Friday, 15 Nov 2024

Asia

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Safety time-out needed after second fatal Tuas blast this year: Labour MP

SINGAPORE – There has been an alarming rise in workplace accidents and deaths this year, said National Trades Union Congress assistant secretary-general Melvin Yong on Saturday (Sept 25). He said in a Facebook post the recent blast at Tuas Incineration Plant was a grim reminder of this. For at least the third time this year, the […]

Still a bleak future for Malaysia's express bus drivers despite reopening plan

KUALA LUMPUR – After he was laid off in mid-June due to the Covid-19 pandemic, former Malaysian tour bus driver Mohd Amin Azim started selling nasi lemak with his wife. Against all odds, the couple’s food delivery business has thrived, bringing in more income than what Mr Amin used to earn. Please subscribe or log […]

NParks to use nature-based solutions to protect coastlines on Pulau Ubin

SINGAPORE – The rustic isle of Pulau Ubin is known as a treasure trove of biodiversity. But plans are afoot to ensure that nature continues to flourish on the island in the Republic’s north east,and is not threatened by coastal erosion or sea level rise. From next year, the National Parks Board (NParks) will begin […]

China's tutoring ban hits overseas teachers and cultural links

BEIJING (AFP) – Every morning, Sam Josti logged on from her US home to teach children halfway around the world, just one of thousands of foreign language tutors giving Chinese students a rare window into Western culture. But tutors like Massachusetts-based Josti have taken a sharp financial hit after Beijing’s harsh crackdown on extracurricular classes […]

Businesses hit by new Covid-19 curbs to get $650m in govt support, no draw on reserves

SINGAPORE – Businesses such as food and beverage (F&B) outlets and retailers will receive about $650 million in wage subsidies, rental waivers and other forms of support to help them cope with the tightened Covid-19 curbs. The sum will be funded from the higher-than-expected revenues collected by the Government to date, with no further draw […]

1,600 ICU beds for Covid-19 patients, up from the 1,000 planned

SINGAPORE – The authorities plan to have up to 1,600 intensive care unit beds for Covid-19 patients if needed, up from the 1,000 previously planned, as they accelerate the implementation of ramped-up plans as cases surge. This is done “at the expense of some degradation of normal services”, so some elective procedures will have to […]