May 25, 2022 - Page 2 of 2 - Brunei News Gazette

May 25, 2022

Multaqa Usuluddin Seminar

The Ministry of Education, Ministry of Religious Affairs and education institution as well as other stakeholders need to join hand in formulating the Usuluddin curriculum to be relevant for the present aside from providing specialized textbooks as reference material. The matter was among discussed at a forum titled" Kurikulum Usuluddin: Pemantapan dan Keberkesanan" or Usuluddin Curriculum: Stabilization and Effectiveness.

The Forum was held during the Multaqa Usuluddin Seminar organised by the Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College, KUPU SB the Faculty of Usuluddin with the cooperation of Department of Examination, Ministry of Education. The ceremony ran concurrently with a resolution presentation by Doctor Matussein bin Haji Jumat, Senior Assistant Professor of faculty of Usuluddin. The Forum ended with the presentation of resolution from Doctor Haji Adanan Bin Haji Basar, Ra'es of Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College, KUPU SB to Awang Haji Rozaidi bin Haji Mohd Daud, Senior Education Officer, Department of Examination, Ministry of Education.

Source: Radio Television Brunei

May 25, 2022

ASEAN and the IFRC partner to strengthen community resilience in Southeast Asia

Jakarta, 25 May 2022 - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have committed to promoting and developing their engagement in disaster management with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ASEAN and the IFRC on the Strengthening of Community Resilience in Southeast Asia.

The MOU outlines the scope and areas of cooperation between the IFRC and ASEAN to strengthen community resilience at regional, national, and local levels in the ASEAN region, including in areas such as disaster management, disaster risk reduction, disaster law, health in emergencies, disaster relief and emergency response, gender, youth, and climate change. This agreement also marks a significant milestone in ASEAN’s longstanding cooperation with the IFRC which has supported the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management (ACDM) in the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) and its work programmes.

The MOU was signed by the ASEAN Secretary-General H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi and the IFRC Secretary General, Mr. Jagan Chapagain, at the sidelines of the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) in Bali, Indonesia, in the presence of the representatives of the ACDM and the representatives of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

At the Signing Ceremony, the two leaders expressed appreciation over the progress of cooperation between ASEAN and the IFRC. Recognizing ASEAN and IFRC’s mutually beneficial roles in strengthening climate adaptation and disaster resilience in vulnerable communities in Southeast Asia, both ASEAN and the IFRC look forward to the implementation of the MOU through collaborative projects in the AADMER Work Programme 2021-2025.

In his remarks, Dato Lim emphasized that “in the face of increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related disasters due to climate change, in one of the world’s most disaster-prone regions, coupled with an increasingly complex humanitarian landscape, we must build strategic partnerships to enhance our resilience as one ASEAN community.”

In Mr. Chapagain’s speech reiterated that “through this partnership our common goal is to put communities in Southeast Asia at the centre by building individual and community capacities that help reduce humanitarian needs and avert loss and damage caused by the climate crisis."

ASEAN countries are located in one of the most disaster-prone regions in the world, ranging from earthquakes, floods, landslides and typhoons. The wide geographic stretch of incidences and increasing frequency and intensity of disasters due to climate change require ASEAN to enhance the region’s readiness and emergency response capacity.

Source: Association of Southeast Asian Nations

May 25, 2022

75th World Health Assembly

The COVID-19 pandemic shows that the supply chain of basic medicines can lead to volatile supplies that threaten not only health but also global peace and security. Speaking at the plenary session of 75th World Health Assembly, the Minister of Health said that in Brunei Darussalam, health services and the promotion of universal health coverage are fundamental to health efforts. With the theme "Health for Peace, Peace for Health", the assembly is held in Geneva, Switzerland until the 28th of May 2022.

Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Haji Awang Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar also stated that, in addressing the dissemination issues of false information, the country recently in collaboration with the World Health Organization, WHO will set up a Behavioural Insights Unit to facilitate unity between government and society as well as generate trust on health concerns. The 75th World Health Assembly has the agreement and consensus of member states on a wide range of important public and global health issues. While in Geneva, the Minister of Health also paid a goodwill visit with His Excellency Dr. Takeshi Kasai, World Health Organization Regional Director for the Western Pacific Region and held discussions with the Swiss Medical Network.

Source: Radio Television Brunei

May 25, 2022

Brunei To End Early Endemic Phase, Update COVID-19 Guidelines

– The Brunei government, yesterday said, its Early Endemic Phase will end on May 31, and the guidelines for COVID-19 control measures will be updated beginning in June.

As part of Brunei’s National COVID-19 Recovery Framework, the country moved to the Early Endemic Phase in Dec, last year, when local infections gradually dropped after the country imposed the strictest social distancing measures, including work from home and a curfew.

According to Brunei’s COVID-19 Steering Committee, some existing COVID-19 guidelines will be updated, beginning June 1, when there will be no limitation on the capacity of mass gatherings at home or in halls.

All sporting activities, including competitions or matches are allowed without limitation on the number of spectators. Food preparation for any event, including buffet meals, at any premises, is allowed.

There will be no age restriction for all congregations at mosques, to perform religious activities. However, face masks should be worn in public buildings, as well as, in crowded places outdoors.

These moves were made, considering the stable COVID-19 situation, high vaccination rates, and low bed occupancy rates at isolation centres in the country, the committee said.

“To this end, we are able to return to our daily lives by adapting to the new normal,” the committee added, saying, the government is monitoring and reviewing requirements for reducing other restrictions, including code scans and opening of borders.

“The outcome of these evaluations, subject to the current situation, will be announced to the public at a later date,” the committee said.

Brunei reported 246 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the national tally to 147,021. As of Monday, 69.7 percent of Brunei’s population have received three doses of vaccines.

Currently, 1,633 active cases are being treated and monitored in Brunei, with 145,166 recoveries.

Source: NAM News Network