Milkman still making his rounds
GEORGE TOWN: B. Govindan has been delivering fresh cow’s milk to his clients for the past 32 years. The 56-year-old milkman is among a handful of those who are still working in this “sunset trade” on Penang island. Govindan gets his milk from a farm in Bayan Lepas and delivers to his 50-odd customers from noon to 8.30pm. Thus, my other supplier in Bayan Lepas makes up the balance. “My customers are spread out from Bayan Lepas to George Town, in houses and office blocks.
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 19:30 UTC
Figure skating-Shcherbakova wins gold in podium sweep for Russian women
STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Anna Shcherbakova led a Russian sweep of the women's singles medals at the figure skating world championships on Friday. Elizaveta Tuktamysheva, the 2015 world champion and now 24, took silver (220.46) with two triple Axels in her free skating programme. The trio skated as FSR athletes under the flag of the Russian figure skating federation. It was the first women's podium sweep since the U.S. team of Kristi Yamaguchi, Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan won all three medals in 1991. I'm not satisfied with my performance, but I'm so happy that I'm first," said Shcherbakova.
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 18:38 UTC
Vincent Tan passes the baton
TYCOON Tan Sri Vincent Tan, who surprised corporate Malaysia with the appointment of Abdul Jalil Abdul Rasheed as the new chief executive officer of Berjaya Corp Bhd (BCorp), says this will be the first step of him taking a backseat. He says it is his wish that none of his children would be involved in the listed businesses and to let professional managers run it. Vincent Tan“The Better Malaysia Foundation (formerly known as the Vincent Tan Foundation) has, in the last two years, assembled a “brain trust” of the like-minded professionals to formulate solutions to address the affordability gap faced by the B40 and B50 families. Family involvementIt is my wish that no children are involved in the listed businesses, let professional managers run it. Should any of them still wish to be involved in management in the listed group, this must have the concurrence of Jalil and the board of the listed company.
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 17:25 UTC
Crypto-art craze reaches China at 'NFT' exhibition
The show includes digital paintings by American artist Beeple, who sold a collage at Christie's for a record US$69.3mil (RM265mil) earlier this month. Though bewildering to many, a manic appetite for digital objects authenticated through blockchain technology has spread through different markets. NFTs have recently taken the art world by storm as investors seize the opportunity to monetise digital art. A man looks at digital paintings by US artist Beeple at a crypto art exhibition entitled 'Virtual Niche: Have You Ever Seen Memes in the Mirror?'. Sun said blockchain will improve the "ecosystem" of the art world, changing the "liquidity of artworks, and the diversity of relationships between collectors and creators."
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 13:07 UTC
Ask him anything: William Shatner’s life story to live on through AI
LOS ANGELES: Actor William Shatner, best known for forging new frontiers on the Star Trek TV series, has tapped new technology that will give current and future generations the chance to query him about his life, family and career. Shatner, who turned 90 on March 22, spent more than 45 hours over five days recording answers to be used in an interactive video created by Los Angeles-based company StoryFile. Starting in May, people using cellphones or computers connected to the Internet can ask questions of the Shatner video, and artificial intelligence will scan through transcripts of his remarks to deliver the best answer, according to StoryFile co-founder Stephen Smith. The Canadian-born actor said he “wanted to reveal myself as intimately as possible” for his family and others. “This is like what you would leave your children, what you’d leave on your gravestone, the possibilities are endless.” – Reuters
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 10:51 UTC
StarTreats rewards galore for subscribers
PETALING JAYA: It's the Star Media Group's 50th birthday and it wants to treat its loyal fans to some rewards and cool giveaways. StarTreats members will gain exclusive monthly access to special deals, discounts, flash sales and priority services. These goodies and more have already been delivered to inboxes of existing StarTreats members as well as subscribers of print and digital versions of The Star, Dimsum and Kuntum. To be part of the StarTreats programme, subscribers just need to join any plans listed in the programme and they will get a monthly newsletter containing rewards and promotions from Star Media Group and its reward partners sent directly to their inbox. They can also enjoy discounts on selected events organised by the Star Media Group as well as priority invites to other selected events.
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 10:30 UTC
Biden says China won't be most powerful country on his watch
(March 26): President Joe Biden on Thursday promised to outspend China on innovation and infrastructure to prevent it from overtaking the U.S. to become the world’s most powerful country. “I see stiff competition with China,” Biden said at the White House. “They have an overall goal to become the leading country in the world, the wealthiest country in the world and the most powerful country in the world. So far, the Biden team is maintaining the same tough line that Trump took on Beijing’s economic and human rights practices. The Biden administration in concert with European partners this week announced sanctions on Chinese officials for alleged human rights violations against the Uyghur Muslim minority.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 26, 2021 09:45 UTC
Starchild: Malaysian children love flowers in all shapes and colours
Debria Preethi Jeyarajah, 9Nine-year-old Debria Preethi Jeyarajah’s favourite flower is the lily, which is Italy’s national flower. My grandmother grows Easter lilies in her garden.”Elena Shreeya Vasu, 11“Some of favourite flowers are lavender, orchids, lotus and tulips. Jayden Tan Li Sheng, 8Younger sibling Jayden Tan Li Sheng, eight, writes: "Flowers can be used as gifts. I often water our house plants so they do not wither in our hot weather, says Asher Wang Qi Chuen, three. Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, 6Older sister Bethany Wang Qi Syuen, six, likes all types of flowers because they are God's beautiful creation.
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 09:11 UTC
How Meituan and Pinduoduo are transforming remote Chinese towns with community group buying
Community group buying, China’s latest e-commerce trend, is turning previously independent, family-run shops into part of Big Tech’s powerful, algorithm-driven business machines. “The advantage of community group buying is that it’s driven by actual orders so storage cost is reduced,” said Robert Wu, head of research at data research firm BigOne Lab. The move came after antitrust regulators summoned several tech giants to warn them against “low price dumping and squeezing jobs” in community group buying. “The community group buying industry is now pushing the trend further to rural areas,” Yang said. While community group buying has raised the ire of government authorities, Meituan and Pinduoduo’s rural initiatives have earned the praise of Beijing.
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 08:34 UTC
How two friends made art history buying a US$70mil digital work
That’s because Venkateswaran and Sundaresan have invested heavily in a new form of digital collectible with the unwieldy name of non-fungible tokens, or NFTs. Not to be outdone, auction house rival Sotheby’s plans its own NFT sale, collaborating with the pseudonymous digital artist Pak in a sale next month. Winkelmann began seeing the possibilities of NFTs for digital artists back in October when he tested the waters with an initial “drop” of his work. “People can actually own my art and collect it and, you know, pay good money,” he said in an interview this week. “Crazy speculation is not unusual,” he said of the Beeple sale.
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 07:52 UTC
Annuar to Zahid: Use Umno general assembly to clarify talk of pact with PKR
PETALING JAYA: This weekend's Umno general assembly is the best avenue for members to iron out issues concerning the party, including finding out once and for all if there will be a pact with PKR in the next general election. Ketereh MP Tan Sri Annuar Musa said there has been a lot of confusion over the matter and party president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should grab the opportunity to clear the air at the event. "There has been talk that the president has been discussing with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim but others have dismissed them. The Federal Territories Minister said this when asked to comment on Ahmad Zahid's denial on negotiating a pact with PKR in the next general election. He said the matter had also not come up in discussions between Anwar and Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 06:56 UTC
Over 30 Chinese stars cut ties with Nike, HM, Adidas and other brands on Xinjiang cotton issue
Huang's decision opened up the scene of Chinese stars to end contracts with such brands. Over 30 Chinese stars cut ties with brands including Nike, HM, and Adidas, standing firmly behind Xinjiang cotton - Global TimesOn Thursday, the Chinese reality show Youth With You announced that the show's Thursday episode would be delayed, yet did not give a reason. Netizens speculated that the delay could be related to the Adidas scandal as the brand has previously sponsored the show. Since the controversy began earlier this week, over 50 influential celebrities, such as hot idol Xiao Zhan, have voiced their support for Xinjiang cotton. The movement has also spread to internet celebrities as Viya, China's most iconic female livestreamer, began selling cotton products from Xinjiang during a recent stream.
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 05:46 UTC
Khairy: Delay of Undi18, automatic voter registration unacceptable
PETALING JAYA: The reasons given to delay the implementation of Undi18 and automatic voter registration (AVR) are unacceptable, says Khairy Jamaluddin (pic). The EC recently announced that the lowering of the minimum voting age and implementing AVR can only be done by Sept 1,2022. “The minister’s answer during the Dewan Rakyat in November still maintained the July 2021 target for the implementation of Undi18 and AVR. On July 16,2019, Parliament unanimously passed the amendment to allow AVR, lowering the voting age to 18, and to make 18 the minimum age for a Malaysian citizen to run for public office. However, the AVR and lowering of the voting age to 18 have yet to be completely incorporated into the federal legislation.
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 05:22 UTC
1MDB trial: High Court sets May 20 to hear Najib's application to disclose banking documents
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court here has fixed May 20 to hear an application by Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is seeking to compel the prosecution to disclose banking documents in the RM2.28bil 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) trial. The documents are from several companies, two of which are claimed to be linked to the family of former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Abdul Aziz. On Wednesday (March 24), Najib filed a notice of motion to compel the prosecution in the 1MDB trial to make the disclosure on the documents. The Pekan MP said the documents he sought were vital and relevant to his defence in the 1MDB trial. "Zeti is listed as a witness in the 1MDB trial.
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 05:18 UTC
Lessons from my mother, the journalist
“Why don’t you write about your mother? I think it’s timely as we recently celebrated International Women’s Day, ” suggested a dear friend and mentor. Seven years and about 70 articles since this column began in 2014, it had not crossed my mind, despite my mother having one of the most profound impact on my writing – as a sounding board, a generator of ideas, and editor.
Source:The Star
March 26, 2021 03:45 UTC