One-stop indie platform to showcase, discover and support Malaysian artists
If you’re a Malaysian artist who’s finding it hard to get yourself noticed in these difficult pandemic days, check out new digital platform Buttermilk. “Essentially, it is a directory platform to showcase, discover, and support Malaysian artists, ” says Yi Hui, as she is fondly called. “It takes time to manually scour through social media platforms and the Internet to find Malaysian artists. “That’s how I arrived at Buttermilk – a platform to showcase and discover Malaysian artists, ” she shares. However, she is aware that a platform like Buttermilk cannot solve all the woes of Malaysian artists.
Source:The Star
February 17, 2021 07:32 UTC
Brady surprises herself with semi-final after hard lockdown
Some of the 72 players complained bitterly about their limited preparations for the Grand Slam and said the hard lockdown was responsible for their eliminations. "I came out of the quarantine, then we were lucky enough to have a separate tournament for us who were in the hard lockdown. Brady will meet Czech surprise package Karolina Muchova, who stunned world number one Ash Barty, for a place in the final. "I think it says a lot," said Brady, who was beaten by eventual champion Osaka at Flushing Meadows. "Really just knowing I belong at this level, I can compete in the second week of Grand Slams consistently ...
Source:The Star
February 17, 2021 06:56 UTC
Barty heartbroken by loss but happy to be back in the game
"It's heartbreaking, of course," said Barty, who was hoping to become the first homegrown Australian Open champion since Chris O'Neil in 1978. We won't let ... this particular hour of tennis deter us from what we're trying to do." "I felt like I lost control of the ball a little bit," Barty said. Barty said she had entered some upcoming tournaments in the Middle East and would make a final call on where to play after assessing the health risks. That's the name of the game.
Source:The Star
February 17, 2021 05:15 UTC
Japanese author Murakami hosts live jam for relaxation amid pandemic
Japanese author Haruki Murakami has a remedy for those who need relaxation from stress and worries in a pandemic - bossa nova. "As we are going through a time of anxiety, I hope to help you relax even just a little bit, ” Murakami said as he hosted a live music event,"Murakami Jam - Blame It On The Bossa Nova, ” bringing together renowned Japanese performers of bossa nova, jazz and classical music. Murakami, who on his radio show has expressed concern about prejudice and discrimination against coronavirus patients, said he finds that the rhythm of bossa nova has a healing effect. "I think good music is something that heals people and fires up your kindness, ” he said. Murakami, 72, began writing while running a jazz bar in Tokyo after graduating from university.
Source:The Star
February 17, 2021 03:01 UTC
'Worse than my ex': Myanmar's very online youth take on the junta
HONG KONG (AFP): Their signs say it all: Myanmar's ruling junta is worse than an ex-boyfriend, fouler than fish curry, rejected by millions and more painful than a period. "My ex is bad, but Myanmar military is worse," said another. This social media savvy campaign "is a new, creative type of protesting for Myanmar," said Htaike Htaike Aung, executive director of Myanmar ICT for Development, a Yangon-based digital rights group. Unlike previous generations largely cut off from the world during the 49 years of military rule, these younger Myanmar protesters came of age plugged into the internet zeitgeist. Pulling the plug on all this connectivity will be hard, if not impossible, said Htaike Htaike Aung, the digital rights campaigner.
Source:The Star
February 17, 2021 02:53 UTC
my Say: Statutory bodies need meaningful parliamentary oversight
Its experience is, sadly, not unique as other statutory bodies too are wrestling with the results of past mismanagement and failure in oversight. Statutory bodies may serve as more suitable platforms to execute certain administrative functions or house specific expertise. This is despite many being recipients of government grants, as statutory bodies accrued approximately RM18.1 billion in grants in 2018. There are 86 statutory bodies, more than three quarters of the total 113, which the government has administratively grouped under this description. Statutory bodies, after all, owe their existence, functions and powers to the legislature, and the latter should oversee them meaningfully.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 17, 2021 02:03 UTC
WHO: Virus origin-tracing mission is independent
GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the international expert team on the Covid-19 origin-tracing mission in Wuhan was “independent” and had no affiliation. It’s not, ” WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a virtual press conference from Geneva, stressing that it’s an independent study which is composed of independent individuals from 10 institutions. At Monday’s press conference, Dr Peter Ben Embarek, head of the international expert team in Wuhan, said their report would be a “consensus document”. Longer studies will be needed to “explore some of the hypotheses and advance our understanding about the origin of the virus”. Earlier last week, the international team concluded its month-long research in Wuhan and presented initial findings at a press conference in China, ruling out the hypothesis that the virus escaped from a laboratory.
Source:The Star
February 17, 2021 00:44 UTC
Lights, camera, take off!
Nor is she a property broker or private detective used to observing targets from on high. She’s a freelance photographer who just wants a neat, clean platform in Longlou township in Hainan province for her newest hobby – taking pictures of soaring Chinese carrier rockets. Longlou is a farming community in Wenchang city and is home to the Wenchang Space Launch Center, China’s youngest and only coastal launch facility. “Last year was the 10th anniversary of our relationship and the fifth of our marriage. So, we came up with the idea of rockets, ” he says.
Source:The Star
February 17, 2021 00:33 UTC
Helping frontliners fuel up with coffee
Through its annual Petronas Coffee Break campaign, the company has contributed complimentary coffee and snacks as well as other attractive giveaways to frontliners at 15 hospitals nationwide and to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma). The campaign partners include Nestle Products Sdn Bhd, Etika Sdn Bhd, Delfi Marketing Sdn Bhd, Shopee Mobile Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Adabi Consumer Industries Sdn Bhd, Podirect Trading (M) Sdn Bhd and iNova Pharmaceutical (S) Pte Ltd (M’sia Branch). Introduced in 1998, the Petronas Coffee Break campaign is one of PDB’s flagship road safety campaigns. “We hope the Coffee Break goodies will power their day and remind them to take a break to re-energise, ” he said. In addition to the coffee break campaign, PDB also has a host of offerings for its customers at its stations nationwide.
Source:The Star
February 17, 2021 00:07 UTC
Six-year-old from Masai, Johor, on road to recovery following successful fundraising
A SIX-year-old boy underwent successful heart surgery thanks to kind-hearted Malaysians who donated to his plight through Star Foundation’s Medical Fund programme. Hafiz, whose ambition is to be a firefighter, had a speedy recovery after undergoing heart surgery. Khairul said following the surgery, Hafiz was required to avoid outdoor activities in order for his heart to recover fully. So we recommended immediate closure of Hafiz’s VSD to avoid further deterioration in the aortic valve. Established in 2004, Star Foundation is the charitable arm of Star Media Group aimed at delivering meaningful initiatives with lasting outcomes to a diverse group of beneficiaries.
Source:The Star
February 17, 2021 00:00 UTC
Wife of North Korea's Kim makes first public appearance in a year
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's wife, Ri Sol Ju, appeared in state media for the first time in more than a year on Wednesday, joining her husband at a concert on one of the country's biggest holidays. The official ruling Worker's Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun released photos of the pair at the event to mark the birthday of Kim's late father and former leader Kim Jong Il. The NIS believes Ri and Kim have three children. Ri and Kim smiled as they watched the concert at Mansudae Art Theatre in the capital of Pyongyang. Unlike several previous events, nobody in the photographs published by Rodong Sinmun were wearing masks or maintaining social distancing measures.
Source:The Star
February 17, 2021 00:00 UTC
Enterprising duo make RM19,000 in five days
PETALING JAYA: Good business acumen and determination to succeed brought a RM19,000 windfall to two teenagers who were stuck in their college hostel due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They said that they decided to get extra income as they were stuck in their hostel due to the movement control order. Amzar, from Bachok, and Danish Aiman, from Bangi, both 19, showed via a video clip, which has gone viral, what it took them to make RM19,000 in five days, armed with basic business skills and determination. “In the five days we were stuck at our hostel, we worked hard to promote our business to our friends through WhatsApp and Facebook. “Within the five days, we managed to get RM19,000 in sales, ” Amzar told mStar, The Star’s Malay language portal.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 23:44 UTC
Vaccines to arrive on Sunday
PUTRAJAYA: The day beckons: the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines meant for the Malaysian public will reach the country’s shores this Sunday. This will pave the way for the rollout of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, which will begin in phases from Feb 26. “Here, I am pleased to announce that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will arrive in Malaysia on Feb 21. “This is the meaning of the slogan of the Immunisation Programme –protect yourself, protect all, ” he said. Muhyiddin said the positive impact would be felt when everyone was protected and the Immunisation Programme was rolled out.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 23:03 UTC
Pakatan to fully support immunisation programme
PETALING JAYA: The Opposition will give its full support to the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme by the Federal Government, said Pakatan Harapan Immunisation Committee. “Pakatan will support the efforts of the Health Ministry in the National Immunisation Programme. “The Pakatan Immunisation Committee has studied the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme launched by the Prime Minister and welcomes the government’s planning to implement the immunisation. “The success of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme is important for the recovery of the economy, to lower the Covid-19 infections and to improve the lives of the people. Pakatan also called on the government to include representatives of the Pakatan MPs in the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme committee to show that this is a bipartisan effort and in the interests of the country.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 23:03 UTC
Artist creates fun bovine-themed artworks to welcome Year of the Ox
As raucous festivities are not practical for now, he is welcoming the Year of the Ox in a more sensible way by producing a variety of bovine-themed artworks. “Pieces take anywhere from a few hours to a few days to complete, ” the Bukit Mertajam-based artist explained. There is also a piece depicting an ox hoofing the coronavirus away, and another with a cow sitting atop it. Both represent his hope that the Year of the Ox will finally see the pandemic suppressed. The ox symbolises strength, power and confidence, so hopefully it’ll help us overcome the challenges we currently face, ” he explained.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 22:52 UTC