Republic day day status

BACOLOD CITY –– Amid requests for a stricter quarantine status, Negros Occidental will remain under modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) until April 30. Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said he was informed that Negros Occidental could not revert to general community quarantine (GCQ) because its COVID-19 infections had not reached the required level for that classification. Interior Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III relayed to him the message that the COVID-19 average daily attack rate should be seven percent and above, and the two-week daily growth rate should be 200 percent to be considered at high risk. Densing said Negros Occidental’s average daily attack rate as of April 8 was at 1.97 percent, and its two-week daily growth rate was 107 percent which was considered moderate. Lacson, however, pointed out that the COVID-19 situation in the province had been alarming and that the number of infections was rising. “Why do we have to wait for 200 percent (growth rate) or a ... » Learn More about Negros Occidental remains under MGCQ despite rising COVID-19 cases

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

MANILA, Philippines — Strict quarantine rules in Metro Manila and the neighboring provinces of Laguna, Bulacan, Cavite and Rizal will be eased slightly starting Monday up to April 30 as hospitals have committed themselves to provide more beds for patients with the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19), presidential spokesperson Harry Roque announced on Sunday. President Rodrigo Duterte approved the less stringent modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for Metro Manila and the four provinces — dubbed “National Capital Region (NCR) Plus” — from the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), even as COVID-19 cases continued to rise and swamp hospitals. Total detected cases surged to 864,868 after laboratory tests confirmed 11,681 new infections on Sunday, the third straight day of breaching the 10,000 mark, according to the Department of Health (DOH). The death toll climbed to 14,945 after 201 more fatalities were reported. More than 200 deaths had been reported daily in five of the ... » Learn More about Quarantine restrictions eased in Metro Manila, 4 adjacent provinces

IPOH City Council (MBI) has launched a new app-based complaints handling system, which will kick off on April 30. Perak local government committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohamed Radzi said the MyAduan MBI app would make it easier for people to lodge complaints on council-related issues or problems. She said the app could be accessed 24 hours a day and was part of MBI’s Smart City initiative. “The app can be used on iOS and Android smartphones. “It also has a feature that allows people to keep track of and see the status of their complaints, ” she said at the launch of the app at the city council headquarters yesterday. “At the same time, it will allow the city council to monitor the progress (of remedial works). “As a responsible local government, MBI will ensure all issues and problems are resolved immediately, ” she added. Nolee Ashilin said the city council received 21,766 complaints last year, with about 85% of those cases resolved. “In the first two months of ... » Learn More about Ipoh city council’s complaints app to start April 30

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

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

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

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

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

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