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SINGAPORE - Mujir Hayyan Mohammad Taufiq may be anxious about sitting the Primary School Leaving Examination this year, but his parents are even more stressed - it is their first experience with the PSLE as both were educated in madrasahs (religious schools). "As much as we reassure ourselves that it is just like any other year-end exam Hayyan will be sitting, the pressure and stresses do exist," says his mother, Ms Hurul-A'in Mohd Yusoff, 36, principal of a childcare centre. His father Mohammad Taufiq Mohamed Ismail, 40, manages a mosque. They also have a six-year-old daughter studying in a madrasah. "However, we always remind ourselves that this is not our examination, it is Hayyan's," says Ms Hurul-A'in, stressing that her 11 1/2-year-old son's mental health is more important than his grades. Her focus is not misplaced in a year that has seen educational systems across the world shattered by the pandemic, leaving families disoriented and dispirited. Compared with many ... » Learn More about Coronavirus: PSLE survival guide for parents and kids during the pandemic

SINGAPORE - Many hawkers find themselves struggling to stay afloat amid the coronavirus pandemic. With the ban on dining out during the circuit breaker period, local food vendors have been relying on takeaways and deliveries to survive. Those who work with food delivery platforms such as GrabFood, Deliveroo and Foodpanda say they pay an average of 30 to 35 per cent commission for each order. The high fees have led some to search for alternative options. Mr Melvin Chew, 42, owner of Jin Ji Teochew Braised Duck and Kway Chap at Chinatown Food Complex, started a Facebook group in April to help fellow hawkers during the circuit breaker. Hawkers United-Dabao 2020 now has over 260,000 members. "Many of the hawkers suffered income losses from about 70 to 90 per cent. I started this group to gather all the hawkers (and) bring in some customers from my Facebook friend list so that hawkers can look for business in this group," said Mr Chew. Mr Quentin Quek, 22, whose ... » Learn More about Hawkers go digital during Covid-19 circuit breaker

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

Employers must ensure that staff members work from home as far as possible, said the multi-ministry task force handling the coronavirus outbreak, as it turned its attention to securing workplaces. Manpower Minister Josephine Teo said her ministry is looking to increase potential penalties - including stop-work orders and fines - for firms which avoid implementing telecommuting. "Employers must allow your employees to work from home as far as reasonably practicable. This applies to all workplaces regardless of size, and it should be for all times, all days, and not some times, some days," she said at a virtual media conference - the first such briefing by the task force. The Manpower Ministry estimates that only 40 per cent of workers in the Central Business District currently work from home. The new measures on workplaces came as the task force noted the worrying trend of increasing local cases and stressed the importance of safe distancing to protect vulnerable groups like ... » Learn More about Coronavirus: Workers must work from home as far as possible, says MOM

DDB Group Philippines, one of the country’s leading integrated marketing communications groups, and its client partners garnered numerous awards for its campaigns in the recently concluded 18th Philippine Quill Awards, organized by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines. Johnson & Johnson’s “Choose Gentle” rebranding campaign for its Johnson’s Baby franchise, mainly done in partnership with DDB Philippines (DDB PH), won a Quill Excellence award under the Communication Management Division’s Marketing, Advertising and Brand Communications category. A component of the said Johnson’s Baby rebranding campaign, the #ChooseGentle “Ugly Babies” Interactive Art and Videos conceptualized and executed by the brand with DDB PH as part of the brand’s gentle parenting advocacy also won for Johnson & Johnson a Quill Merit award under the Communication Skills Division’s Social Media Programs category. PepsiCo’s “Gatorade #NothingBeatsGirls” campaign ... » Learn More about DDB Group PH recognized at 18th Philippine Quill Awards

PUTRAJAYA: An additional 1,122 welfare and protection officers will be appointed to handle the rising number of social cases emerging due to the Covid-19 pandemic, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun. She said the ministry applied to the Finance Ministry to approve the appointments of community development assistant officers under Grade S29 by way of Contract of Service. “We need to have more officers considering the number of social cases has risen as a result of the pandemic, especially those involving children, ” she said at her annual address held virtually to the ministry staff. This comes following concerns raised by groups that more women and children could be exposed to violence during MCO 2.0. This was Rina’s first programme with the ministry since she recovered from Covid-19. She was admitted to Hospital Sungai Buloh after her test came back positive for the coronavirus on Jan 10. “I would like to thank everyone who sent me ... » Learn More about More officers to tackle social cases

BERLIN (Reuters) - Dismissed for decades by critics as a country bumpkin who loves silly carnival costumes, Bavarian leader Markus Soeder said on Sunday that he was willing to run as the conservative candidate for German chancellor, provided he had the bloc's full backing. Angela Merkel, who has clocked up four election victories and led Europe's biggest economy for 16 years, is not standing for a fifth term when Germany goes to the polls in September. This means the parliamentary bloc formed by her Christian Democrats (CDU) and their sister party, Bavaria's Christian Social Union (CSU), must decide on a candidate. On paper, the choice seems obvious: Opinion polls give charismatic CSU leader Soeder, 54, a hefty lead over CDU chief Armin Laschet, 60, who has also said he wants the candidacy. Some 54% of Germans would prefer Soeder as chancellor, compared to 19% for Laschet, a Deutschlandtrend poll from April 1 showed, although Laschet has the support of some powerful ... » Learn More about Carnival-loving, eloquent Soeder wants to be Germany’s first Bavarian chancellor

PHUKET: Full-service regional carrier SilkAir, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, celebrated its silver anniversary in Phuket on Saturday, as its chief executive highlighted the company’s growth goals. Phuket was one of the five original destinations for the regional airline when it was re-branded from Tradewinds the Airline to SilkAir on April, 1, 1992. The number of destinations served by the carrier will have increased to 47 in 12 countries this year, after Kalibo in the Philippines is added in May 27* and Mandalay in Myanmar is added on June 10. “This marks an exciting milestone of one of the most reputable regional airlines in the airline industry,” said Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa at the celebratory dinner. “I would like to thank SilkAir for its commitment to operating in Phuket since 1989. It has definitely contributed to the local economy and has been a great help in establishing Phuket as a world class tourist destination.” Though SilkAir plans to continue ... » Learn More about SilkAir celebrates 25 years in Phuket’s skies

NEW YORK : Andre Drummond had 20 points and 11 rebounds, Dennis Schroder scored 19 points before he and Kyrie Irving were ejected in the third quarter and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Brooklyn Nets 126-101 on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). A nationally televised matchup already missing plenty of star power lost even more when Irving started jawing with Schroder and neither player stopped quickly enough for the officials. The Lakers had led most of the way and were ahead 66-62 when Irving fouled Schroder with 9:41 left in the third. Los Angeles blew it open soon after the ejections with a 15-2 burst to open an 88-71 lead. A potential NBA Finals preview had a preseason feel with so many top names unavailable. LeBron James (right ankle sprain) and Anthony Davis (right calf strain) remain out for the Lakers, while James Harden is sidelined with a strained right hamstring for the Nets. The Lakers handled being short-handed much better, putting eight players in double figures. ... » Learn More about Lakers pull away after ejections, rout Nets

BRUSSELS : European Union leaders no longer meet around a common oval summit table to broker their famed compromises. Instead, each of the 27 watches the other heads of state or government with suspicion via a video screen that shows a mosaic of faraway capitals. This is what Covid-19 has wrought. Lofty hopes that the crisis would encourage a new and tighter bloc to face a common challenge have given way to the reality of division: The pandemic has set member nation against member nation, and many capitals against the EU itself, as symbolized by the disjointed, virtual meetings the leaders now hold. Leaders fight over everything from virus passports to push tourism to the conditions for receiving pandemic aid. Perhaps worse, some attack the very structures the EU built to deal with the pandemic. Last month, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz decried how vaccine-buying in the bloc had become a “bazaar,” alleging poorer countries struck out while the rich thrived. “Internal ... » Learn More about EU and Covid-19: When a vaccine only adds to the trouble