Dispatchers week 2018

SINGAPORE - Singapore's tightened circuit breaker measures will remain in place for another week, with businesses like barbers, home-based bakers and laundry services allowed to resume operating on May 12. Some measures will also be adjusted next week. But the multi-ministry task force handling the outbreak took pains to stress that this did not mean the battle with the disease was won. "We are making good progress but we are not yet at single digits when it comes to local transmission, so it is not time to lift the tighter measures we have in place," said National Development Minister Lawrence Wong on Saturday (May 2). "We still need to continue for another week. But we can start making some adjustments." Mr Wong stressed, however, that the situation remains fluid and plans may need to be adjusted further, depending on how the situation unfolds in the coming weeks. "The bottom line is, this is not the time to slacken and let our guard down. We may be easing some measures ... » Learn More about Tightened circuit breaker measures extended for another week; some activities allowed to resume from May 5

KUALA LUMPUR: The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives may see volatile trading next week, ahead of the release of production, stocks and exports data. Singapore-based Palm Oil Analytics owner and co-founder Dr Sathia Varqa said markets will closely monitor the Malaysian Palm Oil Board's (MPOB) data, which is due on Monday. In addition, investors are also awaiting April 1-10 projections by cargo surveyors, which are likely to be released next week. "Focus will be on March production. However, prices are likely to be firmer but volatile," he told Bernama, today. Earlier this week, Sathia said global demand and export for palm oil products will see strong recovery from April to June 2021, mainly from India and China, which are severely understocked at the moment. He said China's stocks have been in deficit for many months with the latest data showing stocks being in deficit by 27 per cent. Meanwhile, palm oil trader David Ng expects CPO prices ... » Learn More about CPO futures to see volatile trading next week, eyes on MPOB data

SINGAPORE - Ms Jayme Tan received the "best Mother's Day present" last Wednesday (May 6): her husband back home. Mr Xie Jiahao was finally reunited with his wife and children after 51 days away battling Covid-19 - all because of a good deed. On March 16, the 37-year-old decided to comfort his bereaved friend, who had just lost his wife, by staying over at his home for a week. His friend, who had just returned from Britain, tested positive for Covid-19 on March 22. Mr Xie, an assistant vice-president of digital marketing, was immediately quarantined and tested positive on March 30. He was moved to D'Resort NTUC in Pasir Ris on April 5 as his mild symptoms had subsided. It took another month before he finally scored two consecutive negative swab tests and was discharged - fortuitously, on his mother's birthday and two days after his own. After coping on her own with two pre-schoolers, Ms Tan, who is 14 weeks pregnant with her third child, says: "I'm overwhelmed by happiness. ... » Learn More about Managing the home while hubby battles Covid-19: 3 mums and the challenges they face

Key figure: Deby at a Sahel summit in the French city of Pau in January last year N'DJAMENA - Chad headed into presidential elections on Sunday in which Idriss Deby Itno, the country's ruler for the last three decades, looks assured of a sixth term. A key ally in the West's anti-jihadist campaign in the Sahel, Deby, 68, is frontrunner in a six-candidate race without major rivals after a campaign in which demonstrations were banned or dispersed. Chad has struggled with poverty and instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. Its leader, Deby, is a former rebel and career soldier who seized power in a coup in 1990 and has twice, with French help, thwarted attempts to oust him. Other candidates include Albert Pahimi Padacke, 55, a former prime minister under Deby, and Felix Nialbe Romadoumngar, 64 -- officially "leader of the opposition" as his URD party has eight seats in the National Assembly. Lydie Beassemda, 54, a former minister of agricultural production, ... » Learn More about Chad votes with 30-year ruler Deby poised for sixth win

British actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge arrives for the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Jan. 19, 2020. Image: AFP/Jean-Baptiste Lacroix “Fleabag” actor and creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge will star alongside Harrison Ford in the new “Indiana Jones” movie due to hit screens next summer, Lucasfilm said Friday. The series’ fifth installment, to be directed by James Mangold (“Ford v Ferrari,” “Logan”) has been billed as 78-year-old Ford’s final film as the hero archaeologist. The “new adventure” will feature a “dream team of all-time great filmmakers” including producers Steven Spielberg, who was initially due to direct, and Kathleen Kennedy, said Mangold in a statement to AFP. “When you add Phoebe, a dazzling actor, brilliant creative voice and the chemistry she will undoubtedly bring to our set, I can’t help but feel as lucky as Indiana Jones himself,” Mangold added. The casting caps a remarkable rise for British actor and writer ... » Learn More about New ‘Indiana Jones’ movie casts ‘Fleabag’ star Waller-Bridge

WHILE vaccines, vaccine passports and vaxications are tempting, reachable goals to restore normalcy in travel and migration mobility, the Covid-19 virus remains the indecipherable variable holding up a new normal. For international travel “to come back,” more people must be vaccinated, and a government has to feel that it is safe to open its borders to visitors — and migrants. On April 2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that people who are fully vaccinated with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized vaccine can travel safely within the United States. An individual is considered “fully vaccinated two weeks after having received the last required dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.” UK’s Global Travel Taskforce sets out a new traffic light system and green watchlist to safely reopen international travel. The traffic light system categorizes countries “based on risk alongside the restrictions required for travel and the vaccine roll-out from ... » Learn More about Migration laws allow, but Covid forbids

PETALING JAYA: An opposition lawmaker has questioned Datuk Seri Rina Harun’s source of wealth in settling an RM1.9mil lawsuit to avoid bankruptcy action. DAP Youth vice-chief Jenny Choy (pic) said the Women, Family and Community Development Minister’s wealth was dubious based on the asset declaration made to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that was published for public view. “It was reported that the minister has settled her debts to a Paris-based film company. She was earlier served with a bankruptcy notice for debts amounting to RM1,340,642.02. “She should explain how she managed to accumulate sufficient wealth and funds to pay off the huge debt in a short period of 15 months as the (MACC’s) asset declaration data shows that her assets stood at RM72,000 when the same was made public on Nov 20,2019, with an income of RM34,004.48 a month, ” she said on Wednesday (Feb 17). If Rina’s income remained unchanged since 2019, Choy said it would take 40 months for ... » Learn More about Opposition lawmaker questions Rina Harun’s source of wealth after million-plus-ringgit debt settled

IPOH: DAP Youth vice-chief Jenny Choy ( pic ) has lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) urging an investigation into Datuk Seri Rina Harun’s source of wealth in settling her debts. Choy said MACC needs to investigate if the Women, Family and Community Development Minister had received an additional source of income. “Referring to MACC’s asset declaration data in November 2019, Rina declared that her assets stood at RM72,000 with a monthly income of RM34,004.48. “If her source of income did not change, she will need approximately 40 months to collect enough funds to pay off her debts without spending a cent of her income, ” Choy told reporters after lodging the report at MACC office here on Thursday (Feb 18). “MACC needs to investigate how Rina managed to pay her debts of RM1,340,642 in 15 months," she added. On Wednesday (Feb 17), Choy questioned Rina’s source of wealth in settling the lawsuit to avoid bankruptcy. ... » Learn More about DAP Youth lodges report with MACC over Rina’s source of wealth

Duterte on motorbike. Image from Sen. Bong Go MANILA, Philippines — Former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Sunday said he is “not buying” the rumor that President Rodrigo Duterte is sick, saying that the “narcissist” President is doing this on purpose to get attention. “I’m not buying this info that Duterte is sick. He’s been doing that for the past 5 years,” said Trillanes in a statement. “Mawawala kunyare (pretend to disappear) then they’d float their own rumor. Tapos lalabas (then appear) like a conquering hero and burn all those who went for the ride. He’s a narcissist, remember? He craves for the attention,” he added. Trillanes said that instead of getting hooked into the administration’s “script,” Filipinos should demand that the President gets to work “at this time of severe national crisis.” “Napakatamad na, wala pang malasakit” Trillanes said. (Not only is he lazy, but he is also indifferent.) It has already been two weeks since President Duterte last ... » Learn More about Speculation of ‘narcissist’ Duterte being sick is part of admin’s ‘script’ – Trillanes

SINGAPORE - Lucky Plaza and Peninsula Plaza shopping centres were buzzing for the first time in months on Sunday (April 11) after restrictions limiting entry to the two malls on weekends were lifted the day before. The tills rang as workers on their day off, mainly from the Philippines and Myanmar, flocked to their popular hangout spots to shop, eat and get their hair done. "I'm tired but happy," said Ms Sanda Kyaw Naint, owner of Ye Yint Cafe in Peninsula Plaza. The 51-year-old could hardly catch a break on Sunday as she served, during breakfast and lunch hours, almost twice as many customers as she had the previous weekend. Mr Bob Kok, 60, who owns a grocery store in Lucky Plaza, told The Straits Times that the weekend entry restrictions imposed from Aug 29 last year made business even worse for shop owners already struggling with the pandemic. Under the restrictions, those whose identification numbers end in even digits could visit the two malls only on even dates, while ... » Learn More about Crowds return to Lucky Plaza, Peninsula Plaza after lifting of weekend entry curbs