Curfews imposed after 22 dead in night of violence in north Honduras

The Honduran government announced curfews on Sunday in two northern cities after 22 people were shot dead overnight in separate attacks amid escalating violence in the country.
Heavily armed men opened fire on Saturday night in a billiards hall in a neighborhood in the northern manufacturing city of Choloma, killing 11 people and seriously wounding three more, police press office official Edgardo Barahona told Reuters.
An official source not authorised to speak to the media told Reuters there had been at least 11 other killings on Saturday in separate episodes across the northern Valle de Sula zone, including in the key industrial city of San Pedro Sulay.
President Xiomara Castro announced via Twitter a 15-day curfew in Choloma between 9pm and 4am, effective immediately, and another in San Pedro Sula, effective July 4.
"Multiple operations, raids, captures and checkpoints are initiated," Castro said.
The government is also offering a cash reward of US$32,707 (about RM153,000) to people who help identify and capture those responsible for the killings in Choloma, the president said.
There has been a partial state of emergency in parts of Honduras since December in a bid to confront violent gangs.
The attacks over the weekend follow a deadly incident earlier this week at a women's prison near the capital Tegucigalpa that killed 46 people amid a reported break-in by gang members.


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Singapore couple who dumped baby wanted in Taiwan for murder

A Singaporean couple who allegedly dumped a newborn baby in the trash during a trip to Taiwan two years ago have been placed on the island’s wanted list on suspicion of murder, prosecutors said Wednesday.The couple allegedly left the baby girl with placenta and umbilical cord still attached in a recycling bin in February 2019.A recycling company employee later found the girl’s body wrapped in a garbage bag.Prosecutors told AFP that Li Heng Xun, 25, and Evon Yee, 26, are now both being sought for murder and a charge of abandonment.But Taiwan sometimes faces difficulties in pressing extradition requests because many countries do not treat it as a sovereign nation, especially those with close links to China.On Wednesday, Taiwan’s Apple Daily reported that Singaporean authorities had refused multiple requests to provide the couple’s DNA samples citing “inconvenience due to the coronavirus pandemic”.Prosecutors declined to comment on that report when contacted by AFP.The case bears some resemblance to a Hong Kong man who is wanted in Taiwan for the murder of his pregnant girlfriend.Chan Tong-kai has admitted to killing his girlfriend in a Taipei hotel room during a Valentines holiday to the city in February 2018.Currently in Hong Kong, he has expressed willingness to surrender himself.But he remains free as Taiwan and Hong Kong argue over the handling of his case.That murder inadvertently led to the huge democracy protests that swept through Hong Kong in 2019 over a now-scrapped bill to allow extraditions to China, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory.Taiwanese media reported that the Singaporean couple are believed to have dumped the girl’s body seven days after they arrived in Taiwan.They then flew back to Singapore the same day.Local media have aired CCTV footage of a man carrying a black plastic bag walking in an alley and a pregnant woman in a convenience store, identifying them as the two Singaporeans.Police reportedly found blood trace in the bathroom of their hotel room that matched the baby’s.


China’s zero-Covid policy dashes global hopes for quick economic return to normal

A sharp slowdown in China’s economy caused by its strict zero-Covid rules and Beijing’s shift away from a traditional reliance on external demand have cast doubts over how much the country will contribute to future global trade and investment.While China staged a remarkably quick recovery from its initial pandemic slump, thanks to bumper exports and factory production, analysts expect the current downturn will be harder to shake off than the one seen in early 2020.The gloomier outlook presents challenges not only for leaders in Beijing worried about rising unemployment, but foreign businesses counting on China to resume its level of engagement it had with the rest of the world before the pandemic.Calculations based on International Monetary Fund projections show China’s expected average annual contribution to global economic growth through to 2027 at about 29%. While that’s a considerable addition, it contrasts with the years following the 2008 global financial crisis when that averaged closer to 40%.ANZ’s chief economist for Greater China, Raymond Yeung, said Beijing’s economic policies have more recently shifted to home-grown solutions and reforms, rather than the resumption of its past model that focused on greater engagement with the world.“Successful implementation of these may pave the way to sustainable growth over the long term,” Yeung wrote in a note. “However, the risk of failing to achieve a similar growth rate is higher. If MNCs (multinationals) begin to withdraw their onshore presence, the process of economic convergence may come to an end sooner than anticipated.”China’s export growth slowed to single digits in April, the weakest since the onset of the pandemic, while imports barely changed as Covid-19 curbs halted factory production and slashed demand.Authorities are expected to tread a careful policy path around Covid ahead of a key Communist Party meeting towards the end of the year.In a sign of that caution, China last week gave up hosting rights for the Asian Cup football finals next year due to Covid concerns.Liu Peiqian, China economist at NatWest Markets in Singapore, said faced with a choice, Beijing would likely prioritise maintaining wins in hard-fought battles against Covid and rampant debt over its 2022 growth target of 5.5%, which many analysts consider ambitious.“Broadly speaking, there has been a long-term shift starting as early as 2018 to a more domestic-driven economy, boosting the services sector and upgrading the manufacturing supply chain, (and) steering away from debt-addicted stimulus and growth,” Liu said.A broad and sustained slowdown in investment would weigh on demand, contributing to a deeper slowdown in global growth, she said.Immediate concernsBeijing has defended its policies and downplayed the global ripple effects. An opinion piece in state-owned Global Times last week said zero-Covid was the most suitable strategy to fight the virus and keep the economy stable and expected a continued strong contribution to global growth.Others broadly agree – Fitch Ratings chief economist Brian Coulton acknowledged the disruptions from zero-Covid but did not see it being a more serious drag on global growth.“If anything the reliance of the rest of the world on Chinese production has increased in the last couple of years so I don’t see any waning of the influence of China on the global cycle in the near-term anyway,” Coulton told Reuters.For now, however, foreign businesses in China are becoming vocal about worsening operating conditions.Under the zero-Covid policy, Chinese citizens enjoyed a long period of relative openness and freedom within the confines of the domestic economy, but remained tightly shut off from the rest of the world.However, more recent domestic outbreaks mean authorities have not only locked down large parts of the manufacturing sector, adding to global supply shocks, but also doubled down on curbs restricting the movement of people in and out of the country.While travel curbs in much of the rest of the world are easing as countries try to “live with Covid”, China said last week it would strictly limit unnecessary foreign travel by its citizens, continuing an effective freeze that has been in place for the past two years.The American Chamber of Commerce in China warned on Tuesday that strict Covid-19 controls would hamper foreign investment into the country for years to come as limits on travel block the pipeline for projects.A survey from Germany’s Chambers of Industry and Commerce last week showed 47% of German companies in China were critically rethinking their activities there and one in eight companies were even considering leaving the country.“It usually takes years to establish oneself here and given the size of the country, a relocation is all the more difficult, the more astonishing the survey result is,” said Volker Treier, head of foreign trade with the German chambers.


Going green or just greenwash? Group warns against gimmicks by big businesses

An environmentalist group warns that Malaysians are among the culprits contributing to a losing battle for sustainable living, with many local companies playing double-face when it comes to “going green”.The Environmental Protection Society of Malaysia said a recent report by the Carbon Disclosure Project, which reveals that 100 companies are responsible for 71% of greenhouse gas emissions – blamed for climate change – was a wake-up call for corporations to “do what is right”.“As it is, we in Malaysia are already consuming the resources of 2.2 planets without adjusting for equity, and we are not living in a sustainable manner,” the group’s president Nithi Nesadurai told MalaysiaNow.He said consumers should be able to choose environmentally friendly products, and corporations should rightly “go green”, a tagline for embracing sustainable measures.But he warned against embarking on such initiatives as a gimmick or in order to put up a front.He said there are so-called “green” companies investing in unsustainable projects such as coal-fired power plants and land reclamation simply because they yield high returns.For Nithi, this is simply “greenwash” – disinformation provided to present an environmentally responsible public image.“Some major companies host sustainability summits while supporting unsustainable activities,” he said.“We in Malaysia are already consuming the resources of 2.2 planets without adjusting for equity.”He said there are many i’s to be dotted and t’s to be crossed before companies can be certified as sustainable.“Plantation companies that wish to have RSPO certification have to meet sustainability standards,” Nithi said, referring to the Zurich-based Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, the secretariat of which is located in Kuala Lumpur.There is also the green building index (GBI), which provides a green standard for developers.But even here, it is not simply a matter of constructing a building that it is green. It is also about whether that building is necessary to begin with.Developers, for example, have been building tens of thousands of buildings which nobody needs.“A sustainable decision would have been not to build these buildings,” Nithi said, criticising the “chronic overhang” of commercial and residential buildings.Carrot and stickFormer Malaysia Green Building Council president Von Kok Leong said in Malaysia, it is not that difficult for companies to go green.He said there is “sufficient carrot and very little stick” as policymakers try to encourage the practice with incentive schemes to boost investments as well as improvements in quality and productivity.At the corporate level, though, becoming sustainable is still a voluntary act.“There is no Planet B.”“But larger companies are beginning to see the opportunities that it brings to enlarge their market share, improve governance, and reduce energy costs,” Von said.He said some companies had taken bold moves such as upgrading their industrial processes to become more energy-efficient, shifting to premises that have achieved a GBI rating, and recycling both water and waste.“Many more have embarked on repackaging their image, to be seen as keeping abreast with the times.“These are efforts that come from the heart, and from the top to the bottom of the hierarchy.”However, others see going green as a mere buzzword and cannot envision how they or their products or services can fit in.The good news, though, is that consumers themselves can effect some measure of change that will also bring benefit to them.“The people can demand energy-saving electrical goods, products that do not harm the environment, better corporate governance and responsibility, and harsher punishments for those who destroy the environment,” Von said.There is still a long road ahead, but Von sees it as a continuing conversation among stakeholders.“Many have started to realise that we breathe the same air, drink from similar water sources, and deserve to have access to clean energy.”Nithi agrees. “Companies have to act,” he told MalaysiaNow. “There is no Planet B.”


Daily caseload at 206 as one more death reported

Another 206 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 5,042,791.
There were 176 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,996,585.
There are now 9,248 active cases, of which 8,901 or 96.2% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0%) are at quarantine centres while 340 (3.7%) have been hospitalised.
A total of seven are in ICU with three in need of respiratory assistance.
One more death was reported, taking total deaths to 36,958.


Altria-backed cannabis producer Cronos explores sale, sources say

Cronos Group Inc, the Canadian cannabis producer backed by cigarette maker Altria Group Inc, is exploring options that include a potential sale after attracting acquisition interest, people familiar with the matter said.
Toronto-based Cronos is working with a financial adviser to handle the expressions of interest in a deal from other companies, including US-based peer Curaleaf Holdings Inc, the sources said.
The sources requested anonymity because the discussions are confidential, and they cautioned that no transaction is certain.
Cronos and Curaleaf declined to comment. Spokespeople for Altria did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Shares of Cronos jumped as much as 25% in Toronto on the news, giving the company a market value of $771.13 million (about RM3.6 billion). Prior to Thursday, the shares had lost a quarter of their value so far this year.
The future of the cannabis industry is uncertain as more favorable regulatory regimes in North America have fueled fierce competition among a growing number of companies.
The recreational use of cannabis in now legal in 23 US states. Growing and selling marijuana remains illegal under US federal law, although President Joe Biden's administration has signaled it is seeking a review on how the drug is classified.
US lawmakers have also been considering making it easier for the industry to access banking services.
For the first quarter, Cronos posted a net loss of US$19.3 million, compared with a loss of US$32.7 million a year ago. Net revenue declined 20% to US$20.1 million. Cronos has total cash, including short-term investments, of about US$836.43 million, according to its first-quarter report.
Altria, which holds a 41% stake in Cronos, invested US$1.8 billion in the company in 2019.


Daily vaccine jabs top 400,000 for second day running

The number of Covid-19 vaccine doses administered in the country has exceeded 400,000 for two consecutive days with 424,541 doses given yesterday.On Monday, 421,479 doses were dispensed nationwide.In a Twitter post, Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said of the total doses given yesterday, 260,286 were first doses while 164,255 were second doses.He said Sarawak recorded the highest number of second doses administered with 52,551 followed by Selangor (25,696), Kuala Lumpur (23,707), Sabah (9,864), Penang (7,195) and Pahang (7,038).A total of 12,212,730 vaccine shots have been administered across the country since the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme was implemented on Feb 24.


Indonesia landslide kills 15, dozens feared missing

At least 15 people were killed and dozens feared missing after torrential rains and landslides battered one of Indonesia's outermost islands bordering the South China Sea, disaster officials said Monday.
Pictures provided by the national disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) showed mud and debris from the landslides had inundated houses near a cliff on the remote Serasan island.
Bits of metal torn off roofs and fallen trees were visible.
The remoteness of the village where the landslide struck in the Natuna region of Riau province, combined with poor weather and downed communication lines, complicated rescue efforts, according to officials.
"We’ve been updated that 50 people were missing, 15 dead people were evacuated," Natuna Search and Rescue Agency’s head Abdul Rahman told AFP, revising an earlier toll.
Riau Islands Disaster Mitigation Agency's spokesman Junainah added that with the communication network in the affected area – between Borneo island and peninsular Malaysia – cut off, it was hard to get the latest information.
"The weather is unpredictable. The wind is strong and the waves are currently high," said the official, who like many Indonesians goes by one name.
Difficult to access
A 60-person search and rescue team departed for the disaster-hit area from Penagi port in Natuna Island in the afternoon, BNPB spokesman Abdul Muhari said in a statement on Monday evening.
Muhari predicted that access to the far-flung island would be difficult.
"Normally it takes five hours by fast boat," he said.
"Tomorrow, the national disaster mitigation agency will deploy a helicopter to speed up the logistics delivery process," he told local television channel Kompas TV.
A main road in the village was also cut off because of the landslides, further hampering the evacuation process.
Indonesia is prone to landslides during the rainy season, aggravated in some places by deforestation, and prolonged torrential rain has caused flooding in different areas of the archipelago nation.
Experts say the country's weather-related disasters are likely being made worse by climate change.
Floods further south in Banjar district, in the Indonesian part of Borneo, have inundated more than 17,000 houses and disrupted lives for a month.
Neighbouring Malaysia has also been hit with torrential rains and vast floods. At least four people have died and nearly 41,000 were evacuated last week in several states.
In 2020, Indonesia's capital Jakarta and nearby cities saw some of their deadliest floods in years after downpours triggered landslides.
At least 67 people died in that disaster.


Govt planning amendments to Road Transport Act to combat illegal racing

The government plans to table amendments to the Road Transport Act 1987 at the Dewan Rakyat sitting in October, as part of efforts to combat illegal racing and mat rempit (illegal motorcycle racers) activities in the country.
Deputy Home Minister II Jonathan Yasin said the proposed amendments include action against the spectators of illegal racing and penalties for workshops that modify motorcycles to be used for illegal racing.
"There was a discussion on Aug 8 and some proposals were submitted by the home ministry to the transport ministry on enacting the proposed amendments so that the law is stricter in terms of the penalties.
"The existing fines or prison sentences need to be increased. However, this is still under discussion and is likely to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat," he said during a question-and-answer session at the Dewan Negara today.
The supplementary question came from N Balasubramaniam on amendments to the law to combat illegal racing as well as the number of operations conducted so far.
Jonathan said based on the "Operasi Samseng Jalanan" conducted by the Traffic Enforcement and Investigation Department, a total of 1,451 offenders were arrested from January until June this year.
Meanwhile, 1,258 summonses were issued and 2,200 vehicles seized for investigation.
On Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's proposal for a special circuit for drag racing to be built in each state, Jonathan said the proposal was good in the effort to boost motorsports.
However, he said feedback from state governments showed that the idea received little enthusiasm from the youth, including in Penang and Selangor which already have special circuits.


Boy trapped for 3 days in Afghan well has died, officials say

A five-year-old boy trapped for three days down a well in a remote Afghan village has died, several Taliban officials said Friday.The child, named Haidar, slipped Tuesday to the bottom of a well being dug in Shokak, a parched village in Zabul province, around 400km southwest of the capital Kabul.Rescuers worked non-stop to try to reach the boy, who officials said was still alive Friday morning – before later announcing he had died.“With great sorrow, young Haidar is separated from us forever,” said Taliban interior ministry senior adviser Anas Haqqani, in a tweet echoed by several of his colleagues.The operation comes around two weeks after a similar attempt to rescue a boy from a Moroccan well gripped the world, but ended with the child found dead.


15.9% of children given first vaccine jab

A total of 564,220 children or 15.9% of those aged between five and 11 had received a first dose of Covid-19 vaccine under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme for Children (PICKids) as of yesterday.According to the CovidNow website, a total of 14,078,456 or 59.8% of the adult population have received a Covid-19 booster dose and 22,945,040 or 97.5% have completed their vaccination.Meanwhile 23,222,810 or 98.7% have received at least one dose of vaccine.In terms of adolescents, a total of 2,799,132 individuals or 90% have completed their vaccination while 2,886,655 or 92.8% have received at least one dose.Yesterday, a total of 137,307 vaccine doses were dispensed, with 52,804 as first doses, 1,024 as second shots, and 83,479 as booster jabs.This brings the cumulative number of vaccine doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 66,289,382.


Would-be immigrants see hope in re-opened US border

Maria fled the violent drug gangs of Michoacan with just three changes of clothes, and traveled 2,500km to the edge of Mexico where she now waits to claim political asylum in the US.The 38-year-old is part of a record wave of Central and Southern Americans trying to escape violence and poverty at home and make a new life in the world’s richest country over the last year, even as its borders have been shut because of the Covid-19 pandemic.Now they have opened again, Maria sees a chink of light.“Now I have hope,” she told AFP in a makeshift camp in Tijuana, where hundreds have gathered waiting to travel a few miles north across the frontier.“We came to get away from organised crime. Not because we are criminals,” says Maria, whose real name is being withheld at her request.Her eldest son was recruited by a brutal gang last year. That was when the threats began.This year she, her husband, two young children and other family members gathered their meager possessions and headed north, in the hope of getting over the border somehow.Migration advocates say if they can just make it onto US soil, they can tell a border guard they want asylum and will be dealt with in-country.But with the border closed to all but US nationals, legal residents and certain exempt individuals, getting across was not possible and she had to stake her asylum claim from Mexico. That was six months ago.While she waits, she lives in the grubby and crowded El Chaparral camp, where dozens of families eek out an existence in flimsy tents.‘I would cross by river’When the border swung open again this week, fellow resident Perez was also flooded with hope.“I was very happy,” she said. Life in a camp with no electricity is not easy, she adds, though she is hopeful her request for asylum will be granted.“But if they deny me political asylum, my thought is to cross illegally. I would even cross by river if needs be.”In the 12 months to September, the US recorded 1.7 million people entering illegally at the southwest border, the highest figure since records began in 1960.Those illegal crossings are high, says University of San Diego School of Political Science Director David Shirk, because there is no legitimate route.“By restricting… crossing for asylum purposes, what US border policies have done is to create a very, very large and desperate population of people waiting on the Mexican side,” he said.Many are “trying to wait their turn, but finding that the length of time is too long.”‘If we wait… we get killed’For Margarita, waiting was never an option.She and her husband Luis and their two children fled their native Bogota after being threatened by members of the FARC, Colombia’s main armed rebel group.Like other people AFP spoke to for this piece, the couple declined to give their real names.Margarita says she ruled out legal routes for migration because they would just take too long.“I said ‘if I wait to do it in 2022 or 2023, they kill us’.”They packed four suitcases and left for Mexico. In Tijuana, they followed directions until they reached a river that marks the border, which they waded into.As the water rose to their chests, they lost almost everything.“All we had left were our papers, our bible and two changes of clothes,” says Margarita, showing their belongings in two nylon sacks.US authorities took them to a detention center and separated them for three days.The couple and their five-year-old son were transferred to a migrant shelter operated by Catholic charities in San Diego to await a court hearing, while their 19-year-old daughter remained in the detention center.As Margarita was speaking to an AFP team, her daughter phoned and the two spoke for the first time in ten days.“Forgive me, forgive me,” she sobbed as she gazed at the video of her daughter on the screen.For David Shirk, the post-Covid economic boom in the US is likely to attract more immigrants in search of work, making fixing the migration system a priority.He sees little material difference between policies pursued under President Joe Biden and those of his predecessor Donald Trump.While Biden has not talked about Trump’s border “wall”, he is nevertheless at pains not to appear soft.“It’s a kind of nuclear arms race, of… trying to show who’s tougher on border controls,” he says.“That’s not good for US immigration policy. It actually is not good for the United States and the US economy, it’s something that we absolutely need to fix, but for which there is no obvious immediate solution in sight.”


Kelantan hospitals, quarantine centres maxed out amid surge in Covid-19 cases

The current spike in Covid-19 cases in Kelantan has caused hospital facilities and low-risk quarantine centres in the state to be fully stretched, state authorities say.Dr Izani Husin, state Local Government, Housing and Health Committee chairman, said the situation had also caused a shortage of health personnel.“The infectivity rate (Rt) or R-naught (R0) today is the highest at 1.44, way above the national Rt of 1.15,” he said in a Facebook post yesterday.“The daily cases in Kelantan are at a record high of 662, which is also the highest in Malaysia today, bringing the state’s total to 10,199 cases,” he added.He also said the new cluster detected yesterday had brought the number of active clusters in Kelantan to 31, with over 3,000 pending cases and 3,493 active cases.All districts in Kelantan are under movement control order (MCO) until April 29.The MCO was enforced in Kota Bharu, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh, Bachok, Machang, Tumpat and Tanah Merah districts from April 16 while the MCO in Jeli, Kuala Krai and Gua Musang began yesterday.


Daily caseload hovers at 3,400 as 6 more deaths logged

Another 3,471 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,440,383.There were 6,900 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,346,421.There are now 58,436 active cases, of which 56,776 or 97.2% are undergoing home quarantine.Meanwhile, 61 (0.1%) are at quarantine centres while 1,501 (2.6%) have been hospitalised.A total of 98 are in ICU with 63 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 53.7%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 13.0%.Another six deaths were reported, including four who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 35,526.


Johor ruler repeats warning to power-crazy politicians, threatens dissolution

Johor ruler Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar today said he would not hesitate to dissolve the state assembly if representatives engage in power struggles and threaten the state government.“I will not entertain any political games by assemblymen and risk destabilising my state and government,” he said at the opening of the Johor state assembly in Iskandar Puteri today.“If that occurs, then I will not hesitate to dissolve the state assembly.”The sitting today was the first to be held since Parliament and state assembly sittings were suspended under the declaration of emergency in January.The last session of the Johor state assembly sitting before this was held from Nov 26 to Dec 6 last year.Speaking today, Sultan Ibrahim urged assemblymen to use the session to discuss and plan a clear course of action to help the people and rebuild the state’s economy.“We don’t need politicians to represent the people if all they think about is themselves and not the interests and welfare of the rakyat,” he said, adding that there was no need to bring up “unnecessary motions”.“Don’t be selfish,” he said. “The rakyat are suffering, going hungry, losing their jobs and some are even fighting for their lives because of Covid-19.“This is not the time to fight (for political power). Rather, this is the time to unite and work together. Don’t look around to see what other politicians are up to, look at yourselves in the mirror instead.”On Tuesday, Sultan Ibrahim had expressed regret that some political leaders were disrupting the government as they jostled for power.In a statement, he said their acts were uncalled for at a time when the people are struggling to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic.“Now is the time to scramble to help the people, not scramble for power and positions,” he had said.PKR president Anwar Ibrahim and his Umno counterpart Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, alongside former leader Najib Razak, have been at the forefront of a campaign to topple Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin since last year.Their efforts gathered momentum recently with a call by Zahid on Cabinet ministers from his party to quit the government. Both Zahid and Najib say they have mustered the support of about 15 MPs from Umno.


Ukraine authorities seize shipment of ‘safe’ Chernobyl vodka bound for UK

If you like your alcohol with a nuclear kick to it, you’ll still have to wait after Ukrainian authorities seized over 1,500 bottles of Atomik, a vodka made from apples and grain grown near the infamous Chernobyl nuclear power plant, reports USA Today.In 1986, the worst nuclear accident in history unfolded in what is now northern Ukraine as a reactor at Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded and burned.Still shrouded in secrecy, scientists estimate the zone around the former plant will not be habitable for up to 20,000 years.Yet the vodka makers insist that research shows that some of the land can now be used to grow crops for human consumption.The Chernobyl Spirit Company says Atomik is the first consumer product to come from the area since the nuclear disaster.As scientists, they point out that distillation of fermented grain leaves many heavier elements in the waste product so the distillate alcohol is more radioactively “pure” than the original grain.The experimental batch of their “moonshine” spirit Atomik was headed to the UK after leaving a distillery in Ukraine before it was intercepted by federal authorities.Jim Smith, an environmental science professor at Portsmouth University and the company founder, said it was unclear why the booze was held.“It seems that they are accusing us of using forged Ukrainian excise stamps, but this doesn’t make sense since the bottles are for the UK market and are clearly labelled with valid UK excise stamps,” Smith said in a press release.Elina Smirnova, the lawyer representing The Chernobyl Spirit Company, said the seizure was in violation of Ukrainian laws.“They have targeted a foreign company which has tried to establish a business to help Ukraine. The actions of law enforcement agencies are damaging the reputation of Ukraine as an open country for doing business. We still believe that the truth will win,” Smirnova said.Moonshiner Smith has studied the nuclear accident for over 30 years, and his company claims they take every precaution to reduce radioactivity in the grain.“Our research indicates much of the land in the nuclear exclusion zone can now be used to grow crops which are safe to eat,” he told the BBC in 2019 when studies showed that locally grown rye was below the limit of radioactive detection.“We are working hard to set up a business to help bring jobs and investment to the Chernobyl affected areas of Ukraine and to further support the community by donating 75% of any profits we make,” Smith said.A note on the Atomik vodka website says: “Our first production of Atomik Apple Spirit has been seized by Ukrainian security services for reasons unclear to us. We are working hard to get it released, but we can’t sell you anything yet.”


My daughter is qualified, says Anwar on Nurul Izzah's appointment as his senior adviser

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has defended the appointment of his daughter Nurul Izzah as his senior economic and financial adviser, as news of her new role sparked a flurry of comments on social media.
Anwar shot back at critics who said Nurul was not academically suitable for the position, saying even he was appointed as finance minister despite not having related educational background.
"Even I don't have a finance-related degree or certificate, but I was the minister of finance for eight years (in the 1990s)," said Anwar on his portfolio under then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's government.
He went on to say that ministers in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration also did not have relevant degrees.
"But when it comes to us, they bring it up," he said, and questioned if only a medical doctor should be named as the health minister.
The finance ministry under the two previous governments which were also made up of PN was headed by Tengku Zafrul Aziz.
The former banker has a degree in Economics and Accounting as well as Master in Finance and Management, in addition to being a member of the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers.
Previous prime ministers had their own economic advisers, including Mahathir who during his second term in power named economist Muhammed Abdul Khalid as his economic adviser.
Ismail Sabri Yaakob, meanwhile, named his former boss Najib Razak, who has a degree in industrial economics, as his economic adviser.
Nurul, 42, graduated in 2003 in engineering from Universiti Tenaga Nasional, before furthering studies in public policy in the US.
Anwar said his daughter would not receive any allowance for her new role.
Anwar himself once served as economic adviser to the Selangor government, where he was paid a token sum of RM1 annually.
Nurul revealed her appointment in an interview with The Star, saying it took effect on Jan 3.
She said her experience as an MP would come in handy when engaging with "experts in navigating economic governance, accountability and evidence-based policies".
She also said she had been busy meeting with business groups and stakeholders as part of the preparations for the upcoming budget to be tabled by her father.


Four remanded over RM300 million false claims out on MACC bail

Four individuals recently arrested on suspicion of making false claims for development projects worth over RM300 million in the east coast have been released on Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) bail.Their lawyer, Vivek Sukumaran, said they were released after the six-day remand order against them ended today.“The case is still being investigated. The remand was not extended as all of them, aged between 28 and 48, gave their full cooperation to the MACC.“I hope all quarters will stop making speculations. Just give room to MACC to complete their investigation,” he told reporters in Kuala Terengganu today.Last Friday, Bernama reported that the managing director of a government-linked company involved in real estate was among the four individuals arrested on alleged involvement in making false claims involving development projects worth over RM300 million in the east coast.The three others were a company director, a project manager and an architect.


Indonesian palm oil workers to arrive in Malaysia after bureaucratic hiccups

Malaysia will today receive the first group of Indonesian migrant workers since reopening its borders, with the hopes of easing a major labour shortage in palm oil plantations.Malaysia, the world’s second-largest palm oil producer lacks at least 1.2 million workers across its manufacturing, plantation, and construction sectors, a shortage worsening daily as economic activity bounces back from the pandemic.The country has not seen a significant return of migrant workers despite reopening borders in April due to slow government approvals and protracted negotiations with Indonesia and Bangladesh over worker protections.“As of today we have approved requests for 4,699 workers for plantation (sector) only,” Indonesia’s ambassador to Malaysia, Hermono, told Reuters.About 40 workers for a palm oil plantation are scheduled to arrive today, said Hermono, who like many Indonesians goes by only one name. He did not give details of when those workers are expected to arrive.Indonesia last month barred a group of about 150 plantation workers from travelling to Malaysia because recruiters did not follow proper emigration procedures and most of the workers did not have the right visa.The arrival of migrant workers will help ease a shortage of more than 100,000 workers in palm oil plantations, which have been forced to leave thousands of tonnes of palm fruit rotting on trees due to a lack of harvesters.The human resources ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


Sudan's war exacts deadly toll on dialysis patients, leaves bodies rotting

Kidney dialysis patients are dying and dead bodies have been left to decompose in a morgue and in city streets as Sudan's war rages on, despite efforts by volunteers and aid workers to keep critical healthcare running.
Sudan's health sector was already on the edge of collapse due to a lack of resources before the conflict, and it has been shattered by nearly two months of fighting between the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) across the country.
More than 60 hospitals in conflict zones have been put out of service, and the 29 that are still operating are threatened by closure due to power and water cuts and shortage of staff, according to the United Nations.
"Despite all the best efforts of Sudanese doctors... who are working in extremely difficult conditions, this is certainly not a sustainable situation," International Committee of the Red Cross regional director for Africa Patrick Youssef told Reuters.
Dr Mohammed Wahbi, who manages one of Sudan's largest children's hospitals in Omdurman, across the Nile from the capital Khartoum, said it normally received up to 300 paediatric patients a day.
"Once the war broke out, RSF forces stationed their vehicles in front of the hospital and its soldiers entered the building, which made the facility unsafe for patients," he said. "Many stayed away, except those who were desperate for dialysis treatment."
Two weeks ago, the hospital stopped providing treatment as dialysis supplies dwindled.
In El-Obeid, southwest of Khartoum, a power outage lasting more than two weeks has put a kidney dialysis unit at risk of shutdown and led to the death of at least 12 dialysis patients, a doctors' union statement said on Sunday.
Residents say roads into the strategically located city are under blockade, with supplies of food and medicine cut off. Engineers tried to reach a local power station to restore electricity, but were assaulted before they could arrive, the doctors' union said.
Renal disease constitutes an important health problem in Sudan, where treatment is limited and expensive. According to the International Society of Nephrology, an estimated 8,000 people in Sudan depend on dialysis to live.
In Ombada, on the outskirts of Omdurman, the main hospital has had to halve the frequency of patient visits, and shut down their operating rooms, said general director Alaa El Din Ibrahim Ali, because of power cuts and lack of fuel for the generator.
Morgue breakdown
Nearby, a local morgue was unable to keep its refrigeration system working and 450 bodies began to decompose, seeping blood onto the floor.
The army has accused the RSF of forcibly evacuating and taking over key hospitals. The RSF said in a statement earlier this week that monitors had observed several of those hospitals, as well as power and water stations, were free of fighters.
With international humanitarian agencies struggling to scale up aid due to the pervasive danger of violence, one of many local volunteer units trying to maintain basic health services attempted to fix the outage.
"We faced problems buying equipment and fuel to get the cooling facilities up and running again," said Moussa Hassan, a member of the group, who said the price of a gallon of fuel had soared to between $58 and $83, from $11 before the war.
The police and other authorities vanished when the conflict started, blocking burial procedures, he said.
"No death certificates have been issued. The dead cannot be buried anyway given the constant fighting happening around us," Hassan said.
The situation in Darfur, in western Sudan, is even more desperate. El Geneina, the worst affected city, has been hit by waves of attacks by Arab militias backed by the RSF while cut off from humanitarian relief and phone networks.
"There are practically no health services (there) at all. It’s a city of death," said Yasir Elamin, president of the Sudanese American Physicians.
The Geneina Teaching Hospital, the most visited hospital in West Darfur State, was forced to close in late April, its patients and doctors evacuated.
A secondary school teacher from the city, Hisham Juma, said he saw fighters take the hospital over before he fled to neighbouring Chad earlier this month.
"Many patients died, including my neighbour who needed dialysis every three days," he told Reuters by phone from Chad. Reuters was unable to verify his account or ascertain how many patients had died.
Moussa Ibrahim, a logistics supervisor in El Geneina for medical aid group MSF which supported the hospital, said fighting in the city had made it dangerous to fetch basic necessities, or to retrieve dead bodies from the streets.
"Access was finally gained but by that point the bodies had decomposed to the extent that they couldn't be removed. Now, the best that can be done is to gather the bodies in a single location," he said in a statement.


Singapore's top varsity sees red after student accepts scroll with protest sign

Singapore's top university was forced to censor a short piece of footage from a graduation ceremony that was broadcast live, after a graduating student staged a lone protest accusing the government of having blood on its hands over a spree of executions in the city-state.
On July 6, Luke Levy, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in social science from the National University of Singapore (NUS), pulled out a note from his graduation gown which read, "Abolish the death penalty. No to state murder. End poverty, not life. Blood on your hands", holding it as he walked to accept his scroll.
"That was around the time of Kalwant Singh’s last appeal for his life in court before execution. I felt uncomfortable with this juxtaposition of being celebrated by an institution of the state that was going to murder two the next day," he wrote recalling the protest that was caught on live broadcast but later censored in the recorded footage.
Such a protest is rare in Singapore, where the PAP regime shows little tolerance for dissident views.
Kalwant, a 31-year-old Malaysian from Cameron Highlands, Pahang, was executed on July 7 alongside Singaporean Norasharee Gous, a day after the Singapore court dismissed Kalwant's final appeal for a stay of execution.
Footage of Luke's protest was censored by NUS, which took down the live recording only to reupload the two-hour clip minus his time on the stage – an act that he described as "the most obvious jump cut in the world".
(The amended video, with the sudden skip noticeable at 1:14:54, can be viewed here.)

Luke Levy's protest sign against the use of the death penalty in Singapore.

The attempt to censor him continued with the photo studio touching up his official graduation picture, showing him holding his protest sign but with the words blurred.
"You can still make some words out though, thank goodness they didn’t do a good job with it," he quipped.
"NUS (and others) went through the effort to crop the sign out. To erase the message from existence. To pretend nobody who studied there thinks this way and is taking action on this. To say ‘all is well’ by excluding something uncomfortable to their institution," he said.
Luke said that by trying to censor him, NUS was guilty of maintaining power hierarchies "that neglect, that exploit, that turn people against each other, that kill".
"They’re an institution with state ties, after all. They dare not go against what grants them academic power."
He described his protest as a "small act" which he hoped would inspire others to stand against violence and for "those disproportionately affected by the death penalty".
"I gave my space on stage to Kalwant. To Norasharee. To those on death row now. To those already executed. A small, A4-sized disruption, to acknowledge that even taking the stage is a privilege built on a system of violence that oppresses many in society," Luke wrote of his lone protest.
The Singapore government has often described its tough laws as a deterrent against drug crimes, unlike Malaysia which recently announced that it would abolish the mandatory death sentence for drug offences and others following a moratorium on executions.
An increasing number of critics within and outside the city-state have pointed out that many of those convicted are drug mules from poor families, while the drug kingpins who employ them often go unpunished.
This was a view stressed by British aviation magnate Richard Branson in his open letter to Singapore President Halimah Yacob last year, where he appealed for the life of Malaysian Nagaenthran K Dharmalingam, who was executed on April 27 despite being diagnosed with a low IQ, which would make his execution illegal under international treaties as well as Singapore's own constitution.


Daily cases dip to 3,100

Another 3,160 Covid-19 cases were recorded today, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 2,738,401.Another 4,421 patients recovered, bringing total recoveries to 2,661,495.Meanwhile 324 are in the ICU, including 253 confirmed Covid-19 patients.A total of 175 are in need of respiratory assistance including 107 confirmed Covid-19 cases.Of the 3,160 cases reported today, 66 (2.1%) are in Category Three and above. The remaining 3,094 (97.9%) are in Category One and Two.


PBB to introduce new faces in race for 40-plus seats in Sarawak polls

Sarawak Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) will contest 47 seats of the 82 up for grabs at the state election to come, fielding new faces in 20% of the constituencies it takes on, likely in semi-urban areas.PBB vice-president Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said it was important for young candidates to be given a chance to contest.“There will be quite a number who are in their 30s,” he told reporters when asked about the party’s line-up of new faces after a Supreme Council meeting last night.He added that there would “definitely” be some from the youth and women’s wings.“It will always be like that.”Karim said any move to replace the incumbents would not be a reflection on their service in the constituency.“But I think the circumstances require them to be replaced with new candidates for the sake of the party and the state,” he said.He declined to go into detail on the matter of women being fielded as new candidates.“As much as possible, the party will make sure the number of women representing PBB will not decrease,” he said.While the number of women candidates increased from 15 in 2011 to 22 in the 2016 state election, he said, the proportion of women in the Sarawak legislative assembly is still low.“But it is not easy to get new candidates because women are normally housewives. It is quite difficult for them, but we can always groom them,” he added.“There are bound to be some who wish to serve society. These are the ones that we want to look for, those who want to give back to society as politicians.”Women currently holding seats in the state assembly include PBB’s Fatimah Abdullah (Dalat), Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali (Samariang), Rosey Yunus (Bekenua), Jamilah Anu (Tanjung Datu), Simoi Peri (Lingga) from the ruling GPS coalition, as well as Irene Mary Chang (Bukit Assek) and Violet Yong (Pending) from DAP.


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New infections just over 2,000 as death toll up by 6

Another 2,067 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 4,795,009.
There were 2,279 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,731,426.
There are now 27,328 active cases, of which 25,963 or 95.0% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 19 (0.1%) are at quarantine centres while 1,277 (4.7%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 69 are in ICU with 40 in need of respiratory assistance. ICU utilisation throughout the country stands at 64.0%, with Covid ICU utilisation at 18.6%.
Another six deaths were reported, including one who was brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,255.


Myanmar’s Suu Kyi hit with two new criminal charges

Ousted Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi was hit with two new criminal charges when she appeared in court via video link on Monday, a month after a military coup triggered relentless and massive protests.Suu Kyi has not been seen since being detained on Feb 1, and her appearance came as demonstrators took to the streets again across the country in defiance of an escalation of deadly force from the junta.At least 18 people died on Sunday as troops and police fired live bullets at demonstrators in cities across Myanmar, according to the United Nations, which cited its own credible information.Suu Kyi, 75, was already facing obscure criminal charges for possessing unlicensed walkie-talkies, as well as violating coronavirus restrictions by staging a campaign event during last year’s election.She is now also accused of a violation of communications laws as well as intent to incite public unrest, her lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said.“We cannot say for sure how many more cases Daw Aung San Suu Kyi will face in this period,” he told reporters in Naypyidaw.“Anything can happen in this country at this time.”Myanmar’s ousted president Win Myint is also facing the same intent to incite public unrest charge in addition to coronavirus restriction breaches.Suu Kyi has reportedly been kept under house arrest in Naypyidaw, an isolated city that the military built during a previous dictatorship.The military has justified its takeover, ending a decade-long democratic experiment, by making unfounded allegations of widespread fraud in last November’s national elections.Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy won the election in a landslide.The generals have hit Suu Kyi with two charges the international community widely regards as frivolous – relating to importing walkie talkies and staging a campaign rally during the pandemic.Monday’s court proceedings were preliminary matters in the case, including with Khin Maung Zaw seeking to formally represent her.UprisingHundreds of thousands of people have taken to streets regularly over the past month to oppose the coup.While the military has steadily increased the type of force used to try to contain the uprising, beginning with tear gas and water cannons, this weekend’s violence saw the biggest escalation.One person was shot while crouching behind rubbish bins and other makeshift shields, and had to be dragged away by others, with the incident filmed by media.AFP independently confirmed 10 deaths in Sunday’s violence, although there were fears the toll could be much higher.The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a reliable monitoring group, estimated that about 30 people had been killed by security forces since the coup on Feb 1.On Monday, protests erupted again in multiple cities across the country, with demonstrators in Yangon using bamboo poles, sofas and tree branches to erect barricades across streets.In one clash broadcast live on Facebook and verified by AFP, unarmed protesters fled after a volley of shots were fired.It was not immediately clear if the security forces had fired live rounds or rubber bullets.Hundreds of people were also arrested over the weekend with many in Yangon taken to Insein Prison, where Myanmar’s leading democracy campaigners have served long jail terms under previous dictatorships.More than 1,100 people have been arrested, charged, or sentenced since the coup, according to The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.One reporter was also shot with rubber bullets on the weekend while covering a protest in the central city of Pyay, their employer said.Several journalists documenting Saturday’s assaults by security forces were detained, including an Associated Press photographer in Yangon.“We strongly condemn the escalating violence against protests in Myanmar and call on the military to immediately halt the use of force against peaceful protesters,” Ravina Shamdasani, spokeswoman for the UN human rights office, said.The United States has been one of the most outspoken critics of the junta, and Secretary of State Antony Blinken also reacted with horror after Sunday’s violence.“We condemn the Burmese security forces’ abhorrent violence against the people of Burma & will continue to promote accountability for those responsible,” Blinken tweeted, using the country’s old name.


New Covid-19 variant found in 8 US states, official data shows

A new, more infectious strain of the coronavirus has now spread to at least eight US states, official data showed Friday, as the country logged a record new daily virus caseload.The B117 coronavirus strain, which emerged in Britain late last year, has been shown to be between 40% and 70% more contagious than variants which have spread previously.Data from the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) showed Friday that the strain – first reported in the US last week – has been detected in eight states, with California and Florida the worst affected.The strain has also been found in Colorado, Texas, New York, Georgia, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, in a total of 63 cases.Top US infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci told Newsweek on Wednesday that the variant may be “more widespread in the US than we are currently detecting it to be”.“I’m certain it’s here, we just haven’t detected it yet. And I think it’s pretty clear that if it’s in places like California, and New York and Colorado… that pretty soon it’s going to be in several more states,” he said.The spread of B117 and another more infectious variant from South Africa, known as B1351, has sparked fears of a similar new strain emerging in the US.But US officials on Friday denied reports that one had been detected so far.“Researchers have been monitoring US strains since the pandemic began, including 5,700 samples collected in November and December,” CDC spokesman Jason McDonald told CNBC.“To date, neither researchers nor analysts at CDC have seen the emergence of a particular variant in the US as has been seen with the emergence of B.1.1.7 in the UK or B.1.351 in South Africa.”Almost 290,000 new coronavirus infections were reported in the US within 24 hours Friday according to Johns Hopkins University, a day after the world’s worst-hit country recorded a daily high of nearly 4,000 deaths.


Home ministry admits negligence in prison body mix-up

The home ministry yesterday admitted to negligence and systemic weaknesses in the mistaken identity of a prisoner who died at Hospital Sungai Buloh on March 3.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said his ministry would set up an inquiry board committee immediately to investigate the matter.
"There can't be any compromise on the aspect of negligence. We will always take steps to improve this identification system," he said when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill 2023 at the policy level in the Dewan Rakyat.
In the incident, a family preparing the funeral rites for their son's body were informed by the Sungai Buloh Prison that their son was still alive.
The family lodged a police report at the Jinjang police station on March 4.
Saifuddin also said that his ministry was ready to pay compensation for the expenses incurred by the family, estimated at RM20,000, within 48 hours.
Meanwhile, on the issue of the exemption given to Umno according to Section 70 of the Societies Act 1966, Saifuddin said the Registrar of Societies (RoS) and ministers are subject to the Societies Act 1966.
He said the law governs the essential duties of the RoS, which are to ensure that any organisation complies with matters in its laws, and protects the interests of its members.
"Section 70 of the act specifically gives the minister the power to make a number of exceptions, and the decision I made was directed to the exception of compliance with Section 13 of the same law," he said.
Saifuddin said if there were any dissatisfied parties which felt that he had exceeded the limits of his authority, they could take the issue to court.
"Before I gave the exemption, I obtained the views of the relevant parties," he said.
Saifuddin previously said that he had granted an exemption to Umno from complying with Section 13(1)(c)(iv) of the Societies Act 1966, for the resolution barring contest for its top two posts in its party election.


Company execs nabbed over RM10 million bribes in public transport project

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has remanded two individuals to assist in investigations into bribes of more than RM10 million linked to the procurement of work involving the construction of a public transport system.
The suspects, a woman and a man in their 40s, were remanded at the Magistrate's Court in Putrajaya today.
Magistrate Izra Zulaikha Rohanuddin issued the remand order for three days from today until Sept 9.
According to a source, the woman who is the financial manager of a company is believed to have paid the bribes to facilitate business activities and the approval of the takeover of work on the project from another company to her own.
The man, meanwhile, is the head of the marketing division of the same company. He is thought to have made payments to six individuals and entities believed to be fake.
They were arrested at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at about 9.30pm last night after going to give their statements.
Hishamuddin Hashim, senior director of MACC's investigation division, confirmed the arrests.
He said the case is being investigated under Section 16 of the MACC Act 2009.


Blinken meets Xi during pivotal China trip to salvage frosty ties

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday, wrapping up a rare and pivotal trip to Beijing that aimed at ensuring the many disputes between the superpowers do not spiral into conflict.
Becoming the first US secretary of state to meet the Chinese leader since 2018, Blinken strode towards Xi with his hand outstretched as the Chinese President stood to greet him at the Great Hall of the People.
The two delegations later faced each other across a long conference table bedecked with pink lotus flowers, with Xi at the head and Blinken just to his right. The meeting, on the final day of Blinken's two-day visit, could help to facilitate a summit between Xi and US President Joe Biden later in the year.
"The two sides have had candid and in-depth discussions," Xi said at the start of the meeting in comments broadcast on Chinese state television.
"I hope that through this visit, Mr. Secretary, you will make more positive contributions to stabilizing China-US relations," Xi added, addressing Blinken.
Earlier, Blinken held extensive discussions with China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Monday, and foreign minister Qin Gang on Sunday.
The talks, held at the Diaoyutai state guest house in Beijing, did not appear to make much progress in bridging the two sides' differences on issues ranging from Taiwan to trade, human rights, stemming the flow of synthetic opioid fentanyl or their approach to the war in Ukraine.
Blinken underscored the importance of open communication channels to manage their competition during more than three hours of talks with Wang, which the State Department called "productive."
Describing the US-China relationship as being at a low point, Wang said the root cause was the US' wrong perception of China.
"We must take a responsible attitude toward the people, history and the world, and reverse the downward spiral of US-China relations," Wang said during the meeting with Blinken, according to a statement released by China's foreign ministry.
Wang urged the US to stop speculating on threats from China, abandon its "suppression" of China's scientific and technological development, and refrain from interfering in its internal affairs, according to Chinese state media.
The lack of regular and open communication channels between the world's top two economies has sent jitters around the world, and Beijing's reluctance to engage in regular military-to-military talks with Washington has alarmed China's neighbours.
During 7-1/2 hours of talks with Qin on Sunday, Blinken stressed "the need to reduce the risk of misperception and miscalculation", the State Department said.
Both sides emphasized the importance of making it easier for their citizens to visit, and agreed on working to increase passenger flights, which boosted Chinese airline shares.
They also expressed a desire to stabilise bilateral ties despite what one US official called their "profound" differences, and agreed that Qin would visit Washington to continue the conversation, though no date was announced.
"This is going to be a process of sustained diplomacy," one senior State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said on Sunday.
Blinken's trip, which was postponed in February after a suspected Chinese spy balloon flew over US airspace, is closely followed worldwide as further deterioration of ties between the world's two largest economies could have global implications on financial markets, trade practices and routes and supply chains.
Taiwan core issue
Beijing's tone on Taiwan, the democratic island Beijing claims as it own, has been particularly pointed throughout Blinken's visit. Wang said "China has no room for compromise or concessions", according to the Chinese readout.
The US has long stuck to a policy of "strategic ambiguity" over whether it would respond militarily to an attack on Taiwan, which Beijing has refused to rule out.
When asked last year, US President Joe Biden said Washington would defend Taiwan in the event of a Chinese invasion, though aides later said his comments did not reflect a policy departure from the long-standing "one China" policy.
US officials have underscored that the US does not support Taiwan independence.
The Chinese readout of Sunday's meetings described them as constructive but made clear that Taiwan is the most important issue, and a potentially dangerous one.
"Qin Gang pointed out that the Taiwan issue is the core of China's core interests, the most important issue in Sino-US relations, and the most prominent risk," Chinese state media quoted Qin as having told the top US diplomat.
US officials have been playing down the prospect of a major breakthrough in talks, but they and analysts expect Blinken's visit will pave the way for more bilateral meetings in coming months, including possible trips by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
Biden and Xi held long-awaited first face-to-face talks on the sidelines of a summit of the Group of 20 big economies in November on the Indonesian island of Bali, engaging in blunt talks over Taiwan and North Korea but also pledging more frequent communication, although ties since then have deteriorated.


Bitcoin market hits US$1 trillion in value

The total value of all bitcoin topped US$1.0 trillion on Friday, capping a spectacular record-breaking week for the world’s most popular cryptocurrency.At about 1930 GMT, bitcoin zoomed to its latest all-time pinnacle at US$55.155 after a string of corporate giants embraced the digital unit.With more than 18.6 million bitcoins created since the digital currency was launched in 2009, the entire market is now worth US$1.015 trillion, according to data provider Coinmarketcap.com.“This is certainly big news for the industry and this would not have been possible without the involvement of smart money,” said AvaTrade analyst Naeem Aslam.“The reason that one trillion dollar market cap is significant because not many believed that bitcoin can achieve this. Now, we have a real number which is massive in size and we are going to get more investors joining this rally,” he added.Bitcoin has set a blistering record pace, blasting past US$50,000 on Tuesday, a week after Tesla revealed it had invested US$1.5 billion in the unit.Investors and Wall Street finance giants have been wooed by dizzying growth, the opportunity for profit and asset diversification, and a safe store of value to guard against inflation.“The payment integration and store of value are the factors which are driving the price higher and as long as this support remain in place, we are likely to have even bigger headlines,” added Aslam.The cryptocurrency also vaulted higher after both New York bank BNY Mellon and credit card titan MasterCard announced plans last week to support bitcoin.A further boost came after investment fund giant BlackRock also confirmed a push into the booming sector.And US software firm MicroStrategy announced plans to sell convertible bonds in order to buy more bitcoin.Meteoric riseThe virtual unit has been on a meteoric rise since March last year, when it stood at US$5,000, spurred by online payments giant PayPal saying it would allow account holders to use cryptocurrency.Once regarded as the preserve of internet geeks and hobbyists, bitcoin has now soared by almost 90% in value so far this year, despite mounting regulatory concerns and analyst fears of a speculative bubble.On Friday, Elon Musk, the founder of electric carmaker Tesla, sought to defend his company’s investment – and contrasted bitcoin with some traditional fiat currencies.“When fiat currency has negative real interest, only a fool wouldn’t look elsewhere,” he tweeted in reference to his company’s move into bitcoin.CMC Markets analyst David Madden said bitcoin’s 2021 rally was less “aggressive” than the 2017 bubble that resulted in big slump the following year.“The bitcoin rally continues but what is different this time when compared with late 2017, the upward moves are less than the aggressive, mad moves (that) were seen then,” Madden told AFP.“The fact we are seeing more measured moves could be a sign the market is maturing, which should help it attract more well-known names, like MasterCard and Bank of New York Mellon, to back the cryptocurrency.”


Long hours spent video gaming may be good for you in lockdown, say researchers

Adults who grew up before the age of online interactive video gaming tend to regard it as merely a way of passing time and see long hours spent at a console as not only unhealthy for young minds and bodies but positively dangerous.This year the British government announced plans for laws to protect children from “excessive screen time” playing video games. The World Health Organization has labelled “gaming disorder” an addictive behaviour.But newly released research shows playing interactive video games online with remote opponents and partners may actually be good for you, especially when isolated during an extended pandemic.As soon as Covid-19 plunged communities into lockdowns that brought a halt to normal life, millions of people switched on their games consoles. Video-game internet traffic in the US rose by 75% during the first week many states went into lockdown in March.Non-gamers were desperate to join in and Sony struggled to ship enough of its latest PlayStation consoles to satisfy demand.One of the year’s most popular games, “Animal Crossing: New Horizons”, in which players simulate living on an island inhabited by talking creatures, sold more than 14 million copies between April and September making it just about the top selling game for Nintendo’s latest console. Players boast on social media of racking up hundreds of hours at their favourite games.Too much screen time? A new study concludes that this may be time well spent.Researchers at Oxford University collected data on the gaming habits and mental health of players of two video games in the UK and North America.2,537 participants, average age 31, played “Animal Crossing: New Horizons”, and 468, average age 35, played “Plants vs Zombies: Battle for Neighborville”.The Oxford researchers worked with the games’ developers to record when participants played during August and September. Their servers also logged exactly how long participants’ sessions lasted because when asked to self-report, people tended to overestimate their playing time.The research teams also measured the players’ emotional well-being by surveying how often they reported experiencing each of six positive and six negative feelings while playing.Their analysis found that participants who played for longer reported feeling better, on average, than those who barely played at all during the study.The researchers did not go so far as to claim that longer playing times positively affected well-being, as people who already felt good might have been more inclined to pick up a controller.They did find, however, that certain positive feelings experienced while playing, such as a sense of freedom and developing a skill, improved the players’ sense of well-being.Their mood was also boosted by a greater feeling of social connection from playing with others, crucial when friends cannot meet in person.Andrew Przybylski, one of the academics behind the study, says there is a lack of robust evidence for many of the supposed harmful effects of video games. The participants in the study were all adults and more research is needed to find ways of ensuring that younger gamers are adequately protected from harm without spoiling their fun.But the dangers of long hours spent at the gaming console may be exaggerated.There are many worse ways to pass the time during lockdowns.


'Massive' red flags but no report by bank, court told in Najib's 1MDB trial

A former Singaporean banker told the Kuala Lumpur High Court today that there were obvious red flags in relation to 1MDB transactions at BSI Bank, but that the bank never filed a suspicious transactions report (STR) to the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Kevin Micheal Swampillai, 59, who worked at BSI Bank Singapore from 2010 to 2016, said any bank had a duty and was legally bound to file the STR with law enforcement once a red flag was spotted, to alert the authorities.
"Obvious red flags here means that these were politically exposed person types of accounts. In this case, the government of Malaysia’s entity (1MDB) was opening accounts with a relatively small and private bank, where typically the accounts’ signatory would be a single individual.
"The transactions (at the bank) were approved by that single signatory without board minutes and the use of obscure fiduciary funds structures. All of these are examples of massive red flags. I would imagine a bigger bank had stepped in and stopped these transactions."
He said this during cross-examination by Najib Razak’s counsel, Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, at Najib’s trial on the misappropriation of RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds. The 44th prosecution witness also agreed with Shafee’s suggestion that the STR in relation to 1MDB transactions was not filed to balance the commercial interests of the bank.
Shafee: Can you tell us what would happen if an STR was lodged?
Kevin: The fact that the bank would file an STR regarding one of its clients, typically it would be a prelude to an account closure. It is an indication that it (the bank) already made a decision to terminate the relationship with that client.
Kevin added that filing an STR would mean that the bank was prepared to go legal and ready to cooperate with the authorities in terms of providing information as well as transactions undertaken through a specific client’s account.
"There are severe penalties for the bank for not hearing these provisions as what happened in the case of BSI Bank in terms of its licence being pulled and terminated," he said.
Further questioned by Shafee, Kevin said BSI Bank made around US$250 million in fees from 1MDB and its related companies as they were the single largest client in terms of transaction volume and revenue.
Kevin also recalled a time he had been on a teleconference call together with Najib and BSI’s then relationship manager Yak Yew Chee, where the former prime minister was asking about the valuation of a Bridge Global Absolute Return Fund investment.
"He (Najib) ended the call by asking for documentation that would attest to the value of the fund. My impression was that he was concerned and this was communicated to Yak. The nature of the concerns I was not privy to, but it was on the value of the fund where 1MDB monies ended up," he said.
The trial before justice Collin Lawrence Sequerah continues tomorrow.
Najib faces four charges of using his position to obtain bribes totalling RM2.3 billion from 1MDB funds and 21 charges of money laundering involving the same amount.


Speaker confirms PKR MP, 2 ministers may attend Dewan Rakyat despite quarantine

Two ministers and an opposition MP who were told to undergo quarantine under the health ministry’s home surveillance order (HSO) will be allowed to be attend the Dewan Rakyat to follow the remaining debates on the 2021 budget, speaker Azhar Harun says.He added however that the trio would have to abide by the SOPs.“They will be allowed to come and vote with permission from the health director-general, and by adhering to the conditions set by him,” Azhar told MalaysiaNow.Health Minister Dr Adham Baba, Human Resources Minister M Saravanan, and PKR’s Batu MP P Prabakaran had been instructed to undergo HSO for two weeks.This comes ahead of the last leg of the 2021 budget committee-stage debate, where allocations for five more ministers will have to be passed.Law minister Takiyuddin Hassan, who is also in charge of parliamentary affairs, said all three would be isolated from the other MPs, and would be told to wear personal protective equipment.Adham was ordered to undergo HSO after he was found to have been in close contact with a journalist who tested positive for Covid-19. Saravanan meanwhile said he had been a close contact of the CEO of his ministry’s Human Resources Development Fund, Shahul Hameed Dawood, who also tested positive for the virus.


Selangor floods claim seven lives so far

The floods that hit several districts in Selangor have claimed seven lives so far, while another victim is still unaccounted for.Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Norazam Khamis said of the total, four were found drowned in Taman Sri Muda.He said the first victim, a man, was found on Saturday followed by two other victims, also men, who were found yesterday.“The body of another victim, a woman believed to be an Indonesian national, was also found trapped on the upper floor of a house in the area yesterday,” he told a press conference at the Seri Muda JBPM disaster operations control centre in Shah Alam today.Norazam said the body of a lorry driver was found in Desa Coalfields in Kuala Selangor yesterday, while the bodies of two other men were found in Dengkil today.“Another person, a 31-year-old man reported missing in Sungai Pinang, Klang, at around noon yesterday, is still unaccounted for,” he added.


So what if Anwar got to enter kaabah, asks PH MP

Hulu Langat MP Sany Hamzan today defended the prime minister's official trip to Saudi Arabia, saying Anwar Ibrahim succeeded in many aspects despite failing to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and King Salman Abdulaziz.
In a statement, he said Anwar had fulfilled his duty for the country and the people, including the opposition which had described the visit as an embarrassment.
"What would the people and country have gained if the prime minister was able to enter the kaabah as was wanted by Wan Faysal?" he added, referring to Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal who earlier questioned what he described as a rushed visit to Saudi Arabia.
"What is all the fuss really about?"
Wan Fayshal, the Bersatu Youth chief, had asked for a thorough explanation from Anwar of the trip, comparing it to the visit by former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin in 2021.

Sany Hamzan.

During his visit, Muhyiddin was personally greeted by Mohammed at the airport and given the honour of entering the kaabah, a rare privilege accorded to Muslim dignitaries.
Anwar had expressed regret that he was unable to meet Mohammed, with a Bernama report saying the meeting could not take place because the crown prince had a change of plans ahead of the Ramadan month.
The government also said that Anwar had turned down a request by Saudi officials to extend his stay so that a meeting with the crown prince could take place, saying the prime minister was scheduled to visit Cambodia and China in the coming days.
In his statement, Sany listed Anwar's achievements during his visit, saying the prime minister had met with leaders from the International Islamic Bank as well as entrepreneurs in the kingdom.
He said Anwar also witnessed the signing of three memorandums of understanding between Dagang Nexchange Bhd and Ajlan & Bros Holding Group Co, Kuala Lumpur International Chamber of Commerce and Wadi Makkah Knowledge Co, and Qhub International Sdn Bhd and Eromman Technologies Sdn Bhd.
"Anwar also received a courtesy visit from the OIC secretary-general, Hussein Brahim Taha, and his entourage in Mecca.
"We are aware of the great role of the OIC in the Muslim community around the world," he said, referring to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
"Of course, Anwar was disappointed because he could not meet King Salman Abdulaziz and the crown prince due to the changes in their schedule, and he could not extend his stay in Saudi Arabia as he had other commitments in his schedule.
"So it is not the country, the people or the opposition that should be sad about this but the prime minister himself.
"His duty to the country and the people, including the opposition, was successfully completed in the best possible way."


South African woman gives birth to 10 babies

A South African woman gave birth to 10 babies at a local hospital on Monday night, reported Xinhua, quoting her family and the local government on Wednesday.“We received a call from the hospital informing us of the birth… and got further confirmation from the mother, Gosiame Sithole, who was still in pain.“She and the 10 bundles of joy are doing well and still in hospital,” said the family in a statement.Teboho Tsotetsi, Sithole’s husband, said his 37-year-old wife delivered the children via C-section. The babies, seven boys and three girls, are still in hospital and will remain there until they are stronger.Mzwandile Masina, mayor of Ekurhuleni city, tweeted: “we’ve found the family and we are informed babies are well… Some of our local comrades have been assisting this family. So we are good OK.”The world record for the most babies born at once was previously held by Halima Cisse, a 25-year-old from Mali who gave birth to nine babies last month.


Stand taken by 31 BN MPs a no-confidence vote against Zahid, says analyst

A political analyst says today’s show of 31 MPs from Barisan Nasional (BN) who openly stated their decision to continue working with the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration is a form of no-confidence vote against Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi himself.Ilham Center analyst Hisommudin Bakar said this was clear from the press conference held by the group this afternoon.“This is a form of open defiance, shown unilaterally by BN MPs without discussion with Zahid,” he said when contacted by MalaysiaNow.“They are using the argument that they contended the election on a BN, not Umno, ticket.”To prevent the party’s internal issues from continuing, he said, Zahid as Umno president and BN chairman should hold immediate discussions with every MP from the BN component, not just those from Umno.He said this would be necessary to reach a unanimous decision and prevent the development of cracks within the coalition.Kamarul Zaman Yusoff, a Malay politics observer, agreed that Zahid had a problem on his hands.“When the majority of MPs agree, it could mean that the bulk of them no longer have confidence in him,” he said.He said Zahid is currently in no danger of being removed as the majority of Supreme Council members are still behind him.“But in the context of BN, it is different when all of the component parties are against him.”The 31 MPs today voiced their continued support for the PN government led by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.They also agreed that the legitimacy of the government and prime minister should be determined at the Dewan Rakyat sitting next month.Twenty-one MPs from Umno and BN were present at the press conference led by Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.Another 10, including ministers Dr Adham Baba, Hishammuddin Hussein, Khairy Jamaluddin and Reezal Merican Naina Merican did not attend but voiced their agreement with the others.Ismail said their stand was in line with the decree of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong who had consented to a confidence vote in the Dewan Rakyat next month.


Backlash forces Australia to scrap sexual harassment exemption for judges and politicians

Australia will scrap exemptions for public servants from sexual harassment laws, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday, as his government struggles to contain a backlash over allegations of mistreatment of female lawmakers and staff.Public servants like judges and politicians are currently exempt from complaints about workplace gender discrimination, as are some employers of volunteers, because of a legal loophole which means they are technically not the complainant’s employer, Reuters reports.Under broad changes aimed at empowering complainants in workplace gender-related disputes, employers will now be required to take a proactive approach to stopping gender discrimination, while complainants get a longer period of time to lodge complaints, Morrison said.Early last year, Australia’s sex discrimination commissioner called for broad changes to workplace laws including removing exemptions for public sector employers and people who hire volunteers.Morrison said on Thursday he would adopt all 55 of the commissioner’s recommendations which include a blanket ban on workplace gender discrimination, mandatory training of company directors and reporting by listed companies, as well as improved coordination between complaint-handling agencies.“Sexual harassment is unacceptable,” Morrison told reporters in the capital, Canberra.“It’s not only immoral and despicable and even criminal, it denies Australians, especially women, not just their personal security but their economic security by not being safe at work.”The government has been battling suspicion it has mishandled instances of sexual harassment and assault after a female former staffer of Morrison’s government went public in February with an allegation that she was raped in a ministerial office in 2019.In March, the then attorney-general said he was the subject of an unrelated historical rape allegation in 1988, which he has strongly denied.Morrison’s handling of the issue of harassment has been widely criticised and polls show his personal approval at its lowest level since before the pandemic. A recent protest outside parliament about gender discrimination and violence drew tens of thousands of people.Zali Steggall, an independent MP who has advocated for reform of sexual harassment laws, said the changes were a win for people who attended the protest, and called on Morrison to introduce the legislative changes when parliament returns next month.“Definitely, it is the prime minister and the government recognising that they have to move on this, they have to act,” Steggall told Reuters by telephone. “I don’t want to see this as being just another announcement and a delay in legislating what needs to be done.”


Remdesivir has ‘little or no effect’ on Covid-19 mortality, WHO study shows

The antiviral drug remdesivir, considered one of the most promising Covid-19 treatments, turns out to do little to prevent deaths from the disease, according to a WHO-backed study.Remdesivir, which was part of the experimental cocktail given to US President Donald Trump when he caught the new coronavirus last month, was one of several reviewed in a large study of more than 11,000 people across 30 countries.The drug “appeared to have little or no effect on hospitalised Covid-19, as indicated by overall mortality, initiation of ventilation and duration of hospital stay”, said the study posted online late Thursday.The data, which has yet to be peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal, seems to contradict at least two major US studies that have shown that remdesivir can reduce the duration of hospital stays for Covid-19 patients.Washington authorised the emergency use of the medicine, made by US pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences and originally intended as a treatment for Ebola – on May 1, followed by a range of other countries and the European Union.


From animal pound to White House, it’s a dog’s life

President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, are preparing to move into the White House in January, and their dogs, Major and Champ, will join them.The big German Shepherds will be the first dogs to live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue since Bo and Sunny, Barack Obama’s Portuguese water dogs.Major will have the distinction of being the first ever rescue dog to live at the White House. The Bidens adopted him from the Delaware Humane Association in 2018.The Trump White House never had a dog. He was the first president not to have a pet while in office. In 2019 he said, “I wouldn’t mind having one, honestly, but I don’t have any time, and how would I look walking a dog on the White House lawn?”The Bidens are dog lovers and presidential tradition is about to be resumed when their two German shepherds move in and begin ball chasing and Oval Office guarding duties.Major’s big “brother” is Champ, who has been part of the Biden family since 2008.He lived with them in Washington DC at the official vice-presidential residence at 1 Observatory Circle, during Barack Obama’s administration, and was very much at home there. “Champ has a built-in family here 24 hours a day with all the staff and security guards that keep little dog biscuits on hand for him,” Jill said at the time.The president-elect is a great admirer of dogs. “Dogs remind you to live in the present,” he has said. “They love you unconditionally and they savour every moment with you. When I’m with Champ and Major, I get to live in the ‘now’ for a moment with them, and enjoy the simple act of throwing a ball around or taking a walk.”Unlike the current White House occupants, the Bidens probably won’t be remotely embarrassed by taking the dogs for walkies on the White House lawn.


Moderna says Covid-19 vaccine effective against UK, South Africa variants

US biotechnology firm Moderna on Monday said lab studies showed its Covid-19 vaccine remains effective against variants of the coronavirus first identified in the UK and South Africa.But the positive news was tempered by the finding that there was a sixfold reduction in the level of highly-potent neutralising antibodies produced against the South African variant, B.1.351.Out of caution, the company will test adding a second booster of its vaccine – to make three shots in total – and has begun preclinical studies on a booster specifically for the South African variant.“We are encouraged by these new data, which reinforce our confidence that the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine should be protective against these newly detected variants,” said Stephane Bancel, Moderna’s CEO.“Out of an abundance of caution and leveraging the flexibility of our mRNA platform, we are advancing an emerging variant booster candidate against the variant first identified in the Republic of South Africa into the clinic.”The emergence of highly contagious variants to the SARS-CoV-2 virus had triggered concern about their impact on the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines even as countries begin to accelerate their immunization programs.Both the B.1.1.7 variant first seen in the UK and the B.1.351 variant have multiple mutations along the “spike protein”, molecules that dot the surface of the virus and allow it to invade human cells.Scientists have been particularly worried that the mutations on B.1.351 would lead to the virus escaping the action of antibodies, and render the current generation of vaccines obsolete.Moderna’s vaccine uses mRNA – a type of genetic molecule – to deliver the information for human cells to create the spike protein inside the human body, in order to trigger an immune response.A booster for B.1.351 would therefore carry the mRNA that creates the spike protein with the mutations that are specific to the variant.A major advantage of mRNA vaccines is that they can be developed in a matter of weeks, even though producing them to mass scale may take much longer.Reaction mixedTo study the impact of the Moderna vaccine, called mRNA-1273, the company took blood samples from eight people who had received two doses of the vaccine, and from primates that had also been immunized.For the B.1.1.7 variant there was no impact on the level of neutralising antibodies – which bind to the spike protein and prevent it from invading human cells – that were produced by the shots.But for the South African variant, B.1.351, there was a sixfold reduction in the neutralising antibody level.Even so, the company said it remained above the quantity that was shown to be protective in earlier tests on primates that were infected on purpose.Reaction to Moderna’s statement by independent experts was mixed.Akiko Iwasaki, a leading virologist from Yale, tweeted: “This is good,” adding that she expected other vaccine makers were also developing boosters that target the South African variant.Benjamin Neuman, a virologist from Texas A&M university, agreed and told AFP that the reduction in potency pertained to only one type of antibody, that make up 1% of the overall antibodies that bind to the spike protein of the virus, which it uses to enter cells.“To be clear, the 99% of antibodies that bind to other parts of the spike and are not neutralising should still work just as well on the mutant strains,” he said.He added the decrease found in the study “would be more a bellwether of potential problems to come than a sign of imminent danger”, adding that in a living person, the immune system learns to adjust the antibodies it produces if their efficiency decreases.But Lawrence Young, a virologist at Britain’s Warwick University, said the sixfold reduction was a matter “of concern” and suggested vaccine efficacy as well as duration of protection could be impacted.Moderna, which carried out the studies with the National Institutes of Health, has submitted the study to a preprint server so it can be analysed by the wider scientific community.


Give aid to those declared bankrupt too, business group tells govt

The Malay Chamber of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) today urged the government to include those who have been declared bankrupt in its latest aid package, in a list of suggestions for the Pemerkasa Plus initiative announced by Putrajaya on Monday ahead of the current two-week lockdown.Its deputy president Norsyahrin Hamidon said those in this group cannot presently apply for the aid introduced by the government to cushion the impact of the Covid-19 crisis.He said individuals declared bankrupt before Dec 31, 2019 should be automatically released from their bankruptcy order, along with those whose principal loan is less than RM1 million. He said the same should apply for those who were declared bankrupt as a guarantor on loans of less than RM2.5 million.At a press conference today, he also spoke of several possible additions to the Temporary Measures for Reducing the Impact of Covid-19 2020, known as Act 829, under the emergency ordinance.He said this includes an extension of the ordinance enforcement from Dec 31, 2021 to Dec 31, 2023.Act 829 was introduced, among others, to address the inability of businesses to perform contractual obligations.“The threshold value for bankruptcy action could be raised to RM300,000 from the current RM100,000, and the threshold for action to wind up a business entity to RM1 million.“The definition of consumers should also include entrepreneurs who rent business premises,” he said, adding that mediation should be made the absolute solution for bankruptcy cases.He also suggested that declarations of bankruptcy and the eviction of tenants from business premises be done after the three-month moratorium period.“Rental payments for all kinds of premises whose landlords were granted the moratorium should also be postponed,” he said.Norsyahrin said the proposed measures were based on a study by DPMM involving atom, micro and small and medium enterpreises which had revealed a bleaker picture for such businesses in the latest round of movement control order than the first two instalments.He added that they would help those declared bankrupt to rebuild their lives.


Poor response prompts last-minute drive for more groups to join suit against emergency

Lukewarm response from NGOs to a suit challenging the Covid-19 emergency proclamation has forced several activists to launch a campaign, seeking more litigants to take the government to court, MalaysiaNow has learnt.The suit, claiming Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s government had given “the wrong advice” to the Agong, is seeking to declare the emergency null and void.So far, a source said only “four or five” groups have decided to back the suit, including Bersih 2.0, Suaram and the Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim), an organisation founded by Anwar Ibrahim.The PKR leader has been at the forefront of efforts to oppose the emergency proclamation, saying he has prepared a legal team to take the government to court.But yesterday, he denied he was out to challenge the emergency declaration, saying he wanted the Agong to call for parliamentary sittings throughout the emergency period.It is believed that more than two dozen NGOs have been urged to respond by today on whether they would like to be a party to the suit seeking to nullify the Agong’s emergency proclamation.Critics of the emergency declaration have said that the movement control order is enough to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, which has seen four-figure daily infections, pushing the death toll to more than 600 following a fierce spike after the Sabah election in September.Warnings by health officials of more election-related virus infections prompted the government to seek localised emergencies in several constituencies made vacant by their representatives’ deaths.But with looming threats of nationwide snap polls following the plan by a group of Umno MPs to get the party to revoke its support for the government, the emergency was seen as the last step to avert a pandemic-season general election.


Interval between doses for AstraZeneca jab trimmed to 9 weeks

The interval between doses for the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine has been shortened from 12 weeks to nine.The Special Committee on Covid-19 Vaccine Supply said the decision was made based on the recommendation of the technical working committee under the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force and contributions by the Japanese government.“Everyone who has been given the AZ vaccine will get their second dose in nine weeks,” it said in a Twitter post.“So those who participated in the AZ first round in May will be getting their notifications of appointments very soon.”Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said on June 20 that the government was looking into whether the interval between doses for the AstraZeneca vaccine could be shortened from 12 weeks to six.He said this would depend on expert reports on the Covid-19 situation in the country, whether the vaccine recipients require maximum protection from the second dose more quickly.He also said the government does not plan to implement the first-dose strategy as the supply of vaccine ordered is enough.Through the first-dose strategy, a first dose of vaccine is given to more people by extending the interval between it and the second dose.


Stick together, Umno tells Bersatu, PAS in Perak

Umno has called on its allies PAS and Bersatu to stick together in Perak despite the party’s fallout with Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu which saw him toppled in a motion of confidence today.Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan said the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government in Perak is still in charge despite Faizal’s imminent exit, adding that there should be no change in the state line-up.“Umno is of the view that Bersatu and PAS should back the PN state government,” he said.“The confidence vote today only involved the Perak menteri besar’s post and not the status of the state government.”His statement comes amid speculation that Umno could seek an alliance with PKR and Amanah to form a new government in Perak.In the confidence vote, the three assemblymen from PAS chose to support Faizal, who is from Bersatu.The move was endorsed by the central PAS leadership which also said it would not be part of any new government planned in Perak following Faizal’s resignation.Meanwhile, Bersatu in a statement expressed regret over the move to topple Faizal but said it was still committed to the PN government.Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainuddin also revealed that apart from the seven Bersatu and PAS reps who supported Faizal, there were one from Umno who broke ranks with the party’s confidence motion by supporting the menteri besar.