Malaysia's total trade expands by 25.6% to RM185.7b in March 2021
KUALA LUMPUR (April 28): Malaysia’s trade performance continued its upward trajectory in March 2021, registering the highest monthly value for trade, exports, and imports. "[Hence] trade, exports, imports, and trade surplus recorded double-digit growth for two consecutive months," he said in a statement on the country’s external trade performance for March 2021. For the first quarter of 2021 (1Q21), total trade grew 14.8% to RM505.65 billion compared with the corresponding period last year. Compared with February 2021, total trade, exports, imports and trade surplus grew by 18.1%, 19.8%, 15.9% and 35.1%, respectively. Comparing 1Q21 with 4Q20, total trade, exports and imports recorded an increase of 4.7%, 3.9% and 5.6%, respectively.
Source:The Edge Markets
April 28, 2021 05:37 UTC
Protect our children from 'period spot checks' and other harmful acts at school
Schools should be safe spaces for children and girls should not have to undergo the indignity of period spot checks, say activists. Period spots checks and other acts of sexual harassment and abuse, are serious violations of children’s bodies, privacy and safety, says Ellisha. “So, period spot checks and also inappropriate touch violates the bodily autonomy and bodily integrity of these schoolgirls. As an immediate measure, firstly the teachers who are currently carrying out period checks need to be identified, says Sivananthi. “Secondly, the Ministry of Education needs to put out an administrative order that these period checks must stop.
Source:The Star
April 28, 2021 01:52 UTC
Vaccine hoarding may backfire on rich nations as India reels
Now, they’re being forced to act as an explosive outbreak in India raises the risk of new virus mutations that could threaten the wider world. The moves show a growing realization that the vaccine nationalism many wealthy nations have embraced has the potential to backfire, prolonging the global pandemic. India’s variant -- a strain named B.1.617 -- is already raising alarms. But despite being home to the world’s largest vaccine industry, India’s immunization drive has slowed in recent weeks and many states are warning that their supplies have almost dried up. As the scale of India’s virus emergency rose to global prominence this week, the offers of aid and doses started to come.
Source:The Edge Markets
April 28, 2021 01:07 UTC
Free BM, English tuition classes for needy students
A TOTAL of 62 students from Section 17 and Kampung Baru Damansara in Petaling Jaya have enrolled for free online Bahasa Melayu and English tuition classes, courtesy of the Petaling Jaya MP’s service centre. Also present were YTL Foundation programme director Datuk Kathleen Chew Wai Lin and several volunteer teachers. Among them were retired airline senior manager Daud Abdul Kadir, 74, from Subang Jaya, retired agriculturist Billy Woo, 77, from Subang Jaya and retired human resources trainer Jaline Wellington, 67, from Kelana Jaya. “I came to know about the call for volunteer teachers and decided to sign up, since I have the time to do it, ” he said. Wellington said she had always loved teaching and got her Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages certificate after retirement.
Source:The Star
April 27, 2021 23:26 UTC
Neelofa and family fined RM60,000
PETALING JAYA: TV host and entrepreneur Neelofa has accepted the punishment against her and her husband over the Covid-19 violations “with an open heart”. Neelofa and her husband, also known as PU Riz, and their family members were issued with compounds amounting to RM60,000 for violating the Covid-19 SOP after the couple’s wedding event on March 27 revealed that guests were seated closely to one another without adhering to the physical distancing rule. Yesterday, Dang Wangi police chief ACP Mohamad Zainal Abdullah said the couple and their family members were issued compound notices under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease (Measures Within Infected Local Areas (No. Neelofa was slapped with a compound of RM20,000 for her wedding ceremony and breaching regulations on interstate travel. He said the images and footage uploaded on the couple’s social media platforms appeared to show breaches of the SOP.
Source:The Star
April 27, 2021 23:19 UTC
Catching up with Flo-Jo
FORMER national 400m runner Josephine Mary Singarayar is determined to fulfil goals in life and defy the odds with her mindset and strength. It was further cemented when she won two golds (400m and 800m) in the 1987 SEA Games in Jakarta, Indonesia. “My timing was good and I was the fastest among the 400m runners in the country. “I had the chance to meet Flo-Jo, ” referring to Florence Griffith Joyner, the fastest woman of all time. In 2015, Josephine was hired by the National Sports Council as the national elite coach.
Source:The Star
April 27, 2021 22:50 UTC
Hans says wrong mindset caused him to lose Games ticket
PETALING JAYA: National fencer Hans Yoong had the wrong mindset in his bid for a ticket to the Olympics in Japan. China’s Huang Mengkai, the Asian Games reigning champion, proved too strong in the final sweeping aside Hans 15-4 to grab the only ticket at stake to the Games. It was, nevertheless, a good learning experience for Hans. “After winning my semi-finals, I realised that the Olympic spot was within my grasp. “On a positive note, I think it’s safe to say I gave my all and this was a tremendous learning experience.”
Source:The Star
April 27, 2021 22:40 UTC
Indian shuttlers may not be able to compete in Malaysian Open
PETALING JAYA: The participation of 19 Indian shuttlers in the Malaysian Open from May 25-30 is in limbo following the Malaysian government’s decision to temporarily bar flights and travellers, to and from India, starting today. The women’s singles competition could also see reigning world champion P.V. There are also 10 doubles shuttlers bound for the Malaysian Open accounting for three main draw berths in the men’s doubles and two each in the women’s doubles and mixed doubles. In the singles competition, a country can qualify a maximum of two shuttlers if both are in the top 16. Saina sits 22nd in the women’s singles Olympic ranking while Sindhu is a shoo-in at seventh.
Source:The Star
April 27, 2021 22:37 UTC
Billionaire Arsenal owner won’t sell after breakaway fiasco
(April 28): American billionaire Stan Kroenke and his son Josh said they have no intention of selling Arsenal Football Club after fans reacted with anger to their plans to join an elite European league. “We remain 100% committed to Arsenal and are not selling any stake in the club,” Kroenke Sports & Entertainment said in a statement Tuesday. The uproar that erupted after the announcement had led to talk that some of the owners might consider selling their teams. If KSE would like to sell Arsenal I'd be happy to throw my hat in the ring. Arsenal fans have long complained about his ownership as the team slipped in the Premier League.
Source:The Edge Markets
April 27, 2021 19:07 UTC
Kelantan rojak seller gets RM50,000 compound, says stall closed, was cooking food for kids
PETALING JAYA: After a burger seller was slapped with a RM50,000 compound for extending his business hours, a rojak seller in Kota Baru now claims to have received a similar fine. Berita Harian reported Tuesday (April 27) that Mohd Azizi Mohd Nor, 42, had been issued the compound two days ago at Kampung Chekok Tengah. To even get RM100 every night selling rojak is hard because I am only operating in a kampung area. "This is the first time I've been issued a compound, but it was already RM50,000. Kelantan police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Shafien Mamat told the daily that the police would call back three stall operators, including the rojak seller, to be offered new compounds according to the stated guidelines.
Source:The Star
April 27, 2021 13:41 UTC
Fury as Delhi luxury hotel booked as COVID hospital for court staff
The Delhi High court denied it had sought such treatment, and said it would quash the order unless the government modifies it. We had only said if a judicial officer or a judge or their family is infected, they should get hospital admission," the high court said. The notice from the Delhi government had said a top city hospital would run the facility. "Its unthinkable that we as an institution will want any preferential treatment", the Delhi High Court said. "For sake of justice, integrity and faith in the judicial system, Delhi's high Court must quash the order," he said.
Source:The Star
April 27, 2021 12:43 UTC
Palm oil benchmark shoots past RM4,000
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) -- The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives rallied to post its biggest single-day gain and close at a 31-day high today, with the benchmark July contract hovering above the RM4,000 level. Singapore-based Palm Oil Analytics owner and co-founder Dr Sathia Varqa said the CPO futures buying was sparked by a surge in the related soybean oil, which hit limit-up to lock in a 3.59 per cent rise on the Chicago Board of Trade. "Palm oil was riding on the back of the gains in soybean oil today. Meanwhile, palm oil trader David Ng said the price rally was also influenced by higher demand and lower production which will reduce overall stock levels in the country. The physical CPO price for May South advanced by RM140 to RM4,480 per tonne -- BERNAMA TAGS: CPO, Futures, Dr Sathia Varqa, David Ng, Soybean oil, CBOT
Source:The Star
April 27, 2021 12:14 UTC
MercedesTrophy Golf Tournament returns
KUALA LUMPUR (April 27): Mercedes-Benz’s MercedesTrophy golf tournament has returned. In a statement, the German auto marque said the tournament is an exclusive international tournament series for Mercedes-Benz Malaysia customers who are golf enthusiasts. This year’s competition will have five qualifying rounds, the first of which will take place at the Palm Garden Golf Club, Putrajaya, on May 25. The top five winners of each round will then compete at the National Final, which will be held at the Saujana Golf and Country Club, Selangor on July 15. “The connection between Mercedes-Benz and golf is deep-rooted as we share the same passion for perfection.
Source:The Edge Markets
April 27, 2021 11:26 UTC
Dr M's ally says he was unlawfully detained to protect Najib
Khairuddin said his arrest had caused him to be detained at the Sungai Buloh prison. My rights as enshrined under the Federal Constitution were deeply affected and cannot be restored due to the defendants' actions,” he added. He also wants the government to pay his lawyers fees of RM795,000 for representing him from his arrest to the dropping of his charge two years later. Besides, Haniff, lawyers Abi Mursyidil Awal and Mohd Irzan Iswat also appeared for Khairuddin. Read also:1MDB critic’s lawyer says client owes RM795,000 for release from two-month Sosma detention
Source:The Edge Markets
April 27, 2021 10:07 UTC
Lesson learnt: Neelofa accepts RM20,000 compound with an 'open heart'
PETALING JAYA: TV host-entrepreneur Neelofa has, 'with an open heart', accepted the authorities' decision to issue compounds to her and her husband for violating Covid-19 preventive measures during her wedding ceremony and honeymoon. "I accept it with an open heart and will take the compound as a lesson to make sure that the interstate approval is properly used as agreed upon by authorities. Neelofa apologised to all parties for the incident as it had affected the livelihoods of others. Neelofa and her husband were issued with RM20,000 and RM10,000 compounds respectively while 20 of their relatives were issued compounds of RM1,500 each. He said the images and footage uploaded on the couple's social media platforms appeared to show breaches of standard operating procedures (SOP).
Source:The Star
April 27, 2021 07:30 UTC