One of England’s wealthiest knights stabbed to death at home with wife

One of Britain’s richest men and a knight of the realm has been stabbed to death in his home, allegedly by a man he knew.Richard Sutton, 83, was pronounced dead at his mansion in Dorset, south west England, on Wednesday evening.A woman in her 60s, believed to be his wife, was also stabbed, and airlifted to hospital in Bristol where she remains in a critical condition.The alleged assailant escaped in a Range Rover, tracked by helicopters and police cars as he made his way at high speed towards London.Three hours after the murder, police deployed a dramatic “hard stop” in Hammersmith, West London to pull over the car they had pursued across five counties.An eyewitness, Maureen Kane, 50, told the Sun that armed police officers swarmed the car.She said: “He was a white male and seemed to be injured – it looked pretty bad. He was naked as they ripped his clothes off and pulled him out of the car. I was scared as I thought it was a terrorist.”Another eyewitness said: “They cut his clothes off and then wrapped him in silver foil as they administered first aid.”A 34-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder and police later confirmed he was known to the victims. The Sun understands he was living with the couple.He was taken to hospital with injuries which were not believed to be life-threatening.Sutton, who was number 435 in last year’s Sunday Times UK Rich List, owned a huge swathe of land across the country and a string of top hotels. His flagship hotels were the Sheraton Grand and the Athenaeum, both on London’s prestigious Piccadilly.The businessman’s wealth was valued at £300 million (US$410 million, RM1,700 million) in the 2020 Sunday Times Rich List.“If you wanted to conjure up a picture of a typical English country gentleman then that was him,” said North Dorset MP Simon Hoare.A woman who worked for Sutton told The Sun: “What’s happened is an absolute tragedy. It’s worse than anything on Midsomer Murders on the telly.”


17 Myanmar workers committed suicide in 4 months, report says

At least 17 migrant workers from Myanmar committed suicide within a four-month period, activists say, raising concerns about the well-being of such workers as measures to contain the Covid-19 pandemic continue.In a report by Myanmar news portal Eleven Media Group, one of the activists San Win said many of the workers had lost their jobs amid government crackdowns and restrictions on travel.“They could no longer afford to rent apartments or pay for their basic needs,” he said.Many of the workers had lost their jobs amid government crackdowns and restrictions on travel.“That’s why they committed suicide.”According to the report, there are more than 300,000 illegal workers from Myanmar in the country.A separate report by Narinjara News, which carries anti-regime news on the restive Arakan region of Myanmar, said one of the workers committed suicide just under a week ago, on Sept 15.A village elder from his hometown in the Man Aung township in Rakhine said Zaw Zaw, 44, had reportedly hanged himself.“It is unknown at this time why he took his own life,” the elder said, adding that Zaw Zaw’s son had also been working with him in Malaysia.The report also spoke of another man just half Zaw Zaw’s age who was said to have killed himself a day earlier on Sept 14.It said Khin Maung Tun, 22, came from the village of Thirimingalar in the Taungdwingyi township of the Magway division.On May 26, the government said it would deport all undocumented workers who test negative for Covid-19 to their home countries.The decision was made at an inter-ministerial meeting on the management of illegal workers.The report by Eleven Media Group said the Myanmar embassy in Malaysia had also collected a list of some 3,000 undocumented workers who wish to return to Myanmar.


Over 34% of children given first vaccine jab, 65.4% of adults boosted

A total of 1,209,694 children or 34.1% of those aged five to 11 had received a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) as of yesterday.According to the CovidNow website, a total of 2,840,296 teenagers or 91.3% of those aged 12 to 17 have completed their vaccination.Meanwhile, 2,939,622 or 94.5% have received at least one dose of vaccine.A total of 15,393,296 adults or 65.4% have received a Covid-19 booster dose while 22,939,552 or 97.5% have been fully vaccinated.A total of 23,215,558 individuals or 98.7% have received at least one dose of vaccine.Yesterday, a total of 47,773 vaccine doses were administered, with 12,788 as first doses, 1,927 as second shots and 33,058 as booster jabs.This brings the cumulative number of vaccine doses dispensed under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) to 68,328,203.


North Korea fires 4 cruise missiles off its east coast, South Korea says

North Korea fired four cruise missiles off its east coast on Wednesday as its rivals South Korea and the US held joint military exercises, the South Korean military said.
The military initially reported "multiple missiles" without elaborating; South Korean Defence Minister Lee Jong-sup told parliament on Thursday that there were four.
Lee added that North Korea appears to have made "substantial progress" in miniaturising nuclear warheads to fit tactical guided weapons systems.
"I don't see that they are ready yet to mount on what North Korea has recently called tactical guided weapons, but we're looking into the possibilities with the US," he said.
When asked whether North Korea's nuclear weapons have come close to deployment, Lee said they have reached "substantial levels."
The missiles were fired about 10.15am (0115 GMT) from South Hamgyong province, the South's military said, just three days after the launch of ashort-range ballistic missile.
Pyongyang has long bristled at exercises conducted by South Korean and US forces, saying they are preparation for an invasion of the North, and it fired the missiles into the sea as the drills were underway.
South Korea and the US say the exercises are purely defensive.
The JCS statement said that the military was on high alert and that South Korean and US intelligence authorities were analysing the launches.
South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Wednesday's launches could have involved strategic cruise missiles with a potential nuclear capability, which the North tested on March 12 from a submarine.
A US State Department spokesperson called on North Korea "to refrain from any further destabilising acts" and reiterated that the US commitment to the defence of South Korea and Japan remained "ironclad".
The allies are set to conclude 11 days of exercises, called Freedom Shield 23, on Thursday.
"We will successfully wrap up our Freedom Shield exercise as planned under firm combined defence posture," the South Korean military said.
On Wednesday, the USS Makin, an amphibious assault ship, docked in South Korea for the allies' first large-scale amphibious landing exercise in five years, the US military said.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, meanwhile, visited the military cyber command and called for proactive operations to defend against cyber threats, his office said.
North Korea has been ramping up its military tests in recent weeks, firing an intercontinental ballistic missile last week and conducting what it called a nuclear counterattack simulation against the US and South Korea over the weekend.
It has also directed strong rhetoric against Washington and Seoul. Its state news agency quoted a foreign official as saying that pressure on Pyongyang to give up its nuclear weapons was tantamount to declaration of war.
The remark was directed at the US ambassador to the United Nations, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who on Monday called North Korea's weapons programs "unlawful" and said it should abandon them "in a complete, verifiable, and irreversible manner".


iRent? How an Apple each day keeps the Fomo away

Continuing technological developments have seen more and more advanced products made available to consumers – assuming that they have pockets deep enough to bear the cost.
On the smartphone front alone, the development of increasingly sophisticated technology has brought users features such as foldable touchscreens, screen refresh rates of up to 120Hz, and 100x zoom capabilities.
But the greater the tech, the heftier the price.
Last month, Apple launched a series of new products including the iPhone 14 which, in Malaysia, goes for anywhere between RM5,299 and RM8,299.
Yet reports have also been swirling that Apple may introduce a rental service for its phones along with several other products.
While there has been no official confirmation from Apple itself, the possibility of such a service has seen its share of debate on social media.
Some consider a subscription service of this type frivolous while others see it as a win-win approach for those looking to hold a premium device without having to shell out a fortune.
Psychologist Haslina Muhamad believes that renting iPhones could become a new trend due to the fear of missing out, colloquially known as Fomo – anxiety that an exciting or interesting event may be happening elsewhere.
Haslina, of Universiti Malaya, said the impact of Fomo – which is usually associated with the younger generation – could be very real, especially given the use of social media which causes worry among some that they could be missing out on the latest trends and developments.
This includes the ownership of gadgets or products that are seen as the talk of the town.
"Fomo, if not handled well, could jeopardise a person's self-confidence," she said.
"It normally occurs when people continuously compare themselves with others on social media, leading to feelings of concern that they are lacking in some way."
Haslina said owning branded goods such as Apple products was one way of appearing to have a higher social status.
"Even though they are expensive, those with Fomo don't see it as a waste – more of a necessity," she added.
"Right now, there are already buy now, pay later services – it would come as no surprise if iPhone rental services become the next big thing."
From a marketing perspective, Rosya Izyanie Shamshudeen from UM's Department of Media and Communication Studies said Fomo is used as a tool for companies in selling their products.
She said companies portray their products as something special and exclusive in an attempt to convince customers that they will lose out if they don't snap them up.
"They put up advertisements that look exclusive and only for a limited period of time, so people will rush to buy," she said.
"Naturally, this will have a bigger impact on individuals who are more impulsive."
Raymond Ng, a loyal iPhone user since 2014, said he would welcome an iPhone rental service as this would allow him to own the latest Apple products.
Given the increases in Apple prices, he said, it did not make sense for him to spend more than RM5,000 every year just to switch to the latest device.
For that amount of money, he said, the average user would expect the phone to last for at least two to three years.
"My iPhone X is still working well, so there's no reason for me to buy the newest iPhone even though it has several new features," he said.
"But a rental service would allow me to change phones every year at a reasonable price."


Najib stares at last mile in politics as virus emergency begins

The end of the emergency period might also mark the end of former prime minister Najib Razak’s political journey, as the next six months could see legal processes exhausted for his appeal in the case involving RM42 million worth of funds linked to SRC International Sdn Bhd.In July last year, the High Court found Najib guilty of seven charges of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and power abuse in the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International.His appeal, in which his lawyers have filed more than 300 grounds to set aside the conviction, will be heard on Feb 15.A senior lawyer however said that the case, among the 42 corruption charges facing the former leader, would be enough to put him out of politics.Haniff Khatri Abdulla said if the Court of Appeal and the Federal Court maintain the conviction, Najib’s political career might have to break until 2033, when the 17th general election is due.This would be subject to the former Umno president not being granted a royal pardon and a lift of the political ban for convicts, he added.“But in the absence of a royal pardon, Najib’s political career is sealed,” he told MalaysiaNow.Najib, current Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and party secretary-general Ahmad Maslan are among a group of former government leaders from the Barisan Nasional era who have been slapped with multiple charges of corruption and abuse of power.“In the absence of a royal pardon, Najib’s political career is sealed.”A Covid-19 emergency declared yesterday, which will see the suspension of Parliament and elections until Aug 1, will have no bearings on their trials.In a speech yesterday, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin gave an undertaking that his emergency administration would not meddle with the judiciary despite the power to enact tough laws in efforts to battle the pandemic, which has so far killed more than 500 people, with thousands of patients pushing public health service to the breaking point.One analyst sees the prime minister’s no-interference assurance as a warning to the so-called “court cluster”, a pandemic-laced phrase used on MPs facing criminal charges.Shamsul Amri Baharuddin of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia said it was a strong signal to Najib that Muhyiddin was not prepared to negoatiate a way out for his former boss.“There’s no hope for any deal at all, because Muhyiddin has made clear the hurdle ahead, and it is evident that the prime minister does not want to be involved in Najib’s cases,” Shamsul told MalaysiaNow.He said the same applies to others facing multiple charges.“It is a warning to all those in the court cluster, not only Najib,” he added.The appeals process for the SRC International case will continue for 14 days without witnesses being called.Haniff said the trial judge could come out with a verdict by the end of February.In the event that the Court of Appeal upholds the verdict, Najib could bring the appeal to the Federal Court, following which the process could take less than four months before a final ruling is made at the apex court.“So the whole case could be concluded by Aug 1 at the Federal Court,” Haniff said.“It is a warning to all those in the court cluster, not only Najib.”Haniff said it would mean that Najib, who is currently disqualified from contesting elections, must also vacate his Pekan seat where he has been MP for more than four decades.Under the law, anyone who is convicted and sentenced to more than a year in prison or fined more than RM2,000 will be disqualified from running for office for five years after their release.But a royal pardon coupled with the Agong exercising his powers under Article 48(3) of the Federal Constitution could allow Najib to contest the 17th general election.That clause allows the king to remove the disqualification of a person from active politics.In any case, Haniff said once Najib loses his appeal at the Federal Court, he will have to serve the jail sentence.“If the Agong does not give him a pardon, he cannot contest in the 15th, 16th and 17th general elections, as the five-year ban will still be in force,” he added.


UK inflation jumps to 40-year peak

Britain’s annual inflation rate surged to a 40-year high last month on rocketing energy costs, official data showed Wednesday, sparking opposition calls for the government to announce an emergency budget to combat a cost-of-living crisis.Consumer prices index inflation hit 9.0% in April from 7.0% in March, the Office for National Statistics said in a statement.The ONS estimated that April was the highest level since 1982, and the fastest rate since the current data series began in 1989.Nations across the world are plagued by decades-high inflation as the Ukraine conflict pushes up energy and food prices, in turn forcing the Bank of England, the US Federal Reserve and others to ramp up interest rates.The squeeze on UK household budgets tightened further in April due to tax hikes, while wages are failing to keep pace with inflation.‘Global challenges’“Countries around the world are dealing with rising inflation,” said British finance minister Rishi Sunak.“Today’s inflation numbers are driven by the energy price cap rise in April, which in turn is driven by higher global energy prices.“We cannot protect people completely from these global challenges but are providing significant support where we can, and stand ready to take further action.”The main opposition Labour party, however, wants an emergency budget to help Britons cope with the cost-of-living crunch.Labour finance spokeswoman Rachel Reeves described the inflation data as “a huge worry for families already stretched”.“Today, Labour force a vote for an emergency budget and for a plan for growth.”Labour is also calling for a windfall tax on the energy sector, which has been boosted as gas and oil prices rocketed on supply worries following key producer Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.‘Apocalyptic’Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey on Monday warned of an “apocalyptic” situation surrounding runaway food costs – which he said were fuelled by major wheat and cooking oil producer Ukraine finding itself unable to export its goods.Addressing British MPs, Bailey spoke also of a “very real income shock” coming from surging energy and food prices.Britain risks falling into recession with inflation expected to top 10 percent by the end of the year, the BoE warned earlier this month.It came as the central bank hiked its main interest rate by a quarter-point to one percent to tackle inflation.That was the fourth straight increase by the BoE, while its key rate now stands at the highest level since 2009.Energy capUK consumer prices leapt in April after a cap on domestic gas and electricity was hiked due to spiking wholesale energy costs.“Inflation rose steeply in April, driven by the sharp climb in electricity and gas prices as the higher price cap came into effect,” added ONS chief economist Grant Fitzner.“Around three-quarters of the increase in the annual rate this month came from utility bills.”Official data showed Tuesday that Britain’s unemployment rate has fallen further to a near five-decade low, but the value of wages continues to erode as inflation soars.The economy shrank in March on fallout from soaring consumer prices, data showed last week, increasing the prospect of the country falling into recession.Raised rates have lifted borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, further impacting spending.


NZ police reject calls to clear anti-vax camp

New Zealand police ruled out forcibly clearing anti-vaccination protesters camped around parliament in Wellington on Friday, saying they did not want to provoke violence on the streets of the capital.Police have taken a hands-off approach after an attempt to take control of the lawns late last week resulted in violent clashes and 120 arrests.Commissioner Andrew Coster acknowledged growing frustration among Wellington residents and business owners as protest vehicles blocked downtown streets for the 11th day.But he insisted dialogue with the demonstration’s leaders was yielding positive results, even though the number of people squatting outside the legislature continues to swell.“Enforcement action taken by police runs the real risk of injury to the public, escalation in numbers of people, and a transition away from a largely peaceful protest to violence,” Coster said.“In our assessment, the only safe option at the present point in time is a continued focus on de-escalation.”The protesters, inspired by Canada’s “Freedom Convoy”, jammed roads with cars, trucks and campervans early last week, then set up camp on the lawns of parliament.They have erected tents and shelters, and organised portable toilets, food distribution points and childcare facilities.New Zealand’s largest news website said police had “seemingly ceded control” of the parliamentary precinct, pointing to the presence of protesters acting as self-styled security guards to monitor access to the grounds.Coster said about 800 people were at the camp, with more than 450 vehicles obstructing roads, and predicted numbers would increase over the weekend.Police threatened to use the military to tow vehicles this week but backed off after protesters put out a call on social media for reinforcements.Wellington residents have complained about being abused for wearing masks and noted some far-right messaging among the anti-government and anti-media slogans displayed by protesters.A group of local mayors, business leaders, unionists and lawmakers issued a statement Friday saying the action had “gone well beyond” peaceful protest.“The people of Wellington have had enough of this illegal activity, harassment and disruption, we ask that it end immediately,” they said.Parliamentary officials tried to clear the grounds last weekend by playing pop music and children’s song “Baby Shark” on a loop and activating the lawn’s sprinkler system to soak the camp.


Daily cases breach 15,500 in new record

Another 15,573 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 980,491.Selangor recorded 7,672 cases, Kuala Lumpur 2,063, Kedah 937, Johor 722, Negeri Sembilan 682, Penang 530, Sabah 516, Sarawak 461, Pahang 457, Melaka 452, Perak 415, Kelantan 372 and Terengganu 229.Putrajaya recorded 41 cases, Labuan 21 and Perlis three.Active cases stand at 147,386 with 939 in the ICU and 456 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 10,094 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 825,387.However, 144 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 7,718.


Pacifist Japan unveils unprecedented US$320 billion military build-up

Japan said on Friday it would begin a once-unthinkable US$320 billion (RM1.4 trillion) military build-up that will arm it with missiles capable of striking China and ready it for a sustained conflict as regional tensions and Russia's Ukraine invasion stoke war fears.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government worries that Russia has set a precedent that will encourage China to attack Taiwan, threatening nearby Japanese islands, disrupting supplies of advanced semiconductors and putting a potential stranglehold on sea lanes that supply Middle East oil.
“This is setting a new heading for Japan. If appropriately executed, the Self Defense Forces will be a real, world-class effective force,” said Yoji Koda, a former Maritime Self-Defense Force admiral, who commanded the Japanese fleet in 2008.
In the sweeping five-year plan, which is pacifist Japan's biggest military build-up since World War Two, the government said it would also stockpile spare parts and other munitions, expand transport capacity and develop cyber warfare capabilities.
A separate national security strategy document promised close cooperation with the US and other like-minded nations to deter threats to the established international order.
"Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a serious violation of laws that forbid the use of force and has shaken the foundations of the international order," the paper said.
"The strategic challenge posed by China is the biggest Japan has ever faced," it added, also noting that Beijing had not ruled out using force to bring Taiwan under its control.
Meeting Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Chairman Mitsuo Ohashi in Taipei on Friday, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen said she expected greater defence cooperation with Japan.
“We look forward to Taiwan and Japan continuing to create new cooperation achievements in various fields such as national defence and security, the economy, trade, and industrial transformation,” the presidential office cited Tsai as saying.
Ukraine lesson
"The Ukraine war has shown us the necessity of being able to sustain a fight, and that is something Japan has not so far been prepared for," said Toshimichi Nagaiwa, a retired Air Self-Defense Force general. "Japan is making a late start, it is like we are 200m behind in a 400m sprint," he added.
China defence spending overtook Japan's at the turn of the century, and now has a military budget more than four times larger.
Kishida's plan will double defence outlays to about 2% of gross domestic product over five years, blowing past a self-imposed 1% spending limit that has been in place since 1976.
It will increase the defence ministry's budget to around a tenth of all public spending at current levels, and will make Japan the world's third-biggest military spender after the US and China, based on current budgets.
That splurge will provide work to Japanese military equipment makers such as Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), which is expected to lead development of three of the longer-range missiles that will be part of Japan's new missile force.
MHI will also build Japan's next jet fighter alongside BAE Systems and Leonardo in a joint project between Japan, Britain and Italy announced last week.
Tokyo allocated US$5.6 billion for that in the five-year defence programme.
Foreign companies will also benefit. Japan says it wants ship-launched US Tomahawk cruise missiles made by Raytheon Technologies to be part of its new deterrent force.
To pay for the military build-up, Kishida's ruling bloc earlier on Friday said it will raise tobacco, corporate and disaster-reconstruction income taxes. But, with opposition to tax hikes within his ruling Liberal Democratic party still strong, the Japanese leader has yet to say when he will implement those higher rates.


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Over 8.5 million vaccine jabs given nationwide

A total of 8,582,893 doses of vaccine had been administered nationwide as of July 2 under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.In a Twitter post, the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee (JKJAV) said that 2,463,019 people had received their second dose, thus becoming fully vaccinated.“A total of 236,196 doses of Covid-19 vaccine were given yesterday, involving the administering of 167,059 first doses and 69,137 second doses,” it said.The five states that recorded the highest number of second-dose recipients were Selangor with 333,432 people followed by Johor (258,636); Sarawak (257,408); Kuala Lumpur (221,020) and Perak (219,044).


Former Sabah governor Sakaran Dandai dies

Former Sabah governor Sakaran Dandai died at the Gleneagles Hospital in Kota Kinabalu early today. He was 91.His grandson, Ahmad Marzuki Nasir, said Sakaran breathed his last at 5.30am.“Together we pray for Allah to bless his soul and place him among the righteous and pious. Al-Fatihah,” he said in a brief statement.Sakaran was admitted to the hospital for suspected Covid-19 infection on Aug 18. He had been warded in the ICU for the past five days.Sakaran, from Semporna, Sabah, was the eighth chief minister of Sabah in 1994 before being appointed as the eighth Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah from Jan 1, 1995, to Dec 31, 2002.He played an important role in Sabah and Malaysia in improving the socioeconomic status and education of the people, and in promoting Islamic literature, which also led him to be named the recipient of the National Tokoh Maal Hijrah Award 2017.


Dr M thanks govt for approving Pejuang registration

Dr Mahathir Mohamad today announced that his Pejuang outfit had succeeded in registering as a political party, thanking the government for approving its application.“We believe our way was not to cause trouble,” he said at a press conference today.“We did things by the book. There was no reason why we could not register.”Pejuang was formed by Mahathir and a handful of other MPs after their sacking from Bersatu in May last year.The former prime minister also offered his bloc’s “non-political” solution to the pandemic, saying Pejuang planned to table a motion for the setting up of a National Recovery Council.Adding that the National Recovery Plan had failed, he said Pejuang had a framework in place to solve the problems of the people.“We are only interested in proposing a special body to be known as Majlis Pemulihan Negara, which will deal with the current problems of this Covid-19 crisis such as the number of deaths and suicides, which have an effect on the economy and security.“We are not interested in politics,” he said.He said the council would comprise only professionals and experts who have experience in handling a crisis such as Covid-19, adding that no politicians would be involved.Mahathir said he hoped the government would approve the idea and establish the council without delay.“If they don’t approve, then we will have to try on our own. Lots of people are going to die (of Covid-19) if the government doesn’t approve.”He said Perikatan Nasional should not be concerned about implementing the proposal for fear that it would make Pejuang popular.“We are not interested in being popular or not. We are interested in putting a stop or reducing the number of new cases that are happening every day,” he said.Mahathir said the government had done well in the early stages of the pandemic, but that things had taken a downturn after the Sabah state election last September.“This government needs to support a body that is professional, that is not interested in the politics of these things. We are interested only in reducing the number of new infections. That is all our intention and I hope the government will not sabotage it by refusing to give money or to allow things to be done.”Mahathir also questioned the attorney-general’s view that the decision announced by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for the party to retract its support for Muhyiddin Yassin would not affect the prime minister’s position.Going by that explanation, he said, Muhyiddin as the president of Bersatu had once brought the party out of the previous government.


New pandemic cases down by half since January

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen a sharp slowdown in the number of new cases, which have been cut in half from a peak in early January, according to data gathered by AFP.Here is the state of play worldwide:Fewer than 400,000 cases per dayThe number of new daily cases this past week dipped to its lowest level in four months, standing at 362,000, according to an AFP tally to Thursday.New infections dropped by 12% over the week, after reaching a record 743,000 in the first half of January.Since that peak the number of new cases worldwide has dropped by half (51% less). It is the sharpest and most prolonged decline since the start of the pandemic.The number of confirmed cases only reflects a fraction of the actual number of infections, as different countries have different counting practices and levels of testing.Middle East exceptionThe only region to see an acceleration of the pandemic was the Middle East, where new cases increased by 11%.Every other area of the world saw a slackening off, with cases down 28% in the US and Canada, 9% in Africa, Asia and Europe, and 7% in Latin America and the Caribbean.Steepest fallsThe biggest decrease was in Portugal, where the number of new cases dropped by 51%, at 2,100 new cases per day.Bolivia had the next big drop at -41%, (800 cases per day), Spain (-37%, 11,500), the US (28% fewer, 72,800) and Colombia (-26 %, 4,700).Biggest spikesIraq for the second consecutive week is the country where the epidemic is picking up most speed, with 62% more, or 2,900 new cases per day.Iraq has re-imposed partial lockdown measures after detecting the UK-based strain of the virus, which is thought to be more contagious than earlier forms.Jordan follows with 44% more, or 2,100 new cases, then Hungary (23%, 1,700), Poland (18%, 6,300) and Austria (15% more, or 1,500 cases).The ten sharpest rises of the week were recorded in the Middle East and Europe.US still has most cases, deathsAlthough seeing a major decline in cases, the US remains the country with by far the highest number of new infections, with 72,800 per day on average, a 28% decrease over the previous week.Brazil follows with a stable 45,200, and France (18,600, -2%).On a per-capita basis, the Czech Republic recorded the highest number of infections, at 544 cases per 100,000 people.The US also again registered the most deaths over the past week, with 2,566 per day on average, followed by Brazil (1,037), Mexico (982), the UK (551) and Russia (463).


New cases hover at 6,000 as another 12 deaths reported

Another 6,069 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,402,234.There were 10,619 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,274,746.There are now 92,039 active cases, of which 89,698 or 97.5% are undergoing home quarantine.Meanwhile, 256 (0.3%) are at quarantine centres while 1,988 (2.2%) have been hospitalised.A total of 97 are in ICU with 64 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 51.5%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 12.8%.Another 12 deaths were reported, including one who was brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 35,449.


Rampaging Delta variant leaves Southeast Asian nations with little economic policy room

Last year many Southeast Asian countries were praised for preventing large outbreaks of Covid-19, even as they recorded sharp declines in output.They are not escaping unscathed this year. While widespread vaccination may limit the spread and the severity of the Delta variant in many wealthier nations, the majority of Southeast Asians are still wondering when they’ll get their jab.Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand are reporting more Covid-19 cases than ever. New daily infections in Vietnam are three times higher than the total for 2020.High-frequency indicators suggest that the surge in cases is knocking economic activity, according to the Economist.Daily mobility figures from Google suggest that people in Indonesia and Vietnam are spending more time at home than they did during the outbreaks last summer.The most reliable indicator of the scale of the economic impact may come from Malaysia, which was hit by a fresh outbreak a little earlier than its neighbours.In Kuala Lumpur, the manufacturing purchasing-managers’ index, a gauge of activity in the sector, fell to 39.9 in June, the lowest since April 2020. (A figure below 50 indicates contraction.)On July 20 the Asian Development Bank (ADB) pared back its growth forecasts for Southeast Asia. It now expects an expansion of 4% this year, compared with an earlier forecast of 4.4%.That may not sound so bad, given the scale of the public-health catastrophe but it means that the region is no longer expected to return to its pre-pandemic level of output by the end of 2021.Some countries, moreover, will suffer much more than others. And they have fewer tools available to soften the blow.Vietnam has perhaps been luckiest. The country’s goods trade runs to 201% of its GDP, third-highest in the world after the free-trading ports of Hong Kong and Singapore.Burgeoning demand for consumer products from locked-down Westerners helped Hanoi to one of the fastest recoveries in the world, and made the country one of the few economies to expand in 2020. Though the ADB has trimmed its 2021 growth forecast for Vietnam, it is still among the highest in the region, at 5.8%.By contrast, Thailand is suffering without tourists, whose usual spending accounts for around a fifth of the country’s GDP.The economy shrank by more than 6% last year, and the ADB expects growth of only 2% this year. Faced with this dire economic picture, Phuket has reopened to some vaccinated foreign tourists, a move that Prayut Chan-o-cha, the Thai prime minister, described bluntly last month as a “calculated risk”.The decision by Indonesia’s government to ease lockdown restrictions from July 26, while cases are still the worst in the region, likewise illustrates the difficult choices many middle-income countries face.The recent outbreaks have also dashed any remaining hope of the resumption of tourists arriving from China.Chinese visitors made up between a quarter and a third of tourists in Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam before the pandemic. Beijing’s reluctance to open its borders, which could persist well into next year or beyond, adds to the economic squeeze.Yet reopening at home alone cannot restore Southeast Asian economic normality.The combination of more Delta and less policy space will make the climb back to any kind of “normal” far more arduous than it looked even a few months ago.


Govt to consider emergency in Gerik, Bugaya if Covid-19 risks remain

The government will consider proposing an emergency declaration in the Gerik parliamentary constituency in Perak and Bugaya state constituency in Sabah if these constituencies are at risk of Covid-19 transmissions, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Takiyuddin Hassan said the decision would be made after the matter is referred to the health ministry and National Security Council.“This matter is stipulated under the provisions of Article 150 (1) of the Federal Constitution which are allowed if the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is satisfied that a state of emergency can be declared in an area or the whole of Malaysia.“This includes what was done in the Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency where the Yang di-Pertuan Agong made a proclamation of emergency for the constituency, in effect cancelling the by-election for the seat.“The same move is expected to be considered by the government if the Gerik parliamentary and Bugaya state constituencies face the same risks,” he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2021 at committee level for the Prime Minister’s Department in the Dewan Rakyat today.On Nov 18, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah declared a state of emergency for the Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency, cancelling the by-election set for Dec 5.On Nov 27, the Election Commission announced that the by-elections for the Gerik parliamentary seat and Bugaya state seat would be held simultaneously on Jan 16.Responding to Fahmi Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai) who wanted to know whether the government would declare a state of emergency in Sarawak if the Sarawak state assembly is dissolved, Takiyuddin said the government would consider the matter when the time comes.


New cases dip to 660, four more deaths

Another 660 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country past the 50,000 mark to 50,390.Of these, 387 were recorded in Sabah, 141 in Selangor and 31 in Kuala Lumpur.Negeri Sembilan recorded 31 new cases, Perak and Penang 16 each, Labuan 13, Kedah 11, and Melaka four.Johor, Kelantan and Sarawak recorded three new cases each while Putrajaya recorded one.Active cases stand at 12,814 with 103 in the ICU and 41 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 630 patients were discharged, pushing total recoveries to 37,254 or 73.9%.However, four more deaths were reported, bringing the virus toll to 322.


Top European official links AstraZeneca jab with blood clots

A top official in the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said in an interview published Tuesday that there is a link between the AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine and blood clots.“In my opinion, we can say it now, it is clear there is a link with the vaccine. But we still do not know what causes this reaction,” EMA head of vaccines Marco Cavaleri told Italy’s Il Messaggero newspaper.He said that “in the next few hours, we will say that there is a connection, but we still have to understand how this happens”.Persistent questions on whether rare but serious blood clots among those getting the AstraZeneca jab against Covid-19 are more frequent than in the general population have undermined confidence in the beleaguered vaccine.After several countries suspended the use of the jab – including Italy – the EMA declared that the benefits outweigh the risks and it should remain in use.But it has said that a causal link between clots and the vaccine is possible, and is expected to provide an updated assessment this week.“We are trying to get a precise picture of what is happening, to define in detail this syndrome due to the vaccine,” Cavaleri said.He added: “Among the vaccinated, there are more cases of cerebral thrombosis… among young people than we would expect.”The EMA’s safety committee later said that it was still deciding whether the AstraZeneca vaccine causes blood clots.The committee “has not yet reached a conclusion and the review is currently ongoing”, the EMA said in a statement to AFP.“We will communicate and hold a press briefing as soon as the review is finalised. This is currently expected tomorrow (Wednesday, 7 April) or on Thursday, 8 April,” it added.


Muhyiddin to receive first Pfizer jab today

The National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme officially began today with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to be the first in the country to receive the vaccine at about 3pm.The three-phase programme, which started two days earlier than the original date of Feb 26, will see more than 500,000 frontliners receive the vaccine during the first phase which will last until April.Also scheduled to receive the vaccine today are health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah and four other staff from the health ministry.They will receive the vaccine at the Presint 11 Health Clinic, Putrajaya, one of more than 500 vaccination centres (PPV) nationwide.On Sunday, 312,390 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine arrived in the country. Some were flown to Kuala Lumpur and Penang, while others were transported over land to Johor. The vaccine was brought in from Singapore which is the hub for distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine to Asia Pacific countries.To date, 571,802 frontline members have registered for the jab with 57.3% being medical and healthcare personnel. The remaining 42.7% are members of the security sector including the armed forces, police, People’s Volunteer Corps, prisons department, customs department and fire and rescue department.The second phase of the programme will run from April to August, involving senior citizens aged 60 and above as well as vulnerable groups with morbidity issues and persons with disabilities, while the third phase is scheduled from May this year to February 2022 for those aged 18 and above not vaccinated before.The programme aims to provide immunisation against the Covid-19 infection to about 80% of the country’s population, both locals and foreigners.Malaysia has obtained 66.7 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine through the Covax Facility, from five manufacturers. The vaccines are Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, CanSinoBIO and Sputnik V.Since the first case of Covid-19 was reported in the country on Jan 25 last year, a total of 288,229 people had been infected with the virus as at Feb 23, with 1,076 deaths recorded for the same period.


China threatens to ban unvaccinated adults from schools, hospitals

Millions of Chinese people face bans from public spaces including schools, hospitals and shopping malls unless they get a Covid-19 vaccine, under new edicts covering nearly two dozen cities and counties.The coronavirus first emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019, but since then the country has largely brought it under control – and Beijing is determined to keep it that way.The tough new rules, which follow the emergence of the highly contagious Delta variant across Asia, will be imposed on numerous second-tier cities in a possible marker of what is to come for the whole country.China has a national target of inoculating 64% of its 1.4 billion population by end of the year, and new measures suggest high levels of coercion.In Chuxiong city in the southern province of Yunnan – home to about 510,000 people – all residents above the age of 18 need to get at least one dose of the vaccine by July 23, according to a government notice posted late Wednesday.Those who fail to meet the deadline “will not be allowed to enter public facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, kindergartens and schools, libraries, museums, and prisons or take public transport”, the notice said.A month later, two shots will be required to enter public buildings.Similar notices were issued by authorities in at least a dozen cities and counties across the country, including six in eastern Jiangxi province, one in Sichuan, one in Gaungxi and three in Fujian province.Many say they want to inoculate 70% to 80% of the local population by September – exceeding the national target.Tianhe county in central Henan province threatened to stop paying wages to and dismiss any state employee not inoculated by July 20, according to an official notice issued Monday.At least a dozen places have stationed volunteers at government buildings, train stations and other busy public spaces to note down the names and contact information of those who are not vaccinated.It is unclear whether this information is then shared with the local pandemic prevention task force.The move has led to an online backlash.“At first you (the government) said vaccination was voluntary, now you are forcing us!” wrote one angry user of China’s Twitter-like Weibo.“I just got my second dose, but this new policy sounds like a royal decree: disappointed and disgusting!” complained another.China’s success in squashing the coronavirus outbreak – plus vaccine safety concerns – led to a low uptake when the country’s vaccination campaign was launched last year, and officials have been using a series of incentives to ramp up inoculation numbers.As of Tuesday, China had administered more than 1.4 billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines, the National Health Commission said, without specifying the number of people vaccinated.


We are bound by law, says top cop after anger over police escort for convict Najib

The inspector-general of police has stepped in to explain security privileges for former prime ministers after several social media posts questioning the police escort given to Najib Razak despite his conviction of corruption charges.Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the police are bound by law to provide traffic and safety escorts for former prime ministers, citing the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act 1980.“For the time being, the police provide these services for all former prime ministers,” he said.“In the case of prime ministers who are facing legal action, the police will maintain their eligibility for traffic and safety escorts until their appeal is decided by the courts.”Najib, the only former prime minister to have been convicted of criminal charges, was found guilty last year of seven charges linked to the 1MDB scandal, and sentenced to 12 years in jail. He was also fined RM210 million over the charges related to RM42 million in SRC International funds.He was granted a stay of execution pending his appeal in the Court of Appeal.Malaysian social media has also been abuzz over a report that the former leader’s request for a free house in a luxury part of Kuala Lumpur has been approved by Putrajaya.Last week, MalaysiaNow reported that the government would construct a house for Najib as part of the privileges accorded under the Members of Parliament (Remuneration) Act, with a price tag of RM100 million including the value of the vacant land at Bukit Petaling, a posh residential area in the heart of the capital.


Back to conditional MCO for Selangor, KL, Putrajaya and Sabah

Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Sabah will come under conditional movement control order (CMCO) again following the recent increase in Covid-19 cases in these areas.The CMCO in the first three areas will run from Oct 14 to 27 while the CMCO in Sabah will begin at midnight tonight, ending on Oct 26.Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision was made at a special meeting of the National Security Council today.In Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya, all economic activities will be allowed to continue as usual, although interdistrict travel will be prohibited for the duration of the order. Those who need to cross district borders for work purposes must show work passes or letters of permission from their employers.Only two people per household will be allowed to go out for groceries and food supplies, while schools, institutes of higher education, vocation training centres, kindergartens, tahfiz centres, public parks, recreational centres, entertainment centres and night clubs will be closed.Mosques and non-Muslim houses of worship will also be required to close, and sports, recreational, social and cultural events including wedding ceremonies will be barred.In Sabah, economic, industrial and business activities will be allowed to continue although contingent on strict SOPs to be announced by the NSC.Wholesale markets and day markets will be allowed to operate from 6am until 2pm, while shops selling essential goods and sundry shops can open from 6am to 6pm.Restaurants and eateries will likewise be allowed to oeprate from 6am to 6pm, but limited to drive-thru, delivery and takeaway services.Petrol stations can open from 6am to 6pm while taxis and e-hailing services as well as food delivery will be allowed from 6am to 8pm.Pharmacies and medicine shops will be allowed to open from 6am to 6pm while clinics and government hospitals will run 24 hours a day.Further details will be made available on the NSC website.


Japan hopes to shore up Philippines' defence amid Taiwan conflict fears

Japan is preparing military aid for the Philippines to help secure sea approaches and safeguard Taiwan's western flank, officials say, deepening security ties that could bring Japanese forces back there for the first time since World War Two.
As it steps back from decades of pacifism, Tokyo worries that the Philippines is a weak link in an island chain stretching from the Japanese archipelago to Indonesia through which ships must pass going to or from the Pacific Ocean.
Chief among the Japanese military's concerns is a Chinese attack on neighbouring Taiwan that could spark a wider conflict, with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida warning that Ukraine today could be East Asia tomorrow. To help address that, Tokyo in April said it would offer like-minded countries military aid, including radars, that the officials said would help the Philippines plug defensive gaps.
"It is very useful giving radars to the Philippines because it means we could share information about the Bashi Channel," said retired admiral Katsutoshi Kawano, referring to the waterway separating the Philippines and Taiwan. It is considered a choke point for vessels moving between the western Pacific and the contested South China Sea.
Three Japanese government officials involved in national security strategy planning told Reuters that Washington was advising Japan on what to supply because it had a close military relationship with the Philippines. One, however, said the aid effort was a Japanese initiative and not anything the United States had pressed for.
The officials declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.
"We are in the process of selecting equipment that can be used for maritime monitoring and security. We don't know yet what exactly that will be," a spokesman at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.
The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs said it was not immediately able to comment on security aid from Japan or hosting Japanese troops.
US President Joe Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, on Friday met with his counterparts from Japan and the Philippines, Takeo Akiba and Eduardo Ano in Tokyo, for the first in a series of regular meetings to discuss security cooperation.
The three "discussed a wide range of regional security challenges, including with respect to the South China Sea and the East China Sea, as well as North Korea", a joint news release said. "In addition, they reiterated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."
Sullivan speaking after the meeting said they had "zeroed in on the turbulent security environment."
Loosening the rules
The scope of Japanese military aid is limited by a self-imposed ban on lethal equipment exports.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in December promised to review that restriction when he unveiled an unprecedented five-year military build-up that will double defence spending within five years.
Looser export rules are expected in coming months, but as pressure grows on industrial economies to help Ukraine, Tokyo has begun testing those restrictions.
After Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Japan last month for the Group of Seven leaders' summit, Kishida donated military trucks and other vehicles. Tokyo has also told the US it can buy industrial explosives in Japan for artillery shells destined for Ukraine.
Japan's military aid to the Philippines "will expand step by step and my hope is that it will change to include lethal weapons" such as anti-ship missiles, said Kawano, who served as chief of the Japanese Self-Defence Forces' (SDF) Joint Staff for five years until 2019.
Kawano and the government officials who spoke to Reuters predicted Manila could give Japan access to its military bases, as it does with the United States, allowing Japanese SDF aircraft to patrol the South China Sea. Japan can monitor waters east of Taiwan from Yonaguni island, about 100km away.
In February the Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr and Kishida agreed in Tokyo that their militaries would cooperate in disaster relief.
That meeting, in which Kishida also promised Marcos US$4.3 billion (about RM19.8 billion) in development aid and private investment, was preceded in December by the first-ever visit to the Philippines by Japanese fighter jets and a series of high-level military meetings. Japan in March observed US-Philippine military drills, and this month their coast guards trained together for the first time.
All of this, experts say, could be a precursor to a reciprocal access agreement (RAA) that would allow both countries to deploy their forces on each other's soil. If Manila accepts such an agreement - Tokyo has RAAs with Britain and Australia - a pact could be concluded within a year, another of the three Japanese government officials said.
"Since the change in administration, the Philippines has been giving very positive signals, and that could mean a quick agreement," said Yusuke Ishihara, a senior fellow at Japan's National Institute for Defense Studies. But he said Japan and the US are treading carefully in trilateral talks with the Philippines.
"It's sensitive about its relations with China. The trick will be to put the Philippines at ease by discussing economics issues or economic security rather than just defence," he said.


Police chief among 8 detained for partying at Kajang station

A police station chief was among four officers arrested for having a party at their own police station in Kajang, yesterday evening.Bukit Aman Integrity and Standards Compliance Department (JIPS) director Azri Ahmad said four local women were also arrested in the raid at about 6pm.“I confirm that the Bukit Aman JIPS raided a police station in the Kajang district yesterday.“All eight individuals, aged between 21 and 54, are being investigated for violating the SOPs for movement control under the National Recovery Plan while the four policemen involved are also facing disciplinary action,” he said when contacted today.It is understood that in yesterday’s raid, four policemen with the rank of sub-inspector, two corporals and a support corporal along with four women were arrested while partying in a special room at the police station.It is also understood that during the raid, police confiscated several bottles of water suspected to be ketum juice, liquor, speakers, disco lights, a microphone and a television.The room was understood to be dark, lit only by the disco lights, while those in it were dancing and singing karaoke.Azri said the actions of the police personnel and members of the public involved had breached Covid-19 SOPs. He said there would be no compromise and that stern action would be taken against any person who violates the SOPs outlined by the government.Further investigations are still underway, he said, adding that JIPS is conducting investigations into misconduct and indiscipline while the relevant divisions are also conducting their own investigations.


Turkey, Egypt condemn proposed French ‘Islamophobic’ laws

French President Emmanuel Macron has said his government will present a bill in December to fight “Islamist separatism” and strengthen the country’s official separation of church and state, a founding philosophy for over 100 years.Macron warned that France was in danger of allowing the formation of a “counter-society” among France’s Muslims living under its own laws.Describing Islam as a religion in crisis worldwide, Macron insisted that extremist religious teaching in schools and mosques must stop.Muslims are interpreting these comments and the proposed legislation as an attack on Islam in France.On Sunday Turkey joined Egypt in attacking Macron.“We believe the mindset behind this bill will lead to grave consequences rather than solve France’s problems,” the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement which declared that such action would only fuel growing xenophobia, racism and Islamophobia in Europe.Egypt’s Sunni Islamic institution, Al-Azhar, denounced Macron’s plans as “racist” and spreading “hate speech”.“He made false accusations against Islam,” Al-Azhar said in a statement on Saturday. “Such racist statements will inflame the feelings of two billion Muslim followers around the world.”Macron’s address came 18 months ahead of presidential elections where he will face challenges from the populist right, as public concern grows over security in France.Many perceive French values as under threat from Islam in the wake of terror attacks targeting freedom of expression and other secular liberties.Most recently, a man wounded two people with a meat cleaver outside the former Paris offices of the Charlie Hebdo satirical magazine in vengeance for republishing cartoons of the Muslim prophet.The government denounced the attack as “Islamist terrorism”.In reply, Al-Azhar’s Grand Imam said he was immensely angry at the use by Western authorities of the term “Islamist terrorism”.He tweeted that the term is “an insult” to the religion and its followers and warned people not to use it.


Human error just one of the aspects under probe, Wee says on LRT collision

The human factor is just one facet of the investigation into the accident involving two LRT Kelana Jaya trains on Monday, says Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong.He said the investigation would also take into consideration a range of technical and operational components in connection with the collision.He said this in a statement today to address perceptions that “human error” has been conclusively determined as the cause of the accident.On Monday night, two Kelana Jaya line LRT trains – one carrying passengers and the other being tested – collided in the tunnel area between the Kampung Baru and KLCC stations, injuring 213 passengers onboard.Wee said the nine-person ministerial-level investigative committee, headed by transport ministry secretary-general Isham Ishak and tasked to subject matter experts, had begun to examine various aspects of the incident, including the human factor.He said the hostler involved in the incident had tested negative for drugs, adding that the person must be allowed the opportunity to be heard in order to facilitate the investigation without premature judgments.“The investigation will continue to look into how and why safety barriers were breached which caused the incident, and propose full safety recommendations to prevent such an event from happening again,” he said.Wee said the investigation committee would also seek the views of external parties whose expertise could assist in compiling the final report.“Safety of the LRT transport system as a vital public resource cannot be compromised. Therefore, finding gaps in safety must be paramount,” he said.On the victims’ condition, Wee said 67 people were treated at Hospital Kuala Lumpur, 61 of whom have been discharged while six remain warded, with three under critical care.


Thailand launches yacht quarantine for tourists

Visitors to Thailand can now spend their mandatory two-week coronavirus quarantine on a yacht in a move aimed at reviving the country’s struggling tourism industry, devastated by the pandemic.The government is hoping that the new yacht initiative will bring in 1.8 billion baht (US$58 million) in badly needed tourism revenue.The Southeast Asian nation relies heavily on tourists but banned them in March last year to limit the virus spreading.Having managed a campaign against Covid-19 widely regarded as one of Asia’s most successful, since October the country has been trying to find ways of bringing tourists back safely.The Thai government’s Digital Economy Promotion Agency (Depa) announced on Monday that the yacht quarantine programme will allow visitors with a negative coronavirus test to spend their time on board a yacht or small cruise ship around Phuket.The pandemic saw the number of tourists on the popular tourist island plummet from around 50,000 a day to just hundreds.Around 100 yachts are expected to take part once the scheme sets sail properly.Tourists will be required to wear a smart wristband that monitors vital signs including temperature and blood pressure, as well as tracking the wearer’s location via GPS. The device can transmit information even at sea, within a 10km radius, the government said.Last week, Thailand’s tourism minister said he would also propose a plan for foreigners to undertake quarantine in popular tourist areas, including beach resorts. The hotel quarantine plan is expected to start in April or May in popular provinces including Phuket, Krabi and Chiang Mai.Meanwhile, the Tourism Association of Thailand reported Sunday that the first round of tourists to take advantage of a new golf quarantine program completed their two-week lockdown. The group had arrived from South Korea in mid-February.The public health ministry in January added golf courses in areas including Kanchanaburi province to the list of designated quarantine locations, giving golfers an alternative to staying cooped up in a hotel. Packages start at roughly 90,000 baht (US$2,900), including green and cart fees.Thailand will from next month reduce its mandatory quarantine from 14 to seven days for foreigners arriving in the country who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus, its health minister said on Monday.Vaccinations must be administered within three months of the travel period and visitors will still be required to show negative Covid-19 test results within three days of their departure, he minister told a news conference. Those not yet inoculated but with coronavirus-free certificates would be quarantined for 10 days, he said.“Foreigners travelling to Thailand with vaccination certificates in accordance with the requirements of each brands, will need to quarantine for only seven days,” he said, referring to the doses needed to be effective.Thailand’s flight limits, its strict entry requirements and mandatory quarantine for all arrivals have been central to its success in limiting the spread of the virus to just over 26,000 cases and 85 deaths.Those curbs have decimated its vital tourism sector, however, prompting widespread jobs losses and business closures and contributing to the country’s deepest economic traction in over two decades.The country received close to 40 million visitors in 2019.


‘Mandatory solidarity needed’: EU talks on migration pact begin

Portugal started a round of talks with ministers from various European Union (EU) nations on the new pact to tackle the bloc’s long-standing migration issues, its government said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.As part of its six-month rotating EU presidency, which began this month, Portugal held an initial consultation with Greece, a country on the frontline of Europe’s migrant crisis in 2015 and 2016.Last September, the European Commission initially put forward a proposal for the migration pact during Germany’s EU presidency.The most sensitive part of the pact obliges each member state to host some refugees with many governments saying outright they will not take any refugeesIn a statement, Portugal’s Internal Affairs Ministry said problems related to migration from outside the EU could only be solved with “solidarity between countries” but highlighted “such solidarity cannot be voluntary”.“Flexible” but “mandatory solidarity” between EU countries is the key concept Portugal is pushing for, the ministry said, adding solutions must be found to two main issues: regular migration flows and migration crises.The minister in charge, Eduardo Cabrita, said he would also hold meetings with government officials in Spain, Italy and Malta, where migrants mainly arrive, but also with reluctant destination countries such as Poland and Hungary.The ministry said, “The goal of these meetings is to find points of convergence between member states and the paths that will allow us to overcome aspects that generate less consensus in the pact.”


DAP open to working with Umno, says Loke

DAP national organising secretary Loke Siew Fook says the party is always open to working with others including Umno in order to achieve what is best for the people.He also said DAP remains open to reaching a consensus with any party, whether in one group or another.“Politics is dynamic,” the former transport minister said on a programme aired by Astro Awani last night.“We are not closing the door in terms of future cooperation, but as far as now, our position is very clear vis a vis our cooperation with certain leaders in Umno.“That position is very clear and the party leader has made that very clear,” he said in a reference to those facing charges in court or who have already been found guilty.Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is currently facing 47 criminal charges – 12 for criminal breach of trust, eight for corruption and 27 for money laundering.Former prime minister Najib Razak meanwhile has been convicted of seven charges in the SRC International case and is appealing his jail term and fine.Loke said courage is needed for DAP and Umno to hold discussions.“More and more people that I’m talking to say one of the ways out is for Umno and DAP to come to the same table.“But that, you need political courage and you need political views. Not just from one side but from both sides.“Is Umno prepared to even discuss about it?”He said he himself had urged Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to call a conference of all parties.“Let’s all sit down together to face Covid, to face the pandemic, and let’s all sit down to see how do we find a national consensus.“I think DAP is always open to finding a consensus, not just among our coalition partners but with other parties as well.”


EU says no problem with WHO-approved vaccines

The European Union (EU) ambassador to Malaysia Michalis Rokas has clarified that EU member states can allow entry for people given vaccines that have not yet been authorised in the EU but have completed the World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing process.As such, he said, there was no obstacle or hurdle in this matter.“Therefore, some recent reporting concerning the AstraZeneca vaccines’ origin is inaccurate,” he said in a statement.National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin had said that the EU should not discriminate over where AstraZeneca vaccine are produced as the same formula is used at all of its manufacturing facilities.In the wake of reports that the EU would only recognise the AstraZeneca vaccine approved by the European Medicines Agency, Khairy said he would get AstraZeneca to inform the EU that all their manufacturing sites implement good manufacturing practices.Rokas said the EU’s 27 member states had agreed on common guidelines for non-essential travel from outside the bloc, adding however that national restrictions might be introduced based on the epidemiological situation.“Entry into the EU is in principle allowed to fully vaccinated persons with one of the vaccines authorised in the EU, including those produced in facilities not covered by marketing authorisation in the EU,” he said.He said the establishment of the EU Digital Covid Certificate was to facilitate travel within the EU, and that it was digital proof that a European citizen or resident had been vaccinated against Covid-19, or had received a negative test or recovered from Covid-19.“The certificate is not a pre-requisite for travelling in the EU or a compulsory document, but simply a practical tool,” he added.He also said that the EU Digital Covid Certificate was not the only tool that could be used.“Member states are free to accept the documentation issued in third countries for vaccination.“These should contain information that at least allows identifying the person, the type of vaccine and the date of the administration of the vaccine,” he said.He added that official certificates certifying recovery from Covid-19 or a negative Covid-19 test might also serve as proof of low epidemiological risk, depending on the legislation in force of the member state Malaysians wish to visit.“In addition, it is up to EU member states to decide which obligations, such as quarantine, may be imposed on incoming travellers,” he said.Rokas said since there was no common list of requirements, Malaysians who wished to travel to the EU need to check the entry requirements for the member state(s) they wish to visit.“They need to be aware also that these are likely to change over time depending on the development of the pandemic in both the EU and Malaysia.”Nevertheless, he said the launch of the EU Digital Covid Certificate now made possible the formal equivalence of Covid-19 certificates between Malaysia and the EU.“This possibility will be explored with the competent Malaysian authorities in the days to come,” he added.


Calls for mandatory vaccines fuelled by surging Delta cases in US

In what will probably become a worldwide trend, the rise in cases brought on by the Delta variant in the US is spurring new calls for employers to mandate Covid-19 vaccines for their workers, and some are starting to follow through.There was a flurry of activity around vaccines in the US on Monday, with California and New York City announcing mandates for government employees, or else weekly testing, The Hill is reporting.The enormous Department of Veterans Affairs became the first federal agency to mandate the vaccine, focusing on its frontline health care workers.And over 50 health care organisations, including the American Medical Association and the American Nurses Association, called on employers to mandate the vaccine for all health care workers, and for other employers, not just those in health care, to “follow our lead”.The push comes as cases, deaths and hospitalisations from Covid-19 are rising again due to the more transmissible Delta variant, and as number of people getting vaccinated has slowed significantly.Many experts think mandates from employers are the key to boosting vaccination rates and slowing the new surge, which is overwhelmingly affecting the unvaccinated.Ezekiel Emanuel, a medical expert at the University of Pennsylvania who was a health care adviser in the Obama White House, said that despite vaccines being free and widely available in the US, and the president pleading with people to get vaccinated, “we’re still just shy of 50% of the population vaccinated”.Experts are concerned that outbreaks will continue getting worse unless a significantly higher percentage of the population is vaccinated.The risk is overwhelmingly to unvaccinated people, but a small number of vaccinated people will still get sick, and there are society-wide effects like overcrowded hospitals.Also, the more the virus spreads, the more chance there is for new variants to develop that could evade vaccines.“It’s clear that gentle persuasion did not achieve the vax rate we need to defeat Covid,” Bob Wachter, chair of the department of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco tweeted. “Yes, the politics are hard, but dying is worse, as is re-tanking the economy. It’s time for vaccine mandates – nothing else gets us where we need to go.”“It’s clear that right now the Delta variant has the upper hand, and we think it’s time to ask employers to require their employees to be vaccinated as the next step,” Susan Bailey, president of the American Medical Association, said.California Governor Gavin Newsom said on Monday, “We’re at a point in this pandemic, where individuals’ choice not to get vaccinated, is now impacting the rest of us, in a devastating and deadly way.”Some experts are calling on the Food and Drug Administration to move faster to fully approve Covid-19 vaccines, which could make employers more confident in mandating the vaccine.“We know these vaccines are safe and effective,” Bailey said. “We don’t think we need to wait for that administrative action to go ahead and recommend mandates for vaccines.”The US is now averaging about 50,000 cases per day, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. That’s up from around 13,000 at the end of June, though far below last winter’s peak of around 250,000, before vaccines were widely available. Deaths are also inching back up to around 240 per day.While cases are going up, vaccinations are going down. The country is averaging about 600,000 shots per day, down from over three million per day in April, according to Our World in Data.Still, there has been a small recent uptick in vaccinations, as the White House hopes news of the Delta variant threat spurs more people to get shots. The number of people getting their first shot is up 24% from the previous week, according to the White House.“Still not enough patients have been vaccinated to keep the case rates from going up,” said Bailey.


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Hong Kong’s UK flight ban strands thousands of students

For 22-year-old Timmin Lam, studying in Manchester, the ban on flights from the UK to Hong Kong this week is the latest in a series of setbacks that have prevented him from travelling home for almost two years.“I feel trapped in the UK. I really wish the pandemic would improve,” he said.Hong Kong authorities said on Monday that passenger flights from the UK would be banned starting from July 1 to curb the spread of the rampaging Delta variant of Covid-19, Reuters reports.Britain has been categorised as extremely high-risk and people who have stayed in the country for more than two hours will be unable to board passenger flights for Hong Kong.It is the second time that the Chinese-ruled financial hub has barred arrivals from Britain. The earlier ban was in force from December 2020 until May.The Hong Kong government said the latest ban was due to “the recent rebound of the epidemic situation in the UK and the widespread Delta variant virus strain there, coupled with a number of cases with L452R mutant virus strains detected by tests on people arriving from the UK”.Before the ban, restrictions on the UK had been relaxed to allow vaccinated travellers only seven days of quarantine compared to 21 days.Thousands of students had planned to return home for the summer, and the sudden change has resulted in chaos for many.“I really wish they had announced this earlier to allow more time for us to organise things,” said Wallis Au, a 20-year-old physiotherapy student in Britain. She said she had a flight booking to arrive in Hong Kong on July 5 and would not be able to return before the deadline.Due to Hong Kong’s strict Covid-19 regulations, travellers cannot land in the city without securing a hotel reservation for quarantine, After the ban was announced, parents rushed to find hotels for their children, but for many it was impossible.“Even if I can manage to get an earlier flight for her – which was a push because everyone was rushing – how could she board without the hotel booking?” said Hong Kong mother Debi Yeung, whose 20-year-old daughter is studying in Leeds.Yeung said she had changed flight dates and hotel bookings several times already because of changing regulations, and her daughter had scheduled multiple Covid tests ahead of her journey.“We have given up now,” she said. “I don’t think there is much more that we can do.”Dr Julian Tang, a virologist at the University of Leicester who previously worked in Hong Kong, told the AP the ban makes sense from a scientific point of view.“The UK has never been good at controlling the virus and overconfidence in the vaccine is likely now spurring this latest wave,” he said, adding it makes “perfect sense” for Hong Kong to ban travel from Britain.He said previous surges of Covid-19 in Hong Kong have been tiny and that an influx of imported cases in a largely unvaccinated population would be worrying.He said that Beijing wants to keep the Chinese territory as pristine as possible, “until they can persuade people to get vaccinated. And that’s going to take a long time”.


Mainland China posts highest number of imported Covid cases in nearly 2 years

China on Friday reported the highest daily count of Covid-19 cases arriving from outside the mainland in nearly two years, with infections mostly from Hong Kong as the financial hub grapples with a wave of infections.The mainland detected a total of 142 imported cases with confirmed symptoms for Thursday, the National Health Commission (NHC) said on Friday.It marks the highest imported caseload since the authority began classifying domestically transmitted cases and infected travellers from outside the mainland separately, in March 2020.More than 100 imported cases came from Hong Kong, with 47 reported in the southern city of Shenzhen and 51 in the eastern municipality of Shanghai, local health authorities’ bulletins showed. The capital Beijing also detected seven symptomatic cases arriving from Hong Kong.Mainland China requires most general travellers arriving from outside to be quarantined for at least 14 days, and cities have varying requirements afterwards before they can travel freely.For Thursday the mainland also detected 87 asymptomatic carriers arriving from outside, which authorities count separately.There were also 82 locally transmitted infections with confirmed symptoms on Thursday, the NHC data showed.No new deaths were reported, leaving the death toll unchanged at 4,636.As of Feb 24, mainland China had 108,604 cases with confirmed symptoms, including both local and imported ones.


1,168 new cases, most recoveries yet

Another 1,168 Covid-19 cases were reported today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 39,357.Of these, 616 were recorded in Sabah, 247 in Selangor, 105 in Labuan and 68 in Negeri Sembilan.Active cases stand at 11,666 with 87 in the ICU and 32 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 1,029 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 27,409 or 69.6%.However, three more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 282.Four new clusters were also detected.


2,720 more cases as recoveries hit new high

Another 2,720 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 269,165.Selangor recorded 1,300 cases followed by Johor (451), Kuala Lumpur (318), Sarawak (193) and Sabah (132).Penang recorded 72 cases, Perak 69, Negeri Sembilan 64, Kedah 38, Terengganu 26, Pahang 19, Kelantan 17, Melaka 14, Putrajaya six and Labuan one.Active cases stand at 44,129 with 253 in the ICU and 118 in need of respiratory assistance.Nineteen more clusters were detected:1. Rawang Bestari (Gombak and Hulu Selangor in Selangor; 594 screened, 45 positive)2. Jalan Lazuardi (Petaling in Selangor; 61 screened, 24 positive(3. Jalan Industri Dua Belas (Petaling in Selangor; 123 screened, 17 positive)4. Jalan Industri Tiga (Gombak in Selangor; 157 screened, 16 positive)5. Industri Cyber (Kulai in Johor; 315 screened, 161 positive)6. Jalan Pelepas Empat (Johor Bahru in Johor; 255 screened, 87 positive)7. Wawasan Kulai (Kulai and Kota Tinggi in Johor; 220 screened, 68 positive)8. Package Pengerang (Kota Tinggi in Johor; 157 screened, 10 positive)9. Tapak Bina Jalan Segambut (Kepong in Kuala Lumpur; 483 screened, 173 positive)10. Univista (Samarahan and Kuching in Sarawak; 184 screened, 45 positive)11. Gelong (Kapit in Sarawak; 86 screened, 14 positive)12. Jalan Geronggang (Sibu in Sarawak; 41 screened, all positive)13. Kampung Sungai Maong (Kuching in Sarawak; 50 screened, 18 positive)14. Kidurong Dua (Bintulu in Sarawak; 74 screened, 12 positive)15. Jalan Apas Empat (Tawau and Kalabakan in Sabah; 390 screened, 22 positive)16. Simpang Tiga (Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and Pitas in Sabah; 53 screened, 25 positive)17. Jalan Kayu Manis (Manjung in Perak; 34 screened, 12 positive)18. Jalan Day (Kota Setar and Kubang Pasir in Kedah; 109 screened, 12 positive)19. Jengka Tujuh (Maran and Jerantut in Pahang; 182 screened, 20 positive)Nine others ended, leaving 499 active clusters across the country.Another 5,718 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 224,053.However, eight more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 983.


Govt ready to audit MySejahtera to counter claims of personal data breach

Putrajaya may undertake an independent review of its MySejahtera mobile app following allegations of personal data breach, MalaysiaNow has learnt from sources close to government authorities in charge of digital security.This comes amid apprehension from some quarters over data privacy that could affect millions of users of the app, launched in April to enable health authorities to keep track of people’s movements to contain the spread of Covid-19.“The government has made it compulsory for the public to sign in using the app when entering premises. And there is no basis to claims that it is being used for other purposes,” a data privacy expert with a government agency told MalaysiaNow.“But there are lingering trust issues which could undermine the battle against the pandemic,” he added.It is believed that the issue cropped up during a recent meeting involving ministers and top officers tasked with managing the Covid-19 crisis.The source said any suspicion of the government’s pledge to protect people’s privacy would cause problems in ensuring the effective tracking of the virus, which has so far infected over 50,000 people and claimed more than 320 lives.At the heart of the concerns is the app’s ability to access a user’s location, in addition to having access to storage and phone contacts.MalaysiaNow understands that an independent audit firm will be appointed to carry out the review of MySejahtera.In August, Putrajaya announced that it would gazette the use of MySejahtera through the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, in the wake of difficulties in tracing close contacts at places where Covid-19 cases had been detected.Despite repeated assurances from the government, the debate over MySejahtera’s data privacy has continued online, evoking strong reactions on social media.At the heart of the concerns is the app’s ability to access a user’s location – crucial in contact tracing activities – in addition to having access to storage and phone contacts.There are many free tools available for checking an app’s claim to data privacy.One such tool is prepared by Exodus Privacy, a French data privacy organisation, to evaluate Android-based apps.A check on its website reveals that MySejahtera allows 14 different permissions regarding various device features and contents.Concerns over data privacy during the pandemic are not confined to Malaysia, as countries attempt to collect more personal information for contact tracing, a key part of containing the spread of Covid-19.Despite government guarantees that such apps would not keep personal information, recent cases of massive data leaks have not helped to allay fears.In March, details of hundreds of thousands of credit cards issued by banks in Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand were found online in a massive data breach.Three years ago, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission confirmed that the personal data of more than 46 million subscribers of major mobile telco services had been leaked on the dark web, complete with phone numbers and home addresses.


RM260,000 in compounds issued to owner, customers of KL entertainment centre

Compounds worth a total of RM235,000 were issued to 43 customers at an entertainment centre in Kuala Lumpur during a raid last night.Kuala Lumpur Crime Prevention and Community Safety Department chief Azman Ayob said the individuals, comprising 27 men and 16 women, were found to be violating Regulation 19 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 by engaging in activities at an entertainment outlet during Phase Four of the National Recovery Plan.“Urine tests conducted on them came back negative for drugs,” he said in a statement today.Azman said during the raid, the police also issued RM25,000 worth of compounds to the owner of the premises and seized 431 bottles of various types of liquor worth RM220,500.He said they would continue to conduct operations and inspections from time to time to ensure compliance with the SOPs set by the government and curb the spread of Covid-19 in the country.


Machetes, guns a la Singapore massacre plot available but not easy

The ease with which tools that can be weaponised can be purchased online without raising suspicions has raised fears of potential lone wolf terror attacks such as the one planned by a teenager in Singapore who was recently arrested.An experiment by MalaysiaNow on sourcing sharp weapons and firearms reveals that while obtaining the latter is a bit more challenging, tools such as machetes and axes are readily available and sold like cutlery on the internet, including on popular online shopping platforms.On Jan 27, Singapore authorities revealed that they had thwarted a plan by a 16-year-old secondary student to kill Muslim worshippers at two mosques in the city-state wearing a tactical vest and using a machete he had bought online.Investigations revealed he had planned to launch the attack on March 15, to coincide with the massacre of 51 Muslims at a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, two years ago by Australian Brenton Tarrant.This led to questions on how easily those with access to the internet and online payment tools could prepare for such attacks.One popular local e-commerce platform offers machetes for as little as RM30 and tactical vests for about RM60.The machete and vest bought from an online platform by a Singapore youth detained under the Internal Security Act. Investigations revealed he was planning a mass killing of Muslims. Photo: ISD SingaporeThere is also an online shop dedicated to parangs, a machete-like short sword. Checks showed scores of reviews from satisfied customers.“Although they are sold for outdoor activity enthusiasts, these are tools that can be easily weaponised,” a buyer admitted to MalaysiaNow when contacted.Singapore and Malaysia have some of the strictest firearm laws in the world.It is illegal to possess, carry or use any type of firearm or ammunition without a licence, which is almost impossible to obtain as Malaysia does not recognise the right to own a gun.While this ensures that only a fraction of Malaysians – mostly VIPs – own guns, gun-related crimes often make headlines in the country thanks to its vast borders and coastal lines which make the illegal smuggling of firearms, drugs and even humans a challenge for the authorities.A quick check revealed many platforms where firearms can be illegally purchased, including on popular social messaging apps such as Telegram.A screenshot of a Telegram chat with an online seller promising safe delivery of firearms in exchange for payment in bitcoin.One seller who maintains a Telegram group told a MalaysiaNow reporter that they could ship firearms discreetly and even skip customs inspections.Payment can be made in the form of bitcoin, with the weapons shipped in parts.“We have Glocks and revolvers. We deliver them by part and directly to your doorstep,” said a seller operating on the Telegram app.“It will cost you US$560 (RM2,264) to your doorstep for the Glocks. Deliver in parts,” the seller assured.When pressed if it would be safe and discreet, the reply was: “Yes, man.”In order to secure the order, a US$100 deposit must be made, only in bitcoin.Bitcoin is a digital currency without a central bank or single administrator which can be sent from user to user on its network without intermediaries.Since its launch in 2008, bitcoin has grown in popularity although critics say this is mainly due to the fact that it facilitates the purchase of illegal goods. Others say the cloak of anonymity encourages money laundering, terror-funding and other crimes.The attempt by the teenager in Singapore to purchase firearms is likely not the first in the region.In 2013, customs seized five air rifles with ammunition worth over RM2,000, ordered by a 15-year-old schoolboy from Ipoh, Perak.Crime analyst Kamal Affendy Hashim said various enforcement agencies have been on their toes to ensure shipments don’t deal with illegal goods.“If the authorities have suspicions, they will contact the individual or the company that imported (it) before the shipment can be released,” he told MalaysiaNow.Kamal agreed that Malaysia’s vast borders – totalling more than 3,000km of land and maritime boundaries – make enforcement a challenge, including stopping the smuggling of firearms.“There are illegal routes available for smugglers to exploit our geography,” he added.“But our authorities are very consistent in carrying out their duties, whether land or air patrolling, and also in information intelligence,” he said, citing the arrest of individuals linked to radical groups in recent times.As for the sale of sharp tools online, he sees no problem with this.“Essential items that can be found in the local market such as knives or axes are not an issue,” he told MalaysiaNow.“What is more worrying is if the importing agent of a company makes a false declaration for a cargo container.”


New infections at 2,445 as death toll up by 2

Another 2,445 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,837,005.
There were 1,613 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,775,927.
There are now 24,713 active cases, of which 23,567 or 95.4% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0.0%) are at quarantine centres while 1,105 (4.5%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 41 are in ICU with 22 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 61.7%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 11.2%.
Two more deaths were reported, taking total deaths to 36,365.


Healthy adults aged 50-59 allowed option of second booster jab

Healthy individuals aged 50 to 59 now have the option of receiving a second booster dose of Covid-19 vaccine, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the decision was based on the recommendations of the Technical Working Group under the ministry, for protection from the risk of severe illnesses due to Covid-19.
"The health ministry has increased the percentage of individuals eligible to receive a booster dose to curb the spread of infection, serious infections as well as deaths.
"The ministry urges all eligible individuals to come forward to obtain this service so that the Malaysian population gets optimal protection against Covid-19," he said during the question and answer session in the Dewan Rakyat.
He was responding to a question from Rubiah Wang (GPS-Kota Samarahan) about the latest threat posed by the new Covid-19 variant and the ministry's measures to tackle it.
Previously, those eligible to receive a second booster dose were high-risk individuals aged 60 and above with comorbidity problems and individuals aged 60 and above without comorbidities with recommendations from medical practitioners.
Senior citizens living in long-term care facilities, high-risk individuals aged 18 to 59 as well as frontline workers are also eligible for a second booster dose.
Khairy said the ministry was also looking at the production of a new generation of vaccines that might enter the market and obtain the approval of health regulatory bodies.
"If it is found that vaccines developed for variants such as Omicron are effective and safe, perhaps procurement can be considered in the future," he said in response to Rubiah’s supplementary question on the extent to which the previously conducted National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme could help the country deal with new virus variants.


Cannabis cafes face tourist ban as Amsterdam cleans up

Foreign tourists will be banned from cannabis cafes in order to tackle anti-social behaviour and push the city upmarket if Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema gets her way.Owners of Amsterdam’s famous coffee shops are pushing back. They have told the BBC that dope-smoking tourists are mostly harmless and if they are banned from regulated establishments, they will be pushed on to the streets and into the hands of ruthless drug gangsters.Amsterdam is famous for its thriving nightlife, red light district and cannabis cafes which attract 20 million tourists per year. But like the rest of the Netherlands, the capital is currently in lockdown.Some of its 850,000 residents would prefer its post-Covid life to resemble lockdown rather than return to what it was.Most of the Netherlands already requires visitors to coffee shops to show proof of residence, but the rule is not enforced in the capital.The city council has already tried other ways to reduce over-tourism. Airbnb-style holiday rentals were recently banned from the historic centre, and the future of the central red-light district is under discussion with proposals to create a sex zone on the outskirts instead.Cannabis production is illegal, but Dutch coffee shops are allowed to sell it. This policy means the cafes buy their stock from criminals who grow the drug in the Netherlands or smuggle it in from places like Morocco, Jamaica, Colombia and Thailand.The BBC asked Amsterdam’s local authority what it thinks of warnings from coffee shop owners that banning foreigners would merely force them on to the streets and into the arms of gangsters.In a statement, it said: “A growing cannabis market generating ever larger profits is increasingly vulnerable to criminal activity. The current tolerance policy makes it difficult, if not impossible, for coffee shop operators not to maintain ties with illegal suppliers.”But Mark Jacobs, who runs The Rookies Club on a narrow street in the shadow of the Rijksmuseum, believes the mayor’s plans will fuel the very crime and anti-social behaviour the council is trying to combat, saying, “It won’t be safe on the streets like now. You’ll get the new Al Capones, the new dealers will emerge, thousands of them.”But many residents do not see it the same way, and with police and prosecutors in favour of tighter controls, it is highly likely that foreign visitors will be barred from Amsterdam’s cannabis cafes before long.


No kavadi ceremony for Thaipusam this year

Only the “paal koodam” procession of carrying milk pots, prayer activities and chariot processions will be allowed during Thaipusam this year, while the “kavadi” ceremony will remain off limits as part of efforts to curb the spread of Covid-19.National Unity Minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique said “paal koodam” would be allowed from Jan 14 to 19 with the number of devotees allowed to participate set according to the respective temple.“Each session will be for 30 minutes, followed by sanitisation. For the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves, Selangor, the number of individuals for ‘paal koodam’ should not exceed 100.“For the Arulmigu Balathandayuthabani Temple and Nagarathar Thandayuthapani Temple in George Town, Penang, the Ipoh Hindu Devastanam Paripalana Sabah Temple and Sri Subramaniyar Thevasthana Paripalana Sabah Temple in Sungai Siput, Perak, no more than 50 people are allowed,” she said at a press conference today.As for other temples, the number of people involved in the “paal koodam” should not exceed 30.She said devotees participating in the “paal koodam” procession were required to register with the temple management and use the provided tags.Halimah said prayer ceremony sessions and chariot processions were allowed according to the SOPs.Twelve prayer sessions have been set from Jan 16 to 17 and Jan 19 from 5am to 5pm, while 18 sessions are set for Jan 18 from 5am to 11pm, with the number of people allowed set according to the respective temples.“At the Sri Subramaniar Swamy Temple in Batu Caves, there will be no more than 6,000 people on each day. Each 30-minute prayer session will be followed by a sanitisation process, with the total number of people for each session in the temple not exceeding 500.“Besides that, only members of the temple management are allowed to accompany the chariot, and they must register with the temple management to get permission tags, and also need approval from the police,” she said, adding that the complete SOPs for Thaipusam would be uploaded on the National Security Council website.Halimah said any temple found to have Covid-19 cases would be instructed to cancel its Thaipusam ceremonies.She said although the festival would be celebrated by Hindus on Jan 18, there were devotees who fulfilled their vows before the date.“If there is a case involving the Thaipusam ceremony on any of the earlier dates of Jan 14 to 17 and 18, we will ask (the temple) to stop (the ceremonies) and cancel them. Only that particular temple (affected by Covid-19 cases) will be closed,” she said.She also reminded temple managements to allow only permanent stalls under their purview to operate during the festival. The handing out of free food and drinks (thanir phandal and anamthanam) is not allowed.Temporary stalls for promotions or sales inside or outside the temple area are also not allowed.