Pm narendra modi speech

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India on Sunday banned the export of anti-viral drug Remdesivir and its active pharmaceutical ingredients as demand rocketed due to a record surge in COVID-19 infections, leading to a crippling shortages in many parts. Authorities have blamed the ferocious resurgence of the virus mainly on crowding and a reluctance to wear masks. Still, religious gatherings have continued and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have themselves addressed election campaigns attended by tens of thousands of people, many without masks and hardly any following social distancing. As new COVID-19 cases surged to 152,879 on Sunday, the sixth record rise in seven days, harried relatives of patients made a kilometre-long queue to buy Remdesivir outside a big hospital in the western state of Gujarat, witnesses said. India, known as the pharmacy of the world, has already stalled major exports of coronavirus vaccines though its supply too has run short in some ... » Learn More about India bans Remdesivir exports as coronavirus rages on; rallies continue

China has administered 164.47 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines as of Saturday, the National Health Commission said on Sunday. This represents around 24.5 million doses in the past six days, as the country's vaccine rollout continues to accelerate. Last week a Chinese official said the country is expected to produce around 3 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of the year. Chinese health authorities on Sunday reported 10 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 22 asymptomatic cases, bringing the country's total to 90,410, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,636. The National Health Commission, in a statement, said all the new cases were imported infections originating from overseas. The number of new asymptomatic cases, which China does not classify as confirmed cases, rose to 22 from 11 cases a day earlier. The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mainland China now stands at 90,410, while the death toll remained unchanged at 4,636. Meanwhile, in ... » Learn More about China administers 164.47 million COVID-19 vaccinations as of April 10

PHNOM PENH : Cambodia’s strongman premier Hun Sen threatened quarantine-breakers with jail time on Saturday and warned civil servants they could lose their jobs if they go unvaccinated, as the country grapples with a growing coronavirus caseload. In the past two days Cambodia has registered more than 1,000 infections — many among garment workers and market vendors — bringing the country’s tally to 4,081 cases and 26 deaths. Authorities this week banned travel between provinces, imposed a night-time curfew in the capital Phnom Penh and shut down popular tourism sites including the famed Angkor Wat archaeological park. Wearing face masks is now mandatory in Phnom Penh and violators face a fine of up to $250. But Prime Minister Hun Sen on Saturday threatened harsher measures, saying anyone who flouts a two-week quarantine period would face a “quick trial” and jail time. “People who break Covid measures must be sentenced,” he said on state-run TV. “I accept being called a ... » Learn More about Cambodian PM threatens quarantine-breakers

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

ALL 207 councillors in the state must educate themselves and understand their tasks to ensure that plans and policies being carried out by 16 local councils in Johor are on the right track. To this end, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the councillors should have some basic legal knowledge and play their part to ensure their respective councils’ decisions were correct. “To drive development in Johor to be more sustainable, the roles and responsibilities of a councillor must be enhanced. “They need to carry the rakyat’s aspirations and act as the middleman between the people and the local administration. “With that, councillors must check that planning and policies by local authorities are executed well, ” he added. Hasni said this in his speech at the legislation planning executive talk with state local councillors in Johor Baru. He said the state government had appointed 207 councillors in two phases — on April 15 and Sept 23 last year. He reminded ... » Learn More about ‘Councillors must have basic legal knowledge’

The Songkran road safety campaign is off to a moderate start with a reported 25 deaths and 356 injuries across Thailand on Saturday. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department director-general reports that there were 348 road accidents in the country on the first day of the campaign. Though the figures don’t sound like an achievement, they are actually a fair bit lower than the average road death toll each day in Thailand throughout the year. Officials say that the real rush back home for the annual holiday will probably be tomorrow. About 83% of the accidents involved motorbikes, 7.5% involved pick-up trucks and 4% were with cars. The biggest percentage of incidents happened between 4 and 8 pm, with 28% of accidents occurring in the late afternoon and early evening. Around 20% of crashes were between 8 am and noon, and 17% between noon and 4 pm. Speeding is the number one cause of traffic accidents, with 32% of incidents a result of people driving too fast. Sudden lane ... » Learn More about 1st day of Songkran road safety campaign – 356 injuries, 25 deaths

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is clearly not seen as a “strategic environmental partner on climate action” by the United States, said Democratic Action Party's secretary-general Lim Guan Eng on Thursday (Apr 8). This came after environment minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man explained that Malaysia is not involved in a US-led virtual leaders summit for climate change as it is not among top greenhouse gas emitters and those most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In a statement, Mr Lim said: “Tuan Ibrahim’s explanation why Malaysia was not invited has shown him to be no different from former US President Donald Trump’s lack of knowledge and enthusiasm for climate change activism." Mr Lim stated that the reasoning by the minister was unacceptable. “Tuan Ibrahim’s rationale for Malaysia’s exclusion is that Malaysia is not climate-vulnerable like Vietnam and Indonesia, as well as not a big country contributor to 80 per cent of greenhouse gases (GHG) to limit global warming to 1.5 ... » Learn More about Malaysia not seen as ‘strategic environmental partner’ by US, says DAP leader on climate summit snub

Philippine Senator Christopher Go posted photos of President Rodrigo Duterte that show “proof of life”. REUTERS, CHRISTOPHER BONG GO/FACEBOOK via The Straits Times/Asia News Network MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has not made any public appearance for close to two weeks now, fueling speculation that his health is declining, with some even claiming that he has died. His aides and sources have dismissed the rumors – one was that he had suffered a mild stroke and was taken to Singapore where he purportedly died, another was that plans were being drawn up for a military junta to run the Philippines. Adding to the fog was a disclosure that his daughter, Davao Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, flew to Singapore last week. Senator Christopher Go, who remains Mr Duterte’s closest aide and confidant, has been posting photos and short clips that showed himself and Mr Duterte in good health and working in his office in Manila. “Nothing to worry about. In fact, we are ... » Learn More about Aides dismiss rumors circling Duterte’s health, including one which said he has died in Singapore

Century Properties Group [CPG: PM] has announced the election of Aileen Christel Ongkauko as an independent director of the company effective April 7, 2021. Ongkauko, 52, is concurrently the group president and chief executive officer of La Filipina Uy Gongco Corp. and Subsidiaries, a highly diversified agribusiness, livestock and food company, established more than a century ago. She is also a director of South Balibago Resources Inc. and Ateneo Family Business Development Center. Ongkauko was also former director of Aboitiz Equity Ventures International, Aboitiz Power International, Pilmico International, and Advisor to the Board for Weather Philippines Inc. She graduated magna cum laude and was a Departmental Awardee from Ateneo de Manila University, where she earned her degree in Bachelor of Arts in Management Economics. Her appointment effectively increases CPG’s independent directors to four, which currently includes Ambassador Jose Cuisia Jr., Stephen CuUnjieng, and Carlos ... » Learn More about CPG elects Aileen Christel Ongkauko as new independent board director