Fog free winter face mask

During the nationwide closure of temples and festivities during the Songkran holiday this week, some are taking the opportunity to improve hygienic practices. To help protect members of the temple and the community from contracting Coronavirus, the Abbot from Chak Daeng temple, on the banks of the Chao Phraya just south of Bangkok, has been busy crafting recycled plastics into face masks. The Chak Daeng temple has developed a method of using recycled plastics donated from the community and retrieved from Bangkok’s Chao Phraya river to make a fabric which they use for robes and more recently, into hygienic face masks. Monks crush the plastic and shred it into small flakes allowing the material to be converted into polyester and spun into yarn and woven into robes in a beautiful polyblend of traditional and modern problem solving. With some alterations, the recycled plastics can be used to make face masks to help people stay safe this year. ... » Learn More about Bangkok temple develops hygienic face mask from recycled plastics

SYDNEY: The testing of a potentially needle-free Covid-19 vaccine has been approved in Australia. The vaccine, Covigen, is a joint venture between the University of Sydney, a biotechnology company Technovalia and an alliance of clinical trial centers called Vax4COVID. The DNA-based vaccine will be tested in about 150 participants aged between 18 and 75 at sites in the states of New South Wales (NSW), South Australia and Western Australia. Selection of participants is expected to begin this month. The trial period has not been finalized. The Phase 1 trial’s lead investigator, Associate Prof. Nicholas Wood from the University of Sydney, said the goal was to assess the safety of using different doses of Covigen. Wood described the trial as a “significant milestone for all involved in this one-of-a-kind partnership between Australian institutions, the industry and the Australian government via the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).” The project has received a 3 million ... » Learn More about Australia OKs needle-free jab vs Covid

SINGAPORE - After years of putting up with a husband who abused her, did not allow her to go out of the house and often failed to provide for the family, Vietnamese bride Lyly, 30, decided to leave the Singaporean for good. Lyly (not her real name) said her former husband, a driver in his 60s, often hit her when he was angry, drunk or lost money at gambling. Lyly said in English: "I asked him for money (for family expenses) and he always said 'you need money for what? To give to another man?'" Once, he did not buy any food for her and their son, six, for a week and in desperation after finishing all that could be eaten at home, she called the police for help. She said of the dire straits she was in then: "I don't know where the market is, where the bus stop is. I have no money and I have no friends." She fled with her son to a crisis shelter at least three times, but returned to her former husband each time he promised to change. Still, he continued to hit her and ... » Learn More about Abused Vietnamese bride gets free legal aid to divorce Singaporean husband

With store operations at a halt, one might think they’d have to wait days, weeks, or the next official announcement until they can finally step foot to shop at their favorite brands. This, however, cannot be more far from the truth. In fact, anyone can shop safely through Trunc, SSI Group’s multi-label e-commerce site with over 100 of the world’s most coveted brands. Customers can sit back, relax, and tap on their phones (or laptops) to order and purchase their needs and wants at just one online shopping destination. The reusable, washable, virus killing, Sports Face Mask by Fine Guard is the choice for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Endorsed by Olympians and the Medical Wellness Association, this ultra-breathable model is protected by Livinguard technology that kills 99.99 percent of viruses on contact. Each box comes with two masks, each being reusable for a whole year and washable up to 50 times. For a more casual option, Kenneth Cole’s face mask has a multi-layer filtration ... » Learn More about Shop safely with Trunc

Petaling Jaya: He is one of the most wanted men in Malaysia. Datuk Seri Nicky Liow Soon Hee, who thrives on being in the limelight, must be wishing that he had kept himself away from public attention. Malaysians who have seen pictures of this brash young man posing with his piles of cash and luxury cars must have wondered why anyone would ever want to do that. Some blamed it on the fugitive’s Instagram generation which values image over substance. Liow, who celebrates his 33rd birthday at the end of this month, is known to throw lavish parties with free-flowing booze. That won’t happen this year. Police want him to face charges on organised crime, money laundering, Macau scam and commercial crime cases, and likely involving drugs too. Recently, police arrested 68 individuals, including his two brothers, also Datuk Seri titleholders, and a Datuk who are believed to be gang members. Police also seized 16 luxury vehicles, including a Rolls Royce and five Alphard MPVs, and hard ... » Learn More about Unmasking fugitive Nicky Liow

Chie Filomeno donated to the group of jeepney drivers she saw along Katipunan Ave. Images: Instagram/@chiefilomeno Chie Filomeno urged the public to help out-of-work jeepney drivers as they struggle amid the pandemic-induced lockdown. Filomeno shared her experience of encountering a group begging for alms along Katipunan avenue via Instagram earlier today, April 14. “A couple of days ago we passed by Katipunan [Ave.] at may nakita akong cartolina na nakadikit lang sa barrier at may nakasulat na “KONTING TULONG LANG PO SA AMING MGA JEEPNEY DRIVERS,'” she said. (A couple of days ago we passed by Katipunan avenue and I saw a cartolina up on a barrier with the words, “A little help for us jeepney drivers.) “Tapos nakita ko sila nakaupo sa side gutter, sobrang hinang hina at walang pag-asa, I wanted to give them something pero that time I didn’t have relief goods in the car and I didn’t have money,” Filomeno added. (Then I saw them sitting on the side gutter, looking very ... » Learn More about Chie Filomeno urges public to help out-of-work drivers amid lockdown

A reenactment of the first baptism in the Philippines was held at Plaza Sugbo where the Magellan’s Cross sits. PHOTO BY NESTLE SEMILLA CEBU CITY—Filipinos play a key role in spreading Christianity to the world in the course of their employment as migrant workers, the representative of Pope Francis said on Wednesday (April 14) at the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the first baptism in the Philippines. “Keep the flame of faith alive,” said Archbishop Charles Brown, papal nuncio to the Philippines and the Pope’s representative in the celebration. Brown lauded Filipinos for accepting Christianity five centuries ago and sharing it with the world. The Christian faith, he said, started in Asia where Jesus sent the Holy Spirit and summoned apostles to spread his mission of bringing people back to God. The faith was brought to Europe and found its way in the Philippines. “Now, Filipinos bring that faith to the world, not as explorers or colonizers, but in many cases as ... » Learn More about 500th year of first baptism in PH: Filipinos hailed for spreading Christianity worldwide

PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin visited a Ramadan bazaar at Precinct 3 here, to observe the level of standard operating procedure (SOP) compliance among traders and patrons there. He arrived at 5pm and spent about 30 minutes at the bazaar on Wednesday (April 14). Muhyiddin also spent some time mingling with traders and was seen buying several dishes, such as kuih kaswi gula merah, laksa and mee kolok. Traders and visitors at the bazaar were pleasantly surprised when the Prime Minister turned up there. MyTalam Kuih stall owner, Wichi Yuso, 48, said at first, she did not notice the presence of Muhyiddin at her stall because the Prime Minister was wearing a face mask. "I was surprised as I did not know the Prime Minister was coming to the Ramadan bazaar today. He bought some traditional kuih and also asked how my family and I were doing. "I was thrilled but did not have time to take a selfie and have a long chat with the Prime Minister, in ... » Learn More about Muhyiddin visits Putrajaya ramadan bazaar to observe SOP compliance

British Airways is suspending all direct flights to and from mainland China due to the Wuhan Coronavirus, making it one of the biggest international carriers to do so so far. The suspension comes after Britain warned against all but essential travel to the China on Tuesday. BA.com, the airline’s website, shows no direct flights to China are available through February. “We apologise to customers for the inconvenience, but the safety of our customers and crew is always our priority. Customers due to travel to or from China in the coming days can find more information on BA.com.” Thai Airways is spray-disinfecting passenger cabins and cockpits on all flights returning from China and high-risk destinations. “Because we have in-flight entertainment, the LCD screens are being touched all the time, so we deep cleanse every flight before departure.” A video from Thai Airways showing staff in hazmat suits spraying down a cabin garnered praise on social media for carrier’s effort, ... » Learn More about Airlines temporarily suspend flights to China

A BAGUIO and a Quezon City resident have both won in the 2020 photo contest of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca). Mauricio Victa of Baguio City was this year’s People’s Choice Award winner, receiving over 2,300 likes on Facebook. His photo shows a smiling boy and his grandfather holding sea urchins in Santiago town in Ilocos Sur. Michela Ramirez of Quezon City, meanwhile, bagged the second prize for her photo showing a masked farmer tending to backyard seedlings. Her photo reflects how many Filipinos suddenly turned to backyard farming for food and nutrition security when the country was put on lockdown due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Searca Director Dr. Glenn Gregorio said the contest theme “Faces of Attain” was part of the launch of Searca’s 11th Five-Year Plan (2020 to 2025) focused on Accelerating Transformation Through Agricultural Innovation (Attain). Winning the first and third prizes, as well as a ... » Learn More about Filipinos bag awards in Asean photo tilt