Category: Finance Fundamentals

China: President Envisions
Success of 2022 Games

During a call with International Olympic Committee President
Thomas Bach, President Xi Jinping has pledged* to complete the preparatory work
for the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games as scheduled. China
has largely controlled the Covid-19 pandemic and its economy has already
started on the road to recovery. Construction of the Games venues and other
facilities are going ahead and have already made marked** progress at the
current stage. Beijing will be the only city to have hosted both the summer and
winter Olympic Games. China has also committed to work with the International
Olympic Committee and other countries to hold the Tokyo Olympic Games. President
Xi credits the success of controlling the coronavirus pandemic to the
implementation of strict epidemic control measures. President Bach also
congratulated China for its outstanding achievements in battling the pandemic
and ensuring economic recovery, noting that China will be an important engine
for world growth.

 

*pledged – commit by a solemn promise

**marked – clearly noticeable

 

Think about it: Hosting an Olympics Games is not just
about the host country; an important part is the participating countries as
well. Do you think the world will recover in time for the 2021 and 2022 Games?

 

 

Malaysia: Possibility Of
Shutting Down Economy To Control Surge In Cases

Malaysia is preparing to shut down most of its economy to
contain the spread of the Covid-19 infections if cases continue to surge. Daily
infections have remained above 3,000 for the past week, and the total number of
infections is over 183,000. The Health Ministry would prefer the imposition* of
a total lockdown on all economic activity except essential services if there is
no improvement in case numbers by Feb 4. Other government ministries are hoping
to allow limited business activities to continue alongside essential services. Although
manufacturing industries have been allowed to continue under the existing
Movement Control Orders, the sector has been linked to almost a third of
Malaysia’s around 300 Covid-19 clusters. The Health Ministry’s data also
consistently shows that workplaces are becoming the main source of Covid-19
clusters. The Finance Minister has admitted that further Movement Control
Orders would reduce the chances of an economic recovery for the country.

 

*imposition – force an unwelcome ruling on someone

 

Think about it: How does one weigh the lives of the
country’s population against economic prosperity and recovery?

 

 

Indonesia: Covid-19 Cases Surpass
1 Million

Indonesia has passed the grim milestone of 1 million
coronavirus cases, straining hospitals in the fourth-most populous nation in
the world. Patients are being turned away or forced to wait at hospitals which
are overwhelmed with Covid-19 cases, with many having occupancy rates above
90%. Epidemiologists fear that the country’s healthcare system could possibly
collapse. They also warned that while the vaccine is being administered, the
government should continue to arrest the pandemic through testing, contact
tracing, restricting of people’s mobility and making sure that people adhere*
to health protocols. There is a concern that the vaccines might cause people to
become complacent. Adding to the problems are the huge disparity in educational
and economic backgrounds among the population affecting the level of awareness.
As such, Indonesia might be forced to return to large-scale social restrictions
to reduce the number of cases in Southeast Asia’s worst hit country.

 

*adhere – believe in and follow the practices of

 

Think about it: Should Indonesia ration healthcare, where
only the most severely ill get to be admitted to hospitals?

https://youtu.be/uts2psWVciA

Indonesia: Parents Struggle To Keep Children Focused

Many parents feel unprepared to coteach their children at home and struggle to help them stay focused when attending online classes due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A study conducted by the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab found that online learning was too challenging for both parents and students but was the safest option for children. The study also suggests that one possible reason why the children could not concentrate was boredom due to a lack of interaction with their friends. Further, children who rely on their parents to help with schoolwork are at a disadvantage if parents don’t have the skills or time to fully do so. In a bid to using a more interactive teaching method, they have been using teleconferencing¹ platforms so that students can interact with their peers. The Jakarta Education Agency also works with companies and individuals who want to donate gadgets for students in need.

 

¹teleconferencing – using telecommunication devices to hold discussions between people in different locations

 

Think about it: What other methods can teachers and parents utilize to help students learn better online?

 

 

China: Hope For Trapped Miners

12 gold miners who have been trapped several hundred meters underground for more than a week have sent up a written note. The note warned that some of them are injured, that they are surrounded by water and that they urgently need medicine. A blast more than a week ago at the mine trapped 22 workers more than 600m from the mine’s entrance. After days without any sign of survivors, rescuers heard knocking sounds on Sunday as they drilled through the mine’s shaft. A note that was sent up on a line said that at least 12 miners were still alive, but that their conditions and health were deteriorating². Footage from the state broadcaster showed rescue workers sending a wire taped with food and drinks down a small opening to the miners. Rescuers intend to drill multiple tunnels into the mine to vent³ air and deliver supplies. While this is going on, rescue work to bring the miners back up to safety will continue.

 

²deteriorating – becoming progressively worse

³vent – an opening that allows air to pass out of

 

Think about it: China has a very bad mining safety record. What can the government do to ensure the safety of miners.

 

 

United States: Joe Biden Sworn In

Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46^th President of the United States to lead a nation driven apart by post-election turmoil⁴ and social and political divides. Former senator Kamala Harris was sworn in as Vice-President, being the first woman, first African American and first Asian American to hold the post. President Biden is set to immediately roll back key policies established by Donald Trump and sign executive orders designed to tackle the pandemic, climate change and immigration. These include making masks compulsory on federal property, re-entering the World Health Organization and Paris Climate Agreement and stopping construction of the border wall with Mexico. Instead of pursuing Mr Trump’s isolationist⁵ policies, Mr Biden will re-engage with the rest of the world and repair relations with America’s allies. About 1,000 lawmakers and guests attended the scaled-down and socially distanced ceremony with a sea of flags to represent the usually large crowds who traditionally show up at inaugurations.

 

⁴turmoil – a state of great disturbance

⁵isolationist – a policy of remaining apart from the affairs of other groups

 

Think about it: With so many challenges facing the Biden administration, which do you think is the most pressing? Some examples would be the pandemic, climate change, the economy and relations with other countries.

 

 

 

At the end of our news segment, we like to take some time to talk about one of the discussion points raised. Today, we are going to discuss which matter the Biden administration should focus on first.

 

 

Personally, I think the most pressing matter would be to bring the coronavirus pandemic under control. Already, so many businesses have closed down due to a lack of customers and business. Further, the numbers regarding the pandemic are publicly available, so the performance of the Biden administration with regards to this matter is very visible. It is necessary to bring the pandemic under control in order to restart the economy. While climate change is also a major concern, it is not something that can be solved in Biden’s first 100 days in office and does not impact everyone as immediately as the Covid-19 situation does. 

https://youtu.be/nku4eWw7oSQ

Malaysia: Largest Drug Haul In Country’s History

Police tracked a 34-year-old unemployed man who owns several luxury cars including a Lamborghini worth RM960,000. His arrest led police to his accomplice, a 38-year-old mechanic who could allegedly build hidden compartments in cars to store drugs. Police also conducted raids at a factory and two rented houses which were part of a follow-up investigation into a drug syndicate that saw 15 suspects detained. The arrests led to a major drug haul of over RM201 million in narcotics, the largest in Malaysia’s history. Aside from the illegal drugs, other items seized include machines and tools used by the syndicate, vehicles including the Lamborghini, cash in various currencies and jewelry. Sixty-four bank accounts belonging to the syndicate were also frozen. The total value of the seizure is more than RM341 million. The syndicate was capable of supplying drugs to over 11 million drug addicts. Police have not ruled out the possibility that they supplied their product overseas.

 

Think about it: Will it be the case that when one syndicate is taken down, another one will rise to fill the void?

 

 

Indonesia: Earthquake death toll at 73

A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia’s West Sulawesi last Friday, killing at least 73 people, injuring more than 820 people and leaving over 27,800 homeless. This is the latest in a string of disasters to affect the country. Police and military officers have also been sent to crack down on looting in several parts of the region. Rescuers have had to pull out corpses from collapsed buildings, which include a hospital and shopping mall. The head of Indonesia’s meteorological, climatology and geophysical agency stated that another quake in the region could possibly trigger a tsunami. Other disasters to hit Indonesia in recent days include floods in North Sulawesi and South Kalimantan provinces that killed five and landslides in West Java that have killed 29. Mount Semeru in East Java erupted last week, but there have not been any reports of evacuations or casualties. Extreme weather and other dangers of hydrometeorology have been forecasted for the coming weeks.

 

Think about it: If you were one of the victims, would you rather be temporarily homeless or squeeze into a cramped evacuation center with others who might potentially have Covid-19?

 

 

Thailand: No Vaccine Trials For Thais

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has insisted that Thais will not participate in tests on the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines. Any vaccines rolled out in Thailand must first have their safety and efficacy fully tested. This decision was based on the advice of a national vaccine committee. The deputy director general of the Department of Disease Control has stated that vaccines which are brought in for use in Thailand must at least be registered with countries which have strict regulations governing vaccine registration. These countries include the United Kingdom and the United States. The Thai government had pre-ordered 26 million doses of vaccine from AstraZeneca and recently sought to purchase another 35 million doses from them. The deputy director general also sought to allay people’s fears about the vaccines and their side effects, saying that what most people experience are unpleasant, yet generally acceptable conditions following a shot. These include body aches, mild fevers and fatigue.

 

Think about it: Is it an acceptable risk to use a vaccine that has not yet been fully tested, if the population is suffering badly from the effects of the pandemic?

 

 

United States: Nation On Alert For Possible Protests

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned police agencies of the possibility of armed demonstrations outside the capitol buildings of all 50 states up until the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. This is fueled by the supporters of Donald Trump who believe in his false claims of electoral fraud and by the attack on the US Capitol earlier in the month. More than a dozen states have already activated their National Guards to bolster security, including Washington, DC. There were some demonstrations last Saturday, but statehouses were mostly quiet. Most law enforcement officials were instead focusing their efforts on the anti-government “boogaloo” movement which made plans several weeks ago to hold rallies in all 50 states. Due to both the coronavirus pandemic and security concerns, much of the celebrations around Mr Biden’s inauguration will be held online, though he still plans to be sworn in and deliver his inaugural address at the Capitol.

 

Think about it: Would you advise Joe Biden to go ahead with the inauguration, what with al the security concerns surrounding the event?

 

 

Sports: Nepali Team 1^st To Reach K2 Peak In Winter

A team of Nepali climbers last Saturday became the first to reach the summit of K2 in the winter. Many mountaineers have been trying to reach the summit of the world’s second highest mountain over the last few weeks. Nicknamed the “Savage Mountain”, winds on K2 can blow at more than 200kmh and temperatures can fall to minus 60 degrees Celsius on the 8,611m-high mountain. The 10 Nepali climbers who ultimately scaled the peak were earlier spread across different teams of climbers.  They formed a new team to claim the feat in Nepal’s name, which brought much rejoicing in the country. A Nepali climber who has ascended Mt Everest a record 24 times said that although the Nepalese are famed for their climbing experience and have assisted foreigners to reach the summits of the Himalayas, they have not been getting the recognition they deserve. Nepali guides, usually ethnic Sherpas, are considered the backbone of the climbing industry in the Himalayas, carrying equipment and food for the climbers.

 

Think about it: Which do you think is the greater achievement: Mt Everest, which is the highest mountain, or; K2, which is considered by many to be a more dangerous climb?

 

 

At the end of our news segment, we like to take a look back at one of the issues raised and provide a bit of our own input. Today, we will be looking at the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden and whether or not he should go ahead with the inauguration.

 

 

If I had the chance to advise Joe Biden, I would definitely recommend that he go ahead with the inauguration, and be sworn in and deliver his maiden address at the Capitol Building. Firstly, I have every confidence that their security forces would be able to protect him, especially now that a large contingent of National Guardsmen have been deployed to the Capitol. Secondly, him being at the site of a recent attack, one that many have called an attack on American democracy, is a show of strength. It shows the American people, and the rioters, that he and his administration have the strength to push forward despite adversity and will not bow down to those who sought to disrupt their country.

https://youtu.be/DKjDdf3O1EE

Singapore: Driverless Road Sweepers On Trial

Driverless road sweepers have been deployed¹ to three places in Singapore on a trial basis. The trials started this month and are expected to run until July. If successful, the autonomous² vehicles will be deployed on the roads in the next few years. The trials will start off at off-peak hours such as on weekends and evenings in designated small-scale areas. There will also be a safety driver on board at all times who can take immediate control of the vehicle if required. Operation of the vehicles is also monitored in real time from a command center by an operator. Decals and markings on the vehicles also make them easily identifiable to other road users. The implementation³ of the autonomous vehicles will lessen the manual workload of cleaners, as well as make it easier and safer for them. It is also hoped that such projects will be able to jump start the local robotics industry.

 ¹deployed – to move equipment to a place where they can be used when needed

²autonomous – carried on without outside control

³implementation – the process of putting a plan into effect

 Think about it: Will robots be able to completely replace some human jobs?

 

 

Thailand: Dozens Of Officers Implicated In Labor Smuggling

The Royal Thai Police will investigate 33 police officers and state officials who are suspected of negligence⁴ and aiding and abetting⁵ illegal labor smuggling. Among the 33 being investigated are more than 20 police officers, with the rest being officials from other state agencies. The national police chief will be setting up an inquiry panel to consider criminal prosecution and disciplinary action against those who are implicated. Arrest warrants will also be issued for eight other Thai civilians who are part of the smuggling gang. The gang had sneaked migrants into Thailand and sent them to work in Samut Sakhon, which is the origin of the recent Covid-19 outbreak. The authorities are registering illegal foreign workers in a bid to monitor them and help fight the spread of Covid-19. These foreign workers will be allowed to stay for two years and encouraged to test for Covid-19.

 ⁴negligence – failure to take proper care of something

⁵abetting – assist someone to commit a crime

 Think about it: If illegal foreign workers are allowed to stay in Thailand for two years, wouldn’t that cause a surge in their numbers, and possibly worsen the outbreaks as they are not screened upon entering Thailand?

 

 

China: First Virus Death Logged In 8 Months

China has recorded its first Covid-19 death in eight months. Experts are also concerned about the new strains of coronavirus that are spreading rapidly around the world. China has already locked down millions of people in order to control this fresh outbreak which has resulted in this death. Many countries are encountering either a second or third wave of outbreaks, which has resulted in them placing their populations under economically damaging restrictions. The death in China comes at a time when a team from the World Health Organization is in China to investigate the origins of the novel coronavirus. Beijing has argued that Wuhan is not where the virus originated, but where it was first identified. Scientists feel that large-scale vaccinations are the only way out of the pandemic, but the progress of many vaccination programs has been slower than hoped. There is some good news with one British study suggesting that recovery from Covid-19 infection gives most people at least five months of immunity⁶.

 ⁶immunity – an organism’s ability to resist a particular infection

 Think about it: What are the implications for the country where the virus originated? Do you think that country’s enemies will use this information as a political tool against it?

 

 

Science: J&J Vaccine Offers Long-Lasting Immune Response

Johnson & Johnson’s experimental one-shot Covid-19 vaccine generated a long-lasting immune response in an early safety study. The progress of this vaccine is being closely monitored as it would offer ease of distribution and mass inoculation. More than 90% of participants made neutralizing⁷ antibodies within 29 days of receiving the shot, and all participants made antibodies within 57 days of taking the shot. The one-shot vaccine generates more antibodies than a single shot from the other Covid-19 vaccines, and its effectiveness is comparable to those taking the full two shots of the other vaccines. The company expects to get definitive⁸ efficacy data from a final stage study of 45,000 volunteers by next month. The chief scientific officer at Johnson & Johnson estimates that the vaccine will be more than 70% effective. Not only is the single shot vaccine easier to administer as there is no need for repeat clinical visits, but it can be stored at refrigerator temperatures for three months.

 ⁷neutralizing – make something ineffective by applying an opposite effect

⁸definitive – reached decisively and with authority

 Think about it: Would you prefer a more effective vaccine that requires two shots, or a less effective one that only requires one shot?

 

 

Health: WHO Dampens Hope Of Herd Immunity

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that herd immunity from the novel coronavirus is unlikely this year even as countries start mass vaccination programs. This is due to coverage not being wide enough to provide population-level immunity. The European Union has been criticized⁹ for its lengthy approval process and slow rollout of drugs. The European Union has just started the approval process for its third vaccine, which was developed by drug company AstraZeneca together with Oxford University. Even though the AstraZeneca vaccine is already being used in Britain, it is expected that a decision would not be reached before Jan 29. Further compounding¹⁰ the problem are European hospitals being stretched to their limits and several Asian countries facing surges in infection cases. Malaysia has been forced to declare a state of emergency, and Japan has also done likewise for 11 prefectures. In China, a city of five million has been added to a growing lockdown area near the capital of Beijing.

 ⁹criticized – indicate the faults of someone in a disapproving way

¹⁰compounding – make something worse

 Think about it: How important is it for people to continue with earlier health protocols such as safe distancing, wearing of masks, etc while their government administers the vaccine?

 

 

At the end of every news segment, we like to take some time to provide our own inputs on one of the discussion topics raised. Today, we are going to talk about whether robots can replace some human jobs.

 

 

I think the key thing to note here is the word “some”. Where the technology is right now, only very rudimentary tasks can be replaced by robots, much like how robots already replaced humans in doing very repetitive jobs in factories during the industrial revolution. With the increasing use of machine learning, robots will be able to replace humans for increasingly challenging and difficult jobs. Already, some systems are better than doctors at diagnosing various diseases. So, in short, yes, robots will be able to completely replace humans in some jobs, but for some other complicated tasks, they won’t replace humans (yet) but can assist them greatly. However, we should remember that ultimately, it is still a human who programs the robot to perform a task.

https://youtu.be/S-mFKnFQ_0w

Indonesia: President Gets Covid-19 Jab To Kick Off Vaccination Drive

Indonesian President Joko Widodo received his first dose of the China-made CoronaVac vaccine, starting a mass vaccination drive against the coronavirus. It is hoped that the vaccine will help curb surging infections and deaths in Indonesia, which is the worst hit among all countries in Southeast Asia. The president’s vaccination was broadcast¹ live on the presidential secretariat’s YouTube channel, and the president also shared his experience on Facebook. It is hoped that his actions will give Indonesians confidence that the vaccine is not only safe and effective, but that it is halal² as well. The country’s top Islamic body has also ruled³ that the vaccine is “pure and halal”. Indonesia requires 426 million doses of vaccine, but has so far secured 68 million doses. The government hopes to inoculate 70% of the population by March 2022, but some health experts feel that it could take as long as three and a half years.

 ¹broadcast – transmit

²halal – acceptable according to Muslim law

³ruled – pronounce legally to be the case

 Think about it: Should each countries’ leaders be the first to take the vaccine? After all, if it is really so important for people to be protected, and the vaccines have been certified to be safe and effective, this would be a good step towards instilling confidence in people.

 

 

Japan: State Of Emergency In Seven More Prefectures

Japan’s state of emergency now covers the major cities of Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe and Fukuoka, in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus. In addition, Japan also enacted⁴ an entry ban on all non-resident foreign nationals until Feb 7. This includes countries with which Japan has business track arrangements such as China and Singapore. The Prime Minister hopes that people will change their behavior as they may be asymptomatic⁵ and spreading the virus without realizing it. Japan has recorded its highest single-day death toll of 97. The president of the Japan Medical Association has said that the government should consider a national emergency as hospitals have very nearly reached their limit. It took the country 50 days to go from 100,000 infections to 200,000, but just another 23 days to cross the 300,000 mark. With the latest measures, 11 of Japan’s 47 prefectures, covering just over half of its total population, are now under a state of emergency.

 ⁴enacted – put into practice

⁵asymptomatic – showing no symptoms

 Think about it: What are some drawbacks of declaring a state of emergency in just some prefectures? What are some benefits?

 

 

China: Public Likely To Receive Vaccines In February

Vaccinations for the general public against Covid-19 are expected to start around the Lunar New Year period which begins on Feb 12. China has already administered 9 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to people who are at high risk of contracting the disease. This includes customs officials, healthcare and medicine workers, those in public transportation and produce and seafood markets. No severe abnormal reactions have been observed. As China increases its production capabilities for the vaccine, more demographics⁶ will be covered including the general public. The vaccine will be provided free of charge to members of the public. China began mass vaccinations on Dec 15 with an inactivated⁷ vaccine developed by State-owned Sinopharm Group. The inactivated vaccine technique is a mature method and guarantees a high level of safety and efficacy, said a representative from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. China also has protocols⁸ for monitoring and handling side effects from vaccination.

 ⁶demographics – a particular part of a population

⁷inactivated – make inoperative

⁸protocols – the official procedure

 Think about it: Would you prefer a slightly less effective vaccine that is made using a tried-and-true method, or a more effective vaccine using a new method?

 

 

United States: Government Increases Pace Of Covid-19 Vaccination

The Trump administration has released the rest of the vaccine doses that it has been keeping in reserve and recommending that states open inoculations to those aged 65 and above. Previously, doses of the vaccines were kept in reserve to ensure that all those who had already taken the first jab would be able to receive the second jab on schedule. However, the Trump administration is now confident that supply will be able to keep pace with demand to release the stockpiles⁹. The pace of vaccination has now risen to 700,000 shots a day and is expected to hit one million per day within the next few days. A spokesman for President-elect Joe Biden said Mr Biden would release more reserve doses. Public health experts have stated that no US state is close to using up its allotments¹⁰ of vaccine doses. The US has reported a total of 22.5 million infections and 376,188 deaths.

 ⁹stockpiles – a large accumulated stock of materials, especially one held in reserve for use during an emergency

¹⁰allotments – the amount or share of something that is given

 Think about it: Do you feel it is better to give as many people as possible the first dose, or to make sure that everyone who has taken the first dose complete the full treatment of two doses?

 

 

Technology: Programmer Can Be US$220 Million Richer

Mr Stefan Thomas, a German-born programmer living in San Francisco, has two guesses left to figure out the password to his IronKey. The IronKey contains the private keys to a digital wallet that holds 7,002 Bitcoins, each worth more than US$30,000 at the time of writing. Thomas has long lost the piece of paper where he wrote down his password for the IronKey. After 10 incorrect guesses, the tiny hard drive will seize up and encrypt¹¹ its contents forever. It is estimated that around 20% of the Bitcoins currently in existence are in lost or stranded digital wallets. In traditional bank accounts and online wallets, the financial company can provide people the passwords to their accounts or reset lost passwords. Bitcoin has no company to provide or store passwords, and anyone can create a Bitcoin wallet without having to register with a financial institution or perform any sort of identity check.

 ¹¹encrypt – conceal data by converting it into a code

 Think about it: How would you deal with losing the password to your fortune?

  

At the end of our news segment, we like to take a bit of time to provide our own inputs on one of the day’s discussion topics. Today, we’re going to look at whether to choose a less effective traditionally manufactured vaccine, or a more effective one that was created using new methods.

 

 

Personally, I am not a risk taker, and if given the choice, I would definitely prefer to take the vaccine that was made using traditional methods. Let’s not forget that vaccines in the past were developed and monitored over a number of years, and no one can predict the long term side effects of the newer vaccines. However, the effectiveness of the traditional vaccine cannot be lower than thresholds set by health experts. Alas, in these dire circumstances, we are not given the luxury of choice that would be provided in a perfect world. Anyway, we wouldn’t be having this pandemic in a perfect world.

Malaysia: Malaysia Placed Under A State Of Emergency

Malaysia’s King has consented to a state of emergency being declared under the Federal Constitution after having consulted Malay Rulers and top government officials. The nationwide state of emergency will last until Aug 1, and was declared to curb the Covid-19 pandemic that has reached alarming levels. If the daily number of Covid-19 cases is brought down and controlled effectively, the state of emergency can be ended earlier. An independent committee comprising of government and opposition¹ MPs, health and related experts will also be formed to advise the King if the state of emergency can be ended earlier. The Prime Minister has also assured Malaysians that the emergency proclamation² is not a military coup³ and that the civilian government will continue its functions. The state of emergency allows the King to request that private hospital resources be used for the treatment of Covid-19 patients. The Malaysian Armed Forces will also be provided with the power to assist in performing public health functions.

 

¹opposition – the elected politicians who belong to parties that do not form the government

²proclamation – the official announcement of an important matter

³coup – a sudden and illegal seizure of power from a government

Think about it: Was this a necessary move by Malaysia, or do you think simply having stricter restrictions during the pandemic would have sufficed?

Thailand: No Lockdown Makes Thais Uneasy

The country is battling⁴ its second wave of coronavirus infections and is trying to avoid the economic impact felt following the first nationwide lockdown that took place in March 2020. Instead of blanket⁵ measures all across the country, it is tightening restrictions gradually, province by province. However, some in the medical community feel that this approach will expose the country to the risk of repeated waves of infection later in the year, delaying economic recovery even further. There are currently 10,547 Covid-19 cases spread out across three- quarters of Thailand’s 77 provinces. An epidemiologist from Chulalongkorn University has warned those countries which adopted the flexible and economic-centric strategy have later encountered more serious transmission of the coronavirus. This then results in the need for longer national lockdowns, bringing with it more severe economic impacts. A government spokesman has countered that a national lockdown is not necessary as the public is now more aware and know how to protect themselves from the coronavirus.

 

⁴battling – the struggle to resist something

⁵blanket – covering all cases

Think about it: Do you feel
that tightening restrictions depending on the severity of the situation in each
province is preferable? Or would you rather have a total national lockdown to
stamp out the virus?

 

 

China: WHO Team Arrives In Wuhan

An international expert team from the World Health Organization (WHO) arrived in Wuhan to work with their Chinese counterparts⁶ to trace the origin of the novel coronavirus. After landing, they received throat swabs and serum antibody tests before starting on their 14-day quarantine. The WHO team also had tests for Covid-19 in their home countries before traveling. Before this visit, WHO experts on origin tracing had visited China twice at China’s invitation. Since then, the two sides have been exchanging information and worked together to formulate⁷ a plan for
global cooperation on tracing the origins of the virus. The WHO Director-General stressed that the joint scientific research done by the WHO team and their Chinese counterparts will be important for the future of global health security and to manage future disease threats. Some experts believe that it will be very difficult to find the origin of the virus.

 

⁶counterparts – a person that has the same function as another person

⁷formulate – create or prepare methodically

Think about it: What do you think are the chances that the origins of the virus can be found, given that it is now over a year and over 90 million infections later?

 

 

United States: Trump Impeached For A Second Time

Donald Trump has become the first president in US history to be impeached⁸ twice. A House majority has voted to charge him with inciting⁹ insurrection¹⁰ by his supporters. This defining moment will overshadow¹¹ any policy accomplishments of his presidency and illustrates how far he has fallen since his last impeachment. A record 10 Republicans joined all 222 Democrats in approving one article of impeachment. However, the trial will not be held until after Trump officially leaves office on Jan 20. While this would be too late to cut short his term in office, it could be followed with a vote to prevent Trump from running for a second term as President. Since last week’s riot at Capitol building, the building is now secured by more military troops than are currently stationed in Afghanistan. Even some who were against impeaching Trump blame him for the insurrection. President-elect Joe Biden has voiced concerns that a fulltime impeachment trial might distract from his new administration’s goals.  

⁸impeached – charge the holder of public office with misconduct

⁹inciting – encourage unlawful behavior

¹⁰insurrection – a violent uprising against a government

¹¹overshadow – appear more important than

Think about it: Would you be in favor of impeaching Trump, even though the result of the trial would only be finalized after his term in office?

 

 

Technology: Signal and Telegram See Demand Spike

Rival messaging apps Signal and Telegram have witnessed a sudden increase in demand after their much larger competitor WhatsApp updated its terms of service. WhatsApp, which uses Signal’s encryption technology, in their updated terms of service, asked users to agree to let Facebook and its subsidiaries¹² collect user data. This includes their phone number and location, but not the contents of the messages which will remain encrypted. Advertising and ecommerce services will also be rolled out to WhatsApp users. Facebook is the owner of WhatsApp. Privacy activists¹³ have questioned the move and suggested that users switch to other apps such as Signal and Telegram. Signal has also been endorsed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Signal added over 100,000 users while Telegram had 2.2 million new users. New installations of WhatsApp fell 11% in the first seven days of the new year.

¹²subsidiaries – a company controlled by a holding company

¹³activists – a person who campaigns to bring about change

Think about it: Are you currently using WhatsApp? Will you be switching to a new platform after the announcement of their new terms of service?

 

 

At the end of our news for the day, we like to take some time to provide our own inputs regarding one of the talking points raised. Today, we’re going to talk about changing to alternatives of WhatsApp.

I have been using WhatsApp for many years now, but I admit that I am uneasy about their new terms of service. They may have clarified that this will just be for business accounts, but who knows when they will change their terms again? Further, it seems that a lot of my contacts have moved to the other platforms, so there is no point for me to stay on WhatsApp if others are uncomfortable using it. After all, the only reason to use one platform over another is if your contacts are on it. However, there are some older relatives in my family who have used WhatsApp for a long time and are reluctant to switch and they don’t really care about sharing their information with Facebook. So, for me, I guess I will need to use all three apps in the near future. 

https://youtu.be/mxULDudgLdM

Indonesia: Black Boxes of Crashed Indonesian Plane Found

A Boeing 737 passenger plane carrying 62 people crashed into the sea shortly after take-off from the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. The Sriwijaya Air plane disappeared from radars four minutes into its journey to Pontianak. Witnesses said they saw and heard at least one explosion. After retrieving human body parts and suspected¹ pieces of the plane, authorities have now located the black boxes from the doomed passenger plane. The military chief hopes that the black boxes will be recovered² soon. This is the first major air crash since 2018 when 189 passengers in a Lion Air Boeing 737 Max plunged into the Java Sea soon after takeoff. Even without this most recent crash, more people had died in air accidents in Indonesia than in any other country during the last ten years. Police have asked families to provide dental records and DNA samples to help identify the bodies.

¹suspected – have an idea without certain proof

²recovered – regain possession of something

 Think about it: Would a bad safety record deter you from traveling to and from a country?

 

 

China: Nuclear Power Key To Clean Energy Plans

China is keen to develop more nuclear power projects as it views these as a way to reach their carbon goals more quickly. They have developed a nuclear fusion reactor that imitates the activity taking place within our sun. China plans to build an experimental³ reactor this year, followed by an industrial prototype in 2035 and finally entering it into largescale commercial use by 2050. The country’s progress in this area shows that the relevant authorities have mastered the vital technologies for the design, construction and operation of the device. Analysts believe that with advances through research and development, China will be one of the pioneers⁴ in developing nuclear fusion energy. Nuclear fusion is the process whereby two atoms fuse together to form a larger atom, such as when hydrogen atoms combine to form helium. The process releases a large amount of energy.

 

³experimental – not yet finalized

⁴pioneers – the first people to explore or settle an area

 

Think about it: How do you think nuclear power compares to renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar?

 

 

China: Workers Urged Not To Travel During Spring Festival

Employees have been encouraged to stay in the city of their workplace for the Spring Festival. It is hoped that they will avoid the travel rush and prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Some cities are also encouraging employees to work through the holiday period to help meet production targets. The incentives⁵ include overtime pay, free food, free accommodations and holidays arranged for a later date. Typically, the Spring Festival travel rush in China is the world’s largest human migration⁶ as people travel back to their hometowns for family reunions. 407 million passengers are expected to ride the railways, but some are reconsidering their travel plans due to the coronavirus. In addition, some cities are encouraging people to have reunion dinners of not more than 10 people.

 

⁵incentives – a thing that motivates or encourages someone to do something

⁶migration – movement of people from one area to another

 Think about it: If you were a worker in China away from your hometown, would you still want to go back or will you stay and work?

 

 

 

 

United Kingdom: Cases Top 3m As It Battles New Strain

Britain became the first country in western Europe to report more than three million coronavirus cases, with the new strain putting pressure on its health service. This is also the fifth-highest case load in the world. Britain first reported having one million cases on Oct 31, and this number doubled seven weeks later. It took just another three weeks to increase from two million to three million cases. The number of deaths due to Covid-19 is also the highest in Europe at more than 80,800. The country is currently under its third national lockdown, closing schools and non-essential businesses. The mayor of London has also warned that the National Health Service is at risk of being overwhelmed⁷. About two million people have already been vaccinated, with around 200,00 getting the shots every day. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to inoculate 15 million elderly and vulnerable⁸ people by the middle of February.

 

⁷overwhelmed – to have too much of something

⁸vulnerable – exposed to being attacked or harmed

 

Think about it: It’s plain to see that the rate of infections in Britain is going up. Do you think the current lockdown came too late?

 

 

United States: Security Failure at Capitol

A day after rioters stormed the Capitol building, lawmakers’ fear and shock at how easily security in the building had been breached gave way to anger. Many leading lawmakers demanded the Capitol’s top security officials to resign and for investigations into why security had failed. There are also questions about why Capitol Police were so understaffed when extremist⁹ groups had already telegraphed¹⁰ their intention to disrupt¹¹ the counting of the Electoral Votes at the Capitol. The FBI had estimated that as many as 20,000 people might attend the protest, yet federal law enforcement decided to keep the number of heavily armed police or military to a minimum. Already, Capitol police chief Steven Sund has announced that he would resign on Jan 16, followed by the resignation of the House Sergeant At Arms and Senate Sergeant At Arms. Blame is also placed on President Trump for failing to approve deployment of the D.C. National Guard.

 

⁹extremist – a person who holds extreme political views

¹⁰telegraphed – convey a message

¹¹disrupt – interrupt an event by causing a disturbance

 

Think about it: Why do you think there was so much less law enforcement personnel on standby this time as compared to the Black Lives Matter protests?

https://youtu.be/WhZFSqOmZRs

Singapore: Covid-19 Jab And Shorter Quarantine

Singapore’s Education Minister has suggested that travelers who take the Covid-19 vaccination may not need to serve a long quarantine period when they return to Singapore. This might happen if studies show that the vaccine significantly reduces the risk of transmission. Being vaccinated may also make it possible to travel to other countries more freely, but that will depend on the requirements of other countries. At the moment, Singaporeans can already travel to some other countries without a quarantine as Singapore is regarded as a low-risk jurisdiction¹. There have been rumors about the side effects of the vaccines, such as causing cancer, but there is no evidence of this. The chair of the expert committee on Covid-19 vaccination, which was convened² by the Ministry of Health, also believes that the vaccines are likely to work on the mutated strains of the coronavirus. This is because both strains of the virus feature the same spike protein.

¹jurisdiction – a country, state or other area where a particular set of laws must be obeyed

²convened – to bring together a group of people for a meeting

 Think about it: For those who did not want to get the vaccine, do you think the prospect of a shorter quarantine would be enough to change their minds?

 

Malaysia: Majority Accept Covid-19 Vaccine But More Awareness Required

A recent survey had 67% of respondents accepting of the Covid-19 vaccine and is considered a good start. For Malaysians who are unsure about the vaccine or do not wish to take it, it will take the work of credible experts engaged by the government to convince them through clear and objective explanations. The 67% acceptance rate of the vaccine might still not be enough to achieve herd immunity, which is when most of a population is immune to a disease, thus providing indirect protection to those who are not immune. Further, new mutant strains of the virus which have a higher reproduction number would require an even greater proportion³ of the population to be immune so as to achieve herd immunity. The most popular reasons why people do not want to take the vaccine are a belief that they have low infection risk, they have concerns about the vaccine’s safety and because they do not trust their country’s health system to administer the vaccine according to its specifications⁴.

³proportion – the part of something when compared to the whole

⁴specifications – a detailed description of how something should be done

 Think about it: What are some ways that governments can convince their people to take the vaccine? Would some sort of incentive scheme work?

 

 Indonesia: Islamic Council To Issue Halal Ruling Before Mass Inoculation

The country’s highest Muslim council hopes to issue a ruling on whether a Covid-19 vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech is halal, or permissible under Islam. Indonesia has received three million doses of the vaccine. This is not the first time the country has faced controversy⁵ over whether a vaccine is allowed under Islam. In a bid to boost acceptance of the vaccine by the public, President Joko Widodo has announced that he will be the first to receive the vaccine. Sinovac has informed Indonesia that their vaccines were “manufactured free of porcine⁶ materials”. An official at Indonesia’s largest mainstream Muslim organization stated that emergency vaccines could be used if no other options were available. This opinion was echoed by some Muslims as well. In Malaysia, religious authorities have approved Covid-19 vaccines for Muslims, and mandatory for those identified to receive them.

 ⁵controversy – a lot of disagreement or argument about something

⁶porcine – relating to pigs

 Think about it: Do you think the President’s decision to be the first to take the vaccine will give enough assurance to the nation’s Muslims?

 

China: Covid-19 Cases In Hebei Rise

The capital of Hebei province, Shijiazhuang, has been put under lockdown after the city reported the highest daily Covid-19 case numbers since the outbreak occurred. Many of the cases for Hebei province were from the provincial capital of Shijiazhuang. All residents and vehicles are not allowed to leave the capital and movement within the city has been limited. Vehicles are also not allowed to leave the city unless they are transporting daily necessities⁷ or medical supplies. The Shijiazhuang Fifth Hospital has been cleared exclusively⁸ for Covid-19 patients with another three being prepared. A total of 49 medical experts have also been deployed. All patients are currently in stable condition. Beijing, which is located next to Hebei province, has also sent medical experts to support the efforts there. To reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 to the capital, people who need to travel to Beijing must provide a negative nucleic acid test within 72 hours before entering the capital.

⁷necessities – something that is needed, especially in order to live

⁸exclusively – only

Think about it: There are additional precautions in place for people traveling to the capital, Beijing. Do you think these same precautions should be taken for other important cities like the financial hub of Shanghai?

 

United States: Ill-equipped To Track New Mutant Strain Of Coronavirus

With no proper system to identify genetic variations of the coronavirus, health officials are left blind to track the new dangerous mutant strain which presents a new threat. The variant, which is more transmissible, is already burdening hospitals in Britain with many new cases. It is for the moment rare in the US but has the potential to cause new outbreaks. Out of 1.4 million new cases in the US each week, genomic sequencing, which can detect the new variant, is performed on fewer than 3,000 cases. Further, the sequencing is done by a patchwork⁹ of academic, state and commercial laboratories. A national surveillance program would help monitor how widespread the virus is and contain outbreaks but would cost a few hundred million dollars. It is hoped that this will be implemented under the Biden administration, as President-elect Joe Biden is supportive of a national testing program.

⁹patchwork – a mixture of different things

Think about it: American is the world’s largest economy, so does it seem strange that its health system is lagging behind other poorer nations? Where is their money being spent?

https://youtu.be/DkJT4j0Z58c

Singapore: Police To Share Counter-Terror Data With Tech Firms

A new group will share relevant and timely counter-terror data between technology firms and the police. The Singapore Police Force and Asia Internet Coalition (AIC) will collaborate¹ to promote greater exchange of information to fight online crime and enhance awareness of scams. The AIC includes companies such as Google, Facebook and Grab, and the new group is known as Online Industry Safety and Security Watch Group (Online iSSWG). Singapore’s Minister of State for Home Affairs said that terrorism has expanded through online channels, such as the attacker who killed 50 people in a 2019 shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand. The man had formed his views from the Internet and was emboldened² by others he met on forums. Online iSSWG will allow Singapore police to tap into AIC’s network of 15 companies to obtain insights³ to fight terrorism and other crimes committed in cyberspace. This is the seventh collaboration by the police with industry partners to address safety and security concerns for each industry.

 ¹collaborate – work jointly on a project

²emboldened – give someone the courage or confidence to do something

³insights – an accurate and deep understanding

Think about it: Aside from the police, should teachers and schools also take on a more active role in educating our youths about the dangers online?

 

Malaysia: Parents Nervous About Sending Kids Back To School

Parents are anxious about sending their children back to school with new infections still in the thousands. Some have decided to go ahead with the usual preparations even though they are not fully confident of sending their children to school. Some parents are looking forward to sending their children back as they feel that their children learn better in class instead of online. Others preferred their children to continue with online classes as they do not feel that their children will be safe from infection. Others do not want their children back in school as they worry that schools will not properly implement measures such as safe distancing, wearing of masks and maintaining of cleanliness. One proposal has been for students to return to school on a rotating⁴ basis in order to reduce the possibility of any spread of the coronavirus. Another group of parents are calling for school openings to be delayed.

⁴rotating – pass to each member of a group in a regularly recurring order

Think about it: With so many different concerns and so many different proposals, which do you think is the best?

Japan: New Measures For Tokyo Area

Japan declared a state of emergency for Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures⁵. However, many view this move as being too little, too late and unlikely to have any impact on the Covid-19 infection rate. The previous high of 4,913 new infection cases was quickly topped the next day with 6,001 new infection cases. 50% of the new cases in these four prefectures have no known transmission⁶ routes, which makes efforts to stem the spread difficult. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has long been reluctant to issue a state of emergency due to the impact to the economy. This state of emergency came about as the Tokyo Olympic Games are set to commence⁷ in less than 200 days and people are questioning if Japan can do enough to host a safe event. The president of the Japan Medical Association feels that the government should consider a nationwide state of emergency.

⁵prefecture – in certain countries, a district under the authority of a governor

⁶transmission – the process of passing something from one person to another

⁷commence – to begin something

Think about it: Most Japanese feel that the Olympic Games should either be postponed again or cancelled. What are your thoughts?

  

United States: Congress Seals Biden’s Election Win

President-elect Joe Biden was formally recognized as the next president of the United States by Congress. The vote came hours after pro-Trump supporters stormed⁸ the Capitol building and forced lawmakers to escape to safety. President Trump has been blamed by many for inciting⁹ the riot with his false claims of election fraud. At a rally earlier in the day, he urged his supporters to march on the Capitol, promising to be there with his supporters. He was not. He has now promised an orderly transition¹⁰ to the new administration, despite still disagreeing with the outcome of the Nov 3 election. As a result of his actions, he has now lost support from previous allies in Congress. Many Republicans who initially planned to object to the Electoral College votes cast for Mr Biden changed their minds. Senior officials are discussing invoking¹¹ the 25^th Amendment to remove Mr Trump from office before his term expires on Jan 20.

⁸stormed – to attack a place or building by entering suddenly in great numbers

⁹inciting – to encourage someone to do something violent

¹⁰transition – to change from one form to another

¹¹invoking – to use a law in order to achieve something

Think about it: Should Mr Trump be impeached or removed from office before the end of this term, which is happening in under two weeks?

 

Science: WHO Recommends 2 Doses of Pfizer Vaccine Within 21 To 28 Days

As cases surge and new variants that spread more easily are appearing, governments around the world are facing massive demand for vaccines. These are seen as the best way out of the global health crisis. As demand still outstrips¹² supply, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been considering different ways to use existing stock of vaccines most effectively. The chairman of WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (Sage) announced that after deliberation, their recommendation is for two doses of the Pfizer vaccine to be taken within 21 to 28 days. However, countries can be given leeway¹³ to spread out the two doses over six weeks if necessary so that more high-risk people can receive the benefit of having the first shot. Five British medical scientists have criticized the government’s plan to delay the second dose by up to 12 weeks, stating that dosing schedules should not be altered without evidence.

¹²outstrips – to be greater in amount

¹³leeway – freedom to act within particular limits

Think about it: Is it better to give proper inoculation to a smaller group of people, or partial inoculation to twice as many people?