Indonesia to close borders over Covid-19

By Mohd Shukri Ishak JAKARTA, March 19 (NNN-BERNAMA) — At midnight Thursday, Indonesia is to close its borders to foreign visitors and prohibit citizens from leaving the country for a month over the COVID-19 pandemic. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi made the announcement during a media conference carried on the Foreign…

Report non-essential service employers forcing staff to work during MCO

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Workers in non-essential services can lodge police report against their employers if they are forced to work during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period. The Human Resource Ministry in its frequently asked questions (FAQ) statement on MCO today said if an employer defies the order, he could…

32 new Covid-19 cases in Singapore, 124 recovered

SINGAPORE, March 19 (NNN-BERNAMA) – Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has reported an additional 24 imported and eight local cases of COVID-19 infection in the republic. With all the new cases, it brings the tally for the Island-city to 345. In a statement here, MOH said one of the imported…

Covid-19: Foreign missions in Malaysia keeping track of situation

By R.Ravichandran and V.Sankara KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (NNN-BERNAMA) —  Following the Malaysian government’s decision to enforce the Movement Control Order to curb the rise in COVID-19 cases, foreign embassies here have put several measures in place to cope with the situation. The measures include working from home, reducing the number of staff on duty, and shortening the working hours.  They are also…

Some Malaysians still taking the Movement Control Order lightly, says police

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Some Malaysians are still taking lightly the Movement Control Order, which came into effect on Wednesday, March 18 and will be on until this March 31st. Many are still not following the order and have taken to visiting the city areas, said Dang Wangi…

S. Korean chartered flight heads home carrying 80 people evacuated from coronavirus-hit Iran

Evacuees from virus-hit Iran A group of South Koreans arrives at a Tehran airport on March 18, 2020, to board a chartered plane to leave for Dubai en route to returning home amid the worsening outbreak of the new coronavirus in Iran. Another South Korean government-chartered plane is scheduled to…

Strong earthquake hits south of Bali

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (NNN-BERNAMA) — A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.3 on the Richter scale occurred near South of Bali, Indonesia at 1.45 am (Malaysian time). The Malaysian Meteorological Department, in a statement, said that the epicentre of the quake was located 302 kilometres (km) south of Denpasar, Indonesia, at a depth…

Diplomatic missions assisting hundreds of Malaysians stranded in India

NEW DELHI, March 18 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Malaysia’s diplomatic missions are helping hundreds of Malaysian citizens stranded in India due to travel disruptions following the coronavirus outbreak. About 200 Malaysians were stuck in south India and 73 were in New Delhi looking for flights to get home, Malaysian diplomats and other…

Emirati coffee a symbol of hospitality

https://youtu.be/O-ZdrKMh87w Video courtesy of WAM/YouTube. AL AIN,  March 18 (NNN-WAM) — Coffee made from roasted coffee beans is one of the most popular beverages and commodities around the world, and has become a means of socialising with others, which is a reason for its popularity and its nickname, The Beloved Brunette,…

Malaysians stranded in India not because of M’sian govt control, FM clarifies

KUALA LUMPUR, March 18 (NNN-BERNAMA) —  A group of Malaysians was stranded at the Tiruchirapalli Airport in Tamil Nadu due to decisions taken by India on COVID-19 and not because the Malaysian government barred them from returning, the Malaysian Foreign Ministry said today. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein clarified that under the movement control order issued…