If ever there was a ‘detention camp’ for Muslims, it would be Guantanamo

Chinese foreign ministry on Wednesday called Guantanamo Bay prison "a dark page in the history of human rights" and said if ever there was a "detention camp" for Muslims, it would be the Guantanamo Bay.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks when asked to comment on a statement made by a group of independent human rights experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council. The statement condemned the continued operation of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility as a site of "unparalleled notoriety" and "a stain on the US Government's commitment to the rule of law," ahead of the 20th anniversary of the facility that falls on Tuesday.

For the past 20 years, the US' scandal of the abuse of Guantanamo prisoners has been repeatedly reported and aroused great outrage from the international community. The US has been pledging to close the prison, but 20 years later, 39 men remain at Guantanamo, of whom only several people have been charged or convicted, said Wang.

In fact, the US operates secret prisons all over the world, and Guantanamo is just the tip of the iceberg, Wang noted, referring to reports that the US set up a large number of secret prisons in Afghanistan and in its ally countries, as well.

The Guantanamo Bay prison and other "black prisons" of the US are a constant reminder of the US' human rights abuses and crimes, said Wang.

The country should immediately close Guantanamo Bay and other secret prisons, stop arbitrary detention and abuse of prisoners and other atrocities, and make an apology and compensation to the victims, he said.

Anonymous

Covid-19: Deadly Omicro Should Not Be Labelled As Mild

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned against describing the Omicron variant as mild, saying it is killing people across the world.

Though a few studies have suggested (but dare not confirm) that the Omicron variant is less likely to cause more serious illness than the previous Covid variants, it certainly is not mild. It would be a serious mistake to treat it as mild.

One key factor is certain, though: The record number of people getting infected with Omicron has left numerous healthcare systems across the whole world under severe pressure.

On Monday alone, the US recorded more than one million Covid cases within 24 hours. Across Europe, the number of daily Covid-19 infections have doubled or tripled. The spread of Omicron infections is fast and furious. There is no sign of it decreasing.

WHO said that the number of global cases has increased by 71% in the last week, and in the Americas by 100%. It also indicated that among the severe cases worldwide, 90% were unvaccinated.

"While Omicron does appear to be less severe compared to Delta, especially in those vaccinated, it does not mean it should be categorised as mild," Dr Tedros told a press conference on Thursday.

"Just like previous variants, Omicron is hospitalising people and it is killing people."

"In fact, the tsunami of cases is so huge and quick, that it is overwhelming health systems around the world."

It is a fact that the Omicron variant is highly contagious (at least 3 to 5 times more contagious than the Delta variant) and can infect people even if they are fully vaccinated, or boosted.

Therefore, do not unduly let your guard down when some people suggest to you that Omicron is mild.

Remain alert, cautious and don't take things for granted. Your own health and lives are in your own hands.

Don't allow any dare-devil, gangho, politically motivated and self-interested minister, CEO or self-appointed "expert" put you off-guard. They are not responsible nor will they take responsibility for anything that they had said that might have influenced your decisions, which may subsequently cause you to suffer irreparable damage to your health, or even cause death.

In the present world of fast money-making, glory hunting, power seeking and hypocrisy, there is no shortage of deception, disinformation, misinformation and outright lies.

Take care.


A-non-y-mouse

DBS a great employer

 

Can anyone tell the difference? Is this in India or Singapore? The common denominators, DBS owned. DBS employees. And a very comfortable recreation area for staff.

What a great employer! What a great place to work.

The Indian govt must be very grateful and thankful to the Singapore govt for providing so many good jobs for Indians in India and in Singapore.

Jobless Singaporeans see oredy 'lau nuar'  ie salivating in Hokien. for the Jobless Singaporeans, lagi shiong.

Picture copied from TRE.

More than 100 doctors issued an open letter urging the government to pay attention to the safety of mRNA vaccines

 Translated from KL Chinese press:

More than 100 doctors issued an open letter urging the government to pay attention to the safety of mRNA vaccines

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 100 doctors have issued an open letter urging the government to pay attention to the safety of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines.

They also said that new data, which began to emerge months after the second dose of the mRNA vaccine, showed that the vaccine was "ineffective" against the South African Omicron variant, for which there is still no clear scientific explanation.

In a scientific open letter dated January 10 to the Prime Minister, Health Minister and National Security Council of Malaysia, 114 doctors pointed out that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has only just begun to study the long-term results of vaccine-induced myocarditis, so the current situation is The safety of such vaccines is still full of unknowns.

The doctors pointed out in an open letter that new data showed that the mRNA vaccine was "ineffective" for Omicron.

"What's more worrying is that if the current cohort of vaccinated young and healthy people contract Covid-19, the associated infection may contribute to a higher risk of developing myocarditis."

The open letter was written by histopathology and statistics consultant Mani Mara and supported by 113 doctors.

In general, doctors say, results of drug safety can only be seen after at least 20 years of widespread use, because new drugs are often only tested for a short period of time, and mid- and long-term adverse effects may remain unknown;

Small sample size, so there may be some rare but fatal adverse reactions not found.

Doctors cite studies revealing that young men who receive the mRNA vaccine have a higher risk of developing myocarditis than contracting Covid-19.

They said that the mRNA-type covid vaccine is still a "novel" drug, and there was no overview of its safety and effectiveness before. Instead, it was recently piloted by researchers from Oxford University in the United Kingdom and published in the "Natural Medicine" journal. The research analysis clearly pointed out that, There is a causal relationship between these vaccines and myocarditis.

According to research, people suffer from injuries after vaccination; the Moderna vaccine has a higher mRNA concentration, so there is a higher incidence of myocarditis; and the second and third injections afterward will increase the risk of myocarditis.

"The study also showed that young men who received the mRNA vaccine had a higher risk of developing myocarditis than contracting Covid-19."

*Questioning the relevant Malaysian authorities Citing Research Data Base*

The doctors pointed out that a number of medical issues have arisen in Malaysia's long-term COVID-19 vaccine policy, including the identity, qualifications and conflicts of interest of the relevant bodies of Malaysia's Vaccine Advisory Committee.

They said the Vaccine Adverse Reactions Committee of Malaysia also had issues of identity, qualifications and conflicts of interest.

They questioned the data base of the relevant Malaysian agencies and recommended the use of the covid vaccine.

Doctors say a directive from the National Security Council that people need to be vaccinated to continue their normal lives could lead to medical problems.

They also questioned whether the "informed consent" form for people to administer the covid vaccine has been updated and highlighted, and the "black box" warning about the risk of drug "raw material".

"Hopefully these issues raised will be taken into consideration and raised to reassure the people."

https://www.chinapress.com.my/20220111

Anonymous

It is not possible to stop the Omicron

Just as we were all supposed to meet the Delta sooner or later, it is even more certain that all of us will meet the Omicron within the next few months.

And no, hospitalisation, ICU and deaths are not decoupled from the Omicron cases.

Of course, they will be coupled, but with a delay, and with a lower proportion bcos much of the world is either vaccinated or had prior infections.

There are already reports of Omicron infection deaths in the different parts od the world.

The fall in Delta after their recent peaks would lead to a fall in hospitalisation, ICU and deaths in the first instance, even if the supposedly milder Omicron is just starting up.



And hospitals in parts of USA are filling up and struggling.

True, both vaccinated and recovered patients can be infected, though usually mild.

Omicron waves Europe and USA are expected to peak between now till end February.

Omicron waves are starting to surge in Asia - already the Philippines are seeing record daily cases, well past their Delta peaks.

So in Sg, we should expect to see a big surge sometime between now, possibly with super spreaders sparked by CNY festivities and gatherings.

So we should be prepared for a high speed roller coaster wave sometime in February/March before the situation calms in April/May/June.

Hang in there and stay calm.

Anonymous