Latest news with #COMPASS
CNA
29-07-2025
- Business
- CNA
MOM investigating company, employer for hiring women with forged university certificates
SINGAPORE: The Manpower Ministry (MOM) is in the latter stages of investigating a company and an employer for hiring two Filipino women who used forged university certificates in their Employment Pass (EP) applications, it said on Tuesday (Jul 29). "MOM is completing its investigations into the company and employer and will decide on the enforcement action to take against them," a spokesperson for the ministry said. The two women – Conol Almira Joy Torres and Torres Alyssa Riva Fernan, both 29 – were handed jail sentences on Jul 17. Their offences were only uncovered after MOM conducted "a random inspection' on the company that had employed them, CL Enterprise. Following their sentencing, CNA asked MOM why this was the case, and if their employer was under investigation. The spokesperson for the ministry on Tuesday added that, prior to the introduction of the Complementarity Assessment Framework (COMPASS) in September 2023, "employers were primarily responsible for verifying the authenticity of candidates' qualifications submitted in their Employment Pass applications". "The Ministry of Manpower conducts additional random checks on authenticity of the qualifications for selected applications, during the application stage and throughout the employment of the EP holder," the spokesperson said. "Since September 2023, employers who declare qualifications to earn points under the COMPASS framework are required to submit verification proof for the qualifications declared in their EP applications." The two women were employed based on their fraudulent credentials between 2020 and 2022. CL Enterprise operates Mr Fix retail outlets that sell kitchenware and hand soap.
Borneo Post
07-06-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Sabah's Pin Supu Forest Reserve makes history as Malaysia's first terrestrial IUCN Green Listed Site
The Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan. SANDAKAN: The Pin Supu Forest Reserve (FR) in Kinabatangan has been officially recognised as the IUCN Green List of Protected and Conserved Areas, a prestigious global recognition awarded by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for excellence in conservation and protected area management. Pin Supu FR is the first terrestrial site in Malaysia to be IUCN Green Listed. The certificate, issued in May 2025, is valid for a period of five years. Earlier in 2022, the Sugud Islands Marine Conservation Area (SIMCA), also in Sabah, was recognised as the country's first marine IUCN Green Listed Area. The Chief Conservator of Forests, Datuk Frederick Kugan, pointed out that this achievement places Pin Supu Forest Reserve as among the world's best-managed and most effectively governed protected areas. More importantly, this reserve is jointly managed by the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD) in collaboration with KOPEL Berhad, a community-based cooperative in Kinabatangan. Pin Supu is a Class VI Virgin Forest Reserve, encompassing 4,620 hectares, surrounded by five villages to assist in conservation projects A 10-year joint forest management agreement (2016-2026) was established between the Sabah State Government through the SFD and KOPEL Berhad. This partnership has brought positive outcomes, including nature-based tourism development that benefit local communities and promote sustainable forest management within the Kinabatangan area. The journey towards Green List certification began with the formal application in 2021. Over the course of four years, the site underwent a rigorous multi-phase process (application phase and candidate phase) to complete the 50 indicators which included comprehensive self-assessments, evidence submission through the COMPASS platform, independent expert evaluations by the Expert Assessment Group for the Green List (EAGL), and a final review and verification by an independent reviewer. The key milestone was the EAGL site visit, followed by the final reviewer verification in December 2024. Kugan reiterated that managing Pin Supu with the involvement of surrounding communities has given numerous positive impacts – environmental, social and economic benefits, including biodiversity conservation, local empowerment, and income growth. This shows the success of joint efforts in promoting environmental sustainability. This IUCN recognition is a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of the Sabah Forestry Department and local community in particular KOPEL Berhad. The IUCN Green List is a global initiative by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that recognizes and promotes well-managed, effectively governed, and fairly operated protected and conserved areas. Its main goal is to encourage and reward conservation success by assessing areas against globally consistent standards of good governance, sound design and planning, effective management, and positive conservation outcomes.
Scoop
04-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Multiple Sclerosis Prevalence On The Sharp Increase: Study
Press Release – University of Auckland The study found the MS prevalence rate had climbed to 96.6 per 100,000 people as of June 2022, an increase from 72.4 per 100,000 in 2006., Lead author Dr Natalia Boven, a postdoctoral fellow from the Universitys COMPASS Research Centre, says. The number of people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in New Zealand increased by a third between 2006 and 2022, according to research from the University of Auckland. The prevalence of multiple sclerosis in New Zealand has sharply risen since 2006, especially in some communities, according to a University of Auckland study. Lead author Dr Natalia Boven, a postdoctoral fellow from the University's COMPASS Research Centre, says the study found the MS prevalence rate had climbed to 96.6 per 100,000 people as of June 2022, an increase from 72.4 per 100,000 in 2006. 'And notably, while European New Zealanders are being diagnosed with MS at a higher rate (132.4 per 100,000), we found MS increased substantially for Māori, Pacific peoples and Asian ethnic groups over the same period,' she says. Boven says Māori rates rose from 15.0 per 100,000 to 33.1 per 100,000 in 2022, the Pacific rate rose to 9.2 per 100,000 and the Asian ethnic group rate increased to 16.0 per 100,000. 'And of concern is the data shows people living in more deprived areas were less likely to be diagnosed with MS,' says Boven. 'This pattern was more pronounced for Māori and Pacific peoples, which suggests they may face barriers accessing services to receive a MS diagnosis.' As a social scientist, she says more research is needed to find out whether this is the case, and what the barriers might be, as an early diagnosis can make all the difference in terms of delaying disease progression and therefore improving quality of life. Experts agree that multiple sclerosis is a manageable and treatable condition in most cases, especially with early diagnosis. Recently published in the New Zealand Medical Journal, the study was backed by Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand (MSNZ). National manager Amanda Rose says patients regularly report the biggest barriers to diagnosis are a lack of MS awareness in the community, and critical shortages of specialistservices which can delay diagnosis from a couple of weeks to as long as several years in some instances. 'Too many New Zealanders face delays in being diagnosed with MS due to limited access to specialist neurologist appointments and MRI scans,' says Rose. 'The longstanding shortage of neurologists in Aotearoa has created long waiting lists for many people with neurological conditions, including MS. We've been advocating for over ten years to increase our number of neurologists, with little to no progress.' The study used the Stats NZ Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI) and included anonymous data from hospitalisations, disability support, pharmaceutical dispensing of MS treatments and needs assessments. To build on the study's findings and support targeted advocacy for those with the condition, Multiple Sclerosis New Zealand has now contracted University researchers at COMPASS to expand their scope. They will again be using IDI data to explore the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of people living with MS in Aotearoa; including geographic distribution, education, income, and employment history, access to disability support, allied healthcare, and income support.
Business Recorder
31-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
4-year BS nursing programme: UHS launches new ‘COMPASS' curriculum
LAHORE: In a move to elevate nursing education in Punjab, the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Friday launched its new "COMPASS" curriculum for the four-year BS Nursing programme. The event was presided over by the Provincial Minister for Specialised Healthcare & Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique and Minister for Health and Population Khawaja Imran Nazir, who jointly unveiled the curriculum on the UHS's website. The COMPASS curriculum—an acronym for Competency-based, Outcome-based, Multicultural, Patient-centered, Assessment, Skills, and Safety—represents a bold departure from traditional instruction, introducing a modern, block-based and spiral model of nursing education. Under the new structure, students will divide their week equally between classrooms and hospitals—three days each—beginning clinical exposure from the very first year. Clinical hours have been increased from 35 to 54, while students will now complete 72 rigorously designed courses and master over 200 clinical skills by graduation. Speaking on the occasion, Khawaja Salman Rafique described COMPASS as 'not merely a new curriculum, but a vision for a stronger, more empowered nursing profession.' He said the Punjab government considers nursing reform a top priority and is committed to supporting the academic and professional growth of nurses through meaningful initiatives. He said that 3,000 nurses have been recruited in the current year and that public nursing colleges have added 1,400 new seats by launching evening classes aimed at meeting growing healthcare demands. Khawaja Imran Nazir lauded the new curriculum as a timely response to global challenges in healthcare, saying, 'Our nurses are the frontline heroes of this system. With COMPASS, we are giving them the skills, ethics, and cultural sensitivity required to perform at international standards.' He added that this transformation will not only boost technical competence but also instill empathy and leadership in future nurses. In recognition of the academic effort behind the curriculum, the minister announced an honorarium equivalent to two months' salary for the faculty team involved in its development. The vice-chancellor UHS, Prof Dr. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, emphasized that the curriculum embodies the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and marks a revolutionary leap in healthcare education. He noted that the integration of classroom learning with early, extensive clinical rotations would help transform students into well-rounded, compassionate health professionals with strong critical thinking and patient-centered care capabilities. He also announced that UHS will carry out unannounced visits each semester to affiliated colleges to monitor implementation and uphold quality standards. Dr. Lamia Yusuf, Assistant Professor at UHS's Department of Medical Education explained that students will be taught in a progressive, spiral format over eight semesters, with increasing complexity in course content. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
SNAP recipients: Lose groceries due to severe weather? Here's how you might qualify for replacement benefits
(WJET/WFXP) – Are you a SNAP benefit recipient who recently lost groceries due to issues caused by severe weather? Then you might be entitled to replacement benefits. According to the PA Department of Human Services (DHS), SNAP benefit recipients are eligible to receive replacement benefits if they lost food due to power outages, flooding, fires or other disasters. Real ID requirements to begin this week: Here's how you can still get yours The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's website states that SNAP recipients must complete and submit an Affidavit for Replacement of Food Destroyed in a Household Disaster within 10 days of the reported food loss. SNAP recipients may also request replacement funds in person at their local DHS County Assistance Office, over the phone or through the COMPASS app. PA Game Commission asks residents to be on the lookout for invasive spongy moth 'The last thing you need to worry about when recovering from a storm is being unable to eat, so I want all impacted, eligible Pennsylvanians to know that help is available right now. If you are a SNAP recipient and this storm caused a power outage that spoiled your food, you can receive replacement SNAP benefits. DHS is here when you need us, so please reach out to your local County Assistance Office and request replacement SNAP benefits as soon as possible,' said DHS Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/
