MELBOURNE (Reuters) – The Australian government said on Sunday it will earmark an additional A$1.2 billion ($859 million) in wage subsidies in the 2020/21 budget and that its frameworks assume that there will be a novel coronavirus vaccine next year.FILE PHOTO: Commuters wait on a train platform in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge at […]
MELBOURNE (REUTERS, BLOOMBERG) – New daily coronavirus infections in Australia’s hotspot of Victoria climbed back to double digits on Sunday (Oct 4) with 12 cases recorded but authorities said the state is on track to be able to ease its social distancing restrictions in coming weeks. The dozen new coronavirus cases follow eight infections reported […]
SINGAPORE – The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Saturday (Oct 3) issued a statement refuting several fresh allegations levelled against it by Malaysian rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL). The MHA was responding to a statement posted on the LFL’s website on Friday (Oct 2), in which the non-governmental organisation (NGO) made several allegations […]
SINGAPORE – When the Cornerstone Community Church opens its doors on Sunday (Oct 4), around 100 worshippers will stream in to each of its auditoriums at Katong and Bugis for services. The church is among some places of worship that started opening up to bigger groups this weekend after safe distancing rules for such venues […]
SYDNEY – Solomon Islands recorded its first Covid-19 case, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare announced on Saturday (Oct 3). The patient is a male student returning from the Philippines earlier this week, Xinhua News Agency reported. He had passed three earlier tests before departure in the Philippines but was tested positive upon arrival. The student, who […]
KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – Malaysia will not impose movement curbs for now despite a recent spike in Covid-19 cases, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Saturday (Oct 3). He said the stark increase in cases were contributed by certain states, not the whole country. “On Friday, 287 cases were reported but […]
SINGAPORE – More than 500 Muslim students and youth received awards for their achievements from self-help group Yayasan Mendaki on Saturday (Oct 3). The annual event, which was held virtually this year, celebrates students who displayed exceptional academic performance or excelled in a different area of life. Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Mendaki chairman Masagos Zulkifli, who […]
SYDNEY – Australia’s national carrier, Qantas, has been running passenger flights for 98 years, yet its fastest-selling flight turned out to be a journey that goes nowhere. The airline, which has been heavily hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, will conduct a seven-hour scenic voyage next Saturday (Oct 10) that will take off from Sydney, fly over […]
Indonesia extends interest-free loans to women, including housewives, to sustain low-income families
JAKARTA – The Indonesian government has introduced a special micro-loan for entrepreneurial women from low-income families to help them grow their small businesses, as the country works towards economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Since its launch in early September, around one trillion rupiah ($91.8 million) have been disbursed by 34 banks, cooperatives and financing firms […]
SINGAPORE -There were six new coronavirus cases confirmed as at Saturday afternoon (Oct 3), including one community case and four imported cases. This is the lowest number of cases since March 5, which saw five new cases. A Singaporean is the sole community case reported on Saturday (Oct 3), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said. The […]