Singapore tightens rules for maritime sector after detection of new Covid cases
Shore-based personnel in the maritime sector who plan to go on board ships will need to take Covid-19 pre-departure test by Jan. 8, according to a joint statement from the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore, Singapore Economic Development Board, Enterprise Singapore and the Ministry of Health.
By Bloomberg| Posted by: Harshit Sabarwal
UPDATED ON JAN 03, 2021 10:22 AM IST
Singapore strengthened regulations for workers in the maritime industry after two more Covid-19 cases were found in the last two days of December.
Shore-based personnel in the maritime sector who plan to go on board ships will need to take Covid-19 pre-departure test by Jan. 8, according to a joint statement from the Maritime Port Authority of Singapore, Singapore Economic Development Board, Enterprise Singapore and the Ministry of Health. This will apply to more than 20,000 workers, the statement said.
Routine testing will also be made more frequent, with workers now to be tested every seven days instead of every 14. Those who don’t follow these rules won’t be allowed to board ships for work.
“Individuals and companies which are found to have violated these measures will be taken to task,” according to the statement. “Agencies will also review the need to enhance PPE and infection control measures in the sector.”
A marine surveyor and a harbor pilot tested positive for coronavirus on Dec. 30 and 31, respectively, prompting the authorities to take steps to introduce the additional tightening measures. This followed a marine service engineer testing positive on Nov. 26.
Topics
Biden admin will engage the world 'as it is', not 'as it was': Antony Blinken
PTI, Washington
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 06:43 PM IST
Blinken in his prepared testimony to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations ahead of his confirmation hearing also did not rule out a military intervention overseas if the lives of Americans were at stake.
Snowstorm causes 134-car pile-up on Japanese highway, 1 dead
Reuters
UPDATED ON JAN 19, 2021 06:44 PM IST
Authorities had imposed a speed limit of 50 kph (31 mph) when heavy snow cut visibility but that was not enough to prevent disaster.
European countries struggle to make most of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine doses
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 06:35 PM IST
Officials and healthcare professionals in France, Germany and Switzerland all pointed to yields short of six doses, adding to frustrations in countries already lagging vaccination campaigns in nations such as Britain and the United States.
'One village, one policy': China keeps it local to battle Covid wave
Reuters
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 06:34 PM IST
Addressing new clusters in Hebei and elsewhere, the National Health Commission (NHC) said last week that local officials needed to be on their guard and avoid "one size fits all" solutions.
China gives no return date for Indian students stranded home
By Sutirtho Patranbois , edited by Vinod Janardhanan
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 06:33 PM IST
More than 23,000 Indians study in China. All but a handful had returned in a staggered manner in 2020 following the Covid-19 outbreak in China but are now stranded in their home country because Beijing has banned foreign students from returning to universities.
Biden inauguration day: 3 Democrats to take Senate oath on January 20
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 06:33 PM IST
The three new Democrats leave the Senate split 50-50 between Republicans and the Democratic caucus.
Taliban attacks, violence kills dozens: Afghan officials
PTI, Kabul
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 06:16 PM IST
A statement from the defence ministry said four army soldiers were killed late Monday night in Taliban attacks on checkpoints in Kunduz province.
EU slams Bosnia for failing to properly care for migrants
AP
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 06:15 PM IST
Bosnia has faced sharp criticism for leaving around 1,000 people without shelter after a fire gutted the makeshift Lipa refugee camp near the northwest border with EU-member Croatia just before Christmas.
From Neera Tanden to Vivek Murthy: Indian Americans in Joe Biden's administratio
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Mallika Soni
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 06:04 PM IST
Here’s a look at the Indian Americans set to be part of the Biden administration
Keystone XL pipeline: Why has Biden planned to cancel disputed Canada project
By hindustantimes.com | Edited by Kunal Gaurav
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 05:52 PM IST
Keystone XL pipeline was aimed to cut short the distance between Alberta’s oil sands and the Gulf of Mexico, where most of North America’s refineries are situated.
California sheriff's deputy, driver dead following shootout
AP
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 04:31 PM IST
The shooting followed an attempted traffic stop and the driver ended up crashing on the Cal Expo grounds.
'Our return is inevitable': Parler CEO after app reappears
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 04:16 PM IST
“Our return is inevitable due to hard work, and persistence against all odds,” CEO John Matze wrote in a new post. “Despite the threats and harassment not one Parler employee has quit. We are becoming closer and stronger as a team.”
Concerns grow over future of pandemic hit Eurostar rail service linking UK, EU
AP
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 04:16 PM IST
Passenger numbers on the cross-Channel train service - which reaches UK, France, Belgium and Holland - have been down 95% since March and are currently believed to be less than 1% of pre-pandemic levels.
Kremlin says unfazed by calls for sanctions over Navalny's detention
Reuters, Moscow
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 04:14 PM IST
Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have said they want European Union foreign ministers to discuss sanctions against Russia over its handling of the case.
Italian PM Conte appeals to Senate for government’s survival
Bloomberg
PUBLISHED ON JAN 19, 2021 04:10 PM IST
Fresh from winning a majority in the lower house Monday night, Conte needs the support of the Senate after junior ally and ex-premier Matteo Renzi abandoned his coalition in a clash over European Union recovery funds.