Bank of China's Singapore operation stops financing Russian oil trades: Source - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE (REUTERS, BLOOMBERG) - Bank of China's Singapore operation has stopped financing deals involving Russian oil and Russian companies, amid concerns of western sanctions following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, said a source on Monday (Feb 28) with knowledge of the matter.

Bank of China did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Reuters reported last Thursday that major buyers of Russian oil were struggling to open letters of credit from Western banks to cover purchases or find ships willing to transport Russian oil.

European banks Societe Generale and Credit Suisse Group have halted the financing of commodities trading from Russia, it was reported on Sunday. The two banks, key financiers to commodity trading houses, are no longer providing the money needed to move raw materials such as metals and oil from Russia. 

At least two of China’s largest state-owned banks are restricting financing for purchases of Russian commodities, underscoring the limits of Beijing’s pledge to maintain economic ties with one of its most important strategic partners in the face of Western sanctions.

Western nations agreed over the weekend to exclude some Russian banks from the Swift bank messaging system and targeted the central bank’s foreign reserves. BP also moved to dump its shares in Russian oil giant Rosneft PJSC, taking a financial hit of as much as US$25 billion (S$34 billion).

“Removing some Russian banks from Swift could result in a disruption of oil supplies as buyers and sellers try to figure out how to navigate the new rules,” Mr Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston, said earlier in a note.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has roiled markets from energy to metals and grains, heaping more inflationary pressure on a global economy already hit with surging costs.

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2022-02-28 02:47:06Z
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Russian central bank hikes rates, scrambles to limit fallout of tough sanctions - CNA

RUN ON BANKS?

Russians waited in long queues outside ATMs on Sunday, worried that new Western sanctions over Moscow's invasion of Ukraine will trigger cash shortages and disrupt payments.

"A bank run has already started in Russia over the weekend ... and inflation will immediately spike massively, and the Russian banking system is likely to be in trouble," said Jeffrey Halley, Asia-based senior market analyst at OANDA.

Nomura analysts said the fresh reprisal measures by the West against Russia is likely to have wider global implications.

"These sanctions from the West are likely to eventually hurt trade flows out of Russia (about 80 per cent of FX transactions handled by Russian financial institutions are denominated in USD), which will also hurt the growth outlook of Russia's key trading partners including Europe and lead to greater inflationary pressures and risk of stagflation, we think," the analysts wrote in a note to clients.

Energy major BP opened a new front in the West's campaign to isolate Russia's economy, with its decision to abandon its stake in state oil company Rosneft at a cost of up to US$25 billion, the most aggressive move yet by a company in response to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian business operations of other Western corporations are also in the spotlight as governments tighten the financial screws on Moscow

Several European subsidiaries of Sberbank Russia, majority owned by the Russian government, are failing or likely to fail due to the reputational cost of the war in Ukraine, the European Central Bank, the lenders' supervisor, said on Monday.

FINANCIAL STABILITY

The Russian central bank in several announcements on Sunday sought to ensure financial stability. It said it would resume buying gold on the domestic market from Feb 28.

It added that customers of sanctioned banks would be unable to use their bank cards outside Russia, and that cards issued by the sanctioned banks won't work on Google Pay or Apple Pay.

It also ordered market players to reject attempts by foreign clients to sell Russian securities, according to a central bank document seen by Reuters.

That could complicate plans by the sovereign wealth funds of Norway and Australia, which said they planned to wind down exposure to Russian-listed companies.

In a bid to inject cash into the financial system, the central bank said there would be no limit at a "fine-tuning" repo auction it plans to hold on Monday and added that the banking system remained stable after the new sanctions targeting Russia's financial institutions.

The central bank said bank cards were working as normal and that customers' funds could be accessed at any time. It said it would substantially increase the range of securities that can be used as collateral to get central bank loans.

The central bank also said it is temporarily easing restrictions on banks' open foreign currency positions after the sanctions. The measure, allowing banks suffering from "external circumstances" to keep positions above the official limits, will be in place until Jul 1, it said in a statement.

The central bank said that it would continue to monitor changes in currency positions "in order to guarantee the normal functioning of the currency and money markets and the financial stability of lending institutions".

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2022-02-28 07:58:00Z
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Hong Kong reports record 26026 daily COVID-19 cases - CNA

Some experts predict the city of 7.4 million will have up to 180,000 cases daily next month.

The most vulnerable are particularly at risk, with 67 of the 83 deaths reported on Sunday at nursing homes. Vaccination rates among the elderly have been relatively low and many suffer from chronic illnesses.

Hong Kong is hiring 1,000 temporary workers from mainland China to care for elderly COVID-19 patients at its isolation and treatment facilities, said Law Chi-kwong, secretary for labour and welfare.

Officials have said the mainland would help provide testing, treatment and quarantine capacity. Last week city leader Carrie Lam used emergency powers granted under British colonial-era laws to exempt mainland Chinese staff and projects from any licensing or other legal requirements.

On Saturday, authorities said they would adjust COVID-19 testing procedures to allow some people to test from home to ease long queues at designated testing centres, as the city's outbreak proves increasingly hard to control.

Health secretary Sophia Chan said about 1.3 million rapid testing kits would be handed out to those in higher risk areas and jobs, and people testing positive would have to register their results online.

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2022-02-27 08:58:00Z
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Poland refuse to play Russia in 2022 World Cup playoff game - ESPN

5:59 PM GMT

Poland are refusing to play their World Cup qualifier against Russia in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the Polish soccer federation president Cezary Kulesza said on Saturday.

Russia are set to face Poland on March 24 and the winner of that match plays whoever triumphs between Sweden and Czech Republic in a playoff on March 29 in the Path B final to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Sweden said on Saturday that they won't play Russia in a possible playoff "regardless of where the match is played."

But Kulesza made the announcement on Twitter, citing Russia's assault, and indicated Poland was in talks with other federations to present a unified position to FIFA.

"No more words, time to act!" Kulesza wrote, saying the move was prompted by the "escalation of the aggression."

Poland striker Robert Lewandowski added: "It is the right decision! I can't imagine playing a match with the Russian National Team in a situation when armed aggression in Ukraine continues. Russian footballers and fans are not responsible for this, but we can't pretend that nothing is happening."

Previously, Poland had only said they didn't want to play the qualifying playoff semifinal in Moscow on March 24.

Earlier this week, the Football Associations of Poland, Sweden and Czech Republic released a statement urging FIFA to stage any World Cup playoff against Russia outside of the country following its attack on Ukraine.

In a letter addressed to the FIFA General Secretary Fatma Samoura, the three associations wrote: "Based on the current alarming development in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, including the security situation the Football Associations of Poland (PZPN), Sweden (SvFF) and Czech Republic (FACR) express their firm position that the playoff matches to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scheduled for March 24 and 29, 2022, should not be played in the territory of the Russian Federation.

"The signatories to this appeal do not consider travelling to Russia and playing football matches there. The military escalation that we are observing entails serious consequences and considerably lower safety for our national football teams and official delegations.

"Therefore, we expect FIFA and UEFA to react immediately and to present alternative solutions regarding places where these approaching playoff matches could be played."

On Thursday, FIFA said in a statement that the "hope for rapid cessation of hostilities and peace in Ukraine."

"Violence is never a solution and FIFA calls on all parties to restore peace through constructive dialogue. FIFA also continues to express its solidarity to the people affected by this conflict," FIFA said. "Regarding football matters in both Ukraine and Russia, FIFA will continue to monitor the situation and updates in relation to the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 202 qualifiers will be communicated in due course."

Information from AP was used in this report

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2022-02-26 10:33:16Z
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Oil prices break US$100, S'pore stocks sink as Russia launches military attack on Ukraine - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - Global stocks dived and oil soared on Thursday (Feb 24) as investors fled to safety after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion of Ukraine.

Futures for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq both slid more than 2 per cent, putting the tech-heavy Nasdaq at risk of a bear market. European markets plummeted, with the Stoxx 600 Europe index down 3.6 per cent.

“The markets are pricing in a full-scale war now that Putin has finally launched attacks on Ukraine,” KGI analyst Joel Ng told The Straits Times.

In Singapore earlier, shares moved sharply lower immediately after news of the latest developments, with the Straits Times Index (STI) closing 3.5 per cent lower.

The last time the STI had a steeper one-day drop was on March 30, 2020, when it fell 4.5 per cent after relief from global fiscal support measures faded with uncertainty over the length of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Compared with its regional peers, shares in Singapore were the most affected in Asia. Major indexes in Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Australia closed between 1.8 per cent and 3.2 per cent lower.

“The STI has fallen the most among Asian bourses since it was also the index that rose the most year to date,” said Mr Justin Tang, head of research at United First Partners.

“Investors may be seeing the opportunity to take profit, as many of the component stocks on the STI are dividend-yielding stocks. With oil prices rising, many may also be offloading Reits (real estate investment trusts) in anticipation of higher interest rates to come,” he added.

Dragging down the STI were bank stocks OCBC, UOB and DBS, which have a combined 45 per cent weighting in the index, after OCBC posted underwhelming fourth-quarter earnings due to higher expenses and lower trading income.

OCBC and DBS each lost more than 4 per cent, while UOB shed more than 5 per cent. 

Singapore Airlines tumbled more than 6.2 per cent, while in-flight caterer and ground handler Sats lost more than 5 per cent, due to concerns that “higher oil prices may be passed on in the form of higher air fares, which could dampen demand for travel", Mr Ng said.

But against the sea of red, oil and gas plays RH Petrogas and Rex International chalked up gains of nearly 12 per cent and 4.8 per cent respectively. 

The run-up in gold prices also rubbed off on gold producer CNMC Goldmine Holdings, which jumped 4.6 per cent on Thursday.

Brent crude futures soared past US$100 a barrel for the first time since 2014 amid fears of a disruption to the region’s critical energy exports.

Natural gas in Europe rose as much as 41 per cent, while prices of metals like gold, aluminium and nickel, and grains like wheat and soya bean spiked, piling on inflationary pressures.

Russia is a key seller of multiple commodities to global customers, with Europe relying on the nation for about a quarter of its oil and a third of its gas.

The increase in the prices of key commodities is contributing to a surge in inflation already at its highest level in decades. This is posing a cost-of-living crisis for millions around the world and may force central banks to raise interest rates.

Both inflation and higher rates may derail the global economy's rebound from the pandemic.

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2022-02-24 02:12:20Z
1290197942

Hong Kong Budget targets COVID-19 relief with tax breaks, handouts - CNA

Bars, gyms, beauty parlours and 12 other types of venues are closed, while restaurants cannot operate beyond 6.00 pm. Apart from grocery stores, most shops are deserted as residents are back working from home. The border is virtually shut with the finance sector complaining this has caused an exodus of talent and made operating a regional hub out of Hong Kong difficult.

The restrictions will last until at least Apr 20.

TAX CUTS

The Budget measures announced on Wednesday include a 100 per cent reduction in salaries tax, capped at HK$10,000, handouts of HK$10,000 consumption vouchers, financial aid for the unemployed, and subsidies for directly impacted businesses.

Residents will also be given tax deductions related to their rent payments, as well as subsidies for transport and utilities.

A 100 per cent reduction in profits tax capped at HK$10,000 is expected to benefit 151,000 firms, Chan said. In addition, the government will help small firms with loan guarantees, export financing, and debt repayment holidays.

New legislation will be introduced to prevent landlords from terminating rental contracts of struggling small firms for up to six months.

Funds worth HK$1.26 billion will be given to firms in the tourism industry, reeling from two years of inactivity with no near-term prospects of recovery.

The "anti-epidemic" measures include HK$22 billion to boost COVID-19 testing capacity, HK$6 billion to procure more vaccines, and HK$12 billion for the construction of more health facilities, among others.

Hong Kong's economy is expected to grow 2 per cent to 3.5 per cent this year after expanding 6.4 per cent in 2021, Chan said, adding the forecast takes into account a recovery in the second part of the year once the epidemic is brought under control.

"The successful control of the epidemic is the key to safeguarding our economy and people's livelihood," Chan said.

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2022-02-23 06:28:14Z
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Covid-19 may cut sperm count and sex drive: HK study - The Straits Times

HONG KONG (CAIXIN GLOBAL) - Covid-19 infection could reduce male sperm count and lower sex drive, a new study from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) showed, while suggesting that vaccination can prevent such damage.

The findings are based on a study of testicular and hormonal changes in hamsters infected with the coronavirus and conducted by the university's microbiology researchers.

The study found that the hamsters suffered from acute decrease in sperm count and serum testosterone after four to seven days of infection. They also developed testicular atrophy with reduced testicular size and weight.

Previously, international studies found that male Covid-19 patients experienced testicular pain and lower sperm motility and lower sperm counts after recovery.

Autopsy results of some male Covid-19 victims showed that they had suffered from symptoms of orchitis, the inflammation of one or both testicles.

Professor Yuen Kwok-yung, chairman of infectious disease at the HKU's Department of Microbiology who led the research, said: "In managing convalescent Covid-19 males, it is important to be aware of possible hypogonadism (low sex drive) and subfertility."

Prof Yuen added that Covid-19 vaccination can prevent this complication.

Similar testicular changes were also found in hamsters infected with Omicron or Delta, two highly transmissible variants of Covid-19, the study said, noting that vaccination can prevent this testicular damage.

Researchers found hamsters who received two inactivated vaccine doses after three days of infection with the virus did not suffer from testicular injury while achieving immune protection.

They also found hamsters infected with a type of influenza virus showed no testicular infection or damage.

The hamsters in the tests developed "light pneumonia" from which they can recover without treatment, the study said.

The study has been accepted for publication in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

This story was originally published by Caixin Global.

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2022-02-23 03:51:19Z
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Asian stock markets sink, oil hits 7-year high as Ukraine crisis escalates - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - Stock markets across Asia were a sea of red, while oil prices hit seven-year highs amid the threat of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

The repercussions from likely sanctions from the West, even higher energy and commodity prices and more hawkish monetary policy measures could disrupt the global economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Straits Times Index (STI) lost 35.78 points, or 1.04 per cent, to close at 3,400.58 on Tuesday on a sell-off in US futures. 

This came after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent, ordered forces into the area, and likely torpedoed a last-minute bid for a summit with US President Joe Biden.

Mr Biden was set to order retaliatory sanctions on the separatist regions of Ukraine, with the European Union vowing to take additional measures.

Brent crude futures jumped to a high of US$97.40 a barrel - their highest since September 2014. Natural gas was up nearly 7 per cent to US$4.74 per million British thermal units.

“There’s fear in the local market but not panic selling. Even though some took profit, optimism over local banks’ earnings helped offset some of the geopolitical risk,” CIMB Private Banking economist Song Seng Wun said.

DBS Bank, OCBC Bank and UOB, which maintain a combined 45 per cent weight in the STI, have averaged 16 per cent gains so far this year, on recent expectations of five to seven interest rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve this year. This compared with the trio averaging 25 per cent total returns in 2021, according to a Singapore Exchange market update on Monday. 

So far this year, Singapore stocks have drawn $1.9 billion in net institutional inflow, with DBS, OCBC and UOB accounting for a combined $1.4 billion of that amount, the update said.

Mr Song added: “While we are worried about supply disruptions because of the Ukraine crisis, oil prices haven’t breached US$100 a barrel yet because of the possibility that international talks could lead to a lifting of sanctions on Teheran, which could put more Iranian oil in the market.” 

But some analysts say oil prices are likely to remain volatile in the near term because Iranian crude is unlikely to return until later this year.

Meanwhile, the worst performers yesterday included Singapore Airlines and Dairy Farm, which shed 2.4 per cent each, and Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, which lost 2.86 per cent.

“These stocks, which are a proxy for economic recovery, did poorly as the prospects of an invasion and higher energy prices can threaten the global recovery,” said Mr Colin Low, assistant manager, research and portfolio management, FSMOne.com.
 

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2022-02-22 14:05:42Z
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Asia stock markets sink, oil hits 7-year high as Russia-Ukraine crisis escalates - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - Stock markets across Asia were in a sea of red, while oil prices hit seven-year highs amid the threat of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

The repercussions from likely sanctions from the West, even higher energy and commodity prices and more hawkish monetary policy measures could disrupt the global economic recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.

By the midday break, the Straits Times Index was down 0.83 per cent, or 28.62 points, to 3,407.74, after having fallen as much as 0.97 per cent minutes after trading started.

This came after Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine as independent, ordering forces into the area, likely torpedoing a last-minute bid for a summit with US President Joe Biden. Mr Biden was set to order retaliatory sanctions on the separatist regions of Ukraine, with the European Union vowing to take additional measures.

Brent crude futures jumped to a high of US$97.40 a barrel - their highest since September 2014 - on worries Russia’s energy exports could be disrupted. Natural gas was up nearly 7 per cent to US$4.74 per million British thermal units.

Safe-haven assets like gold rose. Spot gold added 0.2 per cent to US$1,909.10, having earlier hit a new six-month top of US$1,911.56.

With Asia stocks whiplashed by the Ukraine crisis, Hong Kong was the biggest casualty with a nearly 3 per cent fall. This was due to fears of a new wave of regulatory scrutiny by Beijing after a report that Chinese authorities told banks and state firms to report their financial exposure and links to Jack Ma’s Ant Group. 

Shanghai stocks were down 1.4 per cent, while Shenzhen dropped 1.6 per cent. Japan lost 2.1 per cent, Taiwan and South Korea each shed 1.7 per cent.

“The pull-back in Asian stocks isn’t as bad as it seems because markets aren’t pricing in a full-blown war despite the latest developments. A bigger worry is the fallout from sanctions on Russia, which supplies one-third of gas to Europe. That will have a big impact on crude oil and gas prices, which could mean higher petrol and electricity prices for us,” KGI analyst Joel Ng said.

US and European markets were also bracing for sharp losses when they open later, with the S&P 500 futures down 1.8 per cent and Nasdaq futures off 2.5 per cent.

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2022-02-22 06:15:56Z
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Small Hong Kong businesses say survival at stake as COVID-19 restrictions bite - CNA

HONG KONG: Hong Kong restaurant Pasta Zone lost its evening crowd in early January, when authorities imposed a 6pm curfew on dining to help curb COVID-19. A few weeks later, when the government asked people to work from home, the lunch crowd evaporated as well.

That reduced business by two-thirds, co-owner Yvonne Chan said, adding that the restaurant could probably survive for six months in such conditions.

Health authorities say such restrictions will remain in place for 16 types of businesses, including restaurants such as Chan's, or even tighten, until the government reaches its stated "dynamic zero-COVID" goal of eradicating any outbreak.

"We don't know what to do. Our hands are tied," Chan said.

Without unprecedented relief measures in Hong Kong's 2022-23 budget on Wednesday, it's hard to see how the economy can avoid contracting again after emerging last year out of its most prolonged recession, which lasted from 2019 to 2020, economists say.

The government has pledged support beyond the latest round of subsidies worth HK$27 billion (US$3.46 billion) announced this year, but has not flagged any specific measures for the upcoming budget.

The finance and commerce departments did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

In his regular Sunday blog post, Finance Secretary Paul Chan said the government needs to "do its best" to offer financial support to people and small and medium-sized companies, and restore confidence.

The Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce said bold budget measures were needed to "avoid company closures."

Its proposals included aid for employees and small businesses in affected industries; consumption voucher handouts to residents; and one-off 100 per cent cuts in profit, salary and income taxes, capped at HK$20,000 (US$2,564).

The current restrictions, which have seen bars, gyms, beauty parlours and a dozen other types of venues close, and most people working from home, are tighter than in 2020.

The current outbreak, the fifth and largest Hong Kong has experienced, is expected to worsen, potentially reaching up to 30,000 infections a day by the end of March from 7,000 or so now, some epidemiologists say.

This week's introduction of vaccine passes is unlikely to make people eager to hit the shops, economists say, as contact tracing could lead to hours queuing for testing and infections could result in weeks in quarantine facilities, regardless of symptoms.

"This fifth wave looks set to bring the city back to a recession," Daiwa Capital Markets analysts wrote in a note last week.

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said last week it would take two or three months to bring COVID-19 under control.

Many businesses say they may not have that much time.

Ben Leung, head of the Licensed Bar and Club Association of Hong Kong, told Reuters 20 per cent to 30 per cent of bars would not survive past April without help or a relaxation of restrictions.

Tommy Cheung, a legislator representing the restaurant and catering industry, told Reuters some restaurants would close unless the environment improves in March.

"The situation is getting worse by the day," Cheung said.

The Hong Kong Retail Management Association (HKRMA), which represents 9,000 retailers employing more than half the sector's 900,000-strong workforce, says the industry is running out of cash to burn.

"If the pandemic gets worse and our rents remain the same ... we will not survive," HKRMA chairwoman Annie Tse said.

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2022-02-21 09:06:18Z
CBMidWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vYXNpYS9zbWFsbC1ob25nLWtvbmctYnVzaW5lc3Nlcy1zYXktc3Vydml2YWwtc3Rha2UtY292aWQtMTktcmVzdHJpY3Rpb25zLWJpdGUtMjUxMDkzNtIBAA

Boss Buys Filipino Helper A Sumptuous Villa So She Can Retire In The Philippines - MS News

Chelsea Manager Thomas Tuchel Fulfils Helper’s Dream Of Retiring In The Philippines

Helpers are often recruited to support their employers in household upkeep.

It’s not easy to handle chores every day, and some families have gone out of their way to thank them for their contributions.

Famous football manager Thomas Tuchel is one of these kind-hearted employers. He bought his helper a villa and funded her son’s heart surgery, so she could fulfil her dream of living with her family in the Philippines.

Source

Although the news broke back in 2021, his significant gestures of kindness towards his Filipino helper are now garnering attention once more following his headline-making win of the UEFA Champions League title for Chelsea.

Source

We recap Thomas Tuchel’s greatest gift to his helper and how he made a difference in her life.

Thomas Tuchel funded her son’s surgery

The 48-year-old Chelsea manager and his helper crossed paths in 2018, during his 2-year tenure as the manager of the French football club Paris Saint-Germain.

He had hired her to look after his family’s home in Hauts-de-Seine, a place situated north of France.

As a result of the high cost of her son’s surgery, his helper had to work longer shifts.

According to ESPN, this drew the attention of Tuchel’s wife, Sissi, who in turn informed her husband.

Tuchel and his wife Sissi
Source

Upon hearing of her troubles, he had a cheque signed and paid for the hospital fees immediately.

Helper dreams of retiring in the Philippines

Funding the surgery was already a great act of kindness on its own. But the Chelsea manager continued to go above and beyond for his housekeeper.

Following the successful surgery, Tuchel sat her down for a lengthy chat to discuss her hopes for the future.

Source

He discovered that she harboured hopes of buying a house in her home country of the Philippines and retiring there with her family.

He made that happen swiftly as well, giving her the keys to her very own luxury villa shortly before taking up his current role at Chelsea F.C.

A champion on & off the field

When Chelsea appointed Tuchel in 2021 following his dismissal from Paris Saint-Germain, he and his family had to part ways with the housekeeper.

Since being appointed to the English football club in 2021, he has already led them to 3 major victories.

The first of these came in May 2021, when Chelsea won their second Champions League title and their first under Tuchel.

Not long after, he led the English football club to glory yet again with a UEFA Super Cup title.

Most recently, he guided the Blues to their first-ever Club World Cup win in February this year.

Good things come to those who give

While these wins are undoubtedly a testament to Tuchel’s coaching expertise and experience, one can’t help but wonder if they were also helped along with the good karma of his kind deeds.

Although one may argue that his high-paying career as a football manager makes such sweeping acts of generosity more accessible, all of us have our unique ability to touch the lives of another—whether it be through finances, a small gift, or simply our time.

Let Tuchel’s moving story serve as an ever vital reminder that we should always find ways to connect with and help our fellow man, however we can.

After all, that’s what brings us together as people.

Have news you must share? Get in touch with us via email at news@mustsharenews.com.

Featured image adapted from Mirror and The Luxe Guide (for illustration purposes only).

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2022-02-21 03:28:25Z
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Omicron Sub-Variant BA.2 is Reportedly Spreading Fast & Could be Deadlier - Goody Feed

For everyone who hoped that Omicron spells the end of the pandemic, the Omicron sub-variant BA.2 might be lengthening it for the foreseeable future.

And yes, we’ve moved on from variants to talking about sub-variants now. Here’s everything we know about BA.2 so far.

Labelled As The “Stealth Omicron”

Even though this sub-variant doesn’t have enough differences to be labelled its own Greek letter, it has about 20 mutations that set it apart from Omicron.

Most importantly, it does not have a mutation that allows it to show up on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests as an S-gene target failure. This was the feature that allowed us to easily differentiate between Omicron and other variants.

The lack of that specific mutation means that labs need to further sequence the virus to find this variant. The more extensive genetic sequencing needed to identify the BA.2 subvariant is the reason why this is known as “stealth Omicron”.

Spreading Faster Than Omicron Across The World

BA.2 has been estimated to be around 30% more transmissible than Omicron, according to the World Health Organisation. It has been detected in at least 74 countries so far.

BA.2 is now the dominant strain in at least 10 countries, including Bangladesh, Brunie, China, Denmark, Guam, India, Montenegro, Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines.

Additionally, a recent Danish study found that BA.2 was better at infected vaccinated people than the original Omicron variant. This could signal that this sub-variant has greater “immune-evasive properties”.

But please continue to get vaccinated and boosted, as researchers found that vaccinated people were still less likely to get infected or transmit the variants, compared to unvaccinated people.

As many countries have already hit their peak for infections, BA.2 likely won’t cause another peak. But it could slow down the decline in cases, and prolong the pandemic.

This new sub-variant, coupled with how many countries are relaxing pandemic restrictions… Let’s just say COVID-19 won’t be disappearing anytime soon.

Possibly More Severe Than Omicron

New experiments from Japanese labs have shown that BA.2 may have features that make it more capable of causing severe illness, like how Delta did.

Furthermore, in an experiment where researchers infected hamsters with Omicron and BA.2, those with BA.2 experienced more severe illness and worse lung infection.

However, there is mixed real-world evidence on the severity of BA.2. In countries like South Africa or the UK where BA.2 is dominant, hospitalisations are still declining.

Meanwhile, in countries like Denmark where BA.2 is the dominant strain, hospitalisations and deaths are rising.

Join our Telegram channel for more entertaining and informative articles at https://t.me/goodyfeedsg or download the Goody Feed app here: https://goodyfeed.com/app/ 

BA.2 May Not End Up Causing More Serious Waves of Infections

Research has shown that antibodies in the blood of people who were recently infected with Omicron seemed to have some protection against BA.2. The protection was even more if they have been vaccinated.

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So even though the virus is mutating, the would-be hosts, AKA our bodies, are also developing stronger immune systems. This might mitigate the more serious nature of BA.2.

Read Also:

Featured Image: stockwars / Shutterstock.com

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2022-02-20 05:26:26Z
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Family of 9 caught up in Hong Kong's Covid-19 care crisis - The Straits Times

HONG KONG - Ms Penny Chan, a 35-year-old public relations executive in the city, has been confined to a room about the size of a carpark lot just 800m from Disneyland.

She has been in the room at the much-talked about Penny's Bay quarantine camp for more than two weeks.

Ms Chan, along with eight other family members, including her parents, husband, brother and cousin's family, were infected with the Omicron variant of the coronavirus after attending two dinners at the start of Chinese New Year festivities.

Ms Chan, who is the only one in the family still in isolation, is still waiting for someone to tell her if her CT value or cycle threshold is safe enough to be let out.

"The process at Penny's Bay is not transparent at all. They don't tell you anything - not when you're to be tested, not the results after testing. They just ask you to wait," she told The Sunday Times.

In Hong Kong, those who test positive for Covid-19 cases used to be hospitalised. But, due to the exponential rise in infections, those with mild symptoms are now taken to AsiaWorld-Expo, which is next to Hong Kong's International Airport, other community isolation facilities, such as Penny's Bay, or made to stay at home.

Describing the whole experience as "very confusing and chaotic", Ms Chan said that unlike her other family members, she was the only one who tested negative initially.

As a close contact, she was still sent to a quarantine hotel where she later returned a positive result. Subsequently she was sent to Penny's Bay, which now houses 2,400 people.

"I'd already recovered when I was in the quarantine hotel but I'm still in Penny's Bay because I don't have my results," Ms Chan said.

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2022-02-19 12:38:00Z
1303072568

British diving instructor named as victim of fatal Sydney shark attack - CNA

SYDNEY: A 35-year-old British diving instructor has been identified as the person killed in a shark attack off a Sydney beach, Australian media reported on Friday (Feb 18), as officials reopened several beaches after the city's first fatal attack in 60 years.

Simon Nellist, who moved to Australia about six years ago, was killed on Wednesday off Little Bay beach, about 20 km (12 miles) south of Australia's largest city while training for a weekend charity swim event, reports said, citing his friends.

Nellist, a former UK Royal Air Force serviceman, was a member of the city's scuba diving club and a regular swimmer at the beach. Police have not yet formally identified the victim.

Authorities have set up drumlines, which are used to bait sharks, near the attack site, while drones and helicopters were searching to see if the shark was still in the area.

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2022-02-17 23:59:13Z
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Valentine's Day tragedy: Thai toddler drowns in pool as mum poses for OnlyFans photoshoot - AsiaOne

This is no time to be judgmental, reach for the tissues.

This is really about a mother’s grief. That she may also carry a huge burden of guilt only makes it sadder.

Thai model Wiyada Pontawee, who posts racy photos online, was partying at a villa in Pattaya on Valentine’s Day when her two-year-old son drowned in the pool there.

She was at the party with her husband and two children as well as other adult models.

Her husband is also her photographer and the event was supposed to be a photo shoot too, international media reports said.

She posts photos on the OnlyFans platform where paying subscribers can view them.

There was even a shot of the voluptuous 26-year-old in front of the pool in a barely-there bikini.

The boy, who was called Vio, was playing in the water with his younger brother and another child.

Then his father noticed that Vio seemed to be struggling, and rushed to save him.

Emergency services were called at 10pm on Monday (Feb 14).

"He was choking, so I jumped in to help him but it was too late," the father was quoted as saying.

The Sun reported that a rescue service spokesman said: "The father and mother carried the body of a two-year-old boy and asked for help at the entrance of the villa. Rescue workers tried to help and pumped the heart to try and save his life."

The parents were weeping as the officers rushed the boy to the hospital.

"The medical team provided the best assistance but were unable to save the child's life," the spokesman said.

Around 3am on Tuesday, the mother put up a post on her Facebook page: “I can’t take it anymore. I don’t want to live in this world.”

The boy's funeral was held on Wednesday. In front of his photo was a birthday cake.

The child would have turned three that day, Feb 16.

The mother wrote: “Attending Vio’s birthday for the last time.”

ALSO READ: Death of girl, 5, who drowned at condo pool after mum left her alone for 20 minutes ruled a tragic misadventure

This article was first published in The New Paper. Permission required for reproduction.

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2022-02-17 07:10:34Z
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Singapore resumes border reopening after pause due to Omicron outbreak - Reuters

SINGAPORE, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Singapore will expand quarantine-free travel to Hong Kong, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this month, its health ministry said on Wednesday, resuming border reopening after a pause due to an outbreak of the coronavirus.

The city-state will also restore and increase quotas under its vaccinated travel programme, which had been reduced in December to deal with the Omicron variant. read more

Singapore will streamline border measures for all travellers, and remove an entry approval requirement for eligible residents who are long-term pass holders, the ministry said, making it easier for expatriates to travel.

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However, some overseas workers with different permits typically employed in sectors such as construction and manufacturing will still need an entry approval.

The country intends to eventually scrap vaccinated travel lanes for visitors from designated countries to allow entry to all vaccinated visitors without quarantine, authorities said.

About two dozen countries are in the vaccinated travel lane programme including Australia, India, Malaysia, Britain and the United States. The new lane with Hong Kong is unilateral.

Singapore reported a record 19,179 local coronavirus infections on Tuesday, but a majority of the cases had mild or no symptoms. The government said the caseload was within expectations and that the overall situation in the healthcare system remained stable.

Singapore could see 15,000 to 20,000 COVID-19 daily cases until the current Omicron wave falls in a few weeks, Gan Kim Yong, minister of trade and industry, said in a briefing.

The government announced a raft of changes to local COVID-19 measures, including easing rules for close contacts of confirmed cases, removing routine testing for workers in several sectors and allowing more interactions at residences and workplaces.

Singapore will ease social and travel restrictions when the Omicron wave subsides, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said, adding that the new local rules on testing and isolation placed more weight on personal responsibility rather than legal requirements.

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Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore Editing by Ed Davies

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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2022-02-16 14:51:00Z
CAIiENq_EULN_a5cCNQY-jxnn5sqFggEKg0IACoGCAowt6AMMLAmMLT5lwM

Prince Andrew settles with sex abuse accuser Virginia Giuffre - CNA

NEW YORK: Britain's Prince Andrew has settled a lawsuit by Virginia Giuffre accusing the Duke of York of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager and also being abused by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein, a US federal court filing showed on Tuesday (Feb 15).

The settlement, including an undisclosed payment, was revealed in the joint filing in Manhattan federal court, where Giuffre had sued Queen Elizabeth's second son last August.

It spares Andrew from a potentially embarrassing series of disclosures and accusations in the months leading up to and during a trial, which was slated to begin late this year.

Andrew, 61, has denied Giuffre's accusations that he forced her to have sex more than two decades ago at a London home of former Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, and abused her at two Epstein properties. Giuffre, 38, has been one of Epstein's and Maxwell's most prominent accusers.

Lawyers for Giuffre and Andrew said the prince intends to make a substantial donation to Giuffre's charity in support of victims' rights.

The prince "never intended to malign Ms Giuffre's character, and he accepts that she has suffered both as an established victim of abuse and as a result of unfair public attacks," the filing said.

"Prince Andrew regrets his association with Epstein, and commends the bravery of Ms. Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others," the filing added. "He pledges to demonstrate his regret for his association with Epstein by supporting the fight against the evils of sex trafficking, and by supporting its victims."

The statement is a marked departure from an interview that Andrew gave the BBC in 2019 in which he failed to appear sympathetic toward Epstein's abuse victims, and refused to apologize for his friendship with Epstein.

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2022-02-15 16:44:00Z
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Three-year-old dies as Hong Kong's worst Covid-19 outbreak grows - The Straits Times

HONG KONG (BLOOMBERG) - A three-year-old girl is the latest fatality in Hong Kong's worsening coronavirus wave that has seen case numbers balloon and overwhelm the health system.

She died on Tuesday evening (Feb 15), the government said in a statement without disclosing if she had any pre-existing illnesses. A 100-year-old woman with chronic illness also died. They are the youngest and oldest residents to die in the current outbreak.

The toddler's death comes amid a global surge of young Covid-19 patients and raises concerns about the risk of severe illness, though such cases remain rare.

While the outbreak in Hong Kong is small by global standards, the elderly vaccination rate is low and officials only recently permitted inoculation for kids younger than 12.

Children as young as three were able to get the Sinovac Biotech vaccine from Tuesday, after the government lowered the age limit. Children between five and 11 can get the BioNTech shot from Wednesday.

The young girl tested positive and was transferred to an intensive care unit in critical condition on Sunday.

The fatality follows the recent death of a four-year-old boy who tested preliminary positive and whose case has been referred to the coroner.

Hong Kong is particularly vulnerable to Omicron due to its high density.

The variant is better at evading immunity acquired from vaccines and natural infection than earlier strains, allowing it to spread rapidly in communities, especially among susceptible individuals across all age groups.

There is no evidence that Omicron is targeting children more than other age groups as vaccination rates are higher in adults.

Children are less likely to develop serious symptoms because their immune system can respond to pathogens more swiftly.

That typically enables kids to successfully counter the infection before it has had a chance to spread to the lungs to cause pneumonia and the inflammatory cascade that can be life-threatening in seniors.

Hong Kong is set to announce at least 4,200 new infections on Wednesday, as well as more than 3,000 preliminary positive cases, local media reported, citing people they did not identify.

The city's testing capacity is strained and the total number of preliminary Covid-19 cases and patients waiting to be hospitalised reached about 12,000, local media reported on Wednesday, citing people they did not identify.

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2022-02-16 03:16:29Z
1295905189

Live news: Financial stocks lead Asia lower as Ukraine fears weigh on investors - Financial Times

UK pay picked up less than prices at the end of last year while job vacancies rose to a record and the unemployment rate hit a pandemic low.

Average weekly earnings, excluding bonuses, grew at an annual pace of 3.7 per cent in the final quarter of 2021, data published by the Office for National Statistics showed on Tuesday. However, prices were rising faster than pay, which meant that wages fell 0.8 per cent in real terms.

This is despite a tight labour market. The number of job vacancies in the three months to January rose to a record 1,298,400, an increase of 513,700 from its pre-coronavirus January to March 2020 level.

The number of employees based on HMRC real time data also increased by 108,000 between December and January to a record 29.5mn.

Sam Beckett, ONS head of economic statistics, said that the number of employees on payrolls rose in January 2022 and is well above pre-pandemic levels. However, he noted that the number of people in employment overall is below where it was before Covid-19 hit. “This is because there are now far fewer self-employed people,” he said.

The unemployment rate decreased 0.2 percentage points in the quarter to 4.1 per cent.

The number of people in employment also fell 38,000 in the three months to December compared with the previous quarter, the first contraction since the start of last year. This was a smaller contraction than the 65,000 forecast by economists polled by Reuters.

Unemployment and employment both fell because many people left the labour force during the pandemic.

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2022-02-15 08:14:46Z
CAIiEEeh6CR15p4s0p7tUB_KMrgqGAgEKg8IACoHCAow-4fWBzD4z0gw_fCpBg

FAQ: What you need to know about Novavax's non-mRNA COVID-19 vaccine - CNA

SINGAPORE: Singapore is expected to receive its first batch of Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine in the coming months after authorities announced on Monday (Feb 14) that it has been approved for use here.

The non-mRNA vaccine can be given as a booster shot, said the Ministry of Health.

It is the fourth vaccine available under the Pandemic Special Access Route (PSAR), after the ones by Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Sinovac.

Here’s what you need to know about Novavax's COVID-19 vaccine, manufactured under the name Nuvaxovid: 

HOW IS IT DIFFERENT FROM MRNA VACCINES? 

Nuvaxovid uses a protein-based technology that has been around for decades to create vaccines against illnesses such as shingles, whooping cough and hepatitis. 

The proteins in the Novavax vaccine mimic COVID-19’s spike protein. They were created in moth cells, then converted into nanoparticles that are harvested to make the vaccine.

This non-infectious spike protein is then inserted into the body to induce an immune response.

The main difference between Novavax and mRNA vaccines is that it is made with lab-grown copies of the COVID-19 spike protein, whereas mRNA vaccines include genetic instructions for the body to make its own spike protein.

HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE VACCINE?

Trials have shown that Nuvaxovid is about 90 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100 per cent effective in preventing severe infection. 

These findings were from its Phase III clinical study involving people aged 18 or older. 

Novavax is trialling the vaccine in people aged 12 to 17. It said last week that Nuvaxovid was 80 per cent effective against COVID-19 in a late-stage trial in that age group. 

DOES IT WORK AGAINST OMICRON? 

There is no data on whether Nuvaxovid is effective against the Omicron or Delta variants, said Singapore's expert committee on COVID-19 vaccination.

"These variants were not prevalent at the time Novavax conducted the clinical trials," the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) added.

The vaccine, however, has shown "consistent efficacy" against the Alpha variant. 

WHO CAN TAKE THE VACCINE?

HSA has approved the vaccine for people aged 18 and above. 

It is also safe for breastfeeding women, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). 

As Nuvaxovid is not a live virus vaccine, “it is biologically and clinically unlikely to pose a risk to the breastfeeding child”, WHO said, adding that it does not recommend discontinuing breastfeeding because of vaccination. 

The vaccine should be administered in two doses of 5 micrograms, three weeks apart. 

WHO SHOULDN'T TAKE THE VACCINE?

Severely immunocompromised people and those under 18 years old should not take the vaccine until safety and efficacy data for these groups is available, HSA said. 

Those who develop a severe allergic reaction after the first dose should not be given the second one, it added. 

Those with a history of anaphylaxis - a rapid onset of severe allergic reactions - should also not receive the vaccine, according to WHO.

People with a temperature of above 38.5 degrees Celsius or who have been diagnosed with acute COVID-19 should postpone vaccination until they no longer have a fever or after recovering from acute illness and do not need to be isolated, WHO added. 

WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?

There have been “no significant safety concerns”, said Singapore's expert committee on COVID-19 vaccination.

Common side effects include injection site pain and/or tenderness, fatigue, headache and muscle aches. They usually resolve on their own within a few days.

"These symptoms are reactions generally associated with vaccinations and expected as part of the body’s natural response to build immunity against COVID-19," HSA said.

WHAT DOES THE EXPERT COMMITTEE RECOMMEND?

Singapore's expert committee said that while Nuvaxovid is an "acceptable alternative" to the mRNA vaccines for those aged 18 and above, "mRNA vaccines still remain the preferred vaccines due to their higher efficacy and the stronger immune response they generate". 

Nuvaxovid is, however, recommended over the Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine, which is less effective. 

"Nuvaxovid is preferred to Sinovac-Coronavac for persons medically ineligible to receive the mRNA vaccines," the committee said. 

"Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccine should only be used by persons who are medically ineligible for the mRNA vaccines and Nuvaxovid."

CAN NUVAXOVID BE USED AS A BOOSTER?

Yes, but only for those aged 18 and above, although it is less effective than boosting with an mRNA vaccine. 

A trial in the UK with more than 2,800 participants showed that when used as a booster, Nuvaxovid produced "a substantial rise in antibody level and cellular response, said the expert committee. 

However, "this was to a lower extent when compared to boosting with mRNA vaccines", the committee noted. 

As a booster, one dose of the Nuvaxovid vaccine is recommended about five months after the last dose of the primary series vaccination. 

WHICH COUNTRIES HAVE APPROVED THE VACCINE?

Novavax’s vaccine has been approved in several countries, including Australia, Britain, Germany, New Zealand and South Korea. It has also applied for authorisation in the US. 

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2022-02-14 08:02:29Z
1146518087

Vietnam to end COVID-19 curbs on international flights from Feb 15 - CNA

HANOI: Vietnam will remove its COVID-19 restrictions on international passenger flights with all markets starting Feb 15, with no limitation on the number of flights, the state-run Tuoi Tre newspaper reported on Sunday (Feb 13).

The Southeast Asian country imposed tight border controls at the start of the pandemic to keep out COVID-19, with some initial success, but that dealt a blow to its burgeoning tourism sector which accounted for about 10 per cent of gross domestic product.

"Vietnam will lift restrictions on international flights starting Feb 15. The frequency of flights will be restored to pre-pandemic level," Tuoi Tre said, citing Dinh Viet Son, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam.

Vietnam has already informed its partners about that new policy and only China has not yet agreed to resume commercial flights with Vietnam, Son was quoted as saying.

Vietnam had already begun gradually resuming international flights with 15 markets from the beginning of this year while easing quarantine requirements, with vaccinated passengers now needing only three days of self-isolation.

The Southeast Asian country has recorded nearly 2.5 million COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began, and around 39,000 deaths. Nearly 98 per cent of its 98 million people have received at least two vaccine doses, official data showed.

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2022-02-13 08:43:56Z
1261372276

Love is (still) in the air: How Hong Kong celebs and others are spending Valentine's Day - CNA Luxury

Back before you-know-what, romantic Hong Kong residents would think nothing of whisking away their paramour for a weekend escape in a luxurious, sun-kissed resort in Thailand, Bali or The Philippines.

Fast forward two-and-a-bit years, however, for a completely different St Valentine's Day. While for some the thought of two weeks holed up in a hotel room with your lover is the idea of bliss, when it's an enforced quarantine stay, then the romance factor understandably plummets.

That grim reality has faced all travellers returning to Hong Kong for more than a year now, meaning that exotic escapes are off the cards. Instead, it's all about making the most of the city with rose-filled staycation suites, private yacht charters and plenty of aphrodisiacs in decadent dining.

Here are some of the ways that love is still in the air in Hong Kong – even if dinners out past 6pm are still currently banned – as well as insights from local stars as to how they're spending the day dedicated to love.

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2022-02-11 06:40:53Z
CBMiaWh0dHBzOi8vY25hbHV4dXJ5LmNoYW5uZWxuZXdzYXNpYS5jb20vZXhwZXJpZW5jZXMvaG93LWhvbmcta29uZy1jZWxlYnMtYXJlLXNwZW5kaW5nLXZhbGVudGluZXMtZGF5LTE5NDQ2NtIBAA

UK's Prince Charles tests positive for COVID-19 for a second time - CNA

LONDON: Prince Charles has tested positive for COVID-19, his office said on Thursday (Feb 10), the second time that the heir to the British throne has contracted the disease.

Charles, 73, had been due to attend an event in Winchester, in southwestern England, to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of his mother Queen Elizabeth and was "deeply disappointed" he could no longer attend, his office, Clarence House, said.

"This morning The Prince of Wales has tested positive for COVID-19 and is now self-isolating," it said in a statement on Twitter.

There was no immediate comment on his condition or when he last saw his 95-year-old mother.

On Wednesday, the prince attended a reception for the British Asian Trust where pictures showed him chatting to other guests including British finance minister Rishi Sunak. Health minister Sajid Javid and interior minister Priti Patel were also among those who were due to attend.

Charles, who said in December both he and his wife Camilla had received their COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, previously tested positive for the virus in March 2020 when he said he had been "lucky" to have suffered only mild symptoms.

He spent seven days in self-isolation at his Birkhall home in Scotland before resuming his duties. Charles's son Prince William also contracted COVID-19 shortly after his father in 2020.

Camilla was still performing engagements in London on Thursday. She said she was "very, very honoured" and "very touched" by Elizabeth publicly stating her desire that Charles's second wife should become Queen Consort when he becomes king.

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2022-02-10 13:07:08Z
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How did a Hong Kong start-up get FDA nod for its rapid test kit? - South China Morning Post

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1. How did a Hong Kong start-up get FDA nod for its rapid test kit?  South China Morning Post
2. New World to donate 200,000 Covid-19 test kits to Hong Kong’s poor families  South China Morning Post
3. Indicaid test kit output to rise fivefold in Hong Kong’s ‘fifth wave’  South China Morning Post
4. ‘Beijing to send support teams, millions of test kits’ to help Hong Kong Covid fight  South China Morning Post
5. View Full coverage on Google News

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2022-02-10 00:00:29Z
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Winter Olympics: Russian media say teen figure-skating star tested positive for banned drug - The Straits Times

BEIJING (REUTERS) - Russian media on Wednesday (Feb 9) reported that 15-year-old figure skater Kamila Valieva had tested positive for a banned drug, after the ceremony to present her and her teammates with their Olympic gold medals was postponed for unexplained legal reasons.

Newspapers RBC and Kommersant named the drug as Trimetazidine, which is typically used to treat chest pain, or angina.

The news broke late at night in Beijing, where Valieva was part of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) ensemble that won the figure skating team event on Monday ahead of the United States and Japan.

Reuters attempted to reach the ROC chef de mission for comment but he did not answer his phone. The ROC earlier declined to comment on reports that Valieva had returned a positive test.

The teenager delivered one of the highlights of the Beijing Games so far when she landed the first quadruple jumps by a woman in Olympic competition. She was one of four ROC skaters who did not appear at their practice sessions on Wednesday.

Figure skating is a prestigious sport in Russia, which has an outstanding record at Olympic and world championships.

Any move to penalise Valieva or strip the team of their medals would likely cause a national outcry.

Prominent journalist Vasily Konov, deputy general producer at Russian sports channel Match-TV, said without citing sources that the sample in question had been taken two months ago.

"The drug trimetazidine does not help an athlete in any way. At all. It was found in one single sample in December. A minuscule amount. Nothing in her samples before or since," he wrote on social media.

"There is no doping in the conventional sense. No! This cardiac drug has no impact on... performance. Now leave Kamila in peace."

Former Russian pairs skater Tatiana Volosozhar, who won two gold medals at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, showed solidarity with Valieva on social media, calling for the use of the Russian hashtag #Iwillneverbelieve to send the teenager support.

Her post was "liked" on Instagram by Valieva herself.

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2022-02-09 19:27:42Z
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China tech worker's death reignites industry overtime debate - CNA

The hashtag "Bilibili worker suddenly died after working overtime during Lunar New Year" went viral on the Twitter-like Weibo platform on Monday when a workplace blogger reported the man's death, citing anonymous colleagues claiming that he was forced to work overtime.

The same day, a Weibo user claiming to be the man's sister wrote a long post thanking the blogger and alleging that Bilibili tried to suppress news of his death internally.

"Is it that hard to give a sincere apology? Does my brother's 20something-year-old life not count?" she wrote, in a post that gained more than 870,000 likes.

Some Weibo users claiming to be Bilibili employees accused the firm of forcing content moderators to work 12-hour shifts without breaks during the Spring Festival holiday.

The firm said that the employee died of a brain haemorrhage last Friday evening, having sought medical treatment after he did not show up to work that afternoon.

However, Bilibili denied overtime allegations, saying that the employee "was assigned to work eight hours per day with two days off after five days of work, as part of the Spring Festival shift rota".

Several Chinese tech firms have pledged to cut working hours after complaints and activism among employees, including a crowd-sourced spreadsheet of different firms' working hours compiled last year which mysteriously got deleted.

Since last year, Beijing authorities have pushed to improve labour conditions for gig economy workers serving giant tech platforms, as part of a regulatory crackdown on the industry.

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2022-02-09 12:02:08Z
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Singapore researchers to launch new 'sustainable' microsatellite to explore space - CNA

REDUCED DRAG

In addition, NTU will develop a "predictive aerodynamic model" to optimise the satellite design for reduced drag.

Researchers will evaluate different materials that can protect against atomic oxygen corrosion, and measure the plasma concentration, velocity and temperature in the ionosphere to enhance the understanding of spacecraft charging. 

"Spacecraft charging is a phenomenon where a negative charge starts to build on a satellite's surface due to hot electrons found in space, which can cause damage to electronic systems onboard the satellites," explained the organisations.

The new microsatellite is also designed to be sustainable. At the end of its operational life, its engine can be turned off and the satellite will "de-orbit" and descend to Earth within a few days.

It will eventually burn up in the atmosphere during re-entry, leaving no debris in space. 

This "passive clean-up" will help to minimise the risk of collisions in future for other VLEO spacecraft, as compared to operating at Low Earth Orbits where it is "increasingly getting overcrowded", added the news release.

Professor Lam Khin Yong, senior vice president of research at NTU, said the new microsatellite will be another milestone for Singapore and the university.

"Satellite technologies are always multidisciplinary and complex, requiring the best minds in various fields, from power systems engineering to aerodynamics and software design, to work together as a team to develop new solutions that do not exist today," he said.

Dr David Tan, executive director of the Office for Space Technology and Industry, said: "The establishment of a new consortium to develop solutions that will enable satellites to operate at very low earth orbit is testament to the diverse capabilities of Singapore’s industry and academia in developing disruptive technologies for space."

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2022-02-09 06:00:00Z
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Malaysia economy likely returned to growth in Q4, Omicron a threat: Poll - CNA

BENGALURU: Malaysia's economy likely bounced back to growth in the final quarter of 2021, propelled by strong exports and private investments, but the fast-spreading Omicron coronavirus variant poses a threat to the outlook, a Reuters poll found.

Growth in Southeast Asia's third-largest economy rebounded last quarter to 3.3 per cent year-on-year after shrinking 4.5 per cent in the July to September period, according to the median forecast of 20 economists polled from Feb 3 to Feb 8.

Forecasts for the change in gross domestic product (GDP), due to be released on Friday (Feb 11), ranged from 1.5 per cent to 6.3 per cent, highlighting uncertainty over the pandemic's impact on output and activity.

"Q4 2021's economic recovery reflected relaxation of virus containment measures as Malaysia made further progress towards economic normalization," noted Chua Han Teng, an economist at DBS Group Research.

"Looser virus curbs not only benefited private consumption and services activity, but also aided manufacturing activity and exports, which played catch-up in fulfilling order backlogs caused by the lockdowns in Q3 2021."

Malaysia's exports and industrial production rose strongly in December from a year earlier, suggesting a sharp recovery in economic activity.

The economy benefited from higher commodity prices and robust demand for semiconductors amid a global shortage of chips, which power everything from cars to remote work equipment.

However, a significant economic slowdown in China, Malaysia's largest trading partner, posed a major challenge to the resource-rich country.

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) at its Jan 20 meeting warned that risks to the outlook were tilted to the downside.

A Reuters poll on the longer-term outlook for Malaysia taken in mid-January was relatively upbeat, predicting 4.3 per cent growth this quarter - with a 0.7 per cent to 6.6 per cent forecast range - and 5.8 per cent overall expansion in 2022.

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2022-02-09 00:08:00Z
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