KOTA KINABALU: Only the Beaufort district remains affected by the flood disaster in Sabah, with 449 people from 144 families taking shelter in temporary relief centres (PPS) as of 8pm on Thursday (March 13), compared to 1,258 people from 485 families at 4pm.

The Sabah Disaster Management Committee Secretariat, in a statement, said that three PPS were closed in Beaufort tonight and that only five PPS are still operational in the district.

"Flood recovery is progressing, with the number of flood victims in Beaufort continuing to decrease. A total of 20 villages in Tenom have recovered from floods, while 10 villages in Beaufort remain affected," the statement said. – Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, 13 Mac: Sebagai Pengerusi ASEAN 2025, Malaysia menggesa kerjasama lebih erat antara ASEAN dan India dalam bidang utama termasuk keselamatan siber, tadbir urus digital, perdagangan serta pembangunan mampan, sejajar dengan keutamaan kepengerusiannya yang berteraskan “Keterangkuman dan Kemampanan”.

Cadangan itu dikemukakan semasa Mesyuarat Pegawai Kanan ASEAN-India ke-27 (AISOM) yang diadakan di Manila pada 11 dan 12 Mac, yang menyaksikan Ketua Pengarah Sekretariat Nasional ASEAN-Malaysia, Datuk Zanariah Zainal Abidin, mengetuai delegasi Malaysia.

Menurut Kementerian Luar, mesyuarat itu menilai Pelan Tindakan ASEAN-India (2021-2025) serta membincangkan pembangunan Pelan Tindakan pengganti yang akan menentukan hala tuju Perkongsian Strategik Komprehensif ASEAN-India bagi tempoh lima tahun akan datang.

Kedua-dua pihak menegaskan komitmen untuk memperkukuh kerjasama dalam bidang politik-keselamatan, ekonomi dan sosiobudaya.

“Malaysia berkongsi keutamaannya di bawah Kepengerusian ASEAN 2025 yang berteraskan tema ‘Keterangkuman dan Kemampanan.’

Sehubungan itu, Malaysia menekankan kepentingan mempertingkatkan kerjasama ASEAN-India dalam bidang keselamatan siber, perlindungan data dan tadbir urus digital, perdagangan dan pelaburan, ekonomi digital, penyelesaian ‘fintech’, bandar pintar, keterjaminan makanan, pelancongan mampan, tenaga mampan dan penyesuaian iklim, pengurusan bencana, pendidikan serta kemahiran digital,” menurut kementerian dalam hantaran di Facebook pada Khamis.

Mesyuarat itu turut bertukar pandangan mengenai perkembangan serantau dan antarabangsa, termasuk Pandangan ASEAN terhadap Indo-Pasifik (AOIP), situasi di Myanmar, Laut China Selatan serta isu Palestin.

“Malaysia sekali lagi menegaskan komitmennya dalam menggalakkan keterangkuman, kemampanan serta keamanan dan kestabilan serantau melalui mekanisme yang diterajui ASEAN,” menurut kenyataan itu. -TVS

ROME: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 hit near the southern Italian city of Naples early on Thursday, damaging buildings and causing locals to flee into the streets.

The earthquake occurred at 1.25am (0025 GMT) with its epicentre near the coastal town of Pozzuoli, located west of Naples, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

The temblor, of the same magnitude as one that occurred last May, was the strongest since the early 1980s, when a long string of seismic events sowed damage and panic in the same area.

Although small earthquakes are frequent in the densely populated area situated close to the Campi Flegrei super volcano, locals confirmed that this was one of the most severe in recent years.

"I was sleeping, and suddenly I heard a terrible bang, I had never heard one so loud," said Raffaele Cipollano.

"It was a very bad moment. Then of course when I got up I turned on the lights and saw that my house is full of cracks, there are cracks everywhere," he added.

Emergency teams rescued one person from the rubble of a partially collapsed house, authorities confirmed. Several minor aftershocks were felt in the region, intensifying concerns among residents.

Some people forced open a gate at a former NATO base in Bagnoli in order to seek refuge.

Power outages were reported in parts of Naples, and many families chose to remain outdoors or in their vehicles overnight, fearing further tremors. Earthquakes are fairly frequent in Italy.

In the region comprising Naples, the most serious in recent times was one of magnitude 6.9 that occurred in November 1980 in the Irpinia area, killing some 2,734 people, injuring more than 8,800 and destroying more than 300 municipalities.

KOTA KINABALU (Mar 13): The Sabah government has announced aid for schools affected by the recent floods, said State Education Exco Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif.

Mohd Arifin said that following a meeting, they have identified more than 30 affected schools in Beaufort, Membakut, Keningau, Tenom and one near the East Coast to receive RM10,000 each for repair and cleaning works through the State Education Fund (TPNS).

Separately, he said they had also approved more than RM600,000 worth of one-off aid applications for 141 Sabah students, starting from the matriculation level up to PhD, to enable them to continue or further their studies via TPNS.

The State Science, Technology and Innovation (KSTI) Minister said this after witnessing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing between SabahNet and Theta Telecoms at the Sabah International Convention Centre here on Thursday.

The MoU aimed to form a strategic collaboration between the two parties to bridge the digital divide and accelerate telecommunications infrastructure development, in order to drive digital transformation across Sabah.

This collaboration is a crucial component in realising the ambitions set forth by Jalinan Digital Negara (Jendela) Phase 2, the MyDIGITAL blueprint and the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan, ensuring inclusive, high-quality digital connectivity for all Sabahans, particularly to underserved communities.

Through this initiative, rural communities will gain enhanced connectivity, unlocking opportunities in e-commerce, telemedicine and remote education-paving.

SabahNet Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Azman Ruslan highlighted that this collaboration is a vital step in ensuring everyone is connected, providing meaningful and impactful digital access to Sabah’s underserved communities.

Theta Edge Bhd managing director Datuk Nuraslina Zainal Abidin emphasised that the combined expertise will create a strong foundation for next-generation connectivity solutions for all communities.

SabahNet Sdn Bhd is a government-linked company under KSTI, playing a key role in managing and developing government digital infrastructure, providing ICT solutions and promoting digital inclusion across the state.

Theta Telecoms Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Theta Edge Berhad, specialises in telecommunications infrastructure development and network solutions, with a strong track record in nationwide deployments.