Coronavirus

SINGAPORE - Responding to an appeal by the United Nations (UN) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Singapore Government is donating US$500,000 (S$730,000) in the fight against the coronavirus. Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said on Monday (March 23) said that this contribution is to support WHO's Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for Covid-19. The plan aims to limit human-to-human transmission of the virus. In a statement, MFA said: "Singapore is deeply concerned about the growing scale of the Covid-19 outbreak and its enormous public health, social and economic impact, including the loss of many precious lives." The ministry also noted that on March 11, WHO declared Covid-19 a pandemic and warned that all countries are at risk and need to prepare for and respond to the disease. "Singapore will continue to work closely with the WHO and the UN to explore how best we can contribute to the ongoing efforts," MFA added. In February, WHO ... » Learn More about Coronavirus: Singapore Govt donates $730,000 to WHO plan to limit human transmission of virus

PERTH, Australia (Reuters) -A fast-finishing Melbourne Demons ended a 57-year premiership wait on Saturday, claiming the Australian Football League's top honour with a 74-point Grand Final victory against a shell-shocked Western Bulldogs under lights at Perth Stadium. Christian Petracca amassed 39 disposals and two goals in a dominant midfield display, helping the Demons to a 21.14 (140) - 10.6 (66) win before a 61,118 strong capacity crowd. The AFL awarded coronavirus-free Western Australia its first Grand Final because of a prolonged lockdown in the game's traditional home state of Victoria. The Demons settled early by scoring four of the first five goals, but the Bulldogs fought back in the second quarter with midfielders Adam Treloar and Marcus Bontempelli kicking two majors apiece to set up an eight-point lead at halftime. Melbourne's victory quickly became assured after the break as they piled on 12 unanswered goals, with forwards Bayley Fritsch (six goals) and Ben Brown ... » Learn More about Australian Rules-Demons scorch Bulldogs in AFL decider, end 57-year drought

SINGAPORE - Singapore has given 122,400 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine as well as medical supplies to support Thailand's fight against Covid-19. Singapore's ambassador in Bangkok, Mr Kevin Cheok, handed over the items, which included 200,000 diagnostic tests and 500,000 nasopharyngeal swabs, to Thailand's deputy Prime Minister and minister of Public Health Anutin Charnvirakul on Monday (Sept 27), Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement. "Singapore and Thailand are close friends with longstanding and strong bilateral ties. Our contribution reinforces both countries' mutual commitment to weather this pandemic together," MFA said. In March 2020, the Singapore Government also donated US$500,000 (S$730,000) to support the World Health Organisation's Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for Covid-19. The plan aims to limit human-to-human transmission of the virus. ... » Learn More about S’pore contributes AstraZeneca vaccine and medical supplies to Thailand

The United States on Wednesday, September 22, promised to buy 50 million more COVID-19 vaccine doses to donate to other countries as it comes under increasing pressure to share its supply with the rest of the world. President Joe Biden made the announcement during a virtual summit aimed at boosting global vaccination rates against the coronavirus and rallying world leaders to do more. "To beat the pandemic here we need to beat it everywhere," Biden said as he kicked off the summit, which included leaders from Britain, Canada, Indonesia and South Africa as well as World Health Organization head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "This is an all hands on deck crisis," Biden said of the pandemic that has raged since early 2020, killing more than The additional vaccines will bring US donations to more than 1.1 billion doses, far short of the 5 billion to 6 billion doses global health experts say is needed by poorer countries. Delivery of the new tranche will begin ... » Learn More about Under pressure, US donates half billion more COVID-19 vaccine doses to world

Stock photo shows “Coronavirus” test tubes MANILA, Philippines — An additional 121 Filipinos abroad contracted the new coronavirus disease or COVID-19, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Monday. This, the DFA added, increased the tally of infected Filipinos overseas to 23,277 since the pandemic broke out last year. Active infections were recorded at 8,425, the DFA also said in its latest bulletin, while the death toll rose to 1,387 after two patients succumbed to the viral disease. Recoveries stood at 13,465, as of September 27, including the 74 patients recently reported to have recovered from COVID-19. According to the DFA, COVID-positive Filipinos were found in 103 countries, with no new cases recorded in Europe and America. As of writing, there were 13,301 confirmed infections in the Middle East and Africa; 5,489 in the Asia-Pacific Region; 3,651 in Europe; and 1,036 in the Americas. (1/2) The DFA reports a total of 121 new COVID-19 cases, 74 new recoveries, ... » Learn More about DFA: 121 more Filipinos abroad contract COVID-19 raising total to 23,227