Athletics-'Devastated' Houlihan maintains innocence after four-year doping ban
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Shelby Houlihan said on Monday she had received a four-year ban for testing positive to an anabolic steroid but the American record-holder in the 1,500m and 5,000m denied she had knowingly taken a prohibited substance. WADA and USA Track and Field did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "I feel completely devastated, lost, broken, angry, confused and betrayed by the very sport that I’ve loved and poured myself into," she wrote. Four-time Olympian Shalane Flanagan, who coaches at Houlihan's Bowerman Track Club, wrote on social media: "We are living a nightmare that we can't seem to wake up from. "If this is where the sport I love is headed, then I don’t know if I can continue to be part of it," wrote Flanagan.
Source:The Star
June 15, 2021 02:52 UTC
Non-Malay vice-chancellors in public universities will reflect us as a multiracial nation
I READ with much empathy the letter “Appoint non-Malays as university vice-chancellors” by Datuk Seri Azman Ujang (The Star, June 12, 2021). However, I want to add that any non-Malay academicians appointed as vice-chancellors must be through their own merits and not because of ethnicity. But I am sure there are many qualified for the posts, as some of them have been appointed as vice-chancellors of renowned universities overseas. My friend also forwarded to me Mr Lau’s touching message: “I am nostalgic of the time when schools had many non-Malay teachers teaching Malay students. Datuk Seri Azman’s proposal to have non-Malay vice-chancellors in our public universities will not only reflect us as a multiracial nation but will also open the minds of staff and students in education institutions.
Source:The Star
June 15, 2021 02:30 UTC
The European Union and Asean are natural partners and have a common agenda
As the EU, we are well aware that the global centre of gravity is shifting towards the Indo-Pacific region. The Indo-Pacific region is the future, but the present is just as important. Asean is the nucleus around which inclusive forms of regional cooperation are built, and regional integration is a way to safeguard our respective “strategic autonomy”. We are also exploring options to enhance the EU’s maritime presence in the vast Indo-Pacific space. The EU’s message is clear: we want to do more with Asean, in South-East Asia and in the wider region.
Source:The Star
June 15, 2021 00:51 UTC
Siblings on a mission to spread virus SOP awareness
One of the brothers, Yan Jia Ren, said they wanted to spread awareness about the SOPs and urge people to register for the vaccination. After obtaining a police permit, the siblings bought amplifiers and started broadcasting their song five hours a day while driving across town. Jia Ren’s sister Jia Hui recalled that while some of the elderly folk would give them the thumbs up when they heard their song playing, they were not wearing face masks. The siblings, all of whom work in the insurance industry, said they hoped that the residents would start taking the SOPs seriously to keep the pandemic at bay. The 32-year-old was recently seen sharing a ride in a eight million yuan (RM5.14mil) luxury vehicle with a mystery man.
Source:The Star
June 15, 2021 00:11 UTC
Flashback #Star50: Helmets from today
CLICK TO ENLARGEWEARING a helmet is the most natural, automatic thing to do for motorcyclists these days. So it’s fascinating to know that it’s been almost five decades since the law compelling riders to wear helmets came into force. This page one of The Star on Feb 15, 1975 carried a photo of how motorcyclists used to be without helmets back then.
Source:The Star
June 15, 2021 00:00 UTC
Malaysian woman goes on a sweet cultural exchange in Telangana, India
Thogarrai is a small village in Karimnagar, one of the districts in Telangana state in India. We walked to Jagadeesh’s house where his family was hosting a pre-wedding feast. At the house, Jagadeesh’s sister-in-law welcomed me. Then, two other women took turns to pound the grains. Within seconds, the small room was filled with more sounds and movements than it could contain.
Source:The Star
June 15, 2021 00:00 UTC
Vulnerable elderly people are being overlooked
Thereafter, I received another appointment on June 19 – again in Kulai and subject to the same status! Despite correcting my address online and via the app’s hotline, I am still getting an out-of-state PPV. Something is definitely wrong with the app as I do not seem to have the latest vaccination status with details of address, link for changing location, etc. Why can’t the authorities allow for walk-ins at PPVs for seniors who have problems with online registration? At this rate, many vulnerable elderly people will be overlooked in favour of (digital- savvy) youngsters.
Source:The Star
June 14, 2021 23:48 UTC
Continuity of care essential for good health outcomes
The narrative of neglect, or a lack of continuity of care, of patients discharged from a hospital has been a faultline in our healthcare services, be they public or private, for decades. How many discharged patients in the country fall into this category of a lack of continued care is anyone’s guess. In addition, an advisory from the state medical director that is endorsed by the state government and sent to hospitals and adun offices would help. In this respect, and relating to our healthcare services, we in Malaysia must grasp this opportunity to correct this lack of continuity in care. Far too long our medical services have focused on institutional care – hospitals and clinics – disregarding the fact that medical care can be given in the community and even in homes, and that continuity of care, or seamless care, is essential for good outcomes.
Source:The Star
June 14, 2021 23:48 UTC
Jobless in Melaka, he takes to begging at night
MELAKA: A homeless man here has been “scaring” motorists at night by sitting on pavements in the deserted historic town as he begs for money. Mohd Zahari, who sits on the kerbside after 8pm during the current lockdown, is hoping that motorists will stop and give him money. Motorists, he said, would often stop first to check if his silhouette was that of a human. Mohd Zahari said when he tried to beg in the daytime, he often got told off by people. “I got bullied when I tried to solicit money and food by sitting at the entrances of banks in the morning.
Source:The Star
June 14, 2021 23:38 UTC
Pregnant mum dispels fear of getting vaccinated
But after doing some reading and getting advice from doctors she was more confident and was ready for the first shot. “And my husband was required to work offshore,” said Nur Amalina, whose second dose is scheduled on July 3. “When I became the three millionth vaccine recipient, I was very grateful because God knew my intention and saw my efforts,” she said. Nur Amalina advises the public, as well as pregnant mothers, to take the vaccine as the benefits far outweigh the risks. On Saturday, the Covid-19 Vaccine Supply Access Guarantee Special Committee via its official Twitter account announced Nur Amalina as the three millionth vaccine recipient through the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
Source:The Star
June 14, 2021 23:32 UTC
‘Foundation should be rebranded to propel growth’
JICCI secretary-general Datuk K. Krishnan said instead of depending on government funds, the foundation should source for income through business projects or seek for donations. He added that it was important for the task force to meet to settle outstanding issues plaguing the state’s Indian community. He said JICCI previously had representatives in Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), Central Johor Municipal Council [now known as Iskandar Puteri City Council (MBIP)] and Pasir Gudang City Council (MBPG). He added that having JICCI representatives in a local council would allow for direct interaction and feedback from the business community on plans being carried out. Krishnan said the pandemic had caused a lot of hardship on Johor’s business community and there should be plans on how to assist them to get back on their feet post-pandemic.
Source:The Star
June 14, 2021 23:20 UTC
It takes a village, says M’sian-born Pulitzer winner
PETALING JAYA: Reporting on the Covid-19 pandemic was the most fulfilling and difficult challenge of his professional life, says Malaysian-born science journalist Ed Yong, who won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize. “I did my best to give our readers a stable platform from which to make sense of a crisis that defied sense. The 2021 Pulitzer Prizes were awarded for work during the 2020 calendar year. The awards highlighted coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic, racial unrest, and other major issues in the United States that year. I want to honour mine, ” said Yong, who has won countless other awards for his reporting.
Source:The Star
June 14, 2021 23:16 UTC
Singapore’s Gen-Z borrowing too freely, central bank worries
The growing popularity of BNPL services among young Singaporeans is unnerving regulators and politicians who fear BNPL apps prey on 20-somethings who may be financially naive. “People want to have the latest fashion and look like they’re on trend,” Anton Ruddenklau, partner and head of financial services at KPMG LLP in Singapore said. The regulator will consider measures such as verifying BNPL users’ incomes and creating a centralized system to check on advances taken between credit cards and BNPL platforms. In the meantime, the central bank is counting on its media blitz to have an impact. The regulator has worked with an online youth magazine to highlight the risks of overspending via BNPL services.
Source:The Edge Markets
June 14, 2021 23:03 UTC
Culture and the arts under threat
It is a sad day for culture and the arts. I learned a lot from my days watching Bangsawan and Chinese opera in my kampung back in the 1960s and early 1970s. One in particular, Dewan Budaya, is a specialised magazine on culture and the arts. Culture and the arts are part of our jati diri (character building). Johan Jaaffar is a journalist and the author of Jejak Seni: Dari Pentas Bangsawan Ke Media Prima Berhad, an autobiography of his involvement in culture and the arts.
Source:The Star
June 14, 2021 22:41 UTC
‘Only buy what you need to curb wastage’
“But, so far, I think my wastage has been quite minimum becauseI quickly cook whatever that looks like it’s going to rot,” she said. To avoid food wastage, nutritionists have advised Malaysians to only purchase food that they need. “For soft food, it should be thrown out once there is mould. This is because mould can spread in soft food,” she said. Indulgent food such as ice-cream and sweets will take up fridge space so buy less of it,” he said.
Source:The Star
June 14, 2021 22:30 UTC