25.01.20 Coronavirus spread accelerating in China, says Xi Jinping

President warns of ‘grave situation’ as the country spends holiday under travel restriction to stop the virus spreading

  This article is more than 2 months old 

Rebecca Ratcliffe and Wu Pei Lin

Sat 25 Jan 2020 16.33 GMT

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China’s president, Xi Jinping, has called an emergency government meeting, telling officials the country is facing a “grave situation” as the new coronavirus is “accelerating its spread”.

More than 50 million people are spending China’s most important holiday under lockdown as the country expands its travel restrictions in an attempt to stop the spread of the new coronavirus.

Officials confirmed on Sunday that the death toll from the viral outbreak had reached 54 and that well in excess of 1,200 further people had been affected.

A doctor treating people infected with the virus was among those who died. Liang Wudong, 62, died on Saturday morning, state media said, and it was also reported by the Chinese Global Times website that another doctor who had been treating patients in Wuhan died of a heart attack later in the day.

In Beijing, five new cases have been confirmed, according to Chinese National Radio, including two patients who had not recently travelled to Hubei, the centre of the outbreak. In all previous cases in the capital, patients had reportedly visited the province.

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The virus is now confirmed to have reached Australia and Malaysia, while France confirmed on Friday that three people there had the virus. Both France and the US plan to evacuate citizens trapped in Wuhan, the Hubei city where the outbreak began.

The Foreign Office advised late on Saturday against all travel to Hubei province because of the outbreak, adding: “If you are in this area and able to leave, you should do so.”

Hong Kong, which has confirmed five cases of the illness, declared the outbreak an emergency on Saturday, and said it would keep primary and secondary schools closed for two more weeks after the holiday.

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A growing number of airports around the world have introduced screening to identify those affected, although the effectiveness of such measures has been questioned. An article published in the Lancet, based on a family that had recently visited Wuhan, the city at the centre of the outbreak, suggested it was possible to have the disease while not experiencing any symptoms.

Across China, the lunar new year holiday has been overshadowed by travel blocks imposed on at least 17 cities, and the cancellation of major festive events. In an effort to stop the disease from spreading further, part of the Great Wall was closed, and Beijing’s temple fairs, a new year tradition, have been cancelled. Shanghai Disneyland also announced it would close indefinitely.

It is feared the lunar new year, when hundreds of millions of people go on holiday or to visit relatives, could fuel the spread of the virus across China and abroad.

So far, 29 provinces and cities in China have been affected, and further cases had been reported in South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Macao, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. The US reported its second case.

In Wuhan, restrictions were tightened on Saturday, with officials banning most vehicles from the roads. Train stations, airports and railway stations had all been shut since the lockdown began on Thursday morning.

The city was facing shortages of beds, testing kits and other supplies, and 450 military medical staff arrived late on Friday to help treat patients, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

The ministry of commerce was overseeing an operation to supply more than 2m masks and other products from elsewhere in the country, Xinhua said.

Footage on social media, apparently taken inside the city’s hospitals, appeared to show staff breaking down and long queues of residents waiting to be assessed. Patients told the Guardian that people had been turned away by hospitals and that their relatives had been unable to get a test to find out if they had the virus.

It was announced on Saturday that a second hospital was to be built to treat coronavirus patients. Work has already begun to build a 1,000-bed hospital in 10 days.

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Wuhan’s streets have been deserted for days, with residents mostly staying home. Many were following social media, where there was a constant stream of updates, videos and speculation, including misinformation.

“Looking out of the window every day, I can see one or two cars and pedestrians on the street. The streets are relatively deserted,” said Wuhan resident Mr Wang, who was speaking before the traffic ban was implemented. “Now, at night, it is like a dead city. I look at the neighbourhood and there are very few lights.”

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 An officer works at one of the roads blocked in Wuhan to restrict people leaving the city. Photograph: Héctor Retamal/AFP via Getty Images

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Residents who left the city before transport blocks were introduced had faced hostility elsewhere in China, being blamed for potentially spreading the virus.

Wang said it was understandable that people felt that way, but added that Wuhan residents were “the biggest victims of [the] bureaucracy”.

“Information was hidden from everyone. Most people believe that the official information is correct, so when the sudden outbreak is announced and the city is closed, they easily panic about the situation.”

Xi Chen, a professor at the Yale school of public health, said: “We know very little about the origin of this virus and we know very little about the speed of transmission and when it starts to transmit.”

The virus comes from a large family of coronaviruses. This includes Sars as well as viruses that cause nothing worse than a cold.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jan/25/coronavirus-puts-50m-people-in-china-under-lunar-new-year-lockdown

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Auspicious feng shui directions and colours for the Year of the Dog

It seems there are auspicious and inauspicious – “good” and “bad” – directions associated with the ancient Chinese philosophy of feng shui that governs our spatial environment. The idea is to orientate towards the good or auspicious directions to tap good qi (energy) to enhance luck and avoid bad directions that have bad energies.

February 17, 2018 Culture, Living

By MAJORIE CHIEW

Apparently, bad directions should not be disturbed or aggravated or else the person or household will suffer negative effects and perhaps court bad luck or misfortune. Malaysian feng shui master Yap Boh Chu shares tips on the good and bad directions.

Good Directions

The good or auspicious directions this year are south-east (127.5°-157.5°) and north-west (307.5°-337.5°). “At your workplace, you face these directions. In your bedroom, you can tilt your sleeping position to have your head point to these directions,” Yap says.

The south-east direction is for wealth and the north-west is for scholarly achievements. You can activate these directions by placing small water features in the correct position, advises Yap. However, these two directions can be a double-edged sword.

Yap says the good or auspicious directions this year are south-east and north-west. Photo: Filepic

“If you get the measurement wrong (and enter into 297.5°-307° north-west), you can encounter disaster in the form of wealth loss and sickness,” he says. “If you miss 127.7°-157.5° south-east and activate the 112.5°-127° directions, you will encounter loss of wealth, sickness and other disasters.”

Use a proper compass, he adds, as a smartphone compass is not accurate enough. Buy a good orienteering compass or consult a feng shui master to make sure you get it right.

Bad Directions

This year, the north has the worst concentration of bad energies. Yap says that if your house is facing north or sitting within the northern quadrant (facing south) from the 322.5°-22.5° (facing north) and 157.5°-202.5° (facing south), you should not perform any renovations, drilling or hammering there. You should also not move your bed, stove or bulky furniture.

If you intend to move into a house that faces north or south, you should seek professional advice for an auspicious date to “break” bad energies and avert misfortune. South-east, at 112.5°-127.5°, in your house is considered “inauspicious”. Yap advises against any renovations, drilling or hammering here also, and to avoid shifting bulky furniture.

The north-west at 292.5°-307.5° is the actual direction that holds the energies of the Year Officer (also known as Duke of Jupiter or Tai Sui). It is considered inauspicious to renovate, drill or hammer in this area of your house or move large furniture.

Lucky Colours

This Earth Dog year (double earth element) there will be some colours that are more suitable for certain zodiac signs, but not others. Colours actually only play a small part in enhancing luck – nevertheless, every little bit of effort helps. The person born under a particular zodiac sign can travel to countries that are in auspicious directions or facing towards auspicious directions.

Auspicious Directions And Lucky Colours For Each Zodiac Sign

Auspicious compass directions and colours for each Chinese zodiac sign. Graphic: The Star

Rat: north-east; yellow and grey.
Ox: north-east and south-east; red, orange and yellow.
Tiger: east; green, blue and black.
Rabbit: south-west; yellow and brown.
Dragon: north-west; blue and black.
Snake: south-east; red and orange.
Horse: south-west; yellow and brown.
Goat: south-west; yellow and brown.
Monkey: south-west; red, orange, blue and black.
Rooster: north-east and south-east; red, orange, grey and yellow.
Dog: East and south; green, red and orange.
Pig: East and south-west; green, yellow and brown.

https://www.star2.com/living/2018/02/17/auspicious-directions-lucky-colours/

Ruff ruff and away! Meet the 8 coolest dogs in comics

This Chinese New Year being the Year of the Dog, we decided to compile a list of the coolest dog characters in comics.

There are plenty of major dog characters around, Here are eight that we felt are the coolest canines of them all, listed in alphabetical order.

If you think about it, Batman doesn’t really NEED a dog sidekick, does he? Photo: DC Comics

Ace The Bat-Hound

Created by Bill Finger and Sheldon Moldoff, Ace made his debut in 1955’s Batman #92, in which he is a German Shepherd owned by an engraver named John Wilker, who is later kidnapped by a bunch of money counterfeiters.

Bruce Wayne put out a number of ads searching for Ace in order to use the dog to find and resuce Wilker, but fearing that someone might make a connection between Bruce Wayne and Batman, he made a mask for Ace to hide the distinct star-shaped marking on his forehead, and made him a collar that had the Bat-symbol. Wilker later left Ace in Bruce Wayne’s care, and he would join Batman and Robin on some of their adventures.

Kiba and Akamaru have been partners and soulmates since they were little. Photo: Masashi Kishimoto

In 2016’s Batman Annual #1, Tom King recently ret-conned Ace’s origin in a short story titled Good Dog, turning him into a former Joker guard dog that had turned savage. Alfred adopted the dog, cares for him, and trains him to bond with Bruce, who later gives Ace a Bat-mask for Christmas and calls him a “Bat Hound”. The story won King the Best Short Story Eisner Award last year.

Akamaru (Naruto)

Appearing on the pages of Naruto, Akamaru is the partner and soulmate of Kiba Inuzaka. Yes, Akamaru is a NINJA DOG. How cool is that? Besides being a fearsome fighter, Akamaru also has several abilities that prove to be quite useful on ninja missions. For instance, if he pees on someone, he can track them wherever they may go. His bond with Kiba also enables him to take on his owner’s appearance, and even merge to become a three-headed wolf!

Dogbert is truly a dog of few words. Photo: Scott Adams

Dogbert (Dilbert)

Scott Adams’ Dilbert strip may be best known for poking fun at corporate and business culture, but some of its funniest strips have been those involving Dogbert, Dilbert’s talking dog.

Introduced in 1989, Dogbert is no ordinary dog – he owned business, taken over companies (even the one Dilbert works at), taken on numerous jobs (including radio host, consultant, tech support and ruler of Elbonia), and even ran for the President Of the United States once. His ultimate goal is to enslave all humans and rule the world. But despite his megalomaniacal tendencies, he remains a good friend to Dilbert, and often helps him out of whatever sticky situation he finds himself in.

Super-licking sounds like a power every superhero should have. Photo: DC Comics

Krypto The Superdog

Krypto first appeared in 1955, via a Superboy story in Adventure Comics #210. Created by Otto Binder and Curt Swan, he was originally baby Kal-El’s pet dog on Krypton, but Jor-El decided to use Krypto as one of his test subjects for a prototype of the rocket that would eventually send Kal-El to Earth. Tsk tsk, bad parenting move, Jor-El.

Anyway, Krypto’s rocket got knocked off course, and only landed on Earth years later, after Kal-El had already grown to become a teenage Clark Kent/Superboy. The two first met when Krypto busted out of a dog catcher’s van, and later, Clark found the rocket that the pooch had travelled in, complete with a note from his father!

Like his master, the yellow sun also gave Krypto superpowers, and his super sense of smell and hearing is far greater than Superman’s. Oh, and Krypto even got his own TV show, Krypto the Superdog, in 2005!

Don’t hug Lockjaw too tightly, Ms Marvel, or he’ll teleport you over the moon. Photo: Marvel Comics

Lockjaw

Speaking of Eisner-winning superhero dogs, Marvel also had one in 2015 when Matt Fraction and David Aja won the Best Single Issue Eisner for Hawkeye #11, an entire issue told from the perspective of Hawkeye’s dog Lucky. However, when it comes to dogs in Marvel Comics, its biggest canine star has to be Lockjaw.

Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, Lockjaw made his first appearance in 1965’s Fantastic Four #45 (December 1965). A really, really large bulldog with a tuning fork on his head, he is part of the Inhuman Royal Family, and his main power is the ability to teleport himself and others to anywhere he wants, even across space! Who needs chauffeurs when you have a teleporting pet dog, eh?

Not if Groo eats you first, Rufferto. Photo: Sergio Aragonés

Rufferto (Groo The Barbarian)

Groo is arguably the stupidest barbarian in comics, but that doesn’t matter to Rufferto, who thinks he is the smartest and most heroic of them all, even though Groo initially wanted to eat him when they first met. The former royal pet of a queen, he ran away from his spoilt and pampered life to join Groo on his quests for frays and food. Rufferto does have one magic power though – with him around, Groo can actually step foot on a ship without sinking it immediately!

We’ll never figure out why Snoopy prefers sleeping on top of his doghouse rather than in it. Photo: Charles Schulz

Snoopy (Peanuts)

He is a struggling author, a college student named Joe Cool, and an ace pilot. He has a house that is a lot bigger inside than it looks from the outside, and which sometimes doubles as a fighter plane for The Red Baron. Funnily enough, he never seems to sleep INSIDE the house, preferring to lie on its rooftop most of the time.

Oh, and he is friends with a fluffy little bird named Woodstock, and a boy named Charlie Brown seems to think he owns him.

Inspired by one of Peanuts creator Charles Shulz’s childhood pet dogs, Snoopy made his debut in the second Peanuts strip way back in 1950, and since then, he has gone on to become, without a doubt, one of the most iconic and famous dogs in not just comics, but in pop culture history.

Snowy has been to space, and even has his own little doggy space suit. Photo: Herge

Snowy (Tintin)

WOAH! WOAH! WOAAAAAAH! When you’re an intrepid Belgian reporter who tends to get into trouble more often than not, it helps to have a faithful companion by your side at all times.

Snowy, the trusted dog sidekick of Tintin, made his debut alongside the Belgian boy reporter in Tintin In The Land Of The Soviets back in 1929, and he has never left his side wherever he goes, even to space!

Fun fact: Snowy’s original French name is Milou, which is a shortened version of “Marie Louise”, the name of Tintin creator Herge’s first girlfriend.

Honourable mentions:

– Dogmatix (Asterix)
– Hyperdog (Top Ten)
– Dawg (Hi And Lois)
– Marmaduke
– Rex The Wonderdog
– Odie (Garfield)
– Sadaharu (Gintama)
– Bandit (We3)

https://www.star2.com/culture/2018/02/06/coolest-comics-dog

Chinese astrology: Luck of the 12 zodiac signs

What does the Year of the Earth Dog hold for everyone? According to conventional theory, this year, the compatible zodiac trio are the Rabbit, Tiger and Horse, who will have a good year. But feng shui analysis may give a different outcome, says feng shui master Kenny Hoo.

February 16, 2018 Culture, Living

By MAJORIE CHIEW

Do you know which animal sign you are?

The more positive developments and life experiences instead will be enjoyed by Snake, Boar, Ox and Goat. “These zodiacs will have more happy and winning moments. Good news and positive events will take place in May, July and November onwards, so stay optimistic.”

Meanwhile, if you’re trying to decide on that new coat of paint for your home, no need to fret. When you spring clean and decorate, Hoo advises that this year’s lucky colour is the romantic and sweet pinkish-brown. Use this colour when you repaint the east and south-west sectors, or the centre of your house or office.

“Using this colour can boost one’s luck and energy levels, as well as attract better relationships, career and wealth luck, noble people and supporters.” Now here’s what’s in store for each sign:

Feng shui master Kenny Hoo

Rat (2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960)

The Rat will experience a very busy year with lots of travelling. When travelling, try to be cautious especially in April, June, August and December. You will have lots of innovative and creative ideas this year. It is a very good year for the Rat to further studies or acquire new knowledge or skills.

Pay heed to the health of elderly family members. Avoid making major decisions in investments, your business or career in April, June, August and December. To attract noble people for help and for greater luck, try travelling from August onwards.

Colour tip: Redecorate or repaint work or living spaces in gold with blue highlights to boost business and career luck. To enhance study luck repaint the south sector in the house or office green.

Ox (2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961)

The Ox will have lots of good luck and happiness – there will be career and business upgrades, greater wealth and property luck. A good year to buy new property, move to a new house or office. Home renovation can also trigger luck and attract positive energy.

You will have good news this May and next January. So proceed with planned activities with confidence. The female Ox will have lots of supporters and noble people around her. She will enjoy great luck and will be energetic.

Those who are in love will see a boost in their romance, and this may even lead to marriage. Expect wealth, a good career and even some baby luck. But watch out! July, October and December are challenging months and there may be troubles because of jealousy and gossip.

You will have a hectic schedule, and so take extra care of your health in May and September. Go for dental scaling, blood tests or try to donate blood to minimise the challenges you will face at this time.

Colour tip: To promote health and attract positive qi energy, redecorate or repaint the centre of your home with a combination of green and pinkish-brown, red, purple or pink.

Tiger (2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962)

Although career and business upgrades are on the cards, the Tiger will still face challenges. Uncertainties this year may create worries for the Tiger. Stay cool and avoid arguments that may escalate to potential legal issues especially in February, June and August.

Take precautionary measures in February, May, August and October as you may be bothered by legal matters or losses in wealth. Avoid making major decisions in all new investments and avoid speculation.

The Tiger will be “boosted” by the scholastic star this year, and it will be a good time to pursue further studies or learn new skills. You will travel more this year too.

Moving to a new office or a new house, or renovating the current house will help you accumulate positive qi for the betterment of all undertakings. The Tiger is encouraged to partner with or get advice from the Boar who can provide positive input.

Colour tip: Wear more pinkish-brown coloured clothing or accessories to boost your energy levels this year. Redecorate or repaint the south-east and north-east sectors of your house in pinkish-brown to attract wealth and career luck.

Rabbit (2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963)

Rabbits will have noble men and supporters to help them sail through the year. The Rabbit, however, may get involved in love affairs or new relationships in March, September, November and December. Beware of courting trouble by getting involved in love affairs unnecessarily.

Take extra care of your health in March and September. Avoid making major decisions in investments or career-related issues in April, September, October and November.

Colour tip: Repaint the centre of your house or office with purple or pinkish-brown colours. Go for blue in the north and north-west sectors to enhance health, study and career luck. To attract noble people, and for love, relationship and wealth luck, use pinkish-brown and green hues.

Dragon (2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964)

Exercise extra patience this year. Challenging months are April, August, September and October. Avoid making any major decisions in career, relationships and investments to avoid losses in wealth. When travelling, take extra care in April, August, September and October.

In December, most challenges can be resolved. The Dragon must take extra care of wealth and career management this year. Be careful with all new investment ventures or partnerships, and avoid speculation.

You have a busy year especially in August when you may travel more than usual. Spend time with family members and loved ones. Pay attention to the health of elderly family members. A very good year to further studies, acquire new knowledge and skills.

Colour tip: To further enhance study luck, redecorate or repaint the south sector of the house or office with greens. To attract noble people, repaint living and working spaces with combination of gold and blue.

Snake (2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965)

The Snake will have the most auspicious life and career experiences. There will be good career and business upgrades, better love and relationships, even marriage and baby news may be on the horizon.

You will have great help and support from the noble people around you. The Snake will enjoy strong career and baby luck from May onwards. However, expect some minor health issues in September.

Colour tip: Decorating the west sector at home or office will reduce negative influences on the health of the family members or staff. To create greater health and attract positive qi energy, repaint the centre of your house with a combination of green and pinkish-brown, red, purple or pink.

Horse (2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966)

A mixed year of fortunes but most challenges will be resolved in December. There will be career and business upgrades for the Horse. Challenges may be triggered by arguments or jealousy, and may lead to legal issues especially in February, June and October.

Avoid arguments and do not offend anyone during these months. Take extra precautionary measures in all undertakings to avert legal suits or losses in wealth particularly in February, June, August and December.

The Horse will not have many “boosters” this year. However, the problem-solving star appears in December and things will get better. When travelling or driving towards the south, be on guard especially in June, October and December.

The Horse is encouraged to partner with or get advice from the Goat who may provide positive input.

Colour tip: ​Wear pinkish-brown clothing or accessories to boost energy levels. Redecorate or repaint the south-east and north-east sectors of your house in pinkish-brown to attract wealth and career luck.​

Goat (2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967)

A smooth year, as most potential obstacles or challenges can be resolved. The Goat can expect to tie the knot and have a baby this year. There will be love affairs or new relationships in March and July but steer clear of unnecessary love affairs.

Colour tip: To attract positive qi, decorate with purple or pinkish-brown. Alternatively, use more blue in the north and north-west sectors to further enhance health, study and career luck. For noble people and for love, relationship and wealth luck, repaint the bedrooms, living or working spaces with pinkish-browns and greens.

Monkey (2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968)

The Monkey will face challenges and experience a very busy year with lots of travel. Expect a great deal of innovative and creative ideas this year. It is also a very good year to further studies, acquire new knowledge or skills. To further enhance study luck, why not redecorate the south sector at home or office with greenish hues? This will be a busy year of travelling, but try to spend time with loved ones, to maintain sweeter relationships and stronger bonds of love. Take good care of your elders, when it comes to health. Exercise caution in wealth and career related matters. Spend wisely and be extra careful in all new investments. Avoid speculation especially in February, April and August. Expect positive news in May and December.

Colour tip: To attract more noble people for support and guidance and to create positive qi, repaint the living and work spaces with a combination of gold and blue.

Rooster (2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969)

Monitor your health (respiratory, urinary, eyesight and digestive systems) in March, April, September and December. Go for dental scaling, blood tests and find time to donate blood. There will be more love affairs or new relationships this year. Do not get entangled in unnecessary relationships that may cause arguments. However, most challenges can be resolved.

The female Rooster has better luck than the male Rooster. The Rooster can anticipate good news in May, December and next January.

Colour tip: For better health and positive qi, repaint the centre of house or dining hall with combinations of green, pinkish-brown, red, purple or pink.

Dog (2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970)

The Dog can anticipate career and business upgrades. However, the Dog has to put in more effort in all its undertakings.

Take precautions to avert loss of wealth in April, June and October. Be extra careful when investing and avoid speculation.

The Dog must not get entangled in love affairs and court trouble. Stay cool to avoid challenges that may escalate into legal suits.

Colour tip: Use more pinkish-brown coloured accessories or repaint the south-east and north-east sectors with this colour to attract wealth and career luck and to minimise risks.

For greater support, repaint the living or working spaces with the combinations of pinkish-brown, red and purple.

Boar (2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971)

The Boar will enjoy greater wealth and career luck this year. Rest assured there will be noble people around to lend a helping hand.

The marriage star is also shining for the Boar who can also expect a new baby this year too! Stay away from getting involved in unnecessary relationships that could lead to gossip, jealousy and arguments.

Good news is in store in March and November!

Colour tip: To further enhance health, study and career luck, decorate or repaint the centre of your house or office with purple or pinkish-brown, and with more blue in the north and north-west sectors. To attract greater relationship and wealth luck, repaint the bedroom, living or work space with combinations of pinkish-brown and green.

https://www.star2.com/living/2018/02/16/chinese-zodiac-luck-of-the-12