Singapore: Singapore has sent back 51 Indian star tortoises on a Singapore Airlines flight as they were illegally trafficked here as prized exotic pets. This is the largest number of Indian star tortoises, coveted for their star-patterned shells, to be repatriated from Singapore, The Straits Times reported on Tuesday. Their striking, intricate appearances make them an easy target for poachers, who are often part of organised crime rings that profit from animal trafficking. The lucky few saved are just a fraction of the estimated 10,000 to 20,000 taken from the wild to meet the global demand for exotic pets, according to the Singapore daily. AP
Superhero posters can trigger people to help others
Washington: Looking at posters of superheroes can trigger prosocial behaviours in people, encouraging them to lend a helping hand to others, a study has found. Superhero movies set inspirational moral examples for many people, but whether they encourage people to help a stranger or donate money is not known. The researchers exposed 245 individuals to common household pictures with either subtle superhero images-such as Spiderman and Superman-or neutral images. Participants primed with superhero images reported greater intentions to engage in prosocial behaviours. PTI
Sleeping pilot overflies Australian island destination
Melbourne: Airline officials say a pilot is under investigation after falling asleep in the cockpit of a freight plane and overflying his Australian island destination by 46 km. Airline Vortex Air says the pilot was the only person aboard the twin-propeller Piper PA-31 Navajo Chieftain and was flying on autopilot during the flight this month from Devonport city on Tasmania northwest to King Island in Bass Strait. The Melbourne-based airline said in a statement on Tuesday that the pilot ‘unintentionally fell asleep while in command of the aircraft’. It said: ‘The issue became apparent when air traffic control was unable to contact the pilot in-flight’. AP
After Khashoggi, Saudi prince looks to rebuild image
Dubai: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s first trip abroad since the killing of Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi will offer an early indication of the repercussions he faces from the gruesome slaying. The prince is visiting close allies in the Middle East before attending the Group of 20 summit in Argentina on November 30, where he will come face to face with President Donald Trump, who has defended US ties with the kingdom, as well as European leaders and Turkey’s president, who has kept pressure mounting on Riyadh since Khashoggi was killed and dismembered in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on October 2. AP
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