Day: September 19, 2021

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Malaysia Looking Forward To Welcoming China In CPTPP As Early As Next Year

KUALA LUMPUR, As one of the pioneer members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Malaysia is looking forward to welcoming economic powerhouse China into the fold, anticipated to be as early as next year.

 

“The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), Malaysia is particularly encouraged with the recent move by China to formally apply for accession into the CPTPP,” the Ministry responded to Bernama’s query on China’s decision.

 

In February this year, the United Kingdom became the first country outside the Asia Pacific belt to formally request for accession into the CPTPP.

 

Within a span of 7 months, it is indeed interesting to see that CPTPP has received another accession request, demonstrating the significant value of this agreement and its attraction to countries within and beyond the Asia Pacific region.

 

Widely regarded as the gold standard for regional trade agreements, CPTPP offers immense economic opportunities for both Malaysia and China.

 

“With the ongoing domestic efforts setting Malaysia right on track towards ratification, and the possible commencement of China’s accession negotiations with the CPTPP membership next year, MITI is confident that bilateral trade and investment ties between Malaysia and China will grow to greater heights in the near future,” it said.

 

The CPTPP is a trade agreement among Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam.

 

Malaysia is currently on track in ratifying the CPTPP, pending a detailed and clear mandate from the Cabinet, MITI had said recently.

 

MITI senior director of strategic negotiations division Arividya Arimuthu said the current administration had made it clear that the government will continue with trade and business-friendly policies and is open to mutually beneficial free trade agreements (FTAs).

 

“Our ambitious timeline is to get the Cabinet’s directive on where we are heading with regard to the CPTPP by the end of this year, but otherwise, we are looking at the first quarter of 2022 (1Q22),” he said.

 

Source: Nam News Network

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1 in 3 COVID Patients Report Long-Term Symptoms, Study Finds

A new study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that roughly 1 in 3 people who have tested positive for COVID-19 reported symptoms two months later.

The study, done in Long Beach, California, found that one-third of those who tested positive for COVID-19 reported at least one symptom of the disease caused by the coronavirus four or more weeks after testing positive.

The CDC reported that rates were even higher in women, Black people, those older than 40, and those with pre-existing conditions. The CDC describes “long COVID” as experiencing symptoms four or more weeks since testing positive for the disease.

For the study, the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services spoke to 366 people, age 18 and older, chosen at random from two test groups after receiving a positive COVID-19 test between April 1 and December 10, 2020.

Another report, published in The Guardian Sunday, says that U.S. physicians treating unvaccinated patients are “succumbing to compassion fatigue” as a fourth surge of COVID-19 cases sweeps across the country.

Dr. Michelle Shu, a 29-year-old emergency medicine resident, said medical school did not prepare her to handle the misinformation unvaccinated patients believe about the vaccine, calling the experience “demoralizing.”

“There is a feeling that, ‘I’m risking my life, my family’s life, my own well-being for people who don’t care about me,’” Dr. Mona Masood, a psychiatrist in Philadelphia told The Guardian.

The U.S. has more COVID-19 cases than any other country, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center, with more than 42 million infections.

India’s health ministry said Sunday that it had recorded 30,773 new COVID cases in the previous 24-hour period and 309 deaths, only the U.S. has more infections than India, which has more than 33 million, according to Johns Hopkins.

Singapore reported more than 1,000 new cases of the virus Sunday, the highest rate for the country since April 2020. Even with 80% of its population fully vaccinated against the virus, Singapore has paused further reopening.

Johns Hopkins has recorded more than 228 million global COVID-19 cases and 4.6 million global deaths. Almost 6 billion vaccines have been administered, according to Johns Hopkins.

Over the weekend, the Smithsonian revealed that some tigers and lions at the National Zoo in Washington tested positive for the virus.

The zoo reported that six lions and three tigers were suffering decreased appetites, lethargy, and coughing and sneezing, but said in a press release that it was committed to the health and safety of both the animals and the human staff.

 

Source: Voice of America

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FOUR MEN ARRESTED FOLLOWING ENFORCEMENT OPERATION AGAINST ILLEGAL HORSE BETTING ACTIVITIES

The Police are investigating four men, aged between 61 and 69, for their suspected involvement in illegal horse betting activities.

On 18 September 2021, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division conducted an enforcement operation along Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4. A 62-year-old man was arrested for his suspected involvement as a bookmaker. Another three men, aged between 61 and 69, were arrested for allegedly betting with a bookmaker. Cash amounting to more than $3000, two mobile phones and gambling-related paraphernalia were seized. Investigations are ongoing.

Under the Betting Act, any person who bets with a bookmaker shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both. Any person who is found to be involved in bookmaking shall be liable on conviction to a fine of not less than $20,000 and not more than $200,000 and shall also be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.

The Police take a serious view on all forms of illegal betting activities and will continue to take tough enforcement actions and prosecute those involved in accordance with the law. Members of the public are advised to steer clear of all forms of illegal gambling activities.

 

Source: Singapore Police Force