Cool aid for our hot cities
That way, I would have a much cooler house and I could have installed solar panels more easily and grown a roof garden. The study focused on the surface temperatures of Kuala Lumpur city centre, Bayan Lepas, George Town, Johor Baru and Ipoh. Ipoh recorded an increase of 6.75°C between 1998 and 2019 and JB an increase of 6.7°C between 2005 and 2018. Cities the world over, which keep growing, are certainly feeling the heat and many are looking for cooling solutions. For example, cities like Tokyo and Los Angeles are coating their pavements with a lighter coloured sealant that can reflect heat.
Source:The Star
March 10, 2021 00:56 UTC
Women’s rights champion Sukumari Sekhar dies
KUALA LUMPUR: Puan Sri Sukumari Sekhar, one of the country’s earliest champions of women’s rights, passed away on International Women’s Day. Sukumari was the founding deputy president of the National Council of Women’s Organisations and a fierce advocate for the rights and welfare of children, including children born out of wedlock. She received the Anugerah Tokoh Wanita award in conjunction with the National Women’s Day celebrations in 2012. She was the wife of the late Tan Sri BC Sekhar, who had revolutionised the country’s rubber industry. “It is with deep sorrow and sadness to have to inform all that our beloved mother, Puan Sri Sukumari Sekhar, passed away, ” her son, entrepreneur Datuk Dr Vinod Sekhar, said in a Facebook post.
Source:The Star
March 10, 2021 00:11 UTC
For whom is Malaysia?
He told me about the five houses he owned, the cars he’d bought and that he was never in Malaysia during the holidays. For whom is Malaysia? Malaysia is certainly not for the Grab driver because of the way he views the situation. The Bangladeshi workers are here because Malaysia can offer them something they can send back home. Perhaps, many years from now, that Grab driver will be a successful restaurant owner in Ireland.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2021 23:27 UTC
What the people say
“The extension of the statutory lifespan for buses to 15 years was long awaited. If we take an example like India – since the implementation of a structured drone regulatory framework, we have seen growth in the industry. Enterprises need to have the confidence that the regulatory body supports the growth of the drone industry, and the current CAAM directive shows this.”– Erin Hoo, chief marketing officer of Drone Academy Asia“The monthly travel pass at RM30 is so worth it. With the My30 travel pass, if I go on my normal route to work or other places, it’s only for RM1 for transport a day. Even if I had to take Grab a few times a month, it’s much cheaper than maintaining a car and having to pay for parking.”– Grace Lai, financial adviser
Source:The Star
March 09, 2021 23:03 UTC
Rohit urges India debutants to 'have fun' against England in T20 series
(Reuters) - After Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan earned their maiden call-ups to the Indian national team, vice-captain Rohit Sharma stressed on the importance of playing without any pressure when they take on England in a Twenty20 series. "I don't want them to be thinking about anything," Rohit told reporters on Wednesday. For England, it's a much-awaited return to the squad for all-rounder Liam Livingstone who had similar success in Australia's Big Bash League where he scored 426 runs for Perth Scorchers. "The Big Bash is such an exciting competition. Playing in the IPL in front of 60,000 people and playing in a Big Bash final -- these are the pressure moments you start to get used to."
Source:The Star
March 09, 2021 20:22 UTC
Federer sets eyes on Olympics as long as knee holds up
"Participation in the Olympics is part of my plan although my main goal was everything from today until Wimbledon, the tournament that precedes the Olympics," Federer told beIN Sports. Unfortunately, I missed the Rio Olympics (in 2016) because of a left knee injury. "The problem for the new generation is that Novak, Rafa (Nadal) and I were unable to play in a different way," he said. "One of the them might defeat me but fail to defeat Novak, or beat Novak but fail to beat Rafa, or beat Rafa but fail to beat me. But I know that Rafa, Novak and I will try to stand fast for the longest time possible and will try to increase the number of our titles."
Source:The Star
March 09, 2021 19:07 UTC
Kvitova pulls out of Dubai event with thigh injury
(Reuters) - Czech fourth seed Petra Kvitova pulled out of the Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday after suffering a thigh problem in her second round match. Kvitova, a two-time Wimbledon champion who lifted the Qatar Open title over the weekend, received a bye into the second round in Dubai but retired in the second set against Swiss Jil Teichmann who was leading 6-2 3-4. It didn't get any better and in the second set it got a little bit worse," the 31-year-old Kvitova said. The Miami Open, which is a WTA 1000 event like Dubai, is set to begin on March 23. Kvitova is the latest top 10 player to pull out in Dubai after Romanian defending champion Simona Halep skipped the tournament with a lower back issue, while Australia's world number one Ash Barty also withdrew to nurse a left leg injury.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2021 17:48 UTC
Twitter's Dorsey to convert proceeds from auction of first ever tweet to bitcoin
(Reuters) - Twitter Inc boss Jack Dorsey said on Tuesday he will convert proceeds from the digital auction of the first ever tweet on the platform to bitcoin for charity. NFTs are digital files that serve as digital signatures to certify who owns photos, videos and other online media. Dorsey, a known bitcoin enthusiast, said the auction will end on March 21. Payments company Square Inc, also led by Dorsey, invested $170 million more in bitcoin last month, adding to the mainstream acceptance of the digital currency that has been winning support from several big investors. The proceeds are being donated to GiveDirectly, a fundraising project to give cash directly to families experiencing extreme poverty in Africa.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2021 17:15 UTC
Olympics: Canadian swim champion Oleksiak empowered by early success
"When I get up to race and people say 'Olympic champion, Penny Oleksiak,' I'm like: 'Yeah, that is me. While training amid the COVID-19 outbreak has been far from ideal and upended many athletes' routines, Oleksiak feels the one-year postponement of the Tokyo Olympics has been beneficial to her. "Last year around the first bit of when COVID started I was pretty nervous about the Olympics," said Oleksiak. Already Canada's youngest Olympic champion, Oleksiak will arrive at the July 23-Aug. 8 Tokyo Games three medals shy of becoming her nation's most decorated Olympian - summer or winter. The swim brand has since launched a collection inspired by Oleksiak and the partnership has led to a friendship between the young Canadian and Phelps.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2021 17:03 UTC
Remote Siberian data centre reaps rewards of bitcoin rally
Bitcoin is earned -- or 'mined' -- by using your computer to help process the uncrackable "blockchains" or digital transaction records that underpin the currency. The rewards for those who can verify transactions in the process which produces bitcoins have never been greater. BITCOIN VOLATILITYRussia granted cryptocurrencies legal status last year, but banned them from being used as a means of payment. "It allows us to host foreign clients' computing equipment on Russian territory with settlements for this in dollars or roubles." Runets said BitRiver uses more than 90% green power as it builds data centres in regions with electricity surpluses and renewable energy sources nearby.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2021 16:00 UTC
Be safe and trendy with Durio
DURIO PPE Sdn Bhd, the largest melt-blown fabric and face mask manufacturer in Malaysia, is launching a new 545 Trendish series of four-ply surgical masks. These face masks are available at Durio’s official Shoppe store, priced at RM33.90 for a box of 40. Durio is committed to quality by specialising in high filtration efficiency and airflow comfort of face masks. Its surgical face masks are certified with 99% BFE bacterial filtration rate and 98% PFE particle filtration rate with lowest airflow resistance. Besides four-ply surgical face masks, the company also offers many types of three-ply and four-ply coloured and printed ones.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2021 13:25 UTC
Leipzig's strikers brimming with confidence as Liverpool await
BERLIN (Reuters) - The confidence of RB Leipzig's strikers could be key in Wednesday's Champions League last 16 second leg against Liverpool as the Germans attempt to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit, coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Tuesday. Nagelsmann said they are brimming with confidence and that gave him hope his side can find a way to reach the quarter-finals. "It is good to have options with strikers who have confidence. "It will be no easy task but we must believe and we have filled up on confidence." For Nagelsmann, however, Liverpool's league results matter little.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2021 13:24 UTC
Huge boost for Pearly-Thinaah ahead of All-England debut
PETALING JAYA: High-flying doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah have received a tremendous boost ahead of their All-England debut next week. Thanks to their Swiss Open triumph last Sunday, Pearly-Thinaah managed to climb eight spots from No. 1 Chow Mei Kuan (left) and Lee Meng Yean were eliminated by Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah in the Swiss Open semi-finals in Basel last week. His Swiss Open semi-final outing helped him improve by one spot to No. 11 after fast-rising French pair Thom Gicquel-Delphine Delrue leapt past them following their Swiss Open victory.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2021 12:50 UTC
AstraZeneca vaccination to launch on Thursday (March 11) with jab for Prayut; Thailand confirms 60 new Covid-19 infections
Thailand has authorised the AstraZeneca vaccine for use in people aged over 60, while the Sinovac shot is being used for younger people. Anutin, 54, became the first person in Thailand to be injected with Sinovac vaccine on Feb 28. Prayut, who is 66, is due to get his AstraZeneca shot at the Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute in Nonthaburi. Thailand on Tuesday confirmed 60 cases of coronavirus infection, mostly domestic, according to a report of the Center for the Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). Those domestic cases included 38 in Samut Sakhon, southwest of Bangkok, and three in Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok, the report says.
Source:The Star
March 09, 2021 12:48 UTC
40% of millennials spend beyond their means, says Tengku Zafrul
KUALA LUMPUR (March 9): 40% of millennials are spending beyond their means, said Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz. "Warren Buffett famously said, ‘do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving’. Tengku Zafrul also noted that 50% of contributors would exhaust their savings within five years of their retirement. "Through events like KBW 2020, the goal of improving the financial wellbeing of Malaysians will become a reality in line with the Malaysian National Strategy for Financial Literacy," Tengku Zafrul said. He said raising the level of financial literacy is a long-term commitment that requires the sustained efforts and support of many parties.
Source:The Edge Markets
March 09, 2021 11:26 UTC