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
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It’s Okay To Not Be Okay star Seo Yea-ji loses deals and drama role, faces new bullying allegations
K-drama actress Seo Yea-ji, 31, who has in the past week been embroiled in controversy over how she had allegedly controlled her ex-boyfriend Kim Jung-hyun, has lost a slew of endorsement deals. The It's Okay To Not Be Okay (2020) star was swiftly dropped from advertisements by health and lifestyle brand New Origin, mask label AER and cosmetics brand Luna, among others. In the wake of the scandal, her lead role in an upcoming drama, Island, which was due to start filming in June, will be recast. In addition, a former staff member from her management agency has spoken up about her alleged verbal abuse, threats and unreasonable behaviour in an explosive tell-all. The anonymous post gave details such as the actress yelling at the staff over small mistakes, blowing cigarette smoke into their faces and checking their phones to ensure they did not record her behaviour. "Whenever she said she was in a bad mood, she never ate anything and so we were unable to eat. She also told us ... » Learn More about It’s Okay To Not Be Okay star Seo Yea-ji loses deals and drama role, faces new bullying allegations
S. Korea bracing for summer heat in times of COVID-19
Yonhap via The Korea Herald/Asia News Network SEOUL — Meteorologists around the globe forecast this summer will be the hottest in decades and South Korea is no exception. As a result, the summer kits and plans of Koreans are already changing. To stem the spread of COVID-19, wearing face masks has become a part of “manners,” but people have started to complain about wearing them during the hot and humid summer season. Some people instead chose to buy masks made with mesh, cool fiber materials or artificial silk to stay cooler. Demand for summer face masks has surged 865.3 percent from a month earlier, according to the latest data from the nation’s e-commerce platform operator WeMakePrice. Following the increased demand, the average price of a dental mask also rose from 578 won ($0.47) to 1,996 won, the data showed. “Competition over summer masks is not yet tough like when we bought KF94 masks earlier this year, but the thinner masks have surely become more expensive than ... » Learn More about S. Korea bracing for summer heat in times of COVID-19
Shop safely with Trunc
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
Unmasking fugitive Nicky Liow
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 urges public to help out-of-work drivers amid lockdown
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
500th year of first baptism in PH: Filipinos hailed for spreading Christianity worldwide
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
Muhyiddin visits Putrajaya ramadan bazaar to observe SOP compliance
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
Local councils now authorised to issue compounds for SOP non-compliance at Ramadan bazaars
PUTRAJAYA: The Health Ministry authorised mayors, local council presidents and local council enforcement authorities to compound those who do not comply with the standard operating procedure (SOP) at Ramadan bazaars. Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this came into effect on Wednesday (April 14). "The National Security Council has received complaints about non-compliance of SOP at several Ramadan bazaars. "This is a serious matter when the Covid-19 infectivity rate is still high. "Local authorities must ensure that measures are taken so the public follows the SOP," he said on Wednesday. He also said police arrested 42 individuals for various MCO violations on Tuesday (April 13). These include activities at entertainment centres (seven), failure to register customers' details (20) and not wearing face masks (eight). Of the 42 arrested, 35 individuals were slapped with compounds while seven were remanded. The ... » Learn More about Local councils now authorised to issue compounds for SOP non-compliance at Ramadan bazaars
Filipinos bag awards in Asean photo tilt
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