Drug king’s escaped hippos poisoning Colombia’s waterways

Up to 100 hippopotamuses, all descended from four animals illegally imported into Colombia by the cocaine smuggler Pablo Escobar in the late 1980s, are menacing Colombia’s marshlands and river systems.Scientists told The Daily Telegraph that the country must cull the aggressive “cocaine hippos” roaming the Magdalena river basin, as they are breeding uncontrollably in the country’s wet and warm climate. In their natural African habitat, they are less fecund due to a long dry season.Escobar, who was said to be worth a staggering US$25 billion at his most powerful built his own zoo, complete with elephants and hippopotamuses.When he was shot dead in 1993, the Colombian government took control of his estate, including the animals, most of which were either euthanised or sent to other zoos.The hippos, however, living in a remote pond, escaped the cull because of difficulties capturing them.Researchers say the river animals are now competing with native wildlife and polluting local waterways with their toxic urine and faeces.Authorities have made efforts to sterilise them but without success owing to the fact that male hippos have retractable testes.David Echeverri Lopez, a government environmentalist, told The Telegraph that he is able to castrate roughly one hippo per year, whereas scientists estimate that their population grows by 10% per year.“Nobody likes the idea of shooting hippos, but we have to accept that no other strategy is going to work,” ecologist Nataly Castelblanco-Martínez told The Telegraph.The hippos have been adopted by local villagers and become a tourist attraction.Paying visitors can tour Escobar’s former mansion and visit the lake where several dozen hippos now live, protected by environmental law.Although they are mostly herbivorous, hippos, the largest land animal in the world after elephants, weighing in at over 3,500kg, are highly aggressive and regarded as one of the most dangerous animals in Africa.Being highly territorial, they often attack without provocation when people encroach on their rivers or lakes in which they rest submerged and motionless.These unpredictable “water-horses” kill around 3,000 people every year in Africa.


Africa needs 20 million second AstraZeneca jabs within 6 weeks

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) regional director for Africa said on Thursday any pause in the continent’s vaccination campaign will lead to “lost lives and lost hope”.“Africa needs vaccines now,” Dr Matshidiso Moeti said in a statement.The continent needs at least 20 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine within six weeks if those who have had their first shot are to get the second in time.The WHO statement emphasised the importance of following the recommended interval of eight to 12 weeks between doses to ensure the recipient’s prolonged 81% protection rate.“In addition to this urgent need, another 200 million doses of any WHO Emergency Use Listed Covid-19 vaccine are needed so that the continent can vaccinate 10% of its population by September 2021,” the statement added.Separately, the head of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) appealed to the international community to provide the required number of vaccine doses to the continent, considering this a “collective security issue”.“We are not winning the vaccination battle in Africa,” Africa CDC director John Nkengasong said on Thursday during a weekly media briefing in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa.“Forty-three million doses of vaccines have been acquired, and 23 million doses have been administered,” he said.Africa’s Covid-19 vaccination campaigns are facing delays because of the export ban imposed by India, the main supplier of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Covax, the UN-backed scheme that aims to deliver more than two billion doses to 92 of the world’s poorest countries this year. India has halted vaccine exports as it grapples with its devastating resurgence of the disease.Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron said shipping Covid-19 vaccines to Africa was not just a moral duty but was also in the interest of Europe and the world, in order to prevent the emergence of new virus variants.Speaking during a trip to Rwanda, Macron said that France was on track to deliver 30 million Covid-19 vaccination doses to Africa by year-end, that Germany would also deliver 30 million doses, and that collectively the EU would deliver more than 100 million doses to Africa this year.Macron said that he had arrived with 100,000 coronavirus vaccine doses for Rwanda.As of May 26, Africa had registered more than 4.7 million cases of coronavirus with nearly 130,000 deaths attributed to the virus.


China’s exports surge in May as easing Covid curbs rev up trade

China’s exports grew at a double-digit pace in May, shattering expectations in an encouraging sign for the world’s second biggest economy, as factories restarted and logistics snags eased after authorities relaxed some Covid curbs in Shanghai.Imports also expanded for the first time in three months, providing welcome relief to Chinese policy makers as they try to chart an economic path out of the supply-side shock that has rocked global trade and financial markets in recent months.Still, China’s trade outlook remains hostage to global risks, including from high raw material costs, uncertainties from the Ukraine war and slowing overseas demand. Recovering production in other economies and a shift of global spending from goods to services could also affect demand for Chinese goods.Outbound shipments in May jumped 16.9% from a year earlier, the fastest growth since January this year, and more than double analysts’ expectations for a 8.0% rise. Exports were up 3.9% in April.Imports, on the other hand, rose 4.1% in May from a year earlier, the first gain in three months and compared with flat growth in April. They were expected to rise 2.0%.“In May, logistics and supply chains were well repaired, so from the view of supply, unfavorable factors which weighed down export growth in April have greatly eased, leading to a jump in teh year-on-year growth last month,” said Zheng Houcheng, director of the Yingda Securities Research Institute.Zheng added that imports, although beating forecasts, still reflected sluggish domestic demand.Economic activity cooled sharply in April as the country grappled with the worst Covid-19 outbreak since 2020. Stringent lockdown measures, sometimes excessively enforced by local officials, had clogged highways and ports, stranded workers and shut factories.To stabilise the situation in a politically sensitive year, the State Council has called on local officials to revive supply chains, restore economic growth and rein in unemployment. Major automakers have been able to ramp up production in May and cargo handling capacity at ports and airports are returning closer to pre-lockdown level.Electric car maker Tesla reopened its factory in Shanghai on April 19 after a 22-day stoppage, and returned to pre-lockdown production levels in late May.The Shanghai port, which was running at severely reduced capacity in April, has also been handling more cargos since last month, with official data showing that daily container throughput at the world’s biggest port back to 95.3% of the normal level in late May.Official and private surveys showed China’s factory activity contracted at a slower pace in May as Covid-19 curbs in major manufacturing hubs eased, with a gauge on export orders improving.China posted a trade surplus of US$78.76 billion last month, versus a forecast for a US$58 billion surplus in the poll. The country reported a US$51.12 billion surplus in April.China’s cabinet recently announced a package of 33 measures covering fiscal, financial, investment and industrial policies, although analysts say the official GDP target of around 5.5% for this year will be hard to achieve without doing away with the zero-Covid strategy.The central bank in May cut its benchmark reference rate for mortgages by an unexpectedly wide margin, its second reduction this year as Beijing seeks to revive the ailing housing sector to prop up the economy.First-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 4.8% from a year earlier, but analysts expect growth this quarter would take a heavy hit due to the lockdowns in Shanghai, with some economists warning the risk of recession is rising.


Klang hospital confirms 50 staff down with Covid-19

Health authorities in Selangor have advised the public to avoid visiting Klang’s Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah unless it is absolutely necessary, following an outbreak of Covid-19 among its staff.The Selangor Health Department confirmed that 50 of the hospital’s staff had tested positive for the virus and are being treated at the Sungai Buloh hospital.State health director Dr Shaari Ngadiman attributed the cases to a spike in patients seeking treatment for Severe Acute Respiratory Infection, adding that this had increased the probability of more Covid-19 cases being detected.Klang is labelled as a “red zone” and has been placed under conditional movement control order since Oct 9 following a spike in number of cases.However, Shaari said that investigations by the hospital and the Selangor Health Department have not been able to pinpoint how the cases were spread among the staff.He said swab tests were done on all the contacts as well as patients, whom he said have been placed under home surveillance order.“Treatment management on patients at the hospital is ongoing and the situation is under control,” he said.


Banning sale of liquor might backfire, experts warn

Health experts have questioned the extent to which the recent ban on the sale of hard liquor at convenience and grocery stores in the capital city will further the stated objective of curbing social problems, saying the move might even backfire, resulting in the opposite effect.The ban, which came into effect early this month, prohibits the sale of liquor at such premises although beer can still be sold during specific hours and away from other beverages.It sparked a strong backlash from the public as well as a group of MPs who said it was inconsistent with the government’s “Malaysian Family” branding and unfair to non-Muslims.But rights aside, health experts speaking to MalaysiaNow said the ban might not help reduce social ills.Dr Koh Kar Chai, president of the Malaysian Medical Association, said there is a difference between curbing alcohol consumption and curbing excessive alcohol consumption.“We should be looking at ways to reduce excessive alcohol consumption,” he said.“Banning the sale of liquor in such places will just divert the drinking public to other sources of purchase.”Koh also questioned the likelihood of a drop in excessive alcohol consumption due to the ban on hard liquor at sundry shops, saying such beverages would still be available at other outlets that are permitted to sell liqour.“Banning the sale of liquor in such places will just divert the drinking public to other sources of purchase.”Dr Philip George, a psychiatrist and specialist in addiction medicine, said a dramatic drop in access to alcohol could result in the same failure seen in the US during the prohibition period in the 1920s.Although the consumption of alcohol decreased at the outset of the ban, it eventually rebounded while criminal activities grew and became more organised.George said the more important thing would be to cut off access to cheap liquor in stores, adding that such beverages are often not subject to quality control measures. He cited a lack of proper distillation process, giving rise to toxic levels of methanol that could lead to death.Cheap liquor also often comes in small portions, which makes it more accessible, he said.Mei Tan, who works at a grocery store, agreed that the ban on the sale of liquor at some premises would not have much impact in curbing excessive alcohol consumption.“People will still be able to get alcohol at other places, legally or worse, illegally,” she said.Other ways of circumventing the ban would be to stock up on alcohol at home, or to buy cheap liquor online, she said.“I don’t think the ban will have much impact unless the government classifies alcohol as a controlled item where one person can only buy a certain amount.”Heineken Malaysia spokesman Renuka Indrarajah agreed that illegal alcohol is a concern in the country.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, she said over-regulation and further raising excise duties would make legal products more expensive, fuelling the illicit market and resulting in a lower tax collection.“People will still be able to get alcohol at other places, legally or worse, illegally.”She also said that the company strives to take the lead in advocating responsible alcohol consumption.“Our commitment to responsible consumption lies in our responsible marketing code, and the material is reviewed on eight principles including restricting exposure to minors and not associating brands with anti-social behaviour or over-consumption,” she said.George said consuming alcohol in moderation has been shown to be beneficial for health, adding that it is the heavy use of alcohol that should be discouraged.“In communities where alcohol use is permitted, social drinking in moderation has been shown to be beneficial and moderate amounts of alcohol consumed in a social setting can enhance positive emotions and social bonding as well as relieve negative emotions among those drinking,” he said.Moderate drinking also appears to have positive effects on the heart and circulatory system and could provide some measure of protection against type-2 diabetes and gallstones.On the other hand, heavy drinking is a major cause of preventable death in most countries, he said.“So in essence, alcohol is both a tonic and a poison.”Koh agreed that social drinking is not an issue. As medical doctors, he said, excessive alcohol consumption is viewed as a disease that needs to be treated.He also spoke of a need to uncover the cause of people’s dependence on alcohol as a temporary escape from problems.Mei meanwhile said there are other ways to approach the issue.“For a start, the government should be stricter in enforcing the regulations on buying and selling alcohol,” she said.“For example, make sure everyone who wants to buy alcohol shows their IC beforehand.”For George, it is also an individual matter. He said the consumption of alcohol by youngsters or Muslims cannot be entirely blamed on the availability of alcoholic drinks as it depends on a person’s values and principles.“If our values and principles are poor or shaky then the desire to abuse and use substances can increase,” he said.


Sorry.


South Korean truckers refuse to back down on fuel cost strike

South Korean truck drivers staged an eighth day of protests Tuesday over wages and rising fuel costs, further snarling global supply chains with a strike that officials say has caused more than US$1 billion in losses.The industrial action has disrupted shipments and production for the crucial steel, petrochemical and automobile sectors, in an early test for new President Yoon Suk-yeol who has vowed to deal with labour disputes “strictly”.South Korea is the world’s largest memory chip exporter and home to global chip powerhouse Samsung Electronics, as well as large car companies including Kia and Hyundai Motors.But the truckers say they are desperate due to sharp rises in fuel prices – with inflation at its highest level in over a decade.They are also protesting against the ending of a minimum wage guarantee.“All we are asking for is to remove the uncertainty in our lives,” Cho Jeong-jae, a member of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union, told AFP on Tuesday.“Our livelihood is at stake.”The strike in Asia’s fourth-largest economy is the latest blow to international supply chains that are already strained by Covid-19 lockdowns in China and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.South Korea’s trade ministry said Tuesday that the action had resulted in losses for businesses of about 1.6 trillion won (US$1.2 billion).Loud music blared from a van parked near a port on Tuesday in Incheon, a city bordering Seoul, AFP reporters saw, as dozens of trucks lined the road flying flags hoisted on bamboo canes.Similar protests were happening across the country, with more than 7,000 people having taken part at 14 locations as of Monday, according to the land ministry.Cho said the rising cost of fuel had not been reflected in the fees businesses pay to transport their goods.“When fuel prices drop, it’s reflected very quickly by lowering freight fees,” Cho said. “But that’s not the case when fuel prices rise.”Na Han-myeon, who has been driving cabs and trucks for 44 years, said most truckers were also rarely compensated for long working hours.“Many of us work 17 hours a day,” he said. “We can bear it, but the cost of the labour does not come back to us, and it seems to shorten our lives little by little.”‘Major setback’At a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo called for an end to the strikes, saying they could deliver “a very difficult blow” to the country’s export-driven economy.“It’s causing a major setback to the logistics network,” he said.But the protesters say the rallies will not stop until their voices are heard.“We have nowhere else to retreat,” said Lee Seung-ho, who has been driving trucks for three decades.“We will not stop until our demand is accepted, since all we are doing by stepping back is giving up on our rights,” Lee told AFP.Negotiations are ongoing, but the government has come under fire for a “hostile” policy towards workers, which critics say is fuelling tensions.On the campaign trail, Yoon – a political novice – had vowed to be strict on labour disputes and indicated he was more pro-business on issues such as minimum working hours.At least 23 members of the Cargo Truckers Solidarity Union have been arrested for “illegal activities” at the protests that include “interfering” with normal vehicle operations, according to the transport ministry.


UK PM Johnson orders ministers to cut 91,000 civil service jobs, report says

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered ministers to slash 91,000 civil service jobs to free up billions for tax cuts, the Daily Mail reported on Thursday.Johnson used a “cost of living” cabinet meeting in the Midlands on Wednesday to order his top team to redouble their efforts to ease the financial pressure on struggling families, it said.They were given one month to come up with plans to cut the size of the civil service by almost a fifth of the current total, which would save about 3.5 billion pounds (US$4.27 billion) a year, the newspaper said.“Every pound the Government pre-empts from the taxpayer is money they can spend on their own priorities, on their own lives,” the report quoted Johnson as saying.The prime minister also remains convinced of the need for more officials to get back into the workplace, the newspaper said.“We need to get back into the habit of getting into the office, getting into the workplace,” he told the Daily Mail. “There will be lots of people who disagree with me, but I believe people are more productive, more energetic, more full of ideas, when they are surrounded by other people.”Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA, a union for public service managers and professionals, said in a tweet, “Unless they’ve got a serious plan, it’s either another headline-grabbing stunt or a reckless slash-and-burn to public services without a thought or care about the consequences.”Johnson’s order comes after he told the parliament on Tuesday he and Chancellor Rishi Sunak will have more to say in the coming days on helping voters with the current cost of living crisis.


Thai protesters rally again, giving king’s motorcade three-finger salute

Hundreds of mostly young Thai protesters scuffled with police, throwing blue paint and chanting slogans at the royal motorcade of King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Tuesday.As the king’s car swept past, the crowd called for constitutional reform and waved the protest movement’s three-fingered salute, in a display of dissent towards the monarchy that has no recent precedent in Thailand.Tuesday was a public holiday marking four years since the death of the king’s father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who reigned for 70 years and was widely respected by Thais.Vajiralongkorn, who spends most of his time in Germany, was making a rare visit to Thailand for the occasion.It is the strong contrast between the old king’s perceived dedicated service to his people and his eccentric son’s cavalier and high-handed behaviour towards them that triggered the protests, which have persisted for three months, presenting the biggest challenge in years to a political establishment traditionally dominated by the army and the palace.“This is the ugliness of feudalism, where one person can do anything and the majority of the people have to accept it unconditionally,” Parit Chirawat, a student leader, said on Twitter.Protesters are also calling for the removal of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a retired army officer and the former leader of the military junta which governed Thailand between 2014 and 2019.Insults to the monarchy can result in up to 15 years in prison but the prime minister said earlier this year that the king requested that the punishment not be used for now.Protesters have said they are not seeking the abolition of the monarchy, just to reduce the king’s powers under a revised constitution and to reverse an order which put the palace fortune and elite army units under his sole control.“The monarchy has to be under the constitution, that is how it is supposed to be,” said 21-year-old protester Waranya Siripanya.Many die-hard royalists, mostly from the older generation, were critical of the protesters.“They may have been taught that the monarchy doesn’t have any value,” Narongsak Poomsisa-ard, 67, told Reuters. “But I want to remind them that our nation exists until today, because we have strong institutions.”The palace has not yet responded to requests for comment on the protests or demands for royal reform.


NZ declines to call China’s Uighur treatment genocide

New Zealand shied away from labelling China’s treatment of its Uighur Muslim minority genocide on Wednesday, once again leaving Wellington out of step with its more forthright Western allies.Parliament unanimously passed a motion expressing “grave concern” at human rights abuses in Xinjiang province, but only after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s ruling Labour Party insisted any reference to genocide was scrubbed out.Lawmaker Brooke van Velden said that, while allies such as the US, Britain and Canada had called what was taking place genocide, it was “intolerable” that New Zealand refused to use the term to avoid upsetting its largest trading partner.“The world is looking to us now to see what standard we are going to set – can the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) play us off as the weakest link in the Western Alliance,” she said.“We may face the threat of loss if we speak our mind, but we face a much greater danger if we don’t.”At least one million Uighurs and people from other mostly Muslim minorities have been held in camps in Xinjiang, according to rights groups, who accuse authorities of forcibly sterilising women and imposing forced labour.Van Velden, from the minor opposition ACT Party, received support on the genocide question from the Greens, who said it was “stunningly callous” to water down the condemnation of China’s actions to maintain trade relations.“It’s absolutely morally indefensible and a breach of New Zealand’s legal obligations,” Greens MP Golriz Ghahraman said.Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta told parliament that New Zealand had raised its concerns about the situation in Xinjiang with China at the highest levels of government.But she said Wellington only recognised a genocide when it had been defined as such by international courts, citing the Holocaust, as well as atrocities in Rwanda and Cambodia.“We have not formally designated the situation as constituting a genocide, this is not due to a lack of concern,” she said.“Genocide is the gravest of international crimes and a formal legal determination should only be made following a rigorous assessment on the basis of international law.”Ardern this week conceded New Zealand’s differences with China on human rights were becoming “harder to reconcile”, but said her government would continue to point out areas of concern to Beijing.Ardern’s government has taken flak over its meek criticisms of China’s rights record, leading to accusations New Zealand is a weak link in the US-led Five Eyes intelligence network.The Chinese embassy in Wellington did not respond to a request for comment.


Labuan Umno leaders sign pledge of loyalty to party

Labuan Umno division leaders have signed an "aku janji" letter or letter of undertaking as proof of loyalty to the party.
Labuan Umno chief Mohd Rafi Alli Hassan said this was in line with the Umno central leadership's directive for all party leaders to show their loyalty.
"The signing of a letter of undertaking was not done in the past, and this is a crucial time for party leaders to show their full commitment and loyalty to the party.
"As we know, there have been many cases of Umno leaders, for instance in Sabah, who have jumped ship after viewing opportunities in other political parties.
"This letter is important in that it clearly outlines the terms exactly as the leaders have agreed to, in accordance with the party constitution," he said on April 15.
Rafi said a total of 30 Labuan Umno committee members including 10 appointed members, and leaders from the division’s Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings, were sworn in and had signed the letter on that day. Rafi, who is also an Umno Supreme Council member, said those found to have violated any of the clauses in the letter of undertaking would face disciplinary action.
"Those found to have been disloyal to the party will face disciplinary action such as expulsion or suspension for a certain period of time," he said.
He also said the Labuan Umno division was conducting a deregistration exercise for party members found to have joined other parties since 2018.
"We prefer to have quality over quantity. No point having more members but they cannot contribute or are disloyal," he said.


Malaysia ranks 13th in global Covid-19 recovery index

Malaysia has been ranked 13th in the latest Nikkei Covid-19 Recovery Index after almost two years of battling the pandemic, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah says.In a Facebook post, he said the Nikkei Covid-19 Recovery Index highlights a divide between Asia and the West, with many countries experiencing a surge in cases from the Omicron variant in a short period of time.According to the Nikkei Covid-19 Recovery Index as of Dec 31, 2021, Malaysia was ranked number 13 with a total score of 66.5, while Bahrain sat at the top with a total score of 82.0, with Chile second at 76.5 and Taiwan ranking third at 75.5.The Nikkei Covid-19 Recovery Index ranks about 120 countries or regions on infection management, vaccine rollouts and social mobility.A higher ranking indicates a country or region is closer to recovery with its low numbers of confirmed Covid-19 cases, better vaccination rates and less stringent social distancing measures.Data sources include Our World in Data, Google Covid-19 Community Mobility Reports, Oxford Covid-19 Government Response Tracker Cirium, and Nikkei Asia research.Malaysia recorded 2,714 recoveries yesterday, taking the total number of recoveries to 2,714,614 since the pandemic hit the country in February 2020.Meanwhile, Noor Hisham said Malaysia is now ranked sixth in the Global Covid Index (GCI), which was developed with input from various international bodies including the World Health Organization.Based on the GCI, Malaysia ranked number six with a recovery rating of five and recovery index of 78.74, while Singapore ranked number one with 82.88 recovery index, followed by South Korea (82.71) and Taiwan (80.49), all of which the same recovery rating of five.


After Amanah apology, Muda steps up with official stand on Najib pardon

Muda today said that any application for a royal pardon for former leader Najib Razak should be rejected, a day after Amanah apologised for a similar statement issued by its communications director which sparked a strong reaction from Umno, the party's comrade in government.
In a statement, Muda's central executive committee said this was the official stand of the party.
"Muda is of the view that the application for a pardon for Najib Razak should be rejected by the Pardons Board," it said.
"This is the official stand of the party which objects to any move to save any kleptocrat that has troubled and mortgaged the country."
Former Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad had said on April 28 that a pardon for Najib would send a negative message to the people, the country's justice system and the entire world about Malaysia's attitude towards corruption and abuse of power.
"Will giving a pardon to someone who has embarrassed the country on a global scale show a firm and uncompromising stand towards corruption? Surely not.
"On the contrary, it will give the wrong signal that the war against corruption is just empty words for political interests, and that eventually everything will return to normal," he said.
Najib was convicted in 2020 of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power in relation to the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.
He began serving a 12-year jail term in August last year after losing his final appeal.
In March, the Federal Court dismissed his application for a review of his conviction and sentence, dashing his last hope of legal recourse in the case.
Umno subsequently began spearheading an attempt to obtain a royal pardon for the former president, who still wields significant influence within the party.
Khalid's statement was met with anger from Umno, with Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi labelling Amanah as an untrustworthy friend in the current government.
Kelantan Umno, set to become allies with Amanah in their bid to capture the PAS-held state at the coming polls, likewise demanded an apology from Khalid, who later said that he had done so.
He however added that his apology was for having a different stand.
"It's more important to move on and focus on the coming state elections," he said.
Khalid's apology followed that of Amanah deputy president Salahuddin Ayub, with the party's president Mohamad Sabu also saying that Khalid's remarks were his personal view.
In its statement today, Muda said any pardon for Najib would send the wrong signal to Malaysians.
"Would any ordinary citizen found guilty of the same crime be given the same privilege?" it said, adding that Najib had been convicted of not one but seven charges.
"A pardon for Najib who has just only begun serving his sentence would give the message that any individual with influence and powerful connections does not need to fear the law."
Adding that it would continue to fight against any move to save kleptocrats, including by those who wish to challenge the integrity of the judiciary, it said this was not the view of any single individual in the party.
"And we do not plan to apologise for this stand."


Hollywood actors, studios agree to media blackout for labour talks

The SAG-AFTRA actors union and the group representing major Hollywood studios agreed not to talk to the media during contract talks that started on Wednesday.
The actors' union is seeking pay increases and protections around the use of artificial intelligence in negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents Walt Disney Co, Netflix Inc, Comcast Corp and other companies.
"SAG-AFTRA and the AMPTP began formal negotiations for a new contract, and with the agreement that neither organisation will comment to the media about the negotiations during the process," the parties said in a statement.
The actors' negotiations are taking place as the Writers Guild of America (WGA) remains on strike. The work stoppage, which began May 2, has shut down late-night talk shows and halted production of shows such as a new season of "Stranger Things."
SAG-AFTRA members have authorised a strike if their talks fail to yield an agreement by June 30.


MIC leader questions ‘fickle-minded’ Umno chiefs

Umno’s Indian partner in Barisan Nasional (BN) today said the Malay party cannot reverse its earlier decision to support Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin without going through the coalition’s Supreme Council.MIC said any decision should be made after consulting the others in BN, which comprises Umno, MCA and MIC, as the parties had agreed to join the Perikatan Nasional government en bloc last year.“Umno keeps changing its stance. Today it says something, another day it says something else, and maybe it will say something different,” MIC deputy president M Saravanan, who is part of the federal Cabinet, told MalaysiaNow when asked during a press conference to announce a job carnival by the human resources ministry.Saravanan is one of three non-Umno MPs from BN in the Dewan Rakyat, with the two others from MCA.He said MIC cannot be subjected to constantly changing positions by Umno leaders.“It should not be the case. Whatever decision, whether to be together with PN or not, must be first discussed,” he said.He was asked about MIC’s stance on reports that Umno would not join hands with Muhyiddin’s Bersatu in the next polls.Umno has not confirmed the reports, based on sources which cited a recent meeting by top party leaders in Janda Baik outside Kuala Lumpur.But since late last year, former prime minister Najib Razak, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and several other party leaders have been promoting the idea of Umno working with PAS in the next election on their Muafakat Nasional platform.PAS has so far snubbed calls from Umno to dump Bersatu, and has even signed up as a component party of PN.


1MDB trial adjourned for Najib to attend BN meeting on PM candidate

Najib Razak’s 1MDB trial at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur today was adjourned to 2.30pm as the former prime minister needed to attend a critical meeting at the World Trade Centre KL at 11am in connection with the choice of candidate for the prime minister’s post.High Court judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah allowed Najib’s application to cut short the morning session at 10.45am as the Pekan MP needed to attend the meeting.“Can I just state for the record for the avoidance of doubt that I’m allowing the request by the accused only because of the peculiar circumstances on the current issues of the country at this point of time, and I suppose the importance of this meeting is achieving a resolution.“So it is only because of that. I don’t want to give the impression that the application on other meetings or events is to be allowed. Just this application. I can accommodate him to attend the meeting but we need to continue at 2.30pm. So, I’ll see you at 2.30pm,” Sequerah said.Earlier, Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed the court that Barisan Nasional (BN) parties would hold a critical meeting at 11am today in connection with the choice of candidate for the prime minister’s post.“My client is the BN adviser, he needs to be there with Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi together with the rest of the party leaders, to make a decision,” said the lawyer.Today’s morning session began with Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman, 49, the former CEO of 1MDB, beingcross-examined by Shafee on the transaction of millions in funds from 1MDB.Najib, 68, is facing four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.Yesterday, the Umno Supreme Council also held a special meeting at the same venue to discuss the party’s candidate for prime minister, whose name will be submitted to Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah today.Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun, in a statement yesterday, asked MPs to submit a letter to Istana Negara on their choice of candidate to be nominated as the ninth prime minister.The letter must be submitted to Istana Negara by 4pm today in order to be taken into consideration.


71 more deaths as daily cases creep back over 7,000

Another 7,105 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 579,462.Selangor recorded 2,068 cases, Kuala Lumpur 817, Sarawak 703, Kelantan 531, Johor 431, Penang 400, Negeri Sembilan 397, Perak 387, Sabah 318, Melaka 249, Kedah 236, Terengganu 198, Pahang 190 and Labuan 162.Putrajaya recorded 18 new cases. No cases were recorded in Perlis.Active cases stand at 80,474 with 872 in ICU and 419 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 6,083 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 496,121.However, 71 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 2,867.


German state strikes out with sweeping curbs for unjabbed

The German state of Saxony on Friday announced sweeping new curbs for people who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 or recovered from the disease, as the country grapples with a dramatic surge in infections.From Monday, access to indoor dining and other indoor events will be limited to those who are fully vaccinated or can show proof of recovery, local government minister Petra Koepping told a news conference in Dresden.“We have not managed to build a protective wall of vaccinated people over the past few weeks and months,” Koepping said.The new rules would mark the toughest state-wide restrictions in Germany against non-inoculated people. Only children as well as those who cannot receive jabs for medical reasons will be exempt.The western state of Baden-Wuerttemberg had on Wednesday ordered costly PCR tests for unvaccinated people seeking access to indoor dining or other activities, but fell short of an all-out exclusion.Germany registered 37,120 new infections in the past 24 hours on Friday, according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) health agency – a record rise for the second day running.Saxony has one of the highest incidence rates in the country at 385.7 new infections per 100,000 people over the past seven days.It also has the lowest vaccination rate, with just 57% of its inhabitants fully inoculated, according to the RKI – compared with a national average of 67%.The surge in German cases comes with the country in political limbo following September’s general election.The incoming coalition parties, aiming to form a government by early December, have so far ruled out mandatory jabs and said there will be no new lockdowns – at least not for the vaccinated.But several of Germany’s states, which have significant powers to decide their own Covid approach, have already agreed or are poised to introduce restrictions for the unvaccinated.From Saturday, Bavaria will limit certain events and spaces in Covid hotspots to people who are fully vaccinated or can show proof of recovery – known as “2G” in Germany.Berlin is also considering similar restrictions.Germany’s regional health ministers on Friday called for Covid booster jabs for all as the country scrambles to tackle the surging fourth wave.“The federal states agree that everyone who had their second jab six months ago or longer should be able to get an appropriate booster,” Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek told a news conference.Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn has also called for booster jabs for all, but the Stiko vaccine commission has so far recommended them only for those aged over 70 or with pre-existing health conditions.


Surface oil spotted in search for missing Indonesian submarine

Indonesian rescue ships and planes searching for a submarine that went missing on Wednesday morning have spotted an oil patch floating near its last dive location, Malaysiakini is reporting.The 44-year-old submarine, KRI Nanggala-402, was conducting a torpedo drill in waters north of the island of Bali but failed to relay the results as expected, a navy spokesman said.Military officials in Jakarta admitted on Wednesday that the Indonesian navy submarine had gone missing with 53 service people on board.The German-made submarine disappeared in waters about 100km off the coast of Bali.Some reports say contact was lost after the submarine had been given clearance to dive into deeper waters.Indonesia’s military chief  has also called on Australia and Singapore to help in the search.First Admiral Julius Widjojono told reporters that the navy is currently searching for the boat. “We know the area but it’s quite deep,” he said.The vessel is one of five submarines operated by Indonesia.It was launched in the late 1970s, and in 2011 underwent a complete refit in South Korea, according to Reuters.This is the first time Indonesia has lost one of its submarines, a Navy spokesman told the BBC.But similar deep-dive incidents have happened elsewhere. In 2017, an Argentine military submarine went missing in the southern Atlantic with 44 crew on board.Its wreck was located a year later, and officials confirmed that the submarine had imploded.


PN to get answers from PAS about 'secret meeting' with Umno

Perikatan Nasional (PN) will seek clarification from PAS about claims that secret negotiations were held between the party and Umno on the need for collaboration to face Pakatan Harapan (PH) in the 15th general election (GE15).
PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said an explanation from the PAS president or secretary-general was important to determine the truth of the negotiations.
"Is it really serious or to what extent it will go... I will think about such issues but for now, I cannot comment because I am only hearing from the media.
"What I am aware of is that the Umno leadership during the Umno general assembly decided to not be associated with Bersatu, and that decision has not changed.
"... We (Bersatu), on the other hand, have established cooperation between PN and PAS, so how are we going to face GE15 under such circumstances? To me, we need to act so that PN will have a clear stand, without any doubts, on the direction and road map of our future," he said to reporters in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
He was commenting on a statement by PAS spiritual leader Hashim Jasin that there had been secret negotiations involving certain leaders from Umno and PAS on the need for a one-on-one challenge between them and PH in GE15.
Hashim said PAS wanted Umno to know that the main opposition during GE15 would be PH and not Bersatu.
Muhyiddin said that different opinions within the party would not auger well for the future of PN.
"We will brief the public on our position. PN’s position is clear in many ways, including our decision not to work with anyone involved in the misuse of power, corruption, or who is bogged down with court cases or other detrimental issues.
"But whatever issues that may arise, we will discuss," he said.
Meanwhile, PN secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said PN's Supreme Council would meet and discuss various subjects related to GE15 as well as the coalition.
He said the meeting would be chaired by Muhyiddin and attended by various leaders from PAS and Gerakan.


We will remain under Anwar’s leadership, PH says after failed bid for power

Top leaders of Pakatan Harapan (PH) today said they are still committed to the leadership of their chairman Anwar Ibrahim, despite growing calls for the coalition to rethink its strategy of nominating the PKR leader as prime minister.Instead, the coalition, claiming that 105 MPs had backed Anwar for the top post in their letters to the palace last week, said it would extend cooperation with other opposition blocs to work under what it calls the “big tent” approach.“Mobilisation of the opposition through the ‘big tent’ approach must be given priority over political games by certain parties in their bid to grab power and positions to the detriment of the country,” said a statement issued by Anwar as well as DAP’s Lim Guan Eng and Amanah’s Mohamad Sabu.PH had urged its MPs to nominate Anwar as prime minister in their statutory declarations sent to Istana Negara last week.On Friday, the palace said Bera MP Ismail Sabri Yaakob had received the support of 114 MPs.However, there is dispute over the number of MPs who backed Anwar, with some saying only 92 stated their support for the Port Dickson MP.Anwar’s failure to muster sufficient numbers has led to growing criticism of PH, with some urging the coalition to look beyond the veteran politician in its quest for power.In their statement, the top PH leaders said efforts are underway to strengthen the coalition under Anwar’s chairmanship.“Preparations for the 15th general election will be intensified, including on negotiations for seat allocations, manifesto, leadership and candidates, as well as strategies to get the people’s mandate,” the statement added.They also said MPs from PH would continue their duty as the opposition in Parliament to give constructive criticism, recommendations and views, in line with the advice of the Agong, to ensure the continued check and balance of the executive.


Bersatu says PN still in charge, views Umno decision seriously

The top leaders of Bersatu today thanked its partners in Perikatan Nasional (PN) for remaining in the coalition despite Umno’s decision not to cooperate with the ruling bloc at the next general election.“Bersatu takes the stand that the PN government led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is still intact and will perform its duty to serve the people,” Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin said in a statement following a meeting by the party’s leaders tonight.The statement said it viewed Umno’s decision to dump Bersatu at the next polls as serious, adding that it will have grave implications.But it said the PN government would continue its focus on battling the Covid-19 pandemic and restoring the economy, adding that political stability was crucial to ensuring the success of government programmes.“As such, Bersatu would like to thank all political parties for their loyalty and steadfastness in supporting and defending the aspirations of the PN government,” the statement added.


Sorry.


China, NZ foreign ministers discuss Pacific involvement

China and New Zealand foreign ministers spoke on a video call late on Monday and discussed China’s role in the Pacific region, the two countries confirmed in separate statements.China’s growing influence in the region and the potential of militarisation has concerned New Zealand along with its allies. Their concerns increased after China and the Solomon Island’s signed a security pact earlier in the year.Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta underlined the importance of engagement taking place in a manner that advances Pacific priorities, is supportive of Pacific regional institutions such as the Pacific Islands Forum, and addresses the significant challenges in the region, according to a statement from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in his statement that Beijing respects the traditional ties between New Zealand and the Pacific island nations and wants to participate in more multi-party cooperation projects with New Zealand.“The cooperation between China and Pacific island nations that China has diplomatic relations with can go hand in hand with existing arrangements in the region and complement one another,” Wang said in a statement.Mahuta also voiced New Zealand’s views on sensitive issues, including human rights issues in Xinjiang, the erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong, and the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, according to MFAT.


Average annual UK grocery bill highest since at least 2008, industry data shows

UK grocery inflation hit 11.6% in August, the highest level since at least 2008, adding 533 pounds (US$642) to annual bills during the worst cost of living crisis in decades, industry data showed on Tuesday.
Market researcher Kantar said the inflation rate was the highest it has seen since it started tracking supermarket prices in this way 14 years ago.
As prices rise Britons are also increasingly turning to own-label products to drive down the cost of their weekly shop, Kantar said. Sales of supermarkets' own lines grew 7.3%, while sales of branded items now make up about half of the market, the highest level recorded, Kantar said.
"Over the past month we’ve really seen retailers expand and advertise their own value ranges across the store to reflect demand," said Fraser McKevitt, Kantar's head of retail and consumer insight. "It’s not surprising that we’re seeing shoppers make lifestyle changes to deal with the extra demands on their household budgets."
Prices are rising fastest for products such as butter, milk and poultry, the researcher said.
The Bank of England said inflation would peak at 13.3% in October, the highest since 1980. Soaring inflation has largely been driven by rising energy costs, alongside issues surrounding Britain's departure from the European Union and supply chain disruptions that worsened with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Discount chain Lidl remained Britain's fastest growing grocer over the 12 weeks with sales up 17.9%.
Kantar said its data also showed Britons reacting to heat waves in July and August with sales of mineral water and soft drinks soaring by 23% and 10% respectively over the past four weeks.


Over 500 Rohingya flee Penang immigration depot

The immigration department today said that over 500 Rohingya migrants had fled a temporary holding depot in Sungai Bakap, Penang, early this morning.Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said the 528 Rohingya fled at 4.30am after breaking through the door and grill at the block.As of 10am, 362 had been recaptured while joint efforts with the police and Rela are ongoing to track down the rest.“The officers on duty have activated the SOPs by contacting the police and related agencies for assistance,” Khairul said in a statement.Meanwhile, Penang police chief Mohamad Shuhaily Mohamad Zain said six of the detainees were killed as they sought to cross a highway after escaping.Those killed were two adult men, two adult women, one girl and one boy, he said.


Shafee’s money laundering trial to begin after long delay

After almost three years, the trial of senior lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, who is facing two counts of money laundering charges involving RM9.5 million allegedly received from former prime minister Najib Razak and two charges of making false statements to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), will commence tomorrow at the Kuala Lumpur High Court.Shafee’s trial dates were previously vacated to make way for Najib’s ongoing trials. Shafee is the lead counsel for the former prime minister’s criminal cases.The trial before judge Muhammad Jamil Hussin is scheduled to begin at 9am.The case will be conducted by deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz while lawyer Harvinderjit Singh will appear for Shafee.On Sept 13, 2018, Shafee, 69, pleaded not guilty to receiving proceeds from unlawful activity via cheques issued by Najib, which were remitted into Shafee’s CIMB Bank Bhd account.He allegedly received a cheque for RM4.3 million on Sept 13, 2013 and another for RM5.2 million on Feb 17, 2014.Shafee was said to have committed the two offences at CIMB Bank Bhd, J2 & K1, Taman Tunku, Bukit Tunku.The charges, under Section 4(1)(a) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, carry a fine not exceeding RM5 million, up to five years’ jail, or both upon conviction.Shafee also faces two charges of involvement in transactions of proceeds from unlawful activities, by making inaccurate statements and in contravention of paragraph 113(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act 1967 for the financial years ending Dec 31, 2013 and Dec 31, 2014.He allegedly committed the offences at LHDN’s Duta branch at Kompleks Pejabat Kerajaan, Jalan Tunku Abdul Halim on March 3, 2015 and June 29, 2015.For this, Shafee is liable to be jailed a maximum 15 years and fined not less than five times the amount of proceeds from the unlawful activity, if convicted.


Iran closes borders with Iraq, halts flights amid violence

Iran has closed its borders with Iraq and urged its citizens to avoid travelling there, a senior official said on Tuesday, amid an eruption of violence after powerful Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said he would quit politics.
Heavy clashes in Baghdad killed at least 20 people on Monday, after Sadr's announcement prompted his loyalists to storm a government palace and fight with rival groups.
Millions of Iranians travel to the Iraqi city of Kerbala every year for the ritual of Arbaeen, which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the grandson of the Prophet Mohammad, Imam Hussein. Arbaeen falls on Sept 16-17 this year.
"The border with Iraq has been closed. Due to safety concerns, it is necessary for Iranians to refrain from travelling to Iraq until further notice," state TV quoted Iran's deputy Interior Minister Majid Mirahmadi as saying.
State TV said Iran had halted all flights to Iraq "until further notice because of the ongoing unrest".
"We are trying to arrange an emergency flight to bring back Iranians from Iraq and Baghdad who are currently at the airport. We hope to evacuate them today," state TV cited a senior aviation authority as saying.


Current Covid-19 cases were infected before, during Hari Raya, says health minister

Malaysians have been urged to implement self-lockdown as the current Covid-19 cases are infections that occurred before and during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration, says Health Minister Dr Adham Baba.Adham said Malaysia recorded 40 religious clusters: 19 in Johor, 13 in Selangor and eight others in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Kelantan.“Religious clusters emerged during the fasting month and Hari Raya Aidilfitri and proliferated due to the mobilisation of people. If we can reduce mobilisation, we can reduce virus transmission,” he told reporters at the virtual press conference on the development of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme with its coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin today.He also called on the people to implement self-lockdown to break the Covid-19 chain as this method had proved successful in other countries.Adham said a total of 38,785 Covid-19 cases were reported from May 16 to 22 with an average of 5,541 cases a day.“A total of 333 deaths were reported during the week with an average of 48 deaths per day,” he said, adding that workplace and community clusters also recorded an increase within the period.Adham said so far, no Covid-19 vaccine recipients had had to receive intensive treatment in hospital due to the vaccine’s side effects.He said there had been cases of serious side effects experienced by recipients detected by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency as well as through the MySejahtera application since the implementation of the vaccination exercise in February. However, the number is small at 0.1% of 1,000 doses.“They have received treatment and have been discharged from hospital. They don’t need long-term hospitalisation,” he added.Adham said a large number of those who were found to have side effects after taking their Covid-19 jabs only experienced mild side effects such as pain at the injection site, headache and fatigue which are normally experienced by vaccine recipients.He was previously reported as saying that about 99.5% of the 25,770 recipients who experience side effects from the Covid-19 injection were found to have mild side effects while the remaining cases required treatment and observation by health specialists.


Many UK students lack basic reading skills after Covid-19 lockdowns shut schools

Britain is working on a “catch-up” education plan as hundreds of thousands of primary school children are struggling with basic reading and writing following months of Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns, government sources have told the Times.After the lockdowns, more than 200,000 children of around age 10 who are about to move from primary to secondary schools are facing reading challenges.A report by the children’s commissioner, Dame Rachel de Souza, showed that on average each student lost roughly 19 weeks of in-person schooling over the course of the pandemic until March 8.“We asked children to make a huge sacrifice to help control the virus and now we need to give them something back,” de Souza said as she called for a “supercharged educational catch-up.”Prime Minister Boris Johnson will launch a four-year emergency plan to tackle the illiteracy crisis, the Times reported on Sunday.The problem appears to be so dire it has become the prime minister’s second priority after the vaccination campaign.It is unclear when the government will officially present its plan to deal with this issue, but the Times sources said that Johnson will deliver what they called a blunt assessment of the social impact of the pandemic in May.The UK “education recovery” czar, Kevan Collins, is leading the review of the effect Covid-19 has had on schoolchildren, and his plan reportedly involves deploying a “citizens’ army” of substitute and former teachers, as well as university students, to help children catch up.The UK government is reportedly prepared to spend billions on small group tutoring as well as after-school and holiday clubs, which would essentially mean extending learning hours.Education Secretary Gavin Williamson said on Saturday that British teachers would need to undergo extra training to help children catch up with the months of lessons they have lost. The catch-up plan would likely involve an opportunity for teachers to earn more by working longer hours.The problems of education being disrupted by the pandemic can be even greater around the poorer countries of the world.The United Nations is reporting that the Covid-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems in history, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries.Closures of schools and other learning spaces have impacted 94% of the world’s student population, rising to 99% in low-income countries.The crisis is exacerbating pre-existing education disparities by reducing the opportunities for many of the most vulnerable children living in poor or rural areas.Learning losses also threaten to extend beyond this generation and erase decades of progress, not least in support of girls and young women’s educational access.Millions of children may drop out or not have access to school next year due to the pandemic’s economic impact alone.


Tokyo Olympics ‘unlikely’, says London 2012 official

The Tokyo Olympics look “unlikely” to go ahead as the coronavirus pandemic continues to paralyse large parts of the world, a senior official from the London 2012 Games has said.Keith Mills, who was deputy chairman of the London 2012 organising committee, said Tokyo officials should be making plans to cancel.Japanese and International Olympic Committee officials remain adamant the 2020 Games, already postponed for a year, will go ahead in July and August despite the ongoing health crisis.“Personally, sitting here, looking at the pandemic around the world, in South America, North America, Africa and Europe, it looks unlikely,” Mills told the BBC.“If I were sitting in the shoes of the organisers, I would be making plans for a cancellation and I’m sure they do, but I think they will leave it absolutely the last minute in case the situation improves dramatically.“But it is a tough call.”Tokyo and other parts of Japan are currently under a state of emergency to quash a surge in infections, and polls indicate that public support for the Olympics has plunged.But World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said he still thought the Games would go ahead.“I don’t think it will be cancelled,” Coe told Sky News. “It’ll be a challenge, we know. It’s pretty self-evident. There will be adaptations.”“I think the Games will take place but they will look different,” he added.


Fulfilling moral duty or being punished for profits: The windfall tax dilemma

A call for the government to impose a windfall tax on companies that reaped profits throughout the pandemic has drawn mixed reactions with an economist saying it is not needed and a prominent retail tycoon welcoming it as a tool to close the income gap brought on by almost 20 months of economic disruption.Ameer Ali Mydin who owns the Mydin hypermarket chain, among the businesses allowed to operate even during the height of the virus lockdown, said such a measure would not be extreme.He said it not only makes good economic sense as the extra revenue could be used by the government to help those affected by the months-long closure of businesses, but also fulfils a moral duty.“From a businessman’s point of view, we want to generate profit but it must be a fair profit,” Ameer told MalaysiaNow.“In Islam, if a person earns a windfall, he is encouraged to donate to those who are less fortunate.“They are not being asked to give everything, only some. That too is for the good of the people. If the country falls into poverty, the company will be affected too.”Some sectors have seen exponential growth despite the pandemic which forced governments throughout the world to impose restrictions and, in some cases, a total shutdown of business activities.Food delivery companies such as Grab and rubber glove maker Top Glove are among those who have reported huge profits, and many have questioned their social responsibility, asking if it should be left to choice.Top Glove for instance recorded after-tax profits of nearly RM2.9 billion for the second quarter of the financial year – a 24-fold increase from the RM116 million recorded in the same period the year before.Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, a strong proponent of a windfall tax, had said it would help replace revenues lost due to the ravaging impact of the pandemic on businesses.But Putrajaya has so far resisted such a move, arguing that it could be perceived negatively by investors.Instead, it said that major glove manufacturers which have recorded profits would contribute RM400 million to the government’s battle against Covid-19.Economist Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid appears to support such a stand, saying there are concerns that a windfall tax could stunt economic recovery and make it difficult to attract foreign investors.“Normally, profits are linked to a company’s innovation, creativity and efforts. If companies are taxed for recording high profits, it might be seen as a form of penalty,” Afzanizam, who is chief economist at Bank Islam Malaysia, told MalaysiaNow.He warned that it could also drive companies to other countries that have a business-friendly tax system.“We know that it is already hard to get foreign direct investments, so it would be better to take care of the existing industry,” he said.Afzanizam said there are long-term implications of a windfall tax on the economy.He also said the government’s tax revenue would grow in tandem with the reopening of the economy.“The government’s role here is to ensure the smooth recovery of the economy.“Right now the economy is struggling to recover and we fear that its progress will be stunted if a new tax is introduced.”Ameer meanwhile said it would be pointless for companies to make huge profits when the country is still mired in trouble, adding that the problems would eventually affect the companies themselves.He said such companies, including those in the rubber glove industry, have a duty to help Malaysians overcome the pandemic together, and that it would also be better if their contribution comes voluntarily.“They could give a sum of money and advise on how best to use it, to ensure that the funds can be monitored and used properly,” said Ameer.


US health agency raises ‘concern’ over AstraZeneca trial data

A US government agency Tuesday raised concerns that AstraZeneca may have included out-of-date drug data in information provided during US trials for its Covid-19 vaccine.A monitoring board had “expressed concern that AstraZeneca may have included outdated information from that trial, which may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data”, a statement from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said.“We urge the company to work with the DSMB (Data and Safety Monitoring Board) to review the efficacy data and ensure the most accurate, up-to-date efficacy data be made public as quickly as possible.”The statement comes after AstraZeneca said Monday that Stage Three US trials had showed its Covid-19 vaccine was 79% effective at preventing the disease.AstraZeneca said it was preparing to submit its findings to the US Food and Drug Administration to authorise the shot for emergency use.The AstraZeneca vaccine is cheaper and easier to store than many of its rivals, but several countries in Europe and other parts of the world last week suspended its use because of isolated cases of blood clots.


Biden says US, allies not involved in uprising against Putin

President Joe Biden on Monday said a brief uprising by Russian mercenaries against the Kremlin was part of a struggle within the Russian system and that the US and its allies were not involved in it.
Biden offered a cautious assessment of unfolding events in an attempt to avoid inflaming tensions with nuclear-armed Russia while he offered firm Western support for Ukraine in its bid to turn back Russian invaders.
"We made clear we were not involved, we had nothing to do with this," Biden said in his first comments on the uprising by Wagner mercenaries that fizzled over the weekend.
Biden's message that the West was not involved was sent directly to the Russians through various diplomatic channels, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters. He did not characterize Russia's response.
At a White House event, Biden addressed the dramatic power struggle that erupted when the mutineers barreled toward Moscow only to stop before reaching the capital.
Biden said he had directed his national security team to update him on the situation "hour by hour" and to prepare for a range of scenarios, which he did not detail.
Russian intelligence services were investigating whether Western spy agencies played a role in the aborted mutiny, the Tass news agency quoted Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying on Monday.
The US intelligence community "was aware" that the mutiny orchestrated by Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin's "was a possibility" and briefed the US Congress "accordingly" before it began, said a source familiar with the issue, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The Biden administration would not address a widely held perception in Washington that the uprising showed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been weakened by his 16-month war against Ukraine.
State Department spokesman Matt Miller told reporters it is as yet unclear what the ultimate implications of what happened will be, but he noted: "It is a certainly a new thing to see President Putin's leadership directly challenged. It is a new thing to see Yevgeny Prigozhin directly questioning the rationale for this war and calling out that the war has been conducted essentially based on a lie."
Biden said he spoke with key allies on a video conference to make sure everyone was on the same page and coordinated in their response.
"They agreed with me that we had to make sure that we gave Putin no excuse - gave Putin no excuse - to blame this on the West and blame this on Nato," he said.
Biden, who spoke to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, said he would be speaking to him again later on Monday or Tuesday morning to make sure they were "on the same page".
The White House said Biden also consulted on Monday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni about the situation.
Biden said he and his team would continue assessing the fallout from the incident.
"It's still too early to reach a definitive conclusion about where this is going," he added.
He said his message to allies was "it's important that we stay completely coordinated".
Kirby said the US does not know the parameters of the deal reached between Putin and Prigozhin that ended the uprising. He said he did not know Prigozhin's whereabouts.
"We're not taking sides in this internal matter," he said.
Kirby said a new package of US assistance for Ukraine would be announced soon. Sources told Reuters that the US would announce as soon as Tuesday a new military aid package for Ukraine worth up to US$500 million (about RM2.3 billion).


No difference between colonial-era Malayan Union and PH's vision of multiracial Malaysia, says Mahathir

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said there is no difference between the Malayan Union plan by the British colonialist and Pakatan Harapan's (PH) concept of multiculturalism, adding that both are geared towards erasing the fabric of the Malay Peninsula by denying the place of the Malays as the original inhabitants.
The former prime minister said PH parties are promoting a concept that will see the erosion of Malaysia as a Malay land, and that it was the same philosophy behind the colonial-era Malayan Union and the "Malaysian Malaysia" slogan promoted by the late Singapore leader Lee Kuan Yew when the island was part of the Malaysian federation.
"Never before have foreign immigrants or their descendants who were given asylum in a country demanded that the country that granted them citizenship be changed into a nation of immigrants, that is, a multi-racial country.
"That is the meaning of Malaysian Malaysia. The Malay Peninsula should be replaced with a multiracial Malaysian Malaysia. The Malay Peninsula is then abolished and replaced by the multiracial Malaysian Malaysia," said Mahathir, the latest in a series of statements on multiracialism he has been making since launching the Malay Proclamation, a document that seeks to restore Malay rights that he said have deteriorated over the decades.
He said Lee's "Malaysian Malaysia" was rejected in the 1964 general election, a year before Singapore exited Malaysia.
"Today, DAP with the support of PKR and Amanah is once again promoting the same goal, that Malaysia is not a country that is originally Malay, but a multi-ethnic country."
He said if such a change occurs, Malays would no longer be in control of the administrative machinery, as well as the police and the armed forces.
"At the same time, the economy (business and industry) will be off limits to the Malays," he added.
He said the Malay Proclamation was not after the rights of others but only wanted to drive home the point that the peninsula is a land that belonged to the Malays, who have absorbed Arab, Indian and Indonesian migrants so that they are known as Malays.
He said this was because these communities have embraced the Malay culture and language.
"As for the immigrants and their descendants who want to maintain their identity with their country of origin, the treatment they get is certainly different from the treatment for the indigenous people and those who have fully accepted the national language and culture," said Mahathir.
Mahathir said many Malays are under the impression that the calls for multiracialism were only reflected in the equal racial distribution in politics.
"They don't realise about the other changes.
"Hang Tuah said Malays will never disappear from the face of the earth. But the Malays have lost a lot of territory. The current trend shows that the Malays will not remain as one nation.
"Malays will lose their country and will disappear from this world," he said.


New infections stay below 3,000 as death toll up by 3

Another 2,913 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,905,877.
There were 2,599 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,837,652.
There are now 31,747 active cases, of which 30,257 or 95.3% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0.0%) are at quarantine centres while 1,430 (4.5%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 60 are in ICU with 43 in need of respiratory assistance.
Another three deaths were reported, including one who was brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,478.


Alcohol and gaming more complex than PAS makes out

Since the decision by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to prohibit the sale of liquor at all convenience stores, grocery stores, and Chinese medicine halls, and the PAS-led Kedah state government’s decision to ban the operation of all gaming shops and curbs on the sale of alcohol in the rural parts of the state, there has been concern among non-Muslims that their rights and assess to these activities have been infringed, besides them being subjected to moral policing.Gaming and consumption of liquor have been projected as a battle between Muslims and non-Muslims.PAS leaders with their self-righteous attitude have put forth an argument on the basis of religion and protecting the rights of the Malay-Muslim majority while non-Muslims feel this is an orchestrated move to enhance Islamic hegemony in the Malaysian political and social landscape.The truth that is missing in this debate is that not all non-Muslims favour gaming or drinking alcohol, and there are those who indulge in these activities in a moderate manner without the sin of addiction.This shows there is complexity of behaviour among human beings, and it cannot be separated as a Muslim and non-Muslim issue.Gaming and alcohol are not vices as PAS tries to project them but an activity that can be used in a moderate manner, or it could also result in addiction.For example, those days when we sat around places like food stalls, there would be people selling lottery tickets. People who buy these tickets try their luck, and that does not mean they will become addicted to gambling. A moderate drinking of alcohol does not make one addicted.There are good, loving and helpful people who buy lottery tickets and drink moderately.If one looks at addiction per se one could question why PAS has not spoken about banning cigarettes since they are also harmful to health, besides causing medical conditions that would burden families.While it true that the addiction to alcohol and gambling has brought misery to certain families, it is vital that issues of this nature are addressed through inclusive discussions and the building of consensus with non-Muslims on the harm of alcohol being sold in certain areas where there are cases of addiction.This should be projected through statistical scientific findings instead addressing an issue purely from a predominantly religious eye that could be construed as exclusive and done with ulterior motives.It is time that Malaysians built consensus on issues related to gaming and alcohol instead of one political party imposing its beliefs on others which would certainly be rejected since it is based on a religious flavour that has its roots in deep rooted self-righteous ethno-religious identity politics.Ronald Benjamin is secretary of the Association for Community and Dialogue.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Zelensky warns of 'ugly' Russian attack as Ukraine prepares to celebrate Independence Day

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday warned Ukrainians to be vigilant in the coming week as they prepare to celebrate their Independence Day, as fresh blasts hit Crimea and a missile wounded 12 civilians near a nuclear power plant.
In his nightly video address, Zelensky said Ukrainians must not allow Moscow to "spread despondency and fear" among them as they mark the 31st anniversary of independence from Soviet rule.
"We must all be aware that this week Russia could try to do something particularly ugly, something particularly vicious," Zelensky said ahead of the anniversary on Aug 24, which also marks six months since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began.
The curfew in Ukraine's second largest city, Kharkiv, would be extended for the entire day on Aug 24, regional governor Oleh Synehub said. The northeastern city is regularly hit by Russian shelling and normally has a curfew from 10pm to 6am.
"Remain at home and take heed of warnings!" Synehub wrote in a message to residents on Telegram.
Also on Saturday, a Russian missile hit a residential area of a southern Ukrainian town not far from a nuclear power station, wounding 12 civilians, Russian and Ukrainian officials said.
That strike at the Pivdennoukrainsk (South Ukraine) nuclear station and fresh shelling near the Zaporizhzhia station, Europe's largest such facility, prompted new fears of a nuclear accident during the war, Ukrainian officials said.
Zelensky in his address also referred obliquely to a series of explosions in recent days in Crimea, the Ukrainian territory seized and annexed by Russia during a 2014 incursion.
Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the attacks, but analysts have said at least some have been made possible by new equipment used by Ukrainian forces.
"You can literally feel Crimea in the air this year, that the occupation there is only temporary and that Ukraine is coming back," Zelensky said.
In the latest attack in Crimea, the Russian-appointed governor not recognised by the West said a drone had struck a building near the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet on Saturday morning.
"A drone flew onto the roof. It was flying low," governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said on Telegram. "It was downed right over the Fleet headquarters. It fell on the roof and burned up. The attack failed."
Razvozhayev said later the region's anti-aircraft system had again been in operation and asked residents to stop filming and disseminating pictures of how it was working.
Ukrainian media reported explosions in nearby towns – including the resorts of Yevpatoriya, Olenivka and Zaozyornoye.
Children among the injured
Following the strike near the South Ukraine power station, Vitaliy Kim, governor of Mykolaiv region, said on Telegram that four children were among the wounded. Private homes and a five-storey apartment block were damaged in Voznesensk, 30km from the plant, Ukraine's second largest.
The general prosecutor's office in Mykolaiv region, updating an earlier toll, said 12 civilians had been wounded.
State-run Energoatom, which manages all four Ukrainian nuclear energy generators, described the attack on Voznesensk as "another act of Russian nuclear terrorism."
"It is possible that this missile was aimed specifically at the Pivdennoukrainsk Nuclear Power Plant, which the Russian military tried to seize back at the beginning of March," Energoatom said in a statement.
Russia did not immediately respond to the accusation. Reuters was unable to verify the situation in Voznesensk. There were no reports of any damage to the South Ukraine plant.
Russia and Ukraine traded fresh accusations of shelling around the Zaporizhzhia station, held by Russia since March.
Vladimir Rogov, a Russia-appointed official in the nearby town of Enerhodar, said Ukrainian forces had launched at least four strikes on the plant. Yevhen Yetushenko, mayor of Ukrainian-controlled Nikopol on the opposite bank of the Dnipro River, said Russian forces had repeatedly shelled the town.
Talks have been under way for more than a week to arrange for a visit to the plant by the UN nuclear power agency, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Ukrainian authorities have called on the United Nations and other international organisations to force Russian forces to leave the Zaporizhzhia plant.
And in Mariupol, a town in eastern Ukraine controlled by Russia after weeks of shelling, officials said the new Russian-appointed mayor, Konstantin Ivashchenko, had survived an assassination attempt.
"It didn't work," Petro Andryushchenko, an official of the ousted city council, said on Telegram. "But this is only the beginning."


Race to vaccinate in French city as rare variant detected

The French city of Bordeaux will fast-track vaccinations for residents in one neighbourhood after nearly 50 people tested positive for a “very rare” variant of Covid-19, health authorities told AFP on Friday.All adult residents of the city’s northern Bacalan neighbourhood will be granted “unconditional” access to jabs, “this weekend or at worst early next week”, said Patrick Dehail, medical adviser to the regional health authority.“We are working with the (health) ministry to obtain the extra doses required,” Dehail said, adding that the boosted local effort will then be expanded to the wider Bordeaux area.“We are talking about a variant that has already been identified at the national level but which has been very rare until now,” he added.At least 46 people have been infected with the variant in the Bordeaux neighbourhood, with mass testing launched Friday to track down further cases. None of those infected so far have been hospitalised.Labelled VOC 20I/484Q, the strain is related to the British variant of Covid-19, but with an additional mutation.This mutation, (E484K), is also carried by the South African and Brazilian variants and is suspected of reducing the immunity acquired by either a past infection or by some vaccines.However, Dehail said there was as yet “no reason” to suggest that the variant is resistant to mRNA vaccines such as those made by Pfizer or Moderna, or that it causes a more serious form of Covid-19.The variant has been detected in the northern Paris region as well as Bordeaux in southwest France.In France as a whole, vaccinations have so far been limited to the over-50s, although people outside this age group can book unused slots advertised at short notice. All adults will be eligible for vaccinations in France from May 31.


Sorry.


Pandemic-driven budget may be biggest yet despite cuts for ‘non-essential’ ministries and sectors

Putrajaya is likely to announce its biggest allocation in years in the first budget since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, with billions of ringgit more specially set aside to address the impact of the pandemic which has so far claimed 277 lives.Today’s budget is also the first by the Perikatan Nasional government, formed after the collapse of Pakatan Harapan in February.The budget, to be tabled by Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz, attracted unprecedented attention from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the back of concerns that it could be defeated at the voting stage.The palace issued three reminders to MPs to set aside their political differences and support the budget to ensure that critical financial allocations can be made available in the battle against Covid-19.The royal calls followed speculation that a small group of ruling MPs opposed to Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin could scuttle the budget bill, which would raise the spectre of snap polls in the midst of the pandemic – a scenario against which health officials have repeatedly warned.While billions of ringgit were saved in terms of government operations during the movement control order (MCO), which saw public offices closed and non-critical civil servants working from home, the extra allocations for Covid-19 mean those savings would have little impact.“Whatever has been saved in operation expenditure would have been usurped by special allocations for Covid-19,” a source familiar with high-level discussions on the preparation of national budgets in the last few years told MalaysiaNow.Expenditure on health will see an inevitable increase as authorities brace for a protracted encounter with Covid-19.It is also “almost a foregone conclusion” that government assistance and subsidies will see an increase across the board, the source added, as tens of thousands reel from job losses with many more expecting to land on the chopping block of the employment market as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.MalaysiaNow’s own projections, as well as conversations with experts involved in past budgets, suggest that Putrajaya might spend a record amount on a string of welfare and cash disbursement programmes for the coming year, including the household living aid for lower income groups.Likewise, expenditure on health will see an inevitable increase as authorities brace for a protracted encounter with Covid-19.Meanwhile, several ministries might receive slightly lower allocations than they did in the past.The upcoming budget might see a record amount set aside for welfare and cash disbursement, including the household living aid for lower income groups.“These ministries could include those seen as non-critical at a time when there are more pressing concerns,” the source said.Such ministries could include the ministries of foreign affairs, national unity, international trade and industry, environment, youth and sports, and federal territories.On the other hand, sectors related to education, agriculture, technology, security, and defence might see only few cuts.“Some might even receive slightly higher allocations, especially sectors that have seen greater need during the lockdowns.“This will also mean more investments in the development of better communication infrastructure nationwide,” the source added.The country’s 1.6 million civil servants, however, may have to wait until the worst is over.While the government might heed calls for an extension of the targeted moratorium on bank loans, there is little hope that they will see an increment in salaries.Civil servants were given special assistance of RM500 at the height of the MCO, on top of the RM500 disbursed early this year to help ease the financial burden of parents ahead of the opening of the new school year.


Myanmar’s Suu Kyi hit with import law charge after coup

A Myanmar court has charged ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi with breaching an import and export law, a spokesman from her National League for Democracy (NLD) said Wednesday.The charges come days after the military staged a lightning coup, detaining Suu Kyi and Myanmar president Win Myint, and the army chief General Min Aung Hlaing was granted “legislative, judicial and executive powers”.The swift power seizure effectively returns a nation at the edge of democracy to direct military rule.Since Monday’s putsch, party members have had no direct contact with Suu Kyi, though NLD press officer Kyi Toe said Tuesday a neighbour sighted her in her Naypyidaw residence, where she was believed to be held under house arrest.On Wednesday, Kyi Toe said the party received “reliable information” that a court in Naypyidaw had remanded Suu Kyi and Win Myint for 14 days.“Dakhinathiri court has given a 14-day remand from Feb 1 to Feb 15 against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under the charge of violating the import/export law,” he wrote on his official Facebook page.He added that Win Myint was also under remand orders by the court, accused of breaching the National Disaster Management law.NLD officials and Naypyidaw police officials could not immediately be reached for confirmation.According to stamped police documents seen by AFP, a military team from the commander-in-chief’s office searched Suu Kyi’s residence on Monday – the day of the coup – at 6.30pm.They found at least 10 walkie talkies and other communication devices.These devices were considered evidence to “file a lawsuit to take action against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi who had imported and used these communication devices without permission”.As for Win Myint, police documents say the president, his wife and his daughter had taken part in a campaign event in September which drew hundreds of people – actions that flouted coronavirus restrictions.


55 hotels closed down due to Covid-19

A total of 55 hotels nationwide closed down while 86 hotels have been temporarily closed from March last year until now due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Dewan Negara was told today.Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Santhara Kumar said the hotels were registered with the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MOH) and recognised by the ministry.It is estimated that over 8,000 hotel industry workers were laid off during the period, he added.“To revive tourism activities and employment in the sector, various forms of assistance have been provided directly through the National People’s Well-Being and Economic Recovery Package (Pemulih) and Strategic Programme to Empower the People and Economy (Pemerkasa).“Tourism industry players were also given one-off cash assistance, an extension of discount on electricity bills until Dec 31, tourism and services tax exemption, deferment of tax instalment payments and wage subsidy schemes,” he said during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Negara sitting today.He was responding to a supplementary question from Jefridin Atan on the number of hotels in the country that had ceased operations due to Covid-19 and the assistance provided by the ministry to the tourism operators.In reply to the original question regarding initiatives taken by the ministry to revive the tourism sector, Santhara said RM30 million had been allocated for the maintenance of tourism facilities or infrastructure, with 89 projects currently implemented nationwide.Santhara said that through Budget 2021, the government had also allocated RM20 million to boost the infrastructure of cultural villages in Terengganu, Melaka, Sarawak, and Negeri Sembilan.“The ministry has always worked closely with state governments in ensuring that tourism development is constantly improved. This is to enable it to be an attraction for tourists, thus contributing to the domestic economic growth“Maintenance and upgrading projects have also been implemented in key and popular focus areas to ensure the availability of tourism infrastructure at an optimal level,” he said.


Sixth Covid-19 cluster detected in Sabah

Another Covid-19 cluster has surfaced in Sabah, making it the sixth in the state.Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the latest cluster, named the Kuarters cluster, was found in Tongod, Sandakan.So far, five positive cases have been reported there following screening done in the district.He said on Sept 4, a health worker from Tongod tested positive during RTK Antigen screening.“This worker was screened upon referral to the hospital. However, the confirmation test through rt-PCR screening proved negative.“The screening done around the Tongod district that started on Sept 6 involved the local community including staff at the local health clinic.“All positive cases (cases 10,253 to 10,257) in this cluster are Malaysians. They were asymptomatic and were admitted to the Duchess of Kent Hospital, Sandakan for treatment,” he said in a statement.So far, 117 people linked to this cluster have been screened, 112 of whom are awaiting their test results. The index case is still being traced.


US$10 million pay cut for Goldman Sachs CEO over 1MDB scandal

Goldman Sachs cut its CEO David Solomon’s 2020 salary by US$10 million to US$17.5 million because of the bank’s role in the 1MDB bribery scandal, according to documents filed Tuesday.“The amounts of remuneration reflect the decision announced by the board of directors,” said a securities filing that also detailed pay cuts for COO John Waldron and CFO Stephen Scherr.Although the three were not “aware of the firm’s participation in any illicit activity at the time the firm arranged the 1MDB bond transactions, the board views the 1MDB matter as an institutional failure”, it said.Goldman Sachs pleaded guilty in October over its role in the scandal, and agreed to pay nearly US$3 billion to close US investigations.Former prime minister Najib Razak was sentenced last year to 12 years in jail on corruption charges linked to the scandal that led to the downfall of his government.His stepson Riza Aziz allegedly received huge sums from 1MDB, including to bankroll his Hollywood production company, which made “The Wolf of Wall Street”, starring Leonardo DiCaprio.


Delta variant confirmed in NZ, 5 virus cases so far

A coronavirus case that plunged New Zealand into a snap national lockdown was confirmed as the Delta variant Wednesday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said, as four more cases emerged.Ardern said one of the new cases was a nurse at Auckland Hospital, which had been placed in “internal lockdown” while all staff and patients were tested.The prime minister said the spread of the virus justified her decision to issue nationwide stay-at-home orders on Tuesday after the initial case was identified.“It demonstrates, at this stage, level 4 (hard lockdown) is the right place to be,” Ardern told TVNZ.The first case, a 58-year-old Auckland man, ended a six-month run without community transmission in New Zealand, which has recorded only 26 Covid-19 deaths in a population of five million since the start of the global pandemic.The initial plan is for New Zealand to remain in lockdown for three days, with Auckland and the nearby Coromandel area facing restrictions for a week.Ardern said the country’s strategy of eliminating the virus, rather than just containing it, had worked throughout the crisis and she was confident it would succeed against the highly transmissible Delta strain.“Yes, Delta poses a greater threat, but the same tools that have worked before will do so again if we follow the rules,” she said.She said wastewater testing in Auckland had detected no sign of the virus, giving cause for optimism.“That tells us that, if we have something, it doesn’t appear to be a long-standing outbreak because we haven’t had anything in our wastewater testing,” she said.Officials have said the latest outbreak has no obvious connections to the border, and investigations to determine its origin are ongoing.


Another British firm threatens to seize India govt assets over taxes

Cairn Energy is threatening to seize Indian government assets following a US$1.2 billion award from a long-running corporate tax case, the BBC is reporting.The UK-based energy firm was awarded damages last month by an international tribunal in a high-profile dispute with the Indian government.Cairn has started identifying assets it could seize if the Indian government doesn’t comply with the order and pay up. Sources have said that these assets could include planes and ships.The case was filed after Indian income tax officials seized Cairn’s 10% stake in its Indian subsidiary.In December the international tribunal ruled unanimously that Delhi had violated the 2014 UK-India bilateral investment treaty. It ordered Delhi to pay damages, plus interest and costs, to compensate Cairn for the shares as well as confiscated dividends.Even though payment was due immediately, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has given no indication of whether it intends to honour the verdict.Cairn has sent a letter to Indian government officials, seen by both Reuters and the Financial Times, saying its shareholders “expect early resolution, failing which they will expect Cairn to pursue the award in conformity with its rights under the treaty. The award can be enforced against Indian assets in numerous jurisdictions around the world for which the necessary preparations have been put in place.”Although the letter did not specify when assets might be seized, possible targets could include those owned by public sector enterprises such as state-owned Air India.Cairn’s battle with Indian authorities stems from a 2012 law that changed the country’s tax regime retrospectively which tax authorities then used to claim unpaid dues stemming from Cairn India’s 2006 corporate reorganisation.Cairn is not the only company to have challenged and won against India’s demands for taxes retrospectively in an international forum.In September 2020, Vodafone Group Plc won an arbitration case against the government on similar grounds.Experts say India’s international reputation is taking a severe beating as a result of these cases.Modi famously promised to bring an end to “tax terror” after coming to power in 2014 but instead his government has been pursuing these tax claims in a bid to extract higher revenue.For now, India seems unwilling to buckle under all the bad press. It has already challenged the Vodafone ruling in a Singapore court.A similar move in the case of Cairn is not being ruled out but would further damage India’s record for contract enforcement, experts believe.