Day: November 24, 2021

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Cambodia To Host 13th ASEM Summit On Pandemic Recovery, Multilateralism

PHNOM PENH– Cambodia will organise the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit (ASEM13) on Nov 25-26 (tomorrow-Friday), via videoconference, the country’s foreign ministry announced, in a press statement, yesterday.

 

The summit will be chaired by Cambodian Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and participated by heads of state/government and high-level representatives of 51 ASEM countries from Asia and Europe, President of the European Council, President of the European Commission, and the Secretary-General of ASEAN.

 

The ASEM13, under the theme: “Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth” will provide timely opportunity for leaders from both Asia and Europe, to reaffirm the importance of ASEM cooperation, in tackling global and regional issues of mutual interests, including the COVID-19 pandemic and its socio-economic impacts, the statement said.

 

“Hosting the ASEM13, reflects Cambodia’s commitment at its highest level, to the advancement of multilateralism, as much as its active engagement with the international community, to tackle current and emerging global challenges,” the statement said.

 

During the two-day meeting, the ASEM leaders will discuss ASEM’s role in revitalising multilateralism for global peace and stability, in strengthening rule-based trading system and in promoting inclusive and sustainable growth and developments as well as connectivity.

 

The ASEM leaders will also discuss COVID-19 and socio-economic recovery, which focuses on addressing issues caused by COVID-19, advancing Post-COVID-19 socio-economic recovery for shared growth, and rebuilding a resilient future, it added.

 

According to the statement, ASEM13 will adopt three main outcome documents, namely, ASEM13 chair’s statement, Phnom Penh statement on the post-COVID-19 socio-economic recovery, and the way forward on ASEM connectivity.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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Brunei Logs 71 New COVID-19 Cases, Total Tally At 14,701

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Brunei reported 71 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 yesterday, bringing the total tally to 14,701.

 

According to Brunei’s Ministry of Health, all the newly recorded cases were local infections.

 

While the source of 13 local infections was still under investigation, four new clusters have been detected, and six clusters were closed, following no new cases in the clusters for 28 days, bringing the total number of active clusters to 145.

 

A total of 14,162 recoveries have been reported, and 441 active cases are still being treated and monitored in Brunei. Ninety-eight patients have passed away, so far, in the country.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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S.Korea’s Business Sentiment Stagnant In Nov

SEOUL– Sentiment among South Korean businesses over the economic situation remained stagnant this month, central bank data showed today.

 

The business sentiment index (BSI) for all industries stood at 86 in Nov, unchanged from the previous month, according to the Bank of Korea (BOK).

 

It was based on a survey of 1,623 manufacturers and 1,139 non-manufacturers, conducted from Nov 9 to Nov 16. The reading below 100 indicates pessimists outnumbering optimists.

 

The BSI among manufacturers came to 90 in Nov, making no change for the third consecutive month.

 

Global demand grew for locally-made semiconductors, but the automotive production was disturbed by the supply disruption of chips used to make cars.

 

The BSI among non-manufacturers fell one point over the month to 83 in Nov.

 

Demand gained for cargo transport ahead of the year-end, but sentiment in the real estate and the wholesale and retail sectors weakened this month.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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Royal Malaysian Air Force Officer Accorded Full Military Honours Burial In Washington

KUALA LUMPUR— A Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officer, Col Hasnol Hisham Abu Hassan died at the St Joseph Medical Centre in Tacoma, Seattle, Washington in the United States on Saturday (Malaysia, Nov 21). He was 50.

 

The RMAF public affairs division announced in a statement on Tuesday that Hasnol Hisham died at 10.58 pm Seattle, Washington time (2.58 pm Sunday Malaysian time) after falling unconscious during the Airman to Airman Talks (A2ATs) programme at Camp Murray Seattle, Washington held from Nov 14 to 19.

 

“On Nov 16, Hasnol Hisham lost consciousness and was rushed to the St Joseph Medical Centre in Tacoma, Seattle, Washington for treatment and emergency surgery for acute type of aortic dissection.

 

“He died at the hospital with his wife, Rohani Tahir by his side,” the statement read.

 

According to the statement, Hasnol Hisham, the training director at the RMAF Headquarters’ Human Resources Division (Training) was buried with full military honours at the Covington Islamic Cemetery, Washington on Wednesday, 6.30 am Malaysian time.

 

His funeral arrangements was conducted by House of Mercy and Malaysian Muslims led by Capt Ayub S. Laari.

 

Chief of Air Force Gen Ackbal Abdul Samad and the entire RMAF community also conveyed their appreciation and thanks to all parties involved in Hasnol Hisham’s funeral arrangements.

 

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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82.7 Per Cent Of Adolescent Population In Malaysia Fully Vaccinated

KUALA LUMPUR— A total of a 2,603,148 individuals or 82.7 per cent of the adolescent population in Malaysia have completed their COVID-19 vaccination as of Tuesday.

 

Based on the Health Ministry’s COVIDNOW portal, a total of 2,760,656 individuals or 87.7 per cent of adolescents in the country have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

 

As for the adult population, 22,425,264 individuals or 95.8 per cent have completed the vaccination, while 98 per cent or 22,936,203 individuals have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

 

A total of 135,631 doses of the vaccine were dispensed on Tuesday, with 10,473 of the doses given as second dose, 5,233 doses to the first dose recipients and 119,925 as booster doses.

 

This brings to a total of 52,232,576 doses of the vaccine being administered under the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme.

 

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK

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Chinese Envoy Calls On Iraqi Factions To Work Towards Gov’t Formation

UNITED NATIONS– Chinese envoy to the UN yesterday called on all Iraqi factions, to address their disputes over last month’s elections, through legal means and work towards the formation of a new government.

 

China applauses Iraq’s successful holding of parliamentary elections last month and appreciates the great efforts made by the Iraqi government and people, and fully recognises the electoral support provided by the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), said Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

 

China condemns the Nov 7 attack on the Iraqi prime minister’s residence, and expresses concern over the recent threats of violence against Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission and UNAMI, he told the Security Council.

 

“We hope that all parties in Iraq will stay calm and exercise restraint, express their demands and resolve their differences and disputes through peaceful means, within the framework of the Constitution and laws,” said Geng. “China encourages all factions in Iraq to seize the opportunity presented by the elections, to build consensus, strengthen solidarity, and form a new government in an orderly manner, so as to lay a solid political foundation for further progress in nation-building and achieving development and prosperity.”

 

The security situation in Iraq remains grave with frequent attacks launched by remnants of the Daesh. The international community should sustain its unwavering support for Iraq’s counter-terrorism efforts. The countries concerned should shoulder their responsibilities by facilitating early identification and repatriation of foreign terrorists and their families in Iraq, he said.

 

On Nov 4, Iraq’s UN ambassador wrote to the president of the Security Council, listing Turkey’s alleged violations of Iraqi territory and air space, during the period from June to Sept this year. The UN secretary-general’s report on Iraq also documented Iraqi civilian casualties from airstrikes and shelling. China hopes that Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would be respected by all countries, said Geng.

 

China appreciates and supports the continued close cooperation between Iraq and Kuwait, on the issue of missing persons and property, he added.

 

China has always been a sincere friend of the Iraqi people. The fourth shipment of assistance from the Chinese government, containing one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines has arrived in Baghdad. China will work with the rest of the international community, to continue supporting Iraq in fighting the pandemic, developing the economy and improving people’s livelihood, said Geng.

 

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK