Chinese communist party

IT must now be said. The skeptics and Sinovac naysayers have been right all along. The Chinese vaccines against Covid-19 — be they Sinovac or Sinopharm — have low effectiveness rate and can reasonably be refused by prospective vaccinees on the grounds of efficacy and safety. According to The Associated Press, China’s top disease control official has admitted to the weakness of Chinese coronavirus vaccines. Gao Fu, the director of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), says the effectiveness of the Chinese vaccines is low, and the government is considering mixing them to get a boost. Chinese vaccines “don’t have very high protection rates,” he said at a conference in the southwestern city of Chengdu on Saturday. The official admission seems incongruous with the current primacy of President Xi Jinping as Chinese leader. Mr. Xi has been unbending and unyielding on his policy decisions even when they turn out to be duds as with his missteps in claiming all of the ... » Learn More about From the horse’s mouth: Chinese vaccines have low effectiveness

MANILA, Philippines — Only 28 Chinese vessels remain stationed around Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said. AFP chief Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said in an interview with DZBB that as of 8p.m. Saturday, AFP Western Command reported that only 28 Chinese vessels are left in the reef — two of which are Chinese Maritime Militia Vessels, six are Chinese coast guards, and 20 are fishing boats. Sobejana told reporters that the six Chinese coast guards are distributed in Pagasa Island, Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Reef), and Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). The fishing boats are also distributed in the same locations — two in Pagasa, ten in Ayungin Shoal, and eight in Bajo de Masinloc. Sobejana then said that the AFP will meet with the Joint US Military Assistance Group on Monday. “Isa sa mga paguusapan natin yung ating mutual defense treaty kung san nagtutulungan ang dalawang bansa on matters pertaining to security,” said Sobejana. (One of ... » Learn More about Only 28 Chinese vessels left in West Philippine Sea reef – AFP chief

SINGAPORE - Trade associations and chambers (TACs) here can do more to help companies tap opportunities that arise from digitalisation and improve their capabilities, said Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing on Friday (Feb 12). They play a critical role in the national effort to introduce firms, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, to new technologies, and to help them adopt these, he added. He was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry's (SCCCI) live streaming studio at the Trade Association Hub in Jurong, on the first day of the Chinese New Year. The studio is an example of what TACs can do on this front, to help companies navigate challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic , added Mr Chan. SCCCI president Roland Ng said the studio expects to support live streaming for up to 50 activities in its first year, including trade associations' annual general meetings, product launch events and international ... » Learn More about Singapore trade associations play critical role in helping firms tap opportunities from digitalisation: Chan Chun Sing

IPOH: Ramadan bazaars are allowed in Perak, says state local government committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohamed Radzi. “Traders at the bazaars must strictly adhere to Covid-19 standard operating procedure. “All local councils will determine the locations for the bazaars and to ensure the SOP is followed, ” she said yesterday. Ipoh Mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said 25 locations in the city had been earmarked for the bazaars. “There will be 1,065 trading lots this year, with each to be placed about 3m apart. “Traders must wear face masks and gloves and are also required to get anti-typhoid jabs and attend food-handling courses, ” he said. He added that the city council’s public health and council services unit and enforcement department would be monitoring the bazaars to ensure SOP compliance. “There will be mandatory body temperature check and hand sanitisers at the entry point, ” Rumaizi said, adding that cashless payments would be introduced at most locations to ... » Learn More about Perak, Negri and Melaka allow bazaars

PHOTO: Jor Sor 100 traffic radio – Bangkok Air Quality Bangkok’s governor is calling on experts to provide advice on how best to tackle the severe air pollution that blankets the city and is causing the wrong sort of headlines for the capital. The Pollution Control Department reported 41 Greater Bangkok areas as having unsafe levels of PM2.5 – airborne particulates 2.5 microns in diameter and smaller – this morning and affirmed the PM2.5 would continue accumulating until at least February 4. Aswin called on expert assistance while presiding over a ceremony at the Khon Muang Plaza on Thursday morning to dispatch 50 drones to spray water at haze-affected locations including Kasetsart University, the Lat Phrao five-prong intersection, Lumphini Park and Rama 9 bridge areas. The drones – each with a capacity to carry 10 litres of water – were provided by a private contractor in Nakhon Ratchasima While the drones buzz overhead, spraying a mixture of water and molasses (gooey, sugary ... » Learn More about Bangkok Air Quality: BKK Governor calls for help as PM2.5 smog continues

PHUKET CITY: Believing the problem of counterfeit banknotes to be serious, Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) President Paiboon Upatising has spent his own money to buy 1,000 UV flashlights, which he distributed to vendors at two wet markets in Phuket City on January 23. Mr Paiboon gave the devices away free to traders at Kaset Market, the fresh market near Robinson department store, and the Downtown Market on Ranong Road. There have been a number of well-known counterfeiting cases in recent months in Thailand, with fake 1,000-, 500- and even 20-baht bills being detected. Wet markets are thought to be hotspots for the passing of fake bills. Criminals are known to favor the morning, when light is poor and vendors are not as alert, as the time to pass on the counterfeits. Mr Paiboon’s actions followed reports that some merchants at fresh markets were refusing to take 1,000 baht and 500 baht notes, fearing they might be fake. He got the idea to buy the UV ... » Learn More about Paiboon leads fight against bogus banknotes

Former President Donald Trump vowed to help Republicans win seats in Congress in 2022 elections but lashed out at two top party figures, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell and former Vice President Mike Pence, at a donor retreat on Saturday. At a dinner at his Mar-a-Lago Club for Republican National Committee donors in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump made clear he is still irked at his inability to hang on to the White House despite losing the Nov. 3 election to Democrat Joe Biden, who is now president. McConnell drew Trump's ire in the aftermath of the election for stating the obvious - that Biden had won the presidency - and the two remain at odds. Parting from the prepared text of his speech, Trump called the senator a "son of a bitch," an attendee told Reuters . Before leaving office, Trump had scolded Pence for not intervening to stop the congressional certification of the vote tally, an authority the vice president did not have. The vote certification was the backdrop ... » Learn More about Trump is still mad at Pence, McConnell

SINGAPORE - Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam gave his take on several issues during a virtual dialogue at the Singapore Tech Forum on Thursday (Nov 19). The forum, a global industry and networking even in its third year running, is organised by the Singapore Global Network - a division of the Economic Development Board - and the Government Technology Agency (GovTech). Economic reconfiguration and China Contrary to what some might think, globalisation is not on the decline. Instead, what the global economy is seeing is a reconfiguration as a result of China's evolution, said Mr Tharman. He noted that the biggest trend was the evolution of the Chinese economy. “It is getting larger. (China is) having a much larger middle class consuming a lot more. (They) are having much more capabilities domestically, able to produce within China what was previously imported, and that might give the impression of some waning of globalisation. "But actually, it's the same story - it's ... » Learn More about Resilient hubs key for companies seeking stability amidst Covid-19: SM Tharman

PUTRAJAYA (Bernama): Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's legal team was asked to keep its promise of wrapping up its submissions in the hearing of the former premier’s appeal in the RM42mil SRC International Sdn Bhd’s case by noon, Tuesday (April 13). Court of Appeal judge Datuk Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil said,"Finish your submissions by noon, if not, you have to break your fast here," drawing laughter from the gallery. Tuesday is the first day of the holy month of Ramadan where Muslim fast from dawn to dusk. The defence was supposed to have closed its arguments on Thursday last week but requested Monday (April 12) as an additional day to finish its case. However, as the hearing continued until 4.30pm, Najib's lawyer Farhan Read said he needed more time to finish submitting. However, lead prosecutor Datuk V. Sithambaram said this would eat into the time allotted for the prosecution to present its arguments. "They’ve taken six days to submit, I am given three days. The defence has ... » Learn More about Wrap up by noon or break your fast here, judge tells Najib’s defence

Here is an A to Z of Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip: A for AWARD: Since 1956, millions of youths worldwide have completed The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which promotes community service and self-reliance through volunteering, physical, skill and expedition challenges. B for BARBEQUE: Prince Philip was in charge of grilling duties at the royal Scottish retreat at Balmoral, sizzling up the steaks by the river, with Queen Elizabeth doing the washing up. C for CARRIAGE DRIVING: The duke took up the sport in 1971 after giving up polo. He compiled its international competition rules and represented Britain. He was still driving horses into his 90s. D for DANISH: Philip was born into the house of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glucksburg and considered himself Danish by race. E for ENGAGEMENTS: The prince conducted 22,219 solo engagements between 1952 and his retirement in 2017. He gave 5,496 speeches and 785 organisations had him as a patron, president or member. F for ... » Learn More about A to Z of Britain’s Prince Philip