Indian court acquits magazine editor of rape charges
Tarun Tejpal, 58, led Tehelka magazine which made a name for itself for its exposes of corruption and abuse of power in high places. Police said he assaulted a female staffer in a hotel elevator during a conference in the coastal state of Goa in 2013. Special Public Prosecutor Francisco Tavora told Reuters in a text message that a Goa trial court had acquitted Tejpal and the prosecution planned to appeal. Tejpal said he had been falsely accused of sexual assault by his colleague and that his family went through a difficult period. The complainant cannot be identified under Indian law and no comment was immediately available from her or her lawyers.
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 06:41 UTC
Former SMG chief telephonist passes away
Better known as Selvi, the former chief telephonist of the company died on Wednesday (May 19) at Sungai Buloh Hospital from Covid-19. Born and bred in Kuala Lumpur, Selvi joined The Star in January 1996 as a telephone operator. She was promoted to the position of chief telephone operator in January 2000. SMG chief content officer Esther Ng said Selvi was a person who could make you smile every time she answered your call. Assistant chief telephonist Richard Felix Pereira said he would always remember Selvi for being kind, compassionate and taking on the responsibility of those under her guidance.
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 05:03 UTC
My Say: Your business is part of an expanding metaverse
Big data analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) are some of the current computerised tools used today to gather business intelligence that can help decision makers make more informed business decisions and turn them into actionable items with higher rates of success. Hence the creation of the Offspring online store which, among others, enables the transformation of analogue data to digitised data. Digital behaviours on digital platforms are a lot more fluid on how the data translates into business intelligence for actionable marketing tactics. There are unlimited possibilities in harnessing digitised data to provide critical business intelligence with speed, accuracy and efficiency. Whether you like it or not, your business is part of an expanding metaverse.
Source:The Edge Markets
May 21, 2021 04:18 UTC
Jakarta to take on Brisbane in bid to host 2032 Olympics
9/2021 on the establishment of the Indonesia Bid Committee for the Olympic Games (INABCOG), a sign of its seriousness about becoming the first Olympics host from Southeast Asia. Knowing full well that opportunities to promote Indonesia’s 2032 bid are shrinking, Okto said his team would be using other means to raise awareness among contenders. When asked about the risk of possibly facing something similar to the Covid-19 outbreak for its 2032 bid, Okto said he was already looking into contingency plans. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo announced Indonesia’s intention to host the 2032 Olympics on the margins of its successful hosting of the 2018 Asian Games. The Indonesia NOC is currently deciding names to be included in the INABCOG task force who could help strengthen the country’s 2032 bid.
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 04:07 UTC
5 types of wood perfect for sculpting and carving
Photo: Noel Yung"There are many types of carving such as chip carving, relief carving and whittling. It is vital to find the right type of wood for different purposes whether for sculpting, making musical instruments and tree carving (small functional handmade items), ” he said. “I always consult my regular hardware supplier for the best types of wood for carving. They are well-versed and will be able to identify some of the best wood for different purposes.”Here are Wong’s top five recommendations for wood used for carving. KasahThis white wood is also known as narikel wood in India and white tulip oak in Papua New Guinea.
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 03:56 UTC
Police haul up Yong Chee Kong in vaccine donation probe
KOTA KINABALU: The mysterious Yong Chee Kong, the person said to have made the offer to donate two million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to Penang, has been hauled up by police for questioning. Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hazani Ghazali confirmed that police were investigating the case involving the alleged donation of vaccines to the Penang government. Yong became the focus of attention when Khairy Jamaluddin, minister in charge of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, said that the offer by a private company of two million free doses of Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine for Penang was a scam. He said the Penang government then took up his offer and helped him draft a letter offering the donation. Yong also said that the letter wrongly named the company as Xintai Development Enterprise Ltd instead of Xintai Enterprise Development Ltd.Each dose of the Sinovac vaccine costs US$30 (about RM120), and the two million doses would have cost about RM240mil.
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 03:34 UTC
Asian markets mixed as inflation, recovery vie for attention
HONG KONG (AFP): Asian markets fluctuated Friday (May 21) as investors battled to track a rally on Wall Street that came in response to another positive read on US jobless claims, while sentiment continues to be driven by inflation fears and optimism over the economic recovery. "The jobless claims read shows once again that we're heading in the right direction, but we're a ways away from where we were pre-pandemic." In early Asian trade, Tokyo, Singapore, Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta were up, though Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul and Manila dipped. The European Union has talked up hopes negotiations involving Russia, China and the United States can succeed. Iran has said discussions are moving in the right direction, while a US official said they were "positive and we saw meaningful progress".
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 03:32 UTC
Get vaccinated, save lives
Yes, being vaccinated does not mean that the risk of getting Covid-19 is gone. However, we cannot deny that getting vaccinated is absolutely crucial in the greater scheme of things. Even the US CDC says that "the best Covid-19 vaccine is the first one that is available to you". This light-hearted jibe, however, carries an important message: By sharing our experience, we instil confidence in others to get vaccinated. After getting vaccinated, we scanned our MySejahtera app again to confirm the vaccination dose had been administered and then headed for observation downstairs.
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 03:22 UTC
Drones to digital: Asia, Africa find ways to plug Covid health gaps
On Friday, G20 countries, health organisations and other experts will meet for an online summit to share lessons from the pandemic and brainstorm on how to bolster health systems. Rapid responseAcross Asia, Africa and Latin America, many social enterprises are working at a grassroots level, using everything from rickshaws to drones to deliver medical supplies to poorer communities. CEO Saskia Bruysten said social enterprises were often better placed than the government to respond fast in a crisis because they already worked with the most vulnerable. Social enterprises are also collaborating with governments and businesses. They also installed apps in hospital intensive care units treating Covid patients, allowing junior doctors to get immediate advice from critical care experts based elsewhere.
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 03:00 UTC
UNICEF-UNFPA report highlights precarious plight of Malaysia's urban poor
Low-income families need more sustained and reliable support in order to fully recover from the effects of the pandemic. Throughout 2020 and 2021, the study surveyed 500 low-income families with children living in low-cost PPR flats within Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. “Studies show that the biggest determinant of health, including mental health is economy. Dr Muhammed says that these low-income families also demonstrated a remarkable care for their community. “Also, more than online education or virtual co-curricular activities and classes, what is needed is mental health awareness and emotional resilience.
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 02:01 UTC
Quick take: EKA Noodles plunges 81% on delisting risk
KUALA LUMPUR: Shares in Eka Noodles Bhd plunged over 81% on possible delisting and trade suspension from May 31. Trading of EKA Noodles Bhd will be suspended from May 31, after Bursa Malaysia Securities rejected its application for a further extension of time to submit its revised proposed regularisation plan. Following the suspension, EKA will be delisted on June 2, unless an appeal against the delisting is submitted before May 28. “However, Bursa Securities shall proceed to suspend the trading of the Company’s securities on My 31 even though the decision of the company’s appeal is still pending,” it said. In the event of delisting, Eka Noodles will continue to exist but as an unlisted entity.
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 01:37 UTC
Vaccination topic can create friction in some families
PETALING JAYA: For some families, any talk about Covid-19 vaccine is a hot potato. “I told my dad first and then my mum but they both gave me the same answer. “I’m not sure if they are being influenced by anyone because all they say is ‘let the others go first’. “She didn’t want to, saying that the development of the vaccine was still new and the side effects were unknown. Hariz admitted that their different views on vaccination had caused a rift in the family because he was so vocal about the matter.
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 00:45 UTC
Tribute to artist lost to Covid-19
FAMILY members and friends of the late artist Nasir Nadzir shared memories of him during a posthumous exhibition of his best artworks. Nasir passed away on Jan 24 due to complications arising from Covid-19. “Unfortunately, he left us before we could put it together.”But Tan and Nasir’s friends were determined to fulfil his dream. Nasir channelled his talent to drawing wildlife, producing incredibly detailed sketches and paintings of animals in their natural surroundings. The artist had drawn the face of a monkey but its body remains rough pencil sketches, raising the question of what might have been.
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 00:28 UTC
Delivering joyful surprises across the miles
Being physically apart under the movement control order has not stopped people from maintaining ties with their loved ones. Apart from using technology to bridge the distance, many have turned to delivery services to surprise friends and family with gifts. S.A. Letchumy, 30, started adelivery business about 10 months ago after losing her job as a technician in Singapore following the closure of the international border. Bakery employee Nur Farrah Hanisah Jaffar, 25, said they started providing a delivery service since March this year following requests from customers. “The orders increased significantly after the nationwide movement control order was implemented.
Source:The Star
May 21, 2021 00:11 UTC
Tide in Jinq En’s favour as she meets qualifying standard
The 23-year-old met the Olympic Selection Time (OST) of 1:09.08 in taking fifth place in the women’s 100m breaststroke final in the TYR Pro Swim Series in Indianapolis, the United States. Jinq En swam the fourth fastest time of 1:09.26 in the preliminaries earlier to qualify for the elite final field on Wednesday. So her best hope to make a second straight Olympics appearance lies in the 100m breaststroke event. Weighing in Jing En’s favour is the fact that she is the only Malaysian female swimmer to achieve Olympics qualifying standard. Those already assured of Tokyo tickets are those who came through the Olympic Qualifying Time (OQT) with a cut of time of 1:07.07.
Source:The Star
May 20, 2021 23:22 UTC