Singapore data for bivalent COVID-19 vaccines does not show increased risk of stroke: MOH - CNA

SINGAPORE: Data in Singapore on the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines does not show an increased risk of ischaemic stroke linked to either of the updated Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech shots, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Saturday (Jan 14). 

The Health Ministry's statement comes after US federal health authorities launched an investigation into a preliminary safety concern about a potential increased risk of stroke in seniors who received the bivalent vaccine.

"In Singapore, the local data accrued for the bivalent vaccines at this time does not show an increased risk of ischaemic stroke after receiving either the Moderna or the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnaty bivalent vaccine," said MOH.

"The safety profile of the bivalent mRNA vaccines has been observed to be similar to that of their monovalent versions."

An ischaemic stroke, also known as brain ischaemia, is caused by blockages in arteries that carry blood to the brain.

The preliminary safety concern about the Pfizer bivalent shot was detected by one of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's monitoring systems known as the vaccine safety datalink (VSD).

It uncovered a possible safety issue in which people aged 65 and older were more likely to have an ischaemic stroke 21 days after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech bivalent shot, compared with days 22 to 44.

However, the US CDC said in a statement on Friday that it is "very unlikely" that Pfizer's bivalent COVID-19 shot carries an increased risk of stroke for people aged 65 and older.

No other surveillance system has detected a similar safety concern so far, said the health agency.

"A large study of updated (bivalent) vaccines (from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna) using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services database revealed no increased risk of ischaemic stroke," said the US CDC.

It also noted that other countries have not observed an increased risk for ischaemic stroke with the updated bivalent vaccines, adding that the matter requires more investigation.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMikQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5jaGFubmVsbmV3c2FzaWEuY29tL3NpbmdhcG9yZS9zaW5nYXBvcmUtYml2YWxlbnQtY292aWQtMTktdmFjY2luZS1wZml6ZXItYmlvbnRlY2gtbW9kZXJuYS1uby1pbmNyZWFzZWQtc3Ryb2tlLXJpc2stbW9oLXVzLWNkYy0zMjA2NDgx0gEA?oc=5

2023-01-14 13:34:00Z
1738864940

UMNO delegates table motion to leave top 2 posts unchallenged at next party elections - CNA

Whether UMNO's top two posts will be contested at its next leadership polls has been a hot topic at this year's convention.

A loss for current president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi - also Malaysia's deputy prime minister - could have implications for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's unity government.

But Ahmad Zahid has maintained his confidence in defending his position, saying in a policy speech on Friday that he would leave it to party delegates to decide if the roles should be contested.

Party delegates from each state will announce on Saturday if they support the motion, which will be passed if a simple majority is obtained, Mr Isham said.

Even then, the motion is not constitutionally binding and the president and deputy president could still be challenged, he said.

Earlier this week former UMNO youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin announced at a forum in Singapore that he was "thinking of" running for the presidency.

He also said he wanted to stop any "undemocratic" motions blocking contestation of the party’s top two posts.

Some prominent UMNO members, however, prefer that the roles remain uncontested. These include UMNO deputy president Mohamad Hasan and women’s wing chief Noraini Ahmad.

Mr Mohamad said the polls could cause divisions within UMNO. Dr Noraini said a no-contest would give leaders space to strengthen the formerly dominant party, now seeking a reset following poor performances at recent national polls.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiVmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS91bW5vLWVsZWN0aW9uLXByZXNpZGVudC1jb250ZXN0LWNoYWxsZW5nZS0zMjA0NDU20gEA?oc=5

2023-01-13 13:19:37Z
1735024417

Woman dies after avalanche near ski resort in Japan's Hokkaido: Report - CNA

TOKYO: A foreign woman died in an avalanche at Mount Yotei near a popular ski resort on Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, local media reported on Friday (Jan 13).

The woman, who was at the site with about 10 other people, did not show any vital signs, broadcaster NHK reported, citing a person who made an emergency call.

Japan's TV Asahi News quoted the fire department as saying the avalanche occurred between the mountain's fifth and sixth stations at about 2.30pm.

According to the report, her companions pulled the woman from the snow and she was conveyed to the hospital by helicopter. Her death was subsequently confirmed, TV Asahi said.

The party of 10 is believed to comprise European nationals from the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany, it added.

TV Asahi also said an avalanche warning had been issued in the Shiribeshi area, where the mountain is located, since Thursday.

Mount Yotei is one of Hokkaido's most famous mountains and is a popular outdoor activity spot.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZ2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS93b21hbi1kZWFkLWF2YWxhbmNoZS1ob2trYWlkby1tb3VudC15b3RlaS1qYXBhbi1za2ktcmVzb3J0LTMyMDM4NzHSAQA?oc=5

2023-01-13 09:16:53Z
1731213558

China's Exports Slump Further as Global Demand Drops Off - Bloomberg

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

1. China's Exports Slump Further as Global Demand Drops Off  Bloomberg
2. China Dec rare earth exports at 4307 tonnes -customs  CNA
3. China exports, imports tumble sharply in December, cloud 2023 growth outlook  The Straits Times
4. China’s exports, imports tumbled in December, but trade with Russia steady  South China Morning Post
5. China's Dec soybean imports jump 19%, coal shipments slip  CNA
6. View Full coverage on Google News

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMic2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJsb29tYmVyZy5jb20vbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlcy8yMDIzLTAxLTEzL2NoaW5hLXBvc3RzLXJlY29yZC10cmFkZS1zdXJwbHVzLWZvci0yMDIyLWRlc3BpdGUtc2xvd2luZy1kZW1hbmTSAQA?oc=5

2023-01-13 05:40:00Z
1727277155

Forgiven but not forgotten, Zahid says of 10 MPs who signed SDs backing Muhyiddin - The Star Online

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

Forgiven but not forgotten, Zahid says of 10 MPs who signed SDs backing Muhyiddin  The Star OnlineView Full coverage on Google News
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiigFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVzdGFyLmNvbS5teS9uZXdzL25hdGlvbi8yMDIzLzAxLzEyL2ZvcmdpdmVuLWJ1dC1ub3QtZm9yZ290dGVuLXNheXMtYWhtYWQtemFoaWQtb3Zlci0xMC1tcHMtd2hvLXNpZ25lZC1zZHMtdG8tYmFjay1tdWh5aWRkaW7SAQA?oc=5

2023-01-12 09:03:00Z
CBMiigFodHRwczovL3d3dy50aGVzdGFyLmNvbS5teS9uZXdzL25hdGlvbi8yMDIzLzAxLzEyL2ZvcmdpdmVuLWJ1dC1ub3QtZm9yZ290dGVuLXNheXMtYWhtYWQtemFoaWQtb3Zlci0xMC1tcHMtd2hvLXNpZ25lZC1zZHMtdG8tYmFjay1tdWh5aWRkaW7SAQA

China Stops Reporting Covid Tally as Data Criticism Grows - Bloomberg

[unable to retrieve full-text content]

1. China Stops Reporting Covid Tally as Data Criticism Grows  Bloomberg
2. 'Not necessary' to dwell on COVID-19 death tally, Chinese experts say  CNA
3. China stops reporting daily Covid-19 tally as data criticism intensifies  The Straits Times
4. China's economy is living its darkest hours before the dawn  South China Morning Post
5. China's Covid Surge Could Make Xi More Dangerous  Bloomberg
6. View Full coverage on Google News

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmJsb29tYmVyZy5jb20vbmV3cy9hcnRpY2xlcy8yMDIzLTAxLTEyL2NoaW5hLXN0b3BzLXJlcG9ydGluZy1jb3ZpZC10YWxseS1hcy1kYXRhLWNyaXRpY2lzbS1pbnRlbnNpZmllc9IBAA?oc=5

2023-01-12 08:18:58Z
1729233356

Sabah Cabinet reshuffle not the unity government PM Anwar wants, says UMNO state chief - CNA

KOTA KINABALU: Former Sabah deputy chief minister Bung Moktar Radin has claimed the state’s reshuffled Cabinet is not the idea of a unity government as previously mooted by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. 

According to local media, Mr Bung Moktar said on Wednesday (Jan 11) the two United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) assemblymen included in Mr Hajiji’s Noor new Cabinet did not represent the party. 

The two are Deputy Chief Minister and Works Minister Shahelmey Yahya as well as Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister James Ratib. 

They were among five assemblymen from UMNO who had previously broken ranks and publicly announced their support for Mr Hajiji.

Mr Bung Mokhtar, the Sabah UMNO chief, was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today that the two assemblymen were not recognised by the party. 

“Hajiji cannot say (that they are representing UMNO) or recognise them as representing the party in his Cabinet line-up,” Mr Bung Mokhtar reportedly said.

The news portal added that Mr Bung Mokhtar will raise the inclusion of the two assemblymen in the state’s Cabinet with UMNO’s disciplinary board as well as party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Separately, Mr Shahelmey - who replaced Mr Bung Mokhtar as deputy chief minister and works minister in the reshuffle - said that the new Cabinet under Mr Hajiji aligns with Mr Anwar’s idea of a unity state government. 

He said: “This is part of the formula for a unity government, because with the three new faces in the Cabinet - we have Pakatan Harapan (PH) and Barisan Nasional (BN) in the line-up.”

Mr Shahelmy also affirmed his position as an UMNO member, saying that he has yet to hear from the party’s leadership over his decision to support Mr Hajiji.

“I am still an UMNO member,” he told Free Malaysia Today. 

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMia2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9tYWxheXNpYS1ib3JuZW8tc2FiYWgtdW1uby1uZXctY2FiaW5ldC1yZXNodWZmbGUtbm90LXBtLXdhbnRlZC0zMTk3ODgx0gEA?oc=5

2023-01-11 08:23:54Z
1727152820