Dirga plots his way from lower league to the big time
From a player competing in the social league, Dirga is now plying his trade in the big league with Super League side UiTM. For two years, he turned out for Selangor Social League with Puchong Fuerza before joining Police last season. While the majority of the local players coming from sports schools or club academies, the 21-year-old Sabahan had hoped to impress the selectors by playing in the amateur league. And Dirga did enough to catch the eyes of UiTM coach Frank Bernhardt. “I’ll be always grateful to them for placing their faith on a young guy from the amateur league.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 22:47 UTC
Back spasm to blame for Australian Open exit: Dimitrov
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - A back spasm left Grigor Dimitrov unable to put his socks on, let alone pull them up, on Tuesday as the struggling Bulgarian exited the Australian Open quarter-finals with a 2-6 6-4 6-1 6-2 defeat to qualifier Aslan Karatsev. "I just got a back spasm yesterday, and that was it," Dimitrov said. "I couldn't put my socks on before the match, so I knew it was going to be tough. "I'm just going to take the positives out of this situation," said Dimitrov. "What happened, happened.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 10:02 UTC
Shafee may file for contempt against Tommy Thomas over Altantuya remarks implicating Najib
It’s up to him to prove my client is involved in the murder,” Shafee said at a press conference at the court complex here today. That means he believes Najib instructed the murder,” Shafee said. The lawyer added that he is citing Thomas for contempt because the latter does not appear to care about the court’s decision. “This is a direct attack on the court,” Shafee added. He also questioned why Thomas never charged Najib for the murder when he was the AG.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 16, 2021 07:18 UTC
Hsieh doesn't expect sponsors to be lining up
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Hsieh Su-wei won plenty of new admirers at the Australian Open as she leveraged her unorthodox game to an unexpected quarter-final spot, but despite all the added attention the 35-year-old does not expect sponsors to be banging down her door. On Monday, Hsieh's coach revealed she had struggled to find sponsors throughout her career and did not have any endorsement deals. I don't mind if doesn't, because you've seen me do good here. Sponsors in Taiwan have reached out to her before but things did not work out, she added. Only if they're sure they want to have a contract with me can we make it work," Hsieh said.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 07:07 UTC
Female warden at juvenile detention centre arrested for drug abuse
MELAKA: In a twist of irony, a female warden at the Henry Gurney School in Telok Mas found herself behind bars. "The arrest was possible after the senior management of the school alerted my men," he said on Tuesday (Feb 16). He said the suspect, whose youngest child was just three months-old, had been a warden there for 16 years. "From the interrogation, my men discovered that she had been involved in drug abuse for the past five years," he said. Supt Zulkiflee added that the warden had been remanded for three days to assist the investigation under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 07:07 UTC
To combat fashion waste, people are swapping clothes instead of buying new ones
The fashion industry is responsible for up to a tenth of global carbon emissions, according to the United Nations' environment programme. Clothes cause emissions in a wide variety of ways – from their manufacture to transportation and washing by the consumer. Chng first learnt about clothes swapping at a work event five years ago, and decided to change her ways after realising her wardrobe was filled with unworn items. It also holds workshops where customers can learn how to mend or upcycle used clothes. Second-hand shops are not as popular in Asia as in the West, in part because many believe used clothes from strangers could bring bad luck, or be unhygienic.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 06:56 UTC
'Good Samaritan' cheats near-blind retiree of her life savings
Ng Kam Moi, 80, lost RM77,000 on Feb 9 after fallling prey to a "friendly acquaintance". She said the man, who drove a blue BMW, installed a new water filter costing RM7,000 at her home. After that, he started dropping by frequently on the pretext of servicing the machine, and being concerned for her wellbeing. I know a man came to the car, I signed the documents, and a few minutes later, I was handed back an envelope where my certificate is usually kept. She said bank officers should be more vigilant when it came to withdrawals involving large amounts of money, especially by senior citizens.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 05:37 UTC
Egypt’s farmers tap new technology to save water and boost crops
Even if they are away from their fields, farmers can tell whether their crops need more water or have had enough. The aim is to reduce water use, increase crop productivity and lower production costs as Egypt faces increasing water pressures, he said. A 2019 report by the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies noted that every year agriculture consumes more than 85% of the country’s share of the Nile, which provides the bulk of Egypt’s water supply. “Some companies in Egypt are already starting to apply (mobile irrigation technology) in agriculture for better quality and management,” he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. But, she believes that embracing new irrigation trends and evolving attitudes about water consumption will help Egypt’s farmers deal with whatever comes down the line.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 05:26 UTC
Don't ignore cancer in times of Covid-19
Delay in careThe redeployment of beds, equipment and staff to Covid-19 wards has impacted directly and indirectly on cancer care. There are also concerns about the susceptibility of cancer patients to severe Covid-19. While the official position is that cancer care is continuing, the reality is that rationing is taking place, as evidenced by the relative allocation for cancer care in Budget 2021 approved by Parliament. — TNSDelayed diagnosis leads to cancer cases going undetected and untreated with consequent in-crease in demand for cancer services if and when the pandemic is contained. “This World Cancer Day, who are you and what will you do?”Like Covid-19, cancer does not distinguish who will be affected.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 04:52 UTC
To help an ‘other’ is the real recipe for change
This week I wish to deliberate considerably on a simple act that can have huge ramifications for political change. The greatest thing I owe him is the trust he has in me to change the university and our country, Malaysia. As a person who keeps writing and thinking and talking about change in the country, I have always emphasised changing ourselves as citizens. Because every time we change others, we change ourselves too. If a billion people helped one other person in one year, we would have change of global proportions.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 04:17 UTC
Communication and understanding key to successful marriage, says Sabah couple
The 56-year-old Jeannette said it was initially difficult for her to adjust when she moved to Sabah to be with Ahmad Shah, who is now 63. Looking back on her 34 years of marriage, she said the most crucial factors in keeping a marriage happy are compromise and understanding. “The key to a happy marriage is also honesty, mutual respect, and of course love for each other, ” Jeannette said, adding that it is not always easy to look past minor annoyances. Jeannette added that she and Ahmad Shah make it a point to not let others disrupt their marriage. Meanwhile, Ahmad Shah said men should accept their partners' strengths and weaknesses, make each other their priority and compromise on each other’s flaws.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 03:56 UTC
Everyday Matters: How to do it right
She also says the Ox can save us from disaster and help reconstruct our world because the Ox is a builder. It is sad that cultural insensitivities (in a country famed for its multicultural diversity) were paraded for all to see. During a crisis, stakeholders want updates regularly — even if there is nothing “new”. When you share information with the public and other stakeholders, you need to do it with candour, credibility and concern. In our eyes, our government must provide robust leadership in crisis management and may be held accountable in the end if they do not.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 16, 2021 03:33 UTC
Osaka thrashes Hsieh to reach Australian Open semi-finals
MELBOURNE (Reuters) - The brute force of Naomi Osaka crushed the artistry of Hsieh Su-wei as the Japanese former champion charged into the Australian Open semi-finals with a 6-2 6-2 win on Tuesday. Osaka had a torrid time in her last Australian Open clash against Hsieh in 2019, needing to come back from a set and a break down on the way to claiming the championship. Having suffered some famous wobbles in the past, there was no hint of frustration from Osaka when Hsieh saved two match points. She bided her time to claim the win on the third when an overwhelmed Hsieh floated a sliced backhand long. "Even today when I had two match points and she saved them ...
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 03:08 UTC
Khairy: First shipment of Covid-19 vaccine to be 312,390 doses
PETALING JAYA: A total of 312,390 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines will be flown in as the first shipment, says Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (pic). “There, it will be sorted and sent to various vaccine storage sites around the country, ” Khairy wrote on Twitter. Earlier, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine will arrive in the country on Feb 21. "This is the meaning of the slogan of the immunisation programme - protect yourself, protect all," he said. He said the positive impact would be felt when everyone was protected and the immunisation programme was rolled out.
Source:The Star
February 16, 2021 02:55 UTC
Money parenting becomes challenging as financial landscape changes
Eastspring Investments Bhd chief sales and marketing officer Yap Siok Hoon says Malaysian parents are more confident than those in other Asian countries when it comes to money parenting, the process of educating children about money matters. According to Eastspring’s report entitled “#Money Parenting: Do it right together”, Malaysian parents have a score of 0.67 in the Money Parenting Confidence Index, which was developed by the asset management firm to gauge the confidence level of parents in educating their children on money. However, the task is getting increasingly challenging given how fast the global economic environment and financial industry are changing. Money can be invested offline through unit trust agents or financial planners, or online through platforms like Fundsupermart.com, various robo-advisory and alternative financing platforms. She says the government can make money matters and financial planning part of the school syllabus.
Source:The Edge Markets
February 16, 2021 02:03 UTC