Najib’s lawyer protests court’s ‘national embarrassment’ remark

The lead counsel for Najib Razak said he was disappointed by the remarks by one of the judges who rejected the former prime minister’s appeal today describing the RM42 million transfers from SRC International as a “national embarrassment”.Muhammad Shafee Abdullah said the remark would affect the perception of his client.“I think it was unnecessary, and that it could cause some serious elements of perception on Najib, considering that the entire conviction and sentence has been stayed.“That is something very disappointing,” he said, hours after Najib lost his appeal to overturn his conviction for seven charges of power abuse, criminal breach of trust and money laundering related to the transfer of RM42 million from SRC International to his private bank accounts.Delivering the judgment today, Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, one of the three appeals court judges who unanimously maintained the High Court’s verdict on Najib, referred to a defence argument during the trial which said that loans totalling RM4 billion from the government’s Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP) to SRC International, from which the RM42 million to Najib originated, were approved in the name of national interest.“There was no national interest when RM42 million was transferred into Najib’s accounts, only national embarrassment,” Karim said as he read out the judgment brief today.Shafee said since the defence’s argument about national interest was already rejected and not pursued, the remark was unnecessary.Shafee said there were several “errors” committed by High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali in convicting Najib.He said they include the panel judges’ finding that instructions for the transfer of funds out of SRC International had valid signatures, despite the defence claiming they were forged.“Of course the Court of Appeal, being an appellant court, is entitled to make a judgment no matter what. As you can appreciate, when a court of law made a binding decision, no matter how wrong… we have to accept, no matter how difficult it is, we have to swallow humble pie,” said Shafee.The court in its summary judgment today said signatures whether in hard copy or digital form, or scanned or photocopied, were acceptable in banking practice, as long as the signatories agree to the transfer using their sample signatures.Shafee also questioned the court’s dismissal of Najib’s claim that the money in his accounts was a donation from the late King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia.Najib’s defence had tendered four letters purportedly written by one “Prince Saud Abdulaziz Al Saud” on behalf of King Abdullah, showing that the former prime minister was promised donations from Saudi Arabia.But judge Nazlan had dismissed the claim, saying it was a “weak fabrication” by the defence, and listing 10 problems with the letters tendered.“We too found this Arab donation defence untenable,” the appeals court said today.


Malaysia to procure Pfizer jab for kids after green light by US panel for 5-12 year olds

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today said that Malaysia will proceed with the procurement of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children, with other options like Sinovac to be taken into consideration.In a Twitter post, he said 82.4% of teenagers had been partially vaccinated against the virus while 62% are fully vaccinated.“This will mean #ReopeningSchools safely,” he added.“With FDA panel recommending Pfizer jab for 5-12 yo, Malaysia will go forward with our procurement of Pfizer for kids. We will also look at other options like Sinovac.”A medical panel of US government advisers endorsed the Pfizer jab for children aged five to 11 earlier this week, saying the known benefits of the shots outweigh the risks.The US Food and Drug Administration is expected to give the formal nod for the jab soon.Pfizer itself said last week that its vaccine was more than 90% effective in preventing symptomatic Covid-19 among children aged five to 11.Malaysia’s Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for teenagers was launched on Sept 8.Khairy previously said that it was among the fastest adolescent Covid-19 vaccination rollouts in the world.


Sweden U-turns on face masks in virus fight

Sweden on Friday did a U-turn on face masks, recommending they be worn on public transport at peak times, having previously resisted their use in the fight against Covid-19 except in healthcare.Throughout the pandemic the country has stood apart from other nations by shunning lockdowns, and being one of the few holdouts in recommending widespread mask use, even after the World Health Organization (WHO) changed its advice in June.Announcing several new measures, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven told a news conference the Public Health Agency was now “recommending face masks and that they should be used on public transport at certain times”.The country’s health officials have repeatedly been questioned on this reluctance but Johan Carlson, director of the Public Health Agency, stressed Friday they maintained that face masks should not be considered a substitute for keeping physical distance, and the recommendation was limited to situations were that was impossible.“We don’t think it will have a deciding effect, but in this specific situation it can have a positive effect,” Carlson said, adding that wearing them in the street did not seem to be significant.In addition to the face mask recommendation, Lofven said that as of Dec 24, the maximum number of people allowed to share a restaurant table would be limited to four and restaurants and bars would not be allowed to sell alcohol after 8pm.“The situation unfortunately continues to be very serious. The spread of infection is high and the situation in healthcare is very strained,” Lofven said, urging people to take precautions and limit their Christmas celebrations.The government said that caps on the number of visitors to stores and gyms would be introduced, and warned they could be closed if it was not effective.Hospitalisations exceed April peakSwedish officials said earlier this week that the number of covid hospitalisations had topped a peak registered in April, with more than 2,500 admissions.The number of deaths in the country of 10.3 million reached 7,993 on Friday, with more than 500 people in the past week and nearly 2,000 since the beginning of November.Cited initially worldwide for its softer approach to fighting the pandemic, Sweden has tightened preventative measures in recent months.As cases multiplied, authorities urged people to limit social interactions to immediate family or a few friends.A ban on public gatherings of more than eight people took effect last month.Contrary to media reports, the country never targeted so-called herd immunity as part of its official strategy.But health officials did argue that widespread infections earlier this year should weaken a second wave, until numbers started climbing in mid-October.Rather than clamping down now, Lofven said the government was pursuing a long-term strategy because “people would not put up” with a strict lockdown.The government is preparing a one-year “pandemic law” that could limit the number of people in public places and regulate businesses and services by restricting opening hours or forcing them to close.


Sorry.


Trailer driver in NSE crash had 13 traffic summonses, police say

The trailer driver involved in the accident that claimed four lives at KM277.1 of the south-bound North-South Expressway yesterday had 13 previous records for traffic offences, police say.
Perak police chief Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the 34-year-old driver had traffic summonses ranging from 2008 until last year, three of which were related to road accidents.
"Police have arrested the trailer driver and he will be remanded today to assist in the investigation under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless driving," he said in a statement.
He added however that the man's urine test had come back negative for drugs.
Mior said the police received an emergency call at 2.45pm yesterday and that the findings of the investigation revealed that the unloaded trailer, which was heading towards Bukit Beruntung, Selangor from Taiping, had crashed into the rear of a car with four family members in it. "The impact caused the trailer and car to plough into five other vehicles. The other vehicles were badly damaged but the drivers and passengers escaped unhurt," he added.
He urged those who had witnessed the accident to contact the investigating officer, Mohd Tarmini Che Hassan, at 013-5949441 to assist in the investigation.
The accident killed retired policeman, Rahim Ramli, 60; his wife, Siti Petimah Omar, 59; and their two daughters, Nor Hadirah, 28, and Nor Hamizah, 27.


Take your time, Umno tells PAS on being friends

Umno today said it would not press PAS for a decision on whether the Islamist party will continue its cooperation with Umno.Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said he was confident that PAS would prioritise its ties with Umno over Bersatu.“It is a friendship which started earlier than 2019, when we were against Pakatan Harapan, at a time when PPBM (Bersatu) was in PH with DAP and PKR,” Ahmad said, referring to the Muafakat Nasional charter signed by Umno and PAS.The Umno general assembly is likely to endorse the plan by its president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to cut ties with Bersatu.Zahid today repeated his call for PAS to rethink its position in the Perikatan Nasional coalition.PAS previously said that it would not ditch Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, while offering to play the peacemaker between Bersatu and Umno.


Junta says Suu Kyi broke secrets law as international pressure rises

Myanmar’s ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been accused of breaking a colonial-era official secrets law, her lawyer said, as Britain ramped up sanctions against the junta and the UN Security Council condemned the deaths of hundreds of civilians.The newly unveiled charge came amid growing international outrage over the Feb 1 coup and the military’s subsequent clampdown on protesters that has left at least 535 people dead.After two days of back-and-forth negotiations with China, Russia and the rest of the Security Council, members on Thursday unanimously “expressed deep concern at the rapidly deteriorating situation” in Myanmar.The council “strongly condemned the use of violence against peaceful protesters and the deaths of hundreds of civilians, including women and children”, they said in a statement, initiated by former colonial power Britain.London earlier announced sanctions on the Myanmar Economic Corporation, a conglomerate controlled by the military that Washington has already blacklisted.In addition to sanctions, London will also stump up US$700,000 towards UN Security Council efforts to document serious human rights violations in Myanmar.“Two months on from the start of the coup, the Myanmar military has sunk to a new low with the wanton killing of innocent people, including children,” British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab said in a statement.International powers have sought to pile pressure on the military by hitting its sprawling business interests, which include the lucrative jade and ruby trade.Earlier, Suu Kyi appeared by video link in court in the capital Naypyidaw, where she faces a raft of charges that could see her barred from political office.The hearing dealt with administrative aspects of the case including the formal appointment of eight defence lawyers.“Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s physical condition was good,” according to the lawyer who saw her on screen, her legal representative Khin Maung Zaw told reporters.He later told AFP that the Nobel laureate has been accused of breaking an official secrets law in a lawsuit filed March 25.‘Wanton killing’Internet firms were ordered to cut wireless services, provider Ooredoo said, in the latest move to suppress communication.Dozens of UN member states subsequently issued a statement denouncing such shutdowns and attacks on freedom of expression, expressing “deep concern” over the plight of media workers.A group of ousted MPs from Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, who have been working underground against the junta, have announced plans for “a new civilian government” in the first week of April.They said Myanmar’s military-drafted 2008 constitution was “cancelled”, and on Thursday a group of protesters burned a pile of copies in the street in Yangon.In another blow to the junta’s business interests, two military-owned supermarkets in Yangon were set ablaze overnight, and two more international companies cut ties because of the crisis.Protests – and the security forces’ tough response – continue, and in Monywa in central Myanmar on Thursday a 31-year-old protester was shot dead, while 10 others were wounded, a rescue worker told AFP.One person was also killed, and six others injured, in Mandalay, a rescue worker and a doctor said.And the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said security forces had been targeting first responders, with Asia-Pacific director Alexander Matheou labelling the incidents as “unacceptable”.Civil war fearsFears are also growing that a broader conflict could erupt in a country plagued for decades by on-and-off fighting between the military and rebel ethnic armies.Several of Myanmar’s 20 or so armed ethnic groups, who control large areas of territory mostly in border regions, have voiced their opposition to the coup and crackdown.Three of them – the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, the Myanmar Nationalities Democratic Alliance Army and the Arakan Army – on Wednesday threatened to join the protesters’ fight against the military.Two other outfits – the Karen National Union and the Kachin Independence Army – have already stepped up attacks on military and police in recent days.In another escalation, since Saturday the military has launched regular air strikes targeting the KNU in eastern Karen state.Local media outlet Karen News reported that 11 people were killed in an air strike in a gold mining area of the state on Tuesday. AFP has yet to independently confirm those details.


Daily cases continue to hover at 4,800

Another 4,885 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,591,486.Another 5,628 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,493,437.Meanwhile 549 are in the ICU, including 437 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 274 are in need of respiratory assistance including 184 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 4,885 cases reported today, 91 (1.9%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 4,794 (98.1%) are in Category One and Two.


E-bidders blocked from dream plate numbers suspect 'VIPs' hogging options

Bidders for vehicle registration numbers are up in arms after discovering that the online system has blocked the bidding process, saying no concrete reason or explanation has been given so far.
A number of them also said they felt cheated and manipulated by the JPJeBid system, which is fully managed by the Road Transport Department (JPJ).
The JPJeBid system was introduced by JPJ in 2019, allowing road users to compete against each other for their registration number of choice.
MalaysiaNow understands however that dozens of registration numbers for the letters "FF" from the federal territory of Putrajaya have been blocked off.
Vehicle registration number dealer Wallace Choy said the restrictions were widely attributed to the influence of a "VIP" group coupled with a lack of transparency in the system itself.
Choy, of Auto Plate Division, said it was possible that the group had already made the minimum payment on these numbers to keep them away from public bidding.
"We don't know who blocked these numbers," he added.
"Even normal registration numbers, not special ones such as the one- or two-digit series, have been blocked from bidding."
Choy said such a thing had happened before, involving a series of letters from certain states like Johor – J – and Perak – A.
For the "FF" series, more than 60 numbers have been blocked from open bidding on JPJeBid.
If the situation continues, said Choy, the government might lose out on national revenue.
He said blocking the numbers would become a form of leakage as road users would be denied the right to bid for the numbers of their choice.
"This is unfair because the system originally wanted transparency, but many numbers cannot be bid for," he said.
"And after the series are sold out, these numbers are found for sale on the market. This hasn't happened just once or twice. This has happened many times.
"At first, they are blocked, but after a few months, these numbers re-emerge."
He urged the authorities, especially JPJ and the transport ministry, to be more transparent about the restriction of vehicle registration numbers.
If some numbers have indeed been blocked from public bidding, he said, there should be an explanation of who is behind it and why they are being blocked.
When the bidding process was still carried out manually, he added, bidders were told why some numbers were off limits.
"The previous system still used A4 paper," he said.
"JPJ would write that these numbers were not up for bidding because they were for government vehicles, official cars, and so on.
"Don't just throw out these numbers without stating why they are not available for bidding."


Myanmar junta cancels results of 2020 polls won by Suu Kyi’s party

Myanmar’s junta on Monday cancelled the results of 2020 polls won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, announcing they were not “free and fair” almost six months after deposing the Nobel laureate in a coup.Investigations had uncovered more than 11 million cases of fraud in the elections in which Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy trounced the military-aligned opposition, the junta’s election commission said.“They (the NLD) attempted to take state power from non-NLD parties and candidates by misusing Covid-19 restrictions,” said commission chairman Thein Soe.“[It] was not free and fair, that is why the result of 2020 election is cancelled.”He did not say whether fresh polls in the country of 54 million would be held.The junta has previously said it would hold new elections within two years, but has also threatened to dissolve the NLD.Suu Kyi has been detained since the coup, and faces an eclectic raft of charges, from flouting coronavirus restrictions to illegally importing walkie talkies, that could see her jailed for more than a decade.Myanmar has been in chaos since the military’s power grab, with more than 900 killed in a crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group.A resurgent virus wave has caused deadly havoc across the country, striking with many hospitals empty of pro-democracy medical staff.Myanmar’s economy is expected to shrink by 18% in 2021, the World Bank said Monday, as a result of massive unrest following the coup and a third coronavirus wave.The NLD saw their support increase in the 2020 vote compared to the previous election in 2015.In a report on the 2020 polls, the Asian Network for Free Elections monitoring group said the elections were “by and large, representative of the will of the people”.


Time for emergency committee to submit report, not pander to ‘disastrous’ moves, says Chandra

Prominent social critic Chandra Muzaffar says Malaysians cannot afford any talk of changing the government at a time when the country’s focus should be on recovering from the pandemic through the massive vaccination programme.He said this was more so as he felt the present government under Muhyiddin Yassin had done relatively well in mitigating the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic through a slew of financial and public health measures.Chandra said like any government, the current administration was also learning from mistakes throughout the unprecedented global crisis.“But a fair and balanced evaluation of the government’s performance would conclude that there is no rational basis to seek the overthrow of the present government.“In a situation like ours, one does not change horses mid-stream. The repercussions of any such move could be disastrous for the country, especially if one takes into account the larger picture,” Chandra told MalaysiaNow, commenting on renewed calls from opposition politicians to form a new government in the wake of a series of audiences granted to several political leaders.Yesterday, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah met Muhyiddin, followed by an audience granted to Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Anwar Ibrahim and former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in a series of meetings which Istana Negara said was to obtain feedback on the efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic implemented since the state of emergency was declared early this year.The move sparked a flurry of speculation from some PH politicians that the Agong was keen to replace Muhyiddin’s government, which they said had failed to contain the virus.Chandra said there was a need to shun any kind of political debate which steers away from concerns about public health and economic well-being.He said instead, the independent committee to advise the Agong throughout the virus emergency should submit a comprehensive report on how the government and society have managed the pandemic so far.“The report should be presented to Parliament two or three weeks weeks before the scheduled end of the emergency on Aug 1, 2021,” he added.In February, the Agong approved 19 names including from opposition parties to make up the Independent Special Committee to give advice on the state of the pandemic during the emergency.The committee is chaired by former chief justice Arifin Zakaria.Chandra said the committee’s report should be discussed by both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara and also made public.“The king would then act on the advice of the government. Such an approach would not only do justice to the people’s sentiments but also incorporate input from both houses of Parliament.“This is a more mature way of handling the pandemic and its consequences than yielding to vested interests from the government or the opposition,” he said.He warned against voices calling for a change of government, saying the focus should be “to return to normal in most spheres”.“To achieve this goal we should all work together as one family. There should be complete cohesion and unity of purpose,” said Chandra.


Taliban demands ‘remorse’ from fearful Afghan interpreters

The Taliban said Monday that Afghans who worked with foreign forces in the past had nothing to fear once international troops leave, as long as they show “remorse”.US and Nato forces are continuing to pull out, after US President Joe Biden set Sept 11 as the deadline to end Washington’s 20-year military involvement in the war-wracked country.Many interpreters have already left the country on their own while several have been relocated by their former employers, for fear that after the withdrawal they will be more vulnerable to revenge attacks from the insurgents.“They shall not be in any danger on our part,” the Taliban said in a statement.“The Islamic Emirate would like to inform all the above people that they should show remorse for their past actions and must not engage in such activities in the future that amount to treason against Islam and the country.”These Afghans were viewed as foes previously when they worked with foreign forces, they said.“But when they abandon enemy ranks and opt to live as ordinary Afghans in their homeland, they will not face any issues (and) hence they should not remain fearful.”Over the past two decades, dozens of Afghan translators have been killed and tortured in targeted assaults by the Taliban.In recent weeks, many of these Afghans have staged demonstrations in Kabul, demanding that the foreign forces and embassies that they worked with should relocate them outside of Afghanistan.“They are tracking us,” Omid Mahmoodi, an interpreter who worked with US forces between 2018 and 2020, told AFP last week.“The Taliban will not pardon us. They will kill us and they will behead us.”Another interpreter Omar, who worked with the US embassy for about 10 years, feared that without leaving the country he would not evade the Taliban for long.“I regret working for the US. It was the biggest mistake of my life,” said Omar, who asked AFP not to use his full name.“My own uncle and cousins call me an agent of America.”The US, Britain and some other countries said they had accelerated relocation of these interpreters and other Afghan employees who worked with them, but the process has dragged on for years.Last week the Taliban also tried to calm foreign embassies after the Australian mission shut down in Kabul.The insurgents said they would provide a “safe environment” for these missions to work even after foreign forces leave the country.


New infections at just over 3,000 as 12 more deaths logged

Another 3,083 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,714,498.
There were 4,229 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,635,737.
There are now 42,717 active cases, of which 41,042 or 96.1% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 35 (0.1%) are at quarantine centres while 1,578 (3.7%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 62 are in ICU with 35 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 66.3%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 16.5%.
Another 12 deaths were reported, including three who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,044.


Can Mat Sabu tackle Malaysia's food shortages?

Analysts have expressed differing opinions about the performance of Amanah chief Mohamad Sabu since taking over the agriculture and food security portfolio in the Cabinet of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim about a month and a half ago.
Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, received the lowest marks in a recent Cabinet review, giving rise to questions over his ability to tackle food-related issues in the country.
He was criticised on social media over problems in the supply of chicken and eggs, which in turn caused a jump in prices.
Mohamad himself defended his score, describing it as a continuation of the previous government's performance.
Adilah Zafirah, an economist from think tank Iris Institute, said the score showed a lack of seriousness about solving the problem at hand.
"There is a lack of political will," he told MalaysiaNow on the problems in egg supply.
"The people, meanwhile, are hard pressed as the problem has continued for months."
Adilah said the minister in charge should be academically qualified for the task, with the necessary experience in addition to experience on the ground.
The minister should also consult experts including academics, industry players and NGOs when forming policies, he said.
In other countries, he said, agriculture ministers are both academically qualified and in possession of the necessary experience.
"In Japan, the agriculture minister is a high school graduate but he has experience in farmer cooperatives," he said.
"In Canada, the minister has an academic background in economics and environmental management. And in Indonesia and Singapore, the ministers have backgrounds in law and accounting."
Nevertheless, he said Mohamad had done well in acknowledging the cause of food security issues including dependence on imports and climate change.
"And it takes time for the policies implemented to work as planned, and to give rise to the desired outcomes," he added.
Mohamad, the Kota Raja MP, was the defence minister during Pakatan Harapan's first tenure in government after the 2018 general election.
Since his appointment to Anwar's Cabinet, he has allowed the import of eggs from India as a means of tackling domestic shortage.
Nurfitri Amir Muhammad, coordinator of the Malaysian Food Security and Sovereignty Forum, said the low score was in fact aimed at the ministry as a whole.
"The previous ministers appointed to the job didn't have experience in agriculture either," he said, citing Salahudin Ayub and Ronald Kiandee.
"It would be unfair to blame the minister for everything as he was only recently appointed to the portfolio.
"The challenge for Mohamad and his ministry now is to fix the situation."


Trump launches 2024 White House bid

Donald Trump pulled the trigger on a third White House run on Tuesday, setting the stage for a bruising Republican nomination battle after a poor midterm election showing by his hand-picked candidates weakened his grip on the party.
"America's comeback starts right now," the 76-year-old former president told hundreds of supporters gathered in an ornate American flag-draped ballroom at his palatial Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
Trump filed his official candidacy papers with the US election authority moments before he was due to publicly announce his candidacy.
Trump's unusually early entry into the White House race is being seen in Washington as an attempt to get the jump on other Republicans seeking to be the party flag-bearer in 2024 – and to stave off potential criminal charges.
Republicans are licking their wounds after disappointing midterms, widely blamed on the underperformance of Trump-anointed candidates, and some are openly asking whether Trump – with his divisive brand of politics and mess of legal woes – is the right person to carry the party colors next time around.
Several possible 2024 primary rivals are circling, chief among them the governor of Florida Ron DeSantis, who bucked the tide and won a resounding reelection victory on Nov 8.
Trump, who lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden after being impeached twice by the House of Representatives, launches his latest White House bid with several potential handicaps.
He is the target of multiple investigations into his conduct before, during and after his first term as president – which could ultimately result in his disqualification.
These include allegations of fraud by his family business, his role in last year's attack on the US Capitol, his attempt to overturn the 2020 election, and his stashing of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
With Trump now a declared candidate, Biden's attorney-general, Merrick Garland, may be forced to name a special counsel to pursue the various investigations into the former president launched by the Department of Justice.
Popular support
In addition, the powerful media empire of Rupert Murdoch has appeared to turn its back on Trump, labelling him after the midterms as a "loser" who shows "increasingly poor judgement."
Trump also remains banned by Facebook and Twitter, which was instrumental in his stunning political rise.
Despite the dismal election showing by Trump loyalists, the real estate tycoon retains an undeniable popularity with the millions of grassroots supporters who have flocked to his "Make America Great Again" banner.
And despite being abandoned by several top Republican donors, he has amassed a campaign war chest of well over US$100 million (RM451.7 billion).
Leading up to the midterms vote, Trump made denial of the 2020 election results a key litmus test for candidates seeking his endorsement.
But a string of defeats by Trump's most loyal allies sapped his momentum heading into Tuesday's launch.
"This is certainly not the rollout I'm sure Donald Trump wanted for his announcement tonight," said outgoing congressman Liz Cheney, a fierce Republican critic of Trump.
Having failed to wrest control of the Senate, Republicans are inching towards a likely takeover of the House, but with a razor-thin majority that will be difficult to keep in line.
The 79-year-old Biden, whose victory Trump still refuses to acknowledge, has said his intention is to seek a second term – but he will make a final decision early next year.
'Better choices'
Trump's once-loyal vice-president, Mike Pence, who released a new book, "So Help Me God," on Tuesday and is seen as a potential 2024 challenger – told ABC News this week that Trump's behaviour on Jan 6, 2021 had been "reckless."
But Pence declined to say directly whether Trump should be president again. "That's up to the American people, but I think we'll have better choices in the future," he said.
For the moment, the hard-right DeSantis looks like the leading challenger to Trump in a Republican field that may include Pence, Texas Senator Ted Cruz, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, former secretary of state Mike Pompeo and ex-South Carolina governor Nikki Haley.
The 44-year-old DeSantis, dubbed "Ron DeSanctimonious" by Trump, had a ready reply Tuesday when asked about the former president's attacks on him, urging "people to go check out the scoreboard from last Tuesday night."
Without naming Trump, he also suggested a Republican ticket headed by the former president would have trouble attracting independent voters "even with Biden in the White House and the failures that we're seeing."
By throwing his hat in the ring, Trump is seeking to become just the second American president to serve non-consecutive terms – Grover Cleveland was elected in 1884, lost in 1888, and won again in 1892.


Hong Kong bans passenger flights from Indonesia over infection risks

Hong Kong will ban passenger flights from Indonesia from this Friday, estimating arrivals from that country as “extremely high risk” for Covid-19, Reuters is reporting.The Hong Kong government said late yesterday it was suspending flights after the number of imported Covid-19 cases from Indonesia crossed thresholds set by the global financial hub.The Chinese special administrative region has already banned arrivals from India, Nepal, Pakistan, and the Philippines, using a flight suspension rule triggered when there are five or more passengers who test positive for one of the Covid-19 variants on arrival, or 10 or more passengers found to have any strain of the disease while in quarantine.Most of the city’s recent cases over the past month have been imported.Hong Kong employs thousands of migrant workers from countries including Indonesia and the Philippines.Indonesia’s foreign ministry said in a statement that Hong Kong’s ban was temporary and that migrant workers affected by the new regulation should contact their employers and agents.The BBC is reporting that Hong Kong’s biggest legacy airline Cathay Pacific has told its aircrew that they must be vaccinated if they want to keep flying.The airline announced that, “After very careful consideration, we have now made the decision that all Hong Kong-based crew members must be vaccinated against Covid-19 by Aug 31, 2021.”Management said it was “becoming clear that only fully vaccinated aircrew will be able to return without quarantine from most places” and this was causing complications in staff rostering because of the need to segregate vaccinated and non-vaccinated crew.It said it could, in the short-term, accommodate those employees not able to take the vaccine but it “will review the future employment of those who are unable to become vaccinated to assess whether they can continue to be employed as aircrew”.90% of the carrier’s pilots and 65% of its cabin crew have already been vaccinated or have appointments to receive the injection.Like many international carriers, Cathay Pacific believes that for the global airline industry to recover, “vaccination is a critical component”.The Washington Post reported as far back as February that airlines were starting to promote a new perk to bring passengers back nearly a year after the pandemic started: vaccinated pilots and flight attendants.WaPo said that Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, had announced it was “the first airline in the world with 100% vaccinated crew on board”.Not to be outdone, Singapore Airlines Group said its three carriers – Singapore Airlines, SilkAir and Scoot – would be among the first airlines in the world to operate flights with all pilots and cabin crew vaccinated.Earlier this week, US carrier United Airlines said that from August only fully vaccinated pilots and cabin crew would be allowed to work on flights to high-risk destinations such as India, Brazil and Chile.Ethiopian Airlines Group, Africa’s largest carrier, announced on Monday that it has started operating flights with fully vaccinated crews “to keep travellers safe in the pandemic”.


Dope new San Francisco law will ban tobacco in flats but residents can still enjoy a joint

A new law will make San Francisco the largest US city to ban tobacco smoking inside apartments in an effort to curb the negative health impacts of secondhand smoke.Cannabis smoking, however, will still be permitted.San Francisco’s board of supervisors passed the ban on tobacco and e-cigarette smoking in apartments by 10-1 on Wednesday.Originally only medicinal cannabis users were to be exempt from the indoor smoking ban, but the board voted to allow all marijuana smoking because state law prohibits cannabis users from smoking in public places.“Unlike tobacco, which can be smoked outside on public streets, cannabis consumption is illegal in all public spaces,” residents wrote in a letter to the Board of Supervisors. “The proposed ordinance would thus leave apartment dwellers with no legal place to enjoy marijuana.”Supervisor Rafael Mandelman agreed saying, “Tobacco smokers, unable to smoke in their apartment building, can go outside. Cannabis smokers don’t have that alternative.”Dr Donald Abrams, an oncologist at the University of California, wrote in support that unlike secondhand tobacco smoke, “Secondhand cannabis smoke has not been proven to be harmful to humans. Nor has first-hand cannabis smoke been shown to cause lung cancer or other serious health effects.”Others maintained a ban on cannabis in multi-unit buildings would amount to a form of racism or classism in a city where single-family homes are too expensive for poorer people.“The proposed ban would disenfranchise our rights to consume cannabis and discriminate against those who can’t afford to live in a single-family residence,” apartment residents wrote.The anti-smoking ordinance must pass a second vote next week before it becomes law. San Francisco will then join 63 California cities and counties with a ban on tobacco smoking in apartments.The ordinance will be enforced by the department of public health, which may issue fines of up to US$1,000 (RM4,000) for repeat offenders.Many view the new law as government overreach and questioned how the authorities planned to enforce the ban.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, secondhand smoke causes more than 40,000 deaths a year in the US.


Sydney swelters through autumn heatwave, bushfire threat looms

Parts of Australia's east including Sydney recorded their hottest day in more than two years on Monday with temperatures hitting more than 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit), raising the risk of bushfires.
Firefighters are working to contain nearly 40 bushfires across New South Wales, the home state of one-third of Australians, with crews on the ground supported by aircraft.
One fire near Mudgee, more than 250km (155 miles) northwest of Sydney, is at emergency warning level. Emergency crews urged residents there to seek shelter as it was too late to leave.
Total fire bans are now in place for multiple regions across most of New South Wales (NSW), while 35 public schools, mostly in inland regions, have been closed due to the severe heat.
"If a fire does start, it's going to be burning under those difficult conditions... (it's) harder for our firefighters to get around them, and fire can spread very quickly, particularly in grassland," Angela Burford, operational officer at the New South Wales Rural Fire Service, told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
Dry thunderstorms are also possible across eastern NSW, leading to conditions that could see lightning ignite new fires, the Bureau of Meteorology said. The hot and dry conditions are likely to persist until Wednesday.
Penrith, a suburb in western Sydney, recorded 40.1 degrees Celsius on Monday afternoon - the hottest day since Jan 26, 2021 - while some inland towns reached nearly 41 degrees.
Australia's east coast has been dominated by the La Nina weather phenomenon - typically associated with increased rainfall - over the last two years, which brought record rains and widespread flooding. In 2022, Sydney recorded its highest annual rainfall since records began in 1858.
But the weather bureau last week said its climate models suggest La Nina was "likely near its end" and neutral conditions, which is neither La Nina or its opposite El Nino, were likely to prevail through the southern hemisphere autumn.


Another 16 Delta cases detected in Sarawak

The Universiti Malaysia Sarawak Institute of Health and Community Medicine (IHCM) has detected another 16 Covid-19 cases of the Delta variant in Sarawak, bringing the total number of cases of this strain to 17.IHCM director Dr David Perera today said the cases were detected between May 21 and June 26, and were reported to be of the variant on July 4.The first case involved a 56-year-old man who was categorised as an Import B (imported from other parts of Malaysia) on June 18.“Besides the Delta variant, another case of the Beta variant was detected in Kuching during the same period,” he said in his latest report to Sarawak disaster management committee chairman Douglas Uggah Embas.Perera said there are now 45 cases of the Beta variant reported in Sarawak, with the Kuching district recording 35 cases, three cases in Bau, one each in Lundu, Serian, Simunjan and Sibu, and three Import B cases.There has been no increase in the number of cases for the Theta variant since six cases in Kuching and seven in Kota Samarahan were reported earlier, while the Eta variant remains at one case which in the Import A (imported from overseas) category, he added.


DAP’s Tony Pua tells why opposition should consider PM’s offer

Damansara MP Tony Pua has urged fellow MPs in the opposition to consider the offer put forth by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin in exchange for their support for the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government, saying they could achieve some of what they have been fighting for while also preventing Umno leaders from returning to power.“Let us now count the potential benefits to the rakyat – we end the political turmoil and impasse; we block the return of the kleptocrats; we prevent a general election in the middle of the pandemic; we get the PN govt to institute priceless reforms; we get an equal say in passing all bills; and finally, we’ll get to kick PN out in a GE to be held about 10 months away,” Pua said in a statement which he added would “make many unhappy”.The term “kleptocrats” refers to a group of Umno leaders who are facing multiple corruption charges. They include Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and former prime minister Najib Razak, both of whom are leading the current efforts to oust Muhyiddin.Pua said while he would welcome Muhyiddin’s ouster, the reality was that the alternative offered by Pakatan Harapan (PH) – Anwar Ibrahim – did not have the majority support in the Dewan Rakyat.Pua warned of three possible outcomes: political turmoil, freedom for “kleptocrats” due to Umno’s return to power, and a general election.He said failing to secure a majority for Anwar, the opposition should give “full consideration” to Muhyiddin’s offer.“He has asked to meet all opposition parties to discuss the above. And we must at the very least agree to attend the meeting. After all, there’s everything to gain for the rakyat, and nothing to lose,” he added.Pua’s view echoes that of fellow DAP MP Ong Kian Ming, who said the proposal by Muhyiddin should be discussed by political parties.Even before Muhyiddin’s speech today, Ong, the Bangi MP, had urged for a political moratorium as well as a proposal that could allow all parties to work together.“If such a proposal is significant enough, I am sure that the voters in my constituency would want me to ask the leaders in my political party and my political coalition to at least consider these proposals,” Ong said.This contrasts the stand taken by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who alongside Anwar and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, dismissed Muhyiddin’s offer as a bribe.Muhyiddin in a speech this evening had listed seven items in his proposal for a cross-party agreement to avoid a collapse of the government which he said risked a power vacuum that could be filled by “kleptocrats” while disrupting efforts to battle the Covid-19 pandemic.Among others, he pledged to channel equal allocations of funds to all MPs across the political divide, enact an anti-hopping law, limit the prime minister’s tenure in office, and ensure a balanced representation of MPs from the government and opposition in the Special Parliamentary Select Committee.Muhyiddin also promised to implement Undi18 to allow those who reach 18 years of age to vote at the next election.Pua said it was not easy to dismiss the offer.“Let’s be frank. Muhyiddin didn’t offer peanuts that even monkeys will reject. He offered some (surprisingly) real tangible bipartisan reforms which the country badly needs,” he added.He said he believed the offer was genuine because the government needed the opposition’s support.“Some of my comrades say that the PN government is weak and desperate, that’s why they are now making these offers. Well, if they are strong, why should they?“And if they are indeed weak and desperate, isn’t that the best time to be negotiating with them?” said Pua.


Sorry.


Annuar Musa sacked, Ahmad Maslan takes over as BN sec-gen

Umno veteran Annuar Musa has been sacked as Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary-general, MalaysiaNow has learnt.His aide Faisal Ismail Aziz confirmed the matter to MalaysiaNow although Annuar himself has yet to be officially informed of the decision.A source said he will be replaced by Ahmad Maslan.Annuar, who recently defended the Umno Supreme Council’s decision to reject political cooperation with DAP and PKR’s Anwar Ibrahim, had said he was willing to be sacked from the party if there were those unhappy with his stance.Speaking to reporters after a meeting with party division leaders at PWTC in Kuala Lumpur, Ahmad said his appointment as BN secretary-general would take immediate effect.However, he insisted that Annuar had been replaced, not sacked.“By convention, the Umno secretary-general is also the BN secretary-general and I think this was among the reasons why (for the change). I have also been tasked with the post of Muafakat Nasional secretary-general,” he said.“I want to stress that it is just a replacement. The president had earlier mentioned the same, and the words he used were ‘I am replacing him (Annuar)’.”He did not comment when asked if he had been reassigned due to claims that Annuar no longer respected the party president and seemed to be leaning towards Bersatu.


WHO recommends Covid tests in schools

The World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday that Covid-19 tests should be carried out in schools – even when no cases have been detected – to avoid the “harmful” effects of remote learning.Screenings in schools had previously only been recommended if a cluster of coronavirus cases has been identified, but WHO now believes PCR or rapid antigen tests should be given even in the absence of symptoms among students and staff.“The summer months offer a valuable window of opportunity for governments to put in place the right set of measures that will help keep infection rates down and avoid resorting to school closures,” Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe, said in a statement issued together with Unicef and Unesco.He added that closing schools “as we have seen, have such a harmful effect on the education, social and mental well-being of our children and youth”.“We can’t allow the pandemic to rob children of their education and development,” said Kluge, who has repeatedly called for countries in WHO’s European Region to address dropout rates and health effects linked to distance learning.WHO’s European Region spans 53 countries and territories and includes several in Central Asia.For the UN agencies, closing schools “should be considered only as a measure of last resort”, when there is an explosion of case which cannot be controlled by other measures.


Small rise in daily cases but still under 6,000

Another 5,566 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 627,652.Selangor recorded 1,524 cases, Sarawak 707, Negeri Sembilan 505, Kuala Lumpur 466, Johor 456, Sabah 350, Melaka 314, Perak 225, Kelantan 204, Labuan 191, Penang 185, Pahang 157, Kedah 148 and Terengganu 106.Putrajaya recorded 27 cases and Perlis one.Active cases stand at 82,797 with 903 in the ICU and 458 in need of respiratory assistance.Another 6,962 patients were discharged, bringing total recoveries to 541,319.However, 76 more deaths were reported, pushing the virus toll to 3,536.


Governor, five others shot dead in latest attack on Philippine politicians

A provincial governor in the central Philippines and five other people were shot dead by unknown gunmen on Saturday, his widow said, in the latest attack against local officials.
Police said six suspects carrying rifles and dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by the armed services entered the governor's home in Pamplona town and opened fire.
Roel Degamo, governor of Negros Oriental province, and five others were killed in the shooting, his widow said.
"Governor Degamo did not deserve that kind of death. He was serving his constituents on a Saturday," Janice Degamo, who is also the mayor of Pamplona, said in a video posted on Facebook.
President Ferdinand Marcos condemned what he described as the "assassination" of his political ally and warned the perpetrators to "surrender now it will be your best option".
"My government will not rest until we have brought the perpetrators of this dastardly and heinous crime to justice," Marcos added.
The condition of four other people who were shot in the incident was not disclosed.
The politician was distributing aid to constituents when he was shot, provincial police spokesman Kym Lopez told AFP.
Police said they were searching for 10 suspects, including the six gunmen, who fled the scene in two SUVs and a pickup truck before abandoning the vehicles in a nearby city.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos appealed for witnesses to come forward and help police "get justice" for Degamo.
Marcos ally
Degamo, 56, is the latest target in the Philippines' long history of attacks on politicians. He is at least the third to be shot since last year's general election.
The Supreme Court last month declared him the rightful winner of the contest for the Negros Oriental governorship following a recount that unseated his local rival, who had previously been proclaimed the victor.
Degamo had also campaigned for Marcos during his candidacy for president last year.
Mamintal Adiong, governor of the southern province of Lanao del Sur, was shot and wounded in February in an attack that killed his driver and three police escorts.
That same month, the vice-mayor of the northern town of Aparri, Rommel Alameda, and five other people who were travelling with him were shot dead in a highway ambush.
In the bloodiest politically motivated ambush on record, the leaders of a powerful southern clan and about two dozen followers were sentenced to life in prison for a 2009 attack on supporters of a gubernatorial election rival in Maguindanao province.
The attack left 58 people dead, including the politician's wife and relatives, along with 32 journalists and media workers who were covering the race.


Israeli and UAE flag-carriers to work even more closely together

Israeli flag-carrier El Al and United Arab Emirates flag-carrier Etihad Airways are to discuss closer ties which could include codesharing on their networks.The two airlines have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore closer ties, following the normalisation of diplomatic relations between the UAE and Israel, reports FlightGlobal.Etihad Airways plans to operate flights between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv from March next year.Codesharing between the Israeli airline and any Arab carrier would have seemed impossible until recently, but the Abraham Accords deal, signed on Sept 15 this year, is gathering pace.The talks will also cover reciprocal frequent-flyer programmes while the airlines’ maintenance and cargo arms will examine cooperating on maintenance engineering and freight flows.The partnership is a monumental one.“This memorandum is only the start and we believe that together, the two flag-carriers will be able to provide our mutual customers with the best possible product and service,” El Al chief Gonen Usishkin said. “Already, the common goals we have outlined speak for the success of our future co-operation.”Etihad Aviation Group chief Tony Douglas said the preliminary agreement is the “foundation of a future strong, ongoing relationship” between the airlines’ hubs.The Abu Dhabi carrier added that the agreement features plans for the “optimal use” of pilot and cabin crew training facilities.“Our destination management teams will also collaborate to encourage reciprocal inbound tourism to Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.”


New infections top 3,500 as another 15 deaths logged

Another 3,516 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,744,929.
There were 2,541 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,667,111.
There are now 41,701 active cases, of which 40,034 or 96.0% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 41 (0.1%) are at quarantine centres while 1,534 (3.7%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 92 are in ICU with 49 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 62.6%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 24.7%.
Another 15 deaths were reported, including four who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,117.


Rumah Bonda allowed to reopen but not as care centre

The premises occupied by the Kuala Lumpur Rumah Bonda Welfare Organisation, or Rumah Bonda, have been allowed to reopen, but not as a care centre.
This follows a decision by magistrate Nur Syafiqah Noorinda today, allowing the application by Rumah Bonda founder Siti Bainun Ahd Razali to remove the seal on the premises.
The Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Social Welfare Department (JKM WPKL) had sealed the premises near Setapak after Siti Bainun was charged with the abuse of a 13-year-old girl with Down syndrome.
Lawyer Asiah Abd Jalil, representing Siti Bainun, said the Social Welfare Department did not object to her client’s application to remove the seal.
"Rumah Bonda was compounded RM5,000, which was paid on April 25," said the lawyer when contacted after the court proceedings today. At today’s proceedings, federal counsel Fatin Shafira Ab Patah appeared on behalf of the director of JKM WPKL.
On June 7, Rumah Bonda filed an application to remove the seal order obtained by JKM WPKL on its premises for it to be used for purposes other than a care centre.
Based on a supporting affidavit filed with the suit, Siti Bainun said she had received a notice to seal the premises from JKM WPKL, which stated that Rumah Bonda in Taman Setapak would be closed in accordance with Section 16 (1) of the Care Centres Act 1993.
Siti Bainun claimed that the action taken on July 12, 2021 on the grounds that Rumah Bonda was not registered under the Care Centres Act 1993 was unfair and not in accordance with the principles of administration and law as JKM WPKL was aware that Rumah Bonda was in the process of registration.
On April 20, Rumah Bonda received an offer of compound notice, amounting to RM5,000 from JKM WPKL.
According to Siti Bainun, she was disappointed when informed by JKM WPKL that Rumah Bonda could only be opened through a court order as she had paid the compound on April 25.


Anwar came empty-handed, says palace

Istana Negara today said PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim did not submit any list of names of MPs to the Agong to back his claim of having the majority support to form the federal government.The statement from the national palace came moments after Anwar told reporters that he had furnished “authentic documents” to prove that he had a “formidable” majority to topple Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s administration.The palace said Anwar, during his 25-minute audience with Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, had only stated the total number of MPs whose support he claimed to have.“However, he did not present the list of the MPs to strengthen the claim,” said the statement by Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin, Comptroller of the Royal Family and Household.It further said the king had advised Anwar to abide by the legal process in line with the constitution.On the conditional movement control order in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya which will take effect at midnight, the palace said Sultan Abdullah advised the people to stay calm and comply with the SOPs.While the latest developments were worrying due to the increase in daily Covid-19 numbers, the king also urged the people to remain united and to fight the spread of the virus for the safety and well-being of the nation.The statement said Istana Negara had also put in place a semi-lockdown to ensure the safety of palace officers and staff. It said this lockdown would remain in effect until a later date.


In world first, China to offer Covid-19 jabs to kids as young as 3

China has approved the emergency use of a Covid-19 vaccine for those as young as three, the drugmaker confirmed Tuesday, making it the first country to offer jabs to young children.Since the coronavirus first emerged in central China, Beijing has mostly managed to bring the country’s outbreak under control, and has administered over 777 million vaccine doses after a sluggish start.A spokesman for Sinovac told AFP its vaccine had been approved for use on children.“In recent days, the Sinovac vaccine was approved for emergency use in three- to 17-year-olds,” the spokesman said.But he did not confirm when the young children would be able to start receiving the shots, saying the schedule for the rollout will be decided by the National Health Commission “according to China’s current epidemic prevention and control needs and vaccine supply”.The company has completed early phase trials of the vaccine in children and adolescents, with results to be published shortly in the Lancet scientific journal, the spokesman added.State broadcaster CCTV reported over the weekend that an unnamed official in the State Council’s epidemic response task force had said vaccines had been approved for children, and “the safety and effectiveness” had been proven.A spokesman for China’s other major vaccine, Sinopharm, said that experts had demonstrated the effectiveness of its vaccine in children, but didn’t confirm whether it had been approved for use.Chinese officials have said they are aiming to inoculate 70% of the population of 1.41 billion by the end of this year.The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved both the Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines for emergency use in adults aged 18 and older, and both jabs are being administered in several countries around the world.While WHO does not currently recommend vaccinating children against coronavirus, the US, Britain, Singapore and the European Union have approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for those as young as 12.China reported 33 new Covid-19 cases Tuesday, including 19 in southern Guangdong province where authorities have been battling a local outbreak.


Apex court dismisses bid to stop Sabah polls

The Federal Court today dismissed an application to stop the Sabah election, nomination for which is tomorrow and polling on Sept 26.The application was brought by former Tamparuli assemblyman Jahid @ Noordin Jahim who sought to stay the election pending the disposal of an appeal over the rightful chief minister.A three-member bench led by justice Abdul Rahman Sebli made the decision.He was joined by Zabariah Mohd Yusof and Mary Lim Thiam Suan.Former chief minister Musa Aman was present in court.Jahid filed the application on Tuesday naming Chief Minister Shafie Apdal, Sabah state legislative assembly speaker Syed Abas Syed Ali and state assembly secretary Bernard J Dalinting as respondents.He sought to have the Sabah state government gazette dated July 30 stayed until the disposal of the appeal by the Federal Court.He also sought to stay the proclamation by the governor dated July 30 for the dissolution of the 15th Sabah state legislative assembly under Article 21(2) of the Sabah constitution pending the conclusion of the appeal.Musa and Jahid obtained leave from the Federal Court on Aug 26 to proceed with the appeal over their challenge of the validity of Shafie’s appointment as the Sabah chief minister.A three-member bench led by Federal Court judge Mohd Zawawi Salleh, in a majority 2-1 decision, allowed the applications by Musa and Jahid to obtain leave to appeal against the Court of Appeal decision.Musa and Jahid had their appeals dismissed by the Court of Appeal on Nov 28 last year.A litigant must first obtain leave in order to proceed with the appeal to the Federal Court.


Singapore to allow family social gambling but not online

In Singapore, advances in technology are making the task of distinguishing between gaming and gambling ever more difficult as the internet and mobile computing have made gambling products much more accessible.Coupled to that, more people are buying and playing games at home in the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.The definition of gambling differs across the different laws in Singapore but the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) intends to amend this later this year so as to cover a broader scope that will be technology-neutral, The Straits Times reports.In a release on Monday, the MHA said it is also seeking to amend laws relating to social gambling, mystery boxes, arcade games, and online and video games.MHA is also proposing to raise penalties for repeat offenders who facilitate or operate illegal gambling services, and amend the definition of gambling so that it can cover emerging products.Lawmakers recognise that family and friends gambling at home is a socially acceptable practice among Singaporeans, and that such practices present a low risk to law and order, so it intends to exempt such activities when they are conducted in person.But it proposes that online social gambling among friends and family still not be permitted.It also warned that strong enforcement action will be taken against syndicates that exploit exemptions.Noting that because of rapid technological advances and changing consumer tastes, the lines between gambling and gaming have become increasingly blurred, the ministry intends to amend laws governing games with gambling elements.It proposes that a S$100 prize cap on mystery boxes, arcade games and claw machines be introduced to address the inducement effect of high-value prizes.It also proposes that in-game monetisation facilities for free-to-play games be allowed, but that these be subject to current conditions similar to lucky draw promotions by businesses.The MHA release said Singapore will adopt a strict but practical approach to its regulation of gambling.“It is not practical nor desirable to disallow all forms of gambling, as this will just drive it underground and cause more law and order issues,” it said.“Instead, we license or exempt some gambling activities, with strict safeguards put in place. Our laws governing gambling seek to maintain law and order and minimise social harm caused by problem gambling.”Gambling-related crimes remain low, with casino crimes comprising less than 1% of all crimes since the integrated resorts began operations in 2010.Problem gambling also remains under control, with problem and pathological gambling rates remaining stable at around 1% of the respondents, according to surveys by the National Council on Problem Gambling.


Agong, queen in quarantine after testing positive for Covid

Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah is undergoing self-quarantine at Istana Negara after testing positive for Covid-19, the palace announced today.In a statement, it said Sultan Abdullah would remain in quarantine until April 7.Sultan Abdullah’s wife, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, meanwhile has tested positive for the virus as well and will be self-isolating until April 8.The palace said both the king and queen are only experiencing mild symptoms and are generally in good health. It added that they had consented to undergo quarantine in line with the SOPs and protocol laid out by the health ministry for those who are asymptomatic or experiencing mild symptoms.


Decades of living through a water crisis

Situated near the Malaysia-Thailand border, Kampung Bongor is the last settlement in upper Gerik before wilderness takes over the region.
Despite having a dam and water treatment plant located not too far from the village, close to 100 houses there lack access to clean water.
It is understood that low pressure is the reason water cannot be distributed to houses located farther away from the main road.
This has been a problem plaguing the villagers for decades. Owing to the shortage of clean water, some residents depend on wells, while others have resorted to using river water.

Nor Khaiziah washes plates at her house using spring water piped directly to her sink.

Speaking to MalaysiaNow, a resident known as Nor Khaiziah said the issue of water scarcity, one that she has been enduring since childhood, makes it difficult to carry out daily routines during prolonged droughts or heavy rains.
"When it rains, groundwater seeps into the well, and the water in our homes becomes dirty," she said.
Her house, located amid the forest, relies on water from a natural well, connected through a pipe.
She added that her family had requested water supply and filled out forms during the previous elections, but no action was taken.
There is a fire station in the village, but it does not have a water supply.
Another resident, Mohd Sobi Ismail, said that he spent around RM5,000 seven years ago to connect a pipe from a nearby river to his house.
"The water from the communal source is not sufficient, especially during peak hours like Friday afternoons when many people use it.
"The same goes for evening prayer times," he said.

A villagers clears leaves and dirt from the river water which is the only source of water for his home.

There have been instances where residents' laundry in the washing machine becomes dirty due to the murky water.
The villagers are now hoping for the construction of water tanks to be connected to the existing pipe system as a temporary solution.
The location for the tanks has also been identified.
"If possible, we also want a clean water supply. We have made requests to the elected representatives, but nothing has been done," they said.
The residents were told that allocation and financial issues are the reasons why the water tanks have not been built yet.


Chinese firms avert delisting risk as US watchdog gets 'full access' in audit inspections

The US Public Company Accounting Oversight Board on Thursday said it has gotten full access to inspect and investigate firms in China for the first time ever, removing the risk that around 200 Chinese companies could be kicked off US stock exchanges.
The statement from the PCAOB, the US accounting watchdog, marks a victory for US regulators and a relief for Chinese firms, including Alibaba, facing delisting amid rocky relations between the world's largest economies. Washington and Beijing have been locked in a heated trade and technology war.
"For the first time in history, we are able to perform full and thorough inspections and investigations to root out potential problems and hold firms accountable to fix them,” said PCAOB Chair Erica Williams.
"This falls into the category of a game changing view of Chinese companies because the threat of their delisting seems to have been eliminated," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B Riley Financial.
US-listed shares of Chinese companies started trade higher amid the news, but gave up gains due to broader financial market pressure.
The PCAOB, which oversees registered public accounting firms around the world, said late last year said that Chinese authorities had prevented the watchdog from completely inspecting and investigating in mainland China and Hong Kong.
Washington and Beijing reached a landmark deal in August to settle a long-running dispute over auditing compliance of US-listed Chinese firms. Authorities in China have long been reluctant to let overseas regulators inspect local accounting firms, citing national security concerns.
US lawmakers in 2020 agreed to legislation that would oust Chinese companies from US stock exchanges unless they adhere to American auditing standards.
The deal granted PCAOB full access to Chinese audit working papers with no redactions, the right to take testimony from audit company staff in China and sole discretion to select what companies it inspects.
Investors and attorneys have been awaiting news from the PCAOB on whether US inspectors received the access promised.
Sources previously told Reuters US officials had gained "good access" to all the information they requested during the seven-week inspection.
Signs of renewed cooperation, potential audit deficiencies
In separate news on Thursday, the Biden administration added Chinese memory chipmaker YMTC and 21 "major" Chinese players in the artificial intelligence chip industry to a trade blacklist, broadening its crackdown on China's chip industry.
But in a decision that signals renewed cooperation between Washington and Beijing, the Commerce Department also removed a subsidiary of Wuxi Biologics, a company that makes ingredients for AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, and 25 other Chinese entities from the so-called unverified list thanks to successful site visits.
In its statement, the PCAOB said it exercised sole discretion to select firms for audit and had selected two, KPMG Huazhen LLP in China and PricewaterhouseCoopers in Hong Kong.
PCAOB staff identified "numerous potential deficiencies" in their inspection work, the board's chair said, saying the inspection reports will be finalized and made public next year.
"Today’s announcement should not be misconstrued in any way as a clean bill of health for firms in mainland China and Hong Kong," Williams said.
She declined to specify the types of deficiencies, but said they are in line with those audit inspectors have seen during first-time inspections elsewhere.
The determination announced on Thursday resets a three-year clock for compliance, said Gary Gensler, the chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which oversees the PCAOB.
In a statement, he said: "Chinese authorities will need to give PCAOB "full access for inspections and investigations in 2023 and beyond."


Another minister sees Telegram account hacked

The Telegram account of Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah was hacked last night, just hours after the personal Telegram account of the prime minister was hit.
Saifuddin, who announced the matter on Twitter, said his name and picture on the application had also been abused.
"Anyone who receives a message from my Telegram should ignore it and report the matter to the authorities," he added.
Also yesterday, Ismail Sabri Yaakob said his Telegram account had been hacked by irresponsible parties and asked members of the public to ignore any messages from the account.
The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said today that Ismail had lodged a police report over the hacks of his personal Telegram and Signal accounts.
The prime minister has also filed a report with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
The PMO said it believed the accounts were used for fraudulent criminal activities.
"Any individual who receives a message from the accounts should ignore it as it is a fake message from an individual impersonating the prime minister," it said.


Law minister denies emergency proclamation politically motivated

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Takiyuddin Hassan has denied that the recent proclamation of emergency was politically motivated, saying it was implemented to assist efforts to manage the Covid-19 outbreak in the country.Takiyuddin, who holds the parliament and law portfolio, said managing the Covid-19 situation in the country was more important than playing political games.“Some people claim that this emergency was done to avoid a general election (GE). Covid-19 is an important life or death issue, while the GE is only an issue of winning or losing.“(In fact) in Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s address (recently), he made it clear that he intends to get a new mandate through the GE, but the Covid-19 situation (now) does not allow for it.“In fact, (previously) Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah had also agreed to declare a state of emergency in the Batu Sapi parliamentary constituency, Gerik parliamentary constituency and Bugaya state constituency to curb the spread of Covid-19,” he said on the “Bicara Naratif” programme broadcast on TV1 last night.He also said the government had decided to advise the king to declare an emergency after taking into account the welfare and well-being of the public.On Tuesday, Sultan Abdullah consented to a nationwide proclamation of emergency as a proactive measure to curb the Covid-19 pandemic.The emergency will be in force until Aug 1, but could end earlier if the number of daily Covid-19 cases is effectively controlled and reduced.Yesterday, Malaysia recorded 4,029 new Covid-19 cases, the highest tally since the outbreak began last year.Takiyuddin said Sultan Abdullah had also sought the views of the attorney-general, chief of defence forces, the inspector-general of police, the health director-general and the Election Commission chairman prior to giving his consent.He brushed aside claims by certain parties questioning the position of the Cabinet and the respective state government leaderships, saying that based on the Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance 2021, their functions and duties remained the same.He said Section 11 of the ordinance provided that the prime minister and Cabinet should continue to exercise federal executive powers and be empowered to make subsidiary laws, while the menteris besar or chief ministers, as well as the respective state executive councils, could continue with their executive powers and make laws at the state level.On the formation of an independent committee during the emergency period, Takiyuddin said the government had identified several qualified figures to be a part of it if consented to by Sultan Abdullah.He said those considered include former chief justices, inspectors-general of police, social activists and several health experts who could provide useful input and advice to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.“The first thing touched on in the emergency ordinance is the establishment of this independent committee which is transparent. Even at the government level, we are ready and have a list of names to present to His Majesty.“I have also written a letter to the opposition leader in Parliament, asking for a list of three names to be part of the committee, but as of now, I have not received it,” he said.


Iran to halt flights to Malaysia over US fuel sanctions

Iranian airlines will halt all flights to Malaysia after Aug 23, with aviation authorities citing US sanctions on refuelling planes from the republic.
News portal Iran International cited Maghsoud Asadi-Samani of Iran's Aviation Companies Association as saying that fuelling companies at Malaysian airports have been told that they will be subject to punitive measures if they continue fuelling planes from the republic.
The last flight to Kuala Lumpur will be operated by Mahan Airlines, which was sanctioned by the US in 2008 for its links to the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, the report said.
Maghsoud said this would be "yet another blow" for Iran's aviation industry, which would lose the revenue from passenger transportation on this route.
"We will lose one of the bases in Southeast Asia," he was reported as saying.


Too many changes too fast, bosses group tells govt

The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) today urged the government to postpone a number of amendments to the Employment Act 1955 seen as beneficial to employees but which the bosses group said would further burden employers already struggling to adjust to the current economic challenges.
In a statement, MEF president Syed Hussain Syed Husman said employers should be given time to regain their footing as businesses had been severely affected by the movement restrictions imposed over the past two years to contain the spread of Covid-19.
"MEF supports some of the changes, but it is about the timing issue," he said.
"Now is not the right time to introduce changes that add to the cost of doing business."
Syed Hussain was referring to the amendments scheduled to take effect on Sept 1, involving an increase in cost of overtime per year, a reduction of working hours from 48 a week to 45, an increase in maternity leave, and paternity leave of seven continuous days per birth.
Taken together, he said, these amendments would mean additional costs of RM110.99 billion each year.
Effective May 1, he added, employers had had to shoulder extra wage costs of some RM14 billion a year due to the increase in minimum wage from RM1,100/RM1,200 per month to RM1,500.
"Some employers are still struggling to fully implement the new minimum wage," he said.
"Some employers are reportedly unable to comply. Employers generally strive to comply with statutory requirements, but there are situations where they are resigned to the fact that they do not have the financial capacity to do so."
Syed Hussain said bosses would also have to address other matters including the stipulation for flexible work arrangements for which there were still no guidelines, the entitlement to 60 days of hospital leave per year in addition to non-hospitalisation sick leave, and new procedures for the application for foreign workers.
"There are too many changes taking place that will affect business during these challenging periods," he said.
"MEF appeals to the government to give businesses more time to transition to the new requirements. There is a need to slow down a bit, to allow businesses some space to breathe."


All it takes to lose a war

In any war, there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of people in need of medical attention every day due to injuries from enemy assaults. Deaths are also reported every day, with hospitals crowded and government machinery pushed to the brink.In a war, rhetoric in domestic politics is replaced with calls to unite against the enemy. Very little occurs on the domestic political front because a strong government is needed to protect the nation and its people.Such is the war in which we are involved at the moment. The only difference which makes this war even more challenging is that the enemy is invisible, and the weapons employed against it are our only defence, even if they could backfire.If the Covid-19 pandemic is a war, then the behaviour of some of our politicians is unacceptable and unbecoming of what is expected at a time of great crisis.It’s been about a week since the emergency declaration was announced. But far from scenes of panic buying and a show of police and military force on the streets, life has continued as normal – indeed, more “normal” than the first time the movement control order was implemented (without an emergency) in March last year.At that time, entire malls and shopping districts were shut down, as were schools, factories and businesses in a mirror of scenes around the world which saw tens of thousands out of a job and the creation of new poverty clusters.The government has so far been apologetic in giving its reasons for the Covid-19 emergency. Let us be clear: it is designed to lock down politicians jostling for power and to put a freeze on rhetoric that would divert attention from saving lives and livelihoods to saving the political future of those with decades of obsession with power.A war like Covid-19, with daily casualties and injuries akin to any conventional war with missiles and bombs, requires citizens to heed their general.In our case, the general in whom we have placed our trust for so long, and whom we agree has the tenacity needed to continue this fight, is Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.With the emergency, he is answerable to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, as the commander-in-chief.We don’t go questioning the general, or for that matter, the powers of the commander-in-chief. In any country at a state of war, whether a posterboy for democracy such as the US or powerful dictatorships such as China and North Korea, that would be tantamount to treason.Here, the strategy of some politicians, some very senior who have tasted power at the top, has been to criticise and mock each time an announcement is made by the war-time government.They talk of getting experts into the battle, an insult not only to Noor Hisham but also to the thousands of frontliners who have been fighting to save lives with what few sticks and stones they have.The truth is, in this war, as with any other war, political affiliation is irrelevant. Whether you are in the opposition-controlled Selangor and Penang, or in Johor and Pahang, the situation is the same.The only things we have seen so far from politicians who could have used their influence to help the commander-in-chief have been distractions, and plenty of them.These are exactly the kind of distractions that the emergency is designed to stop. Even so, one would need to pinch oneself to believe that we are actually in a state of emergency.We hear daily statements, whether in the form of joint statements or remarks picked up from Facebook Live, by legal and medical “experts” questioning the constitutionality of the emergency ordinance.What’s the alternative? Will our invisible enemy hold back its weapons each time we go to Parliament? God forbid that this is our strategy if a very visible neighbour decides to attack us one day!Replacing the prime minister will not solve the problem, nor will the crowd of distractions.No one in their right mind would think of occupying that post in these worst of times. What they should be doing is to put their money where their mouth is and truly display patriotism by forgetting for once, just once, about their political ambitions.Will these politicians take up the challenge?We need more allies, not more enemies. Ask those who have won wars, including a virulently anti-communist British gentleman who embraced Russia to fight a common enemy, and won.After all, it was he who said, “The only thing worse than having allies is not having them.”


Pahang, Perlis dissolve state assemblies

Pahang and Perlis today announced the dissolution of their state legislative assemblies, paving the way for the holding of polls in tandem with the 15th general election (GE15).
In Pahang, Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said Pahang Regent Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Abdullah had consented to the dissolution, effective today, under Clause (2) Article 26 Part Two of the Pahang constitution.
"Today was chosen to allow the tabling and debate on the state budget for 2023 to be completed first, thus obtaining approval for implementation next year," he was reported as saying at a special press conference at Wisma Sri Pahang.
He said the decision was made for a number of reasons, including to prevent a repeat of the election process within a short period of time.
"Elections that are conducted simultaneously can save costs in various aspects, such as management and operation," he said.
"In addition, the start and end of the terms in parallel between the state and federal governments will facilitate various administrative affairs.
"This will allow the state government to focus on the state's management and development agenda more effectively. Therefore, the state government believes there is a need to also participate in GE15," he said.
Perlis Menteri Besar Azlan Man meanwhile said the dissolution of the state assembly had received the consent of the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Putra Jamalullail.
"Hence, the state election will be held simultaneously with GE15 and we will hand over all matters to the Election Commission for the next step," he said.


Sorry.


Pandemic pushing public universities to brink of financial crisis

If the Covid-19 pandemic shows no sign of abating by next year, public universities in Malaysia will face a serious financial crisis which could disrupt the intake of foreign students who have been their biggest source of income.Universities have already been financially affected following a drop in collection of fees for postgraduate and doctoral courses, as well as revenue from residential colleges and other joint activities with corporate bodies.“Fees for postgraduate courses are more critical compared to those for degree students,” Professor Izlin Ismail, who teaches business and accountancy at Universiti Malaya, told MalaysiaNow.Many universities and tertiary institutions have resorted to online lectures following frequent interruptions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, a fierce wave of which has forced authorities to shut down schools and learning institutions nationwide until year-end.Izlin said corporate bodies and external agencies are not keen on conducting their programmes with universities digitally, leading to the postponement of many such initiatives and ultimately cutting out a key source of income.Izlin said the coming year would tell if public universities can survive financially.“All universities, not just the public ones, will be affected,” she said.There are 20 public universities and 47 private universities in Malaysia, in addition to more than 30 university colleges and at least 10 foreign branch campuses.Putrajaya proposed an allocation of RM14.4 billion for the higher education ministry in its recent budget tabled by Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz.The allocation includes RM50 million for the improvement of facilities and infrastructure at public universities.Former Universiti Teknologi Mara vice-chancellor Hassan Said urged public universities to invest in alternative forms of learning in order to stay relevant.“All universities, not just the public ones, will be affected.”He said the shift to online learning means universities must upgrade their digital infrastructure and retrain tutors in new methods of learning, as well as new material that suits virtual lectures.Hassan believes the Covid-19 crisis has had a silver lining for universities: it has taught them to manage finances better.He said measures that university administrations could implement include work from home arrangements for staff that do not affect productivity.“Staff cost is very high and could be 65% of income, so this should be managed wisely,” he said, adding that one way would be to downsize.He said universities could choose to keep only those staff who are needed, or cut salaries.Hassan said universities should also find ways to generate income by offering exclusive and short-term online courses.“Universities should review their course content and ensure their delivery methods fulfil the needs of the new norm,” he said.“This way, they will be able to attract more students.”


5 killed, at least 100 injured in Bangladesh depot fire

At least five people died and some 100 were injured after a massive fire tore through a container depot in Bangladesh’s southeastern town of Sitakunda, officials said Sunday.The fire broke out at an inland container storage facility just 40km outside of the country’s main sea port of Chittagong shortly before midnight, fire service official Jalal Ahmed said.Multiple firefighting units rushed to the depot to douse the fire when a massive explosion rocked the site, injuring scores of people, including firefighters.Chittagong’s chief doctor Elias Chowdhury told AFP that at least five people were killed and some 100 were injured.Of the injured, some 20 people were in critical condition with burns covering between 60 to 90% of their bodies.Emergency crews were still working to put out the fire Sunday morning, and local hospitals, including military clinics, were treating the injured.Ruhul Amin Sikder, spokesman for the Bangladesh Inland Container Association (BICA), said some of the containers at the 30-acre private depot contained chemicals, including hydrogen peroxide.The director of the facility, called BM Container Depot, Mujibur Rahman said the reason behind the fire was still unknown. He added the facility employs some 600 people.In 2020, three workers were killed after an oil tank exploded in another container depot in the neighbouring Patenga area.There are 19 private inland container depots in the South Asian nation handling the country’s exports and a large chunk of import goods.


Announcement on indoor mask mandate 'very soon', says Khairy

An announcement on whether the face mask mandate for enclosed spaces will be withdrawn will be made very soon, Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin says.
"We have already discussed it internally, more or less we know what the decision is. Give me a few days," he said at a press conference after an event in Kuala Lumpur today.
Khairy was responding to a statement by the Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) on Wednesday, urging the government to review its policy on the mandatory use of face masks in enclosed spaces following a similar decision made by other countries, including Singapore.
MMA president Dr Koh Kar Chai said this was because the number of Covid-19 cases in the country had reached a "plateau of sorts" and the number of hospitalisations due to the virus was not high.
Previously, National Recovery Council chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said that the health ministry would look into and decide whether to abolish the use of face masks in enclosed spaces.  Meanwhile, Khairy said the health ministry was still studying the decision by the US Food and Drug Administration to authorise booster shots that target the Omicron BA.5 subvariant.
He said the ministry had its own technical working group for Covid-19 vaccines which would evaluate data before making its recommendation.


Mahathir files RM150 million defamation suit against Anwar over family wealth claims

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has filed an RM150 million defamation suit against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim over the latter’s speech at a special congress in March.
Mahathir, who is also a former prime minister, filed the suit through Messrs Law Practice of Rafique at the Shah Alam High Court on May 3 and named Anwar as the sole defendant.
In his statement of claim, Mahathir said that during the event dubbed “Kongres Nasional Khas Malaysia Madani: Pelaksanaan Sebuah Idealisme” held at the Melawati Stadium in Shah Alam on March 18, Anwar had delivered a speech that contained several defamatory statements that aimed to tarnish the plaintiff’s reputation.
Mahathir said this includes the statements that the plaintiff has amassed wealth for himself, his children and family members, and has given special treatment or priority to high-ranking individuals.
He claimed the statements were untrue and had tarnished his image as a statesman and a two-time prime minister. Mahathir is seeking RM50 million in general damage and RM100 million in exemplary damage, as well as an apology and an order for the defendant to immediately retract all the defamatory remarks.
He said this was because the event was broadcast on Facebook live via the account "Anwar Ibrahim" and PKR's YouTube channel and that the video clips and media reports on the event had also been widely circulated on various social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tiktok dan YouTube.
Case management is set for May 31.


Israel agrees to vaccinate 100,000 labourers, say Palestinians

The Palestinian Authority (PA) said Friday that Israel had agreed to vaccinate 100,000 Palestinian labourers working in the Jewish state, whose mass coronavirus inoculation campaign is regarded as the world’s fastest.A statement from the Palestinian health ministry said the agreement came “during a meeting which discussed the coronavirus pandemic”, without saying when the vaccinations would take place.The two sides also agreed on “technical cooperation” to combat the spread of the virus, the ministry added.Neither the Israeli health ministry nor Cogat, the military unit that coordinates civil affairs with the Palestinians, would immediately confirm to AFP a vaccination a deal.But Israel’s health ministry issued a statement saying a meeting took place in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, where the PA is based, with Palestinian counterparts to discuss the virus.The meeting came “out of the understanding that Israel and the Palestinians live in one territorial unit”, noting that the spread of coronavirus in Palestinian territories could affect Israelis, without mentioning the vaccination deal.Since December, Israel has delivered a shot of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine to 4.25 million residents, around 47% of its nine million population, 2.88 million of whom have received the recommended full course of two jabs, latest health ministry figures show.The PA is expecting some two million doses ordered from various manufacturers, in addition to vaccines from the UN-backed Covax programme, set up to help less wealthy nations procure vaccines.It began vaccinating frontline healthcare workers earlier this month with an initial procurement of 10,000 doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine as well as several thousand doses of the Moderna jabs via Israel.Israel had closed its crossings to Palestinian day labourers at the beginning of the pandemic, forcing those who wished to continue working in Israel to stay in the Jewish state, where wages are higher.As its morbidity rates were slowing dropping, Israel was in the process of relaxing its third general lockdown, with Cogat saying that as of Sunday, Palestinian day labourers would once again be allowed into Israel.According to military radio, some 87,000 were expected to enter Israel to work on Sunday.


UK police send PM Johnson questionnaire in ‘partygate’ probe

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has received a legal questionnaire from police investigating claims of lockdown-breaking parties in his Downing Street office, his spokesman said Friday.“We can confirm the prime minister has received a questionnaire from the Metropolitan Police. He will respond as required,” his spokesman said in a statement.The “partygate” scandal has placed Johnson in political jeopardy with several MPs from his Conservative party publicly calling for his resignation, although he denies any wrongdoing.Police confirmed on Wednesday that they would be sending “formal questionnaires to more than 50 people” by the end of the week to ask about their activities on the dates of at least 12 gatherings in Downing Street over 2020 and 2021.The document “has formal legal status and must be answered truthfully” within seven days, the police noted.Johnson faces a fine unless he can give credible reasons as to why he was at events held during coronavirus restrictions.British ex-premier John Major on Thursday accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of breaking Covid laws and fostering public “contempt” for politics.Major is the second of Johnson’s Conservative predecessors in the post to criticise him over the revelations.Last week, Theresa May told parliament a civil servant’s report into the events showed that Downing Street “was not observing the regulations they had imposed on members of the public”.She asked Johnson to clarify whether he “had not read the rules or didn’t understand what they meant… or they didn’t think the rules applied to Number 10”.Johnson has already apologised in parliament for a series of gatherings identified in an official inquiry led by senior civil servant Sue Gray, but vowed to fight on in office.Gray’s report led to a clear out of the prime minister’s top team.“I’m sorry for the things that we simply didn’t get right, and also sorry for the way this matter has been handled,” Johnson told parliament.“I get it, and I will fix it,” he said.“Yes, we can be trusted to deliver,” Johnson added, stressing his post-Brexit agenda and action against Russia over its threats to Ukraine.“I am going to get on with the job.”Gray admitted her 12-page report was limited in scope after London’s Metropolitan police force launched its own investigation into 12 parties held in Downing Street over the past two years.While Johnson said all sides should await the Met’s own findings, opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer said the police involvement was “a mark of shame”.“He is a man without shame,” Starmer said, urging Johnson’s Conservative cabinet allies to depose him instead of “supporting further misconduct, cover-up and deceit”.


Former judge to head Australian inquiry into ex-PM Morrison's secret roles

Australia appointed a former High Court judge on Friday to lead an inquiry into former Prime Minister Scott Morrison's secret appointments to some ministries at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Virginia Bell will head the inquiry into Morrison's dual appointments to a range of departments, from health and finances to treasury and home affairs, and report by Nov 25, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
"We need to have a quick and appropriate inquiry, which is not about the politics, but about how this happened, why it happened, who knew about it," Albanese told reporters.
"It's important so that people can have confidence in our parliamentary democracy."
The secret appointments "fundamentally undermined" responsible government, despite being legally valid, Australia's solicitor general said in advice this week.