THE STRAITS TIMES – Shanghai became China’s biggest virus hot spot after reporting another record increase in daily COVID-19 infections. The financial hub overtook the north-eastern province of Jilin, which reported 2,078 cases for Saturday. More details in Monday’s Borneo Bulletin.
CNA – If you’ve always thought Birkenstock was orthopaedic or geriatric footwear, you might just change your mind with this version of the German sandals. The Manolo Blahnik for Birkenstock features a bling-encrusted, velvet version of the two-strapped Arizona and Boston clog that even SATC’s Carrie Bradshaw, who is often seen traipsing in Manolo heels in the hit series, would approve. More details in Monday’s Borneo Bulletin.
JAKARTA (Bernama) – Sabah and Sarawak are set to benefit from Indonesia’s decision to shift its capital city from Jakarta to Kalimantan, which is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2024. More details in Monday’s Borneo Bulletin
BEIJING (CNA) – China Petroleum and Chemical Corp, better known as Sinopec, is planning its highest capital investment in history for 2022 after recording its best profit in a decade, echoing Beijing’s call for energy companies to raise production. More details in Monday’s Borneo Bulletin
BEIJING (AFP) – The second black box has been recovered from last week’s deadly China Eastern plane crash, state media reported on Sunday, and could help solve the mystery of the jet’s breakneck descent. More details in Monday’s Borneo Bulletin
Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar officiated and led a tree planting ceremony to mark Global Surveyors’ Day (GSD) 2022 at the Tanjung Batu Recreational Park in Muara on Sunday. More details in Monday’s Borneo Bulletin
Prosecutors arraigned a 27-year-old local man in the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday to face a charge of using criminal force on a police officer. More details in Monday’s Borneo Bulletin
Travellers planning to enter Brunei Darussalam from April 1 will be exempted from providing a negative RT-PCR test and undergoing mandatory self-isolation, provided they have proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 90 days. More details in Monday’s Borneo Bulletin.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam will attend the World Government Summit 2022 at the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
His Majesty is expected to deliver a keynote speech at the summit and tour the Expo 2020 Dubai.
The eighth edition of the summit – which carries the theme ‘Shaping the Future of Governments’ – serves as a platform where prominent leaders, decision makers and social, financial and economic specialists gather to exchange thoughts to contribute to the development of tools, policies, and models essential in shaping future governments.
The Expo 2020 Dubai is one of the largest expositions in the international arena with the theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ and three subthemes of ‘Opportunity,’ ‘Mobility’ and ‘Sustainability”.
The Brunei Darussalam Pavilion is participating in the Expo 2020 Dubai under the theme ‘Brunei Darussalam 2035 – Bridging to the Future.’ It aims to utilise the expo as a platform to explore partnerships and collaborations; position itself as a tourist destination; promote business opportunities; and provide opportunities for local companies to increase their market presence and distribution channels outside the country.
James Kon
Three thousand packs of Paxlovid to treat COVID-19 patients arrived in Brunei Darussalam from London, United Kingdom yesterday. The arrival was the first shipment of the expected 25,000 Paxlovid packs procured by the Ministry of Health (MoH) from Pfizer.
It comes in tablet form and contains two types of medicine – Nirmatrelvir 150mg and Ritonavir 100mg. It is an oral antiviral medicine manufactured by Pfizer.
Paxlovid has been green-lighted for Emergency Use Authorisation (EUA) by the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration and from the Brunei Darussalam Medicines Control Authority (BDMCA), the MoH said.
Paxlovid is administered to stop the virus replicating system by blocking enzyme protease activity needed by virus SARS-CoV-2 to replicate within human cells.
High-risk COVID-19 patients will be given priority to receive Paxlovid treatment to reduce their risk of developing severe symptoms.
A doctor will need to first assess each patient to ensure he is a suitable to receive the medicine. Each pack is for a five-day period.
The public can log on to www.moh.gov.bn, contact Health Advice line at 148 or visit the BruHealth app for information.
