Businesses, individuals with land, and local governments are competing to host an underground nuclear waste facility in the UK, and receive a yearly £2.5 million incentive
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Move over Martians, Earth has already been invaded by little green aliens, but how did parakeets become one of the most successful invasive species ever?
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MALACCA: The Malacca Zoo has created a special fund for donations to help pay for food supplies during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
President of the Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council (MPHTJ) Shadan Othman said the Malacca Zoo Donation Fund was launched on April 4 and has so far collected about RM6,000.
“The MCO period has been challenging for us to manage Malacca Zoo as it is not open to visitors in order to protect public safety and that of the animals, whereas part of its income is derived from ticket sales.
“Just for food alone, we need RM180,000 a day for 650 animals,….., we hope the public can contribute to the zoo through this fund,” he told reporters after visiting the zoo here today.
Also present were director of Malacca Zoo and Bird Park, Zanariah Khamis, and head of the zoology department, Azman Ghazali.
Shadan said the public who want to contribute to the fund can do so through the Zoo Malacca CIMB account, with the name Zoo MPHTJ and account number 8009600869.
He also urged private companies, government bodies and private individuals to adopt the animals in the zoo so that they get adequate supply of food and medicine, and are properly managed.
He said even during the MCO period, the zoo is managed as usual while the sanitisation and cleansing processes are conducted every three to four days.
The Malacca Zoo, which has 32 zoo keepers, was started in 1963 and is the second largest zoo in the country, with about 650 animals of 150 species from around the world.
It is also a conservation, research and educational centre. — Bernama
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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/mco-malacca-zoo-creates-fund-for-food-supply-AX2246002
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GENEVA: World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned here on Friday that lifting restrictions “too quickly” could lead to a deadly resurgence of Covid-19, Xinhua news agency reported.
Noting at a regular press briefing that “some countries are already planning the transition out of stay-at-home restrictions,“ the WHO chief warned that lifting restrictions too quickly could lead to a deadly resurgence.
“The way down can be as dangerous as the way up if not managed properly,“ he said, underlining that the WHO is working with affected countries on strategies for gradually and safely easing restrictions.
Some European countries are already considering relaxing their restriction measures as they see a slowing trend in the number of Covid-19 infections.
Austria, for instance, aims to gradually ease the exit restrictions and reopen shops and businesses from mid-April. Switzerland also suggested “the first relaxations” by the end of April.
The WHO chief stressed that decision of lifting restrictions should be made on the condition that transmission is controlled; that sufficient public health and medical services are available; that outbreak risks in special settings like long-term care facilities are minimised; that preventive measures are in place in workplaces, schools and other places where it’s essential for people to go; that importation risks can be managed; and that communities are fully aware and engaged in the transition.
Globally, nearly 1.5 million confirmed cases of Covid-19 have now been reported to the WHO, as well as more than 92,000 deaths. — Bernama
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https://www.thesundaily.my/world/lifting-restrictions-too-quickly-could-lead-to-deadly-resurgence-of-covid-19-who-IB2245956
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MANILA: Two offshore earthquakes with a magnitude 6 and a magnitude 5.5 respectively rattled the Philippines early on Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported according to the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology (Phivolcs).
One earthquake with a magnitude of 6.0 jolted Batanes province in the northern Philippines at 12.44am about 37km northeast of Basco town. It hit at a depth of 167km, the institute said.
Batanes is the northernmost archipelagic province in the country.
The second earthquake, with a magnitude of 5.5, was recorded at 2.45am about 141km southeast of Jose Abad Santos town in Davao Occidental province in the southern Philippines with a depth of 52km, the institute said.
The institute said both tremors, which were tectonic in origin, will not cause any significant damage. However, it said the quakes can trigger aftershocks.
The Philippines has frequent seismic activity due to its location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire.” — Bernama
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https://www.thesundaily.my/world/two-offshore-earthquakes-rattle-philippines-GB2245932
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA) is advising the public to be cautious in buying and selling properties during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period to avoid falling prey to scams.
MIEA noted that amid the MCO, the majority of Malaysians who are keen to buy or sell property will be relying on online platforms.
“Be extra vigilant as there are still a high number of cases where the general public has fallen prey to these property pitfalls,” it said yesterday.
MIEA president Lim Boon Ping highlighted that registered estate agents (REA) and negotiators (REN) are recognised as professionals under Malaysian law and that there are firm requirements that need to be adhered to when publishing an advertisement in order to protect the public’s interest.
Among others, they are required to include their name, REN/REA number, contact number and the real estate firm they represent with its E registration number and the firm’s telephone number, which the public can verify on www.lppeh.gov.my.
“There will a sudden surge on online and offline advertisement by those illegal brokers who will take advantage on the Covid-19 rise in low priced property deals and these advertisements will not contain the before-mentioned authenticity information and the public should avoid calling them,“ warned Lim.
He reminded that if one sees an advertisement or a property deal that looks “too good to be true”, be extra cautious and do your research”.
“Always engage a registered estate agent or a certified negotiator to verify these potential property deals,“ added Lim. — Bernama
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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/miea-warns-public-to-beware-of-property-scams-AB2245651
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Palm Oil Association (MPOA) and the Malaysian Estate Owners Association (MEOA) have been diligently engaging with the relevant authorities in Sabah and putting relevant measures to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the palm oil supply chain.
In a joint statement yesterday, both associations said they were also grateful to the chief minister and state government for granting the palm oil supply chain the approval to resume operations in the affected six districts.
“We are very grateful the authorities were able to appreciate the overall situation in assessing the risks pertaining to the Covid-19 and the oil palm plantation sector and approve the lifting of the shutdown,“ the statement said.
It said both association were also appreciative of the open networking and effective engagement with the local plantation association, namely the East Malaysian Planters Association (EMPA), that led to the lifting of the shutdown.
It added that the associations and its members would adhere strictly to the conditions set and would continue to engage and support the diligent measures taken by the state and relevant authorities to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Sabah.
Meanwhile, Sime Darby Plantation Bhd (SDP) in a separate statement thanked the Sabah state government on its latest decision to allow oil palm estates and mills in Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Semporna, Kunak and Kalabakan to resume operations.
“We welcome this carefully measured decision which balances the need to control the spread of the Covid-19 virus whilst allowing an industry deemed essential by the National Security Council (NSC) to continue being productive,“ it said.
SDP said it was committed to continue working with the authorities to ensure strict compliance to the operating conditions and guidelines of the state health department.
“This has been our commitment for all our operations throughout the country since the commencement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) and we will continue to fulfill this commitment to mitigate any risks to the safety and health of our workers,“ it said.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal yesterday allowed oil palm supply chain in Tawau, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Semporna, Kunak and Kalabakan to resume operations if they had no positive virus cases, no persons under investigation for COVID-19 and no workers had had close contact with positive or suspected cases.
However, all the re-opened oil palm operations must abide with the strict adherence to the guidelines prepared by the state health ministry. — Bernama
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KUALA LUMPUR: The National Chamber Of Commerce And Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM) urges all companies and industries that are allowed to operate in stages during the Movement Control Order (MCO) period to fully comply with the standard operating procedure and guidelines to ensure public health is not compromised.
The chamber said the government’s protection/prevention measures and MCO had managed to prevent exponential increase in new infected cases and deaths from Covid-19.
“But complacency must not be allowed to set in. The war against Covid-19 is not over,” stressed its president Tan Sri Ter Leong Yap in a statement.
He lauded the government’s decision to extend the MCO for another two weeks, from April 15 to April 28, 2020.
NCCIM believes the government had weighed all aspects in deciding to extend the MCO and through a special cabinet taskforce, review and consider allowing selected industries to resume their operations in stages albeit under strict compliance of standard operating procedures.
“We are grateful that the government and relevant ministries have taken into consideration NCCIM’s suggestions about the MCO approach in balancing macro and micro elements of the business ecosystem and public health in ensuring the best interest of the nation, survival of businesses, welfare of workers, and the livelihood of citizens,” said Ter.
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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/mco-companies-given-permission-to-operate-told-to-adhere-to-guidelines-CB2245631
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KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) will strengthen and tighten the country’s border controls during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
The Chief of Defence Force Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang (pix) said MAF would always take various factors into consideration in drafting the country’s strategic defence plans to cover any situation, especially since Malaysia was facing the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said they even looked into various possibilities, especially in anticipating the action of foreigners entering Malaysia illegally by using ‘rat lanes’.
“This in turn could have an impact on the rise of Covid-19 cases. While the MCO and enhanced MCO (EMCO) are being implemented, domestic operations will continue as usual.
“The MAF collaborates with the Royal Malaysia Police, especially the General Operations Force as well as other security agencies, to not only carry out border controls in Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia but also the nation’s maritime borders,” he said yesterday.
Affendi said that with the latest directive as contained in Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s special message today, MAF would further strengthen every land, sea and air control to be at the highest level.
Muhyiddin, in his message, directed the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador; MAF chiefs; Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) director-general Maritime Admiral Datuk Mohd Zubil Mat Som; Immigration Department; People’s Volunteers Corps (RELA) and other relevant agencies to tighten controls along the country’s borders.
The Prime Minister said this was to avoid the possibility of illegal immigrants entering through ‘rat lanes’ and bringing the virus into the country. — Bernama
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KOTA BARU: Nine men were apprehended by a team from the Kelantan Forestry Department after they were believed to be carrying out mining works at the Lebir Forest Reserve in Gua Musang despite the ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO) by the government.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Hasanuddin Hassan said all of them aged between 21 and 52 were arrested during the raid carried out at 12.30pm on Thursday.
“The Kelantan Forestry Department also seized four four-wheel drives, three motorcycles, chain saws, three drillers, soil samples, generators and various species of wildlife.
“The raiding team subsequently lodged a police report at the Kuala Krai District Police Headquarters at 9am yesterday,“ he said.
Hasanuddin said based on the report received, the suspects were not at the kongsi house when the raiding party reached the premises at 12.30pm, but were believed to have returned from carrying out their activities between 2.30pm and 3.30pm.
“When questioned, they failed to produce any documentation for the work carried out, and had to be detained.
“Checks at the premises also found various wildlife species kept there, including birds, jungle fowl, and a slow loris,“ he said.
He said all the suspects, who were locals, had been found to be in violation of the MCO under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 and the Police Act 1967.
They were also alleged to have trespassed into a forest reserve to carry out works in a prohibited area under the National Forestry Act 1984.
Hasanuddin said all the suspects were released on police bail today. — Bernama
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https://www.thesundaily.my/local/nine-men-arrested-over-alleged-mining-activities-JB2245586
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