No plans yet to mix and match vaccine jabs, says health DG

The health ministry does not plan to mix and match Covid-19 vaccines yet due to a lack of adequate data on the matter, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah says.He said so far, the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) had not received any data, reports or evidence from vaccine companies on how vaccine mixing can successfully control Covid-19 infection.“We are still monitoring the situation, if there is a need to implement (vaccine mixing). For now, there is still no need for it.“Especially if you mix Western and Eastern vaccines, for example, Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Sinovac, there is no evidence that it is successful,” he said at a special media conference yesterday.Noor Hisham said the health ministry could not recommend the method if there was no evidence because it needs to ensure it is safe for the public.“Only when there are studies done can we advise whether to mix the vaccines or not,” he said.Thailand, as part of its latest immunisation strategy, reportedly intends to use the AstraZeneca vaccine as a second dose for those who received Sinovac as their first dose.Meanwhile, Noor Hisham said the country’s vaccination rate should be increased to 40% to reduce the number of new Covid-19 cases.He said this should be done immediately as Malaysia is currently in a critical period following the increase in infections to five figures.He said a high vaccination rate was also able to prevent a high number of fatalities, as seen in the UK where there was one death for every 50 people in January, when the percentage of the population vaccinated was lower.He said once the vaccination drive was expanded, fatalities there fell to one in 1,000 people with fewer people hospitalised, adding that it was important to be vaccinated to reduce the number of hospital admissions and those requiring ICU treatment.The country’s vaccination rate stands at 11.3% to date, he said, adding that vaccination has also been proven to reduce severe effects of Covid-19 infection.“Six weeks after Phase Two of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme involving senior citizens, those with comorbidities and persons with disabilities, we found that admissions for those aged over 60 and above have been reducing.“Instead, we see an increase (in cases) among those who are younger and those yet to be vaccinated,” he said.


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At least 15 wounded in two Jerusalem bomb 'attacks', officials say

At least 15 people were wounded in two separate explosions targeting bus stations in Jerusalem Wednesday, security and medical officials said, with Israel's public security minister calling them "attacks."
An explosion at a bus station at the western exit from Jerusalem wounded 12 people, two of them critically. A separate blast at another station a short distance away damaged a bus and wounded three people, the hospitals treating the casualties said.
The twin explosions struck half an hour apart, police said, noting sappers were at the scene with other forces "collecting evidence and scanning the area for suspects."
An AFP photographer at the scene said the blast had ripped a hole through a metal fence behind the bus stop, with an electric scooter and a hat lying on the ground.
The photographer said the second blast had torn through the side of a bus.
The Shaare Zedek hospital said it was treating six people who were wounded in the first explosion, two of them in critical condition, two seriously wounded, and two lightly wounded.
Hadassah medical centre said it was treating six people from the same blast, one moderate and five lightly wounded, and another three people lightly wounded in the second explosion.
Public Security Minister Omer Bar-Lev said he spoke with the police chief and was "briefed on the two attacks in Jerusalem."
Defence Minister Benny Gantz was holding consultations with the head of the Shin Bet internal security agency and senior military officials, his office said.
Violence has flared this year, particularly in the occupied West Bank, where the Israeli army has launched near-daily raids since a series of deadly attacks on Israeli targets earlier this year.
During the second intifada, or uprising, in the early 2000s, Palestinian militants planted bombs targeting Israelis at urban bus stations, including in Jerusalem.


Businesswoman tells court of 2am meeting between husband and Guan Eng

Businesswoman K Geethanjali Gausillia told the Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today that former Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng had visited her residence in Petaling Jaya in the early hours of the morning four years ago to discuss confidential matters with her husband.Geethanjali, 35, who is also a local film actress, however said she did not know what her husband, MG Gnanaraja, had discussed with Lim because he had never shared it with her.Recalling Lim’s visit in August 2017, Geethanjali said her husband woke her at about 2am and asked her to get ready as there were guests coming to the house.“I was informed by my husband that the (then) chief minister of Penang (Lim) had arrived. I woke my mother who was sleeping in her room. After getting ready, we went downstairs to meet YB Lim.“My husband then introduced me to Lim and another individual named Datuk Zarul. I can confirm that I knew Datuk Zarul because he had come to the house before to discuss matters with my husband,” she said.She told the court this when reading out from her witness statement on the first day of Lim’s corruption trial involving the Penang undersea tunnel and road projects in the state.Geethanjali, who runs a film-related and talent organisation business with her husband, said that during the meeting, Lim exchanged pleasantries and that they chatted casually before an individual asked her, her husband and her mother to join in a group picture with Lim.“I can confirm that Datuk Zarul took all the pictures, using his handphone to snap them in several areas around the house… it happened spontaneously. Datuk Zarul then sent the pictures to my husband.“As far as I remember, there were about six to seven pictures taken by Datuk Zarul at that time,” she said during examination-in-chief by deputy public prosecutor Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin.The first prosecution witness also told the court that after the pictures were taken, her husband asked her and her mother to leave because he (her husband) had to discuss confidential matters with Lim and Zarul.“We then left the area and went back to our rooms to continue our sleep. I confirm that after that I had no knowledge of what was discussed by my husband and YB Lim. My husband never shared information on (what was discussed between) the both of them.“As far as I remember, YB Lim had only been to my house once while Datuk Zarul had visited several times to discuss business matters with my husband. I know nothing of what was discussed, while I have never invited YB Lim as well, besides I am not a fan or supporter of YB Lim. I took a picture with him because my husband told me to do so for memories,” she said.During cross-examination by Lim’s counsel Gobind Singh Deo, the witness said her husband had many political acquaintances, many of whom had visited their home.In today’s proceedings, second prosecution witness, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) assistant superintendent Saadon Abd Samad, 34, also testified.According to the first amended charge, Lim was charged with using his position as the Penang chief minister to obtain gratification amounting to RM3.3 million, as an inducement for helping a company belonging to Zarul Ahmad Mohd Zulkifli secure the undersea tunnel project, valued at RM6.3 million.The offence was allegedly committed between January 2011 and August 2017 at the Penang Chief Minister’s Office.On the second amended charge, Lim is accused of soliciting bribes amounting to 10% of the profits from Zarul to be earned by the company as gratification for helping Zarul’s company secure the project.The offence was allegedly committed near The Gardens Hotel, Lingkaran Syed Putra, Mid Valley City between 12.30am and 2am in March 2011.The Bagan MP also faces two charges of causing two plots of land, worth RM208.8 million, belonging to the Penang governmentm to be disposed of to two companies, which are linked to the state’s undersea tunnel project.The offence was allegedly committed at the Penang Land and Mines Office, Level 21, Komtar, on Feb 17, 2015 and March 22, 2017.The trial before judge Azura Alwi continues tomorrow.


27 years after tower collapse, hill projects still on a slippery slope

When an entire condominium block in Ulu Kelang tipped over, killing 48 residents in 1993, it didn’t take long to determine the culprit behind the tragedy which made world headlines.The collapse of the block at Highland Towers, triggered by landslides, was blamed on land clearing at two nearby housing project sites, and a badly constructed retaining wall that was not properly maintained.Since then, scores of fatal landslides have occurred nationwide.One study notes 21,000 landslide-prone areas throughout the country, some 76% of which are in Peninsular Malaysia.In the Klang Valley, Ulu Klang, Hulu Langat and parts of Kuala Lumpur have been identified by SlopeWatch, a group which monitors slopes for signs of landslides and offers solutions for simple slope maintenance.There are some guidelines on slope management and hill development but no clear plan on what needs to be done when residents observe something unusual, or even dangerous, says Eriko Motoyama, the programme director of SlopeWatch.Motoyama, who specialised in slope engineering at the Public Works Department (JKR), said her group collects reports and does the necessary paperwork.But the process involving local authorities has been tedious.“Although we understand that local authorities have to deal with a lot of complaints and reports, they must understand that slopes don’t wait,” she told MalaysiaNow.She said an effective SOP is needed on the timeframe to acknowledge the report, inspection conducted and action to be taken.Just two years ago, the group reported a possible soil movement in Genting Highlands.The warning was not heeded.The Genting-Amber Court road in Genting Highlands, covered in mud and debris after heavy rain triggered a landslide last November. Photo: FacebookLast year, a landslide left the road leading to Amber Court, an apartment complex in Genting Highlands, thick with mud, rocks and debris following heavy rain.“Evidently no actions or precautions were taken by the respective local authorities,” Motoyama said.The Highland Towers incident changed the public’s mindset on the need to regulate slope development.In its aftermath, JKR set up its Slope Engineering Branch to oversee development in hilly areas.Gue See Sew, a geotechnical and engineering consultant, said numerous guidelines on policies for hill development had been introduced with more stringent conditions for approval.But he said slope engineering needs expertise among local authorities.Currently, it comes under JKR which is only responsible for government buildings and roads.According to Gue, there is no central agency to guide the 149 local authorities nationwide on slope safety.“We need to establish a dedicated agency for slope safety which will be responsible for mitigating landslides and overlooking development involving slopes,” he said.Gue said the available guidelines, one prepared by JKR and three by authorities in Selangor, Penang and Kuala Lumpur, were reactions to past incidents.He added that little had been learnt despite the series of tragedies, citing the example of Ulu Kelang where massive development projects are still underway.He also spoke of a lack of ground investigations and a need for knowledge on structural analysis and design, failings which he said were to blame for 60% of landslides.He said developers should engage competent engineers and contractors.Motoyama meanwhile sees two main flaws: the approval process and the manner in which projects are constructed.“Some projects such as roads and highways are under the purview of the federal government while residential and commercial properties are under the jurisdiction of the respective local authorities.“How do the authorities look into the qualifications of the contractors hired to handle slope development? Which guideline are they following?”


9 more deaths take toll to 551

Another 2,433 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 135,992.Selangor recorded 730 cases, of which 510 or 69.9% were from clusters and close contact screening.This was followed by Sabah (403) and Johor (321).Kuala Lumpur recorded 231 cases, Penang 189, Negeri Sembilan 144, Kelantan 103, Perak 80, Kedah 71, Pahang 41, Melaka 35, Terengganu 29, Sarawak 24, Labuan 17, Putrajaya 10 and Perlis five.Active cases stand at 27,332 with 171 in the ICU and 76 in need of respiratory assistance.Five more clusters were detected:1. Tapak Bina Cyber (Sepang, Petaling, Klang and Hulu Langat in Selangor; 67 cases)2. Texmile (Gombak in Selangor; 19 cases)3. Jalan Sibuga (Sandakan in Sabah; nine cases)4. Alor Durian (Tumpat and Kota Bahru in Kelantan; 17 cases)5. Wakaf Lanas (Pasir Puteh in Kelantan; 11 cases)Seven more ended, leaving 254 active clusters throughout the country.Another 1,277 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 108,109.However, nine more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 551.


Apex court sets 10 days in August for Najib’s final bid to escape jail

The Federal Court has fixed 10 days in August to hear Najib Razak’s final bid against his conviction and jail sentence for the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.The matter was announced in a letter dated April 29 made available to the media, signed by apex court deputy registrar Hafiizullaah [email protected] Md Salleh.The dates run from Aug 15 to 19 and 22 to 26.According to the letter, both parties – the defence and prosecution – have also been instructed to file their written submissions by July 31.On April 25, Najib submitted 94 grounds in his petition of appeal on why he should be freed of the charges of misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International funds.Among the grounds mentioned in the petition was that the Court of Appeal had erred in fact and/or in law, in affirming the High Court’s findings that the prosecution had proved a prima facie case against him on all seven charges and calling him for defence.On Dec 8, 2021, the Court of Appeal upheld Najib’s conviction, 12-year jail sentence and RM210 million fine for misappropriating RM42 million belonging to SRC International.Judge Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, who presided with Has Zanah Mehat and Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera, unanimously dismissed Najib’s appeal against the High Court’s decision on July 28, 2020.The Federal Court will be the final avenue for the Pekan MP to appeal against his sentence and conviction in the SRC International case.


FIFA bans head of African football from the game over corruption

The head of African football, Madagascan Ahmad Ahmad, has been banned from administering the game for five years by FIFA following an ethics investigation.Ahmad, who is president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), had intended to stand for re-election in March but the ban was announced as his campaign was about to kick off.In a statement on Monday, world football’s governing body, FIFA, said the independent Ethics Committee had found Ahmad guilty of offering and accepting gifts and other benefits, and misappropriation of funds.FIFA “sanctioned him with a ban from all football-related activity at both national and international level for five years”, it said.Ahmad, who was also fined 200,000 Swiss francs (RM900,000), declined to comment when contacted by the Reuters news agency.Ahmad’s first four-year term was clouded with allegations of financial wrongdoing and misconduct at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.He was detained by French authorities in Paris on the eve of the Women’s World Cup for questioning about a CAF equipment deal with a company that appeared to have little connection with football.“The investigation into Ahmad’s conduct in his position as CAF president during the period from 2017 to 2019 concerned various CAF-related governance issues, including the organisation and financing of an umrah pilgrimage to Mecca, his involvement in CAF’s dealings with the sports equipment company Tactical Steel and other activities,” FIFA said in its statement.An audit of CAF finances pointed to irregularities under Ahmad’s leadership. The report was ordered by FIFA while it effectively took over running the organisation for six months.CAF paid for 18 people, including Ahmad and the Muslim heads of some of the continent’s 54 national member federations, to travel on umrah pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.The CAF election is scheduled for March 12 next year in Rabat, Morocco.


Mercenary chief Prigozhin back in Russia, Belarus's Lukashenko says

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Thursday that the mutinous chief of Russia's Wagner group was still in Russia with thousands of fighters, but dismissed speculation that President Vladimir Putin would have Yevgeny Prigozhin killed.
Lukashenko helped broker a deal to end last month's mutiny, the gravest challenge to Putin in his 23 years in power, under which Prigozhin was supposed to stand down his mercenaries and move to Belarus in exchange for Putin dropping charges.
But in comments that raised questions about the deal, Lukashenko said Prigozhin and his fighters were still in Russia, and that it was possible they would not move to Belarus.
Lukashenko nevertheless said the deal had been complied with, and that he stood by his offer to host Wagner - a prospect that has alarmed neighbouring Nato countries - and would speak to Putin shortly.
Prigozhin "is not on the territory of Belarus," Lukashenko told reporters in Minsk's vast Independence Palace. "He is in Petersburg... perhaps he went to Moscow this morning."
Russian security services were presumably keeping a close eye on him, Lukashenko added.
Asked about earlier comments suggesting Putin had wanted to "wipe out" Prigozhin as the mutiny unfolded, Lukashenko said some in the Kremlin had wanted this, but that it would have unleashed civil war.
"If you think Putin is so malicious and vindictive that he will 'wipe him out' tomorrow - to say it in Russian - no, this will not happen," Lukashenko said.
"The fighters of the Wagner group are at their camps - their permanent camps - those where they have been located since they left the front."
Wagner's main camp is in southern Russia, at Molkino near Krasnodar.
Prigozhin had said his mutiny was not aimed at toppling Putin but at settling scores with Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov. He did not respond to a request for comment.
The 68-year-old Belarusian leader dismissed a question about whether Putin had been weakened by the crisis, but said he did not want to talk about the motivation behind the mutiny.
He said the situation had been so serious at its peak that Belarusian special forces had been ready to fly in to help defend Moscow.
"We, Putin and Lukashenko, allowed the situation to get out of hand - we thought it would all solve itself - but it didn't," Lukashenko said.
He said he had told Prigozhin, using the diminutive of his first name, Zhenya, that "Putin and I will defend Moscow".
Putin keeping his word, Lukashenko says
Lukashenko said Putin had known Prigozhin for 30 years, and that Wagner had been founded by Russia's GRU military intelligence service and was Russia's best fighting force.
The question of moving Wagner units to Belarus would depend on decisions by the Kremlin and by Wagner, he said, adding that he had spoken to Prigozhin by phone on Wednesday. "Putin is keeping his word."
Lukashenko said Prigozhin and Wagner intended to continue to work for Russia, and suggested that the mercenaries could atone for their sins by fighting on the hardest parts of the Ukraine front.
Wagner spearheaded the attritional nine-month battle for the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, but Prigozhin repeatedly accused the top brass of corruption and incompetence and cast the June 24 "march of justice" on Moscow as a protest against them.
Russian state TV on Wednesday launched a fierce attack on Prigozhin and said an investigation was still being pursued.
A business jet linked to Prigozhin left St Petersburg for Moscow on Wednesday and headed to southern Russia on Thursday, according to flight tracking data, but it was not clear if he had been on board. It was later tracked flying north again.
If Prigozhin does return to Russia with impunity, it will raise new questions about Putin's authority in the wake of the mutiny.
Putin told Asian leaders this week that the episode had shown Russian society to be more united than ever.
The Kremlin has declined to discuss Prigozhin's whereabouts.
"No, we do not follow his movements, we have neither the ability nor the desire to do so," Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Thursday, nevertheless confirming that Prigozhin's departure for Belarus was one condition of the deal.
Lukashenko said Belarus had offered Wagner some disused Soviet-era military quarters, adding: "But Wagner has a different vision for deployment, of course, I won’t tell you about this vision."
Lukashenko also said he did not see a Wagner presence as a risk, but that his army could benefit from Wagner's expertise.
If they came, he said, Wagner would not be used against Ukraine or any other neighbour as long as Belarus was not itself attacked.


Only one camp in Umno, says Zahid

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today said there was only one camp in his party: the "Umno Malaysia camp".
The deputy prime minister said this in response to allegation that there are three camps in Umno, each eyeing to contest the upcoming party election.
"There are no multiple camps. There is only one camp, Malaysia’s Umno camp," he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur.
It was alleged that there is a camp in Umno that supports Zahid, a camp that does not support him, and a camp that is neutral.
When asked whether he supports Noraini Ahmad in the contest for the post of Wanita Umno chief, Zahid said Noraini and her contender Shahrizat Jalil had an equal chance. Zahid said he would lead the delegation to introduce the candidates running for various posts in the party polls this year at the national level this weekend.
A total of 330 candidates are contesting the party polls this year: eight for the vice-president posts, 93 for the Supreme Council, two for Wanita chief and six for Puteri chief.
Sixty-one candidates are in the running for the Wanita executive council seats, 113 for the Umno Youth exco seats and 42 for the Puteri exco seats.
The election process for Umno office bearers will continue until March 18, although the posts of president and deputy president will not be contested.


In blow to PM Trudeau, queen’s representative in Canada quits after harassment allegations

Former Canadian astronaut Julie Payette, the country’s governor general since 2017, announced she would step down on Thursday after she was accused by current and former employees of creating a “toxic” workplace environment, CNN reports.The governor general is the Queen’s representative in Commonwealth countries with a largely ceremonial job such as swearing in governments and formally signing legislation, but can on rare occasions be asked to settle constitutional questions.In her resignation statement, Payette said that she took the allegations seriously although she did not formally apologise or admit to any misconduct.The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) last year reported employees accusing Payette of harassing and bullying them and reducing some to tears.As a result, the Canadian government hired an independent consultant to investigate and their report prompted Payette’s resignation this week.This is an embarrassment for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, having recommended her for the post, says Reuters.He released his own brief statement on Thursday, saying he had received Payette’s resignation. He did not thank her for her service.Trudeau said Canada’s chief justice will carry out the duties of governor until he makes a recommendation on a replacement to Queen Elizabeth.Had Payette not agreed to resign, dismissing her could have triggered a constitutional crisis in Canada, and would have mandated more formal involvement by the Queen.In 2017, when he recommended Payette to the Queen, Trudeau said she was “unquestionably qualified for this high office”.But Canada’s opposition leader, Erin O’Toole, accused the prime minister’s office of not vetting Payette thoroughly enough for the job. He said all political parties should now have a say in who replaces her.“The Governor General is the Commander in Chief of our Armed Forces and has an important constitutional role,” O’Toole said in a statement to CNN. “Considering the problems with his last appointment, the Prime Minister should consult opposition parties.”Trudeau is an avowed feminist, and officials said at the time that the appointment would advance the cause of women.Potential candidates for the job are supposed to be vetted by a special committee, a step Trudeau chose to ignore.Don Davies, a legislator for the opposition, said, “The colossal failure of Payette’s term falls squarely on his shoulders.”


China condemns US senators visiting Taiwan on military plane as ‘vile provocation’

China’s defence ministry on Tuesday denounced a brief weekend visit by three US senators to Chinese-claimed Taiwan on a US military aircraft as a “vile political provocation” that was irresponsible and dangerous.The three senators, Tammy Duckworth and Dan Sullivan of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Christopher Coons of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, visited Taipei for around three hours on Sunday where they met President Tsai Ing-wen and announced the donation of 750,000 Covid-19 vaccine doses for the island.Unusually, they travelled on a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III freighter, rather than an unmarked private jet as is generally the case for senior US visitors, reports Reuters.China’s defence ministry expressed its strong opposition to the trip and use of the military aircraft.“The US senators visited Taiwan by military plane, using the Taiwan issue to engage in a ‘political show’, challenging the one-China principle and trying to achieve the so-called goal of ‘using Taiwan to control China'”, it said. “This was an extremely vile political provocation.”Beijing says the democratically ruled island is part of “one China” and routinely denounces visits by foreign officials as an interference in its internal affairs.The US, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is its strongest international backer and main source of arms, to China’s anger.China believes Tsai is a separatist bent on declaring independence. She says Taiwan is already an independent country called the Republic of China, its official name.The ministry said the trip damaged the basis of Sino-US ties and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and was “extremely irresponsible and very dangerous”.The US must immediately stop any kind of official exchanges or military relations with Taiwan, it added.“If anyone dares to separate Taiwan from China, the Chinese People’s Liberation Army will resolutely fight head-on at all costs and resolutely defend the country’s unity and territorial integrity”.The South China Morning Post reports that on Monday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken signalled a possible resumption of trade and investment talks with Taiwan that have been stalled since the Obama administration, though he did not indicate any willingness to pursue the full-scale trade pact Taipei has been seeking.


Anwar pushes independent body to investigate enforcement personnel

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has asked the attorney-general to review a proposal for an independent body to investigate and take action on all complaints, accusations and misconduct involving enforcement agencies.
Anwar said this was to ensure that enforcement agencies do not conduct their own investigations into cases or complaints involving their officers or personnel.
He said the enforcement agencies include the police, customs department, immigration department and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
"I have asked the attorney-general to relook into the initial proposal so that there is a mechanism for all enforcement agencies.
"If there are special charges against MACC, immigration, police or customs officers, then there should be an independent body (to investigate), (maybe) in the form of a commission, I’m not sure yet.
"There has already been an instruction to the attorney-general to submit a proposal so that these enforcement agencies do not investigate their own, but there should be another independent body to do so.
"I don’t think this matter is complicated because there is already a preliminary proposal," he said during Minister’s Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was replying to a supplementary question from Gobind Singh Deo (PH-Damansara) on the government’s measures to ensure that investigations against officers of enforcement bodies such as the MACC are carried out independently.


About 40% of rubber plantations nationwide inactive or inconsistent, says Zuraida

About 400,000 hectares or 40% of the total rubber plantations operated by smallholders nationwide have been found to be inactive or not consistently producing rubber, says Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.She said if the all of the 150,000 smallholders of rubber plantations were managed efficiently and consistently, RM30 billion worth of rubber production could be generated.“Right now we estimate there are 40% whose results are inconsistent, sometimes active, sometimes inactive… as such, we want to coordinate these inconsistent rubber areas to ensure their production continues to be consistent to increase yields.“Among the reasons why these rubber plantations are inactive or production is inconsistent is because no one is tapping, smallholding owners are old and no one wants to manage the plantation,” she told reporters yesterday.She said the ministry and related agencies are looking for ways to resolve the issue, among others by creating cooperatives in the rubber plantation areas identified to bring smallholders under one entity.She said through this method, the cooperatives created could act to manage inactive or inconsistent rubber plantations so that rubber production could be optimised.“So this cooperative can explore and identify rubber plantations in the area and discuss with landowners so that the cooperative can take over the management of these inactive plantations,” she said.If all smallholders’ rubber production could be optimised, the country’s natural rubber and rubber products export revenue could be more than the RM71 billion recorded last year, she said.


Back to the basics after 2 years of pandemic-era school

An educationist has called for a comprehensive recovery plan to help tackle the problem of students who have fallen behind due to the closure of schools throughout the pandemic-era movement control order (MCO) periods.The move to shut down schools to help contain the spread of Covid-19 meant that lessons were disrupted for the better part of two years, to the detriment of academic progress, especially for students in rural areas and from low-income families.When classrooms reopened in March this year, for instance, there were some in Standard One who were still unable to read.Meanwhile, parents have voiced concern about the increasingly heavy syllabus for primary school students, and whether their children will be able to cope.Figures from the education ministry show that 21,316 students or 0.22% dropped out of school or were left behind in their classes from March 2022 to July 2021 – a period coinciding with most of the school closures.Anuar Ahmad said the country needs a national recovery plan for education in order to bring the problem to heel.“We need to go back to the basics of reading, writing and counting,” he said.“Make sure that these skills are mastered by every student.”Anuar, of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said such a plan should focus on curriculum reforms at the primary school level.He said schools must ensure that students at this level have at least a few skills under their belt, including a mastery of both the Malay and English language.If these skills are not grasped at the lower primary level, he said, problems will likely persist all the way to secondary school as well.“If we don’t resolve the problem at its root, students will face difficulties learning and lose their motivation when it is time to move on to the next level,” he said.“Their focus will slide, and they will end up failing.”Another problem for him is the structure of school curriculums which has remained unchanged since the 1970s.“There have yet to be any reforms,” he said. “We are still holding on to the old ways.“We want learning to be fun for students, so they will feel that what they learn is meaningful.”Giving the example of schools in developed countries, Anuar said pupils at the lower primary level should be given the chance to adapt and to learn basic skills before moving on to other matters.“They don’t need to be taught so many subjects,” he said. “Things like science and geography and general knowledge can be taught in Malay and English classes.“We can add on the elements when they reach higher levels, but maintain the number of subjects.”


Saudi denies Opec+ discussing oil output increase

Saudi Arabia on Monday denied a report that oil producers were discussing a production increase for their next meeting, saying a cut approved last month would stay in place until the end of 2023.
The Wall Street Journal reported earlier on Monday that Saudi Arabia, which co-leads the Opec+ cartel along with Russia, and other members were considering an "increase of up to 500,000 barrels a day".
But the official Saudi Press Agency said on Monday night that energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman "categorically denies" the report.
"It is well known, and no secret, that Opec+ does not discuss any decisions ahead of its meetings," SPA quoted Prince Abdulaziz as saying.
The next Opec+ meeting is scheduled for Dec 4.
An increase in production would partially reverse the cut of two million barrels per day announced by the bloc in October.
That move heightened tensions between Riyadh and Washington, its longtime ally, which derided it as akin to "aligning with Russia" in the Ukraine war.
More oil output would also come when prices are already falling.
World oil prices plunged more than 5% on Monday, reaching the lowest levels since January, on forecasts of a hit to Chinese demand.
Saudi officials have vigorously defended the recent production cut in the face of criticism from Washington, saying it was driven purely by market conditions and could change as the market changed.
Prince Abdulaziz reiterated that position on Monday.
"The current cut of 2 million barrels per day by Opec+ continues until the end of 2023 and if there is a need to take further measures by reducing production to balance supply and demand, we always remain ready to intervene," he said.


Appeals court rules coroner empowered to hear committal proceedings against ex-AG Thomas

The Court of Appeal today ruled that the coroner who heard the inquest into fireman Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim’s death has the jurisdiction to issue leave to commence committal proceedings against former attorney-general Tommy Thomas.In a unanimous decision, a three-member bench chaired by justice Suraya Othman said a coroner has the jurisdiction and power to hear and punish any kind of contempt, whether in the face of a court or out of court.She said the court also found no merit in the argument by counsel S Ambiga, representing Thomas, that a magistrate’s power to punish is limited to contempt in the face of the court alone, due to the words used in the provision.“In Paragraph 26 of the Third Schedule of the Subordinate Courts Act 1948, the words ‘power to take cognisance of any contempt of court’ are used to outline the sentencing for matters of contempt at the Sessions Court and the Magistrate’s Court.“Ambiga submitted to the court that the words meant the Magistrate’s Court only has the power to deal with contempt of court in the face of the court and not outside of the court. The cases cited by Ambiga were not applicable in Malaysia under Section 3 (1) of the Civil Law Act 1956.“Therefore, we find no merit in this appeal. Hence, we dismiss the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ (AGC) appeal on whether the Coroner’s Court has the jurisdiction to hear and decide on committal proceedings,” said the judge who sat with justices Abu Bakar Jais and Hashim Hamzah.The decision was delivered during a virtual proceeding today. Present were Thomas’ counsel, Ambiga and Zainur Zakaria, while lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla acted for Adib’s father, Mohd Kassim Abdul Hamid.After the ruling was delivered, Zainur said they had been instructed to appeal to the Federal Court and applied for the appellate court to stay the other appeal proceedings by Kassim, pending disposal of the appeal at the Federal Court.Haniff however informed the panel that they reserved the right to raise an objection before the Federal Court on whether Thomas could even appeal to the apex court.He said this was because Thomas’ appeal actually was against the Coroner’s Court decision, which sits at a level below the High Court.Suraya allowed the application to stay Kassim’s appeal, adding that this was because an appeal to the Federal Court involved the important point of the lower court’s jurisdiction to hear contempt proceedings.The other two appeals brought by Kassim included an appeal against the High Court’s decision setting aside the coroner’s decision to give him leave to initiate committal proceedings against Thomas.In his application, Kassim claimed that Thomas had insulted the court through an affidavit filed by the AGC on April 3, 2019, regarding the cause of his son’s death.Adib, 24, who was a member of the emergency medical rescue services at the Subang Jaya fire and rescue station, was seriously injured in a riot at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, USJ 25, on Nov 27, 2018.He died on Dec 17 after 21 days at the National Heart Institute.On Sept 27, 2019, the Coroner’s Court ruled that Adib’s death was a result of a criminal act by more than two people.


British PM orders new curbs to slow more infectious virus strain

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Saturday announced a “stay at home” order for London and southeast England to slow a new coronavirus strain that is significantly more infectious.Early data suggests the new strain could be “up to 70% more transmissible”, Johnson said at a televised briefing.He ordered new restrictions for London and south-eastern England from Sunday, saying that “residents in those areas must stay at home” at least until Dec 30.The measures will mean around a third of England’s population cannot travel or meet other households for Christmas.The aim of the new rules is to slow the spread of the new strain to areas where it is not yet prevalent.Johnson and his scientific advisers warned the public that the virus can now spread much faster than previously and that existing measures were not enough to control it.It was a dramatic step-up after Johnson said last week that it would be “inhuman” to “cancel Christmas” by banning family gatherings, though he urged people to have small celebrations.“It is with a very heavy heart I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned,” Johnson told the nation.“Alas when the facts change, you have to change your approach.”The announcement came as Britain has seen rising cases and hospital admissions this month.“This virus has taken off, it’s moving fast, and it’s leading inevitably to a sharp increase in hospital admissions,” said Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser.On Saturday there were 27,052 new cases in the UK, slightly less than on Friday.Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford also announced new restrictions from Sunday, with festive “bubbles” – limited gatherings of selected contacts – allowed only for Christmas Day.In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a ban on travel to other parts of the UK for Christmas and said families in Scotland should mix only on Christmas Day.Currently people in Northern Ireland are set enter a new lockdown after Christmas.’23 different changes’Under the new lockdown measures that take effect from Sunday morning, those living in the most severely affected areas will be advised not to go to areas with lower restrictions under the country’s tiered system, and not to stay overnight. They can still travel for work, however.Non-essential shops, gyms, cinemas, bowling alleys, casinos, hairdressers and nail bars will be closed in London and other affected regions, including Kent, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.Only one person from one household will be allowed to meet one person from another household in a public place, outside.London Mayor Sadiq Khan said that the capital “faces its toughest Christmas since the war”, referring to World War II.He urged the government to increase testing, give more compensation for lost income and make mask wearing compulsory outside in busy public spaces.The business community criticised the measure, with Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, warning that “many thousands of jobs could be at risk”.Vallance said that the new coronavirus strain “contains 23 different changes”, including variants that are associated with how the virus binds to cells and enters cells.By the week beginning Dec 9, the new strain was accounting for 60% of cases in London, he said.“We think it may be in other countries as well,” he said.England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty said earlier Saturday that the UK had informed the World Health Organization of its findings about the new coronavirus strain.Downing Street said that it had also informed the leaders of the other regions of the UK.There was no evidence that the new strain causes more severe illness or higher mortality, Johnson said.“Equally, there’s no evidence to suggest the vaccine will be any less effective against the new variant,” he said.


Global tech titans threaten to quit Pakistan over new curbs

Global technology giants including Google, Facebook and Twitter are threatening to quit Pakistan after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government granted blanket powers to government media regulators to censor digital content.Critics say the new powers, granted on Wednesday, are aimed at curtailing freedom of expression in the conservative Islamic nation.The Asia Internet Coalition said it was “alarmed by the scope of Pakistan’s new law targeting internet companies, as well as the government’s opaque process by which these rules were developed”.Under the new regulations, social media companies or internet service providers face a fine of up to US$3.14 million (RM13 million) for failure to curb the sharing of content deemed to be defamatory of Islam, promoting terrorism, hate speech, pornography or any content viewed as endangering Pakistan’s national security.Social media companies are now required to provide Pakistan’s designated investigation agency “with any information or data in decrypted, readable and comprehensible format”, according to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper.The coalition said, “The draconian data localisation requirements will damage the ability of people to access a free and open internet and shut Pakistan’s digital economy off from the rest of the world.”It added that the new rules will make it difficult for its members “to make their services available to Pakistani users and businesses”.There was no immediate comment from Khan’s government, which has repeatedly claimed it is not against freedom of expression.The Associated Press reports that Khan’s office had previously said the new rules were made after observing a delayed response in the removal of anti-Pakistan, obscene and sectarian-related content by social media sites since 2018, when Khan’s government came into power.Under the new regulations, social media companies are required to remove or block any unlawful content from their websites within 24 hours after being reported by Pakistani authorities.The latest development comes weeks after Khan’s government temporarily banned the video-sharing platform TikTok, saying it took the step after receiving complaints of “immoral and indecent” content.Khan recently wrote to the leaders of Muslim countries calling on them to act together against Islamophobia and blasphemy.


Johor cops arrest 8 over sale of fake vaccination certs

Johor police have arrested eight individuals including three workers at a private clinic for alleged involvement in the sale and purchase of fake Covid-19 vaccination certificates.Johor police chief Kamarul Zaman Mamat said the suspects, five of whom were buyers aged between 24 and 42, were nabbed on Monday and Tuesday following a report lodged by the owner of the clinic on Sunday.He said the police were now in the midst of tracking down 30 other individuals who had bought digital certificates without getting a jab, including a 44-year-old man believed to be the mastermind of the activity.“The sale of the fake Covid-19 vaccination certificates is believed to have been active over the past month, targeting those who refuse to be vaccinated or anti-vaxxers.“It is learnt that each buyer has to pay between RM300 and RM650 to get the fake certificate, while the runner or the middleman will get a RM125 commission for each certificate sold,” he told a press conference at the Johor police contingent headquarters today.Kamarul said two clinic workers had been remanded for four days, while a remand order against the other would be sought later today to facilitate further investigation into the case.He also called on those who had bought the fake vaccination certificates without getting the jab to surrender themselves to the police.The case is being investigated under Section 420 or Section 511 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum jail term of 10 years, with a fine and whipping upon conviction, as well as Section 22 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act, which carries a maximum of two years’ jail, a fine, or both upon conviction.


Banks feel impact as Asian markets hit by contagion fears

Asian markets slid Thursday, led again by banks, with contagion talk sweeping across trading floors owing to fears about European giant Credit Suisse.
Already jittery investors have been in panic mode since the collapse of two regional US banks over the weekend sparked a sell-off across equities and ramped up concerns of a global recession.
While commentators have said the crisis should be contained and most major lenders had little exposure to the firms – Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank – news of trouble at Credit Suisse once again sent traders running for the hills.
Switzerland's second-biggest bank tanked nearly 25% after Saudi National Bank – its main shareholder – said it would "absolutely not" up its stake in the firm.
That came a day after its annual report cited "material weaknesses" in internal controls at the firm, which has been hit by a series of scandals in recent years.
The Swiss central bank insisted that capital and liquidity levels at the lender were adequate, but stressed it was ready to make liquidity available to Credit Suisse.
Credit Suisse later announced it would borrow nearly US$54 billion (RM243.54 billion) to "support" the group.
The developments sent shivers through markets as memories of the global financial crisis came flooding back.
Bank shares were hammered, with Britain's Barclays, Germany's Commerzbank and Wall Street titan JP Morgan diving around 5%.
Embattled midsized lender First Republic Bank collapsed more than 20% in New York and it has now lost more than 70% over the past week.
Markets in London, Paris and Frankfurt lost more than 3%.
The fear spread to Asia, where Japan's Sumitomo Mitsui Financial and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial shed more than 4% apiece, while South Korea's Hana Financial Group gave up nearly 3% and HSBC dropped more than 2%.
Broader markets were also in the red.
Hong Kong gave up more than 2%, while Tokyo, Sydney, Shanghai, Seoul, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei, Manila and Jakarta were also well down.
"Fear has once again gripped the markets, concerned about a repeat of past crises – one in particular, for obvious reasons – and the implications for the financial system and the global economy," said Oanda's Craig Erlam.
"Of course, this is natural when so little is known about the situation and what it ultimately means for the health of the rest of the system.
"In the absence of facts, everyone is left with little choice but to speculate and frankly, what little commentary we've had hasn't really helped. Quite the opposite, in fact."
Crude at 15-month low
The crisis has compounded problems for investors, who were already in a downbeat mood as they contemplated more Federal Reserve interest rate hikes to rein in stubbornly high inflation.
There is now much debate about whether the bank will continue with its tightening campaign as the collapse of SVB has been widely linked to the sharp rise in borrowing costs over the past year.
Some commentators expect officials to lift rates once more next week but possibly hold afterwards, while there is a growing belief that it could even announce cuts before the end of the year.
And now there is talk of the European Central Bank also calling a halt to its hiking campaign, despite inflation remaining elevated.
There was a little good news, however, from data showing US wholesale prices fell on-month in February, confounding expectations for a rise and raising hopes that could filter through to consumer prices.
Still, there remains a lot of uncertainty among investors, who are increasingly worried about a global recession.
"Markets could get messy amid the fallout from Silicon Valley Bank's collapse, alongside ongoing uncertainty over the future path of the global economy and interest rates," Marty Dropkin of Fidelity International said.
"The global equity rally since the beginning of the year has faded after a bruising pullback last month with persistently sticky inflation and hot labour markets forcing market participants to change their outlook on the path of interest rates."
The prospect of a downturn has battered oil prices as traders worry about the impact on demand. Both main contracts edged up slightly Thursday but that came a day after they tanked around five percent.
The commodity remains wallowing around 15-month lows.
"We seem to be walking on thin ice right now, with the fragile risk environment still trying to stabilize from the SVB fallout," Yeap Jun Rong at IG Asia said.
"There seems to be a lack of bullish catalysts for oil prices to tap for now."


French unions urge show of force as Macron's pension overhaul nears finale

Garbage piled up in Paris, liquefied natural gas operations were suspended and rail services cancelled on Wednesday, with trade unions urging a show of force as President Emmanuel Macron's pension overhaul neared its finale in parliament.
A broad alliance of unions has called for an eighth day of street protests across France since mid-January to contest Macron's plans to raise the retirement age by two years to 64.
The pension reform bill passes to a joint parliamentary committee where lawmakers from the lower and upper chambers will on Wednesday seek a compromise text before a final vote in both the Senate and National Assembly on Thursday.
Macron's camp faced a last-gasp scramble to secure enough votes in the assembly, where it lacks its own absolute majority and will rely on the conservative Les Republicains party for support, though its ranks are divided on the issue.
"In the National Assembly, there will not be an easy vote, nor will there be panic, government spokesman Olivier Veran told Europe 1 radio station.
Macron and his government say changes to the pension system, one of the most generous among industrialised nations, are necessary to keep the pension budget in the black. At stake for the president are not just financial gains, however, but also his reformist credentials.
Ruling party officials acknowledged the numbers were tight.
If too tight for comfort, the government may resort to a procedure known as 49:3, which would allow it to push the text through parliament without a vote. That would risk anger on the streets but avoid a possible vote of no confidence in parliament were the vote to fail.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne told the assembly on Tuesday that she wanted a vote to take place, while the unions held their ground.
"This reform is unfair, brutal, and overwhelmingly rejected by public opinion," Laurent Berger, head of the reform-minded CFDT union told BFM TV.
More than 6,000 tonnes of rubbish have built up in Paris as municipal waste collectors extended their walkout into a second week. France's energy sector has also been hit hard.
Blockages at four liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals have been extended, Engie subsidiary Elengy and trade sources said.
Several LNG ships heading to France have changed course to other terminals in Britain, the Netherlands and Spain, since the strike action started and closure of the terminals for another week would significantly impact France's ability to export gas to neighbouring countries.
TotalEnergies said deliveries from its oil refineries and fuel depots remained blocked. Esso's Fos refinery was also unable to move products out.


No plans for nationwide MCO, says Ismail Sabri

The government currently has no plans to implement a nationwide movement control order (MCO) but will proceed with targeted movement restrictions, Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said today.Ismail said the targeted MCO could also be enforced following the Hotspots Identification for Dynamic Engagement (HIDE) system which would indicate specific areas with large cases of Covid-19 outbreak (hotspots).“If there is a hotspot area, we will enforce an MCO according to the village, subdistrict or district that has a large number of outbreak cases. The smallest scale (of the MCO) that will be implemented is the enhanced MCO, but it will still be done in a targeted manner.“However, various possibilities can occur because according to data from the health ministry, if there is no intervention from the government, cases can reach up to more than 5,000 after the (Aidilfitri) celebration and can rise to 10,000 cases in July and August,” he said at a press conference in Jerantut.He was asked to comment on the enforcement of a nationwide MCO following the surge in number of new cases with 4,498 logged yesterday, apart from the concern of the people that a nationwide MCO would be imposed at the last minute before the Aidilfitri celebration.Ismail said a meeting held by the technical committee of the National Security Council (NSC) this morning had discussed the possibility of an MCO during the Aidilfitri celebration, adding that a decision on the matter would be announced this evening or latest by tomorrow to allow the people time to prepare.


4 remanded over assault for fasting

Police in South Klang arrested four individuals yesterday for allegedly assaulting two male workers for fasting.In a statement, district police chief ACP Shamsul Amar Ramli said a report was received at 4.16pm at the Klang police station.He said the victims were beaten in turns on their backs with a cane by their employer and another worker.“Preliminary investigations revealed that the incident happened when the man was at his employer’s home in Bukit Tinggi, Klang, and started because the employer scolded the victims for fasting,” he said.Shamsul said the employer also took a pistol from one of the victims and pointed it at them while threatening and insulting them.The four individuals were remanded for five to seven days from today. The remand order was issued by magistrate Solehah Noratikah Ismail.Shamsul said the case would be investigated under Sections 324, 506 and 298 of the Penal Code.“Police would like to stress that this case does not involve any racial issues,” he added.He also advised the public against abusing social media and sharing provocative statements that could inflame racial sensitivities and affect the harmony among races, warning that stern action would be taken against anyone acting beyond the boundaries of the law.


Japanese officials call for Mount Fuji crowd control

A surge in demand for rest cabins on Mount Fuji has led Japanese officials to call for crowd control measures including potential entry restrictions during this summer's climbing season.
Local authorities and tourism associations near the famous volcano warned that an "unprecedented" number of people were expected to tackle its steep symmetrical slopes this year.
They raised safety concerns in a petition submitted on Monday to the governor of Yamanashi region, where the sacred mountain's most popular hiking trail is located.
Crowds could be larger than usual due to the relaxation of Covid restrictions, including the return of foreign tourists, and the 10th anniversary of the peak's designation as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
"Judging from the current status of reservations for nearby cabins, we estimate there will be an unprecedented number of hikers on Mount Fuji this summer," the petition said.
Japan's highest mountain is capped with snow for most of the year and is open to climbers from July to September – drawing hundreds of thousands who often trek through the night to see the sunrise.
Those unable to book a mountain cabin may climb straight to the summit without stopping to rest, which "could increase the risk of altitude sickness and hypothermia", warned the group of officials.
If numbers exceed a certain limit, entry restrictions should be considered "even for just a short amount of time", they said, without specifying what the maximum should be.
Busy trails also raise the risk of rockfalls, an official from the city of Fujiyoshida, one of the six municipalities behind the petition, told AFP on Tuesday.
"We're all worried that this year's Mount Fuji hiking season will create a terrible situation," said the official, who declined to be named.
She said she was especially worried that tourists from overseas, who are not necessarily aware of the treacherous nature of Mount Fuji, may ascend the peak unprepared.
"We really want them to be careful. There are deaths every year," she said.
"It's not that easy, hiking Mount Fuji."
The 3,776m active volcano is about two hours from central Tokyo by train.
But it can be seen for miles around, and has been immortalised in countless Japanese artworks, including Hokusai's world-famous "Great Wave".


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Australia PM could launch inquiry into secret ministries saga

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday said his government could consider an inquiry into former prime minister Scott Morrison being secretly sworn into key ministries during the coronavirus pandemic.
Morrison, who stepped down as leader of the Liberal party after losing a general election in May, was secretly sworn in to five key ministries during the pandemic, which represented an unprecedented assumption of powers, it emerged this week.
The action has drawn criticism from the Labor government and Morrison's own party, but the former prime minister has defended the moves on the basis that he felt responsibility for the nation in the pandemic was his alone.
On Sunday, Albanese said the government would receive advice on Monday from the solicitor general, the country's second highest law officer, on the legality of Morrison's actions.
Albanese indicated the government would also consider an inquiry and reforms to ensure the actions could not be repeated.
"We'll examine all of those issues after we receive the solicitor general's advice. I am running a proper cabinet government, that has proper processes, and we'll give full consideration to it," Albanese told Sky News television.
He said while the solicitor general would advise on legal issues, there also were broader issues that needed to be probed.
"There's separate questions about the functioning of our democracy, about conventions and whether any conventions have been overturned, and whether there's a need for any reforms required to ensure that something like this can never happen again," the prime minister said.
Albanese previously said Morrison had attacked the Westminster system of government by secretly appointing himself to the portfolios, which included home affairs, treasury, health, finance and resources between 2020 and 2021.
Morrison has said he did not "take over" the ministries, after being sworn in by the governor general, and no ministers were interfered with except on one occasion, where he rejected a resources project.


There are solid engineering reasons why Bezos’ rocket design caused giggles

Blue Origin founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos flew to the edge of space this week in his own rocket. Unfortunately, video footage of the blast off caused outbreaks of the giggles around the world.The New Shepard rocket had a bulbous passenger capsule sitting atop a tall, narrow booster shaft. The overall effect as it thrust upward into the sky was even more phallic than other rockets.Social media users were quick to point out the craft’s suggestive design and wonder whether that meant its wealthy owner was compensating for something.But engineers say New Shepard’s characteristic shape was designed to optimise cabin space for up to six passengers and maximise stability when coming back to Earth and landing upright.Pedros Llanos, professor of spaceflight operations at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University said, “The main reason the design looks like this is because Jeff’s first goal is to send people to space, so everything revolves around maximising cabin volume.”As a future commercial venture carrying paying passengers, this makes sense, says Business Insider.“Jeff also wanted to have the biggest windows in space so everyone could have an awesome view.” Llanos said. “Everything on Jeff’s rocket is optimised to go suborbital. If it had gone orbital the design would’ve been much different.”While most spacecraft resemble, in part, male genitalia, New Shepard’s wide mushroom-like capsule – and the skinny girth of the booster underneath – are the driving source of recent innuendo.Blue Origin engineers tested more than 100 configurations for the capsule shape before settling on one that starts wide at the base. The bulbous capsule also helps reduce drag on the rocket.Given that the capsule is the first thing to cut through the air as New Shepard ascends skyward, the nose cone is rounded to reduce drag, Llanos said.The capsule needed to stay stable on descent, too – it detached from the New Shepard booster in the atmosphere and fell for four minutes before deploying parachutes and delivering Bezos and passengers safely to the ground, in a vertical landing. That’s why engineers had to make the bottom so wide.“The more base it has, the better it’s going to land,” said Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. “A capsule shape with a narrower base would have been less stable during reentry.”Since Bezos’ rocket was only aiming for the Kármán line – an imaginary boundary 62 miles above sea level, where many experts say space begins – its engineers cut down the height of New Shepard’s booster which emphasised the rocket’s phallic profile.Blue Origin’s next rocket – named New Glenn – looks more like a bullet than a penis to most people.McDowell said there are other rockets that have capsules wider than their boosters – known as “hammerhead” rockets.United Launch Alliance’s Atlas V rocket, which will fly Nasa and Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft to the space station on July 30, has a hammerhead profile.


Myanmar’s lagging health system gets boost from army of volunteers

Myanmar has not been hitting the headlines with reports of its Covid-19 numbers like Indonesia or the Philippines have, but it is quietly fighting its own battle with the virus.The country’s coronavirus infections are soaring, and the antiquated and underfunded health facilities are among the world’s worst.The health system, such as it is, relies on thousands of volunteers to fill the gaps left by the government.Until recently, the country seemed to have escaped the runaway numbers other countries have been reporting, but a current surge in infections has resulted in the death toll rising to 371 of nearly 17,000 cases.According to Reuters data, Myanmar’s death toll has doubled in eight days, that is faster than any other country recording more than five deaths.Nearly 50,000 people, including patients, their close contacts and returning migrant workers undergoing quarantine are being housed wherever they can be crammed in, including in schools, monasteries and vacant government offices.Most of these places, rife with infection, are staffed by unpaid volunteers wearing whatever personal protective clothing they can get their hands on.Without the volunteers, deaths would skyrocket most agree.Myanmar has imposed a broad lockdown to try to stop the virus from spreading, and volunteers are supposed to keep away from their families after they start work at their assigned location.It’s a stressful and exhausting life.Kyi Myint is staying with his team of 15 in a Buddhist temple in Yangon. “This is not the time to get depressed,” he said. ”We are helping as much as we possibly can, but the situation is not good. Our ambulances and crews can’t even get a break.”Across the city, volunteer Zar Ni, 29, is struggling with lack of sleep. “I usually get just an hour or two’s sleep whenever I can. At first I feared I would be infected but I no longer do.”The government is insisting that national elections will go ahead as scheduled on Nov 8.


AirAsia flight diverted after snake spotted onboard

An AirAsia flight en route to Tawau from Kuala Lumpur on Feb 10 was diverted to Kuching after a snake was spotted onboard.A video showing the reptile moving inside the overhead light panel on the plane has since gone viral on social media.AirAsia chief safety officer Liong Tien Ling, in a statement today, confirmed the matter, describing it as a very rare incident that could occur on any aircraft.“As soon as the captain was aware, he made the decision to divert the aircraft to Kuching as a precautionary measure to fumigate the aircraft,” he said, adding that the pilot had taken appropriate action.Liong said the flight would depart for Tawau as soon as possible.“The safety and well-being of our guests and crew are always our top priority. At no time was the safety of guests or crew at any risk,” he said.


Vaccination rate accelerated in line with Covid situation, says Khairy

With Malaysia’s per capita vaccination rate now among the fastest in the world, the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) is seen as an important shield in the fight against the virus and in achieving herd immunity in the country.Coordinating minister for the immunisation programme, Khairy Jamaluddin, when explaining the programme in the Dewan Rakyat today, said the percentage of the country’s population which had received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine had surpassed some developed countries like Japan, Australia, South Korea and New Zealand.He said the immunisation programme, involving an allocation of RM5.8 billion, initially targeted 80% of the population to receive the vaccine by February next year. However, he said this was brought earlier to December this year after taking into account the current developments.“The duration has been further shortened to this October,” said Khairy, who is science, technology and innovation minister.Malaysia recorded its highest number of daily Covid-19 vaccinations yesterday, at 553,871 doses nationwide.Khairy attributed the success of the programme to the involvement of various parties through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, including for the operation of vaccination centres (PPVs) which involved health and non-health workers.As of July 22, he said, there were 2,313 PPVs of various types and capacities operating nationwide involving 6,133 volunteers who are non-health workers.He also thanked the parliamentary members for their assistance in helping their constituents to register for the vaccination, as well as to provide transportation for them to go to the PPVs.On the number of people who had registered for PICK, he said the percentage was still low, at 61.7% of the total Malaysian population compared to the target of 80%.He said as of July 26, 20.13 million Malaysians had registered for vaccination with 18.8 million aged 18 and above.“Based on these statistics, it is clear that the number who registered is still low compared to the PICK target of 80%. If we look at the statistics on the vaccination registration in several states, the percentage is lower than the threshold value set under the National Recovery Plan for a state to move from one phase to another.“The total adult population who is registered is 80.5%, with those aged 60 and above totalling 3.5 million people,” he said, adding that 89% of the senior citizens who are registered have received at least one dose of vaccine.Based on the total number of vaccines received, which was 26.38 million, Khairy said the Klang Valley covering Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya had received the highest number of vaccine doses, totalling 9.09 million since the immunisation programme was implemented until July 31, followed by Sarawak (3.65 million) and Johor (2.06 million).To date, six types of vaccines have passed the evaluation of the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Division and obtained conditional registration approval from the Drug Control Authority (DCA). They are Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), Comirnaty (Pfizer), CoronaVac (Sinovac), AstraZeneca and Convidecia. (CanSino).Another two types of vaccines – Covilo (Sinopharm) and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) – have also received conditional approval from the DCA.


School closures still ‘last resort’ despite virus variants, says WHO

Schools should only close as a last resort while research is under way into whether the new coronavirus variants affect children differently, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.The debate on shutting schools during the Covid-19 pandemic has been revived by the emergence of more contagious virus mutations.WHO said research had begun looking at the factors that may put children at risk, the long-term health effects on those infected, and the impact of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 disease.“The arrival in late 2020 of new more transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2 requires additional analysis by sex and age to measure how and if the new variants impact children differently,” it said.“If it is found that children are more affected, public health social measures may need to be adapted.”Here is a summary of WHO’s special focus on Covid-19’s impact on children and schools, issued Wednesday:WHO’s conclusions– “School closure should be implemented as a last resort, be temporary and only at a local level in areas with intense transmission.”– Authorities should check for new guidance, “particularly with respect to the appearance of new and possibly more transmissible variants”.– In low-transmission areas, schools are unlikely to drive infection; in areas with widespread transmission, protective measures in schools are essential.– Schools need outbreak prevention and management plans, including on ventilation, hand and surface cleaning, communication with parents, mask use and physical distancing.– Children aged 12 and older “should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults”. Physical distancing can be achieved by limiting class sizes, alternating shifts and limiting mixing of classes.– Stronger prevention measures might be necessary in secondary schools, and adolescents should limit their exposure risk outside school.– Teachers “are more likely to be infected” outside schools than inside.– During school closures, remote learning should be set up, regular schools services such as meals and immunisation should be maintained, while mental health support should be enhanced.Data and 2020 findings– Under-18s represent 29% of the global population but only 8% of reported cases last year.– They are more likely to have mild or asymptomatic infection and under-20s accounted for only 0.2% of Covid-19 deaths.– Studies suggest that among children, under-10s are less susceptible and less infectious. Adolescents aged 16-18 transmit the virus as often as adults.– “The longer vulnerable children are out of school, the less likely they are to return,” said WHO.– School closures have a negative impact on children besides their education, including their physical and mental health.


PN's motion on Anwar's visit to Saudi Arabia rejected

A motion brought by Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's recent trip to Saudi Arabia has been rejected, the Perikatan Nasional lawmaker said in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Wan Ahmad Fayhsal said this after receiving a response from the speakers' office.
He said his attempts to raise questions related to the visit at the Minister's Question Time this morning were also rejected.
"So I ask what other channels I can use in the Dewan Rakyat to ask the foreign ministry to explain what happened in Saudi Arabia last week," he said to deputy speaker Ramli Mohd Nor.
Kota Bharu MP Takiyuddin Hassan meanwhile asked the government if it would use Rule 14(1)(i) of the Dewan Rakyat to provide clarification to the House and the people in general.
He said the matter raised by Wan Ahmad Fayhsal was one of public interest.
"Everyone wants to know what really happened," he said.
"The motion was rejected, the questions were rejected – what else can we do in the Dewan Rakyat?"
Questions were raised after Anwar's delegation to Saudi Arabia was unable to meet with de facto leader Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and King Salman Abdul Aziz.
Responding to Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, Ramli asked him to refer to Rule 43 which states:
"The chairman of the meeting or the chairman of the committee is responsible for ensuring that the rules of the meeting or committee are respected, and his decision regarding any matter of the meeting's rules cannot be put forward for reconsideration and cannot be reviewed by the meeting except by issuing a separate motion for that reason.
"This kind of proposal is not intended to be issued by the notifier more than two days in advance."


UK study finds mRNA Covid-19 vaccines provide biggest booster impact

Covid-19 vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna that use mRNA technology provide the biggest boost to antibody levels when given 10-12 weeks after the second dose, a British study published on Thursday has found.The “Cov-Boost” study was cited by British officials when they announced that Pfizer and Moderna were preferred for use in the country’s booster campaign, but the data has only been made publicly available now.The study found that six out of the seven boosters examined enhanced immunity after initial vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine, while all seven increased immunity when given after two doses of AstraZeneca’s vaccine.“A third dose will be effective for many of the vaccines we’ve tested and in many different combinations,” Saul Faust, an immunologist at the University of Southampton and the trial’s lead, told reporters.The study found that a full dose or half dose of Pfizer or a full dose of Moderna gave a very effective boost to both antibody and T-cell levels, regardless of whether the person initially received Pfizer or AstraZeneca.When AstraZeneca, Novavax, Johnson & Johnson and Curevac were given as boosters, they increased antibody levels for either initial vaccine, albeit to a smaller degree. However, while Valneva boosted antibodies in people initially vaccinated with AstraZeneca, it did not provide a boost for Pfizer.The study found that booster shots also helped to generate a broad T-cell response against the Beta and Delta variants, which may play a key role in longer-term protection.“T-cell (response) does seem to be broader against all the variant strains, which gives us hope that a variant strain of the virus might be able to be handled, certainly hospitalisation and death, if not prevention of infection, by the current vaccines,” Faust said.The study pre-dated the spread of the Omicron variant of concern, but Faust said he had shared samples with the UK Health Security Agency to generate data on Omicron as well.


Singapore AG threatens action against MalaysiaNow, 2 others over report on suit by Malay inmates

Singapore’s attorney-general has threatened contempt of court action against MalaysiaNow and two others over a report on a racial discrimination lawsuit by a group of Malay death row inmates, prompting a strong response from rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL).LFL and Singapore lawyer M Ravi were also named by the AG in a letter to the prominent human rights advocate yesterday.“It is difficult to understand this disproportionate and heavy-handed response from the Singapore government over a mere news article on the filing of a lawsuit,” said LFL adviser N Surendran in a statement.“Clearly the Singapore government is extremely fearful of any public discussion of racially discriminatory practices in the city-state.”MalaysiaNow reported on Aug 31 that 17 prisoners sentenced to death for various drug offences were seeking a court declaration that the Singapore government had acted with discrimination and bias in their prosecution due to their Malay ethnicity.The prisoners named Singapore’s AG as the defendant, accusing him of breaching a constitutional guarantee on equal treatment under the law.One of the prisoners, Rahmat Karimon, is a Malaysian citizen who is represented by LFL.In their joint affidavit spanning some 100 pages, they said that their investigations, trials and convictions under the Misuse of Drugs Act had been arbitrary and based on the “irrelevant factor” of their ethnicity.Surendran said this was not the first time Singapore had threatened criminal sanctions or legal action against Malaysian entities exercising freedom of speech within Malaysia.He recalled a similar threat by the Singapore government against LFL for publishing details of brutality in hangings in Changi prison.“Singapore’s repeated attempts to reach across the causeway and silence critics here, shows disregard for Malaysia’s sovereignty and utter disrespect for free speech, open public discourse as well international human rights norms,” he said.Surendran added that Ravi, who is internationally known for his pro bono advocacy in death penalty cases, had been hit by Singapore with “multiple professional disciplinary complaints over arguments he had made in court on behalf of death row inmates”.He urged Putrajaya to make the necessary representations to Singapore and to do what is needed to protect its citizens carrying out activities legal under Malaysian law.“This bullying against Malaysian carrying out peaceful activities within Malaysia can no longer be tolerated.“We further urge the Singapore government to immediately withdraw the threat of contempt action against Ravi, MalaysiaNow and LFL. Singapore should defend the lawsuit by the 17 prisoners in court in the usual way, and not exert state power to intimidate the litigants, lawyers, activists and news media,” he said.Early last year, Singapore’s home minister K Shanmugam had instructed the city-state’s anti-fake news agency to issue a letter to LFL to amend a statement on its website, accusing the group of spreading falsehoods over revelations of brutal practices during the execution of inmates in the high-security Changi prison.LFL had dismissed the directive, saying Singapore had no business interfering with the freedom of Malaysians.


Scientists round on UK over plan to end Covid curbs

The UK government’s plan to scrap day-to-day pandemic restrictions in England next week is reckless and has no basis in science, international experts warned on Friday, with one arguing it amounts to premeditated murder.Prime Minister Boris Johnson said this week it was “highly probable” the worst of the coronavirus pandemic was over as he pressed ahead with Monday’s reopening, despite the Delta variant spreading out of control.He has said the UK can reopen because two-thirds of adults are now fully vaccinated, but England’s Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned that infection rates were on track to reach “quite scary” levels.International scientists including advisers to other governments had brutal words for Johnson.“I’ve written that I believe that the strategy of herd immunity is actually murderous,” US scientist William Haseltine said after an emergency discussion among experts about the UK plan.Aiming for herd immunity would mean pursuing a policy in the knowledge that it would lead to many thousands of deaths, he said.“It is a disaster as a policy,” he added.The UK government denies it is pursuing a policy of “herd immunity” by letting the Delta variant rip, but concedes that daily infection rates could surge to 100,000 in the weeks ahead, which would put further pressure on hospitals.“I don’t think we should underestimate the fact that we could get into trouble again surprisingly fast,” Whitty said on Thursday, urging the public “to take things incredibly slowly” as restrictions ease.From Monday – dubbed “Freedom Day” by some media – the government will lift most restrictions on public gatherings in England and allow businesses such as nightclubs to reopen.Mandates covering face masks and work from home will be lifted as Johnson promotes a new approach of personal responsibility, although he has also urged people not to “throw caution to the winds”.But that is just what Johnson is doing with a policy of allowing the virus to spread, “infect people, make them ill, and have them die”, according to professor Gabriel Scally at the University of Bristol.The government’s stated approach of lifting controls now before any winter surge of respiratory disease is marked by “moral emptiness and epidemiological stupidity”, he said.‘Pingdemic’The devolved governments of Scotland and Wales set their own health policy and will keep in place a legal requirement to wear face coverings in enclosed spaces such as shops and on public transport. Northern Ireland looks set to follow suit.The scientists attending Friday’s online meeting warned that England was falling out of step not just with its neighbours in the UK but with the rest of the world.The meeting was organised by the authors of a protest letter published by medical journal The Lancet last week that originally carried 122 signatures.Another 1,400 scientists have since added their names.“In New Zealand we’ve always looked to the UK for leadership,” said Michael Baker, professor of public health at the University of Otago in Dunedin.“You have a remarkable depth of scientific knowledge. You’ve done remarkably well in vaccine development and rollout. Remarkable clinical trials that we’re drawing on,” he said.“And that’s why it just seems so remarkable that you’re not following even basic public health principles here.”Professor Shu-Ti Chiou, former head of Taiwan’s Health Promotion Administration, said she was “very concerned” that younger age groups and clinically vulnerable people were left exposed by the UK plan.“In our culture there is a saying that it is unethical to take the umbrella away from people while it’s still raining,” Chiou said.“And it’s actually raining very hard.”The surge in infections sweeping Britain led to more than 530,000 people being instructed to self-isolate by a government-run app in the week to July 7, the highest total since January, according to latest data.Some companies such as carmaker Nissan have been losing staff en masse after they were pinged by the app – in a brewing crisis described by UK newspapers as a “pingdemic”.Butchers, another industry hit hard, have even warned of national meat shortages unless the app is made less sensitive.


Factory task force urgently needed in Selangor, says industry group

The group representing company owners nationwide has called on the Selangor government and federal authorities to put aside their political differences and ensure that infections in the manufacturing industry in Selangor are controlled, saying many are staring at the probability of closing down their business due to the prolonged lockdown.The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) also proposed that Putrajaya urgently set up a dedicated joint task force to manage the Covid-19 crisis in factories in the state as well as in Kuala Lumpur during the current enhanced movement control order (EMCO) period.“This dedicated task force should only focus on these two areas whereby the local authorities could provide details of the factories while the federal authorities work on the screening and vaccination of those working at those factories,” said MEF president Syed Hussain Syed Husman.He said without such a task force, it would take a long time to achieve herd immunity.Selangor formed its own Covid-19 task force last year under the leadership of former health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.But the state has consistently reported the bulk of daily cases, sparking concerns over the effectiveness of its Covid-19 containment measures.Syed Hussain said a joint task force should be able to track down workers to quickly address infections, with the aim of allowing all factories and businesses to re-open.He said Selangor’s many illegal factories should also be part of the vaccination drive.In 2020, it was estimated that there were over 5,600 illegal factoriesin Selangor and the Klang Valley.“These illegal factories should also be identified and their workers screened and vaccinated. If we don’t then the issue will not be addressed,” said Syed Hussain.“We must be bold to accept that these legal and illegal factories exist, and they should be the focus of the proposed dedicated task force.”MEF, which has repeatedly voiced opposition to the continued forced closure of businesses, warned that both employers and their workers were victims of the current situation.“Large multinational companies based in Selangor and KL are also concerned that the prolonged lockdown will affect supplies to international markets.“In fact, all those factories that comply strictly with the SOPs should be allowed to operate without any more delays,” said Syed Hussain.


Tokyo Olympics boss refuses to resign over sexist remarks

Tokyo Olympics chief Yoshiro Mori apologised but refused to resign on Thursday after making sexist remarks that prompted outrage in Japan.Mori’s comments, in which he said women speak too much in meetings, are the latest headache for organisers already battling public disquiet about the pandemic-postponed Games.The 83-year-old former prime minister triggered further criticism when he admitted “I don’t speak to women much” in a hastily organised press conference called to make his apology.And while Mori said his initial remarks were “inappropriate” he became defensive when questioned, insisting he had heard complaints that women speak at length.Mori is reported to have said Wednesday that “board of directors meetings with many women take a lot of time”, according to the Asahi Shimbun daily.“When you increase the number of female executive members, if their speaking time isn’t restricted to a certain extent, they have difficulty finishing, which is annoying,” he was quoted as saying.Mori, who is known for his gaffes, did not dispute the report and told reporters he wanted to “retract” his comments.“What I said… went against the spirit of the Olympics and Paralympics, and I recognise that it was inappropriate,” he said.“I will reflect deeply on this. I would also like to retract what I said. I would like to apologise to everyone who was offended.”But he added that he was “not thinking about resigning” and insisted he was responding to comments he had heard about women speaking for too long.“I hear those things often,” Mori said.“I don’t speak to women much recently, so I wouldn’t know,” he added.“You are asking all these questions because you wanted to write funny stories, aren’t you?”The comments sparked a furious reaction in Japan, with the phrases “enough already,” “misogyny” and “we demand Yoshiro Mori resigns” all trending on Twitter.‘It’s shameful’Mori told a newspaper earlier Thursday that his wife had given him a “thorough scolding” over his comments.He made the remarks to members of the Japan Olympic Committee, some of whom were reported to have laughed in response.The JOC decided last year to aim to have 40% female board members, but as of November, there are just five women among the board’s 24 members.“We have about seven women at the organising committee but everyone understands their place,” Mori is reported to have told JOC members.A government spokesman declined to be drawn on calls for his resignation, but JOC member and former judoka Kaori Yamaguchi called Mori’s comments “unfortunate”.“Gender equality and considerations for people with disabilities were supposed to be prerequisite for holding the Tokyo Games,” the Sports Hochi newspaper quoted her as saying.“Please stop,” tweeted Renho, a prominent Japanese opposition politician who uses one name.“It’s shameful,” she added, pointing out the Olympic Charter’s commitment to “practising sport, without discrimination of any kind”.While ranking highly on a range of international indicators, Japan persistently trails on promoting gender equality, ranking 121 out of 153 nations surveyed in the 2020 global gender gap report of the World Economic Forum.Mori has a history of making controversial remarks, and made waves earlier this week by insisting the pandemic-posted Games would go ahead this summer “however the coronavirus (pandemic) evolves”.The comments came with polls showing around 80% of Japanese oppose holding the Games this year, and as several parts of Japan are under a virus state of emergency.On Thursday, a popular Japanese comedian described those remarks as “incomprehensible” and said he would no longer take part in the Olympic torch relay.


Pejuang looks to bag 36 seats in GE15

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says his party Pejuang aims to win 36 seats in the 15th general election.Mahathir, who founded the party earlier this year, said the number would not be enough for Pejuang to form the government but would allow it to determine who should.“I think we can be in the position to join either (Perikatan Nasional or Pakatan Harapan) coalition.“If they can accept our conditions, then we will join them,” he told a press conference in Putrajaya yesterday.Mahathir also claimed to have a list of 18 MPs from Sabah and Sarawak who were already on Pejuang’s side.“They are not from our party but they are friendly to us and believe in the same principles,” he said.Adding that Pejuang would work closely with these MPs, he said he also hoped to get enough support from those in the peninsula.


Covax raises US$2.4 billion to combat jabs shortfall

The Covax vaccine programme secured another US$2.4 billion from donors on Wednesday, but underlined it was still struggling to get enough doses to help poorer countries fight the Covid-19 pandemic.The scheme is trying to get enough vaccines for 30% of the population in 92 of the poorest participating territories – 20% in India – with donors covering the cost.But despite raising more than the US$2 billion it was looking for, the programme’s leaders said the major challenge was getting the doses after supplies from the Serum Institute of India (SII) plant dried up.“Our early secured supply has faced serious, severe disruption as a result of the terrible second wave in India that is consuming all of that country’s production – to the point where by the end of June we’ll be facing a shortfall of 190 million doses,” said Seth Berkley, chief executive of the Gavi vaccine alliance.Covax has already delivered nearly 80 million doses to 127 territories, with AstraZeneca shots making up 97% of doses supplied so far – the rest being Pfizer-BioNTech.The SII, producing AstraZeneca doses, was to have been the backbone of Covax’s supply chain. However, New Delhi restricted vaccine exports to combat the devastating domestic surge.SII said last month it was targeting resuming Covax deliveries by the end of the year.But the plant’s chief executive Adar Poonawalla was more optimistic on Wednesday, saying: “As soon as the situation in India improves, we hope to resume supplies to Covax over the next few months.”Timing ‘crucial’At Wednesday’s meeting, countries pledged to donate more than 54 million vaccine doses to lower-income nations to try to bridge the supply problems.“We need all countries that have doses to share a portion of them with Covax now, so we can get them into the arms of those that are most at risk,” said Berkley.The total number of shared doses pledged now stands at more than 132 million.“The critical issue is going to be the timing and trying to get those as soon as possible,” Berkley told reporters.The virtual donors’ summit was co-hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Gavi chair Jose Manuel Barroso.The US$2.4 billion raised brought the total sum available to procure vaccines to nearly US$9.6 billion, said Barroso.“We have achieved the goal of securing at least 1.8 billion doses” for the poorest 92 territories, Suga added.The new financial donations included US$800 million from Japan, US$300 million from the private sector, US$185 million from Canada, US$140 million from Switzerland and US$120 million from France.Value of vaccinesCovax is co-led by the World Health Organization, Gavi and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (Cepi).Cepi chief Richard Hatchett said the value of Covid-19 vaccines in breaking chains of transmission, preventing hospitalisation and saving lives was now “indisputable”.But, he added, the deadly surge in India was a “sobering and terrifying reminder of what this virus is capable of”.Covax was set up to combat the likelihood of rich countries buying up most available vaccine doses – which is what has happened.Overall, nearly two billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been injected in at least 215 territories around the world, according to an AFP count.But some 38% of the doses have been administered in high-income countries accounting for 16% of the global population.And just 0.3% of them have been administered in the 29 lowest-income countries, home to 9% of the world’s people.


Philippines banning all travellers from 19 countries until mid-January

The Philippines will ban all travellers from 19 countries until mid-January in an attempt to keep out a new variant of the coronavirus, its transport ministry said on Tuesday.The regulation will be in effect from midnight Dec 29 to Jan 15 and covers Filipinos and foreigners arriving from the flagged countries, the ministry told reporters in a group text message.Flagged countries now include France, Australia, Canada, Germany, South Africa, Singapore and Japan.The Philippines previously imposed and later extended a flight ban from Britain until mid-January following the more contagious variant of the Covid-19 virus being first detected in England.The new variant has not yet been detected anywhere in the Philippines, reports Reuters.With more than 470,000 infections and over 9,000 deaths, the Philippines has the second highest number of Covid-19 cases and casualties in Southeast Asia, after Indonesia.Health officials said the travel ban could be expanded to include more countries should those report the presence of the new variant at any time.President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday extended partial coronavirus restrictions in the capital Manila until the end of January to prevent the spread of infection following Christmas and holiday festivities.In a national address, Duterte placed the capital region, his hometown Davao City and eight other areas under partial quarantine measures for the entirety of January. Less stringent restrictions will be enforced for the rest of the country.“Stay home if it is really possible, if you can. It is for your own good,” Duterte told the country.


Virus cases surge in Tokyo as govt expands restrictions

Tokyo reported another large jump in virus cases on Thursday, again shattering records, as the government expanded restrictions to eight more regions just days before the Olympics ends.Tokyo is already under a virus state of emergency but is seeing an exponential growth in cases, driven by the more contagious Delta variant.On Thursday, the city reported 5,042 cases, up from 3,865 a week earlier, and 1,979 the week before that.Daily case numbers have also broken records nationwide, topping 14,000 for the first time on Wednesday.“Infections are spreading with a speed we have never experienced before,” Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a virus task force meeting on Thursday.“With the rapid increase of cases, the number of patients in serious condition, which had been contained, is growing,” he warned.Japan’s virus outbreak has been comparatively small overall, with around 15,000 deaths and no harsh lockdown measures, but only around a third of the population is fully vaccinated.Six parts of the country are under a virus emergency, which bans restaurants and bars from selling alcohol and asks them to close by 8pm.Other parts of Japan are under so-called quasi-emergency measures, with the government expanding those restrictions to another eight areas on Thursday.The measures also limit opening hours and alcohol sales, but experts have questioned whether any of the restrictions are sufficient.“At this point in time we really need to introduce some other kind of measures in order to tackle this situation,” warned health expert Koji Wada, a professor at Japan’s International University of Health and Welfare.The spike comes with the Olympic Games in full swing in Tokyo, taking place largely without spectators.Organisers have reported 353 cases among Games staff, officials, teams and media since July 1.But they insist there is no evidence of infection spreading from the Games into Japan.


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