African countries beef up measures to contain spread of COVID-19

BEIJING, March 20 (NNN-XINHUA) — Countries in Africa have stepped up their efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure public health security, Xinhua news agency reported. A foreign national tested positive on Feb. 14 in Egypt, the first case of infection reported on the African continent. Since then, over 30…

Issue of stranded Malaysians being discussed with India: Consulate

By Shakir Husain NEW DELHI, March 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — More than a thousand Malaysians stranded in India due to air travel suspension in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak are being assured that their evacuation is being discussed. They are stuck at various locations, including about 1,000 in Chennai and…

As a 0.12-micron bit of virus holds the world at ransom, it’s time for contemplation

Ho Yuet Mee says there could be a silver lining to the COVID-19 episode. KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) – The devastation brought on by a 0.12 micron bit of a coronavirus is yet to be fully comprehended with deaths having surpassed 10,000 globally and billions in economic worth wiped out…

COVID-19: Azerbaijan commends Malaysia’s containment measures

By R.Ravichandran KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Azerbaijan has expressed its support and appreciation to the Malaysian Government for the measures implemented to contain the spread of the COVID-19, said its Ambassador to Malaysia Prof.Dr Qaley Allahverdiyev. In a congratulatory letter on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps in Malaysia and himself sent to…

Actor Daniel Dae Kim tests positive for COVID-19

WASHINGTON, March 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Actor Daniel Dae Kim and Monaco’s Prince Albert II have become the latest public figures to disclose they were diagnosed with coronavirus, joining a list that also includes Tom Hanks and Idris Elba, reported American news agency United Press International (UPI). Kim, 51, said in a…

Russia starts testing vaccine against COVID-19

STAVROPOL, RUSSIA: An employee showing a COVID-19 coronavirus testing system at a polymerase chain reaction laboratory at the Stavropol Territory Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology. Photo courtesy of Alexander Pogozhev/TASS. MOSCOW, March 20 (NNN-TASS) — Russia’s sanitary watchdog Rospotrebnadzor has launched tests of a vaccine against the novel coronavirus, reported…

BNM’s move to cut SRR ratio timely, say economists

By Zarul Effendi Razali and Zairina Zainuddin KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) decision to reduce the statutory reserve requirement (SRR) ratio to 2.0 per cent effective today from 3.0 per cent previously is timely in view of current economic situation, say economists who were already anticipating such…

Australian PM announces travel ban on all non-residents

SYDNEY, March 20 (NNN-XINHUA) — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday announced a travel ban on all non-residents coming into the country beginning from Friday night. Anyone who is not a citizen, resident, or close family member of an Australian citizen or resident will be denied entry into the…

17 killed in Africa from coronavirus: WHO

ANKARA, March 20 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Thursday the death toll from the COVID-19 virus stood at at 17 in Africa as more countries on the continent recorded first cases in the past 24 hours. The WHO said “633 confirmed #COVID19 cases in #Africa in 33…

Additional RM160 mln approved to fight Covid-19 second wave – Muhyiddin

JOHOR BAHRU, March 19 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin Thursday announced an additional allocation of RM160 million to be channeled to 26 hospitals in the country to contain the COVID-19 outbreak second wave.  Expressing his thanks and appreciation to doctors, nurses, medical officers and all those in the Health Ministry (MOH)…