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Around 4000 Indian pilots being probed for fake licences Revelation lands India in awkward position around globe New Delhi, April 12 (KMS): Over 4000 pilots in India including those associated with national flag carrier Air India are being investigated for having fake pilot licences. The revelation has landed India in an awkward position around the globe, as the country under Narendra Modi government is already facing scandals like the one exposed by EU Disinfo Lab. India’s airline watchdog Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has admitted that many pilots associated with Air India, Indigo and MDLR airlines have been arrested on the charge of having fake licences, so far. All this came to after an investigation into the rough landing by woman pilot, Parmandar Kaur Galati, at Goa airport. Later, investigations found that she was issued fake licence despite failing test for seven times. Indigo airline pilot, Kaur Gulti was arrested on charges of forging his mark sheet to obtain a pilot’s license. Another arrest was made on the same grounds. This time, Captain JK Verma, the pilot of India’s national airline Air India, was arrested. “We have arrested Verma,” a senior police official said. The investigation is ongoing. We have been given more names by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The matter was then reported to the Aviation Watchdog, DGCA. The airline Watchdog acknowledged that 4,000 pilot licenses were being investigated in India. Naseem Zaidi, India’s secretary of aviation, said the DGCA was investigating the licenses of 3,000 to 4,000 pilots with reference to fake pilots. In order to obtain a pilot’s license in India, a pilot has to pass three subjects, but in the case of Pilot Galati, the DGCA’s investigation shows that she cannot clear two papers, so she allegedly made a fake license. https://kmsnews.org/news/2021/04/12/around-4000-indian-pilots-being-probed-for-fake-licences/

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Koped from NK. credit Thread starter WuRenJi

'Slap an Asian' challenge has San Francisco police By Alix Martichoux Saturday, March 27, 2021 1:23AM SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Claims that there is a "slap an Asian" challenge going on in the Bay Area have put San Francisco police on alert. Word of the so-called "challenge," in which people are told to slap people of Asian descent on public transit, has been spreading on social media this week. One viral post says a challenge-related assault occurred last Friday. read https://abc7news.com/slap-an-asian-challenge-bay-area-san-francisco-stop-hate/10450222/

39-year-old Caucasian man assaulted a 76-year-old Chinese woman in San Francisco -- only for the tables to turn. The elderly Asian woman retaliated by beating up her younger attacker with a wooden plank she found on the road, and putting the man on a stretcher. For her successful defence, the elderly woman has been applauded for standing up against a racist bully. Many who saw the video of the aftermath of the incident sympathised with her. Just came upon an attack on an elderly Asian woman on Market Street San Francisco. Effort I got more details pic.twitter.com/5o8r0eeHE2 — Dennis O'Donnell (@DennisKPIX) March 17, 2021 Some of the comments very interesting. ʙᴇ •‿• oPsch0ch!cKo ⟭⟬ ♡ ⟬⟭ suga march @OPsychochickOo · Mar 18 Replying to @DennisKPIX She gets an ice pack while he gets a bed to lay on!? I’m confused.

Man in China asks neighbour to turn off WiFi as wife fears radiation. https://mothership.sg/2021/02/wifi-radiation-neighbour/ A man from Qingdao, Shandong, China, who wanted to protect his wife from "radiation", requested his neighbour to turn off their WiFi at night. But the man with the pregnant wife ended up receiving a savage reply from his neighbour instead. This was the neighbour's reply:

why the header of SPH and CNN/Reuters on Norway vaccines sound so different? CNN >Norway reviewing deaths of frail and elderly patients vaccinated against Covid-19 https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/18/h...ntl/index.html Reuters Norway advises caution in use of Pfizer vaccine for the most frail https://www.reuters.com/article/heal...-idUSL1N2JT0XI SPH ST >Norway finds no direct link between elderly deaths and Covid-19 vaccine https://www.straitstimes.com/world/e...vid-19-vaccine Koped from NK! Thanks to "Limpeh456"

Japan says new coronavirus variant found in travellers from Brazil Credits https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japan-says-new-coronavirus-variant-found-in-travellers-from-brazil

Singapore reveals Covid privacy data available to police https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55541001 Singapore has admitted data from its Covid contact tracing programme can also be accessed by police, reversing earlier privacy assurances. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter "I'm disappointed, but not at all surprised," local journalist and activist Kirsten Han told the BBC. "This is actually something that I've been flagging as a concern since the earlier days of TraceTogether - and was sometimes told that I was just a paranoid fearmonger undermining efforts to fight Covid-19. "It doesn't feel good at all to discover I was right." Eroding public trust? "I think why most people are so angry about this is not that they feel like they're constantly being watched," one Singaporean, who did not want to be named, told the BBC. "We already have that through other means like CCTV. "It's more that they feel like they've been cheated. The government had assured us many times that TraceTogether would only be used for contact tracing, but now they've suddenly added this new caveat." Another person told the BBC they wished they could delete the app, but daily life would be impossible without it. "So I'm just going to disable my Bluetooth for TraceTogether from now on, unless I have to use it to enter somewhere. If the app is not only going to be used for contact tracing, then it's too much of an invasion of privacy." Australian privacy watchdog Digital Rights Watch, told the BBC they were "extremely concerned" about the news from Singapore. "This is the worst case scenario that privacy advocates have warned about since the start of the pandemic," Programme Director Lucie Krahulcova told the BBC. "Such an approach will erode public trust in future health responses and therefore impede their efficacy." Like most countries, Australia has rolled out its own contact tracing app but uptake has been sluggish precisely because of privacy concerns. Singapore was among the first countries to introduce a contact tracing app nationally in March last year. The introduction of the token in June had sparked a rare backlash against the government over concerns the device would be mandatory. An online petition calling for it to be ditched has gathered some 55,000 signatures so far. Singapore has been been one of the most successful countries in tackling the pandemic. Despite a big outbreak among its foreign workers early on, local infection rates have for months been close to zero. #SongBoh

MOH orders Concord International Hospital to suspend healthcare services due to ‘significant lapses’ Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/moh-orders-concord-international-hospital-suspend-healthcare-services-due-significant

Biz Analysis 21:39, 26-Oct-2020 Ray Dalio: Don't be blind to China's rise in a changing world CGTN Share Raymond Dalio, co-chairman and co-chief investment officer, Bridgewater Associates, speaks at the 2019 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 1, 2019. /VCG People with persistent anti-China bias should clear their minds and not be blind to China's rise in a changing world, Ray Dalio, founder of the largest hedge fund in the world, Bridgewater Associates, wrote in an opinion piece for the Financial Times on Friday. "Prejudice and bias always blind people to opportunity," he argued, before suggesting China skeptics keep their minds clear to see what is actually happening in the country. China's economy grew in 2019 without monetizing debt, Dalio noted, adding that it also produces more than it consumes and achieves a balance of payments surplus. When almost all countries are still struggling against the pandemic, China has achieved some of the world's lowest COVID-19 case rates, the Bridgewater founder wrote, noting that "nearly half the world's initial public offerings will be in China this year, including Ant Financial's $30bn listing, the world's biggest ever. Even Tesla's best-selling Model 3 car may soon be made entirely in China." Dalio opined that many are missing China's extraordinary performance, including its remarkable economic changes over the past four decades, due to a persistent anti-China bias. "Since 1984, (China's) per capita incomes have risen more than 30 times, life expectancy has increased by a decade and poverty rates have fallen nearly to zero," he wrote. He argued Chinese stocks and bonds are undervalued. "China's fundamentals are strong, its assets relatively attractively priced ... These currently account for 3 percent or less of foreign portfolio holdings; a neutral weighting would be closer to 15 percent." In his view, the discrepancy is "at least in part due to anti-Chinese bias" and is going to change. "Chinese markets are opening up to foreigners, who can now access at least 60 percent of them compared with 1 percent in 2015. Benchmark weights in major indices are rising." And Dalio projected that China will "enjoy favorable capital inflows that will support the currency, already at a two-year high, and financial markets too." Meanwhile, he held that the world will inevitably be affected by China-U.S. relations and contended that "time is on China's side." "China's economy is roughly the same size as the U.S.'s and expanding at a faster pace. It has a growing population of well-educated people, with around a third of the world's science and technology university majors, three times the U.S. share," Dalio explained. China rivals the U.S. in advanced technologies, he added, and will probably take the lead in five years. Source

Thai tourist grabs tiger by genitals for photos at Chiang Mai zoo, causes outrage A Thai woman got overly enthusiastic while posing for photos with a tiger in a zoo in Chiang Mai. Cupped tiger's testicles while posing for photos Posing with a tiger that was allegedly sedated, Waraschaya Akkarachaiyapas posted a video of herself caressing the tiger, and cupped the testicles of the dazed animal, infuriating people online. Screenshot from YouTube via Waraschaya Akkarachaiyapas/FB She was slammed for touching the tiger inappropriately, and some even accused her of "humiliating" the animal, according to Daily Mail. In response to her grabbing the tiger's genitals, one user wrote: "This is so rude. The tiger did not allow you to touch his privates. You have no right to do that." Some also warned that it could be dangerous, as the tiger could have attacked her for that. In a later post, Akkarachaiyapas defended herself, saying that she was an "animal lover", and that it was not her first time "playing with a tiger". She also added in her post that the keepers at the zoo had given her permission to touch the tiger in its sensitive regions. Zoo responds to backlash In response, Pirom Cahntama, the head zookeeper at Tiger Kingdom said that it will not be allowing any visitors to touch the tigers in its sensitive region again, reported Daily Mail. Cahntama maintained that tourists are not allowed to grab the tigers' testicles, but are allowed to touch any part of the animal's body with the supervision of the zoo's specialists. Similar zoos in Thailand have been accused of sedating their animals to allow tourists to pose for photos with them.

2020 Subaru Forester e-Boxer launched in Singapore – sole 2.0i-S EyeSight Hybrid variant; from RM378k At last year’s Singapore Motor Show, Motor Image previewed the Subaru Forester e-Boxer, and fast forward a year later, the hybrid model was now gone on sale in the country. There’s only a single 2.0i-S EyeSight Hybrid variant on offer, priced from SG$124,800 (RM378,162) on-the-road including COE. Visually, the Forester e-Boxer looks pretty much identical to the regular, fifth-generation SUV, with only a few “e-Boxer’ badges to mark it out. Under the bonnet, the model features a 2.0 litre naturally-aspirated, direct-injection, four-cylinder boxer engine that makes 150 PS at 6,000 rpm and 196 Nm of torque at 4,000 rpm. The engine is augmented by a 16.7 PS/66 Nm electric motor placed within the Lineartronic CVT, which draws power from a 4.8 Ah lithium-ion battery pack located under the rear boot floor – this is which is recharged via regenerative braking or the engine. Due to the placement of the battery, boot space does take a slight hit, decreasing from 520 to 509 litres. The rest of the powertrain includes Subaru’s full-time Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system with X-Mode and SI Drive modes. In terms of operation, the hybrid SUV is capable of running purely on electricity at low speeds for a short distance, like when initially setting off from a stop. At medium speeds, the engine and electric motor work together for better efficiency, while at high speeds, only the engine is used to propel the car whilst keeping charging the battery. The system decides when the electric motor is called into action, with no user-selectable modes available. The Singapore-spec Forester e-Boxer comes as standard with LED headlamps, 18-inch wheels, dual-zone climate control, a Panasonic eight-inch head unit (with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support), powered front seats, Special X-Mode, seven airbags (front, side, curtain, driver’s knee) and the EyeSight suite of driver assistance systems. Source

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Forum: Allow $5,000 withdrawal from CPF to tide us over crisis The Government should allow citizens to withdraw $5,000 from their Central Provident Fund (CPF) Retirement Account, as this will help those who are in dire financial straits. The amount in my Retirement Account has reached the full retirement sum for my age. I need funds to tide me over this difficult Covid-19 period. Many people have had their salaries cut and are struggling to get by. https://www.straitstimes.com/forum/forum-allow-5000-withdrawal-from-cpf-to-tide-us-over-crisis

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TOKYO (BLOOMBERG) - Japan's Health Ministry has begun a special approval process for the antiviral drug remdesivir as a potential treatment for Covid-19, NHK reported. More here

Bustling economy is coming back https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/reopening-of-america-accelerates-as-states-prepare-to-relax-coronavirus-restrictions/2020/04/25/cd2f939c-866a-11ea-a3eb-e9fc93160703_story.html

https://rsf.org/en/singapore In 2020, Singapore’s colour on the World Press Freedom Index map changed to black, meaning that the situation there is now is classified as “very bad.” Despite the “Switzerland of the East” label often used in Singapore government propaganda, the city-state does not fall far short of China when it comes to suppressing media freedom. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s government is always quick to sue critical journalists, or apply pressure to make them unemployable, or even force them to leave the country. The Media Development Authority has the power to censor all forms of journalistic content. Defamation suits are common and may sometimes be accompanied by a charge of sedition, which is punishable by up to 21 years in prison. As a result of judicial and financial pressure from the authorities, self-censorship is widespread, including within the alternative independent media. The red lines imposed by the authorities, known by journalists as “OB markers” (for out- of-bounds markers), apply to an ever-wider range of issues and public figures. The Singaporean authorities have also started sending journalists emails threatening them with up to 20 years in prison if they don’t remove offensive articles and get into line. Finally, 2019 saw a significant deterioration with the adoption of an “anti-fake news” law with Orwellian provisions that allows the government to act as a combination of Ministry of Truth and censorship office for the social media era, ordering both media outlets and digital platforms to post “corrections” to any content deemed “incorrect.”

University of Waterloo developing DNA-based COVID-19 vaccine Researchers at the University of Waterloo are developing a DNA-based vaccine that can be delivered through a nasal spray. The vaccine will work by using engineered bacteriophage, a process that will allow the vaccine to stimulate an immune response in the nasal cavity and target tissues in the lower respiratory tract. “When complete, our DNA-based vaccine will be administered non-invasively as a nasal spray that delivers nanomedicine engineered to immunize and decrease COVID-19 infections,” explains Roderick Slavcev, a professor in the School of Pharmacy who specializes in designing vaccines, pharmaceuticals and gene-therapy treatments. “This research combines the expertise of many and leverages existing technology developed by my team, which we’re reconfiguring for a COVID-19 application.” When completed, the researchers aim to have the DNA-based vaccine enter cells in targeted tissues and cause them to produce a virus-like particle (VLP) that will stimulate an immune response in people. The VLP will look similar to the structure of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which causes COVID-19), but is harmless. This similarity will activate the body’s natural immune response to protect against viral infections comparable to the VLP, including SARS-CoV-2. It will also bind to receptors that SARS-CoV-2 would bind to, limiting the possible sites for transmission. By causing these changes in the body, the vaccine will build immunity against COVID-19 and decrease the severity of infections in progress – serving as both a therapeutic and a vaccine. Every detail of the vaccine, from ensuring the bacteriophage target specific cells in the respiratory tract to creating a minimal VLP to impersonate SARS-CoV-2, is specifically engineered by the researchers and requires testing. To achieve the design of such a complex project, Slavcev is teaming up with Emmanuel Ho, another professor at the School of Pharmacy, and Marc Aucoin, professor of chemical engineering. Ho’s team is designing the nanomedication that will be delivered by the nasal spray, which is currently being tested. Aucoin’s lab is constructing and purifying the VLP and boosting immunity following the initial administration of the therapeutic vaccine. “It is the collaborative effort of our talented teams that makes this multidisciplinary project so feasible and necessarily efficient as a potential universal vaccine solution against SARS-CoV infections,” says Slavcev. “To practice science with such urgency alongside such talented colleagues and their students is not only immensely educational, it is extremely rewarding.” Slavcev’s team has completed design of the bacteriophage delivery system and is currently modifying this system to apply to COVID-19. Additional design of components and further testing will take place later this year. Components of the research are supported by a grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Note: This research has not yet been peer-reviewed and is being released as part of UWaterloo’s commitment to help inform Canada’s COVID-19 response. Source

New drug shows promise against coronavirus, set to enter human trials soon With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic showing no signs of slowing down, finding a cure to combat the disease has become the foremost priority of researchers across the world. Offering some good news amidst this crisis is a new drug that could turn the tide against SARS-CoV-2. According to a study led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the new drug — EIDD-2801 — was found to reduce lung damage caused by the disease in mice and cultured human cells. What is better is that it was also found to be effective against other coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The researchers discovered that when the drug is employed as a prophylactic — medication used as a preventive measure — EIDD-2801 could prevent acute lung damage in infected mice. "This new drug not only has high potential for treating COVID-19 patients, but also appears effective for the treatment of other serious coronavirus infections," said Ralph Baric, senior author of the study, in a statement. EIDD-2801 has been approved by the FDA for human trials. What is EIDD-2801? It is an oral form of an antiviral compound known as EIDD-1931, which was developed by the Emory Institute for Drug Development (EIDD). The drug inhibits the replication of a broad spectrum of coronaviruses. When consumed as a pill, it ensures better absorption and transportation to the lungs. Mark Denison, a collaborator in the current study, served as the senior author of another study published in December 2019, which first reported that EIDD-1931 prevented the replication of multiple RNA viruses. Effective and easy administration When EIDD-2801 was used to treat the infection 12 to 24 hours after its onset, the drug was found to reduce the level of weight loss and lung damage in mice. When compared to mice, the period between the contraction of the disease and death is significantly longer in human beings. Therefore, the chances of seeing favourable human results are higher. SARS-CoV-2 Wikimedia Commons One of the primary advantages of EIDD-2801 is its mode of administration. Unlike other potential treatment options that are delivered intravenously, EIDD-2801 can be taken as a pill. Also, it has the prospective advantage for prophylaxis-preventive treatment — in scenarios where people may have been exposed to the coronavirus but do not present symptoms. Potential to tackle new coronaviruses in the future While EIDD-2801 was found to be effective against Sars cov2, it was also found to be effective against related coronaviruses that cause Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The drug has also shown a potent response against viruses that cause diseases such as chikungunya, Ebola, influenza, Eastern equine encephalitis, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis. Cautioning that the emergence of new coronaviruses cannot be ruled out, Timothy Sheahan, first author of the study, said: "With three novel human coronaviruses emerging in the past 20 years, it is likely that we will continue to see more." 3D medical animation coronavirus structure Wikimedia Commons As the drug exhibits a strong antiviral response against several lethal viruses, Sheahan emphasized that the new drug could potentially serve as an important weapon in the fight against future outbreaks. "EIDD-2801 holds promise to not only treat COVID-19 patients today, but to treat new coronaviruses that may emerge in the future," he added. Could complement Remdesivir As of now, Remdesivir, a broad range antiviral, is being touted as a suitable candidate to treat patients suffering from COVID-19. It was developed by Gilead Sciences, a US-based biotechnology company, and was found to exhibit a strong antiviral response against the SARS and MERS coronaviruses. The drug is currently in clinical trials among COVID-19 patients. However, a recent study by Maria Agostini(co-author of the current study) demonstrated that viruses that showed resistance against Remdesivir were inhibited by EIDD-1931 to a higher degree. Thus, a treatment involving the combination of both drugs may show larger efficiency. "Viruses that carry Remdesivir resistance mutations are actually more susceptible to EIDD-1931 and vice versa, suggesting that the two drugs could be combined for greater efficacy and to prevent the emergence of resistance," said George Painter, co-author and director of EIDD. Source

Forum: Mask exemption for outdoor exercise is dangerous I am alarmed by the exemption from wearing face masks granted to those who exercise outdoors, and the rationale given. Scientific studies have shown how easily the coronavirus spreads via infectious droplets, even from asymptomatic carriers. This is why the authorities now mandate that anyone stepping outdoors must wear masks. Exempting those doing strenuous outdoor exercise from wearing a mask creates a chink in society's armour against the contagion. Those exercising breathe faster and harder, increasing the amount of potentially infectious droplets in the air, making them potentially more infectious than those walking slowly. While it would be safe to exercise without a mask if alone, runners and cyclists range far and wide, encountering numerous people. Many do not have the courtesy to make a wide berth around those they pass. On park connectors, there is also no space to keep a 1m distance when passing others. Just one unmasked asymptomatic carrier may spread the virus to many random people in an hour, who will not be traceable by contact tracing. While there may be an increased risk of triggering a heart attack if one exercises with a face mask on, would it not be safer to wear a mask but decrease the intensity of exercise? Or to give up strenuous outdoor exercise altogether in favour of home exercises as is done in other countries? Finally, consider the injustice of exempting one small group of people doing a non-essential activity from using masks, while the majority have to wear them. Or the injustice of allowing a non-essential activity to proceed when other more necessary activities, such as elective surgery for poor vision or painful conditions affecting function, are not allowed. I urge the authorities to reconsider this ill-advised exemption from the use of masks and for outdoor exercise in general. Let us show solidarity in our fight against the coronavirus and not send contradictory messages. If the science shows that wearing face masks will reduce the spread of the virus, then let us not exempt anyone from doing so. If banning non-essential activity is deemed necessary, then do not exempt any such activity. Not exercising outdoors for a month or two will not kill anyone, but continuing to do so without a mask might very well do so. Andrew Yam Kean Tuck (Dr) Source

Vince McMahon Is Advising Trump on How to Restart US Economy WWE's Vince McMahon was named as one of a few sports magnates to aid President Donald Trump in restarting the U.S. economy. Talk show and radio host Andy Slater broke the news through his official Twitter. This followed a press conference earlier this week in which Trump stated he was putting together a group of sports commissioners and other executives to form an economic task force. Slater wrote on Twitter, "JUST NOW: Adam Silver, Rob Manfred, Roger Goodell, Gary Bettman, Robert Kraft, Jerry Jones, Dana White, and Vince McMahon are part of a large group that will help advise on how to restart the economy, President Trump says." He followed up with, "MORE: Mavs owner Mark Cuban will also be part of this group." He even quoted the President saying, “We need to get our sports back." This comes after weeks of Trump talking about wanting to restart the economy sooner rather than later. The inclusion of people such as White, Cuban and McMahon did not come as a surprise given their prowess as businessmen and owners in their respective fields. The men also happen to be personal friends of the President. McMahon made a name for himself by turning his father's wrestling promotion company WWF into the global phenomenon that it is today. Recently, he made headlines by furloughing WWE staff, releasing some of its superstars and cutting executives pay as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Source

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2020/04/10/91-s-koreans-retest-positive-for-covid-19-after-recovery SEOUL (Xinhua): A total of 91 South Koreans had retested positive for the Covid-19 after being released from quarantine with full recovery, the country's health authorities said Friday (April 10). An epidemiological and clinical investigation was underway into the 91, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). It was up from 74 cases that retested positive as of Thursday. KCDC Director-General Jeong Eun-kyeong told a press briefing that the ongoing test was to isolate and culture viral cells from respiratory organs of those who retested positive, saying it would take at least two weeks to find the test result. Jeong said the test was also to determine whether the antibody is found from those who retested positive. The KCDC has seen a higher possibility for the virus remaining in certain cells to be reactivated, rather than people being re-infected, as they retested positive in a relatively short period of time after being released from quarantine. In the latest tally, the country reported 27 more Covid-19 cases for the past 24 hours, raising the total number of infections to 10,450. The daily caseload fell below 30 in 50 days. - Xinhua