QuickCheck: Did Malaysia’s first female Cabinet minister start Women’s Day here?
TUN Fatimah Hashim was Malaysia’s first female Cabinet minister, known for championing women’s rights in the country. Did she initiate Malaysia’s annual Women’s Day? VERDICT:TRUEYes, Tun Fatimah Hashim started the ball rolling on our country’s Women’s Day celebrations, observed annually until today. She was also the president of the National Council of Women’s Organisations (NCWO), which aims to protect women’s rights in Malaysia, for 24 years. In 1962, Fatimah initiated Malaysia’s National Women’s Day celebrations, according to the website.
Source:The Star
July 01, 2022 06:40 UTC
Bella was thin, in state of fear when I met her at HKL - witness
KUALA LUMPUR: A Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory Social Welfare Department assistant officer told the Sessions Court here that Bella was thin and in a state of fear when he met the girl for the first time at Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) last year. Elaborating, the 12th prosecution witness said that on June 24, 2021, Siti Bainun messaged him on WhatsApp to inform that Bella had fallen and was scalded. "Siti Bainun sent the message at 3.03pm and included several photographs of Bella's injuries on her hands and head. Mohamad Imran said Siti Bainun told him that hot water was accidentally spilled on Bella two days before Hari Raya. Siti Bainun, 30, faces two charges of neglecting and abusing the 13-year-old girl, causing the victim to suffer physical and emotional injuries.
Source:The Star
June 30, 2022 23:37 UTC
Gold set for worst quarter in five as dollar dominates
Spot gold was flat at US$1,817.07 (about RM8,004.74) per ounce by 0339 GMT. Gold prices, set to drop for a third straight month, have fallen about 6.2% this quarter. The US dollar hovered near recent two-decade peaks, and could record its best quarter in over five years, making gold more expensive for buyers holding other currencies. Higher bond yields and interest rate hikes by central banks to fight inflation raise the opportunity cost of holding bullion, which yields no interest. Spot silver was up 0.1% at US$20.72 per ounce, platinum was flat at US$916.66 and palladium gained 1.2% to US$1,986.21.
Source:The Edge Markets
June 30, 2022 16:17 UTC
Third vaccine dose to be available for certain kids, adolescents
For adults, a second booster dose will be offered to high-risk individuals aged between 18 to 59 and frontline health workers. “Those who are 12 to 17-years-old who have been certified as moderately or severely immunocompromised can get the third dose 28 days after their second dose. “Immunocompromised youths aged 12 to 17 are also eligible to get their first booster dose three months after their third dose. “Those who are eligible for the CanSino booster dose are individuals aged 18 years and older who have received a primary dose of the Covid-19 vaccine other than CanSino and Sinovac,” he said. The CanSino booster will be given at least three months after receiving the second dose of the primary vaccine.
Source:The Star
June 30, 2022 14:13 UTC
No snakes on this plane
TWO Indian women have been arrested at a Thai airport attempting to smuggle more than 100 live animals, including armadillos, porcupines and snakes, wildlife protection officers said. Thailand is a major transit hub for wildlife smugglers, with the animals often bound for Vietnam or China where they are used in traditional medicines. The creatures were discovered when Nithya Raja, 38, and Zakia Sulthana, 24, passed through X-ray machines at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport on Sunday night en route to Chennai in India. Sathon Konggoen, chief of the airport’s wildlife inspection office, estimated that the animals – including turtles, chameleons and two dead iguanas – would be worth around 200,000 baht (RM24,640).
Source:The Star
June 30, 2022 10:10 UTC
Insight - International schools offer skiing in Japan, luring rich Chinese parents
“We were looking for opportunities outside of China,” said Mick Farley, the new headmaster at Harrow International School in the Japanese ski town of Appi. But “the educational offering in China has become very complex; more regulated, more controlled in terms of international schools and bilingual private schools,” he said. The Harrow International School in Beijing, which only accepts foreign passport holders and attracts mainly expatriates, was unaffected. Total tuition for international schools in Japan is on track to reach US$979mil or RM4.31bil) in 2022, from US$766mil (RM3.37bil) five years ago. There’s also Jinseki International School, which opened in 2020 in Hiroshima, and Capital Tokyo International School, which opened in April.
Source:The Star
June 30, 2022 10:07 UTC
My Say: A new trajectory for our food system
The country must accept the blame for not harnessing local production to ensure adequate supplies of important foods, if not to stay resilient to face challenges. Social safety net measures that can be enhanced to ease the burden on the poor include food coupons and food banks. The crisis provides an opportunity to set a new trajectory for the food sector in the long term. The main strategy to enhance food production is through “domestic capacity building”. Fourth, enhance small producers’ capacity, including R&D, to produce small machines or automation, mills and processing plants.
Source:The Edge Markets
June 30, 2022 09:36 UTC
Licence fee exemption period for tourism operators, tour guides extended till Dec 31
PUTRAJAYA (June 29): The government has agreed to extend the licence fee exemption period for tourism operators and tour guides who applied for renewal from Thursday (June 30) until Dec 31, 2022. Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) in a statement Wednesday (July 29) said the decision was made based on the government's concern towards tourism operators and tour guides who are still affected by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. The ministry also said the fee exemption for licence renewal until Dec 31, 2021 involved 3,419 tour companies, totalling RM5.676 million. "With the extension of the initiative, MOTAC hopes that eligible tourism operators and tour guides will take advantage of the opportunity given to apply for renewal within the set period according to the expiration date of their respective licences,” it said. Previously, the ministry had granted the fee exemption from Jan 1 to June 30, 2021, from July 1 to Dec 31, 2021 and from Jan 1 to June 30.
Source:The Edge Markets
June 29, 2022 18:06 UTC
8 lifestyle factors that decrease a man's fertility
The male fertility rate has been declining over the past 50 years, and the trend does not seem to be showing any signs of improvement. There are multiple lifestyle factors that can affect a man’s fertility. From my clinical experience, I do see improvement in male fertility when the man achieves significant weight loss, especially those with azoospermia. Any slightest improvement in male fertility will go a long way towards helping the couple succeed in their fertility journey. So, it’s important to note that miscarriage is not a female-only issue; male fertility also plays a role in causing a miscarriage.
Source:The Star
June 29, 2022 13:02 UTC
Bintai Kinden inks deal to supply piping materials to O&G firms in Saudi Arabia
KUALA LUMPUR (June 29): Bintai Kinden Corporation Bhd is partnering with Marafie Industrial Co to supply piping materials to oil and gas (O&G) related companies in Saudi Arabia. In a statement to the bourse on Wednesday (June 29), Bintai Kinden said its subsidiary Bintai Energy Sdn Bhd has entered into a marketing and distribution agreement with Saudi Arabia-based Marafie. Bintai Kinden said the Marafie group has established fabrication facilities and offices and regional sales offices in Saudi Arabia. Bintai Energy is a 51:49 joint venture between Bintai Kinden unit Kejuruteraan Bintai Kindenko Sdn Bhd and Petro Flanges & Fittings Sdn Bhd (PFF). At the midday break on Wednesday, Bintai Kinden was trading at 8.5 sen, valuing it at RM72.52 million.
Source:The Edge Markets
June 29, 2022 06:04 UTC
My Say: Breaking the bias to foster excellence
The gender and diversity agenda has been more hotly discussed today than at any other time in history. Autoblog.com reported that women are having a tougher time than men with speech recognition technology in cars. According to the World Bank, more women in Malaysia’s workforce could cause income per capita to jump by 26.2%. In the same year, 79% of Vietnamese women and 53.92% of Indonesian women made up their countries’ labour forces. She pioneered community fair trade and sought to weave her passion for the planet in her business, saying, “Business shapes the world.
Source:The Edge Markets
June 29, 2022 05:30 UTC
Elderly medicinal plants vendor finds purpose in his passion
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): Damit Jahar’s stall in Tamu Kianggeh selling medicinal plants and parts from trees believed to be able to help ward off evil spirits, draws a large crowd. He believes passion should be the primary motivation for doing anything, otherwise, “it will not last long”, he said. Sticks and branches from Kayu Bidaram, Kayu Pinang Manaring and Kayu Tunjang Pipit Menolak Angin Akmar are very much in demand among Damit’s customers. On the other hand, sticks of Kayu Tunjang Pipit Angin is believed to be a remedy for bad air or wind. Damit also makes wooden bracelets mixing Kayu Bidara, Kayu Antu, Kayu Merungai and Limpanas, which he believes to have health benefits and also protects the wearer.
Source:The Star
June 29, 2022 05:11 UTC
QuickCheck: Should you look up to stop a nosebleed?
IT SEEMS to be common knowledge that the proper way to stop a nosebleed is to look up while pinching the bridge of your nose. Verdict:FALSELooking up or lying down while having a nosebleed will only cause the bleeding to go back down your throat and potentially into your lungs or stomach. According to the Health Ministry, the proper way to deal with a nosebleed is to sit down and lean forward with your head tilted forward. You should then pinch your nose just above your nostrils for 10 to 15 minutes and breathe through your mouth. This will allow the bleeding to exit via your nose rather than flowing back down your throat.
Source:The Star
June 29, 2022 04:52 UTC
Smith+Nephew opens a manufacturing facility in Malaysia with an investment worth over US$100 mil
KUALA LUMPUR (June 28): Smith+Nephew, a global medical technology company, has opened a new high-technology manufacturing facility in Batu Kawan Industrial Park in Penang, with an investment worth over US$100 million (US$1=RM4.39). It said the facility would primarily support the company’s orthopaedics business, which is expected to grow strongly in the Asia Pacific region. Meanwhile, Arham said the facility is the company’s first manufacturing venture within Southeast Asia, demonstrating the ability in attracting renowned medical device manufacturers into Malaysia. He added that construction of the approximately 23,225.76 square metres facility started in March 2020 and was completed last year. Smith+Nephew is a portfolio medical technology company founded in Hull, United Kingdom in 1856, focusing on the repair, regeneration and replacement of soft and hard tissue.
Source:The Edge Markets
June 29, 2022 01:44 UTC
MY E.G. Services set to rebound higher, says RHB Retail Research
KUALA LUMPUR (June 29): RHB Retail Research said MY E.G. Services Bhd is set to rebound higher as it managed to sustain above the 88 sen level yesterday following the breakout on Monday – it also reclaimed above the 21-day average line on stronger trading volume. In a trading stocks note today, the research house said the bullish bias above that level may see the stock climb further towards the 93 sen resistance, or June 1’s high, followed by 95.5 sen, or May 5’s high. “If it falls below the support level of 85.5 sen, the stock may trend downwards below the average line,” it said.
Source:The Edge Markets
June 28, 2022 23:16 UTC