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PRAGUE: Slovakia may start using Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in early May, Prime Minister Eduard Heger said on Thursday, more than two months after a batch of 200,000 doses arrived into the country but which have remained locked in storage. The deal to import the vaccine proved controversial because it has not been approved by the EU's drug regulator EMA. Also Slovakia has said domestic emergency authorisation was issued for a different dosage than what arrived, and the country's drug watchdog SUKL said it had not received sufficient data to assess the product. Moscow demanded last week that the vaccines are returned due to what it termed contract violations. But Slovakia instead asked for additional laboratory tests in Hungary, the only EU country to use Sputnik V so far. "The process should go through in the coming weeks, (and) I assume that in early May, the vaccination could come," Heger said in a televised press conference during a visit to Prague. The Russian ... » Learn More about Slovak PM sees Sputnik V jabs by May despite rows with Russia, regulators

CARACAS: Venezuela has received a batch of 50,000 doses of Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, Health Minister Carlos Alvarado said on Thursday, as COVID-19 cases spike in the South American nation. Venezuela had previously acquired 250,000 Sputnik V vaccines and 500,000 doses of the shot developed by China's Sinopharm, which so far have been administered to public officials, health workers, teachers and some senior citizens. The new round of vaccines will also be administered to firefighters, civil protection personnel and workers who take oxygen to hospitals, said Alvarado. "They are not part of the sector health, but they are exposed," he said. The government of President Nicolas Maduro over the weekend said it paid US$64 million to cover vaccines via the COVAX system. Separately, the government is in talks with opposition leader Juan Guaido to make additional vaccine payments with funds frozen in the United States. Venezuela has reported 178,094 cases of ... » Learn More about Venezuela gets another 50,000 doses of Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Health Ministry has proposed that interstate travel be postponed for the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri, as daily COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Speaking after a ministry event on Thursday (Apr 15), Health Minister Adham Baba said the proposal to put off approval for interstate travel was due to two reasons. “One, there are new variants of COVID-19 in the community. Two, the vaccination programme is still ongoing, so we need to control the situation,” he said. He noted that many parties have appealed to the government to permit interstate travel for this major festival. On whether exceptions could be made for those who have completed their vaccination, Dr Adham said the ministry was still waiting for findings from the World Health Organisation and the US' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If the ministry’s proposal to halt cross-state travel for the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations is accepted, this will be the second year ... » Learn More about Malaysian Health Ministry proposes that interstate travel be postponed for Hari Raya

NEW DELHI: After gifting and selling tens of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses abroad, India suddenly finds itself short of shots as new infections surge in the world's second-most populous country. India breached 200,000 daily infections for the first time on Thursday (Apr 15), and is trying to inoculate more of its population using domestically produced shots. Facing soaring cases and overflowing hospitals after lockdown restrictions were eased, it also abruptly changed the rules to allow it to fast-track vaccine imports, having earlier rebuffed foreign drugmakers like Pfizer. It will import Russia's Sputnik V vaccine starting this month to cover as many as 125 million people. The reversal in fortunes could hamper not only India's battle to contain the pandemic, but also vaccination campaigns in more than 60 poorer countries, mainly in Africa, for months. The COVAX programme, backed by the World Health Organization and Gavi vaccine alliance, aims at equitable vaccine ... » Learn More about India shifts from mass COVID-19 vaccine exporter to importer

Our verdict: 77 per cent Unit efficiency 3.5/5 Unit size 4/5 Quality of fittings 4/5 Design 3/5 Variety of facilities 4.5/5 Quality of facilities 4/5 Surrounding amenities 3.5/5 Developer 4.5/5 Transport links 3.5/5 Driving accessibility 4/5 Upkeep of property 4/5 Price point 3.5/5 The Crest offers buyers a chance to own a home in a central location while enjoying unblocked views, but it's not exactly the most affordable option out there. What we like What we don't like Big pool 11-min walk to mrt Good facilities Could do with more deck chairs Bigger than usual units Project: The Crest District: 03 Address: Prince Charles Crescent Tenure: 99-year Leasehold No. of Units: 469 Site Area: 256,026 sqft Developer: Wingcrown Investment Pte Ltd TOP: 2017 ‘Life peaks at the top’. Now that’s a slogan that befits The Crest in more ways than one. Before I go into greater detail ... » Learn More about The crest condo review: Giant pool + bigger than usual units

Senior citizens enjoy horse racing at the Royal Turf Club in Bangkok. Thailand is already an aged society, with people aged 60 or above set to account for 20% of the population this year. (Photo by Patipat Janthong) The Finance Ministry is growing concerned about slow economic growth prospects and higher inflationary pressure in the long term as Thailand transitions to an "aged" society. A ministry source who requested anonymity said the country's demographics are rapidly ageing, resulting from falling fertility rates and rising life expectancy. Having a larger proportion of the population made up of the elderly means fewer people in the workforce. The country has been what is termed an "aged" society since 2005, meaning 10% of the population is already 60 or older. The proportion of the population aged 60 or older is expected to reach 20% this year. Thailand's trajectory has it becoming a "super-aged" society in 2031, meaning 28% of the population will be 60 or older. ... » Learn More about An ageing conundrum

The coronavirus pandemic has forced hasty revisions to the long-rehearsed plans for the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, with government guidelines limiting guests to just 30 WINDSOR (UNITED KINGDOM) - Final preparations were being made on Friday for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, with the ceremony pared back due to coronavirus restrictions but still reflecting his long life of military and public service. Police patrolled the Long Walk outside the stately walls of Windsor Castle, where the funeral will be held on Saturday, as a steady stream of well-wishers left floral tributes. Broadcasters from around the world set up position outside the historic residence west of London for the most high-profile funeral of a senior royal since that of the Queen's mother in 2002. The coronavirus pandemic has forced hasty revisions to the long-rehearsed plans for the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral, with government guidelines limiting guests to just 30. But Buckingham ... » Learn More about Fine tuning for Prince Philip’s funeral

Malampaya natural gas plant. Source: http://malampaya.com/ MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) said during Tuesday’s hearing at the Senate that the Chevron-Udenna deal approved in March concerning the 45-percent stake in the Malampaya shares is a “voidable contract.” Energy Assistant Secretary Leonido J. Pulido III bared that the parties concur that the Chevron-Udenna deal sealed in March 11, 2020 could still be voided if it would not be approved by the DOE. The 45-percent stake of businessman Dennis Uy’s UC Malampaya LLC is worth $565 million. Pulido also stressed the sale is voidable in response to Senator Imee Marcos’ query if it is an “incomplete sale.” This means that the divestment of the 45-percent Chevron equity in Malampaya could still fail without government approval. Undersecretary Donato D. Marcos said the DOE is still evaluating the Chevron-Udenna sale as well as the financial and technical capability of the Uy-led firm to be in gas field ... » Learn More about DOE says Udenna deal in Malampaya shares a ‘voidable contract’

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) released P3.51 trillion or 78 percent of the record P4.51-trillion 2021 national budget in the first three months, portions of which funded various agencies’ pandemic response. The share of first-quarter releases to total appropriations was slightly lower than the 78.4 percent recorded a year ago, but the P3.22 trillion released and the P4.1-trillion budget last year were both smaller than this year’s figures, the latest DBM data showed. Among funds under Republic Act No. 11518 or the 2021 General Appropriations Act, allotment releases from January to March amounted to P2.41 trillion or 78.5 percent of the P3.08-trillion full-year program. Comprehensive releases to government departments as of end-March reached P2.29 trillion or 87.1 percent of the programmed P2.64 trillion for 2021. As for special purpose funds, P115.9 billion or 24.6 percent of the P440.1 billion allotted for this year were released. Automatic ... » Learn More about 78% of 2021 national budget released in first quarter

BANTING (Bernama): Activities at Ramadan bazaars will be more orderly and better organised with stricter compliance to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in five or six days with the involvement of local authority enforcement, says Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin. The Housing and Local Government Minister said local authorities only need to apply the existing SOP which is physical distancing and wearing face masks as issued by the Health Ministry (MOH). "These are the basic requirements for them (visitors and traders) to adhere to as regulations at Ramadan bazaars, ” she said in media conference after an official visit to the Kuala Langat Municipal Council (MPKL) here Thursday (April 15). Zuraida admitted there were viral pictures of SOP non-compliance at Ramadan bazaars especially on physical distancing. "This is the first and second day and the people have just returned to Ramadan bazaars so some are just enthusiastic. I believe the situation will improve in five to six days. ... » Learn More about More orderly Ramadan bazaars expected in five or six days, says Zuraida