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    Boy solves Rubik’s Cube while riding bicycle, sets world record

    NDTV – Solving the Rubik’s Cube is not a cakewalk. Many people who have attempted to solve it have either lost patience or interest after repeated failures. But a boy from Chennai solved the puzzle with unbelievable speed. Not just that – he solved a Rubik’s cube in mere seconds while riding a bicycle, a feat that has earned him a Guinness World Record.

    Guiness World Records shared a video of Jayadharshan Venkatesan on Instagram, saying he solved a Rubik’s cube in just 14.32 seconds. The video showed Jayadharshan riding a bicycle and solving the Rubik’s Cube with both hands. He raised his hand the moment he finished the challenge.

    “Speedcubing on a bicycle – 14.32 seconds by Jayadharshan Venkatesan (from India),” said Guinness World Records in the caption.

    The record keeper added, in a comment, that Jayadharshan was working on his speed solving skills for two years until he was confident that he would be able to achieve this title.

    The social media upload has garnered 262K views and several comments congratulating the boy.

    Jayadharshan Venkatesan solved the Rubik’s Cube in 14 seconds. PHOTO: INSTAGRAM/ GUINESS WORLD RECORDS

    “Now, that’s a record,” a user wrote.

    Pointing at the boy’s expression, another said, “The lad isn’t even smiling, he means business”.

    “Impressive for his age, but the original speed cube solver can break it with some practice if he/she knows how to ride a bicycle,” read a comment.

    A person user drew attention towards Jayadharshan’s decision to combine cycling with solving the puzzle. “It’s nice to do it, but the combination of activities people do for world records is amazing”.

    Two years ago, another person from Chennai had tried to enter the records book by solving the most number of Rubik’s cube underwater. Illayaram Sekar entered the Guinness World Records by solving six cubes in one breadth. He spent two minutes and 17 seconds underwater and beat the previous record of five Rubik’s cubes solved under water.

    New daily cases dip below 2,000 for the first time this month

    James Kon

    The number of daily new COVID-19 cases in the country has dropped below 2,000 for the first time this month with 1,666 cases detected yesterday. This brought the national tally of confirmed cases to 120,600 cases. Of the new cases, 1,430 were from ART results uploaded to the BruHealth app, whereas 236 were from 2,278 RT-PCR laboratory tests performed in the past 24 hours.

    One case has passed away and is not categorised as death due to COVID-19.

    The latest situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country was shared by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah in a press conference yesterday.

    Also in attendance was Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman.

    On the tragic news of the death, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew representing “the Ministry of Health as well as the people of Brunei Darussalam, would like to express our deepest condolences to the case’s family. May the case’s soul receive blessings and be placed among the pious”.

    Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah speaking at the press conference. PHOTO: BAHYIAH BAKIR

    He also revealed that there are currently 22 cases in Category 4, an addition of six new cases. Meanwhile there is a reduction of two cases in Category 5, bringing the total number of cases in the category to five. The total number of cases in Categories 4 and 5 makes up 10.4 per cent of the treatment capacity at the National Isolation Centre.

    The minister shared that 5,274 cases have recovered, bringing the total number of recoveries to 100,048 with total active cases at 20,375.

    At present, the bed occupancy rate at isolation centres nationwide is six per cent, the minister said, with 214 active cases in isolation centres and hospitals, adding that a total of 20,161 positive cases are currently undergoing home self-isolation.

    On the current rate of vaccination, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew said as of March 16 59.2 per cent of the population had received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 94 per cent had received at least one dose.

    Meanwhile, there were no violations found during the movement restriction from midnight to 4am yesterday.

    S Korea reports record COVID cases amid Omicron surge

    SEOUL (AFP) – South Korea reported a record of over 600,000 coronavirus cases yesterday, with authorities saying the country was near the peak of an Omicron-fuelled infection wave.

    According to World Health Organization (WHO) data, South Korea leads the world in newly reported cases in the last seven days with 2,417,174 infections, followed by Vietnam with 1,776,045.

    The 621,328 case tally recorded yesterday is South Korea’s highest daily figure since the pandemic began.

    But critical cases and deaths remain comparatively low in the country of around 52 million where the majority of adults are fully vaccinated and have received a booster shot, official data shows.

    “We have been preparing for an increase in the number of patients since Omicron became dominant,” a senior official at the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Lee Sang-won said yesterday.

    People wait in line to be tested for Covid-19 at a testing centre in Seoul. PHOTO: AFP

    But even the government’s modelling did not anticipate this many, he said.

    “The number is much greater than what was expected,” he said.

    Health authorities believe South Korea is nearing the peak of an Omicron-driven wave, but Lee said they were recalculating “the scale of the confirmed cases or how long the ‘peak period’ is going to last”.

    Once it has passed, officials believe the country will be able to start getting back to normal.
    “I think this crisis will be the last major crisis in the overall response to COVID-19,” senior Health Ministry official Sohn Young-rae said on Wednesday.

    Since the pandemic began in 2020, 11,481 people have died of COVID-19 in South Korea, according to health authorities.

    Its total COVID-19 fatality rate stands at 0.14 per cent as of yesterday, compared to 0.05 to 0.1 per cent for seasonal flu, according to official statistics.

    The Omicron surge and its economic implications will pose an immediate challenge to South Korea’s new president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol, who narrowly won last week.

    Seoul abandoned its “trace, test and treat” approach last month as a dramatic surge in Omicron cases threatened to overwhelm its healthcare system.

    Instead of mass testing and aggressive contact tracing, patients with mild or moderate symptoms are now asked to look after themselves at home.

    Authorities are also prioritising PCR testing for people aged 60 or older.

    The country has continued to relax its social distancing rules, under pressure from small businesses owners who said years-long COVID-19 restrictions had pushed them to the brink.

    Lyft details fuel surcharge to help offset rising gas prices

    AP – Lyft will add a fuel surcharge of 55 cents to each ride given by drivers to offset surging gasoline prices.

    The company said earlier this week that it would be following DoorDash and Uber who also announced surcharges this week, and on Wednesday it released details of its plan.

    The company said in a blog post that the surcharge will be effective beginning next week, with all of the money going directly to its drivers. The measure will remain in place for at least the next 60 days, Lyft said.

    The surcharge is not applicable in New York City due to a recent 5.3-per-cent increase in the minimum earnings standard for drivers there. The company is also working to have the surcharge implemented in Nevada, but said the state’s regulatory requirements prevent an immediate rollout there.

    Lyft drivers can also apply for a Lyft Direct debit card to get an increased four to five per cent cash-back on gas purchases through June 30. Lyft also has a partnership with GetUpside that was announced in January that can help most of its drivers get cash-back on gas purchases.

    “We’ll continue monitoring gas prices, listening to how drivers are being impacted, and finding ways to support them as things evolve,” the San Francisco company said.

    The company’s shares rose four per cent on Wednesday.

    DoorDash said on Tuesday that it will give drivers 10 per cent cash-back when they buy gas using DasherDirect, the company’s debit card designed for drivers. The company said it will also start paying weekly bonuses for drivers who drive the most miles.

    Kia Neros that are part of the Lyft ride-hailing fleet sit unused in a lot near Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. PHOTO: AP

    MoH celebrates Israk Mikraj

    James Kon

    The Ministry of Health (MoH) and its departments held an Israk Mikraj 1443 Hijrah celebration yesterday.

    Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar was the guest of honour.

    Held at the Ministry’s surau, the celebration was also attended by Permanent Secretary at the MoH Haji Maswadi bin Haji Mohsin, as well as deputy permanent secretaries at the MoH.

    The ceremony began with a recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and a special religious talk titled ‘Marhaba Ya Ramadhan’ delivered by lecturer at Islamic Da’wah Centre Pengiran Reduan bin Pengiran Haji Badaruddin.

    The celebration is held annually by the MoH to commemorate Israk Mikraj and foster closer ties among officers and staff of the ministry.

    Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohad Isham bin Haji Jaafar giving his remarks. PHOTOS: MoH
    Ministry of Health’s officers and staff at the celebration

    Britain approves AstraZeneca’s antibody-based COVID-19 therapy

    CNA – Britain’s medicines regulator has approved AstraZeneca’s antibody-based COVID-19 treatment for adults with poor immune response, marking a major step in the fight against the pandemic as infections surge globally amid the spread of the Omicron variant.

    The decision to grant approval for the treatment was endorsed by the government’s independent scientific advisory body after reviewing the evidence, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said yesterday.

    Figures showing a global rise in COVID-19 cases could herald a much bigger problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this week, warning nations to remain vigilant as some countries also report a drop in testing rates.

    Anglo-Swedish drugmaker AstraZeneca’s antibody blend, branded Evusheld, was found to cut the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 77 per cent in trials, with protection lasting for at least six months after a single dose, the MHRA said.

    It has already been authorised in the United States (US) to prevent COVID-19 infections in individuals with weak immune systems or a history of severe side effects from coronavirus vaccines.

    Britain has given it a similar approval and the MHRA said the treatment, given as an intra-muscular injection, should not be administered to people infected with the COVID-causing SARS-CoV-2 virus or who have had recent exposure to someone with the virus.

    However, the regulator has cautioned that there was insufficient data to evaluate fully Evusheld’s effectiveness against the Omicron variant or how long it would work against the variant, adding that it is liaising with AstraZeneca on that.

    AstraZeneca in December said a lab study had found the antibody blend retained neutralising activity against Omicron, reporting the first such data for the treatment.

    AstraZeneca’s Evusheld was found to cut the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 by 77 per cent in trials. PHOTO: CNA

    Turkish Embassy holds blood donation drive amid shortages

    The Embassy of Turkey in Brunei Darussalam initiated a blood donation drive among its staff to send a positive message on Wednesday.

    Turkish Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Professor Dr Hamit Ersoy said the donation drive was not only “a good opportunity to exercise our social responsibility and give back to the community but a response to the news on shortages at the Blood Donation Centre at Hospital Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS)”.

    “It is also a chance to thank the health workers for their service in the COVID-19 pandemic response,” the ambassador added, while encouraging more blood donation campaigns as “we all should help answer the call Muslims keeping in mind it will be more challenging to do so once Ramadhan starts”.

    The ambassador and spouse Lale, together with embassy staff, donated blood at the Blood Donation Centre at (RIPAS) Hospital.

    The Head of the Blood Bank welcomed the foreign dignitaries and embassy staff, during which Senior Scientific Officer Chong Kim Moi and supervisor Haji Iqmal bin Haji Ismail ensured the needs of the Turkish Embassy were accommodated.

    The ambassador also congratulated the doctors and health workers at the centre, while noting that Medicine Day is celebrated in Turkey every March 14.

    Turkish to Brunei Darussalam Professor Dr Hamit Ersoy at the Blood Donation Centre. PHOTO: THE EMBASSY OF TURKEY IN BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

    Netflix tests sharing accounts outside household

    CNA – Netflix Inc is testing features including one that will allow accounts to be shared outside members’ household at an extra cost, the streaming pioneer said on Wednesday.

    The company is testing the features in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru allowing members on its standard and premium plans to add up to two people.

    Netflix is also studying another feature that will allow members on a basic, standard or premium plan to transfer their profile information to a new account or a sub account retaining data such as viewing history and personalised recommendations.

    The company currently allows people who live together to share their Netflix account.

    However, the plans have created some confusion about when and how accounts can be shared, the company said, adding it is impacting its ability to invest in new content.

    The company said it would test the features for their utility before making changes in other parts of the world.

    The company is testing the features in Chile, Costa Rica and Peru. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

    Brunei leaves for Laos to prepare for friendly

    Fadhil Yunus

    The Brunei Darussalam’s national football team left for Vientiane, Laos yesterday ahead of an international friendly match against Laos at the New Laos National Stadium on March 27.

    The friendly match is part of the senior team‘s training for the FIFA window from March 21 to April 3.

    Team Manager Pengiran Haji Mohd Waslimin bin Pengiran Setia Jaya Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin led the delegation, alongside Assistant Team Manager Ah Chua Bangau.

    The coaching team also comprises Haji Mohd Rosanan Abdullah Samak and Muhammad Ali Mustafa.

    The Laos friendly match will mark the senior team’s first international appearance since the start of the pandemic.

    Meanwhile the Laotians, who begin their friendly match series against Mongolia on March 23, will be preparing ahead of the upcoming Southeast Asian Games this May.

    The country’s governing body Lao Football Federation said that the majority of the team will consist players under 23 yearas with the exception of three overaged players led by Billy Ketkeophomphone.

    Brunei had previously held training camps in the past FIFA windows but are only limited in the domestic scene.

    The two countries last met competitively during the third place playoff the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Solidarity Cup in Kuching, Malaysia in November 2016.

    Brunei Darussalam players prior to departure at the Brunei International Airport. PHOTO: FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

    Germany mulls COVID-19 vaccine mandate, easing restrictions

    BERLIN (AP) – Lawmakers in Germany are debating a possible COVID-19 vaccine mandate as the country hit a new record for the number of newly confirmed cases yesterday. Still, some government officials are championing an easing of restrictions.

    The country’s disease control agency reported 294,931 new cases in the past 24 hours. The Robert Koch Institute said there have been a further 278 COVID-related deaths, taking the toll since the start of the pandemic to 126,420.

    A final decision on an initial proposal to make vaccinations compulsory for all adults in Germany isn’t expected for several weeks. Opponents of this measure have suggested mandatory vaccination only for people over 50, while others reject the idea altogether.

    Despite the infection rate being far higher than in many neighbouring countries, government officials have defended plans to let some of the Germany’s restrictions expire on Sunday.

    “It’s a step toward normality and I say that’s what we need,” Finance Minister Christian Lindner told public broadcaster ARD.

    The government wants to let Germany’s 16 states decide for themselves where targetted restrictions are required, rather than impose nationwide rules.

    Germany’s powerful industry lobby group BDI warned against a “generous” lifting of measures, saying it would be irresponsible in light of the spike in infections.

    A man sits during a COVID-19 quick test at the Johanniter Corona Test Centre in the Palace of Culture in Dresden, Germany. PHOTO: AP

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