KUALA LUMPUR: Proton Holdings Bhd is targetting for a sales recovery in the last four months of this year following a resumption in production, sales and export activities that would increase its sales volume starting from this month. The national carmaker said sales recovery is on track as the group’s staff, vendors and dealers were fully vaccinated. Proton said over 93% of its staff members and 75% of employees at its vendors and dealers have been fully vaccinated. Proton has achieved sales of 62,637 units in the first eight months of this year, which is an increase of 1.6% compared to the corresponding period a year ago. StarCarSifu“With production at both its plants now restored, Proton is also able to resume its export activities.

PUTRAJAYA: The cumulative number of Covid-19 cases in the country has reached 1.9 million after 19,733 more infections were recorded yesterday. “Another 429 cases (2%) were those in Categories 3, 4 and 5,” he added in his daily Covid-19 statement. Nationwide, there are 248,673 active Covid-19 cases. The 84% is out of 1,570 beds assigned for ICU usage throughout the country, according to the Health Ministry’s latest ICU figures. The states with the lowest ICU occupancy rates are Negri Sembilan (31% out of 88 ICU beds) and Labuan (0% out of 18 beds).

The world's biggest maker of graphics and AI chips announced the deal last year, triggering concerns in the semiconductor industry over whether Arm could remain a neutral player licensing key intellectual property to customers and rivals. Arm customers Broadcom, MediaTek and Marvell are backing the deal. This transaction will be beneficial to Arm, its licensees, competition, and the industry," Nvidia said in a statement. It has previously said it would maintain Arm as a neutral technology supplier. Britain's competition watchdog has warned that the deal could damage competition and weaken rivals, and required a further lengthy investigation.

He also added that the additional taxes then rose to RM1.69bil, after additional late penalties were imposed by the LHDN's Special Action Department. Najib also said he will write to the LHDN to request for permission to reveal his income tax files for the relevant years. "So anyone interested can see for themselves regarding the legitimacy of the additional tax penalties that are nonsensical and are against the law. Najib also said the LHDN officers had received instructions not to allow his case to be heard by the Special Commissioners of Income Tax (PKCP). On July 22, it was reported that the High Court ordered Najib to pay the government RM1.69bil in additional taxes and penalties.

(Reuters) - The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) appealed on Wednesday to other humanitarian organisations to return to Afghanistan and for the World Bank to unlock funds to support the tottering healthcare system. "I appreciate all of those humanitarian organisations that have an ability to defreeze, to unblock their programmes because needs are uncontested." Maurer said the ICRC never takes positions on sanctions, but said World Bank support for the health sector was critical. This time, the group has said it welcomes foreign donors, and will protect the rights of foreign and local staff. The ICRC, which has worked in Afghanistan since 1987, deploys some 1,800 national and international staff in the country, including surgical teams.

In the MCA Youth Central Committee (CC) meeting led by MCA Youth national chairperson Datuk Nicole Wong on Wednesday (Sept 8) the Committee unanimously agreed to support the House of Representatives Recall (HORR) Act. Hence, the MCA Youth CC completely agrees that the Recall Act is crucial in addressing the age-old problem of MPs hopping parties while still observing the principles of democracy. The introduction of the Recall Act will definitely serve as a significant deterrent to MPs who are considering defecting. Considering that the Recall Act still needs refinement, MCA Youth is committed towards gathering feedback from youths so that the drafted Bill will be comprehensive and receive majority support from Malaysians. MCA Youth Central Committee

GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - A boat carrying around 100 passengers sank in India's northeastern state of Assam after a collision with another boat, witnesses said on Wednesday. "I am pained at the tragic boat accident near Nimati Ghat, Jorhat. Directed Majuli & Jorhat admin to undertake rescue mission expeditiously," Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted late on Wednesday. (Reporting by Zarir Hussain; Writing by Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Alex Richardson)

“Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the group cannot state with certainty the time frame needed to undertake and complete the HCV/HCS study. The acquisition was part of UMB’s strategy to diversify away from its reliance on a single commodity — palm oil. A desktop study is a prerequisite for a HCV/HCS study. However, due to movement restrictions, the comprehensive HCV/HCS study has not begun. It is not a member of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil but its estates and mills in Malaysia and Indonesia have been certified under the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil and Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil certification schemes.

Last year in the U.S., 59% of app downloads were on Apple’s App Store, and 41% were on Google Play, according to data from Sensor Tower, an app data company. Some of these changes would impact Apple more than Google, which allows Android users to download competing app stores. Bipartisan support for the app store proposal means it has potential to gain traction, even though Congress has a full slate when lawmakers return to Washington this month. One development that could impact Congress’s push to change app stores is the coming decision in the Epic case. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers’s decision could mandate changes to Apple’s App Store, and she has indicated that her ruling won’t please either side.

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): The victim was merely doing her job but had to suffer insults such as "talk to rich people nicely, you're a poor girl". These words came from two women after an auxiliary police officer approached them for smoking outside a designated area. She spotted Koh and Chee smoking outside the designated area and approached them for their personal particulars, so that she could issue a summons to them. But District Judge Jasbendar Kaur replied that it was a different matter from using insulting words at the officer. The judge also said being stressed was not an excuse for the women to verbally abuse the victim.

KUALA LUMPUR: RAM Group has launched its new platform offering industry-leading insights into credit and sustainability risks of companies. In a statement on Wednesday, it said RAM Analytics, (www.analytics.ram.com.my) harnesses the power of data analytics and the platform gives users quick access to an array of credit and sustainability risk rating services. Backed by RAM’s three decades of expertise and analytical rigour, RAM Analytics opens into a broader universe that goes beyond bonds and sukuk. It said users will be able to obtain concise reports by RAM Sustainability Sdn Bhd with just a few clicks of the button. We have also begun to integrate sustainability services into its score operations.

(Sept 8): Ratings agency Fitch said on Wednesday it has downgraded Chinese property developer China Evergrande Group and two of its subsidiaries, a day after a similar step my Moody's Investors Service. "The downgrade reflects our view that a default of some kind appears probable. We believe credit risk is high given tight liquidity, declining contracted sales, pressure to address delayed payments to suppliers and contractors, and limited progress on asset disposals," Fitch said in a statement.

My husband and I placed RM20,000 in deposit for two venues for the wedding reception of our son that was planned for last year. We are also unsure if we will be able to hold the functions any time in the near future, hence we are appealing for the deposit to be returned to us. For us, the deposit we placed in the two venues is a huge amount of money, which we saved over many years through hard work. I understand the predicament that businesses are facing in these pandemic times, but I hope they are also able to understand our situation. I hope there will be a mechanism whereby ordinary folks like us will be able to get our hard-earned money back.

However, I am more concerned with the action taken by the Education Ministry, which appears to be rather relaxed and perhaps too accommodating of these teachers. As such, I suggest that the Education Ministry exercise the carrot-and-stick approach based on the gravity of the situation. If these 2,500 teachers are adamant that they do not want to be vaccinated, the ministry can also choose to exercise its discretion. If I may humbly suggest, the ministry could provide an option for these 2,500 teachers to forgo their retirement pension altogether. I look forward to a firmer response by the Education Ministry in deciding the fate of the 2,500 teachers.

IN its commitment to continue protecting customers during the pandemic, Great Eastern has launched its Covid-19 medical plan coverage programme. Under the programme, Great Eastern will provide reimbursement for expenses resulting from medically necessary hospitalisation due to Covid-19 infection in both public and private hospitals. Great Eastern will provide Covid-19 coverage with no impact on the benefits of the policyholders’ medical plans. Since the onset of Covid-19, Great Eastern has introduced multiple initiatives to support its customers during these unprecedented times. Details of the Covid-19 medical plan coverage programme can be found at www.greateasternlife.com/my.