Melbourne drops Covid-zero plans, shifts focus to rapid vaccinations

Australian authorities on Wednesday extended the Covid-19 lockdown in Melbourne for another three weeks, as they shift their focus to rapid vaccination drives and move away from a suppression strategy to bring cases down to zero.Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews flagged a staggered easing of the tough restrictions once 70% of the state’s adult residents receive at least one dose, a milestone he hopes to reach at least by Sept 23, based on current vaccination rates.“We have thrown everything at this, but it is now clear to us that we are not going to drive these numbers down, they are instead going to increase,” Andrews told reporters in Melbourne, the state capital, after a lockdown for nearly a month failed to quell the outbreak. The lockdown was due to end on Thursday.“We got to buy time to allow vaccinations to be undertaken all the while doing this very hard work, this very painful and difficult work, to keep a lid as much as we can on cases.”New local cases jumped to 120 in Victoria from 76 a day earlier. Of the new cases, 100 have spent time in the community while infectious.Neighbouring New South Wales state, home to Sydney, on Wednesday brought forward its target date to fully vaccinate 70% of people above 16 to the middle of next month from the initial target of the end of October, as outbreaks spurred a surge in inoculation.“No matter where you live, life will be much, much better, much freer, as long as you’re vaccinated at 70%,” Berejiklian told reporters. So far 37% are fully vaccinated in the state, while 67% have had at least one dose, slightly higher than the national numbers.A total of 1,116 new cases were detected in New South Wales, down from 1,164 a day earlier. NSW reported four new deaths taking the total number of deaths in the latest outbreak to 100.Living with Covid-19Australia is trying to get a handle on the third wave of infections that has locked down more than half of its 25 million population. Sydney and Melbourne, its largest cities, and capital Canberra are in weeks-long strict stay-at-home orders.Despite the recent flare-ups, it has managed to keep its coronavirus numbers relatively low, with just over 55,000 cases and 1,012 deaths.The federal government is pressing the states and territories to stick to a national reopening plan once vaccination rates reach 70%-80% although some virus-free states said they may delay given the rapidly rising Sydney cases.Berejiklian said New South Wales will open to international travellers when vaccinations reach 80% and that she may allow people residing in other states to fly into Sydney, even if other states decide against opening up their borders.Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg urged the state’s leaders to follow the national reopening plans.“Stick to the plan… a plan that allows businesses to reopen and plan for their own future… a plan that takes Australia forward to living safely with the virus,” Frydenberg said.


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Over 400,000 children in Malaysia infected with Covid-19 this year

More than 400,000 Covid-19 cases involving children below 18 were recorded this year compared to 12,000 last year, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said today.Of the total, 252,569 were school students while 42,831 involved preschool children.More worryingly, he said, 67 deaths were recorded within this age group this year.“It is our shared responsibility to make sure that children are protected from Covid-19 by ensuring a safe environment for them, including by taking the appropriate preventive and protective measures,” he said in his keynote address in conjunction with a webinar titled “Living with Covid-19: Children and Teenagers”.He said the government had begun vaccinating those aged 12 to 17 in order to protect them from the virus.According to the health ministry’s CovidNow portal, 43% or 1,352,870 teenagers had received at least one dose of vaccine as of yesterday.Khairy said while vaccination would provide protection from the adverse effects of Covid-19, this alone was not enough. Instead, he said, people should continue to practise the new norms in order to avoid the risk of infection.“Among the things we need to do and help our children practise is to wear a face mask at all times, wash our hands with soap or use hand sanitiser, stay home from school if they are symptomatic or have been in close contact with a Covid-19 patient, and conduct screening at school entrances,” he said.He said such efforts would also prepare children and parents alike for the start of the school session.He urged parents to encourage their children to follow the SOPs whether or not they have been vaccinated, and to cultivate a healthy lifestyle by staying active, eating healthy food and not smoking.“Public health depends on the cooperation of everyone,” he said. “In the fight against Covid-19, no one is safe from infection until everyone is safe.”


Chinese scientists develop gene therapy which appears to reverse some effects of ageing

Scientists in Beijing have developed a new gene therapy technique which can reverse some of the effects of ageing in mice and extend their lifespans.They are optimistic that their findings may one day contribute to a similar treatment for humans.Their method, reported this month in the journal Science Translational Medicine, involves inactivating a gene which the researchers found to be a key factor in cellular ageing.The specific therapy they used and the results it generated are a world’s first, said co-supervisor of the project Professor Qu Jing, 40, a specialist in ageing and regenerative medicine from the Institute of Zoology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).“After six to eight months, these mice show overall improved appearance and grip strength and most importantly they have extended lifespan for about 25%,” she said.The team of CAS biologists screened thousands of genes to find those which were particularly strong drivers of cellular ageing.The team identified one gene, kat7, as the most efficient contributor to ageing in cells and then inactivated it in the livers of laboratory mice, Reuters reports.“We just tested the function of the gene in the human stem cell, in the human liver cell and the mouse liver cell and for all of these cells we didn’t see any detectable cellular toxicity. And for the mice, we also didn’t see any side effects yet,” Qu said.Despite this, the method is a long way from being ready for human trials.“It’s still definitely necessary to test the function of kat7 in other cell types of humans and other organs of mice and in other pre-clinical animals before we use the strategy for human ageing or other health conditions,” Qu said.The team hopes to be able to test the method on primates next, but that will require a lot of funding and much more research first.Qu spelled out their ambitions: “We hope that we can find a way to delay ageing even by a very minor percentage in the future.”


UK mulls easing visa policy amid labour shortages

Britain said Thursday that it was mulling an easing in visa access to help address labour shortages, which have been partly sparked by its tighter post-Brexit immigration rules.
The government adopted a points-based immigration model following its exit from the European Union in January 2021.
"We work... to ensure our points-based system delivers for the UK and works in the best interests of the economy, by prioritising the skills and talent we need and encouraging long-term investment in the domestic workforce," a government spokesman said.
"This includes reviewing the shortage occupation list to ensure it reflects the current labour market."
The shortage list seeks to relax visa access for professions in short supply.
Many British companies have long called for the government to ease its visa policy.
The hospitality, road haulage and agriculture sectors have been hit particularly hard by European labour shortages sparked by Brexit and exacerbated by Covid fallout.
The UK currently has about one million unfilled jobs, according to recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
That figure has been pushed higher by including numbers of Britons choosing to leave the labour market as a result of long-term illness or early retirement.
The ONS published survey data Thursday showing that more than a quarter of UK firms with 10 or more employees were experiencing shortages in late February. That was broadly the same as in late January.
"Many (businesses) will have little option but to increase wages to attract and retain staff," said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown.
"This piles on yet more pressure at a time when higher energy costs and rising prices of goods are still causing headaches."
The UK government and the Bank of England have urged employers to show restraint, warning that big pay hikes would jeopardise attempts to tame inflation.
Strikes have, however, multiplied in Britain in recent months as workers protest over salaries that have failed to keep pace with decades-high consumer price inflation, worsening a cost-of-living crisis.


Mufti pans quota for VIPs at mosques

A religious leader has questioned the need for a regular quota for so-called VIPs at mosques, saying any move towards this would be unreasonable and might restrict others from performing their prayers as well.Negeri Sembilan mufti Mohd Yusof Ahmad said setting aside space for particular individuals was not wrong from a religious viewpoint but should not be made a norm at mosques.“What if a mosque sets a quota for 10 VIPs and all 10 are no-shows? All worshippers should be given an equal opportunity,” he told MalaysiaNow.“Mosque committees should have no such rules.”Recently, a video clip went viral on social media showing a person believed to be a VIP entering Masjid Putra without queueing despite several other worshippers already waiting in line.It sparked a strong backlash with many accusing the mosque authorities of giving “double-standard” treatment.The mosque management later apologised and issued a statement explaining the situation.However, the mosque’s chief imam Ikmal Zaidi Hashim also gave a separate explanation in a Facebook Live video, setting off another round of mixed reactions by saying there was a 10% quota amounting to space for 30 people for VIPs at the mosque.Yusof said it was possible to provide a special area for certain individuals if the mosque management receives such a request.“In Negeri Sembilan, mosques do not set special quotas for VIPs but there are times when the Yang di-Pertuan Besar goes to perform his prayers at Masjid Negeri in Seremban,” he said.“Normally, he will be escorted by the menteri besar and his officials, so the mosque management will be informed and will prepare space according to the attendance list given.”He added however that such a space would only be prepared upon request.“If this VIP does not come in the end, that space will be given to other worshippers.”He also advised worshippers to come early so that they will have a chance to perform their prayers at the mosque.“If you miss your chance because the mosque is already full, that is not the management’s fault,” he said.“There needs to be a quota in this regard, in line with the SOPs, to ensure the safety of everyone, seeing as the country is still facing the threat of Covid-19.”


Twitter execs exit, hirings halt as Musk buy looms

Twitter confirmed Thursday that two senior executives are heading for the exit and it has paused most hiring, as Elon Musk stands poised to become the global messaging platform’s new owner.Kayvon Beykpour, a general manager who leads research, design and engineering at Twitter, is leaving along with head of products Bruce Falck, a Twitter spokesman told AFP.Beykpour however said he was ousted from the San Francisco-based tech company.“The truth is that this isn’t how and when I imagined leaving Twitter, and this wasn’t my decision,” Beykpour, who is on paternity leave, said in a tweet.Twitter chief Parag Agrawal “asked me to leave after letting me know that he wants to take the team in a different direction,” he added.Twitter also confirmed that, effective this week, it is pausing all hiring except for business-critical roles.Musk’s US$44-billion deal to buy Twitter was announced last month but still needs the backing of shareholders and regulators.The takeover is expected to close later in 2022, with Musk – who runs space exploration endeavor SpaceX and electric automaker Tesla – stepping in as its boss at least for a little while.Musk is on record saying he would lift the ban Twitter slapped on Donald Trump, contending that kicking the former US president off the platform “alienated a large part of the country.”Musk’s endorsement of a Trump return triggered fears among activists that Musk would “open the floodgates of hate.”Trump has stated publicly he would not come back to Twitter if permitted, sticking instead with his own social network, Truth Social, which has failed to gain traction.Trump was booted from Twitter and other online platforms after supporters, fired up by his tweets and speech alleging election fraud, attacked the US Capitol on Jan 6, 2021 in a deadly bid to stop Joe Biden from being certified as winner of the presidential election two months earlier.Musk reasoned that permanent bans at Twitter should be rare, and reserved for accounts that are spam, scams or run by software “bots.”Activist groups have called on Twitter advertisers to boycott the service if it opens the gates to abusive and misinformative posts with Musk as its owner.The fate of Twitter’s top attorney, deemed a moral champion of the platform, has been in doubt since Musk tweeted displeasure with content moderation she had carried out.The lawyer, Vijaya Gadde, has led efforts to battle bullying and posts that could lead to real-world harm such as the US Capitol riot.She was involved in the decision to ban Trump, and others including removing political advertising from the app.


US to evacuate Afghan interpreters as Taliban seize border town

Thousands of interpreters who aided US and Nato forces in Afghanistan will be evacuated beginning in late July, Washington announced Wednesday, as Taliban insurgents captured a strategic crossing on the Pakistan border from government forces.In what the White House dubbed Operation Allies Refuge, the interpreters and their families are likely to be taken first to US overseas military bases or possibly third countries before resettlement in the US or elsewhere.Many fear retaliation by the Taliban, who are seeking to regain control of the government in Kabul after the departure of US troops before the end of August.There are an estimated 18,000 people – interpreters, translators, and others who worked with US forces – who would qualify for evacuation. With their families, it could potentially take the total number of evacuees to 80,000 or more.White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the goal is to get those already being processed under the State Department’s special immigrant visas programme, only a portion of the 18,000, out by the Aug 31 deadline for the US withdrawal.“These are courageous individuals. We want to make sure we recognise the value of the role they played,” she said.At the Pentagon, spokesman John Kirby said they were working intensely on where the translators would be sent, but he would not identify any possibilities.“We’re looking at all options,” he said.Fighters on motorcyclesThe news came as the US military pushed forward with the final tasks of withdrawing from the country, and as the Islamist insurgents captured Spin Boldak, the border crossing on the main highway between Kandahar and Quetta, Pakistan, and continuing onward to Karachi.Afghanistan’s interior ministry denied the insurgents had taken the area.“The terrorist Taliban had some movements near the border area… The security forces have repelled the attack,” interior ministry spokesman Tareq Arian told AFP.But social media was flooded with pictures of Taliban fighters relaxing in the frontier town, and residents told AFP it was in the Taliban’s hands.“I went to my shop this morning and saw that the Taliban are everywhere. They are in the bazaar, in police HQ and custom areas. I can also hear the sound of fighting nearby,” said Raz Mohammad, a shopkeeper who works near the border.The border crossing provides direct access to Pakistan’s Balochistan province – where the insurgents’ top leadership has been based for decades – along with an unknown number of reserve fighters who regularly enter Afghanistan to help bolster their ranks.Hours after the crossing fell, an AFP reporter on the Pakistani side saw around 150 Taliban fighters riding on motorcycles, waving insurgent flags and demanding to be allowed to cross into Afghanistan.Bush blasts US withdrawalSpin Boldak was the latest in a string of border crossings and dry ports seized by the insurgents in recent weeks as they look to choke off revenues much-needed by Kabul while also filling their own coffers.In another sign Western governments were rapidly reassessing the situation, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the UK was prepared to work with the Taliban if it enters into a power-sharing government.“Whatever the government of the day is, provided it adheres to certain international norms, the UK government will engage with it,” he told the Daily Telegraph.“All peace processes require you to come to terms with the enemy. Sometimes, that’s what it is.”On Tuesday the Pentagon pressed the leaders in Kabul to step up their fight against the Taliban.“They know what they need to do,” Kirby told reporters. “Whatever the outcomes are, good or bad, it’s going to come down to how leadership was exuded, how leadership was demonstrated,” he said.“That’s really going to be the test here in the coming weeks and months.”As the government’s grip over the country appeared to further loosen, former US president George W Bush – who launched the US invasion 20 years ago after the Sept 11 attacks – slammed Biden’s decision to withdraw all troops.“I’m afraid Afghan women and girls are going to suffer unspeakable harm… They are going to be left behind to be slaughtered by these very brutal people and it breaks my heart,” he told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.Asked whether he thought the withdrawal was a mistake, Bush replied: “Yes, I think it is.”Meanwhile nearly 350 Afghans fled into Tajikistan Wednesday from northern Afghanistan to escape attacks by the Taliban, the Tajik news agency Khova reported.It said the refugees, a majority of them girls, had “fled from the Taliban to save their lives”, adding that two babies died during the border crossing.


Malaysia to take a leaf from Thailand in medical cannabis push, says official

Malaysia plans to learn from the cannabis policy of neighbouring Thailand in its effort to legalise use of the drug for medical purposes, a health ministry official said today, in a country where possession can bring the death penalty.
The comments came after the Thai health minister said he would meet his Malaysian counterpart during a meeting of Apec health ministers next week where Thailand will showcase its work in legalising medicinal marijuana.
With a tradition of using cannabis to calm pain and fatigue, Thailand legalised medicinal marijuana in 2018, becoming in June the first Asian nation to decriminalise cultivation of marijuana and its consumption in food and drink.
"We are developing our own framework for the usage of cannabis for medical purposes, and want to learn from Thailand," the Malaysian official told Reuters on condition of anonymity.
The Malaysian government was interested in learning from Thailand's framework for medical use, he added.
The cultivation and recreational use of marijuana is illegal in Malaysia, and possession of more than 200g of the drug can entail the death sentence.
But Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has said the import and use of medical marijuana under a doctor's prescription is permissible if it is registered and licensed with the Drug Control Authority.
In April, Khairy said the government welcomed clinical studies for the medical use of cannabidiol, a chemical in cannabis that does not impart a "high" to users.
Last month, Bernama said the health ministry aimed to start registering some cannabidiol products next year after studying their safety, although approval for cultivation is still far off.
There was no immediate comment from law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.
Thai Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, the main driver behind his country's legalisation of cannabis for medical purposes, estimates the industry could be worth more than US$3 billion within five years.
"Topics of discussion will be on how to jointly move forward this kind of policy in order to create benefits, economically and medically," he told a news conference in Bangkok.
"We want everyone to recognise the property of this cannabis plant," he said on Wednesday. "The more people are interested in this field, more development and research (it) will create."
Thailand has said its cannabis policy covers medical and health purposes but not recreational use, although hastily issued laws have created space for such uses.


Twitter founder’s auction of first tweet draws US$2 million bid

Twitter boss Jack Dorsey is selling his first tweet at auction, with bidding Saturday reaching US$2 million in a sign of the appetite for virtual objects authenticated through blockchain technology.“just setting up my twttr,” Dorsey tweeted on March 21, 2006.On Friday he posted a link to “Valuables @Cent”, an online marketplace for tweets where, the site says, investors or collectors can “buy and sell tweets autographed by their creators.”The top bid Saturday for Dorsey’s tweet – US$2 million – came from Justin Sun, the founder of TRON, a platform for blockchain, the technology underlying cryptocurrencies. He also heads the BitTorrent streaming platform.“The creator of a tweet decides if they would like to mint it on the blockchain, creating a 1-of-1 autographed version,” Valuables explains.Buying a tweet means purchasing “a digital certificate of the tweet, unique because it has been signed and verified by the creator”, according to Valuables.In Dorsey’s case, the tweet itself remains visible to all, so long as he and Twitter leave it online.The approach is much like the online sales of dramatic digital “moments” from National Basketball Association games; the short video sequences remain visible for free on the internet but a blockchain-backed “Non-Fungible Token” (NFT) is generated to guarantee the identity, authenticity and traceability of the video, confirming its value.Thus, a 10-second clip showing a spectacular sequence by basketball superstar LeBron James fetched US$208,000 on the NBA Top Shot site late last month.Top Shot has generated more than US$200 million in transactions this year, according to Dapper Labs, which partnered with the NBA to create Top Shot.In 2019, Sun paid US$4.6 million in a winning bid to lunch with iconic billionaire Warren Buffett. Sun reportedly tried but failed to convince the elderly investor of the value of bitcoins.NFTs have soared in popularity, to the point that prestigious auction house Christie’s last month sold an entirely digital artwork.


Ramadan bazaars might be allowed this year, says Zuraida

Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin says Ramadan bazaars might be allowed this year subject to improved and more efficient SOPs.However she said the matter would be discussed with the National Security Council (NSC) before a decision is made.“The ministry will look at the SOP again to make it better and more efficient.“I do not see any problem as open markets and pasar malam (night markets) are allowed to operate. God willing, Ramadan bazaars can resume this time,” she said after an event in Ipoh today.The federal territories ministry and Negeri Sembilan government have already agreed to allow the holding of Ramadan bazaars this year and are waiting for a decision from the NSC given the enforcement of the conditional movement control order.Meanwhile, the Shah Alam City Council has received 1,600 applications from traders to hold Ramadan bazaars. It is waiting for approval from the Selangor government and advice from the NSC.


In an age of fluid political alliances, is capping PM’s term still relevant?

Since the last general election, Malaysians have seen three prime ministers come to power, an unprecedented change from the time of independence when entire generations spent their adult years under one or perhaps two prime ministers.Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who spent 22 years in power during his first tenure in Putrajaya, is perhaps the best example of political longevity at a time when many believe that such endurance is a thing of the past.As social media use rises and politics is dragged into the open, Malaysia, once seen as the bedrock of political stability beside more volatile neighbours such as Indonesia and Thailand, appears to have joined the trend of fluid loyalties and short-term alliances.Oh Ei Sun of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs said given the country’s current political instability, many believed that the tides would continue to change.“But the dust will eventually settle, and another strongman in the tradition of Dr Mahathir Mohamad during his first term may emerge,” he added, referring to the 22 years the veteran politician had spent in power, from 1981 to 2003.“So it is important to limit the term of the prime minister beforehand, and to entrench it as a political tradition.”Opposition pact Pakatan Harapan (PH) said on Monday that it would seek a meeting with Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to discuss a number of issues, including a cap on the length of time spent in the country’s top seat.Other issues were the anti-party hopping bill to prevent MPs from switching camps, the tabling of the Parliamentary Services Bill, and the amendment of the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders.Mahathir, Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister, was appointed to lead the country for a second term after PH won the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018.He resigned after 22 months, triggering the collapse of the PH government in 2020.The proposal to limit the prime minister’s tenure was made by PH during its campaign for GE14. However, questions have arisen about the feasibility of the suggestion given that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) inked between PH and the government is expected to end in July.Political observer Hisommudin Bakar said that PH, lacking the time to propose the matter during its time in government, had tried to fulfil its manifesto through the MoU with Putrajaya.“Now, they are hoping that Ismail will accept their suggestion about institutional reforms,” he said.“Is this a priority right now? That is the question.”Hisommudin, the executive director of electoral think tank Ilham Centre, said while the proposal was important to PH, members of the public might not see it as a prime concern at the moment.He said the people were currently more focused on economic recovery, job opportunities, and the rising price of goods.While the proposal might have interested voters before, he added, the political dynamics and circumstances had since changed.Kartini Aboo Talib meanwhile said that the move had its pros and cons although for her, the disadvantages outweighed the benefits.Kartini, of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, added that Malaysians were capable of deciding on governmental changes for themselves.“We reached democratic maturity when the administration changed peacefully from Barisan Nasional to PH in 2018,” she said, adding that the subsequent shifts from Mahathir to Muhyiddin Yassin and then to Ismail were likewise uneventful.Oh however said that limits were necessary, especially in a developing and maturing country like Malaysia.“We certainly do not want budding autocrats to get funny ideas about staying on indefinitely,” he said.As for PH’s reversal of policies on taxes and public transport, he said its concern had been about the waste associated with these projects.“As for the LRT and MRT, I think the objections were more on some of the excesses associated with such mega projects,” he said.“PH felt they were so egregious that they must be scrapped. As for the goods and services tax, I think it was almost universally hated by the population.”


Bank Negara authorised to decide on OPR without govt interference, says Rafizi

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has the authority to decide on the overnight policy rate (OPR) itself without the interference of the government, Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli says.
He said the right and power of BNM needed to be fully implemented while the government through the economy ministry and the domestic trade and cost of living ministry would carry out their tasks to reduce the effects of inflation.
"We (the government) take a different approach for us to check and balance and not to interfere in the affairs of BNM.
"Each carries out its own duty," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya yesterday.
BNM’s monetary policy committee in its meeting yesterday announced that it was maintaining the OPR at 2.75%.


Popularity of new action flick renews box office debate after Anwar film flop

Comedy action film "Polis Evo 3" collected RM1.3 million from its sneak preview yesterday, overtaking political biography "Anwar: The Untold Story" and several other international movies.
This propelled the movie, produced by Astro Shaw with Skop Productions and TGV Pictures, to first place on the GSC Malaysia Top 10 chart for the highest gross on Wednesday.
Directed by Syafiq Yusof, "Polis Evo 3" begins its official screening at cinemas nationwide today.
On Twitter, many users and local film reviewers predicted that the film would become Malaysia's "box office" hit for the year.
This comes amid criticism by some of free government screenings of "Anwar: The Untold Story" for civil servants and school students, and accusations by the producers of sabotage on the part of cinema operators following the poor public response.
Questions were also raised over the producers' claim that the film had resulted in full house screenings throughout the country, with social media users sharing pictures of nearly empty cinema halls.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, film director Al Jafree Md Yusop said box office film status could only be achieved through ticket collection.
He said the term "box office" itself referred to the counter for ticket sales, adding however that definitions of the phrase differ according to country.
In European countries such as France, he said, the size of the audience is taken into account rather than the collection of tickets.
"In Malaysia, RM1 million was once enough for a film to be considered a box office hit.
"But now, 'Mat Kilau' has set a new standard of up to RM90 million," he said, referring to the historical film which collected almost RM100 million after 46 days of screening in June last year.


No increase in electricity tariff for domestic consumers, PM assures

The government has no plans to raise the electricity tariff for domestic consumers, to avoid burdening the people, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says.
He said the decision also involved small and medium industries, agricultural companies and food producers even though it would give the country financial implications of almost RM30 billion a year.
"If it is raised, it will only be for multinational companies as the current tariff is too low for them and such a subsidy should not be given to giant companies making huge profits.
"As for the people (domestic consumers), the government has no plans whatsoever to raise the electricity tariff," he told a press conference after chairing a Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya today.
However, Anwar said that any increase in the tariff rate for multinational companies would only be made in a gradual and reasonable manner, to ensure that it does not affect their operations and projections.
He said details about the decision will be announced by Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
On flood management preparations, Anwar said Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would be leaving for Kelantan tomorrow to identify the early measures that could be taken in flood preparations.
"He will identify the problems and make early preparations. Our approach is different. We don’t wait for the floods to happen, we make preparations before it happens," he said.
Yesterday, Zahid said the government would take proactive steps in flood disaster management including activating temporary relief centres earlier.
He said with the cooperation of the Malaysian Meteorological Department, some areas where the amount of rainfall is high and expected to cause flooding will be focused on.
Meanwhile, Anwar said the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) had been instructed to be more proactive in dealing with situations involving farmers due to the problem of irregularities in marketing infrastructure.
"Last year, you heard about the huge problem affecting Cameron Highlands farmers that led to them disposing of their products, having no buyers, difficulties in transportation, etc. So Fama has to undertake that measure," he said.


Not just a visa issue, says China as WHO mission trips at entry

Delays to a long-planned mission by World Health Organization (WHO) experts to China to investigate the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic are “not just a visa issue”, Beijing said Wednesday.A year after the outbreak started, international health experts were expected to arrive in China this week for a highly politicised visit to explore the beginnings of the virus, which first emerged late last year in the city of Wuhan.The sensitive mission has been beset by delays and politics, with fears of a whitewash by Beijing.Foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying told reporters Wednesday that talks were continuing between the two sides over “the specific date and specific arrangement of the expert group’s visit”.“The issue of origin-tracing is incredibly complicated. To ensure the work of the international expert team in China goes smoothly, we have to carry out necessary procedures and make relevant arrangements,” said Hua.She said the country is “doing its best to create good conditions for the international expert group to come to China”.On Tuesday the head of the WHO told reporters Beijing had not yet finalised permission for the team’s arrival, saying he was “very disappointed with this news” – in a rare rebuke of Beijing from the United Nations body.Earlier this week Chinese authorities refused to confirm the exact dates and details of the visit, a sign of the enduring sensitivity of the mission.WHO had previously said China has granted permission for a visit by a 10-person team.Hua said China was “placing great importance and is actively communicating with WHO”.


Daily cases drop below 14,000

Another 13,899 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,185,131.Sarawak recorded 2,712 cases, Selangor 2,341, Johor 1,377, Kelantan 1,170, Perak 1,128 and Penang 1,060.Sabah recorded 962 cases, Pahang 779, Terengganu 760, Kedah 708, Melaka 339, Kuala Lumpur 310 and Negeri Sembilan 194.Putrajaya recorded 37 cases, Perlis 17 and Labuan five.


Ahead of busy execution week, 23 inmates accuse Singapore of denying them justice in historic suit

Twenty-three death row prisoners in Singapore have come together to file a historic suit against the government, accusing the authorities of scuttling their right to justice after a series of troubling executions of inmates who were forced to defend themselves without lawyers in their final hours.
The suit was filed this afternoon after a painful process over the past week, with no access to counsel to help them with the elaborate paperwork.
It comes ahead of four executions scheduled for prisoners convicted of various offences under Singapore's controversial drug laws.
MalaysiaNow earlier reported that two double executions would be carried out on Aug 2 and 5, ahead of Singapore's first post-pandemic National Day celebration next week.
Today's suit, seen as the first time that so many inmates have come together to sue the government, initially involved 17 prisoners who failed in their bid to file it on July 25.
One of them is Abdul Rahim Shapiee, a 45-year-old Singaporean Malay who was also part of a separate suit alongside 16 others accusing the authorities of ethnic bias in their prosecutions. He has since been notified of his execution on Aug 5.
Rahim's sister Norhafizah Shapiee, in a letter to the Singapore chief justice, said the prison authorities had refused to provide assistance to the inmates in filing the suit.
"The prisoners had to find out information pertaining to the forms themselves and provide the prison with application forms and e-litigation forms," Norhafizah wrote.
"The prison also did not respond to the prisoners' queries on filing fees."
Vocal anti-death penalty activist Kokila Annamalai meanwhile slammed the barriers before the inmates in their struggle to go through the legal process.
She said only lawyers have access to e-litigation and application forms.
"Prisoners and their families should not have to fight so hard to get access to the courts. It is the duty of the prison authorities and the state to allow and facilitate prisoners’ access to the courts," Kokila said in an online post today.
Singapore is under international scrutiny over a series of executions of those convicted of drug crimes, whose lawyers were slapped with heavy penalties after being accused of "abusing the process".
The rate of the hangings – a total of 10 in just over three months if the scheduled executions go ahead this week – also prompted Amnesty International to urge the international community to step up the pressure against Singapore.
"Rather than having a unique deterrent effect on crime, these executions only show the utter disregard the Singaporean authorities have for human rights and the right to life," the global rights group said on July 22, the day that Nazeri Lajim, a 64-year-old Singaporean who had been addicted to drugs since the age of 14, was executed.
A day earlier, Nazeri, who could not find legal representation amid the climate of fear following the action against lawyers representing death row prisoners, had made a desperate plea to the judges for more time to see his family members before his execution.
Fact aside that many of the prisoners have had to represent themselves, critics also point out that those executed are mostly from poor families, hired as mules by drug kingpins who have largely escaped arrest, an argument that the Singapore courts have rejected.
The PAP-led government has rejected calls for a review of the drug penalty, insisting that it has been effective even as neighbouring Malaysia announced that it was abolishing its mandatory death penalty.
* Editor's note: MalaysiaNow was later alerted to the last-minute addition of another prisoner to the lawsuit, bringing the total number to 24 instead of 23.


No plans to follow US in easing SOPs for the vaccinated, says DG

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today said Malaysia would not follow the footsteps of the US which recently announced that fully vaccinated people can do away with wearing masks in most indoor and outdoor settings.He said Malaysia would continue with its two existing methods of fighting Covid-19: vaccination and adherence to health SOPs.In the UK, more than 30 million have been vaccinated but they still comply with the rule on masks,” he told MalaysiaNow.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) yesterday said it was lifting mask-wearing guidance for people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.“Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities, large or small, without wearing a mask or physical distancing,” CDC director Rochelle Walensky said at a briefing.“If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.”Almost 60% of US adults have received one or more doses of Covid-19 vaccine while cases have fallen to a seven-day-average of 38,000 or 11 per 100,000.Noor Hisham reiterated his statement in March that those who have received two doses of vaccine must still follow the SOPs given the detection of new variants of the virus.He said this was also to ensure a smooth rollout of the national immunisation programme which is currently in its second phase.As of May 11, 1.17 million Malaysians had received at least one dose of vaccine while 724,517 had received two doses, totalling 2.2% of the population.


2.9 million to receive 40% discount on electricity bill

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah says some 2.9 million domestic users in the peninsula with a monthly electricity use of 200kWh will enjoy a 40% discount on their bills under the RM150 billion Pemulih package announced by the government yesterday.He said domestic users whose monthly consumption is between 201 and 300kWh will receive a discount of 15%, while those who use between 301 and 600kWh will receive a 10% discount and those between 601 and 900kWh, 5%.“This discount will be reflected in the July, August and September electricity bills,” he said in a statement.Shamsul said non-domestic users in the peninsula would be given a 5% discount for the low voltage commercial, industrial and agricultural categories, while users in six selected business sectors listed in the Pemerkasa Plus initiative would continue to receive a 10% discount during the same period.Meanwhile, users in Sabah will enjoy targeted electricity bill discounts for a period of three months starting from July, involving a discount of 40% for monthly electricity consumption of 200kWh and below.“Users with monthly consumption of between 201 and 300kWh will receive a 15% discount; 301 to 500kWh, 10%; and 501 to 1,000kWh, 5%.“Non-domestic users in the low voltage commercial, industry and agriculture categories will enjoy a 5% discount on electricity bills, similar to the peninsula,” he said.He also assured that during Phase One of the National Recovery Plan, there would be no power cuts for users with arrears not exceeding six months until Sept 30, with an Easy Payment Plan facility for domestic consumers to be offered until Dec 31.


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801 new cases, death toll up by 8

Another 801 new cases were recorded today, pushing total confirmed infections to 29,441.Of these, 546 were reported in Sabah and 89 in Selangor.Labuan recorded 29 new cases, followed by Kedah (28), Sarawak (27), Negeri Sembilan (24), Penang (19) and Kuala Lumpur (14).Terengganu recorded 11 new cases, Johor eight, and Perak six.No new cases were reported in Pahang, Melaka, Kelantan, Putrajaya and Perlis.Active cases stand at 10,123 with 94 in the ICU and 25 in need of respiratory assistance.A total of 573 patients were also discharged, taking recoveries to 19,072 or 64.8%.However, eight more deaths were also reported, bringing the virus toll to 246.


When being pro-Palestine becomes the new normal

There is an unmistakable shift in American politics regarding Palestine and Israel, a change that is inspired by the way in which many Americans, especially the youth, view the Palestinian struggle and the Israeli occupation. While this shift is yet to translate into tangibly diminishing Israel’s stronghold over the US Congress, it promises to be of great consequence in the coming years.Recent events at the US House of Representatives clearly demonstrate this unprecedented reality. On Sept 21, Democratic lawmakers successfully rejected a caveat that proposes to give Israel US$1 billion in military funding as part of a broader spending bill, after objections from several progressive Congress members. The money was specifically destined to fund the purchase of new batteries and interceptors for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system.Two days later, the funding of the Iron Dome was reintroduced and, this time, it has successfully, and overwhelmingly, passed with a vote of 420 to nine, despite passionate pleas by Palestinian-American Representative, Rashida Tlaib.In the second vote, only eight Democrats opposed the measure. The ninth opposing vote was cast by a member of the Republican party, Thomas Massie of Kentucky.Though she was one of the voices that blocked the funding measure on Sept 21, Democratic Representative, Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, switched her vote at the very last minute to “present”, creating confusion and generating anger among her supporters.As for Massie, his defiance of the Republican consensus generated him the title of “Antisemite of the Week” by a notorious pro-Israel organisation called “Stop Antisemitism”.Despite the outcome of the tussle, the fact that such an episode has even taken place in Congress was a historic event requiring much reflection. It means that speaking out against the Israeli occupation of Palestine is no longer taboo among elected US politicians.Once upon a time, speaking out against Israel in Congress generated a massive and well-organised backlash from the pro-Israeli lobby, especially the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac), that, in the past, ended promising political careers, even those of veteran politicians. A combination of media smear tactics, support of rivals and outright threats often sealed the fate of the few dissenting Congress members.While Aipac and its sister organisations continue to follow the same old tactic, the overall strategy is hardly as effective as it once was. Members of the Squad, young Representatives who often speak out against Israel and in support of Palestine, were introduced to the 2019 Congress. With a few exceptions, they remained largely consistent in their position in support of Palestinian rights and, despite intense efforts by the Israeli lobby, they were all reelected in 2020. The historic lesson here is that being critical of Israel in the US Congress is no longer a guarantor of a decisive electoral defeat; on the contrary, in some instances, it is quite the opposite.The fact that 420 members of the House voted to provide Israel with additional funds – to be added to the annual funds of US$3.8 billion – reflects the same unfortunate reality of old, that, thanks to the relentless biased corporate media coverage, most American constituencies continue to support Israel.However, the loosening grip of the lobby over the US Congress offers unique opportunities for the pro-Palestinian constituencies to finally place pressure on their Representatives, demanding accountability and balance. These opportunities are not only created by new, youthful voices in America’s democratic institutions, but by the rapidly shifting public opinion, as well.For decades, the vast majority of Americans supported Israel. The reasons behind this support varied, depending on the political framing as communicated by US officials and media. Prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, for example, Tel Aviv was viewed as a stalwart ally of Washington against Communism. In later years, new narratives were fabricated to maintain Israel’s positive image in the eyes of ordinary Americans. The US so-called “war on terror”, declared in the aftermath of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks, for example, positioned Israel as an American ally against “Islamic extremism”, painting resisting Palestinians as “terrorists”, thus giving the Israeli occupation of Palestine a moral facade.However, new factors have destabilised this paradigm. One is the fact that support for Israel has become a divisive issue in the US’ increasingly tumultuous and combative politics, where most Republicans support Israel and most Democrats don’t.Moreover, as racial justice has grown to become one of the most defining and emotive subjects in American politics, many Americans began seeing the Palestinian struggle against the Israeli occupation from the prism of millions of Americans’ own fight for racial equality. The fact that the social media hashtag #PalestinianLivesMatter continues to trend daily alongside the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter speaks of a success story where communal solidarity and intersectionality have prevailed over selfish politics, where only money matters.Millions of young Americans now see the struggle in Palestine as integral to the anti-racist fight in America; no amount of pro-Israeli lobbying in Congress can possibly shift this unmistakable trend. There are plenty of numbers that attest to these claims. One of many examples is the University of Maryland’s public opinion poll in July, which showed that more than half of polled Americans disapproved of President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israeli war on Gaza in May 2021, believing that he could have done more to stop the Israeli aggression.Of course, courageous US politicians dared to speak out against Israel in the past. However, there is a marked difference between previous generations and the current one. In American politics today, there are politicians who are elected because of their strong stance for Palestine and, by deviating from their election promises, they risk the ire of the growing pro-Palestine constituency throughout the country. This changing reality is finally making it possible to nurture and sustain pro-Palestinian presence in US Congress.In other words, speaking out for Palestine in America is no longer a charitable and rare occurrence. As the future will surely reveal, it is the “politically correct” thing to do.Ramzy Baroud is a journalist and the editor of The Palestine Chronicle.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


No on-site vaccination of factory workers yet, Khairy says

Science, Technology and Information Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today assured that a programme to vaccinate workers from the manufacturing and related services sectors on a large scale will only be rolled out once there is enough vaccine supply for the general public in Phase Three of the national immunisation programme.In a series of Twitter posts, he added that no move towards this would be made when vaccines are in short supply.“The reason this programme exists is for PICK to offer vaccinations at big industrial sites/factories,” he said, using the acronym for the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.“This will prevent factory workers from having to come to PPVs and for vaccinations to be done in situ. This will only commence when there are enough vaccines for Phase Three.”He was referring to the Public Private Partnership Immunisation Model or on-site vaccination under the Covid-19 Vaccination Programme for Manufacturing and Related Services, a statement on which had been issued by the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) on April 27.FMM had said that the model would require a minimum threshold of 1,500 employees including contractors or vendors who work on-site and who have already registered for vaccination through MySejahtera.It said registration to express interest in participating would begin on May 1.In his Twitter posts, Khairy who is in charge of PICK, said this programme had yet to begin.“If you look closely, this is just for expressions of interest,” he added.He said the programme for workers would be rolled out through a public-private partnership in which factories would pay for the cost of setting up vaccination sites while the government provides vaccines for free from PICK.“Again, (this) starts when (there is) enough supply for Phase Three,” he said.According to the FMM statement, the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force for manufacturing and related services comprising the international trade and industry ministry, the health ministry and Khairy’s science, technology and information ministry will assess each application before deciding on the next course of action.FMM also said the only vaccine currently available for this model is China’s Sinovac jab.


China to boost Malaysia ties to address inflation, food security, says PM

China has pledged to continue giving priority to enhancing its bilateral cooperation with Malaysia, especially in tackling the current challenges like global inflation and food security being faced by both countries, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.
He said this was stated by Chinese state councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his courtesy visit to Putrajaya today.
Ismail also said China had an important role to play in ensuring world peace.
"I have expressed the view that every conflict should be resolved at the negotiating table and not through war," he said in a Facebook post.
He said the hour-long meeting also discussed bilateral relations and the importance of developing the digital economy.
The prime minister said Malaysia welcomed the interest of more official delegations and businesses from China, such as Huawei, to be involved in government initiatives.
Ismail said Wang Yi also expressed appreciation to the Malaysian government for the opportunities given to Chinese infrastructure companies to take part in development projects such as the East Coast Rail Link.
China intends to continue with the rail network which also involves Laos and Thailand, he added.
He also conveyed his best wishes to China’s President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.
"I have expressed my desire to make an official visit to China soon and pay a courtesy call on President Xi and Premier Li," he said. Wang Yi is on a two-day official visit to Malaysia. He last visited Malaysia two years ago.
According to the foreign ministry, relations between Malaysia and China have continued to grow stronger and closer since being upgraded to the comprehensive strategic partnership level in 2013.
The two countries will celebrate the 10th anniversary of this partnership next year.


US couple sues IVF clinic over baby mix-up

A US woman and her husband are suing a fertility clinic they say implanted a stranger’s baby, lawyers said Monday.When Daphna and Alexander Cardinale first saw their newborn, conceived through IVF, they noticed the baby girl had jet-black hair and a much darker complexion than anyone in their family.A DNA test several months later revealed the girl born in September 2019 was not related to either of them, and they had been raising another couple’s child.Lawyers in Los Angeles say two laboratories connected by one doctor switched the embryos of two entirely separate couples and implanted them in the wrong mothers.The couples eventually met and worked through the courts to gain custody of their genetic children.“The moment our… daughter was born should have been among the happiest of my life,” Alexander Cardinale said.“But I immediately felt shaken and confused as to why I didn’t recognise her.“When the truth came to light, it made exchanging the children all the more heartbreaking,” he said.“Losing the birth child you know, for the genetic child that you don’t know yet… a truly impossible nightmare.”The suit is seeking to recover emotional damages, compensatory and property damages and a wide range of costs, lawyers Peiffer Wolf Carr Kane & Conway said.In IVF, the sperm and egg are combined and cultivated in a laboratory setting before the resulting embryo is implanted into the mother’s uterus.The procedure is often used when a couple has trouble conceiving. It can also involve the donation of either eggs, sperm or both.


Malaysia’s first integrated multi-fuelling station coming soon in Sarawak

Malaysia’s first integrated multi-fuelling station is expected to begin operations in Sarawak as soon as next month.Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Abdul Aziz Husain said construction of the Petroleum Sarawak (Petros) station at Darul Hana in Petrajaya, Kuching, is nearing completion.“Our first refuelling station at Darul Hana will be the first of its kind in Malaysia, maybe for the region,” he said at a groundbreaking ceremony today.“We hope to be operational next month or early next year.”The Petros multi-fuel stations are expected to minimise labour and will be driven by Internet of Things systems, including automatic sensors, big data analytics, and cashless payments through the SarawakPay platform.They are designed to be fully converted to electric charging and hydrogen refuelling once the use of battery and fuel cell vehicles increases.Aziz said such stations are needed to encourage public use of low carbon-emission powered vehicles.He also said that Sarawak is set to expand its hydrogen economy, possessing the ability to produce hydrogen on a large scale given the energy resources from the state’s hydroelectric dams.“There will be some challenges, but I believe we will grow to become experts in this field,” he said.“Many people will ask why we are building stations when there are no hydrogen cars around. But the question is, if there are no stations, will people buy hydrogen cars or do they need to have stations to encourage them?”He said Sarawak will also look into manufacturing or assembling hydrogen fuel cell components as part of efforts to expand the hydrogen economy.“With many countries rushing to establish their own hydrogren economies in an effort to control worsening pollution, I believe Sarawak is at the right place and time to reduce carbon emissions,” he said.A second station is planned for construction in Kuching, at the Batu Kawah New Township, while four others will be built in Sri Aman, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri.They will be built by SEDC Energy, a subsidiary of SEDC, and operated by state-owned Petros.


Two Septembers, 12 years apart, and a common political narrative

In the early hours of June 29, 2008, the Turkish embassy in Kuala Lumpur, located at the time in a residential-like bungalow in the leafy diplomatic enclave of Jalan U Thant, found itself dragged into a domestic quarrel when it received a prominent politician at its gates.It was only hours later that his closest supporters would announce to the media the whereabouts of Anwar Ibrahim, who was waiting out the expiry of a ban on active politics following an earlier conviction of sodomy.His supporters claimed he had been forced to seek refuge at the embassy after receiving credible intelligence on threats to his life.“We received information that this was an attempt at killing not only his political career but also him,” Syed Husin Syed Ali, the deputy president of PKR who remains a staunch loyalist of the PKR president until this day, announced to the media.The startling development took place just a day after a young staff member at Anwar’s office filed a shocking police report accusing the politician of sodomising him.Anwar had described the accusation by Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan as a ploy to divert public attention from rising food and fuel prices by the government of Abdullah Badawi, who was facing pressure from his own party to resign following electoral losses.At that time, Anwar was busy engineering defections from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN), which months earlier was delivered a blow when it was denied its traditional two-third majority in the general election.Five weeks after the dramatic events at the Turkish embassy, Anwar appeared in court, claiming trial to a charge of sodomy in what has come to be known as Sodomy II. The case was to last another six years, ending at the Federal Court with a five-year jail sentence for Anwar.After he was charged, he wasted no time accelerating his plan to topple the BN government through massive defections which he announced about a month after the March 8 general election in 2008.In that election, the opposition led by Anwar won 82 of the 222 seats, which meant that he needed 30 BN MPs to defect to his side.Many were sceptical of his chances, but it was also thought that MPs could be bought, with those from Sarawak and Sabah said to be “readily available”.Eventually, Sept 16 was fixed for the date of the defections, with rumours swirling of Anwar’s impending audience with the Agong.“There was both fear and excitement, and every rumour was taken seriously,” said a seasoned politician who was at the forefront of the events of September 2008.In the days leading up to Sept 16, a group of BN MPs left for a working visit to Taiwan, in what was seen as a move to stop them from communicating with the opposition.But the PKR leadership dispatched a team to meet them.Saifuddin Nasution, then the PKR strategy director, said they met the MPs and “had a good discussion”, while then information chief Tian Chua said they were “excited over the latest political development”. Both claims were denied by BN.PKR said the BN MPs were planning to support then-Umno deputy president Najib Razak to take over from Abdullah.“They told me if that failed, they would join Pakatan Rakyat,” Tian Chua was quoted as saying by The Star.On the eve of Sept 16, in anticipation of D-day, the opposition Pakatan Rakyat comprising PKR, DAP and PAS, which had just taken control of Selangor, picked the Petaling Jaya Stadium in Kelana Jaya to mobilise tens of thousands to lend support to the planned coup.“But of course, it was an anti-climax, and BN survived despite Abdullah Badawi’s resignation as prime minister,” the politician told MalaysiaNow, referring to Abdullah’s announcement on handing over power to Najib in March 2009.He said it was important to study the events leading up to the Sept 16, 2008 episode in order to analyse Anwar’s announcement last week.“In both situations, there was something to do with Anwar’s personal freedom,” he said.PKR president Anwar Ibrahim at the press conference in Kuala Lumpur at which he claimed to possess the numbers needed to take over the government.On Sept 21, two days before Anwar’s press conference last week, the Kuala Lumpur High Court denied his bid to strike out a lawyer’s suit challenging his royal pardon.In his suit, Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz said the Pardons Board’s decision to grant Anwar a royal pardon in May 2018, just a week after Pakatan Harapan took over the government, was illegal and invalid.Anwar was freed from prison following the pardon, a promise that PH made during its election campaign with a view of eventually appointing him as prime minister.Any decision to overturn that pardon would cost Anwar dearly, not only for his PH coalition, but also in terms of his personal freedom.“This is where we see a striking parallel between now and the September 2008 episode, where a serious development on the allegation of sodomy against Anwar preceded his announcement of having the majority to form a government,” the same politician said.


Malaysian volunteers in Singapore bring home 9,000 postal votes for GE15

Malaysian volunteers under the auspices of 1thirdmedia Movement successfully brought back about 9,000 postal votes for the 15th general election from Singapore early this morning.
They joined hands to collect the postal votes from Malaysian voters who are working and residing in the republic over a period of seven days.
1thirdmedia Movement is one of the movements working with Undi18, a Malaysian youth movement, to bring back postal votes from the island city.
They had done the same during the 15th Johor state election.
"We feel relieved at being able to complete this duty entrusted to us before voting day. We hope that these votes will reach voting centres throughout the country on time," volunteer Farrah Diyana Mohamad Ali told Bernama.
Farrah said five collection zones had been set up to cover the central, eastern, western, northern, and southern sectors of the island nation, before the ballots were combined to be taken back to Malaysia.
The boxes arrived safely at the sorting centre in Kuala Lumpur at about 2am, after the cut-off time for collection at 2pm on Nov 17 in Singapore.
"Happy, overwhelmed to be able to bring home these ballot envelopes," said another volunteer, Calvin Ong.
"It's a success for our team after a week of hard work collecting the postal votes.
"It's very tiring but it's a worthwhile mission for the sake of the country," said Ong who hails from Taiping.
He also had a simple message to the 21 million voters in Malaysia: "Go out and vote."
According to Undi18’s Twitter, there are a million Malaysian voters overseas.
It had received ballots from around the world at KLIA, with the earliest arriving from China and Germany.
Apart from the 1thirdmedia Movement, the others in the collection parade are Vote Malaysia and Global Malaysian Network.
The ballot envelopes will be taken to the sorting centre in Kuala Lumpur to be sorted for the 222 parliamentary constituencies and 117 state legislative assemblies and sent out to the states, including Sabah and Sarawak.
The deadline for postal ballot papers to be received by the managing officer at the election division is before 5pm on voting day.


Anwar says never asked for action to be taken against anyone

Anwar Ibrahim yesterday said that he had not issued instructions for action to be taken against any specific quarters since being appointed as prime minister.
He said what he had done was to tell the authorities to act against anyone involved in wrongdoing.
"I have never ordered for action to be taken against anyone in particular. I just give instructions that action be taken against all those linked to problems.
"I’m saying this because I want the family of civil servants to work in a spirited manner with the knowledge that the leaders are on the right track," he said in an address to civil servants in Kelantan. Anwar said he wanted to put a stop to the attitude of greed exhibited by certain people when holding positions of authority, such as awarding contracts to family members and cronies without following regulations.
"I am not here for the position or to take revenge, insult and punish people – that is not my job.
"My orders are clear, reminding state and federal civil servants at all levels to discharge their duties in a proper and trustworthy manner.
"My instruction to the Inland Revenue Board, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, police, Bank Negara Malaysia and all other enforcement agencies is to discharge their duties without fear or favour," he said.


No need to declare climate emergency yet, Saifuddin says on floods

The floods which have hit several states in the country do not warrant the government declaring a climate emergency yet, says Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
He said there are certain processes and evaluations that have to be carried out before such a declaration can be made.
"For the moment, there is no need to declare a climate emergency because the situation (flooding) is still under control.
"On the whole, the flood operations are under control and running well, with reports submitted regularly including during yesterday's Cabinet meeting," he told a press conference after handing over aid to flood victims at a relief centre in Alor Pasir, Tanah Merah, today.
Also present were Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah and Kelantan police chief Muhamad Zaki Harun.
It was previously reported that Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman had filed an emergency motion under Standing Orders 18(1) and 18(2) with Dewan Rakyat Speaker Johari Abdul, asking the Dewan Rakyat to declare a climate emergency and discuss immediate flood mitigation measures to minimise the damage to the country, especially along the east coast of the peninsula.
Meanwhile, Saifuddin said he had provided additional air assets for Kelantan and Terengganu.
"The additional air assets that I have requested from the police force are two units for Kelantan and one unit in Terengganu," he added.
He also advised residents in flood-affected areas to cooperate with the authorities.
"If you are instructed to evacuate, don’t delay because it could be life-threatening," he said.


Zafrul defends move to enter politics

Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz says his decision to enter politics was a tough but much-needed decision to allow him to continue serving the nation.
In an interview with CNN, he said that as a senator, his term in Parliament was limited to a maximum of six years.
"If you want to continue to serve the nation, you need to be actively involved in politics.
"My focus now is to continue with the fiscal reform and to continue in the longer term. So I have decided to go into politics and play a role in a political party," he said.
Zafrul acknowledged that the decision could prove unpopular but maintained that it was the right move, saying it was important for people to understand why such a call had to be made.
"You just have to do it. There's no trade-off for that. The problem when making a tough decision is, you do not find the time, and the best way is to communicate this well.
"We need stronger stakeholder management. And we have done that and we made a lot of tough decisions, especially during the crisis, the permanent Covid-19 crisis. So I think communication will be key and best to also focus on the nation's reform," he said.


Eateries allowed to open until 10pm

Putrajaya today announced that eateries and restaurants will be allowed to operate from 6am to 10pm from tomorrow onwards.Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision was made taking into consideration the pleas of operators to be allowed to open past 8pm.He also reiterated the government’s earlier announcement that the country will remain in Phase One of the National Recovery Plan given the continued trend of high daily infections.“Based on the health ministry’s risk assessment, the government will maintain Phase One nationwide as was announced by the prime minister today,” he said in a statement.The government previously said that the transition from Phase One to Two of the National Recovery Plan would take into account three key indicators namely the number of daily Covid-19 cases, the number of beds used in ICUs and the number of people who are fully vaccinated.Meanwhile, Sarawak has also extended its MCO, with the state disaster management committee (SDMC) saying the move was inevitable given the continued high number of cases.However, unlike authorities in the peninsula, the state government said eateries in Sarawak would maintain operating hours of between 8am and 8pm.The committee said in a statement that Sarawakians were reminded to comply with the SOPs set by the state.“The SDMC has met and agreed to extend the MCO. All of the SOPs that have been set will be maintained.”


Malaysia climb to 7th spot with 4 gold medal haul in SEA Games

Malaysia climbed up two spots in the 2023 South East Asian (SEA) Games medal tally after picking up four gold medals at the end of the second day of the games that began officially on Friday.
Two gold medals came from karate, while pencak silat and petanque contributed one gold each, bringing Malaysia's overall medal tally to six gold, 10 silver and 13 bronze.
Hosts Cambodia remain at the top of the table with 29 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze, followed by Thailand (16-17-26) and Indonesia (16-11-24).
The major disappointments of the day came from indoor hockey, where both the men's and women's teams lost out on the gold when they were defeated in their respective finals.
Sports that can offer potential gold medals today include karate, where the national team will try to defend their title in the men's team kumite event, as well as diving and athletics.
The national dive team will definitely be the best bet for gold medals, especially since they made a clean sweep of the eight gold medals in the last edition in Hanoi, Vietnam, while athletics, with its target of 10 gold medals, will feature hammer throwers Jackie Wong and Grace Wong, both gold medalists in Hanoi, competing at Morodok Techo National Stadium today.


Financial aid still needed on path to Covid-19 recovery

While many are taking advantage of the government’s move to further ease social and economic restrictions for the fully vaccinated, Muhammad Syazwan Zainal Abidin is not among them.Crowds of people have been heading to the malls and crossing state borders as Malaysia makes its way towards the endemic phase of Covid-19, but Syazwan is still struggling to recover from the pandemic’s toll on his finances.At 31, he now has less than RM1,000 left in his savings account.He used to work at a shop selling electric goods in Kuala Lumpur. But then that pandemic hit, and his salary was slashed by half.“I used to earn more than RM2,000 working at that shop, but then my salary was cut because of the drop in sales, especially after the movement control order was enforced,” he said.Eventually, he stopped working there altogether.“Without a source of income, I was forced to dip into my savings,” Syazwan told MalaysiaNow. “Now, I have less than RM1,000 left.”Unable to afford living on his own anymore, he began renting a place with his friend.He now does freelance work as a make-up artist while cooking and delivering food on the side.Things are looking up for him but his income is still nowhere near as much as it used to be, and he remains on the lookout for a permanent job.Syazwan is among many who were severely affected by the pandemic and who are still struggling to regain their footing, even as the country looks towards a gradual road to recovery.The long months of lockdown and contraints on economic activities have seen businesses fold and thousands left without a job.According to Kalpana Sambasivamurthy, executive director of the Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM), more than 2.6 million individual borrowers and 86,000 SMEs took a moratorium from June 1 to Sept 10.She said the numbers were based on recent statistics issued by Bank Negara Malaysia.On June 28, Muhyiddin Yassin who was prime minister at the time announced a six-month moratorium on bank loan repayments available until the end of the year to all segments of society from the B40 to the T20.Applications for the moratorium, to be given automatically, require no documentation.Asked about the ongoing efforts of banking companies to help those affected by Covid-19, Kalpana said the Financial Management and Resilience Programme or Urus was likely the best solution.“With the economy now on the path to recovery, banking companies are committed to continuing to provide assistance to borrowers,” she said.“We are confident that the Urus scheme is the best way to help those who need assistance in a comprehensive and holistic way, and to ensure the continued resilience of the financial system.”Urus was announced by ABM on Oct 14 together with the Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia and the Association of Development Financial Institution of Malaysia, to help those affected by Covid-19.Through the scheme, the banking industry will provide a sum of RM1 billion to finance a reduction in interest/profit costs including profit benefits for B40 borrowers.It includes a three-month interest/profit exemption and reduction in instalment payments for up to 24 months, as well as a reduction in interest rates.


China says Hong Kong arrests to stop ‘external forces’ undermining stability

Beijing defended the arrest of more than 50 democracy figures in Hong Kong – including a US citizen – on Wednesday as a necessary measure to stop “external forces and individuals” colluding to undermine China.The only damage was to “the kind of freedom of some external forces and individuals in Hong Kong to collude with each other to attempt to undermine China’s stability and security”, said foreign ministry spokesman Hua Chunying at a press briefing.The sweep is the latest salvo in Beijing’s battle to stamp out opposition in the semi-autonomous business hub after millions hit the streets in 2019 with huge and sometimes violent democracy protests.Police confirmed 53 people – including a US citizen – were arrested for “subversion” in an early morning operation that involved about 1,000 officers.The charges were sparked by an attempt by opposition groups last year to win a majority in the city’s partially-elected legislature.Hong Kong’s security chief John Lee described the arrests as “necessary” and aimed at a group of people who tried to “sink Hong Kong into an abyss”.But the operation sparked a rebuke from Antony Blinken, US president-elect Joe Biden’s pick for Secretary of State, who said authorities were launching “an assault on those bravely advocating for universal rights”.“The Biden-Harris administration will stand with the people of Hong Kong and against Beijing’s crackdown on democracy,” he added.Those detained represented a broad cross-section of Hong Kong’s opposition, from veteran former pro-democracy lawmakers such as James To, Andrew Wan, Lam Cheuk-ting and Claudia Mo to a host of younger activists.Among the youth campaigners were Gwyneth Ho, a former journalist turned social activist, district councillor Tiffany Yuen and Jeffrey Andrews, a campaigner known for working with ethnic minorities.Colleagues of Joshua Wong, one of the city’s most famous democracy activists who is currently in jail, said via his official Facebook account that his home was searched.John Clancey, an American lawyer working for the firm was arrested on suspicion of subversion, two sources told AFP. It is the first time a US national has been detained under the new law.A fluent Cantonese speaker and long term Hong Kong resident, Clancey is a veteran legal activist.“Continue to work for democracy and human rights in Hong Kong,” he told reporters as he was led away by officers.


High Court rules single mum can challenge ex-husband over children's conversion to Islam

The Kuala Lumpur High Court has allowed the application for a judicial review by single mother Loh Siew Hong, to challenge her ex-husband’s act of registering their three children as Muslim converts without her consent.
Judge Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, in allowing the application, said Loh had crossed the threshold to have the merit of her complaint heard.
"This application is not frivolous, but an arguable case. The applicant was also not out of time when she filed the judicial review as an abundance of caution.
"First of all, the application was not objected to by the attorney-general. Based on the said reasons, leave is granted with no order to cost," he said in online proceedings today.
The three children were converted to Islam by Loh’s Muslim-convert ex-husband, M Nagahswaran, without her consent on July 7, 2020. For lawsuits filed through judicial review applications, leave or permission must be obtained from the court before the lawsuit can be heard.
The application was filed on March 25, with the Perlis State Registrar of Converts, Perlis Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIPs), Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin and the Perlis state government named as the first to the fourth respondents.
The four respondents, on May 17, objected to the application on the grounds that Loh should have filed the application within 90 days of her children’s conversion to Islam on July 7, 2020.
Lawyers A Srimurugan and Mohamed Hanif Khatri Abdulla appeared for Loh and MAIPs respectively, while senior federal counsel Ainun Wardah Shahidan represented the Perlis State Registrar of Converts, Asri and the state government.
Loh is seeking a declaration that her three children are Hindus and that her ex-husband, M Nagahswaran, did not have the legal capacity to allow the Perlis State Registrar of Converts to register the children as converts without her consent. She is also seeking a declaration that her three children do not have the legal capacity to convert to Islam without her consent.
She also wants a certiorari order to revoke the declaration of conversion to Islam, dated July 7, 2020, issued by the Registrar of Converts of Perlis in the name of her three children, as well as other cards on their conversion to Islam that have been issued by other parties, and to prevent any party from issuing such cards.
Loh is also applying for a mandamus order to compel the Perlis State Registrar of Converts to delete or cancel the names of her three children or their Muslim names in the Perlis state register of converts, and a prohibition order to prevent Asri, through officers, employees or the Perlis State Mufti Department, from issuing statements that could mean that her children are converts or Muslims.
She is also seeking a declaration that Section 117 (b) of the Administration of the Religion of Islam Enactment 2006, which empowers the Registrar of Converts of Perlis to register a child as a convert only with the consent of the mother or father, even if both of them are still alive, is unconstitutional and invalid.
The three children, who were then under the care of the Social Welfare Department, were released to Loh on Feb 21 after the High Court allowed her habeas corpus application.


PM gives a glimpse of relaxed SOPs to come

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today said that the the relaxation of SOPs for those who have completed two doses of Covid-19 vaccine will be announced within the next few days.“We will finalise (the details) and I will announce it as a total package,” he said in a special interview with the media.He said the relaxation of SOP restrictions would include travel to Malaysia, interstate movement for spouses working separately, social activities, sports and dine-in at restaurants.“I do hope that this (relaxation) will give room or space, breathing space, for the people to live a slightly better life,” he said.Muhyiddin on July 17 had announced that the easing of restrictions for individuals who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be decided at the National Recovery Council meeting this week.He said this would be in line with the opening of more economic sectors when states transition to Phase Two of the National Recovery Plan (NRP, especially in the Klang Valley.The NRP is scheduled to be tabled by the prime minister at the special meeting of the third session of the 14th Parliament on Monday.On this, he said although the session would be opened for debate, the government remained firm in its decision to proceed with the NRP until the country is back on track, which he said should not be too long from now.


Evidence shows Zahid corruptly received RM21.25 million, prosecution tells court

There is sufficient evidence to show that Ahmad Zahid Hamidi corruptly received RM21.25 million from several entities when he was home minister, the High Court heard today.Submitting the prosecution’s argument before justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah, deputy public prosecutor Gan Peng Kun said this was disclosed by the prosecution witnesses testifying in eight graft charges against Zahid.He said according to three charges against Zahid, a total of RM13.25 million was received as an inducement to help Mastoro Kenny IT Consultant & Services secure certain MyEG projects linked to the home ministry.“For the other five charges, there is sufficient evidence to prove that the accused received bribes amounting to RM8 million from two companies, namely Datasonic Group Berhad (DGB) (RM6 million) and Profound Radiance Sdn Bhd (RM2 million),” he said in a submission to rebut the defence’s argument on eight corruption charges.Gan submitted that former Datasonic Group Berhad deputy managing director Chew Ben Ben, and Abu Hanifah Noordin, who is former managing director of DGB, had claimed that the RM6 million was meant as a political donation to Barisan Nasional (BN) in the 2018 general election.“If it is true that the RM6 million was intended to be a political donation, then why was it given to the accused, the home minister who was instrumental in awarding the job to supply the passport chip project to Datasonic Technologies Sdn Bhd (DTSB)?“The two cheques were made payable to Lewis & Co, a legal firm which has nothing to do with BN. If it is true that the money was meant to be a political donation, the cheques should have been made payable to BN, not Lewis & Co,” he said.On the corruption charge amounting to RM5 million for the construction of a mosque and tahfiz school in Bagan Datuk, Perak, Gan said the alleged contribution in the form of 24 cheques received by the accused was actually an inducement for the accused to help Mastoro Kenny and Junaith Asharab Md Shariff get MyEG projects under the home ministry.He said Zahid had wanted to build a mosque and tahfiz school and requested prosecution star witnesses Junaith Asharab to contribute to the cost of construction.Gan argued that three elements need to be proven under Section 16(1)(a)(B) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act such as the accused being an officer of a public body and corruptly receiving gratification for himself.“Besides that, the said gratification was received as an inducement or a reward to do anything in respect of a matter or transaction, actual or proposed or likely to take place, in which the public body is concerned.“This is not a normal case. It does not involve ordinary folk who frequent ‘mamak’ joints and have a sip of teh tarik or enjoy a plate of nasi lemak. This case involves the former home minister who is also a former deputy prime minister, the second most powerful man in the country.“Therefore, the evidence adduced has to be appreciated beyond the surface, not just plain and simple understanding as pointed out by the defence in their written submissions,” Gan 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 prosecution will continue its submission tomorrow.


Breaking nudes: women arrested for hot Dubai balcony show

Eleven women and a Russian male photographer have reportedly been arrested over a naked photoshoot on a Dubai balcony in the central Marina district in broad daylight, as raunchy photos emerged of some of the participants, the New York Post reports.Around a dozen nude models were photographed standing on a high-rise apartment balcony in the United Arab Emirates city. Some of the models are minor social-media stars known to pose in barely-there bikinis amid glittering cityscapes.Unconfirmed reports later suggested that the “stars” were mainly from the former Soviet Union, including Russia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus.The video quickly spread throughout the internet, leading to the local police department getting interested.Among the charges the group faces is public debauchery for allegedly violating the country’s uber-strict decency laws. The penalty is up to six months behind bars and a fine of nearly US$1,500.The Ukrainian consulate confirmed to the BBC that 11 of its female citizens were detained in the roundup over the scorching balcony photoshoot and said consular officials will visit the women on Tuesday.A Russian man who organised the scene and shot footage from a nearby balcony was arrested, too, the Sun reported, citing Russian news outlets.On Monday morning, Moscow’s RIA Novosti news agency, reported a source as saying, “They appealed for help to the consulate general, but it’s difficult to do anything here. The law is quite serious about participation in lewd acts.”The source suggested that the participants of the photoshoot could be pardoned as a gesture of leniency because of the approaching holy month of Ramadan.Many of the UAE’s laws are based on shariah law, and people have been jailed in the past for public nudity and displays of affection.Police in Dubai warned that anyone publishing pornographic material or any material that “may prejudice public morals” faces imprisonment and a fine.“Such unacceptable behaviours do not reflect the values and ethics of Emirati society,” a police statement said.Everybody who lives in or visits the UAE is subject to its laws. There are no exceptions for tourists and there have been a few high-profile cases of Westerners getting arrested while on holiday in Dubai.In 2017, a British woman was sentenced to a year in prison for having consensual sex with a man she wasn’t married to. The relationship was revealed when she reported him to the authorities for sending her threatening messages.


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Governor slams Kamala Harris as ‘worst possible choice’ to solve migrant border crisis

US Vice-President Kamala Harris is “the worst possible choice” to lead the White House effort to tackle the migration crisis at the US-Mexico border, Arizona’s governor said after her appointment by President Joe Biden this week.“At no point in her career has Harris given any indication that she considers the border a problem or a serious threat,” governor Doug Ducey told reporters Wednesday in Tucson, The Arizona Republic reported.“If President Biden’s intent was to show that he’s taking this issue seriously, he’s really done the exact opposite,” the governor said, adding that the president had “completely trivialised the issue by putting someone in charge who flat out just doesn’t care”.His comments came hours after Biden tapped Harris to take charge of the administration’s talks with Mexico and Central American countries about slowing the tide of illegal immigrants crossing the US border.Calling Harris the “most qualified person” to head up the effort amid a surge in arrivals, Biden told reporters that he has asked her to “to lead our efforts with Mexico in stemming migration”.During a visit to the border last week, Ducey slammed the president as “totally divorced from the reality on the ground.”“I’ve been governor under three presidents, and this is by far the worst situation we’ve seen,” Ducey said at the border wall in Douglas, Arizona. “Washington has never been more out of touch, and it starts at the top.”On Wednesday, he described Harris as incompetent and uninterested in border security, arguing that if Biden actually wanted to solve problems at the border, he should have chosen someone with more “experience or some passion”.Harris was criticised earlier this week after she laughed when asked by a reporter if she would be visiting the border, reports the New York Post.“Not today,” said Harris, with a laugh. “But I have before, and I’m sure I will again.”The Biden administration has faced fierce criticism for its response to the crisis, which has seen migrants – including thousands of unaccompanied children – flock to the border at levels unseen in 20 years, since Biden began rolling back Trump-era immigration restrictions.Harris, a former attorney-general of California and the daughter of immigrants, has spoken previously about migration and border security.While acknowledging that the situation is a “huge problem”, Harris also has insisted that enforcing the law and humanely addressing “the root causes that cause people to make the trek” were not mutually exclusive.“This is, however, not going to be solved overnight,” she told CBS.


Tears, relief, long lines as US reopens borders after 20 months

Eager travellers and their relatives rejoiced, wept and breathed sighs of relief Monday as the US reopened to vaccinated visitors, ending 20 months of Covid-19 restrictions that separated families, hobbled tourism and strained diplomatic ties.From Rainbow Bridge at the US-Canada border to Mexico’s Tijuana crossing at San Ysidro, California, cars, motor homes and masked pedestrians clogged entry points from before dawn for highly anticipated reunions.At airports and other US ports of entry, reunited relatives hugged as many met for the first time since the coronavirus swept the globe, leaving more than five million people dead and devastating economies.In Europe, passengers lined up excitedly at airports to board planes bound for American cities, while those entering the country by land – some lugging suitcases or pushing bag-filled strollers under the watchful eyes of border patrol agents – faced hours-long wait times.Smiling passengers from the first European flight to land under the new rules at New York’s John F Kennedy International Airport entered the terminal to cheers and applause.As soon as she spotted her son at the New York airport, Alison Henry rushed towards him and gave him a long hug, tears welling up in her eyes.“I just can’t believe it, two and half years!” Henry, 63, said after stepping off a flight from London.The ban, imposed by then-president Donald Trump in early 2020 and upheld by his successor Joe Biden, had become emblematic of the upheavals caused by the pandemic.Trump initially closed US borders to travellers from China in February 2020.A month later, he extended the ban to large swathes of the world, including the European Union, Britain, India and Brazil, in an effort to slow the spread of the virus.Overland visitors from Mexico and Canada were also banned.‘Today is the day’At London’s Heathrow Airport, two planes from rivals British Airways and Virgin Atlantic heading to New York took off at the same time from parallel runways to mark the occasion.To cope with surging demand, airlines have increased the number of transatlantic flights and plan to use larger planes.Louise Erebara was waiting at JFK for the arrival of her only sister and brother-in-law.The women had not seen each other in 730 days, said Erebara, who admitted she would “cry hysterically” upon seeing her sister.“It’s been terrible not knowing when we were going to see them again due to Covid, not knowing if the borders were ever going to open,” she told AFP.“Today is the day.”Along the US-Mexico border, many cities have faced economic struggles due to anti-Covid-19 trade restrictions.But there was little criticism of the border closures among those waiting to enter the US on Monday.“Well, because of the disease, it was necessary,” said Herminia Urieta, who travelled for three days from Guerrero, in southern Mexico to visit a sister she has not seen since the beginning of the pandemic.Reflecting widespread anticipation of the reopening, currency exchange centres in Mexico’s Ciudad Juarez were hit by a shortage of dollars.To the US’ north, Canadian retirees known as “snowbirds” headed across the border in droves, fleeing winter weather to Florida and other balmy climates.“We have butterflies,” said Daniel Francoeur, who along with his wife waited almost seven hours to cross the Thousand Islands Bridge into New York state after leaving their Ottawa area home at 1.30am.“It’s been two years since we went to Florida and we didn’t want to wait another day,” they told AFP from their car.Some restrictions remainLifting the travel ban will affect more than 30 countries, but US entry will not be unregulated.Authorities plan to closely monitor travellers’ vaccination status and will still require them to present negative Covid-19 tests.Starting Monday, vaccines will be required for “non-essential” trips – including family visits or tourism – although unvaccinated travellers will still be allowed in for “essential” trips.A second phase, beginning early January, will require all visitors be fully vaccinated to enter by land.US health authorities have said all vaccines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization would be accepted for entry by air.Despite concerns over increases in Covid-19 cases in some countries, including a recent upswing in Europe that WHO warned could mean “another half a million Covid-19 deaths” by February, many on Monday only expresed relief at America’s reopening.For 63-year-old Mexican grandmother Isabel Gonzalez, her 20-month wait to hug her San Diego-based children ended Monday when she walked from Tijuana into California.“Thank God we are here,” she said.It was the first time Gonzalez had spent so long apart from her children and grandchildren.“But now we are here to eat pizza and McDonalds,” she laughed.


Islamic State ‘Beatles’ charged in US with executing Americans

Two ex-British Islamic State (IS) “Beatles” have appeared in a US court charged with the execution of four American hostages.The US Department of Justice (DoJ) announced on Wednesday the long-awaited charges against the two.El Shafee Elsheikh, 32, and Alexanda Kotey, 36, known by their prisoners as George and Ringo, appeared at a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia via video link from prison.The alleged ringleader of the group, Mohammed Emwazi, known as “Jihadi John“, was killed in a drone strike in 2016. The fourth member, Aine Lesley Davis, was sentenced to seven years in prison in Turkey in 2017.The pair had been in US military custody in Iraq since October 2019. In order to secure British help in obtaining evidence against them, US prosecutors had had to agree not to seek the death penalty. Once they had done that, they were able to transfer them to the US to face justice.The DoJ is accusing them of carrying out a gruesome campaign of torture and beheadings and other acts of violence against Western aid workers and journalists they had taken hostage in Syria. The executions were filmed and posted on social media.US Assistant Attorney-General John Demers told a press conference the charges were “the result of many years of hard work in pursuit of justice” for the four Americans who were executed: James Foley, Steven Sotloff, Kayla Mueller and Peter Kassig.Addressing the families of the victims, he said: “Although we cannot bring back your children, we will do all that we can do: obtain justice for them, for you, and for all Americans.”Without the death penalty being available, the charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison.


New Covid-19 infections down almost 18% last week

The number of new Covid-19 infections dropped 17.9% to 18,715 cases in the 34th epidemiology week (ME 34/2022) from Aug 21 to 27, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.
He said a total of 60 deaths were recorded during the same period, an increase of 7.1% from the previous week.
"The number of recoveries in ME 34 decreased by 5.4% from 26,458 cases to 25,037.
"The average number of active daily cases during ME 34 was 36,179, down by 13.9% from ME 33," he said in a statement on the Covid-19 situation today.
In the meantime, admissions of Covid-19 patients into public hospitals and Covid-19 quarantine and treatment centres (PKRCs) per 100,000 population dropped by 15.8% for those in Category One and Two, and 15.2% for those in Category Three and above.  Noor Hisham said the percentage of Covid-19 bed occupancy in ME 34 for non-critical beds, intensive care unit beds and PKRCs decreased by 3%, 2% and 1%, respectively.
The number of Covid-19 patients requiring respiratory assistance meanwhile reduced by 0.3% compared to the previous week.
There was also a drop in the number of positive cases monitored by Covid-19 assessment centres (CACs) nationwide.
"The number of patient visits to CACs decreased by 13%. New Covid-19 cases undergoing home monitoring dropped by 19.5%, and the number of Covid-19 cases referred by CACs to hospitals decreased by 26%," Noor Hisham said, adding that the infectivity rate or Rt also showed a drop of 5.3% in ME 34.