Easing the circuit breaker will be done cautiously, says Singapore PM

By Massita Ahmad SINGAPORE, April 30 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said after bringing down the number of new COVID-19 cases, Singapore can ease the circuit breaker measures, and progressively restart its economy. “This will not be straightforward. We need to step up COVID-19 testing and speed up…

Uzbekistan initiates programme to help cushion COVID-19 impact

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The government of Uzbekistan is establishing a nationwide movement billed ‘Kindness and Support’ to help the country weather the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In a statement to Bernama, Uzbekistan’s Embassy in Malaysia said that the initiative – the brainchild of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev – is intended to further ensure…

March was disastrous as air travel demand plunged – IATA

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) described the month of March as being disastrous for the aviation industry as demand, which is measured in total revenue passenger kilometres (RPKs), dived 52.9 per cent from the previous year’s corresponding period. This was the largest decline in recent history, reflecting…

‘Civil servants pay taxes too’ – Cuepacs

KUALA LUMPUR, April 30 (NNN-BERNAMA) — “Civil servants pay taxes too,” is Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services (Cuepacs) president Adnan Mat’s response to those who claim that civil servants’ salaries at a time the country is grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic come from the taxes paid…

S. Korea reports 4 imported virus cases, zero local infections

By Kang Yoon-seung SEOUL, April 30 (NNN-YONHAP) — South Korea reported four more cases of the new coronavirus Thursday, but all of them were imported ones, marking the first time that local infections have fallen to zero since the coronavirus outbreak began more than two months ago. The four new…

Thais do their bit to spread goodwill amid COVID-19 outbreak

By Linda Khoo Hui Li BANGKOK, April 29 (NNN-BERNAMA) — When the Thai government announced a 14-day closure of non-essential services such as entertainment outlets, parlours and sports venues in Bangkok starting March 18 to curb the spread of COVID-19, the first thing that came to Kannikar Petchkaew’s mind was the…

MCO: Single mum’s 30-day jail sentence replaced with fine

SHAH ALAM,  April 29  (NNN-BERNAMA) — A single mother, who was sentenced to 30 days jail by the Magistrate’s Court on April 21 for defying the Movement Control Order (MCO), heaved a sigh of relief after the High Court here today replaced the jail sentence with fine of RM1,000. Judicial Commissioner Datuk Norsharidah Awang…

Najib’s SRC Trial: Submissions set for June 1

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The High Court will hear oral submissions on former prime minister Najib Razak’s SRC International Sdn Bhd case for three consecutive days beginning June 1. Ad-hoc prosecutor V. Sithambaram told Bernama that the previous dates which were fixed from May 18 to May 20 had been vacated. He said the court also fixed…

More than 70 percent COVID-19 deaths in Malaysia had comorbidities – expert

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (NNN-BERNAMA) — More than 70 per cent of COVID-19 death cases in Malaysia had comorbidities of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), said an exercise medicine expert Prof Dr Lee Chee Pheng. He said the risk of contracting COVID-19 is higher in people with weak immune defences and could further be compromised…

M’sia reports lowest number of Covid-19 positive cases since MCO began

PUTRAJAYA, April 28 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Health Ministry (MOH) today announced the lowest number of COVID-19 positive cases recorded since the Movement Control Order was implemented on March 18 with 31 cases reported as at noon today. Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said so far, the number of daily cases continued…