Pope unveils major new rules on pornography, abortion, women priests – all still forbidden

Pope Francis on Tuesday issued the most extensive revision to Catholic Church law in four decades, insisting that bishops take action against clerics who abuse minors and vulnerable adults, commit fraud, or attempt to ordain women.It introduces new categories and clearer, more specific language in an attempt to give bishops less wiggle room to ignore their priests misdeeds.Francis said the changes were needed to “avoid more serious evils and to soothe the wounds caused by human weakness”.Punishment is promised for priests found guilty of “grooming or inducing” minors to expose themselves “pornographically”, as well as simply acquiring, stashing and distributing pornographic imagery of minors “by whatever technology”.Recent events have forced some changes, including the possible defrocking of any cleric who uses “threats or abuse of his authority”, to force someone to have sexual relations with him.Last year, an internal report found that American former cardinal Theodore McCarrick had abused his authority to force seminarians to sleep with him. He was defrocked in 2019 on charges of the sexual abuse of minors and running a sex ring out of his New Jersey beach house, where one victim claims he was molested by him and three other priests, the New York Post reported.The Irish Times reports that Archbishop Filippo Iannone, head of the Vatican department that oversaw the review project, said there had been “a climate of excessive slack in the interpretation of penal law”, where some bishops sometimes put mercy before justice.Apart from addressing the sex abuse issues that have been plaguing the Catholic Church for decades, the revised code addresses some other touchy issues related to women’s rights – namely, abortion and allowing women to be ordained.The Vatican’s stance on pregnancy termination remains unchanged and conservative. Namely, a “person who actually procures an abortion” shall be automatically excommunicated.In other updated news for women, anyone who “attempts to confer a sacred order on a woman, and the woman who attempts to receive the sacred order” face excommunication, with the cleric also risking permanent expulsion. In other words, female priests are still out.Earlier this year, the Pope formally allowed women to read mass, yet he reaffirmed that ordained ministries, such as the priesthood, remain reserved for men only.Kate McElwee, executive director of the US-based Women’s Ordination Conference, said in a statement that while the position was not surprising, spelling it out in the new code was “a painful reminder of the Vatican’s patriarchal machinery and its far-reaching attempts to subordinate women”.


Olympics opening ceremony director sacked for Holocaust joke

The director of the Olympics opening ceremony has been dismissed, one day before the event is due to be held.Footage from the 1990s of Kentaro Kobayashi appearing to make jokes about the Holocaust has recently been discovered.Japan’s Olympic chief Seiko Hashimoto said the video made light of “painful facts of history”.The dismissal is the latest in a string of scandals to hit the Tokyo Games. Since the start of the year, three men have been forced to step down.Earlier this week, a composer quit the team creating the ceremony after it emerged he had verbally bullied classmates with disabilities at school.In March, Olympics’ creative chief Hiroshi Sasaki quit after suggesting that plus-size comedian Naomi Watanabe could appear as an “Olympig”. He later apologised.And in February, Yoshiro Mori was forced to step down as the head of the organising committee after he made remarks about women that were labelled “inappropriate”. Mori was quoted as saying women talked too much and that meetings with many female board directors would “take a lot of time”.This latest scandal has seen former comedian Kobayashi strongly criticised for a sketch he performed 23 years ago, in which he and another comedian played the parts of children’s entertainers.In the sketch, Kobayashi turns to his colleague, referring to some paper dolls, saying they are “the ones from that time you said ‘Let’s play the Holocaust'”, according to AFP news agency.“Any person, no matter how creative, does not have the right to mock the victims of the Nazi genocide,” Rabbi Abraham Cooper, of the US-based Holocaust research body Simon Wiesenthal Center, said.Kobayashi issued a statement responding to his dismissal, saying: “Entertainment should not make people feel uncomfortable. I understand that my stupid choice of words at that time was wrong, and I regret it.”Friday’s ceremony will officially kick off two weeks of competition. However, after the removal of Kobayashi, organisers are now reassessing how to hold Friday’s event – which will only be attended by 950 people, in order to minimise Covid-19 risks.The scandals have done nothing to stop massive unease about the Games, which were postponed from last year due to the pandemic.The head of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Committee admitted this week that he has still not ruled out cancellation, even at this late stage.A recent poll found 55% of people in Japan were opposed to holding the Games, amid fears it could become a coronavirus super-spreader event, Reuters news agency reported.Already, organisers are dealing with rising Covid case numbers among athletes and officials. On Thursday, they said 91 people accredited for the Games have now tested positive for the virus.An increase in cases among Japan’s population – only of a third of whom have been vaccinated – has also led to a state of emergency being declared for the duration of the Games.However, Tokyo 2020 is now under way, with the hosts Japan winning their softball match on Wednesday.


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State polls to test loyalties of Umno-DAP grassroots

Questions are swirling over the extent to which the Umno grassroots will support DAP and vice versa, as election-facing states draw closer to a series of polls expected to provide the first yardstick for political backing since the 15th general election (GE15) last year.
Ties between the two parties have been strained despite the agreement for an understanding at the federal level by top leaders in the wake of GE15.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, a Gombak Umno member said it was difficult to imagine himself voting for a candidate from a Pakatan Harapan (PH) component party given their history of enmity.
Razman Hakimi Abdullah, who is registered to vote in Hulu Kelang, also cited to the recent Umno general assembly, where youth leader Muhamad Akmal Saleh demanded that DAP apologise and retract what he described as the insults hurled at Umno throughout the years.
"It was a demand with legitimate grounds," he said. "DAP leaders should do this if they want the support of the Umno grassroots.
"We were insulted and despised when DAP leaders, especially Lim Kit Siang, endorsed the narrative of Umno as a corrupt party. As if all of us took bribes.
"But now, when just one of their leaders is linked to wrongoing, they ask the people not to punish the entire party," he added, referring to Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar.
"This is why they need to apologise. Many Umno members felt themselves badly used."
On the plans by PH and Barisan Nasional (BN) ahead of the elections to be held in six states, Razman said it would not be fair if candidates from Umno were not allowed to contest just to make way for others from the coalition led by Anwar Ibrahim.
He said such matters should be determined by the people, who had the right to choose their elected representatives.
Razman himself said he felt uncomfortable with the performance of the current assemblyman for Hulu Kelang, adding that he might shift his support to Perikatan Nasional.
"Even if they clash, they should let the people choose," he said.
"Any misstep in such matters might cause party members not to vote, or worse, to vote for the opponents."
A DAP member from Sembrong meanwhile who asked to be known as Abdullah said the cooperation between BN and PH was more important for Umno as DAP was still able to defend its traditional seats in the urban areas.
Without Umno, he said, DAP and its fellow PH components might still win in developing areas.
For him, the main question is whether Umno will be able to defend the seats that it currently holds.
Umno performed poorly at GE15, winning an all-time low of 26 seats in Parliament and losing a number of its strongholds to PN, whose component PAS won the highest number of seats followed by DAP.
"Maybe the Umno members who are still against the joint efforts with DAP do not understand why such cooperation is needed," Abdullah said.
"We in DAP understand the situation, so we don't feel awkward about it."


Relief, caution in Beijing as city lifts Covid dine-in curbs

After staying home for more than a month, Chen Chunmei joined a long line of customers at a popular Beijing restaurant where diners tucked into massive bowls of crayfish following an easing of Covid restrictions in the Chinese capital.Last month, the city of 22 million stopped people from eating out, closed gyms and sealed off dozens of subway stations to try and stamp out a coronavirus outbreak.The curbs are now finally easing, including at restaurants.“I’m very excited, mainly because we’d been sealed off for so long,” Chen told AFP.“I’ve been ordering takeout or cooking every day. I really wanted to come out for meals.”At its peak, Beijing logged just dozens of infections every day.But authorities in China are committed to a zero-Covid strategy – using rapid lockdowns, mass testing and severe travel restrictions to eliminate even the smallest outbreaks.Chen, 28, said her compound was initially locked down for two weeks but when she was finally allowed to leave, the nearby subway station was closed.“Since then, I’d been staying at home,” she said. “At first I thought working from home was pretty good but after a while, I got bored.”As Beijing’s case numbers fell – it reported just two local asymptomatic infections on Tuesday – authorities told residents they could return to work this week, while schools would reopen from June 13.The Universal Beijing resort said it will reopen on June 15, while Chinese media reported that cinemas and gyms will run at 75% capacity from this week in most areas.Dine-ins at restaurants have also mostly resumed, although two districts still have restrictions in place because of recent Covid cases.Losing money’While authorities have persisted with their zero-Covid policy, its economic costs have piled up.Businesses in Beijing told AFP that the last month bit a large chunk out of their earnings.“Our revenue for the month of May fell around 65% on-year,” said Zhang Shengtao, operations director at Beijing Huda Catering.He added that staff income at the restaurant chain, which employs nearly 800 people, also dropped by around 30% last month.Some breathed a sigh of relief on Monday as restrictions on dining-in were eased.“I’ve been longing for the resumption,” said Wu Ziwen, a manager at restaurant chain Nanjing Dapaidang.“There’s no doubt that we were losing money,” he told AFP, adding that the outlet has been relying on food deliveries to survive.The dine-in resumption in Beijing is still partial, however: due to Covid controls, his restaurant can only accept up to 50% of regular capacity “even if customers flood in,” Wu said.Beijing is requiring people to produce a negative test done within three days if they want to take public transport or enter office buildings.The outbreak in the capital has also kept visitors like 33-year-old Sun Tao from returning home to Shanxi.The dine-in relaxation gave him some respite.“I’m nervous and alert,” said Sun, who ventured out of the hotel where he was staying with his wife on Monday evening and waited for a table at a restaurant.“But I also wanted to feel my tastebuds again.”


Health ministry to consider employing trained nurses from abroad

The health ministry will consider the request of the Association of Private Hospitals, Malaysia (APHM) to allow the employment of trained nurses from overseas, says Deputy Health Minister Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.He said this followed the shortage of trained nurses in specialised medical fields in Malaysia.“There was a request from APHM for specialised nurse from abroad to assist our country as there is a shortage of trained nurses in special fields.“At one time, the health ministry allowed (the employment of trained nurses from abroad) and later disallowed it. I will bring this matter to the minister (Khairy Jamaluddin) when he returns from Geneva for discussion to resolve the matter,” he said after officiating the 28th APHM International Healthcare Conference & Exhibition 2022 in Kuala Lumpur today.Also present was APHM president Dr Kuljit Singh, who said the association was in the process of training its own nurses.“At the same time, we are calling for the employment of trained nurses from abroad to be permitted to assist in resolving the current shortage of trained nurses at private hospitals,” he said.


Woman in ‘basikal lajak’ case files appeal against High Court decision

The woman found guilty of reckless driving resulting in the death of eight teenagers on modified bicycles or “basikal lajak” five years ago, today filed an appeal against the High Court’s decision.Lawyer Muhammad Faizal Mokhtar representing Sam Ke Ting, 27, said the notice of motion for leave to appeal and to stay the execution of the sentence and fine imposed on his client and a certificate of urgency were both filed today via the court’s e-filing system.“Thank you to all parties for the support given to Sam Ke Ting,” he said when contacted by Bernama.Yesterday, the Johor Bahru High Court sentenced Sam to six years in jail and fined her RM6,000 after finding her guilty of the charge.She was also disqualified from driving for three years and told to serve another six months in jail if she failed to pay the fine.The decision set aside the Magistrate’s Court’s decision on Oct 10 last year to acquit and discharge Sam of the charge.Sam, who was at the wheel of a car with registration number JQB 9984, was charged with reckless driving, causing the death of eight teenage cyclists at the Middle Ring Road at 3.20am on Feb 18, 2017.The eight teenagers were Mohamad Azrie Danish Zulkefli, 14; Muhamad Shahrul Izzwan Azzuraimie, 14; Muhammad Firdauz Danish Mohd Azhar, 16; Fauzan Halmijan, 13; Mohamad Azhar Amir, 16; Muhammad Harith Iskandar Abdullah, 14; Muhammad Shahrul Nizam Marudin, 14 and Haizad Kasrin, 16.


Singapore PM condemns alleged racist assault on Indian woman

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Monday said he was “seriously concerned” by an alleged racist attack on a woman exercising in the street, the Straits Times is reporting.Hindocha Nita Vishnubhai, 55, said she was out brisk walking on Friday morning.The mother of two adult children had lowered her mask below her nose, as per pandemic rules.According to current regulations, individuals can remove their mask when engaging in strenuous exercise but must put the mask back on once this is completed.Sport Singapore defines “strenuous exercise” as running, jogging, cycling, static exercises and drills for warm-ups, brisk walking and walking on hilly terrain.She suddenly heard a man shouting at her from behind. He was accompanied by a woman.“He shouted at me to put my mask above my nose. I told him that I was exercising which is why I had the mask below my nose,” she said.The man, believed to be in his late 20s, once again shouted at her to put her mask up.“He then started to abuse me and even called me a racial slur used against Indians. I wanted to avoid an argument with him, so I said ‘God bless you’ and tried to walk away,” she said.This further aggravated him, and he ran towards her and landed what she described as a “flying kick” to her chest.“It was a very forceful kick which knocked me to the ground. I kept shouting ‘he kicked me, he kicked me’,” said Nita, who is just 1.6m tall and 60kg.The couple ran away after she fell to the ground.A bystander who had witnessed the incident from a nearby bus stop rushed to her aid, helping her up and offering plasters to stem the bleeding from several abrasions.Nita lodged a police complaint that evening.The prime minister said in a Facebook post that the attack “goes against everything that our multiracial society stands for”.He added: “It harms our international reputation more than we realise.”Lee said he was confident the police will establish the facts and bring the perpetrator to justice.“I understand people being under stress because of Covid-19, but that does not justify physically assaulting someone because of race,” he said.Several other ministers also commented on the incident in their Facebook posts on Monday evening, calling it “disturbing” and “unacceptable”.Minister for sustainability and the environment, Grace Fu, urged the public to keep in mind Singapore’s core value of unity as a society.“We feel indignant when Asians are attacked because of their race in other countries. Let us not allow such behaviour to take root here. As we battle this pandemic, it is more important than ever for our communities to band together.”Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said, “We would be horrified to hear of Asians in other countries being targeted in violent hate crimes due to Covid-19. Now we see verbal and even physical abuse against members of our Indian community here in Singapore. This is deeply troubling.”


Selangor to regazette Kuala Langat forest reserve

The Selangor government has agreed to cancel the planned development at the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve (KLNFR) and to regazette the area as a protected zone, following weeks of pressure from green groups and nearby residents.Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari said the decision was made at a meeting of the Selangor state executive council today.“The state government will stop the proposed development plan for the area and cancel the ownership of the land to the company in question.“The state government will also begin the process of regazetting the KLNFR,” he said in a statement.However, he said some 104 acres of the 1,326 acres involved would remain degazetted to accommodate the Busut Baru Orang Asli village, while another “small area” might likewise remain degazetted for the East Coast Rail Link project.He said the replacement area comprising 1,436 acres in Sungai Panjang, Ampang Pechah and Bukit Broga meanwhile would retain its status as a permanent forest reserve. “The state government would like to emphasise that all previous degazetting processes followed procedure in accordance with the law,” he said. He said the state government would also write to the Selangor speaker to convene a special meeting of the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency to answer any issues raised on the previous degazettement.


Low odds of Malaysian satellite crashing to earth, space agency says

The Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA) has played down the odds of the Measat-3 satellite crashing to earth following the move in July to retire and de-orbit it, which had sparked speculation that it could fall from space to burn up in the atmosphere.In a statement to MalaysiaNow, MYSA director-general Azlikamil Napiah said the Measat-3 satellite remained in a “very high altitude orbital zone” despite the move to de-orbit it after it suffered an anomaly on June 21.“Based on M3’s position and existing information, we believe it would be a very remote case that M3 will fall to earth, unless its position is purposely commanded to be ejected or pushed down from the very high-altitude orbital zone to the lower altitude orbital zone,” he said.Measat-3 was launched on Dec 11, 2006 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It was ordered by Measat Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd in March 2003.Earlier reports said it had been put under ground control on June 24 after an unknown incident three days earlier which left it “playing dead”.“Further testing and recovery efforts found that the satellite could not re-enter service,” a Space.com report quoted Measat as saying in an update from the company.Azlikamil said the Measat-3 satellite had been positioned at an orbital altitude of 35,786km – very high altitude – and remained at a specific outer space orbit.“The position of M3 is very far from the earth’s surface compared to other moving (non-geostationary) satellites which mainly operate within low orbital altitudes of 500km to 2,000km and close to the atmospheric or earth re-entry zone,” he said.He added that the Measat-3d satellite will be launched in early 2022 to replace Measat-3 and its services.


SpaceX rocket explodes on ground after seemingly successful flight

An unmanned SpaceX rocket exploded on the ground Wednesday after carrying out what had seemed to be a successful flight and landing.It was the third straight flub involving the prototype of the Starship rocket, which SpaceX hopes one day to send to Mars. The last two test flights ended in crashes.“A beautiful soft landing,” a SpaceX commentator said on the live broadcast of the test flight, although flames were coming out at the bottom and crews were trying to put them out.The rocket exploded a few minutes later. It was thrown into the air and crashed back to the ground.No explanation was immediately provided.As seen on SpaceX video, the rocket appeared to have otherwise landed properly after its flight.SpaceX founder Elon Musk has been developing the next-generation Starship rocket for the purpose of going to Mars – though two prototypes blew up in spectacular fashion on their recent test runs.The latest prototype, named SN10, for “serial number 10”, took off a little before 1120 GMT from Boca Chica, Texas.The two other prototypes (SN8 and SN9) crashed on landing, in December and then in early February.The tests take place in a nearly deserted area leased by SpaceX in South Texas near the border with Mexico and next to the Gulf of Mexico – the area is vast and empty enough that an accident or explosion would not cause damage or fatalities.Apart from Mars, the rocket, if it becomes operational, could also prove useful for closer trips, especially to the Moon.


Overall Covid jabs inch past 14.3 million

A total of 14,347,285 doses of Covid-19 vaccine had been administered nationwide as of yesterday, says Health Minister Dr Adham Baba.Based on an infographic shared on Twitter, he said 4,531,550 individuals or 13.9% of the country’s population have completed the second dose, while another 9,815,735 have received a first dose.The number of vaccine doses administered on July 18 was 344,961, of which 244,761 were first doses and 100,200, second doses.Labuan continued to record the highest percentage of adults who have completed the vaccination regime with 62%, followed by Sarawak (43.8%), Perlis (36.1%), Negeri Sembilan (20%) and the Klang Valley (19.9%).


MalaysiaNow target of fake complaints over controversial mega-contract involving Msian businessman

Anonymous individuals using fake identities have been abusing a US copyright law with global reach to force the removal of online content and news reports for various reasons.The ingenius method came to MalaysiaNow’s attention after complaints were made against a news article carried earlier this year about a multi-billion dollar medical equipment deal awarded by the Hungarian government to controversial Malaysian businessman Vinod Sekhar.Invoking the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), a US law for the implementation of intellectual property laws on the internet, a complainant would file a report to claim that certain online content had committed plagiarism or infringed copyright.Proof of this is then shown by replicating a page of the news report under an unknown news portal, with the date of publication backdated to before the original article.A person familiar with such false complaints said the method is a common tactic to silence critics and journalists who carry damning reports which are difficult to counter or rebut.“Among the abuses of DMCA around the world is take-down notices issued under false claims of copyright, where a fake page and a fake identity of a complainant is created.“When such a complaint is filed, a service provider and/or server host must inform its client, who will then have to remove the said content or file a rebuttal, or risk a suspension of the website,” he said.In the complaint lodged against MalaysiaNow, it is alleged that the report titled “Malaysian businessman gets lion’s share of multibillion-dollar Hungary deal” was wholly copied from another website with the URL allmain.news.The complainant identified himself as “Muhammad Zuhaili”, with an address in Jerteh, Terengganu, as well as a mobile number.A check revealed that the number does not belong to this person, while the address is non-existant.The website allmain.news also appears suspicious, and apparently originates from Russia.MalaysiaNow has responded to the complaint, which it believes is among several online attempts by unidentified parties to attack the portal.The report first published on June 16, 2021 reveals a whopping RM2.5 billion worth of contracts from Hungary secured by Vinod, a businessman who is close to politicians in Malaysia.The contracts raised eyebrows not only for their sheer volume, but also on the back of revelations that the medical equipment was not needed and had resulted in an oversupply that led to Hungary disposing of many ventilators.In the report, MalaysiaNow also interviewed opposition politicians in Hungary who said the deals were opaque and overpriced, and demanded an investigation into the purchases.Hungary’s medical equipment purchases last year, under the pretext of battling Covid-19, have been described by a investigative journalist group there as the worst deal in the European Union.In August, the Hungarian chapter of global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International urged Budapest to release specific details related to Vinod’s portion of the contracts worth more than half a billion dollars, awarded to his company GR Technologies.The group, saying questions exist on transparency surrounding the contract, has also filed a freedom of information request with the Hungarian foreign ministry, which signed the contract.The details sought include who was behind the selection of GR Technologies, details on the company’s credentials, invoices and proof of payments.


Isa Samad hospitalised, corruption appeal postponed to Oct 16

The appeal hearing of former Felda chairman Mohd Isa Abdul Samad against the conviction and sentence on bribery charges related to the purchase of a hotel in Sarawak has been postponed again following his admission to a private hospital in Seremban for heart problems.
The three-panel Court of Appeal judges, Hadhariah Syed Ismail, Ahmad Zaidi Ibrahim and Azmi Ariffin allowed the adjournment after Isa's lawyer Salehuddin Saidin informed the court that his client was admitted to the hospital last night and received the medical report this morning.
"Isa's wife, who is his bailor, is also unable to appear at today's proceedings. She's unable to walk due to her knee pain, for which she received treatment last night."
"We were just informed of this matter, and the family wishes to apologise for any inconvenience caused," he said.
Deputy public prosecutor Afzainizam Abdul Aziz did not object to the postponement.
Judge Hadhariah, who set Oct 16 for the hearing of the appeal, said the court hoped Isa would recover by then.
"We cannot do anything if it is a health problem," she added.
The hearing was set for March 7 previously but was postponed to June 26 following a request by Isa's counsel for more time to enter their defence.
On Feb 3, 2021, the High Court convicted the 73-year-old Isa on nine bribery charges amounting to RM3 million in the Felda acquisition of Merdeka Palace Hotel & Suites in Kuching, Sarawak.
The offences allegedly took place on the 49th Floor of Menara Felda, Platinum Park, No 11, Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur between July 21, 2014, and Dec 11, 2015.
High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali (now Court of Appeal judge) handed down a sentence of six years for each offence with a cumulative total of 54 years and a fine of RM15.45 million or 18 years imprisonment in lieu of the fine.
The sentence was ordered to run concurrently, which means Mohd Isa was to serve only six years.
The court raised bail from RM800,000 to RM1.5 million and required the accused to report to the nearest police station on the 1st of every month until the appeal is settled.
Isa, who was also the former Negeri Sembilan menteri besar, filed the notice to appeal on Feb 4, 2021.


Trump blasts Xi for ‘China Virus’ at UN

US President Donald Trump used his address to the annual UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday to call for China to be held accountable for the coronavirus pandemic, or what he calls “The China Virus”.Trump is known for using his big speeches to trumpet his own achievements and go after his current bêtes noires, and this was no exception.“We must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague on to the world – China,” he said.“In the earliest days of the virus, China locked down travel domestically while allowing flights to leave China and infect the world. China condemned my travel ban on their country, even as they cancelled domestic flights and locked citizens in their homes.”This year’s summit is being held virtually, to an empty assembly hall, with world leaders providing pre-recorded speeches. This format means there is no real debate possible among the speakers.In his address, displayed soon after the US leader, President Xi Jinping warned of the risks of a “clash of civilisations”.“We will continue to narrow differences and resolve disputes with others through dialogue and negotiation. We will not seek to develop only ourselves,” he said.In remarks released before his speech, Xi took a more open shot at the US by saying, “No country has the right to dominate global affairs, control the destiny of others, or keep advantages in development all to itself.”Tensions are currently higher than usual between the US and China over issues including trade, technology, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China’s treatment of its Muslims in Xinjiang.With Trump coming up for re-election this year, he appears to be ramping up the hyperbole and xenophobia in an attempt to appeal to a broader base of US voters.In 2018 China removed the two-term limit on the presidency, effectively allowing Xi to remain in power for life.So although Xi has no pressing electoral matters to worry him, some observers are even declaring the start of “a new Cold War”.


US says vaccinated people can travel, with precautions

Fully vaccinated people can start travelling again if they take precautions such as wearing a mask and observing social distancing, US health authorities said Friday.Within the US, vaccinated people will not have to quarantine or take a Covid-19 test after travelling, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said.But international travellers headed to the US should have a negative Covid-19 test before they get on the plane, be tested after arrival, and must quarantine if local authorities in the US require it, the CDC said in a statement.Vaccinated travellers can go abroad without getting a Covid-19 test before travel unless it is required by the international destination, the new guidelines say.They were released as travel is picking up again in the US, especially due to spring break and Easter trips, after all but shutting down completely in the early months of the pandemic.A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last recommended dose of vaccine, the CDC said. That means the second shot for vaccines that require two jabs.More than one in five adults in the US is now fully vaccinated, CDC director Rochelle Walensky said at a briefing.


Petronas to fight asset claims by Sulu sultan's heirs

State oil firm Petronas said on Saturday said it would contest any claims on its assets by the heirs of a former Southeast Asian sultan, who are seeking US$15 billion in compensation.
The heirs of the last sultan of Sulu asked a Dutch court on Thursday for permission to seize assets in the Netherlands and on Friday the Malaysian government said that it would take legal action against their latest legal move.
Petronas, which is fully owned by Putrajaya, has several subsidiaries headquartered in the Netherlands.
"Petronas maintains its view that any purported action targeting Petronas in relation to this case is baseless and Petronas will continue to defend its legal position," the company said in an emailed statement to Reuters.
The heirs are targeting Malaysian assets overseas after the government's refusal to recognise a February arbitration award by a French court, which found Malaysia had reneged on an 1878 land leasing agreement.
The deal was signed between two European colonists and the sultan of Sulu for the use of his territory, some of which was later incorporated into modern-day Malaysia.
Malaysia honoured that deal until 2013, paying the monarch's descendants about US$1,000 a year. But Putrajaya stopped the payments after a bloody incursion by supporters of the former sultanate who wanted to reclaim land.
The heirs pursued arbitration over the suspension, a process which Malaysia did not participate in and says was illegal.
The claimants, who are related to the last Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram II who died in 1936, are middle-class Filipino citizens. The Sulu sultanate of their royal ancestors once spanned rainforest-covered islands in the southern Philippines and parts of Borneo island.
Although Malaysia obtained a stay on the award pending an appeal, the ruling remains enforceable outside France under a United Nations treaty on international arbitration.
In July, two Luxembourg-based subsidiaries of Petronas were seized by court bailiffs as part of the heirs' efforts.


Russia says ready for talks if Ukraine ‘lays down arms’

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday Moscow was ready for talks if Ukraine’s military surrendered, as he insisted that invading forces were looking to free the country from “oppression”.Russian President Vladimir Putin “took the decision to conduct a special military operation to demilitarise and de-Nazify Ukraine so that, freed from oppression, Ukrainians themselves could freely determine their future”, Lavrov said at a press conference in Moscow.The comment suggested that Moscow intends to overthrow the Ukrainian authorities with its invasion.Lavrov said Moscow was ready for talks with Kyiv if the Ukrainian army surrenders.“We are ready for negotiations at any moment, as soon as the armed forces of Ukraine respond to our call and lay down their arms,” Lavrov said.He said the aim of Putin’s operation was “openly declared: demilitarisation and de-Nazification”.Lavrov said that “nobody intends to occupy Ukraine”.He denied Ukrainian claims that Russian forces had hit civilian infrastructure, despite widespread evidence of residential areas being damaged.The Ukrainian army said Friday that Russian forces were approaching Kyiv from the north and northeast.Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he was launching a major military operation in Ukraine in the early hours of Thursday.Western countries have imposed a barrage of international sanctions against Russia since then.


Ban on chicken exports only a temporary measure, agriculture minister says

The ban on the export of commercial broilers which is still in effect is temporary, that is, until the price and production of chicken fully stabilises, Agriculture and Food Industries Minister Ronald Kiandee says.
He said the government was also aware of the increase in the cost of chicken production following the rise in cost of animal feed and the cessation of exports affecting the returns of breeders.
"In this regard, for the first time, the government agreed to give subsidies to broiler chicken and egg-laying chicken breeders amounting to RM1.1 billion in total, to ease their burden. This subsidy started on Feb 5, 2022 and will end on Aug 31, 2022.
"As of July 29, 2022, a total of 8,907 subsidy applications have been approved amounting to RM748 million," he said during the question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said his ministry through the Department of Veterinary Services constantly monitors and holds engagement sessions with stakeholders in the chicken supply chain, including at the farm level, to ensure that the supply and continuity of the country's chicken production is at an optimal and stable level.
Ronald said this in response to Wong Shu Qi (PH-Kluang) who asked about the losses experienced by the chicken farming sector throughout Malaysia since the chicken export ban came into force on June 1, 2022.
Meanwhile, to a question from Azman Ismail (PH-Kuala Kedah) regarding the national buffer stock for rice, Ronald said its current position is at the level of 221,313 tonnes, that is 88.5% of the 250,000 tonnes target set by the government for the end of 2022.
He said the government was doubling the rice buffer stock in stages from 150,000 tonnes to 290,000 tonnes by 2023 to ensure the country's food supply and to address any contingencies.
"In order to meet the country's rice needs, the ministry always ensures that the rice stock position is above the average level of needs, which is 200,000 tonnes per month.
"The rice stock position in the country at the factory, wholesale and retail levels is always at a consistent rate, which is an average of 400,000 to 500,000 tonnes," he said.


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China economic recovery ‘will lift surrounding economies’

Fast and effective containment of the Covid-19 outbreak is giving Asian countries an advantage over other economies, paving the way for a faster recovery, analysts at Goldman Sachs believe.“We think Asia’s really the best positioned of the major regions right now, given the good control of the virus in most of the region outside of India and some parts of Southeast Asia,” Andrew Tilton, chief Asia economist at the investment bank, said as reported by CNBC on Monday.Europe is currently facing a new wave of coronavirus infections, with more and more cities enforcing tougher restrictions, which may hamper their recovery from previous lockdowns.The US is also seeing an increase in average daily cases and continuing confusion over how best to deal with the pandemic.Meanwhile official data from China, one of the main economic drivers of the Asia region, shows the worst impact of coronavirus appears to be over. The country has been reporting only around 20 new cases per day for the past few weeks, compared to the thousands of daily infections still being reported in the US.“I think, given the good control of domestic transmission of the virus in China, we are going to be seeing services activity come back there as well,” said Tilton.According to global market strategist for Asia Pacific at Invesco David Chao, China has shown a continuing rebound from the pandemic, and this will give a boost to its neighbours. “China’s recovery will lift the surrounding Asian economies,” he told CNBC earlier this week.


Grassroots empowerment key to national unity

The results of the 15th general election (GE15) have shown that there is no one Malaysia but many, with voters having different aspirations and expectations about building a post-GE15 nation.
We can recognise that there is a very Malay-Muslim Malaysia with Perikatan Nasional (PN) securing 73 seats and PAS with the largest number (49). PAS swept the east coast, the north and made inroads to become not a regional but a mainstream political force. Jocelyn Tan calls this the "green tsunami". James Chin articulates this as a "sea change in Malaysian politics".
At the same time, with Pakatan Harapan (PH) securing 82 seats, the coalition is seen as providing an alternative narrative of Malaysia – more multi-ethnic and multi-religious with two dominant multiracial parties, DAP and PKR. This group is branded as progressive and secularist.
Then there are Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Warisan, with strong regional appeal which campaigned on restoring regional positions so that there would be balanced development across Malaysia.
GE15 fears and mudslinging
There have been various accusations against political leaders and parties on the messaging used during the election because of their racial, religious and ideological tones. Name-calling and labelling, such as communist, racist, Taliban, extremist, Zionist, Christianisation, neo-colonist and more, were rife. These appeared in YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp. These short clips dominated the Malaysian narrative with their simplistic views which instilled fear and widened distrust among the different racial and religious groups. It is of utmost importance that there should be stronger guidelines on this matter, including monitoring and reviews to call out unacceptable practices that demonise one community.
Now that GE15 is over, there is a need to ensure that political coalitions put aside their differences to seek some solutions so that the nation can be governed.
Building bridges
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s first press conference after his appointment on Nov 24 was reassuring. He said that "every Malaysian regardless of ethnicity, religious belief, or region, particularly Sabah and Sarawak, should not be left to feel they are ignored in any way. None should be marginalised under my administration."
He also reiterated the Federal Constitutional position on Islam, the special position of the Malays, the Malay language and the position of the rulers.
The phase "every Malaysian" includes the Malay-Muslim Malaysia, the multiracial and religious Malaysia, and Sabahans and Sarawakians as equal citizens of the land. This is not just a slogan, but must be translated into action (deliverables) to increase the level of trust.
The national unity policy (NUP), launched on Feb 15, 2021, provides a useful framework for building a stronger appreciation of our diversity and strengthening our understanding of each other’s aspirations and expectations. It is noted that the NUP must be strengthened with a clearer commitment to Article 8 of the constitution.
Article 8 (1): "All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law." Article 8 (2): "There shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent, place of birth or gender."
There is a need for constitutional literacy so that we have a good understanding of all the parts of the constitution, so that we read it as a whole and not selectively.
There is also a need to revisit the national unity consultative report (2015), which made several significant recommendations not included in the NUP or the national unity blueprint – specifically, the Harmony Act and the establishment of a national unity commission and community mediation centre (CMC). The CMC was to be an alternative to the judicial process in resolving differences of opinion and points of conflict through mediation.
Grassroots communities
The theme of "leaving no one or community behind" is the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. The localising of SDGs adopted by the government and the All Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on SDGs is a major implementor with a presence in 57 parliamentary constituencies.
Over the past three years (2020-2022), I have had the opportunity to visit grassroots communities and neighbourhoods like Teluk Renjuna (Tumpat), Kg Pangi (Tenom), Kg Sg Betul Bawah (Parit Buntar) and  Rumah Panjang Bunga Raya (Sg Buloh).
The communities can be distinguished by their ethnicity and religion and socio-economic status but are all in the bottom 40% of the economic divide. However, while ethnicity, religion and political affiliations might differ, they have one thing in common: all of them face unresolved issues at the grassroots and they are powerless to bring about change.
There is, therefore, space to work with local communities, in both the rural and urban areas, in a decentralised way in partnership with them by empowering them to identify local priorities and devise approaches to resolve local needs and issues.
These communities will stop feeling like they're second-class citizens because of their economic and political position. They can empower themselves for resilience and sustainability. The government must create an enabling environment for the local community to take control of their own destiny.
Strengthening grassroots democracy, and holding dialogues and conversations on national policies will empower them to think through global, national and local concerns in a more reflective way. Policies and programmes which foster an appreciation of diversity and enhance constitutional literacy and dialogue on national and local development agendas, including budgets, will empower and enlighten them. Open and transparent discussions will neutralise exclusive and insular national-building conversations.
Citizen empowerment is key, and MPs must hold regular conversations at the constituency level.
Denison Jayasooria is a senior fellow at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies Malaysia.
The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of MalaysiaNow.


Anwar chairs special Cabinet meeting

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today chaired a special Cabinet meeting at Perdana Putra in Putrajaya.
The meeting, attended by all of the new Cabinet ministers, started at 10am.
The Cabinet line-up, consisting of 28 ministers and two deputy prime ministers, was announced by the prime minister, who also took the portfolio of finance minister, on Dec 2.
Anwar was sworn in as prime minister on Nov 24.
Most of the Cabinet members clocked into their respective offices today before attending the meeting.


Jho Low was Najib’s right-hand man in 1MDB, ex-CEO tells court

A former 1MDB CEO told the High Court today that fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho was the right-hand man of Najib Razak and had directed the company’s dealings with the prime minister’s mandate.Mohd Hazem Abdul Rahman, the 107th prosecution witness, gave six reasons for his opinion.Firstly, he said he knew Low, popularly known as Jho Low, through Azlin Alias who was Najib’s chief private secretary at the time. He said this clearly showed that Jho Low had access to the working team at the Prime Minister’s Office and carried the mandate of the prime minister.Secondly, he said Jho Low had direct access to Najib and was always present at meetings and discussions with Najib on 1MDB.“I can confirm Jho Low’s presence with Najib at several places abroad such as in New York in 2013, and in Abu Dhabi around 2013 and 2014 when I was attending a signing ceremony or meeting with foreign investors,” he said in his witness statement in Najib’s corruption trial.Thirdly, he said he saw Najib talking with Jho Low in several meetings on 1MDB in the former prime minister’s house.“After that, the three of us would meet on 1MDB issues in which Jho Low would play an active role in the discussion.”Fourthly, he said the meeting with Jho Low was through Azlin who admitted himself that Jho Low represented the prime minister in 1MDB.Fifthly, he said Jho Low also managed his proxies in 1MDB, including Jasmine Loo and Terence Geh who were appointed as senior management, a move which required Najib’s prior approval and concurrence.Finally, he said Jho Low also fixed the 1MDB board of directors chaired by Che Lodin Wok Kamaruddin so that activities related to the fund would be easily approved.


New school year starts March 21 after 3-week break

The education ministry today announced the dates for the new school term and the academic calendar for the 2022/2023 session.In a statement, it said the third term for 2021/2022 for schools in Group A states (Johor, Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu) will run from Jan 2 to March 20, 2022.For schools in Group B states (Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor, Labuan and Putrajaya), the term will run from Jan 3 to March 20, 2022.Schools in Group A states will have their end-term break from Feb 25, 2022 to March 20, 2022.Schools in Group B states, meanwhile, will have their end-term break from Feb 26, 2022 to March 20, 2022.The academic calendar session for 2022/20213 will run from March 21, 2022 to March 11, 2023 for schools in Group A states, and March 21, 2022 to March 12, 2023 for schools in Group B states.


UK medical regulator says 7 deaths among AstraZeneca jab recipients after blood clots

The UK medical regulator said Saturday that out of 30 people who suffered blood clots after receiving the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, seven have died.The British acknowledgement of deaths comes as several European countries have paused the use of the AstraZeneca jab over a potential link to blood clots.The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said in a statement that “out of the 30 reports up to and including 24 March, sadly seven have died.”The Netherlands on Friday halted vaccinations with the AstraZeneca jab for people under the age of 60 after five new cases among women, one of whom died.Germany took a similar decision earlier this week.The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which like the World Health Organization previously declared the AstraZeneca vaccine safe, is expected to announce updated advice on the issue on April 7.The EMA said again on Wednesday it believes the vaccine is safe and that experts have found no specific risk factors such as age, gender or medical history.The UK regulator said that the 30 reports of thrombosis, submitted by medics or members of the public via a government website, came after 18.1 million doses of the vaccine had been administered in the country.Most of the cases (22) were cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, a rare condition when a blood clot forms in the brain.Eight other cases saw people suffer thrombosis and low levels of blood platelets, which help blood clot.There were no reports of blood clots from the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine it said, adding that “our thorough review into these reports is ongoing”.The regulator’s website says that on the basis of current data, the benefits of the vaccines against Covid-19 “continue to outweigh any risks”.AstraZeneca said last month following US efficiency trials that its vaccine is 79% effective at preventing the disease and does not increase the risk of blood clots.The UK has administered more than 31 million first vaccine doses, using both the Oxford-AstraZeneca and the Pfizer-BioNTech jabs. People cannot choose which one they get.The UK in June 2020 ordered 100 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and supported its development. It also ordered 30 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine the same year.


Public health think tank calls for taxes on vape, higher duties on cigarettes

Think tank Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy today called for an increase in tobacco taxes and the imposition of a similar tax framework for vape and e-cigarettes as one of several health-related measures ahead of the budget for 2022.Galen CEO Azrul Mohd Khalib said the call came as excise duties on tobacco products, especially cigarettes, had been frozen since 2015.He suggested a 61.8% increase in cigarette taxes from the current retail price to RM24.90 per box.“Studies show that this increase in duties could potentially contribute RM3.36 billion in tax revenue, a 30% increase to what was collected in 2019,” he added.In a statement, he said the government should also impose taxes on products such as vape and e-cigarettes.“The excise duties should cover nicotine and non-nicotine e-liquids and juices,” he said.The proposals were part of Galen’s larger call for the government to strengthen its commitment towards addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which it said are expected to have significantly worsened since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.Azrul said the health budget should be increased to between RM35 and RM40 billion, while new funding should be channelled to preventing and treating cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.“If we are to deal with existing health issues, ageing equipment, retaining skilled personnel, preparing and ensuring resilience to future pandemics such as Covid-19, much of Malaysia’s health infrastructure, including its people, needs additional investments and modernising,” he said.“This is definitely not the time to under-invest in health.”He also called for a sustainable cancer fund and investments to boost the healthcare infrastructure in Sabah and Sarawak.Adding that 3.9 million people are currently living with diabetes, he said more than 66,000 Malaysians are expected to be newly diagnosed with cancer each year by 2030 while a third of the population suffers from hypertension.“The chronic nature of NCDs means patients are sick and suffer longer and require more medical care. The resulting economic costs are high and escalating.“According to the health ministry and World Health Organization in 2020, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer cost nearly RM billion productivity losses annually to the Malaysian economy,” he said.


No politics in Zahid's DPM appointment, says Umno sec-gen

Umno secretary-general Ahmad Maslan says president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's appointment as a deputy prime minister was in consideration of his position in the party hierarchy, not based on political interests.
Ahmad said the appointment of Zahid to the country's second-highest office was also aimed at stabilising the government which was formed after no party won a simple majority of 112 seats in the Dewan Rakyat.
"There has never been a Cabinet that has not been criticised. How often do we see something that is 100% perfect? There must be disagreements here and there.
"If we give it (the position) to someone other than the president (Zahid), that stability is somewhat in question. Firstly, the strength of Umno and secondly the unity government itself.
"That is why we want stability, and the party hierarchy is the right thing to follow now," he told reporters after attending a ceramah in Kampung Pianggu on Dec 3.
Zahid, who is also the Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman was among 27 Cabinet members who took their oath of office before Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah at Istana Negara.
Zahid also holds the post of rural and regional development minister.
Asked whether the party accepted the Cabinet's decision, Ahmad said there was positive feedback from the party's rank and file.
"We are aware that we have only 30 seats and six representatives (as ministers), even though we demanded more. We are waiting for the list of deputy ministers," he said.


Ex-AG Thomas tried to cover up failings through insults, says legal officers group

Public judicial and legal officers have joined the chorus of criticism against former attorney-general Tommy Thomas, accusing him of making remarks derogatory of his own former staff in his new autobiography.The Judicial and Legal Service Officers’ Association (Jalsoa) said the negative perception of public legal officers shown by Thomas in his book, “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”, was to cover up his own weaknesses.“Such a perception is invented by Tommy Thomas himself for his failure to lead the Attorney-General’s Chambers and understand the administration of the public service,” it said.It also questioned Thomas for passing judgment on the capability of legal officers at the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC), saying many of his remarks were “malicious and an insult to all legal officers”.Jalsoa said public legal officers have always carried out their responsibilities with confidentiality and integrity without pursuing popularity.“Tommy Thomas should not question the ability of the legal officers under him within a short period, what more to clearly name and insult the officers in his book,” the association said.It further said that Thomas’ inferences that there were not enough qualified lawyers at the AGC to handle high-profile cases “reflects his narrow-mindedness”.“Legal officers who have the ability and same level of academic qualifications of private lawyers were present to represent the government to argue in the courts including in international negotiations and disputes of national interests,” the statement added.


Indian court rejects Rahul Gandhi's plea to suspend defamation conviction

A high court in western India rejected an appeal by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday to suspend his conviction in a defamation case, quashing for now his hope of returning to parliament and contesting national elections due next year.
Gandhi can now take his appeal to a larger bench of the same high court and then to the Supreme Court, his last option.
Gandhi was convicted in March in a case brought by a Gujarat state lawmaker from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Purnesh Modi, after comments he made in 2019 were deemed to be insulting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other people surnamed Modi.
"How come all thieves have the name Modi?," Gandhi had asked in an election campaign speech, referring to two fugitive businessmen, both surnamed Modi.
Gandhi, the scion of a dynasty that has given India three prime ministers, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment but the jail term was put on hold and he was given bail.
Gandhi also lost his parliamentary seat following the conviction since lawmakers sentenced to jail terms of two years or more are automatically disqualified.
They are also barred from running for election for six years after the end of the two-year jail term.
Gandhi has separately challenged the conviction in a district court, which is yet to hear the case.
Justice Hemant Prachchhak of the Gujarat High Court said in his order on Friday that a stay of conviction is not a rule but an exemption to be resorted to in rare cases.
"The refusal of stay of conviction would not in any way result in injustice to the applicant," the judge said.
"There is no reasonable ground to stay the conviction of the applicant in view of the facts and circumstances of the case."
There was no immediate response from Gandhi to the verdict.
Congress spokesman Jairam Ramesh said the judgment would be studied. "The judgement only redoubles our resolve to pursue the matter further," Ramesh tweeted.
During the hearing of the case, Gandhi's lawyer Abhishek Singhvi had argued that the crime for which Gandhi had been convicted is not "serious" and not being allowed to contest elections for eight years is "virtually semi-permanent in politics".
Gandhi is only the second lawmaker in India to be disqualified from parliament after being convicted. The other case was in January this year, but the lawmaker was subsequently reinstated.
Gandhi's disqualification pushed India's main opposition parties to sink their differences and join hands to plan a united challenge to BJP in the 2024 national elections.


Top US military officer warns peace with China and Russia ‘fraying’

The highest-ranking US military officer warned against “fraying” relations with China and Russia on Wednesday, advising urgent action to improve global ties and prevent a “great power war”.Addressing Air Force Academy graduate officers, General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the US is walking a dangerous line in maintaining an appropriate level of competition with China and Russia.“We are now in the 76th year of great power peace following World War II. And that peace is under stress, we can see it fraying at the edge,” Milley told the graduates.More than 100 of the Air Force graduates will be joining the youngest American military branch, Space Force, to help protect US interests in outer space, as US geopolitical relations with both China and Russia are becoming increasingly strained.In a short statement on Tuesday, the Kremlin announced US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a summit next month to discuss the “current status of and prospects for bilateral relations”.The BBC reports that the first US-Russia summit of the Biden presidency will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, on June 16. That will be at the end of Biden’s already scheduled trip to the UK for the G7 summit and Brussels for a meeting of Nato leaders, giving the president plenty of time to hear from US allies before sitting down with Putin.Meanwhile, tensions between the US and China continue to escalate as lawmakers look to implement more stipulations on Chinese investment and reduce trade amid reports of human rights violations in Xinjiang province.Congress is also expected to pass bipartisan legislation this week that will bolster US investment in artificial intelligence and technological advances to counter China’s expanding military capabilities.“We live in an age of technological development,” Milley told the graduates. “Artificial intelligence, robotics, human engineering, hypersonics, long-range precision fire – we can now see and strike targets at ranges that have never existed before in human history.“The country that masters new technologies, combines them with doctrine and develops leadership to take advantage of them best will have a decisive advantage at the start of the next war.”


4 RMAF personnel killed in shooting at Sarawak camp

Four Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel were killed in a shooting incident at the RMAF camp in Kota Samarahan, Kuching, early today.Sarawak police commissioner Aidi Ismail confirmed the incident, saying further investigations are ongoing.Kota Samarahan police chief DSP Sudirman Kram meanwhile said the incident occurred at the guard station.He said in a statement that the suspect had entered the area and taken down a gun which he then began to load.“His colleagues tried to calm him down but he proceeded to shoot one of the victims in the abdomen.“After the first shot, the rest fled to save themselves.”It is understood that there were eight personnel at the station at the time. Another two were shot, following which the suspect took his own life.Sudirman said the suspect had served in the RMAF for 10 years and was found to have no social problems with his friends.The RMAF meanwhile urged all quarters to refrain from speculating until the police have concluded their investigation.“We will also set up an investigation board to determine the cause of the incident,” it said.


Australia says all countries want to see China not supply weapons to Russia

Australia's foreign minister said she raised Russia's invasion of Ukraine with her Chinese counterpart, telling reporters after their meeting that all countries want to see China "do the right thing" and not supply weapons to Russia.
Washington and its allies have said in recent weeks that China was considering providing weapons to Russia, which Beijing denies.
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she raised Russia's conduct in her meeting with China's foreign minister Qin Gang on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in New Delhi.
Wong told reporters responsibility for what is occurring in Ukraine "lies at the feet of Russia", but the world looks to China for responsible leadership on Ukraine given its close relationship with Moscow.
"I would note that (Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky) himself has said he wants to believe that China will do the right thing and not supply weapons to Russia. And that is not only Australia's call, but the call of all countries," she said.
The United States is sounding out close allies about the possibility of imposing new sanctions on China if Beijing provides military support to Russia for the war, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing four US officials and other sources.
A top Chinese diplomat in Australia published an opinion article in local media on Wednesday arguing Nato was the cause of the conflict, and though Russia was "encircled by Western countries" it hadn't been brought down by sanctions or defeated on the battlefield.
"Worryingly, the crisis has now turned into a confrontation between Nato and Russia," wrote Ruan Zongze, China's consul general in Queensland state, adding China would support Russia resolve the issue through negotiation.


Pakistan floods force tens of thousands from homes overnight

Tens of thousands of people fled their homes in northern Pakistan on Saturday after a fast-rising river destroyed a major bridge, as deadly floods cause devastation across the country.
Powerful flash floods in the northern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caused the Kabul River to swell, sweeping away a large bridge overnight, cutting off some districts from road access.
Downstream, fears of flooding around the river banks prompted around 180,000 people in the district of Charsadda to flee their homes, according to disaster officials, with some spending the night on highways with their livestock.
Historic monsoon rains and flooding in Pakistan have affected more than 30 million people over the last few weeks, the country's climate change minister said, calling the situation a "climate-induced humanitarian disaster of epic proportions".
The military has joined the country's national and provincial authorities in responding to the floods and Pakistan's army chief on Saturday visited the southern province of Balochistan, which has been hit heavily by the rains.
"The people of Pakistan are our priority and we won't spare any effort to assist them in this difficult time," said army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa.
Pakistani leaders have appealed to the international community for help and plan to launch an international appeal fund. The foreign affairs ministry said Turkey had sent a team to help with rescue efforts.
"The magnitude of the calamity is bigger than estimated," said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a tweet, after visiting flooded areas.
In neighbouring Afghanistan, the Taliban administration also appealed for help after flooding in central and eastern provinces.
The death toll from floods this month in Afghanistan had risen to 192, disaster authorities said. Thousands of livestock had been killed and 1.7 million fruit trees destroyed, raising concerns over how families would feed themselves going into the cooler months while the country deals with an economic crisis.
"We ask the humanitarian organisations, the international community and other related organisations and foundations to help us," Sharafudden Muslim, the deputy director of Afghanistan's disaster ministry, said at a press conference, adding more than a million families required assistance.


‘Jab-anxiety’ probable cause of adverse effects from J&J mass vaccination sites

Anxiety is likely responsible for dozens of reports of dizziness and nausea from people who got Johnson &Johnson’s shot at mass-vaccination sites, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says.Three weeks after mass vaccination sites in five different US states reported clusters of adverse reactions following the administration of the Johnson & Johnson shot, the CDC said Friday, it was likely anxiety and not the vaccine that caused dizziness, fainting, and nausea among dozens of recipients.About 64 people reported the effects after getting the shot.The post-shot reactions investigated in the CDC’s Friday report are different from the rare blood clot adverse event that led to a nationwide pause in the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine earlier this month.The clusters resulted in four of the five sites temporarily suspending vaccinations. But experts said none of the approximately 64 reported reactions were considered “serious”.Some recipients also noted chest pains or a racing heart – all possible symptoms of anxiety.“We knew we were going to see this,” Dr Noni MacDonald, a Canadian researcher who has studied such incidents told NBC News.She told the outlet that studies indicate 10% to 15% of adults are afraid of injections. The CDC found that about 25% of those who reported side effects in these cases had previously had similar reactions to past vaccinations.One fifth of the patients in question were taken to an emergency department for further medical evaluation, and most of the events resolved within 15 minutes of the patient receiving supportive care, experts found.Health officials at the time said they had no reason to believe there was anything wrong with the shots, themselves.CDC experts theorised that people with shot anxiety may have chosen Johnson & Johnson’s shot because it appealed to them as the only vaccine among the three authorised in the US that requires only one injection.Administration of the Johnson & Johnson shot was paused earlier this month, following reports of recipients who developed a rare blood clot and abnormally low levels of the platelets that form clots.But the US resumed use of the vaccine last week after the Food and Drug Administration added a warning to the vaccine about the risk of unusual blood clots in women under 50.


Economic adviser must have economics background, says think tank after Anwar defends daughter's new role

An economic think tank has voiced concerns over the appointment of Anwar Ibrahim's daughter as his senior adviser on finance and economics, saying it is a continuation of a series of actions that goes against past claims of reform by the prime minister.
The Center for Market Education (CME) said the role of economic adviser requires someone with suitable background as it is not a political position.
"Nurul Izzah Anwar studied engineering and international relations and does not possess any specific background in economics or finance, a background that, while not necessary for primary political roles such as ministers, should be a must for advisers and counsellors," said the think tank's CEO Carmelo Ferlito.
Nurul's revelation in an interview with The Star that she had been appointed as senior adviser on economics and finance to the prime minister has unleashed a flurry of reactions from Malaysians.
In his response, Anwar defended his daughter, saying she was qualified for the role despite not having a suitable economics 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)," he said, adding that Nurul would not receive any salary.
But Ferlito said the real question was the "actual cost of politics" due to bad policies, saying many bad policies in the past had cost the nation more than salaries or corruption.
He said little attention was devoted to drawing up a sound economic policy, citing recent statements from Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli who "demonstrated a poor understanding of economic theory and reality".
"Furthermore, such statements sounded more like moral preaching rather than practical and implementable policy proposals, which are very much necessary to tackle that economic downturn about which CME has warned since mid-2021," Ferlito added.
He said the government has sidelined capable individuals for some Cabinet positions, giving the example of how an elected representative such as Johari Abdul Ghani was not made the finance minister, while entrusting the international trade and industry portfolio to Tengku Zafrul Aziz despite losing the election.
"It is in this scenario that the prime minister appoints one of his daughters, who recently lost the electoral battle, as senior adviser for economics and finance.
"Such an appointment does not only sound like nepotism, but it is also a source of concern for the future of the economy," said CME in a statement.
Nurul, who lost her Permatang Pauh seat in the recent polls, 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.


Daily caseload dips to 1,138 as 8 more deaths reported

Another 1,138 Covid-19 cases were recorded yesterday, taking total confirmed infections in the country to 5,016,023.
There were 1,420 recoveries, taking total recoveries to 4,962,707.
There are now 16,521 active cases, of which 15,413 or 93.3% are undergoing home quarantine.
Meanwhile, 0 (0%) are at quarantine centres while 1,052 (6.4%) have been hospitalised.
A total of 56 are in ICU with 37 in need of respiratory assistance.
Another eight deaths were reported, including three who were brought in dead. Total deaths now stand at 36,795.


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Floods, rising sea levels threaten wave of poverty for homeowners

A data analyst involved in research on the property market has warned that thousands of families are at risk of falling into poverty as the annual floods and rising sea levels attributed to climate change and global warming affect the homes in which they live.
Cha-Ly Koh, founder and CEO of a data company, said such areas were mostly located adjacent to the Sungai Klang mouth areas of Port Klang and Shah Alam, as well as further north in the country's rice belt.
"Beyond the low-lying areas adjacent to the seas, areas located next to major rivers such as Sungai Klang will also be affected higher upstream," she told MalaysiaNow.
This in turn poses a risk to the financial health of residents, as property is normally bought with a mortgage.
In Malaysia, the longest tenure for loans is 35 years.
If floods begin to pose dangers to health and safety, Koh said, residents would have to relocate. And in order to do this, they will require money.
"Those with a mortgage will be forced to pay double rent," she said.
"Retired people with fully paid mortgages will also need to seek additional resources to rent in other places."
The Klang Valley, home to eight million people, is seen as the heart of the nation's economy. Last year, it faced some of the worst floods in recent memory, with several areas including Shah Alam, Hulu Langat and the city centre at least partially submerged.
Losses were estimated at over RM6 billion, with the flood situation expected to worsen in coming years.
Part of the problem has been attributed to overdevelopment and urban migration, with housing projects built even in flood-prone areas in order to meet the increasing demand.
Koh said local councils would do well to be more aware of the threats posed in these areas by floods and climate change.
Currently, she said, climate and sea levels are not factors of consideration in development approval.
Instead of embarking on more housing projects, she added, the authorities should take a closer look at home vacancy issues.
"Old neighbourhoods are left to collect value instead of housing younger generations who are priced out of the homes.
"Instead of building, I suggest that the government reactivate these homes in safer locations," she said.
She also cited data she had collected showing that homes in floodplains are lower in cost than those in other locations, meaning that those in the lower income bracket are more likely to suffer the most from floods.
She referred to the situation in some countries where the government offers buyout schemes if mitigation plans for homes in floodplains are too expensive. Affected properties are bought over by the government and residents are free to relocate.
Koh said this was similar to the land and property acquisition for Malaysia's MRT project.
She also warned of groundwater threats, describing this as an often overlooked problem.
"Seawater doesn't end at the coastline," she said. "It is a continuous body that places pressure on the groundwater in the soil.
"As the sea rises, despite the dykes that we build, we cannot prevent seawater from raising the groundwater table.
"This means that all of the areas in the floodplain will face challenges around the sanitation and water systems that rely on current hydrodynamic conditions."


France beat Australia 4-1 in opener as Giroud equals scoring record

France started their World Cup title defence in style with a 4-1 comeback win against Australia as Olivier Giroud became Les Bleus' joint all-time top scorer with two goals on Tuesday.
Giroud netted before and after the break to take his tally to 51 goals, matching Thierry Henry's mark. He scored either side of a Kylian Mbappe goal after Adrien Rabiot had levelled for France following Craig Goodwin's shock early opener.
Les Bleus are the first defending champions to win their opening match since Brazil in 2006, which has already put them in a good position to advance from the group phase, something Italy in 2010, Spain in 2014 and Germany in 2018 failed to do.
France, who lost defender Lucas Hernandez to a serious knee injury, have three points and lead Tunisia and Denmark by two after they played out a 0-0 draw on Tuesday.
Didier Deschamps's side, who started the tournament on the back of the disappointment of striker Karim Benzema being ruled out injured last Saturday, next face Denmark on Saturday.
"We got a scare but reacted quickly afterwards. Even if we could have scored more goals, we found each other, we were efficient," said 36-year-old Giroud, who is now France's oldest scorer in the World Cup.
"It's very good for our self-confidence to have turned things around. We'll have to learn from these little mistakes however."
Australia coach Graham Arnold said his team ran out of gas against a superior side.
"Look, at the end of the day, they're are a quality side. They are world champions for a reason," he added.
"I thought the first half, we did well. Second half, we ran out of legs a bit, but that’s the type of level of those players play at."
Poor start
It was not quite the start France were expecting at the Al Janoub stadium.
Australia's Goodwin smacked the ball into the roof of the net from Mathew Leckie's cross from the right, leaving Lucas Hernandez holding his right knee after being beaten to the ball after nine minutes.
Hernandez's brother Theo came on as a substitute and France continued to struggle to create space, with only Mbappe threatening on his left flank.
Australia were much more direct, making the most of Les Bleus's non-existent midfield.
It was Rabiot who levelled in the 27th, however, leaving his marker behind to head home from Hernandez's cross.
With Mbappe moving more centrally, the Australia defence had another problem to deal with and that was clear when the Paris St Germain forward's backheel inside the area was collected by Rabiot, who slid the ball across for Giroud to tap in.
France played more freely from then on, with Antoine Griezmann's low shot going just wide and Mbappe skying his attempt over the bar as he raced to meet Griezmann's cross from the right.
Australia kept France on their toes and came close shortly before halftime when Jackson Irvine's header grazed Hugo Lloris's right-hand post after a rebound.
Mbappe caused more chaos early in the second half but could not quite find the breakthrough, until he silenced the Australia fans, who in the first half were shouting "Who are you?" at him, with a glancing header in the 68th minute.
Three minutes later, Giroud headed home from Mbappe's cross before falling on his back in apparent disbelief and being surrounded by his team mates in a goal celebration that lasted longer than usual, giving an exhilarating feel to France's win.
It took Giroud, who owed his place in the starting lineup to Benzema's absence, 115 international appearances to score his 51 goals, while Henry needed 123 from 1997-2010.
There were more chances for France through Theo Hernandez and Ibrahima Konate but the result was already satisfying enough, bearing in mind that in 2002 their title defence started with a 1-0 loss to Senegal followed by a first-round exit.


Home minister tells why MPs were barred from Parliament on Aug 2

Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin says MPs were barred from entering the Parliament compound on Aug 2 to allow sanitation work to be carried out.He said the action was taken after nearly 100 Covid-19 cases were reported at the Parliament building.“It is about the government wanting to take care of the Yang Berhormat so that they can be present today,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.Hamzah said this after RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) raised the issue of MPs not being allowed to enter the Parliament compound on Aug 2 and Anwar Ibrahim (PH-Port Dickson), who is the opposition leader, asking why he was not allowed to enter his office.On the question of the compounds issued to the MPs who had gathered to enter the area, Hamzah said the action was taken as it was as offence for them to assemble and a violation of the SOPs during the Covid-19 pandemic.However, Hamzah said the value of the compounds was reduced after he discussed the matter with the health minister.When Wong Kah Woh (PH-Ipoh Timur) said that he was prevented from entering Parliament on the same day to attend a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting, Hamzah said an error had occurred.“Since we wanted to make sure everything went well for the sanitation to be carried out, we issued instructions not to allow anyone to enter,” he added.Earlier, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Harun, who chaired the Parliament session, said Parliament was not closed then and that he had instructed the dewan secretary to allow all MPs to enter.“However, on the road closure, it is under the action of the police and why they closed the road, I had no knowledge of it,” he added.


In CMCO areas, employees at management, supervisory levels told to work from home

Employees in the public and private sectors at the management and supervisory levels in areas under conditional movement control order (CMCO) in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Selangor, Sabah and Labuan have been directed to work from home effective Oct 22.Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the decision was made at a special meeting of the National Security Council on the advice of the health ministry to restrict the movement of employees in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19.“The international trade and industry ministry has also informed that this directive will include almost 800,000 industrial sector workers from Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan, Selangor and Sabah.“The same will apply to nearly 200,000 civil servants in those states and territories,” he said in a press conference today.Adding that this was now a directive and no longer a request, he said employers had been told to issue letters for their employees to work from home.He said the ministry would issue a statement on the directive soon.


Ex-DG of govt’s Islamic think tank says ‘unreformed’ Jakim has strayed from halal objective

The former head of the government’s top Islamic think tank has described a directive prohibiting the display of Christmas and other religious greetings at halal-certified outlets as “illogical”, saying the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) has gone overboard after the previous government failed to make good on its promise to reform the agency.“They have gone further and further into their error without admitting mistakes,” said Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas, the former director-general of the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim).“Where are the reforms that Malaysia was so looking forward to when the new government came in?” he asked, referring to Pakatan Harapan’s administration which lasted 22 months.“We have not even started the reforms, we have not even chiselled away at anything. What happened to the reformation of Jakim? There was supposed to be a reform of Jakim.”Last week, MalaysiaNow reported about a bakery’s refusal to write “Merry Christmas” on a cake as this could violate conditions imposed by Jakim’s halal certification division.The cake shop instead apologised to the customer and replaced the greeting with “Happy Holidays”.But Syed Ali said there was no logic to the move.“First of all, it’s a bakery. What it does is it makes food items, it serves food. Whether or not you put ‘Merry Christmas’ or whatever it is, the ingredients of that food will tell you whether it’s halal or not.”He said he would not have accepted the excuse given by the cake house.“If it was me, and that shop had done that to me without my permission when I asked them to put ‘Merry Christmas’ on a cake and they changed it to ‘Happy Holidays’, I would have sued the shop, I would not have paid them.“Now the religious affairs department also deserves to be taken to court.“What kind of nonsense is this?” he asked.Editorial: ‘Merry Christmas’, just the icing on Jakim’s cakeChristmas okay but not for display on ‘halal’ premises, products, says JakimJakim has since said that it allows such greetings as long as they are not displayed on premises bearing its halal logo.But Syed Ali cited the Islamic principle that “actions depend on intentions”.“In this case, I doubt that the premises’ intention is to insult Muslims, or to cause anxiety among Muslims, or to even shake their faith. If that’s the case, how weak and ignorant are we?” he asked.He said the episode showed the state of ignorance among the Muslim masses, similar to what had happened with Christians in medieval Europe.“We are back to 10th-century Europe, where everybody was just waiting for the church to issue an edict on what we can and cannot do, what we can read and what we can say,” said Syed Ali.He said the rule also contradicts a fatwa issued in 2018 by the current Islamic affairs minister, Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, in which the former mufti dismissed claims by some preachers that Muslims should not wish “Merry Christmas”.Zulkifli’s fatwaSyed Ali said Zulkifli’s fatwa, written when he was the federal territories mufti, was well-articulated.“In that explanation, he said that you should say ‘Merry Christmas’ to your firends as long as your intention is not to propagate the religion or be part of it, which every Muslim in wishing their friends has the intention of doing, as a friendly gesture.”Syed Ali said Jakim had strayed far from the original objective of ensuring halal food in demanding that a premise should also be certified as halal.“This halal and haram status that Jakim used to have was for food consumption, for make-up, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products, even though that one is also debatable, but primarily it was for food products.“And now, all of a sudden, we have included premises as well? It’s ridiculous.”


Trump says if he were in power, ‘genius’ Putin wouldn’t threaten Kyiv

Former US president Donald Trump on Tuesday hailed Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s aggression against Ukraine as “genius” but said the crisis would not have happened under the Republican firebrand’s administration.During an appearance on a rightwing radio program, the hosts asked Trump about Putin recognising two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent.“I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius,'” Trump responded.“Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine – of Ukraine – Putin declares it as independent. Oh, that’s wonderful.”Russia is facing an international backlash after Putin ordered his forces into Ukraine to secure the self-declared Donetsk and Lugansk rebel republics.The move came with tens of thousands of Russian soldiers on Ukraine’s borders and amid warnings of an all-out invasion.Trump said Putin’s tactics had been “smart” and argued, without elaborating, that the US could replicate them on its border with Mexico.He followed up with a separate statement arguing that the Ukraine crisis could have been averted altogether if it had been “properly handled” by President Joe Biden, who defeated him in the 2020 election.“I know Vladimir Putin very well, and he would have never done during the Trump administration what he is doing now, no way!” the twice-impeached former president said.Domestic firestormTrump, who had been largely silent on the escalating Russian threat to the US ally before Tuesday, criticised Washington’s “weak” response which he said did not match Russia’s actions.“Now it has begun, oil prices are going higher and higher, and Putin is not only getting what he always wanted, but getting, because of the oil and gas surge, richer and richer,” Trump added.Former White House Russia advisor Fiona Hill told CNN Sunday that Trump’s foreign policy had emboldened Putin.The former president had been driven by personal concerns rather than the national interest, she said.“There’s no Team America for Trump. Not once did I see him do anything to put America first. Not once. Not for a single second,” said Hill, once one of Trump’s most senior aides.Ukraine found itself caught in a US domestic political firestorm when then-president Trump asked its leader to launch a spurious corruption probe into Biden’s family ahead of the 2020 presidential election.Accusations that Trump tried to block military aid to pressure President Volodymyr Zelensky sparked the first of the Republican’s two impeachments.


Growing interest in mental health services, stress-relieving products, study finds

Interest has been on the rise for mental health services and stress-relieving products amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis and concerns over the suicide rate, a recent study by e-commerce aggregator iPrice Group shows.It noted a 109% surge of Google searches on mental health services in the first five months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, saying people appeared keen on getting professional mental healthcare treatment such as therapy sessions with psychologists or psychiatrists.It recorded similar jumps in searches for products believed to reduce stress and anxiety as well as apps that promote and aid mental healthcare.It said searches for scented candles, for example, increased by a whopping 137% in the first five months of 2020 compared to the same period the year before.Searches also rose for items such as back and neck massagers (175%), weighted blankets (99%) and adult colouring books (95%).Searches for therapy lamps increased by 57%, herbal tea by 41% and essential oils by 38%.It also gauged Malaysians’ interest in mental health apps based on a list compiled by health and wellness information site Verywell Mind in 2021.It said Malaysia saw a 108% increase in interest in such apps, adding that a “mental health pandemic” was likely succeeding the Covid-19 pandemic.The search volume for each product and mental healthcare app was taken from Google Keyword Planner from July 14 to 16 this year, while search volumes were collected and compared from January to May of 2019 to 2021.Concerns have been raised over mental health issues as the pandemic and safety measures continue to obstruct any return to normal daily routines.According to statistics recently revealed by the police, 609 suicide cases were recorded in 2019, 631 in 2020 and 468 from January to May this year – an average of two suicides a day from 2019 to May 2021.In terms of gender, 281 men and 1,427 women were recorded as having killed themselves from 2019 to May 2021.


Govt proposes 1-year extension for 10-year-old e-hailing vehicles

The transport ministry is proposing a one-year extension to the rule requiring e-hailing vehicles to be under 10 years of age.Transport Minister Wee Ka Siong said the move would ease the burden of drivers affected by the Covid-19 crisis, who would not have to replace their vehicles once they hit the 10-year limit.“I would like to announce that during the Covid-19 period, the maximum age for public vehicles will be automatically extended by a year,” Wee said in his winding-up speech on the budget for his ministry, which was passed by bloc vote later.Under current e-hailing regulations, only vehicles manufactured less than 10 years ago will be allowed to renew their road tax.


Singapore aims to start quarantine-free travel for the fully vaccinated by September

Singapore is anticipating allowing quarantine-free travel for those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 from September, when 80% of the city-state’s population should be inoculated, the government said on Monday.Singapore will establish travel corridors with countries or regions where Covid-19 is under control, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said.“So fully vaccinated persons will then be able to travel to these countries or regions without needing to serve the full 14-day stay-home notice in a hotel when they return,” he said.Depending on the risk level of the country they visit, the stay-home notice will be replaced with a “rigorous testing regime” or a seven-day isolation period at home.This will allow vaccinated people to travel more freely, he said. “Those who are not vaccinated can still travel, but will be subject to the prevailing SHN (stay-home notice) requirements.”The city-state is also set to review whether to loosen curbs in early August, when two-thirds of its population would be fully inoculated, Reuters is reporting.“The easing will be differentiated and extended to only vaccinated persons, because they are much better protected against the effects of the virus,” Wong said. “If you want to go out to dine in a restaurant or workout in the gym, you have to be fully vaccinated.”More than half the country has received both doses of either Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines. It has inoculated nearly 75% of its 5.7 million people with at least one dose, the world’s second-highest rate behind the UAE, a Reuters tracker shows.As countries with advanced vaccination campaigns prepare to live with Covid-19 as an endemic disease, their focus is turning to preventing death and serious diseases through vaccination.Still, Singapore may not do away with all of its social distancing measures. For example, it may remove its mask mandate for outdoors, but require people to keep them on in an indoor enclosed environment, Wong said.As Singapore progressively eases restrictions, it must expect cases to rise as there is still “ongoing cryptic transmission” which can easily break out into new clusters, said Wong.As borders open for people to travel without serving stay-home notices, Singapore will also see more imported cases and infected people slipping through from time to time.“But at that stage, our main focus will no longer be on daily case numbers. Because the vast majority by then would have been vaccinated, and even if they catch the virus, they are much less likely to become very ill,” said the minister.“Instead, our focus will be on the much smaller number of infected persons who need supplementary oxygen or require intensive care.”At each stage of easing, the Government will monitor the hospitalisation and intensive care numbers to ensure they remain acceptable and stable, said the minister.If these numbers shoot up, Singapore has to be prepared to “slow down, or even pull back”.New variants may also emerge, and these may be more transmissible, more lethal or more successful at evading the present vaccines.“We will find solutions to these variants, especially through booster shots or updated vaccines, which we may need to roll out nationwide,” Wong said.“But we must be prepared that the new variants can lead to more severe outbreaks, and may well force us to introduce restrictions again from time to time.”As of July 25, Singapore had 1,537 active cases, with 12 cases of serious illness requiring oxygen, and two patients in critical condition in the intensive care unit.None of the 14 cases is fully vaccinated.