UPI – A rare copy of Marvel Comics’ The Incredible Hulk #1 smashed a world record when it was auctioned for USD490,000.
ComicConnect.com, which handled the sale, said the comic book, which was sold to an anonymous buyer, is a rare object for collectors. The auctioned comic is made all the more rare by its 9.0 Very Fine/Near Mint quality grading.
“Highly-graded copies of Hulk #1 are notoriously hard to find, due to the cheap paper used and the smudging of the grey colour on the front cover,” ComicConnect.com Chief Operating Officer Vincent Zurzolo said in the company’s announcement.
Zurzolo said there are only seven copies of the same issue known to exist with higher ratings, and it is extremely rare to find one offered for sale.
“The new owner of this book now owns a special piece of American mythology that will continue to gain in value,” Zurzolo said.
“It will be a cornerstone of his collectible investment portfolio. Hulk will only continue to get bigger with time, if you know what I mean.”
Zurzolo said the sale represents the highest price ever paid for a copy of The Incredible Hulk #1. He said the sale is part of a growing trend in vintage comic book sales.
MOSCOW (AP) – The President of Kazakhstan said yesterday he authorised law enforcement to open fire on “terrorists” and shoot to kill, a move that comes after days of extremely violent protests in the former Soviet nation.
In a televised address to the nation, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev blamed the unrest on “terrorists” and “militants” and said that he had authorised the use of lethal force against them. “Those who don’t surrender will be eliminated,” Tokayev said.
He also blasted calls for talks with the protesters made by some other countries as “nonsense”. “What negotiations can be held with criminals, murderers?” Tokayev said.
Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry reported yesterday that 26 protesters had been killed during the unrest, 18 were wounded and more than 3,000 people have been detained. A total of 18 law enforcement officers were reported killed as well, and over 700 sustained injuries.
Kazakhstan is experiencing the worst street protests since the country gained independence three decades ago. The demonstrations began over a near-doubling of prices for a type of vehicle fuel and quickly spread across the country, reflecting wider discontent over the rule of the same party since independence.
Protests have turned extremely violent, with government buildings set ablaze and scores of protesters and more than a dozen law enforcement officers killed. Internet across the country has been shut down, and two airports closed, including one in Almaty, the country’s largest city.
In a concession, the government on Thursday announced a 180-day price cap on vehicle fuel and a moratorium on utility rate increases. Tokayev has vacillated between trying to mollify the protesters, including accepting the resignation of his government, and promising harsh measures to quell the unrest, which he blamed on “terrorist bands”.
Riot police walk to block demonstrators during a protest in Almaty, Kazakhstan. PHOTO: AP
A Bangladeshi national was issued a BND500 compound fine for committing an offence under S34(2) of the Telecommunications Order, 2001 by offering for sale and selling telecommunications equipment without a valid licence.
The offender was given 14 working days to settle the fine.
During an investigation, the officers from the Enforcement Unit of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) found the man offering for sale several walkie-talkies and other telecommunication accessories.
The offender did not possess a valid dealer’s licence from the AITI to sell telecommunications equipment.
The walkie-talkies were also not approved and there was no evidence of any import permit documents necessary to assure that the walkie-talkies conformed to national safety and technical standards.
AITI cautioned the public that using non-conforming telecommunications equipment may cause interference to other telecommunications equipment, stations, networks or systems.
Other effects include power disruptions or leakages, inability of the device to function as intended as well as causing harm.
The public can also help in the efforts to stop unlawful activities by e-mailing info@aiti.gov.bn to lodge complaints.
The illegal and undocumented telecommunication equipment found during the investigation. PHOTOS: AITIAITI enforcement officers with the offender.
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) held a Doa Kesyukuran ceremony yesterday to welcome the return of 30 RBAF personnel who were deployed for 13 months as part of the Malaysian Battalion 850-8 (MALBATT) under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission.
The RBAF contingent, led by Major Zulazri bin Gapor returned to Brunei Darussalam on
December 3, 2021.
The event, held at Surau Ad-Difa’, Bolkiah Garrison were attended by Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof and Commander of the RBAF Major General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin
Haji Sahat.
Service Commanders, RBAF Joint Force Commander, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, officers and personnel of the Ministry of Defence and the RBAF were also present.
The event, which coincided with the ministry and RBAF’s Halaqah Jumaat, began with Sayyidul Istighfar, recitation of verses of Al-Quran, a Tazkirah and Dikir Marhaban.
Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof presents certificates to members of the contingent. PHOTO: RBAF
The ceremony concluded with the recitation of Doa Kesyukuran and Sunat Dhuha prayers.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi presented certificates to the contingent officers and personnel.
RBAF has participated in UNIFIL peacekeeping missions for more than a decade since 2008 as part of RBAF’s commitment towards international peace and security under the United Nations’ Resolution 1701 (UN Resolution 1701:2006).
According to RBAF, the international mission is in line with the Sultanate’s aspirations highlighted in the Brunei Darussalam Defence White Papers. These peacekeeping missions are an important investment not only for the image of RBAF and the personnel involved but also for the country in the context of defence diplomacy.
On September 3, 2021, RBAF continued its deployment of personnel to the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission under MALBATT 850-9 contingent.
TOKYO (AP) – Japan approved new restrictions yesterday to curb a sharp rise in coronavirus cases in the three most affected southwestern regions of Okinawa, Yamaguchi and Hiroshima.
“Given the sudden surge in infections, the medical system runs the risk of suffering a heavy burden in the near future,” Minister in Charge of COVID-19 responses Daishiro Yamagiwa said at a government panel meeting.
The new measures include earlier closing hours for restaurants and restrictions on large-scale events.
Details on these measures, which will begin tomorrow and last through the end of the month, are decided at the local level and will likely vary.
Japan has undergone periods of similar restrictions over the past two years in various areas, including Tokyo.
The last order for restricted activity was lifted in September.
CAIRO (AP) – Sudanese security forces fired tear gas and live ammunition on Thursday, killing at least three people as thousands once again took to the streets in the capital of Khartoum and other cities to protest the October military takeover of the country.
The spasm of violence is the latest since the October 25 coup that has scuttled hopes of a peaceful transition to democracy in Sudan. Thursday’s fatalities bring to at least 60 the number of people killed since the coup, and hundreds have been wounded in clashes with security forces trying to thwart protests, according to the Sudan Doctors Committee, which tracks the casualty tolls.
In Omdurman, the twin city of Khartoum, two protesters were killed on Thursday, while in the Sudanese capital’s district of Bahri one demonstrator was shot and killed, according to activist Nazim Sirag and the Sudan Doctors Committee.
Sirag said one of the fatalities in Omdurman was a man who was shot in the head and died before reaching the hospital. Many were wounded, including by gunshots, the activist and the committee said.
The United Nations (UN) again urged restraint from Sudanese security forces, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday. He said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “has been on the phone on this issue for the last few days” and even before that, and UN special envoy Volker Perthes who is in Khartoum has been talking to partners and key parties over the last few days.
People chant slogans and burn tyres during a protest in Khartoum, Sudan. PHOTO: AP
Earlier on Thursday, as protesters took to the streets, activists posted live videos on social media showing protesters waving the Sudanese flag in several cities and chanting: ‘Power to the people!’ and ‘The military belongs in the barracks!’
Social media also swarmed with images showing tear gas clouding rallies in Khartoum, and protesters hurling stones and throwing back empty gas canisters at security forces.
The Sudanese Professionals Association, which has spearheaded many rallies since the coup, called earlier on protesters to march to the presidential palace, the seat of the ruling military government in Khartoum.
Thursday’s protests come less than a week after Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok resigned from office citing failure to reach a compromise between the generals and the country’s
pro-democracy movement.
Hamdok was ousted in the coup, only to be reinstated a month later following a deal with the military meant to calm tensions and anti-coup protests.
Brunei Darussalam recorded 27 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the national tally of confirmed cases to 15,577.
Of the new cases, 24 were local and three were import cases.
The latest number of COVID-19 infections in the country was shared by the Ministry of Health (MoH) in its daily statement.
The new cases were detected through 2,376 laboratory tests carried out in the last 24 hours. The infection rate of positive cases is currently at 1.1 per cent.
Meanwhile, eight cases have recovered, bringing the number of recovered COVID-19 cases to 15,345. There are 130 active cases.
The bed occupancy rate at isolation centres nationwide is 3.0 per cent. No cases are in Category 4 and 5.
As of January 6, 94.6 per cent of the total population had received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 93.6 per cent had received two doses and 26.6 per cent had their boosters shots.
The Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) has highlighted their desire to participate in tournaments hosted by the Asean Football Federation (AFF) this year amid hopes to kickstart competitive football in the regional scene.
The national football governing body said that their participation will be subjected to the national teams’ capability to train and the approval to travel overseas.
The five main tournaments that FABD plans to take part are the AFF Under-23 Championship 2022 in Cambodia from February 14 to 26; AFF Futsal Championship 2022 in Thailand from April 2 to 10; AFF Futsal Club Championship in Thailand from August 22 to 28; AFF Under-16 Boys Championship 2022 in Indonesia from August 6 to 20; and the AFF Under-19 Boys Championship 2022 in Indonesia at the end of August.
FABD views these regional tournaments as an important platform to raise the standard of the national teams and individual footballers.
It also hoped that the participating players will take the opportunity to learn what they gain from the experience and use them to improve the quality of football in the country.
Brunei Darussalam’s last involvement with the AFF competitions was in 2019. FABD sent an under-16 team in July and under-19 team in August that year.
The country did not participate in 2020 and 2021 due to the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
JOHANNESBURG (AP) – South Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), is celebrating its 110th anniversary this weekend amid deep divisions, graft allegations and broad challenges that saw it perform dismally in local government elections last year.
The anniversary event taking place in the country’s northern Limpopo province today, comes days after a state-backed judicial investigation revealed how some of the party’s top officials had benefitted from corruption.
The ANC remains divided between those backing President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is also president of the party, and those loyal to former President Jacob Zuma, who has been embroiled in legal battles since he left office in 2018.
Zuma’s refusal to appear before the commission of inquiry saw him sentenced to 15 months in prison in July last year, which sparked riots that descended into widespread looting and destruction of property in the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces. More than 340 people died in the rioting.
Ramaphosa acknowledged the problems when speaking to ANC supporters this week.
South African President and African National Congress President Cyril Ramaphosa at a ceremony in Pretoria, South Africa. PHOTO: AP
“We have lots of challenges, nearly on every front. We have COVID-19. We also had corruption scandals… that we had to deal with. It involved people dipping their fingers into money that was supposed to be utilised for (personal protective gear),” said Ramaphosa, citing one of several corruption scandals.
He said the loss of jobs due to the COVID-19 had compounded South Africa’s already high unemployment rate of 34 per cent and he highlighted the July unrest as one of the major events that set the country back.
“It’s a broad spectrum of challenges and problems. It needs leadership but also needs us to work together, and to ask ourselves whether we give in… or are we going to defend the gains that we have made?” Ramaphosa said.
The ANC was founded in 1912 to oppose white minority rule and to campaign for Black South Africans to have full democratic rights. The party came to power in 1994 when the country’s first democratic elections were held and Nelson Mandela became the first Black president.
However, the ANC’s support has declined in recent years and it received less than 50 per cent of votes cast in local elections in October, its worst-ever showing at the polls.
The ANC will try to use the anniversary to win back some of the support they have lost over the years, political analyst Hlengiwe Ndlovu said.
Five firefighters from the Bandar Seri Begawan Fire Station, led by SO Haji Embran bin Haji Ya’akub, responded to a vehicle fire at the parking lot of Bangunan Athirah in Batu Satu recently.
According to the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD), an emergency call was received at 7.41pm. Upon arrival at the scene, personnel found the fire extinguished by security guard Md Nurfaiq bin Halim using ‘Dry Powder’ 4kg fire extinguisher. Firefighters extinguished the remaining embers and removed the car’s battery.
The cause and estimated cost of damages are under investigation. In light of the incident, the public is urged to inspect their vehicles for leakage from the pump.
Vehicle owners must ensure that modifications or additions to the engine’s electrical system and car accessories are done by qualified mechanics adhering to proper standards.
A FRD officer at the scene of the incident. PHOTO: FRD
