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Businesses to enjoy tariff waivers from RCEP

SINGAPORE (CNA) – The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the world’s largest free trade agreement involving 15 countries including Singapore, entered into force yesterday.

The RCEP will “provide a boost to the trade and business ties between Singapore and the RCEP parties”, said Singaporean Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong.

“We are heartened that many Singapore businesses indicated that they were keen to explore utilising the RCEP Agreement when it enters info force during outreach events,” he added.

Yesterday, businesses were able to enjoy tariff elimination of about 92 per cent for goods traded amongst signatory parties for which the agreement has entered into force, the Singaporean Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said.

The agreement was signed in November 2020. Countries that have ratified the agreement so far include Singapore, Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Japan, Laos, New Zealand, Thailand and Vietnam.

The agreement will enter into force for the other participating countries 60 days after they have deposited their instrument of ratification with the Depositary.

Businesses will also benefit from additional preferential market access for specific products including mineral fuels, plastics, other chemical products, miscellaneous food preparations and beverages in selected RCEP markets such as China and Japan, said MTI.

“With streamlined rules of origin and regional cumulation provisions, businesses will have greater flexibility to tap on these preferential market access benefits and be able to take advantage of regional supply chains.”

Businesses could also benefit from enhanced commitments above existing ASEAN Plus One free trade agreements in some sectors, it said, adding that investors may benefit from commitments to prohibit performance requirements and provisions that lock in future relaxation of measures.

Fun activities for the hearing impaired

Lyna Mohamad

Some 50 individuals from the National Hearing Impaired (OKP) Association were treated to a recreational activity at Tasek Tang Salangan in Kampong Tungku Katok yesterday.

The activity, organised by the Brunei Muara Scouts Association (PPDBM), marked the Day of Action (DOA) celebration and commemorated People with Disability International Day.

It also served as a community outreach programme of PPDBM in caring for special needs’ individuals as well as a community drive activity of the PPDBM, while marking the curtain raiser for the association’s activity calendar for the community programme.

Community Development Department (JAPEM) Acting Director at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Mohammad Khairul Shahrul bin Haji Duahim was the guest of honour.

The two-hour event featured recreational activities such as kayaking and tour of the Tang Salangan farm. The event’s highlight was the releasing of fish into a pond and planting of calamansi saplings.

ABOVE & BELOW: JAPEM Acting Director Mohammad Khairul Shahrul bin Haji Duahim delivers his remarks; and participants kayaking. PHOTOS: LYNA MOHAMAD

Euro marks 20 eventful years

PARIS (AFP) – The euro yesterday marked 20 years since people began to use the single European currency, overcoming initial doubts, price concerns and a debt crisis to spread across the region.

Euro banknotes and coins came into circulation in 12 countries on January 1, 2002, greeted by a mix of enthusiasm and scepticism from citizens who had to trade in their Deutsche marks, French francs, pesetas and liras.

The euro is now used by 340 million people in 19 nations, from Ireland to Germany to Slovakia.

Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania are next in line to join the eurozone in the next few years – though people are divided over the benefits of abandoning their national currencies.

The idea of creating the euro first emerged in the 1970s as a way to deepen European integration, make trade more simple between member nations and give the continent a currency to compete with the mighty dollar.

“Clearly, Europe and the euro have become inseparable,” European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde wrote in a blog post.

In the euro’s initial days, consumers were concerned that its emergence had caused prices to rise as countries had to convert to the new currency.

Though some products – such as coffee at cafes – slightly increased as businesses rounded up their conversions, official statistics have shown that the euro has brought more stable inflation.

The price of a baguette in France, for example, rose from 66 cents in 2001 to 90 cents today – an increase in line with pre-euro inflation.

More expensive goods have not increased in price, and dropped in some cases. Nevertheless, the belief that the euro has made everything more expensive persists.

Cockroach race and Bagpipes Day

THE STAR – From Ocean Day on June 8 to International Peace Day on September 21 to Human Rights Day on December 10: the United Nations (UN) has designated well over 100 international days since its inception.

UN International Days “mark important aspects of human life and history” and offer us the chance to organise activities related to the theme of the day, said UNESCO.

With just the UN’s list, you’d have your calendar well filled. But as the website www.daysoftheyear.com shows, that this is by no means all. National holidays and celebrations are spread throughout the year. From Thesaurus Day on January 18 to Taco Day October 4, most days have multiple reasons to celebrate.

Here are a few of the days that will help make the time between January and March more special.

JANUARY 20: INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM SELFIE DAY

This day is thanks to digital enthusiast Mar Dixon, an influencer specialising in culture and who founded Museum Selfie Day in 2014.

Since then, it has been celebrated every third Wednesday in January. Anyone can take part, from visitors to curators.

Dixon’s idea is to help museums get more visibility online by prompting people to post pictures of themselves from the museum using the hashtag #museumselfie and note the image rights.

Started as a Twitter campaign, it has now also expanded onto Instagram with more than 95,000 museum selfies from all over the world.

With her project, Mar Dixon has created a platform with which art and culture can receive the attention they deserve, especially during the pandemic – and not just on January 19.

But especially on this day, it’s worth searching your own smartphone gallery for old holiday treasures to share with the world and support museums.

JAN 26: AUSTRALIA DAY COCKROACH RACES

The national day Australia is observed in January, with the programme including community barbecues, parades and the legendary Australia Day Regatta in Sydney Harbour. Meanwhile, Perth puts on the nation’s largest fireworks display.

In Brisbane’s Story Bridge Hotel, however, things are rather more peculiar: the 39th Cockroach Racing Gold Cup will take place there this year. While the Aussies generally treat their ubiquitous cockroaches and life in general with “no worries”, the date of Australia Day is controversial. It marks the arrival of the First Fleet and raising of the British flag by Arthur Philipp on January 26, 1788, which began the oppression, successive extermination and expropriation of the indigenous population.

Aboriginal groups refer to January 26 as Survival Day. Even if this dark chapter is reflected upon on Australia Day, it is inextricably linked with May 26, National Sorry Day. The annual event commemorates the mistreatment of Aborigines and the Stolen Generations. Children were removed from their biological families and forcibly adopted up until the 1970s – a human rights crime for which the Australian government officially apologised for the first time in 2008.

MARCH 1: PLAN A SOLO VACATION DAY

With the end to lockdown measures possibly coming soon, what could be nicer than being able to make travel plans again. This includes solo trips, which are celebrated every year on March 1.

There are many good reasons for travelling solo. Blogger Sven Giese names one of them based on his own experience. “Instead of staying in your own social bubble, you are literally forced to approach others.” Statistics prove that the trend shows no signs of stopping, including for female travellers.

MARCH 10: INTERNATIONAL BAGPIPE DAY

A great day for a great instrument: in 2012 the British Bagpipe Society declared March 10 to be International Bagpipe Day.

What some people may not realise is that the sounds of the bagpipes don’t just drift across the Scottish Highlands. Nor was it the Scots who invented them; the peculiar woodwind instrument only reached Scotland in the 14th Century. Predecessors probably existed in ancient times. Nowadays, bagpipes are played all over the world.

A feast for the ears with a competitive atmosphere can be found in Glasgow, where the World Bagpipe Championships have been held over several days every summer for about 40 years.

More than 200 international bands compete against each other. If you’re inspired to learn to play the bagpipes yourself, you can take online lessons from experts, for example from the Glasgow National Piping Centre. Or why not put Scotland on your personal bucket list for 2022?

Brunei records 17 new COVID cases

Adib Noor

Brunei recorded 17 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the tally of confirmed cases to 15,491, according to the Ministry of Health.

Thirteen local and four imported cases were detected through 1,297 laboratory tests conducted in the past 24 hours, with the rate of positive cases at 1.3 per cent.

Meanwhile, two cases have recovered, bringing the number of active cases to 111, while the bed occupancy rate at isolation centres nationwide is 2.6 per cent. One case in Category 5 is being treated at the intensive care unit and requires artificial ventilation assistance.

As of December 31, 94.5 per cent of the total population had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 93.3 per cent had received two doses and 21.4 per cent three doses.

An individual has her temperature taken prior to being vaccinated. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI

Jaguar released in Argentina to help endangered species

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) – A jaguar named Jatobazinho was released into a national park in Argentina on Friday as part of a programme to boost the numbers of this endangered species.

This was the eighth jaguar freed this year into Ibera National Park but the first adult male, said the environmental group Rewilding Argentina, which is behind the project.

Jatobazinho weighs about 90 kilogrammes and has brown fur peppered with black spots.

He first appeared at a rural school in 2018 in Brazil, looking skinny and weak after crossing a river from Paraguay.

The big cat spent a year in an animal refuge in Brazil until he was sent to a jaguar reintroduction centre operating since 2012 in Argentina’s northeast Corrientes province, where the species had been extinct for 70 years.

Biologist with Rewilding Argentina Sebastian Di Martino said that as the jaguar needed to be nice and relaxed as it left its enclosure and entered the wild.

“If the animal is stressed it can become disoriented and end up anywhere,” he said.

He said these jaguars were fed live prey while in captivity because they have to know how to hunt.

In the Ibera park, there is plenty of wildlife for them to feed on such as deer.

The jaguars are tracked with a GPS device they wear.

There are plans now to release a female that was born at the reintroduction centre.

The park is also awaiting the arrival of three wild jaguars from Paraguay, and two more raised in captivity in Uruguay and Brazil.

Jaguars are native to the Americas.

It is estimated there were more than 100,000 jaguars when Europeans arrived in the 15th Century, their habitat ranging from semi-desert areas of North America to the tropical forests of South America.

Conservation groups said the jaguar population of South America has fallen by up to 25 per cent over the past 20 years as deforestation eats up their habitat.

Food disruptions feared in UK as new Brexit rules kick in

LONDON (AP) – New post-Brexit custom rules for goods arriving from the European Union to Britain took effect yesterday, and a leading food industry body has warned that the new border controls could lead to food shortages.

Beginning yesterday, importers must make a full customs declaration on goods entering the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU) or other countries. Businesses will no longer be allowed to delay completing full import customs declarations for up to 175 days – a measure that was introduced to cope with the disruption of Brexit.

The British Frozen Food Federation said this week the new restrictions on animal and plant products from the EU could result in major delays at ports in the New Year because some in the supply chain – especially logistics companies on the EU side – may not be prepared for the changes.

“We are concerned that not enough planning has been done to ensure the new requirements are understood by everyone in the food supply chain,” said the federation’s chief executive Richard Harro.

“With only days to go before the new rules, we remain concerned that January could be a fraught month for our members,” he said. The new measures require businesses to complete the correct paperwork at least four hours before goods can arrive at UK borders, or they risk being turned back at the border.

Animal and plant-based products must also have statements of origin certificates.

While drivers must declare their goods and origin certificates, checks are expected to be minimal until the rules ramp up beginning in July 2022, when much stricter checks are expected to come into force.

The UK imports five times the amount of food it exports to the EU.

Britain left the EU’s single market and customs union on December 31, 2020.

The new rules take effect six months after they were originally scheduled because of the impacts of the pandemic and businesses said they needed more time to prepare.

Northern Ireland and Ireland are exempt from the changes as political leaders continue negotiating the Northern Ireland protocol.

Lorries queue at check-in at a port in Dover. PHOTO: AP

Joint operation uncovers offences

Daniel Lim & James Kon

A joint operation by Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED) and Immigration and National Registration Department (INRD) unearthed several offences on Friday night in Belait District.

The operation targetting two housing areas uncovered numerous violations of expired work permits. Eight foreign workers were issued special passes.

Meanwhile, the Temburong Police District conducted a roadblock at a junction of Jalan Kubur Semamang at 10pm on Friday.

Temburong District traffic investigation officer ASP Hajah Nur Azhani binti Haji Johaiani led 10 police personnel in the operation that found no violations.

An enforcement personnel questions foreign workers. PHOTO: RBPF

Man City late show at Arsenal opens up 11-point lead

LONDON (AFP) – Rodri scored a 93rd minute winner as Manchester City took another huge step towards retaining the Premier League title with a 2-1 win over 10-man Arsenal.

Pep Guardiola’s men are now 11 points clear at the top thanks to an 11-game winning run, but were made to toil until deep into stoppage time by the Gunners.

A 5-0 thrashing to City when the sides last met in August saw Arsenal off to their worst start to a league season in 67 years.

But Mikel Arteta’s men have rallied to rise to fourth in the table and showed why as they deservedly led at half-time through Bukayo Saka’s seventh goal of the season.

Riyad Mahrez levelled from the penalty spot before Gabriel Magalhaes stupidly got himself sent off for two quickfire bookings just before the hour mark.

Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka challenges Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva during their Premier League match. PHOTO: AP

And the 10 men just failed to hold out for a point when Rodri poked home from close range after Aymeric Laporte’s shot was blocked.

Plastic bottles rained down on the Spanish international as he celebrated with the Arsenal supporters furious as they voiced their frustration at the officiating after seeing a penalty appeal of their own waived away in the first half.

However, it was Gabriel’s indiscipline that cost his side the chance to extend a four-point cushion over the chasing pack for a place in next season’s Champions League.

Arteta was forced to watch the game from home after he tested positive for coronavirus for the second time earlier this week.

However, that did not disrupt the Gunners’ fine form as with assistant Albert Stuivenberg directing operations they ran the champions and runaway leaders ragged in the first half.

The first big decision to go against the home side came on 12 minutes when Martin Odegaard went down as he tried to round City goalkeeper Ederson.

The Brazilian was given the benefit of the doubt by the referee and VAR, but Ederson appeared to have gone through the Norwegian’s foot to get to the ball.

Gabriel Martinelli’s form has played a big part in Arsenal’s resurgence in recent weeks, but it was a day of missed opportunities for the Brazilian.

Martinelli fired powerfully into the body of Ederson and saw two more efforts fly just wide of the target before the break.

But Arsenal did get the half-time lead they deserved when Saka swept home Kieran Tierney’s pass into the bottom corner.

That was just the second Premier League goal City had conceded in the first half all season and Guardiola’s men bounced back in a dramatic second period.

Arsenal were furious when Stuart Attwell was sent to review Granit Xhaka’s pull on Bernardo Silva seven minutes after the break when he had not been for Odegaard’s penalty appeal.

Mahrez made no mistake from the spot in his final City appearance for a while due to his participation in the African Cup of Nations with Algeria.

The game then turned in the course of an incredible 60 seconds.

Firstly, Arsenal somehow did not retake the lead when Nathan Ake rescued Laporte’s wayward header from crossing his own line before Martinelli hit the post with an open goal on the rebound.

From the resulting goal kick, Gabriel Jesus turned onto Ederson’s pass and was hauled down by Gabriel, who had already been booked for scuffing up the penalty spot as Mahrez prepared to take his spot-kick.

City went on to dominate possession without creating many big chances and grabbed the winner in uncharacteristic fashion.

Laporte made the most of a hopeful ball into the box and the ricochet fell kindly for Rodri to prod past the helpless Aaron Ramsdale.

Philippine Airlines exits US bankruptcy

MANILA (AFP) – Philippine Airlines has said it has emerged from bankruptcy after a United States (US) court approved its plan to slash up to USD2 billion in debt and obtain additional capital.

The national carrier of the Philippines had filed for bankruptcy in the US in September, seeking relief from creditors as it tried to survive the devastation unleashed on the airline industry by the coronavirus pandemic.

Its court-approved reorganisation plan includes a USD2-billion debt reduction and additional liquidity of USD505 million from its main shareholder, PAL said in a statement on Friday. It also has the option to obtain up to USD150 million in additional financing from new investors.

“PAL has streamlined operations with a reorganised fleet and is now better capitalised for future growth,” the airline added.

Air travel in the Philippines collapsed by more than 75 per cent in 2020 due to travel restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus, according to government data. From 60 million domestic and international passengers in 2019, traffic plunged to just over 13 million in 2020.

Tail sections of a Philippines Airline aircraft. PHOTO: AFP
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Borneo Bulletin is the leading English daily in the country. It was first published by Brunei Press. Today, Borneo Bulletin has become the foremost source of information on local and foreign affairs, and the region’s business news.

© 2013 Borneo Bulletin Online - The Independent Newspaper in Brunei Darussalam, Sabah and Sarawak

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