James Kon
Enforcement personnel detected two violations during Operasi Peralihan, the movement restriction operation from 10pm to 4am, on Monday.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Health (MoH), the violators breached the stay-at-home directive.
The offenders were local Oswald Etol and foreign national Md Firman Mustaqim bin Abdul Rahman Jantan.
The Royal Brunei Police Force said one violation was detected in Brunei-Muara District and the other in Belait District.
NEW YORK (AFP) – Apple became the first United States (US) company to hit USD3 trillion in market value, briefly reaching the landmark on Monday in the latest demonstration of the tech industry’s pandemic surge.
The iPhone maker scaled the record level near 1845 GMT, reaching USD182.88 a share before slipping back slightly.
The tech giant also was the first US company to hit USD2 trillion in August 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic that stoked demand for personal electronics and digital services, such as Apple’s streaming and smartphone app store.
And it likewise was the first American firm to overtake USD1 trillion in August 2018.
The surge marks the latest accomplishment for Tim Cook, who became chief executive of the Cupertino, California giant in 2011 shortly before the death of the company’s visionary co-founder, Steve Jobs.
While the top tier of US stock markets are dominated by Silicon Valley companies, Microsoft is the only other American company worth more than USD2 trillion.
In October, Apple reported net income of USD20.5 billion on revenue of USD83.4 billion, a record high for the quarter ending in September. The company’s fiscal 2021 revenues were USD365.8 billion, more than triple the level of a decade ago.
But as with many other tech giants, Apple has seen pressures in recent months due to supply chain problems, including a global shortage of semiconductors and Covid-related manufacturing disruptions in Southeast Asia.
Apple shares tumbled following that October earnings report, but rallied thereafter, winning nearly 20 per cent in the final two months of 2021. Some 45 years after its establishment that helped make personal computers a mainstream profit, Apple’s revenues today are mostly closely tied to the iPhone, which was first unveiled in 2007.
But increasingly smartphones are also crucial gateways to services revenue, an increasingly pivotal component of Apple’s prowess.
Revenues for services, which includes the Apple TV streaming product and the Apple Pay services have tripled over the last five years.
BAGHDAD (AP) – Two explosives-laden drones targetting an Iraqi military base housing United States (US) troops in western Anbar province were destroyed yesterday, a coalition official said.
It was the second such attempted attack coinciding with the anniversary of the 2020 US airstrike that killed a top Iranian general near the Baghdad airport. On Monday, two armed drones were shot down as they headed toward a facility housing US advisors at Baghdad airport.
According to the official, the fixed-wing drones rigged with explosives were engaged and destroyed by defensive capabilities at the Ain al-Asad airbase. An Iraqi military statement confirmed the attempted attack, saying the drones were shot down outside the parameters of the air base. The base houses troops with the US-led international coalition fighting the Islamic State group in Iraq.
In Monday’s attack, the drones were shot down by the C-RAM defence system that protects American installations in Iraq, and there were no reports of damage or injuries from the incident.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack, although one of the wings of the drones had the words ‘Soleimani’s revenge’ painted on it, according to the coalition and Iraqi officials.
“These are attacks against Iraqi installations and an attack against the Iraqi people and the military that protects them,” the coalition official said. “We maintain a minimal footprint on Iraqi bases.”
“The coalition no longer has its own bases in Iraq,” the official added, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
Rizal Faisal
As the second wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in the country began to gain momentum last year, the Ministry of Health (MoH) called for retired doctors and private healthcare practitioners to take part in the pandemic response.
Dr Faye Idris, a senior assistant professor in Clinical Academia at Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) was among those who stepped up.
“Most of the doctors of PAPRSB IHS, including professors who have been out of clinical practice, were more than happy to help,” she said.
She felt it was a duty to participate in pandemic response because it is a professional obligation as a doctor to render aid in times of crisis, as well as to show solidarity with others in the field. “It is only natural to feel responsible for our patients,” she said.
In late August of 2021, PAPRSB IHS, UBD became one of the vaccination centres in the long fight against the second COVID-19 wave.
“The most effective way to combat the COVID-19 pandemic is through mass vaccination,” said Dr Faye. Thus, the medical school found itself playing host to those wanting to get their shots as the efforts to inoculate the entire Brunei population intensified.
“PAPRSB IHS proved to be an ideal centre for vaccination due to its strategic location, qualified staff, available space and facilities.
“We received vaccine supplies, equipment for storage and consumables from the MoH in addition to certain medical equipment and medications,” she said, adding that all team members, including non-medical personnel and students, worked together to ensure that the vaccination centre ran smoothly and effectively.
Bru-HIMS support and access was facilitated by the MoH, with technical expertise from the Information Communication Technology Centre in UBD, staff and students from the university and Politeknik Brunei were quick to volunteer for tasks ranging from patient screening and registration to data entry, while the doctors, pharmacists, nurses, paramedics, IT technicians, security and estate personnel were designated to their professional roles.
Dr Faye was one of the nine doctors who volunteered at PAPRSB-IHS vaccination centre.
“We provide clinical expertise in the assessment of patients’ suitability in receiving the COVID-19 vaccines offered, specifically their indications or deferments of vaccinations, by consulting the patient and cross-checking patients’ health information in their records from Bru-HIMS,” she said.
Such assessment was important to determine patients who were contraindicated to receiving vaccines, such as those with acute illness, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and those who had solid organ or stem cell transplant within the last three months, she said. They also turned away patients who had a medical history of allergies and have had to be referred to the hospital to receive their vaccinations.
Other common encounters of people who are not able to be vaccinated normally included patients with cancer, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, immunocompromised states, patients on warfarin, blood-thinners, hormonal therapy, immunosuppressants
and chemoradiotherapy.
Dr Faye said doctors at the vaccination centre worked closely with nurses and paramedics to watch for patients requiring medical attention, particularly post-vaccination.
Some needed to be referred to the hospital for further management, she said.
Each day, four paramedics, who are also qualified nurses, were placed on duty in the treatment room and observation area of patients. The treatment room was equipped with essential medical equipment for vital signs monitoring as well as support facilities such as intravenous fluids and medication.
“We noticed a common occurrence of symptoms such as syncope, dizziness, headaches post-vaccination, which can be a psychogenic response to needle injection or immediate effect of the vaccine, while a few cases developed neurological signs such as visual disturbances and paraesthesia,” she said.
“For most cases, we managed them adequately in the treatment room of PAPRSB IHS vaccination centre as most of the patients recovered after rest and stabilisation of their vital signs, and referred those who required follow-up in their clinics. We also reported these symptoms to MoH,” Dr Faye said.
She added that doctors also administered the COVID-19 vaccinations to patients when needed. This was particularly important when it came to special needs individuals.
To facilitate those with special needs, she said the centre worked together with other stakeholders to allow those in this group to come in as walk-ins, prioritise their arrivals and their registration process.
“We administered the vaccinations in private areas, as more time was required to coax them into vaccination or to give allowance for sensory modifications they may encounter
during vaccination.
“From my experience, communication skills and reassurance are important to ensure they are comfortable and consenting of the administration of the vaccine, as special needs individuals can get quite anxious prior to the procedure.
“This occasionally required distraction techniques or gentle restrain to ensure the vaccines were administered safely,” she said.
Overall, Dr Faye had found the experience rewarding, and that working at the vaccination centre allowed her to reinforce the important altruistic values as a clinician.
MANCHESTER, UNITED KINGDOM (AFP) – Three months on since a takeover by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund was given the green light by the Premier League, Newcastle have the chance to splash their new-found wealth in the January transfer window.
The Magpies are badly in need of reinforcements just to remain in the English top-flight after winning just one of their 19 games this season.
Newcastle’s last two matches have even been postponed because they were unable to field a team with enough senior players due to coronavirus infections and a growing injury list that could dictate who arrives at St James’ Park in the next 27 days.
Defenders are expected to be top of the shopping list after Newcastle shipped a Premier League record 80 goals in 2021, 42 of which have come this season.
England international right-back Kieran Trippier is reportedly close to a GBP25 million (USD34 million) move from Atletico Madrid with Lille centre-back Sven Botman also a target.
“Trippier is an extraordinary footballer who has given us a lot and we will try to keep him,” said Atletico manager Diego Simeone after Sunday’s 2-0 win over Rayo Vallecano. “But nowadays, when a player wants to leave, you can’t force them to stay.”
Injuries to Newcastle’s two most potent attacking weapons Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin have also seen some star strikers linked with a move to Tyneside, including Arsenal’s out of favour Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Despite record numbers of coronavirus cases as Britain battles the Omicron variant, Premier League clubs have so far been allowed to maintain full crowds.
That has avoided a repeat of the economic losses from matchday revenue of the past two seasons and the English top-flight’s record breaking USD2.7 billion United States (US) television rights with NBC to kick in next season will only increase its financial advantage over other major leagues.
However, there is not expected to be much transfer activity among those towards the top of the table with Manchester City already taking control of the title race thanks to a 10-point lead over Chelsea.
City have even offloaded Ferran Torres to Barcelona for a reported EUR55 million. But manager Pep Guardiola confirmed the Spanish international’s departure will not mean City will be addressing their lack of a natural striker.
Chelsea have been rumoured with a move for Everton’s Lucas Digne to cover for left-back Ben Chilwell, who has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a knee injury. Liverpool look set to rely on what they have in reserve to cope without Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane while they are at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The prospect of Champions League riches next season could lure Arsenal, Tottenham or West Ham into strengthening as they battle for a top-four finish.
Manchester United trail all three sides but there are more likely to be departures than arrivals at Old Trafford with interim boss Ralf Rangnick admitting his squad is “too big”.
French international Anthony Martial is reportedly close to a loan move to Sevilla after expressing his desire to leave, while Dean Henderson, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Donny van de Beek could also move on in search of more first-team action.
However, United are another of the number of Premier League sides to have had games called off in December due to COVID outbreaks and Rangnick warned clubs will have to factor in the risk more such cases could have on selection before letting players go.
“I think we could do with a bigger squad than maybe in times without COVID,” said the German.
James Kon
Year 10 and 11 students of Chung Hwa Middle School Bandar Seri Begawan (CHMS BSB) returned to face-to-face learning to kick off the new school term on Monday.
Students and staff were fully vaccinated, and the school adhered to strict standard operating procedures to ensure safety including wearing face masks and observing physical distancing.
CHMS BSB Principal Kho Guik Lan monitored the situation closely on the first day at school.
In addition, students must also undergo COVID-19 testing using an antigen rapid test kit every Monday before classes, scan the BruHealth code and check body temperature.
Meanwhile, kindergarteners and Years 1 to 9 students, who are ineligible for COVID-19 vaccination, will continue to attend online lessons until further notice.
BUIN, CHILE (AFP) – Bengal tiger Charly and Bornean orangutan Sandai, both members of endangered species, have received coronavirus vaccines at a Chilean zoo in a Latin American first.
Charly, Sandai and eight other animals at the Buin Zoo in Santiago were chosen for the experimental vaccine campaign as they belong to species considered at high risk of contracting COVID-19.
The viral disease which has killed more than 5.4 million humans so far, has also been found in zoo monkeys, apes and big cats, as well as in deer in the wild, in house pets and in minks.
Along with three lions, two other tigers and three pumas, three-year-old Charly and Sandai, 26, received their second dose on Monday of an experimental vaccine developed especially for animals but not yet available for sale.
They received their first shots on December 13.
“The idea is to protect the animals that are most susceptible to contracting the coronavirus while testing whether the vaccines generate immunity and, if yes, how long it lasts,” head of the Buin Zoo’s veterinary department Sebastian Celis said.
Lions in Singapore, Zagreb and Washington, hippos in Belgium, Sumatran tigers in Indonesia and gorillas in Atlanta, Georgia, are among captive animals reported to have contracted the virus to date.
Buin Zoo has not tested any of its animals for coronavirus as none have presented symptoms.
Several United States (US) zoos have announced vaccination campaigns for their animal populations.
Nearly 90 per cent of Chile’s human population over the age of three have been fully vaccinated to date, and 62 per cent have received a booster shot.
It is the only country in Latin America to have started vaccinating zoo animals.
BERLIN (AP) – Police in Germany have reported sporadic violence at demonstrations against the country’s pandemic restrictions, with one protester in the eastern town of Lichtenstein biting an officer and another attempting to steal a service weapon.
Tens of thousands of people in total took to the streets in scores of German towns and cities for weekly marches that have organisers have labelled “strolls” in an attempt to bypass restrictions on public gatherings. Counter-protests were also held in towns such as Rostock and Trier, the dpa news agency reported.
Most of the rallies passed peacefully, though many broke rules on social distancing, prompting officers to intervene. Dozens of people were detained, some of whom face criminal charges or fines for breaching COVID-19 rules.
Police in the eastern state of Saxony said the incident late Monday in Lichtenstein, about 20 kilometres west of Chemnitz, occurred when officers tried to pull about 60 rowdy people out of a march to check their identities. Several of the protesters attacked police and sprayed them with chemical irritants.
“One person attempted to seize an officer’s service weapon and another police officer suffered a bite wound from a participant of the gathering,” Saxony police said in a statement.
In Bautzen, further east, some participants of a 600-strong march attempted to break through a police cordon. Officers responded with pepper spray and batons.
In Magdeburg, the capital of neighbouring Saxony-Anhalt state, protesters hurled bottles and fireworks at police. No officers were injured, police said.
The protests took place before a meeting yesterday of Germany’s pandemic expert panel, which is expected to submit new recommendations to the government for how to respond to the outbreak. A meeting of state and federal leaders is scheduled for Friday.
The national disease control centre, the Robert Koch Institute, said yesterday that 30,561 new coronavirus cases were reported in the past 24 hours, over 9,000 more than a week earlier. The officially recorded infection rate was 239.9 new cases per 100,000 residents over the past week.
The health minister has said the real rate is probably two or three times higher because of patchy testing and reporting over the holiday period.
At least 356 new deaths from COVID-19 were reported in Germany yesterday.
Azlan Othman
Brunei Darussalam is among 14 countries placed on Laos’ Travel Green Zone Plan permitted to enter the country under its re-opening scheme.
The Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos has approved Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Norway, Switzerland, Finland, Israel, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, New Zealand, Poland, Denmark, and Belgium for permission to enter Laos under the new travel scheme.
The 14 nations have been added to the initial list of 17 countries officially announced two weeks ago. The initial list includes China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, France, United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, United States, Canada, and Australia.
Tourists will be authorised to travel within two zones, namely Green Travel Zones and Green Travel Trails, which will be rolled out in three phases.
During Phase One, from January 1 to March 30, tourists may visit Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabang Province, and Vang Vieng District in Vientiane Province.
Meanwhile, five provinces will be authorised for Green Travel Trails, including Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xieng Khouang, Khammouane, and Champasack.
During Phase Two, the Green Travel Zones will consist of nine provinces: Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Province, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Xayaboury, Xieng Khouang, Khammouane, Savannakhet, and Champasack.
Four provinces will be authorised for Green Travel Trails during Phase Two, including Houay Xay District in Bokeo Province, Luang Namtha Province, Sekong Province, and Salavanh Province.
PARIS (AP) – Kylian Mbappe scored a second-half hat trick as French Cup holder Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) won at fourth-tier Vannes 4-0 to reach the last 16 on Monday.
Goalkeeper Clement Petrel made a couple of smart saves before PSG central defender Presnel Kimpembe stooped to score a powerful header from a Nuno Mendes corner in the 28th minute.
Mbappe was kept quiet by the Vannes defence in the first half on a rainy night in the Brittany region of northwestern France. But he made it 2-0 in the 59th when he latched onto Kimpembe’s long pass from defence to sprint clear and finish with a low shot that looped in.
His next goal was far more emphatic as he arrowed a shot high into the net from 20 metres, after good work from midfielder Marco Verratti allowed 18-year-old Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons to send Mbappe through in the 71st.
His third goal was from close range after swapping passes with substitute Eric Ebimbe in the 77th. PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino also picked 18-year-old French midfielder Edouard Michut, who impressed with his technical ability albeit against modest opposition.
PSG was without Lionel Messi, isolating at home in Argentina after being among four players who tested positive for the coronavirus during a brief winter break. Pochettino was uncertain if Messi will recover in time to play at Lyon in the league on Sunday.
