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SINGAPORE - Hand sanitiser vending machines said to be the first of their kind in the world went into action across Singapore on Monday (April 12). Every household in the Republic is allowed to collect 500ml of zero-alcohol cleanser for free. Retiree Liong Lai Fong, 79, visited Block 565, Choa Chu Kang Street 52 to pick hers up. She said in Mandarin: "I came to collect the hand sanitiser today because it was written on the utilities bill." The Temasek Foundation initiative - the second of its kind - uses machines that mix sanitiser concentrate with clean water and dispense the ready-to-use product into reusuable bottles. The vending machines were designed by the foundation, which said that they were the first in the world to automate the entire process. A spokesman told ST that the zero-alcohol sanitiser being distributed had a new formulation with a higher concentration of benzalkonium chloride, which is recognised by the National Environment Agency as being effective ... » Learn More about Singapore-designed hand sanitiser vending machines in operation across the island

Thailand – The three days from the 13th to the 15th of April officially marks the Songkran Festival, which is also known as the traditional Thai New Year. It is normally celebrated with the use of water culturally as a symbol of washing away negativity from the past year and welcome good things into the new year. Songkran is also recognized as a reunion of Thai families to pay gratitude to elders at home. It also involves merit-making, presenting offerings to monks, wearing traditional Thai outfits as well as floral outfits, listening to sermons at temples, and, most importantly, splashing of water as it is believed to bring longevity, good health, and prosperity. As April is the hottest month of the year in Thailand, the water festival is widely celebrated by both locals and foreigners every year. The most famous water throwing events are normally organized across the country, particularly in major cities such as Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Khon Kaen which in normal ... » Learn More about Happy Songkran from the TPN team! The Songkran festival and its traditions explained

In this file photo actress Carey Mulligan attends the 2020 Sundance Film Festival – “Promising Young Woman” Premiere at The Marc Theatre on January 25, 2020 in Park City, Utah. – Carey Mulligan attended the 2020 Sundance Film Festival of “Promising Young Woman,” but in 2021 the stars will be staying at home. This year, due to the pandemic, Indie film extravaganza Sundance, beginning January 28, will take place largely online. Photo by Dia DIPASUPIL / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP LOS ANGELES — In normal years, the Sundance Film Festival kicks off in late January with Hollywood’s award season already in full swing. Producers, stars and journalists meet in the spectacular Utah mountains to swap last-minute Oscar tips, and catch a first glimpse of the next year’s batch of contenders. This year, due to the pandemic, everything has been turned upside-down. Indie film extravaganza Sundance, beginning Thursday, will take place largely online. And with the Oscars delayed to their ... » Learn More about Sundance enters uncharted waters in unique Oscar season

Image: Instagram/@celestinegonzaga Actress and television star Toni Gonzaga gave away her talent fee to ABS-CBN workers who were displaced following the denial of the network’s franchise renewal bid. ABS-CBN Film Productions Inc. managing director Olivia Lamasan revealed to the public Gonzaga’s good deed during the Jan. 17 episode of the latter’s talk show, “I Feel U,” for her upcoming birthday on Jan. 20. “Happy birthday Tin. I am sending you my heart so full of love and gratitude for everything, for all the support that you have given ABS-CBN, ABS-CBN Films, Star Cinema,” Lamasan told Gonzaga in a recorded video greeting. “Sobrang maraming salamat anak (Thank you very much, child). Thank you so much for staying on with us,” she added. While Gonzaga received a heartwarming surprise from family and friends for the birthday special, the Ultimate Multimedia Star became more emotional after hearing Lamasan’s greeting. “Alam niyo po mga kaibigan, ito pong si Toni gave a ... » Learn More about Toni Gonzaga gave her talent fee to displaced ABS-CBN workers, Olivia Lamasan reveals

CAIRO: For Ramadan this year, Magdy Hafez has been longing to reclaim a cherished ritual: Performing the nighttime group prayers called taraweeh at the mosque once again. Last year, the coronavirus upended the 68-year-old Egyptian’s routine of going to the mosque to perform those prayers, traditional during Islam’s holiest month. The pandemic had disrupted Islamic worship the world over, including in Egypt where mosques were closed to worshippers last Ramadan. “I have been going to the mosque for 40 years so it was definitely a very, very, difficult thing,” he said. “But our religion orders us to protect one another.” Still, “It’s a whole other feeling, and the spirituality in Ramadan is like nothing else.” Egypt has since allowed most mosques to reopen for Friday communal prayers and for this Ramadan it will let them hold taraweeh, also with precautions, including shortening its duration. Ramadan, which begins this week, comes as much of the world has been hit by an ... » Learn More about Muslims navigate restrictions in the second Ramadan amid COVID-19 pandemic

WHILE some people are looking to help, especially in times of dire need like during this Covid-19 pandemic, they may not know how or where to start. Many local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) always welcome any extra hands they can get for their numerous charitable activities. SOLS Health Established in 2014 under SOLS 24/7 Foundation, SOLS Health is a community mental health centre in Kuala Lumpur that offers accessible individual, family and community services with an emphasis on trauma-informed care and combating the stigma around mental health in Malaysia. It needs volunteers for projects, centre management, human resources and research as well as advocacy teams. SOLS Health research and advocacy director Dr Arman Rashid said: “Volunteering was not only about helping communities we serve, but also improving our own mental health with a renewed sense of purpose, meaning and motivation during the Covid-19 pandemic.” The NGO recently embarked on a collaborative ... » Learn More about NGOs on lookout for volunteers in various roles

SIX years ago, a group of six friends decided to start a charity foundation to feed the poor. They started off with helping old folks homes, associations and temples by preparing 1,000 food packs and rice for distribution twice a year. “We received plenty of support from the community to help the needy. “We also worked with corporations, asking them to invite their staff and family members to experience doing charity work, ” said Datuk Derrick Hooi, a representative of Persatuan Kebajikan Enam Sahabat (Six League) based in Taman Desa, Kuala Lumpur. “During the first year, we supplied 200 food packs and essential items and after that, we capped it at 1,000.” He said it was only last year that the non-governmental organisation (NGO) was registered as Six League, as it had operated on an ad hoc basis prior to that with no official name. “We did not really think about registering as an NGO because it was too troublesome to appoint a chairman and execute other formalities. ... » Learn More about League of do-gooders

SINGAPORE - Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore can tap Government talent upskilling schemes to accelerate their innovation journeys, and leverage partnerships with public agencies and other companies to co-develop technologies for their business needs. Speaking at SME Day on Wednesday (Dec 9), Second Minister for Trade and Industry Dr Tan See Leng urged local enterprises to embrace science and technology as a key competitive advantage in the global economy which has changed fundamentally amid the coronavirus pandemic. "To sail forward amidst the winds of change, SMEs must adapt, pivot and transform to thrive in the new environment," he said at the event which brings together technology and solution providers from the public and private sectors. SME Day, organised by the Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) with support from Enterprise Singapore, is held in conjunction with the Singapore Week of Innovation and Technology, a five-day hybrid event ... » Learn More about SMEs can tap talent upskilling schemes, partnerships to boost innovation journeys: Tan See Leng

PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's legal team was asked to keep its promise of wrapping up its submissions in the hearing of the former premier’s appeal in the RM42mil SRC International Sdn Bhd’s case by noon, Tuesday (April 13). Court of Appeal judge Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil said,"Finish your submissions by noon, if not, you have to break your fast here," drawing laughter from the gallery. Tuesday is the first day of the holy month of Ramadan where Muslim fast from dawn to dusk. The defence was supposed to have closed its arguments on Thursday last week but requested Monday (April 12) as an additional day to finish its case. However, as the hearing continued until 4.30pm, Najib's lawyer Farhan Read said he needed more time to finish submitting. However, lead prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram said this would eat into the time allotted for the prosecution to present its arguments. "They’ve taken six days to submit, I am given three days. The defence has ... » Learn More about Wrap up by noon or break your fast here, judge tells Najib’s defence

BACOLOD CITY—More government offices and health facilities in Negros Occidental are going on lockdown as COVID-19 cases continued to surge in the province. Mayor Neil Lizares said the new Talisay City Hall would be closed on Monday (April 12) and Tuesday (April 13) while contact tracing and disinfection are underway. An employee assigned to the Talisay City Public Market tested positive for SARS Cov2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, and contact tracing showed that the person had gone to the Talisay City Hall. Mayor Rogelio Raymund Tongson, who tested positive for SARS Cov2, also ordered the lockdown of the Himamaylan City Hall, the city healtho office and village health centers for seven days starting last Saturday (April 10) to prevent coronavirus transmission. Mayor Rhumyla Nicor Mangilimutan said the La Castellana municipal hall will be closed from Monday (April 12) to Wednesday (April 14) for disinfection as government employees were instructed to work from home after ... » Learn More about Coronavirus infections continue to spread in Negros Occidental