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Accident leaves young GrabFood rider with brain injuries, S$100,000 hospital bill—family seeks help

Singapore—Horrific traffic accidents are always heartbreaking, but all the more so when those involved are young and are just beginning their lives.

A young man named Mohammed Ali, who was working part-time as a GrabFood rider while waiting to do his national service, had a major accident on Apr 10 along Toh Guan Road, towards Bukit Batok.

Having sustained severe injuries and requiring extensive brain surgery to save his life, he spent a week in a coma, and a total of 10 days in the intensive care unit.

Ali is now in recovery, thankfully, with a long road still ahead.

However, his family, consisting of his father and an older brother, is saddled with a bill of at least S$100,000, with more expenses to come.

His brother, Elfy Andriann, took to Facebook on Monday (Apr 26)  to appeal to the public for help to pay the hospital bill.

Mr Elfy wrote that he was asking for help especially because their father, Mr Hadi, had suffered a stroke and lost his job.

“Due to his chronic illness, work has been strenuous for him. The stroke effect has taken its toll causing him to deteriorate mentally and physically and unfortunately (he) ended up being terminated from work due to being unfit. It’s been a difficult time for him during this pandemic, it’s also harder for him to get a job, especially with his current condition and age,” wrote Mr Elfy.

His younger brother had just graduated from ITE. While waiting for NS, he started working as a food delivery rider to earn some money and help his family.

The accident left him with multiple injuries. 

Mr Elfy wrote, “Due to the tremendous impact to the head during the accident, it has caused bleeding in the brain and also caused his brain to be shifted to one side.”

His right hand was also severely injured and numerous bones were broken.

Ali required a craniectomy, “a surgery to remove part of the skull, to release pressure and evacuate the blood clots in the brain to save his life”.

 This surgery saved the young man’s life.

His brother wrote, “That was how serious it was. Imagine the mental state and pressure my father and I was in at the moment.”

Thankfully, the surgery was successful, and Ali woke up on the eighth day after the accident.

However, Ali will require another surgery that will replace his skull with an artificial one. That will cost at least S$15,000. His hospital bill has already amounted to S$100,000.

“Doctors have already mentioned that Ali is showing signs of depression due to his immobility and appearance,” wrote Mr Elfy.

He appealed to the public to help pay his brother’s medical bills. Those willing to help may do so via POSB SAVINGS 056-18180-6, or Paynow to their father, Mr Hadi @93651525. 

“Any amount of contribution from you, no matter how small, is hugely appreciated by the family.

“May God bless you for your good deeds during this month of Ramadhan, Amin,” Mr Elfy wrote.

/TISG

Read also: SG family appeals for help with $60K hospital bill of helper severely disabled after a stroke

SG family appeals for help with $60K hospital bill of helper severely disabled after a stroke

West Coast resident leaves note in the lift: “This is Singapore, not your motherland in India”

Singapore — A frustrated resident living in a Clementi flat pasted a note in the lift to shame his noisy neighbours.

The note gave his neighbour’s unit number and was signed off “Blk 716”. It was shared on a popular Facebook page on Sunday (Apr 25).

In the note, the angry resident wrote: “Please be considerate in your noise level. I’ve had enough of your nonsense.”

The resident added that the neighbour’s children were running around and shouting along the corridors and “behaving like a bunch of animals every day”.

“This is Singapore, not your motherland in India. If you still don’t know, please go back to your country in India”.

The resident added that if the neighbour did not comply, they would report to the town council and the police.

The post seemed to strike a chord with others, who shared anecdotes of their own inconsiderate neighbours.

Earlier this month, an irate condominium resident was so frustrated by the behaviour of their neighbour that they left a letter in the lift scolding them.

In a Facebook post shared to the ‘NUS – No Use Singapore’ page on Apr 5, a condominium resident wrote a letter to their “a**hole neighbours” and pasted it on the walls of the elevator.

The letter was titled: “#33-09 please stop being a**hole neighbours”.

Read related: Condo resident leaves note in lift for his “a**hole neighbours” /TISG

Recipe: Sink your teeth into healthy sweet treats today with cookie dough bars

India — A nutritious, delicious snack that can be made at home from the scratch is a weakness for most of us especially under lockdown times when indulging in outside food is a strict “no” to curb the spread of coronavirus and that’s when we stumbled upon this lip-smacking recipe of cookie dough bars. Enjoy a week of sweet but healthy snacking with this recipe of high protein cookie dough bars that will keep in the fridge for 4 days and serves 6.

As per the latest analysis, the size of the Global Healthy Snack Market is projected to reach USD 108.11 billion by 2027 the rising consumer focus on nutritional values of snacks such as high vitamins and proteins and low calories. Driven by this healthy trend, we decided to sink our teeth into some healthy sweet treat today with these cookie dough bars.

Ingredients:

Cookie dough –

65g ground almonds

25g chocolate protein powder

40g honey

1 tbsp water

30g unsalted butter, melted

40g dark chocolate, chopped

Caramel

80g peanut butter

15g unsalted butter, melted

Pinch of salt

Topping –

60g dark chocolate

3 tbsp boiling water

Method:

Line a small 1lb loaf tin with parchment. In a bowl mix together the ground almonds and protein powder until combined. Add the honey, water, melted butter and chocolate chunks and mix again until you have a thick dough.

Press into the prepared tin to create an even layer, then place in the fridge. Next make the caramel, mix together the peanut butter, honey, melted butter and salt until combined. Remove the cookie dough from the fridge and spoon over the caramel ensuring its evenly spread.

Place in the freezer for at least 2 hours to set. Once set, break the remaining chocolate into a bowl and pour over the boiling water. Begin to stir the water and chocolate until chocolate is melted. Pop in the microwave for 10 seconds to fully melt if needed.

Pour over the set caramel and spread quickly to the edges. Place in the fridge for 30minutes before serving!

(Recipe: Sarah, Instagram/sarahshealthykitchen)

Curb cravings between meals by whipping up these simple-to-make cookie dough bars that are easy to carry and prepared by heterogeneous mixture of all things healthy.

CGH denies that man suffered 3 strokes because of Covid-19 vaccination, family appeals for MOH help with bills

Singapore — A 48-year-old man had three strokes after receiving his Covid-19 jab on Apr 18.

He was admitted to Changi General Hospital (CGH) where he temporarily lost his vision.

But the vaccine did not cause these complications, according to the hospital’s preliminary assessment, reported 8world  news.

He would be eligible for financial assistance if the vaccine harmed him.

The man’s sister-in-law,  Jo-ann Tan, has been sharing updates about his condition. In a Facebook post on Sunday (Apr 25), Ms Tan wrote that her “brother in law is more responsive today. He can move his left leg and little of his right hand. Open his eyes more when we talk to him”.

It was an improvement from his condition described in her first post on Apr 22. She wrote that in the hospital, on “20 April, he suffered his third stroke, while still on endotracheal tube and heavily drugged”. A doctor informed them that evening that his condition had worsened and the family should visit him immediately.  He also had to undergo emergency brain surgery to reduce pressure on his brain.

In her update on Sunday (Apr 25), Ms Tan said she had asked for a second opinion on her brother-in-law’s condition.

“CGH has approved our request. The hospital is now facilitating the request. With such massive and serious stroke, neurosurgeon agrees that second opinion may help”, she added.

Because of her brother-in-law’s high medical bills, Ms Tan has appealed to the Ministry of Health (MOH) for help.

“Is the medical condition caused by the vaccine?” she asked in her post. If the vaccine is to blame,  he would be eligible for special assistance.

“To apply for VIFAP, one needs to get a doctor certification to prove that the severe side effects suffered is caused by the vaccine,” Ms Tan explained.

“The Vaccine Injury Financial Assistance Programme for COVID-19 Vaccination (VIFAP) provides one-time goodwill financial assistance to persons who experience serious side effects that are assessed to be related to COVID-19 vaccines administered in Singapore,” says the Ministry of Health (MOH) website.

“To qualify for the VIFAP, individuals must be a Singapore Citizen, Permanent Resident or long-term pass holder who has received the Covid-19 vaccination in Singapore, and experienced a serious side effect that is potentially life-threatening or fatal, and has required inpatient hospitalisation or has caused persistent incapacity or disability. The serious side effect must be assessed by a doctor to be linked to the individual’s Covid-19 vaccination,” the MOH website adds.

That is why, said Ms Tan, the family was thinking of VIFAP for her brother-in-law.

But she was not sure if there was sufficient “medical proof” that his condition was caused by the vaccine.

TISG has reached out to Ms Tan and to CGH for comment and clarification. /TISG

US returned the favour with Covid-19 aid package for India, says Biden

India — US President Joe Biden on Sunday made it clear that the assistance offered by his administration to India to combat Covid-19 is in exchange for India’s aid earlier. He added the US was “determined” to help India, seeking to push back on narrative that his administration was late to come to India’s rescue.

“Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need,” Biden wrote in a tweet Sunday, re-tweeting a post from his National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, who announced the assistance after a phone call with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval.

People familiar with the discussions leading up to the announcement on both sides echoed the framing of the assistance as a gesture between partners, with the US returning the favour this time.

Biden did not specify in the tweet, but he meant the assistance announced by his administration Sunday was similar in nature – and reciprocal – to the lifting of an export ban by India to release a consignment of hydroxychloroquine by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April last year at the personal urging of President Donald Trump.

Hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, was being used as a prophylactic in some quarters against the virus that causes Covid-19. President Trump however, touted it as a “game changer” in his bid to put behind the epidemic, which he saw as a drag on his re-election chances.

Trump forced Modi to release a consignment of hydroxychloroquine last April despite the export ban, with a threat of retaliation. India made an exception for Trump and released the consignment. He subsequently took a course of the drug after a possible exposure.

The exception made by Modi then was similar to the one made by Biden to release raw materials for vaccines, in contravention of restrictions in force since February, when Biden had invoked the Defense Production Act to make it mandatory for American suppliers of these raw materials to prioritise orders placed by American buyers, over those by outsiders, such as India.

“Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, the United States is determined to help India in its time of need,” US national security council spokesperson Emily Horne said, announcing US support and supplies for India.

People familiar with these talks and developments said the first shipments of US supplies announced Sunday could be landing in India as earlier as this week, including the most urgently pressing of them all: oxygen, which has been in short supply in hospitals around the country in India.

The United States and India are looking at four options currently on how best to address this issue: oxygen concentrators, which are fan-like devices that enhance oxygen content in a room; oxygen generator plants, small units to supply small clusters of recipient structures such as hospital; oxygen cylinders, which are apparently in short supply in India; and containers to ship oxygen, like the cryogenic container supplied to India by Singapore.

Louder calls to end transporting workers in lorries after 2nd accident in 5 days

Singapore—Another accident involving migrant workers transported in the back of a lorry, the second in less than a week, has prompted netizens to call for an end to this practice.

On Saturday morning (Apr 24) an accident involving a lorry along Upper Bukit Timah Road resulted in 10 persons taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital—the driver and nine passengers.

The incident, which occurred at around 7.20 am, is under investigation.

Last Tuesday (Apr 20) a collision between a lorry and a stationary tipper truck along the Pan-Island Expressway (PIE) resulted in more than a dozen workers  hospitalised for injuries.

Moreover, two migrant works have died due to the collision.

These accidents—coming so close together—have given rise to renewed calls online for migrant workers to have safer means of transportation.

“AGAIN.  When will Ministry of Transport @LTAsg ban ppl from being transported like cattle? #MinistryOfManpower,” tweeted actor and director Hossan Leong.

A netizen named Wee Chee Ong @WeeChee91answered Mr Leong, saying that in contrast, in Malaysia, companies have factory or workers’ buses for migrant workers to use.

The Wake Up, Singapore Facebook page posted a screenshot of Mr Leong’s post, tagging officials @s.iswaran and @tanseeleng to “please act now to regulate and ban the transportation of workers at the back of lorries”.

On May 15, Mr Iswaran will succeed Mr Ong Ye Kung as Transport Minister, while Dr Tan is to take over the Ministry of Manpower from Ms Josephine Teo.

Wake Up, Singapore also wrote, “Dear Ministers, put your hand on your heart and ask yourself if you would feel safe being transported this way on a daily basis? If your answer is no, why allow the most vulnerable amongst us to be transported this way? 

“Inaction in this regard can be fatal. MOM and MOT/LTA need to take decisive action now.”

People were urged to write to their Members of Parliament on the matter as well.

FB screengrab: Wake Up, Singapore

Also weighing in was Mr Lim Jialang, who took issue with business owners who have said they cannot afford buses for transporting workers.

Workers’ rights activist Ms Kokila Annamalai echoed this sentiment, and added that “unsafe drivers” have often been blamed for the accidents. She also called for the public to rally around the issue.

There can be no justice for the migrant workers who have died or been severely injured on our roads over the years because they were transported unsafely in lorries. But if no more workers are to be injured/die in this way, we – as people of Singapore – have to be prepared to make demands of our government and government-linked corporations in louder and bolder ways that we have so far.”

On the issue of the drivers, activist Jolovan Wham pointed out that they are also often overly tired, as they drive, at times, for 16 hours a day. “Under such conditions, accidents are bound to happen,” he tweeted.

/TISG

Read also: 2nd migrant worker injured in Apr 20 PIE lorry accident dies

2nd migrant worker injured in Apr 20 PIE lorry accident dies

 

Woman in US charged for embezzlement over failure to return videotape rented in 1999

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KUALA LUMPUR — An Oklahoma woman faced embezzlement charges after she failed to return a VHS tape purportedly rented by her in 1999.

Oklahoma’s Fox station reported that Caron McBride is a wanted woman for failing to return a video of sitcom Sabrina the Teenage Witch.

Documents seen by the American station showed that the tape was rented from a shop at Norman city that has since closed down.

McBride told the station that she first learned about the charges when she tried to change her name on her licence after getting married in Texas.

“I went to change my driver’s licence, during this Covid thing you had to make an appointment, and so, I sent them an email (and) they sent me an email and they told me… that I had an issue in Oklahoma and this was the reference number for me to call this number and I did,” McBride said.

McBride was then informed of the charges filed against her after calling the number, which was to the Cleveland County district attorney’s Office.

“She told me it was over the VHS tape and I had to make her repeat it because I thought, this is insane. This girl is kidding me, right? She wasn’t kidding,” she said.

Court papers showed McBride was charged with embezzlement of rented property in March 2000.

To make matters worse, McBride said she doesn’t remember renting the movie.

“I had lived with a young man. This was over 20 years ago. He had two kids, daughters that were eight, 10 or 11 years old, and I’m thinking he went and got it and didn’t take it back or something. I have never watched that show in my entire life, just not my cup of tea,” McBride said.

Looking back, McBride said she had been let go from several jobs without being given a reason why over the years.

“This is why because when they ran my criminal background check, all they’re seeing is those two words: Felony embezzlement,” McBride said.

Contacted by the station, the district attorney’s office said they decided to dismiss McBride’s case after reviewing it.

Taecyeon has a few surprises up his sleeve in Vincenzo

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Seoul — In Episode 18 of Vincenzo, the residents of Geumga Plaza are in danger. The drama revolves around Vincenzo Cassano (Song Joong Ki) who is an Italian lawyer and Mafia consigliere. He is of Korean descent but was adopted by an Italian family when he was young. Cassano returns to Korea because of a conflict within his organisation and he ends up crossing paths with sharp-tongued lawyer Hong Cha Young (Jeon Yeo Bin). They partner up to use villainous techniques to bring down villains who cannot be punished by law, according to Soompi.

Spoilers ahead. In the previous episode, Cassano started a game of chess to bring down every pawn that Jang Joon Woo (Taecyeon) relied on. Cassano threatens the villainous cartel by reducing to ruins their party to auction off floors of Babel Towel. However, there is a major plot twist when Jang Han Seo (Kwak Dong Yeon) betrays Cassano by aiming a gun at him. The new chairman of Babel then shoots Cassano.

Taecyeon plays Jang Joon Woo. Picture: Instagram

A few factors are considered as Cassano’s plan to overthrow Babel becomes complicated. The guillotine file meant to be used against Babel revealed endless accounts of other cartels involved. Han Seung Hyuk (Jo Han Chul) contacts Interpol to arrest Cassano once he becomes the head of the Southeast District Prosecutors’ Office.

Jang Han Seo then betrays Cassano after successfully returning to his position as chairman of Babel Group. There are more exciting developments in the upcoming episode, based on previews. Jang Jun Woo is seen wearing handcuffs while numerous directors look on. He wears a sly smile on his face despite this. As for the residents of Geumga Plaza, they appear to be in trouble.

A preview shows Hong Cha Young and Nam Joo Sung (Yoon Byung Hee) looking at something with shocked expressions while Seo Mi Ri (Kim Yoon Hye) clings to them in fright. Curiosity is mounting over the object of their surprise.

The drama’s production team commented, “Unpredictable developments will occur as the villains make choices for their own gain. Geumga Plaza will be in danger as those who are after the secret room and the guillotine file make an appearance. The story will be so captivating that it will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.”/TISG

Chloé Zhao is first Asian woman to win Best Director at Oscars

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Los Angeles — Director Chloé Zhao just made history at the Oscars 2021 as the first Asian woman to win the award for Best Director. The 39-year-old, also the first Asian woman to be nominated for the award, won the prize for Nomadland.

Zhao joins The Hurt Locker director Kathryn Bigelow as the only woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director.

Nomadand also won Best Picture at the 93rd Academy Awards.

Also, if you did not know, Zhao is the first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) director to win the Oscar for Best Director. Her next project, MCU’s Eternals, is set to release in November, reported Hype.my.

Chloé Zhao is the director for upcoming MCU film, Eternals. Picture: Instagram

Fans are expecting the trailer to air soon. As we celebrate the filmmaker’s historic win, Twitter user @women_direct pointed out that there are still Oscar categories never won by a woman “This is for anyone who has the faith and the courage to hold on to the goodness in each other, no matter how difficult it is to do that. And this is for you, you inspire me to keep going,” Zhao said in her acceptance speech.

Actress Sandra Oh and director Lulu Wang tweeted congratulating her shortly after Chloé Zhao gave her winning speech.

Born on March 31, 1982, Chloé Zhao is a Chinese filmmaker who is known primarily for her work in independent US films. Her debut feature film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me (2015), premiered at Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim and earned a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature.

Her second feature film, The Rider (2017), was praised by critics and received nominations for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Film and Best Director.

Zhao gained further success with Nomadland (2020), which attracted international recognition and won many awards, including Best Director at the Golden Globe Awards, Directors Guild of America Awards, Academy Awards, and British Academy Film Award, making Zhao the second woman and first Asian woman to win these prizes. The film also won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, and the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

 

/TISG

Man’s adorable Instagram challenge with ‘big sister’ may leave you saying aww

India — If you’re a regular on social media, you’ve probably come across netizens partaking in a fun challenge showing then and now pictures with their siblings, parents or friends while striking similar poses like the original photograph. Now, the huge pool of videos based on the challenge has received an adorable addition that may leave you saying aww repeatedly. Shared on Instagram by Rene Casselly, the clip shows him doing the challenge with his ‘big sister’ elephant Kimba.

“20 years challenge with my big sister,” reads the caption. The video starts with Casselly feeding Kimba a carrot. Kimba then raises her trunk and front leg to strike a pose as the scene transitions to a similar pose struck by the duo in their younger days. Isn’t that the most wholesome clip ever?

Take a look at the video:

Shared on April 26, the clip has garnered over 1.1 lakh views and several reactions. People couldn’t stop showering love for the sweet challenge. While some showered their love for Kimba the elephant others expressed how precious the clip was. Many simply shared heart emojis to show their appreciation for the video.

“My heart is full today,” wrote an Instagram user. “This won the Internet for the day, soo cute,” commented another. “The lovely bond between you two clearly shows,” pointed a third.

What ado you think of this adorable clip?