U.S. citizens killed in Israel festival disaster, anger mounts
At least 45 people were crushed to death and more than 100 injured at the ultra-Orthodox Jewish festival on the slopes of Israel's Mount Meron, held overnight between Thursday and Friday. A U.S. Embassy representative said: "We can confirm that multiple U.S. citizens were among the casualties". U.S. media have identified some of the dead, including a 19-year-old American citizen who was in Israel on a gap year. Two Canadians were killed in the disaster, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday. Public Security Minister Amir Ohana and Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai both said on Saturday they will co-operate fully with any probe.
Source:The Star
May 01, 2021 06:49 UTC
Why am I in this meeting?? Expert gives tips on battling Zoom excess
Video calls have been replacing team meetings and all other kinds of chats with colleagues. Since we can’t see each other, the number of online meetings and emails is going up," says business consultant Teresa Hertwig. "Team leaders should also proactively call on employees to communicate openly and, if necessary, say, 'I don’t need to be in this meeting.'" Emails are not enough when working remotelyAccording to Hertwig, writing an email isn’t better than holding a well-structured video conference. Longer video conferences with the entire team, for example, shouldn’t take place more than once a week, if possible.
Source:The Star
May 01, 2021 04:30 UTC
From flipping burgers to flipping the truth
RECENTLY, most right-thinking Malaysians were shocked by revelations that several traders had been slapped with RM50,000 fines for violating Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOP). Every story has a flip side, and the least we can do is to refrain from prematurely jumping to conclusions. Dribs and drabs of information have now surfaced, including allegations that this is not the trader’s first violation. Or do we prefer the “high” of being whipped into a frenzy by getting on our so-called “moral high horse”? By allowing others to press our buttons without us verifying the truth, we stand to demoralise these frontliners.
Source:The Star
May 01, 2021 00:34 UTC
Don’t let economic progress kill our heritage
Unfortunately, my old school, Bukit Bintang Girls School (BBGS), could not escape the axe. But to the old girls, BBGS lives on in our hearts forever. Everything that holds some history from the old days is being wiped out. What I would like to know is do we really need so many shopping malls, high-rise apartments and office space? My guess is some super wealthy people just needed to make more money and looked for land to develop.
Source:The Star
May 01, 2021 00:33 UTC
Show compassion to those seeking aid
As the saying goes: "It never rains but it pours": He has exhausted all his savings, including EPF, forcing him to seek financial assistance from the Welfare Department. I would like to appeal to the decision makers at the Social Welfare Department to be more humane in managing the poor, disabled and weak. I suggest that an officer be assigned at the counter of all offices of the Social Welfare Department throughout the country, to attend to the people who walk in. The staff at the Social Welfare Department, who are civil servants, must listen intently to the grievances and rumblings of the “rakyat” and ensure that they serve the public efficiently. Why weren’t the phone calls to the Jalan Pahang office not answered?
Source:The Star
May 01, 2021 00:22 UTC
Kurniawan wants Sabah to keep unbeaten run going
KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto (pic) is a hard man to please. After seeing his team go unbeaten in their last three Super League matches, he has called on his players to keep the run going when they take on Perak at home tomorrow. The Rhinos drew their away matches twice – 2-2 with Selangor away and 1-1 with Penang. We must get full points against Perak and Melaka as these two teams are closest to us in the standings. After 10 matches, Sabah are ninth with 10 points, the same as Melaka, who occupy eighth spot on goal difference.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 22:54 UTC
Football: Panthers ready to strike
They have gained confidence after three wins and two draws and are currently fourth on 19 points, three points behind their second-placed rivals. “Terengganu are having a good season which is not surprising as they are a well-organised side. “We must be on our toes at all times as their wingers, in my opinion, are Terengganu’s most dangerous weapon. “The chemistry in the squad is much better, relationship between players and coaches is good... everything points to a good season for us. “I hope I can contribute to Terengganu’s good form against Penang.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 22:48 UTC
Maradona care 'deficient and reckless' before death, medical board report finds
BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - A medical board appointed to investigate the death of Diego Maradona has concluded that the soccer star's medical team acted in an "inappropriate, deficient and reckless manner," according to a copy of the report shared with Reuters on Friday. In March this year, a medical board appointed by the Justice Ministry met to analyze allegations that members of the health team who attended Maradona did not treat him adequately. "The action of the health team in charge of treating DAM (Diego Armando Maradona) was inadequate, deficient and reckless," said the medical board report dated April 30 and shared with Reuters by a source close to the investigation. The report said Maradona had become seriously unwell and was dying for around 12 hours before his death at around midday on Nov. 25. (Reporting by Juan Bustamante, Writing by Maximilian Heath; Editing by Nicolás Misculin, Adam Jourdan and Richard Chang)
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 21:56 UTC
My Say: China’s outlook: Upside in near term but what of the long term?
Near term: Fair chance of upside surpriseWe see the Chinese economy growing well above 8% this year, powered mainly by robust exports. That will help Chinese exports of electronic gadgets and high-tech components. If true, that means that the demographic headwinds to China’s economic growth have appeared much earlier than expected. If Chinese economic growth surges in the second half to well over 9%, as is possible, our region would benefit strongly. Third, as China’s economy outperforms expectations, its currency would tend to strengthen again.
Source:The Edge Markets
April 30, 2021 18:22 UTC
UK's Truss expects Airbus-Boeing row to be resolved by July
GENEVA/LONDON/WASHINGTON (April 30): British trade minister Liz Truss expects the trade dispute over Airbus and Boeing to be resolved by July, when a freeze on tit-for-tat tariffs expires, she told Reuters on Friday. The tariff battle involving the United States, the European Union and Britain relates to a row over state subsidies for the two planemakers. Truss said she is "hugely hopeful" of progress on reform of the 25-year-old trade body ahead of a major meeting in December, stressing it is very important that its Appellate Body, which rules on trade feuds, be fixed. Truss stressed that a solution should be "binding", in an apparent contrast to a temporary, voluntary work-around backed by the EU and others. Truss also called for a WTO resolution on getting stronger industrial subsidy rules, including for China, a matter she is advocating while Britain holds the presidency of the G7 group of nations this year.
Source:The Edge Markets
April 30, 2021 17:48 UTC
Woman found dead at Melaka oil palm estate leaves final instructions in letter
ALOR GAJAH: Police have discovered a letter left by a 43-year-old woman who was found dead in an oil palm estate at Jalan Kolam, Machap Baru here. Alor Gajah OCPD Supt Arshad Abu said the letter was found on the dashboard of the woman's car. It tells the police to contact a woman who will bring them to meet the daughter of the deceased to arrange her funeral. He said there were food packets and alcoholic beverages inside the car when the body was found. Supt Arshad said based on preliminary findings, the woman could have died about two days ago.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 11:48 UTC
Thai protest leader hospitalised after 46-day hunger strike
BANGKOK (Reuters) - A Thai anti-government protest leader held in pre-trial detention on charges of insulting the country's monarchy has been hospitalised following 46 days of hunger strike, the corrections department said on Friday. On Thursday the court rejected a bail request, saying its previous reasons still applied. Each perceived insult of Thailand's monarchy can be punishable by up to 15 years in prison under its lese majeste law. The court set a bail hearing for May 6, which his lawyer Krisadang Nutcharat said was a positive sign because the court previously did not set hearing dates. Protest leaders have also called for reform of the monarchy and abolition of the lese majeste law.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 11:28 UTC
In a no-holds-barred last PC, outgoing IGP says ministers must not interfere in the management of police force
The outgoing Inspector-General of Police said a minister should not interfere in the management of the police force. Abdul Hamid lamented his frustrations over the interference of Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin in the SPP. I have no intentions of extending my contract, I will hand over the reigns to Datuk Seri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani on Monday," Abdul Hamid said. The IGP said he had no issue with Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was also the Home Minister when Pakatan Harapan was in power. Abdul Hamid said he will leave it to Acryl Sani to remedy the situation.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 11:03 UTC
Covid-19: Five districts in Kedah under MCO from May 1-14
PUTRAJAYA: Five districts in Kedah will be placed under the movement control order following a spike in Covid-19 cases. Kota Star, Kuala Muda, Bandar Baharu, Baling and Kulim will be under the MCO from May 1 to 14. Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that over the period of 14 days, health authorities confirmed a total of 709 active cases in the five districts. "After a joint risk assessment with various agencies, the MCO technical committee with the advice of the Health Ministry has agreed to place these five districts in Kedah under MCO. "This is to prevent further infectivity considering the use of public health capacity, laboratories and hospitals in Kedah has increased," the Defence Minister said.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 10:23 UTC
Cambodians complain of lockdown hunger as outbreak takes toll on poor
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Residents in Cambodia's capital gathered on Friday to demand food from the government, outraged at what they called inadequate aid distribution during a tough COVID-19 lockdown that bars people from leaving their homes. The government has asked residents to apply for food aid. "We registered for food donation a long time ago," said factory worker Net Channy, 31. Amnesty International on Friday called Cambodia's lockdown an emerging humanitarian and human rights crisis, with nearly 294,000 people in Phnom Penh at risk of going hungry. "The Cambodian government's outrageous mishandling of this COVID-19 lockdown is causing untold suffering and sweeping human rights violations," Yamini Mishra, its Asia-Pacific regional director, said in a statement.
Source:The Star
April 30, 2021 09:29 UTC