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My wife’s friend invited us to go over to New York, USA to visit her and stay at her place. So we agreed and planned for a visit in Autumn before the winter snow comes and it will be too cold to walk around. My wife’s friend stays at the suburbs of New York City but still within New York state so it is a good place to stay and still able to visit New York City. After extensive search on various websites, we settled for Qatar Airways flight with a stopover at Doha, Qatar. Initially, wanted to try the SIA direct flight but wifey say she does not want to seat in the aeroplane for 19 hours and also the cost was more than double of what we can get on Qatar Airways. We listed down the places of interest we wanted to visit since it was our first time to USA. And since it was NYC, most of the places will be what we saw in the movies and TV. Then we planned for shopping and throw in a road trip to satisfy my desire to drive long distances in USA. My wife’s friend provided some tips on places to visit and my colleague/trusted friend in the office provided me with lots of tips on what to see, where to eat and how to get around NYC as he is a regular to USA. His twin brother stays there and he visits him every year. There was enhanced security check for everyone bound for USA at Doha, Qatar airport. They first check if you have ESTA, if yes, your name will be already on their list. Then it is time to strip down your clothes. No sweater or jackets, remove belt, footwear, keys, coins, wallet, hp and anything from your pockets. Next, empty all your hand carry items in your bag. All electronic devices like laptop, camera, drone, tablet, hp, etc must be placed separately in another tray. They wipe down all electronic devices and put the cloth into the ion scanner to check for traces of explosive/gun powder (I guess). I left my drone in my carry-on bag and when the x-ray detected it, was told to go back to the line and repeat the process again. Passengers were already boarding the plane while I was still going thru the checks. Many ppl were in the same scenario too. Touch down in JFK airport. It was a wet morning. I left SG on Fri night and reached NYC on a Sat morning. Woohoo, as if time stood still. But in fact, it was already Sat night in SG. Have flown exactly 24 hours and the time difference between NYC and SG is exactly 12 hours. The queue at immigration was terribly long, 45 mins before we get to see the officer. And over here, they see u as a family. Ya, whole family stand in front of the officer and he ask questions and stamp passport. For us, he didn’t ask much as it was our first time there, only ask how long we will be in USA. Retrieved our luggage and followed the instruction that Enterprise car rental had provided me. Took the air train to where all the car rentals are located. For Enterprise, got to take a shuttle bus after alighting from the air train as it was further away. The temp was around a cool 14°C. Had booked a Rav4 but there was no Rav4 on site so the guy provided me with a Hyundai Tucson. Less than 10,000 miles on the odo, still got new car smell. Loaded our luggage and drove to my wife’s friend home, another 40+km away. Had to keep awake and ensure I drive the correct direction. Somehow lost my way while I was on the freeway as there was a split 3 ways and I guessed the wrong one. Did a few rounds in a neighbourhood and got back on to the freeway. Entrances to the freeway were not clearly indicated on the road, no big signboard.

Just back from a road trip to USA. Thought good to share what I have learnt along the way as there is definitely a learning process for those not used to driving LHD cars in winter climate. This is not going to be exhaustive handbook but just some pointers to help in the itinerary planning process. Winter tires necessary for winter climate going up Canada? This had been one of my biggest worry as I have read that winter tires are compulsory for cars in Canada. I am concern as I will be travelling to Niagara falls at Canada side. Online research did not provide me with a definite answer, other than that it is compulsory for cars from some time ago. Taking to a few Canadian angmos also did not yield any definite answers, but their cars are definitely with winter tires. So that added to my worries as what if my rental car collected from Washington DC got turned back at immigration checkpoint. I felt relieved only when the staff at Thrifty assured me that their fleet comes with all weather tires which would be good for going up Canada, that the winter tire ruling is only for cars purchased in Canada but not on rental cars. So indeed it went smoothly through the Canada leg without any issues. Road travel during winter Another concern is whether winter tires or even tires chain necessary during winter. The answer is not necessary. What is confusing is that different states have different policies with regards to this, but mostly is about permitting and not about being mandatory. But most car rental companies would not allow tires chains as could damage the tires. When there is snowing, can see specially equipped pickups or trucks with shovel busy plying the roads to push the snow away. You will also observe many black "gravels" on the road during winter, which have been dispensed from these vehicles which are salt used to de-ice the road. They could be brown or black depending on states. Be careful when driving over bridges as bridges will freeze before tar road to create slippery surfaces when temperature dips. It would be good planning to start driving only after 9am when the sun is already up to reduce chances of accidents due to car sliding on roads as seen on news, another good excuse to wake up later. On days when snowing overnight, be sure to cater at least 15min to warm up the car and turn on windscreen heating coil to thaw the front and rear windscreens. Rental cars should come with low grade ice scraper with a brush end and a plastic pointed end. Use the pointer end to scape the ice then use the brush end to remove the ice. Very easy to do. Also remember to be de-icing wiper fluid from Walmart or petrol stations to topup the fluid tank. Normal water will freeze at tubing outside the hood thus not able to clear up the windscreen when needed. My rental car will squirt some water when toggle to do windscreen wiping, and with normal water even if can come out will freeze at windscreen causing it to be more blurry. But with de-icing fluid, the wiper is able to clean up very nicely. Also try not to drive after sky darken from about 4+pm till 6pm depending on states. USA span across 6 timing zones for those not initiated. Due to poor time management, I have to drive a few nights till 8pm to reach my destination. Very bad decision thinking back. Roads in USA is not like over here with street lights all over. Even across those inter-state expressways, there are no street lights at all so is almost pitch dark. So driving at night has a tunnel effects which worsen because you can only see slightly ahead and there are many winding roads. The drivers there also do not have a habit of turning on high beams during my time there. Frankly with cars going at excess of 65 mph, it is really quite harrowing to do cornering without any lights. After awhile, I learnt to form "packs" with cars nearby to take advantage of lights thrown from the cars, especially big trucks which are more brightly lit-up. With that, I do not have to constantly toggling the hi-beam lights. Try to constantly glance at the nav tools (handphone with Google map in my case) to keep note of the road ahead to avoid being surprise by sharp turnings. I have been using Google Map exclusively without any problem. Another event to look out for during winter is when there is snow blizzards. It could descend quickly and reduce visibility to less than 100m and caused severe chain collision accidents. A 40+-cars accident occurred just early this month due to snow blizzards, with another major accident last week due to icy road conditions. So have to watch the weather updates on TV or accuweather website for alerts. Road manners of typical Americans I would rate them very poorly. I have been tailgated by big trucks and smaller cars even when I am already going at above permitted speed on that road and keeping to the right most lane, and I mean really close as at times cannot even see bumper. The drivers will not horn, maybe too polite, but they sure keep up the pressure by driving really close to you. And they also do not slow down to let you pass when you try to enter the road through slip road, even worse than on our roads. This make driving at night challenging when you need to drive to nearby mall or restaurants for makan and need to do many turnings across many roads over short distances. It would be good habit to go through the route before proceeding to know where you will need to turn thus going to the correct lanes before that. Really a letdown as I have not expected this level of aggression there. Driving in Malaysia and Australia and Japan are much easier as their drivers are more forgiving. Topping up Gas In USA the gas stations all have different prices unlike over here. The prices just across the street could be lower by 10 cents so if you trying to save some money better do some checking first. I rely on the Google Map extensively as it will display the gas prices for most stations. As I need to topup gas almost everyday, I will search for gas stations nearby hotels or restaurants along the way to see the prices. Depending on states or locations, the prices for Regular gas, which is RON87 unleaded, could vary from USD 2.10 to USD 3. So if you are running abit low on gas and you checked that the gas station near your destination is much more expensive that at the meal stops, then better topup gas first. Payment is quite easy - either at pump itself or counter. For payment at pump, you just need to slide a credit card into the pump machine to authorize payment, then remove nozzle and select which grade of petrol, then start pumping away. After you put back the nozzle, payment will be completed automatically and you can press to get the receipt. Alternatively, you can go to the counter to pre-pay an amount of petrol, go to the gas pump and select the fuel grade and start pumping. This method is more troublesome as you need to calculate roughly how much gas to topup. But good thing you can go back counter to get refund on un-used gas if you have paid extra. Rental cars I used rentalcars.com to book my rides as I found it to be significantly cheaper than going to the individual rental car sites with same ride and rental terms. I had reserved a Nissan Quest through Thrifty, but on the day of collected was offered alternative rides. The staff at the counter just told me to collect any of the 8 ro 9 MPVs at a section of the carpark, where there were some Chevrolet Pacifica, Dodge Grand Caravan, and a Toyota sienna. The cars frankly are not that clean and I chose the cleanest which is a Chevrolet Pacifica which did not come with sunroof unlike other rides. But I figured it is winter so this feature not important at all. All the full-size MPVs are frankly about same size and definitely good enough for 4 pax with the luggages. And with 3.6L V6 engines definitely can run quite effortlessly. I also opted for the Platepass feature which allow electronic payment of toll fees like our ERP. It is quite necessary if need to travel from Washington DC to Niagara falls as there are many toll roads along the way. Without the option, I would need to pay an admin fee of USD15 for each toll payment which will add up quite rapidly. It is also for peace of mind as it meant one less thing to worry thus can enjoy the trip more. Moving Around New York As not advisable to drive in NYC, it is better to choose an lodging near outskirt of NYC with easy access to bus or subway stop. One such option is Meadowlands View Hotel which is close to a bus stop that can bring you into Times Square in 35min. The hotel also provides paid shuttle bus at higher costs but great convenience especially during winter as you do not need to walk to the bus stop. I only did the High Line, Chelsea Market, Twin Tower Memorail Park, Staten Island loop ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, then eat Vietnamese dinner at Broadway area before catching the Mean Girls show. Then just walk to Rockafella Tower and Times Square before heading back hotel past mid-night. Due to time constraints, have to forgo Central Park. Only consolation is manage to take picture of the theater where Stephen Colbert shoot his daily show which is just behind the theater hosting the Mean Girls show which cost a bomb, USD100/ticket for middle row seats. Moving Around Washington DC By luck it happened to be on a Sunday That I was in Washington DC. I said lucky because the notorious parking happen to be free every Sunday. I reach there at about 10am and still manage to find a parking spot near the Air and Space Museum. It would be good to park at the mall as it is really close to the Smithsonian museums and the Lincoln Memorial, just make sure to be there before 930am to be kiasu. Manage to cover only that and the Natural History Museum where the famous movie was shot on location. There are really a lot to see if you want to pore over every exhibits which will take about 1 day to cover each museum properly. But if you in a rush, covering 2 museums is the max I would recommend given that all open from 10am and close at 530pm. Lunch can eat at the food trucks aplenty at the Mall area instead of inside the museum for price and variety. The Mall area is not referring to shopping malls but the vast green grass area spanning the museums and memorials. There is option to take the Circulator bus if do not want to do the walking, as not recommend to shift car around as parking spot is really difficult to find after 11am. It is also not recommended to stay inside the area as parking is a killer. I chose to stay at the Courtyard Marriot which is walking distance to the White House, which turned out to be a bad decision as parking there cost USD 44 before taxes which is just slightly cheaper than at Niagara hotel of USD 50 at Canada side. And I reached the hotel only after 10pm after having dinner at nearby Luke Lobster which is quite good imo, so could have driven another 20min to outside DC for cheaper hotels as not enjoying any benefits of staying there. The White House is losing the allure for me as it is my thinking that Trump has cheapen it since taking office, so never bother to stop and take pictures with it, just drive by only. Booking hotels The hotels in USA nowadays mostly come with free breakfast for those mid-range like Hampton Inns, Home2Suites, Best Western, Fairfields, Red Roof, etc. I stayed at almost different hotels each night so have quite good sample size haha. The free breakfast would come with basic hot food like scrambled egg and sausage, fruits corner, DIY wafer making, cornflakes, milk and juices, coffee/tea. Not elaborate or definitely sufficient. There would mostly have a coffee/tea corner where guests would be able to make their drinks to go or just sit at the comfortable lobby area to enjoy. The prices for 4 pax for a 2 queen/double bed room can range from S$90 to $250. I prefer Hampton Inns which cost mostly from S$120 to S$150 before tax. The hotels at Niagara Canada side are killer at > $250 inclusive of breakfast, before the parking charge of USD 50. But the view is definitely worth it. Ok I will stop for now. Feel free to add in your experience and tips for the benefits of those thinking of embarking on a road trip there. I would recommend to consider at west side instead of east side as there are more nature parks to enjoy. I will post my itinerary later on. Also bear in mind need to cater clothing for wide variation in weather if intend to travel from upper North down to South tip. For example, Niagara side could be dipping below freezing temperature while Florida could be enjoying 20 degree celsius on same day. Cheers.

Prime Minister Mark Carney explained why the government chose not to sign a trade deal with American counterparts as U.S. President Donald Trump's 50 per cent tariffs on almost $30 billion of Canadian goods are in effect. Don't want to be bullied by the big yellow TACO Why Canadian are Master of their own destiny. Got guts !! or just talk big ? what do you think ?

Although I do grumble and complaint about the strict rules and regulations in Singapore, I am thankful I am living here and know I am in safe hands. Two structural columns buckled and some floors have sagged in the building near Grand Central station Source: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/new-york-city-unstable-tower-evacuation-6239716 NEW YORK: Emergency crews evacuated a busy Manhattan street block during the Tuesday (Jul 7) morning rush hour after structural columns buckled inside a skyscraper undergoing construction work, officials said. The former head office of the drug giant Pfizer, near Grand Central station and the United Nations headquarters, is being converted from offices into apartments in a major overhaul at the 37-story tower. The developer insisted there was no risk of the entire building collapsing. But city officials warned the situation remained serious as they worked to determine if the structure was safe enough to enter to perform remedial work. "Two structural columns have buckled, in addition to multiple cracks and sagging floors. The building remains unstable. Since arriving on scene, we have witnessed additional movement in one of the compromised columns," Mayor Zohran Mamdani said. No one has been injured and all the workers in the building repurposing work are accounted for, the mayor said, adding that the project engineer was working with structural engineers to develop plans to shore up the tower. Emergency struts and beams would be brought in to strengthen the building, officials said. Nearby hotels, businesses, apartments and a school were evacuated, and streets were closed as a precaution as police and firefighters swarmed the area, AFP correspondents saw. A drone was deployed to allow officials to assess the extent of the damage. The mayor said New Yorkers will be allowed to "return back into these buildings when we are fully confident that they are safe for them to do so". Local cable channel PIX11 was forced to abandon its studio near the affected building mid-broadcast following an evacuation order. Clifford Johnsen, a representative of the Steamfitters Local 638 union, said that the addition of new floors on top of the existing office structure had put pressure on the building's supports. "They keep adding. Now you put more weight, and when you put more weight, that's what's going to happen when it's not engineered correctly or installed incorrectly," he said. "I've been in construction 21 years, and I've never seen a beam bend in half - so this is super dangerous." Construction worker Eddie, 28, who declined to give his full name, told AFP he was evacuated from the site and that he "was down below and I saw everyone starting to come down. Just then, they let me know that a column was broken". Video shared by construction workers seemed to show buckled columns within the building site. The edifice sits on a public transport corridor used to ferry World Cup soccer fans from Manhattan to MetLife stadium in New Jersey. It was not active on Tuesday in the absence of any matches there. Construction worker Fernando Sanchez, 50, told AFP that "the beams from around the 21st to 25th floor ... bent and part of it collapsed a bit, and everyone had to get out quickly. All of us. "All the people evacuated on this side, and we are waiting for new orders," he added. The project will total 1.3 million sq ft and bring to the market approximately 1,600 luxury rental apartments, according to developers. Upon completion, which had been scheduled for early 2027, it would be New York City's largest ever office-to-residential conversion. "We want to confirm that the affected area is a small section of one of the two buildings on this site," said developer Metroloft. "As the (fire department) spokesperson noted, the entire building itself is not at risk of collapse." Additional photos from taken from https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/07/07/nyc-building-on-e-42nd-st-in-danger-of-collapse-evacuated-after-columns-buckle/

BBC News - TikTok's UK headquarters in doubt amid US pressure https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-53462918 I'm no lover of the ccp. But this is really incredible hypocrisy. This is coming from the two governments who collect massive amounts of data on their own citizens as revealed by Edward Snowden. Reportedly to find terrorists. They would love to tap the entire world except that Apple the main handphone used by most Americans refuse to comply with many of their information requests. And Canada, USA, England are tapping all communication cables on both sides of the Atlantic.... And the silly thing is that you can choose not to use wechat, tiktok or huawei phones...

The Cold War – the political, ideological, economic, and military rivalry between the US and USSR – is a topic that fascinates me. Most historians agree that it started in 1945 after World War II and ended in 1991 after the dissolution of the USSR. While the US and USSR were allies during the War, the two nations had divergent political systems. One represented democracy, while the other championed communism. In ideological terms, the conflict was framed as freedom versus repression. Broadly speaking, the West offered freedom and choices; the communist bloc countered that capitalism was evil and that trading freedom for order would lead to happiness. The Cold War encompassed some of the most famous events and conflicts around the world. In Europe, Berlin was a flashpoint. During the 15-month Berlin Blockade (from June 1948 to May 1949), Soviet Union restricted all land and canal access to the portions of the city under Western control. The Allies responded by airlifting supplies to keep residents from starving until the blockade ended. The Berlin Wall, circa 1974. Image: Immo Wegmann, Unsplash Later, the split between East and West in Europe resulted in the partitioning of Germany into East Germany (ironically called the German Democratic Republic or GDR) and West Germany. And during this period, one of the most enduring symbols of the Cold War, the Berlin Wall, was constructed. The Berlin Wall did not divide East and West Germany. It encircled West Berlin to prevent East Germans from fleeing to West Germany. And here's an interesting fact: Although Berlin was divided into East and West, the city itself was in East Germany. Why the interest? These are just several significant events that took place between 1945 and 1991. But the Cold War remains interesting because it occurred while I was a child, and learning about what happened and why is fascinating. As a kid, I remember my late grandparents going to Europe for a holiday. When they returned to Singapore, my grandmother told me about how strict the East German border guards were. "Our bus was stopped, and we had to present our passports. From the window, I could see guards using mirrors attached to poles to check under the bus." I didn't realise till much later that this was how they checked for escapees! Closer to home The Cold War shaped modern Asia, too. This struggle between East and West erupted into open conflicts. There was the Korean War, and just a few years later, the Vietnam War. Although an armistice was signed, the Korean War never officially ended since there is no peace treaty between both countries. Today, there are still two Koreas divided along the 38th parallel. But more significantly, East Asia remains a potential flashpoint despite the war ending in 1953. Complex geopolitical tensions still abound between China, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan. China and Russia continue to support North Korea, because without backers, there is a risk of regime collapse. And it's not hard to imagine that neither China nor Russia want to deal with the ramifications of a failed state. The Vietnam War ended not in division, but unification. But this chapter is interesting when you compare how the conflict was viewed. The US saw their involvement as a way of preventing domino theory - the belief that if one state became communist, neighbouring countries would fall to communism as well. In Vietnam, the conflict is viewed as a war against American aggression. North Vietnam fought to bring South Vietnam under its control, unify the country and liberate it from imperialists. But 50 years since the conflict ended, its effects still linger. 'Vietnam' became another name for an un-winnable war. Questions about why the US got involved in the first place continue to be asked. There are other events and open conflicts that occurred during the Cold War, many of which I still haven't learned of. But that's what makes this topic so fascinating. The Cold War supposedly ended in 1991, but much of what happened continues to shape our world today. Main image: Pei Peng, Unsplash – Jeremy

Maybe you need to pay, better check: Travelers to the U.S. must pay a new $250 ‘visa integrity fee’ Visitors to the United States will need to pay a “visa integrity fee,” according to a new law. The fee will be at least $250, is on top of other visa fees, and may be reimbursable. However when the fee starts, and how to get a refund, remain unclear. Visitors to the United States will need to pay a “visa integrity fee,” according to a provision of the Trump administration’s recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The fee applies to all visitors who need nonimmigrant visas to enter, and cannot be waived. However travelers may also be able to get the fees reimbursed, according to the provision. Details about the new requirement are scant, which has resulted in “significant challenges and unanswered questions regarding implementation,” a spokesperson from the U.S. Travel Association told CNBC Travel. However, here is what is known thus far. https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/18/visa-integrity-fee-what-to-know-about-new-travel-fee-to-enter-the-us-.html

Can’t be any worse than this: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/magazine-publishes-full-us-attack-plan-yemen-shared-signal-chat-5025656?cid=FBcna it really gets better each day

... If I told you that the occupant walk away from this pile of mass unharmed?! This beyond miracles!!! Ermm anyone wants to guess what model was this? Woman Somehow Walks Away From Folded Car In Shocking Semi-Truck Crash Incredible. No, scratch that. This is beyond incredible. We aren't talking about the severity of the crash, though it's not every day you see a car literally folded in half and crushed by a semi-truck. There was a woman in that car, and she's not dead. In fact, she crawled from the car with hardly any injuries at all. So yeah, what's beyond incredible? Whatever it is, that's what we're dealing with here. This crash happened the morning of November 16, on Interstate 5 in Mount Vernon, north of Seattle in Washington State. According to The Seattle Times, traffic was slowing down on the Skagit River Bridge when this Red Nissan was hit from behind by a semi-truck. There was also a semi in front of the car, and the collision caused the rear of the Nissan to fold over. The semi from behind came to a rest on top of the car. The report says a 46-year-old woman was inside, and looking at the pictures in the Twitter post above would have anyone thinking the worst. Washington State Trooper Rocky Oliphant took the photos and relayed information on Twitter, at first calling it a serious injury accident. But then the semi was lifted from the car, and Oliphant says the woman crawled out under her own power. She reportedly complained of minor pain in her head and ribs, and went to the hospital for further observation. We say it again ... beyond incredible. In his Twitter posts, Oliphant says he's never seen anything like this in 14 years on the job. In The Seattle Times report, he points out the manner in which the car folded could explain how the driver escaped serious injury. The back served as a buffer, protecting the passenger compartment while also giving the semi something of a ramp to slide on. While the crash certainly wasn't lucky, he goes on to call the driver the "luckiest unlucky person." Straight up, this crash is legit spooky. Obviously we're thrilled that the driver escaped with just minor injuries, but we keep coming back to one very basic, haunting question: How? Some would say this steps into the spiritual or supernatural realm, and you know what? Looking closely at these images, we wouldn't disagree. Stay safe out there everyone.

When you cannot beat them, BAN them. Damn United States of Ass! GoPro used to be the leader in portable action camera and the pride of US, but have since been beaten (badly) by DJI in both function and cost, so banning DJI seems to be a natural progression. Just like what they did to Huawei when it become a threat to Apple 🍎 News by Reuters WASHINGTON, Oct 18 (Reuters) - China-based DJI sued the U.S. Defense Department on Friday for adding the drone maker to a list of companies allegedly working with Beijing's military, saying the designation is wrong and has caused the company significant financial harm. DJI, the world's largest drone manufacturer that sells more than half of all U.S. commercial drones, asked a U.S. District Judge in Washington to order its removal from the Pentagon list designating it as a "Chinese military company," saying it "is neither owned nor controlled by the Chinese military." Being placed on the list represents a warning to U.S. entities and companies about the national security risks of conducting business with them. DJI's lawsuit says because of the Defense Department's "unlawful and misguided decision" it has "lost business deals, been stigmatized as a national security threat, and been banned from contracting with multiple federal government agencies." The company added "U.S. and international customers have terminated existing contracts with DJI and refuse to enter into new ones." The Defense Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. DJI said on Friday it filed the lawsuit after the Defense Department did not engage with the company over the designation for more than 16 months, saying it "had no alternative other than to seek relief in federal court." Amid strained ties between the world's two biggest economies, the updated list is one of numerous actions Washington has taken in recent years to highlight and restrict Chinese companies that it says may strengthen Beijing's military. Many major Chinese firms are on the list, including aviation company AVIC, memory chip maker YMTC, China Mobile , and energy company CNOOC. In May, lidar manufacturer Hesai Group (ZN80y.F), opens new tab filed a suit challenging the Pentagon's Chinese military designation for the company. On Wednesday, the Pentagon removed Hesai from the list but said it will immediately relist the China-based firm on national security grounds. DJI is facing growing pressure in the United States. Earlier this week DJI told Reuters that Customs and Border Protection is stopping imports of some DJI drones from entering the United States, citing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. DJI said no forced labor is involved at any stage of its manufacturing. U.S. lawmakers have repeatedly raised concerns that DJI drones pose data transmission, surveillance and national security risks, something the company rejects.

Because Joe Biden deserves a thread of his own for the next four years. WASHINGTON: Democrat Joe Biden was on Wednesday (Jan 20) sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. With his hand on a five-inch thick heirloom Bible that has been in his family for more than a century, Biden took the oath of office administered by US Chief Justice John Roberts that binds the president to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States". Biden, 78, became the oldest US president in history at a scaled-back ceremony in Washington that was largely stripped of its usual pomp and circumstance, due both to the coronavirus and security concerns following the Jan 6 assault on the US Capitol by supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump. The norm-defying Trump flouted one last convention on his way out of the White House when he refused to meet with Biden or attend his successor's inauguration, breaking with a political tradition seen as affirming the peaceful transfer of power.

https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/ The U.S. military launched a clandestine program amid the COVID crisis to discredit China’s Sinovac inoculation – payback for Beijing’s efforts to blame Washington for the pandemic. One target: the Filipino public. Health experts say the gambit was indefensible and put innocent lives at risk. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. military launched a secret campaign to counter what it perceived as China’s growing influence in the Philippines, a nation hit especially hard by the deadly virus. The clandestine operation has not been previously reported. It aimed to sow doubt about the safety and efficacy of vaccines and other life-saving aid that was being supplied by China, a Reuters investigation found. Through phony internet accounts meant to impersonate Filipinos, the military’s propaganda efforts morphed into an anti-vax campaign. Social media posts decried the quality of face masks, test kits and the first vaccine that would become available in the Philippines – China’s Sinovac inoculation. Reuters identified at least 300 accounts on X, formerly Twitter, that matched descriptions shared by former U.S. military officials familiar with the Philippines operation. Almost all were created in the summer of 2020 and centered on the slogan #Chinaangvirus – Tagalog for China is the virus. READ MORE https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/usa-covid-propaganda/

Step aside "The Italian Job", "Ocean's Eleven", "Gone in 60 Seconds", this one beats them all! $25m in 12 seconds, if ever there is a Guinness World Record for fastest heist in history, this would be the one. But this case is unlikely to become the plot for a new movie, cos it will be damn boring without showcasing of muscle cars, sexy babes, and exciting car chasing scenes. Hahahaha Two Brothers Arrested For Attacking The Ethereum Blockchain And Stealing $25 Million In Cryptocurrency Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/two-brothers-arrested-attacking-ethereum-blockchain-and-stealing-25-million Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York; Lisa Monaco, the Deputy Attorney General of the United States; and Thomas Fattorusso, the Special Agent in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (“IRS-CI”), announced today the unsealing of an Indictment charging ANTON PERAIRE-BUENO and JAMES PERAIRE-BUENO with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges in the Indictment arise from an alleged novel scheme by the defendants to exploit the very integrity of the Ethereum blockchain to fraudulently obtain approximately $25 million worth of cryptocurrency within approximately 12 seconds. ANTON PERAIRE-BUENO and JAMES PERAIRE-BUENO were arrested yesterday in Boston, Massachusetts, and New York, New York, respectively, and will be presented this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson for the District of Massachusetts and U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo for the Southern District of New York. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: “Today, my Office indicted two brothers—Anton Peraire-Bueno and James Peraire-Bueno—for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, all stemming from their alleged scheme to exploit the Ethereum blockchain and to obtain about $25 million worth of cryptocurrency from it. As we allege, the defendants’ scheme calls the very integrity of the blockchain into question. The brothers, who studied computer science and math at one of the most prestigious universities in the world, allegedly used their specialized skills and education to tamper with and manipulate the protocols relied upon by millions of Ethereum users across the globe. And once they put their plan into action, their heist only took 12 seconds to complete. This alleged scheme was novel and has never before been charged. But as the Indictment makes clear, no matter how sophisticated the fraud or how new the techniques used to accomplish it, the career prosecutors of this Office will be relentless in pursuing people who attack the integrity of all financial systems.” Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco said: “As alleged in today’s indictment, the Peraire-Bueno brothers stole $25 million in Ethereum cryptocurrency through a technologically sophisticated, cutting-edge scheme they plotted for months and executed in seconds. Unfortunately for the defendants, their alleged crimes were no match for Department of Justice prosecutors and IRS agents, who unraveled this first-of-its kind wire fraud and money laundering scheme. As cryptocurrency markets continue to evolve, the Department will continue to root out fraud, support victims, and restore confidence to these markets.” IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso said: “These brothers allegedly committed a first-of-its-kind manipulation of the Ethereum blockchain by fraudulently gaining access to pending transactions, altering the movement of the electronic currency, and ultimately stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency from their victims. In this case, IRS-CI New York’s Cyber Unit simply followed the money. Regardless of the complexity of the case, we continue to lead the effort in financial criminal investigations with cutting-edge technology and good-ole-fashioned investigative work, on and off the blockchain.”

They say if u cant beat them, ban them.

Moving on to the next four years.

In summary: At least 30 tornadoes were reported across six states: Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Tennessee. Dozens of people are feared dead following a series of tornadoes that ripped through the Midwest and the southeastern US overnight, according to state and local officials. The potential for more severe weather continues over the weekend as the system moves east. The conspiracy theorist in me screams the world is ending and government bodies in the world are not telling us anything, because The Day After Tomorrow taught me that, Elon Musk and SpaceX, Bloomberg's article titled "China's Billionaires Take Low-Profile Route to Exploring Space", Singapore's accelerated Green Plan, and not forgetting, at the turn of 2020, the Australian bushfires and all kinds of severe weather phenomenon and oddities like Japan's Mount Fuji missing its iconic snow cap in Jan 2021. Interstellar is taking place as we speak. I don't think I've ever read a news report of multiple tornadoes sweeping across states like this one. 😔

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - Some people were killed when a sport utility vehicle (SUV) sped through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin, on Sunday (Nov 21), bowling over at least 20 people, including several youngsters waving pompoms and a group of “Dancing Grannies”. Waukesha police chief Dan Thompson said a person of interest was in custody and the suspect vehicle had been recovered after the incident in Waukesha, about 32km west of Milwaukee. “The vehicle struck more than 20 individuals. Some of the individuals were children and there are some fatalities as a result of this incident,” Mr Thompson told reporters. A video of the incident posted online showed a red SUV ploughing through the parade, appearing to run over more than a dozen people. In a second video, police appeared to open fire on the vehicle as it crashed through street barriers. Mr Thompson said an officer fired shots at the vehicle and no bystanders were injured. Possible SUV in question here.

Interesting read. US continue to do "Let me tell what is your issue and what you shou do" China has changed the communication style from "don't mess up with me or you will only regret" to "Don't be hypocritical. I know what's actually in your mind". More matured reply than the past. https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/us-china-talks-biden-raised-concerns-over-xinjiang-tibet-hong-kong-xi-warns-of https://www.straitstimes.com/world/united-states/biden-in-virtual-summit-with-xi-seeks-to-prevent-conflict https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/biden-and-xi-agree-to-look-at-possible-arms-control-talks US concerned about China is nuclear and missile build-up

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - A drone strike in Kabul last month killed as many as 10 civilians, including seven children, the US military said on Friday (Sept 17), apologising for what it said was a tragic mistake. The Pentagon had said the Aug 29 strike targeted an Islamic State suicide bomber who posed an imminent threat to US-led troops at the airport as they completed the last stages of their withdrawal from Afghanistan. Even as reports of civilian casualties emerged, the top US general had described the attack as "righteous". Apology seems cold and forced. Say sorry also can't bring back the dead In wartime civilian casualties is to be expected but with the surveillance technology they have, the lives lost is one too many Disaster for the biden adminstration

NOT in Singapore though. I will say it is a very darling move, given the differences between RAV4 and the new X-Trail (aka Rogue in USA). Or Nissan might be buying those super rundown unit to make its SUV feel better, which would not be a fair comparison so to speak. But I do see the opportunity that it can be done in Singapore, not Nissan vs Toyota though. The first pair that pop up in my mind was Kia Sorento and Mercedes GLB200 (since so many here are comparing these 2 apple and orange, just because both are "around" the same price point - I see lots of different though). But why Cycle and Carriage should consider doing this? Well since there are a pool of potential buyer looking at both models, allowing the test drive of GLB at Kia showroom and Sorento at C&C showroom might actually be a win-win situation, since buyer would be more likely to walk away choosing one of these 2 models represented by the same AD. Make sense? Nissan Will Be Offering Free Toyota RAV4 Test Drives To Sell More Rogues – Wait, What? Nissan is confident that the 2021 Rogue is far better than the Toyota RAV4, which is why they will be offering free test drives in the rival model to potential customers at its dealers this December. The automaker expects around half of its 1,074 U.S. dealers to embrace this unconventional strategy, which is not without risk, because “a percentage of customers are inevitably going to value the differences between the models differently than expected”, Tyson Jominy, J.D. Power’s Power Information Network VP, said, cited by AutoNews. The news outlet got its hands on a video message sent to dealers by Nissan’s VP of Sales and Regional Operations, Judy Wheeler, who said: “We know that when consumers check out the all-new Rogue side by side with the RAV4, they will be amazed by our standard, advanced technology, premium design… and, most of all, outstanding overall value.” Wheeler told AutoNews that “when you test drive our vehicle versus the major competitors, you’re going to end up purchasing this vehicle because it’s that much better.” Toyota already knows of Nissan’s strategy to use a rented RAV4 to try and sell more Rogues, and they are actually “flattered”. “We are confident their dealers and customers will appreciate the quality, value, versatility and safety features that have made the RAV4 the no.1-selling (compact) SUV in the United States”, said the brand’s chief of sales, Bob Carter. The unorthodox campaign is known internally as ‘Rogue Gone Rogue’ and is part of a four-month advertising push described by Wheeler as “the most robust marketing campaign in Nissan’s history”. The 2021 Nissan Rogue has an MSRP of $25,650. Power is supplied by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, making 181 HP and 245 Nm of torque, mated to a standard CVT and FWD – with AWD being a $1,400 premium on all grades. The 2021 Toyota RAV4, on the other hand, is priced from $26,050, and comes with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, rated at 203 HP and 249 Nm, paired to an eight-speed transmission, in the base model.

Was searching and there is no topic on usa protest. So here I create this topic. https://www.businessinsider.com/minneapolis-protest-pictures-photos-of-riots-looting-aftermath-2020-5?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=sf-bi-main&utm_medium=social It's getting out of hand.. Lucky in Singapore we have a robast system in place to ensure that the country will not run into chaos..

Nope, it is not my birthday today and neither am I preparing one for someone special anytime soon. I find it hard to believe that it has something to do with the upcoming US Presidential Election. 😥 Kanye West running for US president under the Birthday Party https://www.yahoo.com/amphtml/entertainment/kanye-west-running-us-president-222012967.html Rapper Kanye West will run for US president under the Birthday Party, which he has founded along with his running mate, Wyoming preacher Michelle Tidball. Going by that, maybe the next political party in Singapore can consider the following names for their party? 🤣🤣 Advance Party Blanket Party Farewell Party Foam Party Sarong Party Third Party

Duke-NUS scientist accused of spying for Russians in the US Read more at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/19/us/hector-alejandro-cabrera-fuentes-spying-russia.html NEW YORK — United States federal officials have arrested a researcher from Duke-National University of Singapore for allegedly acting on behalf of a Russian agent who recruited him to collect information about the US government and met repeatedly with him in Moscow. Hector Alejandro Cabrera Fuentes, a Mexican citizen, and his wife were about to board a plane back to their native Mexico from Miami on Sunday, when a customs official asked to inspect their phones. The official looked in a file of recently deleted images on the phone of Fuentes’s wife and found a close-up photograph of a license plate. The plate belonged to the vehicle of a US government source, federal prosecutors said in a statement. Fuentes admitted to the US Customs and Border Protection that he had told his wife, who was not named in the statement, to take the picture. It turned out, federal prosecutors said, that Fuentes was acting on behalf of a Russian government official who had recruited him in 2019 to rent property in Miami-Dade County and gather information. “The Russian official told Fuentes not to rent the apartment in Fuentes’s own name and not to tell his family about their meetings,” according to a statement from the Department of Justice. Hector Fuentes met with the Russian official twice in Moscow, it said. During the second meeting this month, the official gave Fuentes a physical description of a US government source’s vehicle. The Russian official “told Fuentes to locate the car, obtain the source’s vehicle license plate number, and note the physical location of the source’s vehicle,” according to the statement. The two were supposed to meet again around April or May so that Fuentes could give him the information, officials said in the statement. Federal officials said Fuentes and his wife rented a car, and Friday they followed the US source home. A security guard on the premises became suspicious of the couple because the rental car had tailgated another vehicle to get inside the building complex. As the guard approached Fuentes, his wife got out of the car and snapped a photo of the government source’s vehicle, federal officials said. The guard asked the couple what they were doing there, and Fuentes said they were visiting someone at the building. “Security did not recognize the person as living there and told Fuentes to leave the premises,” federal officials said. When Fuentes was questioned about the photo two days later at the airport, he admitted he had been directed by a Russian government official to conduct the operation, the officials said. Fuentes has been charged with acting on behalf of a foreign agent without notifying the attorney general. He has also been charged with conspiracy to act on behalf of a foreign agent. At a hearing in Miami federal court Tuesday, Fuentes said he had a variety of jobs, including one as a researcher at Duke-NUS, where he earned US$7,500 a month, according to The Miami Herald. Fuentes also told a magistrate judge he earned US$5,000 a month from an Israeli company based in Germany and had about US$100,000 in bank accounts in Mexico, Singapore and the United States, according to the newspaper. Fuentes is listed on the Duke-NUS website as one of the lead researchers of a 2016 study on cardiovascular disease. In 2015, he gave a presentation at a conference hosted by the European Society of Cardiology in London. In his bio, Fuentes was described as a graduate of Kazan University in Russia, where he obtained a degree in molecular biology and microbiology. He will be arraigned March 3 in Miami federal court, federal officials said. Ms Dharshini Subbiah, a senior communications specialist at Duke-NUS, told Duke-NUS campus newspaper The Chronicle: “All of his appointments have been suspended, and pending the ongoing investigations in the US we are unable to comment further." In response to TODAY's queries, a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) spokesperson said: "MHA will not be commenting on this case." THE NEW YORK TIMES

So what’s the big deal running around the West Coast ? well no.. not where the greater southern waterfront is.. it’s the Pacific West Coast and the PCH aka Pacific Coast Highway A little jaunt from Seattle down to SF with side trips to Olympic National Park and some other nice spots. This journey offers nice B roads, lots of scenery and good food I wanted to try a car which I might consider buying and I wanted a SUV so it came down to the RAV4 or the CHR depending what was available. Both use the same 2.0l with the CVT As fate decided there was only one .. my Black Steed fitted with 18” rims no less. The C-HR is no stranger to us, it’s a ubiquitous PHV in Singapore but here it uses a 2 liter naturally aspirated engine with the same CVT tranny. The car had to take two of us along with luggage and two weeks of shopping, which is no mean feat, I’ll have you know... Thankfully it was up to the task, swallowing four bags, two backpacks and a large box with great aplomb. Sure you need to fold down the seats if you want quick access and the sloping rear hatch doesn’t do its load carrying function any favors. The interior is tighter than a Vezel but for us it was cosy. The front seats wrap nicely around you and it sits a lot lower than the typical SUV. But then again it’s no real mud eating 4x4, more of a hatch on mildly elevated stilts. The interior is typically Toyota with the omnipresent retro clock and the diamond shaped motifs all over. The build is excellent with no rattles, even after 21000 miles of abuse by other renters. It won’t impress those looking for all round soft touch materials but thing look built to last. The cockpit wraps around the driver and controls generally fall into reach easily. The short stubby gear shift is solid but I wished it was longer. No paddle shifters sadly and no HUD. But here stateside you get a full suite of features with CarPlay and a real set of safety features. Lane departure warning, rear side detectors, blind spot detectors, and my favorite: active cruise control. More on that later... Visibility, like space is a bit compromised at the rear, although front visibility is excellent. The upside of such a compact car is that you point and it zips through, parking is easy and your fuel consumption is great. 33.5 mpg great in fact, which is around 14-15 km/l, which helps when the fuel tank is quite small.. You get DRL here with a full LED headlamp package and CarPlay but the stereo is decidedly weak.. it begs for a ICE and speaker overhaul.. Cool CHR logo when you open the door .. The engine has been with us in many iterations and being a naturally aspirated engine it doesn’t give that kick when you take off, but at highway cruising it is more than adequate. It also has enough power for the mountain roads and the CVT pairs well to keep it in the power zone. Furthermore with varying road speeds, frequent gear changes won’t upset or burn out the clutch because there isn’t one ☝️. On the open road you can easily hit high speeds and wind road is ok, allowing you to talk easily. No Lexus silence here, but it’s fine. Tire roar on lousy interstate sections does get fatiguing but they are only intermittent thankfully. But onto that active cruise control... it measures distance and allows the car to adjust speeds accordingly ... very neat and will slow the car down then pick up speed to keep up with the car in front. With car like agility and a lower stance you are encouraged to take corners more aggressively and the chassis is nimble. This car shares the BRZ chassis and it shows.. in winding roads, where road holding matters more than power, you can show larger capacity engine cars a clean pair of heels easily and you can corner 10-20 mph more than the suggested speed on the sign. Throwing it into bends will bring a big smile on your face. I think the 2l is a better match than the 1.2 turbo we have in long distance driving. Lapping up the miles in my Black Steed has been an absolute joy 👍 More on the sights and food soon 😉