assessment Report (ACAR) released on Monday (Mar 23). “The sea level changes described in the ACAR are based on tide gauge records available since 1970s at various locations in Singapore. We have
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
Echoes of Great Depression as Australian jobless queue for help
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SYDNEY: Jobless Australians flooded unemployment offices around the country Monday (Mar 23) as Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned the coronavirus pandemic would cause an economic crisis akin to the Great Depression. After a record 29 years of economic growth, Australia is poised to spiral into recession as the global coronavirus outbreak wreaks havoc on the
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
Biden to start considering running mates, consulted Obama
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WASHINGTON: Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden said on Sunday (Mar 22) he needed to start vetting possible running mates “in a matter of weeks” and that he discussed the pick with former President Barack Obama. Biden’s vice presidential options will include at least six or seven women who will be subjected to background checks to ensure
Written by Gabriel HerveyMarch 23, 2020
Australia starts lockdown measures as coronavirus cases jump
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SYDNEY: Australia started shutting down pubs, clubs, gyms and houses of worship on Monday (Mar 23) after a jump in coronavirus cases and after thousands disregarded social distancing advice and crowded beaches, bars and restaurants. After an initial slow rate of infection, the number of COVID-19 cases in Australia has now surpassed 1,100 with the
Commentary: Are banks strong enough to withstand the coronavirus crash?
SHEFFIELD: One of the most visible outcomes of the COVID-19 crisis is the mayhem in the global stock markets. Between Feb 20 and Mar 19, the S&P 500 index plunged from 3,373 to 2,409, the FTSE 250 from 21,866 to 12,830, and the Nikkei from 23,479 to 16,552. Advertisement Advertisement The oil price war, in