TikTok mutes more anti-Putin content as Kremlin targets critics
Mikhail Petrov’s TikTok posts started going viral this year when he tapped into growing discontent in Russia with bite-sized explanations of the country’s budding protest movement. It has even won praise from Russian officials who say it’s more willing than some other companies to remove content. The amount of critical content has declined as TikTok uses bans to weed out undesirable posts, the person said. ‘Extremist’ banThe social media crackdown is part of a broader push to quell dissent in Russia. Access to Twitter was slowed until mid-May for failing to remove content Russia’s Internet watchdog says is illegal, while Google is facing an antitrust investigation over YouTube.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 08:26 UTC
No upper age limit on e-hailing drivers set by Transport Ministry, says Dr Wee
PETALING JAYA: There is no maximum age limit fixed for e-hailing drivers under the Transport Ministry, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. Dr Wee said the maximum age set by Grab as reported was an internal ruling as part of its own condition to register an individual as an e-hailing driver. "Taking into consideration the issue of hardship faced by the public as a result of this Covid-19 pandemic, I hope e-hailing service operators across the country including Grab can from time to time review the internal conditions they set for e-hailing drivers, including the maximum age limit. "This is to help all those who are involved to be able to continue their livelihood working as e-hailing drivers," he added. "At the same time, e-hailing drivers must also be responsible by ensuring that their health is in good condition at all times.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 07:15 UTC
McCullum to overhaul top-order to revive Kolkata's IPL campaign
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Kolkata Knight Riders coach Brendon McCullum criticised the top-order's slow batting in Thursday's defeat against Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and said changes were likely in the team to revive their campaign. Delhi opener Prithvi Shaw smashed 82 off 41 balls to set the tone for his team's seven-wicket victory with 21 balls remaining. "It's very, very disappointing," McCullum said after two-time champions Kolkata slumped to their fifth defeat in seven matches. "What we saw from Prithvi Shaw was the perfect template of how we want to play. "It's very difficult if you don't play shots to score runs, and unfortunately we didn't play enough shots.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 05:03 UTC
The Archbishop and the boiling of frogs
What the Archbishop was actually talking about was a sentiment that minority rights were slowly being eroded in Malaysia. And the slow boiling is meant to represent a slow process of change that is happening, which the Archbishop believes is happening to these minorities. For the benefit of those who don’t eat frogs, I have to tell you, if you throw a frog into boiling water, it will jump out straight away. The first was the title of the video, which was (in Bahasa Malaysia) “The 25-year Christian project in Malaysia: Boil Muslims like boiling frogs”, with the Archbishop’s name and face. Saying the Archbishop’s words were ‘taken out of context’ semantically implies that the Archbishop actually said he wanted to boil Muslims.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 04:18 UTC
EXCLUSIVE: 'That Penang laksa is fantastic' says 'Mortal Kombat' star Chin Han
Just before StarLifestyle is about to be linked virtually with actor Chin Han for an exclusive video interview, the publicist in the United States informs us that his name must be pronounced together and not separately. We nod understanding the request as Chin Han is Singaporean, and that neither Chin nor Han is his surname.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 03:56 UTC
Solskjaer hopes to convince Cavani to extend Man Utd stay
(Reuters) - Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he would do everything in his power to try and convince striker Edinson Cavani to stay at the club for another season. Solskjaer hopes the prospect of playing in front of supporters at Old Trafford can convince the 34-year-old to remain in Manchester. "I've promised him Old Trafford and Manchester is a different place with fans in it," Solskjaer said. He's a goalscorer and there's nothing better than celebrating in front of them." United, who are second in the Premier League standings with 67 points from 33 games, host Liverpool on Sunday.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 03:14 UTC
Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri's new novel is very novel
Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri is back with what is sure to be one of the more unique "novels” of the year. Readers can debate in book clubs whether it’s a novel in the traditional sense, but it sure is novel in the original sense. Still, the prose is sparse and lyrical and the journey is enjoyable, wandering through an anonymous life, seeing things through one person’s eyes. At one point the narrator becomes as voyeuristic as her readers, following a stranger on the street and asking herself,"What’s her face like? Some literary critics will love this novel novel even as some readers scratch their heads.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 02:02 UTC
Giuliani says Feds raided his iCloud as well as apartment
(April 30): Rudy Giuliani said federal investigators seized material from his iCloud while he was representing former President Donald Trump during his impeachment. Giuliani appeared on Fox News a day after federal agents raided his Manhattan home and office. ”The prosecutors in the Justice Department spied on me,” Giuliani said on Tucker Carlson’s show. Senior Justice Department officials under the new administration didn’t block the warrant, the person said. Even as he was acting as Trump’s personal attorney, Giuliani was also maintaining a private consulting business that sold services to foreign leaders.
Source:The Edge Markets
April 30, 2021 01:52 UTC
High time to discard inappropriate rules
The reports reminded me of some of the highly inappropriate rules and regulations enforced at my high school in Ipoh, which I left in 2006. Don’t get me wrong; I loved the school and I think it shaped me to become the person I am today. But I knew even when I was a student that some of the rules were inappropriate and should never have been drawn up, much less enforced! The school’s rule book specified the colour of the undergarments a student could wear to school. I sincerely hope these rules are things of the past and that girls are now being told to speak up against acts that are unjust towards them.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 00:33 UTC
Request for patent still waiting to be processed
I SUBMITTED an application for patent for two of my innovations to the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) in 2016. Till today, I have not received the patent yet. I filed the patent application for my innovations in Malaysia mainly because of the International Regulations Requirements, which state that initial filing must be made at the country of origin. I have already received the patent right from the United States, European Union, and Germany (with China pending) for one of my innovations. MyIPO has collected a lot of money from me in the process of filing and renewal fees.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 00:33 UTC
Speaking up for our children
In speaking up against “period spot checks” and other forms of sexual harassment and abuses, comments have emerged that this is not newsworthy, or that politicians are politicising this issue. In speaking up for the voiceless, society is educating and empowering children of their rights and dignity, and preventing them from growing up into misguidedly believing that sexual harassment is acceptable. Political parties across the aisle have spoken against the abhorrent practice of menstruation checks. To be fair to Mara, I have been told that it does not have a policy on menstruation spot checks. With universal condemnation of the period spot checks issue, it is incumbent for the authorities to stop it permanently, pronto!
Source:The Star
April 29, 2021 23:48 UTC
Experts back setting up of river basin authority
PETALING JAYA: Setting up a river basin authority would be a good way forward to sustainably manage important river basins in the country, experts say. Dr Zaki said a river basin authority must have representatives from all stakeholder states to be effective. Global Environment Centre river care programme manager Dr Kalithasan Kailasam said setting up an authority for a specific river basin was a good way moving forward. “Hopefully, the proposed river basin authority will get the full support and commitment from both state governments. He foresees more disputes between states over river water resources, especially with sources of “clear” raw water is reducing due to climate change.
Source:The Star
April 29, 2021 23:26 UTC
Over 3,000 firms under probe
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 3,000 companies are being investigated by the Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) for allegedly rigging tenders worth a total of about RM5.8bil. “The companies are related to many types of products and services including agricultural, services, construction, technology and infrastructure, ” said MyCC chief executive officer Iskandar Ismail (pic). He said the complainants consisted of government agencies, members of the public and anonymous parties. MyCC has the power to investigate and punish bid-rigging activities by cartels under Section 4 of the Competition Act 2010. Around 150 companies were used in rotation to win tenders or quotations issued by ministries and government agencies.
Source:The Star
April 29, 2021 23:15 UTC
Support for new scoring system soaring after backing of two more Asian nations
PETALING JAYA: The support for the new badminton scoring system is growing by the day. Two more Asian countries – South Korea and Taiwan – have thrown in their backing for the 11-point, best-of-five (11x5) proposal ahead of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) annual general meeting on May 22. Earlier, All-Indonesia Badminton Association (PBSI) and the Badminton Association of Maldives had proposed for the change. These are crucial signs suggesting that the Asian countries, a dominant force in the sport, are finally game for a change as they were previously opposed to it. A total of 129 voted for the change while 123, mostly Asian countries, wanted the present 21-point, best-of-three format, which came in force since 2006, to remain.
Source:The Star
April 29, 2021 23:00 UTC
Kisona draws danger as Olympic champ Marin looms early
58 Ksenia Polikarpova of Israel in the first round and a win will likely pit her against reigning Olympic champion Marin next. The Philippines SEA Games gold medallist can count herself unlucky, considering three-time world champion Marin is the only highly-ranked star in the 32-player field. Marin is the favourite to win the Spain Masters, which is held for the first time at the Carolina Marin Sports Palace in her hometown Huelva. 1 Saina Nehwal and reigning world champion P. V. Sindhu in the first round and last 16 of the Thailand Open I and Thailand Open II in January. 121 Goh Jin Wei, the other Malaysian in the fray, didn’t get an easy draw either.
Source:The Star
April 29, 2021 23:00 UTC