New Cook Islands prime minister awards himself 17 Cabinet posts

The new Cook Islands prime minister, Mark Brown, has now allocated Cabinet posts, giving himself 17 portfolios.These include finance, which he has handled since he came into Parliament 10 years ago. His new responsibilities include foreign affairs, immigration, energy, and police. He is also the attorney-general.The Cook Islands News reported that the prime minister anticipates reallocating some of these responsibilities at a later date.The paper quotes the opposition leader, Tina Browne, as saying the appointments suggest the PM lacks confidence in his own MPs.“The new PM says he’s excited with the potential of his Cabinet and then gives himself a staggering 17 portfolios, which is a huge signal of just how much confidence he has in the potential of his Cabinet colleagues.”The PM did give a few posts to colleagues, including tourism, even though there have been no tourists since the pandemic began.Currently, only Cook Islands residents and permit holders are allowed into the country, and they have to undergo two weeks’ quarantine.There are plans to remove quarantine restrictions for people travelling from New Zealand as soon as next week.The Cook Islands are 3,000 km north-east of New Zealand. Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens and carry New Zealand passports.


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26,000 Covid deaths by September ‘not impossible’, says health minister

It is not impossible for the Covid-19 death toll in Malaysia to reach 26,000 by September as projected by a study conducted by a university in the US, Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said today.“What has been projected is not something impossible,” he told reporters when asked about the matter at a joint press conference with the higher education minister at Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur.World Health Organization Science Council member Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman said yesterday that the study had found that the Covid-19 death toll in the country might reach 26,000 by September based on the current trajectory.The projected number would be about nine times the current cumulative death toll, which stood at 2,993 yesterday.Adeeba said the study, conducted by the Institute for Health Metric and Evaluation of the University of Washington, also estimated that the daily death rate would go as high as 200 cases towards the end of August.Meanwhile, Adham said 60% of sporadic Covid-19 cases in the country were linked to people’s movements and 40% to clusters.“The virus follows people. When people move, the virus also moves,” he said.He said among the causes of community clusters were activities in various sectors, activities during the month of Ramadan, and courier personnel as this group is very mobile.Asked whether Covid-19 had become airborne, he said the health ministry was still waiting for complete data on such claims.He said the 14-day total lockdown imposed on June 1 had shown positive signs in the fight against the pandemic while screening tests conducted by several state governments and the health ministry nationwide had reached 100,000 a day.However, the hard work of the government in battling the pandemic together with NGOs will not succeed without the cooperation of the people during the lockdown period, he said.He also said it was a winnable war provided that all quarters played their role to ease the pressure on the national healthcare system.


Taiwan warns of China military's 'sudden entry' close to island

Taiwan Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng warned on Monday the island has to be on alert this year for a "sudden entry" by the Chinese military into areas close to its territory amid the rising military tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
China has stepped up its military activities around Taiwan in recent years, including almost daily Air Force incursions into the island's air defence identification zone.
However, Taiwan has not yet reported any incident of Chinese forces entering its contiguous zone, which is 24 nautical miles (44.4km) from its coastline. But it has shot down a civilian drone that entered its airspace near an islet off the Chinese coast last year.
Answering questions from lawmakers in parliament, Chiu said the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) might find excuses to enter areas close to Taiwan's territorial air and sea space as the island steps up its military exchanges with the US, to Beijing's ire.
He said the PLA might make a "sudden entry" into Taiwan's contiguous zone and get close to its territorial space, which the island defines as 12 nautical miles from its coastlines.
"(I) specifically make these comments this year, meaning they are making such preparations," Chiu said. "Looking forward, they would use force if they really have to."
Taiwan has vowed to exercise its right to self-defence and counter-attack if Chinese armed forces entered its territory.
China last year staged unprecedented military exercises around Taiwan in reaction to a visit to the island by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Chiu said China is looking to "make trouble under a certain pretext", adding that might include visits to the island made by foreign senior government officials or Taiwan's frequent military contacts with other countries.
He said the PLA sends about 10 planes or ships to areas near Taiwan a day. Some of them cross the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which normally serves as an unofficial buffer, on an almost daily basis, he added.
Chiu said since China has destroyed a tacit agreement on military movements in the Strait, Taiwan has made preparations to "fire the first shot" if Chinese entities, including drones or balloons, enter its territorial space.
China claims self-governed Taiwan as its own and has not renounced the use of force to bring the island under Chinese control, if needed. Taiwan strongly rejects China's sovereignty claims and says only its people can decide their future.


PM reaches out to all parties to prevent pandemic power vacuum, kleptocrats’ return

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today proposed a “cross-party understanding” to obtain support from parties outside the Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition to ensure that the government does not collapse in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.“This will enable the current government to continue managing the pandemic until it is time for elections to be held to restore the mandate to the people.“My priority is only to ensure that the government can function well during the pandemic to restore the country,” Muhyiddin said in a special address today joined by Cabinet members.Saying it was critical to ensure that the group of “kleptocrats” does not return to power, Muhyiddin outlined seven proposals under the cross-party understanding, including implementing a series of reforms and ensuring equal allocations to all MPs.He said with strong support, his government pledged to implement the following:1. Equal allocation of funds to all MPs across the political divide;2. Increased spending to RM110 billion for dealing with the Covid-19 crisis, including cash aid worth RM10 billion for 11 million people in the B40 and M40 categories;3. The enactment of an anti-hopping law and limiting the prime minister’s tenure to two terms;4. A balanced representation of MPs from the government and opposition in the Special Parliamentary Select Committee;5. The implementation of Undi 18 without waiting for the automatic registration of voters;6. A commitment to consult with MPs before the tabling of bills; and7. Upgrading the status of the opposition leader in Parliament to that of a senior minister.“If this proposal for bipartisan cooperation is agreed to, I will convene a special session of the Dewan Rakyat to table a motion of confidence in the prime minister in the very near future.“I assure you that I will take the honourable and constitutional way of resolving the current political crisis,” he said.Muhyiddin said it was unfortunate that a group of MPs had decided to revoke their support for him at a time when he and his Cabinet colleagues were burdened with managing the Covid-19 pandemic.He said the easy way out for him would be to resign and leave it to the Agong to appoint a new prime minister to form the government.“However, until now, not one MP has been able to prove that he has the majority support of MPs in the Dewan Rakyat to enable the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to appoint a new prime minister,” he said, adding that it could trigger a power vacuum at a critical stage of the battle against the pandemic, including the immunisation drive.“What will happen to our country if the political crisis prolongs and a new government cannot be immediately formed? Which government will ensure the smooth running of the vaccination programme?”Muhyiddin said the coming two months were critical to achieving herd immunity, and that Malaysia could not afford to let political turmoil disrupt this.Election by end-July 2022Meanwhile, Muhyiddin gave his word that the next general election would be held before July next year if the pandemic situation allows.“I do not intend to continue clinging to power. In this situation, it is only fair to return the mandate to the people to elect a new government when the time is right.“As such, subject to the pandemic situation, I make a commitment that the 15th general election will be held no later than the end of July next year.”A vote of confidence in Muhyiddin is scheduled for Sept 7.This came after several MPs from Umno withdrew their support for him as prime minister, with party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former leader Najib Razak saying they had mustered the backing of about 15 MPs.Muhyiddin said he was optimistic that the nation would bounce back, and that Malaysians could return to their daily activities which had been interrupted by the pandemic.“I strongly believe we will heal this nation together and bring back its glory.”He also said he was aware of his weaknesses and shortcomings.“What more when as prime minister I have had to shoulder a heavy burden to manage this extraordinary pandemic for more than a year now.“Certainly, I need the support and backing of my colleagues in the Cabinet, state government leaders, officials, frontliners and the people as a whole to enable me to carry out the responsibility of bringing this country out of this crisis.”Muhyiddin also took aim at a group of Umno leaders, saying his plan to reach out to the opposition was driven by the need to prevent them from coming to power.“I, too, like all of you, am duty-bound not to allow the group of kleptocrats to come to power if this political crisis is not resolved immediately,” he said, in a reference to several Umno leaders including Zahid and Najib who are facing multiple charges of corruption.


Boy Scouts of America reach US$850 million settlement with sex abuse victims

The Boy Scouts of America has reached a US$850 million settlement with groups representing tens of thousands of ex-scouts with sexual abuse claims.This marks a major step toward addressing a deluge of accusations that has sent the organisation into bankruptcy, reports Reuters.In a filing on Thursday with the US Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) said the settlement with the Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice and two other groups covers claims by about 60,000 abuse survivors.It said the accord provides a framework for a global resolution of abuse claims and could allow it to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection “late this year”.“Bringing these groups together marks a significant milestone as the BSA works toward our dual imperatives of equitably compensating survivors of abuse and preserving the mission of scouting,” the 111-year-old organisation said in a statement.Thursday’s settlement requires a judge’s approval and could face opposition from insurers that would have to make the payouts.Founded in 1910, the BSA filed for Chapter 11 in February 2020 after being hit with a torrent of historical sex abuse lawsuits.These lawsuits were filed after several US states began letting people sue over alleged sex abuses that occurred decades earlier.The reputation of the BSA had taken a battering for decades over alleged homosexual behaviour. In the late 20th century it faced growing criticism over its ban on homosexual troop leaders.In 1999 James Dale, an openly gay assistant scoutmaster, sued the organisation after he was expelled.The Supreme Court ruled in favour of the BSA in 2000 but the controversy continued, and some corporate sponsors stopped funding the BSA.Current president and CEO, Roger Mosby, told the AP, “We understand that this is a difficult and often emotional decision, but in some instances may be a necessary step as we work toward our shared imperatives of equitably compensating survivors and continuing Scouting’s mission.”The Boy Scout movement was founded in Britain in 1908 by cavalry officer, Robert Baden-Powell, who had written a book called Scouting for Boys.Baden-Powell’s book described many games and contests that he had used to train cavalry troops in scouting, and it became popular reading among British boys.The Boy Scouts aimed to develop good citizenship, chivalrous behaviour, and skill in various outdoor activities.It became a global success story, with millions of scouts of all nationalities, but has suffered from declining membership for decades.


Daily cases stay above 3,000 with over 200 in ICU

Another 3,211 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 151,066.Selangor recorded 889 cases, of which 658 or 74% were from clusters and close contact screening.This was followed by Johor (535), Sabah (514) and Kuala Lumpur (401).Penang recorded 194 cases, Kedah 142, Terengganu 92, Kelantan 79, Perak 74, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan 70 each, Sarawak 60, Melaka 58, Putrajaya 24 and Labuan nine.Active cases stand at 32,253 with 204 in the ICU and 87 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 12 clusters were detected:1. Lingkaran Lintang (Selangor)2. Jalan Telok Gong (Selangor)3. Ladang Baturong (Sabah)4. Ladang Matamba (Sabah)5. Tapak Bina Damai (Kuala Lumpur)6. Kampung Perani (Johor)7. Persiaran Selatan (Johor)8. Jalan Kluang (Johor)9. Kota Road (Perak)10. Tembok Kemus (Melaka)11. Pondok Hidayah (Kelantan)12. Restoran Putra (Putrajaya)Four more ended, leaving 284 active clusters throughout the country.Another 1,939 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 115,227.However, eight more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 586.


2 factory workers remanded over Sungai Selangor pollution

The Selayang Magistrate’s Court in Kuala Lumpur today ordered the six-day remand of two factory workers for investigations into the pollution of a river which disrupted piped water supply to 1.2 million people over the past four days.Magistrate Nik Mohd Fadli Nik Azlan issued the remand order for the two men, aged 20 and 57, over the pollution of Sungai Gong in Rawang.Sungai Gong is a tributary of Sungai Sembah which flows into Sungai Selangor. Sungai Selangor supplies water to four treatment plants which had to be shut down after pollution was detected on Sept 3.The men were brought to the Selayang Courts Complex at 9.15am today. They were arrested at Jalan Batu Arang in Rawang yesterday.They are being held for investigation in accordance with Section 430 of the Penal Code for allegedly committing mischief by causing a diminution in the supply of water for agricultural purposes, or for food or drink for human beings or animals.The section provides for a jail term of between five and 30 years, a fine or both upon conviction.On Sept 5, four factory managers, all brothers aged between 50 and 60, were remanded for six days until Thursday over the same issue.The shutdown of the four treatment plants – the Sungai Selangor water treatment plants 1, 2 and 3 and the Rantau Panjang water treatment plant – disrupted piped water supply to 1,292 areas in several Klang Valley districts.


IAEA experts 'not going anywhere' after reaching Ukraine nuclear plant

The US nuclear agency chief said his experts were staying put after they crossed on Thursday into Russian-held territory in Ukraine and reached Europe's biggest nuclear power plant, where both sides warn of potential catastrophe.
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection team braved intense shelling to reach the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, arriving after a delay of several hours in a large convoy with a heavy presence of Russian soldiers nearby.
"We are not going anywhere. The IAEA is now there, it is at the plant and it is not moving. It's going to stay there," IAEA head Rafael Grossi, who personally led the mission, told reporters after returning to Ukrainian-held territory.
He said a group of IAEA experts had stayed behind at the plant and would provide an impartial, neutral and technically sound assessment of the situation.
"I worried, I worry and I will continue to be worried about the plant until we have a situation which is more stable, which is more predictable," he said.
Ukraine and Russia accuse each other of creating a risk of a Chernobyl-like disaster by shelling near the plant, where the situation has been unravelling in recent weeks. Russia seized the plant early in the now more than six-month-old war.
Kyiv also accuses Russia of using the facility to shield its forces, and of planning to steal its output by hooking it up to the Russian power grid. Moscow denies this but has so far rejected international calls to withdraw its troops from the plant.
Video footage released by Russia's state news agency RIA showed IAEA inspectors, including Grossi, wearing safety helmets and being shown around the site by Russian energy officials, who pointed out what were described as damaged water pipes.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was doing everything to ensure that the plant could operate safely, and for the IAEA inspectors to be able to complete their tasks.
Earlier, Ukraine's state nuclear company Energoatom said Russian shelling had forced the shutdown of one of the two reactors still operating at the site.
As the inspectors arrived at the frontline, Russian and Russian-installed local officials accused Kyiv of sending troops on boats near dawn to try to capture the plant on Thursday, and of shelling the nearby Russian-held city of Enerhodar.
Kyiv accused the Russians of staging those incidents to blame Ukraine and block the IAEA visit.
A Reuters reporter in Enerhodar said a residential building was struck by shelling there, forcing people to take cover in a basement. It was not possible to establish who had fired. Reuters reporters in Ukrainian-held Zaporizhzhia city saw flashes in the sky of explosions in the morning.
The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross called for all fighting near the plant to stop, warning that little could be done to respond in the event of a potential nuclear leak.
"(It) will be difficult if not impossible to provide humanitarian assistance... and this is why fighting should stop," Robert Mardini told a news conference during a visit to Ukraine on Thursday.
Vital asset
Since its capture by Russia in March, the plant has been controlled by Russian troops but operated by Ukrainian staff.
The plant sits on the south bank of a huge reservoir on the Dnipro River that divides Russian and Ukrainian forces in central southern Ukraine. Before the war, it supplied more than a fifth of Ukraine's electricity.
In recent days, Ukraine has launched a major counter-offensive to recapture territory in southern Ukraine, mainly further down the Dnipro in neighbouring Kherson province.
Ukrainian officials have welcomed the IAEA visit, expressing hope that it will lead to the demilitarisation of the plant.
Russian-installed officials have suggested the team from the UN nuclear watchdog would have only a day to inspect the plant, while the mission had prepared for longer.
Energoatom head Petro Kotin said the IAEA visit would be successful if it led to the "demilitarisation" of the facility. He said authorities were making "all efforts" to restart a plant reactor that shut down on Thursday due to shelling.
Both sides have claimed battlefield successes in the new Ukrainian push to recapture territory in the south, although details have been scarce so far, with Ukrainian officials releasing little information about their advance.
"It is a very slow process, because we value people," said Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Moscow has denied reports of Ukrainian progress and said its troops had routed Ukrainian forces.
Reuters could not independently verify those claims.
Millions of people have fled Ukraine, thousands have been killed and cities have been reduced to rubble in what Kyiv and the West call Russia's unprovoked war of aggression. Moscow calls its actions a "special military operation" to rid Ukraine of nationalists and protect Russian-speaking communities.
Children returned to desks in some areas for the start of the Ukrainian school year. Ukrainian children who fled the country also started new schools across central Europe for the first time on Thursday.
But in Mykolaiv near the frontline in southern Ukraine, children went to their bombed-out school only to take their books home. Most schools in the area will stay shut.
"My heart is broken because I love this school," said Viktoria Poliakova, deputy head teacher, as she looked at the damage.


Indonesians gather to pray for Eid despite virus surge

Indonesians prayed outside mosques and slaughtered goats to commemorate a sombre Eid al-Adha festival on Tuesday despite efforts to stop mass gatherings as coronavirus deaths skyrocket.This week marks the second time during the pandemic that the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation has celebrated the Feast of Sacrifice, which signals the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.Authorities have banned large crowds, including at traditional events that feature the sacrifice of livestock, and urged the public not to gather for acts of religious worship.In the capital Jakarta and elsewhere, some heeded an official request not to go inside mosques but instead gathered to pray on nearby roads, while residents in Bandung laid out their prayer mats in narrow alleyways outside their homes.Thousands of others in Banda Aceh assembled in close quarters outside the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque, where vendors hawked animal-shaped balloons to families.President Joko Widodo appealed to Muslims to pray at home to mark Eid rather than risk infection at public gatherings.“In the midst of the pandemic, we need to be willing to sacrifice even more,” he said in a Monday television address.“Put the interests of the community and others first.”Virus cases shot up after millions travelled across the vast archipelago of nearly 270 million people at the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan in May.Indonesia has in recent days overtaken India and Brazil as a global Covid-19 hotspot and its daily death toll hit a record of 1,338 on Monday.Cases have been topping 50,000 a day, around 10 times above the average figure in early June, as the highly infectious Delta variant ripples across the country.Checkpoints have been set up on roads across Java and domestic flights are subject to tighter restrictions in a bid to stop people from travelling to see relatives.The surge has overwhelmed hospitals in the capital Jakarta and across densely populated Java, sparking shortages in oxygen.Patients have been turned away by medical staff or treated in makeshift tents set up in hospital parking lots, as more and more of the sick die at home.Indonesia has recorded more than 2.9 million cases and nearly 75,000 deaths but testing and tracing rates are low and experts believe the true figure is far higher.


London cancels New Year’s Eve fireworks display

London’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display will not go ahead due to the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Sadiq Khan has said.Speaking on LBC Radio, Khan said: “I can tell you that there will not be a fireworks New Year’s Eve this year like in previous years.“We simply cannot afford to have the number of people congregate on New Year’s Eve.”The mayor added: “What we are working on is to do something that people can enjoy in the comfort and safety of their living rooms on TV.”Khan said that the exact details of what would happen on Dec 31 have not been finalised.Traditionally, huge firework displays light up the night skies of capital cities around the world as the new year arrives on the stroke of midnight.More capital cities are expected to cancel their displays.


345 complaints of false claims under wage subsidy programme so far

Sosco received 345 complaints of employers making false claims worth RM19,986,200 through the employment record system under the wage subsidy programme as of Oct 30.Deputy Human Resources Minister Awang Hashim said action would be taken in 155 cases to reclaim payments from the employer while 190 cases are still under investigation.“If the employer is found to have made false claims or misconduct is found on the part of the company, action can be taken under Sections 415 and 471 of the Penal Code,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today.“Socso is also working with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), with several cases under investigation. Socso will continue working with MACC to complete the investigation papers on employers who ignored the terms set.”Mahfuz Omar (Amanah-Pokok Sena) had asked the human resources ministry to state the number of employers found to have made false claims under the wage subsidy programme, and the amount involved.Awang said as of Oct 30, Socso had received 331,950 applications from employers involving 2.7 million for government aid through the subsidy programme.He said the government had spent RM11.9 billion to date helping employers affected by the Covid-19 pandemic to continue employing workers through the programme.“To address the issue of false claims, Socso is working with the ministry’s legal division to determine the appropriate action to be taken against the employers,” he said.“The government through the human resources ministry will not compromise on the matter.”


Presidential debate or ‘quarrel at a vegetable market’?

The undignified US presidential debate on Tuesday has shocked and puzzled American allies and rivals around the world.The world watched and wondered if the chaos said something fundamental about the state of US democracy.“There is a consensus in Europe that this is getting out of hand, and this debate is an indicator of the bad shape of American democracy.” Ulrich Speck, an analyst in Berlin, told the New York Times.“The debate was a joke,” commented Markus Feldenkirchen of the German magazine Der Spiegel.  “Two over-70s who interrupt each other like five-year-olds.”Thomas Gomart, director of the French Institute of International Relations, said the debate showed the deep divides in today’s America, even in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.“Those two men are from the same generation, from the same world,” he said. “And yet they are the two faces of a deeply polarised society.”In China, official reaction was guarded but the Global Times, a Communist Party newspaper, was gleeful. Hu Xijin, the paper’s editor, said “Such a chaos at the top of US politics reflects division, anxiety of US society and the accelerating loss of advantages of the US political system.”On Chinese social media, posters said the debate had left them puzzled and amused. One user said that Trump’s frequent interruptions of Biden lent a “comedic feel” to what should have been a serious discussion, while another compared the debate to a quarrel at a vegetable market.In Singapore, Bilahari Kausikan, a former ambassador, asked, “Debate? What debate? It was only a form of entertainment which encapsulates all that has gone wrong with American politics.”Yujin Yaguchi, a professor of American Studies at the University of Tokyo, said that English-language students in Japan often watch presidential debates to study speech technique. “What we saw today is just not usable, people in Japan will be dismayed by the mudslinging style of the debate.”


Immigration to increase working days to tackle passport-related congestion

The immigration department is taking several measures to overcome the issue of congestion over passport-related matters, including increasing the number of working days, especially at offices experiencing significant congestion.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said there were 20 passport offices facing high congestion: nine in the Federal Territory and Selangor, five in Johor, three in Perak, and one each in Melaka, Penang and Kedah.
He said RM10 million had also been allocated for overtime payment.
"Until today, we have issued nearly 2.5 million passports and from this number, 45% represent online applications.
"However, online passport applications will take a few days to complete, while 'walk-in' applications will be completed within a day," he said during the question-and-answer session at Dewan Rakyat today.
Saifuddin was replying to a question by Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan) who asked what measures would be taken to overcome the problem of congestion over passport matters at the immigration department.
He also asked about the proposal to reinstate the "walk-in" passport application process.
Saifuddin also acknowledged congestion at immigration counters at Malaysia's main entry points, especially KLIA, saying his ministry was working on ways to resolve the problem.
As an immediate solution, he said the auto gates at KLIA that only open for Malaysians will be opened to foreigners as well, especially those coming from low-risk countries such as Singapore and Brunei.
He said this in response to a supplementary question from Mumtaz Md Naw (PN-Tumpat) on whether the government was aware of the congestion at the immigration counters at the country's main entrance points.


Maximum RM10,000 fine for SOP offenders beginning March 11

Individuals who violate the SOPs for the prevention and control of Covid-19 infection can be fined up to RM10,000 from March 11.This is based on the Emergency (Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases) (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 through a federal government gazette uploaded in the Official Portal of the Attorney General’s Chambers yesterday.It also states that companies or corporations that violate the SOPs can be fined up to RM50,000.The government had gazetted the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021 which was promulgated as a proactive measure to contain the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia.The 18-provision ordinance, which took effect on Jan 11, was gazetted on Jan 14 after it was promulgated by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.The ordinance, among others, states that an independent special committee will be established to advise the king on the continuing existence of the grave emergency threatening the security, economic life and public order of the federation arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.The ordinance also includes amendments to general penalties under Section 24, stating that any person who commits an offence under the act “for which no penalty is expressly provided” may be fined up to RM100,000 or imprisoned for a maximum of seven years.It also states that those authorised may order Covid-19 patients or close contacts to wear tracking devices such as wristbands or any other device provided by an authorised officer.“Any person who destroys, damages, removes or alters the tracking device is committing an offence,” it said.Representatives of companies that violate the SOPs can also be charged in court, it stated.


Daily caseload at 279, no new deaths logged

Another 279 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 5,044,718.
There were 236 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,998,455.
There are now 9,296 active cases, of which 8,964 or 96.4% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0.0%) are at quarantine centres while 327 (3.5%) have been hospitalised.
A total of five are in ICU with one in need of respiratory assistance.
No new deaths were reported, leaving total deaths unchanged at 36,967.


Nearly 42% of population, 58% of adults fully vaccinated

Some 41.6% of the country’s population or 13,580,934 people had completed both doses of Covid-19 vaccine as of yesterday, according to the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee.A total of 18,631,593 individuals, or 57.1%, have received a first dose, bringing the cumulative number of vaccine doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme as of yesterday to 32,212,527.The percentage of adult population who had completed both jabs meanwhile rose to 58% from 56.9% on Monday.In terms of daily vaccination rate, 420,164 doses were given yesterday. Of these, 265,160 doses were second doses and 155,004 were administered to first-dose recipients.


Zahid pleads not guilty to amended charge in VLN graft case

Former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today pleaded not guilty to an amended charge of corruption in relation to the foreign visa system (VLN).Judge Mohd Yazid Mustafa ordered for the amended charge to be read out to Zahid, 69, after allowing deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin’s application to amend the second charge, which involves a change of date from April 2017 to March 27, 2018.Zahid pleaded not guilty after the amended charge was read out to him through an interpreter.In the amended charge, Zahid is charged as the home minister at the time with obtaining for himself RM3 million in cash from Ultra Kirana Sdn Bhd (UKSB) in connection with his official functions.He is alleged to have committed the offence at No. 389, Jalan Bayu Nyaman, Country Heights, Kajang, on March 27, 2018.The amended charge, framed under Section 165 of the Penal Code, provides for imprisonment of up to two years, a fine, or both, upon conviction.Zahid faces 33 charges of receiving bribes amounting to S$13.56 million (RM42 million) from UKSB as an inducement for himself in his capacity as a civil servant and the then home minister to extend the contract of the company as the operator of the one-stop centre in China and the VLN system, as well as to maintain the agreement to supply VLN integrated system paraphernalia to the same company by the home ministry.On another seven counts, Zahid was charged as the home minister with obtaining for himself S$1,150,000, RM3 million, €15,000 and US$15,000 in cash from the same company in connection with his official work.He is charged with committing all the offences at Seri Satria, Presint 16, Putrajaya, and Country Heights, Kajang, between October 2014 and March 2018.The trial before Yazid continues.


Nothing to worry about, health experts say on no vaccination for kids

While the government in its daily updates on the Covid-19 situation regularly warns the public to take especial care of senior citizens and children, only one of these groups will have priority once the much-awaited deliveries of vaccine arrive on Malaysian shores early next year.The elderly are next in line after frontline health workers, along with those with non-communicable diseases and chronic respiratory diseases. Children, on the other hand, will not be vaccinated against the virus, science minister Khairy Jamaluddin recently announced.With schools set to reopen within weeks, his statement that children will be among the 30% of people depending on herd immunity may have raised some concerns.But the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) says there is a reason why children will be excluded from the vaccination process.For one thing, clinical trials are not normally conducted on children, a fact mentioned by Khairy in his Dec 23 announcement.MMA president Dr Subramaniam Muniandy told MalaysiaNow that children are also less affected by the virus.“We will be giving the vaccine to frontliners and people who are at immediate risk,” he said.“Those with low immunity such as people above 60 years of age and those with diseases will be getting the vaccine first.”“The disease is generally much milder in children than in adults.”However, he cautioned parents to continue keeping a watchful eye on their children and to adhere to the SOPs at all times.According to a recent report by the Associated Press, the Pfizer vaccine, one of the first to be given the green light, is intended for those aged 16 and above.Clinical tests on children as young as 12 began in October and are expected to continue for several more months. Depending on the results, younger children may be enrolled as well.There is currently insufficient data from studies on different age groups to prove if children are able to be given the vaccine or not.But Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO of the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy, said recorded fatalities among children are rare, and that most children recover well from the infection.“The disease is generally much milder in children than in adults,” he told MalaysiaNow.He added that the latest research shows schools are not the primary drivers of outbreaks, cautioning however that children are as likely as adults to transmit the virus to others in their household.In his announcement last week, Khairy said the government is looking to secure vaccines from three other companies in addition to Pfizer, AstraZeneca and the Covax Facility.With the additional vaccines from Sinovac, CanSinoBIO and Gamaleya, he said, 82.8% of the country or 26.5 million people could be inoculated against the virus, surpassing Putrajaya’s goal of reaching 70% herd immunity.Given the severity of the virus which has so far infected over 105,000 and claimed the lives of 452, Azrul said there is a push to get the vaccines ready and distributed among the older people.“Pharmaceutical manufacturers and healthcare regulators waited until the vaccine candidates were proven safe and effective in adults before moving to children.“Pfizer is the only one at the moment which has allowed minors into a vaccine trial,” he said.


Husband of teacher killed in US school shooting dies ‘due to grief’

The husband of a heroic fourth grade teacher who was killed protecting her students during a massacre at a Texas elementary school has died of an apparent heart attack.A GoFundMe page set up by Debra Austin, who said she was the cousin of teacher Irma Garcia, said that Irma’s husband Joe “has tragically passed away this morning as a result of a medical emergency.”“I truly believe Joe died of a broken heart and losing the love of his life,” she added.John Martinez, who identified himself as Garcia’s nephew, also tweeted: “Extremely heartbreaking and come with deep sorrow to say that my Tia (aunt) Irma’s husband Joe Garcia has passed away due to grief.”Ernie Zuniga, a news anchor for local station Kabb Fox San Antonio, tweeted that Garcia had died from a heart attack.The couple, who were married for 24 years, according to the website of the Robb Elementary school, leave behind four children.Both Irma Garcia and her co-teacher Eva Mireles, who had connected classrooms, died in the mass shooting.The shooter, 18-year-old Salvador Ramos, was inside the building for about 40 minutes before police entered and fatally shot him.


Police ‘cremate Dalit rape victim without permission’

Police have illegally cremated the body of a gang-rape victim who died in hospital, say her family.They claim they were not permitted to see her body one last time or perform funeral rites.Her body was brought to the family village by police who began pressuring the family to cremate her immediately, her brother told reporters.“When we refused, they took her and cremated her without our permission,” he said.The 19-year-old victim was a lower caste Dalit, allegedly raped by four upper-caste men in Hathras district in northern India.She was so seriously injured in the attack, she died in a Delhi hospital on Tuesday after two weeks in intensive care.Local journalist Abhishek Mathur, who witnessed the cremation from a distance, told the BBC that the police kept her family and media away from the funeral pyre.He said that police beat up family members when they protested, adding that even women and children were beaten.Hathras police have denied they cremated her body without her family’s consent, but local journalists have backed the family up.Videos shared widely on social media show the distressed family and villagers making several attempts to claim the victim’s body as police held them back.The case has already caused outrage across India, a country where rape is not uncommon.


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Zahid’s graft trial postponed after lawyer suffers gout episode

The criminal breach of trust (CBT), corruption and money laundering trial of former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today went on for only 30 minutes as his lawyer fell ill.Hamidi Mohd Noh told the court that his ankles were swollen from a gout episode, but added that he was ready to continue submissions today.“I did not expect to have a gout attack today. It is very painful and I have a doctor’s appointment at 1.30pm,” he said at the trial of Zahid who is facing 47 CBT, corruption and money laundering charges involving Yayasan Akalbudi (YAB) funds.Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah then told Hamidi to proceed with his submissions and to inform the court if he was uncomfortable or felt pain.After about 20 minutes of delivering his submissions while standing, Hamidi sought the court’s permission to be seated, saying the pain had worsened.As the session continued, the lawyer requested a postponement of the case, saying he could no longer stand the pain although Sequerah had told him earlier that he could deliver his submissions while seated.Deputy public prosecutor Raja Rozela Raja Toran did not object to the request, saying: “I think we should let him get treatment.”Sequerah then postponed the hearing to Wednesday.Earlier, Hamidi submitted that Zahid could not be accused of committing CBT as millions of ringgit which had been withdrawn from the charity foundation had actually been credited into a law firm’s client account.“The monies still belonged to YAB and were not transferred to other third parties,” he said.Hamidi also said Zahid had no knowledge of the value of the cheque from YAB funds because his former executive secretary, Mazlina Mazlan @ Ramly, had control and dominion over those cheques.“She (Mazlina) used a signature stamp to issue cheques. We have established that she was negligent, she did not know how cheques and credit cards work.“We contend that nobody used a signature stamp for the cheques and its only use was for Hari Raya cards,” he said.


I’ll not conspire with kleptos, Muhyiddin explains decision to step down

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin today said he would never interfere in the running of the judiciary to save politicians who are facing multiple corruption charges.He said his decision to step down from the top office today was caused by a group of people whom he said prioritise their political power over the welfare of the people.“I will never conspire with a kleptocratic group,” he said, in a reference to the group of Umno MPs led by former leader Najib Razak and party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who led some 15 MPs to withdraw their support for him.He said it was clear that he no longer commanded the majority support of MPs after the withdrawal of backing from the MPs aligned with Zahid, as well as the rejection of a cross-party consensus he had offered to the opposition.“This is demanded by the constitution, and I must abide by it,” he said, adding that he had taken an oath to defend the constitution.He said he would not sacrifice principles, and recalled how he was dismissed from office under the Najib administration for questioning the then-prime minister’s involvement in the 1MDB scandal.“I struggled and made sacrifices, and in the end God rewarded my struggle and gave me the mandate to lead this country.“But it is fated that today is my last day as prime minister, and I accept divine providence.”Muhyiddin today submitted his resignation to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Hours later, Istana Negara announced his appointment as caretaker prime minister.A vote of confidence in Muhyiddin had been scheduled to take place in the Dewan Rakyat on Sept 7, after the MPs aligned with Zahid withdrew their support for him.Muhyiddin said then that he had letters of support from MPs showing that he still commands the majority support.He also suggested that the opposition to him by some Umno MPs was due to his refusal to interfere in their ongoing corruption cases.


Ismail’s Cabinet: Who’s out and who’s in

At least six ministers and deputy ministers have been dropped in the latest Cabinet line-up announced by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob today.The four ministers who were dropped represent one each from Bersatu, Umno and PAS, the three largest ruling Malay parties, as well as a non-politician.They are former mufti Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, Bersatu’s Redzuan Yusof, PAS’ Khairuddin Aman Razali and Umno’s Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, the latter of whom quit the Cabinet even before the resignation of Muhyiddin Yassin which caused a power vacuum earlier this month.Deputy ministers Abd Rahim Bakri from Bersatu and Che Abdullah Mat Nawi from PAS were not reappointed to the Cabinet either.The Cabinet list, although largely seen as a mirror of the previous line-up with the exception of several former ministers who were reassigned to different jobs, also saw five new additions who were not part of Muhyiddin’s administration.One of them, PAS’ Idris Ahmad, is making his debut as a federal minister. This is also true to some extent about former Perak menteri besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu, who was appointed as a special adviser with ministerial status shortly before Muhyiddin’s resignation.The three others – Mahdzir Khalid, Noh Omar and Shahidan Kassim – had served as ministers under the previous Barisan Nasional government.Meanwhile, five politicians were brought in as deputy ministers.They are Yamani Hafez Musa (second deputy finance minister), Mohamad Alamin (second deputy education minister), Ti Lian Ker (deputy youth and sports minister), Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh (second deputy agriculture minister) and Jalaluddin Alias (deputy federal territories minister).


Malaysia to implement end-of-life vehicle management policy by 2025

Malaysia is studying a suitable approach to implement the end-of-life vehicle (ELV) management policy by 2025, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Adham Baba said today. He said the development of the policy was important to ensure that the components and usable material from old vehicles could be of use and not simply thrown away.
"The excess of dilapidated vehicles, which has also resulted in dengue outbreaks, occurs because there is yet to be a policy that decides on the proper action to be taken, with emphasis on the method of proper disposal," he said at an event in Kuala Lumpur. He said Malaysia is looking at Singapore and Japan, two countries that have expertise in ELV recycling, in drafting the framework.
He added that 70% of dismantled items from ELVs can be exported to other countries, with the potential of reaching RM10 billion for related industries.
Based on data from the transport ministry, as of May 2022, there were a total of 33 million registered vehicles in Malaysia, 19 million of which were at least a decade old. When asked about electric vehicles (EV), Adham said Malaysia intends to establish 10,000 charging stations throughout the country by 2025 compared to the current 700.
The EV battery development industry will also need to be coordinated to the use of EVs to provide jobs for the B40 group, he added.


Salleh’s death a timely reminder of real dictatorship

Last week, ex-PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad called his successor Muhyiddin Yassin a dictator over the latter’s decision to impose emergency rule in the country.But as fate would have it, former lord president Salleh Abas passed away over the weekend. Salleh was a towering figure in the legal world. His death has only served as a reminder of Mahathir’s chequered past in issues relating to human rights, specifically judiciary independence.In other words, the accusation that Mahathir levelled at Muhyiddin is best directed at himself.Back to the developments leading to the events that would come to define Salleh’s career. Then, fresh from Umno being declared illegal by the courts following his 1987 tussle with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah in Umno, Salleh was unceremoniously sacked.Human rights groups, including the Bar Council then, had lamented about the subjugation of the judiciary – one of the three branches of government – following Salleh’s removal. In one fell swoop, they felt that the judiciary had become submissive, at least as far as public perception was concerned.And Mahathir is now lecturing the world about Muhyiddin purportedly being a dictator? The irony cannot be more stark.Has Mahathir also forgotten how he used the Internal Security Act then to cement his hold on power? Under Ops Lalang, over a hundred leaders and activists were detained without trial. The right to a fair trial is a fundamental human right. But don’t talk about a fair trial, when there’s no trial to begin with for those detained. Isn’t that a hallmark of a dictator?And wasn’t the government apparatus used to the hilt during his first tenure as PM? Weren’t there widespread concerns over how the then Anti-Corruption Agency and police force were perceived to be used for political means? Who could forget how a balaclava-clad special operations force stormed into the house of sacked DPM Anwar Ibrahim on Sept 20, 1998 to arrest him? If that could happen to a former DPM, what kind of safeguards do lesser mortals have?Lest one assumes that Mahathir’s dictatorial streak ended when he left office in 2003, one should be reminded that a leopard does not change its spots easily. Who could forget that during his second tenure as PM, he had wanted to form a unity government at the tail-end of his office in early 2020?True to his proclivity to thrive during crises, the Machievellian two-time PM proposed a “unity government” as Pakatan Harapan (PH) was showing signs of breaking up. If the proposal had materialised, he would have been back as a dictator, politically free from Parliament oversight with Barisan Nasional and PH backing him. That is dictatorship in all but name, doc.Perhaps Mahathir does not realise that the emergency imposed now differs from the ones declared in the past. The emergency we have now is to control the outbreak of Covid-19. No draconian laws will be introduced, unlike those with which Mahathir is familiar.The courts are still running, the rule of law is still in place. In fact, Muhyiddin has set up a bipartisan committee to handle the implementation of the emergency. In other words, the PM has reached out to his political foes, not locked them up like Mahathir used to.I guess the only reason Mahathir sees Muhyiddin as a dictator is because that is the only lens the former sees the world through: as a dictator.The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Air raid sirens blare in Ukraine as Nato meets to promise aid

The US and Nato allies on Tuesday promised more arms for Kyiv and equipment to help restore Ukrainian power and heat knocked out by Russian missile and drone strikes, as air raid sirens blared across Ukraine for the first time this week.
Ukrainians fled the streets for bomb shelters, although the all-clear later sounded across the country apart from the front-line eastern province of Luhansk.
Officials remained vigilant: "Last time, the Russians also disguised the strike as a training flight... Let's see," said Vitaliy Kim, governor of southern Ukraine's Mykolaiv region.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other foreign ministers from the Nato alliance began a two-day meeting in Bucharest, seeking ways both to keep Ukrainians safe and warm and to sustain Kyiv's military through a coming winter campaign.
"Nato will continue to stand for Ukraine as long as it takes. We will not back down," alliance General-Secretary Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech in Bucharest.
He told reporters Russian President Vladimir Putin was "trying to use winter as a weapon of war" as Moscow's forces lose on the battlefield, and that Western allies would step in to help. British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly accused Putin of trying to "freeze the Ukrainians into submission".
US and European officials said the ministers would focus on military aid such as air defence systems and ammunition, as well as non-lethal aid including fuel, medical supplies, winter equipment and drone jammers, delivered through Nato.
"I hope we will agree on a quite significant package of non-lethal help," Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said.
Accumulating damage
Russia has been carrying out huge attacks on Ukraine's electricity transmission and heating infrastructure roughly weekly since October, in what Kyiv and its allies say is a deliberate campaign to harm civilians, a war crime.
Moscow says hurting civilians is not its aim but that their suffering will end only if Kyiv accepts its demands, which it did not spell out. Although Kyiv says it shoots down most of the incoming missiles, the damage has been accumulating and the impact growing more severe with each strike.
The worst attack so far was on Nov 23, leaving millions of Ukrainians in cold and darkness. President Volodymyr Zelensky told Ukrainians at the start of this week to expect another soon that would be at least as damaging.
There are no political talks to end the war. Moscow has annexed Ukrainian territory which it says it will never relinquish; Ukraine says it will fight until it recovers all occupied land.
Kyiv said it wants weapons to help it end the war - by winning it.
"No eloquent speech will say more than concrete action. 'Patriot', 'F-16', or 'Leopard' for Ukraine," tweeted presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, referring to US anti-aircraft missiles and fighter jets, and German tanks.
"It’s not only about air defence or a tank, but also an important support act for people preparing to survive their harshest winter and paying the highest price for Europe's security," he wrote.
Russia called off nuclear talks with the United States this week at the last minute. Moscow said it had "no choice" but to cancel the talks, aimed at resuming inspections under an arms control treaty, because Washington refused to address its wider concerns about strategic stability.
Russian news agencies quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as warning Washington of unspecified risks because of its support for Kyiv against what Russia calls a "special military operation" to disarm its neighbour.
"We are sending signals to the Americans that their line of escalation and ever deeper involvement in this conflict is fraught with dire consequences. The risks are growing," Ryabkov was quoted as saying.
In Kyiv, snow fell and temperatures were hovering around freezing as millions in and around the capital struggled to heat their homes. After a week of trying to restore electricity from the last attacks, national grid operator Ukrenergo said the system was still producing a shortfall of 30% of needed power.
New phase
Along front lines in eastern Ukraine, the onset of winter is ushering in a new phase of the conflict with intense trench warfare along heavily fortified positions, posing new challenges for both sides after several months of Russian retreats.
With Russian forces having pulled back in the northeast and withdrawn across the Dnipro River in the south, the front line on land is only around half the length it was a few months ago. That will make it harder for Ukrainian forces to find weakly defended stretches to attempt new breakthroughs.
Both sides will have to keep troops supplied and healthy in cold, wet trenches for the first long winter of the war, a bigger challenge for the Russians as an invading force with longer and more vulnerable supply lines.
Ukraine's armed forces General Staff said late on Monday that Russian forces were heavily shelling towns on the west bank of the Dnipro River, including Kherson.
Russia kept up heavy shelling of key targets Bakhmut and Avdiivka in Donetsk province, and to the north bombarded areas around the towns of Kupiansk and Lyman, both recaptured recently by Kyiv, the Ukrainian military said.
Ukrainian forces had damaged a rail bridge north of the Russian-occupied southern city of Melitopol that has been key to supplying Russian forces dug in there, it added. Reuters could not independently verify the reports.


Najib applies to strike out bankruptcy notice in RM1.69 billion tax case

Former prime minister Najib Razak has applied to strike out a bankruptcy notice issued against him for failing to pay additional tax arrears of RM1.69 billion to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) as ordered by the High Court last year.According to documents filed in court, Najib filed the application claiming that the notice issued by LHDN on Feb 4 this year was mala fide, onerous and an abuse of the court process.He also claimed that the notice was part of a conspiracy to destroy his political career.The case was fixed for e-review management today before High Court deputy registrar Ida Rahayu Sharif.Najib’s lawyer Wee Yeong Kang, when contacted by reporters, said the application was filed on May 31.“An application to stay the bankruptcy proceedings was filed on the same date while waiting for the disposal of Najib’s appeal in the Court of Appeal against the High Court decision.“The court set July 22 this year for further case management,” he added.Today’s proceedings were also attended by senior tax counsel Al-Hummidallah Idrus and tax counsel Muhammad Nabil Abdul Halim, acting for the LHDN.The government, through LHDN, filed the bankruptcy notice at the High Court on Feb 4 this year against Najib as the debtor.Based on the notice, Najib has to pay RM1.69 billion with interest of 5% per annum on the total balance from July 22, 2020 (date of High Court’s decision) to Feb 4, 2021, which is RM45.9 million, and RM15,000 in costs. The total payable amount as of the latter date was RM1,738,804,204.16.On July 22 last year, the High Court ruled that Najib had to pay LHDN RM1.69 billion in additional tax arrears for the period of 2011 to 2017, after allowing LHDN’s application to enter a summary judgement against him.A summary judgement is when the court decides a particular case summarily, without calling witnesses to testify in a trial.Najib filed his appeal against the High Court decision at the Court of Appeal, which fixed June 16 to hear his appeal.According to Section 103 (2) of the Income Tax Act 1967, a person ordered to pay the assessment has to settle the payment to LHDN even if an appeal has been filed.


UN boss condemns anti-Asian violence worldwide

United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres is concerned about the worldwide rise in violence against Asians and people of Asian descent during the Covid-19 pandemic, a UN spokesman said on Monday.The UN statement does not single out any particular country, but it comes after a shooting in Atlanta in the US earlier this month left eight people dead in local spas, six of them Asian-American women.The shootings have stoked fears among members of Asian-American communities across the US, many of which have reported a growing spike in hate crimes since March 2020 when then-president Donald Trump began referring to Covid-19 as the “China virus” and “Kung flu” because of the virus’ alleged origins in Wuhan, China.“The world has witnessed horrific deadly attacks, verbal and physical harassment, bullying in schools, workplace discrimination, incitement to hatred in the media and on social media platforms, and incendiary language by those in positions of power,” UN spokesman Farhan Haq said.“In some countries, Asian women have been specifically targeted for attack, adding misogyny to the toxic mix of hatred,” he said.During a visit to Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday, US President Joe Biden deplored a surge in anti-Asian violence and asked all Americans to stand together against hate.


Finland's foreign minister Haavisto to run for president

Finland's Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said on Thursday he will run for president in next year's election, hoping to succeed Sauli Niinisto who is stepping down after two terms.
It will be Green Party member Haavisto's third attempt at becoming Finland's head of state, having been the runner-up in both 2012 and 2018.
"Recently, many Finns from very different backgrounds have contacted me and appealed for me to become a candidate in next January's presidential election," Haavisto told a press conference, adding that he would run as an independent.
A poll in daily Helsingin Sanomat on May 22 found that 36% of Finns favoured Haavisto to become president, making him a narrow favourite ahead of Bank of Finland Governor Olli Rehn at 31% and foreign policy think tank chief Mika Aaltola at 24%.
Haavisto is expected to step down as foreign minister later this month after the centre-left government of which he is part lost April's parliamentary election.
The first round of Finland's presidential election is due on Jan 28 next year. If none of the candidates wins more than 50% of votes, a run-off between top two contenders will be held on Feb 11.


Najib's 1MDB trial cut short as health condition 'quite bad'

The Kuala Lumpur High Court today cut short the hearing of Najib Razak’s case for the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion in 1MDB funds after it was informed that the former prime minister needed medical attention as the high blood pressure medication he was prescribed was having adverse effects.
Senior deputy public prosecutor Gopal Sri Ram, who is leading the prosecution team, told judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah that he was informed by a Kajang Prison Department officer that Najib’s condition was "quite bad".
"The accused’s medication for blood pressure has been changed and it has had adverse effects on him.
"I was informed that his (Najib) condition is quite bad, but he is prepared to be here (for the trial) until 12.30pm. By 2,pm he has to be taken to the hospital to see a doctor," he said.
Sequerah then agreed to adjourn the trial at 12.30pm to allow Najib to seek medical attention.
The former prime minister, wearing a blue suit, was in the dock, while his wife Rosmah Mansor and daughter Nooryana Najwa were seated in the public gallery.
Najib, 69, faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.
The trial continues with Ambank (M) Bhd Jalan Raja Chulan branch manager, R Uma Devi, who is the 37th prosecution witness, reading from her witness statement.
On Aug 23, Najib was sent to Kajang Prison after the apex court upheld his 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine for misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International funds.


WHO jab experts want more AstraZeneca clot data from outside Europe

The World Health Organization’s (WHO) vaccine advisers called Thursday for more data on the incidence of blood clots in people who received the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine outside Europe.WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunisation updated their guidance on the use of AstraZeneca’s coronavirus jab, rewriting the section on precautions in light of data from Europe on clotting.“WHO continues to support the conclusion that the benefits of these vaccines outweigh the risks,” the UN agency stressed in a statement.On April 7, SAGE said a link between AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 jabs and blood clots was plausible but unconfirmed, underlining that reported occurrences were “very rare”.In light of evidence emerging from ongoing vaccination programmes, they have updated their recommendations on the AstraZeneca jab, which is being deployed in 157 territories according to an AFP count.SAGE said most clotting cases were reported in Britain and the European Union, with very few cases noted in other countries.They said it was unknown whether there was a risk of clotting from the second dose of the vaccine, while recommending that those who suffered blood clots after their first injection should not be given the second dose of the two-shot vaccine.‘Very rare syndrome’“A very rare syndrome of blood clotting combined with low platelet counts, described as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), has been reported around four to 20 days following vaccination,” the new guidance says.“A causal relationship between the vaccine and TTS is considered plausible although the biological mechanism for this syndrome is still being investigated.“Most of these cases were reported from the UK and the EU. There is considerable geographic variation with regards to the reported incidence, with very few cases reported from non-European countries, despite extensive use of the vaccine.“An estimation of the risk outside Europe needs further data collection and analysis.”The vaccine currently forms the backbone of the Covax scheme, which ensures that poorer countries can access doses, with donors covering the cost.Covax has so far shipped more than 40.5 million Covid-19 vaccine doses to 118 participating territories.The SAGE guidance said that data from Britain, dated March 31, suggested the risk of TTS was approximately one case per 250,000 vaccinated adults, while the rate in the EU was estimated at one in 100,000.It said current data from Europe suggested that the risk might be higher in younger adults compared with older adults.“No specific risk factors have yet been identified,” it said.Incidence by region, age, sexWhile stressing that the benefit of vaccination against Covid-19 “far outweighs” the risks, the assessment may differ between countries.“Countries should consider their epidemiological situation, individual and population-level risks, availability of other vaccines, and alternate options for risk mitigation,” the guidance said.“The benefit-risk ratio is greatest in older age groups.“It is currently unknown whether there is a risk of TTS following the second dose.”The safety surveillance and monitoring section was also rewritten,recommending research into serious adverse events including cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and thrombotic events with thrombocytopenia.It also called for research into the incidence of TTS by region, age and sex.


Umno-PAS split at Johor polls will hurt both in the long run, say analysts

Cracks between Umno and PAS at the Johor state election will be detrimental to both parties in the long run, several political analysts say.Speaking to MalaysiaNow, they said both parties have strong grassroots support and are popular among Malay voters.Ahmad Martadha Mohamed of Universiti Utara Malaysia said divisions between Umno and PAS would also give rise to open competition, creating opportunities for other parties to emerge the victor.“The Malay vote will be split between Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Barisan Nasional (BN), making it difficult to predict what will happen at the 15th general election,” he said.But Mujibu Abd Muis of Universiti Teknologi Mara said the cooperation between PAS and Umno at the national level was unlikely to last long given that both parties are after the same voter demographic.Even Pakatan Harapan (PH) was no longer the main political opponent given that Bersatu has emerged as the biggest competition for the Malay vote, still able to threaten Umno, he said.“That aside, there is still no issue of the Malay vote in states like Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu where the Muafakat Nasional pact is needed as more than just a strategic alliance to counter the PH threat,” he told MalaysiaNow.“The dilemma of whether PAS should work with Umno or PN has also triggered internal conflicts which clearly show that members are divided into two different groups.”Umno Kelantan recently decided to cut ties with PAS in the state through the Muafakat Nasional collaboration after the Islamist party entered into cooperation with Bersatu.The decision was made after the state Umno held a special meeting with PAS at the official residence of Kelantan Menteri Besar Ahmad Yaakob.Ties between PAS and Umno have become increasingly fraught since their clash at the Melaka state election last month, which the Islamist party contested under the PN logo.The situation became more complicated when PAS’ proposal to contest the seats in Johor that BN had failed to win at the 14th general election was rejected.PAS was only offered four of the 56 state seats available, a move purportedly made to ensure that PH does not return to power in Johor.Mujibu said Umno could not be expected to work with PAS at the Johor polls given that it is on firm footing in the state and able to achieve victory on its own.“Even PAS in Johor is considered unable to provide additional strength as there is a possibility that a scenario similar to GE14 will occur if PAS moves solo without BN or PN,” he said.“The presence of Bersatu, Warisan and Muda as well as independent candidates will also give Umno-BN the edge without the need for them to form additional alliances.”On Umno’s decision to go solo, Martadha said it might have been driven by the results of the Melaka polls which saw BN winning by a landslide.He said this could have given Umno the confidence to contest the next state election without help from any other party.“Umno was seen as weak after GE14, which is why it was willing to work with PAS to rally enough support to counter PH,” he said.“After the Melaka election, Umno became confident that it could do things alone. And with PAS moving more towards PN, the Muafakat Nasional pact no longer appears relevant.”


Extreme weather kills 21 runners in China ultramarathon

Twenty-one runners have died after extreme weather struck a long-distance race in north-western China.Many of the stranded runners reportedly suffered from hypothermia when high winds and freezing rain hit participants in the 100km ultramarathon in the Yellow River Stone Forest, a popular tourist attraction near Baiyin city in Gansu province, on Saturday.The runners set off on Saturday morning, with many of them wearing just shorts and T-shirts. About three hours after the start, a mountainous section of the race was hit by hail, heavy rain and gales, which caused temperatures to plummet.The runners were racing on an extremely narrow mountain path at altitudes reaching 2,000-3,000m. When the bad weather struck, some of them fell off the trail into deep mountain crevices, according to a reporter for state broadcaster CCTV.The race was halted when some of the 172 runners went missing, and a rescue operation was launched.Officials said 151 runners are now confirmed safe, although eight of them are injured.Surviving participants said the forecast had shown some wind and rain was anticipated, but nothing as extreme as what they experienced.One runner, Mao Shuzhi, told Reuters news agency she was about 24km into the race and had not yet reached the mountains when the weather changed.“The rain was getting heavier and heavier,” she said. She decided to head back to her hotel, having had previous bad experiences with hypothermia, but others carried on or were already in worst-hit areas.Many runners reportedly lost their way on the route as the foul weather affected visibility.More than 1,200 rescuers were deployed, assisted by thermal-imaging drones and radar detectors, according to state media.The operation continued through the night into Sunday morning, during which time a further drop in temperature made the search even more difficult, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.The deaths have sparked public outrage on Chinese social media, with anger mainly directed at the Baiyin city government. There is much unhappiness over the lack of contingency planning as the city’s local branch of the National Early Warning Information Center had warned for the previous three days of hail and strong winds.Liang Jing, an ultramarathon champion, and Huang Guanjun, who won the men’s hearing-impaired marathon at China’s 2019 National Paralympic Games, were among the victims, state-run media reported.


Apex court rules MACC probe against judge Nazlan did not follow protocol

The Federal Court today ruled that the investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against Court of Appeal judge Mohd Nazlan Ghazali was done without regard for judicial independence and protocols.
A seven-member panel led by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat said the manner in which the investigation was conducted, including its publicisation through a press statement, did not appear to preserve confidence in the judiciary's independence.
She also said that the timing of the investigation against Nazlan, which was done without consultation with the judiciary, had cast doubt on whether the probe was bona fide or done in good faith.
"Though the MACC's press statement did not refer to Nazlan by name, contemporaneous media reports which mentioned Nazlan and the earlier spurious blog post all did refer to him, which was sufficient to enable any reasonable citizen who read the press statement to deduce or believe that Nazlan was suspected of having committed a crime.
"That fact in itself could tarnish the image of an independent judiciary," she said.
Tengku Maimun also said at the time that the press statement was issued, there was significant buzz in the media that former prime minister Najib Razak's final appeal in the SRC International case was coming up for hearing before the Federal Court. The top judge said Najib had even relied on an argument of supposed bias by Nazlan and his former employment with Maybank as grounds to nullify his conviction.
Tengku Maimun sat on the panel with Court of Appeal president Amar Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim, Chief Judge of Malaya Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah and Federal Court judges Nallini Pathmanathan, Vernon Ong Lam Kiat, Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal and Rhodzariah Bujang.
She was delivering their decision online pertaining to two questions of law raised by lawyers Haris Fathillah Mohamed Ibrahim, Nur Ain Mustapa and Sreekant Pillai.
The questions were related to the powers of criminal invetigation bodies to investigate serving superior judges as well as the public prosecutor's power to institute proceedings against serving superior judges.
The lawyers filed a lawsuit on May 6 last year against MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki, MACC and the federal government after MACC opened an investigation paper against Nazlan following a report on an allegedly unexplained sum of more than RM1 million in Nazlan’s bank account. The lawyers argued that criminal investigation bodies and the prosecution could only commence investigation against a serving judge after the judge was suspended by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or removed by a tribunal.
Nazlan subsequently lodged a police report against an online portal which alleged that he was being investigated over unexplained wealth in his account.
He was the High Court trial judge who convicted and sentenced Najib to 12 years in jail and a RM210 million fine on seven charges relating to RM42 million in funds belonging to SRC International on July 28, 2020.
In the apex court's decision, Tengku Maimun also said that a set of protocols must be followed when a judge is investigated, including seeking leave from the chief justice before conducting the probe.
She said this was because the chief justice might know details that the criminal investigation body does not, and would also safeguard judicial independence.
She said criminal investigation bodies cannot of their own accord publicise or advertise the facts of an investigation or the contents of the investigation on a superior court judge without the approval of the chief justice, and the contents of the probe must remain confidential at all times.
She said judges were considered to be citizens of the highest moral character, adding that an "announcement of an investigation against a judge is enough to damage the image of the institution he serves".
The three lawyers were represented by counsel Malik Imtiaz and A Surendra Ananth while senior federal counsel Liew Horng Bin appeared for Azam, MACC and the federal government. Lawyer New Sin Yew appeared as amicus curiae for the Malaysian Bar.


Indonesia moves site of Asean military drills away from South China Sea

Indonesia has changed where it will host Asean's first-ever joint military exercise to a location away from the South China Sea where several countries including China have overlapping territorial claims, its military said on Thursday.
The non-combat drills for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) were originally set to take place in the southernmost waters of the South China Sea, which are also claimed by Beijing.
But the September 18-25 exercise will now be moved out of the strategic waterway altogether to the South Natuna Sea in Indonesian waters, said military spokesman Julius Widjojono.
"This exercise is focused not on combat, so it is best suited for the south that is in direct contact with the people," he said, adding the drills will be held in and around Batam island at the mouth of the Malacca Strait.
Asean's unity has for years been tested by a rivalry between the US and China that is being played out in the South China Sea, a conduit for about US$3.5 trillion (about RM16.3 trillion) of annual ship-borne trade. Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia have competing claims with Beijing, which asserts sovereignty over vast stretches of ocean that include parts of Indonesia's exclusive economic zone.
China claims sovereignty over the area via an expansive 'nine-dash line' based on its historic maps, which an international arbitration court in 2016 ruled had no legal basis.
Asean has been pushing to complete a long-awaited maritime code of conduct with China, and several of its members have had run-ins with Beijing in recent months.
The military of Indonesia, which chairs Asean this year, said the decision to move the location was an independent one and that there was "no intervention" from other countries.
It also said Cambodia and Myanmar did not respond to an invitation to a preparation meeting for the exercise held on Monday among Asean countries. Both Myanmar's junta leaders and Cambodia have close ties with China.


New cases climb to 563, two more deaths

Daily Covid-19 numbers continued to climb today with 563 new infections recorded, driving total confirmed cases to 16,220.In terms of local transmissions, which accounted for all but one, the bulk of new infections were reported in Sabah (291 or 51.7%). In Penang meanwhile, 141 cases were recorded from the remand prison cluster while 69 cases were reported in Selangor.In Kuala Lumpur, 27 cases were recorded, followed by Negeri Sembilan (12), Kedah (10), Perak (four), Johor (two), Putrajaya (two), Labuan (two), Sarawak (one) and Melaka (one).The one imported case recorded today was in Kuala Lumpur.Active cases now stand at 5,039 with 98 in the ICU and 29 in need of respiratory assistance.Two more deaths were also recorded, taking the virus toll to 159: an 85-year-old woman with a history of high blood pressure, heart problems and chronic lung disease; and a 48-year-old woman.However, 109 patients were also discharged from hospital, taking total recoveries to 11,022 or 67.9% of all cases.Meanwhile, six new clusters have been detected, in Kuala Lumpur (two), Sabah (one), Selangor (one), Johor (one) and Putrajaya (one).StateNumber of new cases *()Cumulative casesSabah2914,621Kuala Lumpur28 (1)2,782Selangor692,670Kedah101,679Negeri Sembilan121,081Johor2816Sarawak1752Pahang0385Penang141313Perak4303Melaka1274Kelantan0171Terengganu0157Putrajaya2119Labuan259Perlis038Total563 (1)16,220*() denotes imported cases


Uproar in Washington: Did US share evacuee names with Taliban?

Did the US military give the Taliban the names of Americans and Afghans waiting to be evacuated in order to facilitate the process? The idea, not entirely denied by President Joe Biden, had his opponents screaming in Washington on Friday.The controversy arose from a Thursday report by the respected Politico news website. Pressed by journalists, Biden did not rule out the possibility of names being provided to the Taliban.“I can’t tell you with any certitude that there’s actually been a list of names,” Biden said. “I don’t – there may have been – but I know of no circumstance.”He added, “It doesn’t mean… it didn’t exist, that, ‘Here’s the names of 12 people; they’re coming. Let them through.’ It could very well have happened.”That caused an uproar in Republican circles in the US capital.“Never in the history of this nation would we have ever thought that our own government would give the names of Americans to the Taliban,” said top House Republican Kevin McCarthy. “Why wouldn’t we have created a situation of safe passage?”Thirteen US troops and dozens of Afghans were killed in a suicide bombing at Kabul airport on Thursday, highlighting the troubled evacuation effort and shaking the Biden administration.The Pentagon has acknowledged being in touch with the Taliban to coordinate the mass evacuation, but the State Department hit back on Friday at the notion that anybody had been put at risk.“The idea that we are providing names or personally identifiable information to the Taliban in a way that exposes anyone to additional risk – that is simply wrong,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said.“We have developed and implemented effective tactics to be in a position to facilitate the safe passage of individuals to the Kabul airport,” he said.For example, Price said, “the vast majority of our locally employed staff are safely on the airport compound.“These are individuals (against whom) one might expect the Taliban would seek to exact some degree of retribution.”State Department officials said information on vehicles or convoys, such as license plates or arrival times at the airport, is sometimes shared.The officials, however, did not rule out that some names may have occasionally been given in order to facilitate the evacuations.


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Aukus, mental health of police on the agenda at Dewan Rakyat

Issues on the formation of Aukus, the trilateral security pact between Australia, the UK, and the US, and the mental health of members of the police force are expected to be discussed in Parliament today.
According to the order paper, Lim Guan Eng (PH-Bagan) will ask the defence minister about Malaysia's stance following the Aukus defence pact in which Australia will buy eight nuclear-powered submarines worth A$368 billion, and its impact on the security of Asean countries based on the Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality or Zopfan Declaration.
Lim will also ask if the eight nuclear-powered submarines will be allowed to operate in Asean waters.
The question will be raised during the Minister's Question Time, when Wan Hassan Mohd Ramli (PN-Dungun) will also ask the home minister about the measures taken to address mental health issues among the police, especially those who carry firearms.
During the oral question-and-answer session, Mohd Syahir Che Sulaiman (PN-Bachok) will ask the agriculture and food security minister about the ministry's efforts to expand the Sado cattle breeding activities by involving young and rural entrepreneurs.
Several bills will be tabled for a second reading after the question-and-answer session, including the Revision of Sentence of Death and Imprisonment for Natural Life (Temporary Jurisdiction of the Federal Court) Bill 2023.


UK transport union warns of ‘summer of discontent’ as further rail strike threatened

A British union warned on Tuesday the country could face a “summer of discontent” across its railways as thousands more workers are balloted for strike action in an escalating dispute over pay and conditions.The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) said on Tuesday it had issued notice of a ballot to more than 6,000 staff at Network Rail, the owner and infrastructure manager of most of the rail network in Britain.More than 50,000 workers belonging to the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) union are already due to walk out on June 21, 23 and 25, threatening a complete shut-down of Britain’s train network.The TSSA said the ballot was part of a dispute over working conditions, pay and job security.“We could be seeing a summer of discontent across our railways if Network Rail don’t see sense and come to the table to face the concerns of their staff,” TSSA General Secretary Manuel Cortes said in a statement.Britain faced widespread labour strikes in 1978-79 which became known as the “Winter of discontent”.The TSSA ballot closes on July 11 and could lead to strike action as early as July 25 if members vote in favour of it, the union said.


Tigers kill zookeepers in separate attacks in China

Two zookeepers have been killed by tigers this week at separate zoos in China, according to state media.In the first incident on Sunday, a 55-year-old keeper named Yang was mauled to death as he cleaned a tiger’s cage at a zoo in eastern Anhui province.Yang had been a tiger handler at the Zhanggongshan Zoo in Bengbu for nearly two decades, the state-run Global Times newspaper reported.On Tuesday, police shot two tigers dead after they mauled a zookeeper during feeding time and escaped their enclosure at a park in central Henan province. The keeper, surnamed Jia, was hospitalised but later died of his injuries.Authorities at Danjiang Peacock Valley, Xichuan County, evacuated guests and staff while police and forestry workers were called to the scene, state broadcaster CCTV reported.Attempts to anesthetise and trap the animals were unsuccessful. Fearing the tigers would reach the dense forest near the park, where they could pose a danger to local residents, police decided to shoot them, officials told the broadcaster.According to state-run Beijing News, the tigers were on loan from a circus in Suzhou, Anhui province, more than 600km away, and had been rented for a performance at Henan park.Officials in Suzhou said the use of tigers for performances has been banned since 2018, and no licence had been approved for their transport or use, the paper reported, adding an investigation would be held.Authorities in Xichuan are also investigating Danjiang Peacock Valley and have ordered the business to suspend operations, CCTV reported.The tiger attacks come just weeks after three leopards escaped from a park in Hangzhou.Park managers neglected to tell local residents and warn them of the danger for a week.Two of the leopards were caught but one remains on the loose, presumed dead.


India's Congress party to launch street protests against Gandhi's conviction

Members of India's main opposition Congress party will take to the streets on Friday to protest against leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction for defamation, party officials said a day after a magistrate's court sentenced Gandhi to a two-year jail term.
Gandhi, 52, was found guilty for a 2019 speech in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi. He made the comment while campaigning ahead of the last general election to debunk economic policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He was convicted by a court in the western state of Gujarat, which also gave him bail and suspended the sentence for one month.
That gives Gandhi time to appeal but he faces immediate disqualification from parliament following the conviction.
Two senior Congress leaders told Reuters that Gandhi will respect the local court's verdict and will not attend parliament.
"It is a fact that his membership stands disqualified for now but we will challenge the conviction in the court to ensure he can attend parliament proceedings," said a federal lawmaker who is also a Congress leader.
The current parliament session began on Jan 31 and is scheduled to conclude on April 6.
Officials in the Congress party said they are also depending on regional opposition parties to galvanise political support against the verdict.
"It is a critical political test for Gandhi and we are depending on regional parties to support the Congress and stand against Modi's party," said a second senior Congress leader on condition of anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to the press.
The president's office confirmed that Congress leaders have sought a meeting with President Draupadi Murmu to lodge a protest against the conviction with the top constitutional executive.


BN ready for GE15, says Zahid

Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says the coalition does not fear any political party and is ready to face the 15th general election.In a statement on Facebook, the Umno president said GE15 would be an important opportunity to reset the country’s political landscape, adding that political stability was key to ensuring that Malaysia moves forward from what he described as “damaging” situations since May 9, 2018.Zahid also said that the Johor election was important to ensure that stability returns to the state.“The Johor election is needed as there is political instability with the existing government having only a one-seat majority,” he said, adding that this has caused difficult situations, including in securing approval for motions to be passed in the state legislative assembly for the people’s benefit.He also said that the Johor government had been in a dilemma after being constantly threatened by a certain political party if its interests were not taken care of.“And so, before that political party all of a sudden presses the button and creates turmoil, it was much better that we pressed the button first,” he said.But he said there were also concerns that the political party could still “press the button” at the federal level if it loses the Johor state election.


60% of adults fully vaccinated in every state

Every state in the country had fully vaccinated 60% of their adult population against Covid-19 as of yesterday.The Klang Valley comprising Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya led with 110.9% of adults fully jabbed, taking into account undocumented residents, non-residents and a lack of updates to statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia since the last census.Sabah meanwhile was the latest state to cross the 60% line with 60.3%.A total of 20,202,624 people nationwide or 86.3% of adults have been fully vaccinated while 22,042,703 or 94.2% have received at least one jab, including of the single-dose CanSino vaccine.In terms of total population, 62% are fully jabbed while 72.1% have received at least one dose.A total of 329,163 doses of vaccine were administered yesterday, taking the cumulative number of vaccine shots given under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 43,696,743.


Israel defends booster shots despite WHO’s call for moratorium

Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Thursday that Israel was doing the world a “great service” by administering Covid vaccine booster shots, despite the World Health Organization’s (WHO) plea for a moratorium.Nearly 60% of Israel’s 9.3 million people have had two jabs, mostly of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, with the government recently rolling out a third shot for the over-60s.WHO has called for a moratorium on booster shots until at least the end of September in order to address inequalities in global dose distribution.When asked by AFP about WHO’s position, Bennett said that Israel was doing the world a service in testing the shot on its population.“Israel is going ahead here with something that dramatically contributes to global knowledge,” he said in a Facebook broadcast.Stressing Israel’s relatively small population that “doesn’t significantly affect the global surplus”, he said that the knowledge accumulated in the process would be “immediately shared with the entire world”.“Without us, the world wouldn’t know the exact efficacy levels of the booster shots, wouldn’t know the dates, how much they affect infections, how they affect severe illness,” he said.“In these aspects, we’re doing the world a great service, and the world is very happy that we’re taking the responsibility and lead on this matter,” Bennett said.‘Firing Delta variants’His remarks were part of a campaign to encourage some one million unvaccinated younger Israelis to get the jab, and for older people to receive the “great gift” of a booster shot.“It’s as if you’re walking around with an automatic rifle firing Delta variants at people,” he said of unvaccinated Israelis, warning of a lockdown that could affect the Jewish High Holidays next month if inoculation rates failed to rise.Since Sunday, Israel has been recording an average of more than 3,000 new coronavirus cases a day, with 250 people in serious condition – the highest since April.The rise in infections is a step back after its world-leading vaccine campaign drove down new Covid-19 cases from 10,000 a day to fewer than 100.More than 250,000 Israelis over the age 60, or over 20% of those currently eligible, had received a booster shot by Wednesday, the health ministry said.On of them was Shoshana, a 75-year-old resident of Jerusalem, who said that advanced age brings with it a more developed sense of responsibility.“Older people feel more empathy to others because of their life experiences and age,” she told AFP.“They also care for grandchildren and friends, so the vaccination is not only for them but also for those who are close and dear to them.”Shoshana, who received her booster shot Thursday afternoon, said that the elderly were more vulnerable to Covid, and with the million of younger people in Israel not vaccinated, “it’s up to us to keep ourselves safe”.Israel had lifted most Covid restrictions in early June, but began reimposing some of them last month following the resurgence of cases.From Sunday, unvaccinated people will be required to present a negative Covid test of less than 24 hours, the health ministry said Thursday, adding that health passes would be extended to children under 12 from Aug 20.


Ticked off again, Najib accuses Khairy of seeking publicity

Former prime minister Najib Razak today trained his guns on Khairy Jamaluddin after the science, technology and innovation minister gave a lengthy explanation for the second time this month in response to accusations that the government’s Covid-19 vaccination programme is slow.Khairy in his reply posted on Najib’s Facebook page had also taken Najib to task for cancelling an appointment for his own vaccination, which received a swift response from Najib.The former leader, who alongside PKR president Anwar Ibrahim claims that the government’s vaccination programme will not achieve the herd immunity target earlier than initially planned, resorted to posting screenshots of news reports which showed Khairy and Perikatan Nasional leaders saying they would prefer to give way to others despite being in the first phase of vaccines recipients.The move is seen as Najib trying to show that Khairy and other government leaders are out for publicity in delaying their vaccination.“Perhaps I need to hold a press conference first,” Najib said in a one-line response to Khairy’s explanation.Khairy, the minister in charge of Putrajaya’s massive vaccination programme, had previously said he would forego the Pfizer vaccine jab and wait for Sinovac, a move he said would convince sceptics of the efficacy of the Chinese brand.Phase One of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) began with the administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab.This was supplemented by the Sinovac vaccine, the first dose of which was given to Khairy at Hospital Rembau in Negeri Sembilan today.In his response to claims by Najib that Malaysia was lagging in its vaccination drive, Khairy revealed that Najib had cancelled his vaccination appointment on March 6 at his constituency of Pekan in Pahang.“At the same time, I hope Dato’ Sri will also be able to help encourage more people in Pekan to register for vaccination given that right now, only 13,020 residents (equivalent to 14.4 people per capita) in Pekan have signed up so far.“Don’t post and promote only on Facebook, but go down to the ground to encourage and boost registration.“Only with a high level of registration will PICK succeed in achieving its goal,” Khairy wrote.Khairy was among the Umno leaders who had been critical of Najib’s involvement in the 1MDB scandal, although he was forced to scale back when he was part of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.Following BN’s downfall in 2018, Khairy, who was the Umno Youth leader, said he regretted not continuing his criticism of Najib over the scandal.“After the election, I admit it was one of the shortcomings and weaknesses when Umno Youth did not continue to question or voice out on 1MDB,” he said in an interview with Astro Awani.