The Ministry of Education (MoE) in collaboration with Datastream Digital Sdn Bhd (DST), Progresif Sdn Bhd and Mach Telecommunications Systems Sdn Bhd (MachTel) will offer short messaging service (SMS) for the examination results for BC GCE ‘A’ Level October/November 2021.
Parents and students planning to subscribe can register via SMS by typing: MOEREG[CENTRE CODE][CANDIDATE NUMBER][CANDIDATE IC NO] and send to 8885555 for DST subscribers or 38666 for Progresif subscribers.
Parents and students can subscribe to the service as of today. BND3 will be charged for each SMS result received.
Examination results will only be sent upon approval from the Department of Examinations, Ministry of Education.
For information and inquiries, email moeresults@machbrunei.com or visit https://www.machbrunei.com/moe/.
BRUNEI QAF Auto, the sole importer and distributor of BMW vehicles in Brunei yesterday signed an agreement with Essof Enterprise appointing SONAX as QAF Auto’s in-house professional detailing centre.
Signing on behalf of QAF Auto was its General Manager Alisa Khoo, while Essof Enterprise was represented by its Managing Director Mike Chua during a ceremony at QAF Auto in Beribi.
The operations began in December last year while renovations of the in-house detailing centre will begin tentatively in February.
Alisa Khoo said, “We are delighted to have been able to officially seal this partnership.
We are convinced of the high quality and performance of SONAX products for our customers’ cars. This is also part of our effort to exceed our customers’ expectation in quality, service and value.”
According to Alisa Khoo, the partnership also marked the recently refurbished showroom and BMW Service and Aftersales facility.
SONAX In-house Detailing Centre will provide a full range of detailing services to QAF Auto customers such as basic car wash, interior cleaning, wax to polish and coating with quality products and services that can deliver utmost quality satisfaction of the customers’ vehicles’ aesthetic look and protection, with their market leader in car care and multiple award winning products in Germany.
“SONAX Brunei looks forward to working closely with QAF Auto’s premium auto representation in Brunei namely BMW and MINI, as its the ideal step by combining both German brands together to serve the consumer market,” said Mike Chua.
ABOVE & BELOW: QAF Auto General Manager Alisa Khoo and Essof Enterprise Managing Director Mike Chua sign the agreement; and QAF Auto’s in-house professional detailing centre expected to be ready by next month. PHOTOS: QAF AUTO
Five ‘kidpreneurs’ were awarded for achieving top sales at the culmination of The Kasturi Stand, an entrepreneurship mentoring programme for children aged seven to 12, organised by BIBD as part of its 90 Days of Community initiative to highlight local creative businesses and provide an opportunity for new creative enterprises to become part of the local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) ecosystem.
Throughout December, participants enrolled in online workshops facilitated by local industry mentors on ideation, product development, sustainability and marketing.
At the end of the programme, participants were given the opportunity to set up their own online business on the Community for Brunei Virtual Marketplace.
BIBD’s Chief Marketing Officer Hajah Nurul Akmar binti Haji Mohd Jaafar said, “We are extremely proud of our young entrepreneurs for the commitment, dedication and confidence.
The Kasturi Stand is intended to be a fun yet meaningful way of instilling a spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship at any early age, and giving young budding entrepreneurs the support they need to help them realise their dreams of owning a micro business. We hope that The Kasturi Stand will be a starting point for our kidrepreneurs, and that they will continue on their business journey.”
Amalia’s Desserts by Amalia Maisarah binti Haji Shayfol Khairin; Epic Surprise Box by Ethan Han; Kayli’s Krafts by Lai Kayli; Aleenas Cookies by Dayangku Amanda Aleena binti Pengiran Saiful Ismail; and Rad Cactus Co by Rania Aleesya Sateria, Rayyan Ar-Rasyid and Md Amir Fuad bin Jofri were each awarded a BND200 kickstarter fund for achieving top sales in their online businesses.
BIBD is also organising a 10-part series of industry-specific talks and networking forums to help established businesses recover sustainability after the challenges of the previous year. Session 2 of the BIBD SME360 Series, focussing on the retail industry, will begin on January 25.
Hasrul bin Haji Damit drove home a brand new Toyota Fortuner at the Takaful Brunei Mobile One Year Anniversary 2021 Grand Draw ceremony at the Indera Samudera Hall of the Empire Hotel Brunei in Jerudong yesterday.
The event saw 11 grand draw finalists vying for the grand prize of the Fortuner.
Despite losing the opportunity in being the first to pick the winning card in a puzzle game with another finalist, Hasrul expressed his gratitude to Allah the Almighty for the rezeki to win a brand new car.
Hasrul said he has been using Takaful Brunei insurance services for the past 20 years for all his cars.
“With Takaful’s Sanang Manang 2 promotion launched today, I hope it will draw more attraction particularly among my family members, friends and colleagues to join the draw and use the excellent and professional services offered by Takaful. My win today is proof that anybody can be a winner.”
Loyal TBA customer Hasrul bin Haji Damit won a brand new Toyota Fortuner at the Takaful Brunei Mobile One Year Anniversary 2021 Grand Draw yesterday. According to Hasrul, he has been using Takaful Brunei insurance services for the past 20 years for all his cars.Takaful Brunei Darussalam’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Haji Shahrildin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Lela Utama Dato Paduka Haji Jaya with winners Hasrul bin Haji Damit and Rosita binti Idris. PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR
Rosita binti Idris, meanwhile, picked the other card and received BND5,000 as the first prize winner for the anniversary promotion.
Second prize winner Yong Pian Huat won BND2,500 and Dayangku Mas Juleana binti Pengiran Abdul Rahman took home BND1,000 cash as the third place winner.
The other winners won BND500 each.
Takaful Brunei Darussalam’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Haji Shahrildin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Lela Utama Dato Paduka Haji Jaya presented the prizes to winners.
Customers who purchased any Takaful Brunei products through the Takaful Brunei Mobile app and through the TBA Call Centre with a minimum contribution of BND50 from July 1, 2021 until December 31, 2021 were eligible for the promotion.
Yesterday’s event was held in compliance with the public health measures to prevent the COVID-19 spread.
Following the prize presentation, Takaful Brunei also launched its next promotion ‘Sanang Manang 2’ offering over BND250,000 worth of prizes.
Brunei Darussalam detected 44 new COVID-19 cases which included 31 local and 13 imported cases yesterday. This brings the cumulative COVID-19 cases in the Sultanate to 16,066.
The update was released by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in a statement.
The new cases were detected through 2,333 laboratory tests carried out in the last 24 hours showing an infection rate of 1.9 per cent.
Fifty cases have recovered, bringing the number of recoveries to 15,600. The country currently has 364 active cases.
The bed occupancy rate at isolation centres nationwide is 8.9 per cent while there are no cases under Category 4 and 5.
As of January 19, 94.7 per cent of the Brunei population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 93.9 per cent two shots and 36 per cent three jabs.
No violations were detected during the movement restriction on Thursday from midnight to 4am.
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA (AP) – Australia yesterday reported its deadliest day of the pandemic with 80 coronavirus fatalities, as an outbreak of the Omicron variant continued to take a toll.
But, Premier of the most populous state, New South Wales Dominic Perrottet said a slight decrease in hospitalisations gave him some hope about the strain the outbreak is putting on the health system.
The previous record of 78 deaths was set on Tuesday. There have been just under 3,000 coronavirus deaths in Australia since the pandemic began.
New South Wales, home to Sydney, reported a record 46 deaths. They included a baby who died from COVID-19 in December, one of several historical cases that were investigated.
The news came after the Premier of Western Australia state Mark McGowan backed down on a promise to re-open the state to the rest of the country on February 5.
In a late-night news conference on Thursday, McGowan said re-opening the state as planned would be “reckless and irresponsible” given the large number of COVID-19 cases in other states. No new date has been set for when the state might relax its border closure.
Traffic marshals direct vehicles at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinic at Bondi Beach in Sydney. PHOTO: AP
The road along Simpang 265 and Simpang 265-33 of Jalan Jerudong is partially closed until March 16.
According to the Public Works Department (JKR), the temporary partial closure is to allow for elevation works and installation of culvert drains, subject to weather conditions. The department reminded road users to be extra careful when passing the area as well as comply with traffic signs and follow speed limit.
Members of the public can contact the department via Darussalam line at 123, live chat at 8333123 or e-mail to pro@pwd.gov.bn for any complaints.
KUNMING (XINHUA) – Six new baby Asian elephants have been spotted in succession recently in the Wild Elephant Valley in southwest China’s Yunnan Province, showing that the endangered animal’s population is growing steadily in China.
The six elephant calves belong to four herds that have been frequently spotted in the valley recently, and they are expected to stay there for some time, said Bao Mingwei, a vet at the valley which is located in the Xishuangbanna national nature reserve.
January to April is the peak time for wild Asian elephant births and sightings in the Wild Elephant Valley, according to Bao. Wild Asian elephants are under A-level state protection in China. Thanks to protection efforts over the past 30 years, their population in the country has grown to about 300, mostly in Yunnan.
The Wild Elephant Valley also serves as the only scenic spot in China where tourists can see wild Asian elephants up close without disturbing the creatures. Over the past two years, about 100 wild elephants have been spotted by staff in the valley.
A wild Asian elephant calf is seen at the Wild Elephant Valley in the Xishuangbanna national nature reserve, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. PHOTO: XINHUA
Han Him Kwang, a 68-year-old permanent resident received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Monday, thanks to the Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic for patients with limited mobility or are bedridden.
Residing in Kampong Sungai Akar, Mukim Berakas ‘B’, Han is categorised as a person with special abilities and going to the vaccination clinic was a challenge.
After the vaccination, Han did not show any side effects.
His family members expressed gratitude to the village head and the government, especially the Ministry of Health for the Mobile COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic.
They urged the public to get vaccinated to help reduce the risk of getting severely ill or death if infected by COVID-19.
Han Him Kwang getting his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine. PHOTO: JAMES KON
TOKYO (AP) – Restaurants will close early in Tokyo and a dozen other areas across Japan beginning yesterday as the country widens COVID-19 restrictions due to the Omicron variant, which has caused cases to surge to new highs in metropolitan areas.
The restraint, which is something of a pre-state of emergency, is the first since September and is scheduled to last through February 13. With three other prefectures – Okinawa, Hiroshima and Yamaguchi – under similar measures since early January, the state of restraint now covers 16 areas, or one-third of the country.
While many Japanese adults are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, few have gotten a booster shot, which has been a vital protection from the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus.
The Health Ministry yesterday approved Pfizer vaccinations for children aged five to 11, who are increasingly vulnerable to infection.
Throughout the pandemic, Japan has resisted the use of lockdowns to limit the spread of the virus and has focussed on requiring eateries to close early, and on urging the public to wear masks and practice social distancing, as the government seeks to minimise damage to the economy.
Under the latest measures, most eateries are asked to close by 8pm or 9pm, while large events can allow full capacity if they have anti-virus plans. In Tokyo, certified eateries can stay open until 9pm.
Restaurants that close at 9pm receive JPY30,000 per day in government compensation, while those that close at 8pm get JPY25,000 per day.
Critics said the measures, which almost exclusively target restaurants, make little sense and are unfair.
Some experts question the effectiveness of placing restraints only on eateries, noting that infections show no signs of slowing in the three prefectures that have already been subjected to the measures for nearly two weeks.
People walk along a pedestrian crossing in Tokyo. PHOTO: AP
