A night to highlight top SMEs
PETALING JAYA: The 11th edition of the Star Outstanding Business Awards (SOBA) will unveil this year’s best local non-listed companies in the upcoming SOBA 2020 Gala Night. Moreover, SOBA 2020 introduced two new categories to better reflect the diversification of the country’s SMEs, namely “Best in Customer Service” and “Best in Retail”. Also leading up to the SOBA 2020 Gala Night were the free capacity building series SOBA Learn Aspire Build (LAB), which were entirely conducted online through a series of webinars. Winners of SOBA 2020 will clinch advertising space worth over RM1mil on Star Media Group’s (SMG) platforms, alongside other benefits. For more information on SOBA 2020, email Lily or Poh Ern at soba@thestar.com.my or visit www.soba.com.my.
Source:The Star
March 14, 2021 23:15 UTC
Adhere to Covid-19 SOPs at all times during sports activities, ministry stresses
PUTRAJAYA: With the sports sector now allowed to reopen, the Youth and Sports Ministry is calling for strict adherence towards Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) at all times during sporting activities. “During MKN meetings, I had to make presentations and persuade the council to allow sporting activities to resume slowly. “I do understand the concerns of the Health Ministry in allowing sporting activities so it is important to convince them we can organise sports activities and strictly follow Covid-19 SOPs at all times. Now that these sporting activities are allowed back, I am sure they will do their utmost best to ensure SOPs are followed at all times. With the resumption of the Malaysian Football League in March, the ministry have now embarked on plans to allow spectators at stadiums.
Source:The Star
March 14, 2021 21:35 UTC
Jailed French tourist in Iran, Benjamin Briere, faces spying charge, lawyer says
DUBAI (Reuters) - French tourist Benjamin Briere, who was arrested in Iran 10 months ago, faces charges of "spying and propaganda against the system", one of his lawyers told Reuters on Monday, at a time of heightened tension between Tehran and the West. "On Sunday, he (Briere) was charged with two counts of espionage and propaganda against the Islamic Republic," his lawyer Saeid Dehghan said, adding that Briere faces a long-term jail sentence. Last month, France's foreign ministry confirmed that a French citizen was being held in Iran and said it was monitoring the situation. Rights activists have accused Iran of arresting dual nationals and foreigners to try to win concessions from other countries. Tehran denies it holds people for political reasons and has accused many of the foreigners in its jails of espionage.
Source:The Star
March 14, 2021 16:49 UTC
Iheanacho hat-trick as Leicester crush Sheffield United
LEICESTER, England (Reuters) - Kelechi Iheanacho scored a superb hat-trick as Leicester City crushed bottom side Sheffield United 5-0 on Sunday to move second in the Premier League table. He only managed delayed the inevitable, however, and Leicester went ahead in the 39th minute when Jamie Vardy latched on to a clever pass and his perfect centre left Iheanacho with a simple tap-in. Perez added the second in the 64th minute with a low shot before Vardy again set up Iheanacho for another simple finish. Sheffield United remained bottom on 14 points, 14 behind Newcastle United in 17th place. I'm grateful to God, my team mates and my manager for helping me grow," Iheanacho told Sky Sports.
Source:The Star
March 14, 2021 16:39 UTC
Addressing the digital talent conundrum
The recently launched MyDIGITAL initiative has as its fourth thrust the development of an agile and competent digital talent pool. “We have to pick the right champions to not just deliver on the blueprint’s digital talent priorities but to keep the people’s interests at heart. Vernon Chua of Innergia Labs commends the government on the digital talent aspirations of the blueprint. “Teachers would like to have more clarity on the My Device programme, which guarantees students access to digital devices to facilitate their education. “These are major stand-out issues to me, as we need to bridge the digital divide and deal with digital poverty as quickly as possible.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 14, 2021 16:25 UTC
Movies to get you into the digital mood
So, we decided to compile a list of movies to get you into that particular futuristic mindspace. The wild drama was entertaining to watch but it also highlighted this new reality created by social media. On the flip side, people also become obsessed with their image as portrayed on social media, because it is the main lens through which they are judged. As a social media user, I was once willing to give out my personal information to access free services. And then there is the fact that the creators of these services often restrict their own children’s access to social media.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 14, 2021 16:07 UTC
Government should enable a conducive environment for digitalisation
The objectives for digitalisation in the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint cover a wide scope, ranging from a digitalisation guide for companies to reviews on intellectual property (IP) and tax frameworks. Overall, it aims to create digital companies that can succeed globally by promoting a conducive environment for growth in Malaysia. The private sector should take the lead.” - Chow“The key is to get all stakeholders involved in the execution and implementation. The government should focus on utilising these tools to create an environment that is conducive for digital start-ups to thrive, say the interviewees. “The question is how will the government incentivise the private sector to share its data.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 14, 2021 16:07 UTC
IWD: Gender gap: Why flexible working arrangements are important
Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia managing director Anamika Talwar believes flexible working arrangements play an essential role in bridging the gender gap within the corporate environment. “Workplaces need to have these types of flexible working options for people who need them and allow them to fully return to the workforce once they are ready. “When we look at the future of working arrangements, it will be a form of a hybrid working model, with a focus on flexibility. Climbing the corporate ladder, one rung at a timeAnamika has built the majority of her career around the Mercedes-Benz brand. In May 2017, she transitioned into the managing director role at Mercedes-Benz Financial Services Singapore, where she served for about 3½ years.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 14, 2021 16:07 UTC
Connectivity, the foundation of MyDIGITAL
In the blueprint, connectivity initiatives include heightening rural and education connectivity, a review of laws and legislations to enable broadband to be mandated as a utility as well as the rollout of 5G. “The fund was set up to provide connectivity in areas where it is very difficult for telecoms operators to bring connectivity. And just like that, they have connectivity.”By solving the basic connectivity issue, the issue of education connectivity will inadvertently be resolved. This means the government will have its own 5G network, after which there will be a demand for 5G devices that require 5G solutions. “Even in Singapore, a small city state, we don’t expect a full 5G rollout until 2024 or 2025.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 14, 2021 16:07 UTC
Digital Currencies: The homegrown encyclopaedia of cryptocurrencies
Potential investors, traders, researchers and fans of cryptocurrencies alike depend on websites such as this to keep abreast of the crypto market. For most start-ups, it’s just about raising venture capital and burning through money,” Lee says. CoinGecko is currently the world’s largest independent crypto data aggregator and a global top 10 crypto website. That being said, the crypto industry is very cyclical by nature and our growth mimics this as well,” adds Ong. “As the crypto industry gains mainstream adoption, the space is only going to get more complex and there will be new problems to be solved.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 14, 2021 16:07 UTC
Clijsters faces more time on sidelines, but not quitting
(Reuters) - Former world number one Kim Clijsters underwent knee surgery last year and contracted the novel coronavirus in January but the mother of three is not ready to quit just yet. Clijsters was scheduled to return at the WTA 1000 event in Miami starting this month but has been forced to pull out. "It's disappointing and frustrating," Clijsters said, adding that she will also miss next month's WTA 500 event in Charleston, United States. I'm not ready to quit ... I'm going to keep pushing and see what's possible."
Source:The Star
March 14, 2021 15:33 UTC
Desperate times: Losing money to online get-rich-quick schemes
Money-game apps like TikTok Cash and Snack Video, among many others, quickly became viral for the easy-money possibilities they seemed to offer. TikTok Cash is not affiliated with the popular app TikTok. "I think someone has to speak up, especially after I learned the platform had a lot of other victims," Cindy told The Jakarta Post. Representing 60 other TikTok Cash victims, Cindy hopes the authorities can prevent even more victims. "Aside from wishing to get our money back, we hope the authorities give TikTok Cash a deserving penalty," Cindy told the Post.
Source:The Star
March 14, 2021 13:04 UTC
M'sian delivery personnel have been contacted by S'pore authorities for vaccination
He said that Singaporean authorities started issuing SMS alerts from Sunday (March 14) to Malaysian cross-border delivery personnel to inform them that they have been chosen to be part of its Covid-19 vaccination programme. "Singapore has extended their Covid-19 vaccination programme to include Malaysian delivery personnel who travel frequently between the two countries. "The Singapore Health Ministry put up a notice on its website and we have confirmed this through our Malaysia International Health Regulation (IHR) focal point with Singapore's. He also said those who accept and receive the vaccine should inform the Malaysian Health Ministry so that authorities can update their records, especially those who had registered themselves for vaccination with the MySejahtera app. "We have between 3,000 and 4,000 delivery personnel entering Singapore daily," said Dr Adham.
Source:The Star
March 14, 2021 10:25 UTC
Cambodia: Banteay Meanchey solar farm adds 39MW to national grid
PHNOM PENH, March 14 (Phnom Penh Post/ANN): A 39MW solar power plant in far northwestern Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province has been successful brought to the national grid, Shenzhen-listed solar development company JA Solar Technology Co Ltd has announced. The company noted that it supplied all photovoltaic (PV) modules for the project, which convert solar radiations directly to direct-current (DC) electricity. The solar farm was contracted by Shanxi Electric Power Engineering Co Ltd (SEPEC), an affiliate of China Energy Engineering Group, it said. JA Solar and Shanxi Electric Power Engineering have worked on other solar farms such as the 257MW project in the southern Vietnamese province of Phu Yen’s Hoa Hoi commune and what JA Solar called the “Son My 52.5MW PV project”. - Phnom Penh Post/ANNArticle type: metered User Type: anonymous web User Status: Campaign ID: 18 Cxense type: free User access status: 3
Source:The Star
March 14, 2021 07:37 UTC
Dear Thelma: Suffering in silence from husband's abuse
Email lifestyle@thestar.com.my or write to Dear Thelma, c/o StarLifestyle, Menara Star, 15, Jalan 16/11,46350 Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Age was another factor that drew me towards him as I had hoped to get married and start a family. After courting for eight months, I had told my family about him and they met each other. Once you get into a safe space, a mental health professional with experience in abuse can help you talk it out. Ignore the ignorant and lean in on friends and family who step up to help during this difficult time.
Source:The Star
March 14, 2021 06:56 UTC