Singapore finalising details of air travel bubble with Hong Kong: Ong Ye Kung - CNA

SINGAPORE: Singapore and Hong Kong are in “active discussion” on starting the long-delayed air travel bubble between the two cities, confirmed Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung on Wednesday (Apr 14).

"We are finalising the details of our revised agreement and hope to announce our plans soon," he said in a statement issued by Singapore's Ministry of Transport. 

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This comes after Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam said on Tuesday that the territory plans to allow only residents who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to travel to Singapore under the travel bubble, describing this requirement as the "basis for discussion" between the two cities. 

This is despite authorities in Singapore not requiring mandatory vaccinations for Hong Kong travellers under the arrangement, she noted. 

“We want to provide incentives to encourage Hong Kong citizens to get vaccinated," said Ms Lam. 

Mr Ong had last month said that Singapore was studying a proposal from Hong Kong to reopen borders safely, after the territory had managed to bring the pandemic under control. 

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The air travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore was originally scheduled to begin in November last year, but was deferred due to a spike in infections in Hong Kong. 

READ: Singapore studying proposal from Hong Kong to reopen borders safely: Ong Ye Kung

READ: More than 18,200 people visited Singapore through unilateral border openings; 70% from China

The scheme would have allowed people to travel between the two cities with no restrictions on the purpose of travel and no requirement for a controlled itinerary or sponsorship.

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Travellers would be subject only to COVID-19 tests, without the need for quarantine or stay-home notices. 

Earlier this month Hong Kong had announced that Singapore Airlines (SIA) passenger flights departing from Singapore would not be allowed to land in the territory between Apr 3 and Apr 16. 

This came after a passenger onboard an SIA flight was confirmed to have COVID-19, while three others had failed to comply with pandemic requirements. 

In response to CNA's queries, SIA said the four passengers were transit passengers, all of whom had negative pre-departure test results.

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2021-04-14 07:29:36Z
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Moderna says protection from its Covid-19 vaccine still strong six months on - The Straits Times

NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Moderna said on Tuesday (April 13) that its Covid-19 vaccine still showed strong protection against the illness six months after people received their second shot, with efficacy of more than 90 per cent against all cases of Covid-19 and more than 95 per cent against severe Covid-19.

The vaccine maker, which will be updating investors on the progress of its vaccines at an event on Wednesday, said the six-month follow-up of its original late-stage study of the vaccine showed that vaccine efficacy remained consistent with its previous updates.

The company has also started testing new versions of the vaccine that target a concerning new variant of the coronavirus, which was first identified in South Africa and is known as B.1.351.

It said both versions of the vaccine that it is testing, including a multivalent vaccine that combines the newly designed vaccine with the previous one, increased neutralising antibody titers against variants of concerns in mice, with the multivalent providing the broadest level of immunity.

The company in March began testing three approaches to boosting the vaccine in order to protect against new variants.

Moderna's vaccine is authorised or approved for use in more than 40 countries. It uses messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, which contains instructions for human cells to make proteins that mimic part of the coronavirus.

The instructions spur the immune system into action, turning the body into a virus-zapping vaccine factory. No actual virus is contained in the vaccines.

The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company said that as of Monday it has delivered about 132 million doses globally, including 117 million doses for the United States. The company said it is on track to supply the nation with 300 million doses of the vaccine by the end of July.

Moderna said its supply chain outside the United States was established about a quarter behind the US supply chain and continues to ramp up.

The company said its average US selling price in the first quarter was around US$15.40 per dose excluding a roughly US$1 billion (S$1.3 billion) payment from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Outside the United States, prices ranged from US$22 to US$37 per dose, it said.

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2021-04-13 20:42:49Z
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Hong Kong wants people leaving for Singapore under planned air travel bubble to be vaccinated: Carrie Lam - TODAYonline

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1. Hong Kong wants people leaving for Singapore under planned air travel bubble to be vaccinated: Carrie Lam  TODAYonline
2. Details of travel bubble with Singapore to be announced soon: Hong Kong's Carrie Lam  CNA
3. Hong Kong requires people leaving for Singapore to be vaccinated: Carrie Lam  The Straits Times
4. Hong Kong jabs success rests on key message that benefits outweigh the risks  South China Morning Post
5. Hong Kong's delayed legislative elections set for December  CNA
6. View Full coverage on Google News

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2021-04-13 15:04:17Z
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People can now choose which Covid-19 jab to take with listing of vaccination centres and vaccines in S'pore - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - People who want to choose which Covid-19 vaccine to take can now refer to the Ministry of Health's (MOH's) website, where the full list of vaccination centres and vaccines has now been made available.

The Moderna shot is being given at 11 out of the 38 centres, while the rest are using the Pfizer-BioNTech product.

People are able to pick which vaccination centre or polyclinic they wish to go to, although a notice on the site adds that certain centres may have limited slots "due to the strong demand for Covid-19 vaccinations in Singapore and limited supplies".

The Pfizer shot was the first Covid-19 vaccine to be approved for use in Singapore, with the earliest shipments arriving here last December.

Last month, MOH announced that the Moderna vaccine would be administered at four community clubs: Hong Kah North, Marsiling, Punggol 21 and Radin Mas.

Another seven centres have since been added to this list. They are Kolam Ayer, Buona Vista, Potong Pasir, Tampines East, Woodlands, Kebun Baru and Yew Tee.

All other vaccination centres, polyclinics and selected Public Health Preparedness Clinics will continue to offer the Pfizer vaccine.

"Each vaccination centre will only stock and administer one type of vaccine," MOH said in a statement last month. "Individuals must select the same vaccination centre for both their first and second appointments, when booking via the national appointment system."

Both the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines use the newer messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, which involves injecting snippets of the virus' genetic material - and not the whole virus - into the body. This "teaches" cells to make a protein that triggers an immune response, producing antibodies to fight the virus.

Reported side effects from both vaccines are similar and include pain, swelling at the injection site, fatigue, headache, muscle ache, fever, chills, vomiting and joint pain after vaccination.

Their efficacy rates are also roughly similar, with Pfizer's clocking in at 95 per cent and Moderna's at 94 per cent.

However, the Pfizer vaccine requires two 30-microgram doses taken three weeks apart. In contrast, Moderna's vaccine involves two 100-microgram doses taken four weeks apart.

The Straits Times visited several vaccination centres on Tuesday (April 13), all of which saw a steady stream of people coming and going. When asked why they chose a particular centre, most people said they simply picked the location closest to their homes.

"I'm here because the centre is near my house," said Mr Toh Hock Seng, 68, who took his second shot at Teck Ghee Community Club. "The brand doesn't really matter to me."

Housewife Pang Lay Hua, 65, who was at Bishan Community Club, said: "My friend lives nearby, so I came here to take the vaccine together with her. I didn't ask which brand it was."

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2021-04-13 11:27:39Z
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Taiwan says PLA flies 25 warplanes into its airspace, the largest incursion yet - Yahoo Singapore News

China’s People Liberation Army flew 25 warplanes into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ) on Monday, its largest incursion yet as tension in the Taiwan Strait continues to escalate.

According to Taiwan’s defence ministry, the PLA warplanes – 14 Jian-16 fighter jets, four Jian-10s, four H-6K bombers, two Y-8 anti-submarine warfare planes and one KJ-500 airborne early warning and control aircraft – entered the island’s southwest zone on Monday.

“[Taiwan’s] air force sent its air patrol force to shadow them, issued radio warnings and deployed missiles to monitor their movements,” the ministry said in a statement late Monday night.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

It marked the largest incursion by PLA warplanes since Taiwan’s ministry made public last year the movements of PLA aircraft which flew into the AIDZ or across the maiden line that separates the narrow Taiwan Strait in training missions either off the island or over the disputed South China Sea.

The latest flights came a day after US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Beijing against invading Taiwan, a self-ruled island of 24 million that the Chinese government regards as a breakaway province that must eventually be reunited with the mainland - by force if necessary.

US-China military tensions build over Taiwan

This month the aerial incursions have taken place on a daily basis, and the Liberty Times in Taipei estimated that they have occurred on at least 86 days this year; Monday was the 102nd day of 2021 so far.

“What we’ve seen, and what is of real concern to us, is increasingly aggressive actions by the government in Beijing directed at Taiwan, raising tensions in the straits,” Blinken said in an interview Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press”.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday criticised the “increasingly aggressive actions by the government in Beijing directed at Taiwan”. Photo: AFP via Getty Images/TNS

Blinken stressed that Washington has a long-standing commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act to ensure that the island “has the ability to defend itself” and to assure that the US sustains peace and security in the Western Pacific.

“We stand behind those commitments,” he added.

Blinken’s comments came as tensions escalated between Taiwan and the mainland, which has stepped up its military presence near the island, staging war games in addition to warplane flights into the ADIZ.

PLA warplanes made a record 380 incursions into Taiwan airspace in 2020

On March 26, 20 PLA warplanes flew into the zone shortly after Taipei and Washington signed their first agreement under the administration of new president Joe Biden for coastguard cooperation. That followed Beijing’s enactment of a new law permitting its coastguard to fire on foreign ships.

Beijing has repeatedly warned the US – which does not have formal ties with Taipei – against having official contacts with or supplying arms to the island.

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2021-04-13 04:10:36Z
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Malaysia extends COVID-19 movement control orders - CNA

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Senior Minister for Security Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced on Monday (Apr 12) that movement control orders (MCOs) would be extended across the country, Bernama reported.

The states of Johor, Kelantan, Penang and Selangor as well as Kuala Lumpur will remain under the conditional movement control order (CMCO) from Apr 15 to 28, while Sarawak will continue to be placed under the CMCO from Apr 13 to 26.

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The states of Kedah (except in Kuala Muda), Melaka, Negeri Sembilan (except in Seremban), Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah and Terengganu as well as Labuan and Putrajaya, meanwhile, will see the recovery movement control order (RMCO) extended from Apr 15 to 28.

Ismail Sabri also said that the government had placed Kampung Meruntum, Sabah, under the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) from Apr 13 to 26 following a rise in COVID-19 cases in the locality.

READ: Malaysia to give Sinovac COVID-19 vaccine to people aged 60 and above

READ: Malaysia deliberating over use of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after EU findings

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“COMPLY WITH THE SOP”

On the COVID-19 situation in the country, Ismail Sabri said that data from the Ministry of Health (MOH) showed that Malaysia could potentially face a fourth wave of the pandemic, judging by the fact that the daily infectivity rate on Sunday rose to over 1.0.

As such, he urged the public to comply with standard operating procedures, especially since Ramadan bazaars and Tarawih prayers will be allowed during the fasting month.

"The rate of COVID-19 infectivity according to yesterday’s daily (cases) nationwide rose to 1.06," he said. 

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"We must all comply with the SOP, more so since there are a lot of activities during the Ramadan month, such as the Ramadan bazaars, breaking of fast and Tarawih prayers."

Ismail Sabri said that state governments could tighten the standard operating procedures set by the federal government if necessary to help them control their local COVID-19 outbreaks.

“(When) the National Security Council (MKN) sets the SOPs, it should be followed by every state, but we are also of the view that the state governments can use their own discretion based on cases that occur in their respective states,” he said.

“I have discussed it with the Ministry of Health that the state governments can impose stricter regulations if necessary.

“What is not allowed is to relax the SOPs set by the federal government.”

Yesterday, the Kelantan government announced the cancellation of Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars statewide, even though the federal government had earlier approved the opening of such bazaars this year.

READ: Muslims navigate restrictions in the second Ramadan amid COVID-19 pandemic

RAMADAN BUFFETS ALLOWED

With Ramadan beginning on Tuesday, Ismail Sabri announced that the government will allow all restaurants, stalls, eateries, hotel coffee houses, fast-food shops and food delivery services in states under the CMCO and RMCO to operate until 6am during the fasting month.

He said this was to enable those fasting, especially those who are single, to purchase food for their pre-dawn meals.

However, he said that eateries in shopping complexes or supermarkets would be subject to the operating hours of the said premises.

He added that hotels, restaurants and eateries would be allowed to hold buffets for the breaking of fast, with strict compliance to the standard operating procedures. Food handlers will be required to serve food to customers at buffets, for example, while tables must be set 2m apart.

“For the breaking of fast in offices and halls, areas under CMCO must ensure the event occupies only 50 per cent of venue’s capacity while 100 per cent capacity is allowed for RMCO areas, but in accordance with the stipulated SOP,” he said.

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2021-04-12 13:52:30Z
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Iran blames Israel for sabotage at Natanz nuclear site - CNA

DUBAI: Iran on Monday (Apr 12) blamed Israel for a sabotage attack on its underground Natanz nuclear facility that damaged the centrifuges it uses to enrich uranium there, warning that it would take revenge for the assault.

The comments by Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh represent the first official accusation levelled against Israel for the incident on Sunday that cut power across the facility.

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Israel has not directly claimed responsibility for the attack. However, suspicion fell immediately on it as Israeli media widely reported that a devastating cyberattack orchestrated by Israel caused the blackout.

If Israel was responsible, it would further heighten tensions between the two nations, already engaged in a shadow conflict across the wider Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who met Sunday with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, has vowed to do everything in his power to stop the nuclear deal.

Details remained scarce about what happened early Sunday at the facility. The event was initially described as a blackout caused by the electrical grid feeding its above-ground workshops and underground enrichment halls.

“The answer for Natanz is to take revenge against Israel,” Khatibzadeh said. “Israel will receive its answer through its own path.” He did not elaborate.

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Khatibzadeh acknowledged that IR-1 centrifuges, the first-generation workhorse of Iran’s uranium enrichment, had been damaged in the attack, but did not elaborate. State television has yet to show images from the facility.

A former chief of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard said the attack had also set off a fire at the site and called for improvements in security at Natanz. In a tweet, General Mohsen Rezaei said that a second fire at Natanz in a year signalled “the seriousness of the infiltration phenomenon”.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif separately warned Natanz would be reconstructed with more advanced machines, something that could imperil ongoing talks in Vienna with world powers about saving Tehran’s tattered atomic accord.

“The Zionists wanted to take revenge against the Iranian people for their success on the path of lifting sanctions,” Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency quoted Zairf as saying. “But we do not allow (it) and we will take revenge for this action against the Zionists.”

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READ: Iran atomic agency says Natanz nuclear facility hit by act of 'terrorism'

READ: Pentagon chief declares 'ironclad' US commitment to Israel

The IAEA, the United Nations body that monitors Tehran’s atomic program, earlier said it was aware of media reports about the incident at Natanz and had spoken with Iranian officials about it. The agency did not elaborate.

Natanz has been targeted by sabotage in the past. The Stuxnet computer virus, discovered in 2010 and widely believed to be a joint US-Israeli creation, once disrupted and destroyed Iranian centrifuges at Natanz during an earlier period of Western fears about Tehran’s program.

In July, Natanz suffered a mysterious explosion at its advanced centrifuge assembly plant that authorities later described as sabotage. Iran now is rebuilding that facility deep inside a nearby mountain. Iran also blamed Israel for the November killing of a scientist who began the country’s military nuclear program decades earlier.

Multiple Israeli media outlets reported Sunday that an Israeli cyberattack caused the blackout in Natanz. Public broadcaster Kan said the Mossad was behind the attack. Channel 12 TV cited “experts” as estimating the attack shut down entire sections of the facility.

While the reports offered no sourcing for their information, Israeli media maintains a close relationship with the country’s military and intelligence agencies.

“It’s hard for me to believe it’s a coincidence,” Yoel Guzansky, a senior fellow at Tel Aviv’s Institute for National Security Studies, said of the blackout. “If it’s not a coincidence, and that’s a big if, someone is trying to send a message that ‘we can limit Iran’s advance and we have red lines’.”

It also sends a message that Iran’s most sensitive nuclear site is penetrable, he added.

Netanyahu late Sunday toasted his security chiefs, with the head of the Mossad, Yossi Cohen, at his side on the eve of his country’s Independence Day.

“It is very difficult to explain what we have accomplished,” Netanyahu said of Israel’s history, saying the country had been transformed from a position of weakness into a “world power”.

Israel typically does not discuss operations carried out by its Mossad intelligence agency or specialised military units. In recent weeks, Netanyahu repeatedly has described Iran as the major threat to his country as he struggles to hold onto power after multiple elections and while facing corruption charges.

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2021-04-12 08:27:47Z
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