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  • Malaysia receives medical equipment supply from China

    Malaysia receives medical equipment supply from China

    Malaysia receives medical equipment supply from China 1

    PUTRAJAYA: Backed by a strong relationship between the two countries, China showed its empathy to Malaysia in combating an invisible enemy, Covid-19, by contributing a consignment of medical equipment.

    The consignment consisted of 100,000 units of n-Cov PCR test kits, 100,000 pieces of N95 Medical Protective Face Masks, 500,000 pieces of 3-ply surgical masks, 50,000 sets of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and 200 units of ventilators.

    The consignment was handed over by Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia, Bai Tian to Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, at Wisma Putra here today.

    Hishammuddin expressed Malaysia’s deep appreciation for the invaluable support of the Chinese government which clearly reflected the strong partnership between the two countries.

    “This is an extraordinary contribution by a country to Malaysia, showing the close friendship, solidarity and consideration both Malaysia and China share.

    “To China, it is my promise that Malaysia will make full use of these items and they will be immediately handed over to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) so that our frontliners who have worked tirelessly will be prioritised in their distribution,“ Hishammuddin said at a press conference after the handover ceremony, here today.

    He said, prior to today’s donation, Malaysia had received multiple donations from various provincial governments, non-government organisations, business community and individuals from China.

    Meanwhile, Bai Tian said the Chinese government had paid very special attention when Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Hishammuddin expressed their worries about the lack of medical needs in Malaysia, and had succeeded in raising the most urgently-needed medical materials for this country.

    “As a good neighbour and close friend of Malaysia, China feels how Malaysia feels, because in the past two months, China had also gone through a strenuous battle against Covid-19.

    “The Chinese government and people will never forget how the Malaysian government and people had extended their helping hands during our darkest hours in the battle against Covid-19,“ he said.

    Bai Tian said the batch of medical supplies had arrived in Malaysia, and hoped that these materials would help in the fight of the Malaysian government and people against the epidemic.

    Besides medical supply, Bai Tian said China would also offer the support of a Covid-19 medical expert team from China, which could come here and work hand in hand with their Malaysian colleagues.

    When asked how many and when would the doctors from China arrive here, Bai Tian said it all depended on the request from Malaysia.

    “We want to know the actual need on the ground from the hospitals in Malaysia because we have experts from different areas like infection diseases, respiratory and ICU Cares.

    “We are ready to offer the best practises and knowledge,“ he said. — Bernama

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  • COVID-19: Should Education Hit A Pause Or Are We Just Unprepared In Nigeria? By Olabisi Deji-Folutile

    COVID-19: Should Education Hit A Pause Or Are We Just Unprepared In Nigeria? By Olabisi Deji-Folutile

    Olabisi Deji-Folutile
    Olabisi Deji-Folutile

    COVID-19: Should Education Hit A Pause Or Are We Just Unprepared In Nigeria? By Olabisi Deji-Folutile 3Olabisi Deji-Folutile

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    The world is facing its most trying and unprecedented times as the last few weeks have been most challenging for almost everybody.  What started in Wuhan, China, as an epidemic, has put the entire world in disarray.  Major streets across the globes have become empty. Both the rich and the poor are being ravaged by the plague of COVID-19, which the World Health Organisation has rightly described as a pandemic. Work places have been shut; religious and social gatherings banned and many countries are on total lockdown, in a bid to curb the spread of this viral disease. Expectedly, schools are also affected across board.  Every day people are being told to embrace social distancing and suddenly things like human contacts, hitherto considered as free gifts of life, are becoming very expensive.

    No one knows when this whole chaos will end, so people are making different kinds of adjustments to cope with the situation while it lasts. Many companies have shifted their operations online. Likewise, many schools have opted for e-learning, making use of available technology for teaching and learning.

     Universities around the world are making use of communication technology to ease the effects of the global pandemic on their academic calendars.   In China, universities are going for online teaching instead of in-class teaching; the ones in Australia have moved their classes online just as UK universities have suspended face-to-face teaching.  Turkey started its remote university classes on March 23. In Kenya, universities have activated communication between lecturers and students via social media platforms and emails while classes have gone totally online in the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan.  Teachers in France have been working with their students on Zoom.  

    Just a few days ago, Ghana’s President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, directed the ministry of education to collaborate with the ministry of communications in rolling out open learning programmes in response to the closure of all educational institutions in the country. In the same vein, Mount Kenya University’s Vice-Chancellor Peter Wanderi, has announced the extension of online teaching platforms for regular students to facilitate the learning process.  And to take care of the over six million students that have experienced disruption to their studies, ten North African and 12 Arab countries have begun work on an e-learning initiative to facilitate open and online education.

    These are some of the steps being taken across the globe to bridge the gap created by school closure in the wake of COVID-19.  Unfortunately, while all these activities are going on in other parts of the world, Nigerian government has not said anything about steps being taken to take care of its students’ community.  Rather, the only message from the Federal Government was a total closure of all tertiary institutions and FG-owned unity schools till further notice. A statement issued by the National Universities Commission simply said universities would remain   shut   for one month while the Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, said tertiary institutions would remain shut indefinitely.

     Assuming government has been overwhelmed by the burden of controlling the spread of COVID- 19, hence its silence on options for learning for its teeming student population, one would have expected the higher institutions themselves to at least say something, but as it is, they too are not helping matters. The silence in our universities has been deafening. To worsen the situation, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, decided to choose this time, of all times, to embark on an indefinite strike. One wonders how the academic body   manages to feel comfortable being on a strike at a time when researchers across the globe   are busy looking for solution to a pandemic that is ravaging the entire world.  This kind of action makes one query the essence of having Research and Development as a core component of tertiary education in Nigeria when researchers can be nowhere to be found at a critical time of societal needs.

    By now, our researchers should be adding their voices to the various efforts being made towards developing a vaccine or cure for COVID-19. After all, universities are expected to proffer solutions to societal problems.  This is a wrong time for ASUU to embark on an indefinite strike. This should be a time of strategising and proffering solutions. This is really the time for everyone to get involved. Besides, I think Nigerian universities should also be more forthcoming on their responses to the challenges posed to their students by COVID-19.

    As it is, religious organisations are doing far better in terms of their responses to the effects of this pandemic on their primary constituencies.  Many of them have devised other means of getting the attention of   their members following several government directives prohibiting either gatherings or limiting the number of people allowed to congregate at a time.   Almost all the churches have switched to online platforms for their services.  How come religious organisations are working hard to keep their flocks and both government and higher institutions in Nigeria are just moving on as if all is well?  No word on how to keep the students busy or keep them engaged using available online technology! Should teaching and learning be restricted to the classrooms alone in this 21st century?

     Nigeria has always been described as a religious society. Corona Virus has further exposed the smartness of our religious bodies and the dullness of those in charge of our public educational institutions.  This is not an attempt to blame any religious organisation for having the foresight to deploy technology in reaching their audiences. Instead, it is a wakeup call to managers of our educational institutions to adopt and use available technology to help their students at a time like this.

    Apart from the National Open University of Nigeria, which basically runs online, I doubt if there is any other public university in the country that has capacity for online teaching.  This is in spite of the launch of the Nigerian Communication Satellite known as NIGCOMSAT by the Nigerian Government first in 2007 and then NIGCOMSAT-IR in December 2011, to provide critical ICT backbone infrastructure to support e-learning, among others in the country. 

    What is the essence of investing so much money in a communication satellite if it cannot be deployed at a time of need?   Those in charge of NIGCOMSAT, the commercial arm of Nigeria’s space centre, have consistently claimed that the technology has the capacity to cover the entire Africa.  If that is the case, why is the country still struggling to deploy internet connectivity facilities to its schools to aide e-learning?  If we are truly a serious country, by now, all the schools in urban and rural areas should have been connected to the e-learning services.

    No doubt, COVID-19 has exposed Nigeria’s unpreparedness for e-learning. But, we can’t afford to remain where we are. That is why it is important for every institution to start thinking of how to deploy available technology in the world for the good of their students at this critical period.   Universities should as a matter of urgency migrate online. This shouldn’t be another season of waiting and probably wasting for the Nigerian student.  There is no reason why any higher institution worth its name should suspend all academic activities until the end of Corona Virus with all the available resources and technology in the world today. The minimum expected of them is to upload teaching resources online for students to have access to them.  At least this will give the students the opportunity to learn on their own.

    This is also an opportunity for telecommunications companies like Glo, MTN and the rest of them to make a difference in Nigeria’s educational institutions. They can as part of their corporate social responsibility decide to boost internet facilities in universities and other educational institutions; or provide data at cheaper rates to help poor students have access to the internet for online learning.

    I know there are obvious stumbling blocks to digital learning in Nigeria. Many students don’t even have access to devices while the cost of buying data is still high. These challenges and others have provided    telecommunications companies a huge opportunity of making a difference in Nigerian higher institutions by providing e-learning solutions and broadband connectivity to universities and other higher institutions.

    They can as part of their corporate social responsibility decide to boost internet facilities in universities and other higher institutions; or help poor students who have limited or poor internet access to enhance online learning.

    Olabisi Deji-Folutile is the Editor-in-Chief of Franktalknow.com and member of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. Email: bisideji@yahoo.co.uk

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    COVID-19: Should Education Hit A Pause Or Are We Just Unprepared In Nigeria? By Olabisi Deji-Folutile
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  • Penang govt allocates RM75m to disbursed as aid

    Penang govt allocates RM75m to disbursed as aid

    Penang govt allocates RM75m to disbursed as aid 4

    GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government will allocate up to RM75 million under an initiative to rejuvenate the economy that has been ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic.

    Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (pix) said the money, in the form of financial incentives, will be disbursed in three components.

    The first is directed at those considered most vulnerable. They include hawkers, petty traders, taxi drivers, trishaw peddlers e-hailing drivers, the disabled and those among the low income, or B40, group.

    The second group to benefit from the incentive are the blue collar workers. Chow said the money is meant to help them survive and take care of their families.

    The third component is to help ensure business continuity when the country gets through the crisis.

    Chow, who made the announcement at his daily social media update to the public, said the state government would give a one-off payment of RM500 each to registered petty traders, hawkers, food truck vendors, tour guides, taxi drivers and trishaw peddlers.

    E-hailing drivers will be given RM300 each.

    Those who live in state public housing units will be exempted from paying rent for two months while those who lease lots at the wet markets, food courts and other similar facilities will not have to pay a month’s rent.

    A total of RM3 million from zakat contributions has been set aside to help families of those who have contracted Covid-19.

    Chow said the frontliners from the state’s two city councils will each get RM300 in recognition of their role in helping to curb the spread of the virus.

    Others who will also benefit from the RM300 payout are uniformed personnel serving under the movement control order (MCO) initiative aimed to curtail the growth rate of Covid-19 infections.

    A total of RM10 million has been set aside for the purchase of equipment such as protective suits, surgical masks, hand sanitizers and thermometers.

    Entrepreneurs whose businesses have incurred losses as a result of the MCO will be given interest-free loans under the Penang Business Continuity plan. A total of RM30 million has been allocated for this purpose.

    The 40 state assemblymen will be provided RM30,000 each to finance relief efforts for their constituents affected by the MCO.

    The state will also defer payments for trading lots used by small-scale businesses.

    Penang govt allocates RM75m to disbursed as aid
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    https://www.thesundaily.my/local/penang-govt-allocates-rm75m-to-disbursed-as-aid-BN2179939

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  • Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus

    Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus

     

    Geneva, 23 March 2020: FIFA, the international governing body of football, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have teamed up to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) by launching a new awareness campaign led by world-renowned footballers, who are calling on all people around the world to follow five key steps to stop the spread of the disease. 

    The “Pass the message to kick out coronavirus” campaign promotes five key steps for people to follow to protect their health in line with WHO guidance, focused on hand washing, coughing etiquette, not touching your face, physical distance and staying home if feeling unwell. 

    “FIFA and its President Gianni Infantino have been actively involved in passing the message against this pandemic since the very beginning,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at the virtual launch of the campaign at WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. “Be it through campaigns or funding, FIFA has stood up to the coronavirus, and I am delighted that world football is supporting WHO to kick out the coronavirus. I have no doubt with this type of support that together we will win.” 

    “We need teamwork to combat the coronavirus,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “FIFA has teamed up with WHO because health comes first. I call upon the football community worldwide to join us in supporting this campaign to pass the message even further. Some of the greatest players to have played the beautiful game have put their names to the campaign and are united in their desire to pass the message to kick out COVID-19.”

    Twenty-eight players are involved in the video campaign, which is being published in 13 languages.

    Sami Al Jaber (KSA), Alisson Becker (BRA), Emre Belözoğlu (TUR), Jared Borgetti (MEX), Gianluigi Buffon (ITA), Iker Casillas (ESP), Sunil Chhetri (IND), Youri Djorkaeff (FRA), Han Duan (CHN), Samuel Eto’o (CMR), Radamel Falcao (COL), Laura Georges (FRA), Valeri Karpin (RUS), Miroslav Klose (GER), Philipp Lahm (GER), Gary Lineker (ENG), Carli Lloyd (USA), Lionel Messi (ARG), Mido (EGY), Michael Owen (ENG), Park Ji-sung (KOR) , Carles Puyol (ESP), Célia Šašić (GER), Asako Takakura (JPN), Yaya Touré (CIV), Juan Sebastián Verón (ARG), Sun Wen (CHN) and Xavi Hernández (ESP).

    A video campaign, which will be published on player and FIFA digital channels, is also being provided as individual localized files to the 211 FIFA member associations and media agencies, together with a graphics toolkit for implementation on social media to further pass the message. 

     

    Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus 5

    Hands:

    “It starts with your hands,” says Alisson Becker, WHO Goodwill ambassador for health promotion, Liverpool FC and Brazil goalkeeper, and The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper, 2019. “Please wash your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based solution.”

    Such frequent washing with soap and water, or preferably with an alcohol-based hand solution, kills viruses that may be on your hands. It is simple, but it is very important.

    Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus 6

    Elbows:

    “Cover your nose and mouth with a bent elbow or tissue when you sneeze or cough,” says Carli Lloyd two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup winner from the United States. “Dispose of tissue immediately and wash your hands.”

    Droplets spread the coronavirus. By following respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from contracting viruses, such as cold, flu and coronavirus.

    Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus 7

    Face:

    “Avoid touching your face, particularly your eyes, nose or mouth to prevent the virus from entering your body,” adds FC Barcelona and Argentina forward Lionel Messi, The Best FIFA Men’s Player in 2019, and a multiple FIFA Ballon d’Or winner.

    Hands touch too many surfaces and can quickly pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your face, from where the virus can move inside your body, making you feel unwell.

    Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus 8

    Distance:

    “In terms of social interaction, take a step back,” says Han Duan, who represented China PR 188 times in an international career that spanned 11 years. “Stay at least one metre distance from others.”

    By maintaining such social distancing, you are helping to avoid breathing in any droplets from someone who sneezes or coughs in close proximity.

    Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus 9

    Feel – know your symptoms:

    “If you feel unwell, stay home,” concludes Samuel Eto’o, former FC Barcelona and Cameroon striker, who represented his country 114 times. “Please follow all instructions provided by your local health authorities.”

    If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance.

    Keep informed as local health authorities provide the latest information on the situation in your area. Please follow their specific instructions, and call in advance to allow them to direct you to the appropriate local health facility. This serves to protect you and to help prevent the spread of virus and other infections.

    FIFA have also pledged $10 million to support the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO.

    For more information, please consult @WHO and follow the latest information online. 

     

     

    Pass the message: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus
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  • Armed Forces will help police strengthen their operations: IGP

    Armed Forces will help police strengthen their operations: IGP

    Armed Forces will help police strengthen their operations: IGP 10

    KUALA LUMPUR: The involvement of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) to assist the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) to enforce the Movement Control Order (MCO) beginning Sunday will make police operations more organised and strengthened.

    Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador (pix) said the police welcomed the assistance from the MAF to ensure people’s compliance with the order.

    “RMP and MAF need to stay united in this important mission (to ensure people’s compliance with MCO to prevent the spread of COVID-19) as the military has been helping the police in dealing with floods and terrorism,” he told Bernama.

    Today, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said military service would begin this Sunday to help police monitor MCO compliance and that the people were staying put at homes in an effort to contain Covid-19.

    On March 16, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that the MCO would be enforced from March 18 to 31 to curb the spread of Covid-19. — Bernama

    Armed Forces will help police strengthen their operations: IGP
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  • PKR offers free delivery of essential items in 3 constituencies

    PKR offers free delivery of essential items in 3 constituencies

    PKR offers free delivery of essential items in 3 constituencies 11

    PETALING JAYA: In the spirit of helping people, Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar (pix) is offering free delivery services to help the aged and those in need.

    The free delivery of essential items, food and medicine during the 14-day Movement Control Order runs from 6pm to 10pm.

    The service will be available in the Setiawangsa area (Kuala Lumpur), Balik Pulau (Penang) and in her constituency, Permatang Pauh.

    “The response has been encouraging and they been receiving numerous calls, especially from those requesting for face masks,” Nurul said.

    “The team takes between five and 15 minutes to deliver the items. The teams are stationed at various state assembly constituencies and are manned by our members and volunteers.”

    She added that other PKR MPs are also providing such a service in their constituency.

    The assistance programme is led by Penang PKR youth chief, Fahmi Zainol and each area has three to five personnel.

    “I decided on this initiative to assist the aged, less abled and those dependent on welfare aid as many of them were unable to cope with such a crisis.

    “Many are in urgent need of assistance and support. As a time like this, we need to work together at all levels to ensure everyone is taken care of,“ Nurul said.

    She added that she was also receiving help from others, including welfare-based non-governmental organisations to make the make the programme a success.

    She added that they are also making deliveries to hospitals and police stations.

    PKR offers free delivery of essential items in 3 constituencies
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    https://www.thesundaily.my/local/pkr-offers-free-delivery-of-essential-items-in-3-constituencies-FD2151766

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  • Stanford engineers create shape-changing, free-roaming soft robot

    Stanford engineers create shape-changing, free-roaming soft robot

    Advances in soft robotics could someday allow robots to work alongside humans, helping them lift heavy objects or carrying them out of danger. As a step toward that future, Stanford University researchers have developed a new kind of soft robot that, by borrowing features from traditional robotics, is safe while still retaining the ability to move and change shape.

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    https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-stanford-shape-changing-free-roaming-soft-robot.html

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  • Webcast replay: Year-end is approaching. What our advisors want you to know

    Webcast replay: Year-end is approaching. What our advisors want you to know

    In this webcast replay, senior financial advisors Jessica McBride and Chuck Riley explain their approach to helping Vanguard Personal Advisor Services® clients year-round and answer questions from viewers on topics such as market volatility, tax efficiency, charitable giving, and spending in retirement.
    Webcast replay: Year-end is approaching. What our advisors want you to know
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    https://investornews.vanguard/year-end-is-approaching-what-our-advisors-want-you-to-know/

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  • Robots popular with older adults

    Robots popular with older adults

    A world without robots is now almost inconceivable. Not only do they take on important tasks in production processes, they are also increasingly being used in the service sector. For example, machines created to resemble humans—known as androids—are helping to care for elderly people. However, this development conflicts with the preconception that senior citizens are rather hostile to technology and would be skeptical about a robot. A study by psychologists of Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany suggests, however, that older people are far less anxious and hostile regarding such ‘human robots’ than previously thought.

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