China reports third consecutive daily record for new COVID-19 cases - CNA

BEIJING: China reported 35,183 new COVID-19 infections on Nov 25, of which 3,474 were symptomatic and 31,709 were asymptomatic, the National Health Commission said on Saturday (Nov 26), setting a new high for the third consecutive day.

That compared with 32,943 new cases a day earlier – 3,103 symptomatic and 29,840 asymptomatic infections, which China counts separately.

Excluding imported cases, China reported 34,909 new local cases on Friday, of which 3,405 were symptomatic and 31,504 were asymptomatic, up from 32,695 a day earlier.

There were no deaths, keeping fatalities at 5,232. As of Friday, mainland China had confirmed 304,093 cases with symptoms.

Mega-cities continue to struggle to contain outbreaks, with Chongqing and Guangzhou recording the bulk of new cases.

Chongqing, a southwestern city of 32 million people, reported 7,721 new local cases for Friday, a jump of almost 20 per cent from the previous day.

Guangzhou, a prosperous city of nearly 19 million people in southern China, reported 7,419 new local cases for Friday, down slightly from 7,524 cases a day earlier.

New local cases for Friday in the capital Beijing jumped 58 per cent to 2,595, according to figures released by local health authorities on Saturday.

There are COVID outbreaks in almost all Chinese provinces, with Hebei, Sichuan, Shanxi and Qinghai provinces each registering more than a thousand new cases on Friday. (Reporting by Yew Lun Tian; Editing by Kim Coghill, William Mallard and Edmund Klamann)

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9jb3ZpZC0xOS1jaGluYS1jYXNlcy1kYWlseS1yZWNvcmQtdGhpcmQtY29uc2VjdXRpdmUtZGF5LTMxMDIzNDbSAQA?oc=5

2022-11-26 04:21:21Z
1663322469

Taiwan votes in local elections amid tensions with China - CNA

The election is happening a month after the end of the 20th congress of China's Communist Party, where President Xi Jinping secured an unprecedented third term in office - a point Tsai has repeatedly made on the campaign trail.

Although the outcome of the election will be an important measure of popular support for both parties, it cannot necessarily be read as an augur for the next presidential and parliamentary races in 2024.

Tsai and the DPP heavily defeated the KMT in 2020 despite their setback at the 2018 local polls. Her second term in office runs out in 2024 and she cannot stand again as president because of term limits.

Both parties have concentrated their efforts on wealthy and populous northern Taiwan, especially the capital, Taipei, whose current mayor, from the small Taiwan People's Party, cannot stand again after two terms in office.

Taiwanese elections are raucous and colourful affairs, with candidates touring their districts on the backs of trucks and SUVs seeking support, with music blaring and campaign flags fluttering.

There is also a vote on lowering the voting age to 18 from 20, which both parties support.

The election results should be clear by early evening on Saturday.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMicWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS90YWl3YW4tbG9jYWwtZWxlY3Rpb25zLXZvdGluZy10c2FpLWluZy13ZW4tY2hpbmEtdGVuc2lvbnMta3VvbWludGFuZy0zMTAyMjcx0gEA?oc=5

2022-11-26 00:44:00Z
CBMicWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS90YWl3YW4tbG9jYWwtZWxlY3Rpb25zLXZvdGluZy10c2FpLWluZy13ZW4tY2hpbmEtdGVuc2lvbnMta3VvbWludGFuZy0zMTAyMjcx0gEA

Thousands flocked to a spiritual leader who claimed he could multiply money. Then, dead bodies turned up - CNA

Abdul was a respected figure in Probolinggo regency and news of his murder shook the community. The manhunt for the murderers began.

In May, the police made arrests. One of them, Wahyudi, was the leader of the foundation’s security team. He was also an active member of the Kopassus, the Indonesian Army’s special forces command.

But there were still many unanswered questions. “Why did they murder? What was the motive?” said Rakhmad Hari Basuki from the East Java High Prosecution Office, who prosecuted the murders. “They had no grudge against Abdul Gani.”

More disturbing news surfaced. Abdul’s colleague was also missing – and had been for some time.

The disappearance of Ismail Hidayah, the foundation’s coordinator, had been reported by his wife more than a year ago. When Abdul was found murdered, the police figured out that Ismail had also been murdered. 

His body had, in fact, been found in February 2015. But at the time, recalled journalist Babul, the unidentified corpse was completely unrecognisable. No one took notice, he added, because “why should we care about this unknown person”?

With the identification now made, it wasn’t long before investigators found the common thread. “Ismail, Abdul and Dimas – they’re known as old friends,” said Babul. “It means there are two people, close friends of Dimas Kanjeng, who (died of) unnatural causes.”

WATCH: Exposing The Schemes Of A Spiritual Conman In Indonesia (46:12)

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiigFodHRwczovL3d3dy5jaGFubmVsbmV3c2FzaWEuY29tL2NuYS1pbnNpZGVyL211cmRlcnMtY3VsdC1sZWFkZXItbW9uZXktY29uanVyZWQtZGltYXMta2FuamVuZy1pbmRvbmVzaWEtYmlnZ2VzdC1zcGlyaXR1YWwtY29ucy1zY2FtLTMwOTkxMzHSAQA?oc=5

2022-11-25 22:01:11Z
CBMiigFodHRwczovL3d3dy5jaGFubmVsbmV3c2FzaWEuY29tL2NuYS1pbnNpZGVyL211cmRlcnMtY3VsdC1sZWFkZXItbW9uZXktY29uanVyZWQtZGltYXMta2FuamVuZy1pbmRvbmVzaWEtYmlnZ2VzdC1zcGlyaXR1YWwtY29ucy1zY2FtLTMwOTkxMzHSAQA

China's tightening COVID-19 curbs fuel pushback - CNA

At the world's largest iPhone factory in the central city of Zhengzhou, more than 20,000 new hires have left after COVID-19-related worker unrest this week, further imperilling output at Apple supplier Foxconn's plant there, Reuters reported.

References to a speech by a man in the southwestern city of Chongqing who called for the government to admit its mistakes on COVID-19 were shared widely on Chinese social media.

"Give me liberty or death," the bespectacled man told onlooking residents in an impassioned speech on Thursday, according to videos seen by Reuters.

"There is only one disease in the world and that is being both poor and not having freedom," he added. "We have now got both. We're still struggling and suffering over a little cold."

The man was later seen being bundled towards a police car by security personnel, prompting angry shouts from onlookers.

Hashtags related to the man, who netizens have called "Chongqing's superman brother" or "Chongqing hero", were censored on Friday. But individual users continued to show support by posting subtle messages or cartoon pictures of him.

ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES?

As lockdowns afflict more people, some residents are proposing alternative approaches for their communities. In Beijing, residents of some compounds shared on WeChat proposals for how infected neighbours could quarantine at home if they did not display serious symptoms.

It's not clear whether such proposals would succeed.

Notices listing the circumstances under which health workers may remove a person from their home, aimed at educating people of their rights if asked to be taken to a quarantine centre, were also circulated online.

Oxford Economics senior economist Louise Loo said in a note that reports of public dissatisfaction across provinces in partial or full lockdowns have gained momentum, as was the case during the last big outbreak in April, although these "don't yet reflect large-scale collective action".

"As before, we expect officials to be able to respond swiftly to stem the social risk of escalating protests, either through a combination of heavier-handed information controls or with piecemeal easing of restrictions," Loo said.

Although the April outbreak was concentrated in Shanghai, case clusters this time are numerous and far-flung.

The southern city of Guangzhou and southwestern Chongqing have recorded the bulk of cases, while cities including Chengdu, Jinan, Lanzhou, Xian and Wuhan logged hundreds of new infections daily. Beijing reported 1,860 cases for Thursday.

In the east, Nanjing in Jiangsu province said it would conduct mass testing for five straight days from Saturday, the latest city to announce such plans. 

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiiwFodHRwczovL3d3dy5jaGFubmVsbmV3c2FzaWEuY29tL2FzaWEvY2hpbmEtdGlnaHRlbmluZy1jb3ZpZC0xOS1jdXJicy1wdXNoYmFjay11bnJlc3QtYmVpamluZy1zaGFuZ2hhaS1kYWlseS1oaWdoLWluZmVjdGlvbi1oaXN0b3JpYy0zMTAwNTcx0gEA?oc=5

2022-11-25 09:23:00Z
1663322469

Commentary: Even if Malaysia PM Anwar forms unity government, questions remain how long it can last - CNA

PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said that his coalition is not interested in joining a unity government with PH. In fact, Muhyiddin has publicly challenged Anwar for the latter’s command of a parliamentary majority, to which Anwar replied with his intention to bring forth a vote of confidence at the first sitting of the new parliament in December.

But even if Muhyiddin stays true to PN’s snubbing, there will still be political wrangling in the existing ruling coalition. According to a Sin Chew Daily report on Nov 24, BN, and especially its leading party UMNO, was bargaining hard for the more “powerful” Cabinet posts, including the finance minister role, which could allow it to hold the government’s purse strings and thus disburse more resources to the party’s benefit.

Anwar’s party reportedly invited Nazir Razak, an apolitical prominent banker and estranged brother of former prime minister Najib Razak, to hold that important position instead.

The new federal ruling coalition could lead to political realignments even at the state level. Take Sabah for example, currently ruled by GRS and BN Sabah. PH and Parti Warisan Sabah could demand to be included in the state’s administration as well.

It also raises a question for upcoming state elections of PH-ruled Penang, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan: Whether the various component parties in the federal ruling coalition will fight one another electorally.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiZmh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vY29tbWVudGFyeS9tYWxheXNpYS1hbndhci1wbS11bml0eS1nb3Zlcm5tZW50LWNhYmluZXQtcGgtcG4tYm4tMzEwMDM5MdIBAA?oc=5

2022-11-25 07:35:00Z
1666783599

Sabah bloc to join Malaysia unity government, size of Cabinet will be reduced: PM Anwar - CNA

The Nov 19 election produced no clear winner, with neither Mr Anwar’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) nor Mr Muhyiddin Yassin’s Perikatan Nasional (PN) able to secure a simple majority in the 222-seat Lower House.

PH won 81 seats while PN managed 73, putting both in a position to form the next government. A coalition needs to be backed by at least 112 lawmakers to form the next government. Both coalitions scrambled to gather support from Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and GRS. 

BN, which finished a distant third, managed to win 30 seats. GPS won 23 seats while GRS emerged victorious in six seats.

The king had asked PH and PN to form a unity government, but the latter turned down the suggestion.

Following a meeting of the Malay rulers on Thursday regarding the political impasse, Istana Negara announced that Mr Anwar will be the next prime minister.

After his swearing-in on Thursday, Mr Anwar told reporters that the unity government comprises PH, BN and GPS. The government also included Parti Warisan Sabah, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance and other independent lawmakers. 

Mr Anwar stated that he is willing to work with all coalitions, including PN.

The new prime minister said that the next parliamentary session will take place on Dec 19.

He added that a vote of confidence in his leadership will be the first item on the agenda during the parliamentary session. 

In a statement issued on Friday, Mr Muhyiddin congratulated Mr Anwar and said PN will play a check-and-balance role in the parliament. 

“Moving forward, PN will continue the struggle for the well-being of the people and the prosperity of the country guided by the principles of Caring, Clean and Stable,” he said. 

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiaGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9tYWxheXNpYS1hbndhci1pYnJhaGltLXVuaXR5LWdvdmVybm1lbnQtZ3JzLXNtYWxsZXItY2FiaW5ldC0zMTAwMzE20gEA?oc=5

2022-11-25 07:06:57Z
1666783599

Malaysia's Mahathir congratulates rival Anwar on appointment as prime minister - CNA

Anwar is expected to start discussions on forming his Cabinet as he begins work on Friday as prime minister at a challenging time, with the economy slowing and the country deeply split after a close election.

The 75-year-old was sworn in as prime minister on Thursday, capping a three-decade political journey from a protege of veteran leader Mahathir Mohamad to protest leader, a prisoner convicted of sodomy and opposition figurehead.

Anwar, who was appointed by Malaysia's king following an inconclusive election, said that the people of Malaysia had long been awaiting change.

"We will never compromise on good governance, the anti-corruption drive, judicial independence and the welfare of ordinary Malaysians," he said late on Thursday.

Anwar's appointment ends five days of unprecedented post-election crisis but could usher in further instability with his rival, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, challenging him to prove his majority in parliament.

Both men's coalitions failed to win a majority in Saturday's election, but Malaysia's constitutional monarch, King Al-Sultan Abdullah, appointed Anwar after speaking to several lawmakers.

The campaign pitted Anwar's progressive, multi-ethnic coalition against Muhyiddin's mostly conservative ethnic-Malay, Muslim alliance.

The uncertainty over the election had threatened to exacerbate instability in Malaysia, which has had three prime ministers in as many years, and also risked delaying policy decisions needed to foster economic recovery.

Adblock test (Why?)

https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMid2h0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9tYWxheXNpYS1tYWhhdGhpci1jb25ncmF0dWxhdGUtbG9uZ3RpbWUtcml2YWwtYW53YXItcHJpbWUtbWluaXN0ZXItcG0tZ2UxNS0zMTAwMTgx0gEA?oc=5

2022-11-25 04:28:53Z
1666783599