Colombia private sector gets green light to buy, distribute Covid-19 vaccines

Colombia on Tuesday gave the green light for the private sector to buy and distribute coronavirus vaccines under certain conditions, in a bid to expand the country’s slow-moving immunisation campaign.President Ivan Duque said in his daily television address that after several studies, the health ministry had drafted a resolution “that enables the purchase [of vaccines] and the contribution of the private sector to the national vaccination plan”.Any party buying vaccines must be endorsed by the health ministry and guarantee delivery using their own logistics chains so as not to be a burden on the public sector. They must also abide by guidelines to ensure the most vulnerable sectors of the community are the first to receive the shots.“This should not be a matter of business, intermediaries, or unknown persons… but rather be carried out through specialised distributors,” Duque said.With 50 million inhabitants, Colombia has vaccinated 3.8 million people with at least one dose in more than two months of its mass immunisation campaign.On Tuesday, the country reached a new record of deaths (429) for the second day in a row, as a third wave of the pandemic threatens to swamp the hospital system.Health Minister Fernando Ruiz said the private sector will be able to purchase vaccines as of Wednesday, but their distribution will only be allowed when the government advances to the third stage of vaccinations that includes people between 16 and 59 years old who are affected by some co-morbidity.So far in Colombia, health personnel and adults over 80 have been immunised, and the campaign is currently focusing on people over 70. The current stage is the second, and will eventually cover people aged 60 and over, but it is not clear when it will be completed.


64% of Japanese willing to work past retirement age, survey shows

A recent survey shows that 64% of Japanese people are willing to work beyond their retirement age mainly due to financial concerns, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting local media on Monday.In an online survey conducted by Nippon Life Insurance Co covering 7,543 policyholders, 38.7% of the respondents said they want to keep working in their current jobs after retirement and 25.3% said they would prefer different jobs.Severe labour shortage is one of the challenges the country faces due to a rapidly ageing population and declining birth rate. A legal revision to be implemented next April will urge businesses to let their employees work until the age of 70 in an effort to address the problem.When asked until when they would like to continue working, 40% said sometime between the ages of 65 and 69, followed by 31.2% who chose the ages of 60 and 64. About 11.7% said they are ready to work beyond 75.The survey also revealed that the older people are, the more likely that they prefer their current jobs, as more than half of the respondents in their 60s or older said they want to stay on.To get ready for a post-retirement life, the respondents said they want to save an average of ¥30.33 million, while 62.1% said they are not sure how much they would receive in terms of retirement money and pension benefits.


Sarawak gets Putrajaya’s nod to buy 1 million doses of Sinovac vaccine

Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg today said the state is preparing to buy one million doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine for Covid-19 after receiving the green light from Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.Speaking at a press conference in Bintulu, he said he received approval for the move during a meeting with Muhyiddin two weeks ago.“I met with the prime minister two weeks ago to ask for permission to buy the vaccines for Sarawak and I would like to thank him for giving consent.”He said Sarawak would buy 500,000 doses for its first phase and another 500,000 doses for the second.He said Muhyiddin had also given approval for Sarawak to use gazetted private hospitals as vaccination centres to expedite the vaccination process, especially in urban areas.He added that corporate companies in the state would be allowed to arrange for their staff to be vaccinated.“Private companies can contact the approved (gazetted) private hospital, and this hospital will vaccinate the company’s staff. This includes industrial and plantation companies.“But they have to organise themselves,” he said, adding that the vaccine would be provided for free by the state government.“Perhaps they will only need to pay for the services provided by the hospital.”He said hospitals and private companies are currently negotiating a standard price.“These are the issues that I discussed with the prime minister and I thank the prime minister and the federal government for their approval,” he said.


Twitter to hike Blue pricing to US$11 for iPhone app users, report says

Twitter Inc plans to change the pricing of its Twitter Blue subscription product to US$11 (about RM50), from US$7.99, if paid for through its iPhone app and to US$7 if paid for on the website, the Information reported on Wednesday, citing a person briefed on the plans.
The move was likely a pushback against Apple Inc's 30% cut on any payments made by users via apps on the iOS operating system, the report said.
The lower pricing on the website was also likely to drive more users to that platform as opposed to signing up on their iPhones, the report said. It did not mention whether pricing would change for the Android platform as well.
Musk, who took ownership of Twitter in October, is planning to roll out the micro blogging site's verified service with different colored checks for individuals, companies and governments, after a botched initial launch led to a surge in users impersonating celebrities and brands on the platform.
Twitter, Apple and Google, which owns the Android operating system, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Musk, in a series of tweets last week listed various grievances with Apple, including the 30% fee the iphone maker charges software developers for in-app purchases.
He also posted a meme suggesting he was willing to "go to war" with Apple rather than paying the commission.
Musk later met Apple chief executive Tim Cook at the company's headquarters and later tweeted that the misunderstanding about Twitter being removed from Apple's app store was resolved.


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WHO warns of shortfall in June-July Covax doses

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday a shortfall in Covid-19 vaccine doses going through the Covax programme in June and July could undermine the efficiency of the roll-out.Covax was set up to ensure equitable distribution of vaccines, particularly to low-income countries, and has already delivered more than 80 million doses to 129 territories.But that is “about 200 million doses behind where we want to be”, Bruce Aylward, WHO’s Covax frontman, told reporters in Geneva.So while wealthy countries had pledged to give some 150 million doses so far – on top of the doses Covax procures with donated funds – that would not resolve the problem.“We are setting up for failure if we don’t get early doses. We are not on track yet: we don’t have enough doses from enough countries early enough to get the world on track to get out of this,” Aylward said.While the pledges to donate 150 million doses through Covax was a “great start”, Aylward said there were “two big problems”.“Number one, very little is committed to the June-July period, which means we’re going to still have this gap,” Aylward said.“The other problem is just the volume. If we are going to get on track to get at least 30-40% of the world population vaccinated this year we got to get another 250 million people vaccinated between now and the end of September.”Supply problemsCovax is an international scheme co-led by WHO, Gavi and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.It intends to procure enough vaccines for 30% of the population in 92 of the poorest participating territories – 20% in India – with donors covering the cost.Covax has been hit by inequalities in the global vaccine roll-out, but also delivery delays.AstraZeneca shots making up 97% of doses supplied so far – the rest being Pfizer-BioNTech.The Serum Institute of India (SII), producing AstraZeneca doses, was to have been the backbone of Covax’s supply chain. However, New Delhi restricted vaccine exports to combat a devastating domestic surge.SII said Wednesday that it hoped to resume supplies to Covax over the next few months.Covax was set up to combat the likelihood of rich countries buying up most available vaccine doses – which occurred as predicted.On Thursday, the world hit the milestone of two billion Covid-19 vaccines having been injected around the world, according to an AFP count.But of those doses, 37% have been administered in high-income countries accounting for 16% of the global population.Just 0.3% have been administered in the 29 lowest-income countries, home to 9% of the world’s people.


Selangor to redevelop Shah Alam stadium at cost of nearly RM790 million

Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari today said the state government would redevelop Stadium Shah Alam at an estimated cost of RM787 million.
He said the state government had chosen to redevelop the stadium instead of repairing it as this was considered the more worthwhile option based on a technical and financial assessment.
He added that the redevelopment cost of RM700 million was taken as a "new construction" cost as it was nearly twice what it had cost to build the stadium in the first place.
"In our view, technically and financially, it is more worthwhile for us to redevelop," he said at a press conference to hand over a letter of intent to Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) for a detailed proposal on the matter.
Amirudin said MRCB was chosen through a rigorous selection process which saw the participation of 15 other companies, including international firms and public-listed companies.
"MRCB will hold talks with the Selangor government on the development plan for the sports complex and surrounding facilities," he added.
"MRCB will hold discussions with the Selangor government on the development plan for the sports complex and surrounding facilities," he said.
MalaysiaNow recently provided a detailed look at the current condition of Stadium Shah Alam, sparking calls for the state government to act.
Amirudin today said that the decision to redevelop was made after studies conducted since 2013.
"The state government has noted the response of the public on Stadium Shah Alam," he said.
"There are some who want it repaired and restored to its former glory while there are also those who feel that we should rebuild it with modern facilities, thereby giving it a new lease of life.
"All suggestions and views have been studied and will be raised to the developer for further consideration," he said.
Amirudin also said that an exhibition about the sports complex would be held by September so that more people would understand the issues surrounding the development plan.


Over 10 million fully vaccinated so far

A total of 31.1% of the country’s population or 10,144,199 people had received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine as of yesterday, says Health Minister Dr Adham Baba.He said 16,707,566 people had received a first dose, bringing the cumulative number of doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 26,851,765 as of yesterday.In terms of percentage, 71.4% of the adult population have received a first dose and 43.3% have completed the second dose.In terms of daily vaccination rate, 462,860 doses were administered yesterday, of which 162,182 were first doses and 300,678, second doses.


Johor short 15,000 to 18,000 nurses, says exco

Johor is facing a shortage of nurses and needs approximately 15,000 to 18,000 more, says state health and unity committee chairman Ling Tian Soon.He said this was because Malaysian nurses received attractive offers from Singapore, citing as well the increase in the number of hospitals as among the factors causing a shortage of nurses in the state.“There are now 12,533 nurses in Johor, with 8,777 at public hospitals and 3,756 at private hospitals.“When I made an official visit to the private and government hospitals in Johor recently, most of the health personnel voiced concern that many graduates are leaving for neighbouring countries as they get attractive salary offers.“They work as nurses in Singapore, but their salary is equal to that of a specialist doctor in Malaysia due to the currency exchange rate,” he told reporters after launching the state-level International Nurses Day celebration in Johor Bahru today.Ling said there was also a possibility that more Malaysians, including doctors, would migrate to Singapore to find better job opportunities. However, he said the state government would intensify its efforts to attract them to serve in Johor.Ling also said that the shortage of nurses in the state was still under control and that he would bring up the matter with Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin soon.He also voiced hope that the government would offer more nursing courses, which could produce more nurses to serve at both government and private hospitals.


Xiaomi grabs number two spot in surging smartphone market, survey shows

Chinese electronics firm Xiaomi has overtaken Apple as the number two global smartphone maker in a sizzling market with consumers emerging from lockdowns, a new survey showed.The Canalys survey of second-quarter sales released Thursday showed worldwide smartphone sales up 12%, with South Korea’s Samsung holding its top position with a 19% market share.Xiaomi meanwhile surged to the number two position for the first time ever with a 17% share as sales jumped 83%, according to Canalys.Apple dropped to the number three position with iPhone sales up just 1%, after getting a lift from last year’s new models.“Xiaomi is growing its overseas business rapidly,” said Canalys research manager Ben Stanton, citing gains of 300% in Latin America, 150% in Africa and 50% in Western Europe.“And as it grows, it evolves. It is now transforming its business model from challenger to incumbent… It is still largely skewed toward the mass market, however, and compared with Samsung and Apple, its average selling price is around 40% and 75% cheaper respectively.”Chinese makers Oppo and Vivo held fourth and fifth place in the global market, each with around 10%, according to the Canalys preliminary estimates.Canalys said the smartphone market is extending gains as the global economy emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, lifting overall consumer spending.Xiaomi was recently removed from a US blacklist of Chinese firms subject to sanctions over national security concerns.


63.6% of adults, 45.6% of population fully vaccinated

A total of 14,886,006 individuals or 63.6% of the adult population in the country had completed both doses of Covid-19 vaccine as of yesterday, according to the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee.A total of 19,621,799 individuals, or 83.8%, have received a first dose, bringing the total number of vaccine doses administered so far under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 34,490,572.Some 60.1% of the country’s population have received at least a first dose of vaccine, while 45.6% have completed both doses.In terms of daily vaccination rate, 361,381 doses were administered yesterday, with 181,281 as first doses and the remaining 180,100 as second jabs.


Muhyiddin arrives at Perdana Putra for special Cabinet meeting

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin arrived at Perdana Putra at about 8am to attend the special Cabinet meeting today.Vehicles carrying Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali and Malaysian Armed Forces Chief General Affendi Buang were also seen entering the Perdana Putra building.Also seen were vehicles carrying Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani and Attorney-General Idrus Harun.Other vehicles carrying Cabinet members were seen entering the Perdana Putra compound from 9.30am, including that of Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.Also spotted were the vehicles carrying Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, International Trade and Industry Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali and Education Minister Radzi Jidin.Vehicles carrying Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Takiyuddin Hassan, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Human Resources Minister M Saravanan and Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong were also seen entering the Perdana Putra compound.Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Redzuan Yusof was reported to have said that Muhyiddin was expected to make a special announcement today.


US warship again transits sensitive Taiwan Strait

A US warship again sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, part of what the US military calls routine activity but which always riles China whose government believes Washington is trying to stir regional tensions.The US Navy said the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer Milius conducted a “routine Taiwan Strait transit” through international waters in accordance with international law.“The ship’s transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. The US military flies, sails, and operates anywhere international law allows,” it added.There was no immediate response from China.Last month, the Chinese military condemned the US and Canada for each sending a warship through the Taiwan Strait, saying they were threatening peace and stability in the region.China claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its own territory, and has mounted repeated air force missions into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) over the past year or so, provoking anger in Taipei.The US like most countries has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is its most important international backer and arms supplier.Beijing calls Taiwan the most sensitive and important issue in its relations with Washington.US Navy ships have been transiting the strait roughly monthly, to the anger of Beijing. US allies occasionally also send ships through the strait, including Britain in September.


1MDB debt at RM32.08 billion as of June, says finance minister

1MDB's remaining debt commitment was RM32.08 billion as of June 30, with an estimated foreign exchange rate of US$1 to RM4.50, Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz said today.
He said the government had, between April 2017 and May 2022, channelled financial assistance in the form of loans or advances totalling RM10.85 billion through the finance ministry and Minister of Finance Incorporated (MoF Inc) to pay off 1MDB’s debt commitments and interest.
"Besides the government’s direct financial assistance, 1MDB's debt interest is also being financed using 1MDB's asset recovery funds kept in a trust account under the MoF, known as the Asset Recovery Trust Account," he said in a written reply in Parliament.
Tengku Zafrul said that as of June 30, the total amount of 1MDB funds recovered amounted to RM19.28 billion in various foreign currencies, including the US dollar, Singapore dollar and Australian dollar.
"These funds have been and will be used for the purpose of paying off 1MDB's debt. As of June 30, 2022, RM10.84 billion had been used to repay 1MDB’s debt.
"This fund still has a balance of RM8.83 billion currently (including hibah, and forex gains or losses)," he said.
Adding that the recovery process for 1MDB's funds was ongoing, he said it was a complicated and lengthy process that could take years.
"It not only involves collaboration between several local and foreign agencies, it also involves legal and negotiation settlement processes," he said.
However, the finance minister said the government remained committed to using legal action or negotiations to continue efforts to recover all of the embezzled funds.
The main goal is to maximise returns to pay off 1MDB's debt and reduce the government's financial burden, he said.


Sunday morning with a bomoh

It's early on Sunday morning – barely 8am – but already, a small army of slippers is heaped at the entrance of a two-storey terrace house in an upscale residential area.
Outside, a group of men chat as they smoke, keeping one eye on the children running around the compound.
The neat line of cars parked next to the house suggests the presence of more people inside.
 In the foyer, about 10 people are seated in a row, waiting for their turn to be called into a private room to meet with Atan – a bomoh who has been in the business for 35 years.
Over the past three decades, Atan has provided his services for clients from all walks of life, including figures of authority.
These clients come to him seeking a cure for all manner of problems, from mysterious diseases to supernatural disturbances, to find lost items or for consultation on evil forces and fortune-telling.
At times, he is called on to help the authorities and rescue personnel to solve crimes or deal with emergency situations.
"When the police meet with a dead end in their investigations, I am called in," he said.
"I used to do a lot of work like this on a voluntary basis. After so many years of being a bomoh, they know me well."
'Companion'
Atan realised what he described as his gift when he was about 14 years old. Even as a young teenager, he said, he could see things that others could not.
For three years, his parents sent him for traditional Islamic treatment in Terengganu.
But fed up with the endless trips back and forth from his home in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, Atan said, he finally decided to accept his fate.
"I have a 'companion'," he told MalaysiaNow, settling into his chair in the inner room.
"He is the one who assists and guides me in treating my clients and solving the cases I come across."
At 19, Atan decided to migrate to the south of Thailand, to study with a shaman. He stayed there until he was 24.
In Thailand, he followed his teacher, looking for clues in criminal cases and conducting ceremonies at the scene of tragedies where many lives were lost.
There, he learnt the ins and outs of investigations and how to help the authorities find new clues.
After leaving Thailand, he spent five years in Kuala Krai, Kelantan, before moving again to Gambang in Pahang.
Eventually, he got married and moved to his wife's home state to continue his work as a bomoh.
Technology
Atan's shaman friends, whom he said come from all manner of racial and religious backgrounds, keep in touch through the use of social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Telegram.
Sometimes, they pool their resources to help each other solve cases.
Through the use of digital communication, he said, they also stay abreast of business developments and identify regular, repeat or new customers as well as those who are just "one-off".
Technology has also helped him speed up his assistance to those who request his services, through the sharing of pictures and videos.
While their work is usually associated with superstition and old wives' tales, he said that taken together, he and his fellow shamans have more than 10,000 followers and loyal clients each.
For him, the numbers are an indicator of the desperation among those looking for a solution to their problems.
"If they weren't desperate, they wouldn't go looking for a bomoh," he said.
"This is the case with every client I meet – all of them are at the end of their rope.
"For example, a client works hard for many years to buy something, or inherits a family heirloom, and this item is stolen.
"Two years ago, a woman from Labis, Johor, was being badly abused by her husband of 11 years. Her aunt came to me and I helped calm his temper so that he became less inclined to beat his wife."
Clients
As Atan speaks, his door opens and a woman enters, accompanied by her son, a tall and quiet boy.
The woman begins to speak, telling Atan that she and her husband drove 200km just to see him.
Her request is for Atan to "check" the potential of her son in his studies, ahead of the Form Five SPM examination.
She says her son is often sluggish and lethargic after coming home from school, even though he spends his holidays sleeping.
He is also reluctant to go to school as he is afraid of "something".
Her concern is that his fear will cause him to fall behind in his studies.
"He is a smart boy. When he was in primary school, he did well and his teachers all liked him. Please help him," she said.
Atan nods and begins to chant. After a while, he stops and asks the boy: "But you can go out to loiter around on motorcycles with your friends and come back late at night? You're not tired when you're out doing these things?"
The boy shakes his head, and Atan continues chanting. As the session ends, he asks the boy and his mother to wait for him outside.
Then he leans over and says: "I'll tell you a secret. There is no cure for laziness. Even meeting a deity in Bali will do you no good.
"Next!"


Ex-1MDB CFO says unaware that part of US$3 billion bonds was transferred to Tanore

The former chief financial officer of 1MDB told the High Court yesterday that he had no knowledge that part of the proceeds of the US$3 billion bond issuance had been transferred to three companies including Tanore Finance Corporation (Tanore).Azmi Tahir, 48, said he only found out about the transfers through media reports.In the opening statement of the 1MDB case, the prosecution claimed that Tanore had transferred a total of US$681 million into Najib Razak’s account between March 21, 2013 and April 10, 2013. This was the main point in the charges against the former prime minister.The 12th prosecution witness said the bonds should have been invested in a 1MDB joint venture with Aabar Investment PJS, namely Abu Dhabi Malaysia Investment Company (Admic).“Najib through his principal private secretary, the late Azlin Alias, had ordered the bonds to be channelled to three investment companies: Cistenique Investment Fund BV, Devonshire Capital Growth Fund and Enterprise Emerging Market Fund.“However, I did not know that these three investment companies would transfer part of the US$3 billion bond funds to Tanore and two other companies, Granton Property Holding Limited and Midhurst Trading Limited.“All these decisions and transfers were beyond my knowledge. I also asked Terence Geh (former deputy CFO of 1MDB) if we (1MDB) had any dealings with Tanore when the company’s name came out in the media and was linked to 1MDB. However, Geh at that time denied the matter,” he said.He said this when reading out his 127-page witness statement at Najib’s corruption and money laundering trial involving RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds.Azmi said he and Mohd Hazem Abd Rahman, the former CEO of 1MDB, were only informed about investments in three companies, namely Cistenique, Devonshire and Enterprise Emerging.“I confirm that I signed several documents confirming that 1MDB took note of the investments in these three investment companies.“I had also never allowed any third party to make any investment with other parties, including Najib’s account,” he said.Earlier, Azmi said the transfer of funds to the three companies was done on March 20, 2013, a day after the US$2.7 billion in bond issuance proceeds were deposited into the account of 1Malaysia Development Bhd Global Investments Limited (1MDB GIL).“I confirm that after obtaining the board members’ approval and a letter of support from the finance ministry for bond fundraising, US$3 billion was disbursed into 1MDB GIL’s account, with a total of US$2.7 billion, which is the amount after deducting service charges imposed by the Goldman Sachs bank.“As the CFO, the main purpose of raising funds of US$3 billion was for the Admic joint venture but since the funds were used for other purposes as early as 24 hours after the funds were received, I believe the Admic joint venture was deliberately designed to ensure the bonds could be issued legally,” Azmi said.He added that the US$3 billion bond was not used at all for real estate and the development of Bandar Malaysia.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.The trial before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues on Monday.


WHO experts say urgent search for Covid origins ‘stalled’

The search for the origins of the Covid pandemic that has killed millions and crippled economies is at a standstill even as time is running out, scientists charged with the task by the UN warned Wednesday.An initial report by the team of independent, international experts sent to China by the World Health Organization (WHO) in January concluded that it was most likely that the SARS-CoV-2 virus jumped from bats to humans via an intermediate animal.A competing hypothesis that the virus somehow leaked from a lab, like the specialised virology laboratory in Wuhan, was deemed “extremely unlikely”.But in a comment in the journal Nature, 11 of the 17 scientists on that mission said it was only intended as a “first step in a process that has stalled”.“The search for the origins of SARS-CoV-2 is at a critical juncture,” they wrote.“The window of opportunity for conducting this crucial enquiry is closing fast.”Tracing the biological trail back to the earliest pockets of the disease, which first surfaced in Wuhan in late 2019, becomes more difficult as evidence disappears or becomes corrupted.‘No impediment’The statement comes less than two weeks after WHO, in a bid to revive the probe, urged China to hand over information on the earliest Covid-19 cases.This should include Covid data for 174 infections identified in December 2019 that China failed to share during the initial investigation, the experts said.The investigators said “it was agreed” at the time that a second phase of research would fill in this gap.But China pushed back against the WHO request earlier this month, saying the January investigation should suffice and that calls for further data were motivated by politics, not science.WHO meanwhile highlighted Wednesday that the international experts’ report, published in March in coordination with their Chinese counterparts, had laid out a number of studies that should be conducted, insisting there was no reason to wait.“We have encouraged all parties to pursue those studies,” WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told reporters from the UN health agency’s Geneva headquarters.Other WHO experts at the press conference stressed there was no need to wait for another international mission to China before delving into the many further studies needed there, pointing out that there were many capable Chinese scientists who could do the work.“There is no impediment right now for those studies to go ahead, and Chinese colleagues don’t need WHO to hold their hands through this kind of a process,” WHO emergencies director Michael Ryan agreed.“In fact, many of our Chinese colleagues do report that those studies are underway, and we very much look forward to receiving data and reports.”‘Diminishing returns’Beijing has especially bridled at the suggestion that the virus might have escaped from the Wuhan virology lab.On Tuesday US intelligence agencies presented President Joe Biden with a report looking at both the animal transmission and “lab-leak” hypotheses. The findings were described as inconclusive.The Nature piece noted that current data does not support the lab-leak scenario.None of six priorities for further research mentioned after the January mission, which has faced criticism for lacking transparency and access, alluded to this possibility.Rather, the scientists emphasised the need to trace the earliest cases of Covid through disease reporting and antibody surveys, inside and outside China.They also called for further investigation of wildlife farms and wild bats.“As SARS-CoV-2 antibodies wane, so collecting further samples and testing people who might have been exposed before December 2019 will yield diminishing returns,” they said.They added that many of the wildlife farms of interest for study have been closed and their livestock killed.


Zahid’s lawyer denies millions for charity outfit from unlawful activities

The High Court was told today that the millions of ringgit that went to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s charity outfit Yayasan Akalbudi were donations, and not derived from unlawful activities.Lead counsel Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, who is representing Zahid, said the prosecution had not produced any evidence to show that the proceeds were from unlawful activities, or that there were commissions of one or more of the serious offences or conduct by the accused that could lead or had led to the commission of any of the serious offences.“Based on the above arguments, it is respectfully and forcefully submitted that this ingredient has not been proven by the prosecution – no evidence that the monies involved were proceeds of unlawful activity or activities within the meaning of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001,” he said in his submissions at the end of the prosecution’s case before judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah.Hisyam said the accused, on most occasions, had not known or had any nexus with the owners of the cheques.“The transactions were openly maintained and kept in the trust accounts of law firm Messrs Lewis & Co, and the money trails relating to the cheques could be traced with no attempts by the accused to conceal any of them,” he said.The lawyer added that the 39th prosecution witness (SP39), Leong Siew Kong, who is a manager at Maybank’s Dataran Maybank branch, had confirmed that the bank did not receive any subsequent letter from Lewis & Co stating that they were suspicious of the funds.The court previously heard that various individuals and companies had contributed to Yayasan Akalbudi, and that the money was deposited into Lewis & Co’s account.“He (Leong) further confirmed that the reason for the placement was to earn higher interest and there was no illegality about it. During re-examination, Leong said that no red flag was raised for the required report to be made to the central bank, as the transactions were normal,” Hisyam said.The lawyer said Yayasan Akalbudi had received donations from Yayasan Al-Bukhari (RM500,000), Chia Bee Enterprise Sdn Bhd, owned by philanthropist Wong Sang Woo (RM10 million), and MyEG Services Bhd non-executive director, Mohd Jimmy Wong Abdullah (RM9 million).“Jimmy testified that he donated to Yayasan Akalbudi for charitable purposes (building mosques), and he confirmed that an ‘akad’ (promise) was performed to signify the acceptance of the donation,” he said.Meanwhile, on the cheques paid by other individuals and companies to Yayasan Akalbudi, Hisyam said the prosecution had not produced evidence that the cheques from Cergas Murni Sdn Bhd, HRA Teguh, Ong Weng Fatt, Hwa Thong Bags Industries, Hussein Annifah, Rajan Thurairetnam, Rajan Gunaratnam, Patt Siew Ming, Mohyiddin Al-Halabi, Tarbush Al-Halabi, AlHalabi Lounge Sdn Bhd and Mubarak Hussain were sourced wrongfully.“The cheques that were particularly obtained through SP81 (Omar Ali Abdullah), we say that the source of monies was legitimate as they were donations from Yayasan Al-Bukhari.“Besides that, it is wrong for the prosecution to say that all of the donation monies were converted into cheques or bankers’ cheques or demand drafts to diminish the money trail, due to an overwhelming line of evidence from the bankers of the cheque owners confirming that there was nothing hideous behind the transactions of these cheques,” he said.Zahid, 68, is facing 47 charges – 12 of criminal breach of trust, eight of corruption and 27 of money laundering – involving tens of millions of ringgit belonging to Yayasan Akalbudi.The defence will continue its submissions on Monday.


First case of Indian Covid variant detected in Malaysia

Malaysia has detected its first case of the so-called Indian variant of Covid-19 in an Indian national screened at KLIA in Sepang.Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said the variant, B.1.617.1, was found through an additional 59 whole genome sequencing conducted by the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) from April 24 to May 1.“These include 30 more variants of concern (VOC) – 27 South African (B.1.351) and three UK (B.117), and one variant of interest, the Indian variant or B.1.617,” he said in a statement.“Unfortunately, this is also the first report of the South African VOC (B.1.351) in Perak and Kelantan, involving some significant clusters with 10 cases in each state,” he said, adding that the variant was also still detected in seven cases in Selangor.Adham said the UK variant was also reported in two cases in Selangor and another in Sandakan, Sabah.“This is also the first report of the UK B.117 among persons without a history of overseas travel, hence suggsting local transmission,” he said.There are now 48 cases of the South African strain, eight cases of the UK strain, one of the Indian strain and two of the Nigerian variant, B.1.525.Adham said the IMR report also found a gradual increase in the number of VOCs, especially the South African variant, among the samples on which it is performing full genome sequencing.He said this suggested the potential replacement of this variant with one of local lineage, B.1.524.India’s SARS-CoV-2 Consortium on Genomics announced on March 24 that it had found a new double mutant variant of the virus in the country.The variant carried features from two lineages: the variants first identified in California (B.1.427 and B.1.429), and those discovered in South Africa (B.1.351) and Brazil (P.1).


Selangor assembly passes motion for online, hybrid sittings

The Selangor legislative assembly today passed a motion to enable future assembly sittings to be conducted in an online or hybrid format.The motion tabled by Teng Chang Khim (PH-Bandar Baru Klang) was to enable assembly sittings to be held in an entirely online or hybrid format at the request of the menteri besar, during an emergency, pandemic or extraordinary emergency where physical attendance is discouraged.“Secondly, (the motion enables) state assembly committee meetings to be held in an entirely online or hybrid format after the speaker receives confirmation from the menteri besar that Selangor is in an emergency, facing a pandemic or an extraordinary emergency where physical attendance is discouraged,” Teng said.Selangor assembly speaker Ng Suee Lim said the amendment, under Standing Orders 21 and 69 (4), for the Selangor assembly to be conducted in an online or hybrid format, should extraordinary circumstances occur, was approved by the state legislative assembly.“Today it has passed, so the Standing Orders Committee, which I chair, along with six other members, including opposition assemblymen, will convene and meet within a week or two to discuss the details and it will be tabled in the upcoming sitting,” he told reporters at the lobby of the state legislative assembly building.Ng added that the six-day sitting had progressed smoothly, with all parties cooperating, especially with the compliance of SOPs.


Court finds Rosmah guilty in solar hybrid case

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has pronounced Rosmah Mansor guilty of three corruption charges related to the solar hybrid project for rural schools in Sarawak, a little more than a week after her husband Najib Razak was told to begin serving a 12-year jail term for the misappropriation of millions in SRC International funds.
Trial judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan said the accused had failed to raise reasonable doubt against the prosecution's arguments, and that her defence was a mere denial unaccompanied by concrete evidence.
Rosmah, 70, was ordered to enter her defence against the three charges on Feb 18 last year, after the prosecution succeeded in proving a prima facie case against her.
She faced one charge of soliciting RM187.5 million and two counts of receiving bribes totalling RM6.5 million from Jepak Holdings Sdn Bhd managing director Saidi Abang Samsudin.
The bribes were allegedly received through her former aide Rizal Mansor as a reward for helping Jepak Holdings secure the hybrid photovoltaic solar system integrated project as well as the maintenance and operation of diesel generator sets for 369 Sarawak rural schools worth RM1.25 billion from the education ministry through direct negotiation.
The High Court's verdict today comes a little over a week after the Federal Court dismissed Najib's final appeal against his conviction and sentence for the misappropriation of RM42 million in the SRC International case.


Nasa to roll out giant US moon rocket for debut launch

Nasa's gigantic Space Launch System moon rocket, topped with an uncrewed astronaut capsule, is set to begin an hours-long crawl to its launchpad Tuesday night ahead of the behemoth's debut test flight later this month.
The 322 foot tall (98-meter-tall) rocket is scheduled to embark on its first mission to space – without any humans – on Aug 29. It will be a crucial, long-delayed demonstration trip to the moon in Nasa's Artemis programme, the US multibillion-dollar effort to return humans to the lunar surface as practice for future missions to Mars.
The Space Launch System, whose development in the past decade has been led by Boeing Co, is scheduled to emerge from its assembly building at Nasa's Kennedy Space Centre in Florida around 9pm EDT on Tuesday (0100 GMT on Wednesday) and begin the four-mile long (6km) trek to its launchpad. Moving less than a mile per hour (1.6km per hour), the rollout will take roughly 11 hours.
Sitting atop the rocket is Nasa's Orion astronaut capsule, a pod built by Lockheed Martin Corp. It is designed to separate from the rocket in space, ferry humans toward the moon's vicinity and rendezvous with a separate spacecraft that will take astronauts down to the lunar surface.
But for the Aug 29 mission, called Artemis 1, the Orion capsule will launch atop the Space Launch System without any humans and orbit around the moon before returning to Earth for an ocean splashdown 42 days later.
If bad launch weather or a minor technical issue triggers a delay from Aug 29, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has backup launch dates on Sept 2 and Sept 5.


Guan Eng questioned over PH statement on emergency proclamation

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng was present at the Timur Laut district police headquarters in George Town today to record his statement over the Pakatan Harapan (PH) Presidential Council’s joint statement on June 12, regarding the current state of emergency.Accompanied by lawyer RSN Rayer, he arrived at the police headquarters at about 11.25am and left about an hour later.Speaking to reporters when met at the police headquarters, Rayer said Lim, who is also the Bagan MP, had given his statement and provided full cooperation to police officers from the Bukit Aman Classified Criminal Investigations Unit.“The police officers informed us that they finished recording Lim Guan Eng’s statement today.“The case is being investigated under Section 505 (b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1988,” he said.Bukit Aman confirmed that they had opened an investigation paper on the joint statement, allegedly questioning the decision of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to propose a proclamation of emergency nationwide, to curb the spread of Covid-19.Other parties involved in the joint statement are PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu.Police recorded Anwar’s statement at the PKR headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 26, while Mohamad is expected to have his statement recorded tomorrow.


Digi-Celcom merger gets MCMC green light

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has approved the proposed merger between Digi.Com Bhd (Digi) and Celcom Axiata Bhd (Celcom).As Digi and Celcom are Malaysia’s second and third largest mobile service operators to date, the merger will result in the formation of the country’s largest mobile service operator, MCMC said in a statement today.“As such, MCMC has conducted a thorough assessment of the merger,” it said.On April 1, the commission issued a statement of issues to Digi and Celcom in accordance with the merger guidelines for the said application of merger and acquisition dated May 17, 2019, to address concerns that the merger would or was likely to significantly reduce competition.In response, the applicants submitted an undertaking containing their commitment to addressing the competition issues highlighted by MCMC in the statement of issues.“MCMC has considered the commitment offered by the applicants and is satisfied that it will significantly reduce the competition issues that will or may arise as a result of this merger,” it said.Axiata and Telenor Group announced on April 8, 2021 that they were discussing the proposed merger between Celcom and Digi to form a new entity known as MergeCo.They said it was expected to be completed in the second half of 2022.


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US logs more than 3,900 Covid deaths in new 24-hour record

The US broke its own record for the number of daily deaths from Covid-19 yet again Tuesday, recording 3,936 fatalities in 24 hours, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University.The worst-hit country in the world by the pandemic also recorded 250,173 new cases in the period up until 8.30pm Tuesday (0130 GMT Wednesday), the Baltimore-based university’s records showed.That brings the US to more than 21 million cases and 357,067 deaths in total since the start of the pandemic.The number of people hospitalised is also at its highest since the beginning of the pandemic, with more than 131,000 patients occupying beds due to Covid-19, according to data from the Covid Tracking Project.The situation is particularly dire in the south and west of the country.Los Angeles ambulance workers have been told to stop transporting some patients with extremely low survival chances to hospital, and to limit oxygen use, as record Covid cases overwhelm medical resources.The previous record for deaths in one day was set six days ago, with more than 3,920 deaths.The US has been facing a spectacular surge in cases in recent months. Since the end of November, the number of daily deaths has increased dramatically, regularly exceeding 2,000 and often 3,000 deaths per day.An expected surge driven by holiday gatherings is expected to aggravate the situation further.The world’s wealthiest country is ultimately counting on the vaccination campaign, which began in mid-December, to overcome the epidemic.But less than 2% of the population has so far been covered, with 4.8 million people having received a first injection.On Tuesday, president-elect Joe Biden, who will take office on Jan 20, spoke with his future team in charge of the health crisis.A number of options for accelerating vaccine delivery – including the possibility of increasing the role of the federal government – were discussed, according to a statement.


Who benefits from a boycott of GE15?

Calls have arisen among some quarters for a boycott of the 15th general election (GE15), amid concerns about the northeast monsoon season and dissatisfaction with the move to dissolve Parliament, even as the Election Commission (EC) announced the dates for polling, setting off the countdown towards the chosen date.
But as parties swing into action ahead of the official campaign period, political analysts agree that a boycott of the election would only benefit one group.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, they also said it was possible that this was the very scenario that the group had been working towards.
James Chin, of Australia's University of Tasmania, said there was merit to talk that Umno wanted an early election to ensure a low turnout of voters.
He said the party wished to continue riding on the momentum it had gained at the Melaka and Johor state elections, both of which Barisan Nasional (BN) won by a landslide.
The Melaka election in November last year saw BN winning 21 of the 28 seats in the state legislative assembly.
And in Johor, where polls were held in March this year, BN won 40 of the 56 state seats.
Both elections saw a low turnout of voters, with 65.85% in Melaka and 54.92% in Johor.
This was far lower than the EC's projection of 70%.
"This perception would be correct," Chin said, referring to the benefit of similarly low numbers for Umno at GE15.
"Umno wants to continue its momentum from the Melaka and Johor polls, as well as the Sarawak election in December last year."
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob dissolved Parliament on Oct 10, paving the way for GE15 despite objections including from within his own Cabinet, where all 12 ministers from Perikatan Nasional wrote to the Agong to voice their disagreement with an early election.
Ismail later defended his decision, saying the dissolution of Parliament was done to put a stop to those questioning the legitimacy of the so-called backdoor government by returning the mandate to the people.
"It was also part of a string of political developments whereby the 12 ministers behaved inappropriately by writing to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong," he said.
"The dissolution was done to prevent an outbreak of disharmony in the administration of the government."
He also denied succumbing to pressure from Umno, again pointing the finger at the so-called "PN 12".
Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said a low voter turnout would give Umno the edge as it had a bigger election machinery than the rest of the political parties in the country.
Come time for the election, he said, Umno would mobilise all of its forces to ensure that its supporters turn out to vote.
"Umno has a huge machinery at the grassroots level to deploy in order to assist its supporters in voting, even in challenging circumstances," he said.
"It cannot be matched by the opposition parties."
Chin meanwhile did not rule out the possibility of efforts to free former prime minister Najib Razak from prison if Umno succeeds in forming the government without the help of other political parties.
Najib is currently serving a 12-year jail term at Kajang Prison for the misappropriation of tens of millions from SRC International.
"This is one of the other factors for why the court cluster wanted GE15 to be held early," Chin said, referring to the group of Umno leaders facing criminal charges in court.


Pfizer jab 95.8% effective against Covid-19, says Israel health ministry

Israel’s health ministry said Saturday recent data from its aggressive coronavirus vaccination campaign showed two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech jab were nearly 96% effective against infection.Israel’s inoculation campaign is regarded as the world’s fastest, with one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine administered to 4.25 million people out of its nine million-strong population since December, according to the latest health ministry figures.Some 2.88 million people have received the recommended full course of two jabs.The health ministry said on Saturday the vaccine had proved 95.8% effective in preventing coronavirus infection among those vaccinated two weeks after receiving their second shot compared to unvaccinated people, according to data compiled up to Feb 13.It added the jab was 99.2% effective against serious illness and 98.9% effective in preventing death.For those tested one week after receiving a second jab, the vaccine was 91.9% effective against infection, 96.4% effective in preventing serious illness and 94.5% in preventing death.“Our goal is to continue vaccinating all our population aged 16 and up, to reach a wide coverage of the population that will enable us to return to our much missed routines,” health ministry director-general Hezi Levi said in a statement Saturday.The jab developed by US pharma giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech is based on novel mRNA technology and was the first vaccine against Covid-19 to be approved in the West late last year.Israel, which has one of the world’s most sophisticated medical data systems, secured a substantial stock of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine by paying above market price and by striking a data-sharing deal with the US company.


Trump signals he will testify in New York probe into business practices

Former US President Donald Trump indicated he would testify on Wednesday in a New York investigation by the state's attorney general into his family's business practices, with the possible testimony coming amid a flurry of legal woes for him.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James is conducting a civil investigation examining whether the Trump Organization inflated real estate values. Trump and two of his adult children, Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump, have agreed to testify.
Trump has denied wrongdoing and called the New York investigation politically motivated. James is a Democrat.
"In New York City tonight. Seeing racist NYS Attorney General tomorrow, for a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in US history! My great company, and myself, are being attacked from all sides. Banana Republic!", Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform late on Tuesday.
James has said her investigation had uncovered significant evidence that the Trump Organization, which manages hotels, golf courses and other real estate, overstated asset values to obtain favorable loans and understated the values to get tax breaks.
Separately this week, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) searched Trump's Florida estate, marking a significant escalation of the federal investigation into whether the former president illegally removed records from the White House as he was leaving office in January 2021.
Trump has been flirting publicly with the question of running again for president in 2024 but has not said clearly whether he will do so.
The warrant for the search of Trump's Florida estate was related to the National Archives and Records Administration, which is charged with safeguarding presidential records that belong to the public, and whether there were classified documents at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Several investigations have focused on Trump since he left office, weeks after his supporters stormed the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021, in an unsuccessful bid to overturn his election loss. Trump continues to claim falsely that the election was stolen through widespread voting fraud.
Trump remains the Republican Party's most influential voice, and observers said the FBI search could bolster his standing with Republican voters.


Miti calls for alternatives to bringing back full lockdown

The international trade and industry ministry today proposed that alternative strategies to reimposing a total lockdown be considered amid a series of spikes in infections which have seen daily numbers fluctuating from 3,000 to 4,000 and above.This comes as the movement control order (MCO) covering most of the country approaches the end of its second week in force.“The government could consider tightening the SOPs to prevent outbreaks at ignition sites and introducing clear guidance on geospatial planning such as quantifying indoor settings at any given time,” minister Mohamed Azmin Ali said in a statement.“Additionally, we could step up targeted testing as well as regulate the costs of RTK-Antigen test kits to make Covid-19 testing more affordable and on a larger scale, particularly for industries.”This follows a meeting the ministry had with the EU-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Eurocham), which sparked reports that the government would immediately announce a “shutdown/strict lockdown” after Feb 4, when the MCO expires.Eurocham later said there had been no mention of an immediate lockdown after Feb 4, and that the letter which gave rise to the reports had been a “confidential internal circular”.The second instalment of the MCO, imposed in six states on Jan 13, was later extended to cover most of the country.Unlike the first nationwide lockdown in March last year, when businesses with the exception of essential services were forced to close, the so-called MCO 2.0 allows most businesses to continue operating subject to strict health SOPs.The government has repeatedly indicated that it will not repeat the lockdowns of the past following the effect these had on people’s livelihoods, with thousands losing jobs and companies forced to cut salaries.Only Sarawak remains under conditional MCO.Azmin said it has also been suggested that SOPs for social events be tightened, while a full ban on interstate travel should be imposed for the interim.“In any event, the call is for businesses to open on the condition precedent of full compliance with stricter SOPs,” he said.“It cannot be overemphasised that at the end of the way, community engagement and empowerment remains key.”MalaysiaNow previously reported that top officials in Putrajaya were stepping up the war on Covid-19, with concerns that the country could hit 3,000 new infections each day by the end of the month.Since December, officials have been focusing on preparations for another round of infections amid a projected scenario of 5,000 daily cases by end-February, which could put further pressure on government hospitals and frontliners already treating thousands of patients every day.


Dutch court sentences 3 to life in prison for 2014 downing of MH17 over Ukraine

Dutch judges convicted two Russian men and a Ukrainian man in absentia of murder for their role in the shooting down of flight MH17 over Ukraine in 2014 with the loss of 298 passengers and crew, and handed them life sentences.
Ukraine welcomed the ruling, which will have implications for other court cases Kyiv has filed against Russia, while Moscow called the ruling "scandalous" and said it would not extradite its citizens.
Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 departed from Amsterdam and was bound for Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17, 2014, as fighting raged between pro-Russian separatists and Ukrainian forces, the precursor of this year's conflict.
The ruling came as a relief to victims' family members, more than 200 of whom attended the court in person, wiping away tears as the judgement was read.
"Only the most severe punishment is fitting to retaliate for what the suspects have done, which has caused so much suffering to so many victims and so many surviving relatives," presiding judge Hendrik Steenhuis said.
The three men convicted were former Russian intelligence agents Igor Girkin and Sergey Dubinskiy, and Leonid Kharchenko, a Ukrainian separatist leader.
The three were all found to have helped to arrange the transport into Ukraine of the Russian military BUK missile system that was used to shoot down the plane, though they were not the ones that physically pulled the trigger.
They are fugitives and believed to be in Russia. A fourth former suspect, Russian Oleg Pulatov, was acquitted on all charges.
The incident in 2014 left the plane's wreckage and victims' remains scattered across fields of corn and sunflowers.
Russia invaded Ukraine in February and claims to have annexed the Donetsk province where the plane was shot down.
"The families of victims wanted the truth and they wanted justice to be done and those responsible to be punished and that is what happened. I am pretty satisfied," Piet Ploeg, who heads a foundation representing victims, told Reuters. Ploeg's brother, his brother's wife and his nephew died on MH17.
Meryn O'Brien of Australia, who lost her 25-year-old son Jack, said she felt relieved. "Everyone was relieved the process has come to an end, and it is very fair, and it has been meticulous."
"There's no celebration," said Jordan Withers of Britain, whose uncle Glenn Thomas died. "Nothing is going to bring any of the victims back." They came from 10 different countries.
The judgment included a 16 million euro damages award.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the first sentences handed down over MH17 as an "important decision" by the court in The Hague.
"But it is necessary that those who ordered it also end up in the dock because the feeling of impunity leads to new crimes," he wrote on Twitter. "We have to dispel this illusion. Punishment for all Russian atrocities – both then and now – will be inevitable."
The ruling found that Russia had "overall control" over the forces of the Donetsk People's Republic in Eastern Ukraine from mid May 2014.
"This is groundbreaking," said Marieke de Hoon, assistant professor of international law at Amsterdam University. The ruling was "authoritative" and would likely boost Ukraine's other international cases against Russia relating to the 2014 conflict.
'No reasonable doubt'
Judge Steenhuis said there was ample evidence from eyewitness testimony and photographs which tracked the missile system's movements into and back out of Ukraine to Russia.
"There is no reasonable doubt" that MH17 was shot down by a Russian missile system, Steenhuis said.
Moscow denies any involvement or responsibility for MH17's downing and in 2014 it also denied any presence in Ukraine.
In a statement, the Russian foreign ministry said "throughout the trial the court was under unprecedented pressure from Dutch politicians, prosecutors and the media to impose a politically motivated outcome".
"We deeply regret that the District Court in The Hague disregarded the principles of impartial justice in favour of the current political situation, thus causing a serious reputational blow to the entire judicial system in the Netherlands," it added.
Prosecutors had charged the four men with shooting down an airplane and with murder in a trial held under Dutch law, as more than half of the victims were Dutch. Phone call intercepts that formed a key part of the evidence suggested the men believed they were targeting a Ukrainian fighter jet.
Steenhuis said that, while that counted for something in terms of lessening the severity of their criminal responsibility, they still had a murderous intent and the consequences of their actions were huge.
Of the suspects, only Pulatov had pleaded not guilty via lawyers he hired to represent him. The others were tried in absentia and none attended the trial.
The police investigation was led by the Netherlands, with participation from Ukraine, Malaysia, Australia and Belgium.
Thursday's ruling is not the final word on holding people accountable for MH17, Dutch and Australian authorities said.
Andy Kraag, the head of the police investigation, said research was continuing into possible suspects higher in the chain of command. Investigators are also looking at the crew of the missile system which launched the fatal rocket.
The Dutch and Australian governments, which hold Russia responsible, have started a proceeding against the Russian Federation at the International Civil Aviation Organization.


Daily cases surge past 27,000 to pandemic high

Another 27,831 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 3,111,514.Another 7,912 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,876,450.Meanwhile 204 are in the ICU, including 105 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 116 are in need of respiratory assistance including 53 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 27,831 cases reported today, 97 (0.35%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 27,734 (99.65%) are in Category One and Two.A total of 7,606 cases (27.33%) are in Category One, 20,128 (72.32%) in Category Two, 59 (0.21%) in Category Three, 28 (0.10%) in Category Four, and 10 (0.04%) in Category Five.


Gabon becomes first African country paid to protect its rainforest

Gabon has become the first African country to receive payment for reducing global carbon emissions by protecting its valuable rainforest.The UN-backed Central African Forest Initiative (Cafi) has handed over US$17 million, which forms the first payment of a US$150 million deal struck in 2019.Cafi is a partnership between willing donors, six Central African partner countries and Brazil, to “recognise and preserve the value of the forests in the region to mitigate climate change, reduce poverty, and contribute to sustainable development”.Rainforests are vital for absorbing the globe’s climate-heating emissions and nearly 90% of Gabon is covered by forest, which captures far more carbon than the country emits.Gabon has been able to demonstrate that it managed to reduce deforestation in 2016 and 2017 compared to the previous decade, Cafi says, and so help reduce world carbon levels.As a result, Norway, through Cafi, has paid Gabon US$17 million based on a formula relating to the number of tonnes of carbon that would otherwise have ended up in the atmosphere. The rest of the US$150 million should be handed over in the coming years.The initial payment represents just 0.1% of Gabon’s annual GDP, but Forest Minister Lee White told the BBC that it was a significant first step.He said that Norway has validated Gabon’s systems for monitoring deforestation and carbon emissions, which could be used to help high carbon-emitting countries pay Gabon for managing its natural resources in the future.Gabon has launched a number of conservation schemes in recent years, including the creation of 13 national parks and a project to combat illegal logging.Nevertheless, the country wants to earn more money from timber and says it will continue to harvest trees and increase the value of the sector by processing more of the raw material at home.The charity Rainforest Foundation UK, which works on rainforest protection and community land rights, told the BBC that while money to protect forests is important, this payment “risks being a public relations exercise”.It points to data from the monitoring group Global Forest Watch which shows that 2017 saw one of the highest rates of forest loss in Gabon since 2001.However, the Gabonese government says that its monitoring shows that the country can maintain its carbon stocks through sustainable forestry.For many years, richer countries have sought to end deforestation in Africa and elsewhere by paying poorer nations to protect their trees.This approach has generally failed to stop the tide of tree-cutting so these new results from Gabon are regarded as encouraging.Gabon’s old-growth trees are critical for the world as they hold more carbon than similar forests in the Amazon. They are also home to around 60% of Africa’s surviving forest elephants.Gabon’s forest minister now wants to push forward with a bolder plan to sell carbon credits to allow rich countries to reduce emissions from tough sectors like transport and home heating.Many see this as a controversial idea, allowing the rich to buy their way out of difficult choices.


US closes Silicon Valley Bank in biggest collapse since 2008

US regulators pulled the plug on Silicon Valley Bank on Friday in a spectacular move that sent global banking shares sputtering, as markets fretted over possible contagion from America's biggest banking failure since the 2008 financial crisis.
US authorities swooped in and seized the assets of SVB, a key lender to US startups since the 1980s, after a run on deposits made it no longer tenable for the medium-sized bank to stay afloat on its own.
Little known to the general public, SVB specialised in financing start-ups and had become the 16th largest US bank by assets: at the end of 2022, it had US$209 billion (RM944.58 billion) in assets and approximately US$175.4 billion in deposits.
Its demise represents not only the largest bank failure since Washington Mutual in 2008, but also the second largest failure ever for a retail bank in the US.
In response to the sudden collapse, treasury secretary Janet Yellen convened an emergency meeting of top US banking regulators.
"Secretary Yellen expressed full confidence in banking regulators to take appropriate actions in response and noted that the banking system remains resilient and regulators have effective tools to address this type of event," a treasury statement said.
Based in the shadow of the world's biggest tech companies, SVB's travails have raised fears that more banks may face doom as the fallout from high inflation and hiked interest rates squeezes weaker lenders.
In front of the SVB headquarters on a rainy day in Santa Clara, California, nervous customers spoke in small groups wondering how they could withdraw their money as news spread of the government seizure.
One customer dressed in a T-shirt and sweatpants, and who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he used the bank for payroll at his startup.
"It's not a good situation. A lot of really top tier (venture capital firms) have very high amounts of exposure here," he said, adding that he was worried for his employees.
Crisis measure
A day after the four biggest US banks lost a whopping US$52 billion in market value following signs of trouble at SVB, European banking giants were similarly mired in the red, with Deutsche Bank down 10% at one stage.
But on Wall Street on Friday, shares in heavyweights Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Citibank seesawed, with Yellen telling a congressional panel that she was "monitoring" a few banks.
This was swiftly followed by news that the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) closed SVB and appointed the Washington-based Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to take it over.
The crisis measure protects customers with up to US$250,000 in deposits and crucially buys time to find a potential buyer of whatever remains of the embattled Silicon Valley lender.
CNBC reported Friday that SVB was in talks with potential buyers after attempts to ride out the crisis on its own failed.
"The debate today is whether SVB issues are SVB's issues or the start of a bigger issue for the banking sector," said a note from Patrick O'Hare of Briefing.com.
"There seems to be an allowance in the stock market for it being more of a company-specific problem or at least not a debilitating systemic issue."
Before the closure, trading in SVB itself was halted Friday after the bank saw more than 60% of its value wiped out, following the disclosure it had lost US$1.8 billion in securities sales in an effort to raise funds.
Investors fear that other banks could face similar losses as they look to raise cash amid ever rising interest rates with central banks moving aggressively to tame decades-high inflation.
"We'll have to see how this story develops but something always breaks hard during or after a Fed hiking cycle," Deutsche Bank analysts said in a note.
"Is this another mini wobble on this front or the start of something bigger? Tough to tell, but I would be stunned if there weren't many more casualties of this boom-and-bust cycle."


'What are you doing?' Ambiga slams PH govt after police questioning

Former Malaysian Bar president Ambiga Sreenevasan today hit out at Pakatan Harapan (PH) after being questioned by the police about a statement made by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas at a forum in September last year.
Thomas was one of several panellists at the event, along with Ambiga and DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.
He reportedly said that "the Malay government" had failed, criticising the two administrations that followed the collapse of the PH government.
Speaking with lawyer Siti Kasim outside the Bukit Aman police headquarters, Ambiga said it was "very clear" that the investigation was a demand by "Umno-PH".
"I repeat my call to PH. You are a reformist government. What are you doing? What is the agenda behind all of this?
"Have you agreed to throw your former attorney-general under the bus? Please come out and be honest," she said.
PH joined hands with Umno and Barisan Nasional in the wake of the 15th general election, ending a political impasse through the formation of a coalition government led by PH chairman Anwar Ibrahim.
Both Umno and PH came under fire for their cooperation, with critics accusing both sides of compromising their principles.
PH, for its part, was slammed for working with scandal-tainted Umno, whose president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was appointed as one of two deputy prime ministers in Anwar's Cabinet.
Umno meanwhile was criticised for going back on its long-held stand of "No Anwar, no DAP".
Speaking today, Ambiga questioned the police investigation, asking where it had originated.
"Let me ask PH, the reformist government PH, is this one of the demands by Umno in relation to the investigation against Tommy Thomas?"
"Is it related to the book?" she added, referring to Thomas' controversial memoir, "My Story: Justice in the Wilderness".
"It is clear to me that it is connected to the charges that have been brought against some of the Umno leaders," Ambiga said.
"To me, this is an utter abuse of power. I really want to know from PH, what else have you given away? Please tell us. What else have you given away to Umno?"


New 'kid-friendly' flavoured e-cigs flood US market

Since 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration has sought to crack down on fruity, sweet-flavored e-cigarettes that hook teenagers on nicotine.
But at least 20 brands continue to sell China-made disposable devices with kid-friendly flavors such as "peach blueberry candy" and “pineapple strawnana" at liquor stores, smoke shops and convenience stores in the US, Reuters has found.
Flavored disposable vaping devices account for one-third of US e-cigarette sales, up from less than 2% three years ago, according to a Reuters review of retail sales data. Their surge raises questions about the public health agency’s failure to rein in the booming flavored e-cigarette market and its ability to enforce its own rules, some critics say.
Findings by Reuters are drawn from a dataset produced by IRI, a Chicago market research firm that uses scanner data and other information to track retail purchases. The IRI dataset, which measures purchases from Jan 12, 2014, to June 12, 2022, provides a rare look at the rise of disposable flavored-nicotine devices following the FDA’s crackdown on Juul Labs Inc, 35%-owned by Marlboro maker Altria Group Inc.
The data shows for the first time that consumers spent more than US$2 billion on the new generation of disposable e-cigarettes over the past year, surpassing Juul's once-leading market share by about 3 percentage points since March.
The data was shared with Reuters by an individual outside IRI, who declined to be identified. An IRI spokesman said the company is "unable to confirm any information you’ve received from an outside source" and that the figures should not be attributed to IRI. According to a 2019 IRI press release, IRI measures purchases at retailers including more than 30,000 convenience stores.
The FDA said in written responses to questions that it is “deeply committed to addressing the ongoing public health concerns around youth e-cigarette use” and “is constantly monitoring the changing marketplace.”
The FDA in January 2020 banned all flavors except tobacco and menthol in Juul and other cartridge-based e-cigarettes. In June, it sought to ban the sale of all Juul e-cigarettes. The agency has since put its order on hold, saying "there are scientific issues unique to the Juul application that warrant additional review.”
Juul referred Reuters to previous statements saying it wants no underage consumers to use its products and that it looks forward to "re-engaging with the FDA" while the ban is on hold.
Sweet-flavored, disposable e-cigarettes began flooding the market in 2020, trying to capitalise on the former popularity of Juul's cartridge-based device. Both varieties vaporise a liquid that contains nicotine, the addictive chemical that gives smokers a rush. Both contain roughly equal concentrations of nicotine.
Disposable devices, which are pre-filled and priced at US$15 to US$25, can have five to 20 times the amount of liquid as a Juul cartridge, based on visits Reuters made to nine retailers selling both. Some products advertise that a user can take thousands of puffs of a single device. In contrast, a Juul, priced at roughly US$10, requires users to add separate cartridges, or pods, of nicotine-laced liquid, priced at US$20 to US$25 per four-pack.
Millions spent weekly on top sellers
Three brands - Kangvape Onee Stick, Esco Bars and Breeze Smoke Breeze Pro - rang up weekly sales of more than US$3 million apiece as of June 12, according to the data.
Representatives of Esco Bars and Breeze Smoke said their products contain synthetic nicotine, a version of the addictive drug that is not derived from tobacco plants and was not under FDA's jurisdiction until Congress acted earlier this year. Both companies told Reuters they applied for FDA authorisation in 2022.
The FDA declined to disclose the names of synthetic nicotine products that applied.
Darrell Suriff, CEO at Pastel Cartel, the Texas company that makes Esco Bars, said it spent nearly US$3 million preparing applications to the FDA. Firms like his that try to follow the rules should not be penalised, he said: "There's a lot of bad players in the industry... We're not one of them."
Jon Glauser, chief strategy officer for Hyde, in Buffalo, New York, another disposable brand with synthetic nicotine and sales of nearly US$3 million per week, said he understands critics' concerns that sweet-flavored e-cigarettes appeal to teens, potentially addicting them. But adults "really do like flavors," he said.
Representatives at privately held Shenzhen Kangvape Technology Co did not respond to requests for comment.
Filling a 'sweet' void
Juul popularised e-cigarettes among teenagers starting in 2017. Juul's cachet with teens faded after 2019 when it pulled mango, mint and fruit flavors under regulatory pressure, leaving room for dozens of other brands to step in. As sales of flavored disposable devices have soared, Juul's US market share fell to about 30%, from more than 70% in 2018 and 2019, according to the data.
At Luxury Tobacco & Vape in Raleigh, North Carolina, a display for disposable Elf Bar recently offered more than a dozen flavors such as sour apple and rainbow candy. Juul occupied just a fraction of the shelf. Juul declined to comment on the display. Elf Bar did not respond to requests for comment.
According to FDA rules, e-cigarettes cannot be sold in the US unless their makers submitted scientific applications by September 2020 demonstrating why their products benefit public health. E-cigarettes containing synthetic nicotine had until May 14, 2022, to apply.
Reuters provided the FDA with a list of more than two-dozen flavored devices that the news agency found in stores and online, even though they were not on an FDA list of products that filed applications by 2020.
The FDA declined to answer questions about whether the products Reuters identified had applied for the required authorisations.
An FDA spokesperson pointed to the agency's website, which stated: "Our compliance and enforcement work is a multi-step process that cannot happen overnight."
Mitch Zeller, who retired in April as the director of FDA's tobacco unit, told Reuters there could be gaps on its list because the FDA needed cooperation from applicants in order to publicly list them.
"Is FDA going to catch every single violation of the statute? No," Zeller said, though he said targeting manufacturers that have not applied is FDA's "number one priority."
The agency said on its website on Aug 3 that "it is illegal" to sell any e-cigarettes using synthetic nicotine without its authorisation. As of Aug 15, the FDA had not granted authorisation to any of them.
Seizures
Alex Morrin, 19, used Juul starting in 2017 when he was a high school freshman in the Tampa, Florida, area, drawn to its “fruit,” “creme” and “mint” flavors. After Juul eliminated those flavors, Morrin began buying fruity, sweet-flavored disposable e-cigarettes, such as Cali Plus and HQD Cuvie Plus, made by Cali Pods and HQD Tech USA, both based in Florida. “They just tasted better, and there were more flavors,” he said. “They’re still all out there, and easy to get.”
Cali Pods and HQD did not respond to requests for comment.
After he began using e-cigarettes, he suffered headaches and nausea, then seizures that sent him to the hospital six times between January 2020 and last November. Morrin and his mother, Winna Morrin, said he had never experienced seizures before his e-cigarette addiction. Winna Morrin provided hospital records corroborating the seizures. Researchers have established no definitive link between vaping and seizures.
The FDA told Reuters it is seeking to understand whether the devices' "nicotine content or formulation may contribute to seizures." Most reports of seizures from e-cigarettes come from youth, or young adult, users, the FDA said.


New infections just above 2,500 as 8 more deaths reported

Another 2,521 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,929,972.
There were 4,695 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,858,943.
There are now 34,534 active cases, of which 32,766 or 94.9% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0.0%) are at quarantine centres while 1,695 (4.9%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 73 are in ICU with 47 in need of respiratory assistance.
Another eight deaths were reported, including two who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,495.


Western nations rush to evacuate staff, locals from Afghanistan after Taliban takeover

Western nations rushed to evacuate their citizens and local staff from Kabul on Monday after the Taliban’s lightning fast takeover of Afghanistan.The Islamists returned to power after the government collapsed on Sunday, as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani conceded the Taliban had won and fled the country.As thousands of people mobbed the city’s airport trying to flee the group’s feared hardline brand of Islamist rule, the US and 65 other countries issued a joint statement urging the Taliban to allow Afghan and foreign citizens to leave the country.The EU was left desperately trying to find a solution for its Afghan staff facing possible reprisals, and is seeking to convince its 27 member states to offer them visas.The US military secured Kabul’s airport on Monday as the US, Germany, France and the Netherlands transferred their staff to the site to prepare for evacuation.Other members of Nato, including Britain, Italy, Denmark and Spain, also announced the imminent evacuation of their staff, as did Sweden.‘Emergency evacuations’Sweden said Afghans who worked as interpreters or in other support roles would be included among those evacuated, while Finland said it would help its embassy staff and up to 130 Afghans leave the country.Germany is planning to deploy soldiers to help with the evacuation of its nationals and Afghans in danger from the Taliban, parliamentary sources told AFP Monday.In Paris, the foreign ministry said military reinforcements were being deployed to the United Arab Emirates to help with evacuations through Abu Dhabi.“We are planning to carry out the first rotation between now and the end of this Monday,” Defence Minister Florence Parly said, adding there were several dozen French citizens to be evacuated.More than 600 Afghans employed in French organisations have already arrived in France with their families, the French government said on Friday.Britain ordered the deployment of 600 troops to evacuate their nationals on Thursday, as the Taliban overran key regional cities last week.And on Sunday, the Italian defence minister announced the arrival of its first military plane to begin “emergency evacuations”.‘Security risk’Warsaw said the government has issued 45 humanitarian visas for Afghans and their families who worked for Poland or the EU in Kabul, while Ireland said it has granted visa waivers to 45 people and has agreed to take up to another 150.“We’ll prioritise people working with human rights organisations, with the media there, women and girls in particular,” Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney said Monday.Madrid on Monday will dispatch two military transport planes to Dubai for the “first phase” of the evacuation of its embassy staff and local staff, the defence and foreign ministries said.“Our priority now is to repatriate Spanish citizens as well as Afghan citizens who worked with us and who face a security risk,” Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said.Hundreds of the American embassy’s employees have already left Afghanistan, a Pentagon official said on Sunday.The US had sent 6,000 troops to the airport to ensure the safe evacuation of embassy staff.Russia meanwhile said it did not plan to evacuate its embassy in Kabul.Foreign ministry official Zamir Kabulov said Russia was among a number of countries to receive assurances from the Taliban that their embassies would be safe.China’s embassy in Kabul remains operational, Beijing said Monday, although it began evacuating its citizens from the country months ago.But the embassy told Chinese citizens remaining in Afghanistan to “pay close attention to the security situation” and stay indoors.


The Malayan tiger, from national icon to national shame?

The Malayan tiger adorns the country’s coat of arms and is celebrated as a national icon.It is also the animal adopted as the logo of the national car and the name of Malaysia’s football team.The face of the tiger is featured in many other brands as well, from the country’s oldest bank to a much-loved traditional ointment, trusted for generations.But vanishing in the open forest at an alarming rate, the Malayan tiger may soon be reduced to just that – a symbol.With fewer than 200 remaining in the wild, the Malayan tiger is now part of a “red list” kept by the UK-based International Union for Conservation of Nature.“Soon you will only be able to see tigers in rehab centres and zoos.”The list offers the most comprehensive information source on the status of animals and other species facing extinction.An environmental activist says not only are Malaysian states to blame for destroying the forests where tigers live, there are no effective legal remedies to arrest the tiger’s decline.“Our government forestry acts are all outdated,” Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil tells MalaysiaNow.“If you destroy the forests, you are killing the tigers. Soon you will only be able to see tigers in rehab centres and zoos.”She says that despite being protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act, Malayan tigers are likely to face extinction in the wild soon as forests are cut down and strict measures have yet to be imposed on poachers.As well as losing its natural habitat, the Malayan tiger is under constant attack by the merciless illegal wildlife trade.The Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) operations are always catching poaching gangs in national parks across the country.Many of the poachers are locals who also act as guides for foreign gangs entering Malaysian forests in search of tigers and other endangered animals.Even the hefty fine of half-a-million ringgit and five years’ imprisonment for those convicted of illegal hunting are seen as not enough deterrents.“We have proposed that punishment be revised to a maximum fine of RM1 million with 15 years in prison,” Perhilitan’s director-general Abdul Kadir Abu Hashim tells MalaysiaNow.Shariffa agrees the punishment for poaching is too lenient.“Loggers have opened too many balak routes through the forests for poachers.”She also said corrupt government officials are at the root of the problem.“The Thai government applies a shoot-to-kill order for all poachers. So, the poachers come to Malaysia instead,” says Shariffa, who heads the Association for the Protection of the Natural Heritage of Malaysia, or Peka.Even the hefty fine and imprisonment for those convicted of illegal hunting are seen as not enough deterrents.She said poachers usually get away without any punishment here.“The remaining Malayan tigers are running towards Thailand as the Thai government is stricter in their preservation and conservation efforts.”The government is now setting up a National Tiger Conservation Centre in Lanchang, Pahang.The conservation centre, which is expected to be completed by April 2021, aims to breed tigers in captivity and then introduce them into the wild with a view to repopulating the forest.But Shariffa is not convinced with the solution.“Conservation centres are not the original habitat of the tigers. It will be like a zoo.“And what happens if the breeding increases? Where are we going to release them as our forests are so rapidly shrinking?”


BN could win over fence sitters if Zahid sits out election race, say analysts

Analysts say Barisan Nasional (BN) may have a chance of winning over at least some of the voters currently on the fence if the coalition is brave enough to clean up its image ahead of the 15th general election (GE15) next month.
One way of doing this, according to political observer Azizi Safar, is to ensure that its chairman, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, does not contest the election.
"If Zahid doesn't contest, BN will receive more support," he said.
"Right now, there are some who support BN but who do not want to vote because of the possibility that Zahid might become prime minister if the coalition wins GE15."
Zahid, the incumbent for Bagan Datuk, was seen as key to the dissolution of Parliament which took effect on Oct 10 after repeated pressure on Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to call for snap polls this year.
This was despite multiple warnings about the likelihood of bad weather and floods during the northeast monsoon.
While Zahid was recently freed of 40 corruption charges related to the foreign visa system, he still faces a string of others over the misappropriation of funds from charity outfit Yayasan Akalbudi.
PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli previously said that Pakatan Harapan (PH) would need to win 30% of some 60% of voters estimated to be on the fence.
A recent study by Yale University on the other hand put the percentage of fence sitters at 33.4%.
It also estimated about 28.1% of the popular vote for BN, 9.9% for Perikatan Nasional (PN), and 24.4% for PH, with the remaining 4.2% going to other parties.
Former Johor Bahru MP Shahrir Samad has said that he will not contest the election in order to clear his name in court – the only leader in the Umno court cluster to have made such a move.
He is charged with failing to declare RM1 million received from former prime minister Najib Razak.
Referring to the last general election on May 9, 2018, Azizi said the majority of voters had decided ahead of time which party to support due to ongoing issues including 1MDB and the goods and services tax (GST).
This time, he said, the fence sitters would likely adopt a wait-and-see approach.
Kartini Aboo Talib of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia meanwhile said that while the percentage of voters estimated to be on the fence at GE14 had been between 37% and 40%, voter turnout on election day itself had been 82.3% – higher than the 76% recorded at GE13.
"The fence sitters eventually got off the fence and made a decision," she said.
"Maybe they were taking their time to decide who to support."
This time around, she said that fence sitters would likely focus on issues such as job opportunities, professional and cash aid, the gig economy, and loans for education and housing.
"These are all basic things which ensure that the people's money is used for their well-being and not for the personal interests of politicians," she added.
Azizi meanwhile expects fence sitters to prioritise offers of a new leadership, including the prime minister candidates and shadow Cabinets.
"Young people want a work-life balance, job security, and a stable income," he said.
"Voters below the age of 40 make up more than 40% of the electorate. They could make or break victory for any given party or coalition."


Hong Kong’s Covid fight intensifies as cases multiply by 60 times

Hong Kong’s coronavirus battle intensified on Thursday as authorities reported new cases had multiplied by 60 times so far this month and media reported that testing would become compulsory for everyone in the global financial hub from March.Hospitals are overwhelmed with some patients, including elderly, left lying on beds outside in chilly, sometimes rainy weather, in shocking scenes that prompted an apology from authorities in the Chinese controlled city.Schools, gyms cinemas and most public venues are shut. Many office employees work from home. But, many residents are fatigued by the harsh restrictions imposed to protect them against the pandemic, even as most other major cities in the world adjust to living with the virus.Health authorities reported a record 6,116 confirmed cases on Thursday, up from 4,285 the previous day, with a further 6,300 preliminary positive cases. That takes the total since January to more than 16,600. They reported 24 new deaths.The jump in cases is the biggest test yet of the city’s “dynamic zero-Covid” policy, but leader Carrie Lam said this week the city “cannot surrender to the virus.”Some media reports, citing unidentified sources, said the government planned to test up to one million people each day from March and those who failed to comply would be fined HK$10,000 (US$1,282).The government did not respond to a request for comment.“Because of the severe number of cases we need to speed up admission to hospitals and community isolation facilities,” undersecretary for food and health Chui Tak-yi told reporters. “The government is trying to ease all these bottlenecks.”Quarantine facilities had reached capacity and hospital beds were more than 90% full, authorities said.In a move to free up beds for isolation, Lam said late on Wednesday she had spoken with local hotel owners and planned to make up to 10,000 hotel rooms available for Covid-19 patients.Retailers batteredLam’s comments came after Chinese President Xi Jinping told Hong Kong’s leaders their “overriding mission” was to stabilise and control the coronavirus.The surge in cases and tighter rules have battered the city’s retail sector, with the Retail Management Association (HKRMA) saying on Thursday retail traffic was down 40% from December.“If the pandemic gets worse and if our rents are kept at the level now… we will not survive,” said Annie Tse, chairwoman of HKRMA. “Since protests and Covid it’s been almost three years, how much more cash can we burn?,” she said, referring to anti-government demonstrations in 2019.The association, which represents around 9,000 retail outlets and employs over half of the local retail workforce, urged the government to force developers to provide rent relief for tenants and include the sector in an anti-epidemic fund.HKRMA expects flat year-on-year growth for retail sales for the January-June period, and said growth would easily sink into negative territory in the second half if the situation persists.Hong Kong has adopted the same ‘dynamic zero’ coronavirus strategy, employed by mainland China to suppress all outbreaks.But the scale and speed of the highly contagious Omicron variant of the virus has left authorities scrambling. Hospitals are operating at maximum or over capacity and long queues have formed outside testing centres, with some people waiting hours.Authorities said they could no longer keep up their testing and isolation mandates, resulting in a backlog that could not keep pace with the daily infection numbers.China has said it would help Hong Kong bolster its testing, treatment and quarantine capacity, and secure resources from rapid antigen kits and protective gear to fresh vegetables.Hong Kong has recorded around 35,000 infections since the start of the pandemic, and more than 250 deaths, far fewer than other similar sized major cities.However, medical experts have warned daily cases could surge to 28,000 by the end of March amid worries about high levels of vaccine hesitancy among the elderly.


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