Sunday, January 31, 2021

Republican Greene: Trump can never be defeated because the people support him

Reporter : Li Yun / Editor : Zhu Xinrui / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/01/31/a103043796.html / Direct translation / Image of Greene : Erin Scott / POOL / ADP via Getty Images


Trump's popularity has increased even after he retired and returned to his hometown! Republicans in Florida call Trump "the president of our hometown." Georgia Republican Congressman Green tweeted, "You can never beat him (Trump) because our people support him."

Christian Ziegler, vice chairman of the Florida Republican Party, recently told local media, the Orlando Sentinel, "If he (Trump) wants to make any visits in the state, we will provide convenience. "If he wants to engage in activities, we will build activities around him."

Ziegler added, "This is his party." Trump is "the president of our hometown."

Palm Beach County Republican Party Chairman Michael Barnett also told The Sentinel that hundreds of Republican Party members are expected to attend the Palm Beach County Republican Party’s Annual Lincoln Day Dinner in April at Sea Lake Estate.

Barnett said that he hopes Trump will attend and "say hello and say a few words."

Trump is not only popular in Florida! Also respected in Congress. Recently, Republican Senator Bill Hagerty of the U.S. Congress hired 13 former Trump administration employees to work in his office, including former White House Deputy Press Spokesperson Judd Deere (Judd Deere).

The Minority Leader of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy (Kevin McCarthy) went to meet Trump in Florida on January 28. This is the first time Trump has met with a congressional leader since he left office.

Afterwards, Trump’s Save America PAC said in a statement that the two had a good and cordial meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach.

Trump's team stated that the two discussed several topics, but the first task is to retake the House of Representatives for Republicans in the 2022 midterm elections. Trump’s popularity has never been stronger than it is today.

The statement said that Trump's support may be more meaningful than any support at any time. Trump will now work with McCarthy to boost the GOP in the House of Representatives election.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Kevin McCarthy). (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images)
After McCarthy and Trump met, Congressman Marjorie Taylor Greene of the Republican Congress of Georgia sent a series of tweets on the morning of January 30, saying, "I have always been my favorite President Trump. Had a great call!"

Greene said, "I am grateful for his (Trump) support, and more importantly, the people of this country are absolutely 100% loyal to him, because he is 100% loyal to the people and the United States first." "You can never beat him. Because our people support him."


Greene also criticized that the leftist media and socialists who hated the United States attacked her just as they always attacked former President Trump. She said, "I can assure you that I will not back down. I will never apologize. I will always fight for the people. For me, America is first!".


Greene is the new member of Parliament who first took office in January. On the first day of President Biden's inauguration, Green submitted a motion to impeach Biden. However, she was threatened with massive slander and attacks.

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asked the Republican leader to punish and remove Greene. Left media kept digging up Greene’s past social media remarks, accusing her of spreading political conspiracy theories.

Greene seemed to reply to Pelosi in a tweet on the 30th, mentioning that the enemies within the United States are the poisonous corruption of the socialist policy and the traitors of the U.S. bottom-line policy. They are flamboyant hypocrites, but they consider themselves untouchable elites.

In a statement sent to media members on the 29th, Green wrote: "Since you attacked me with a smear campaign, nearly 60,000 'America No. 1' patriots from 50 states have expressed their support to me through messages. More than $1.6 million in small donations poured into my campaign account."

Greene’s statement said, “Every attack, every lie, and every slander will strengthen my support base in my hometown and across the country, because the people are tired of lies when they know the truth, and become a super political action committee and a powerful company. The people will support me when others start donations to the Democrats and give in to the evil Cancel Culture mob."

The statement stated that President Trump taught us how to defend America’s first values, "I will never back down, and I will never give up. It is my honor to block the arrows for you, to block the arrows for our "America First Movement." Let's save our country and prevent socialism. I know that this day will come, but I don't know when it will come. "

Iran’s late-night air raid sirens suddenly, and the passenger plane temporarily diverted. Officials responded

 Reporter : Li Meng / http://www.minhangshi.com/m/h5/detail/9152105 / Direct translation 



The Iranian capital Tehran suddenly sounded an air raid warning late at night on January 29. At the same time, a passenger plane that was planning to fly to Tehran suddenly diverted. The incident attracted foreign media attention. On the 30th, Iranian officials responded.

According to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency, when Tehran sounded the air-raid alert, a passenger plane from Istanbul happened to circle over Tehran and then changed its route to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. This coincidence has sparked speculation on social platforms, and some public speculation is related to the "invasion" of Israeli warplanes.

In this regard, an informed official of the Iranian armed forces clarified and stated that the alert has nothing to do with any threat of air strikes. The official in charge of security affairs in Tehran Province revealed that the alarm sounded because of a technical failure of the alarm. At the same time, the public relations department of Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport also pointed out in a statement that the change of route of the passenger plane was related to bad weather.

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Propose designating June 14 as ‘President Donald J. Trump Day’

Reporter : Allen Zhong, contributed by Janita Kan / Publisher : The Epoch Times PREMIUM


 
Two Ohio state lawmakers suggested designating June 14 as “President Donald J. Trump Day” to honor the former president.

“Let’s show the 3,154,834 Ohio voters (a record and historic number of votes received for president in Ohio) who cast their ballot to re-elect Donald J. Trump that we as a legislature recognize the accomplishments of his administration, and that the Ohio House believes it is imperative we set aside a day to celebrate one of the greatest presidents in American history,” state Rep. Jon Cross (R-Ohio) and Reggie Stoltzfus (R-Ohio) wrote in a memorandum to all House members.

The duo praised Trump who accomplished many things that led America to unparalleled prosperity “against great odds.”

It’s unclear if this suggestion will be adopted widely by the Republican-controlled state House. The Republicans hold a strong majority 64–35 over the Ohio Democratic Party in the Ohio House.

Ohio House Speaker Robert R. Cupp did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times.

The former president—who launched the MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement in the United States and changed the country and the Republican Party substantially—still maintains significant influence at the national and state level.

He agreed with U.S. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to help the GOP to become a majority in the House after a meeting at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach on Thursday.

“Today, President Trump committed to helping elect Republicans in the House and Senate in 2022,” McCarthy said in a statement. “A united conservative movement will strengthen the bonds of our citizens and uphold the freedoms our country was founded on.”

At the state level, Trump secured one of his allies, Kelli Ward, the position of Arizona GOP chairwoman on Jan. 22 with a last-minute endorsement.

Ward won 51.5 percent of the vote, to 48.5 percent for challenger Sergio Arellano in the second round of voting.

“The decision is ours. Are you going to reelect me and show the state, the country, and the world that we are an America first Arizona, or will we go back to the dark days before Trump?” Ward said while presenting her case before the vote.

Ref: https://www.theepochtimes.com/ohio-republicans-propose-designating-june-14th-as-president-donald-j-trump-day_3678472.html?utm_source=newsnoe&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=breaking-2021-01-30-1

SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOC) that deserve attention   

Writer : Yan Jiaxin / http://blog.sciencenet.cn/blog-347754-1269710.html / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA



In the more than one year of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, researchers around the world have sequenced tens of thousands of epidemic strains of the novel coronavirus. In recent months, some variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been detected. Because genome mutations may affect the transmission capacity of the virus, the sensitivity to vaccines, and the pathogenicity to humans, these strains are called variants of concern (VOC). In the context of the global pandemic of the new coronavirus, these variants have attracted great attention from countries around the world. Nowadays, the mutant strain that deserves attention has become one of the most popular phrases, and even the English abbreviation VOC of this phrase has become popular. This article will use the English abbreviation VOC.

What this article is going to discuss is what noteworthy changes have taken place in the new coronavirus VOC?

Darwin's theory of evolution tells us that genes that do not have an evolutionary advantage in nature will be eliminated, and species that do not have an evolutionary advantage will be eliminated. Generally speaking, in the process of evolution and mutation, the virus will develop towards lower toxicity and stronger infectivity. Low toxicity and strong infectivity are beneficial to the virus itself: it is beneficial for the virus to live in the host for a long time, multiply, and "infect" more hosts, so that the virus has more chances of survival.

This is a long-term inevitable trend, but in a short period of time or in certain local areas, this trend may not necessarily become a reality immediately. Therefore, the specific situation needs specific analysis.

In terms of the evolutionary trend of the novel coronavirus that is currently in a global pandemic, the current VOC of the novel coronavirus is not surprisingly large in terms of its transmission ability, sensitivity to vaccines, and pathogenicity to humans. The evidence for certain tendentious conclusions widely circulated in the current media is insufficient, and it is still awaiting the development of the epidemic and further and in-depth research to finally obtain a clear conclusion.

1. VOC transmission ability

The SARS-CoV-2 variant called B.1.1.7 appeared in the United Kingdom in September 2020. The VOC has 17 genome mutations, some of which lead to changes in the amino acid of the spike protein (see above) Figure). Similar but very different variants (B.1.135) have also been found in other places such as South Africa and Brazil, but the study of the B.1.1.7 lineage of the United Kingdom is more in-depth. A good summary of these variations can be found in Reference 1.

A series of evidence indicates that compared with previous isolates, viruses of the B.1.1.7 lineage may have a higher transmission capacity. These include the rapid replacement of the previous variants in the UK in a short period of time; the R index (the average number of people infected by an infected person) of such variants has increased significantly; the level of viral RNA in the nasopharyngeal cleansing fluid detected by PCR or RNA sequencing has increased .

The virological definition of virus transmission is the transfer of viruses from one host to another. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, this transmission occurs when infectious virus particles are exhaled through respiratory droplets and reach another host, where they begin to infect. The evidence of increased transmission of B.1.1.7 pedigree cited above is all indirect, and cannot prove that mutant strains are actually more likely to spread between hosts in a virological sense. For example, the increase in the spread of this mutant strain in the population may also be the result of changes in human behavior. The R index, which measures transmission capacity, is not only affected by viruses, but also by human behavior. The increase in RNA levels found in nasopharyngeal lotions is not decisive for transmission. Because viral RNA is different from infectious virus. The relative amount of infectious virus excreted by individuals infected with the B.1.1.7 variant and infected with other variants has not been studied.

There is no doubt that the B.1.1.7 lineage quickly replaced other lineages in the UK. However, whether this phenomenon is due to the increased ability of the virus to spread from one host to another has not yet been confirmed.

The mutant strain has also been found in other countries, and its spread in these areas is not consistent with the increase in transmission. For example, we now know that the B.1.1.7 lineage appeared in the United States 5-6 weeks before it was discovered in the United Kingdom, but as of January, it only accounted for 0.3% of all cases in the United States. Two months after the epidemic in California, this lineage is estimated to account for 0.4% of cases, compared to 1.2% in similar cases in the UK. In Florida, this lineage is associated with higher transmission capacity, accounting for 0.7% of cases, but this is not the case in other US states. These data emphasize that we cannot yet conclude that the B.1.1.7 lineage is biologically more infectious.

There may be multiple factors at play, which is why it is best to look at B.1.1.7 pedigree variants and other variants from the perspective of virus fitness and reproduction success. Many factors can affect adaptability, not just communication capabilities. These may include increased physical stability of virus particles, increased resistance to immune responses, prolonged existence of the virus in the nasopharynx, increased infectious virus production in the host, and higher efficiency in the establishment of infection in the host. Any slight increase in these abilities may form a specific variant strain in the population, but it will not actually affect its spread from person to person. Whether the spread of these mutants is only achieved through founder effects at the right time and at the right place must also be considered.

The statistical model used to simulate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants cannot prove that its biological characteristics have changed, because the prevalence in the population may be a comprehensive result of multiple fitness parameters. It is necessary to conduct experiments in animal models (in this case, the relevance to humans is unclear), or quantitative detection of infectious viruses in the population. So far, there has not been such a quantitative test in the population for the current variant strain.

2. The sensitivity of VOC to vaccines

A more pressing question is whether changes in the spike protein in VOCs will affect the immune protection of existing vaccines, or whether it will affect the sensitivity of VOCs to existing vaccines. To clarify this issue requires direct testing of neutralizing antibodies, such as those that can prevent the protection of infection. Antibodies recognize specific protein sequences on viral particles, especially those spike protein sequences used in mRNA vaccines. Some of the spur changes found in mutant strains are in areas known to bind antibodies. Therefore, an important question is whether vaccination can suppress VOC infection.

This problem has been solved in Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines. The serum produced after inoculation with mRNA-1273 can effectively neutralize the experimental pseudovirus carrying the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein of the B.1.1.7 lineage (see Reference 1). When using the South African B.1.351 lineage, the neutralizing potency of these sera was reduced by 6.4 times. However, these serums can still completely neutralize South African B.1.351 at a titer of 1:290, which may be sufficient to prevent severe new coronary pneumonia (COVID-19).

At the same time, Moderna has announced that it will develop an improved vaccine (mRNA-1273.351) that encodes an amino acid that changes in South Africa B.1.351.

In another study (Reference 2), a neutralization test was performed on the serum of individuals vaccinated with Pfizer's BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine, using B.1.1.7 (absent amino acids 69/70, N501Y, D614G) or B.1.351 (E484K) + N501Y + D614G) SARS-CoV-2 virus with amino acid changes in the selective spike protein. It was found that these changes in VOC have little effect on serum neutralization.

However, these modified viruses do not contain all the changes found in the B.1.1.7 and South African B.1.351 viruses, which may explain the different results of serum tests compared to the antibodies induced by mRNA-1273.

These observations convince us that these two mRNA vaccines will provide protection against COVID-19 caused by the currently circulating variant strains. Of course, the mutation of the virus also has great chance. The monitoring of the virus genome must be increased to ensure that any new mutations that may appear are quickly detected and to determine its impact on the neutralization of existing vaccines.

3. The pathogenicity of VOC to humans

There is no evidence from previous studies that viruses of the B.1.1.7 lineage are associated with an increased risk of hospitalization or death. However, after reviewing additional data from three independent studies, NERVTAG (New & Emerging Respiratory Threats Advisory Group, Reference 3) concluded that infection with VOC B.1.1.7 is associated with an increased risk of death compared with non-VOC infections Related, this is a realistic possibility. This conclusion is based on a statistical analysis of reported mortality of individuals infected with VOC B.1.1.7 or non-VOC viruses. For example, in one study, the relative risk of death was 1.35 (95% confidence interval 1.08-1.68). In another study, the average rate of case mortality caused by VOC viruses or non-VOC viruses was 1.36 (95% confidence interval 1.18-1.56). These differences are actually very small, but there is a large confidence interval, from no impact to impact. The author points out that the absolute risk of death remains low. Statistics are calculated by analyzing a limited data set of all COVID-19-related deaths (8%), so there may be errors. In addition, there does not appear to be an increased hospitalization risk associated with VOC virus infection.

Our interpretation of this report should be that it is mainly used as a warning to continue genomic monitoring related to the risk of death on the mutation of the virus, rather than immediately drawing a causal conclusion.

Latest news: Novavax has just released the first batch of results of a Phase III clinical trial of a COVID-19 vaccine based on spur protein (Reference 4). The efficacy in the UK is close to 90%, but in a small trial in South Africa, the efficacy on the B.1.135 variant strain was only 50%.

References:

1. Kai Wu, et al., mRNA-1273 vaccine induces neutralizing antibodies against spike mutants from global SARS-CoV-2 variants, bioRxiv, Posted January 25, 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.25.427948

2. Xuping Xie, et al., Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 spike 69/70 deletion, E484K, and N501Y variants by BNT162b2 vaccine-elicited sera, bioRxiv, Posted January 27, 2021. doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.27.427998 

3. Peter Horby,et al, NERVTAG note on B.1.1.7 severity, Jan 26, 2021, https://app.box.com/s/3lkcbxepqixkg4mv640dpvvg978ixjtf/file/768458300892

4.   Katie Thomas, et al, Novavax's Vaccine Works Well — Except on Variant First Found in South Africa, New York Times, Jan. 28, 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/28/health/covid-vaccine-novavax-south-africa.html

UPDATES 01/02/2021

News (1)

British media: Research confirms that SARS-CoV-2 originated in China

Reporter : Yuning / Editor : Ling Yuge / https://www.soundofhope.org/post/469481 / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

During the long-overdue investigation of the source of SARS-CoV-2 (CCP virus) by the World Health Organization in China, British reporter Ian Birrel  on  January 30 quoted  an article in the Daily Mail, revealing that the results of a team specializing in molecular epidemiology at the Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia confirmed that the CCP virus originated in mainland China and may have appeared from the end of October to the beginning of November 2019.

The team led by Professor Pond (Sergei Pond) published a paper on the BiroRxiv website in September last year. As early as when people confirmed COVID-19 (covid, in short), experts realized that the disease was derived from the virus SARS-CoV-2. So the team used modeling technology to track the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 to covid to understand the invisible mutation process and development process of this virus.

Their research results found that the early CCP virus lineages first appeared in the samples of the genome sampled from China. In fact, the next five main lineages were also the first to be found in China, which means that these variant strains are all sources that came from China and evolved from the virus in China.

Pound said, "All genetic evidence shows that this virus originated in mainland China, and the pattern of this virus's global spread is consistent with the pattern of global outbreaks of infectious diseases from mainland China."

Pound also said that it is very difficult to confirm the exact date of the appearance of patient zero, but he believes that the progenitor cells of the CCP virus may have appeared at the end of October 2019. Several researchers were infected with the epidemic at the same time.

The CCP only admitted to the outbreak of "a new infectious disease" in Wuhan on 31 December 2019, and only three weeks later did it admit that the virus can be transmitted from person to person, although many early signs showed that the virus can spread among medical staff and have spread among the people in Wuhan.

Wuhan medical staff stated in a report on 2 January 2020 that 41 confirmed patients had appeared in Wuhan. A report from the South China Morning Post confirmed that Wuhan had the first confirmed covid case on 17 November 2019. The WHO now admits that at the end of 2019 they knew that there were 124 confirmed cases in mainland China and only 5 of them were not from Wuhan. Many experts and government officials complained that WHO had concealed this important information.

People are now paying attention to the Wuhan Institute of Virology because Shi Zhengli's team is conducting artificial virus recombination experiments there.

News (2)

WHO experts investigate in Wuhan, CCP strictly controls the whole process

Reporter : Ruyi / Editor : Song Feng / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/01/31/a103044042.html / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Experts from the WHO Virus Source Investigation Team began their investigation in Wuhan after the two-week quarantine period ended. Under strict control, they were arranged to visit the hospital where the CCP virus patients were first admitted, and they were also arranged to visit the "Wuhan Anti-epidemic Achievement Exhibition." The outside world believes that the WHO expert survey conducted in accordance with the arrangements of the CCP is more like filming.

On January 29 and 30, the WHO Virus Origin Investigation Team visited Hubei Province Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital and Jinyintan Hospital in Jianghan District, Wuhan.

According to the Voice of America ​​report, WHO experts are not allowed to contact the media or talk to community residents at will.

The report quoted sources saying that all people who talk to the members of the expert group are designated by the superiors. What can be said, what cannot be said, and how to say must be in accordance with the requirements of the superior.

China also arranged for the WHO investigation team to visit the "Wuhan Anti-epidemic Achievements Exhibition" aimed at highlighting the leadership role of the Communist Party of China.

Gobi Dong, an independent scholar in the United States, said that in the early stages of the outbreak, WHO did not investigate the source of the virus; when the virus was the most serious threat to the world, WHO did not go to China to investigate. Last year, many countries participated in the WHO meeting. It was proposed to trace the source of the virus but the WHO still did not act. But a year later, they went to China to investigate the source of the virus, which is counterintuitive.

Gobi Dong added, "The whole world knows that this is just a play by the CCP and its infiltrated WHO. First, it has been a year since all the viruses The evidence is almost destroyed. It’s impossible for an evil regime like the CCP to leave you with any evidence after a year. Second, an evil regime like the CCP’s centralized power needs to investigate it. The guilt is simply seeking skin with a tiger."

The WHO notified on its Twitter account on the 28th that the expert team is going to visit several hospitals in Wuhan and the South China Seafood Market related to the first batch of patients. It will also visit Wuhan Institute of Virology, Wuhan CDC and several subordinate laboratories.

In fact, the trip to China of the WHO expert group has been delayed many times by China. French media pointed out that the investigation mission has been highly politicized. Beijing has been trying to divert attention from the outside world by dismissing statements such as "the epidemic may also originate from abroad," and avoiding the outside world from paying attention to its slow response at the beginning of the epidemic.

Voice of America ​​also stated that the Chinese Communist Party officials have been dumping other countries in order to avoid accountability.

Ms. Yu from Wuhan said that a visit was arranged in a tightly controlled area, and all things you saw were made, just like people going to North Korea.

Ms. Yu commented, "You want people from that area to get things from them. What can you do in the controlled area? What can you get? Does it make sense to get the things that the government provides to you? It's nonsense, right? It's all funny, to coax the people."

Ms. Yu said that citizen journalist Zhang Zhan just took some photos on the street, said a few words to some people, and made a video and she was sentenced to four years. Ai Fen, the doctor who told the truth, was falsified and then deliberately blinded her eyes during the operation. Who dares to tell the truth?

Ms. Yu also said that if we really want to investigate, we should investigate how the infected people died and how many people died. At that time, the Wuhan crematorium was burning continuously for 24 hours, and foreign support was needed. It makes sense to investigate these.

Ms. Yu said, "They should look at the people who died, how they died, the process of their death, the whole process of their illness and death, they have to understand this, and then their families. What are so many orphans like now? Why don’t these things look, care, or ask?"

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Communist Party of China stated that the WHO experts' visit to Wuhan this time is a cooperation and a part of global research rather than investigation.

Gobi Dong pointed out that after this year, the whole world has fully seen this institution known as the World Health Organization through this epidemic. In fact, it has long been infiltrated by the CCP. Its two secretary-generals are the products of the CCP's money diplomacy. This is also one of the reasons for the catastrophe of this century.

Gobi Dong commented, "The infiltration of a world organization like WHO by the CCP is actually the greatest tragedy in the world, and it is also the greatest danger in the world. This time the Wuhan virus of the CCP is occupying the world, and WHO has played an indispensable role. Without it, it helps the CCP. With the cover-ups and lies, the world will not suffer such a pandemic as it is today. Therefore, the CCP and the WHO organization are among the killers of the virus."

Gobi Dong asked, " What can be the result of asking one murderer to investigate another murderer?" Therefore, the WHO's visit to China to check the source of the virus can only be a scene, and it must be returned without success, and it may even become a farce for the CCP to spread fat and invite awards.

News (3)

What are the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on children?
 
Publisher : Xinhua News Agency / http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2021/1/452642.shtm / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

How are the symptoms of children infected with SARS-CoV-2 (novel coronavirus, CCP virus) different from those of adults? What impact will the mutant novel coronavirus have on children? How should people take measures to protect the safety of children? Experts from the World Health Organization recently answered the above questions in the form of a podcast.

Maria Van Kelkhoff, head of WHO's new crown virus technology, said that people of different ages behave differently after being infected with the new crown virus. Most people will experience respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, and sneezing after being infected with the CCP virus. Some people will also experience smell and taste failure and gastrointestinal symptoms. But compared with adults, children and adolescents tend to have milder symptoms. For example, young children usually do not have as many symptoms as adults, some children may have gastrointestinal symptoms such as mild diarrhea or vomiting, and most children do not even have any symptoms.

Regarding the discovery of mutated novel coronaviruses in many places around the world, Van Kelkhoff said that the mutation of the virus is expected. Many mutations have no effect on the transmission capacity of the virus and the severity of the disease caused, but some "virus variants that need attention" It is worth further study. She also believes that so far these mutant novel coronaviruses have not been shown to cause more serious diseases in people of all ages. Studies have shown that the mutant virus found in the UK has shown greater transmission capacity among people of all ages, but children are not more susceptible to this mutant virus than adults.

Van Kelkhoff said that in the face of the CCP virus epidemic, the best way to protect children is to prevent infection. The protective measures that people often hear also apply to children. Specifically, to ensure that children maintain hand hygiene, learn to wash their hands properly with soap and water, you can wash your hands while singing to ensure that enough foam is made to wash your hands, you can also use alcohol-based hand washing gel. Ensure that children pay attention to hygienic etiquette, such as coughing and sneezing inside the curved elbow, which are also good habits that children should develop as they grow up. Ensure that children follow the instructions of the local health department and wear masks suitable for their age. Use clean hands to properly wear a mask and cover your mouth and nose, and wash your hands after removing the mask; keeping social distance with others is a good way to prevent the spread of the CCP virus.

Van Kelkhoff finally stated that parents should also answer their children's questions as much as possible. Many confusing information may make children panic. So take time to talk with children and alleviate fear by correctly answering their questions.

News (4)

People who "take pictures" of  SARS-CoV-2
 
Reporter : Peng Qian / http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2021/1/452306.shtm / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Li Sai, a researcher at the School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, China, was extremely excited when he watched the nano-level fine microbe structure of the fresh SARS-CoV-2 (novel coronavirus, CCP virus). He told reporters on the 23rd, "It feels like climbing Mount Everest and overlooking the world."

For the first time, an international team including Chinese researchers "shooted" a 3D image of the novel coronavirus. In the nano-scale image, the new coronavirus with an average diameter of less than 100 nanometers is like a strange planet, with freely swinging spike protein "tentacles" distributed on the surface. Inside the "planet", ultra-long ribonucleic acid strands are densely wound around the ordered ribonucleoprotein complexes.

Recently, a high-definition science image of the new crown virus, co-operated by the Lisay Laboratory of Tsinghua University, the Austrian Nanomapping Company, and the team of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology Ivan Viola in Saudi Arabia, came out.

"CT examination" reveals the truth

Li Sai still clearly remembers the moment when he analyzed the structure of the new coronavirus. At 9 o'clock in the evening at the beginning of June last year, the computer screen showed the complete structure of the virus: the huge spike protein grows awkwardly on the capsule, and the capsule is wrapped in many small protein balls.

He was very excited and dialed the laboratory phone with a trembling hand: "Notify everyone, stop all work, come to my office, the whole structure of the new crown virus has been solved. We may be the first in the world to see it so real and clearly. Its team!"

This is the team's more than 100 day and night research results. They successfully analyzed the three-dimensional structure of the CCP virus using cryo-electron microscope tomography and sub-tomographic average reconstruction technology.

This result is also inseparable from the cooperation with the research team of Academician Li Lanjuan, the State Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases Diagnosis and Treatment of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The results of the cooperative research were published in the online edition of the American journal Cell on September 15 last year. . This is the scientific basis of the latest 3D virus popular science images.

Soon after the outbreak, Li Sai contacted Academician Li Lanjuan, who was on the front line of the fight against the epidemic, and obtained the inactivation of the new coronavirus to power the microscope. The CCP virus that has been inactivated by paraformaldehyde still retains its original appearance.

In the laboratory of Tsinghua University, the inactivated new crown virus was placed under a cryo-electron microscope, and a photo was taken every 3 degrees of rotation, a total of 41 photos were taken, and then three-dimensional reconstruction was carried out, just like a "whole body CT examination" for the virus.

After days of intensive work, the team member, 23-year-old graduate student Song Yutong, saw the dense virus under the cryo-electron microscope for the first time, and was scared to cry. There was such a high concentration of the virus in a small drop of liquid that made her "sweat coldly."

The team also used a cryo-electron microscope to "flash a flashlight" into the virus, passing through the envelope, clearly illuminating the arrangement of ribonucleoprotein complexes inside the virus, showing the most complete image of the new coronavirus so far. The cryo-electron microscope uses electrons as the "light source" to penetrate the virus sample to obtain information on the surface and internal structure of the virus.

The analysis of the structure of the CCP virus has also made the development of vaccines and neutralizing antibodies more "targeted." For example, the team observed that the spike protein on the surface of the novel coronavirus is randomly distributed, in a variety of states, and relatively fragile and easy to fall off. Such complex antigen distribution makes it necessary to consider the specific distribution and structure of the spike protein on the surface of the virus when developing vaccines and neutralizing antibodies.

The team also uploaded the high-definition three-dimensional structure of the new crown virus to the electron microscope database for free download worldwide to facilitate subsequent scientific research and popular science.

Sino-foreign cooperation construction

After the Li Sai team shared the structure, cooperation and interview invitations came one after another. In August last year, a letter from King Abdullah University of Science and Technology aroused great interest from the Li Sai team.

This is a computer vision team focused on microscopic biological imaging. Team leader Viola hopes to jointly develop a more scientific and true science image of the CCP virus. This is exactly the original intention of the Li Sai team to analyze the virus structure.

"People always take things lightly to what they can't see. I think only by presenting the virus to the world as soon as possible in a true, complete, and clear manner, and letting everyone see its terrifying image, will more people take it seriously." Li Sai Say.

Li Sai told reporters on the 23rd that some institutions have released some hypothetical models of the new coronavirus, but there are a lot of errors, such as the distribution of the spike protein and the overall proportion of the virus. The team hopes that every detail of the image of the virus respects the cutting-edge scientific discoveries of the virus.

A hard drive containing 2TB of research data and images was sent from Beijing to faraway Saudi Arabia. Based on the three-dimensional structure of the whole virus analyzed by the Li Sai team, the Viola team used the advantages of artificial intelligence image processing and programming to construct a fine 3D image of the virus, which was made into a video by the Austrian Nanomapping Company.

The CCP virus mainly infects the human body through the binding of the surface spike protein to the human angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. The spike protein is like a "key", and the ACE2 receptor is like a "lock". When the key opens the lock, the virus can enter the cell.

The latest video restores the process of the CCP virus invading human cells: at the moment of invasion, the new coronavirus binds to the receptor and fuses with the cell membrane. The video also shows the angle between the spike protein and the tangent perpendicular to the novel coronavirus membrane, as well as the angle range of the spike protein swinging on the surface of the virus membrane.

According to Li Sai's team, the study found that the spike protein is flexible, and its swing feature will make the new coronavirus more flexible when it attacks cells, which is conducive to the binding of the spike protein to the ACE2 receptor on the cell.

In the video, the spike protein on the surface of the virus slightly swings like a chain hammer. These true restorations of the details of the live virus come from the close collaboration of the Chinese and foreign teams for nearly half a year.

In Li Sai's view, this is the epitome of new crown international scientific research cooperation. The epidemic has allowed scientists around the world to unite and share scientific research results for the first time to help vaccine, antibody research and development, and epidemic prevention and control. This spirit of mutual assistance and cooperation and its results have inspired everyone.

News (5)

Sharing information about SARS-CoV-2 with the international community, China did so at the time
 
Reporter : Dong Ruifeng / http://news.sciencenet.cn/htmlnews/2021/1/452305.shtm / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Searching for pathogens, isolating viruses, sharing in time... Chinese scientists race against time to quickly identify the pathogen and actively share the gene sequence of the CCP virus with the international community for the world’s epidemic prevention and control such as diagnostic reagent design, drug screening, vaccine development, and virus traceability Work to earn valuable time.

The first batch of laboratory biosafety experts who faced the new crown pneumonia epidemic were interviewed a few days ago to review this battle with the CCP virus.

"If we don't know the situation of the virus, it's like we can't find an enemy on the battlefield." said Wu Guizhen, the chief biosecurity expert of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. On January 2, 2020, upon receipt of case specimens submitted for inspection by Hubei Province, Wu Guizhen, the team of Tan Wenjie and Zhao Xiang of the Institute of Viral Diseases of the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention immediately entered a "relay race" to decipher the genetic code of the virus.

According to expert research and judgment, the National Health Commission organized the China CDC, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and many other institutions with high-level biosafety laboratory conditions to carry out pathogen identification in parallel.

In order to understand the full picture of the virus in the fastest and most accurate way, the China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Institute of Viral Diseases has coordinated the layout, with the emergency technology center as the core, combined with the Biosafety Level 3 Laboratory of the Institute of Viral Diseases, the National Influenza Center, and the Central Instrument Room Jointly tackle key problems, and simultaneously adopt first-generation, second-generation and third-generation sequencing technologies to fully carry out whole-genome sequencing.

Also on January 2, 2020, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences received the first batch of case specimens submitted for inspection by Hubei Province, and immediately began sample analysis and other work. The analysis found that the same unknown coronavirus sequence was found in the microbiome sequences obtained from the samples, and the coronavirus sequence was the main virus sequence, and no other clear pathogenic information related to acute respiratory infections was found.

Zhou Peng, a researcher at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, introduced that Wuhan Institute of Virology, as a professional virus research institution with high-level biosafety laboratories, immediately organized scientific researchers to invest in scientific research after receiving samples of pneumonia cases of unknown cause sent by special personnel from Wuhan Jinyintan Hospital. The work mainly involved the establishment of virus genome sequencing, virus isolation and virus-specific detection methods.

Genome sequencing conducted by several laboratories in parallel found that the same new type of coronavirus genome sequence was present in the samples submitted for inspection, and this genome sequence did not exist in healthy people and other types of pneumonia patients. The identification of the pathogen has taken a critical step.

While sequencing the genome, scientists are racing against time to carry out virus isolation work. Virus isolation is the gold standard for pathogen diagnosis and one of the most critical evidences for epidemic research and judgment. Considering the complexity of virus isolation, in order to improve the success rate of virus isolation, they adopted multiple virus isolation strategies at the same time. On January 7, 2020, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention “captured” the culprit of the epidemic for the first time under an electron microscope—a new type of coronavirus with a typical corona shape and crown-like outer particles.

After comprehensively considering the genome sequence determination, the successful isolation of the virus, the acquisition of virus electron microscopy photos, pathogenic testing and clinical diagnosis and other evidence, on January 8, 2020, the National Health Commission's expert evaluation team initially confirmed that the novel coronavirus is the pathogen of the epidemic. On January 9, the expert evaluation team of the National Health Commission released information on the pathogen of viral pneumonia of unknown cause in Wuhan. The pathogen was initially judged to be a new type of coronavirus. China notified the World Health Organization of the epidemic information and shared the initial progress made in pathogenic identification with the World Health Organization.

"The initial identification of the virus in such a short period of time is a remarkable achievement." The WHO website evaluated that day.

Based on further comparison and verification of multiple samples, on January 12, 2020, the Chinese Center for Disease Control, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, and Wuhan Institute of Virology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, as designated agencies by the National Health Commission, submitted the novel coronavirus genome sequence information to the WHO. Published in the global influenza sharing database, shared globally. The National Health Commission and WHO shared the genome sequence information of the novel coronavirus.

This means that the whole world can share this source information to develop testing reagents, vaccines, etc., to "confront" the virus head-on. In this time-running encounter, Chinese scientists have not been afraid of hardships and dangers, have selflessly dedicated, and used scientific rigorous attitude and professionalism to provide key information for global epidemic prevention and control and inspiration.

Foreign media: Chinese companies use SARS-CoV-2 reagents to collect DNA overseas

News (1) 

 Foreign media: Chinese companies use SARS-CoV-2 reagents to collect DNA overseas

Reporter : Zhou Yang / https://www.soundofhope.org/post/469478 / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA / Image : pixabay



 Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 (CCP virus, novel coronavirus, covi), it is known that the world's largest gene research and development institution BGI Genomics,  a subsidiary of BGI Group listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, has sold millions of SARS-CoV-2 test kits to Europe, Australia, the United States, Japan and other places. In the past 12 months, the share price of BGI Genomics has doubled and its market value has risen to approximately US$9 billion. Foreign media reported that Chinese companies borrowed covi reagents to collect DNA overseas, posing security risks.

News (2)

The CCP uses SARS-CoV-2 reagents to collect genetic data of foreigners

The CBS "60 Minutes" program reported that in the early stage of the outbreak of the CCP virus, China's BGI Group proposed to establish CCP virus testing laboratories in Washington, New York and California.

"Voice of America" ​​reported that after the BGI Fund’s proposal was known to William Evenina, the director of the National Center for Counterintelligence and Security at the time, it warned the states that they would not accept the proposal.

Senior U.S. security officials warned that U.S. laboratories should not use China's covi kits because they are worried that China will use this to collect genetic data of foreigners and conduct research on their weaknesses.

News (3)

SARS-CoV-2 reagents may be used in future research and development of biological and chemical weapons

Reuters reported that BGI has cooperated with the Chinese military in a number of research fields, such as large-scale detection of respiratory pathogens and brain science research. BGI’s participation in the CCP’s military project aims to reduce the impact of altitude sickness on members mainly Han Chinese and use genes to enhance the strength of their own military personnel.

Elsa Kania, a visiting senior researcher at the Center for a New American Security, said that the CCP’s military promotes research on brain science, gene editing, and the creation of artificial genomes, which may be used in future research and development of biochemical weapons.


Genes are everyone’s innate physique and are personal privacy
Since genes are everyone's innate physique, they are personal privacy. Genetic testing can obtain information on personal physique. In addition to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, this information also includes the risk of individuals suffering from certain diseases. If carelessly kept, others will use it, which will cause many problems. Regardless of the civil, academic or legal circles, discussions in European and American countries are very lively. Among them, the United States has legislated that insurance companies must not refuse people to take out insurance because of the results of genetic testing.

News (4)

If the CCP succeeds, personal freedom and other values ​​will be in danger

In December last year, in a talk show on Fox News, China expert Zhang Jiadun mentioned that the CCP currently has the world's largest DNA database and it is still growing. This is part of the CCP’s plan to achieve "Made in China 2025"-an attempt to dominate the world's biotechnology industry.

The CCP collects the DNA of its citizens for use in law enforcement, tracking dissidents, etc., to facilitate its stricter control and surveillance of all citizens.

On December 6, 2020, John Ratcliffe, the then director of national intelligence in the United States, warned that if the CCP succeeds, values ​​such as personal freedom will be in danger.

Progress in U.S.-Taiwan relations, Democracy developments in China, the U.S. and Taiwan



News (1)

 The Biden administration will have the first dialogue with Taiwan to discuss supply chain cooperation

Reporter  : Yan Xi / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/01/30/a103043586.html / Direct translation

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economy confirmed that Taiwan will hold a meeting with the US on February 5 to discuss supply chain-related issues. This meeting is the first US-Taiwan dialogue since President Biden took office.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Republic of China confirmed on January 29 that Minister of Economic Affairs Wang Meihua will attend a video conference with the United States on February 5th. The conference will include topics on Taiwan-US supply chain cooperation in semiconductor, automotive chip and other industries.

It is reported that Matt Murray, Assistant Undersecretary of the State Department, and Richard Stephens, Acting Assistant Deputy Secretary of the Department of Commerce, will attend the meeting.

Senior executives from Taiwan's largest chip manufacturer TSMC and MediaTek Inc. will also attend the meeting.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said in response to a reporter’s question that day, “I don’t know about the meeting.

According to a report by the Voice of America, Taiwan’s representative to the United States, Xiao Meiqin, said that supply chain security was a project launched during the Trump administration in November last year and an important part of the US-Taiwan economic partnership dialogue.

Biden’s State Department spokesperson Price recently urged the CCP to stop exerting pressure on Taiwan’s military, diplomacy, and economy, and stated that the United States’ commitment to Taiwan is rock solid.

Currently, there is a global shortage of automotive chips. The United States, Japan, and Germany are all trying to seek assistance from Taiwan through diplomatic channels. The meeting on February 5 was the first dialogue between the United States and Taiwan after U.S. President Biden took office. Therefore, it has attracted attention from the outside world.

News (2) 

U.S. security adviser talks about China policy, suppressing Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang must "pay a price"

Reporter : Jiang Ziyang / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/01/30/a103043628.html / Direct translation

The old and new National Security Advisors of the United States participated in an online seminar yesterday. The former National Security Advisor O’Brien pointed out in a straightforward manner that the primary issue they handed over to the new government is also the number one challenge for the United States. China issues. Sullivan, National Security Advisor to the Biden Administration’s top priority is the epidemic and climate change. In response to the Chinese Communist threat, he said that the Biden administration will change its approach.

Former U.S. National Security Advisor Robert O'Brien said, "Among the major issues (handover), the CCP ranks first. We have a very arbitrary and rising CCP that has become America’s number one geopolitical challenge. Throughout the generations, the CCP has become increasingly radical towards Taiwan."

The U.S. Institute of Peace (U.S. Institute of Peace) continued its 20-year tradition yesterday (29th), inviting new and old national security advisers from the United States to participate in an online seminar, symbolizing the handover and inheritance of national security affairs. Former U.S. National Security Adviser O’Brien first named the CCP as America’s number one problem, and the threat to Taiwan is increasing day by day.

The new National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan did not rank the CCP issue first, but first talked about the global epidemic, climate change and other issues. After the host’s questioning, Sullivan proposed four policies for China: First, China promotes that the "Chinese model" is better than the "American model", and the United States should reform its own race and economy. Second, work with allies to promote a free, prosperous and fair society to counter the Chinese (Communist) aggression. Third, maintain the leading position in technology to achieve leadership. Fourth, clearly convey the above information and take actions, such as taking actions against the CCP’s actions in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan.

U.S. Security Adviser Sullivan said, "I have to pay a price for China's actions against Xinjiang, Hong Kong, and the threat of force being projected on Taiwan.

Japan’s Sankei Shimbun reported that the CCP frequently used military aircraft to harass Taiwan, possibly for the purpose of intimidating US aircraft carriers off Taiwan’s southern waters.

However, according to Reuters and many other foreign media reports, the US Pacific Command issued a statement yesterday that the Roosevelt Aircraft Carrier Strike Group (Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group) closely monitored all the actions of the Chinese Navy and Air Force. They did not pose a threat to the US military at all. The US Pacific Command has reiterated the commitment to maintain regional stability.

News (3)

Flashback: Before signing barrage of executive orders Biden said dictators rule that way


News (4)

Lawyer: Biden's immigration policy may hit American society

Reporter : Li Jiayin / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/01/30/a103043662.html / Direct translation

The new President Biden signed six administrative orders on immigration issues on the first day after he took office. California Chinese lawyer Liu Fenglan believes that some policies will impact American society and may cause irreversible losses. 

In response to Biden’s six administrative orders concerning immigration issues issued on January 20, senior California lawyer Liu Fenglan stated that these six administrative orders are all aimed at illegal immigrants, and the increasingly relaxed policies may affect many aspects of the United States. Cause adverse effects.

California lawyer Liu Fenglan said, "These people come here without the ability to survive, eat, drink, and educate. Many of them use children to come. I think (they) use children as tools. That's why there are so many futures. Adult children come to the U.S. This is a moral kidnapping. (Some) Latin Americans don’t care about education. In the impression of (some) Latin Americans, it seems that if they come to the U.S., they don’t have to work, but they should get welfare. So the population quality will decrease."

Regarding Biden's pledge of 4 billion U.S. dollars in Central America to fund the construction of countries in the region, Lawyer Liu said this will lead to a vicious circle.

California lawyer Liu Fenglan said, "While he opened the door to Central and South Americans, he also gave their home country money. The home country of those people is very happy at first glance. I keep sending people to (the United States). Anyway, you ( The U.S. policy is to accept, we commit crimes, non-working, welfare, and children, I will put them in your country, and you will raise them for us. At the same time, it poses a threat to your country. You have to give me money."

Lawyer Liu believes that after Biden took office, a series of actions were intended to overthrow Trump's political achievements. Among them, Biden's cancellation of travel bans against seven Muslim countries will also endanger the homeland security of the United States.

California lawyer Liu Fenglan commented, "I think there have been no terrorist attacks in the United States in recent years. Unlike European countries, there have been so many terrorist attacks in Paris and London. They are all due to Trump. I think he (Trump) is very Yingming. He is banning (entry) from Muslim countries, but it is not completely forbidden. He will conduct a background check on you and come back after the investigation. If this is taken away by Biden, I think the homeland security of the United States will also be very problematic. "The common people have to pay a lot of taxes to support these illegal and potential terrorists, and to pay taxes to support others to kill the legitimate taxpayers in the United States." "This is very scary."

Lawyer Liu believes that illegal immigrants currently attempting to enter the United States in a caravan are not only unable to maintain social distancing in the car, but it is also unknown whether they wear a mask. The entry of such groups into the United States may worsen the epidemic, and then overwhelm the medical system.

News 5 and 6 by Han Rui/ https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/01/30/a103043634.html / Direct translations

News (5)

Three Trump era senior officials from Department of Homeland Security joined the Heritage Foundation 

Three senior officials of the Department of Homeland Security during the Donald Trump administration, including former Acting Secretary Chad Wolf, former Acting Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli and former Acting Director of Customs and Border Protection Morgan (Mark Morgan) announced on Friday (January 29) to join the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in the United States.

The three people will be committed to research in the fields of national security, digital networks, border security, and immigration, including how the CCP uses the US immigration system and other issues related to China.

After Biden took office, through a series of administrative orders, many border and immigration policies of the Trump administration were suspended or cancelled, including the suspension of the border wall, the termination of the repatriation of illegal immigrants, and the cancellation of immigration protection agreements.

In an interview with FOX News, former Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Wolff said that Biden’s immigration policy can be measured by three criteria: 1. Whether it is legal; 2. Whether it will increase the difficulty of immigration officials and law enforcement personnel; 3. , Will it encourage more people to enter the United States?

During the epidemic, Wolff was very worried about the Biden government's additional manpower to go to the border and strengthen the processing of asylum applications.

News (6)

The judge extended the ban, Biden suspended the deportation of illegal immigrants and was blocked again

After Biden took office, he asked the Department of Homeland Security to stop deporting illegal immigrants with deportation orders within 100 days from January 22.

Federal Judge Drew Tipton for the Southern District of Texas issued a two-week ban on the order on the 26th. Judge Tipton stated on the 29th that because the case requires more time for deliberation, he decided to extend the ban on this immigration administrative order by the Biden administration for another two weeks.

Previously, the Texas Attorney General requested the District Court to block Biden’s administrative order in violation of the law and constitution. At present, Arizona also supports Texas’s request. Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich has written to the Department of Homeland Security, Ask it to withdraw this decision.

According to a report from the Immigration Research Center, this administrative order to suspend the deportation of illegal immigrants involved 85% of the subjects with criminal records of sexual assault, domestic violence, and fraud.


News (7)

Multi-national activists jointly sign an appeal for U.S. assistance to Guo Feixiong

Reporter : Ke Tingting / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/01/30/a103043504.html / Direct translation

Chinese rights activist Guo Feixiong was intercepted by the CCP when he was about to fly to the United States on the 28th to visit his seriously ill wife and immediately lost contact. Hundreds of people from all walks of life initiated a joint signature recently, hoping that the US government can assist Guo Feixiong. The US State Department said on Friday that it was disturbed by reports that Guo Feixiong came to the United States to take care of his wife and was prevented from leaving the country, and is paying close attention to the case.

On the evening of January 28, Guo Feixiong was about to take a plane from Shanghai Pudong Airport to the United States to visit his seriously ill wife Zhang Qing. He was intercepted by the authorities on charges of “suspicion of endangering national security”. He went on a hunger strike on the spot. After that, Guo Feixiong was lost. Lian, there is no news so far.

Wang Dan, the leader of the 1989 democracy movement, initiated a joint letter on Thursday. Within 12 hours, it received responses from 165 pro-democracy activists and enthusiastic people from the United States, Britain, Poland, Hong Kong and other places, and wrote a letter to Speaker of the House of Representatives Pelosi ( Nancy Pelosi) and related personnel of the State Council.

Wang Dan also called on Western countries to pay attention and assist Guo Feixiong to visit his wife in the United States.

Ning Xianhua, chairman of the China Democracy Party’s National Joint Headquarters and one of the co-signers: "No matter what the U.S. responds, we must also let the international community and the public know what the Chinese government is doing now. This is a very typical human right. I think the Biden administration will definitely pay attention to cases of persecution."

Rev. Fu Xiqiu, head of the US civil rights organization ChinaAid, said that he had urgently contacted the US State Department to seek US diplomatic attention on the incident.

News (8)

Taiwan's Legislative Council passed a resolution to evaluate the change to the national emblem, the Kuomintang opposed

Reporter : Zheng Gusheng  /  Editor: Yun Tao / https://www.ntdtv.com/gb/2021/01/30/a103043615.html / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA

Image : The national emblem of the Republic of China and the emblem of the Chinese Kuomintang. (Web picture)


On January 29 (Friday), Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party legislators passed a proposal in the Legislative Yuan, requesting the Ministry of the Interior to assess the necessity of changing the national emblem of the Republic of China. In this regard, the Kuomintang strongly opposed.

Due to the support of the Democratic Progressive Party group, the motion proposed by the Green Era Power Party Group was passed with 63 votes in favor and 37 votes against it. The Force of the Times believes that the national emblem of the Republic of China and the Kuomintang party emblem are too similar and easy to confuse. Therefore, it is proposed that the Ministry of the Interior assess whether it is necessary to modify the national emblem.

After the proposal was passed, the Ministry of the Interior stated that it would comply with the resolution of the Legislative Yuan and submit a project report within two months.

The bill attracted strong opposition from the Kuomintang. Kuomintang Chairman Jiang Qichen responded on Saturday that the national emblem and party emblem are not the same and there is no need to change it. He also called to President Tsai Ing-wen, who is also the chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, to question whether the matter was led by her.

The former chairman of the Kuomintang, Zhu Lilun, also shouted to the Green Camp, asking whether the next step was to change the national flag and the national emblem, and asked the DPP not to use this method to cover up "independence of Taiwan."

DPP legislator Chen Tingfei retorted that the DPP had requested the KMT to modify the party emblem so as not to confuse it with the national emblem, but the KMT refused and ridiculed the DPP’s "change the national emblem if they had the courage". The Legislative Yuan's decision to evaluate a change to the national emblem is meant to "follow KMT's intention".



The Taiwan Stock Exchange : China Airlines is losing money but fattening cat director

 Reporter : Lv Shumei, Business Times / CTWANT / Translation, editing : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA



The Taiwan Stock Exchange announced on 29 January 2021 that companies are incurring losses in 108 years, but the overall remuneration received by directors and the average remuneration received by each director was higher than that in 107 years, and there were 92 companies. These companies include Chengmeicai (4960), China Airlines (2610) and Nianxing (1451) ranked the top three separately, and each director received more than one million NTD, becoming a super fat cat director.

According to the stock exchange, in order to strengthen the disclosure of information on the remuneration of directors and supervisors of listed companies, it also publishes information on listed companies that "the total remuneration of directors and supervisors or the average remuneration of directors and supervisors has increased in 108 years after tax losses". It said that the announcement of the above information is expected to use the "market mechanism" to encourage the company to set reasonable director and supervisor remuneration.

Because the company is not making money, the directors still receive high remuneration, which has increased compared to the previous year. It is called a fat cat by the market. The stock exchange announced that the top ten in terms of average remuneration are Chengmeicai, China Airlines, Nianxing, New Century, Shimbaba, Donghua, Tongkai, Duntai, Qiuyu and Ruxing etc.

The average remuneration of the directors of these ten listed companies in 108 years was 1,465,200, 1,352,700, 1,229,100, 986,700, 948,500, 911,100, 878,200, 800,000, 742,900, and 717,800 NTD and others, of which Chengmeicai jumped by more than 1.07 million  to 1.46 million NTD, and the new century also surged by 710,000  to 980,000 NTD.

Full text of China Airlines' statement:

China Airlines revealed the average remuneration of each director in the public information observatory. After deducting the retirement pension of the former chairman, the director’s remuneration in 108 years did not differ significantly from that in 107 years. China Airlines has specifically stated in the Public Information Observatory that the increase in the remuneration of directors in 108 compared with that in 107 was due to the retirement pension of the former chairman, which fully revealed the rationality of directors’ remuneration.

According to the provisions of the Articles of Association of China Airlines, there is no allotment of directors’ remuneration. Directors and independent directors only pay for the carriage fees and the attendance fees of the functional committees; the chairman and general manager of China Airlines also do not pay the directors’ carriage fees and the attendance fees for the functional committees. According to the media, the average remuneration per director exceeds one million.

Airport Terminal Pictorial Review : West Air flight PN6562 from Vientiane to Changsha

 Airport Terminal Pictorial Review by : Gan Yung Chyan, KUCINTA SETIA Images : Researcher's Pictures Look at the plane-spotter-unfriendl...