'Tokyo Love Story' actress Honami Suzuki divorces husband of 23 years
Japanese actress Honami Suzuki, known for her role in the classic television series Tokyo Love Story (1991), has divorced her husband, comedian Takaaki Ishibashi. Ishibashi, 59, dropped the bombshell on Friday night (July 16) when he uploaded a 50-second video on his YouTube channel. He and Suzuki, 54, announced in a joint statement that they have ended their 23-year marriage. The video, which ended with a photo of them together and their signatures, was removed from the channel on July 17. Suzuki, who rose to fame in 1991 with her role as Rika in Tokyo Love Story, quit acting after her marriage.
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 09:00 UTC
Meet Italy's top wine consultant, who counts the Pope as his client
This is the home of the wine cellar of the Cotarella family, in the small village of Monteccio. Grapes growing in Cotarella's family vineyard. The Cotarella family owns about 200ha in both regions and is leasing an additional 60. "I planted the vineyard," Cotarella says, with eyes sparkling behind his square glasses.It's true that Francis no longer actually lives in the residence. People want something lively, closer to nature – like wine," Cotarella notes.
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 09:00 UTC
Olympics-Wrestling-India's Punia wants no drama in early rounds at Tokyo
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's Bajrang Punia is determined to avoid come-from-behind wins in his early bouts which could leave him exhausted even before reaching the medal rounds at the Tokyo Olympics, the freestyle wrestler said. The 27-year-old is the second seed in men's 65kg category in Tokyo, the one on whose shoulders rest India's hopes of winning the country's first Olympic gold in wrestling. I am working on not giving points early," Punia told Sunday's Times of India newspaper. World champion Russian Gadzhimurad is the top seed in a strong group which, according to Punia, contained 10-12 wrestlers who could beat each other "on their day". "When the opponent starts getting tired and fatigue sets in him, that's when I pounce on and attack and accumulate points.
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 06:48 UTC
Dear Thelma: Still caught in the middle of parents' fights after 30 years
Are you suffering from mental health issues or contemplating suicide? Dear Thelma,For 30 or 35 years, I put up with my parents' fighting and I am tired. Caught In The MiddleDear Caught In The Middle,Your parents live in different houses, visit each other regularly but spend their time quarrelling. Only a psychiatrist, a medical doctor specialising in mental health, can diagnose and prescribe medication. For that you can consult a mental health professional like a therapist, psychologist or counsellor.
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 04:52 UTC
My Say: We should love and not fear the rise of machines
Instead of post-mortem analysis of data and recalibration of processes and factors of production, it is time to usher in the self-learning, self-healing enterprise. ERP as we know it is stuck with the paradigm of managing the enterprise in a “review the past” mode. Software controls the input of factors and measures the output of past actions and decisions to improve future outcomes. The aspects of such new-age machines have already crept into smart cars and aviation, two sectors that have matured in R&D. Harsh Vardhan is president and head of ERP solutions at Ramco Systems, a software and services provider based in India
Source:The Edge Markets
July 18, 2021 03:22 UTC
Japanese composer for Tokyo Olympics apologises for abusing disabled classmate
Keigo Oyamada, a Japanese composer whose music is part of the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, has apologised for bullying a classmate during his childhood. The reports of his abusing a child with disabilities, which surfaced online recently and got covered in Japanese media, are sparking a backlash on social media, demanding his resignation. Oyamada, a well-known rock musician, had boasted about the abuse in detail in Japanese magazine interviews he gave in the 1990s. Surveys show the Japanese public remains worried about health risks, and some want the event canceled or postponed again. IOC President Thomas Bach has faced protesters in Tokyo and Hiroshima, the site of the World War II atomic bombing.
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 02:26 UTC
Grandma’s House
Encourage your children to find out and collect these “grandmother stories.”About this poemIt tells us what can be found in the poet’s grandma’s house and why she loves to call on her. Of course, your grandma’s house will not be the same. Let’s give Grandma’s house a different look. It has been named ‘London’s thinnest house.’ Usually, we don’t use ‘thin’ to describe a house. Is this the type of clock you see in your grandma’s house or your home/school/classroom?
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 02:07 UTC
Opinion: Five digital games that teach civics through play
As I explain in my book We the Gamers: How Games Teach Ethics and Civics, games can help players practice important skills related to civics and public life, like communication, empathy and compassion, critical thinking, and problem-solving. To win, players need to collect items, build shelters, find weapons and avoid bad weather. Players need to use communication and deliberation skills to try to figure out who the imposters are. Letting millions of people experiment in a digital world could provide insights identifying productive – and destructive – policies that might be adopted in the physical world. As Americans consider how to become more civically engaged and encourage each other to do so, digital games provide opportunities to learn, grow, explore and change – not just individually, but in terms of humanity and society as well.
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 02:00 UTC
Covid-19: Lessons from a rollercoaster ride
MY favourite funfair ride, when I was a teenager, was the roller coaster. Keeping our eyes open, while scary, was bizarrely enjoyable. In many ways, the ups and downs I now experience personally and professionally as a result of the pandemic, is similar to that of being on that ride. When the train of passengers descent on the thrill ride, however ghastly the physical feeling, we know that we will emerge from the amusement ride safely. The track is a metaphor for our sense of purpose and the harness, our community.
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 01:18 UTC
Record steel prices inject life into long-suffering industry
Manufacturers such as Nucor Corp., U.S. Steel Corp. and SSAB AB are among those set to become profit machines. Keybanc Capital Markets and Bank of America Corp. believe the backlogs driving a surge in U.S. steel prices will start clearing this year. Biden’s proposed infrastructure plan would increase annual demand by about 5 million tons for the first five years, London-based consultancy CRU Group estimated. Southeast Asia, including Malaysia and Indonesia, plans to add another 60 million tons by the end of this decade, according to consultant Wood Mackenzie. "We need bricks, we need cement, we need steel.
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 00:56 UTC
Miss your hometown's food? Many are now online and can even deliver to you!
Enterprising hometown food businesses have either gone online or widened their delivery range to expand their appeal beyond state borders during the pandemic. Hometown businesses going onlineIn many ways, people like Leela, Chin and Chow are part of a dedicated number of Malaysians feeding the delicate ecosystem that keeps small hometown businesses running during this tough period. But in more significant ways, the pandemic has also forced many hometown food businesses to drastically change the way they operate. “We have only been doing online delivery for about a month, but it has definitely helped as I can see that sales are growing,” says Ng. — ESTHER SAWChallengesAlthough having an online presence has bolstered the sales of many of these hometown food businesses, it isn’t all smooth sailing.
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 00:33 UTC
Webinar: The rise of ‘Govcoins’ and what’s next for crypto
ONCE viewed with suspicion, digital currencies have gained wider acceptance since the Covid-19 pandemic started. One is China, where its central bank People’s Bank of China has just launched pilot projects on digital currency and is working with the Bank of Thailand and Hong Kong Monetary Authority on the initiative. The global hype in cryptocurrency investment, meanwhile, has come under restraint from the regulators but with the pandemic – a number of Asian companies have embraced the crypto innovation in hope of riding out of the economic slump. To help people understand the government-backed digital currencies and the future of cryptocurrencies further, The Star will co-host a webinar entitled “The rise of Govcoins & What’s next for crypto” this Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 10am. Registration is available at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/4916263173191/WN_LaWquMD2ROaxPkccdsC4QgYou can also listen live on Clubhouse at https://www.clubhouse.com/event/M8ZWK53bDigital currencies have gained wider acceptance since the Covid-19 pandemic started.
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 00:33 UTC
US envoy marks KL return with dose of goodwill
I’ve had an excellent series of virtual visits to Penang and just had a conversation with Chief Minister Chow (Kon Yeow). That’s not as good as going in the physical sense but it is good to keep up with an important state like Penang. Until we can travel physically, I hope to be able to keep in touch with other parts of Malaysia this way. At the embassy we have reduced staff and a facemask policy, except when you are in a room alone. > How long will Malaysia remain in Tier 3, and will US aid to Malaysia be affected in the meantime?
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 00:33 UTC
Almost half of incest cases in court involve stepdads
PETALING JAYA: Stepfathers make up most of the accused in incest cases brought to courts nationwide since the Covid-19 pandemic started. These men were involved in 149 (45%) of the total number of 334 incest cases registered and charged in Malaysian courts between January 2020 and June this year. Other perpetrators of incest cases included uncles, siblings, grandfathers, brothers-in-law and cousins. It was recently reported that the police received an average of 15 incest cases each month, with most reports lodged by the victims themselves. “Last year when the MCO began, we received reports about 15 incest cases through our hotline and WhatsApp messaging service, Tina.
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 00:22 UTC
Has Covid-19 affected your period?
Hannah Kahn got Covid-19 in mid-November (2020) and expected to get her period shortly after. “I was just worried about having Covid-19 and distressed by it,” she said. Additionally, as someone who’s been on birth control for five years, Kahn has experience with missing a period or having it come very late. When her friend reached out in her group chat and others described similar issues, she felt validated. “In an ideal world, we would be talking about Covid-19 changing your period the same way we talk about Covid-19 affecting your sense of taste and smell.” – By Leah Boyd/The News & Observer/Tribune News Service
Source:The Star
July 18, 2021 00:00 UTC