Health staff check at vaccination booths for the coronavirus at a vaccination center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The country is seeing a surge in coronavirus infections. AP
Health staff check at vaccination booths for the coronavirus at a vaccination center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The country is seeing a surge in coronavirus infections. AP
Health staff check at vaccination booths for the coronavirus at a vaccination center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The country is seeing a surge in coronavirus infections. AP
Health staff check at vaccination booths for the coronavirus at a vaccination center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The country is seeing a surge in coronavirus infections. AP

Malaysia to provide $9.7bn in stimulus amid rising Covid-19 infections


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Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday announced an additional 40 billion ringgit ($9.70bn) stimulus package, ahead of the imposition of stricter lockdown measures this week to curb the rapid spread of Covid-19.

The South East Asian nation is seeing a surge in coronavirus infections, with the number of new daily cases greater than India's on a per capita basis.

Malaysia saw record daily infections and deaths on Saturday, though the numbers have dipped since.

The country enters a strict two-week lockdown starting on Tuesday, with only essential manufacturing and service sector allowed to operate.

"If drastic action is not taken immediately, it is of concern that the healthcare system in our country will collapse and we will face a greater catastrophe," Mr Muhyiddin said in a televised address.

The new aid package includes a 5bn ringgit fiscal injection, despite the government having limited fiscal space, he said.

Since last year, Malaysia has rolled out around 340bn ringgit in aid and stimulus measures to cushion the impact of the pandemic on the economy.

The new relief measures include 2.1bn ringgit in handouts, loan moratorium to some, grants to small and medium businesses and salary subsidies for those affected by lockdown measures, Mr Muhyiddin said.

The government will also spend 1bn ringgit to boost healthcare capacity, he said.

Malaysia's economy was on the path to recovery in the first quarter before infections began to spike.

It fell 5.6 per cent in 2020, its worst annual performance since the Asian financial crisis, but the central bank had projected growth of 6 per cent - 7.5 per cent this year.

How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
  • George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
  • Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
  • Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
  • Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills. 
Hunting park to luxury living
  • Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
  • The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
  • Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds

 

Singham Again

Director: Rohit Shetty

Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone

Rating: 3/5

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Overall head-to-head

Federer 6-1 Cilic

Head-to-head at Wimbledon

Federer 1-0 Cilic

Grand Slams titles

Federer 18-1 Cilic

Best Wimbledon performance

Federer: Winner (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012)
Cilic: Final (2017*)

Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015

- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France

Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory

Other simple ideas for sushi rice dishes

Cheat’s nigiri 
This is easier to make than sushi rolls. With damp hands, form the cooled rice into small tablet shapes. Place slices of fresh, raw salmon, mackerel or trout (or smoked salmon) lightly touched with wasabi, then press, wasabi side-down, onto the rice. Serve with soy sauce and pickled ginger.

Easy omurice
This fusion dish combines Asian fried rice with a western omelette. To make, fry cooked and cooled sushi rice with chopped vegetables such as carrot and onion and lashings of sweet-tangy ketchup, then wrap in a soft egg omelette.

Deconstructed sushi salad platter 
This makes a great, fuss-free sharing meal. Arrange sushi rice on a platter or board, then fill the space with all your favourite sushi ingredients (edamame beans, cooked prawns or tuna, tempura veggies, pickled ginger and chilli tofu), with a dressing or dipping sauce on the side.

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Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press

Mobile phone packages comparison
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888