Last week, it took six days for the number of worldwide Covid-19 cases to jump from nine to 10 million. Five days later, over 11 million cases have been recorded.
Malaysia, however, has been recording single-digit infections for the past several days. Today, only five new cases were reported with zero deaths for 19 days.
In contrast, the United States saw over 55,000 new cases in the past 24 hours – an unwanted daily global record as infections rose in a majority of states. In total, the US has 2,837,189 cases and 131,485 deaths – more than 25 per cent of the global total and by far the most in the world.
Other countries that have recorded an alarming number of cases are Brazil (1,501,353), Russia (667,883), and India (628,205). But the combined total of these three doesn’t even add up to the US figure.
At press time, the number of cases jumped to 11,017,084 – some 16,000 cases more than the figure on the cover image recorded four hours ago.
Here’s the round-up of other news in The News Normal today.
LOWER YOUR FARES, AIRLINES TOLD
Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said airlines must reduce fares since they are allowed full loads again.
Ismail Sabri said airlines should also offer special prices for school and tertiary students, as well as teachers, in view of the reopening of schools and higher education institutions nationwide.
NEW PARLIAMENT RULES FOR MEDIA REPS
Media houses can only send two representatives each to cover the Dewan Rakyat sitting from July 13 to Aug 27.
Temperature reading and Covid-19 screening will be done when the media register at the main entrance of Parliament. Media reps are also required to wear face masks at all times.
GPS REFUSES TO REVEAL NEW SPEAKER
Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) parliamentary chief whip Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said they have identified a new Dewan Rakyat Speaker but he refused to reveal who it is. Asked if the person is from Sarawak, Fadillah just smiled and said the person is not an MP.
GHISLAINE MAXWELL NABBED
Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of the late accused sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was arrested in the United States on charges of helping to lure underage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein.
Maxwell has been in hiding since Epstein’s death 10 months ago. The financier was accused of raping and trafficking underage girls for over nearly two decades. Some of his alleged victims said Maxwell lured them into his circle, where they were sexually abused by him and powerful friends.
CITY REACTS TO PEP TALK
Manchester City followed Pep Guardiola’s advice to achieve “incredible things” by demolishing newly crowned champion Liverpool 4-0 this morning.
Although City has lost its league crown, it has already won the League Cup, is in the semifinals of the FA Cup and more importantly, in the last eight of the Champions League. City has never won the elite European trophy and many believe this could be the year it ends the drought.
