Izah Azahari
Enforcement personnel detected five violations during the movement restriction order from midnight to 4am yesterday, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar said at the daily press conference yesterday.
The minister shared that Zainor Arif bin Zaini, Md Mui’z bin Ismail, Md Afiqe’n bin Karim, Ngulele Albert Happy and Gopu Selvaraj violated the stay-at-home directive.
The violations were found in Brunei-Muara District.
LONDON (AP) – The head of a ferry operator at the centre of a bitter labour dispute stunned United Kingdom (UK) lawmakers on Thursday when he acknowledged that the company chose to ignore the law and labour contracts when it fired 786 workers without consulting with them in advance.
P&O Ferries Chief Executive Peter Hebblethwaite said while under intense questioning from members of a parliamentary committee that the company decided not to discuss its plans with workers because it knew labour unions would never agree. Lawmakers repeatedly characterised the move as a willful decision to break the law.
The company dismissed the workers as part of a cost-cutting plan it said was necessary to save the business and 2,200 other jobs. The fired seafarers are to be replaced by cheaper staff provided by a third-party crew provider.
“There is absolutely no doubt that we we were required to consult with the unions,” Hebblethwaite said. “We chose not to consult and we… will compensate everybody in full for that.”
The cuts – which came after P&O received millions of pounds of British government aid during the COVID-19 pandemic – have caused outrage and sparked protests by trade unions at UK ports. P&O cancelled all services between Britain, Ireland and continental Europe after last week’s announcement, disrupting the movement of travellers and goods. Unions representing the dismissed workers said P&O is paying new crew members provided by Malta-based International Ferry Management Ltd the equivalent of GBP1.81 (USD2.38) an hour. Britain’s current minimum wage is GBP8.91.
Trade unions have long objected to “fire and rehire” plans in which companies cut costs by firing workers then re-hiring them under less generous terms. Under British labour law, such extreme action is only meant to occur after extensive consultations with employees and unions.
P&O’s decision to ignore those rules prompted scathing questions from members of the British Parliament committee. Huw Merriman, a Member of Parliament from the governing Conservative Party, said Hebblethwaite should “consider his position”.
“It is untenable to come to Parliament to say you have decided to break the law, you have no regrets,” Merriman told the BBC. “We can’t have companies run by people like that, so he needs to hand his card in.”
Hebblethwaite said P&O has lost hundreds of millions of dollars over the past two years and it needed to change its business model to survive. When asked whether the company could survive the reputational damage from its recent actions, he acknowledged it would be difficult.
Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng last week warned P&O that the company could face unlimited fines and other penalties if it was found to have violated laws requiring it to notify the government in advance before any large-scale firings.
P&O responded by saying the company didn’t believe it had violated the law because all the ships on which the crew members worked were registered outside the UK.
BRUSSELS (AP) – President Vladimir Putin’s threat to have “unfriendly” countries pay for Russian natural gas exports only in rubles from now on got the not-so-friendly treatment from European Union (EU) nations on Thursday.
“I don’t think anybody in Europe really know how rubles look like,” said Slovene Prime Minister Janez Jansa. “Nobody will pay in rubles.”
If others put it less bluntly, it came down to the same – from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who as former chief of the European Central Bank, knows something about currencies.
Early this week, Putin launched the idea that because of Western sanctions targetting the Kremlin and freezing Russian assets, they were “effectively drawing a line over reliability of their currencies, undermining the trust for those currencies”.
So instead of euros and dollars, Putin wants Russian rubles for Russian gas.
Economists said the move appeared designed to try to support the ruble, which has collapsed against other currencies since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and Western countries responded with far-reaching sanctions against Moscow.
Making such demands though, would fundamentally change contracts and render them null and void, several European leaders said during the first day of their EU summit. “What we have learned so far boils down to the fact that there are fixed contracts everywhere, where the currency in which payment is made is also part of the contract,” said Scholz. “Those are the starting points that we have to work from.”
Draghi simply said that if Putin pushed through the plan, “we consider it a violation of existing contracts”. And considering the skyrocketing prices for gas, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo even saw possibilities in the proposal, though not the kind Moscow intended.
“In any case, if one element of a contract is changed, than we can talk about a whole range of issues, including the price,” De Croo said.
With the ruble in trouble because of the stringent economic sanctions, Putin would use any financial lift he can find. He instructed the country’s central bank to work out a procedure for natural gas buyers to acquire rubles in Russia.
But some analysts expressed doubt that it would work.
FALL RIVER, MASSACHUSETTS (AP) – A Massachusetts man said he has the answer for those singing the blues about stratospheric gas prices.
Rick Madeira, of Fall River, has taken to riding his electric unicycle to work, saving on gas and cutting his commute time in the process.
“It’s just more convenient and it’s obviously more fun,” he told The Herald News.
Madeira’s Gotway Nikola Plus, with no seat or handle bars, just places for his feet, can go 113 or 129 kilometres on one charge and reaches speeds of up to 64 kph, although he rarely goes that fast.
“It literally takes me four minutes to get to work, versus about eight minutes in a vehicle,” he said.
He’s allowed to ride on the sidewalk, but usually sticks to the road, keeping to the shoulder when possible. He can also move to the front of the line at red lights, like cyclists, he said.
His advice to those interested in buying an electric unicycle, which sell for more than USD2,000: wear protective and reflective gear, and be respectful of pedestrians.
“It’s the future. In 10 or 20 years, I’m sure I won’t even have to bring it up,” he said.
Izah Azahari
Bedah Karya project is hoped to be a platform for literary discussion and study from researchers, scholars as well as students of higher learning institutions, said Language and Literature Bureau (DBP) Acting Director Suip bin Haji Abdul Wahab.
The project’s implementation has become one of the ways to trace the value of literary works from local writers and further provide a deeper understanding, he said during the virtual Pantaran Sastera, DBP 2022: Bedah Karya, organised by DBP Literature and Magazine Division on Thursday via Zoom and DBP Facebook page.
The acting director said the evaluation and discussion of a work will indirectly help participants to develop their writing skills and in turn improve their quality.
“The high value of a work produced represents the authority of a writer’s thinking. DBP will continue to hold the Bedah Karya project to explore the thoughts and minds of the country’s writers who have received recognition and appreciation at home and abroad, as well as established prolific and young writers”.
Acting Permanent Secretary (Strategy and Policy Management) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Dr Siti Norkhalbi binti Haji Wahsalfelah was present, with some 150 participating including recipients of the Southeast Asian Writers’ Award, officers and staff of DBP, MCYS department representatives, academics, higher education institution students and graduates, writers, as well as associations and activists of literature, language and culture.
Two literary works were discussed during the event, namely Mahmudamit’s Kumpulan Puisi Tarian Naga di Puncak Menara (recipient of the Southeast Asian Writers’ Award 2012) by Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Assistant Professor Dr Haji Rozaiman bin Makmun; and Salmi Mesra’s Kumpulan Sajak Mata Hati II (2018) (recipient of the Southeast Asian Writers’ Award 2019) by the Southeast Asian Writers’ Award 2020 recipient Dr Haji Morsidi bin Haji Muhamad.
Bedah Karya project was aimed at developing literary activities in the Sultanate, appreciating the literary works; empowering Malay Language through literary activities; while providing understanding and appreciation of the development of the country’s literature.
It also strived to be a source of reference and guidance for students, literary enthusiasts and enrich knowledge in the field of literature.
Outcomes from the discussion were published in the Pangsura journal and the Journal of the Study and Research of Southeast Asian Literature to contribute to the development of local literature.
Lyna Mohamad
A ceremony was held at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) to witness the hand over of two laptop computers and five mobile phones, allowing teachers to conduct online learning programmes.
The presentation by Dynamik Technologies and Progresif was held on Thursday in support of the Goals for Education campaign.
Dynamik Technologies Corporate Marketing and Communications lead Faizul Yahya and Progresif Corporate Social Responsibility and Sponsorship representative Amilin Mat Sah handed over the devices to Village Consultative Council (MPK) RPN Kampong Panchor Mengkubau Community and Communication Head Fatimah binti Haji Jamil, with Acting Director of Social Services Division at the MCYS Hajah Noridah binti Abdul Hamid as witness.
Curahan Ilmu Program Deputy Chairperson Alida binti Alihusin also attended.
The donation is part of the ‘Free Tuition classes’ initiative under the Curahan Ilmu Programme organised by the Community and Communication Bureau of the MPK RPN Kampong Panchor Mengkubau. The programme aims to help less fortunate children continue their studies smoothly.
The devices will be distributed to the MPK RPN Kampong Panchor Mengkubau and loaned to students sitting for their Primary School Assessment (PSR) exams. These children are from less fortunate families registered under the Community Development Department, residing in RPN Kampong Panchor Mengkubau.
The Goals for Education donation drive is a collaborative effort between Dynamik Technologies and Progresif, which employs a whole-of-nation approach in supporting online learning initiatives and students in need of ICT devices nationwide. The drive was officially launched last year after schools were affected by closures following the COVID-19 outbreak.
“Through the Goals for Education initiative with Dynamik Technologies, we are supporting online learning programmes and students who require ICT devices,” said Amilin Mat Sah.
“This illustrates how public contribution works,” he said, before expressing gratitude for the opportunity to raise funds and contribute to students’ education, as well as for public approval in allowing them to use the funds to promote equal educational opportunities for students in need.
Faizul Yahya expressed hopes “the contribution will help ease their learning experience and that they will continue to strive for academic excellence”.
“Dynamik Technologies is dedicated to make a meaningful difference in the community, particularly for those in need. We are grateful to be working with Progresif, as well as for the collective support of our business sponsors and the general public, to make this campaign a success,” he added.
AP – California’s famous Hearst Castle will reopen to the public in May after a two-year closure due to the pandemic and severe rainstorm damage that prompted a USD13.7 million renovation.
The steep, curvy access road to the palatial home that media mogul William Randolph Hearst built on ranch land overlooking the Pacific was damaged by atmospheric rivers – storms fuelled by long and wide plumes of moistures pulled in from the Pacific – in 2021.
The San Luis Obispo County castle designed by architect Julia Morgan includes a 115-room main house, as well as guesthouses, pools and cultivated gardens, according to the California State Parks. Construction dates back to 1919.
The access road, which rises 503 metres over eight kilometers, was “reconstructed and re-engineered” over 10 months, according to state officials. The project included replacing and enlarging clay pipe culverts from the 1920s that had been damaged by the rainstorms. Some historic stone retaining walls were also restored by hand.
The castle sees about 850,000 visitors annually, meaning about 22,000 bus trips traverse the access road each year. Some travel as often as every 10 minutes in the summer tourism season.
“Hearst Castle is a state treasure and we are thrilled to reopen this wonder to the public to enjoy in a safe and responsible manner,” California State Parks Director Armando Quintero said in a news release. “We are confident that these once-in-a-lifetime repairs and improvements to the road facility will serve countless generations to come.”
The castle will reopen May 11.
Fadhil Yunus
The Brunei Darussalam Association of Football Coaches (BDAFC) recently held its inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the year 2022 at the Multi-Purpose Hall, Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) House in Jalan Pusat Persidangan, Berakas.
A total of 31 members were involved in the meeting comprising 19 members present physically and 12 attending virtually.
The meeting saw the voting of BDAFC members for the term 2022-2024.
Pengiran Serfuddin bin Pengiran Haji Md Salleh was elected President while Haji Omar bin Haji Jamil was appointed as the Deputy President I and Haji Syed Mohd Yaqub Syah bin Haji Syed Anayatullah Shah as the Deputy President II.
Other positions filled included Roney bin Morni as the Secretary while Haji Mohd Ali Rahman bin Haji Sulaiman will serve as the Treasurer.
The three newly-appointed executive committee members are Mohd Ikhmarol Izzat bin Haji Omar, Mohd Darus bin Tanjung and Pengiran Shahrom bin Haji Ismail.
The meeting also heard the annual activity report, financial report, the dissolution of the current committee members and the temporary steering committee of the first AGM as well as the handover of duties from the steering committee to the newly-elected members.
NEW DELHI (AP) – The company behind a COVID-19 vaccine touted as a key tool for the developing world has sent tens of millions of doses to wealthy nations but provided none yet to the United Nations (UN)-backed effort to supply poorer countries, a sign that inequity persists in the global response to the pandemic.
A quarter-million doses from the company were supposed to be available to the vaccine-sharing initiative, called COVAX, by March. But the UN agency in charge of deliveries said the first shipments now likely won’t be made until April or May.
The company, Novavax, got USD388 million from one of the organisations leading COVAX to fast-track the vaccine’s development and help make the shot available in poorer countries.
The investment guaranteed COVAX the “right of first refusal” to the first Novavax doses, but the deal applied only to factories in the Czech Republic, South Korea and Spain’ said spokesman for COVAX co-founder CEPI Bjorg Dystvold Nilsson. There are other factories that aren’t part of the deal – and their shots are going elsewhere. The Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine maker, has manufactured millions of Novavax doses.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs and the institute, more than 28.9 million of those doses were sent to the Netherlands in January and February, while Australia received about six million doses. Indonesia also received about nine million doses in December.
Thousands of other Novavax doses were also shipped from a Netherlands factory to other European Union countries.
The delay is the latest setback for COVAX, which has been repeatedly hit by supply problems and has missed numerous targets to share doses.
Vaccine availability has been improving in poorer regions recently, but logistical problems persist.
According to data from Oxford University, only about 14 per cent of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. More than 680 million doses of COVAX-provided vaccines remain unused or have expired, according to government data.
Adib Noor
The Ministry of Defence (MinDef) held Khatam Al-Quran ceremonies across all suraus under the MinDef and Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), including Pulau Baru-Baru Mosque, in conjunction with the 38th National Day celebration.
The focal point was at Defence Academy Royal Brunei Armed Forces (DA RBAF) Surau Asy-Syuhada’, with the attendance of Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Royal Brunei Land Force Commander Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Abdul Kadir as well as senior leadership, officers and staff from the MinDef and RBAF.
The invitation was also extended to the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) and village heads from nearby areas.
Aside from enlivening the National Day celebration, the annual event was held to instil in attendees a love and appreciation for Al-Quran.
A similar event was held at Surau Ad-Difa’ of the Bolkiah Garrison among female MinDef and RBAF personnel.
