Can surgical masks be reused?

Health authorities say the most widespread anti-Covid weapon – surgical masks – must be thrown away after a single use, but environmental concerns are pushing some scientists to question this recommendation.As the coronavirus continues to spread, masks have in many places become mandatory on public transport, in shops and at work.But cost has become an issue, as has the fact that so many disposable plastic masks wind up in waterways and the oceans.One alternative is reusable cloth masks, but many people prefer single-use surgical masks because they are lighter and individually cheaper.“Medical masks are for single use only,” the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. “Discard the mask immediately, preferably into a closed bin.”But faced with shortages during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in March and April, WHO allowed in a June report for “exceptional procedures” to disinfect throw-away masks for reuse.The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends – in emergency circumstances – hydrogen peroxide vapour to decontaminate the N95 masks worn by healthcare workers.Other methods to purify single-use masks include exposing them to high temperatures or ultraviolet radiation.But these methods are inconvenient for people at home, said French microbiologist and member of Adios Corona, Denis Corpet.Seven-day methodAdios Corona – a group of scientists who provide information on Covid-19 to the public – recommends “placing the mask in a paper envelope with the date clearly marked, and leaving it for seven days”.“Several scientific studies show that viruses are almost all dead on a mask after seven days,” said Corpet.A study published in The Lancet found that only 0.1% of the virus on the outside surface of the mask was still detectable after one week.This method, however, is not appropriate for healthcare workers exposed to high viral loads.Peter Tsai, the inventor of N95 electrostatically charged filter material, agrees with the seven-day method.But he suggests leaving used masks out in the open for a week before reuse, a cycle he says can be repeated five to 10 times.Disposable masks can also be placed in the oven, Tsai told AFP, ideally at a temperature between 70 and 75 degrees Celsius – not too high to avoid burning the plastic, but sufficiently hot to kill the virus.Washing masks in a washing machine, however, is not a good idea.“Washing without detergent may not wash away the virus,” Tsai said. “And washing with detergent will erase the (electrostatic) charges”, diminishing its efficiency.French consumers’ rights group UFC-Que Choisir washed surgical masks at 60C, put them in the dryer, and ironed them. After 10 such cycles, the masks still filtered at least 90 percent of 3-micron particles.“Apart from a slight felting, the washed surgical masks were at least as efficient as the best cloth masks,” UFC-Que Choisir reported last week.‘Like underwear’Researcher Philippe Vroman from French engineering university Ensait came to the same conclusion.After five washes, “there are practically no differences (of filtration) for particles of 3 microns,” Vroman said, on the basis of preliminary results not yet published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.“And I would rather we swap masks every four hours and wash them, rather than wearing them several days in a row as some people do. It’s a bit like underwear,” he said.But not all scientists agree.“Washing the mask at home could potentially cause a secondary contamination and spread the virus if washing is not set appropriately,” said Kaiming Ye, head of the biomedical engineering department at New York’s Binghamton University.Until more research is published on the matter, official advice from health authorities is not set to change.“Single-use surgical masks must be thrown into the bin after use,” said France’s health authority DGS, but noted that more studies were underway.


Bangladeshi cleric issues fatwa on Facebook emoji

A prominent Muslim Bangladeshi cleric with a huge online following has issued a fatwa against people using Facebook’s “haha” emoji to mock people.Ahmadullah, who uses one name, has more than three million followers on Facebook and YouTube. He regularly appears on television shows to discuss religious issues in the Muslim-majority country.On Saturday he posted a three-minute video in which he discussed the mocking of people on Facebook and issued a fatwa, an Islamic edict, explaining how it is “totally haram (forbidden)” for Muslims.“Nowadays we use Facebook’s haha emojis to mock people,” Ahmadullah said in the video, which has since been viewed more than two million times.“If we react with haha emojis purely out of fun and the same was intended by the person who posted the content, it’s fine.“But if your reaction was intended to mock or ridicule people who posted or made comments on social media, it’s totally forbidden in Islam,” Ahmadullah added.“For God’s sake I request you to refrain from this act. Do not react with ‘haha’ to mock someone. If you hurt a Muslim he may respond with bad language that would be unexpected.”Thousands of followers reacted to his video, most of them positively, although several hundred made fun of it – using the “haha” emoji.Ahmadullah is among Bangladesh’s new crop of internet-savvy Islamic preachers who have drawn millions of followers online.Their commentaries on religious and social issues are hugely popular, drawing millions of views per video.Some have earned notoriety with bizarre claims on the origin of the coronavirus. A few are accused of preaching hatred, while several have turned into celebrities for their fun-filled videos.


BN reps apologise to Bersatu, PAS over Perak MB’s ouster

Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen in Perak have apologised to allies Bersatu and PAS over the move to oust Ahmad Faizal Azumu as menteri besar last week.The apology was issued by BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on behalf of the coalition’s assemblymen in Perak, all of whom are from Umno.This follows a meeting between the three parties, which are part of the Perikatan Nasional state government, in the wake of speculation of a break-up.With the apology, PAS and Bersatu agreed to back Umno’s Shaarani Mohamad as the new menteri besar.Faizal, the Bersatu deputy president, lost in a confidence motion brought by an Umno assemblyman as differences between him and the Malay party reached a peak over the appointments of key administrative officers, including his political secretary.The confidence motion on Faizal was opposed by 48 assemblymen comprising those from Pakatan Harapan (PH) as well as all but one Umno assemblyman.Faizal only obtained 10 votes, comprising those from fellow reps in Bersatu, PAS and two independents. It is believed that the sole Umno man who abstained was Aznel Ibrahim, whom Faizal appointed as his political secretary.The move to oust Faizal was critisied by both PAS and Bersatu, who initially said they would not participate in any attempt by Umno to form a new government.It also led to speculation that Umno could work with PH parties in Perak, a move welcomed by several key leaders of the opposition coalition.


Umno assembly endorses ‘quit PN’ move, but stops short of immediate resignations

The Umno general assembly ended today with party leaders saying a proposal to quit the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government has been endorsed, short of the immediate resignation of Umno ministers and deputy ministers despite earlier calls.In perhaps one of the shortest speeches to close an Umno general assembly, party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi declared that the proposal for Umno to cut ties with PN had been endorsed.He ended his 10-minute speech by urging those in the hall to stand up if they support the proposal.He also said the Umno leadership could now decide to quit the PN government at any time.“The delegates have given the mandate to the president and the Supreme Council that we may quit the PN government at any time if there is no sign of a general election in the near future,” he said.Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has indicated that elections would be held once the state of emergency is lifted, subject to the Covid-19 pandemic receding.Zahid meanwhile warned that if the PN government decides to rule until the end of its current tenure in 2023, all ministers, deputy ministers as well as GLC heads would resign immediately.Earlier, Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan had said the party should be firm if it decides to quit the government.“If we have agreed to quit in August, then we must quit in August,” Mohamad said.


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Anwar to stand in Bandar Tun Razak?

There are strong indications from within PKR that Anwar Ibrahim might settle for the Bandar Tun Razak seat, as the party chief makes his second move out of his home town constituency of Permatang Pauh, MalaysiaNow has learnt.
If so, this would see the PKR president facing Kamaruddin Jaafar, a one-time Umno strongman who quit the party in the wake of Anwar's sacking and arrest in 1998.
"Anwar needs to show that he has Malay support, and an urban seat seems to be safer than returning to his home town where he was MP for multiple terms.
"But there are some disagreements among PKR strategists about the move, and some have even warned that Anwar is gambling his final chance to become the prime minister," a PKR central committee member told MalaysiaNow on condition of strict anonymity.
Anwar himself refuses to announce where he will contest.
"I myself don't know which seat I will be contesting," he told a press conference at the PKR headquarters today.
Anwar was the MP in Permatang Pauh for close to two decades before he was sacked in 1998 as the number two man in the Barisan Nasional government, following allegations of sodomy reported to then Umno president and prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He returned as MP of Permatang Pauh in 2008, after his wife who stood in the seat during his imprisonment stepped down.
The seat was later contested by Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah in 2018, completing the rotation of the northern rural constituency among three members of the same family.
Following his release from jail in 2018, Anwar contested in Port Dickson, just months after navy man Danyal Balagopal Abdullah won the seat for the party at the general election that year.
This time around, there have been rumblings over PKR's chances at the coming general election, as the party goes to the polls for the first time since its most serious split in 2020, as well as amid surveys showing a credibility crisis among the Malay electorate.
Anwar had remained vague when asked whether he would remain in Port Dickson at the coming polls.
Recently, he even suggested that he might take on Mohamed Azmin Ali in Gombak, a move welcomed by his former deputy and close aide.
A PKR source said party strategists were aware that Gombak, a Malay-majority seat in the middle of Kuala Lumpur consisting of both semi-rural and urban voters, was considered Azmin's fort.
Azmin first won the seat in 2013, when it was still considered an Umno vote bank. He won again in 2018 with a majority of more than 48,000.
"Not only can Anwar not afford to lose the seat if he faces Azmin, he must be able to win with a huge majority to send home a message to PKR members. Gombak is not the place for that," said a PKR assemblyman in Selangor.
'Popular urban politician'
But this is not to say that Kamaruddin will be easy prey. The five-term MP is among a handful of former PAS leaders who still enjoy good rapport with PAS leaders and supporters some seven years after leaving the party.
Once the Kelantan Umno Youth chief, Kamaruddin is widely respected within Malay intellectual circles as well as in PAS and Umno for his Islamic credentials.
In 2008, Umno decided to pit its own Islamic spokesman – Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki – against Kamaruddin, hoping to wrest the Tumpat seat from PAS. The move failed, with Kamaruddin winning handsomely.
Kamaruddin was considered a close friend of Anwar, and both were active in campus politics in their student days. But like many others who were once close to the PKR leader, he too split with him.
He was the secretary-general of the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim), a one-time influential Islamic movement once led by Anwar.
Following his entry into PAS, he was appointed as its secretary-general, a post normally given only to those whom party elders consider representative of the middle ground between the religious and political factions of the Islamist party.
"With his Kelantan background and his urban outlook, Kamaruddin would be considered a tough nut to crack, even for Anwar," said an Amanah man who claimed to enjoy close ties with the Bandar Tun Razak MP.
During the 2015 split in PAS, Kamaruddin, who was the Tumpat MP in Kelantan at that time, took a different path by joining PKR instead of PAS splinter party Amanah.
But in 2020, he was sacked from PKR alongside about a dozen other MPs.
His exit from PKR was considered a blow to the "Islamic progressives" in the party.
"His absence is still felt by PKR in its need to show some semblance of Islamic-ness in its ranks," said a Kelantan Umno division leader who had worked with Kamaruddin.
In the 2018 election, Kamaruddin beat both Umno and PAS candidates to win the Bandar Tun Razak seat by a majority of 19,930 votes.


No fight from Muda in Syed Saddiq’s Muar

For 20 years, Pak Misnan has gone out to sea each day to eke out a living as a fisherman.A familiar face at the Muar jetty near the town bus station, his daily income varies according to season and catch.He is one of some 100 fishermen registered in Muar. At the 14th general election in 2018, he and his fellow fishermen placed their trust in a youth who was contesting an election for the first time.Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman eventually became the Muar MP with a majority of 6,953 votes, defeating Razali Ibrahim of Barisan Nasional (BN) and Abdul Aziz Talib of PAS.He went on to be appointed as a Cabinet member – the youngest in Malaysian history.But asked how he felt about Syed Saddiq now, Pak Misnan appeared disappointed.Misnan (right) sits with a friend at the jetty along Sungai Muar in Johor.“At the beginning, he was good at talking and good at showing his face,” he said.“But after that, nothing happened.”Now, in the run-up to the Johor state election, Pak Misnan said many fishermen are tired of hearing empty promises by politicians.They are also indifferent to which candidates are being fielded in the seats within the Muar constituency, he said.According to the 48-year-old, not a single candidate has come to meet them throughout the campaign period so far.“Take our area, for example – he has paid us no heed,” he said, referring to Syed Saddiq.“Now, we don’t care anymore who is in the government.”Syed Saddiq, who contested the 14th general election on a Bersatu ticket, was sacked from the party after the so-called Sheraton Move.He subsequently formed Muda, a youth-based party which is contesting seven states seats in Johor: Puteri Wangsa, Tenang, Bukit Kepong, Bukit Permai, Parit Raja, Machap and Larkin.While Muda is clashing with PKR in the seat of Larkin, it is staying out of the two state seats under the Muar constituency – Maharani and Sungai Balang.Under the agreement inked with Pakatan Harapan (PN), its candidates are being fielded in the seats previously contested by Bersatu.The Maharani and Sungai Balang state seats were won by PKR and Barisan Nasional (BN).Muda’s move to stay out of the state seats in Muar has raised questions about the extent to which Syed Saddiq has succeeded in making inroads, nearly a term after becoming the MP there.Another fisherman, Abd Rahman, said his luck took a turn for the worse after his allowance as a former soldier was cut from RM1,000 to RM750 during the Pakatan Harapan administration.“The assistance for fishermen was also reduced,” he said. “Thankfully now it’s gone back up.”Car rental operator Ismail (left) sits at his booth in Muar.Ismail Shaari, who runs a car rental in Muar, said that the car rental association had supported Syed Saddiq at the 14th general election given the negative sentiments of its drivers towards e-hailing drivers at the time.However, he said they were left disappointed when the PH government prioritised e-hailing services.“Syed Saddiq used to come around before GE14,” he said. “We did support him then.“But after he won, we saw neither hide nor hair of him. If he campaigns now, I would tell him not to bother.”Like the fishermen, Ismail said none of the candidates for the Johor election had come to see them so far.But this does not mean that the former youth and sports minister has been completely rejected by voters.Ismail said if Syed Saddiq were to apologise or admit his shortcomings as an MP, for himself, he would not mind giving him a second chance.“We don’t care who is in charge, but the government must administer with integrity and tend to the needs of the people,” he said.“After he won, he disappeared.”A senior citizen who introduced himself as Mohd Shah said the people’s wishes should be carried out over the long term, adding that Syed Saddiq could shine at this if given a chance.“He has made mistakes, of course, but so have others,” the 70-year-old said.“Syed Saddiq is better than Najib or Zahid – they’re embroiled in scandal,” he added, referring to the two Umno leaders who are facing multiple charges in court.


Key element of Israeli judicial reforms passes first vote

The Israeli parliament approved at its first reading on Tuesday morning a bill limiting the Supreme Court's ability to overturn laws it deems unconstitutional – a key element of a judicial reform package that has fuelled weeks of protests.
The text was adopted just before 3am (0100 GMT) by a vote of 61 to 52, though it will still need to be approved at second and third readings before becoming law.
The bill makes it more difficult for the Supreme Court to strike down legislation deemed to contravene the Basic Laws, requiring that a 12-member majority of a 15-judge panel rule in favour.
It would also allow parliament, with just a simple majority, to override Supreme Court decisions striking down legislation and deny the court the right to review such a move.
Before the vote on that bill, lawmakers also approved in its first reading a separate one considerably limiting the chances of a prime minister being impeached.
The government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose ruling coalition includes ultra-Orthodox and extreme-right parties, introduced its judicial reform package in January.
Ten consecutive weeks of nationwide demonstrations followed, with critics saying the package is aimed at handing politicians more power at the expense of the judiciary and protecting Netanyahu, who is facing corruption charges.
Netanyahu and his justice minister argue the changes are necessary to reset the balance between elected officials and the Supreme Court.
The reforms would also grant the ruling coalition more powers in appointing judges.
Israeli President Issac Herzog – who, in his largely ceremonial role, has tried to broker dialogue – on Thursday called on the coalition to halt the legislation, dubbing it "a threat to the foundations of democracy".
On Monday, prominent scholars presented to parliament a compromise version of the reforms aimed at "preventing constitutional chaos", with the chairman of the body’s law committee saying the version could constitute "a basis for negotiations" with opponents of the government plan.


Suki and dad overwhelmed as visitors come flooding in

Help has been raining down on young Suki Wong Pei Yee and her father, but along with it, well-meaning visitors, to the extent that they have been forced to ask for some privacy out of concern for his health as a stroke victim.The story of Suki, a stateless 10-year-old taking care of her father alone after the death of her mother last year, had spread far and wide with scores of individuals offering help in the form of cash as well as food and clothing.But while MalaysiaNow has consistently discouraged the public from visiting them, withholding their details even when approached by prominent individuals, visitors have continued to pour in, disrupting their schedules and on some occasions, staying so late that they lose their sleep at night.“I cannot ask them to leave as they have good intentions,” Wong Kon Foo said.“I try to welcome them as guests, but there was one point when Suki couldn’t get enough sleep.”He nonetheless reiterated his gratitude to those who had given freely with no thought of acknowledgement, saying he now had enough to enrol Suki in a private kindergarten in Petaling Jaya, where she will begin classes this week.“What money we have received, I will use to buy supplies for her education such as stationery, clothes and so on,” he said.Suki’s story had triggered a flood of inquiries and offers of help from concerned Malaysians, to the extent that an online petition was launched urging the government to grant her citizenship.MalaysiaNow understands that a group of lawyers who specialise in stateless cases are working pro bono to fight for Suki’s citizenship.Wong, whose main concern in life had been his daughter and her inability to attend school, said he was greatly indebted to those who had given them help.“Malays, Chinese, Indians – everyone came forward to give us whatever we needed,” he said.“They have given so much that hunger is no longer a concern for me for the time being.”


Ex-director of shipping company to be charged over combat ship project

A former managing director of a shipping company will be charged in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court today in relation to the construction of the littoral combat ships (LCS) for the Royal Malaysian Navy.
According to a source, the man will be charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust under Section 409 of the Penal Code.
A check of the court system shows that the case will be heard before judge Suzana Hussin, at 9am.
On Aug 4, the Public Accounts Committee disclosed that not a single ship had been completed, even though the project contract, worth RM6.083 billion, stipulated that five of the six ships should be completed and delivered by August 2022.


Rumah Bonda founder to serve 12 years' jail for abuse of Bella

Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali was told to serve 12 years in jail today after the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court found her guilty of neglecting and abusing a teenage girl with Down syndrome known as Bella.
Judge Izralizam Sanusi, when handing down the decision, said the prosecution had succeeded in establishing the case beyond a reasonable doubt at the end of the defence case.
Siti Bainun was sentenced to 10 years in prison for neglecting the girl and 12 years for the second charge of abusing her.
The court ordered her to begin serving the sentences concurrently from today, meaning that she will spend 12 years behind bars.
The court also ordered her to sign a good behaviour bond for five years with a surety of RM5,000, and to carry out 200 hours of community service to be completed within six months of serving her time in jail.
Siti Bainun was charged with neglecting and abusing Bella to the point of causing her to suffer physical and emotional injuries between February and June 2021.
The charges were framed under Section 31(1)(a) of the Child Act 2001, which provides for imprisonment of up to 20 years, a fine of RM50,000, or both upon conviction.
The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Nor Azizah Mohamad, Zilfinaz Abbas, Zahida Zakaria and Shakira Aliana Alias.
Siti Bainun was represented by lawyer Mohammad Farhan Maaruf.


Iran situation 'critical' with more than 300 killed, UN says

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said on Tuesday that the situation in Iran was "critical", describing a hardening of the authorities' response to protests that have resulted in more than 300 deaths in the past two months.
"The rising number of deaths from protests in Iran, including those of two children at the weekend, and the hardening of the response by security forces, underline the critical situation in the country," said a spokesperson for UN human rights chief Volker Turk at a Geneva news briefing.
The Islamic Republic has been gripped by nationwide protests since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in morality police custody on Sept 16 after she was arrested for wearing clothes deemed "inappropriate".
Tehran has blamed foreign enemies and their agents for orchestrating the protests, which have turned into a popular revolt by Iranians from all layers of society, posing one of the boldest challenges to the clerical rulers since the 1979 revolution.
Iran's World Cup team declined to sing their anthem before their opening World Cup match on Monday in a sign of support for the protests.
Later this week, the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva will hold a debate on the protests expected to be attended by diplomats as well as witnesses and victims.
A proposal to be discussed at the session seeks to establish a fact-finding mission on the crackdown in Iran. Any evidence of abuses such a body might find could later be used before national and international courts, a UN document showed.
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said that more than 300 people had been killed so far, including more than 40 children. These deaths occurred across the country, with deaths reported in 25 of 31 provinces.
In the same briefing, OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence also voiced concern about the situation in mainly Kurdish cities where it has reports of more than 40 people killed by security forces over the past week.
Iranian state media said last month that more than 46 security forces, including police, had been killed in the protests. Government officials have not provided an estimate of any wider death count.


1,371 new cases, most in Selangor

Another 1,371 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 84,846.Selangor reported the most cases (532) followed by Sabah (283), Negeri Sembilan (260) and Kuala Lumpur (124).Perak recorded 62 new cases, Johor 45, Penang 31, Labuan 16, Terengganu nine, Kedah five, Kelantan two, and Putrajaya and Melaka one each.In Selangor, 303 cases were from existing clusters, 109 from close contact screening, 111 from other screenings, eight from a new cluster known as the Solar Ria cluster, and one imported from overseas.Active cases stand at 13,830 with 114 in the ICU and 62 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 1,204 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 70,597.However, four more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 419.


11 types of businesses can re-open from tomorrow

The government has agreed to allow 11 more types of businesses to resume operations from Aug 16 under Phase One of the National Recovery Plan.Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said this would be subject to the conditions and SOPs stipulated earlier, including a requirement that their customers be fully vaccinated.The 11 businesses which can re-open are as follows:1. Car wash2. Electrical and electronics3. Household goods and kitchen utensils4. Furniture5. Sports equipment6. Car accessories7. Car distribution and sales8. Morning markets and pasar tani9. Clothing and fashion accessories10. Jewellery11. Barbers and beauty salons (for basic barber services only)Meanwhile, the list of businesses allowed to open in states under Phase Two of the recovery plan has been extended, with 11 more types of retail shops given the green light to resume operations.They include businesses involved in photography equipment and services, used items, flowers and nurseries, handicraft and souvenirs, antiques, toys, carpets, creative content and equipment, outdoor equipment, cosmetics, skin care, perfume as well as tobacco and vape outlets.The manufacturing, construction, and mining and quarrying industries can also resume operations in all states.Muhyiddin warned that any failure by business owners to adhere to health SOPs would result not only in fines but also a closure order.“As workers, the power is in your hands, and any employee who does not comply with SOPs and who violates the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 can be compounded and brought to court,” he said, adding that within a period of two weeks, more than 900 premises had been ordered to close over their failure to adhere to SOPs.“This is proof that the government is very firm against anyone breaking the rules.”This follows the government’s move to relax some SOPs for those who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.Domestic tourism activities were allowed to resume from Aug 10 onwards in states that have transitioned to Phase Two of the recovery plan, along with dine-in activities, inter-district travel and participation in selected sports activities.


Mouse heads found in canteen lunch boxes in China highlight food safety concerns

For the second time in a month, a mouse head has been found in a lunch box meal of a cafeteria in China, state media reported on Tuesday, sparking online witticisms and a larger debate about food safety in the country.
The head of a rodent was found in a lunch box in the cafeteria of Xiushan county's traditional Chinese medicine hospital, according to state media, citing a statement from the market regulation bureau of the county in Chongqing municipality.
A video posted online showed the mouse head in a dish of moyuya, or duck stewed with konjac, a local specialty, according to China Daily.
The hospital said its cafeteria catering is outsourced to a third-party provider through government bidding and had never encountered such an issue before, according to the report that cited local media.
When contacted by Reuters, a hospital official who did not want to be identified by name, told Reuters to refer to an "official report", without elaborating.
It was the second time a mouse head had apparently found its way into a dish this month after a student at Jiangxi Industry Polytechnic College in Nanchang posted a video of "an object with teeth, eyes and nose" in his rice dish at a college cafeteria on June 1, according to the South China Morning Post.
Officials at the college could not be immediately reached.
On social media, people expressed concerns over food security following the two incidents.
"From now on, cafeterias should install cameras and play surveillance video at the dining hall," said one user on China's Twitter-like site Weibo.
In 2022, the State Administration for Market Regulation said 518,600 cases of food safety violations were investigated and dealt with nationwide.
Although food safety in China has improved in recent years, inspections by market regulators of products last year did find problems more common among agricultural products and in the catering industry, according to state media.


67.4% of adults, 48.3% of population fully jabbed

A total of 67.4% of the adult population, or 15,772,760 individuals, had completed their Covid-19 vaccination as of yesterday, according to the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee.A total of 36,141,604 doses of vaccine have been dispensed under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, including for single-dose and second-dose recipients.The committee said 20,401,824 individuals in the country had received at least a first dose of vaccine, including recipients of the single-dose CanSino vaccine.Meanwhile, 48.3% of the population have been fully vaccinated.In terms of daily vaccination, 300,501 doses were administered yesterday, with 134,559 as first doses and 165,942 as second doses for two-dose recipients.


Morocco stun Belgium to claim long-awaited World Cup win

Morocco claimed their first World Cup victory in 24 years as they upset a hugely disappointing Belgium side 2-0 with goals by Romain Saiss and substitute Zakaria Aboukhlal in a boiling atmosphere on Sunday.
The Morocco fans gave the match a vintage World Cup feel at the Al Thumama Stadium and Sabiri curled a wide free kick past Thibaut Courtois before Aboukhlal netted in added time to put Morocco top of Group F with four points, one ahead of Belgium.
It was Morocco's first win at a World Cup since they beat Scotland in 1998. They left the 2018 tournament with a single point.
"We played against one of the best teams in the world with big players, but we know that if you don’t give 100%, it is impossible to win. With these players and these fans, anything is possible," said Morocco coach Walid Regregui, whose team have not conceded a goal in five games since he took over in September.
Belgium, who had scraped a 1-0 win over Canada in their opening game, again looked a pale shadow of the team who finished third in 2018 and climbed to second in the world rankings. They must now battle for a last-16 spot against Croatia.
"It’s a difficult result. We couldn’t get our game going. It’s a game we need to understand; we need to be together and react. That’s what happens at the World Cup," said Belgium coach Roberto Martinez.
The Red Devils' poor display even forced Martinez to send Romelu Lukaku on for the last 10 minutes in a desperate attempt to salvage a point, even though the burly striker had been struggling with a hamstring problem.
Croatia, who have a point from their draw with Morocco, play Canada in the other Group F game later on Sunday.
In a lively start, Morocco looked happy to sit and wait amid the deafening whistles of their fans, although bouts of intense pressing led to a couple of dangerous counter-attacks with Ziyech the main threat.
Boiled over
As Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne struggled to find his range and Eden Hazard remained largely ineffective, Morocco looked safe.
Courtois was beaten for the first time in the tournament when Ziyech fired a free kick into the pack and it bounced past the keeper at the near post on the stroke of halftime.
Saiss, however, was marginally offside and referee Carlos Ramos ruled the goal out after a Var review as the Besiktas defender was obstructing Courtois' view.
Morocco started to fancy their chances and were more on the attack with Sofiane Boufal's shot from just inside the box going just wide after the break.
Belgium were out of sorts and Martinez sent Youri Tielemans and Dries Mertens on to replace Amadou Onana and Eden Hazard.
Mertens had an immediate impact, forcing El Kajoui, who stood in minutes before kickoff for Yassine Bounou, into a superb save with a fierce shot.
Morocco substitute Abdelhamid Sabiri whippedin an angled free kick similar to the one that led to the ruled-out goal in the first half, and Courtois could only fumble the ball into the net.
Saiss was also in the way, but onside this time, and he was later credited with getting a touch to score the goal.
Morocco defended tooth and nail until they found another opening two minutes into stoppage time, with Aboukhlal clipping Ziyech's cross into the roof of the net as the stadium boiled over.
Some players kneeled down and put their heads to the ground in prayer with a sea of Morocco flags in the background, while others were waving Saudi and Palestinian flags in a show of pan-Arab support.


Huge explosion hits Kabul mosque, many casualties feared

A huge explosion struck a mosque in Kabul during evening prayers on Wednesday, witnesses and police said, with many feared dead or injured.
Police said there were multiple casualties but did not say how many. One Taliban intelligence official told Reuters that as many as 35 people may have been wounded or killed, and the toll could rise further. Al Jazeera quoted an unidentified official as giving a death toll of 20.
Witnesses told Reuters the powerful explosion was heard in a northern Kabul neighbourhood, shattering windows in nearby buildings. Ambulances rushed to the spot.
"A blast happened inside a mosque.... the blast has casualties, but the numbers are not clear yet," Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran told Reuters.
The Taliban intelligence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the explosion occurred in a mosque among worshippers in Khair Khana area of Kabul.
The Imam of the mosque was among those killed and the toll could still rise, the source added. Intelligence teams were at blast site and investigations were ongoing.
Other officials in the Taliban government did not reply to multiple requests to confirm the number of casualties.


Trump accused of taking secret documents, putting national security at risk

Federal prosecutors unsealed a wide-ranging indictment of Donald Trump on Friday, accusing the former US president of endangering national security by holding on to top secret nuclear and defence documents after leaving the White House.
The 76-year-old Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, took "hundreds" of classified government documents in cardboard boxes to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, the 49-page charge sheet said.
Trump kept the files – which included records from the Pentagon, CIA and National Security Agency – unsecured at Mar-a-Lago, which regularly hosted large social events involving tens of thousands of guests over time, the indictment said.
On at least two occasions, Trump showed classified documents on US military operations and plans to people not cleared to see them at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club, it said.
Trump faces 37 separate counts in the indictment including 31 counts of "wilful retention of national defense information" relating to specific documents. A conviction on each count carries up to 10 years in prison.
"We have one set of laws in this country, and they apply to everyone," said special counsel Jack Smith, who brought the historic indictment against Trump, the first former US president ever to face federal criminal charges.
"Laws that protect national defence information are critical to the safety and security of the US, and they must be enforced," Smith said, adding that he would seek to ensure that Trump receives a "speedy trial."
Other charges facing the twice-impeached Trump include conspiracy to obstruct justice, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, withholding a document or record, which also carries a prison term of up to 20 years, and making false statements.
Trump's personal aide, Walt Nauta, was named as a co-conspirator, charged with six counts for helping Trump hide documents, which were kept at various locations in Mar-a-Lago, according to the indictment, including a ballroom, a bathroom, Trump's bedroom and a storage room.
"The classified documents Trump stored in the boxes included information regarding defense and weapons capabilities of both the US and foreign countries," the indictment said.
Other records dealt with US nuclear programmes and potential vulnerabilities of the US and its allies to military attack along with plans for retaliation, it said.
"The unauthorised disclosure of these classified documents could put at risk the national security of the US, foreign relations, the safety of the US military, and human sources," according to the indictment.
'Boxes hoax'
Trump is to appear in court in Miami at 3pm (1900 GMT) on Tuesday for the first hearing in the case.
According to US media, the case will initially be handled by Aileen Cannon, 42, a Trump-appointed judge who made rulings favourable to the former president during a court review of documents seized in an August 2022 FBI raid on Mar-a-Lago.
A trial is not expected to begin for several months and there is nothing to prevent Trump from pursuing a second term in the White House while facing charges.
According to the indictment, Trump directed his aide Nauta to conceal boxes containing documents from the FBI and his own attorney and suggested to his lawyers at one point that they hide or destroy documents being sought by the authorities.
The indictment also recounted a conversation between Trump and one of his attorneys about the documents in which the former president reportedly said "wouldn't it be better if we just told them we don't have anything here."
Trump announced on his Truth Social platform Thursday that he had been indicted by the "corrupt Biden administration" in what he called the "boxes hoax."
In a defiant video, Trump declared his innocence and framed the indictment as election interference by a Justice Department "weaponised" by President Joe Biden.
"They come after me because now we're leading in the polls again by a lot against Biden," Trump said.
Biden said Friday that he has had no contact with Attorney-General Merrick Garland, who appointed Smith as special counsel to conduct the investigation into Trump.
"I have not spoken to him at all and I'm not going to speak with him. And I have no comment on that (case)," Biden told reporters.
Trump was already the first former or sitting president to be charged with a crime – in a New York case involving election-eve hush money payments to a porn star who said she had an affair with him.
Smith, the special counsel, is also looking into whether Trump should face charges over the January 2021 assault on the US Capitol by his supporters.
And Georgia prosecutors are investigating whether Trump illegally attempted to overturn the 2020 presidential election outcome in the southern state.


Germany to end Afghanistan aid if Taliban take power

Germany said Thursday that it would stop sending financial support to Afghanistan in the event that the Taliban succeeded in seizing power in the country.Speaking to the German broadcaster ZDF, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the Taliban know that Afghanistan cannot survive without international aid.“We will not send another cent to this country if the Taliban take complete control, introduce shariah law and turn it into a caliphate,” Maas said.Germany sends Afghanistan €430 million (US$504 million) in aid a year, making it one of the biggest donors to the strife-hit nation.Since international troops began their withdrawal from Afghanistan in May, the Taliban have taken control of large swathes of territory.Most recently, the Taliban seized the provincial capital Ghazni, 150km from the capital Kabul.German soldiers were deployed as part of a Nato force in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years until June.Speaking to radio station Deutschlandfunk, German Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer confirmed that Afghans who had worked with German forces locally would be brought to Germany to protect them from Taliban retaliation.“There’s a clear commitment to get them out of there,” Kramp-Karrenbauer said, but added that there was a “bottleneck” in Afghanistan, limiting exits.Local officials will only allow Afghan citizens to leave the country if they have a passport, which many do not.“Without these travel documents, people can’t get to the airport or on the plane,” Kramp-Karrenbauer said.“The foreign ministry is seeking to dissuade the Afghan government from using this practice.”When asked about the gains made by Taliban insurgents in the country in his interview with ZDF, Maas referred back to the decision of the United States to withdraw from the country.“This meant that all Nato forces had to leave the country as well, because without American capabilities… no one country can send their soldiers there safely,” Maas said.Germany’s government had considered the idea of a longer mission in Afghanistan but “could not act outside of Nato”, Maas said.Underlining the escalating danger in Afghanistan, the foreign ministry changed its guidance for Germans, asking them to leave the country “urgently”.


When humour is an apt response to news of governments toppling

Some politicians die in office, others are dying to achieve office. And there seem to be some who may one day die together with their office.Yesterday’s news about the impending downfall of the government is the result of a continuous battle between these three groups.Just 10 years ago, the notion of the government being toppled was a distant dream. Some of us might have fantasised about it happening after we grew tired of having the same old ruling party for decades.But 2018 destroyed the hallowed status of the government that we had been led into believing.Malaysians voted in droves to replace the only government that every adult in the country had ever known.Yet barely two years later, they saw another change of government. Some blamed it on treacherous acts, others said it was parliamentary democracy at work – numbers matter.As ironic as it sounds, the obsession with numbers has plagued every maturing parliamentary democracy from Europe to Japan.Now, that fixation has infected our own system so much so that we sometimes wish our politicians had skipped basic arithmetic along with the long list of other subjects they have no clue about.The good news is that Malaysians have learnt how to react to these events coolly, with sarcasm and humour, as we saw yesterday in the aftermath of the announcement by PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim.Such a cynical attitude when digesting news about politics should not be misconstrued as indifference.Displays of scepticism are ways for the public to tell politicians that they should come up with a better script, especially given that their actions will be subject to instant scrutiny.That is the reason we decided to carry a report on the online humour that followed the announcement.Some things are worth analysing by calling up armchair experts who are obsessed with seeing their names in citations and footnotes, while other things do not call for a serious response.Many Malaysians who were already politically alert 12 years ago were probably watching yesterday’s news and the panicked reactions with a smirk on their faces. A sense of deja vu had never been so intense in our recent political history.As politicians glide around in their private jets and escorted cars, ordinary people are grappling with questions about their livelihoods, education, and family. In a word, their future.While members of the press, politicians and their paid bloggers are immersing themselves in news of an impending change of government, many of us are thinking more about the impending end of the loan moratorium, about the safety of our children and the quality of their schools, and about the week’s grocery bills.There’s a term in political science that refers to people’s faith and trust in government, and in politicians in general: political efficacy.Yesterday’s explosion of online humour showed how low our political efficacy currently is.If that’s not a wake-up call for politicians, then we’d rather they didn’t wake up at all.


Individual statements don't reflect BN's stance, says Zahid

Individual statements made by any key component party leaders in Barisan Nasional (BN) do not reflect the official stance of the coalition, especially ahead of the upcoming six state polls.
BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said in critical situations, such as in facing the six state elections, individual statements from component party leaders that contradict the principles of BN, are not welcome.
Zahid, who is also deputy prime minister, said BN has never endorsed any individual statements issued by BN component party leaders, either from MIC, MCA or Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS).
"We do not entertain individual opinions because such statements (contrary to BN's official stance) will only create the perception that we lack unity.
"BN's cooperation with PH (Pakatan Harapan) is currently at its best, so let's not entertain individual opinions. My sincere gratitude to MIC, MCA and PBRS for always supporting BN to face the state elections," he told a press conference after opening the 23rd edition of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy Associates Asia Pacific Chapter Conference in Kuala Lumpur today.
Zahid said this when asked about MCA Youth secretary-general Daniel Wa's statement yesterday calling for MCA to neither field any candidate nor help BN candidates contesting in the state elections.
It is learned that the statement was issued as a protest against Umno Supreme Council member Lokman Adam’s remark labelling MCA and MIC as biawak hidup (dead weight).
The six states with upcoming state polls are Selangor, Penang, Negeri Sembilan, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
Kelantan and Selangor dissolved their state assemblies last week, while the state assembly of Kedah is expected to be dissolved on Wednesday.


Russia attacks Ukrainian cities in overnight air strikes

Russia launched a widespread overnight air attack on Ukraine on Tuesday, targeting military and infrastructure facilities in Kyiv and other cities, officials said on Tuesday.
Ukraine said it had shot down 32 out of 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched from Russia's Bryansk region and the Azov Sea.
There was no mention of any casualties in the latest air strikes launched by Moscow since Kyiv began a counteroffensive in which it says it has recaptured 113 square km of land from Russian forces.
The air force said on the Telegram messaging app that air defences had been in action in most regions of Ukraine.
"However, the main direction of attack by Iranian drones was the Kyiv region. More than two dozen Shaheds were destroyed here," its said on the Telegram messaging app.
Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration, said the air alert in the capital lasted over three hours. He gave no details of any damage.
An unspecified critical infrastructure facility was hit in Lviv, around 70km from the border with Nato member Poland, and some tram routes were altered during the morning rush hour, officials said.
"They hit a critically important facility. There were three hits," said regional governor Maksym Kozytskiy.
The air force said Russia had also hit the southeastern industrial city of Zaporizhzhia with Iskander and S-300 missiles.
Yuriy Malashko, head of the military administration of the Zaporizhzhia region, said Russia had targeted telecommunication infrastructure and agriculture and farming properties.
Ukraine's military said that, according to preliminary information, Russia had fired seven missiles at Zaporizhzhia.
Reuters could not independently verify the reports. There was no immediate comment from Russia.


Sorry.


Perak eyeing LRT for Ipoh city

A light rail transit (LRT) system for Ipoh city is on the Perak government’s development radar to create a more modern transportation hub and overcome traffic congestion in the future.State Housing, Tourism and Local Government Committee chairman Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi said for starters, a transportation hub around the Ipoh Railway Station will be developed for this purpose.“It involves an area of 60 hectares. However, the cost and development period of the transportation hub are still being studied,” she said after officiating the Publicity and Public Participation Programme for the Ipoh City Local Plan Draft 2035 and launch of the Greater Ipoh Tourism Region Action Plan and Branding today.Also present were Ipoh mayor Rumaizi Baharin and deputy director-general (planning) of the Federal Department of Town and Country Planning, Mohd Faidzal Hamzah.Nolee said the city’s integrated transportation system would be boosted by rapid transit buses, a tram, ordinary buses and taxis, besides the LRT.“We will make this transportation hub more efficient and modern as in Ipoh, many still need to use their own vehicles compared to public transport to move around.“The public transport system will be improved not only for the convenience of residents but also visitors tourists. It will also solve the traffic congestion problem in the future and boost real estate development,” she added.Nolee also said that the protection and conservation of the mountains and limestone hills around the city were among the main focus areas of the draft plan which has 107 projects involving 256 actions drawn up to improve the city.On the Greater Ipoh Tourism Region Action Plan and Branding, she said the proposals include boosting Ipoh city as a hipster tourism hub, Batu Gajah as a health tourism hub, promoting the “Eco Adventure Capital” of Gopeng and revitalising the royal town of Kuala Kangsar.She said the action plan involved the administration of four local authorities, namely Ipoh City Council, Kuala Kangsar Municipal Council, Kampar District Council and Batu Gajah District Council.“The action plan is a combination of the existing tourism products that need to be promoted and the new products introduced that can be promoted by the four local authorities together as a major tourism destination in the country,” she said.


Toronto enters virus lockdown as US looks to vaccine rollout

Canada’s biggest city entered lockdown on Monday in the latest bid to curb coronavirus infections, with case numbers surging across North America even as US officials said vaccinations could be available within weeks.Encouraging results from several vaccine trials have raised hopes of a decisive shift in the battle against a disease that has claimed around 1.4 million lives worldwide in the last year.But seesawing restrictions and lockdowns in countries that successfully contained earlier outbreaks – shattering lives and economies in the process – have highlighted the ongoing risk of contagion.Toronto banned private indoor gatherings and capped the size of weddings and funerals for four weeks from midnight, with officials warning that hospitals risked being overwhelmed without quick action.“I’ve been clear on this: the situation is extremely serious and further action is required,” Ontario premier Doug Ford had told journalists ahead of the lockdown.Officials had forecast more than 400,000 new infections a week across Canada by the end of the year without new restrictions – more than the total number of cases recorded nationwide since the start of the pandemic.Australia’s second-largest city, meanwhile, continued its slow emergence from a gruelling four-month lockdown that saw four million people confined to their homes, with authorities lifting a ban on travel across state borders.Margaret Forster of Melbourne told national broadcaster ABC that she had been allowed to drive into New South Wales for the first time since June.“When I went across the border I beeped the horn, ‘Yahoo!’,” she said.British media reports said Prime Minister Boris Johnson was preparing to partially ease social distancing measures in England at the beginning of next month, after concerns about the impact of lockdowns on the economy and mental health.And staff at Shanghai’s biggest international airport were facing mass testing after the city reported a small Covid-19 outbreak linked to cargo handlers.Life in China has largely returned to normal after strict testing and harsh lockdowns since the virus first emerged there late last year, but authorities have linked several isolated outbreaks to the import of goods.Vaccine hopesChina has been giving experimental Covid-19 vaccines to people including state employees, international students and essential workers heading abroad since July.The US could begin its own vaccination programme as soon as next month, raising hopes of a looming end to the pandemic in the world’s worst-hit nation.Two leading vaccine candidates – one by Pfizer and German partner BioNTech and another by US firm Moderna – have been shown to be 95 percent effective in trials, and Pfizer has already applied for emergency use approval from US health authorities.“Our plan is to be able to ship vaccines to the immunisation sites within 24 hours of approval” by the US Food and Drug Administration, Moncef Slaoui, head of the US government virus vaccine effort, told CNN.FDA vaccine advisors will meet Dec 10 to discuss approval.Slaoui estimated that 20 million people across the US could be vaccinated in December, with 30 million per month after that.But top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci warned the country’s outbreak could get worse before getting better if people failed to take precautions in the coming holiday season.With more than 12 million cases and 255,000 deaths nationwide, many Americans were nonetheless heading to airports to travel for this week’s Thanksgiving holiday.Social distancing edicts and mask-wearing rules have spurred protests in the US and elsewhere.German protesters in Germany demonstrated against face mask rules in Berlin at the weekend in a rally that drew in far-left activists, conspiracy theorists and right-wing extremists who claim the measure infringes on their civil rights.And in Paris, around 300 people attended a clandestine dance party in defiance of a national lockdown, with France now recording the highest number of Covid-19 cases in Europe.


Saifuddin says contact made with Singapore on execution of mentally disabled Malaysian

Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah says he has written to his counterpart in Singapore regarding the case of a Malaysian prisoner in the city-state slated for execution later this month.“The foreign ministry through the high commission in Singapore will continue to monitor developments in this case, and will extend the appropriate consular aid to Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam and his family,” he said in a statement today.Nagaenthran was convicted in 2011 of illegally importing 42.72g of diamorphine and sentenced to death under Singapore’s Misuse of Drugs Act, a controversial law that the city-state’s leaders have defended as an effective deterrent against drug trafficking.His sentence came despite a diagnosis of mental disabilities and a low IQ level, as well as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD.Medical documents tendered during his trial said he could also have had little regard for the long-term consequences of his actions, while noting severe alcohol use disorder that would affect his judgment and decision making.Saifuddin’s comments follow a gathering of dozens of activists outside Parliament earlier today who had sought to hand over a memorandum highlighting Nagaenthran’s plight.They said the execution of Nagaenthran would be a violation not only of international treaties but also of the Singapore constitution, adding that Malaysia too has an obligation to live up to the human rights principles by which it must abide following its recent appointment to the United Nations Human Rights Council.Saifuddin said the appeal process had been carried out to the last stage, through the application for presidential clemency, but that the request was rejected on June 1, 2020.“I have also received a letter from the Anti-Death Penalty Asia Network through Petaling Jaya MP Maria Chin Abdullah, informing of the execution and asking the foreign ministry to raise the matter with the Singapore government,” he said.A Singapore court will hear on Nov 8 a constitutional challenge filed by prominent rights lawyer M Ravi in a last-minute bid to stop Nagaenthran’s execution on Nov 10.Ravi is seeking an interpretation of Article 9 in line with its international obligations, citing a judgment in 2010 on the importance of adhering to the treaties a country has signed, as well as a constitutional clause on the right to equality and equal treatment.


Heard ‘absolutely not’ able to pay Depp US$10.4 million in damages, lawyer says

Actress Amber Heard is unable to pay her ex-husband Johnny Depp more than US$10 million in damages, her lawyer said Thursday, after a US jury took the side of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” star in a bitter defamation trial.The lengthy, high-profile televised court battle ended Wednesday, when a seven-person jury found that Depp and Heard had defamed each other, but weighed in far more strongly with Depp.The jury awarded him US$10.35 million in damages, in contrast with US$2 million awarded to Heard.Asked on NBC’s Today show if Heard will be able to pay up, her attorney Elaine Bredehoft answered: “Oh no, absolutely not.”She added that Heard wants to appeal the verdict.The 58-year-old Depp, who lost a libel case against The Sun tabloid in London in 2020 for calling him a “wife-beater,” celebrated the split verdict in the case as a victory while Heard said she was “heart-broken.”Depp sued Heard over an op-ed she wrote for The Washington Post in December 2018 in which she described herself as a “public figure representing domestic abuse.”The Texas-born Heard, who had a starring role in “Aquaman,” did not name Depp in the piece, but he sued her for implying he was a domestic abuser and sought US$50 million in damages.The 36-year-old Heard countersued for US$100 million, saying she was defamed by statements made by Depp’s lawyer, Adam Waldman, who told the Daily Mail her abuse claims were a “hoax.”Bredehoft said Depp’s legal team worked to “demonise” Heard and suppressed crucial evidence in the trial, preventing the jurors from examining evidence of Depp’s alleged abuse.“A number of things were allowed in this court that should not have been allowed, and it caused the jury to be confused,” she said.The lawyer said the ruling bodes ill for the MeToo movement and will discourage women from reporting sexual harassment and abuse.“It’s a horrible message,” Bredehoft said. “It’s a significant setback, because that’s exactly what it means.“Unless you pull out your phone and you video your spouse or your significant other beating you, effectively you won’t be believed.”For his part, Depp welcomed the verdict, saying “The jury gave me my life back.”“The best is yet to come and a new chapter has finally begun,” Depp said in a statement.


Defence, critical tech on agenda as India's Modi heads to US for landmark visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi heads to the US this week for a visit billed as a turning point for bilateral relations, with deeper cooperation in defence industry and sharing high technology in sharp focus.
The visit is expected to give India access to critical American technologies Washington rarely shares with non-allies, strengthening a new bond that is underpinned by not just global politics but also business and economics.
Washington and New Delhi, whose relationship was marked by mutual suspicion during the Cold War, have been moving closer for over two decades now with successive US presidents displaying bipartisan support for stronger ties with the emerging Asian economy and regional power.
President Joe Biden has built on that legacy and expanded cooperation as the US sees India as a vital partner in its efforts to push back against China's expanding influence worldwide and strengthen security in the Indo-Pacific.
Washington also wants to wean India away from its traditional defence partner Russia. New Delhi continues to do business with Moscow and has increased its purchases of cheap Russian oil in the aftermath of the invasion of Ukraine, much to the frustration of the West.
India too has overcome its "hesitations of history" - as Modi put it in a 2016 address to US Congress - and looked West amid its own military tensions and fraying ties with China.
Though Modi has made several previous visits to the US, this will be his first with the full diplomatic status of an official state visit, just the third of Biden's presidency and third by any Indian leader.
"It’s a milestone in our relationship... It is a very significant visit, very important visit," India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra told reporters on Monday.
A key achievement expected to be showcased is in the area of defence cooperation, especially between military industries of the two countries, Kwatra said, as India seeks to produce more weapons and equipment at home for itself and also for export.
Jet engines, drones, semiconductors
Major announcements expected during Modi's visit are US approval to General Electric to manufacture engines in India for its domestically produced fighter jets, India's purchase of 31 armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones made by General Atomics worth US$3 billion (about RM13.9 billion), and removal of US obstacles that prevent smoother trade in defence and high technology.
"People will be looking back on this visit by Prime Minister Modi as a real springboard for the US-India relationship, as it relates to defence... issues in particular," Ely Ratner, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs, said at a June 8 event.
A stronger India that can defend its own interests and can contribute to regional security is good for the US, he said, adding that there is an aspiration to see India as an exporter of security in the region.
Cooperation in semiconductors, cyberspace, aerospace, strategic infrastructure and communication, commercial space projects, quantum computing and the use of artificial intelligence in industrial and defence fields, will also be discussed, a senior Indian official said.
During the three-day visit that begins in New York on June 21, Modi will be hosted by President Biden for a state dinner and a private family dinner, attend lunch with Vice-President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and address a joint session of Congress for the second time in nine years.
Modi will also meet American CEOs and lead an International Yoga Day event at the UN headquarters.
"This is not a routine visit, this is a fundamental turning point between India and the US," C Raja Mohan, Senior Fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New Delhi.
"This is not a question of containing China or anti-China. This is about producing a new balance of power in Asia, which is a multipolar Asia, where there is no single power dominating it," he said.


7-year-old Malaysian linked to new Covid cluster in Singapore

A seven-year-old Malaysian is one of two new cases of Covid-19 linked to a new cluster in Singapore, according to the republic’s health ministry.The student at Yuhua Primary School last attended school on May 14, the ministry said in its full data released late last night.Another family member of the student, a 36-year-old Malaysian cook at Spring Court Restaurant, is also linked to the same cluster. Both test results came back positive for Covid-19 on May 17.The first case of the cluster involved a 64-year-old female Singapore permanent resident who is currently unemployed. The two Malaysians were the household contacts of the woman who was confirmed to have Covid-19 on May 15.Meanwhile, two other Malaysians are linked to the Changi Airport Terminal 3 cluster which currently has 87 confirmed cases.One of them is a 36-year-old Malaysian woman who tested preliminarily positive for the B.1.617 variant and is pending further confirmatory tests.Singapore reported 11 unlinked cases yesterday which included another two Malaysians.The republic, which has tightened safe management measures in the community from May 16, has a total Covid-19 infection tally of 61,651 so far.There are currently 220 confirmed cases still in hospital. Most are stable or improving, and five are in critical condition in the ICU.The island republic has 19 open clusters so far.


China regulator warns banks against yuan selling, sources say

China's foreign exchange regulator phoned several banks on Wednesday to warn them against aggressively selling the Chinese currency, people with direct knowledge of the matter said, in a new sign of official discomfort with recent yuan weakness.
The Chinese yuan has been dropping against the dollar, and market participants said the telephone calls suggested authorities may be getting uncomfortable with the speed of the slide. The yuan jumped to 6.8605 per dollar in offshore trade after Reuters published news of the calls.
The currency hit a two-year low at 6.8704 earlier on Wednesday and is down about 1.8% in August so far, partly a reflection of gains in the greenback as US interest rates rise, but also in response to China's slowing economy.
"Buying too heavily in the dollar ended up with a call from the central bank," said one of the sources at a bank.
Four people familiar with the calls requested anonymity as they were not authorised to discuss them publicly. They did not provide further details about the calls, either.
Responding to a Reuters request for comment about the regulator contacting banks earlier on Wednesday, the State Administration of the Foreign Exchange (Safe) said it had not seen institutions unreasonably buying large amounts of foreign exchange in August, when market supply and demand were stable.
It added the yuan remained resilient compared with other non-dollar currencies, following recent rapid dollar gains, while China's robust trade surplus and utilisation of foreign capital continued to play a fundamental role in stabilising cross-border flows.
"Foreign exchange expectations are stable, which helps to keep the yuan exchange rate basically stable at reasonable and balanced levels," the Safe said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
The yuan's August's slide is the steepest since April, when China cut banks' currency reserve requirements to support the yuan.
Earlier on Wednesday, Chinese state media cited market analysts as saying that the yuan has no basis for long-term depreciation, but officials have thus far been publicly quiet on the market moves.
Ken Cheung, chief Asian FX strategist at Mizuho Bank, said the regulator's move suggested that yuan depreciation expectations had started to pick up.
"The authorities may want to stabilise the market expectations before guiding the yuan to weaken in an orderly manner," Cheung said.
Recent economic indicators showed that the Chinese economy is in the doldrums, with the latest alarm bell a record surge in unemployment payouts for June.
The country's robust exports - the sole bright spot - could also face pressure from faltering global demand.
Outflows from the bond market and surprise cuts to two key interest rates last week also have put mounting pressure on the yuan, as yields and policy rates diverge from other big economies, where inflation is prompting hikes.


Malaysia receives 1 million Pfizer jabs from US

Malaysia today received one million doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine from the US in support of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Program (PICK) which is now in full swing.The consignment was flown in by a cargo aircraft, TH 384, belonging to Raya Airways, which landed at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport in Subang at 8.10am.Awaiting the arrival of the aircraft were PICK coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who is science, technology and innovation minister; Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and US ambassador to Malaysia Brian McFeeters.The aircraft, which left Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport on July 2, departed from Singapore at about 7am today before arriving in Malaysia.The vaccine supply is the second contribution from a foreign country. Last Thursday, Malaysia received one million doses of Covid-19 vaccine produced by AstraZeneca from the Japanese government.McFeeters said the vaccine contribution was a reflection of the partnership between between Malaysia and the US.“We have a long solid partnership on public health issues… The US is committed to working with the Malaysian government to support its ongoing implementation of PICK to increase vaccine coverage and achieve its target for recovery,” he said during a joint press conference with Khairy.The vaccine allocation to Malaysia is part of the Biden administration’s global strategy to share 80 million doses worldwide this summer.Khairy expressed Malaysia’s appreciation to the US government for the contribution.He said Malaysia hoped to continue working with US and other countries to secure access to more vaccine.


Arrests in assault over fasting case uncover illegal gambling, money lending activities

The arrest of four individuals who allegedly assaulted two bodyguards for fasting yesterday has led to the discovery of illegal gambling activities and a money lending syndicate run by the employer.Selangor police chief Arjunaidi Mohamed said in a 10pm raid on the house of one of the suspects in Bukit Tinggi, Klang, police seized a gun and 10 bullets as well as the cane used to beat the two bodyguards.He said the firearm was under the control of one of the victims, and belonged to a security company.“The arrests also led to the discovery of 100kg of gold bars and 12,500 pieces of US$100 notes, with the total value of the seizure estimated at RM28.25 million,” he said at a press conference today.The four men have been remanded for between five and seven days beginning today to assist in the investigation into the case.“Preliminary investigations revealed that the 44-year-old employer was involved in the illegal money-lending and gambling activities,” Arjunaidi said, adding that the employer was also arrested at Dang Wangi yesterday.The case is being investigated under Sections 324, 298 and 307 of the Penal Code as well as Section 4 (1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Illegal Activities Act 2001 and Section 5 (2) of the Moneylenders Act 1951.Arjunaidi again reminded the public not to view the case as a racial issue.


Prosecution applies to stay dismissal of forfeiture bid on luxury items from Najib, Rosmah

The prosecution has filed an application to stay the High Court ruling on Nov 8 dismissing the government’s application to forfeit luxury items seized from former prime minister Najib Razak, his wife Rosmah Mansor, their children and several others.The items, including handbags of various brands, 27 vehicles and cash of various currencies seized from Najib, Rosmah, their three children and five other respondents, were allegedly linked to the 1MDB scandal.The prosecution filed the notice of motion for the stay, together with a supporting affidavit, on Nov 24, naming Najib, Rosmah, Najib’s stepson Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, their son Nor Ashman Razak, Senijauhar Sdn Bhd, Aiman Ruslan, Goh Gaik Ewe, former Goldman Sachs bank officer Roger Ng Chong Hwa and wife Lim Hwee Bin as the first to ninth respondent, respectively.Based on the supporting affidavit, deputy public prosecutor Harris Ong Mohd Jeffery Ong said that the High Court, had on Nov 8 dismissed the prosecution’s application to forfeit the gazetted properties and no order was given by judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan for the property to be returned to the claimant.According to Ong, the application for the stay was made pending an appeal against the decision in the Court of Appeal which was filed on Nov 16.He claimed that there were special circumstances that supported the applicant’s application for the stay order, among them that the status quo of the seized property should be maintained until the decision of the Court of Appeal to safeguard the interests of both parties, especially the applicant, in representing the Malaysian government.“The seized property involves a large amount and is a public fund, so public interest can be preserved by allowing the application to stay the order.“If this (stay) application is dismissed and the applicant succeeds in the appeal in the Court of Appeal, there is no guarantee that the applicant will recover the seized property because it is feared that the property will be disposed of by the respondent before the applicant’s appeal is heard by the Court of Appeal,” said Ong in the affidavit.Ong, when met by Bernama after case management before High Court deputy registrar Catherine Nicholas today, said the court had set Jan 14, 2022 for the respondents to file their affidavits in reply.He said the court also set Feb 17 for further case management.In the Nov 8 decision, Zaini, in dismissing the government’s application to forfeit items seized from Najib, Rosmah, their children and several others, had allowed the government’s application to forfeit assets from eight other respondents because they did not object to the application.The respondents were Mohd Kyizzad Mesran, Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia, Yayasan Semesta, Yayasan Mustika Kasih, Rembulan Kembara Sdn Bhd and three former 1MDB officers who have absconded, Kee Kok Thiam, Tan Vern Tact and Geh Choh Hun.On May 8, 2019, the Attorney-General’s Chambers filed a notice of motion to forfeit hundreds of items, allegedly linked to the 1MDB scandal, including handbags of various brands and 27 vehicles seized from Najib, Rosmah, their three children, including Nooryana Najwa, as well as 13 individuals and companies.Among the items mentioned in the notice were handbags, shoes and watches of various brands, as well as cash in various currencies seized by the police on May 17, 2018, and June 11, 2018, as well as 27 vehicles seized on Aug 2, 2018, and a piece of land in Tanjung Bungah, Penang.Also included was more than RM18 million in several bank accounts at Bank Islam Malaysia, Al-Rajhi Bank, Malayan Banking, CIMB Bank, RHB Bank, Public Bank, AmBank and Hong Leong Bank frozen between Aug 16, 2018, and March 11, 2019.However, the Attorney-General’s Chambers allowed a representation by Nooryana Najwa for the return of items belonging to her, including handbags and shoes.


Long road to Putrajaya for Khairy, analysts say

Political analysts see a long road ahead for Khairy Jamaluddin in his goal of one day becoming Umno president and prime minister, as the Rembau incumbent attempts to win over support in what they describe as a Pakatan Harapan (PH) stronghold.
Mujibu Abd Muis of Universiti Teknologi Mara said while Khairy had the leadership skills needed to fill the top office, it was difficult to tell how far he could climb the Umno ladder given the stranglehold of "warlords" in the party.
"If Khairy can get past this and succeeds in winning and holding several important factions in Umno, he might be able to become prime minister," he said.
Khairy, a former youth chief, had in 2018 attempted to run for the post of Umno president. However, he lost to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Mazlan Ali of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia said Khairy had been fielded in Sungai Buloh because of the risks involved.
Given the demographics of voters who, for the most part, comprise urbanites who prefer multiracial parties, he said Khairy's chances were slim.
"It will be difficult for him to win," he said. "And the way I see it, the Umno leaders really want to block Khairy."
Khairy, the Rembau incumbent, was fielded in Sungai Buloh to make way for Umno deputy president Mohamad Hasan to contest his seat instead.
He had held the Rembau seat for three terms before being sent to contest in Sungai Buloh.
Speaking at a campaign event in the constituency on Nov 8, he voiced ambitions of one day leading Umno and becoming the prime minister, although he reiterated that Ismail Sabri Yaakob would still take the top office if Barisan Nasional (BN) won the Nov 19 polls.
Mazlan said Khairy's announcement at the event might help draw in support for the health minister ahead of the election.
"Khairy is smart," he said. "What he said could set off a wave.
"People will say, 'What's wrong with giving Khairy a chance?' If he wins, this could be his platform to become the next Umno president."
What if Khairy wins?
Khairy has often been seen as a threat to the main Umno leadership due to his willingness to speak out, including on controversial issues such as the criminal charges against Umno leaders and internal party matters.
In the event that Khairy pulls off a victory in Sungai Buloh come Nov 19, Mazlan said his ambition of becoming prime minister might be within reach after just one term.
This is because Umno will hold its party elections six months after the national polls.
Mazlan said Khairy would then be sure to nominate himself as a candidate for president, to go up against Mohamad.
"Khairy is 46 years old. In another term, he will hit 50 – an ideal age for a prime minister," he said.
Nevertheless, he said, Khairy had his disadvantages as well.
"He is in Umno – a party based on a single race," he said, adding that this would make it difficult for Khairy to rally the support of urban Malays and non-Malays.
Mujibu meanwhile said it would be better for Khairy to move to another, more open, party.
"If you wait in Umno, it will be difficult for progressives like Khairy to climb the party ladder," he said.
"Khairy is progressive and Umno is conservative. This is the reality that will make it difficult for him to achieve his goal of becoming prime minister."


Be fair to all, including refugees, says mufti

Negeri Sembilan mufti Mohd Yusof Ahmad says Islam teaches its followers to show justice to all, including refugees and undocumented migrants, as the hunt continues for a handful of Rohingya, part of a larger group which escaped from a temporary holding centre in Penang earlier this month.Yusof said Islam does not discriminate but demands that its followers treat all people fairly without considering their backgrounds.“Refugees leave their own countries because their lives are in danger, to look for shelter in other countries,” he told MalaysiaNow.“Islam treats all mankind with dignity regardless of race or religion.”Over 500 Rohingya escaped from the Sungai Bakap Immigration detention depot near Bandar Baharu on April 20, sparking a massive manhunt with the police warning the public that the refugees could be dangerous and might resort to committing crimes.Nine days later, with some 60 still unaccounted for, the police said they would release the refugees’ names and photos to facilitate their rearrest.“They can change their names, but when we have their photos we will know that they are the wanted detainees if they are arrested in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor or other states,” Kedah police chief Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad said.The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees estimates that there are about 181,000 refugees and asylum seekers in the country.According to its data, 85% are from Myanmar including 103,000 Rohingya, while the rest are from 50 other countries including Pakistan, Yemen, Syria and Somalia.When asked if the government had the right from an Islamic point of view to refuse refugees asylum in Malaysia, Yusof said everything must be investigated before any decision is made.“Islam requires that an issue be scrutinised and rejected if it is found to be untrue,” he said.He added that refugees in the country must also follow the laws put in place by the government.“As a sovereign country, Malaysia has laws that must be obeyed by all parties,” he said.


One dose of Covid vaccine cuts household spread by up to 50%, UK study shows

One dose of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines reduces the chances of someone infected with coronavirus from spreading it to other household members by up to 50%, according to an English study published Wednesday.The Public Health England (PHE) research found that those who became infected three weeks after receiving their first jab were between 38% and 49% less likely to pass the virus on to their household contacts than those who were unvaccinated.“This is terrific news – we already know vaccines save lives and this study is the most comprehensive real-world data showing they also cut transmission of this deadly virus,” said British Health Secretary Matt Hancock.“It further reinforces that vaccines are the best way out of this pandemic as they protect you and they may prevent you from unknowingly infecting someone in your household,” he added.The study drew data from over 57,000 contacts in 24,000 households in which there was a lab-confirmed case that had received a vaccination, compared with nearly one million contacts of unvaccinated cases.Previous studies have already shown that being vaccinated reduces the risk of a person developing symptomatic infection in the first place by up to 65%, four weeks after one dose.Households are deemed as “high-risk” settings for transmission, and “similar results could be expected in other settings with similar transmission risks, such as shared accommodations and prisons”, said the PHE study.“Not only do vaccines reduce the severity of illness and prevent hundreds of deaths every day, we now see they also have an additional impact on reducing the chance of passing Covid-19 on to others,” said Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at PHE.Previous PHE studies have estimate that Britain’s succesful vaccine rollout had prevented 10,400 deaths in the over-60s by the end of March.


Sulaiman denies pressure in resignation as Melaka CM

Sulaiman Md Ali yesterday denied pressure from any party in his decision to step down as Melaka chief minister.
"It was urged by my heart... my instinct," he said when met by reporters in Alor Gajah.
He also reiterated that there was no agreement or offer to appoint him as a senator, adding that his resignation was due to health issues.
"I don't want anymore. I want to take care of my state constituency (Lendu) and get back to my normal life. I did say before that one term (as chief minister) is enough (for me)," he said.
Sulaiman also expressed hope that all parties would support his successor as each person has their advantages.


Sinovac assures its vaccine effective against Delta variant

Sinovac Biotech Ltd, the developer of the CoronaVac Covid-19 vaccine, has defended the efficacy of its two-dose regime including against the Delta variant.Company spokesman Liu Peicheng said although no data is yet available on its protective effect, studies have proven the vaccine’s efficacy in countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Chile and Turkey where the vaccine has been widely used.“It was more than 90% effective against severe infection and hospitalisation. We also noticed that the infection rate after vaccination has been very low in these countries, and the symptoms, too, very mild in most circumstances.“Although there is a reduction in its neutralising effect, Sinovac’s current vaccine (CoronaVac) remains effective against the Delta variant,” Liu, who is based at the company’s headquarters in Beijing, said in a written reply to Bernama.Sinovac’s CoronaVac is an inactivated vaccine and one of the most widely used Covid-19 jabs worldwide. However, of late there have been concerns over its efficacy especially against the more contagious variants like Delta.On July 16, the government said it would phase out the use of Sinovac’s vaccine under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK). However, 14 million doses of the vaccine will still be available to interested states and private companies from this month to September.On the need for booster shots, Liu said while Sinovac’s research had shown a significant increase in antibody levels after a third dose, the company is still studying the necessity for it and the procedures involved.“Sinovac is actively conducting clinical research using the new variant-specific vaccines as a third shot to boost immunity.“The new vaccines will provide higher protection specifically against the Gamma variant and the highly contagious Delta variant.“Upon completion of this research, we will consider whether there is a need to submit a third dose recommendation to the World Health Organization based on the findings,” he said.Drugmaker Pfizer and its partner BioNTech recently announced that they are seeking US and European regulators’ approval to offer a booster shot, saying evidence indicates that even fully vaccinated people are at greater risk of infection as the vaccine’s effectiveness dips after six months.In the Southeast Asian region, Sinovac, the leading vaccine developer and manufacturer in China, has so far exported over 150 million doses of vaccine to countries including to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia and Singapore.In Malaysia, the Chinese company had entered into partnership with Pharmaniaga Bhd to supply in bulk 14 million doses of its Covid-19 vaccine for the latter’s subsidiary, Pharmaniaga LifeScience Sdn Bhd, to conduct fill and finish production at its plant.The first batch of the vaccine, delivered on Feb 27, was successfully rolled out on March 18 under PICK with Pharmaniaga supplying all 12 million doses of the vaccine to the government this month, earlier than the original schedule.To date, Liu said Sinovac had delivered a total of 16 million doses of ready-to-fill bulk and finished vaccine to Malaysia in the first half of 2021 and would deliver another three million doses of finished vaccine and 4.44 million doses of ready-to-fill bulk by this month.“The cooperation between Sinovac and Pharmaniaga has been going smoothly. With the support of Sinovac, Pharmaniaga has boosted its vaccine fill-and-finish and testing capabilities, and the vaccines produced have been approved for use by the Malaysian National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency.“In the second half of 2021, Sinovac will continue to maintain close communication with Malaysia and do everything it can to fulfil the needs of Malaysia’s vaccination programme,” he added.


Trial cuts dengue 77% by infecting mozzies with ‘miraculous’ bacteria

The mosquito-borne disease dengue fever has been a scourge of tropical countries for decades.Now a research team has found a way to cut infections by 77% in a ground-breaking trial in Indonesia, that manipulates the mosquitoes that spread it.World Mosquito Programme (WMP) scientists are now taking the method to other regions in the hope of eventually eradicating the virus.In 1970, only nine countries had faced severe dengue outbreaks but it is now common in more than 100 countries around the world. 40% of the world’s population, about three billion people, live in areas where being infected is a daily risk. It causes severe pain in muscles and bones, and sometimes hallucinations. Outbreaks can overwhelm hospitals.In the trial, which took place in Yogyakarta, WMP researchers infected mosquitoes with Wolbachia bacteria.Wolbachia doesn’t harm the mosquito, but it takes over parts of the insect’s body that the dengue virus needs to get into, making it much harder for the dengue virus to replicate, so the mosquito is less likely to cause an infection when it bites.The trial used five million mosquito eggs infected with Wolbachia. Some of the eggs were placed in buckets of water in the city every two weeks to build up a population of infected mosquitoes, which took nine months.Yogyakarta was split into 24 zones and the mosquitoes were released in just half of them.The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed a 77% reduction in cases and an 86% reduction in people needing hospital care after the infected insects were released.The technique has been so successful the mosquitoes have since been released across the whole city and the project is moving to surrounding areas with the aim of eradicating dengue in the region.The WMP director of impact assessment, Dr Katie Anders, told the BBC, “It’s very exciting. We think it can have an even greater impact when it is deployed at scale around the world in large cities where dengue is a huge public health problem.”Wolbachia are spectacularly manipulative and can alter the fertility of their hosts to ensure they are passed on to the next generation of mosquitoes. This means once Wolbachia has been established, it will continue to protect against dengue infection.This is in sharp contrast to other control methods – such as insecticides or releasing large numbers of sterile male mosquitoes – that need to be regularly employed.Dr Yudiria Amelia, the head of disease prevention in Yogyakarta said, “We are delighted with the outcome of this trial. We hope this method can be implemented in all areas of Yogyakarta and further expanded in all cities in Indonesia.”David Hamer, a professor of global health and medicine at Boston University, said the method has “exciting potential” for other diseases such as Zika, yellow fever and chikungunya, which are also spread by mosquito bites.


Mandatory indoor mask use returns to Los Angeles

Wearing a face mask at an indoor public establishments will once again be mandatory in Los Angeles starting this weekend due to a steady increase in Covid-19 infections and hospitalisations, health authorities said Thursday.Los Angeles is the first large US metropolis to reimpose the use of face masks – regardless of vaccination status – in shops, grocery stores, restaurants and workplaces to help contain the pandemic.The new masking order goes into effect midnight Saturday in the county of Los Angeles.Los Angeles is “not where we need to be” in terms of numbers of vaccinated people, said county health officer Muntu Davis.On Thursday the county reported 1,537 new cases of infection – the highest number since early March, and seventh straight day of new cases numbers topping 1,000.US health officials announced in mid-May that fully vaccinated Americans could say goodbye to their masks both outdoors and indoors.However, after peaking in April the US immunisation campaign has slowed significantly, even though plenty of vaccines are available.The increase in Covid-19 cases, mainly due to the spread of the Delta variant, has some officials worried.The vast majority of people testing positive for Covid-19, some of whom must be hospitalised, have not been vaccinated.


Better to criticise openly than sign SDs in secret, says Syed Saddiq

Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman came under fire from some after raising the littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal in the Dewan Rakyat during the recent Parliament sitting.
But the Muda president says he will not stop bringing up issues concerning the people despite the criticism he took, including from among his own political allies.
In an interview with MalaysiaNow, he said the Pakatan Harapan (PH) components were familiar with him and his stance on national issues.
"Our stand should not change after we become part of the government – that is not right," he said.
"It is better to speak openly in Parliament than to sign statutory declarations on the sly," he added, referring to recent rumours of a change in government.
Syed Saddiq, who was youth and sports minister under the PH government led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad, entered the limelight early this month after submitting a proposal for an emergency debate on the LCS scandal.
His proposal was rejected by speaker Johari Abdul, who according to Syed Saddiq had said that the matter was neither of public interest nor of urgent need.
The LCS project, which involved the construction of six offshore combatant vessels for the country's navy under the administration of former prime minister Najib Razak, prompted an investigation into its overall management after it was revealed that not a single ship had been delivered despite billions spent.
Syed Saddiq's attempt at a debate was heavily criticised by PKR Youth, which accused him of "moving the goal post".
It also said that the matter should be taken into account in the evaluation of his party's bid to join PH.
Syed Saddiq said he had chosen to remain loyal to PH since the days of the Sheraton Move despite being offered a ministerial position and later threatened.
"Maybe people will say that Muda is a wolf in sheep's clothing, but they forget that if this was so, I would have long succumbed to threats or accepted the rewards offered," he said.
"If I rejected all of that, why would I suddenly want to become someone else?"
This is not the first time that Muda and PH, particularly PKR, have found themselves at odds. They previously locked horns over the distribution of seats for the Johor state election in March 2022.
Muda and Selangor PH are currently in talks about cooperation ahead of the state polls due within the coming months.
Syed Saddiq said many of the voters in his constituency of Muar supported his stance on bringing up the LCS issue in Parliament.
"If you don't want to be consistent after the election, that's your business," he said.
"I want to be consistent. This is an issue that is close to my heart as my own grandfather served in the navy until his retirement."


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Biden trips and tumbles on Air Force stage

President Joe Biden took a face-first tumble on Thursday after tripping over an obstacle on stage at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, but he appeared unhurt – and joked about it later.
Biden, 80, who had delivered the commencement address to graduates of the military academy, had just shaken hands with a cadet and begun walking back to his seat when he fell.
Air Force personnel helped him back up and he did not appear to require further help.
As he rose, Biden pointed to the object that had apparently caught his foot. It resembled a small black sandbag on the stage.
White House communications director Ben LaBolt tweeted shortly afterward that "he's fine. There was a sandbag on stage while he was shaking hands."
Returning by Air Force One and Marine One to the White House later, Biden had another spot of bad luck: he bumped his head exiting the door of the helicopter.
He showed no sign of injury as he walked across the South Lawn and quipped to reporters that "I got sandbagged."
Biden is the oldest person ever in the presidency and is seeking a second term in the 2024 election. His official doctor's report this year declared him physically fit and he exercises regularly.
In November 2020, shortly after winning his election against the incumbent Donald Trump, Biden broke his foot while playing with a pet dog.


Daily cases dip below 12,000

Another 11,889 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,257,584.Sarawak recorded 2,413 cases, Selangor 1,568 and Johor 1,217.Perak recorded 959 cases, Sabah 872, Kelantan 858, Pahang 831, Penang 779, Kedah 710, Terenggau 699, Melaka 378, Kuala Lumpur 289 and Negeri Sembilan 197.Perlis recorded 81 cases, Putrajaya 36 and Labuan two.Another 15,891 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,070,715.Meanwhile 904 are in the ICU, including 850 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 492 are in need of respiratory assistance including 380 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 11,889 cases reported today, 179 (1.5%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 11,710 (98.5%) are in Category One and Two.