THE STRAITS TIMES – Thai health authorities warned yesterday that residents should brace themselves for a potential jump in coronavirus cases after classifying the country’s first cluster of the Omicron variant as a super-spreader incident.
The Omicron cluster identified in the north-eastern province of Kalasin on December 24 has been linked to a couple who had travelled from Belgium and visited nightlife venues, concerts and markets.
The ensuing cluster has infected hundreds, with cases spreading to 11 other provinces, said senior health official Opas Karnkawinpong, citing how one of the nightlife venues linked to the cluster had been packed and did not have good ventilation.
“During the New Year, if you visit any place and it does not look safe, just don’t go,” Opas told a briefing.
Up to now, Thailand has reported 740 cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, including 251 in people who had come into contact with foreign arrivals, said Opas.
After coronavirus infections peaked in August above 20,000, daily case numbers have fallen to around 2,500 in the past week.
A health worker administers a dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Bangkok. PHOTO: AP
But the Health Ministry’s planning scenario indicated that by March next year, daily infections could hit 30,000, with more than 160 deaths, without a faster roll-out of measures like vaccinations and testing, as well as greater social distancing.
If restrictions were tightened, daily cases could peak at 14,000 next February, with fewer than 60 daily deaths, the scenario showed.
In the first two weeks of January, government employees have been advised that they can work from home, coronavirus task force spokesman Taweesin Wisanuyothin told a separate briefing, where he urged the private sector to follow suit.
After detecting the first local Omicron infection last week, Thai authorities reinstated mandatory quarantine for foreign arrivals and suspended a “Test & Go” programme that allowed vaccinated travellers to avoid quarantine.
Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) presented appointment letters to Alumni Association of UNISSA 2021/2023 executive members and appreciation certificates for members of the 2018/2021 session during an event recently.
UNISSA Rector cum chief guest Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal presented appointment certificates to 12 executive members, before calling on members to plan, implement and assist in the development of the association so as to enhance its credibility and image.
2019 Alumni Muhammad Dzulhilmi bin Haji Moharefendi has been elected as president of the UNISSA Alumni Association for 2021/2023 session.
The ceremony coincided with the presentation of appreciation certificates to mentors of the UNISSA Alumni Association 2018/2021 executive committee members and certificates to participants of the UNISSA Alumni official logo making competition.
Core officers of UNISSA, Head of Office of Career Development and Industry Networking UNISSA and invited guests of UNISSA Alumni Association also attended.
Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Rector cum chief guest Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal joins others at the event. PHOTO: UNISSA
The Brunei History Centre recently held a colouring competition and a virtual quiz as part of the Brunei December Festival and Day of Action celebrations.
Head of Library and Learning Muhammad Syahmi bin Halimshah, in his capacity as the chairman of school holiday activities organised by the History Centre, awarded prizes to winners in an event at the History Centre yesterday.
The colouring competition was split into two categories: Category A for children aged seven to 10, and Category B for those aged 11-15. A total of 41 entries were received, and six winners were selected from each category.
The Category ‘A’ winners were Nur Thaqebah ‘Alya binti Osmawadi, Nur Thaqefah ‘Aufa binti Osmawadi, Nurul Ardyana Hanisah binti Roshiman, Audrey Nathania Haerudin and Damia Maisara binti Noor Asima Fadillah.
Category B’s top six were Nur Lailatul Fitriah binti Samali, Nur Afridelia Sahira binti Jofri, Syazanatul Shashellah binti Sahron, Nur Amanina Dania Azyyati binti Mohd Noh and Mohd Alif Haykal bin Samali.
Winners with their prizes. PHOTO: YUSRIN JUNAIDI
Meanwhile, 28 participants battled it out in the virtual quiz on December 22 and 28.
The first series, coordinated by the Publication and Marketing Depatment of the History Centre, saw Mohd Nazirul Mubin bin Haji Ramlee, Nur Hasanah binti Haji Marsidi, Suwardi bin Salman, Siti Nur Wardinah binti Salman, Brad Jaron De Roma Fernandez and Nurul Alwani Damia binti Mohamad Hasrolley emerging as winners.
The second series, organised by the Library and Learning Department, saw Nur Thaqebah ‘Alya, Nur Thaqefah ‘Aufa, Suwardi bin Abdullah Salman, Nurul Mu’izzah Billah binti Muhammad Zulhilmi Mu’izzuddin, Mohammad Zulkifli @ Shahminan bin Awang Herman and Nurul Syasha binti Abdullah picked as winners.
The activities aimed to raise awareness on Brunei’s rich history, aside from instilling a sense of love for the monarch, religion and country.
UPI – An Oklahoma store is pleading for the return of a dinosaur statue stolen from outside the business under cover of night.
The Decopolis store on Route 66 in Tulsa said a man bearing a tool kit was recorded on security cameras outside the store on Sunday night moments before he was seen carrying away the store’s statue of a Deinonychus, a dinosaur from the early Cretaceous Period.
“If anyone in the neighbourhood finds a Deinonychus, let us know,” the store said in a Facebook post.
THE WASHINGTON POST – There’s something about the holidays that gets me thinking about home security. Maybe it’s reading on Nextdoor about rampant neighbourhood porch piracy, or maybe it’s a recent stovetop mishap setting off the smoke detector. Even more troubling, maybe it’s the occasional power outage that disconnects me from the security call center, because my home phones, which use Internet, are dead. Am I as protected as I could – and should – be?
In the early 80s, installing a home security system meant drilling holes into window and door frames, screwing in sensors and running wires through walls to a central keypad, all powered by a large battery tucked away in a basement or closet. If you went all in, maybe you had a hard-wired smoke detector, too. That was pretty much the norm for homeowners, including me (my security system dates to 1999), until high-speed Internet, ultrafast wireless and smart home technology became the norm.
Goodbye wires, forgetting to arm your home or fretting if the electricity fails. Hello self-adhesive sensors, high-definition infrared cameras, app-based remote arming and touch-screen panels.
“The past 10 years or so have been amazing for home security,” said Senior Director of Product Development and Engineering Tim Rader at ADT, one of the leading suppliers of home security, with more than six million residential and commercial customers. “The pivot from wired to wireless allowed companies to install sensors in places we couldn’t get to before.
Then, fast-forward to next-gen systems, with smart home technology that can immediately identify if a window has been broken or in what room a fire has started.”
Wireless technology has also paved the way for homeowner-installed systems, said Chief Customer Experience Officer Doug Woodard with SimpliSafe, which launched DIY home security products in 2006.
“People are increasingly comfortable with installing and connecting home technology. Now they have an accessible and affordable way to customise and install their own security system with no long-term contract,” he said.
Whether you’re thinking about installing a new home security system or just want to upgrade your setup, there are some factors to consider. Even the most basic of online searches will return dozens of comprehensive reviews of home security systems, which is a good place to start.
Forensic alarm science and security expert in Tenafly, New Jersey, Jeffrey Zwirn said a properly designed system can save your life, but one size does not fit all. Start by asking yourself some questions. What are you trying to protect and/or guard against? Are you worried about break-ins, fires, carbon monoxide poisoning or a burst pipe flooding your basement? How important is customisation? Do you own or rent your home? Renters or those planning to move in a few years may want the flexibility of a DIY system, so they can take it with them when they move.
If you opt for professional installation, contact multiple companies willing to survey your home in person. “A pro can assess the home and the people who live there,” Zwirn said. You might also want coverage beyond the basics. For instance, if you don’t hear well, you may need multiple loud sirens. Or your home may need smoke detectors inside and outside each sleeping area. “This is one purchase where you may want to leave it to the professionals,” he said.
Zwirn said to beware of products or components that may not be up to national standards and codes. He suggested to get the make and model of everything being installed, then cross-check that each is UL compliant – meaning it is certified by UL, a global safety certification company – by searching for the product at productiq.ulprospector.com/en.
Rader said other initial queries should include: How long has the company been in business? Will the products work together? Who will do the installation: the company or a third-party subcontractor? Zwirn recommended dealing directly with a company instead of with an authorised dealer who may just be an intermediary. Expect to pay between USD1,500 and USD2,500 for a professionally installed system, Zwirn said.
For homes with systems that are more than 15 years old, you may want to consider upgrading. Contact your security provider for a free reassessment. According to Rader, you may only need to replace a few elements. Some wireless sensors can even be integrated into wired systems. The biggest change will probably be getting an upgraded keypad or touch-screen control panel. Although new panels typically use WiFi, they have a built-in battery-powered cellular module (a glorified micro cellphone) and battery backup, which should last at least 24 hours. In the case of a power or Internet outage, your system can still communicate with the security’s monitoring centre.
You may also want to consider add-ons such as temperature sensors, water sensors or glass-break sensors. If nothing else, during the assessment, have the technician test your fire alarm. This is the one component you can’t self-test, and it should be checked annually,
Zwirn said.
Those who want to save money while having flexibility may prefer the DIY option. Systems such as SimpliSafe, Ring, Blue by ADT and Abode Home Security typically offer peel-and-stick window and door sensors. These, plus additional components, such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, glass-break detectors, outdoor cameras and sirens, all wirelessly communicate over radio frequencies with a base station that plugs into an electrical outlet.
You can choose the kind of sensors you want and where to place them. Setup is easy using the keypad or a smartphone. An average DIY package costs about USD200 to USD600, with additional costs for more sensors, cameras and monitoring. One consideration when selecting the DIY option is whether you have a smartphone, because some systems require an app for setup and monitoring. If you don’t own a smartphone, you should probably stick with a professionally installed system.
No matter the security system, perhaps the most important factor is the call centre – your emergency lifeline. When an alarm triggers, specialists contact first responders using direct lines of communication, not by using 911. In the past, call centres were secured facilities monitored 24/7, so someone was always there when needed. According to Zwirn, with the coronavirus pandemic, numerous operations allowed employees to work from home, and although many are now restaffed in person, some continue to use remote monitors.
“During an emergency, the alarm company is your partner,” Zwirn said. You don’t want someone working remotely who steps away from the monitor to let the dog out or who loses connection. Whether the security company owns and operates the call center or contracts with a third party, it should give you a guarantee in writing that its call center employees are not working from home. And although some DIY systems allow for self-monitoring, it’s not advisable.
Whether you are starting from scratch or upgrading your system, the bottom line is to know what you are getting. “You don’t want a false sense of security,” Zwirn said. “With an alarm system, you don’t have the luxury of a second chance.”
SYDNEY (AP) — Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ATP Cup in Australia ahead of the first Grand Slam tournament of the season, organisers said yesterday.
No reason was given but the top-ranked Serb has declined to comment on his vaccination status in recent months and Australia’s strict regulations require all players, officials and fans to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
ATP Cup organisers disclosed Djokovic’s withdrawal in a roster update that included France replacing Austria in the 16-country event following the withdrawals of Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak. Dusan Lajovic will replace Djokovic for Serbia.
Fifth-ranked Andrey Rublev of Russia also pulled out, as did teammates Aslan Karatsev and Evgeny Donskoy. The ATP Cup begins Saturday in Sydney.
The Australian Open men’s entry list announced in early December had the 34-year-old Djokovic at number one in what was seen as a further indication that he’ll be playing at Melbourne Park beginning January 17 despite Australia’s tight regulations.
The nine-time Australian Open champion is tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the men’s record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles.
CNA – Apple and its iPhone assembler Foxconn found that some remote dormitories and dining rooms used for employees at a Foxconn plant in southern India do not meet required standards, spokespeople for the two companies said yesterday.
Earlier this month, protests erupted after more than 250 women who work at the Foxconn plant that makes iPhones in Sriperumbudur town, near the southern city of Chennai, and live in one of the dormitories had to be treated for food poisoning.
Production at the contract manufacturing giant’s plant was halted on December 18, a news agency has reported.
Foxconn said yesterday it was restructuring its local management team to ensure it can achieve and maintain the standards needed, and was taking immediate steps to improve facilities. All employees would continue to be paid while it makes necessary improvements to restart operations.
An Apple spokesperson said it had dispatched independent auditors to assess conditions at the dormitories “following recent concerns about food safety and accommodation conditions at Foxconn Sriperumbudur”.
“We found that some of the remote dormitory accommodations and dining rooms being used for employees do not meet our requirements and we are working with the supplier to ensure a comprehensive set of corrective actions are rapidly implemented.”
Foxconn’s Sriperumbudur facility has been placed “on probation” and Apple will ensure its strict standards are met before the facility re-opens, the spokesperson for the United States (US) company said, adding that it holds suppliers accountable to the highest standards in the industry and regularly conducts assessments to ensure compliance.
A closed plant of Foxconn India unit near Chennai, India. PHOTO: CNA
BAGHDAD (AFP) – Half of the families living in drought-affected areas of Iraq need humanitarian food aid, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said in a study released recently.
Experts have warned that record low rainfall, compounded by climate change, are threatening social and economic disaster in war-scarred Iraq. The NRC said its research shows that “one in two families in drought-affected regions require food assistance because of drought, while one in five do not have sufficient food for everyone in the family”.
The non-governmental organisation (NGO) based its study on interviews in 2,806 homes across seven provinces, among them Anbar in the west, Basra in the south and the north’s Nineveh.
These three are traditionally considered to be the breadbasket of Iraq but have been hit hard by the crisis. The United Nations (UN) said about one-third of Iraq’s population lives in poverty, despite the country’s oil wealth.
The effects of low rainfall have been exacerbated as the levels of the country’s two main rivers, the Tigris and Euphrates, drop because of upstream dams in neighbouring Iran and Turkey.
A general views of Shatt al-Arab river in Iraq’s southern city of Basra. PHOTO: AFP
“Communities across Iraq have faced damaging losses to their crops, livestock, and income.
Children are eating less, and farmers and displaced populations are hit hardest,” the report said, adding young people are particularly vulnerable.
The NRC said 37 per cent of farmers growing wheat and 30 per cent of those planting barley saw their expected crop yields fall by at least 90 per cent.
“Families are telling us they have to borrow money to eat amid soaring prices and dwindling savings,” said NRC’s Head of Programmes Maithree Abeyrathna in Iraq. “They say their only source of living is vanishing in front of their eyes. Their lands are drying up and there is nothing they can do about it.”
Last month, the World Bank warned that Iraq could suffer a 20-per-cent drop in water resources by 2050 due to climate change.
“The outlook for 2022 is worrying, with continued water shortages and drought conditions likely to devastate the coming farming season, the NRC study said.
THE STRAITS TIMES – Indonesia is set to receive its first shipment of two types of COVID-19 antiviral pills – molnupiravir made by Merck and paxlovid by Pfizer – next month, said Health Minister Budi Sadikin, as the country intensifies efforts to curb the spread of the infectious Omicron variant.
The government has filed a request to BPOM, the Indonesian equivalent of the United States (US) Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to issue emergency-use approval for these two pills, slated to be released in the market next month.
“But we don’t want people to get complacent; thinking there are COVID-19 drugs, (and) they go out to places not wearing a mask,” Budi told popular podcaster Deddy Corbuzier late on Tuesday.
He also revealed that the government is anticipating a possible surge in Omicron cases at the end of next month that could lead to an intense but short-lived wave.
The first community transmission of the Omicron variant in Indonesia was confirmed on Tuesday.
Passengers inside a train leaving a train station in Jakarta. PHOTO: AP
The country has so far reported 47 confirmed cases of Omicron, with the latest, the 47th case, being the first community infection.
“We are now more prepared if the next wave really comes,” said Budi, adding that there is ample stock of medication, more hospital beds, a high vaccination rate, as well as medical oxygen.
“That leaves us with the job to ensure that people continue to live normally but remain vigilant. Wearing a mask is important. Accelerating vaccination is very important.”
Budi also warned about the notable spike in the number of Indonesians travelling overseas for holidays recently, appealing to them to postpone such trips and noting that the Omicron variant may be less severe and less deadly than the Delta variant, but much more transmissible.
Most of Indonesia’s imported Omicron cases were detected in travellers returning from Turkey, followed by those from Britain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to data from the Health Ministry.
“No need to go overseas for now. We have many good tourist spots domestically,” he said.
THE JAPAN NEWS-YOMIURI – Whether in an underground arena, on a street filled with onlookers, or during a classroom lesson, Baki fights without rules or taboos.
The Baki the Grappler manga series, which features an array of mixed martial arts fighters from around the world, celebrated the 30th anniversary of its publication recently.
From its beginnings in 1991, the series has continued to excite readers with just a simple theme: Who is the ultimate fighter?
Let’s take an in-depth look at the world represented by Baki through interviews with the manga’s author Keisuke Itagaki.
“I waver quite a bit along the way in making any decision, but it’s turned out these decisions were not wrong. That’s something I’d like to give myself credit for,” Itagaki said, looking back on the past 30 years.
Serialisation of Grappler Baki started in the Shukan Shonen Champion magazine and has been followed by sequels, including Baki and Baki Hanma.
The fifth and the latest series, Bakidou, features sumo wrestlers.
About 85 million books have been printed across the entire Baki series.
Serialisation of ‘Grappler Baki’ started in the ‘Shukan Shonen Champion’ magazine and has been followed by sequels, including ‘Baki’ and ‘Baki Hanma’. PHOTO: NETFLIX‘Baki the Grappler’ manga series writer and illustrator Keisuke Itagaki. PHOTO: JAPAN NEWS-YOMIURI
The overarching story follows Baki, a young, undefeated underground fighter, as he comes to blows with various types of mixed martial arts fighters while striving to surpass his father, who’s known as “the mightiest being on Earth”.
Itagaki said that the decision to bring Baki’s father into the story came at the suggestion of an editor.
“My first editor for this project proposed the idea of Baki ‘awaiting someone’ while he defended his champion title. That someone could be a rival, a brother or a father.
“There were several options to choose from, but I found the father to be the easiest to depict,” he said.
Baki’s father, Yujiro, symbolises power. His physical strength is so powerful that it could defeat the military of a major nation. The character is a reflection of Itagaki’s own fantasy of a father figure.
“It’s really nice to be able to look up to one’s father. My father was a completely different type of person, and I used to adore (the idea of) a father whom I would never be able to beat no matter what,” Itagaki said.
Born in Hokkaido in 1957, Itagaki worked in a hotel after a stint as a Ground Self-Defence Force member before finally entering the world of manga through a mangaka training course organised by story writer Kazuo Koike. His debut work Make-Upper was published in 1989.
The creation of all the colourful characters in the Baki series, including the mighty father-son duo, stems from the characterisation theory Itagaki learned in Koike’s course.
“Master Koike would often say, ‘You can easily make characters stand out by utilising gossip’.
When you see someone extraordinary, you can’t help saying, ‘You won’t believe the amazing person I saw today’. Those sorts of characters with outrageously great qualities make those around them feel the urge to tell others. That’s how a character should be in my opinion,” Itagaki said.
He now feels as if the characters have overtaken his intentions for them and have begun moving of their own accord.
“All I have to do is to listen to the characters. I think the reason I’ve been able to continue for 30 years is that the characters stand out,” Itagaki said.
When speaking of the Baki series, one can’t fail to mention the ferocious fight scenes featuring brawlers boasting toned bodies and V-shaped torsos.
The realism expressed in those scenes has won over so many fans because they are based on Itagaki’s own experiences in fighting sports.
During his high school days, he took up Shorinji Kempo, a martial art, and later participated in the National Sports Festival as a boxer.
“A good thing about fight scenes is that you can enjoy the pain without experiencing it yourself. The more painful they look, the better they get,” he said.
The portrayals of men’s bodies pushed to the limit not only evoke the sensation of pain but also arouses ecstatic sensations.
“When you see a body that is bent to the extreme or twisted to its limit, you also want to see the moment the muscles are released from all that tension.
“Giving in to that impulse is important. This is something I learned from manga created by Hiroshi Motomiya,” Itagaki said.
Another underlying theme in the series is the questioning of the definition of strength.
The conclusion that Itagaki has come to is that it is “the willpower needed to selfishly maintain one’s own way”, an idea that penetrates the entire series.
“Strength is the ability to stay true to one’s will and ego (by any means). On its own, that is neither a good or a bad thing. It’s a belief I’ve carried with me for more than 15 years,” Itagaki said.
Peppered among the manga’s fierce fights are contrastingly comical scenes, which is yet another of this popular series’ many charms. There are those who even insist the series is a comedy.
When asked his take on the matter, Itagaki responded, “When you describe something outrageous, you sometimes describe it as ‘almost laughable’.
“There are views that Baki is a comedy disguised as a fighter manga, which means that I’ve been able to depict greatness that elicits laughter. Being able to reach such a point makes me so happy.”
Having worked as a mangaka for more than three decades, he is now considered a veteran in the industry. While new talents are cropping up one after another, he keeps producing work that stands at the forefront of the manga scene.
“My strength lies in the experience I’ve gained over time without ever losing my passion,” he said, explaining his drive to go on.
With the latest story development becoming all the more compelling, including the father-son relationship between Baki and Yujiro, the series is more gripping than ever.
“Living up to the readers’ expectations while also going against (their predictions) is difficult. At the same time, I guess that’s also what makes it interesting.
“I don’t think I can change the way I do things at this point. I’d like to go on writing against what (readers) might expect,” he said.
