Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine safe for primary schoolkids
Pfizer and BioNTech said on Sept 20 (2021) that clinical trial results showed their Covid-19 vaccine is safe and produces a robust immune response in children aged five to 11. “In participants five to 11 years of age, the vaccine was safe, well tolerated and showed robust neutralising antibody responses,” the companies said in a joint statement. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine received full, formal approval in the US in August (2021), and has therefore been technically available to younger children if prescribed by a doctor in that country. Pfizer and BioNTech are also trialling their vaccine on infants aged six months to two years, and on children aged two to five. All together, up to 4,500 children aged six months to 11 years have enrolled in the Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine trials in the US, Finland, Poland and Spain.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 04:52 UTC
Covid-19 Watch: 83.1% of Malaysia's adult population fully vaccinated
PETALING JAYA: A total of 19,481,273 individuals or 83.1% of the adult population in the country has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 as of Saturday (Sept 25). Based on the Health Ministry’s data on its CovidNow website, a total of 259,141 doses of the vaccine were administered on Saturday, 114,618 of which were for first-dose recipients and 144,523 others were second-dose recipients. So far, 93.6% of Malaysia's adult population or 21,923,560 people received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine as of Saturday. At the same time, 27,139 individuals aged 12 to 17 or 0.9% of the adolescent population in the country completed their Covid-19 vaccination as of Saturday. This brings the cumulative total of vaccine doses administered under the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme to 42,106,397.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 03:56 UTC
Dear Thelma: Neglected financially and emotionally, I have no love left
Email lifestyle@thestar.com.my or write to Dear Thelma, c/o StarLifestyle, Menara Star, 15, Jalan 16/11,46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. I really don’t understand why he treats me this way. Brokenhearted Dear Brokenhearted,To assess your position, I think you need to think from two positions: financial and happiness. You think your husband earns a good salary but he tells you that he has a lot of debt. And from your description of this man, I don't think asking him will be useful.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 03:22 UTC
Malaysia only seeking China's views on Aukus, says Hishammuddin
JOHOR BAHRU (Bernama): The government's move to get in touch with China on the formation of the new Aukus trilateral security pact comprising the United States, United Kingdom and Australia is merely to get the country’s stand on the issue, says Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein. Refuting allegations from the Opposition that Malaysia was ‘receiving instructions’ from China, the Defence Minister said it was not wrong for Malaysia to find out China’s views and its possible response to the matter. Hishammuddin was asked to comment on a recent statement from the Opposition that Malaysia should remain neutral and not lean towards any world superpower, especially over the Aukus issue. The Sembrong MP explained that having good ties with China did not mean that Malaysia would compromise its sovereignty and stance. "The strength Malaysia has (is) that we are close to these two superpowers (US and China) and our relationship is (based on) mutual respect between the US and China, and they respect our stand," he said.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 02:37 UTC
Sali Kecil, a shining exemplar of preserving nature amid limitations
The local fisheries office had urged villagers to protect Sali Kecil Island’s coral reefs, as they hold vast potential. The beauty of Sali Kecil Island is alluring. The sight of deer descending to the coast and drinking seawater before sunset is not unusual for the residents of Sali Kecil Village. LimitationsNatural resources and ecosystems still being maintained is certainly a blessing for the people of Sali Kecil Village. To avail health services, they have to cross the sea by boat to the nearest big island, Bacan Island.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 02:26 UTC
Climate change is the front-page story of the rest of our lives
Tens of thousands of people in the last few years around the world have lost their homes and their loved ones to global warming. Like it or not, climate change will be the front-page story for the rest of our lives. Smaller, start-up news companies have formed to focus solely on the science, politics, and business of global warming. After 40 years in major newsrooms around the world, I’ve even started my own newsletter, Callaway Climate Insights, to focus on investing in climate solutions, from electric vehicles to off-shore wind. — Callaway Climate InsightsDavid Callaway is founder of Callaway Climate Insights, a former editor of USA Today, and former president of the World Editors Forum.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 01:18 UTC
Killing the balls softly
I personally worry about the radiation emitted by the handphones and laptops are slowly killing my sperms. Of course, I will change my lifestyle to enhance the gametes, but I am keen to put Dr. G on the spot to debunk the facts and fiction that are killing my balls softly. Hot tubs and saunas are documented to increase testicular temperature resulting in reciprocal impairment of sperm quality. The reality is the obesity, smoking, alcohol, and stress have more impact in killing the sperms fast than modern gadgets. The Irish playwright famed for his melodramas, Dion Boucicault once said: “Men talk of killing time, while time is quietly killing them”.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 00:56 UTC
Electric cars have significantly higher repair costs, research shows
Although government subsidies can sometimes reduce the cost, electric cars are by and large more expensive than petrol or diesel cars – at least when considering the cost to your savings, not the environment. A study by the Allianz insurance company has shown that electric cars have higher repair costs on average than combustion engines. While electric cars do not sustain more damage on average than cars with petrol or diesel engines, the repairs are nevertheless typically more expensive, the insurance company has found. The average claims expenditure for fully comprehensive insurance is 10% higher for purely electric cars, and even 50% higher for plug-in hybrids, according to Allianz. After collisions, the repair costs of pure electric cars are on average 30% more expensive.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 00:56 UTC
Solving the citizenship limbo
The government has said it aims to amend the Federal Constitution to provide Malaysian women the same right in passing citizenship to their children born overseas. Bina notes that the High Court accorded Malaysian mothers a much-needed remedy, after years of being put into precarious situations due to the unequal citizenship law. “However, until the Federal Constitution is amended, it is the safest decision to make to ensure your child’s Malaysian citizenship,” Tan urges. Tan says while one High Court decision does not bind other High Courts to make the same decision in similar circumstances, it is a good start. This included Malaysian mothers as a condition for children born abroad to be given automatic Malaysian citizenship.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 00:26 UTC
‘No more inequality please’
These are some of the frustrations Malaysian women had to bear with due to the present law that does not allow them to confer Malaysian citizenship to their children born overseas. This, however, does not apply to Malaysian men, who can extend citizenship to their children born to foreign spouses abroad. The government is now working towards solving this inequality, with proposals to amend the Federal Constitution in future. In effect, she says the High Court’s ruling means that a child born to any Malaysian is a Malaysian. “It should be no different for Malaysian women,” she says.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 00:26 UTC
Form Six sponsorship
Application deadline: Sept 30> The Yu Cai Foundation (YCF) sponsorship amount per scholar: Up to RM3,000. > Applicants should not concurrently hold any other scholarships, sponsorships, bursaries or study loans during the sponsorship period. > The sponsorship will not be considered for more than one member of the same family in the same year unless circumstances exist to warrant an exception. > Immediate family members of YCF Board of Trustees, the Awards Committee Members, and YCF corporate secretaries or treasurers will not be considered. Online application form: ycf.org.my/programmes/form6-sponsorshipDetails: facebook.com/yucaifoundationNote: Upon completing the online application, all hardcopy documents (certified true copy) must be couriered to the address provided in the application form by Oct 3 via PosLaju.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 00:14 UTC
Four M’sians win STEM scholarships
FOUR Malaysians have won the prestigious British Council global Women in STEM scholarships. Many of the winners, the British Council said, will be pursuing their academic ambitions in STEM at a UK university for the first time. “We also believe these women will act as role models to the next generation of female scientists,” said British Council Malaysia director Jazreel Goh. The British Council said the scholarship is awarded to women with backgrounds in STEM, who could demonstrate their need for financial support, and who wish to inspire future generations of women to pursue careers in STEM. The second round of the Women in STEM scholarship programme for 2021-2022 will continue this year.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 00:11 UTC
Foreigner held for work permit forgery
KUALA LUMPUR: A Bangladeshi owner of two clothing factories and two other premises has been detained along with 45 foreign workers in several raids in Ampang over the forgery of work permits. Immigration officers and personnel raided the clothing factories and the premises owned by the 46-year-old Bangladeshi man on Thursday. “Some of them even have the forged PLKS, produced by the ID-Hack syndicate,” he said. Various items, including cash from clothing sales, company documents, and several vehicle certificates registered under the suspect’s company were also seized. “We will step up efforts to track down the remaining work permits issued by the ID-Hack syndicate,” he said.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 00:11 UTC
IGP: Limit call is traffic chief’s personal opinion
KUALA LUMPUR: The call to limit the issuance of Motor Vehicle Licences to senior citizens is the personal opinion of Bukit Aman Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department (JSPT) director Comm Datuk Azisman Alias. Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani said the suggestion was the personal view of Comm Azisman. JSPT, which is involved in ensuring the safety of roads, is always looking at measures to increase road safety for the benefit of the people,” he said in a statement yesterday. On Friday, Comm Azisman proposed that the government limit the issuance of Motor Vehicle Licences to senior citizens as their health conditions could contribute to road accidents. He also suggested that senior citizens do medical check-ups and get approval from doctors to ascertain that they were fit to drive.
Source:The Star
September 26, 2021 00:11 UTC
Low can’t wait to Goh on a high again with new partner
PETALING JAYA: Independent shuttler Low Juan Shen can’t wait to get cracking again with new partner Goh V Shem on the international stage. The 27-year-old’s excitement is understandable considering that he had gone through a rough patch last year – from losing sponsors to succumbing to injury. Juan Shen said he had to make a hard decision to discontinue his partnership with Azriyn when an opportunity to team up with V Shem came calling. “But I felt that it was a great opportunity to try out with V Shem. The goal for now is to play well in the first few tournaments and put ourselves in a good position in the world ranking first.”
Source:The Star
September 25, 2021 22:18 UTC