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1,282,290 | Analysis-Mexican president aims to forge legacy, trap opposition with unlikely reforms | MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The bumper reforms package Mexico's president stitched together in the dying days of his presidency may fizzle in the legislature but it points to his desire to build a legacy and mould the political agenda of his handpicked successor.
Making no secret that the package is an attempt to influence the debate before the June 2 poll his protégé Claudia Sheinbaum is favored to win, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has conceded it's unlikely Congress would pass many of his proposed 18 constitutional and two legal reforms.
Yet the breadth of the changes spanning generous pensions, above-inflation minimum wake hikes, election of judges by a popular vote and many other modifications may put the opposition on the defensive while leaving his stamp on the country, analysts say.
"This legislative package seeks to consolidate his legacy by changing many of the institutions set up since the 1980s that he believes were designed to benefit special interests," said Daniel Kerner, Eurasia's managing director for Latin America.
The package, which would hike pensions to cover 100% of final salaries of some employees, doubles up as an attempt to "shape" Sheinbaum's policy program, Kerner added.
Other key reforms envisage abolishing many autonomous and regulatory bodies which act as a check on presidential power and reducing the size of a Congress Lopez Obrador deems bloated.
As the president's ruling Morena party lacks a qualified majority in Congress necessary to change the constitution, it is likely to be down to Mexico City Mayor Sheinbaum to take the baton given her wide poll lead in the presidential race.
Some opposition parties have already announced that they will only support a handful of the proposed changes - depriving Lopez Obrador of a chance to deepen what he terms Mexico's "Fourth Transformation", his national revival project.
The most likely reforms to pass are the least contentious ones, including prohibiting animal abuse, establishing extra support for agricultural workers and an obligation to raise the minimum wage above inflation.
Targeting Mexico's vast income gap, Lopez Obrador's administration has raised the minimum wage by double digits every year since he took office at the end of 2018. The policy has been one of Morena's most popular given that roughly half of Mexicans earn the minimum wage.
'INTERESTING COCKTAIL'
Still, Lopez Obrador may have succeeded in putting the opposition in a bind. If they vote down popular reforms like his pension hike plan which critics slam as endangering fiscal stability and undermining investor confidence, they risk being perceived as a brake on prosperity, analysts say.
And if Lopez Obrador's administration rams through all, or some, of the proposals, it will be a triumph that signals to many the need to keep Morena in power.
"Without a doubt the president has made an interesting cocktail with this decision: he dominates the media agenda, offers his candidates a popular electoral script and forces the opposition to define itself and puts them on the defensive," said Antonio Ocaranza, analyst and one-time spokesman for ex-president Ernesto Zedillo.
Lopez Obrador's critics dismiss the reforms as an attempt to distract from his failures like rampant drug violence and a weak public healthcare system. His administration has also fallen short in addressing the country's worsening water shortages.
Yet Lopez Obrador's populist package looks like a wining electoral strategy, Ocaranza said.
"It has been a master move to dominate the conversation until election day," he added.
($1 = 17.0760 Mexican pesos)
(Reporting by Diego Oré; Editing by Drazen Jorgic and Andrea Ricci) | News | World | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The bumper reforms package Mexico's president stitched together in the dying days of his presidency may fizzle in the legislature but it points to his desire to build a legacy and mould the political agenda of his handpicked successor. | https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2024/02/12/analysis-mexican-president-aims-to-forge-legacy-trap-opposition-with-unlikely-reforms | |
1,282,286 | Death toll from Philippines landslide jumps to 68 | MANILA (Reuters) - The death toll from a landslide in the southern Philippines has climbed to 68 as officials said on Monday the window of finding more survivors is closing.
Rescuers were looking for 51 more people in the wake of the Feb. 6 landslide, which struck outside a gold mine in Maco town in Davao de Oro province and buried homes and vehicles that were supposed to ferry employees of the mining company.
Disaster authorities plan to shift their focus from search and rescue to search and retrieval beginning on Tuesday, Maco town disaster officer Ariel Capoy said.
Torrential rains have battered Davao de Oro in recent weeks, triggering floods and landslides, forcing many families to flee their homes.
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, was providing $1.25 million in humanitarian aid to the affected communities in the southern islands, its embassy in Manila said in a statement.
The U.S. Defense Department also provided two C-130 cargo planes to help deliver food packs in the affected communities.
(Reporting by Mikhail Flores, Editing by William Maclean) | News | World | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | MANILA (Reuters) - The death toll from a landslide in the southern Philippines has climbed to 68 as officials said on Monday the window of finding more survivors is closing. | https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2024/02/12/death-toll-from-philippines-landslide-jumps-to-68 | |
1,282,266 | Thai PM urges royal convoy debate in 'safe spaces' after violence | BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's prime minister called for dialogue in "safe spaces" on Monday over the once-taboo issue of royal family motorcades, after more than a dozen people were injured in weekend brawls between ultra-royalists and monarchy-reform activists.
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's comments came amid a public row triggered earlier this month when monarchy-reform activist Tantawan "Tawan" Tuatulanon, 22, did a live broadcast on her Facebook account showing her arguing with police officers who were blocking cars for a passing royal motorcade.
The monarchy, which many Thais consider sacrosanct, is officially above politics and constitutionally enshrined to be held in "revered worship". Insulting the monarchy carries penalties of up to 15 years in prison under Article 112 of Thailand's criminal code.
Several local media reported that the car Tantawan was riding in, prior to the video, was allegedly honking and trying to overtake the motorcade carrying Princess Sirindhorn, the sister of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, on an expressway in Bangkok.
The police are considering taking legal action against Tantawan and fellow activist over the Feb. 4 motorcade incident, Police Chief Torsak Sukvimol told reporters on Monday.
Tantawan, who already is facing royal insult charges for previously discussing royal motorcade issue, apologising for driving recklessly on Feb. 4 in a Facebook post on Monday, and denied that her car was trying to harass or block the royal convoy.
On Saturday, a group of ultra-royalists angered by the motorcade incident clashed with Tantawan and her fellow activists at a skytrain station as they were planning to hold a press conference in front of a shopping mall in central Bangkok.
Prime Minister Srettha condemned the violence and urged the activists to seek to discuss the issue in "safe spaces".
"We have parliament, we have academics, we should discuss the issue in appropriate venues," he said. "Not in venues that are confrontational, like malls or public places, those are inappropriate."
Srettha also stressed that the government must prioritise the safety of the royal family and said he had discussed the matter with the police chief and other security officials.
Just a few years ago, even discussing royal motorcades in public would have been almost unthinkable.
A youth-led political movement that emerged in 2020 and broke traditional taboos by calling for the reform of the powerful monarchy has previously criticised the blocking of traffic for royal motorcades.
The Thai government in late 2020 said the king was concerned and the police had adjusted security protocols to reduce disruption for the public.
(Reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat and Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by Alex Richardson) | News | World | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's prime minister called for dialogue in "safe spaces" on Monday over the once-taboo issue of royal family motorcades, after more than a dozen people were injured in weekend brawls between ultra-royalists and monarchy-reform activists. | https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2024/02/12/thai-pm-urges-royal-convoy-debate-in-039safe-spaces039-after-violence | |
1,282,253 | Kremlin denies its troops use Elon Musk's Starlink | MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet system was neither certified for use in, nor officially supplied to, Russia, and therefore could not be used.
Ukraine, which has used Starlink for military communications throughout its conflict with Russia, said on Sunday that Russian troops were using Starlink in parts of Ukraine they control.
In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "This is not a certified system with us; accordingly, it cannot be officially supplied here and is not officially supplied. Accordingly, it cannot be used officially in any way."
"That is why here, perhaps, we should not intrude into the discussion between the Kyiv regime and the entrepreneur Musk", he said, referring to the Ukrainian government.
The Ukrainian defence ministry's Main Directorate of Intelligence said in a statement on Sunday that Starlink terminals were being used by units such as Russia's 83rd Air Assault Brigade, which is fighting near the towns of Klishchiivka and Andriivka in the eastern region of Donetsk.
In a post on X on Sunday, Musk said: "To the best of our knowledge, no Starlinks have been sold directly or indirectly to Russia."
"A number of false news reports claim that SpaceX is selling Starlink terminals to Russia," Musk said in the post on X, which he also owns. "This is categorically false."
(Writing by Felix Light, Editing by Gareth Jones and Timothy Heritage) | News | World | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin said on Monday that Elon Musk's Starlink satellite internet system was neither certified for use in, nor officially supplied to, Russia, and therefore could not be used. | https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2024/02/12/kremlin-denies-its-troops-use-elon-musk039s-starlink | |
1,282,243 | Political leaders wrangle over premiership after inconclusive Pakistan vote | ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's two largest political parties are wrangling over who will take the prime minister's job after inconclusive elections last week forced them to join forces to gain a majority in a parliament dominated by independents backed by Imran Khan.
The squabbling is likely to deepen concerns about the stability of the nuclear-armed nation which is mired in an economic crisis and battling a surge in militant violence. Pakistan's benchmark share index fell 2.1% on Monday, its first day of trading after the results.
In a statement late on Sunday, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif - who won the largest number of seats after the independents - and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of assassinated former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, said they were committed to "putting the nation's interest and well-being above everything" and "to steering Pakistan away from political instability and towards a path of prosperity and resilience".
A successful coalition between both parties would decrease the leverage of candidates supported by Khan, a former prime minister who has fallen foul of the influential military and is now in jail for corruption, and who won 93 of the 264 seats that were contested in the election.
Some candidates, formerly of Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), could join either party, or form a coalition with a smaller party to block either candidate, analysts say. Many more former PTI members who did not win seats are also contesting the result in court, which could further snarl the coalition talks.
The PTI declined to comment about the candidates plans.
Officials from both the PML-N and the PPP, however, said talks were snagged over which leader would take the top job.
"Both sides are interested to form a coalition, but there is no breakthrough so far. Both parties want the office of prime minister," a top PML-N leader close to the Sharifs told Reuters.
The PML-N has not named its prime ministerial candidate, but officials say the choice will be between Nawaz Sharif, 74, who was prime minister three times in the past, and his younger brother Shehbaz, 72, who held the post for 18 months until August last year.
The PPP has always maintained Bhutto Zardari as its political scion, and if successful, the 35-year-old former foreign minister would become Pakistan's youngest premier since his mother Benazir was in office.
"Our party wants Bilawal as prime minister," PPP leader Faisal Kareem Kundi told Geo TV, adding that independents were joining his party. "No one can form a government without us."
To become prime minister, a candidate has to show they have a simple majority of 169 seats out of the 336-member National Assembly when it is called into session in the next few weeks.
Several political parties and candidates have called for protests against the results, alleging they have been rigged. PTI supporters blocked traffic in the northern city of Peshawar, but a largescale protest the party had threatened to hold if the results were not released on Sunday was called off.
(Writing by YP Rajesh; editing by Miral Fahmy) | News | World | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's two largest political parties are wrangling over who will take the prime minister's job after inconclusive elections last week forced them to join forces to gain a majority in a parliament dominated by independents backed by Imran Khan. | https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2024/02/12/political-leaders-wrangle-over-premiership-after-inconclusive-pakistan-vote | |
1,282,219 | 'Jokowi effect': How Indonesia's outgoing leader shaped election to succeed him | SEMARANG, Indonesia (Reuters) - His name is not on the ballot, but Indonesia's wildly popular President Joko Widodo, or "Jokowi", looms large over Wednesday's election in the world's third-largest democracy, and nowhere more than in his home province of Central Java.
Campaign posters plastered along the riverside in provincial capital Semarang proclaim "Jokowi Chooses Gerindra" - a reference not to the president's own political party but that of his erstwhile rival, Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto.
Jokowi officially has not endorsed anyone in the race to succeed him, but his son's status as Prabowo's running mate is widely presumed as a presidential seal of approval.
After serving the maximum two terms, Jokowi will step down this October, but with an 80% approval rating he holds huge sway over Indonesia's 205 million voters.
Prabowo, who lost to Jokowi in the last two presidential elections, holds a commanding lead this time, with analysts crediting perceived backing by the incumbent - a phenomenon some call "the Jokowi effect".
The effect is particularly pronounced in Central Java, where former Governor Ganjar Pranowo - once seen as Jokowi's natural successor - has all but lost his home advantage.
The turning point came when Prabowo added Jokowi's 36-year-old son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, to his ticket, said Kennedy Muslim, an analyst from polling institute Indikator Politik.
"That single consequential manoeuvre has paid off handsomely in the polls for the last three months in boosting Prabowo's support," Muslim said, describing a "drastic migration of Jokowi loyalists".
It's unclear if Prabowo's double-digit lead over Ganjar and former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan will deliver the over 50% votes needed to avoid a runoff, though recent polls put him in a strong position.
A year ago, the election frontrunner was the photogenic Ganjar – a fellow member of Jokowi's Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) hoping to mirror his path from hard-working provincial chief to leader of Southeast's Asia biggest economy.
But in recent months, that picture radically altered as Jokowi appeared to shift closer to Prabowo amid reports of a rift between the president and PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Sukarnoputri.
"BLOOD THICKER THAN PARTY"
Since Prabowo controversially named Jokowi's son as his running mate in October, Ganjar's ratings in the Javanese heartland have plunged 30 points to 38% from 68%, while Prabowo's popularity has now eclipsed his.
"The sudden collapse of Ganjar's poll numbers, even in Central Java and East Java, is also because of this 'Jokowi effect'," said Muslim. "Demonstrating how powerful and consequential Jokowi's influence is...the ultimate kingmaker."
"Blood is thicker than political parties," said Sudaryono, the head of Prabowo's party in Central Java.
Agus, a 50-year-old who runs a market stall in Semarang, said: "When people see Gibran, they see Jokowi. If Gibran wasn't there, Prabowo would drop for sure."
Prabowo has undeniably run a savvy campaign, swapping former nationalistic tirades for cute dances and adopting the nickname "gemoy", meaning cute and cuddly.
At a carnival-like campaign in Tegal city, also in Central Java, complete with live music, door prizes and jumping castles, hundreds of fans in baby-blue shirts featuring Prabowo's AI-avatar braved the piercing heat to attend.
"I like his free food for school children programme," said Isnaeni, a 28-year-old mother of two, "Prabowo loves the people."
Nevertheless, Jokowi's implicit support has been crucial, said analyst Kevin O'Rourke.
"Jokowi has been a gigantic factor. Mostly it's just about him. And he has a formula that makes him popular: low inflation, social service spending and infrastructure development, and a disposition that people like," he said.
"CONVERT THE LOVE"
Observers have pointed to a worrying democratic backslide in Indonesia, but Prabowo's alleged dark past and criticism of dynastic politics appear to matter little at the grassroots, where millions identify with Jokowi's humble persona and attention to ordinary Indonesians.
When the constitutional court, at the time headed by the president's brother-in-law, changed the age eligibility rules that enabled Gibran to run for vice president, an online outcry did not trigger mass street protests.
In the past month, Jokowi has travelled to Central Java at least three times to distribute fertiliser, rice and cash assistance, raising questions about his declared neutrality.
"It's pork barrelling," said Nur Hidayat Sardini, a lecturer at Semarang's Dipenogoro University. "The social assistance has been massive."
The impact on Ganjar's campaign, lamented PDI-P's Bambang Wuryanto, has been like a "a big bomb".
The government has denied that any one candidate benefits from the social assistance programme. The president's office has not responded to questions about the neutrality complaints.
Sudaryono, from Prabowo's party, said the task was to "convert the love into votes" adding that many Indonesians were drawn to the defence minister's pledge of "continuity" of Jokowi's policies.
But analysts say such continuity is far from guaranteed.
"The vast bulk of power resides with the office of the president," said O'Rourke. "And on October 20 that will change, and Widodo will be out of power."
(Additional Reporting by Ananda Teresia; Editing by Kay Johnson and Raju Gopalakrishnan) | News | World | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | SEMARANG, Indonesia (Reuters) - His name is not on the ballot, but Indonesia's wildly popular President Joko Widodo, or "Jokowi", looms large over Wednesday's election in the world's third-largest democracy, and nowhere more than in his home province of Central Java. | https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2024/02/12/039jokowi-effect039-how-indonesia039s-outgoing-leader-shaped-election-to-succeed-him | |
1,282,216 | One in five of world's migratory species at risk of extinction - UN report | SINGAPORE (Reuters) - More than a fifth of the world's migrating species are at risk of going extinct as a result of climate change and human encroachment, according to the United Nation's first-ever report on migrating animals published on Monday.
Billions of animals make journeys across deserts, plains or oceans every year to breed and feed, and "unsustainable" pressures put on migratory species could not only see their populations dwindle, but also disrupt food supplies and threaten livelihoods, the report said.
Of the 1,189 species covered by a 1979 U.N. convention to protect migratory animals, 44% have seen numbers decline, and as many as 22% could vanish altogether, the report added.
The numbers were based on assessments and data provided by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as well as the Living Planet Index, which collates population numbers for more than 5,000 species from 1970 onwards.
The report, released on Monday, gives "a very clear direction" about what governments need to do to tackle the threats to migratory species, said Amy Fraenkel, executive secretary of the U.N. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals.
"It's always about implementation," she said ahead of the convention's meeting, held this week in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
Humans pose the biggest threat, with activities including hunting, fishing and other forms of overexploitation impacting 70% of the species on the U.N. list.
Habitat loss affected up to 75% of the species – underlining the need for more connectivity between isolated ecosystems. The report's authors urged governments to avoid disrupting habitats and migration paths when installing infrastructure such as dams, pipelines or wind turbines.
"We need to look at the top levels of government decision making," said Fraenkel "and what is being planned so that we can make sure that we can ... address human needs while not sacrificing the nature we all need to survive."
The pressures are being compounded by temperature changes, which disrupt the timing of migrations, cause heat stress and drive increasingly destructive weather-related events such as drought or forest fires.
"The changes that had been already predicted some years ago are now happening," Fraenkel said.
Parties to the Convention meet every three years to review new species to add to its watchlist. Among the animals being considered at this week's Samarkand meeting will be the giant Amazon catfish.
The agency will also launch a new program to provide technical assistance for countries to protect habitats more effectively, Fraenkel said.
Conservationists urged governments to honour their 2022 pledge under the new global biodiversity agreement to set aside 30% of the world's land and sea territories for nature by 2030.
"If governments do everything they have committed to do, then the next (U.N. report) will have some good news," said Susan Lieberman, vice-president of international policy at the Wildlife Conservation Society, who is attending the Samarkand meeting.
(Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Katy Daigle and Miral Fahmy) | News | World | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | SINGAPORE (Reuters) - More than a fifth of the world's migrating species are at risk of going extinct as a result of climate change and human encroachment, according to the United Nation's first-ever report on migrating animals published on Monday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2024/02/12/one-in-five-of-world039s-migratory-species-at-risk-of-extinction---un-report | |
1,282,187 | Indian police block roads to halt farmers marching to New Delhi | NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian police on Monday blocked roads to halt farmers who were marching to New Delhi to press for the better crop prices promised to them in 2021 when thousands of growers camped out on major highways leading to the country's capital.
Some government ministers are expected to meet farm union leaders on Monday to avoid a repeat of the year-long protest, which was aimed at forcing the government to repeal farm laws designed to deregulate vast agricultural markets.
The march comes just months before national elections in India, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi is widely expected to win a third term.
India's millions of farmers form an influential voting bloc and ruling parties try to keep growers on their side.
Television footage showed farmers in tractors driving towards Delhi from the northern Indian breadbasket states of Punjab and Haryana, and barriers including barbed wire fencing and cement blocks put up on the edges of the city to stop them. Police also issued orders prohibiting public gatherings in Delhi.
The farmers have come out after a call by union leaders to demand higher support or guaranteed prices for their produce, and press the government to meet its promise to double farmers' income.
"We will move peacefully and our objective is that the government listen to our demands," Sarvan Singh Pandher, general secretary of Punjab Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee, told news agency ANI.
The government announces support prices for more than 20 crops each year to set a benchmark, but state agencies buy only rice and wheat at the support level, which benefits only about 6% of farmers who raise those two crops.
In 2021, when Modi's administration repealed the farm laws after the farmers protested, the government said it would set up a panel of growers and government officials to find ways to ensure support prices for all farm produce.
Farmers accuse the government of going slow that promise.
(Reporting by Shivam Patel and Mayank Bhardwaj. Editing by Gerry Doyle) | News | World | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Indian police on Monday blocked roads to halt farmers who were marching to New Delhi to press for the better crop prices promised to them in 2021 when thousands of growers camped out on major highways leading to the country's capital. | https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2024/02/12/indian-police-block-roads-to-halt-farmers-marching-to-new-delhi | |
1,282,173 | Ukrainian family hopes for father's return from Russian captivity | KYIV (Reuters) - Every Sunday in Kyiv, two-year-old Tymofii carries a picture of his father at rallies organised by activists and family members to remind citizens of the thousands of Ukrainian soldiers being held as prisoners of war by Russia.
Tymofii was not yet one when he last saw his father Denys Chumak, who was captured while fighting in the besieged southeastern Ukrainian port city of Mariupol in May 2022.
"I am not alone," said his mother and Denys' wife Alisa, referring to the crowd of about 100 people.
"On the one hand, this makes it easier but on the other it's more painful, because there are many other women like me, many children like my son."
Ukraine says there are around 8,000 people - civilians as well as military personnel - who remain in Russian captivity as a result of Moscow's full-scale invasion that began two years ago this month.
Mariupol witnessed some of the fiercest fighting of the war. Ukrainian security forces, including Denys, struggled for months to repel the invading Russians before Kyiv ordered them to surrender when further defence became impossible.
The Chumaks had made the city their home in 2020 and Tymofii was born there. When he was eight months old, Alisa fled with him while Denys stayed to fight with the National Guard.
"Denys and I dreamed that he would come back before Tymofii turned one. But his first birthday went by without Denys," said Alisa. "Tymofii took his first step without him, spoke his first word ... And we are still waiting."
'JUST A PICTURE'
The hardest part of separation has been raising her son without a father. The lack of male attention had already made the boy "very lonely".
Alisa, 25, tries to foster Timofii's connection with Denys, now 30, by showing the child the few pictures of them together.
"His father is just a picture," she said.
The last day they both saw Denys in spring, 2022, reminds her of "horrible war movies". As she stood outside in slippers, shaken by the shelling earlier that day, Denys handed her some diapers, food, and storage batteries for the shelter.
In the rush they didn't even have time to hug – Denys said he loved them and jumped into the car. In the months that followed, he helped defend the Azovstal steel works as Russian troops encircled the city.
The next time Alisa saw Denys was in a video from the Olenivka detention facility in Russian-controlled Ukraine in the summer of 2022. He was moved to Russia that autumn, she added.
Alisa then spotted her husband on a Russian Telegram channel in summer 2023, recognizable but "looking 10 years older". She has not seen him since.
Ukrainian authorities say about 50 prisoner exchanges involving some 3,000 people, mostly from the armed forces, have taken place since the war began.
Last week Russia and Ukraine exchanged 100 POWs from each side, with the United Arab Emirates acting as intermediary. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the majority of the POWs brought home had taken part in the defence of Mariupol.
Alisa said international pressure could help secure further swaps.
"While people remember and remind others about it, my husband and other POWs still have a chance to come back alive," she said.
(Writing by Anastasiia Malenko; Editing by Gareth Jones) | News | World | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | KYIV (Reuters) - Every Sunday in Kyiv, two-year-old Tymofii carries a picture of his father at rallies organised by activists and family members to remind citizens of the thousands of Ukrainian soldiers being held as prisoners of war by Russia. | https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2024/02/12/ukrainian-family-hopes-for-father039s-return-from-russian-captivity | |
1,282,049 | Indonesia students protest alleged poll interference by Jokowi administration | JAKARTA (Reuters) - Hundreds of Indonesian students and activists staged protests on Monday over what they see as outgoing President Joko Widodo's abuse of power to sway voters in this week's election in favour of frontrunner, Prabowo Subianto, organisers said.
Jokowi, as the incumbent is known, has not explicitly endorsed any of the three candidates vying to replace him as leader of the world's third-largest democracy. But he has made highly publicised appearances with Prabowo, and his eldest son is running on the same ticket for vice president.
Two opinion surveys last week projected Prabowo could secure more than 50% of the votes on Wednesday, allowing him to win in a single round. Rivals Anies Baswedan and Ganjar Pranowo were seen at least 27 and 31 points behind him respectively.
Some voters have taken issue with Jokowi's perceived lack of neutrality, saying it undermines Indonesia's democracy by giving one candidate an unfair advantage.
Students gathered in Yogyakarta on Java island, banging bamboo instruments and holding posters painted with "bring Jokowi and his cronies to justice".
"Jokowi was once called a new hope, we call him a new disaster," one demonstrator said.
The protest organiser, Aksi Gejayan Memanggil, said on Instagram, "the ethical and moral breaches by Jokowi show that he is against a critical public voice."
Another protest was planned in the capital Jakarta by several rights groups.
The presidential office has denied political meddling by Jokowi.
The planned protests come after a documentary produced by an Indonesian investigative journalist, Dandhy Laksono, alleged that state officials including police and regional heads, and government welfare resources, have been used to favour Prabowo.
The film, "Dirty Vote", released at the weekend, had garnered nearly 5 million views on YouTube by Monday evening.
Reuters could not independently verify the allegations made in the documentary.
Prabowo's campaign team has dismissed the accusations and described "most of the contents in the film as defamatory".
The government has said social welfare is not being used to benefit any candidate.
The student protests also come as Indonesia enters a cooling-off period until voting day on Wednesday. Authorities were seen removing election billboards and posters, and candidates are barred from campaigning during this period.
Indonesia's police will deploy around 25,000 anti-riot personnel to ensure security during the election.
(Additional reporting by Stanley Widianto; Writing by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Ed Davies, Martin Petty) | News | World | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | JAKARTA (Reuters) - Hundreds of Indonesian students and activists staged protests on Monday over what they see as outgoing President Joko Widodo's abuse of power to sway voters in this week's election in favour of frontrunner, Prabowo Subianto, organisers said. | https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2024/02/12/indonesia-students-plan-to-protest-alleged-poll-interference | |
1,282,016 | Ukraine destroys 14 of 17 Russia-launched drones - Ukraine air force | (Reuters) - Ukraine's air defence systems destroyed 14 out of 17 drones that Russia launched overnight and one Kh-59 cruise missile, Ukraine's Air Force said on Monday.
The Air Force said on the Telegram messaging app that Russia also launched missiles from S-300 long-range surface-to-air missile systems, but it did not say how many or whether they hit any targets.
Oleh Synehubov, governor of the Kharkiv region in Ukraine's northeast, said late on Sunday that Russia attacked his region with missiles launched from the S-300 systems in Russia's Belgorod region that borders Ukraine.
He said that according to preliminary information, there were no casualties, but the facades of some non-residential buildings were damaged.
Serhiy Lisak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region, said late on Sunday that Russia attacked the region's city of Pavlohrad with drones. There were no casualties, but some parts of the city lost electricity.
Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports. Both Russia and Ukraine have increased their air attacks away from the frontline in recent months, targeting each other's critical energy, military and transport infrastructure.
(Reporting by Oleksandr Kozhukhar in Kyiv and Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Edmund Klamann and Kim Coghill) | News | World | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | (Reuters) - Ukraine's air defence systems destroyed 14 out of 17 drones that Russia launched overnight and one Kh-59 cruise missile, Ukraine's Air Force said on Monday. | https://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2024/02/12/ukraine-destroys-14-of-17-russia-launched-drones---ukraine-air-force | |
1,284,222 | ‘Hot Ones’ host Sean Evans reportedly dating porn star Melissa Stratton | Sean Evans, host of the YouTube talk show Hot Ones, is reportedly dating porn star Melissa Stratton, and the two were seen attending the Super Bowl and hanging out all across Las Vegas over the weekend.
Sources close to the situation told TMZ on Tuesday (Feb 13) that the pair began chatting over social media in November, and have been “seeing each other” ever since meeting in person the following month.
Stratton, a 34-year-old adult film star, model and cam girl, is originally from Kansas City and appears to be a huge Chiefs fan. Her social media pages feature several photos of her donning Chiefs gear and celebrating the team’s victory on Sunday.
Evans, 37, allegedly invited Stratton to the Super Bowl and the two could be seen at nightclubs and shopping centres in the Vegas area, as well as in the stands during the big game.
Stratton shared numerous photos of the pair to her social channels throughout the weekend, but so far, Evans has only posted solo pics and shots with other celebs such as chef Gordon Ramsay and German DJ Zedd.
But despite the lack of reciprocity on social media, TMZ’s sources insist the two are seriously seeing one another, and have spent time together in different cities including Los Angeles and Chicago.
By Tuesday, it appeared they had (at least temporarily) gone their separate ways, as Stratton wrote on her Instagram story that she was getting “back to work.”
It’s unclear what Evans has cooking up next on his YouTube show, though he most recently interviewed Academy Award-nominated actor Barry Keoghan, during which the Saltburn star jokingly chastised his publicist for signing him up for the spicy series. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-15 00:00:00 | null | The two were seen attending the Super Bowl and hanging out all across Las Vegas over the weekend. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/15/hot-ones-host-sean-evans-reportedly-dating-porn-star-melissa-stratton | |
1,279,392 | One in 10 young people living with a mental disorder | Is mental well-being the public health care challenge of the 21st century?
A diagnosis has been made, and study after study appears to reinforce it.
Much of the population around the world is suffering, and young generations seem to be particularly affected.
A new report estimates that 293 million children, teenagers and young adults aged five to 24 worldwide – or one in 10 young people – are living with a mental disorder.
There's an "urgent need to transform mental health and mental health care."
These are the words that the World Health Organization (WHO) used to present a report on the mental health of the world's population in June 2022.
The health authority, which at the time estimated that nearly one billion people – including 14% of adolescents – were living with a mental disorder in 2019, urged "mental health decision makers and advocates to step up commitment and action to change attitudes, actions and approaches to mental health, its determinants and mental health care."
Two years on, the situation remains alarming, at least in terms of the data published at global level.
A team of university researchers based in Canada and Brazil has studied the subject to provide a new overview of the situation specifically focused on children and adolescents.
Published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, their findings warn that "the period from childhood to early adulthood involves increased susceptibility to the onset of mental disorders."
Among the key findings of this study, which is based on data from the 2019 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) survey, is "a high prevalence of mental disorders affecting children and youths."
More than one in 10 people aged five to 24, or 293 million individuals, live with a diagnosable mental disorder worldwide.
"Around one-fifth of all disease-related disability (considering all causes) was attributable to mental disorders among this population. Additionally, this age period encompasses about one-fourth of the mental disorder burden across the entire life course," the study states.
Some 31 million children and adolescents suffer from a substance use disorder.
The average prevalence of mental disorders is estimated at 6.8% for 5-9 year olds, 12.4% for 10-14 year olds, 13.96% for 15-19 year olds, and 13.63% for 20-24 year olds.
"We are betraying our children"
The study's findings echo a report recently published by The Academy of Medical Sciences, which calls for "urgent action" to address "failing child health" in the United Kingdom.
The child health experts behind the work point to "major health issues," including infant mortality, obesity, and dental health, and estimate the cost of inaction on children's health to be at least £16 billion (over USD$20 billion) a year.
Among the major findings of that work is a drop in infant survival rates, now "worse than in 60% of similar countries," as well as a tripling in the number of children living in extreme poverty between 2019 and 2022, a surge in demand for children's mental health services, and the fact that more than a fifth of children aged five are overweight or obese.
Another finding is that vaccination rates have plummeted, to the point where they are now below the WHO's safety thresholds, say the authors.
"Every child has the right to a safe and healthy childhood. It is shameful that the UK is failing to provide this.
"Child deaths are rising, infant survival lags behind comparable countries and preventable physical and mental health issues plague our youngest citizens.
"The science is clear – we are betraying our children. Unless the health of babies and young children is urgently prioritised, we condemn many to a life of poorer health and lost potential. The time to act is now,” explains report co-chair Professor Helen Minnis. – AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Mind | Complimentary | Medium | AGENCY | 2024-02-15 00:00:00 | Mental Health,Obesity,Poverty | A study reveals that 293 million young people worldwide aged five to 24 have mental health issues. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2024/02/15/one-in-10-young-people-living-with-a-mental-disorder | |
1,277,469 | How pre-flight safety videos can save lives | If you’ve flown recently you’ve probably watched – wait, who am I kidding, failed to watch – an airline’s pre-flight safety video. And look, I get it. You didn’t watch because nothing ever happens.
Until it does, as it did at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport on Jan 2, when a Japan Airlines Airbus A350 struck a military aircraft upon landing, and five days later when a large piece of an Alaska Airlines 737 ripped away from the fuselage at nearly 5,000m. The fact that all 379 passengers and crew safely escaped the burning JAL aircraft with just a few minor injuries, and that no one was sucked out of the 737, which made a safe emergency landing, have been called miraculous.
But I suspect something besides divine intervention was going on. Maybe, just maybe, it was the airlines’ pre-departure safety videos.
I took four flights on JAL in 2019 and I remember at the time being very impressed by their video. I remember thinking, wow these people know how to send a message. They don’t just tell, they show, they’re all business, no fluff. There was no idyllic scenery, no flight attendants riding in bumpy golf carts with celebrity golfers while demonstrating why bumpy flights require seatbelts.
Instead, on the JAL video, which is animated and runs about four minutes, they show an unbelted passenger levitating out of his seat during severe turbulence. And more to the point, at about the 2:34 mark, it warns passengers to, “Leave your baggage when you evacuate!”
The message is delivered by a scowling, no nonsense flight attendant.
But here’s the kicker: in the next scene, some jerk grabs his carry-on from the overhead cabin and drags it to the exit. The other passengers are not pleased and make their displeasure known with facial grimaces and animated gesticulations. Meanwhile, the selfish jerk jumps down the slide anyway, causing predictable chaos as he and his bag block other passengers from reaching safety.
In other words, the airline feels very strongly about leaving carry-ons on board.
The video also goes into unusual detail about how to jump onto an evacuation slide (I’ve done this; it’s not as easy as it looks).
And indeed, videos and reports after the JAL crash made clear that the passengers followed instructions. That’s in contrast to a similar incident when Emirates Flight 521 crash-landed in Dubai one August and many passengers carried their bags from the plane, which, minutes after hitting the runway, became a fireball.
Most also neglected to leave their shoes on for landing, advice that some airlines used to emphasise in their safety videos (some still do). Most of the injuries (32 in total, four of which were serious) were for third-degree burns on passengers’ feet when they hit the sizzling tarmac in the middle of an Arabian Peninsula summer.
It appears that passengers on the Alaska Airlines flight were all safely belted in, since the plane was still reaching cruising altitude. The only things sucked out of the plane were a few personal possessions.
Airlines spend millions producing these videos and change them often hoping that people will pay attention, but most passengers figure they know everything already because they’ve already seen it, like 10 years ago if even then, and bury their noses in their phones or books.
Look, flying is still far safer than driving, and far safer than when I first started flying the 1960s. During that decade over 8,000 passengers and crew died in commercial aviation accidents (I counted them).
But airlines and their passengers can make it even safer if pre-flight safety instructions are more show and less tell, and if passengers watch and listen each and every time they fly. — Tribune News Service | Lifestyle | Global | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-15 00:00:00 | Global,Airlines,Aviation,Safety,Tourism,Travel,Pre-flight Safety Video,Plane Crash | Two recent airline accidents show those pre-flight videos save lives when followed. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2024/02/15/how-pre-flight-safety-videos-can-save-lives | |
1,279,465 | Meet the Cameroon immigrant, father of 5 who graduated from UT Dallas | Jean Tchinda was told that pursuing an electrical engineering degree was too difficult – especially for an immigrant whose first language is not English.
Growing up in Cameroon, his dream was to become a doctor. But his family couldn’t afford to send him to medical school.
He ended up getting an online certificate in electromechanical engineering, which allowed him to find employment.
He couldn’t have anticipated that, decades later, he would go to college and become an engineer in the United States.
His journey here was not easy, he said.
The 48-year-old, his wife and five daughters moved to Dallas from his central African country five years ago.
When he arrived, he struggled to get a job without speaking English.
“I didn’t think it was possible for me to go back to school,” he said.
But he decided to give it a try anyway.
He enrolled at Richland College and spent his first year focused on learning English. By his second year, he started pursuing science courses and eventually received an associate degree in electrical engineering.
He wasn’t done. He wanted to continue learning and get a bachelor’s degree, but some warned him that transferring would be challenging.
Tchinda didn’t let anything derail him. He applied to and got into University of Texas at Dallas, where he said he found supportive professors, classmates and staff. (UTD is a supporter of the Education Lab.)
“University in the US is very difficult, but at UTD, everybody was there for me,” he said.
“Whenever I said ‘Oh, I cannot do that’. They said, ‘No, you cannot say that. You gotta do it. Try your best’.”
His days were long. Tchinda worked a night job as a maintenance technician at an aerospace company.
After about two hours of sleep, he’d then head to UTD for classes and homework. Later in the afternoon and into the evening, he would get a few more hours of sleep.
In between, he and his wife juggled transporting his daughters, aged eight to 19, to school and extracurricular activities.
“I wanted to show them everything is possible,” he added.
“You just need to work and be honest with everybody, and that’s all.”
Tchinda is a role model for his daughters, they said.
His oldest, Andrea, now is an undergraduate student at Harvard University studying computer science. Her younger sister, Emmanuelle, is also following a high-achieving academic path but wants to become a neurosurgeon.
“It’s been a long journey,” Emmanuelle said. “Five years seeing him staying up day and night working. He literally didn’t have time to do anything else.”
The 15-year-old said it was hard to see her father constantly working and studying.
“But now that he’s in his cap and gown, I’m super proud of him,” she said.
Just before graduation, he and classmates presented the capstone project they designed: a robot to move goods from curbsides to rooms and vice-versa.
The product is specifically relevant for those who aren’t able to pick up deliveries from curbsides into their homes because of disability.
As he applies to engineering jobs, he said he hopes to motivate others to follow their dreams.
“Your age is not going to be a limitation for you,” Tchinda said. – The Dallas Morning News/Tribune News Service | Lifestyle | People | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-15 00:00:00 | null | Growing up, his dream was to become a doctor. But his family couldn’t afford to send him to medical school. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/people/2024/02/15/meet-the-cameroon-immigrant-father-of-5-who-graduated-from-ut-dallas | |
1,284,154 | Marvel reveals new ‘Fantastic Four’ cast: Pedro Pascal is Mr Fantastic | Pedro Pascal is jumping from Star Wars to Marvel. The Last Of Us and Mandalorian actor is set to play Reed Richards (also known as Mister Fantastic) in the newest incarnation of The Fantastic Four, the studio announced Wednesday.
The rest of his squad was revealed, too, with Vanessa Kirby stepping up as Susan Storm (The Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn of Stranger Things as Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach of The Bear as Ben Grimm (The Thing). In the announcement, the gang was depicted in a retro illustrated Valentine’s Day card that had fans guessing this version takes place in the 1960s.
The Fantastic Four is among Marvel’s longest-running comics series and the titular crew is one of its most beloved groups. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, the scientists-turned-superheroes are relatable and wry in their interactions as a team – even when they aren't fighting supervillains. When it debuted in November 1961, it was a refreshing revelation that helped inform the Marvel voice and set a path for Iron Man and Spider-Man.
But the so-called first family of Marvel has not had the most distinguished transition to the big screen, with false starts and bad reviews often trailing. First came a US$2mil Roger Corman production in 1994 that was never ultimately released, with Alex Hyde-White as Reed Richards, Rebecca Staab as Susan Storm, Jay Underwood as Johnny Storm and Michael Bailey Smith as Ben Grimm. The shoestring production was directed by Oley Sassone.
This combination of photos shows (from left) Ioan Gruffudd, Miles Teller and Pedro Pascal. A reboot of 'The Fantastic Four' has Pascal cast as Reed Richards, a role portrayed by Gruffudd and Teller in previous films. — Photo: AP
Just a year after Corman's was shelved, 20th Century Fox acquired the rights to the characters and began developing what would become two films under director Tim Story, though that would take about 10 years and see several directors come and go (including Chris Columbus, Raja Gosnell and future Ant-Man helmer Peyton Reed). In 2005’s Fantastic Four and its 2007 sequel Rise of the Silver Surfer, Ioan Gruffudd was Reed, Jessica Alba was Susan, Chris Evans was Johnny and Michael Chiklis was Ben.
Fox tried again, with Josh Trank at the helm, and a cast led by Miles Teller, Kate Mara, Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Bell. But the 2015 film was panned by critics and lost the studio over US$80mil. Plans for a sequel were scuttled and a few years later, Disney acquired Fox - bringing the Marvel characters back under its corporate umbrella.
The new Fantastic Four will mark the first time the superhero family will be together as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, overseen by Kevin Feige (John Krasinski played a version of Mister Fantastic in 2022's Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness). The film is set to be directed by WandaVision veteran Matt Shakman, with a planned July 25, 2025, theatrical release. — AP | Lifestyle | Movies | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-15 00:00:00 | Movies,Marvel Cinematic Universe,Marvel Comics,Fantastic Four,Pedro Pascal | The new Fantastic Four team will see Pedro Pascal as Reed Richards (Mister Fantastic), Vanessa as Susan Storm (The Invisible Woman), Joseph Quinn as Johnny Storm (The Human Torch), and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ben Grimm (The Thing). — Photo: Marvel Studios | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/15/marvel-reveals-the-new-fantastic-four-cast-with-pedro-pascal-as-mr-fantastic | |
1,283,903 | A new exhibition aims to bring Yoko Ono's art out of John Lennon's shadow | Before there was John and Yoko - and after - there was just Yoko Ono.
The Japanese-American artist became a global celebrity through her marriage to John Lennon, her partner for more than a decade until his murder in 1980, as well as her collaborator on peace-protest "bed-ins” and in the Plastic Ono Band.
Yet that period forms just a small part of an exhibition opening this week at the Tate Modern gallery in London. One of the largest shows of Ono’s work ever mounted, it includes seven decades of work by the artist, who turns 91 on Sunday.
More than 200 artworks - including film, music, soundscapes, paintings, drawings and sculptures - trace Ono’s career from the 1950s and 1960s New York, where her apartment became a hangout for bohemian artists, to Japan, where she brought together artists from east and west.
Then it’s on to London, where Ono met the movers and shakers of Swinging Sixties counterculture - including, fatefully, Lennon, who came to see her show at a London gallery.
"It was really important to give that kind of texture and set the foundation of how she developed her practice before she came to London - before the moment of meeting John Lennon,” co-curator Juliet Bingham said on Tuesday at a preview of the exhibition. "She was really at the forefront of conceptual art.”
Ono’s art was interactive long before that was all the rage.
Members of staff hang notes on a work entitled 'Wish Trees' at the 'Yoko Ono : Music Of The Mind' exhibition at the Tate Modern in London. Photo: AP
In her landmark 1964 performance Cut Piece, she gave gallery visitors scissors and invited them to snip away at her clothes.
In this show, visitors can stomp on Work To Be Stepped On, hammer a nail into canvas, trace their shadows on a wall, shake hands through a hole in Painting To Shake Hands and play chess with a set where all the pieces are white - "playing for as long as you remember what your pieces are,” Bingham said.
"That very much is emblematic of her ongoing campaign for peace,” the curator added. "It becomes about participation and something other than winning.”
Visitors also can ponder Ono’s many "instructions” pieces, which she began creating in the 1950s. Gallery walls are lined with bits of paper suggesting "Listen to the sound of the earth turning,” "Watch the sun until it becomes square” and other enigmatic prompts.
It’s occasionally hard to know whether Ono is being intentionally funny with instructions like "Imagine letting a goldfish swim across the sky ... Drink a litre of water.”
An artwork entitled 'Pieces Of Sky' (2001) is seen at the 'Yoko Ono : Music Of The Mind exhibition at the Tate Modern in London. Photo: AP
Other pieces show a cheeky humour - literally so in Film No. 4 (Bottoms), a montage of 200 posteriors that was banned in 1960s Britain. It’s shown alongside photos of Ono protesting outside the censor board with a bouquet of flowers and a poster adorned with bums.
For an exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art in the 1970s, Ono falsely claimed to have released hundreds of flies soaked in perfume for gallery visitors to find.
Ono’s relationship with Lennon took her peace message and avant garde art to an audience of millions, but also cast her in the unwanted role - to some fans - of the woman who broke up The Beatles.
The exhibition includes the couple’s War Is Over billboard and footage of their famous 1969 Montreal bed-in, as well as an earlier work in which they sent world leaders pairs of acorns, asking them to plant "oak trees for world peace.” Politicians’ terse typed replies are displayed alongside.
Despite the often sexist and racist barbs directed her way, Bingham says Ono flourished creatively alongside Lennon.
"She talks about them both crossing over into each other’s fields - from avant-garde left field, where she was coming from in New York and Japan, and from left-field rock ‘n’ roll,” Bingham said.
"They inspired and contributed to each other’s lives in a really positive and fruitful way.”
Visitors walk past a poster during a photocall to promote the exhibition 'Yoko Ono: Music Of The Mind' at Tate Modern in London. Photo: AFP
In the more than four decades since Lennon’s death, Ono has continued to create works steeped in humanism and cries for peace. The Tate show includes Wish Trees, with branches where visitors can hang messages of hope.
One of the final rooms is devoted to Add Color (Refugee Boat), a wooden boat painted white in a white-walled room. Markers are supplied for visitors to add words or images. Several have already written: "All you need is love.”
Yoko Ono: Music Of The Mind opens on Thursday and runs through Sept 1 at Tate Modern in London. | Lifestyle | Arts | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | Arts,Yoko Ono,London,exhibition,Tate Modern,avant garde,artist | More than 200 artworks - including film, music, soundscapes, paintings, drawings and sculptures - trace Yoko Ono’s career from the 1950s and 1960s | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2024/02/14/a-new-exhibition-aims-to-bring-yoko-ono039s-art-out-of-john-lennon039s-shadow | |
1,283,470 | TVB actor Kenneth Ma opens up about celebrating first Chinese New Year as a married man | Hong Kong actor Kenneth Ma is celebrating Chinese New Year for the first time as a married man.
He tied the knot with TVB actress Roxanne Tong in Koh Samui, Thailand on Dec 16 last year.
In a recent interview with Hong Kong's Ming Pao, Ma, 50, shared that the celebration doesn't feel significantly different from previous years.
The TVB star mentioned that before even becoming a husband, he already had his own tasks assigned to him during CNY.
"I'm in charge of buying stuff at the market and cleaning the house as per traditional Chinese customs," he said.
When asked whether family and relatives have inquired him and Tong, 36, about their plans for starting a family, Ma laughed and said he's accustomed to such questions.
"When we first announced our relationship, people asked us to get married. When we got married, they asked us to have a baby," he said.
The Queen Of News (2023) star added that both he and his wife aren't pressured about starting a family and will let nature take its course.
"I'm not in a hurry. As long as my wife is healthy and happy, that's more than enough," he said.
In the meantime, Ma wants to focus on working hard and earning enough money for his future kids.
Reflecting on the past year, the actor expressed gratitude for his marriage to Tong, adding that it's his biggest accomplishment in 2023.
"I feel that the greatest gain is marrying a good wife for sure. My CNY wish is for everyone to be healthy and for the whole family to be together," he said.
Last year, Ma told Hong Kong media that he's interested in starting a family.
However, he would likely have "one or two children at most" considering the demands of his career and the substantial time commitment required for parenting. | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | null | The Hong Kong star also expressed gratitude for his marriage to Roxanne Tong, adding that it's his biggest accomplishment in 2023. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/14/tvb-actor-kenneth-ma-opens-up-about-celebrating-first-chinese-new-year-as-a-married-man | |
1,279,387 | A better me: Young adults are focused on appearance, overall health, mindfulness | MORE than previous generations, Gen Z seem to be obsessed with all things relating to well-being, or at least, things that could improve it. Such are the findings of a report that also reveals that young people are focusing on wellness solutions centered on appearance, overall health and mindfulness, and are making fitness a key priority.
Feeling better about yourself in mind and body is the key to being more confident, more successful, and better equipped to face a world in crisis. Gen Z is doing everything in its power to achieve this, focusing on their personal health and well-being, according to the Future of Wellness report from McKinsey, surveying over 5,000 consumers in China, the United Kingdom and the United States. The survey reveals that respondents are generally inclined to take charge of their physical and mental health, and are turning to science-backed solutions to do so.
Appearance and health are top priorities
Contrary to what you might think, it's not older consumers who are driving the popularity of wellness activities, practices and other solutions, but younger people. The report reveals that Millennials and members of Generation Z spend more than their elders on wellness products and services. Appearance and overall health are among their top priorities, but they are also keen on products and services related to nutrition, fitness, mindfulness and sleep.
Looking specifically at American consumers, it would seem that physical activity acts as a pressure release valve, or at least helps them feel good. More than half of American Gen Z (56%) see fitness as a "very high priority," compared to 40% of all American consumers. The youngest generations are also turning to preventive solutions, particularly to slow down the ageing process.
"There are a bunch of possible reasons why Gen Z is so interested in health and wellness at such a young age. For one thing, Gen Z has more exposure and access to information about health and wellness at an earlier age than other generations have had .... It’s also possible that the Covid-19 pandemic – which catalysed a global focus on health and wellness – coincided with Gen Z’s formative years. And to stave off loneliness, Gen Z is looking for friends in so-called third places, which often include gyms or fitness classes," the report suggests.
Focusing on mental health
According to the data presented by McKinsey, younger people's attraction to activities and practices dedicated to their physical and mental well-being has already begun to transform offers in certain sectors. This is particularly true in the tourism sector, where establishments are adding wellness centers and gyms, as well as proposing new types of excursions or packages. This has been seen in recent months with new activities such as 'silent walking,' 'quiet parks' and sleep tourism.
The emphasis on well-being, and more broadly on mental health, could also have consequences for the relationship between young people and the world of work. A recent survey conducted in several European countries showed that mental health was more important than career success in the eyes of Gen Z women. Many companies have taken this issue on board and now offer programs dedicated entirely to well-being. The only downside is that these interventions may not necessarily be effective, as research from the UK's Oxford University recently suggested. – AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Living | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | null | The survey reveals that respondents are generally inclined to take charge of their physical and mental health, and are turning to science-backed solutions to do so. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/14/a-better-me-young-adults-are-focused-on-appearance-overall-health-mindfulness | |
1,279,390 | What a blood test can reveal about your health | Blood tests are commonly used to help not only monitor one's health but also to diagnose conditions.
A blood sample can reveal a lot about a person's health.
One of the most frequently ordered tests is a CBC, or complete blood cell count, which tells you the different cells that are in your blood, how many they are, and whether they're abnormal or normal.
"For example, if you're anaemic, you won't have as many red blood cells. Or if you have an infection, you'll have an increase in your inflammatory cells, the white blood cells in your blood," says Dr Fiona Craig, a Mayo Clinic pathologist.
Blood testing can also be very complex.
"There are now ways of looking for small amounts of cancer circulating in your blood. And that requires a very specialised type of testing that's completely different from the CBC," says Dr Craig.
For some blood tests, patients are required to fast before their blood is collected.
"We're looking for cells and molecules that are in the blood – for example, glucose. And there are many molecules that are in our food, and we absorb them into our blood.
"So if the blood test is to measure your baseline level of, say, glucose for diabetes, then it's important that we take that before you've had something to eat," says Dr Craig.
While the collection process is usually a quick and, for some, painless procedure, certain people will feel dizzy afterward.
Dr Craig says this isn't because of the amount of blood being collected.
"Our bodies usually have about five litres of blood, and many times you're only collecting five millilitres or a 1,000th of the amount of blood. More often, it's concern about the collection, being worried, being apprehensive about the collection," says Dr Craig.
She does recommend being well-hydrated and warm on the day of your blood test to help things go a little smoother. – Mayo Clinic News Network/Tribune Content Agency. | Lifestyle | Wellness | Complimentary | Short | AGENCY | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | Blood Test,Cancer,Diabetes,Glucose | It's the best way for doctors to diagnose certain ailments. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2024/02/14/what-a-blood-test-can-reveal-about-your-health | |
1,283,541 | Movie star Fan Bingbing receives Chinese New Year gift from actor Liam Neeson | Chinese movie star Fan Bingbing recently received a Chinese New Year gift from Irish actor Liam Neeson.
On Monday (Feb 12), Fan, 42, took to Instagram to share a selfie with Neeson, 71.
Her post was accompanied by a caption that read: "Feeling blessed to have the opportunity to work alongside such a genuinely kind soul like Liam. Thank you for the beautiful flower and Chinese New Year wishes."
The actress also posted a photo of a potted plant and a card she received from Neeson, who's known for his roles in Schindler's List (1993) and the Taken trilogy (2008 to 2014).
"Bingbing, a healthy and a fulfilling and happy new year to you and your lovely family. It is a great pleasure and honour to work with you," read the note.
Fan's post quickly gained attention and has amassed over 56,600 likes at press time. Many netizens also left comments praising the Green Night (2023) star for her no-makeup look.
Fan is set to star opposite Neeson in Ice Road 2: Road To The Sky, the sequel to American filmmaker John Hensleigh's actioner The Ice Road (2021). The film is currently in production in Australia.
Ice Road 2 sees Neeson reprising his role as ice road driver Mike McCann, who travels to Nepal to scatter his brother's ashes. When Mike and his mountain guide run into a group of mercenaries while travelling on a tour bus, they are forced to fight to save themselves, the passengers and the country.
Fan will be playing as Dhani, a veteran Mount Everest guide with strong indigenous knowledge and exceptional fighting skills, according to entertainment news site Deadline. | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | null | The actress will star opposite Neeson in the action film, 'Ice Road 2: Road To The Sky'. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/14/movie-star-fan-bingbing-receives-chinese-new-year-gift-from-actor-liam-neeson | |
1,283,387 | A new television drama series explores dark origins of French fashion | Fashion-based dramas are a hot trend right now.
Disney Plus is already showing Balenciaga, and will soon release Kaiser Karl, a lavish series about Karl Lagerfeld, adding to a glut of films such as House Of Gucci, Saint Laurent, Phantom Thread and Mrs Harris Goes To Paris.
For those unfamiliar with the history of French couture, The New Look, streaming on Apple TV from Wednesday (Feb 14), may seem a sombre addition to the genre.
Focusing on Christian Dior and Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, played by Ben Mendelsohn and Juliette Binoche, it tracks the grim years of the Nazi occupation of Paris.
Chanel's behaviour during the war is an ongoing source of debate among historians, with many accusing her of collaboration.
Read more: Runway or red carpet? Look out for couture looks at this year’s Oscars
She closed her business when the Nazis took over but continued to live in luxury at the Ritz hotel, took a German officer as her lover and used anti-Jewish laws to try to wrest control of her company from Jewish business partners.
"It's easy to believe you would do the right thing in that situation, but these characters were terrified for their lives, and I think it's very hard to judge them," producer Todd Kessler said.
"Dior, Chanel, Balenciaga, Balmain – all these people were making decisions of how they could possibly survive," he added.
'Painful story'
"Maybe audiences will feel one way about a character halfway through an episode, and feel very differently by the end. But that's inspiring for storytellers."
The makers admitted they were nervous about approaching Binoche to play Chanel.
"We wanted a French icon to play a French icon, but we didn't know how a French actor would react given France's mixed feelings about Chanel," said co-producer Lorenzo di Bonaventura.
"It was very gratifying how quickly Juliette embraced it."
Dior, meanwhile, suffers through the trauma of his sister being taken to a concentration camp, but his "new look" designs came to symbolise France's sense of recovery and hope after the war.
"It's a very beautiful, ambitious series on fashion," said Pierre Groppo, head of lifestyle for Vanity Fair.
Read more: Balletcore, dunes, vamps: Elite outfits at Paris Couture Week
"It gives an image of Dior that we don't have. We picture him as a genius in his workshop. Many don't know this painful story that he, and many others, lived through," he said.
Binoche's "subtle" performance was particularly gripping, he said.
Chanel "made decisions that were not always right, certainly, but don't forget this was a woman, alone, from a very modest background. We get the sense of someone overwhelmed by events.
"I look forward to a second season where we see her making her comeback." | Lifestyle | Style | Complimentary | Medium | AGENCY | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | fashion,Apple TV,couture,haute couture,Chanel,Dior | The fashion world makes for eye-catching television, but the makers of "The New Look", about the origins of Dior and Chanel, show there were dark moral challenges behind the glossy facade. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/02/14/a-new-television-drama-series-explores-dark-origins-of-french-fashion | |
1,283,645 | 'American Born Chinese' star Ben Wang is the next Karate Kid | American actor Ben Wang has beaten thousands of hopefuls in a global search to become the next Karate Kid.
The 24-year-old will join American actor Ralph Macchio, 62, and Hong Kong action superstar Jackie Chan, 69, in the coming-of-age martial arts film titled Karate Kid.
Chan and Macchio, who announced the casting search via a video clip in November, will reprise their iconic characters from previous Karate Kid (1984 to 2010) films.
According to American trade publication The Hollywood Reporter, Wang stood out with his deep connection to the character. His fluency in Mandarin and being highly skilled in numerous forms of martial arts, including karate, wing chun, kenpo and taekwondo, gave him a leg-up during the auditions.
Wang demonstrated some of his fighting moves in the fantasy action-comedy series American Born Chinese (2023), which also starred Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh.
While plot details are under wraps, the new movie is said to focus on a teen from China who finds strength and direction via martial arts and a tough but wise mentor.
It will be directed by Jonathan Entwistle (I Am Not Okay With This, 2020) and is slated for a Dec 13 release.
Macchio became famous after starring in The Karate Kid (1984), in which he played a teenager who became an unlikely karate champion after being taught self-defence skills by Mr Miyagi, played by the late American actor Pat Morita.
The hit movie spawned three sequels and the TV series Cobra Kai (2018 to present), which is set 34 years after the original Karate Kid films.
Chan starred in the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid, playing Mr Han, the mentor to American rapper-actor Jaden Smith’s Dre Parker.
The Karate Kid films have earned more than US$618 million globally, while Cobra Kai has notched up several Emmy nominations. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | null | The 24-year-old will join Ralph Macchio and Jackie Chan in the coming-of-age martial arts film titled 'Karate Kid'. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/14/039american-born-chinese039-star-ben-wang-is-the-next-karate-kid | |
1,282,908 | Start spreading the news: New York is a city of dreams and dreamers | At 5.43pm on Jan 2, a brand new A350 airliner hit a six-seater light aircraft upon landing at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. The light aircraft had been on standby on the runway.
The airliner burst into flames, but luckily, all the 379 passengers and crew on board managed to evacuate to safety within 18 minutes of the crash. Shortly after that, the plane exploded, and its body was completely burnt.
Unfortunately, five crew members from the smaller aircraft – who happened to be Japanese Coast Guards – were killed, with one person seriously injured.
The mishap brought back memories of the Hudson River incident in Manhattan, New York in the United States, which took place 15 years ago.
On Jan 15, 2009, an A320 aircraft, which had taken off just four minutes earlier, flew into a flock of Canadian geese, causing both its engines to fail. At 3.31pm, the aircraft made an emergency landing on New York’s Hudson River. Since it was still winter, the river was frozen at -7°C. Luckily enough, with the masterful control of the 51-year-old pilot Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, as well as assistance from other parties, the plane managed to land on the ice; all 155 passengers on board managed to get out safely.
The Hudson River “miracle” was subsequently made into a movie, with Captain Sully becoming known as an American hero.
Hudson River flanks Manhattan island on the west, separating it from the state of New Jersey and west of New York. There are three airports of various sizes in the vicinity, and aeroplanes can be spotted readily above the city skyline.
The columnist (centre) with his travel buddies at the Statue of Liberty. If you ever visit the place, make sure you get a local guide who can explain what the place truly means to Americans.
While walking around the city, we could see New York Police Department cars patrolling the busy Manhattan streets, and hear the loud sirens of the ambulances and fire trucks everywhere. Not forgetting the city’s many skyscrapers towering over everyone ... What a dynamic metropolis New York is, and we were so excited to discover that it is exactly as it is portrayed in all those Hollywood movies.
The island of Manhattan, measuring only 59sq km, has a population of four million, with over two million residents. Besides that, Manhattan also welcomes a whopping 50 million or so tourists annually!
Most people – with a majority being immigrants – seem to hang out at Central Park, the New York Stock Exchange and Times Square, while the homeless are seen everywhere across the island.
In Manhattan, it seems like different “classes” of New Yorkers have their own rules and needs for surviving in the city. I wondered, is New York a “sin city”, or is it the epitome of the American dream? Of course, it is also not wrong to say that New York is the focal point of the world.
And who can forget the Sept 11 attacks in 2001? This was when two low-flying aeroplanes, hijacked by terrorists, flew into the towers of the World Trade Centre in downtown Manhattan, destroying over a dozen other buildings in the vicinity, killing many. The incident shocked everyone around the globe.
Soon afterwards, two more planes were involved in another suicide attack operation. Although they missed their intended targets, the planes crashed, killing everyone onboard.
According to reports, the attacks killed a total of 2,996 people, including 343 of Manhattan’s firemen and emergency responders, as well as all passengers and crew. Notably, the victims came from some 90 countries around the world.
I walked slowly towards the 911 Memorial or Ground Zero, which was where New York’s World Trade Center once stood. It is now a memorial site for all those perished in the Sept 11 attacks. I thought about how the tragic incident happened so suddenly, with many of the victims probably not even realising what had happened.
A stone’s throw away from the memorial is New York’s world-famous Chinatown, where you can find not only migrants from places like China and Hong Kong, but also from Malaysia. These migrants have long made the neighbourhood their home. For example, Simon and Kim who moved there from Ipoh, Perak 35 years ago.
The couple said that while on the surface Manhattan looks glitzy and posh, the sad reality is that there is a vast disparity in wealth distribution among the people there. A majority (85%) of the city’s population work “like dogs” for the 15% of super rich New Yorkers.
Moreover, the city can be extremely unsafe, and many of its amenities are in disrepair, whereas the cost of living is high. Life could be extremely tough in the city of dreams.
Chinatown in New York was said to have been established in 1858. — Photos: LEESAN
You could even say that American-born Chinese folks are reluctant to live in New York’s dilapidated Chinatown.
However, having said that, Chinatown actually sits on the city’s prime land and is much sought after by real estate developers. It is a matter of time before Chinatown properties will eventually fall into the hands of real estate tycoons.
In spite of all that, Manhattan is a must-see destination for travellers from across the world. Dubbed the “Crossroads Of The World”, Times Square is an international landmark known for its New Year’s Eve countdown, while Fifth Avenue, 45th Street and Soho are a hive of activity, at any time of the day.
Not forgetting the headquarters of the United Nations, representing 193 sovereign countries of the world, is also located in New York.
The city is veritably the centre of the world, a global melting pot, a class of its own among global metropolises.
As for me, I love that there is order in the city’s seemingly uncompromising chaos!
The views expressed are entirely the writer’s own.
Leesan, the globe-trotting traveller who has visited 137 countries and seven continents, enjoys sharing his travel stories and insights. He has also authored five books. | Lifestyle | Americas | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | Americas,Leesan,Tourism,New York,America,New York City,Manhattan,travel gab | Start spreading the news: New York is a city of dreams and dreamers. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2024/02/14/start-spreading-the-news-new-york-is-a-city-of-dreams-and-dreamers | |
1,278,389 | Juliette Binoche: 'I worry about my freedom – being too famous is hell' | French actress Juliette Binoche has said she worries about her freedom as if she were to become "too famous" it would be "hell."
The TV and film star, 59, known for playing Vianne in the romance comedy Chocolat (2000), plays famous fashion designer Coco Chanel in new 10-part drama series The New Look and spoke about whether she enjoys being recognised for her roles.
Speaking to the Radio Times, she said: "It depends on the moment.
"It can be a burden. It’s not always the kind of attention you want.
"I go to the market every Sunday and people recognise me, but so what?
"If they want to see my face without makeup, they can have it.
"I’ve been in films wearing no makeup. When I do theatre, people forget about me for a while."
"I do worry about The New Look being watched in people’s houses," she added.
"I worry about my freedom. When you’re too famous it’s hell – you cannot go out and live your life.
"You become a prisoner.
"But if someone wants a photo with me, I’m not going to overthink it because, after all, I chose to be an actor.
"If it makes them happy, it makes me happy."
Speaking about her role on the new Apple TV+ series, she added: "I discussed the story in depth with (the show creator) Todd A Kessler and the scriptwriters because there are so many contrary things to say about Chanel.
"Some people condemn her as the worst person in the world and others say she worked for the resistance.
"It’s very hard to have a black-and-white opinion."
Binoche said Chanel was a known Nazi collaborator, and added that her life was "a long, difficult story."
The actress has starred in films including Wuthering Heights (1992), The English Patient (1996), Godzilla (2014) and The Taste Of Things (2023). – dpa | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | The 59-year-old plays famous fashion designer Coco Chanel in new 10-part drama series 'The New Look'. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/12/juliette-binoche-039i-worry-about-my-freedom---being-too-famous-is-hell039 | |
1,283,514 | Rediscovering Jikey, a forgotten folk theatre art form in Langkawi | Pak Chahor Saad emerged from his room and invited us to sit with him on the floor.
There was no living room furniture. His daughter sat close by. His grandchildren wandered about.
On the walls were framed photos and certificates of his past Jikey achievements and performances.
During this casual visit, this traditional arts practitioner, who is no stranger to Jikey, was a welcoming presence in his modest home in Langkawi, Kedah.
In these island parts, Jikey is a folk theatre performed by the locals. Its other names are Likey, Yikey, and Jikau – depending on the region in which it is performed.
This traditional theatre form, which began more than 200 years ago, is now fast moving into the “extinct” zone. There are two major types of Jikey. One is more Buddhist and of Thai, Vietnamese and Cambodian origins.
The other has more Persian and Arab influences.
'Now is the time to get started on an archiving and teaching programme to preserve and ensure Jikey does not die,' says Izzat, left, during a visit to Pak Chahor's home in Langkawi. Photo: Jennifer Rodrigo
Coming along for this visit was cultural activist Muhammad Izzat Md Isa, who wrote the book on the history of Jikey – Jikey Teater Warisan Langkawi published by Universiti Utara Malaysia.
He describes Jikey as “performing arts by the rakyat, for the rakyat.”
Jikey does not have the courtly aura of Mak Yong or Bangsawan but it does draw some artistic elements from Mak Yong, Hadrah, Bangsawan and Mek Mulung.
Last December, Mek Mulung, a Malay traditional performance - from Kedah - involving acting, dialogue, singing and dancing, was declared by Unesco as part of humanity's intangible cultural heritage.
The world of Jikey
In a Jikey performance, there is slapstick comedy, the use of masks, live traditional music and a very inclusive Malaysian opening sequence.
The five roles in the opening sequence are that of Tuan Keling, Awang, Raja/Tok Penghulu, Ah Seng and Puteri.
One must emphasise that the term “Keling” used in this context, is not derogatory under any circumstance.
It is simply to connote that “Tuan Keling” represented an Indian trader from the historical Kalinga kingdom of Eastern India. Ah Seng is the Chinese grocery shop owner, typified by his hat.
Pak Chahor’s old suitcase, which stores the veteran artiste’s handmade wooden masks and other paraphernalia used in a Jikey performance. Photo: Jennifer Rodrigo
Stereotypes indeed but true of the period in which it was performed.
“I have been performing Jikey from the age of 12,” said Pak Chahor, 66, who, interestingly, can claim seventh generation Mahsuri genealogy.
“I have performed in Kedah, Perlis and participated in a festival in Kuala Lumpur. I have been invited to be a coach at the state level and I have supported the cultural association, AKRAB Kedah in staging ‘Jikey Naga Berapi’ at a local university,” he added.
After talking to him for some time, Pak Chahor brought out an old suitcase.
Inside were handmade wooden masks and other paraphernalia used in a traditional Jikey performance. With much enthusiasm, he also brought up his old wooden gendang and gave us a mini recital of the “Raja” part in Jikey.
He recalled that Jikey was very popular in Kedah in the 1960s. At that time in Langkawi there were more than 10 Jikey troupes on the island.
The stage set-up
There are a few theories about how Jikey began; one being that it was simply entertainment put together for weddings. Another revolves around how some traders from India, who were imprisoned, were forced to entertain to collect money to pay for their release.
The Jikey repertoire comprises improvised dialogue, music, dance, slapstick comedy inspired by local legends. Jikey music consists of both instrumental music and singing.
Pak Jusoh is seen playing his wooden gendang and singing the part of a Jikey routine in his home in Langkawi. Photo: Jennifer Rodrigo
A complete theatrical orchestra for Jikey includes the rebana (with no jingles) in large, medium and small sizes; a tambourine; a hanging, knobbed gong, five or more pairs of cerek, and one pair of kesi, serunai.
In September 2022, a Jikey traditional theatre from Langkawi was supposed to be held at PJPAC in Petaling Jaya. It was postponed because the headliner artiste Pak Jusoh Chin had an asthma attack.
The show, with an objective to preserve Jikey traditional theatre, unfortunately, not rescheduled.
So our Jikey search in Langkawi, inevitably, took us to Pak Jusoh’s home in Air Hangat. When we met him, he was sitting by the door of his bare living room, somewhat pensively, looking out to the Andaman sea view.
Pak Jusoh, who is 86-years old, also started performing Jikey at the age of 12.
“I have always played the role of the Princess even though I started with the role of Awang,“ he said.
Like Pak Chahor, he took out his wooden gendang and started singing and playing the part of the Princess.
Pak Jusoh’s stage name is Tok Cho and in 2022, he was featured in a Walkabout Asia micro-documentary on a Jikey performance at Air Hangat. He used to perform with Tok Bibon, an 85-year old Jikey veteran actor, and his brother Tok Chan (78-years old).
A time for archiving
Today there is no longer any “troupe” and sadly, these last living elders (Tok Bibon and Tok Chan) who hold a strong base of knowledge and experience of Jikey do not have the energy to perform any longer.
“Now is the time to get started on an archiving and teaching programme to preserve and ensure Jikey does not die. All we need are some funds and the will of the authorities to help us do this,” said Izzat.
A poster of the KL Festival in 2012, which saw Pak Chahor performing the Jikey, is proudly displayed in his home. Photo: Jennifer Rodrigo
If Langkawi is to become a platform where arts and culture can start to thrive, then perhaps this is where it should and can begin because Jikey is a performing arts by the people, for the people.
“It would be nice to offer our international and indeed national tourists an avenue and opportunity to enjoy something like this – an authentic Langkawi-origin cultural performance,” said a Langkawi-based hotel manager.
Recently, efforts have been made to mobilise interested parties and begin the process of creating a training programme to educate young people about the various styles of Jikey.
The plan is to get them mentored by “Adigurus” like Pak Chahor or Pak Jusoh, who still have a strong passion for Jikey.
“Who is going to continue the Jikey legacy once I am gone?” asked Pak Chahor.
His is a familiar lament, which hopefully, won’t be ignored. | Lifestyle | Arts | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | Arts,StarExtra,Jikey,Langkawi,Kedah,folk theatre,performing arts,heritage | In Langkawi, there are only a handful of Jikey storytellers left who can pass down the knowledge of this forgotten folk theatre | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2024/02/14/rediscovering-jikey-a-forgotten-folk-theatre-art-form-in-langkawi | |
1,279,955 | This Valentine's Day, show kids some love that goes beyond cards and candy | ON VALENTINE’S Day, there are many ways we can show children how much we love them that go beyond candy and cards.
Here are 14 ways to let your child at any age know they are special and build nurturing lifelong bonds.
1. From the moment they’re born, little ones love being held, cuddled and caressed. Along with gentle touches your child gets when you feed, diaper and rock them, consider adding baby massage to your care routine. It’s a simple way to make your infant feel safe, secure and cared for. Research shows that physical touch is also essential to a child’s health and emotional development.
2. Start reading to your child beginning in infancy. Many studies show that reading together strengthens parent-child bonds and promotes positive parenting. Plus, when you read to or with your child, you help them build a foundation for success in school, which is linked to long-term wellness.
3. When your child is angry, grouchy or in a bad mood, try not to take it personally. Calm your own emotions first, perhaps by taking a deep breath, and then give a quick hug, cuddle, pat, secret nod, or other sign of affection. Once they are also calm and feeling better, consider talking with them about the event and how they might better manage those strong emotions next time.
4. Discipline with love. Use positive, nonviolent discipline. Harsh physical and verbal punishments don’t work and can damage long-term physical and mental health. From an early age, explain clear and consistent rules that your children can understand. Give praise when they follow them – not just punishment when they don’t. Calmly explain consequences and follow through right away when rules are broken.
5. Mark game nights or other family activities on your calendar so that everyone can look forward to enjoying time together. Plan some outdoor fun together and time at home playing and connecting as a family. Also be sure to carve out one-on-one time with each of your children regularly to do something they enjoy. Put away mobile phones, tablets and other media devices during these special times and really focus on each other. On occasions when media is part of your family-time plan, co-viewing is a great way to spark great conversations.
6. Show how much you care by taking your children to the doctor regularly for well-child care visits. Make sure they are up-to-date on vaccines to protect them against infectious diseases, including Covid-19, flu, and other recommended immunisations. Teach them how to be safe from injuries, provide a healthy and nutritious diet, and encourage good amounts of sleep and exercise to help them grow healthy and strong. Create a safe home environment, and use seat belts or car seats every time you are in a vehicle.
7. Use plenty of positive and encouraging words when talking with your child. Model consideration and gratitude by saying “please” and “thank you.” Skip the sarcasm, mockery and put-downs, even if teasing. Children often don’t understand your purpose. Even if they do, these messages can harm self-esteem and create negative ways of talking and connecting with each other.
Spending time in nature when you can is a good way to bond with children. — 123rf.com
8. If you lose your cool and react harshly to your child, apologise and explain how you will handle the situation in the future. Be sure to keep your promise. Also forgive yourself. No one is perfect. Understanding how to forgive is important for your child to accept their own mistakes as well, and build confidence and resilience.
9. Spend time together in nature when you can, exploring ways to appreciate and protect it. Taking steps to care for the environment will show your children how you care about their future. Many children and teens hear about or experience climate-change-fuelled disasters such as wildfires and severe storms. Talk with them about their concerns in a way that is honest, hopeful, developmentally appropriate, and solution-oriented.
10. One of the best ways to teach your children about nutritious food choices and enjoy each other’s company is to cook together. Involve them in the entire process, from planning the menus to shopping for ingredients to preparing and serving the meal. Family meals are a great opportunity to talk and connect.
11. Help your child develop positive relationships with friends, siblings, and members of the community. Teach them about the value of kindness. Encourage your child to be involved in activities that require teamwork, such as sports. Get to know your child’s friends and talk about responsible and respectful relationships.
12. Ask your child “How was your day?” and actively listen to the answer. Be available when your child wants to talk, even if it’s not the best time for you. If they tell you about a challenge they are facing, let them finish the story before helping them solve the problem. More than two years after the American Academy of Pediatrics and other organisations declared a national emergency in youth mental health, many kids are still struggling. If you see signs of anxiety or depression, talk with your child’s paediatrician.
13. Tell your child you love them no matter who they love. Tell your teen they can talk with you about any crushes they may have. This is a good opportunity to talk about dating, relationships, gender identity, and sexual activity. We can make sure our children understand how to respect their bodies and others and practise informed and enthusiastic consent.
14. Remember, all children want their parent’s attention, no matter their age. Make time every day to talk. Young people are more likely to make healthy choices if they stay connected with family members. And don’t forget to say “I love you” to your children on Feb 14 – and many more times as they grow up. They are never too old to hear it. – American Academy of Pediatrics/Tribune News Service
Dr Rebekah Fenton is a general paediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist who lives and practises in Chicago. She is an emerging leader in health-equity focused medicine through her passionate care for marginalised youth, speaking and writing-based advocacy, and innovative leadership. | Lifestyle | Family | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | null | From reading to spending time in nature, here are 14 ways to do so, today and every day. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2024/02/14/this-valentine039s-day-show-kids-some-love-that-goes-beyond-cards-and-candy | |
1,283,360 | Celebrate Valentine’s Day in fashion with pink and red, hearts and flowers | Often referred to as the day of love, everything about Valentine’s Day is characterised by the vibrant hues of red and pink, which symbolise passion, affection and romance.
Hearts and flowers too, take centre stage on Feb 14, with couples gifting each other heart-shaped balloons and chocolates as well as bouquets of flowers or single stalks.
In recent years, the fashion, jewellery and beauty industries have levelled up their offerings to celebrate this occasion, featuring products in pink and red, adorned with hearts and floral motifs.
As a tribute to Valentine’s Day today, here’s how brands are embracing these colours and symbols to evoke feelings of love.
Passion and warmth
Red roses are seen as the quintessential flower of love, with couples presenting each other single stalks or entire bouquets on Valentine’s Day as a symbol of their affection.
To the ancient Greeks and Romans, red was linked to love and beauty.
The delicate and gracile flowers print was designed with neo-romantic influences from Christian Louboutin's home in the French countryside. Photo: Christian LouboutinIn Greek mythology, the goddess of love Aphrodite is often shown wearing red robes, as was the Roman goddess Venus, who represented love and beauty.
The Roman feast of Lupercalia, a fertility festival celebrated on Feb 15, is what some historians believe is a precursor to Valentine’s Day.
A far cry from modern ideas of romance, the festival involved rituals in which the shedding of blood was believed to ward off infertility, establishing the link between red and fertility.
Today, red is used to depict passion and love, a hue used heavily in Dior’s Le Coeur des papillons capsule collection dreamed up by Maria Grazia Chiuri.
These pieces are adorned with a multitude of intertwining flowers and butterflies, forming a precious heart.
Read more: Ask The Expert: What hairstyles are popular for CNY and Valentine’s Day?
Pink goes with everything
The romantic hue somehow found its way into the annals of Valentine’s Day history, and is here to stay.
Pink became fashionable in the mid-1700s, when European aristocrats wore faint, powdery variants as a symbol of luxury and class, details cnn.com.
At the time, it was not regarded as a “girls” colour, and was even considered more appropriate for boys as a paler shade of red, which had military undertones.
Around the mid-19th century, pink went from depicting luxury to working class, and in the 1960s, was recognised as a symbol of luxury when public figures such as Jackie Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe began donning clothing in this shade.
Perhaps due to it being related to femininity and softness in the 20th century, pink has become a staple during Valentine’s Day, from soft pastel hues to vibrant fuchsia.
Pink heart-shaped accessories, such as earrings, necklaces and hair clips, add a delightful touch of whimsy to any outfit, serving as a subtle yet endearing declaration of love.
Perfume ranks among the most popular gifts lovers present to each other, with products like Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl Blush incorporating pink into its bottle design.
A 2023 campaign featuring supermodel Karlie Kloss in a stunning blush pink dress has been making its rounds yet again, and the fragrance is housed in a bottle of the same hue.
The modern heart shape can be traced back to the a 14th century poem. Photo: Tiffany & Co.From the heart
According to an article in Time magazine, the modern heart shape went viral in the 14th century thanks to the Italian didactic poem Documenti D’amore by Francesco Barberino.
One of the illustrations which featured cupid included the heart motif, and shortly after its publication, the scalloped heart began appearing in other works of visual art.
The article explains how about 150 years later, the tapestry Le don du Coeur (The Gift of the Heart) depicted a man holding a small red heart, an image that became one of the most popular representations of “courtly love,” – these were rules about love that governed behaviour at Europe’s aristocratic court.
Hearts are now inextricable from jewellery and fashion design, with brands like Tiffany & Co, Louis Vuitton and countless others featuring the motif in their Valentine’s Day collections.
Read more: Looking for a new fashion trend to get into? Try the ‘coquette aesthetic’
Beautiful blooms
Flowers, particularly roses, carnations and tulips, play a huge role in Valentine’s Day aesthetics.
Bouquets of vibrant blooms serve as heartfelt expressions of love, while floral patterns on clothing and accessories add a hint of romance to any ensemble.
Many brands incorporate florals into their designs all year round, with some releasing capsule collections to coincide with Valentine’s Day and the month of February, which comes just before spring.
Christian Louboutin’s Blooming capsule collection, a range of beautiful shoes and bags, is inspired by gardens and flowers.
The delicate and gracile flowers print was designed with neo-romantic influences from Louboutin’s home, Chateau de Champgillon, in the French countryside and the Garden of Kerdalo in Brittany. | Lifestyle | Style | Complimentary | Long | NASA MARIA ENTABAN | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | fashion,trends,Valentine's Day,beauty,jewellery,accessories,ready-to-wear | In recent years, the fashion, jewellery and beauty industries have levelled up their offerings to celebrate this occasion, featuring products in pink and red, adorned with hearts and floral motifs. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/02/14/celebrate-valentines-day-in-fashion-with-pink-and-red-hearts-and-flowers | |
1,283,524 | Italy puts national dish on space station menu | Italians are proud of their cuisine, and rightly so, given it’s seen as the epitome of tradition and deliciousness.
Beyond global fame, Italians are looking a step further, seeking to make their cuisine popular in space.
Cucina italiana is to be recognised as an intangible Unesco World Heritage Site and part of that bid is to serve pasta to the astronauts on the new International Space Station (ISS) mission.
Fittingly, one of those astronauts is Italian Air Force Colonel Walter Villadei.
The astronauts started their journey into space from Florida, the United States, on Jan 17, with numerous scientific experiments on their menu.
The special “Italian Space Food” project is led by Italy’s Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida and envisions astronauts eating pasta on Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3).
Colonel Villadei is unlikely to have to do much convincing of his fellow travellers, even if the pasta and sauce is a mere ready meal. Plus, he and the three other astronauts have already tried the dish during their pre-blast off quarantine.
Cannelloni in the cosmos
The space mission plus pasta is set to launch on International Italian Cuisine Day, a coincidence likely to please the government in Rome.
Since taking office more than a year ago, the government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, bent on tradition, has been promoting everything that is “Made in Italy”.
The World Day of “cucina italiana” and the space project come at just the right time and Meloni was delighted to bring “excellent food and an iconic product like pasta” into the heavens.
Meanwhile, on Earth, people are preparing to mark International Italian Cuisine Day with events and food festivals worldwide. The celebration day is held on the feast day of St Anthony the Great, a Christian monk who is the patron saint of butchers.
But how traditional is Italian cuisine? Critics are increasingly saying that “typically Italian” is merely a smart marketing strategy for food that also strengthens the nation’s sense of identity, a key concern for the right-wing government.
Pasta: Not so traditional after all?
One critic is historian Alberto Grandi, whose comments have repeatedly led to fury in his home country. His thesis on Italian cuisine is that cucina italiana is not traditional but just a couple of decades old and that much can be attributed to good marketing.
“You could say that almost everything that is said about Italian cuisine is wrong,” said Grandi.
Grandi shot to fame with his work Denominazione di Origine Inventata (DOI) (which translates as “invented designation of origin”), a corruption of the DOP seal for Italian goods meaning protected designation of origin. He has also launched a podcast called DOI.
Grandi says most Italians first heard of pizza in the 1950s. As a dish, carbonara originates from the United States and he sees tiramisu and panettone as relatively recent inventions. The best Parmesan – named after the northern Italian region of Parma – is actually produced in the US state of Wisconsin, in his view. Furthermore, the popular Pachino tomatoes – named after Pachino in southern Sicily – were bred by researchers in Israel.
Grandi says Italians want to halt their cuisine’s further development. History shows that dishes considered 100% Italian these days are actually the result of crossbreeding, substitutions and imitations.
“Italians didn’t teach the world how to cook; they learnt it as migrants in the countries where they worked,” he argues.
Grandi’s theories proving indigestible
The writer’s ideas are causing a stir in Italy and the government in Rome was even driven to action after an interview in the British Financial Times newspaper last year.
“I believe that today, cuisine is the last element of their identity that Italians have left. That’s why they get very angry when the history of our recipes is called into question,” says Grandi.
“Italy wants to stop time, to live in an eternal present, with no past and no future. But it is exactly this attitude that will destroy our image.”
He doubts that a world day and putting pasta in space will do his nation’s cuisine any favours. The International Day of Italian Cuisine is simply another advertising initiative, in his view. He says the same of the project of putting pasta in space.
But such public relations activities are not merely the work of Meloni’s right-wing government, he says. “Tradition and cuisine are cross-cutting issues that even the left rides on to a certain extent.”
The proof meanwhile is at least partly in the pudding. It remains to be seen whether the food consumed by the ISS astronauts will go down well – and whether that project might bring Italian cuisine a step closer to coveted Unesco World Heritage status. – dpaItalians didn’t teach the world how to cook; they learnt it as migrants in the countries where they worked. – dpa/Robert Messer | Lifestyle | Living | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | Cucina italiana,Italian Cuisine,International Space Station (ISS),Unesco World Heritage | Cucina italiana is to be recognised as an intangible Unesco World Heritage Site; part of that bid is to serve pasta to the astronauts on the new ISS mission. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/14/italy-puts-national-dish-on-space-station-menu | |
1,283,329 | Match made ... online | When he “met” Priscilla Mark on Facebook back in 2012, Alexander Nicholas felt an almost instant attraction.
“I found her appearance familiar and very appealing,” says Alex, as he is known.
But, he really wanted to meet her in person to make sure that he wasn’t being catfished.
“Certainly, there were concerns for us both. Priscilla made sure not to meet me alone the first time in case I turned out to be a creep! I also initiated an in-person meetup just to ensure she wasn’t a catfish,” he shares.
Meeting up in person wasn’t so easy as they lived about 60km away from each other. They settled on meeting at Sunway Pyramid mall as it was a convenient midpoint for both. That first meeting lasted only about 10 mins before Priscilla, 30, left with a friend to go shopping. Though brief, they both left with positive impressions of each other and continued to chat online until their second outing at an Avenged Sevenfold concert in KL not long after.
The couple did their pre-wedding photoshoot at their favourite chilli pan mee shop in Ampang, KL. - Alexander Nicholas
Throughout their college years the two met weekly but they didn’t go out on “official dates” even though they both liked each other as school was their priority.
“Priscilla then wrote me a letter in which she conveyed her feelings. It was on Aug 2 and she proposed that date as the anniversary of our relationship’s beginning,” Alex, 31, shares.
The couple dated for 10 years before they decided to get married in 2022. They did their pre-wedding photoshoot at their favourite chilli pan mee shop in Ampang, KL.
“The owner of the shop was incredibly supportive and helped us find a suitable time (for the shoot) when the shop was less crowded,” says Priscilla adding that they wanted to do the shoot there as the place was meaningful to their love story.
“Our first lunch date was at a chilli pan mee stall and since then we’ve been exploring various pan mee places. This one became our favourite,” she says.
Though meeting online seemed natural for both, they didn’t share the story of how they met with their families.
“Our families still don’t know that we met on Facebook. We told them we met at a concert, and the topic never really came up” he says. “We are just a generation that enjoyed meeting, ‘poking’, and chatting with people on Facebook.”
‘X’ marks the spot
When he posted his profile on @TwtJodohMY, Muhammad Nasiruddin Zafri received quite a bit of ribbing from some family members who thought the move showed him up as “desperate”.
Good thing that he didn’t let these comments dissuade him from seeking love online: He eventually found his now wife on @TwtJodohMY.
@TwtJodohMY is a platform on X (formerly Twitter) where people can not only put up their profiles (information and photos of themselves) but also information on what they want in a partner.
Muhammad Nasiruddin, 31, posted his profile on 30 March, 2023. Exactly a month later he had his first online interaction with Mimi Ruhidah, 32, after she sent him a message upon seeing his post.
But Mimi wasn’t the only one shooting her shot.
“I posted on X, searching for my so-called Jodoh (match) and she, and many others, DM-ed me,” says Nasiruddin.
But something about Mimi stood out. Not long after they connected online, they went for an actual date ... offline.
When he posted his profile on @TwtJodohMY, Muhammad Nasiruddin received quite a bit of ribbing from some family members who thought the move showed him up as “desperate”. - Muhammad Nasiruddin Zafri
The experience, says the smitten young man, was “amazing” and Mimi was “wonderful from the get-go”.
“The relationship progressed as we both knew what we wanted and were serious about the relationship,” he says. “Even though I had dated other girls from the platform before Mimi, I fell in love once I got to know her,” he said.
It isn’t hard to see why Muhammad Nasiruddin thinks everyone should leverage on the Internet to extend the search for love: He found his!
Location, location, location
It started out as a joke: Edrina Sharlisa, 30, decided to post her profile on @TwtJodoh on X just for laughs. She wasn’t really banking on finding a match ... let alone a husband.
But fate had other plans and she met her life partner, Muhammad Izwan, 36, through the platform that’s fast gaining popularity for those seeking love.
“Naturally, he DMed me first. He didn’t waste any time in telling me all about himself – his background, his age, job, and place of employment,” shares Edrina, 30. Of all the men that DMed me, he was the only one who stayed near me. So, I guess, his location stood out the most for me,” says Edrina, adding that he was also “the most interesting guy” she’d texted on X.
Following their first interaction on July 30 last year, the couple exchanged numbers and proceeded to follow each other on Instagram.
When she found out that Izwan owns a pet store called Catty Claw in Jitra, Kedah, Edrina decided to show up at the store. Unfortunately, he wasn’t there at the time.
But, she was persistent and the second time proved to be the charm! She went looking for him after work one day and the pair met and adjourned for dinner.
“Dinner was simple ... just the way I like it. Everything went well on the first date. After getting to know one another, we agreed on the qualities we look for in a partner. Even on our first date, we talked about important topics like marriage,” she recalls.
Both Edrina and her husband, Izwan experienced similar reactions from their families: their loved ones didn’t really believe it when the couple shared about how they met. - Edrina Sharlisa
Both Edrina and her husband, Izwan experienced similar reactions from their families: their loved ones didn’t really believe it when the couple shared about how they met. Edrina’s siblings and cousins were surprised, as it never crossed their minds that online matches actually could work.
Insta attraction
Everything has worked out well for Cholavarma Mogan, 28, and Sharumathi Kavirajan, 26, after Sharumathi took a leap of faith and slid into Cholavarma’s DM’s in May 2022.
“A notification popped from my phone – ‘Hello! I know we are total strangers. Hope you are cool with my random move to follow you on IG. I am Sharu btw, it’s nice to meet you’ – while I was on the phone talking with a friend about relationships in general,” says Cholavarma.
Sharu says that she’d seen his profile being suggested (for her) but never thought of making a move until one day when she had ‘a strong urge’ to do so. After chatting for about a week, the pair decided to go on a date. Their first date was “cute and simple and a good experience” for both of them.
“We even spent time together prior to the date, to create a Spotify playlist for the day,” they share.
The couple have been in a long distance relationship for over a year now and often admit that its hard to meet due to their busy work schedules. Though it’s a new – and difficult, at times – experience for them, the pair are willing to put in the effort to stay connected.
Not playing around
Both Hazel Rikon Jon, 26 and her boyfriend Anthony Lie, 24, were on each other’s friends list on Valorant (video game platform); but they actually had no idea who the other was as they both went by nicknames. Anthony, who is a Singaporean, thought that Hazel was his friend from the army and so, he decided to message her.
“He DM’d me to ask why I did not invite him to play on Valorant. I thought, ‘Huh. Who are you?’, as I really couldn’t place him ... I didn’t know who he was,” she says.
'We clicked right away and enjoyed spending time together just like we did online,' says Hazel.
Despite that confusing first interaction, they continued to chat. They found that they “clicked” and so, they moved their conversation to Discord (a chat app commonly used by gamers).
The two gamers gradually caught feelings for each other and eventually confessed their feelings and planned to meet for a first date.
“Our first date was great, we clicked right away and enjoyed spending time together just like we did online. We knew we would be in a long-distance relationship and didn’t want to ‘play games’, so we got together right away,” shares Hazel.
Both their families were skeptical about their relationship in the beginning but have come around now.
“The beauty of meeting someone online is that you get to know them (personality) before (seeing) them physically. So you can tell how you actually vibe with someone even before you meet them,” she concludes. | Lifestyle | Family | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | Women,Valentine's Day,online,finding love online,dating,relationships | This Valentine’s Day, we share heartwarming stories of couples who found their ‘happy ever after’ stories online. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2024/02/14/match-made--online | |
1,283,413 | 'Money No Enough 3' becomes highest-grossing Chinese New Year film in Malaysia | Singaporean director Jack Neo is having a great Year of the Dragon.
His latest comedy, Money No Enough 3, made more than S$1.5mil (RM5.3mil) over the first three days of Chinese New Year (Feb 10 to 12) and has collected S$2.3mil (RM8.1mil) at the Singapore box office since opening in cinemas on Feb 1.
According to the film’s distributor Golden Village Pictures, the title is the best-performing Singaporean movie since the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
Lim Teck, executive producer of Money No Enough 3, said in a press statement that this was Neo’s 20th film to cross the S$2mil (RM7.1mil) mark at the Singapore box office. Only 24 Singaporean films – including Kelvin Tong’s The Maid (2005) and Royston Tan’s 881 (2007) – have achieved the feat.
He added that Money No Enough 3 was also the highest-grossing Chinese New Year movie in Malaysia, and has made RM7.3mil since its release on Feb 9.
In the same press statement, Neo thanked moviegoers and fans for following the franchise that started in 1998. He also expressed gratitude to those who took their children and grandchildren along to the cinemas.
He added: “Money No Enough 3 is not just a Chinese New Year movie. It is a shared memory for all of us. Let us continue to work harder and make local movies shine brighter.”
The 1998 smash Money No Enough – directed by Tay Teck Lock, and written by and starring Neo – grossed a record S$6mil (RM21.3mil). Money No Enough 2 (2008) also made a killing at the Singapore box office with a haul of S$4.9mil (RM17.4mil).
Part 3 of the local satire on greed and materialism reunites Neo with comedians Mark Lee and Henry Thia, as they continue to face financial woes.
Neo’s best-performing film is Ah Boys To Men 2 (2013). With a gross of S$7.9mil (RM28mil), the comedy about incompetent army recruits tops the all-time Singapore movies box-office chart. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | null | The film, starring Jack Neo, Mark Lee and Henry Thia, has made RM7.3mil since its release on Feb 9. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/14/039money-no-enough-3039-becomes-highest-grossing-chinese-new-year-film-in-malaysia | |
1,276,025 | Planking is easy, but you must do it right to benefit | Doing the plank is not a complicated exercise, but getting it exactly right is important if you want to build up your core strength.
For a forearm plank – often considered the most common form to do a plank – lie on your stomach, rest your forearms on the floor, put your feet up, lift your pelvis, then hold.
The plank is one of the best-known fitness exercises, and rightly so, as it trains the core muscles particularly effectively, says German University for Prevention and Health Management lecturer Sven Seidenstücker.
Your core is the ring-shaped corset of muscles around the centre of your body, which includes the abdominal muscles and many of your back muscles.
They reward attention as strong muscles prevent back pain.
So it is worth trying to get the plank right.
“Take the name ‘plank’ literally,” Seidenstücker advises.
As a fitness trainer, he often sees people doing the plank with an hyperextended lumbar spine, creating a hollow back and causing the hips to sag.
But you shouldn’t push your bum too far up either.
In the perfect plank, the body forms a straight line and the head is kept in line with the spine.
Another mistake is shoulder blades that are not sufficiently fixed, so that you sag between your shoulders.
The problem is that it’s hard to judge the shape of your own plank, so if you are unsure and have the opportunity to do so, try getting a trainer’s assessment.
You should also be able to breathe evenly and relaxed while doing a plank.
And how long should you hold out?
Seidenstücker’s recommendation is that as it can be quite strenuous, don’t plank to the point of exhaustion. – dpa | Lifestyle | Fitness | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-11 00:00:00 | Fitness,Exercise,workout | This exercise can help you strengthen your core if done correctly. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2024/02/11/planking-is-easy-but-you-must-do-it-right-to-benefit | |
1,282,082 | Choi Woo-shik, Son Suk-ku raise a philosophical question in new K-drama 'A Killer Paradox' | The eight-part drama series, A Killer Paradox streaming on Netflix, revolves around Lee Tang (Choi Woo-shik), a college student who, under extreme stress, murders those who antagonise him.
After discovering that all his victims were serious evildoers “worth killing”, Lee comes to believe that he has a supernatural ability to identify evildoers. Detective Jang Nan-gam (Son Suk-ku), suspecting Lee to be behind the murders, pursues him.
Lee Chang-hee, who has directed South Korean thrillers such as the hit series Strangers From Hell (2019) and film The Vanished (2018), said A Killer Paradox deviates from conventional shows centred on characters who operate outside the boundaries of the law to eliminate evil.
According to the South Korean filmmaker, the protagonist is constantly asking himself whether he actually possesses the supernatural ability to identify evildoers, or whether he happens to be killing people that turn out to be evildoers.
“Lee Tang is a highly passive character. The situations he finds himself in just happened to him, and such factors make it difficult for the audience to predict or imagine what choices Lee will make in the future,” said Lee Chang-hee during a recent press conference held in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
In order to play the complex character, Choi said he focused on portraying the storm of emotions that Lee Tang experiences as the story progresses.
“There are moments when Lee grapples with guilt, being haunted by illusions or becoming ensnared in fantasies,” said Choi, who starred in the hit films Train To Busan (2016) and Parasite (2019).
“He goes through a slew of emotional and psychological changes. I focused on portraying those aspects, and I hope the viewers can catch those nuances,” added the 33-year-old.
Son, 41, focused on portraying the psychological dilemmas Jang grapples with throughout A Killer Paradox.
“He is a detective who mainly conducts investigations based on intuition. Consequently, he experiences significant conflicts between his sense of professional responsibility, occupational ethics and personal emotions,” said Son.
“I paid careful attention to Jang’s transformation, and tried to convey that he could become someone who harbours even more dangerous thoughts than the criminals he pursues.”
More K-titles are set to join A Killer Paradox on Netflix, with the company recently unveiling its sprawling TV and film line-up.
Squid Game, the award-winning South Korean Netflix original drama series that took the world by storm in 2021, will return with a second season in 2024, although no specific release date has been set.
South Korean actor Lee Jung-jae reprises his role of Seong Gi-hun, the winner of the Squid Game contest. Gi-hun gives up his flight to the United States after discovering that the organisers of the deadly game are continuing to recruit participants.
Season 2 will also feature stories of various contestants who risk their lives to become the new winner of the 45.6 billion won prize. Lee Byung-hun’s Front Man and Gong Yoo’s Recruiter are set to return, alongside new cast members Yim Si-wan, Lee Jin-wook, Choi Seung-hyun and Park Gyu-young.
Other star-studded films set to stream on Netflix in 2024 include Song Joong-ki’s My Name Is Loh Kiwan, which tells the story of a North Korean defector who struggles to obtain refugee status in Belgium. It premieres on March 1.
Officer Black Belt, an action-comedy film starring Kim Woo-bin and Kim Sung-kyun, and The Great Flood, a sci-fi disaster film starring Kim Da-mi and Park Hae-soo, will be released sometime in 2024.
Other K-dramas returning for new seasons include Gyeongseong Creature, starring Park Seo-jun and Han So-hee, and Sweet Home, featuring fan favourites Song Kang, Go Min-si and Lee Do-hyun. Release dates will be announced later.
Popular South Korean reality shows such as Physical: 100 Season 2 – Underground will air in the first quarter of 2024, while the fourth quarter will see Zombieverse and Single’s Inferno return with their second and fourth season, respectively. – The Korea Herald/Asia News Network | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | null | The drama series is based on a popular webtoon of the same title, which has won a slew of awards, including the rookie of the year award at the 2011 Korea Content Awards Ceremony. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/13/k-drama-039a-killer-paradox039-explores-ethics-of-eye-for-an-eye | |
1,283,332 | StarSilver: Romance that keeps growing | For Lloyd Thanabalan, 80, and Mary Arokiam, 75, marriage is never “a bed of roses” all the time. In their 52 years of marriage, the couple admit that they’ve had their “Tom and Jerry moments” – some disagreements and frustrations along the way – but they’ve never let these moments shake the foundation of their union.
“The foundation of every relationship lies in love and trust. It’s important to never lose sight of the reasons that led you to choose your significant other in the first place,” says Mary.
“A momentary frustration and disagreement is never worth your marriage, so always take a minute to calm down and self-reflect before anything else,” advises Mary.
She also shares that it’s important to treat each other as equals and have mutual respect for each other’s families, career and interests.
“Above all, keep in mind that marriage is a lifetime commitment, and as such, you must constantly make time and effort to express your love and appreciation for your spouse.”
The duo came together by way of an arranged marriage and they share two daughters and one son, aged between 46 and 51 years old.
“My husband was from Kuala Lumpur and I was from Petaling Jaya,” shares Mary. “One day, a good family friend brought the proposal to my dad. It was a typical arranged marriage for us,” she says.
Back in the 70’s there were no fancy cafes to go to on dates, nor did they have candlelight dinners. Dating meant grabbing a few drinks together or watching movies at the Coliseum theatre in KL.
“My husband used to love cricket, and he would always play at Victoria Institution, KL where he would take me to watch his games,” Mary recollects.
With Mary being a Roman Catholic, and Lloyd being a Protestant, a lot of their dates also took place at St. Anthony’s church, where the couple met with priests to discuss how they could navigate their different beliefs to build a strong marriage.
After six months of getting to know each other and their families and talking through their differences, the couple tied the knot on Sept 2, 1972.
For Mary, it was Lloyd’s “potential to be a good father someday”, that nailed it for her: She knew he was the one for her.
“Also, I used to be a diva back then, and though he wasn’t very outgoing, Lloyd would still let me dress the way I wanted to and never imposed any restrictions on me back then,” says Mary, adding that she always knew she’d made the right decision to marry him.
“She has been incredibly supportive of me in every aspect of my life, but particularly with regards to the choices I have made. We naturally got along because, well, she is a very understanding woman. Above all, having her in my life has made me feel strong and at ease,” says Lloyd. | Lifestyle | Family | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | Seniors,StarExtra,Valentine's Day,love,relationship,marriage,seniors in love | The foundation of a solid relationship is trust, says this couple who have been married for 52 years. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2024/02/14/starsilver-romance-that-keeps-growing | |
1,282,723 | Dragon-themed destinations to check out this year | Another 12 years have passed, and now it is time to welcome The Year Of The Dragon once again.
If you’re still racking your brain for destination ideas for 2024, why not create a fun travel wish list revolving around places with names that take after the majestic mythical creature?
Don’t be mistaken into thinking that the list can only be filled with Asian destinations – even though it does draw inspiration from the Chinese zodiac.
While dragons are revered in most parts of Asia, and in the Western context they may be different from their Asian counterparts, they do feature prominently around the globe. Hence, the ubiquitous influence of naming places across nations with the word “dragon” in the local language.
Of course, our list here isn’t exhaustive, but hopefully it will serve as a good starting point for your 2024 voyage!
Changting’s Wolong Academy is one of the popular tourist sites in Longyan. — YUMING ZHANG/Unsplash
Longyan and Heilongjiang, China
Where best to start than in China itself? (Also, seize the opportunity to make full use of the visa-free travel!)
Head to Longyan, a prefecture-level city located in the Fujian province, to fully immerse yourself in Chinese culture.
Meaning “dragon rock”, Longyan boasts a traditional charm that will make you feel as if you have been transported to ancient times.
Places of interests include the Yongding Tulou and Changting. Tulou, which translates to “earthen building”, is the unique dwelling of the Hakka and Minnan people in rural mountainous areas. The Yongding Tulou is part of the Fujian Tulou Unesco World Heritage Site, along with several others scattered throughout the southeastern province.
Meanwhile, Changting is a county rich with Hakka culture. Most of its ancient buildings and structures – such as the Wolong Academy and Huiji Gate – are preserved for historical and cultural reasons, resulting in a movie-like atmosphere.
Arguably, the more popular “dragon place” in China is Heilongjiang (Black Dragon River), the country’s northernmost province.
Due to its geographical location, which borders Russia, it is not surprising to see Russian influence in its architecture. This is especially true in the capital city, Harbin, where buildings like the Saint Sophia Cathedral and the Old Synagogue Concert Hall can be found.
Of course, Harbin is also renowned among snow lovers for its annual International Ice And Snow Sculpture Festival that draws millions of visitors.
Ha Long Bay is one of the most picturesque tourist attractions in Vietnam. — VALERIY RYASNYANSKIY/Unsplash
Bai Tu Long Bay, Ha Long Bay and Dragon Bridge, Vietnam
Bai Tu Long Bay and Ha Long Bay may be neighbours, but the latter is more well-known thanks to its status as a twice-listed Unesco World Heritage Site (in 1994 and 2000) and one of the “7 Natural Wonders Of The World”.
Understandably so, as Ha Long Bay’s towering karst limestone pillars and shimmering emerald-green waters make for stunning backdrops for photos and relaxing getaways. Having said that, Bai Tu Long Bay is no less impressive when it comes to being a natural beauty.
Both bays are located in Quang Ninh, a northeastern province that is both mountainous and coastal. However, while Ha Long Bay is bustling with tourists, Bai Tu Long Bay is much less so due to it being less accessible. So, if you’re looking to enjoy pretty much the same landscape and activities – such as junk boat cruises, kayaking and caving – but with less crowds, Bai Tu Long Bay is your best bet.
You may have guessed that the “long” in these names means “dragon”. Legend has it, “Mother Dragon” and her children descended on Vietnam following the Jade Emperor’s request for protection against invaders.
The bay where the Mother landed was named Ha Long, meaning “descending dragon”, while the area that the younger dragons landed in was named Bai Tu Long, which, depending on the translation, carries the meaning of “son of the prostrating dragon” or “bowing down and showing respect to the dragon’s children”.
Another popular dragon attraction in Vietnam is found in Da Nang, namely the Dragon Bridge that stretches across the Han River. Measuring 666m long and 37.5m wide, the dragon spouts water and breathes fire at 9pm on the weekends.
Thailand’s famous Dragon Temple stands out for the colossal green dragon encircling it. — TAN KANINTHANOND/Unsplash
Wat Sam Phran and Dragon Descendants Museum, Thailand
If going only by its Thai appellation, the temple Wat Sam Phran would have nothing to do with the majestic creature wrapped around its pink 17-storey tower, as “Wat” simply means “temple” while “Sam Phran” refers to the name of the Thai district it is located in.
However, in English, it is very famously referred to as The Dragon Temple, warranting it a spot on this list.
Presenting a façade much like an imaginary building set in a fantasy film, it’s fascinating that it truly does physically exist in our realm. If you’re so inclined, you may even climb the spiralling dragon’s hollow body to reach the top of the 80m tall tower – or skip the hike and use the elevator.
For anyone whose interest falls more on museums than temples, the Dragon Descendants Museum in Suphan Buri may just be up your alley.
Do not go here expecting to learn about dragon ancestries though, but do look forward to learning more about Chinese history, as this museum was built in celebration of two decades of Thai-Chinese diplomatic relations back in 1996.
The museum is hard to miss – even if it doesn’t quite tower over the neighbourhood the way the Dragon Temple does – as it is interestingly shaped like a dragon. Measuring 135m long, 35m high and 18m wide, the undulating dragon holds 20 rooms within it that exhibit information regarding China and Thailand’s Chinese people and culture.
The Punakha Dzong is the second oldest dzong in Bhutan. — NIHAR MODI/Unsplash
Bhutan
Unlike its aforementioned Asian brethren, Bhutan doesn’t just have a few places within it with names meaning dragon – the country as a whole is known as Land Of The Thunder Dragon.
The moniker is derived from the term Druk Yul, the country’s name in its national language, Dzongkha. Yul translates to “land”, while Druk is the name of the thunder dragon in Bhutanese mythology. Bhutan wears this identity loud and proud, even emblazoning its national flag with the said dragon front and centre.
Tourism in Bhutan is fairly recent, about two decades later than China and Thailand and roughly around the same time as Vietnam. But since opening its doors to foreign tourists in 1974, Bhutan has managed to maintain its pristine surroundings by limiting the number of tourists and imposing a daily tariff aka Sustainable Development Fee.
If you’re planning a visit, do note that this daily tariff applies to Malaysians as well, though 2024 is a good time to go as it has been halved to US$100 (RM473). An eVisa is also required for short stays. There are no direct flights from Malaysia to Bhutan, so you’ll need to travel to Singapore or Bangkok in Thailand first to board the flights to its only international airport in Paro.
Places to visit include the Paro Taktsang, or the Tiger’s Nest Monastery; Bumthang, known as the country’s spiritual heartland; and Phobjikha Valley, home of the black-necked cranes.
Also interesting are the various dzongs or traditional Bhutanese fortresses dotting the small landlocked country. Among the popular ones are the Trongsa Dzong, the largest in Bhutan; the Simtoka Dzong, which is the oldest; and the Punakha Dzong, the second oldest and second largest.
Rue du Dragon is a street located in the 6th arrondissement of Paris. — MBZT/Wikimedia Commons
Rue du Dragon, France
Being a popular European destination, it’s unsurprising if you find yourself in the City Of Love one of these days. When you’re there, diversify your itinerary by visiting somewhere else beyond the highly popular tourist spots such as Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame or Arc de Triomphe.
Maybe when you’re done queueing and briefly admiring the famous Mona Lisa, you can take a roughly 15-minute walk from the Louvre museum all the way to a picturesque street bearing the name Rue Du Dragon (Dragon Street).
Located in the city’s 6th arrondissement, you can also take the Metro to Mabillon, where the street is a mere one-minute walk away. The beautiful buildings that line the street not only make for Instagram-worthy backdrops, but they are also historical wonders, having been built in the early 18th century.
In fact, it was at 30 Rue du Dragon that Victor Hugo, the famous French writer who penned The Hunchback Of Notre Dame and Les Misérables, wrote a few of his masterpieces. Look close enough and you’ll see the plaque on the building proclaiming so.
Should you have time to venture to the northernmost region of France, namely Hauts-de-France, make your way to its city Oulches-la-Vallée-Foulon. One of its more well-known attractions is Caverne du Dragon (The Dragon’s Cave), a former limestone quarry that operated from the 16th century until the 19th century.
In the 20th century, it was used as underground barracks by both German and French troops. Now a remembrance museum stands there, recreating the daily lives of the soldiers.
One of the dragon statues guarding the Dragon Bridge in Slovenia’s capital city, Ljubljana. — VIOLA KOVACS/Unsplash
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Here’s another European destination that won’t require you to apply for a visa for short-stay trips. But just like travelling to Paris, you will need to transit at another airport as there are no direct flights to Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, from anywhere in Malaysia.
Don’t let that deter you from paying a visit to this Central European country, though, as its medieval charm and scenic natural wonders will no doubt sweep you off your feet.
Ljubljana is alternatively called The City Of Dragons. Legend has it that an ancient Greek mythological hero named Jason slayed a dragon living at a large lake that served as a source for Ljubljanica, the river that Ljubljana lies on.
For this reason, the city becomes synonymous with dragons. Not only will you see a dragon on Ljubljana’s coat of arms, but also four dragon statues on each corner of its famous Dragon Bridge. Besides, the city is a perfect place for purchasing dragon merchandise as it is readily available in various places.
Fortune Dragon Yong Peng and Tua Pek Kong Temple, Malaysia
Fret not if travelling locally is what you wish to do more of this year, as you can still visit a dragon destination by heading either to Johor or to Perak.
In Johor, there is a 115m long and 4.8m tall golden dragon by the name of Fortune Dragon (also Prosperity Dragon) found in Yong Peng. Apart from snapping tons of photos at the place, you can also venture inside the belly of the beast, literally!
Photography is not allowed inside, however, but you can snap a selfie or two at the dragon’s mouth. The “body” or tunnel is air-conditioned so don’t worry about it getting too stuffy or hot inside, where you will be regaled with 42 paintings depicting Buddhism and the afterlife, before exiting through its tail.
For a smaller but no less beautiful dragon tunnel, visit the Tua Pek Kong Temple in Sitiawan, Perak. As you walk through the body of this colourful dragon, take the time to appreciate the panels bearing the illustration of the ancient Chinese belief, The Ten Chambers Of Hell.
The Tua Pek Kong Temple often surprises visitors with its massive grounds, so make sure you are well-prepared with comfortable footwear, and bring along an umbrella or hat to shield yourself from Malaysia’s bright sunlight. | Lifestyle | Global | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | Global,Tourism,Holidays,South-East Asia,European Tourism,Slovenia,Paris,France,Thailand,Vietnam,Malaysia,China,Chinese New Year | The Year Of The Dragon is upon us! Check out some of the places you can travel to that are named after this mythical creature. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2024/02/14/dragon-themed-destinations-to-check-out-this-year | |
1,279,463 | We Rise Together: An economic recovery effort aiding Black and Latinx communities | As it approaches the halfway mark of its five-year plan, We Rise Together, an initiative of the Chicago Community Trust in the United States, is checking off its accomplishments while staying laser-focused on its upcoming efforts.
“We Rise Together: For an Equitable and Just Recovery” is an economic recovery accelerator aiding Black and Latinx communities hit hardest by the pandemic.
“We have to create an imagination for what Chicago would look like if every community was thriving,” said programme director Christen Wiggins.
The endeavour has yielded funding and support for 35 neighbourhood real estate projects since September 2021 – an investment of more than US$38mil (RM179mil) on properties that are now worth more than US$366mil (RM1.7bil).
In that time, 12 of those neighbourhood investments opened their doors, including Justice of the Pies in the Avalon Park neighbourhood, PODER Learning Center (a community hub where immigrants receive education and resources) in the Gage Park community, and Studio Yogi in South Shore, a centre that aims to build a health and wellness space for the area.
“To be able to see 12 projects already open in two years, that is real change,” Wiggins said. Spanish-speaking adult students hone their English language skills during a class at PODER learning centre.
“Sometimes people don’t understand that an investment in any part of the city benefits the whole city. We Rise Together is an idea, an aspiration, but truthfully, there’s decades of research that shows you can’t leave a part of the city behind and think it’s gonna just stay over there.
“What happens if we all live in thriving communities? The whole Chicago gets better. You have to keep convincing people of that over and over again.”
Julia Perkins got US$400,000 (RM1.89mil) from We Rise Together for Studio Yogi. After renovations at 1840 E. 71st St, the yoga studio opened in February 2023. There are now 22 classes a week with myriad styles of yoga. Perkins said she designed the fee structure to be inclusive for individuals and families by offering memberships and drop-in rates.
For 2024, Perkins looks forward to increasing memberships and focusing on getting more of a younger demographic into her doors. Studio Yogi has already seen people from Whiting and Humboldt Park. With the majority of her clientele coming from South Shore, Perkins said she continually partners with area organisations for events and wants to deepen the business’ footprint in the area.
“The design truly embraced the atmosphere that I wanted people to encounter when they walked into the studio in terms of being welcoming and inclusive,” she said. “I think word-of-mouth is getting out. CBS did a story on us where a couple of people that were interviewed said it felt like family here and that’s the feel that I wanted, because community is family.”
With one tenant already lined up for the 6,500sq ft (604sq m) building, Perkins is looking for another, a wellness business that fits into the remaining 799sq ft (74sq m). Perkins says they deserve having high-quality services within their community.
“We have been so accustomed to accepting substandard service, substandard quality. What does that convey, that that’s what we deserve? That’s just not true.
“We are deserving of having high-quality services within our community,” Perkins said.
She is thankful to We Rise Together for helping her manifest that deservedness and adding value to the area.
Last month, We Rise Together spoke about its progress at its Loop office. Data was shared about credit card spending in the Austin area after the opening of the North Austin Community Center in February. According to Jennifer Axelrod, senior director of learning and impact at the Chicago Community Trust, after seven months of the community centre opening, businesses within a mile of the site saw a nearly US$1.8mil (RM8.5mil) spike in consumer spending.
Wiggins said this shows how such investments are game- changers for areas that have long experienced disinvestment. Nedra Sims Fears, executive director of the Greater Chatham Initiative and the head of the nonprofit FoodLab Chicago, a resource for the South Side restaurant community, shared that the Greater Chatham area is the capital of soul food, and Caribbean and West African food in Chicagoland.
“We have data that shows two million people come and eat in Chatham. We need help to support our restaurateurs and our bakeries... because they are a destination,” she said.
“We made a very intentional decision to lean into the intelligence from community leaders and move forward projects led by community leaders, and we have not been disappointed,” Wiggins said.
Another We Rise Together project is the Xquina Incubator and Cafe in South Lawndale. Breaking ground in December, the 13,000sq ft (1,208sq m) property is being renovated to house a business incubator, a co-working office space, a cafe and a shared commercial kitchen.
Kim Close, executive director of the Foundation of Little Village, the organisation behind the project, said We Rise Together’s assistance sustained the project. The first phase of construction is expected to be completed by this summer.
“There are incredible hurdles that you have to overcome and an endless amount of red tape and without flexible capital from a partner like We Rise, I don’t know what we would have done. We would have come up with something... probably more loans,” Close said.
“We Rise and Christen (Wiggins), they’re true partners that stuck with us. We tell them the problems that we are having and they are supportive instead of being like, ‘What’s wrong with you?’”
When finished, Xquina, which has a Spanish-language focus, will be an integral piece of the Little Village business ecosystem, offering retail space, programming and services for entrepreneurs in the area.
Close said the group behind Xquina also wants to expand its micro-grant programme and its financial literacy boot camp, and attract investment to Little Village.
We Rise is “investing in real estate projects on the South and West sides so nonprofits that are running them can create real impact in the community,” Close said.
“That is the real value that we are trying to bring to the community, that we’re working on delivering... part of our corridor revitalisation and community wealth-building pillars... because we want to see increased investment in ownership and also in the businesses to help them grow capacity and grow their revenue.”
Luis Gutierrez, CEO of Latinos Progresando, said when We Rise Together funds were available to his organisation, it was able to attract other funders.
Latinos Progresando is centred on rehabilitating a former Chicago Public Library branch building vacant since 2009, to serve as a community resource.
The property will be occupied by Latinos Progresando and partner tenants, Esperanza Health Centers and Lincoln Park Zoo.
Gutierrez said more outside investment needs to be put into community nonprofits, organisations that know the environments, issues, leaders and people’s needs.
“We need to be looking at our commercial corridors in all of our neighbourhoods and figuring out how do we build a sustainable corridor that offers a little bit of everything so that you can shop within our community,” he said.
Wiggins said by the time the initiative sunsets, about US$50mil (RM236mil) will have been distributed among Chicagoland neighbourhood projects.
Wiggins said putting a firm end date on We Rise Together has gotten the team to move quickly and to trust the community more.
“We’ve got more to do – workforce grants, a final round of neighbourhood anchor grants that we’re going to be announcing in February,” Wiggins said.
“We’re going to continue to provide more resources into those same communities around the workforce and small businesses to continue building the ecosystem of a healthy local economy.” – Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service | Lifestyle | People | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | null | A special programme of the Chicago Community Trust in the US is building a rising tide of economic recovery in Black and Latinx communities. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/people/2024/02/14/we-rise-together-an-economic-recovery-effort-aiding-black-and-latinx-communities | |
1,283,334 | StarSilver: Still in love, three decades on | JALALUDIN Shukor, 59, and Nor Wahidah Wari, 58, have been married for 36 years. The couple from Kuala Lumpur have five grown-up children and three young grandchildren.
Yet, they seem like newlyweds, always holding hands and going everywhere together.
The adventurous couple reveal that they keep their love alive by “sharing and doing everything together”.
They enjoy activities such as biking, walking and going for coffee.
“Sometimes, there are things that I like but she doesn’t, but she’s willing to learn about my interests and accompany me. And sometimes, there are things that she likes which I don’t, but I still accompany her.
“For example, she likes to wake up early in the morning for walks but I need my sleep. However, because she loves this activity, I’m willing to wake up early to accompany her,” he says.
The couple first met through a mutual friend when they all went to watch a movie and had a meal together.The couple first met through a mutual friend when they all went to watch a movie and had a meal together. At that time, Nor Wahidah was working as a receptionist, while Jalaludin was working at a bank.
“We didn’t have social media, and there was no WhatsApp or Facebook then,” says Nor Wahidah.
“I would write love letters to him daily and send it to him once a week by post. I would use pretty stationery for this and even spray perfume on it. I would put on my lipstick and the letter would literally be ‘sealed with a kiss’.”
After six months, they were engaged, and one-and-a-half years later, they got married. What love means
For Jalaludin, love is “accepting each other’s strengths and weaknesses”.
“It’s not just about living together until death, but it’s also about making sure the love sparks and grows,” he says.
“We go through good and bad times. Sometimes we fight and we don’t always agree with each other, but we agree to disagree,” the couple concurs.
They lived in Abu Dhabi for 16 years – where Jalaludin was working and Nor Wahidah was a housewife – but had to return to Malaysia in 2021 when the pandemic hit.
“We had a really difficult time with work and business when we came back to KL,” says Jalaludin.
“So it was time for me to support my husband in any way that I could,” says Nor Wahidah.
The couple is now providing a courier service to support e-commerce providers.
For Nor Wahidah who is visually-impaired, love is “supporting each other in both good and bad times”.
She reveals that her vision is “only 15%” and has deteriorated due to a genetic condition.
“After my third child, I started losing my vision gradually and doctor said I would be blind in five years,” she says.
“But I’m very fortunate because my husband is my backbone.
“He’s very supportive of me, in all that I do ... like now, I can still cook and I know where all my things are. But for tasks such as cutting the chicken, my husband helps me,” she adds.
“When I started losing my sight, I didn’t want to go out because I felt embarrassed as my husband had to help me. I didn’t want to inconvenience anyone. But he wasn’t ashamed and would still bring me out regardless,” says Nor Wahidah.
“That’s because I don’t see her as disabled and in my eyes, she’s perfect. Not being able to see doesn’t make any difference to me because she’s still her,” adds Jalaludin.
Modern love
Love is very different now for the modern generation, the couple concurs.
Generation Z couples can easily contact each other because of mobile phones, WhatsApp and video calls. But during our time, we had to be very disciplined. We couldn’t see each other nor communicate often. We only dated twice a week, they recall.
“And I had to make sure she was home by 10pm,” says Jalaludin.
Their advice to young couples is not to be materialistic; instead support each other.
“Don’t rush into a relationship but take time to get to know your partner because this will be someone you will want to spend a lifetime with.
“Don’t choose someone for superficial reasons as you may you’ll get bored after awhile,” advises Jalaludin.
“When you’re in love, everything looks rosy. But you’ve to make sure you open your eyes to your partner’s character.”
It’s also important to be honest and communicate where finances are concerned, he says.
Some women will say what they earn is theirs, but the man still has to provide everything for them and the home. But in my wife’s case, when she was working, we both contributed our income to buy what we needed for our home, he adds.
“Also, if we make mistakes, we’ve to be mature enough to admit it, change and make it right.”
Nor Wahidah adds: “Always show your affection and touch and hug each other every day. When I’m in the kitchen, my husband will often hug me from behind. When our kids were small, at least once a month, we’d let our parents take care of them so that we could have time as a couple,” she adds.
And, we still hold hands everywhere we go, and it’s not because of her visual impairment,” concludes Jalaludin. | Lifestyle | Family | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | Seniors,family,lifestyle,veteran couples,valentines day | After 36 years of marriage and five children, this couple still seem like newlyweds, holding hands and going everywhere together. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/family/2024/02/14/starsilver-still-in-love-three-decades-on | |
1,283,323 | Hong Kong actress Charmaine Sheh wows netizens with her singing | It is not the first time Charmaine Sheh has demonstrated her vocal prowess, yet the Hong Kong actress continues to impress with her singing ability.
Sheh, 48, shared the stage on Feb 10 with Chinese actresses Liu Tao and Janine Chang at the 2024 Beijing TV Spring Festival Gala. The trio performed Blossom All The Way by Chinese musician Wen Yixin.
The Queen Of News (2023) star shared a clip of their performance with her 18.1 million Weibo followers on the same day. The video has garnered more than 36,000 “likes” and been shared more than 8,000 times.
Many of Sheh’s fans lauded her singing and requested the award-winning actress to hold a concert in 2024.
Beijing Radio and Television Station, which broadcast the annual Chinese New Year special, shared the trio’s segment on its official YouTube channel. Many praised the three actresses’ performance, calling them “flower fairies”.
Sheh scored three wins at the TVB Anniversary Awards in January for her role as cut-throat news anchor Man Wai Sam in The Queen Of News. She released a solo track in December called Front Row to celebrate her 25th year in show business.
She has also contributed to the soundtracks of some of her dramas, including Yummy Yummy (2005), Glittering Days (2006) and Beyond The Realm Of Conscience (2009). – The Straits Times/Asia News Network | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-14 00:00:00 | null | The Hong Kong actress continues to impress with her singing ability. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/14/hong-kong-actress-charmaine-sheh-wows-netizens-with-her-singing | |
1,282,646 | Taiwanese actress Joe Chen accompanies husband to Malaysia for Chinese New Year | After spending her first Chinese New Year in Malaysia last year, Taiwanese actress Joe Chen has returned to the country with her Malaysian husband, artist Alan Chen, for this year's celebration.
As seen in a series of Instagram updates, the couple joyously welcomed the Year of the Dragon alongside family and friends in Alan's hometown in Johor.
One photo showed Joe, 44, and Alan, 34, posing with a dragon dance troupe while another showed the actress holding a container of kuih ros.
"Relatives and friends just can't understand the extent of my love for honeycomb cookies," she captioned her post on Sunday (Feb 11).
In addition to enjoying spectacular fireworks displays and yummy CNY dishes, Joe had a blast belting out songs with Alan at a karaoke lounge.
In a recent Instagram Story posted by Alan, Joe could be seen singing along to the popular 1980s Taiwanese song Dancing Lady.
Many netizens warmly welcomed Joe and Alan to Malaysia and wished them a prosperous CNY.
Some also told them to enjoy as much Malaysian food as they can before jetting off to Taiwan.
Joe and Alan registered their marriage at the Household Registration Office in Da’an District in Taipei City on March 31, 2022 after dating for about two-and-a-half years.
The couple met in 2019 on the Chinese dating show Meeting Mr Right. | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | null | The couple welcomed the Year of the Dragon alongside family and friends in Alan Chen's hometown in Johor. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/13/taiwanese-actress-joe-chen-accompanies-husband-to-malaysia-for-cny | |
1,279,359 | Why corporate wellness programmes don't bring the desired outcome | FROM meditation sessions to stress management workshops and relaxation programmes, companies are sparing no effort to improve their employees' well-being. The problem is that these individual-level interventions might not be having the desired effect, according to a recent study of over 46,000 British workers.
One of the most pressing issues for bosses and managers is how to get employees back into the office while – if possible – ensuring they stay productive? The pandemic has completely reshaped the world of work, with workers becoming increasingly keen on the idea of ultra-flexibility, and a growing desire to prioritise well-being – sometimes to the detriment of performance. Both of these factors can impact the productivity of workers. Many studies have shown that productivity is increasingly correlated with happiness or well-being at work. Employers have not taken this information lightly, unleashing a whole arsenal of programmes designed to improve employees' mental health.
Few or no benefits
But what are these wellness programmes really worth? That's the question that a researcher from the Wellbeing Research Centre at Oxford University in the UK set out to answer.The study analysed the data and responses of 46,336 workers from 233 British organisations and companies offering such programmes. In all, no fewer than 90 wellness interventions of all kinds were examined, including mindfulness, resilience and stress management courses and programs, massage and relaxation workshops, sleep interventions, workload management training and volunteering.
Published in the Industrial Relations Journal, the study suggests that individual-level mental well-being interventions are not effective. In any case, the study findings do not demonstrate the benefits for employees."There's growing consensus that organisations have to change the workplace and not just the worker. This research investigates well-being interventions across hundreds of workplaces, supplementing trials that often take place in single organisations, and the lack of any benefit suggests we need more ambition when it comes to improving employee well-being. I hope these results can spur on further research and employer action," says study author, Dr William Fleming, quoted in a news release.
Could volunteering be more effective?
In detail, the study shows no difference in well-being between employees who took part in relaxation workshops, time management, coaching and other wellness programmes, and those who did not.The research notes, however, that volunteering is the only type of intervention that could prove effective for the well-being of those involved. Even so, the study points out that "the estimated effects are small," especially as these interventions are not usually part of programmes set up to improve well-being at work.
"I concur with reviewers of the field that organisational interventions, such as changes to scheduling, management practices, staff resources, performance review or job design (Fox et al., 2022), appear more beneficial for improving well-being," concludes the study author. – AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Living | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | null | More than initiatives, workers look for organisational interventions such as changes to scheduling, management practices and staff resources. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/13/why-corporate-wellness-programmes-don039t-bring-the-desired-outcome | |
1,278,224 | How to tell if the good bugs in probiotics are alive | One of my doctors thinks supplements are important, the other thinks they are worthless. It's a continuing mystery. My question: How do I know my (probiotic) supplements are alive? The capsules are kept at room temperature for up to four weeks and the predelivery environment is an unknown.
Not an easy answer to this one. As you stated, it is very important that the probiotics you consume are “live and active.”
In fact, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics defines probiotics as “live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host."
How to determine if the good bugs in your particular supplement are alive is tricky.
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS), which is part of National Institutes of Health, manufacturers of these products are only required to list the total weight of the beneficial bacteria on the product’s label.
This doesn’t tell you whether these organisms are dead or alive.
But there’s another way to determine if your capsules contain live microorganisms, says the ODS.
Look for the amount of colony forming units (CFUs), which some probiotic manufacturers voluntarily list on their labels.
This will tell you the number of good bugs that are actually living.
But here’s the kicker, as you mentioned in your question.
These live probiotics can die over time, which renders them useless healthwise.
That’s why a good manufacturer will list the amount of CFUs in a product at the end of its shelf life or expiration date, not at the time it was manufactured.
Remember also to follow the label instructions for how to store your probiotics.
Some need to be refrigerated and others can be stored at room temperature.
Here’s another thing. When you’re looking at the amount of probiotics in a product, one with 50 billion CFUs is not always better than one with 10 billion.
That’s because the healthfulness of a probiotic supplement depends on what particular strains (types) of helpful bacteria it contains and what specific health benefits have been attributed to those strains, according the World Gastroenterology Organization.
Perhaps that is why your doctors have differing opinions on probiotics.
Because they are not regulated by the same strict standards as drugs, it’s not easy to determine which products have scientific evidence to back them up. Hence, many professional health organisations have yet to make specific recommendations for or against probiotic use by healthy people.
Lastly, don’t forget that probiotics also live in fermented foods such as yogurt.
Experts say these good bugs typically survive through a product’s shelf life. – By Barbara Intermill/Tribune News Service
Barbara Intermill is a dietitian nutritionist in the United States. | Lifestyle | Wellness | Complimentary | Medium | AGENCY | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | Probiotics,. Gut | There are several ways to tell whether these organisms are dead or alive. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2024/02/13/how-to-tell-if-the-good-bugs-in-probiotics-are-alive | |
1,282,608 | Local singer Nick Chung's dad in coma after asthma attack: 'Most painful CNY' | Malaysian singer Nick Chung experienced his "most painful Chinese New Year" yet as his father slipped into a coma following a severe asthma attack.
In a recent Facebook post, Chung said his father's asthma was triggered by accidentally inhaling smoke from fireworks.
"He suddenly had difficulty breathing. (His body) turned purple and became stiff and cold. We rushed him to the hospital," the 43-year-old wrote.
Chung revealed that his father's heart stopped twice. However, the doctor managed to get it beating again after performing CPR.
He said: "He is now being kept alive by machines and is in a coma. The doctor said it all depends on whether my dad has the willpower to hold on. Hopefully, a miracle will happen."
Chung added that he won't be accepting any media interviews for now and urged everyone to pray for his father's swift recovery.
The singer also reminded everyone to be brave in expressing their love for their parents.
"Remember to tell your parents 'I love you' and don't forget to take photos with them. There are so many things I want to say to my dad right now but I can't.
"Dad, you must stay strong. You must wake up! I really love you," he wrote.
According to a research paper by Gouder and Montefort in 2014, harmful contaminants spread through the air when fireworks are ignited.
Exposure to these particles may aggravate the conditions of those with respiratory illnesses such as asthma or sinusitis. | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | null | In a recent Facebook post, Chung says his father's asthma was triggered by accidentally inhaling smoke from fireworks. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/13/local-singer-nick-chung039s-dad-in-coma-after-asthma-attack-039most-painful-cny039 | |
1,283,038 | Penang House of Music announces closure, leaving a void in Malaysian music heritage | Financial issues and the lack of institutional backing have forced the Penang House of Music, based in the heart of George Town, to announce its closure after more than seven years.
"It is with heavy hearts that we announce that Penang House of Music will be shutting its doors for good," read a statement from the Penang House of Music as it took to social media this evening to break the news.
"It’s been a wonderful seven-and-a-half years and we are proud of this labour of love, but alas, just passion alone isn’t enough sometimes, and the lack of financial and institutional support has made it a little too difficult to continue.
"As we tidy up loose ends, please be patient with us and we urge you to come visit us one last time and help us celebrate our rich music legacy that deserves its place in history," the statement added.
Sources indicate that it could shut as early as the end of February.
Since it was launched in November 2016 at the Komtar building in George Town, the Penang House of Music has grown immensely into its role as a custodian of the rich musical heritage of Penang and beyond.
In blurring the boundaries between museum and community space, it has become a cultural and musical haven for both tourists and locals alike.
The museum started out as part of the Penang Musical Heritage Project, in line with the Penang state government's goal of creating a city dedicated to heritage and creative arts.
To get the project running in 2016, PBA Holdings Berhad, the owner of Penang's water supply firm Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang (PBAPP), set aside a grant of RM3mil (a three-year disbursement) for the Penang House of Music.
Led by its director Paul Augustin and a small team (of researchers, guides, music enthusiasts and volunteers), the Penang House of Music - despite the uncertainties it faced after the pandemic - has continued to play an integral part in highlighting the importance of music heritage in Malaysia, and how it relates to people, everyday stories and cultural legacies.
"We try to recreate the atmosphere and lifestyles of different periods in our exhibits because music is more than just melody. It’s a communication of feelings, thoughts and actions that reflect what life was like at a given time. This is our history and heritage.
“Every little item, be it a document, instrument or object, has a story to tell. It’s like opening a window and peering into the past,” said Augustin in an interview with The Star in September 2021.
Through exhibitions, research work, digital archiving, documentaries, dialogue sessions, educational activities and live performances, the Penang House of Music meticulously preserved and showcased the (jazz to pop) music scene and diverse musical traditions (Chinese opera to Teochew puppets) that have flourished in Penang, while also dedicating resources to spotlight Penang's forgotten music personalities from the past.
While the music story of Penang was the starting point, with years of documentation and archival work undertaken, the Penang House of Music's ongoing mission in recent years has also seen it venturing into the deeper history and shared connections within the Malaysian, regional and international music scenes.
The Penang House of Music has been approached for comment.
| Lifestyle | Arts | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | Arts,Penang House of Music,closure,music,heritage,history | Since it was launched in November 2016, Penang House of Music has grown immensely into its role as a custodian of the rich musical heritage of Penang and beyond | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2024/02/13/penang-house-of-music-announces-closure-leaving-a-void-in-music-heritage | |
1,282,784 | K-pop star Lisa of Blackpink to make acting debut in 'The White Lotus' | Blackpink singer Lisa will appear in the third season of the hit American television series The White Lotus, marking the K-pop superstar's acting debut, Variety reported on Monday (Feb 12).
Lisa will be credited on the HBO show under her full name, Lalisa Manobal, Variety said, but her role on the show, which focuses on intrigue at exotic resorts, has not been disclosed.
The third season of The White Lotus will begin production this month in Koh Samui, Phuket and Bangkok, Thailand, Variety reported. Lisa was born and raised in the country.
As a member of the massively popular girl group Blackpink, Lisa is one of the most famous women in South Korea. Her role on the show could boost her star profile with American audiences.
Lisa's bandmate Jennie starred alongside Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd in the HBO drama The Idol in 2023, credited under the moniker Jennie Ruby Jane.
On Feb 8, Lisa announced that she had formed her own music and entertainment company, Lloud.
All four members of Blackpink renewed their contracts with South Korea's YG Entertainment late last year, sending shares of the company up by nearly a third.
Blackpink set a Guinness record earlier this year for having the most-viewed music channel on YouTube, which now boasts over 90 million subscribers. – Reuters | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | null | Lisa will be credited on the show under her full name, Lalisa Manobal, but her role on the show, which focuses on intrigue at exotic resorts, has not been disclosed. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/13/k-pop-star-lisa-of-blackpink-to-make-acting-debut-in-039the-white-lotus039 | |
1,282,919 | A maestro at kayak fishing | ROSPAIZAL Ismail’s transformation from a humble coconut water seller to a seasoned kayak fisher exemplifies the passion and dedication enthusiasts bring to their hobbies.
In 2017, driven by his love for fishing, the 42-year-old father of three from Kulim, Kedah, made a bold decision to invest in a kayak.
What began as a pastime soon burgeoned into a full-time occupation as he hauled in abundant catches from his kayak, prompting him to shutter his coconut juice stall.
Now, equipped with an array of kayaks tailored to diverse water conditions, Rospaizal navigates rivers, lakes, and seas with finesse.
“Shorter kayaks are more manoeuvrable. So they are good for rivers or lakes with lots of narrow channels,” Rospaizal elaborates.
“Longer kayaks are better for straight-line speed, so they are best to use at sea.”
Rospaizal with a dragon-tiger grouper weighing at least 4kg.
His kayaks range from 3.5m to almost 4m long with varying widths, which affect how well they cut through waves and currents.
“I’ve been fishing all my life, since I was a boy, but it was only a hobby.
“I regularly chartered boats with friends, and the rentals can be expensive.
A good haul of mangrove jacks caught below the second Penang bridge.
“After I got my first kayak, my fishing costs became super low. That is how I could sell my catches for a good profit,” he said.
Sharing his expertise generously, Rospaizal employs chest- and kayak-mounted cameras to document his fishing expeditions.
Through his online persona, Faiz Panjang, he disseminates insights into locating fish-rich spots, including the productive waters beneath the second Penang bridge.
Using the bridge’s strategic positioning to exploit tidal currents, Rospaizal demonstrates the efficacy of kayak-fishing in accessing prime fishing grounds.
With precision, he manoeuvres his kayak close to the bridge’s submerged structures, deploying a mix of lures and live bait to entice prized catches while evading damage from sharp barnacles.
His diligence pays dividends, yielding bountiful hauls of sought-after species like dragon-tiger grouper and golden snappers, fetching lucrative prices in local markets.
Rospaizal can catch so much prized food fish that on some months, he said he could earn about RM3,000.
Once, he said he caught so many golden snappers (Malay: jenahak; Hokkien: ang choh) that he earned RM750 from that one-day trip.
This is how Rospaizal ties down two kayaks on his car roof when he brings a friend to join in.
Using pedal-powered high-speed kayaks that have propeller fins at the bottom of the hull, much like riding a bicycle, he doesn’t incur petrol or diesel costs.
“I sell my catch at just below the current retail market price and because my customers know my fish are freshly caught with hook and line, I am almost always sold out every time,” he said.
To be sure of a good day of fishing, Rospaizal brings the works.
He would have 20 to 30 live shrimps on his kayak in an aerated bait tank, plus a small cast net to catch mullets (belanak), on top of a full arsenal of artificial lures.
“You never know what fish want for the day. Their feeding preferences change with the time of the day, the water’s temperature, oxygen levels, the current, so many things.
“I usually start with a soft plastic grub and it tends to work. If it doesn’t, I switch to live bait,” he said, adding that artificial lures are more efficient, since small fish sometimes nibble away live bait.
Work is still work, except that in Rospaizal’s case, it is the kind of work that he does with a smile each day. | Lifestyle | Travel | Complimentary | Medium | Arnold Loh | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | StarExtra,Outdoors,fishing | Father of three goes from coconut water seller to seasoned angler. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2024/02/13/a-maestro-at-kayak-fishing | |
1,282,899 | Dancing as a couple can help partners develop empathy for each other | With Valentine's Day just a day away, some lovers may be in search of activities to keep the flame alive. A new Chinese study suggests ballroom dancing.
Dancing as a couple can help partners develop empathy for each other.
The authors of this study came to this conclusion after conducting an experiment with 43 professional ballroom dancers and 40 individuals with no previous dance experience. The researchers took several steps to ensure that the groups of participants and controls were well-matched including their age bracket.
The researchers then used brain imaging and self-reporting answers via questionnaires completed by the study participants, to assess their capacity for empathy. They found that ballroom dancers showed higher scores of "empathic concern" than non-practitioners.
Furthermore, the academics noted that ballroom dancers who'd had the same partner for years were more empathetic towards their partner than those who knew their partner less well.
Surprisingly, the ability to show empathy was "negatively correlated with the number of dance partners for ballroom dancers."
"These observations suggested that ballroom dancers are more likely to experience feelings of concern for others due to long-term training with fixed dance partners," the study, published in the journal Human Brain Mapping, reads.
Interestingly, these observations have neuronal implications. Ballroom dancers show greater volumes of grey matter in the so-called subgenual area of the anterior cingulate cortex, which plays a crucial role in emotion regulation.
In addition, there was greater connectivity between this part of the brain and the occipital gyrus (a region considered to be the center of vision). This, according to the scientists, provides "solid evidence" of a link between regular ballroom dance training and empathy.
These findings should be treated cautiously, however, as this study, above all, shows correlations but does not prove a causal link between ballroom dancing and the ability to empathize.
In any case, dancing can be a highly beneficial activity for both body and mind so taking ballroom dancing classes with your significant other can have positive effects regardless. - AFP | Lifestyle | Arts | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | Arts,Dancing,culture,couples,Valentine's Day | New study reveals that ballroom dancers showed higher scores of 'empathic concern' than non-practitioners | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2024/02/13/dancing-as-a-couple-can-help-partners-develop-empathy-for-each-other | |
1,282,264 | Cyndi Lauper’s son arrested in connection with Harlem shooting | The son of Grammy-winning musician Cyndi Lauper was arrested in connection with a Harlem shooting, the Daily News has learned.
Declyn Lauper, 26, was nabbed minutes after the shooting on West 112th Street near Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard, Harlem, Manhattan, the US around 7.15pm on Feb 7, police said.
A 24-year-old man was shot in the leg and taken to Mount Sinai Morningside hospital in stable condition.
Lauper was charged with criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a controlled substance. His arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court was pending as of on Feb 9.
Also arrested in the gunfire was Omar Lewin, 24, of Washington Heights.
The arrest was not the first time the troubled son of the 1980s pop star was cuffed by the NYPD.
In July 2022, police found Lauper sitting in the driver’s seat of a stolen car, it reported at the time.
Cops noticed the illegally double-parked 2014 Mercedes Benz C350 at the corner of West 140th Street and Broadway in Hamilton Heights. Upon a computer check, they determined the vehicle was stolen, police said.
Lauper was charged with unauthorised use of a vehicle in the incident.
Lauper, who raps under the name Dex Lauper, lives on the Upper West Side. He is the only child of Cyndi Lauper. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | null | The arrest was not the first time the troubled son of the 1980s pop star was cuffed by the NYPD. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/13/cyndi-laupers-son-arrested-in-connection-to-harlem-shooting | |
1,278,100 | The latest beauty trend involves the use of broccoli to create fake freckles... | Freckles have never been universally popular, but the advent of beauty filters seems to have changed all that.
Thanks to various apps, it's now possible to appear on social networks with multiple freckles, offering a sun-kissed effect to users who use (and abuse) such filters.
The result, as is often the case, is that people now also want to recreate the effect in real life, as many celebrities – such as Hailey Bieber, Meghan Markle and Emma Watson – have done.
In fact, the trend has quickly given rise to all manner of tricks designed to create fake freckles using makeup, henna and other cosmetics.
Read more: The 'soap nails' beauty trend focuses on care, instead of superfluous details
Back in 2022, social media users were already sharing their many tricks for recreating these pigmented spots.
From pencil and liner to patches, cocoa powder, hair spray and even tattoo sessions (a controversial and dangerous practice), there are countless beauty hacks designed to give yourself freckles when and where you like.
Just as original, but absolutely harmless, the latest such hack is proving a hit with TikTok users, even though it might raise a smile.
Broccoli for beauty?
This unusual hack hails from one user (Abi’s Skincare), and it has already amassed almost two million views – quite the feat for a video that doesn't last more than 15 seconds.
Still, the creator uses a highly original item for her hack: broccoli, a vegetable that could soon be more popular in the bathroom than on plates.
The reason? This tree-like plant is endowed with tiny nubs that are perfect for recreating freckles.
Read more: Glow up! Try the 'glazed blush' makeup technique for a radiant, healthy look
With that in mind, the rest is child's play. The video shows her taking a broccoli, delicately dipping it in a highly pigmented (and dark) bronzer, then applies the green vegetable to her cheekbones.
The result, it has to be said, is quite stunning, even if the process does involve a certain amount of food waste.
The hack quickly found a following on the Chinese social network and has now gone viral, racking up millions of views. – AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Style | Complimentary | Medium | AGENCY | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | beauty,trends,makeup,TikTok | There are countless makeup tutorials out there for fake freckles, which have become the new stars of social networks. The latest trick uses broccoli and makeup to achieve the effect. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/02/13/the-latest-beauty-trend-involves-the-use-of-broccoli-to-create-fake-freckles | |
1,282,740 | Underground car parks could be used to heat water and save energy | Underground car parks act like heaters for the ground and, according to a new research from Germany and Switzerland, the energy this generates could be used to heat buildings.
Researchers from Germany’s University of Halle and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, as well as Switzerland’s Basel University, analysed the temperatures in 31 underground car parks in various cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
In six of them, they were also able to measure the temperature of the groundwater in the immediate area. The results showed that the underground car parks heat up the groundwater throughout the year.
The results were influenced by the traffic volume in the underground car parks, their proximity to the groundwater and the previous groundwater temperature.
“As public underground car parks are often deeper and are used for shorter periods of time, they heat the groundwater more than private facilities,” said Maximilian Noethen, author of the study from Halle.
The excess heat in the ground could be utilised in the future with the help of geothermal energy and heat pumps.
“The advantage of this would be that energy is extracted from the groundwater and it cools down,” said Noethen.
For 5,040 underground car parks in Berlin, the team calculated the groundwater heating caused by underground car parks for the city using a model.
The researchers came up with around 0.65 petajoules of energy, which could theoretically supply around 14,660 households with heat.
“Of course, heat from groundwater alone is not enough to cover the heating requirements of a city like Berlin or even a country like Germany. Nor is the temperature level of the near-surface groundwater sufficient for heating without a heat pump,” says Peter Bayer, an author of the study from the University of Halle.
“However, we know from previous work that the potential for geothermal energy goes far beyond this and that it could play a significant role in a sustainable heat supply.” – dpa | Lifestyle | Living | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | Underground car parks,heating,energy,groundwater | An analysis of 31 underground car parks in various cities in Germany, Austria and Switzerland showed that underground car parks heat up the groundwater throughout the year, influenced by traffic volume in the car parks, proximity to groundwater and the previous groundwater temperature. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/13/underground-car-parks-could-be-used-to-heat-water-and-save-energy | |
1,282,095 | US actress Sigourney Weaver says #MeToo 'made a big difference' | The #MeToo movement "made a big difference" since women now feel more empowered to say no to unwanted sexual advanced, US actor Sigourney Weaver said on Feb 9 in Spain.
"We knew the Me Too movement wasn't going to change things overnight," she told journalists in the northwestern city of Valladolid.
"It's a problem that women have in every field," the 74-year-old star of the Aliens film franchise added.
"I think it has made a big difference to how women feel and how empowered we feel to say no, to say stop."
Weaver, a three-time Oscar nominee, was honoured on Saturday night with a lifetime achievement award at Spain's Goya film awards. Director Pedro Almodovar and actor Penelope Cruz presented several awards at the ceremony.
But it comes a fortnight after three women told El Pais newspaper they had suffered sexual violence at the hands of independent Spanish filmmaker Carlos Vermut.
All asked to remain anonymous, and none has filed a police complaint for fear of the effect on their careers. Interviewed by the newspaper, the filmmaker denied the allegations.
"I'm very sorry to hear about this case, and my heart goes out to the women," said Weaver.
"It is women who speak up about this situation and abuses, that are making it safer for all women to work in this industry," Weaver said.
The global #MeToo movement took off in 2017, prompted by accusations of sexual misconduct against Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.
Women around the world took to social media to disclose sexual harassment and assault across workplaces, governments and campuses.
That sparked investigations and legal processes that helped topple several high-profile men from positions of power. – AFP | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | null | The three-time Oscar nominee was honoured with a lifetime achievement award at Spain's Goya film awards. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/13/us-actress-sigourney-weaver-says-metoo-039made-a-big-difference039 | |
1,282,639 | US biker, paralysed in an accident, adopts adaptive motocross for a comeback ride | The tattoo etched across Anthony Picchione’s left arm reveals fragments of his life before and after the motocross accident that altered his racing days.
The tattoo’s design features a clock with the hands pointed at six and four, mirroring Picchione’s former racing number, 64. There’s a lion in the design to represent strength and ferocity, and near the image of a spinal cord is the adage: “Everything happens for a reason.”
The 21-year-old from New Milford, Connecticut in the United States started competitively racing dirt bikes when he was five.
He was working toward earning his professional motocross license when his days of competitive racing were cut short on Nov 26, 2021.
Picchione’s promising future in motorsports was abruptly halted by an accident, leaving him paralysed.
An accident severed his spinal cord and rendered him paralysed from the waist down.
Immediately after the accident, as he underwent rehab at Gaylord Speciality Healthcare, Picchione said he wanted nothing to do with motocross.
“I was kind of ‘I’d rather be a fan’, but I didn’t want to ride. I didn’t want to end up back in the hospital and go through this again.”
However, a week after the anniversary of his accident, Picchione found himself back on the bike again through MotoDemption, non-profit organisation dedicated to making motocross “a reality for those with physical disabilities by providing the bikes, adaptations, instructors and resources for safe and fun riding,” according to the MotoDemption website.
“It’s completely different. It doesn’t really matter how good or bad I do as long as I have fun,” said Picchione, who graduated from high school in 2020.
Defying all the odds
Picchione was 19 and he was only on the bike for 30 seconds when the accident happened.
He was racing in the Mini O’s competition in Gainesville, Florida, and had gone around the first turn when his bike hit a patch of dirt, flipping him over the handlebars.
The accident left Picchione with three broken ribs, a punctured lung, a fractured spine and a severed spinal cord. He remembers lying on the ground before he was put in a back brace and neck brace and loaded into the back of an ambulance.
Picchione's aspirations to become a motocross journalist demonstrates his continued love for the sport.
“I was yelling and screaming, I ripped the neck brace off,” Picchione said. Picchione said he doesn’t remember a specific moment when he was told he had a T-5 injury – an injury in the thoracic region of the spine at the fifth vertebra.
After returning to his New Milford home in January 2022, Picchione did outpatient therapy for more than a year at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare where he was able to walk in a bionic exoskeleton.
“One thing I tried to do every day is get out of the house once a day, which I think helped me. It’s almost like racing dirt bikes – it’s hard to get down with what’s wrong when your mind is focused on something else,” he said.
Another chance to ride again
Picchione’s passion for motocross took root at a young age, starting with his first dirt bike ride when he was four.
His brother, Dominick Picchione III, 26, also rode dirt bikes while his father was an expert motocross rider from the 1970s through 2011.
Growing up, Picchione raced throughout the spring, summer and fall and then traveled with his family in their motor home to Florida in the winter where he continued to practice riding. He competed in hundreds of races in 20 to 25 states.
At 17, Picchione qualified for the 2020 Monster Energy AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship where he was recognised as the top 42nd nationally ranked rider in his skill level. He said he was an amateur rider at the time of his accident.
That love of motocross was renewed after he watched the annual Supercross Anaheim race in California on TV, Picchione said.
He was connected to MotoDemption co-founder Davey Gonzales through a mutual friend and applied for an all-expenses-paid trip to ride of the organisation’s adaptive dirt bikes.
He had to wait a year after his injury – per MotoDemption policy – before making the trip.
Despite his injury, Picchione is slowly reclaiming his passion for motocross.“I said ‘I don’t care if I have to push my wheelchair to California to ride again’.
“I think I wanted redemption. If I got another chance to ride again, I didn’t want to have a jaded perspective,” Picchione recalled saying after Gonzales called him about the opportunity.
The adaptive bikes were similar to normal dirt bikes, he said, but with a larger seat, more foam and padding, electronic shifts, and a rear brake on the handlebars.
Picchione recalled feeling at ease the moment he settled into the bike, and the return of “that free feeling” he got from riding.
Dominick Picchione Jr said he lost “a big part of my life” after his son’s accident.
“Anytime something bad happens to your family, you try to look for explanations and you say to yourself, ‘I introduced him to riding and if I didn’t introduce him to riding, he wouldn’t have crashed.”
Picchione Jr said there were mixed emotions when he saw his son get back on the bike.
“I think for both me and my wife, just to see him, there was the fear of ‘Oh God, I don’t want anything to happen to him’ to seeing how excited he was to get back to what he loved doing.”
An interesting perspective
Apart from riding adaptive dirt bikes, Picchione hopes to participate in the Gaylord Gauntlet 5K & Obstacle Race in June. Proceeds from the event benefit the various programs for patients and the community at Gaylord as well as the Gaylord Sports Association which provides adaptive sports for people with physical disabilities.
Picchione’s inspiring story shows that determination knows no bounds.Meanwhile, his ride to redemption has inspired a new passion for becoming a motocross journalist.
“It’s definitely what motivates me from day to day. I think I have an interesting perspective being so young and what I’ve been through.”
Picchione started writing and put out his first article through Keefer, Inc. Testing, a motocross news website in last May. He said Kris Keefer, who started Keefer, Inc. Testing, worked as a professional dirt bike tester for motocross companies and now offers private dirt bike tests and publishes articles and podcasts related to motocross.
“He’s allowed me to use his platform to put my work out,” he said, adding he’s published six to seven articles through Keefer’s website.
Picchione said he’d like to have his work published in magazines as a way to entertain people and reintroduce younger generations to “the art of sitting down and actually reading.”
His father said: “I think it gives him a release to talk about his experience in his writing and still be involved with a sport he loves. Even if he didn’t get hurt, at a certain point he would have had to pick a career and it would have been something in motocross.” – The News-Times/Tribune News Service | Lifestyle | Lifestyle | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | Disability,Paralysis,Motosports,Anthony Picchione | Anthony Picchione, from Connecticut, demonstrates his spirit of redemption through his transition from a motocross accident to adaptive riding. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/13/us-biker-paralysed-in-an-accident-adopts-adaptive-motocross-for-a-comeback-ride | |
1,282,659 | On the scene at the 2024 Oscar nominees luncheon, where stars and directors mingled | Emma Stone enjoyed a mini La La Land reunion with Ryan Gosling. Margot Robbie chatted with Billie and Finneas Eilish.
Barbie director Greta Gerwig and Oppenheimer director Christopher Nolan – whose two films will forever be fused in the public imagination and box office history – each greeted a parade of well-wishers.
And despite the din of hundreds of people schmoozing around him, a border collie named Messi, better known as the scene-stealing Snoop from the thriller Anatomy Of A Fall, curled up quietly under a table, unimpressed by all the Oscar nominees in his midst. (Already the Palme Dog winner at last year's Cannes, Messi may be over such dog-and-pony shows at this point.)
In all, 184 of this year's 205 Academy Award contenders gathered Monday (Feb 12) afternoon at the Beverly Hilton to toast their accomplishments at the annual nominees luncheon and pose together for Hollywood's most exclusive class photo.
In this handout image courtesy of AMPAS (Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) nominees for the 96th Oscars® pose for a group photo during a luncheon held at the Beverly Hilton, Feb 12, 2024. Photo: AFP
With the Oscars just weeks away on March 10, the annual lunch gathering – a ritual dating back to the 1980s – offered the chance for the nominees to mingle in a convivial and competition-free environment, momentarily free from the reality that only 20% or so of them will actually emerge victorious when Oscar season reaches its climax.
For many, including acting nominees such as Cillian Murphy (Oppenheimer), Sterling K. Brown (American Fiction), America Ferrera (Barbie) and Da'Vine Joy Randolph (The Holdovers), it was their first time attending the event.
For others, like Maestro director and star Bradley Cooper, Holdovers star Paul Giamatti and Poor Things director Yorgos Lanthimos, this is not their first Oscar rodeo.
America Ferrera (centrer) at the 2024 Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Photo: TNS
Taking in the collective star wattage, some of the less familiar faces, like Mstylslav Chernov, first-time director of the documentary feature nominee 20 Days In Mariupol, seemed stunned simply to be there.
"It's incredible, the journey this film has taken," said Chernov, whose picture chronicles the harrowing experience he and a group of fellow Ukrainian journalists faced trying to document the Russian invasion of their country while under siege – about as far from the glamorous soiree as one can imagine.
Margot Robbie and Pam Abdy at the 2024 Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills. Photo: TNS
Taking the stage to welcome the starry crowd, which also included executives like Disney's Bob Iger and Netflix's Ted Sarandos, Academy President Janet Yang lauded what many regard as a particularly strong crop of nominees.
"I hope you've each taken time over the past few weeks to reflect on your achievements and absorb the feeling of being a part of this esteemed class of filmmakers," she told the nominees.
"It might sound cliche but it's true: to receive a nomination is an honor of the highest order, particularly because you're nominated by your peers."
(From left) US actor Robert Downey Jr, US-British actress Emily Blunt and Irish actor Cillian Murphy attend the Oscar Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. Photo: AFP
That said, come Oscar night, with the telecast's producers under never-ending pressure to trim down the often overlong show, Yang said the nominees need to do their part to keep things moving and deliver emotional moments.
"Please keep your speeches short – meaning under 45 seconds," she urged the nominees, noting that there will be a "thank-you cam" set up backstage for winners to express their gratitude to as many people as they want.
"Speak from the heart. Be authentic. Allow yourself to feel the moment. Throw in a dash of humour if you'd like. Also, we want to see your beautiful faces rather than tops of your head, so let's not read from a piece of paper or your phone."
US singer-songwriter Finneas O'Connell (left) and US singer/songwriter Billie Eilish at the Oscar Nominees Luncheon. Photo: AFP
For the nominees, Oscar season can come to feel like an endless march of screenings, cocktail parties, Q&As and receptions. But the luncheon marks the only Oscar-season stop at which a majority of the nominees are actually in the same room prior to the awards themselves.
Gazing around that room, Ben Proudfoot, who co-directed the documentary short The Last Repair Shop – a co-production of the Los Angeles Times and Fox Searchlight – marvelled that virtually everywhere you looked there was someone famous, summing up the vibe in a single word: "It's electric." – Los Angeles Times/Tribune News Service | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | null | Needless to say, it was a glittery event. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/13/on-the-scene-at-the-2024-oscar-nominees-luncheon-where-stars-and-directors-mingled | |
1,278,223 | Try this simple relaxation exercise to promote restful sleep | From difficulty falling asleep to night wakings and insomnia, sleep disorders affect a large proportion of the population and can have disastrous consequences on health.
This observation is not unrelated to the multitude of tips being shared on social media to help people sleep more soundly. The latest involves a relaxation technique that's accessible to all, and which – as a bonus – is detailed by a health professional.
Around the world, health authorities have been issuing advice and practical recommendations to help reduce the risk of sleep disorders, from limiting junk food and screen time to adopting relaxing activities before bedtime.
However, the internet too offers a plethora of tips for getting a (more) peaceful night's sleep.
Whether they hail from scientific studies or health professionals on social networks, they all aim to help the average person fall asleep and stay asleep for as long as possible.
Such is the case with a technique outlined by an American physician, Dr Kunal Sood, specialising not in sleep disorders, but in chronic and acute pain.
With a large TikTok community of no less than 2.2 million followers, this American doctor regularly offers health advice, covering everything from menstrual pain to the virtues of apple cider vinegar to sleep disorders.
Just a week ago, sleep was the subject of a post (already) viewed more than 35,000 times.
It details a relaxation technique that could help you sleep better, or at least assist those who need a helping hand to enjoy truly restful, peaceful nights.
Six breaths per minute
According to the health professional, this trick involves adopting the resonance frequency breathing method, based on breathing exercises designed to help your breathing and heart rate synchronise, or become resonance.
To achieve this, you need to breathe six times a minute for five minutes, three times a day.
To reach this frequency, you need to slow down your breathing, counting up to five for each inhalation and exhalation.
When breathing is slowed down "to a rate of about six breaths per minute," explains Dr Sood on TikTok, "it will increase your heart rate variability, and when you improve your heart rate variability this will activate your parasympathetic nervous system, which will help decrease your sleep onset and improve your sleep quality."
It's worth noting that this method is by no means new, having been developed decades ago, but it seems to be becoming increasingly widespread.
It can also be found under another name on social networks – the 3-6-5 method – which uses exactly the same exercise.
The health professional also evokes a study, conducted by researchers in India, which reports reduced anxiety and improved cognitive function with this technique.
From the comments posted under Dr Sood's video, the method seems to be proving popular with TikTok users, who report feeling calmer, falling asleep more easily and sleeping better.
And if that doesn't work, France's national social security organisation recommends limiting the use of stimulants, such as caffeine, at the end of the day, as well as heavy meals and screen time.
It advises regular physical exercise, opting for relaxing activities before bedtime, and avoiding taking hot baths. It's also a good idea to stick to regular times for getting up and going to sleep, even on weekends, so as not to disrupt your sleep pattern. – AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Wellness | Complimentary | Medium | AGENCY | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | Breathwork,Sleep,Insomnia | This trick involves adopting the resonance frequency breathing method, based on breathing exercises designed to help your breathing and heart rate synchronise. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2024/02/13/try-this-simple-relaxation-exercise-to-promote-restful-sleep | |
1,274,682 | Malaysian shares the benefits of exploring Perth on foot | Write to us
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I spent three months in Perth, Western Australia last year. During the initial weeks, which happened to be spring season, I did not venture out of the neighbourhood much, as the weather was erratic with torrential rain and hail.
The extended period of sedentary lifestyle made me consume more calories, and I became ... a little lazy when it came to exercising.
To cultivate a daily walking habit, I started to explore the neighbourhood. I spent a few weeks mapping my walking routes as it felt difficult to move around at first, but I remained committed to my fitness goals. Low intensity walking was a proven way to relieve stress, and Perth’s many riverside walking trails took me through nature which was very calming.
The writer at Matagarup Bridge in Perth.
The biggest park in the east of Perth city is Chevron Parkland.
Situated on the Swan River foreshore alongside Optus Stadium, the Chevron Parkland includes 2.6ha of rehabilitated parklands and nature-based playgrounds. The park’s design reflects its unique culture and acknowledges the site’s Aboriginal heritage.
Exploring the picturesque eastern foreshore of the Swan River and discovering Perth’s hidden gems off the usual tourist route was such a breathtaking adventure. Every morning, I looked forward to walking the trails and discovered a delightful 10km-loop around the Swan River that takes you past Elizabeth Quay, Barrack Street Jetty, Riverside Drive and the South Perth Foreshore.
Whether on foot or on wheels, this was a great route with plenty of restaurants and cafes along the way serving artisan coffee and snacks. I learnt from other walkers that it was a very popular loop in Perth, allowing you to enjoy the city’s beautiful weather and spectacular views of the river.
Flowing through the heart of the city, Swan River is a popular natural attraction for locals and visitors. Some of the activities to enjoy here include boating, fishing and picnicking. The walking trails are suitable for people of all ages, as well as their pets.
My morning walks took me along the eastern foreshore of Swan River through an urban wetland at sunrise.
Ducks hanging out at Swan River in Perth.
Western Australia’s iconic black and mute swans were observed gliding across the water gracefully and nesting in grassland areas. These riverfront attractions are also a haven for native birds such as moorhens, kingfishers, mallards and grey herons.
A hub of riverside cafes and elegant Italian-style homes can be found in the city’s east, and you’ll also pass by some of the city’s most beautiful heritage buildings including the famous Perth Mint, historic Government House and the lush Supreme Court Gardens.
If you continue on the pedestrian and cycle loop, you will see the Crown Casino and Victoria Gardens, where the majestic Perth Stadium comes into sight.
Matagarup Bridge meanwhile symbolises a coming together of diverse cultures. An iconic landmark, the bridge’s arches represent a pair of black-and-white swans or the Wagyl, a water serpent of great importance to local Noongar culture. The bridge is 160m long and has only two concrete piers located in the river, respecting the area’s heritage and minimising impact on the Swan River.
Coldplay performed at the Optus Stadium in November last year.
The Optus Stadium is a 60,000-seat multipurpose stadium capable of hosting cricket, football and rugby matches, as well as major concerts and entertainment events. It is located in the suburb of Burswood and is considered the third largest stadium in Australia.
Optus Stadium is equipped with a range of state-of-the-art technological features designed to enhance the fan experience. The stadium’s roof, known as the “Falcon’s Nest”, features kinetic architecture with eight massive sliding panels that can be adjusted for weather control.
In November 2023, British band Coldplay performed at the stadium.
After passing under the northern end of the Causeway Bridge, the skyscrapers of the city came into view as I walked past Langley Park towards Elizabeth Quay, Barrack Street Jetty and Riverside Drive.
I completed my Swan River walking loop with a feeling of accomplishment as I had covered almost 10,000 steps! I was able to enjoy incredible views of the Swan River, Matagarup Bridge, Optus Stadium and the Perth skyline and felt optimistic about my health.This solo exercise ritual had injected my life with a shot of excitement and recharged my battery too.
The views expressed are entirely the reader’s own. | Lifestyle | Asia & Oceania | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | Asia & Oceania,Readers Share,Perth,Australia,Tourism,Travel,holiday,walking tour | One of the best ways to see or experience a foreign city is to walk from one neighbourhood to another. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2024/02/13/malaysian-shares-the-benefits-of-exploring-perth-on-foot | |
1,279,125 | Malaysian architect on benefits of adaptive reuse in design | There is much interest and support for adaptive reuse in architecture, evident from the positive feedback on my last article on the transformation of a heritage building on Penang Hill. This further strengthens my passion in advocating for this approach.
Generally, the construction of buildings revolves around two main strategies. One focuses on building new structures from scratch, which involve below-ground piling, erecting concrete structures, walls, roof and ceiling, and interior finishes. New constructions are based on customised design solutions drawn up by professional architects.
The second strategy involves demolishing and replacing abandoned old buildings with brand new ones. These methods are often seen as an easier reboot by building from a clean slate.
However, in recent years, adaptive reuse has been gaining much global traction.
What is adaptive reuse, you may ask? Adaptive reuse is all about reusing an existing building for a purpose other than which it was originally designed for. Instead of fully demolishing an old, abandoned building, creative adaptations can give old buildings a second life.
Often, existing structural integrity is retained with clever additions and alterations to adapt to the new use.
Global communities have embraced the effective urban renewal strategy of adaptive reuse of old buildings in cities. An impressive example is the transformation of London’s Battersea Power Station, a former power station adapted into an extraordinary mixed development consisting of places to eat, shop, work and play. The Battersea Power Station in London which has been transformed into a mixed development space. Photo: Nick Fewings/Unsplash
So what exactly are the benefits of adaptive reuse?
Environmental sustainability
Adaptive reuse allows for the transformation of an existing structure, significantly reducing and eliminating the need for demolition and re-manufacturing of building components and materials. A recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme states that 39% of global CO2 emissions are generated by buildings, with about 11% from building materials and construction activities. The remaining 28% are generated in the building operation phase.
Considering that construction of new housing projects is expected to double by 2060, adaptive reuse is globally applauded as a promising sustainable approach.
This is because it eliminates major construction activities associated with building new structures and dramatically reduces the building operation phase of carbon emissions to the environment.
Architectural heritage
There is no future without a past. By appreciating our past, we forge a better future. When it comes to heritage buildings, adaptive reuse not only prolongs the lifespan of the existing structure, but passes down intangible historical stories of the past. The new annex of the Penang Harmony Centre, another example of adaptive reuse.
In cities like Penang, the abundant treasure of historical colonial bungalows, shophouses, mansions, churches and even warehouses are adapted to new use to stay relevant to the community. Successful transformations of public buildings in Penang like Macalister Mansion, Edison Hotel, Suffolk House, Hin Bus Depot, as well as the Penang Harmony Centre and Penang Digital Library, are inspiring a stronger appreciation of adaptive reuse. These heritage buildings have become powerful landmarks to revitalise the community and draw visitors to the city. RexKL, formerly the old Rex theatre, is now a thriving arts, culture and event space. Photo: David Yeow
Cost and time
Apart from being costly, demolitions produce 20 to 30 times more waste than the amount generated by building a new structure. By avoiding demolition, we save demolition costs and avoid unnecessary waste. Adaptive reuse saves significant below-ground structure costs. In certain cases, the existing roof, walls, doors and windows are still in good condition and can be re-used, further reducing the need for building components.
Demolitions are also labour-intensive and the subsequent rebuilding consumes much construction time. In comparison, a comprehensive plan for an adaptive reuse project saves both costs and time.
With the abundance of old heritage buildings in Malaysia, the adaptive reuse approach is not only a highly feasible option but a necessary step towards a future of sustainable construction. Why do we need to always build new, when we still have many old, dilapidated buildings worthy of a second life?
Tan Bee Eu is a professional architect and interior designer registered with Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia with over two decades of professional practice. She also teaches at Universiti Sains Malaysia and is a frequent keynote speaker at architectural forums and juror of international awards. She can be reached at www.betadesignz.com/contact. | Lifestyle | Design | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | StarExtra,Design | The positive impacts of rejuvenating old buildings in the city include environmental sustainability, cost saving and heritage preservation. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/13/malaysian-architect-on-benefits-of-adaptive-reuse-in-design | |
1,282,324 | Pedal and catch the sights in Putrajaya | PUTRAJAYA, the country’s administrative capital, is an excellent place for people who love cycling.
It’s a perfect place for beginners to get started and enjoy riding.
With its kempt cycling tracks, this meticulously planned city beckons beginner and seasoned cyclists, offering a unique blend of scenic beauty and architectural marvels.
The allure of Putrajaya for cyclists lies not just in its safety and the quality of its paths but in the thoughtful amenities that dot its routes.
With ample parking, the city is a perfect launch pad for those seeking an escape into cycling activities, especially on the weekends when the spirit of adventure calls the loudest.
Since 2010, Putrajaya Corporation has been at the forefront of championing the cycling culture in the city through its inter-park rides.
Initially aimed at showcasing the city’s main attractions, these events have evolved into a cherished ritual for beginners eager to pedal through the city’s heart, now available as a more structured, albeit paid, exploration.
For independent souls yearning to chart their course, Putrajaya unfurls a canvas ripe for discovery.
Precinct 8 has a cycling and walking path that is paved and well maintained.
Whether arriving by car or gliding in via the MRT from Kuala Lumpur, the adventure begins at the iconic New Millennium Monument in Precinct 2.
Here, early birds gather before dawn, securing their spot to embark on a journey that promises to etch 10km of scenic vistas into their cycling logs.
The journey meanders around the serene lake, guiding cyclists through the picturesque landscape of Precinct 8, where the majestic Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Mosque stands as a sentinel, offering a perfect backdrop for a moment’s rest and reflection.
For those who start their journey with the sun, the cycling path becomes a front-row seat to a breathtaking sunrise, painting the sky in hues of promise and tranquillity.
The path then stretches its tendrils towards the vibrant edges of Cyberjaya, looping back to the Marina, a nexus of watersport activities.
Cyclists can extend their exploration to Precinct 19 or opt for a more leisurely route through the Seri Gemilang bridge, rewinding into the heart of Putrajaya.
This journey is punctuated by discoveries – from the serene Anjung Floria to the symbolic Chinese-Malaysia Friendship Garden.
Riding along Putrajaya’s boulevard.
And for those seeking a moment’s respite, a cyclist cafe nestled along the path offers a sanctuary to refuel and reminisce about the journey thus far.
Designed with the beginner in mind, this circuit around the lake has minimal inclines and an “easy” rating.
For those who seek the thrill of the night, one can take the MRT from Kuala Lumpur’s city centre, explore Putrajaya at dusk, and enjoy a night ride before returning with the last train back.
With its blend of natural beauty and architectural wonders, Putrajaya offers a unique experience for cycling enthusiasts. It’s a journey of discovery, early mornings and serene sunsets, camaraderie and solitude.
Putrajaya is ready to make your weekend exciting and memorable if you feel like exploring. | Lifestyle | Travel | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | StarExtra,Outdoors,cycling | Cycling culture thrives in the meticulously planned capital – its paths offering safety, quality and discovery. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2024/02/13/pedal-and-catch-the-sights-in-putrajaya | |
1,282,274 | Rapper Kanye West name-drops Taylor Swift – again – in new song 'Carnival' | The bad blood between Kanye West and Taylor Swift continues, as the American rapper name-dropped the American pop superstar in his new song Carnival from Vultures 1, the album he released with American R&B singer Ty Dolla $ign on Feb 10.
In the track, West, 46, makes references to sex acts involving a woman, adding: “Like a ventriloquist/ I made six Taylor Swift/Since I had the Rollie on the wrist.”
It remains unclear what he meant by those lyrics, but he also mentioned controversial figures such as American singer R. Kelly and American actor Bill Cosby, who have both been convicted of sexual assault. West also name-dropped American rapper Puff Daddy, who was accused of sexual assault in multiple lawsuits in 2023.
Swift’s fans, known as Swifties, took to social media to voice their frustrations, saying West is “obsessed” with Swift.
“Taylor Swift was his target twice. She has successfully moved on from both events and thrived. Meanwhile, Kanye feels the need to name-drop her every time he needs attention,” a Swiftie wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Another Swiftie commented that West “is still unironically thinking he made Taylor Swift famous”, adding that he is so desperate for attention.
West’s feud with Swift, 34, began in 2009 when he infamously interrupted her acceptance speech for Best Female Music Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, declaring that the award should have gone to American diva Beyonce instead.
The duo’s rocky relationship took a turn for the worse in 2016, when West name-dropped Swift in his song Famous, which featured the line: “I feel like me and Taylor might still have sex/Why? I made that b**** famous.”
Swift had reportedly expressed her dismay over the lyrics, but West and his then wife, American reality TV star Kim Kardashian, claimed Swift approved the lyrics and released a video on Snapchat – which was eventually proven to be edited – to make her look like a liar.
According to American entertainment platform TMZ, the trio never made up following the drama, as neither West nor Kardashian have apologised to Swift. – The Straits Times/Asia News Network | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | null | The bad blood between Kanye West and Taylor Swift continues. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/13/rapper-kanye-west-name-drops-taylor-swift---again---in-new-song-039carnival039 | |
1,282,326 | From spark to splendour: How to photograph fireworks | AS the night sky erupts in a symphony of colour and light, the essence of fireworks photography lies in capturing these fleeting, brilliant moments.
It’s an invitation to witness and capture the luminous dance that marks celebrations, the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, or the climactic end of grand events.
However, before capturing these illuminations, it’s important to grasp the fundamentals of this photographic pursuit.
The journey to the perfect fireworks shot begins with meticulous preparation.
Fireworks erupt over Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House during a fireworks display to usher in the new year.
Key steps include scouting the location and determining the optimal direction for framing shots. This ensures a clear view of both the setting and the spectacle, facilitating the composition of striking images.
A solid tripod is indispensable for maintaining stability amidst the chaotic brilliance of the sky.
A remote shutter release is vital to ensure each press is as gentle as a whisper, preventing any motion from marring the shots.
With everything in place, the camera is transformed into an artistic tool, with the night sky as the canvas.
Manual mode becomes the trusted ally, allowing the freedom to craft a visual narrative.
Colourful fireworks lighting up the Singapore skyline during a fireworks display.
Pre-focusing the lens manually or locking the focus on a specific scene ensures clarity and sharpness in your subjects before the fireworks begin.
An aperture setting between f/8 and f/16 achieves a balanced depth of field, encapsulating not just the fireworks but also the ambience of the night.
Shutter speed, particularly long exposures of 2-4 seconds or the flexibility of Bulb mode, lets one document the entire sequence of the fireworks, from their ascent to their explosions.
Keeping the ISO low, around 100 to 200, helps prevent overexposure to the fireworks’ brilliance.
Using Bulb mode allows one to control the exposure and timing of the fireworks display. Press and hold as the fireworks burst and let go when they fade to catch their full beauty.
Fireworks shooting into the sky to usher in the new year during Sarawak’s countdown celebration at the Kuching Waterfront.
This control is where the magic unfolds; it dictates the timing of each exposure to synchronise with the performance’s tempo.
Fireworks photography is not just about skill but also about framing and illuminating the subject.
Incorporating silhouettes or reflections adds depth and narrative, situating the light bursts within their celebratory context.
Anticipation is also the key – knowing when to press the shutter, hold, and release – to transform a simple photo into a story.
Post-processing also plays a critical role in refining your images and highlighting the night’s drama.
Shooting in RAW is advisable as it offers more flexibility for adjustments and enhances the vibrancy and drama of the evening. These adjustments reflect the unique interpretation of the night’s spectacle.
For more intricate editing, some photographers capture several shots of the scene before and after the fireworks, merging these images to eliminate the smoke from the explosions, resulting in cleaner images.
Photographing fireworks transcends mere technique; it’s about seizing the essence of these transient light displays and the landscapes they illuminate.
It demands quick reflexes and readiness for the unexpected, capturing the night’s sparkle before it vanishes. | Lifestyle | Travel | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | StarExtra,Outdoors,Photography | Photographing fireworks requires more than just the techniques. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2024/02/13/from-spark-to-splendour | |
1,282,550 | Test of agility and precision at Malaysia’s first-ever field archery championship | IN a historic move, Malaysia’s first-ever national field archery championship was hosted on the lush greens of the country’s oldest golf course, drawing 114 archers from the Recurve, Compound, and Barebow divisions.
This groundbreaking event, organised by the National Archery Association of Malaysia (NAAM) and supported by the Pahang State Tourism Board, unfolded over three exhilarating days in Fraser’s Hill, Pahang.
The event organiser, Jeff Zaiham Jamaluddin, said the championship aimed to scout and groom talents for international competitions.
With archers ranked and their personal bests recorded in an online repository, the event set a new benchmark in Malaysia’s archery field.
Under the watchful eyes of NAAM’s qualified judges, participants navigated a challenging course with 24 targets across 12 checkpoints, adhering strictly to World Archery rules.
This format, distinct from traditional target archery, tested the archers’ agility and precision as they moved through the course, each shot clocked with a three-minute deadline.
The championship started with a technical briefing led by the chief judge, followed by practice sessions.
Barebow Women and Master’s double gold medalist Michelle Lau
Over the next two days, the air was thick with excitement as archers from various divisions showcased their skills, aiming for the top ranks in this debut national-level field archery event.
Highlights included Mohd Azreen Mohamad Nasir from Perak clinching gold in the Men’s Recurve division, while Jerod Lau Wen Xi from Best Archery Academy took silver, and his teammate Edward Loh Er Shing earned a bronze medal.
University Putra Malaysia student Nurhazira Ismail dominated the Women’s Recurve, while Cheah Kim Looi from Best Archery Academy earned silver, and her teammate Niam Zianne came in with the bronze medal.
In the Men’s Compound division, veteran archer Rudi Hakimi Mohd Nasrumi emerged victorious while Kuala Lumpur’s Azman Hasan came in with silver, while Kelantan’s Muhammad Hafiz Rusli bagged the bronze medal.
Rudi Hakimi said he grabbed the opportunity to compete in Fraser’s Hill as it was a chance of a lifetime.
“It was surreal. We shot in the fog, and the weather was so cold. It was as if I was shooting my bow in England,” he exclaimed.
The Barebow division saw one of the largest turnouts, with 30 archers vying for top ranks.
Archers take their shots at long-distance target faces placed around the Field Archery course.
Sahairi Harun, representing the Royal Malaysian Police team, stood out by winning gold in both the Men’s Barebow and the Master’s class. Silver went to Mohd Rosle Halim of Perak, and Razyrul Hisham Ramli from Kelantan took home the bronze.
Sahairi, celebrating his dual gold victory, praised his accuracy across the challenging 24-target course, highlighting the difficulty of hitting targets set on steep inclines, which demanded exceptional skill to score high.
Subang Barebow Archer’s Michelle Lau made history as a double gold medalist in the Women’s Barebow and Master’s division, while Negeri Sembilan’s Umi Hafizah Mat Sahat bagged the silver.
Lau, who had taken a long break from archery, said she had little time to train for the event.
“I kept my misses on the target to a minimum. Checkpoints where small targets were placed at short distances were the trickiest.”
Their achievements highlighted the intricate skill required to master the course’s diverse and challenging terrain.
As the event concluded, plans for the next championship were already under way, with aspirations to hold it in Fraser’s Hill again and ambitions to elevate it to international stature.
Field archery, a sport cherished in nations across the globe, from the United States to New Zealand, has found a new frontier in this country, promising a future filled with more thrilling competitions and international acclaim. | Lifestyle | Travel | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | StarExtra,Outdoors,archery | Nation’s first-ever field archery championship takes place in the lush greens of Fraser’s Hill. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2024/02/13/test-of-agility-and-precision | |
1,282,325 | Essentials for an enjoyable camping trip | GO into Malaysia’s wild heart with a camping adventure! Picture this – vast jungles, serene rivers, extensive coastlines. It’s not just a trip but an unforgettable journey into nature’s wonders.
To enjoy these tranquil natural escapes, being well-prepared with the right gear is important.
The tent, the home away from home, is at the core of the camping trip.
Tents come in various shapes and sizes, each tailored to different camping experiences.
Locally designed Tahan Panthera 4 Automatic Tent is an easy-to-use pop-up tent available for campers. The tent, supported by two crossing poles, makes it straightforward and easy to set up, ideal for those new to camping.
For beginners, the “dome tent” stands out for its balance of ease, durability, and space.
Its simple structure, typically supported by two crossing poles, makes it straightforward to set up, an ideal feature for those new to camping.
However, for those venturing into Malaysia’s more secluded or rugged terrains, a “geodesic or semi-geodesic tent” offers enhanced stability and can withstand harsher conditions.
These tents are characterised by their complex pole structures, providing exceptional resistance against wind and rain, ensuring comfort and safety in more adventurous settings.
An inflatable mattress or pad is also ideal for insulation and cushioning the ground.
When selecting a tent, consider the climate and geography of the chosen campsite.
In Malaysia’s humid tropics, one needs a tent that breathes well and has a sturdy rainfly to keep you dry during unexpected downpours.
Opt for a tent with a higher waterproof rating and ensure it has a built-in groundsheet to keep you dry during the rainy season.
One such locally designed tent is the Tahan Panthera 4 Automatic Tent. It weighs less than 2kg and is designed to endure light to medium rainfall and brief heavy downpours; it’s a reliable choice for campers and can comfortably accommodate three adults.
A lightweight sleeping bag with good insulation is essential for comfortable sleep in tropical climates with cold nights.
With the tent sorted, next is to kit it with accessories that will elevate your camping experience from basic to comfortably enjoyable.
A sleeping bag suited to the tropical climate is important. Look for one with a lighter fill to ensure comfort during warmer nights. Pair this with a sleeping pad or an inflatable mattress for added insulation and cushioning from the ground. The Tahan sleeping bag can withstand up to 10°C.
Lighting is crucial in the wilderness. A reliable LED lantern can illuminate the tent and surrounding area, making evening activities and navigation easier.
Consider a headlamp for hands-free convenience, especially useful during late-night treks or when organising gear in the dark.
No camping trip is complete without the joy of outdoor cooking.
Like the Tahan stove, a light foldable portable stove can transform campsite meals into delightful culinary experiences.
A light foldable portable stove such as the Tahan Easyfold Portable Stove is easy to carry and useful when making meals at the camp site.
Remember also to pack lightweight, durable cookware and utensils designed for camping.
Pre-plan the meals to ensure one brings only the necessary ingredients, and always adhere to a leave-no-trace ethic, keeping Malaysia’s pristine environments as untouched as possible.
When venturing into the wilderness, safety should never be compromised. A first-aid kit tailored to camping, equipped to handle minor injuries and ailments, is a must-have.
A compass and a detailed map of the area remain indispensable tools for navigation, especially in remote locations where signal coverage of the handphone is sparse.
In the dense jungles and along the vast coastlines, a multi-tool or a Swiss Army knife can be valuable for various tasks, from gear repair to meal preparation.
A water dispenser is another important item to have on a camping trip. Some containers come with a filtration system.
Purification tablets or a portable filter are also crucial to ensure access to safe drinking water when in the wilderness.
Remember, camping is about connecting with nature and embracing the simplicity of outdoor living.
Therefore, the right gear and a respectful approach to the environment will ensure the camping experience is enjoyable and harmonious with nature.
Camping is more than just an escape; it’s an outdoor opportunity to explore and appreciate this country’s unique beauty and biodiversity. | Lifestyle | Travel | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | StarExtra | Away from home and in the great outdoors, it’s crucial to be well-prepared with the right gear. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/travel/2024/02/13/essentials-for-an-enjoyable-camping-trip | |
1,281,989 | Stars and their CNY: Chow Yun Fat jogs, Rainie Yang goes marketing, Angelababy travels to Dubai | While many people spent the first day of Chinese New Year visiting relatives, Hong Kong movie star Chow Yun Fat jogged with fellow celebrities.
Hong Kong actress Adrian Wong, daughter of veteran actor Felix Wong, shared on social media on Feb 10 two photos of herself with her father, Chow and actor Michael Miu.
“Happy new year,” Adrian Wong, 33, wrote in Chinese. “I wish everyone good health, and the energy and spirit of the dragon and tiger.”
Felix Wong, 62, and Chow, 68, were wearing red jackets in the photo. Adrian Wong and Chow donned dark glasses.
Felix Wong and Miu, 65, were formerly members of Hong Kong broadcaster TVB’s famed Five Tigers – heart-throbs of 1980s Hong Kong television – together with Andy Lau, Tony Leung Chiu Wai and Kent Tong.
Chow, an avid runner, had just taken part in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon in January. He told the media then that he hoped to improve on his timing for the half-marathon.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese singer Rainie Yang showed another side of her life on Feb 10, when she shared what she and her husband, Chinese singer Li Ronghao, did during Chinese New Year.
Photo: Rainie Yang/Instagram
Yang, 39, posted on social media photos of her buying vegetables at the market and preparing a sumptuous feast that included dumplings that she made with Li, 38.
“Sharing what I did the last two to three days,” Yang wrote in Chinese. “Ordinary bliss is the taste of home. Happy Year of the Dragon.”
The couple had been apart for much of 2023, as they were busy staging their respective concert tours, with Li making a stop in Singapore on Feb 3.
On the other hand, Hong Kong actress Angelababy has posted on Weibo for the first time since her alleged ban on the Chinese social media platform was lifted in late January.
“Happy Spring Festival,” the 34-year-old wrote on Weibo on Feb 9, with the post receiving more than 1.52 million likes and shared more than one million times as at Feb 11 afternoon. She shared more photos of herself on Weibo on Feb 11, writing: “Yay for the Year of the Dragon.”
Photo: Angelababy/Instagram
Angelababy was previously muted and unable to post on Chinese social media from early November.
No explanation was given for the alleged ban. But speculation was rife on social media that it had to do with the decision by Angelababy – whose real name is Angela Yeung – to attend a show by Lisa of K-pop girl group Blackpink at French cabaret Crazy Horse Paris in late September.
The actress, who has not posted on Instagram either since late September, shared several photos on Feb 11 of herself in Dubai.
“First time in Dubai and staying in the most beautiful resort, and an amazing party at the Link,” she wrote. “Happy Chinese New Year.” – The Straits Times/Asia News Network | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | Chow, an avid runner, had just taken part in the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon in January. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/12/stars-and-their-cny-chow-yun-fat-jogs-rainie-yang-goes-marketing-angelababy-travels-to-dubai | |
1,274,960 | In Colombia, confiscated timber is used to help resuscitate bee population | IN NORTHEAST Colombia, police guard warehouses stacked high with confiscated timber with a noble new destiny: transformation into homes for bees beleaguered by pesticides and climate change.
The illegally harvested wood is used in the Santander department’s “Timber Returns Home” initiative, building hives since 2021 to house the little pollinators so critical to human survival.
So far, the project has seen about 200 cubic metres of wood transformed into 1,000 bee hives, with another 10,000 planned for the next phase, according to the Santander environmental authority.
Previously, confiscated timber was turned into sawdust, donated to municipalities for projects... and sometimes just left to rot.
Now it is being repurposed to help address the “extremely serious problem” of possible bee extinction, said biologist German Perilla, director of the Honey Bee Impact Foundation.
About three quarters of crops producing fruits or seeds for human consumption depend on pollination, but the UN has warned that 40% of invertebrate pollinators – particularly bees and butterflies – risk global extinction.
“The main threat is that we will run out of trees and there will be no flowers, because without flowers there are no bees, without bees there are no humans, and we will run out of food,” said beekeeper Maria Acevedo, one of the beneficiaries of the project.
In 2023 alone, she told AFP, she lost more than half of her hives. She blames pesticides used in nearby production of crops such as coffee.
Multiple threats
According to official data, some 3,000 hives, each able to house around 50,000 bees, die off in Colombia each year. Laboratory tests found traces of the insecticide fipronil in most of the dead insects.
Colombia has issued a ban on fipronil – already banned in Europe and restricted in the United States and China – starting February 2024.
According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, higher temperatures, droughts, floods and other extreme events caused by climate change reduces nectar-bearing flowers that bees feed on, and studies have also linked bee infertility to heat stress.
The Santander environmental authority seizes some 1,000 cubic metres of illegally felled timber in anti-trafficking operations in Santander every year.
The country lost 123,517 hectares (305,200 acres) of trees in 2022, mainly in the Amazon – the world’s largest rainforest.
Nearly half of all timber traded in Colombia is of illegal origin, according to the environment ministry. – AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Living | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-06 00:00:00 | null | So far, the project has seen about 200 cubic metres of wood transformed into 1,000 bee hives, with another 10,000 planned for the next phase. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/06/in-colombia-confiscated-timber-is-used-to-help-resuscitate-bee-population | |
1,275,696 | What doctors fear when patients can access their medical records freely | Most family doctors surveyed in England fear that giving patients online access to their medical records will increase their workload and the risks of litigation.
This was suggested by the results of the largest study of its kind, published Feb 1 (2024) in the open access journal BMJ Open.
However, a significant proportion did also agree that there would be benefits for patients.
Among the 400 general practitioners (GPs) who responded to the survey, seven out of 10 agreed that patients would better remember their care plan, while six out of 10 respondents believed that access would help patients feel more in control of their care.
But 91% felt that patients would worry more as a result, while 85% thought patients would find their GP records more confusing than helpful.
And six in 10 believed that most patients would find significant errors in their records.
An increase in workload and potential litigation were also major concerns for respondents.
An overwhelming majority (89%) believed that they will, or already, spend more time addressing patients’ questions outside of consultations as a result, and that consultations will/already take significantly longer (81%).
Of further concern is that nearly three out of four doctors (72%) said they will be/already are less candid in their documentation as a consequence of the move.
And nearly two-thirds (62%) felt the risks of litigation would increase.
“We emphasise that studies of patients’ experiences in diverse countries question the robustness of this perspective,” write the study authors.
“However, it will be important for ongoing studies in the United Kingdom to evaluate and continue to assess both GPs’ and patients’ experiences with access.”
But like it or not, “in England, patients’ online access to their GPs’ records is here to stay,” they add.
“In the coming months, it will be crucial for GPs, primary care staff and patients to adapt to this radical change in practice.”
According to the study, the National Health Service England (NHSE) announced in 2021 that patients aged 16 and over would have access to information added to their online primary care records from that time onwards by default.
While the GP contract in England has required doctors to offer new patients full prospective online access to their records since April 2019, this was widely interpreted to mean access would be granted only after a patient request to their GP.
On March 6, 2023, NHSE announced a new GP contract that would impose online record access by default by that October.
However, by November – a month after default access (i.e. without the need for a request) was mandated – one in four GP clinics across England still did not offer it.
Patients should have access to their medical test and lab results, secondary care letters, medication lists, and the free text (notes) written by GPs during consultations, via online services such as the NHS app. | Lifestyle | Wellness | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | Wellness,Medical records,patient records,digitalisation | While they believe some patients will benefit from it, most feel it will be cause more problems. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2024/02/12/what-doctors-fear-when-patients-can-access-their-medical-records-freely | |
1,282,281 | Academics hold 'Swiftposium' as Tay Tay heads to Australia | Whether it is her relatable pop songs, connection with millions of fans worldwide or role as a feminist icon, the power of Taylor Swift is now too large for academics to ignore.
So much so that the University of Melbourne held a "Swiftposium" on Monday to discuss the Grammy-winning artist's influence across a range of disciplines before The Eras Tour arrives on Friday.
"It's just so incredible to see how many different ways you can unpack Taylor Alison Swift," explains Jennifer Beckett, University of Melbourne senior lecturer in media and communications.
The billionaire American is only 34 but can boost the economy of a city just by turning up.
"She's amassed such an enormous and, I think, unprecedented amount of power and influence in the industry, economically, her business models are intense," said Beckett.
"There's a lot that we can learn from her, but we also need to think critically.
"Do we need to be worried about some aspects of it? Should she be more vocal in her support for certain groups of people or issues? Is that something we should be expecting now that she has this level of power?" she said.
Swift's role as poet, feminist icon and canny businesswoman will also be discussed. The Melbourne symposium echoes a course at Belgium's Ghent University last year that examined whether Swift is "a literary genius".
'Trained and controlled'
One of the quirkier elements to emerge from the Melbourne conference is that academics believe the beats of her songs could also help in the resuscitation of hearts.
The Bee Gees song Stayin' Alive has been taught for years as a rhythm to follow in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, and academics have now identified Swift's songs that hit the right beats per minute and may better engage younger generations.
"You used to be taught CPR to Stayin' Alive but that's just not vibing with Gen Z and millennials," said Beckett.
"Swiftonomics", examining the economic effect of Swift's tour on cities, urban planning, public transport, restaurants and hotels is also being discussed.
Sociologist Georgia Carroll, a keynote speaker, has studied how Swift encourages fans to splurge on her merchandise.
"She rewards fans that spend money with attention ... It's very trained and controlled," she said.
Fans that critically examine Swift are also shunned of attention, Carroll said, yet they remain steadfastly loyal.
"Fans view her a lot more as the friend next door than they do as a billionaire superpower, which is the reality of what she is," said Carroll.
Brittany Spanos, another "Swiftposium" speaker and a writer at Rolling Stone, says Swift has excelled at engaging with fans on social media to "make them feel very seen and connected with her".
"She's been one of the smartest artists in terms of using that as a marketing tool," said Spanos.
"It's been a huge part of her identity and how she connects with people." - AFP | Lifestyle | Arts | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | Arts,Australia,symposium,academic,Taylor Swift,course,language,music,academia | University of Melbourne held a 'Swiftposium' on Monday to discuss the Grammy-winning artist's influence across a range of disciplines | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2024/02/12/academics-hold-039swiftposium039-as-tay-tay-heads-to-australia | |
1,282,259 | ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ teaser trailer sees Wade Wilson and the TVA collide | The third movie in the Deadpool Universe is coming out July 26. During Super Bowl LVIII in the United States, a teaser for the first teaser trailer of the film directed Marvel fans to head to the Internet to view the trailer.
Wade is celebrating his birthday, in a cheap wig, surrounded by his friends like Vanessa (his girlfriend, also Death in the comics, not the one from Sandman but a different one) Negasonic Teenage Warhead and her girlfriend Yukio when Time Variance Authority agents knock on the door.
It’s unclear the business that the TVA has with Wade but it seems like he will be picking up somewhere after Loki season two. If you need to learn more about who the TVA are and how they control everything we know about the Marvel universe, you can check out Loki seasons one and two on Disney+ Hotstar.
And for those Marvel nerds wondering when it takes place in comparison to Logan, which takes place in 2029 and sees the death of Wolverine (sorry for spoilers from 2017), officials have said basically, don’t worry about it. Logan is a separate thing and Deadpool 3 is taking place in the current day.
Somehow, Deadpool will find himself once again becoming a reluctant hero.
Deadpool & Wolverine will be Marvel Studios’ first R-rated movie and the trailer really came out swinging with jokes about pegging and Wade calling himself “Marvel Jesus.”
Will he really be the messiah to save Marvel both in universe and out of it where Marvel has been struggling to gain the traction and attention it did with its first wave of superheroes? It remains to be seen.
The trailer doesn’t address how Deadpool and Wolverine get together, but it does hint that they may have a bit of a contentious start to their weird buddy-not-so-cop relationship. Wolverine doesn’t really show up in the flesh in the trailer, only seen as a shadow hovering menacingly over Wade, flashing his iconic claws. – Advance Local Media/Tribune News Service
Watch the trailer below: | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | Wolverine makes cameo during ‘Deadpool 3’ Super Bowl trailer | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/12/deadpool--wolverine-teaser-trailer-sees-wade-wilson-and-the-tva-collide | |
1,282,229 | Taylor Swift, Beyonce command conversation as Usher helms Super Bowl half-time show | Usher delivered a Las Vegas-appropriate set heavy on glitz, choreography and nostalgia as he headlined the Super Bowl half-time show on Feb 11, but it was new music from Beyonce and the Taylor Swift cam that grabbed the most attention.
Swift was the night’s most-watched fan as she cheered on her boyfriend Travis Kelce, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, from a luxury box with a coterie of famous friends.
Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime to claim the Super Bowl, providing a jolt of megawatt excitement to the Vegas blockbuster and ending a week-long will-she-won’t-she saga that has dominated the lead-up to the football event of the year.
Swift’s relationship with the Chiefs star has been a boon to television ratings, her every move offering headline fodder.
At one point, she delighted the Internet by chugging a beer – she clocked in at 6.6 seconds – as the jumbotron documented the party trick.
The 34-year-old pop star’s arrival some two hours before kick-off sent an almost palpable frisson around the Allegiant Stadium and social media rapidly filled with pictures and video footage of the singer dressed in a black top and jeans with a red jacket slung over her shoulder walking through the bowels of the stadium with celebrity friends, actress Blake Lively and rapper Ice Spice.
A punishing travel schedule in which Swift has flown from Japan to the United States and will then jet to Australia for tour commitments meant her presence was far from a foregone conclusion, and when giant television screens showed Swift for the first time, a ripple of cheers went around the still-mostly empty stadium.
US singer-songwriter Taylor Swift kisses Kansas City Chiefs' tight end #87 Travis Kelce after the Chiefs won Super Bowl LVIII against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, February 11, 2024. Photo: AFP
Beyonce was also in attendance with her hip-hop mogul husband Jay-Z – and announced a new album during a commercial she did with telecom provider Verizon. The ad closes with the line: “Drop the music.”
Moments later on Instagram, Beyonce, 42, announced with another clip that her eighth studio album is due on March 29.
The post did not give a title, but simply said Act II. Her 2022 blockbuster album Renaissance had been branded Act I.
Shortly thereafter, fans of Beyonce had two new songs to listen to: the twangy Texas Hold ‘Em and 16 Carriages implied Beyonce’s new volume of work might be country-heavy, in a nod to her Texas roots.
The announcement came one week after Swift used the Grammy Awards to promote her upcoming studio album The Tortured Poets Department out on April 19.
America’s megastars Beyonce and Swift had major summer tours in 2023, boosting local economies at every turn.
But while it was Bey and Tay who overshadowed the night, it was Usher who helmed the stage.
Football - NFL - Super Bowl LVIII - Half-Time Show - Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States on Feb 11 with Usher. Photo: Reuters
The slow jam king held his own as he captured the magic of his late-1990s, early-aughts fame with a 13-minute, career-spanning medley including hits like Love In This Club (2008) and OMG (2010)
It was not the 45-year-old’s first time at the Super Bowl – Usher appeared as a guest of the Black Eyed Peas in 2011 – but it was the first that he headlined.
His show paid homage to the late Michael Jackson, who with his 1993 set transformed the halftime gig into one of music’s most-watched – and most-coveted. At one point, Usher donned a single glove, a clear nod to the groundbreaking pop artist.
From gyrating among dancers clad in feathers, velvet and gemstones to roller-skating as a marching band took the field, the 45-year-old Usher gave an electric performance that was also an ode to Black culture and music.
The roller skating bit was a recreation of the viral highlight in his Las Vegas concert residency, and saw will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas join him onstage.
“Hey mama, we made it, and now this is for you,” he told the camera before launching into the sultry smash Love In This Club.
Usher and H.E.R. perform during the halftime show. Photo: Reuters
Alicia Keys appeared midway through at a futuristic red piano, playing a few bars of her own hit If I Ain’t Got You (2004) before removing a cape to reveal her sparkling red catsuit.
Keys and Usher then performed their 2004 duet My Boo to the delight of fans and social media.
It would not be an Usher show if he did not eventually lose his shirt, which he dropped for U Got It Bad (2001)
That song featured a surprise guest in the form of H.E.R., the enigmatic artiste whose sizzling guitar solo was among the show’s highlights.
Usher slayed in perhaps the most predictable song of the night, his 2004 banger Yeah! which featured appearances from Lil Jon and Ludacris.
It was all-in-all a crowning achievement for Usher, who released a new album Coming Home on Feb 9 and had talked about his halftime show as marking the transition to the second half of his career. – AFP, REUTERS | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | Taylor Swift was the night’s most-watched fan as she cheered on her boyfriend Travis Kelce. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/12/taylor-swift-beyonce-command-conversation-as-usher-helms-super-bowl-half-time-show | |
1,282,190 | Beyonce announces 'Renaissance Act II' album during Super Bowl | US superstar Beyonce has released two tracks from the second act of her Renaissance project, after teasing the new album during a Super Bowl advert.
The pop singer appeared in a Verizon advert during the Super Bowl game where she attempts to break the Internet – inventing a "Beyonc-AI" robot, launching Bar-Bey, and flying a rocket to deliver the first performance from space.
At the end of the advert, Beyonce tells co-star Tony Hale: "Okay, they ready. Drop the new music."
Beyonce, who watched the Super Bowl game in Las Vegas alongside her husband Jay-Z and daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi, posted a video on her Instagram teasing Act II moments after the advert aired.
The album, which appears to lean into a country theme, is set to be released on March 29.
The 42-year-old then released two songs titled Texas Hold 'Em, referencing the poker game named after the singer's home state, and 16 Carriages.
Fans have eagerly been anticipating a new project from Beyonce, who initially released Act I: Renaissance in July 2022, later revealing it was part of a three-act project.
In December, Beyonce released a new single titled My House to commemorate the "opening weekend" of the Renaissance tour film which followed the music superstar on her 39-date world tour of the Grammy-winning album.
Renaissance: A Film by Beyonce was a box office success, following in the footsteps of Taylor Swift with The Eras Tour film.
The music announcement comes months after the childhood home of Beyonce was saved from burning down after emergency crews were called to the Texan house on Christmas Day.
Beyonce's family bought the home in 1982 and lived there until she was five years old. – dpa | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | The album, which appears to lean into a country theme, is set to be released on March 29. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/12/beyonce-announces-039renaissance-act-ii039-album-during-super-bowl | |
1,282,179 | For Native American activists, the Kansas City Chiefs have it all wrong | Rhonda LeValdo is exhausted, but she’s refusing to slow down. For the fourth time in five years, her hometown team and the focus of her decades-long activism against the use of Native American imagery and references in sports is in the Super Bowl.
As the Kansas City Chiefs prepared for Sunday's big game (the Chiefs beat San Francisco 49ers in overtime for second straight NFL title), so did LeValdo. She and dozens of other Indigenous activists were in Las Vegas to protest and demand the team change its name and ditch its logo and rituals they say are offensive.
"I’ve spent so much of my personal time and money on this issue. I really hoped that our kids wouldn't have to deal with this,” said LeValdo, who founded and leads a group called Not In Our Honor. "But here we go again.”
Her concern for children is founded. Research has shown the use of Native American imagery and stereotypes in sports have negative psychological effects on Native youth and encourage non-Native children to discriminate against them.
"There’s no other group in this country subjected to this kind of cultural degradation,” said Phil Gover, who founded a school dedicated to Native youth in Oklahoma City.
"It’s demeaning. It tells Native kids that the rest of society, the only thing they ever care to know about you and your culture are these mocking minstrel shows,” he said, adding that what non-Native children learn are stereotypes.
LeValdo, who is Acoma Pueblo, has been in the Kansas City area for more than two decades.
She arrived from New Mexico as a college student. In 2005, when Kansas City was playing Washington's football team, she and other Indigenous students organised around their anger at the offensive names and iconography used by both teams.
Some sports franchises made changes in the wake of the 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The Washington team dropped its name, which is considered a racial slur, after calls dating back to the 1960s by Native advocates such as Suzan Harjo. In 2021, the Cleveland baseball team changed its name from the Indians to the Guardians.
Ahead of the 2020 season, the Chiefs barred fans from wearing headdresses or face paint referencing or appropriating Native American culture in Arrowhead Stadium, though some still have.
"End Racism” was written in the end zone. Players put decals on their helmets with similar slogans or names of Black people killed by police.
"We were like, ‘Wow, you guys put this on the helmets and on the field, but look at your name and what you guys are doing,’” said LeValdo.
The next year, the Chiefs retired their mascot, a horse named Warpaint that a cheerleader would ride onto the field every time the team scored a touchdown. In the 1960s, a man wearing a headdress rode the horse.
A billboard calling for a name change and an end to the Kansas City Chiefs 'chop' stands along Interstate 70 in Kansas City, Missouri. Photo: AP
The team's name and arrowhead logo remain, as does the "tomahawk chop,” in which fans chant and swing a forearm up and down in a ritual that is not unique to the Chiefs.
The added attention on the team this season thanks to singer Taylor Swift’s relationship with tight end Travis Kelce isn’t lost on Indigenous activists. LeValdo said her fellow activists made a sign for this weekend reading, "Taylor Swift doesn’t do the chop. Be like Taylor.”
"We were watching. We were looking to see if she was going to do it. But she never did,” said LeValdo.
The Chiefs say the team was named after Kansas City Mayor H. Roe Bartle, who was nicknamed "The Chief” and helped lure the franchise from Dallas in 1963.
They also say they have worked in recent years to eliminate offensive imagery.
"We’ve done more over the last seven years, I think, than any other team to raise awareness and educate ourselves,” Chiefs President Mark Donovan said ahead of last year’s Super Bowl.
The team has made a point to highlight two Indigenous players: long snapper James Winchester, a citizen of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and center Creed Humphrey, who is from the Citizen Potawatomi Nation of Oklahoma.
In 2014, the Chiefs launched the American Indian Community Working Group, which has Native Americans serving as advisers, to educate the team on issues facing the Indigenous population. As a result, Native American representatives have been featured at games, sometimes offering ceremonial blessings.
"The members of that working group weren’t people that were involved in any of the organisations that actually serve Natives in Kansas City,” said Gaylene Crouser, executive director of the Kansas City Indian Center, which provides health, welfare and cultural services to the Indigenous community.
Crouser was among those who protested in Las Vegas over the weekend.
Kansas City Chiefs fans do the 'tomahawk chop' before the start of an NFL in October 2022. LeValdo and dozens of other Indigenous activists want the team to change its name, stop the fan-driven 'tomahawk chop' and retire 'any and all Native American appropriation owned and used by the team,' according to a statement by Not In Our Honor, the group LeValdo founded and leads. Photo: AP
Democratic US Rep Emanuel Cleaver sees the label "Chief” as a term of endearment. He has been a Chiefs fan since he moved to Kansas City more than half a century ago, though he said it "wouldn’t bother me that much” if the name were changed.
"A chief was somebody with enormous influence,” said Cleaver, who is Black, making a reference to tribal chiefs in Africa. "As long as the name is not an insult or an invective, then I’m OK with it.”
The story presented by the Chiefs features the message that the team is honouring Native culture. But Crouser calls that a "PR stunt."
"There's no honour in you painting your face and putting on a costume and cosplaying our culture,” said Crouser.
She added, "The sheer entitlement of people outside our community telling us they’re honouring us is so incredibly frustrating.”
LeValdo is very conscious of who gets to own a narrative. As a University of Kansas journalism student in the early 2000s, she says a professor told her she would be too biased as a Native woman to report on stories about Native people. When she entered the world of video journalism, she was told she "didn’t have the look” to be on camera.
During Chiefs home games, she and other Indigenous activists stand outside Arrowhead with signs saying, "Stop the Chop” and "This Does Not Honor Us.” The sounds of a large drum and thousands of fans imitating a "war chant” as they swing their arms thunder from the stadium.
For LeValdo, the pain fuelling her anger and activism is rooted in the oppression, killing and displacement of her ancestors and the lingering effects those injustices have on her community.
"We weren’t even allowed to be Native American. We weren’t allowed to practise our culture. We weren’t allowed to wear our clothes,” she said. "But it’s OK for Kansas City fans to bang a drum, to wear a headdress and then to act like they’re honoring us? That doesn’t make sense." - AP | Lifestyle | Arts | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | Arts,Super Bowl,Kansas City Chiefs,offensive logo,indigenous people,United States | Protesters from Native American communities are demanding the team change its name, ditch its logo and rituals they say are offensive | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2024/02/12/for-native-american-activists-the-kansas-city-chiefs-have-it-all-wrong | |
1,277,451 | What is hair oiling and how can this beauty ritual give you healthy tresses? | Like fashion, the beauty world is an eternal process of renewal, by which each generation rediscovers the rituals of the past.
This has been seen in recent years with the hype surrounding rice cooking water – an ingredient known and used for centuries in Asia – not to mention the age-old powers of cold, or the traditional Japanese art of Kobido.
In other words, social media users regularly go wild for techniques that proved their worth several millennia ago.
This is once again the case with hair oiling, a beauty ritual that originated in India and which has been handed down from generation to generation.
Read more: Glow up! Try the 'glazed blush' makeup technique for a radiant, healthy look
The technique has been doing the rounds on social networks, including TikTok, for several years, to the point of accumulating over 1.5 billion views to date (and almost 25 million for #hairoilingtreatments).
This has given rise to a host of videos, including tutorials – reinterpreting this ancestral beauty ritual with a variety of plant oils – as well as before-and-after videos.
It's worth noting, however, that the practice is part of a wider trend known as skinification, which consists of treating hair to the same kind of demanding beauty routine as skin.
So what is hair oiling?
Quite simply, it's a hair oil treatment that can be left on for a few hours or overnight, depending on your preference, to leave your hair shiny, thick and moisturised.
The technique is also said (but not proven) to enhance hair regrowth and prevent it from falling out. All these promises make this beauty ritual a must for those who want to put an end to dry, brittle hair or hair that's lacking in vitality.
All you need to do is choose one or more oils suited to your hair type and needs.
While ready-to-use formulas exist, you can opt for coconut oil for nourished, shiny hair; jojoba oil for shiny, supple, less oily hair; borage oil to stimulate growth; and even olive oil to soothe the scalp.
The various options are numerous, reasonably priced and readily available.
Read more: The 'soap nails' beauty trend focuses on care, instead of superfluous details
Once you've got all the products you need, all you have to do is put them into action.
The ritual begins with a thorough brushing, followed by the application of a suitable oil to the scalp and lengths. Once this step is complete, it's a good idea to massage the scalp, the nape of the neck and temples with your fingertips (or a massaging brush).
Then, tie up your hair and leave the product on, before washing it out with one or two shampoos.
Carrying out this routine once or twice a week (no more!) could help you achieve the luscious locks so coveted by social media users. – AP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Style | Complimentary | Medium | AGENCY | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | beauty,trends,haircare,TikTok | When it comes to full, perfectly moisturised, shiny hair, the tutorials posted on TikTok over the past few months have all – or almost all – focused on the benefits of hair oiling. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/02/12/what-is-hair-oiling-and-how-can-this-beauty-ritual-give-you-healthy-tresses | |
1,282,006 | Malaysian-born actress Sora Ma to welcome baby in Year of the Dragon | Actress Sora Ma delivered a piece of good news on the first day of Chinese New Year, announcing that she is expecting a baby.
The Malaysian-born artiste wished her followers a happy Chinese New Year in a video uploaded on social media on Feb 10, as she disclosed that she is going to be a mother soon. She included a photo of an ultrasound scan taped to a Mandarin orange.
“Our family is growing by two tiny feet. Baby on the way,” she wrote in English on Instagram.
She was congratulated on social media by several celebrity pals, including Shaun Chen, Jayley Woo, Christopher Lee, Apple Hong, Thomas Ong and Kate Pang.
Ma, 40, registered her marriage to her husband, who is not from the entertainment industry, in October 2021 and held her wedding at a hotel in Orchard Road in July 2022.
The actress, who is also a certified Pilates matwork instructor, told Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao that she is more than three months pregnant, with the baby due around August.
On Feb 9, Ma had shared on social media a column she wrote for Shin Min Daily News about handling questions from relatives during Chinese New Year.
She disclosed that the question she feared most was: “When are you going to have a child?”
“Now that I have announced the pregnancy, I can openly take part in the conversation,” Ma told Zaobao. “I am also thinking of joining the mothers’ chat groups, as I hope to learn from others or share the process with friends who are pregnant at the same time.” – The Straits Times/Asia News Network | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | She was congratulated on social media by several celebrity pals. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/12/malaysian-born-actress-sora-ma-to-welcome-baby-in-year-of-the-dragon | |
1,275,698 | Could we bring the hospital to the home? | In a world grappling with overcrowded hospitals, Malaysia, much like other nations, is at a pivotal juncture in healthcare.
Patients waiting for hours, even days, for a hospital bed has become a pressing issue – one that affects both public and private healthcare institutions.
But this is not a problem unique to Malaysia; countries like the United Kingdom and the United States also grapple with bed shortages.
In this landscape, the need for a significant transformation in healthcare delivery has become increasingly evident.
“Hospital in the home”, an approach that gained momentum during the Covid-19 pandemic, offers a promising solution to address the problem of overcrowded hospitals.
Covid-19 was the catalyst
The Covid-19 pandemic served as a catalyst for the implementation of home-based care.
For example, the hospital I worked at established a 24-hour Telemedicine Command Centre, staffed with doctors and nurses, who provided remote consultations to thousands of patients.
This realisation that healthcare could effectively extend into patients’ homes marked a fundamental moment in the transition towards home-based care.
However, telephone consultations fall short of comprehensive care.
So, as we moved past the lockdown era, innovative hospitals in the US and Singapore started discharging patients early, but provided follow-up care through video calls, home visits, remote monitoring devices and educational materials.
Countries like Australia have made considerable strides in the hospital-at-home model, particularly for sub-acute patients.
In the state of Victoria alone, these services offer an equivalent level of care to what a 500-bed facility can provide in one year.
Patients are now receiving treatments such as intravenous (IV) fluids, oxygen, medications, insulin and various forms of therapy in the comfort of their homes.
What this has taught us is that healthcare systems are comprised of many interconnected points of care and that hospitals do not function in isolation.
Safe and effective
There is compelling evidence that well-monitored, at-home care can be safe and effective for eligible patients.
Research by the Medical Journal of Australia in 2020 has shown that patients treated at home demonstrate outcomes that are just as effective, if not superior, to those treated in a hospital setting.
Elderly patients, in particular, benefit from being in familiar surroundings, with significantly lower chances of contracting hospital-acquired infections and experiencing anxiety and confusion.
A recent study, published in the American Journal of Accountable Care, further underscores the value of home health as a favourable alternative to hospitalisation for patients who do not require a hospital stay.
The study demonstrates that patients treated at home experience fewer readmissions to the hospital, resulting in reduced utilisation and associated expenses.
Additionally, there are several other advantages, including:
> Shorter recovery time
This can be attributed to factors such as unrestricted access to loved ones, familiarity of environment and decreased risk of hospital-acquired infections.
> Cost-effectiveness
Home care is generally less expensive than full-time room and board at a nursing facility, an assisted living centre or a hospital.
Research conducted by investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, US, revealed that the cost of home care for the patient was nearly 40% lower.
Their study assessed the total direct cost of care, encompassing expenses related to non-physician labour, supplies, tests, and medications.
> Increased flexibility and independence
Patients receiving care in a home-based environment enjoy greater flexibility in their meal schedules and have more freedom of movement, along with the ability to receive visitors at their convenience.
Key challenges
While the benefits of early discharge and home-based care are clear, there are challenges that need to be addressed to make this approach successful on a broader scale.
One of the key challenges is technological barriers.
Remote monitoring apps and devices are essential elements in the hospital-at-home model.
It is necessary to ensure that patients, especially the elderly, can effectively use such devices, and a learning curve has to be factored in while providing care.
We also certainly cannot overlook the human element.
Many patients that I know of still place a high value on face-to-face interactions and prefer the reassurance of having a healthcare professional physically present.
The challenge is to strike a balance between technological solutions and traditional care approaches.
There are also concerns about the quality of care delivered at home as a hospital environment is generally a sterile and controlled environment, which is not the case with patient’s homes.
Oftentimes, medical personnel who visit homes have to educate the patient and their families in managing medication, equipment and rehabilitation, as well as advise on adjustments needed in their habits and environment to optimise recovery.
Additionally, in the Malaysian landscape, many providers of home-based healthcare are not part of the discharging hospital’s spectrum of care.
This could pose problems in ensuring continuity between the patient’s treatment plan as required by their primary doctor, as opposed to what is delivered by the home-based provider.
Communication might be lacking between these two healthcare teams, which could affect the patient’s care.
An alternative solution
As overcrowded hospitals continue to be a pressing issue, the early discharge and home-based care model provides a solution that benefits patients, healthcare institutions and the healthcare system as a whole.
The perception that hospital overcrowding is caused by an inadequate number of inpatient beds often lead to demand for more beds by the community.
However, the reality is that adding beds also adds to the ongoing expenditure and healthcare burden of the nation, as the rates of readmission and recovery for purely hospital-based patients may not be as beneficial, compared to home healthcare.
Many studies have shown that patients in home care programmes tend to comply with treatment plans and incorporate changes in their homes.
We need to encourage a mindset change that would enable us to shift aspects of hospital care to the community and homes, thereby reducing the need for patients to stay longer than necessary in hospitals.
One easy way to help achieve this would be to include home healthcare in the spectrum of services provided by hospitals.
This would help inspire confidence in the level and continuity of care provided, as well as encourage insurance providers to view such services as part of a patient’s treatment plan.
I believe with the right strategies, continued innovation, and collaboration between public and private healthcare sectors, Malaysia can lead the way in this transformative approach to healthcare delivery.
It’s high time we bring the hospital to the home.
Dr Khoo Chow Huat is the managing director (Healthcare and Hospital Operations) for Sunway Healthcare Group. For more information, email [email protected]. The information provided is for educational and communication purposes only, and should not be considered as medical advice. The Star does not give any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to the content appearing in this article. The Star disclaims all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information. | Lifestyle | Wellness | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | Wellness,Healthcare,home care,hospital | One way of managing overcrowded hospitals is to discharge suitable patients early and continue their care at home. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2024/02/12/could-we-bring-the-hospital-to-the-home | |
1,280,816 | Martha Stewart, 82, admits to using Botox and fillers to avoid looking her age | Domesticity queen Martha Stewart is coming clean about her multiple cosmetic procedures – including Botox, facial fillers and skin-tightening treatments – admitting that she doesn’t “want to look her age at all.”
In a new episode of her eponymous iHeartMedia podcast, the 82-year-old shared her insights on aging as her dermatologist, Dr Dan Belkin, joined in on the discussion.
“Everybody is so interested when they see a selfie of me posted on the Internet,” Stewart said. “So many comments are about my facelift and who did it and when did I have it done and how much retouching is on the photograph, and I just want to set the record straight.”
Calling his celebrity client “a real testament to the idea” of working hard to look beautiful at any age, Belkin revealed that he’s placed “a little Botox” on Stewart’s upper face, admitting it didn’t achieve the desired results.
“I’ve tried to give you a little lift,” he said. “It hasn’t really worked that well on the upper face, but I think neuromodulators like Botox have worked really well for you on the lower face.”
The doctor also shared he uses facial fillers “very conservatively” on Stewart, and has performed skin-tightening procedures as well.
In the episode, titled Finding Your Best Face, Stewart said: “I don’t think a lot about age, but I don’t want to look my age at all. And that’s why I really work hard at it.”
When it comes to prioritising her beauty, the 2023 Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover model takes after her late mother, Martha Kostyra, who died in 2007 at the age of 93.
“I think going to a really good dermatologist can help you feel better,” Stewart shared.
“I remember when my mum, at 85 years old, went to a plastic surgeon, and she said, ‘I want a facelift because I just want to look good.’ And he said, ‘Well, you’re going to look good. You’re not going to look younger, but you’re going to look good.’ And she said, ‘That’s enough for me.” – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | null | Domesticity queen is coming clean about her multiple cosmetic procedures. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/12/martha-stewart-82-admits-to-using-botox-and-fillers-to-avoid-looking-her-age | |
1,279,118 | Ask the Plant Doctor! How to deal with non-aromatic pandan leaves | Do you have a question about plants or how to maintain your garden? Send your questions to the Plant Doctor! Email your questions to [email protected] with "Plant Doctor" in the subject field. Questions may be edited for brevity and clarity.
Q I took some pandanus saplings from my friend whose pandan shrubs at his backyard sent out a strong aroma, but after my saplings settled in my house and matured over the years, they did not have any fragrance at all. What went wrong? My friend does not take care of his pandan patch, but the leaves thrive, and the fragrance can be smelled from the front gate! – Margaret S.
The aromatic quality of pandan is due to the presence of essential oils and aromatic compounds within the plant. One key component responsible for the characteristic fragrance of pandan leaves is a compound called 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2-AP).
The production of 2-AP and other aromatic compounds in pandan leaves is influenced by various factors, including environmental conditions and soil nutrition.
Consequently, if the conditions in your location differ significantly from where the saplings were originally grown, this could affect their development and aromatic qualities.
For instance, less sunlight or lower temperatures (perhaps because of shading) could affect a plant’s ability to produce the compounds responsible for its fragrance.
Soil quality and nutrition also play a significant role. Even though your friend might not actively care for his pandan patch, the soil in his garden could be naturally rich in certain nutrients essential for the plant’s aromatic properties.
It is worth testing your soil and comparing it with that of your friend’s garden.
The balance of nutrients, particularly nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, along with trace minerals, can influence plant health and characteristics.
Both overwatering and underwatering can induce stress in plants, potentially affecting their ability to produce aromatic compounds.
Pandan prefers consistently moist soil, but does not tolerate waterlogged conditions.
A very common error among gardeners is to err on the side of overwatering rather than underwatering.
Additionally, signs of pests or diseases should be checked. Stress from these factors can divert the plant’s energy from the production of aromatic compounds to defense mechanisms. | Lifestyle | Living | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | StarExtra | Saplings from a fragrant pandan plant may not always produce the same aromatic leaves as the original. The Plant Doctor explains why. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/12/ask-the-plant-doctor-how-to-deal-with-non-aromatic-pandan-leaves | |
1,281,969 | Take a creative turn this Valentine's Day with these arty events in KL | The usual Valentine’s day handbook suggests a romantic fine-dining experience with a side of flowers and chocolates while the beautiful couple dresses up in their best fit.
But if you’re more into a cultural, artsy or comedic experience, why don’t you bring your other half for something different this Valentine’s Day in the Klang Valley.
The Art And Bonding studio is hosting the 'Sip And Paint' evenings – 'Love In Bloom' on Feb 14 and 'Stay By My Side' on Feb 15. Photo: Art And Bonding
ART: 'SIP AND PAINT'
Venue: Art And Bonding, Desa Sri Hartamas, KL
Date: Feb 14 and 15
The "Sip And Paint" art social gathering is a vibrant and interactive experience that brings together individuals with a shared passion for creativity and a desire to unwind. That makes it a smart Valentine's Day plan this year to get away from crowded restaurants. Instead try out a session in a studio environment, where you can paint together, have some wine (or orange juice), a stash of chocolates and learn more about art.
Art And Bonding is hosting the evenings – "Love In Bloom" on Feb 14 and "Stay By My Side" on Feb 15.
Participants, armed with paintbrushes and canvases, can embark on a journey of self-expression guided by helpful Art And Bonding staff members.
Set in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, the event encourages attendees to indulge in sipping on their favourite beverages, adding a social and leisurely element to the artistic process.
With absolutely no painting experience needed, you and your other half will be painting one side each of the canvas. If you don't have a significant other, you can always attend this with your best friend or even family.
More info here.
CLASSICAL CONCERT: 'A VALENTINE'S SERENADE'
Venue: Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, KLCC
Date: Feb 17, 8.30pm
Is watching a classical concert considered a good date night? You bet! It’s the perfect opportunity to dress up, pick a dinner spot beforehand, then enjoy the orchestra, and later discuss it over dessert or beverages.
The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) is set to make it a memorable Cupid-approved evening with A Valentine's Serenade set-list including Love Story (Where Do I Begin), Last Night, (They Long To Be) Close To You, Somewhere Out There, Love Changes Everything, If We Were In Love, Cinema Paradiso and Love Me Tender, alongside an array of Broadway hits from Wicked, Funny Girl, Les Miserables and Phantom Of The Opera.
In this special concert at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP), vocalists Sean Ghazi, Ida Mariana, Nikki Palikat, and Izen Kong will join the MPO on stage.
With a romantic mix of love songs, guest stars and a dash of symphonic enchantment, resident conductor Gerard Salonga and the MPO are sure to wow the crowd.
More info here.
A colourful scene from the 'Piying Dream' immersive art exhibition at REXKL, which is inspired by traditional Chinese shadow puppets. Photo: Handout
IMMERSIVE ART: 'PIYING DREAM AND MATTER OF PAINTING'
Venue: REXKL, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends Sept 6
Wandering about in a "digital art playground" is another romantic date idea to consider. If you’re into immersive art, look no further than REXKL, as it has recently launched its biggest double-bill exhibition yet at its RXP.KL space.
Piying Dream, co-produced by new media outfits Temple of Light (China) and Danny Rose Studio (France), is the immersive exhibition loaded with festive season flavour, and a blast of colourful digital art.
It reimagines Chinese legends and invites visitors to "travel" to a fantastical kingdom, taking influences from the tradition of Chinese shadow puppet play (recognised on the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list).
The show uses more than 3,000 digitally restored shadow puppet artefacts to narrate the old world story.
From ancient China, you have the Matter Of Painting show to take you to New York next.
Watch the walls of RXP.KL turn into "action paintings" featuring "1950s New York", where visitors can interact with the art. Before coming to KL, both these exhibitions were presented in Shanghai last year.
More info here.
COMEDY: 'WITH LOVE - JASPREET SINGH'
Venue: KLPac
Date: Feb 16
Valentine's week in KL is also a good time for comedy. Jaspreet Singh, the comedic virtuoso from India, is a stand-up sensation whose performances resonate with humour that transcends cultural boundaries.
He has had sold-out shows all around the world, and finally, it’s time for him to perform for the first time in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 16, in a solo showcase presented by The Melbourne Comedy Club.
Known for his razor-sharp wit and keen observations, Jaspreet brings a unique perspective to the stage, blending his Indian heritage with a global understanding of human quirks.
For newcomer fans, the Asian comedian's first live special in KL also promises a perfect amalgamation of his engaging stage presence and a knack for storytelling.
Jaspreet, with a Valentine's nod or two, is bound the leave the crowd in stitches while offering a refreshing take on the comedic landscape.
More info here.
For K-pop couples, the obvious date experience would be the 'B*verse, BTS, Singing The Stars' exhibition at Pavilion Bukit Jalil. Photo: Handout
POP CULTURE EXHIBITION: 'B*VERSE, BTS, SINGING THE STARS'
Venue: Pavilion Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur
Date: ends March 10
Calling all K-pop couples or anyone looking to spend this love season with their favourite seven.
At Pavilion Bukit Jalil, you can enjoy a pop culture exhibition that zooms in on BTS' star-studded journey at The Fact Music Awards from 2020 to 2022.
At the exhibition's "VR Room: Face To Face", visitors can enjoy a front-row seat to BTS’ performance at The Fact Music Awards using cutting-edge technology.
The show is designed to immerse you in a starry world with 360-degree projection mapping, with the superstar group's performances brought to life through VR experiences.
To add to a date experience, you can also explore the diverse artistic expressions of the BTS boys in "7 Planets", a section featuring seven distinct rooms representing each member’s universe.
More info here. | Lifestyle | Arts | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-12 00:00:00 | Arts,Valentine's Day,Klang Valley,arts,culture,comedy,exhibition | Elevate your Valentine's Day with these arty, digital, musical and comedy date ideas in the Klang Valley | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2024/02/12/take-a-creative-turn-this-valentine039s-day-with-these-arty-events-in-kl | |
1,278,199 | Is vaping really less dangerous than smoking? | Does vaping offer an opportunity for smokers to kick their deadly tobacco habit, or pose a vast new health threat to the world's young people?
This long-smouldering question has again come to the forefront in the run-up to a tobacco summit being held by the World Health Organization (WHO) tomorrow.
It will likely be the scene of a familiar fight pitting proponents of e-cigarettes – including some lobbyists for the tobacco industry – against anti-smoking campaigners.
Vaping and other recent smoking innovations are expected to be high on the agenda as country representatives gather in Panama City, tasked with revising a WHO treaty on tobacco control.
E-cigarette devices do not contain tobacco. Instead, they are loaded with a liquid usually containing nicotine that is inhaled as vapour.
The process does not involve tar or carbon monoxide, the main drivers of the countless cancers and heart diseases linked to tobacco, suggesting that vaping should be less harmful than smoking.
However, the WHO has declined to acknowledge that vaping is any less dangerous than cigarettes.
This position, shared by many anti-smoking campaigners, is based on the precaution principle.
Because there is very little research on vaping dating back more than a decade, it is impossible to rule out that it could pose an unknown, long-term threat to people's health.
This lack of clarity has led to very different national policies. More than 30 countries have banned vaping, but it is largely unregulated in others.
Big Tobacco influence
Outraged pro-vaping groups say these bans deprive smokers of a crucial way to quit tobacco, which is confirmed to be a massive threat to public health.
This pro-movement is partly led by the traditional tobacco industry, which was initially slow to join the vaping revolution, but has now heavily invested in e-cigarettes and new tobacco products.
In October, the Guardian revealed that a senior vice-president at tobacco giant Philip Morris International told staff to fight back against the WHO's "prohibitionist attack on smoke-free products".
Philip Morris International told AFP that it is "committed to presenting to governments and the media the value of innovation for reducing smoking rates more rapidly".
Tobacco Tactics, a group linked to the UK's University of Bath, documented a large number of interactions between the tobacco industry and British legislators between 2021 and 2023, according to researcher Tom Gatehouse.
The "vast majority" of these interactions were about "vaping and newer products and the regulation of them," he told AFP.
Gatehouse accused Big Tobacco of trying to regain influence by falsely posing as fighters against cigarettes, which are still the industry's biggest source of income.
He admitted that "it's a very complex scenario," because some pro-vaping lobbying is conducted by other e-cigarettes producers, whose interests sometimes diverge from the tobacco industry.
And other independent groups "really do believe that vaping is a solution to smoking," said Amelie Eschenbrenner, spokeswoman for France's National Committee Against Smoking.
She said that one way to spot of the influence of the tobacco industry is that it has deliberately sown confusion about the difference between e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, which use tobacco and are considered probably more harmful than vaping.
But even sincere defenders have a habit of speaking about vaping in ways not backed by scientific evidence, Eschenbrenner said.
This was particularly the case when opposing measures aiming to stem teenage vaping, such as prohibitions on youth-focused flavours or recent bans on disposable e-cigarettes in the UK and France, she added.
What does the research say?
A Cochrane review – considered the gold standard for analysing the available knowledge – found there was strong evidence that e-cigarettes are more effective for quitting smoking than nicotine patches.
But another question lingers: Do the young people who have taken up vaping in huge numbers eventually move on to cigarettes?
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce, who has led several Cochrane reviews on vaping, told AFP that "there is clear evidence that young people who vape are more likely to go on to smoke".
But it is not clear that this is driving more young people to smoke who would not have anyway, she added. If that were the case, youth smoking would be rising overall – instead it is declining in most countries.
Many medical researchers have called for vaping to remain legal as a tool for quitting smoking, while doing everything possible to stop young people from taking up either habit.
"If people switch completely from smoking to vaping they substantially reduce their risk of premature death and disability," Nicholas Hopkinson, professor of respiratory medicine at Imperial College London, told AFP.
"But people who do this should be encouraged to quit vaping as well in the long run." – AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Wellness | Complimentary | Medium | AGENCY | 2024-02-11 00:00:00 | Vaping,Tobacco,Smoking | Without much research on vaping, it is impossible to rule out unknown, long-term threat to people's health. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2024/02/11/is-vaping-really-less-dangerous-than-smoking | |
1,281,698 | German public libraries up defences against far-right attack | Defaced and destroyed, books torn up and political messages scrawled across their pages: the evidence of an alleged far-right vandalism spree at a city library in Berlin covers an entire table.
"The first reaction was confusion, then outrage, when we realised what had happened here," said Boryano Rickum, chief librarian for Tempelhof-Schoeneberg district.
The incident - the work of a single suspect - was not however a one off.
The library at Berlin's Technical University is also thought to have been targeted by far-right vandalism, while elsewhere extremists have crashed events and threatened staff.
The cases illustrate what campaigners call a "cultural struggle" as extremist ideas gain purchase and the far-right climbs in the polls.
The increased threat has prompted efforts to better arm public spaces against attack and protect them as a space for dialogue.
'The moment we discovered the damage, it was clear that we couldn't just go back to business-as-usual,' says Boryano Rickum, director of the library Tempelhof-Schoeneberg in Berlin. Photo: AFP
Staff at the library in well-heeled Tempelhof-Schoenberg were used to finding the odd scribbled swastika but the vandalism crossed a line, said Rickum.
Destroying books was, in his eyes, tantamount to an "attack on democracy".
"The moment we discovered the damage, it was clear that we couldn't just go back to business-as-usual."
Critical censorship
The topics dealt with in the books gave some indication of the possible motivation: the history of feminism, critical analyses of far-right groups and the autobiographies of prominent green politicians.
"We had to assume that it was an attempt to prevent a critical discussion of right-wing extremism and National Socialism," said Rickum.
Acts of violence against books have a particular resonance in Germany, where the Nazis, who ruled up to 1945, ceremonially burnt publications they deemed to be subversive or deviant.
The acts of radical censorship are commemorated in central Berlin on Bebelplatz, the site of such a bonfire in the 1930s.
In recent times, many cultural institutions have had run-ins with extremists, said Bianca Klose from MBR, an advisory group, which offers help dealing with the far-right.
"But now we've noticed that in particular public libraries are increasingly noticing a so-called cultural struggle from the right," said Klose.
By targeting libraries, "the extremist right is trying to change the boundaries of what can be said", according to Klose, whose organisation printed a pamphlet with advice for librarians last year.
A basket with damaged books is pictured at the library Tempelhof-Schoeneberg in Berlin. Photo: AFP
The publication details confrontations with the far right, such as threats made last year against a reading to children by two drag queens at a Munich library.
With a growing number of elected officials, the far-right AfD party was "trying to use political power to gain influence over libraries", Klose said.
The party's representatives used their positions to ask "why certain books are not in collections", notably ones from right-wing publishing houses, sometimes framed as a matter of political neutrality.
'The right place'
The pamphlet offers best-practice solutions: how to establish guidelines, how to decide what books to stock and ways to contextualise content in libraries.
In Tempelhof-Schoeneberg, the library's response has been to "put the focus on the books affected", said Rickum.
Many of the authors of the vandalised books have been invited to discuss their ideas and the staff has established a reading group around the issue.
A book by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has the word 'Plagiarist' scribbled in at the library Tempelhof-Schoeneberg in Berlin. Photo: AFP
Federico Quadrelli, 37, a volunteer who leads the group, sees it as "a space where people can meet and talk about important, current, political topics".
The suspected vandal at the Tempelhof-Schoeneberg library, a man in his early 30s from Berlin, has been charged with damaging property.
The aim of the attack was to limit debate, said Rickum. "We want to achieve the opposite, namely that people assess it critically."
"Democracy needs a place where people can come together... and we think this is the right place," he said.
"Of course, I also know that as a library we cannot do this alone. We need civil society to save democracy." - AFP | Lifestyle | Culture | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-11 00:00:00 | null | The cases illustrate what campaigners in Germany call a 'cultural struggle' as the far-right climbs in the polls | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2024/02/11/german-public-libraries-up-defences-against-far-right-attack | |
1,281,651 | Meet Thailand's "Bright Vachirawit”, the country's top fashion influencer on Instagram with more than 18 million followers | BANGKOK (The Nation Thailand/ANN): Thailand’s “Bright Vachirawit Chivaaree” has been named the most influential Instagrammer in fashion who has generated the highest media value for Burberry, and will participate in the London Fashion Week SS24 Spring/Summer 2024.
Bright has global influence from collaboration with international brands and working alongside various A-list celebrities worldwide. Additionally, fans worldwide continuously show unwavering support.
He is the first Brand Ambassador from the Asia-Pacific region for Burberry.
Most recently, EMV reported a figure of US$2.3 million, or approximately 82 million baht, reflecting the momentum of Thai artists on the global fashion stage.
Actor, singer, and model Bright, with more than 18 million followers on Instagram, gained international popularity from his lead role in a Boy Love series, “2gether: The Series” in 2020.
"Bright Vachirawit” is top fashion influencer on Instagram
In 2021, he also starred in Thailand’s remake of “F4: Boys Over Flowers”. He is currently one of the most prominent figures in the Thai entertainment industry, known for his charming personality, talent, and influence. - The Nation Thailand/ANN | AseanPlus | Thailand | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-11 00:00:00 | Thailand,Actor,Burberry,London Fashion Week,Top Influencer,Instagram | Thailand’s “Bright Vachirawit Chivaaree” has been named the most influential Instagrammer in fashion who has generated the highest media value for Burberry, and will participate in the London Fashion Week SS24 Spring/Summer 2024. | https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2024/02/11/meet-thailand039s-bright-vachirawit-the-country039s-top-fashion-influencer-on-instagram-with-more-than-18-million-followers | |
1,277,460 | 'Legging legs' is a new trend, but it has been accused of glorifying thinness | Just when you think progress has been made in banishing the cult of thinness, it comes back at full speed!
While promoting and encouraging physical exercise can be a positive trend on social media, there are some extreme examples which consist of showcasing so-called "perfect bodies", which can have detrimental effects on our mental health.
Although these types of content may be connected, it's important to differentiate the objectives of it – the content that promotes benefits to overall health as opposed to that which elevates an ideal of beauty that can be harmful for health.
Eating disorders, lowered self-esteem and increased anxiety levels are a few of the consequences of the glorification of extreme thinness.
And despite significant societal advances when it comes to body positivity – embracing all kinds of bodies – this cult of thinness still holds sway in many areas.
Read more: Too hot to handle? K-pop stars' ‘no pants’ look sparks debate
Challenges that promote "slimming down"
The latest example from the world of social media is "legging legs", although there's actually nothing new about this trend.
It's yet another variation on the famous "thigh gap" obsession that comes and goes with the seasons, idealising firm, shapely, thin thighs.
Every year, or just about, a new challenge invites women – because that's essentially the target audience – to gauge whether the shape of their thighs form the gap that would give them what "thinspiration" types describe as perfect proportions.
A few years ago, it was all about standing up straight, feet together, to show off that coveted gap for all to see, then the challenge was extended to a lying down version, at the beach, again to show off that "gap" between the thighs.
This beauty "ideal" has also seen the emergence of a counter-trend, with "mermaid thighs", supposed to encourage people to embrace the absence of a gap between their thighs, popularised in 2016 in an attempt to put an end to this form of body shaming.
These challenges can have a doubly detrimental effect by pushing young girls and women to slim down at all costs, as well as ostracising anyone who doesn't fit into society's ideal.
Read more: New York's Metropolitan Museum takes a feminist look at global fashion
One challenge too far?
The "legging legs" trend differs little from all those challenges of the past.
On social networks, particularly TikTok, multiple videos show women, sometimes very young, slipping into leggings and showing off the gap that appears between their thighs.
But they don't just show off their bodies, they also extol the virtues of the "thigh gap", explaining loud and clear that this constitutes the "perfect" silhouette – or the perfect legs – for wearing leggings.
What's implied by this has not gone unnoticed: those individuals who wear leggings, but don't have a thigh gap, should find something else to wear.
"Legging legs" posts have rapidly gained momentum on the Chinese social network, with the associated hashtag already garnering almost 50 million views.
But it's worth pointing out that the majority of videos posted under these terms are not encouraging viewers to cultivate a "thigh gap" – quite the contrary.
While a handful of users still see the thigh gap as an ideal of beauty, most of those posting have spoken out against this beauty "ideal".
Among them are several health professionals who remind us that the "thigh gap" is not synonymous with a slim, athletic or healthy body, but the result of genetic predispositions, particularly in terms of bone structure.
As for several other TikTokers, they are simply rejecting "legging legs" en masse, showing a certain exasperation, if not anger, at these videos that constantly praise the same ideal of beauty.
On her TikTok account, therapist Holly Essler explains: "Don't let social networks tell your body that this is a trend. If you have a body and you have leggings, you have legging legs. Wear the leggings, be proud, be confident, you have legging legs."
In a video viewed almost two million times, user Mik Zazon added: "These trends have got to stop!
"Social media is so freaking harmful and toxic, there are young girls right now who think they can't wear a wardrobe essential that is comfortable, that can be paired with so many different things, because they don't have a thigh gap!"
All these reactions suggest that, while these challenges and trends linked to the cult of thinness persist, users are challenging them and calling them into question, and even fighting against their damaging effects on the physical and mental health of young women. – AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Style | Complimentary | Medium | AGENCY | 2024-02-11 00:00:00 | fashion,trends,body positivity | Disdained by the fashion world for decades, are leggings making a comeback? It's safe to say they are, but not necessarily for the right reasons. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/02/11/039legging-legs039-is-a-new-trend-but-it-has-been-accused-of-glorifying-thinness | |
1,280,880 | To find a partner in time for Valentine’s Day, some singles scour dating apps at a frenzied pace | For many singles, the prospect of spending Valentine’s Day alone is an annual source of anxiety. As such, lining up one date after another in order to find a partner for the big day has become a course of emergency action in the dating world. Dubbed “avalanching”, this unfortunate habit involves frantically burning through match after match, even if it means lowering your standards.
Dating apps are at their busiest in January, and even up to Feb 14. Among the singles looking for love are those who are desperate to spend Valentine’s Day with someone. To find a partner, they frantically scour as many dating apps as possible to make sure they get a date for the big day.
According to a study conducted by the app, Finding The One, and reported by Indy100, 79% of the 800 singles surveyed said they were more active on dating apps in January, in the run-up to Valentine’s Day – the most depressing time of the year for three-quarters of them. And to ensure that they spend Feb 14 with someone, just under half admit to being less demanding than usual, particularly on criteria related to age, location and appearance.
According to dating expert, Sylvia Linzalone, the frenzied rush of avalanching is not a viable and healthy response to finding yourself single in the New Year.
“There’s the additional risk of feeling disappointed if those extra efforts that people put into finding a date for Valentine’s Day don’t come to fruition,” she told Indy100.
She also warns singles against engaging in too much messaging on dating apps, saying that it often proves useless in the search for a suitable partner.
“These days, dating apps have become just another form of social media, with extensive messaging and comparatively little face-to-face contact. It’s time to switch these two around and focus on real-life meets instead if you really want to make a change in your love life in 2024,” she told the news website. Instead, the expert recommends “intentional” dating, where you don’t have to sacrifice your principles to find love. – AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Living | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-11 00:00:00 | Avalanching,Finding The One,Valentine's Day,dating apps | To find a partner in time for Valentine’s Day, some singles scour dating apps at a frenzied pace. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/11/to-find-a-partner-in-time-for-valentines-day-some-singles-scour-dating-apps-at-a-frenzied-pace | |
1,279,914 | Bruce Lee, Adele, Jeryl Lee: 10 celebrities born in the Year of the Dragon | As we leap into a new year in the Chinese calendar, we bid adieu to the gentle rabbit and roll out the carpet for the mighty dragon.
Despite its imposing appearance, the dragon is believed to represent good luck, strength and health.
Folks born in the dragon year are said to be ambitious, confident and creative. This sign is also unique as it’s the only mythical creature in the Chinese zodiac.
Here, we take a look at 10 celebrities born in the Year of the Dragon (1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012).
G-Dragon (1988)
G-Dragon debuted as the leader of K-pop boy band BigBang in 2005. Photo: AFP
Who better to start off the dragon list than this K-pop star?
The past year had been rocky for the rapper, who was under police investigation for illegal drug use.
Nevertheless, the 35-year-old has been cleared of these allegations and is gearing up to release a new album and establish a foundation to combat drug abuse.
G-Dragon, whose real name is Kwon Ji-yong, debuted as the leader of K-pop boy band BigBang in 2005 under YG Entertainment.
He’s the first and only solo artiste to receive the Mnet Asian Music Award for Artist of the Year in 2013.
G-Dragon parted ways with YG Entertainment last December and signed with Galaxy Corporation.
Angelica Lee (1976)
Lee is the producer of the acclaimed Malaysian film 'Abang Adik'. Angelica Lee/Instagram
This Malaysian talent closed off the past year on a high after her movie Abang Adik (2023) received global acclaim.
Produced by Lee, Abang Adik is the first South-East Asian film to sweep the top three prizes at Italy’s Far East Film Festival.
It’s also the highest grossing Malaysian flick in Taiwan, earning NT$90mil (RM13.5mil) in box office revenue since its premiere on Dec 1, last year.
Lee earned positive attention that same month after revealing that her family was helping her brother-in-law, Hong Kong filmmaker Danny Pang, pay his huge debts.
Pang declared bankruptcy last December after spending his savings on his wife’s lung cancer treatment but withdrew the application after a new film project alleviated his financial troubles.
Bunga Isme (2000)
Bunga made waves in November after serving as the opening act for Coldplay's KL concert. Photo: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
From appearing on the New York Times Square digital billboard to earning her degree in public administration in July, Bunga had lots to celebrate in 2023.
But a standout moment was when the 24-year-old Malaysian opened for British rock band Coldplay’s Music Of The Spheres World Tour in Kuala Lumpur last November.
Dubbed by international media outlets as “the first hijabi rapper in Malaysia”, Bunga has served as a supporting act for British pop singer Anne-Marie’s 2019 concert in KL and was a finalist at Anugerah Juara Lagu 36 (AJL36) in 2021.
The budding rapper previously told StarLifestyle that it’s her ultimate goal to be a “globally recognised artiste”.
Jeryl Lee Pei Ling (2000)
Lee has drawn attention for her vocal prowess and resemblance to Blackpink's Lisa. Photo: Jeryl Lee/Instagram
Another Gen-Z Malaysian making waves is Lee, who ranked first in Chinese reality TV show The Next 2023 and was crowned Budding Artiste of the Year at the Tencent Starlight Awards last year.
The Penangite started performing at the age of eight and has participated in many singing competitions in China.
Lee won first placing in the Water Cube Cup overseas Chinese youth singing contest in 2014 and rose to fame in 2016 after emerging as one of the six finalists on Sing! China.
She has also drawn attention for her resemblance to Lisa of the K-pop girl group Blackpink, though she doesn’t think they look alike.
Cillian Murphy (1976)
Murphy has received rave reviews for his stellar performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer. Photo: Reuters
A favourite to win Best Actor in this year’s Oscar race, Murphy has a lot to look forward to in the coming weeks.
The Irishman is the leading star of Oppenheimer (2023), which grossed over US$955mil (RM4.5bil) at the worldwide box office – the third highest of 2023 and the highest for any biographical movie.
Like others born in the year of the dragon, Murphy strives to complete his tasks to the best of his abilities.
His Oppenheimer co-stars Emily Blunt and Matt Damon told Entertainment Tonight that he would skip most of their cast dinners and settle for an almond or a slice of apple most nights to transform into the “father of the atomic bomb”.
Murphy even gave up his vegetarian lifestyle, which he had been practising for 15 years, to play the intelligent crime boss Thomas Shelby in the British crime drama Peaky Blinders (2013 to 2022). It was so he didn’t look like “a skinny Irish fella”.
His upcoming movie Small Things Like These is set to open this year’s Berlinale Film Festival.
Adele (1988)
Adele is known for chart-topping hits like 'Rolling In The Deep', 'Someone Like You' and 'Hello'. Photo: TNS
Adele has earned recognition for her commanding vocals in chart-toppers like Rolling In The Deep, Someone Like You and Hello.
Her accolades include 16 Grammy Awards, 12 Brit Awards, an Academy Award for Best Original Song, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Golden Globe Award.
In 2023, the British singer was seen hobbling across stage during a New Year’s Eve performance.
She also revealed last August that she had collapsed backstage due to a sciatica attack.
Sciatica is pain caused by the irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve, which travels from the lower back to the feet.
Despite her condition, Adele recently hinted that she wants to go on tour after her next album is out.
“I just don’t think I’m gonna write an album for quite some time, but next time I do, I’ll come to wherever it is you live,” she said.
Park Seo-joon (1988)
Park made his Hollywood debut in the 2023 film, 'The Marvels'. Photo: YAP CHEE HONG/The Star
If you’re into K-dramas, you would know this heartthrob.
Last year, Park made his Hollywood debut in Marvel Cinematic Universe’s The Marvels.
Although fans have complained about his limited screen time (he reportedly appears for less than three minutes), Park told Korean media that his role “plays a crucial part in the overall narrative of The Marvels”.
He’s currently starring in the Netflix series Gyeongseong Creature (2023).
Off-screen, Park is a well-known philanthropist.
In 2019, the generous actor made a donation of 100mil won (RM354,454) to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association during the forest fire in Gangwon Province, South Korea.
He donated the same amount to the city of Daegu for Covid-19 relief efforts that following year.
Bruce Lee (1940)
Lee is largely responsible for paving the way for the integration of Asian martial arts into Western action films and shows. Photo: Warner Bros
Hailed as a pop culture icon of the 20th century, Lee has left an indelible mark on the martial arts community.
He’s largely responsible for popularising martial arts and paving the way for the integration of Asian martial arts into Western action films and shows.
The Hong Kong-American star was only three months old when he played an infant in Golden Gate Girl (1941) and had already earned 20 film credits by the time he turned 20.
Lee’s final completed film appearance before his death on July 20, 1973 was Enter The Dragon (1973).
The movie was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 2004 for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant”.
Rihanna (1988)
Rihanna is the second best-selling female artiste of all time. Photo: AFP
Rihanna is shining bright like a diamond with her impressive US$1.4bil (RM6.6bil) fortune thanks to the success of her cosmetic line Fenty Beauty.
The Grammy-winning pop star headlined the Super Bowl halftime show for the first time in February 2023, during which she revealed she is pregnant with her second child.
Rihanna and rapper A$AP Rocky share two children – the first was born in May 2022 and the second in August 2023.
In 2022, Rihanna released Lift Me Up – her first new music in five years for the movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.
She’s the second best-selling female artiste of all time, with over 250 million records sold worldwide.
Keanu Reeves (1964)
Reeves will be making a comeback as John Wick in a spin-off movie titled 'Ballerina'. Photo: Murray Close
Reeves stole the hearts of many with his role as the skilled assassin John Wick.
That’s why it felt like a punch in the gut when the fourth instalment of the eponymous franchise ended with his character’s likely death.
But before the waterworks begin, fans might want to know that he’ll be making a comeback as the reluctant hitman in a John Wick spin-off movie titled Ballerina.
The film revolves around a ballerina-assassin named Rooney (played by Ana de Armas) who’s dead set on tracking down the murderers of her family.
Ballerina is expected to hit the big screen this June and reportedly takes place between the events of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (2019) and Chapter 4 (2023). | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-11 00:00:00 | null | Folks born in the dragon year are said to be ambitious, confident and creative. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/11/bruce-lee-adele-jeryl-lee-10-celebrities-born-in-the-year-of-the-dragon | |
1,279,447 | Year of the Dragon: Top 8 dragon idioms | 龙马精神
Lonɡ ma jinɡ shen
To possess the spirit of dragons and horses.
Full of vibrant spirit (usually refers to an elderly person).
生龙活虎
Sheng long huo hu
To be as lively as a dragon and as energetic as a tiger.
To be full of vim and vigour.
鲤鱼跳龙门
Li yu tiao long men
A carp leaping over the dragon gate.
Ordinary folks achieving meteoric success (usually refers to civil servants or government officials).
龙腾虎跃
Long teng hu yue
Dragons soaring and tigers leaping.
A scene of bustling activity.
龙飞凤舞
Long fei feng wu
Flying dragons, dancing phoenixes.
Flamboyant calligraphy.
卧虎藏龙
Wo hu cang long
Crouching tiger, hidden dragon.
Undiscovered talents.
降龙伏虎
Xiang long fu hu
Subdue the dragon, tame the tiger.
Overcome powerful adversaries.
龙争虎斗
Long zheng hu dou
A fight between a dragon and a tiger.
An epic battle between evenly-matched powerful forces. | Lifestyle | Living | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-11 00:00:00 | null | Here are some of the most auspicious dragon idioms to celebrate the 2024 Lunar New Year. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/11/year-of-the-dragon-top-8-dragon-idioms | |
1,281,470 | 'Verses like dynamite': anti-Nazi magazine trove resurfaces | A Nazi henchman as a drooling gorilla with a swastika armband. Adolf Hitler as a dancing clown. Cheeky send-ups of Joseph Goebbels's lies.
A treasure trove of defiant satire made by Jewish refugee Curt Bloch while in hiding from the Nazis in a Dutch attic has recently gone on display for the first time, eight decades after he created his astonishingly daring magazine.
The title of the exhibition My Verses Are Like Dynamite, at the Jewish Museum Berlin, is taken from one of the anti-fascist issues produced by Bloch between August 1943 and April 1945.
His daughter Simone Bloch, who flew in from New York for the opening, described her father as "a cross between Anne Frank and Tupac Shakur," referring to the wartime teen diarist and the late rap superstar.
She said he was a man whose "rebellious" streak blossomed when his life was under threat.
A lawyer by training, Curt had fled Dortmund in Germany for the Netherlands on a bicycle following the Nazis' rise in 1933.
After the German invasion in 1940, he found refuge in the city of Enschede in a cramped crawl space along with a German-Jewish couple thanks to an anti-Nazi network run by Dutch pastor Leendert Overduin.
There he used a fountain pen and cutouts from magazines and newspapers at his disposal to create artful collages ridiculing fascist leaders and reflecting on his own predicament.
Simone Bloch, daughter of Curt Bloch, said he was a man whose 'rebellious' streak blossomed when his life was under threat. Photo: AFP
While "underwater", as the life in hiding was called in Dutch, Bloch distributed the postcard-sized issues at great personal risk to a tight network of about 30 resistance members, trusted friends and fellow fugitives who returned them once they had read them.
'Special friend' Goebbels
Bloch produced 95 issues of Het Onderwater Cabaret (The Underwater Cabaret) in those nerve-racking 19 months, all of which are on display in Berlin.
Museum director Hetty Berg said she was "totally flabbergasted" by the collection when Simone first showed it to her in 2022, calling it a "unique testament to artistic resistance against National Socialism".
"I have never seen anything like this," said Berg, who is Dutch and whose own grandfather survived the Holocaust in hiding.
"I'm aware of a lot of diaries of people in hiding like Anne Frank. This is different - it's targeted artistic work" which also circulated.
In nearly 500 handwritten poems in German and Dutch, Bloch skewered Nazi hypocrisy and the failing war effort, mocked Hitler and his collaborators and movingly recounted his family's struggle for survival while separated from one another.
His caustic sarcasm and wry wit jump from the page, while the skillful artwork is reminiscent of the early 20th century Dadaists and surrealists.
In a verse dedicated to his "special friend", Nazi propagandist Goebbels, Bloch warned: "If he writes straight, read it crooked. If he writes crooked, read it straight."
The final issue is dated April 3, 1945, soon after Enschede's liberation by Allied forces, to whom Bloch dedicated his first poem in English.
In nearly 500 handwritten poems in German and Dutch, Bloch skewered Nazi hypocrisy and the failing war effort, mocked Hitler and his collaborators. Photo: AFP
Bloch outlived the Nazi regime but his mother and sisters were rounded up and murdered in the camps.
After the war, he married an Auschwitz survivor and emigrated to New York, taking his magazine collection with him where it remained stored on a shelf for decades after Bloch's death in 1975.
Simone, now 64, said she decided last year with her 98-year-old mother Ruth that the time was finally right to make the issues available to the public.
'Perpetrators are dead'
She said her father, who died when she was 15, was disappointed they were not used immediately after the war for educational purposes. Later he thought there would be little appetite for dredging up that tragic chapter of the past.
"The interest in this time is different (now) because the perpetrators are pretty much all dead," Simone said, adding that something shifted when her own daughters became fascinated by the magazines.
"That's why you have children - to carry it forward."
The exhibition, running until May 26, is accompanied by video interviews with survivors and all of the magazine issues went online in digital form this week.
The Jewish Museum Berlin is presenting Bloch's work to the public for the first time. Photo: AFP
Berg said the collection was too "fragile" to travel widely but hopes to arrange shows in New York and the Netherlands.
With the far right making inroads again in Germany and the Netherlands, Berg said Bloch's towering accomplishment offered important lessons about standing up to propaganda, disinformation and hatred.
Berg highlighted one of Bloch's searing, prescient verses, read by an actor on a video screen at the exhibition's entrance.
"You think you've finally escaped/The shadows of the darkest past/Yet you neglect that you as well/Are threatened by that same old pain."
During the Holocaust more than 100,000 Jews were deported from the Netherlands to their deaths - about 75 percent of the Jewish population at the time of the German invasion. - AFP | Lifestyle | Arts | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-11 00:00:00 | Arts,Exhibition,anti-Nazi,artist,Curt Bloch,refugee | Defiant satire made by WWII Jewish refugee Curt Bloch has been described as 'a cross between Anne Frank and Tupac Shakur' | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2024/02/11/039verses-like-dynamite039-anti-nazi-magazine-trove-resurfaces | |
1,281,194 | Make music to keep the brain healthy | Tickling the ivories is more than just a skill to show off at parties and family reunions.
This is as a new study reveals that playing music can have beneficial effects on brain health, even for older adults.
These findings reinforce the idea that music can be a key element of ageing well.
Many studies have focused on the best foods for maintaining brain health, including oily fish, spinach, certain spices and dark chocolate.
But there also seem to be some everyday activities, within the reach of most people, that can improve cognitive performance.
Music is one such activity.
Not only can music be a source of pleasure, but it may also be a key element in improving certain cognitive functions and maintaining a healthy brain as we age.
Researchers at the University of Exeter in Britain looked at the impact of playing an instrument, as well as singing, on the brain health of people in their forties and beyond.
“A number of studies have looked at the effect of music on brain health.
“Our ... study has given us a unique opportunity to explore the relationship between cognitive performance and music in a large cohort of older adults.
“Overall, we think that being musical could be a way of harnessing the brain’s agility and resilience, known as cognitive reserve,” explains Professor Dr Anne Corbett, who specialises in dementia research, in a press release.
This work is based on the Protect study, a vast online survey that has so far gathered data from over 25,000 people aged 40 and over, over the last decade.
Over a thousand participants were included in this research into the effects of music on brain health.
The scientists assessed the participants’ musical experience, whether playing an instrument or singing in a choir, as well as their results on cognitive tests.
Published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, their findings point to a link between an improvement in memory and ability to solve complex tasks, and playing a musical instrument, particularly the piano.
Music was found to be beneficial for improving executive function, but that’s not all.
The researchers also reported better brain health was associated with singing, although they pointed out via the press release that “this may also be due to the social factors of being part of a choir or group”.
Interestingly, while it has already been demonstrated that playing a musical instrument as a child can help people age well, this research highlights that continuing this activity at a later age “provides even greater benefit”.
“Although more research is needed to investigate this relationship, our findings indicate that promoting musical education would be a valuable part of public health initiatives to promote a protective lifestyle for brain health, as would encouraging older adults to return to music in later life.
“There is considerable evidence for the benefit of music group activities for individuals with dementia, and this approach could be extended as part of a healthy ageing package for older adults to enable them to proactively reduce their risk and to promote brain health,” says Prof Corbett.
Scientific studies have already shown that music can have a soothing effect on people suffering from dementia, as well as on other aspects of health.
In particular, as Canadian researchers recently revealed, music could help relieve pain, as well as help stimulate everyday memory. – AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Mind | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | Mind,Music,brain,senior health | Playing an instrument or singing in a choir has been linked to improving brain function as we age. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2024/02/10/make-music-to-keep-the-brain-healthy | |
1,281,358 | World renowned Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa dies at 88 | Charismatic Japanese conductor Seiji Ozawa, who led the Boston Symphony Orchestra for nearly 30 years and delighted audiences with his energetic style, died at his home in Tokyo aged 88, his management team announced on Friday.
Ozawa conquered the world of Western classical music, bringing an East Asian sensibility to his work with some of the world's most celebrated orchestras, from Chicago to Boston to Vienna.
"Conductor Seiji Ozawa passed away peacefully at his home on Feb 6, 2024, at the age of 88," his management team said in a statement on its official Facebook page.
He died of heart failure and the funeral was attended by close relatives according to his wishes, the statement read.
Ozawa was born in 1935 in the Chinese province of Manchuria, then a Japanese colony, and started learning piano at elementary school.
But he broke two fingers as a teenager while playing rugby - another passion - and switched to conducting.
He moved abroad in 1959 and met some of the greatest luminaries of the classical music world, including the composer and conductor Leonard Bernstein, becoming his assistant at the New York Philharmonic in the 1961-1962 season.
Ozawa went on to lead orchestras in Chicago, Toronto and San Francisco.
Seiji Ozawa conducts Boston Symphony Orchestra in Fukuoka, western Japan in March 1978. Photo: AP
He was the longest-serving conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) with a 29-year stint as musical director. A concert hall was named for him at Tanglewood, the group's summer home in western Massachusetts.
He left in 2002 to become chief conductor at the Vienna State Opera until 2010.
'A musical genius'
The Vienna Philharmonic, with which Ozawa first collaborated at the 1966 Salzburg Festival, paid tribute to his "loving interaction with his colleagues and his charisma".
"It was a gift to be able to go a long way with this artist, who was characterised by the highest musical standards and at the same time humility towards the treasures of musical culture," professor Daniel Froschauer, chairman of the Vienna Philharmonic, said in a statement.
Current BSO conductor Andris Nelsons called Ozawa "a great friend, a brilliant role model, and an exemplary musician and leader" in a tribute on X, formerly Twitter, accompanied by a photo of the pair.
"He has been an inspiration to me all my life and I will miss him dearly."
In a separate statement from the orchestra, he recalled Ozawa's "enthusiasm for the city and people of Boston, Tanglewood - and the Boston Red Sox!"
Marin Alsop, one of the few celebrated women conductors, said Ozawa had been a "great mentor" to her at Tanglewood.
Chad Smith, the chief executive officer of the BSO, called Ozawa "a force of nature on and off stage".
He was "a musical genius who combined a balletic grace at the podium with a prodigious memory", Smith said in a statement.
In-demand operatic soprano Christine Goerke said the opportunity "to make music and experience such joy and belly aching laughter with this extraordinary human being has been one of the greatest gifts of my life".
"I am in tears this morning, but am beyond grateful for you, Seiji Ozawa. Safe home, Maestro, and thank you," Goerke wrote on X. - AFP | Lifestyle | Arts | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | Arts,Japan,Seiji Ozawa,conductor,music,legend,death | Ozawa conquered the world of Western classical music, bringing an East Asian sensibility to his work with some of the world's most celebrated orchestras | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2024/02/10/world-renowned-japanese-conductor-seiji-ozawa-dies-at-88 | |
1,281,196 | 'Rain Town' review: Let the rain (and tears) fall in Taiping | Rain Town
Director: Tunku Mona Riza
Cast: Chew Kin Wah, Susan Lankester, Fabian Loo, Wilson Lee, Pauline Tan
The titular “Rain Town” here is none other than Taiping in Perak, which is well known for its heavy rainfall.
The story of the movie, which opens on Feb 8, revolves around Choo (Chew Kin Wah), his Eurasian wife Aileen (Susan Lankester) and three children – doctor- in-training Isaac (Fabian Loo), the carefree Alex (Wilson Lee), and aspiring baker Ruby (Pauline Tan).
Choo is a former bank clerk and lantern maker who is a bit of a control freak when it comes to his family, believing that he has every right to determine what path his wife and children should take. As a result of Choo’s stubbornness and ego, Isaac is forced to give up his aspirations of being a musician to become a doctor, while Ruby’s planned marriage falls apart along with her dream of opening her own bakery. Meanwhile, Alex is the only one who dares to rebel against his father, though he hasn’t quite has his own life sorted out just yet.
Aileen prepares food with her daughter Ruby. Photo: Handout
In the centre of all this is the eye of the familial storm, Aileen, whose calm and loving demeanour is the only thing that is keeping this fragile family jigsaw puzzle together. But even she is feeling the strain of doing so, and it is only a matter of time before the pieces start falling like the raindrops upon Taiping.
At its core, the story of Rain Town is simple, but the cast’s strong acting elevates it to something much deeper and meaningful. Director Tunku Mona Riza draws out masterful performances from Lankester and Chew, while the younger members of the family also manage to hold their own, especially during the various conflicts that occur.
Credit also to the director, who allows the story to flow without dwelling too much on the multi-cultural aspects of Taiping and its denizens, but instead, letting them be a natural part of the story.
Choo (Chew) trying to figure out how to fix all the problems he created within his family. Photo: Handout
Rain Town has been touted as “first Chinese language film directed by a Malay woman”. But it is so much more than that. Calling it a “Chinese-language movie” ignores the fact that Rain Town embraces ALL the different languages and dialects that make up the fabric of Malaysian communication.
Yes, the Chinese dialects Cantonese and Mandarin feature heavily (it is a story about a Malaysian Chinese family after all), but Malay, English, Tamil is also spoken here, all jumbled and mixed up into that fluid “rojak” way we Malaysians communicate with on another across our entire multi-cultural society. This isn’t just a “Chinese-language movie”. It’s a “Malaysian language movie”.
Tunku Mona has called this her “homage to Malaysia’s rich cultural tapestry” and a “call to fellow Malaysians to embrace diversity”, and while Rain Town may not be a typical festive film that one expects to watch during Chinese New Year, it is definitely one that all Malaysians can relate to in one way or another. | Lifestyle | Movie Review | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | Movie Review,Rain Town | Set in Taiping, Perak, 'Rain Town' is a movie that all Malaysians can relate to in one way or another. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/10/039rain-town039-review-let-the-rain-and-tears-fall-in-taiping | |
1,280,868 | Why are some dogs so interested in television? | Dog owners have probably already caught their pooches watching television. But do these animals have favourite shows? An American study looked into this question, and its authors found that dogs have a pronounced taste for certain types of images and videos.
Pet dogs like images that show their fellow creatures and other animals. But they don’t seem to care whether it’s an animal documentary or an animated cartoon like The Lion King or The 101 Dalmatians.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM), in the United States, came to this conclusion after asking over a thousand dog owners to answer a questionnaire about their four-legged friend’s TV habits. They asked them to pay close attention to their pets’ reactions to the TV set, to note whether they showed any reactions that would suggest they were interested in what they were watching.
The scientists found that several factors influence a dog’s interest in television. For example, the most sporting and herding dog breeds seem to be more interested in any type of content compared to other breeds. A canine’s age also plays a big part in its ability to enjoy the small screen, as does its level of visual acuity.
On the whole, dogs often have very short interactions with television. Programmes that appeal to them are those with action. Videos that drag on are unlikely to capture their attention, especially if they don’t feature animals. Supporting dogs as they age
However, it is difficult to make generalisations based on the findings of this study, published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science. What appeals to one dog may not necessarily appeal to another. It all depends on the animal’s personality and habits, as well as those of its owner. Canines are very sensitive to their owners’ reactions: They will naturally tend to follow their gaze and copy their attitude.
Beyond the implications this study may have for canine owners, it adds to our understanding of dogs’ visual abilities. The scientific community knows that these pets perceive colours in a dichromatic fashion, i.e. they mainly perceive shades of yellow and blue and combinations of those colours. However, we still don’t know exactly how their sense of sight evolves over time.
“We know that poor vision negatively impacts quality of life in older people, but the effect of ageing and vision changes in dogs is largely unknown because we can’t accurately assess it,” says study co-author, Freya Mowat, in a statement.
In the future, researchers will need to carry out more work of this kind to better understand what dogs see -- and more importantly, how they see it.
“Like people, dogs are living longer and we want to make sure we support a healthier life for them as well,” says Mowat. – AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Animals | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | Dogs and TV,dog behaviour,dog breed | Several factors influence dogs' interest in television, such as their breed, age and level of visual acuity. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/10/why-are-some-dogs-so-interested-in-television | |
1,277,440 | Try the simple and inexpensive 'bowl method' to get perfectly defined curls | A mixing bowl is a kitchen essential. And it could soon become a bathroom essential if TikTok users have their way.
This household item is the key to a trick that's supposed to enhance curls without using any electricity – a serious boon these days. This beauty hack is dubbed the "bowl method", and it's going down a storm on TikTok, with almost 500 million views.
The truth behind this surprising figure is that the method has been a regular subject of social media hype since the early 2020s – revived at least once a year – but it nevertheless reflects a definite, and growing, interest in the hack among users.
Read more: Glow up! Try the 'glazed blush' makeup technique for a radiant, healthy look
Among the thousands of posts spotted on the platform is a video posted by the former reality television star, Jonathan Monroe.
With 2.5 million followers, he tests the "bowl method" on his curly hair, and the results are impressive. Not only does his hair look perfectly moisturised, but the curls are positively buoyant with bounce and are impressively defined.
It's a look that hasn't gone unnoticed by the star's followers, gaining much praise in the comments.
And while some may bemoan the time-consuming nature of this trick, it's worth pointing out that it doesn't actually take any longer than a proper blow-dry would.
So, what does the "bowl method" involve? Before you can get to work, you need a treatment or conditioner specially formulated for curly hair and a large bowl. Nothing out of the ordinary, really.
Once you've assembled the necessary goods, all you have to do is wash your hair – as you normally would – then apply the treatment and detangle.
The final and most important step is to soak your hair in the bowl filled with water, then remove it and squeeze it out with your hands, starting from the tips and working your way up to the roots.
This must then be repeated several times to define the curls and give them that coveted bouncy look.
Read more: The 'soap nails' beauty trend focuses on care, instead of superfluous details
This isn't the first time that content creators have shared tips and other beauty hacks designed to boost the look of curly or wavy hair.
Just a year ago, one TikTok user was extolling the virtues of using a kitchen strainer to achieve the same results.
Before that, social media users swore by the soda can technique. This involved inserting each strand of hair into the metal can, then using a hair dryer to create curls.
It was a simple tip that went viral, and which was tried and tested at the time by Monroe. – AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Style | Complimentary | Medium | AGENCY | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | beauty,trends,TikTok,haircare | TikTok users seem to have found the ideal solution for getting bouncy, frizz-free curls. All that is needed is an item that everyone is sure to have in their kitchen – a bowl. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/02/10/try-the-simple-and-inexpensive-039bowl-method039-to-get-perfectly-defined-curls | |
1,279,959 | Cast of local movie 'Rain Town' share how they celebrate Chinese New Year | Susan Lankester
“Well, when my mum was alive, we used to have the eve dinner together as a family. Even though she’s gone, my brother and I still uphold that.
"And then the day itself, it used to be going up to the family house and spending the day there. And whoever came over, we’d help mum entertain and she would cook her specific vegetarian dishes – these are specific dishes that she’d cook only on Chinese New Year and we loved it.
"So, we looked forward to that.
"Now that she’s not here, maybe I’ll just go visit friends... because my mum’s siblings, they’ve all gone overseas.
"So, it’s different, and we miss her especially on CNY and Christmas. We miss her a lot. There’s that void.
"But we remember her happily, during these festive occasions and we try to pass on whatever she taught us – the goodwill, the feeling of loving the family and having people around us... So, we continue it and just follow her tradition.”
Susan Lankester, in a Khoon Hooi outfit, remembers the vegetarian dishes her mother used to make fondly. Photo: WILLIAM GARY/The Star These days, Chew Kin Wah has CNY dinner with his wife's family as his family members are all elsewhere. Photo: WILLIAM GARY/The Star
Chew Kin Wah
“When my mother was alive, we would do the typical Chinese reunion dinner – the gambling and the liquor, all those things.
"Now that she is no longer here and most of my family members are all elsewhere, it’s not a big deal anymore...
"But I’m proud to say that my in-laws celebrate CNY with me."
(Chew is married to Suhaila Merican, an Adjunct Fellow with Universiti Putra Malaysia, who does voluntary work with Five Arts Centre.)
"They’d be like, ‘So, this year, where do you want to eat for reunion dinner?’ And then we go out and eat.
"Before the pandemic, my wife would organise the reunion dinner. And there’s no fixed timing, we would do it one week before or on CNY day, which is something a lot of people are doing now.”
During the CNY period, Pauline Tan goes travelling with her family. Photo: WILLIAM GARY/The Star
Pauline Tan
“For me, Chinese New Year is really a big reunion where you get to see all the relatives.
"It is also the time when my immediate family travels. It was because when we were studying, (our parents) were working, CNY holiday was the only time we could get away for a break.
"So, every CNY holiday we will travel somewhere together as a family.
"But this year, it’s not possible for me to fly (Tan is pregnant).
"Last year, we were in Sabah. It was my first year going back to my husband’s hometown, which is in Sabah, as his wife. And I flew my entire family over to Sabah.”
Wilson Lee says he's looking forward to seeing all his family members. Photo: AZMAN GHANI/The Star
Wilson Lee
“For CNY, we just relax at home. All of us are busy on other days of the year, so this is the only time when all of us can sit down and really spend time together.”
Rain Town opened at cinemas nationwide on Feb 8, 2024. | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | Rain Town | 'Rain Town' opened at cinemas nationwide on Feb 8, 2024. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/10/cast-of-local-movie-039rain-town039-share-how-they-celebrate-chinese-new-year | |
1,280,989 | Casio and Honda collaborate for an Edifice for keepsake | The ECB-2200HTR is the latest to join the Edifice line of watches from Casio Computer Co Ltd.
It is the fruit of Casio’s collaboration with Honda Type R, based on the brand concept of “Speed and Intelligence.”
The Type R is a premium-grade Honda sports model developed to be the ultimate road car, incorporating the full range of traditional Honda racing technologies.
More than 30 years of innovation have led to the creation of numerous masterpieces.
A pair of special features are reserved exclusively for Type R cars: First is the “Championship White” colour – a special, traditional ivory-white shade symbolic of the spirit of challenge rooted in the pursuit of victory in F1 racing.
Another is the iconic “Red H” badge that has been used since the first win with the Honda RA272, an F1 race car, in the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix.
Original Type R logos on Casio’s ECB-2200HTR Edifice watch.
The new Edifice Honda Type R Edition ECB-2200HTR evokes the Type R spirit with meticulous attention to color, material and finish.
Authentic “Championship White” Honda paint is used to paint the dial ring, and the watch face is adorned with the “Red H” badge.
The three-dimensional form of the badge, with its elegant curves, is faithfully reproduced.
In addition, the white genuine leather strap is printed with the model codes of Type R cars – from the NSX NA1 that debuted in 1992 to the Integra and today’s Civic FL5, which are all milestones in a history of challenge and innovation.
The watch can be paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth, providing automatic time correction and other functions such as Phone Finder.
The metal band-loop and caseback are engraved with “Type R” logos, the deployment buckle with a “Honda” logo, and the stopwatch timer button with an “R” mark.
These design details express the Type R worldview – a tireless spirit of challenge with a passion to achieve the ultimate in delivering deeply satisfying drive experiences.In applying this principle to the watch, a deployment buckle is used to fasten the watch strap to provide an even more comfortable fit.
Meanwhile, the underside of the leather strap features Alcantara, a material also used in Honda’s Type R cars.
The underside of the watch’s “Championship White” strap features Alcantara, a material also used in Honda’s Type R car interiors.
The ECB-2200HTR watch is equipped with mobile link features for pairing with a smartphone via Bluetooth, thus providing automatic time correction and making it easy to set world time and other functions which include Phone Finder.
For practicality and convenience, the “Tough Solar” charging system converts light to power the watch, while a double LED light illuminates both the LCD and dial for the wearer to read the time easily even in dark locations.
This special collaboration model pays homage to all the Honda Type R car models that have ever been on the road – and all those still on the road today – and is sure to be a collectable for owners and fans of these cars.
The Edifice Honda Type R Edition ECB-2200HTR watch retails at RM2,399. It is available on the Casio E-Commerce website as well as at all authorised G-SHOCK Stores, G-Factory and authorised dealers. | Lifestyle | Style | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | StarExtra,StarChrono | Casio’s collaboration with Honda has all the trimmings for Type R car fans. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/02/10/casio-and-honda-collaborate-for-an-edifice-for-keepsake | |
1,280,984 | Alexander Shorokhoff: A showcase of unique design, engineering prowess | SHAR
The Alexander Shorokhoff brand’s first spherical timepiece is an astounding novelty with its edgeless form held from its body to the bottom by a single-screw system in a world’s first.
Shar, which is Russian for “sphere”, features the ETA.2671 movement with automatic winding with a hand-engraved rotor. Time is read through a hemisphere-shaped sapphire crystal. The watch is available in a variety of hand-engraved floral motifs and finished in rhodium, mother-of-pearl, blue river stone or malachite.
The first fully spherical timepiece from Alexander Shorokhoff is paved with 510 diamonds.
The latest interpretation – Shar Diamonds – is a stunning timepiece presented in a stainless steel case lined with 510 diamonds and a blue river stone dial. Limited to 30 pieces per variant to mark the brand’s 30th anniversary, the timepiece is remarkably priced at RM8,650 while Shar Diamonds is priced at RM46,700.
MERKUR
Merkur has a full calendar and moon phase display and its colour palette harks to the planet Mercury.
This full calendar watch, with its name harking to planet Mercury, features a 43.5mm slight crater-shaped surface that leans on its celestial references.
The timepiece also features a lunar phase, the full moon represented by the orange sphere appearing in the centre of the aperture. The colours evoke the planet with a combination of rich green and warm gold tones complemented by a striking orange calfskin strap.
Merkur houses the hand-engraved and embellished DD9000 by Dubois Depraz, replete with 21 jewels and a power reserve of 42 hours. Limited to 31 pieces at RM19,215 each.
BABYLONIAN III.2
The hand-engraved and skeletonised Babylonian III.2 also showcases the full zodiac.
The Babylonian pays homage to the ancient city renowned for its legacy of astronomy. The latest incarnation is now housed in a 43.5mm case. The hand-wound 2614AS movement is intricately hand-engraved, adorned from below with a specially-designed brass plate.
Both the main plate and front bridge are skeletonised − crafted by hand − and engraved, then finished with a special graver and after that plated in yellow gold. The back of the movement also features a beautifully skeletonised rhodium plate.
The dial, meanwhile, showcases the hand-engraved and etched zodiac on the lower half with each sign hand-matted and plated in yellow gold. The upper part of the dial displays two mother-of-pearl rings and hour markers. A brown crocodile leather strap completes the watch. Limited to 50 pieces at RM15,540 each.
BLACK CAT
Black Cat is entirely handcrafted in separate mother-of-pearl pieces and reflects the playful spirit of the watchmaker.
This limited edition of 19 pieces features the playful motif of a cat chasing a butterfly on its 36mm dial. Some serious craftsmanship was involved in creating the fun scene, with the entire collage handmade from different coloured mother-of-pearl.
Shorokhoff’s lucky number 60 also marks the full minute and hour at the top of the dial. The timepiece is powered by either a manual-winding 2009.AS (RM12,465) or automatic AutomaticKal.2000-1.ETA calibre (RM13,550).
Both movements are hand-engraved. The hands and cushion-shape case are in stainless steel, paired with either a green ostrich leather or orange crocodile leather strap. | Lifestyle | Style | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | StarExtra,StarChrono | The brand prides itself in thinking differently, creating 'unusual designs featuring avant-garde art' | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/02/10/alexander-shorokhoff-a-showcase-of-unique-design-engineering-prowess | |
1,275,697 | When your mind is the one causing drug side effects | Fatigue, palpitations, shortness of breath ... and on it goes – the list of possible side effects in a medication package insert can be unsettling.
So can a preoperative consultation, when the surgeon informs you of all the risks.
The problem is that many patients become fixated on potential complications or adverse reactions, which then may occur for no physiological reason, but instead, because of negative expectations.
Doctors call this the nocebo effect – the reverse of the placebo effect, where expectation of a positive outcome increases the effectiveness of a medication or treatment.
The effects are apparently much greater than has long been thought, according to experts who gathered at the 4th International Conference of the Society for Interdisciplinary Placebo Studies (SIPS) in Duisburg, Germany.
Their findings may help to improve medical care by having doctors communicate differently with patients.
Very real effects
“Placebo and nocebo effects aren’t merely imagined.
“We know that very complex neurobiological phenomena occur,” says Germany’s Essen University Hospital Centre for Pain Medicine head and neurology professor Dr Ulrike Bingel.
For this reason, she says, preoperative consultations and medication package inserts focusing mainly on risks are problematic.
“A package insert is a three-page summary of ‘death and ruin’,” she says.
“But the therapeutic effects targeted in your special situation aren’t mentioned at all.”
In a study led by Australia’s University of Sydney School of Psychology head Prof Dr Ben Colagiuri, patients were informed about the possible side effects of chemotherapy.
One group was told that 30% of patients experienced nausea, and another that 70% didn’t.
The result?
Fewer patients in the second group developed nausea.
Drawing on placebo research, doctors can now be trained on how to bolster treatment by means of an empathetic bedside manner and positive communication, says the Netherlands’ Leiden University psychology professor Dr Andrea Evers.
“Taking the placebo and nocebo effects into account can be learned quickly,” she says.
When a medical worker says before giving you an injection, “This will only hurt for a moment”, then hurt it will indeed.
A few soothing words can make a big difference, according to Prof Evers.
“In this way, we can improve healthcare, help patients, and also reduce costs through more effective treatment.”
The personal touch
Use of the placebo effect in conventional medicine, researchers emphasise, should always be only a beneficial adjunct to scientifically-grounded treatment.
This adjunct aspect is what they see as conventional medicine’s key difference from homeopathy and other forms of alternative medicine.
Non-medical practitioners unquestionably do a lot of things right in how they deal with patients, e.g. take their time, incorporate rituals and inform well, acknowledges Prof Bingel.
“These are all areas where we’ve got to ask ourselves: Have we lost them in [conventional] medicine?”
However, she adds, “Homeopathy is based on a mechanism-of-action model that doesn’t exist in current scientific knowledge.
“Patients are deceived. And that’s something we definitely don’t want when we utilise the placebo effect in science-based medicine.”
She would like the right kind of communication with patients to be as integral a part of medical training as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Progress in this area is slow though, she says.
“It’s financially more advantageous for a doctor to do a further apparatus-based diagnostic procedure than to have an unhurried talk with a patient.”
This needs to change, she says.
With respect to medications, Prof Bingel recommends that the legally-required package insert be supplemented by a patient information leaflet explaining in clear language how the medication works, and most importantly, spelling out its benefits.
In the long term, she says, the placebo effect could be taken into account when medications are still in the development phase.
They ideally could be released with an individually-customisable information packet, including a notice saying the medication works best in conjunction with a doctor’s consultation. – By Marc Herwig/dpa | Lifestyle | Mind | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | Mind,Drugs,side effects | The nocebo effect is where patients worry so much about a drug’s side effects that they actually cause them to occur. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/health/2024/02/10/when-your-mind-is-the-one-causing-drug-side-effects | |
1,280,983 | Artist by nature: How Alexander Shorokhoff incorporates art into his timepieces | Alexander Shorokhoff cuts a fascinating figure straight out of a great Russian novel. The founder of his eponymously named timepiece brand and managing director of Poljot International was an émigré to Germany, a move first fuelled as a business attaché during the Soviet Union’s Glasnost era.
Shorokhoff was one of 15 top executives chosen to represent then-USSR in a year-long business exchange facilitated by his government and Germany when the two countries signed a historic peace declaration in 1989.
The exchange proved an eye-opener for Shorokhoff who was exposed to a range of new, free market economic systems.
By the end of what he terms his “re-education”, Russian companies were already courting him in order to glean more knowledge.
“One of them was Poljot, the biggest Russian watch company,” he says. Within two years of joining them, he had also developed his own brand.
The decision to set up his maison in Germany rather than Switzerland went beyond the politics of the time.
“Germany has the big industry, technical know-how and machinery. And they are very precise,” he says.
Eventually, the move became a permanent one.
The Alexander Shorokhoff manufacture in Alzenau, Germany.
Shorokhoff established his brand in the picturesque town of Alzenau in the German state of Bavaria, with the aim of creating an independent label that would see each timepiece single-handedly helmed by one watchmaker from start to finish, an increasingly rare occurrence in the watchmaking world.
Shorokhoff carries the slightly rumpled air of an artist – shock of salt-and-pepper hair, and scarf casually thrown around his neck for good measure.
Kuala Lumpur is one of the stops in his tour around Asia and the watchmaker is eager to reconnect with fans and customers post-Covid-19 pandemic.
He says the brand prides itself in thinking differently.
“We create unusual designs featuring avant-garde art,” he highlights.
Shorokhoff made the fateful decision to set up his maison in Germany rather than Switzerland, 20 years ago.
The watchmaker, who initially trained as an architect, looks to Wassily Kandinsky (an artist known for being a pioneer of abstract painting) in particular, admiring his unorthodox approach.
“His roots were also from Russia, and he had a totally different approach to art,” says Shorokhoff. “I totally relate to him.”
The Russian artist born in the 19th century provided some succour too.
“I was afraid to exhibit my own unique, unusual timepieces,” says Shorokhoff. “I thought nobody would understand them.”
The affirmation that he was on the right track came during an exhibition where he showcased his creations among the world’s biggest brands.
“A journalist came and told me (that the brand) was the best in the exhibition.”
The reverence paid towards artists like Kandinsky has more than rubbed off on Shorokhoff and he has won design awards for his works, with the most recent being the Luxury Goods Product Design silver recipient at the International Architecture and Design Awards for the brand’s Swan Lake AVG timepiece.
Even the inner workings of an Alexander Shorokhoff watch are a work of art.
The engineering of each Alexander Shorokhoff piece, too, is meticulously thought out.
“It is not just design that informs our watches,” he notes.
“We are a timepiece manufacturer and we are here to tell the time.
“Yet, we hand-engrave, plate and decorate all the parts of each movement so that the end result is a work of art,” he adds.
Engraving on Alexander Shorokhoff watches is done by hand in-house by the manufacture.
For all their work and intricacy, the brand’s timepieces are decidedly more accessible than most luxury brands of their ilk.
“Our margins are really small compared to the amount of work we put in,” says Shorokhoff. “Our customers appreciate that our pricing is very transparent and market accurate.
“We hope to expand our niche so that more understand our brand.”
Alexander Shorokhoff watch from the Avant-Garde family.
The number 60 features prominently in some of the Alexander Shorokhoff timepieces.
“Apart from denoting a full minute and hour, it also represents one full cycle of life in Chinese and Arabic cultures,” says the brand founder.
“In the former, the 12 animals in the zodiac multiplied by the five elements number 60 and thus, one’s 60th birthday is considered very auspicious.”
There is also one other reason.
“60 happens to be my birth year,” he adds with a smile.
A watch from the Alexander Shorokhoff Heritage line.
Alexander Shorokhoff has become a family business involving Shorokhoff’s wife Alla and his daughter, Inga Duffy-Shorokhova. The latter helped create a lauded 10-piece limited edition entitled “Home” together with renowned watch blogger and content creator Florian Bach.
That the brand is steadfastly independent is reflected by Alexander Shorokhoff’s clientele and endorsers, who include the likes of legendary director-actor and Sundance independent film festival founder Robert Redford, and jazz organist Barbara Denerlein.
When asked about his recipe for success, he says, “I would say, dare to be brave and different.
“Our customers are bold and our timepieces allow them to be themselves.” | Lifestyle | Style | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | StarExtra,StarChrono | On his visit to KL, Alexander Shorokhoff tells StarChrono why he picks Germany as his base and what inspires him. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/02/10/artist-by-nature-how-alexander-shorokhoff-incorporates-art-into-his-timepieces | |
1,280,986 | TAG Heuer opens its latest boutique at TRX to drums, dragons and revelry | TAG Heuer, the Swiss watchmakers renowned for high precision timekeeping and innovation as well as its association with high calibre sports, has chalked another milestone in Malaysia with its latest boutique opening at The Exchange TRX.
As TAG Heuer’s seventh standalone store, the boutique stands to attract watch pundits and brand loyalists alike with its dynamic touchpoints, special-edition timepieces, and exceptional service.
The 1,300sq ft space features a striking interior that recalls its legendary sporting and racing ambassadors as well as its famous showbiz ones, including Ryan Gosling whose image takes pride of place in the boutique.
The store offers many touchpoints from which guests may try on the latest timepieces.
TAG Heuer’s classic favourites like the Carrera, Monaco and Aquaracer series beckoned from the showcases. Visitors also marvelled at the latest duo of the TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Year of the Dragon Limited-Edition timepieces to mark the new lunar year.
The watch is notable for its arresting exhibition caseback with a partial view of the automatic winding movement, while in detailed relief is a gold-scaled dragon circling by the oscillating rotor.
Other Chinese symbols of good luck include the calligraphic character for dragon above the small seconds counter, as well as the use of an auspicious shade of red on the chronograph counters and alligator leather strap.
Tchaplyguine: 'Our new space not only celebrates our heritage and craftsmanship, but also represents our commitment to an elevated and personalised shopping experience.'
The opening is also significant in that it coincided with the appointment of Brice Tchaplyguine as the new managing director of TAG Heuer Southeast Asia, Australia and South Korea. Tchaplyguine was present at the opening, noticeably pleased by the new store.
“Our new space not only celebrates our heritage and craftsmanship but also represents our commitment to providing an elevated and personalised shopping experience for our esteemed clientele,” he said of the opening.
Jack Tan, star of the movie Abang Adik, was one of the celebrity guests at the opening.
Indeed, the evening saw VIPs, media and celebrities such as Jack Tan, star of the movie Abang Adik, in attendance. On hand to officiate the opening together with Tchaplyguine were Tunku Zain Al-’Abidin ibni Tuanku Muhriz, Geetha Rengarajoo, who is commercial director for TAG Heuer Singapore and Malaysia, and Mitch Wilson, project director of The Exchange TRX.
The official opening continued from a boisterous lion dance by the acclaimed Hands Percussion group, of which Tunku Zain is patron. The lion dance set the tone for a lively event, adding to the coming festivities. | Lifestyle | Style | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | StarExtra,StarChrono | As TAG Heuer’s seventh standalone store, the boutique stands to attract watch pundits and brand loyalists alike with its dynamic touchpoints, special-edition timepieces, and exceptional service. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/02/10/tag-heuer-opens-its-latest-boutique-at-trx--to-drums-dragons-and-revelry | |
1,280,987 | Here be dragons: 4 watches to herald the Lunar New Year | The new year promises strength, power and good fortune, its propitiousness bolstered by the fact that it is the year of the dragon, one of the strongest and most auspicious of Chinese mythical creatures in the zodiac.
While it would seem that those born under this lucky sign stand to gain this new year, other signs too have a chance to align their fortunes with that of the Dragon’s.
Wearing an item that bears the image of the dragon serves both as a reminder of one’s favourable hand as well as a lucky symbol for the year.
ROGER DUBUIS
Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon
The new 42mm pink gold Monotourbillon takes off from its 2020 incarnation with a more abstract approach to the dragon’s mythical form.
This time, 27 individual pieces of brass were employed in the creation of this new dragon, its sides embellished with black lacquer while its polished top surface is given a pink gold treatment.
The pieces are laid out in 25 different levels, adding to the 3D effect, while the same dragon is metalised on the inside of the caseback’s sapphire crystal.
Roger Dubuis Excalibur Dragon Monotourbillon. — Photo: Roger Dubuis.
The timepiece is powered by the RD512SQ Calibre featuring a lower tourbillon cage in non-magnetic titanium which is two times lighter than stainless steel. The upper tourbillon cage, meanwhile, has a mirror-polished Cobalt Chrome finish.
This is a calibre that presents greater resistance to magnetic fields, with a power reserve of 72 hours. Its brass flange has been galvanised in pink gold while its indexes are rendered in black Super-LumiNova. Limited to just 28 pieces.
CASIO
G-Shock MTG-B3000CXD
Casio G-Shock jumps on the dragon bandwagon with the new MTG-B3000CXD that incorporates the G-Shock’s original resin with metal in the rendering of its golden dragon.
Its inventiveness extends to the bezel and brand loop which is covered in dragon scales formed from gold-coloured ion plating and textured with etching and laser processing. The dragon scale motif is also printed on the dial in a contrasting dark shade and its caseback is engraved with a soaring dragon.
The Casio G-Shock MTG-B3000CXD in its gold-and-black box. Picture from Casio.
The model features the G-Shock MTG series’ triple G resistant (which are shock, centrifugal force, and vibration resistant) and the advanced Dual Core Guard carbon-reinforced resin case.
Uniquely, the case back has an intricate 3D form, created through repeated pressing, cutting and polishing. The caseback serves as the lugs to secure the band as well as the guards for the crown and buttons, thus creating a slimmer, more compact timepiece.
The watch is priced at RM5,688 and available on the Casio E-commerce website besides selected G-Shock stores.
BREITLING
Chronomat B01 42 Year of Dragon
Swiss watchmaking and Chinese culture meet in a limited-edition watch of only 88 pieces. This new exclusive takes on a distinct burgundy dial to symbolise good fortune and prosperity, with triple chronograph counters in black besides a dragon insignia in the subdial at 9 o’clock and on the sapphire crystal caseback.
The Breitling Chronomat B01 42 Year of Dragon is a limited-edition watch of only 88 pieces. — Photo: Breitling
All the codes synonymous with this classic line remain, including the onion crown and raised protective rider tabs that shield the crystal. The rider tabs at the 15-minute and 45-minute positions are interchangeable so that the bezel is able to rotate to count up or down.
The timepiece is available exclusively at Breitling boutiques in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and South-East Asia and is already touted as a highly coveted collectable.
BELL & ROSS
BR 05 Artline Dragon
Bell & Ross incorporates the art of tattooing and the ancient Chinese culture of engraving on a timepiece that showcases an incredibly detailed laser engraving of a dragon on the entire watch including its 40mm case, links and crown guard.
The BR 05 Artline Dragon is limited to only 99 pieces. — Photo: Bell & Ross
As testament to the level of attention to detail, every link on the integrated bracelet is individually engraved before assembly. The end result is a continuity of the dragon form with clearly no room for error.
The timepiece is not just stunning to look at, it is also powered by the calibre BR-CAL.321 with a 54-hour power reserve. Limited to only 99 pieces. | Lifestyle | Style | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | StarExtra,StarChrono | Four watches herald the lunar new year with one of the most powerful and lucky of Chinese mythical creatures. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/02/10/here-be-dragons-4-watches-to-herald-the-lunar-new-year | |
1,279,446 | Year of the Dragon 2024 will be a year of challenges and new beginnings | As everyone gets ready to celebrate the Lunar New Year, the capricious Jia Chen Wood Dragon Year already made its entrance almost a week ahead.
This is because Li Chun falls on Feb 4, 2024 (1626 hours), while the first day of the first month in the lunar calendar is Feb 10, 2024. This also means children born after 4.26pm (1626 hours) on Feb 4, 2024 are considered to be born in the year of the Dragon.
According to Master Lee Cheng Hoe of Penang Feng Shui, the Jia Chen Wood Dragon Year is a remarkably unique year that symbolises new beginnings, with Jia being the first celestial stem and with 2024 marking the start of Period 9, indicating the emergence of many new things and entirely unprecedented situations.
However, there are many conflicts in the four pillars of the beginning of Spring (Li Chun). These major clashes in both the heavenly stems as well as the earthly branches, which are all 'yang’, signify a very 'hot’ year full of conflicts.
Conflicts between countries and political disruptions are bound to occur. There may be war, demonstrations and dissatisfaction with the government, as well as extreme weather, landslides and earthquakes.
"Additionally, wealth is not seen in the Bazi horoscope of 2024’s Li Chun. Since the wealth is hidden, the overall economic performance of the world will be quite moderate,” Lee adds.In the year 2024, the Tai Sui (Grand Duke Jupiter) is named Li Cheng.
Those whose names contain these two characters or have a similar pronunciation will be affected by Tai Sui, hence they must be especially cautious.
Favourable industries
Careers related to rationality and sensibility will bring wealth. This bodes well for fields like technology and spirituality. Charitable organisations and religious groups will receive significant donations. Industries related to blood, including blood tests and businesses with bloodline connections, will see growth.
Lee says Malaysia may enjoy financial gains in the first half of the year. Photo: Penang Feng Shui
World leaders may seek power through wars and conflicts. Sports stars or retired athletes (such as Datuk Lee Chong Wei) may gain prominence.
The year 2024 might pose challenges for men working abroad, international businesspeople, industries related to energy, and some well-known figures or brands. Global electricity shortages or disruptions may occur.
"It is highly likely that 2024 will be a tumultuous year, marked by volatility, potential conflicts, and a strong sense of struggle. Legal disputes and internal conflicts are anticipated, making it a challenging year globally for economic investments,” says Lee.
Outlook for Malaysia
Lee says Malaysia fares better in 2024, as it was born in the year of the Rooster and will benefit from being one of the Liu He (Six Harmonious) Compatible Combinations of Dragon and Rooster; and as the Rooster represents the Phoenix, it can also combine with the Dragon to symbolise auspiciousness.
An analysis of Malaysia's birth date using the principles of Bazi indicates that Malaysia may enjoy financial gains in the first half of the year. However, in the second half of the year, there may be challenges potentially leading to outspoken advocacy for others but with uncertain personal benefits.
The Number 4 Wen Chang Star will now be in the Northwest, which means older male leaders such as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will possess the wisdom to solve his problems. Penang, which is in the Northwest of Malaysia, will also be enjoying a better year, as the Wen Chang Star is associated with high intelligence, contributing to the technological development of Penang.
In Period 9, areas with mountains or land in the south and water in the north are considered favourable. However, West Malaysia does not possess these conditions, whereas East Malaysia does. Indonesia is relocating its capital closer to East Malaysia, indicating boundless development prospects for East Malaysia.
Global outlook
As the world enters Period 9, when the Number 9 star appears in the Kun Palace, female leaders, especially older ones, will gain prominence in 2024.
This year is dubbed the election year as 60 countries worldwide, including the United States and India, will hold elections, altering the global landscape. The widespread use of AI will also contribute to transformative changes globally.
In 2024, preserving financial strength for long-term investments is recommended, while short-term stock trading may not be suitable.
The year 2024 marks the beginning of Period 9, which is the Fire Period. Hence, the power of fire is exceptionally strong, leading to volcanic eruptions.
While analysing the Bazi for the 2024 Spring Festival (Li Chun), Lee noted unfavourable elements with many clashes, especially the clash between Wood and Metal, signifying an increased likelihood of traffic accidents.
War will be breaking out, especially in the centre of the world, that is, the Middle East area. The West will face challenges, and the United States will experience disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons. Having continuously increased interest rates, the US will also feel the repercussions of this vicious cycle.
In contrast, the East will be having a better year due to the presence of the much more benevolent Number 1 White Flying Star.
The Number 2 Black Illness Star in the Southeast in 2024 suggests that South-East Asia should be particularly cautious about the spread of diseases.
The Tong Sheng Chinese Almanac hints at the possibility of mutual sanctions between China and the United States, potentially leading to raw material shortages and hindering production.
Period 9
Since it is now also at the turning point of the 8th and 9th period, there will be many changes. In general, 2024 is not a peaceful year.
"If you ask me whether the Period 8 or the upcoming Period 9 is better, I must tell you that the Period 8 is of the Earth element, which is more stable and unchanging, while Period 9 is of the Fire element, characterised by volatility and rapid changes. Yap says 2024 takes on a special significance as it’s also the Year of the Dragon, an auspicious animal sign associated with power and prosperity. Photo: Gracy Yap
"I have reiterated numerous times that the ‘9’ in the Later Heaven Bagua is situated in the South, prompting everyone to look southward. In Malaysia, the South includes Johor and Kuching, while in Asia, it encompasses India and Indonesia. These two regions, each with a large population, will rise,” declares Lee, who is the author of How To Enjoy Your Life With Good Feng Shui and How To Enhance Your Wealth With Feng Shui.
Period 9 (2024-2043) is the period of Fire. The external appearance of fire is dazzling, but the core is hollow. The virtual world, represented by the Internet, is an example of this vacuousness. As a result, cyber fraud is expected to be rampant.
In 2024, caution is advised in real estate investments. Preserving financial strength for long-term investments is recommended, while short-term stock trading may not be suitable.
Health concerns
The recent increase in sudden deaths is also an issue of concern. Lee explains that this is because of the arrival of Period 9, which is ruled by the Fire element. In the context of the body’s internal organs and senses, fire symbolises the heart and eyes.
"We need light to see things clearly, and the organ associated with fire is the eyes. If your eyes are vibrant and appear to look watery or moist, you are more likely to gain popularity. However, if your eyes lack vitality, your luck may not be favourable,” Lee clarifies.
"Another organ associated with fire is our heart. Our heart is like an ignited fire. Hence, we see many diseases and health conditions related to the eyes and heart, as we spend long hours each day staring at computers, handphones and televisions, leading to rapid deterioration of our eyes.”
Similarly, in this era, the arrival of fire has accelerated the pace of human life, increasing societal pressure where focus is on speed. This rapid pace puts a strain on our hearts, leading to sudden heart-related incidents.
Lucky numbers
The year 2024 is a Universal Year 8 ruled by Saturn – the taskmaster planet concerned with long-term planning, achievements and foresight, says Gracy Yap, an intuitive master numerologist from Singapore.
A number which is much-loved by the Chinese, Number 8 is about material riches, success, balance, authority, power, greed, structure and revolution. Meanwhile, Saturn signifies restrictions and limitations and is about self-discipline.
Amethyst, the mediation stone, encourages spiritual awareness, balance, intuition and calm when stressed, says Yap. Photo: samccrackengilbert/Pixabay
"So, 2024 won’t be an easy year for many. Take a look at the numeral 8 – it resembles two money bags cinched in the middle, symbolising that we may have to tighten our belt this year in the face of rising inflation. Saturn is also about earned rewards so if you have dedicated effort and time into making anything successful in previous years, you’d reap the rewards in the new year.”
Yap says 2024 takes on a special significance as it’s also the Year of the Dragon, an auspicious animal sign associated with power and prosperity. Moreover, 2024 also heralds the start of Period 9 in Feng Shui. Number 9 is a sacred magical number, which in numerology, has the meaning of 'completion’ or 'end of a cycle’.
The year 2024 therefore signifies new beginnings.
"The number 8 is generally considered lucky in Chinese culture because it sounds like the word for wealth and prosperity. Similarly, the number 9 is associated with eternity and long-lasting success. Any plans that you implement in a year associated with planet Saturn can have longevity and far-reaching consequences.
"Saturn is the Ruling Planet for the Sign of Capricorn, which is a Cardinal Earth Sign. Tenacity, stamina, responsibility and patience are in the value system of this zodiac sign. It’d be good to adopt these values in 2024. Quitting is not in Capricorn’s vocabulary. So, Capricorns would feel the vibrations and energies of 2024 in a more pronounced fashion.”
As a Universal Year 8, year 2024 indicates a focus on financial matters, authority and the material aspects of life. The number 8 is a Wealth Cycle so the year is associated with opportunities for prosperity, success and achievement. However, it's crucial to manage resources wisely.
"Since number 8 is associated with money, stress and tension, there is a tendency to overwork as you feed your ambition,” shares Yap, who developed her own trademark divination system "Secrets of Golden Numbers", named after her bestselling book.
Special remedies
Those with birthdays or Life Path Numbers adding up to Number 4 or Number 8 could clash with the Number 8 energy of this year. Yap says such individuals could find the year stressful and challenging.
But fret not, Yap reveals that there is a way to remedy that predicament.
"The numbers favourable to you are: 1, 3 and 6. So, look for allies among those with birthdays or Life Path Numbers of 1, 3 or 6. Associating with these allies would ensure a smoother sailing year for Numbers 4 and 8 in 2024."
Yap also recommends the use of gemstones such as onyx and amethyst this year.
"Onyx promotes vigour and stamina, and aids in wise decision-making. Amethyst, the mediation stone, encourages spiritual awareness, balance, intuition and calm when stressed.”
Yap predicts that financial markets may see positive trends, with potential for gains in investments and business ventures. However, the energy of the Number 8 also warns against greed and excessive risk-taking, emphasising the importance of prudence in financial dealings.
"The Number 8 is an Earth sign. Sectors related to real estate and infrastructure development may thrive this year, as the Number 8 is associated with tangible assets and long-term investments. Banking and finance sectors could thrive. Investments in technology, manufacturing and infrastructure could be particularly beneficial.” | Lifestyle | Living | Complimentary | Long | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | Chinese New Year 2024,CNY2024,Year Of The Dragon | The Jia Chen Wood Dragon heralds a fresh start, with unprecedented events and emergence of new discoveries. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/10/2024-year-of-the-dragon-a-year-of-challenges-and-new-beginnings | |
1,281,234 | What is Lunar New Year and how is it celebrated? | On Feb 10, Asian American communities around the United States will ring in the Year of the Dragon with community carnivals, family gatherings, parades, traditional food, fireworks and other festivities.
In many Asian countries, it is a festival that is celebrated for several days. In diaspora communities, particularly in cultural enclaves, Lunar New Year is visibly and joyfully celebrated.
In the Chinese zodiac, 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. Different countries across Asia celebrate the new year in many ways and may follow a different zodiac.
The Lunar New Year - known as the Spring Festival in China, Tet in Vietnam and Seollal in Korea - is a major festival celebrated in several Asian countries. It is also widely celebrated by diaspora communities around the world.
It begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon. Because the lunar calendar is based on the cycles of the moon, the dates of the holiday vary slightly each year, falling between late January and mid-February.
Each year honours an animal based on the Chinese zodiac. The circle of 12 animals - the rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig - measure the cycles of time. Legend has it that a god beckoned all animals to bid him farewell before his departure from earth and only 12 of them showed up. The Vietnamese zodiac is slightly different, honouring the cat instead of the rabbit and the buffalo instead of the ox.
One well-known ancient legend speaks of Nian, a hideous monster that feasted on human flesh on New Year’s Day. Because the beast feared the colour red, loud noises and fire, people put up red paper dragons on their doors, burned red lanterns all night and set off firecrackers to frighten and chase away the monster.
To this day, the Lunar New Year celebration is centred around removing bad luck and welcoming all that is good and prosperous. Red is considered an auspicious color to ring in the new year. In many Asian cultures, the colour symbolises good fortune and joy.
People dress up in red attire, decorate their homes with red paper lanterns and use red envelopes to give loved ones and friends money for the new year, symbolising good wishes for the year ahead. Gambling and playing traditional games is common during this time across cultures.
Ancestor worship is also common during this time. Many Korean families participate in a ritual called "charye,” where female family members prepare food and male members serve it to ancestors. The final step of the ceremony, called "eumbok,” involves the entire family partaking the food and seeking blessings from their ancestors for the coming year.
Vietnamese people cook traditional dishes and place them on a home altar as a mark of respect to their ancestors.
Some Indigenous people also celebrate Lunar New Year this time of year, including members of Mexico's Purepecha Indigenous group.
Members of Asian American communities around the US also organise parades, carnivals and festivities around the Lunar New Year featuring lion and dragon dances, fireworks, traditional food and cultural performances.
In addition to cleaning their homes, many buy new things for their home such as furniture and decorate using orchids and other brightly coloured flowers.
Lunar New Year is also celebrated as a cultural event by some Asian American Christians and is observed by several Catholic dioceses across the US as well as other churches.
Each culture has its own list of special foods during the new year, including dumplings, rice cakes, spring rolls, tangerines, fish and meats.
In the Chinese culture, for example, "changshou mian" or "long-life noodles” are consumed with a wish for a long, healthy and happy life.
In Vietnamese culture, banh chung and banh tet - traditional dishes made from glutinous rice - are a must for the celebrations. To make a banh tet, banana leaves are lined with rice, soft mung beans and pork belly and rolled into a tight log, which is then wrapped in the leaves and tied up with strings.
Koreans celebrate with tteokguk, a brothy soup that contains thinly sliced rice cakes. - AP | Lifestyle | Arts | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | Arts,Lunar New Year,Chinese New Year,tradition,culture,explainer,United States | It begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends 15 days later on the first full moon | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2024/02/10/what-is-lunar-new-year-and-how-is-it-celebrated | |
1,280,985 | Hollywood celebrities step out to award shows with Omega on their wrists | We are at the height of red carpet season with a slew of awards ceremonies lined up and culminating with the Oscars. While the nominees bask in the attention of fans and photographers alike, one other star has been shining brightly at the awards.
Omega’s reputation as the first watch on the moon is surpassed only by the number of celebrities who adore the brand. No less than the likes of George Clooney has famously expounded on his love for Omega, observing, as a child, how his father treasured his own timepiece.
At television’s highest accolade this year, stars including Arianna DeBose, Theo James, Colman Domingo and James Marsden sported Omegas on the red carpet.
Ariana DeBose at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards wearing the Omega De Ville Trésor 36mm in Moonshine Gold . (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
Friend-of-the-brand DeBose was nominated for an Emmy as host of the 75th Annual Tony Awards and wore an elegant De Ville Trésor 36mm in Moonshine Gold to match the star’s two-piece gown by Brunello Cucinelli.
Theo James, nominated for his turn in The White Lotus, wore the Constellation Globemaster 41mm in Sedna Gold on a leather strap. Domingo, meanwhile, had on a De Ville Trésor 40mm in steel on a leather strap with diamond bezel.
Marsden, who was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Jury Duty, showed off his De Ville Trésor 40mm in steel on a leather strap.
Cillian Murphy at the 29th Annual Critics Choice Awards wearing the De Ville Prestige 41mm, in Sedna Gold. Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
The Critics Choice Award, often hailed as a barometer as to who would win at the Academy Awards, also saw a slew of stars gracing the red carpet with their Omega timepieces. While Paul Giamatti may have won the Best Actor award for his turn as a curmudgeonly teacher in The Holdovers, nominee for his lead role in Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy shone in his De Ville Prestige 41mm, in Sedna Gold on a leather strap.
Breakout star Charles Melton, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor as a conflicted man embroiled in controversy in May/December, showed off the De Ville Trésor 41mm in steel on a leather strap. Meanwhile, Barry Keoghan, who raised eyebrows in Saltburn, wore a Seamaster Aqua Terra 34mm, steel on steel with diamond bezel.
Will Ferrell attends the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards wearing the Omega 42mm Seamaster Diver 300M in titanium. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
The ceremony that kicked off Hollywood’s awards season in January had a number of stars donning their Omega timepieces. Oppenheimer dominated the Golden Globes and Murphy picked up his award for Best Performance in a Motion Picture, Drama, wearing a 40mm De Ville Trésor in Sedna Gold on a leather strap.
Friend-of-the-brand and presenter Jonathan Bailey had on a 40mm De Ville Trésor in steel on a leather strap. Barbie star, funnyman and presenter Will Ferrell took to the red carpet with his 42mm Seamaster Diver 300M in titanium. Nominee Keoghan matched his custom red-and-black checked Louis Vuitton suit with a 34mm Seamaster Aqua Terra in Sedna Gold.
Da’Vine Joy Randolph wearing the Omega 25 mm Constellation in full Sedna Gold at the Golden Globes.
Winner of the Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture, Comedy, Da’Vine Joy Randolph picked up her award for her role in The Holdovers wearing a 25mm Constellation in full Sedna Gold. Kevin Costner presented an award wearing 41mm De Ville Prestige in steel on a leather strap.
Domingo and Melton debuted on the red carpet as nominees for their roles in Rustin’ and May/December respectively. The former wore Constellation Globemaster in Sedna Gold on a leather strap while the 40mm De Ville Trésor in steel on a leather strap was the watch of choice for the latter. | Lifestyle | Style | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-10 00:00:00 | StarExtra,StarChrono,Omega | Omega’s reputation as the first watch on the moon is surpassed only by the number of celebrities who adore the brand. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/style/2024/02/10/hollywood-celebrities-step-out-to-award-shows-with-omega-on-their-wrists | |
1,280,805 | Britney Spears claims she once made out with Ben Affleck, perhaps while dating Justin Timberlake | Britney Spears on Wednesday (Feb 7) shared a now-deleted Instagram post in which she claimed to have made out with Ben Affleck in the summer of 1999 – perhaps while she was already dating Justin Timberlake.
The throwback photo – captured by TMZ before it was deleted – showed Spears, Affleck and songwriter Diane Warren posing at a party reportedly in June or July, celebrating the release of Spears’ debut album, ...Baby One More Time, earlier that year.
“Cool pic of me and Ben Affleck and Diane Warren years ago!!! He’s such an amazing actor,” Spears, 42, captioned the post. “Did I fail to mention I made out with Ben that night ... I honestly forgot ... damn that’s crazy!!!”
“Wish I could tell you guys the story that happened before that!!! Oh dear, I’m just being a gossip girl,” Spears added, seeming to imply there were some juicy details to the story.
It’s unclear why the post was taken down so quickly, but it marked the first time Spears claimed anything of the sort occurred between the two. No mention of the make-out was made in Spears’ recently released memoir, The Woman In Me, in which she went into great detail about her past relationships.
There’s also been no word on the matter from Affleck, but if what Spears claims is true, the kiss would have occurred when she was 17 and Affleck was 26. There’s also the possibility they were both in relationships with other people at the time.
From 1997 to 2000, Affleck was in an on-and-off relationship with actress Gwyneth Paltrow, while Spears previously revealed Timberlake asked her out prior to the release of her debut album in January 1999.
The post comes in the wake of an ongoing feud between Spears and Timberlake, which has been brewing ever since she shared damaging details in her memoir released last October.
Among those claims, Spears alleged she and Timberlake mutually cheated on each other during their relationship, which ended in 2002. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-09 00:00:00 | null | She shared this info on an Instagram post, only to quickly delete it. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/09/britney-spears-claims-she-once-made-out-with-ben-affleck-perhaps-while-dating-justin-timberlake | |
1,278,331 | Using smaller wine glasses could make people drink less, study says | The size of our wine glasses could influence our alcohol consumption. That was the finding by UK researchers who conducted a four-week experiment in some 20 pubs in England. Their research demonstrated that less wine was consumed when the largest serving sizes – those larger than 125 ml – were withdrawn from sale.
The month of January is over, and so are the Dry, Damp and other such challenges that are a good way to start rethinking your alcohol consumption. Now commonplace in many countries around the world, these experiments – whichever variant is chosen – aim not only to raise awareness of the amount usually consumed, but also to help reduce alcohol consumption over the long term. A team of researchers from the University of Cambridge has also studied the subject, with the same objective, but with a far more surprising experiment.
More precisely, the researchers focused on the serving size of alcoholic drinks served in licensed premises. They conducted their research in 21 licensed establishments, mainly pubs, offering wine by the glass in quantities exceeding 125 ml (175 ml or 250 ml, to be precise). The study was conducted in four-week periods: a first period without intervention, a second during which the largest servings of wine were withdrawn from sale, and a third period without intervention.
Reduced consumption
Published in the journal, PLOS Medicine, the research showed that removing the largest serving of wine from the menu significantly reduced customer consumption. In detail, this led to an average drop of almost 8% in the amount of wine sold daily in the establishments concerned. Interestingly, the researchers point out that sales of beer and cider did not increase in parallel, suggesting that customers were not turning to these two other types of drinks to 'make up for' the reduced amount of wine.
In a statement, first author Dr Eleni Mantzari, from the University of Cambridge, said: "It looks like when the largest serving size of wine by the glass was unavailable, people shifted towards the smaller options, but didn’t then drink the equivalent amount of wine. People tend to consume a specific number of ‘units’ – in this case glasses – regardless of portion size. So, someone might decide at the outset they’ll limit themselves to a couple of glasses of wine, and with less alcohol in each glass they drink less overall."
"A meaningful contribution to population health"
However, restricting the servings of wine sold in bars and pubs on a large scale remains a complex measure to implement. Contrary to what the researchers thought, only four establishments reported complaints from customers, but the scientists point out that "a nationwide policy would likely be resisted by the alcohol industry given its potential to reduce sales of targeted drinks."
Another limitation of the Cambridge University study is that the researchers were unable to assess sales of other alcoholic beverages – apart from wine, beer and cider – making it impossible to determine whether customers compensated for this 'shortfall' with other types of alcohol.
Professor Dame Theresa Marteau, the study’s senior author, added: "It’s worth remembering that no level of alcohol consumption is considered safe for health, with even light consumption contributing to the development of many cancers. Although the reduction in the amount of wine sold at each premise was relatively small, even a small reduction could make a meaningful contribution to population health."
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the "harmful use of alcohol" is responsible for 3 million deaths worldwide each year, or 5.3% of all deaths. Of the 10 countries with the highest alcohol consumption worldwide, no fewer than eight are in the European Union. This has spurred action in the form of the EVID-ACTION project, initiated by the WHO, with support from the EU’s European Commission, aiming to raise awareness of the cancer risks associated with alcohol consumption, and to implement strategies to limit these risks. — AFP Relaxnews | Lifestyle | Living | Complimentary | Medium | null | 2024-02-13 00:00:00 | wine | Removing the largest wine glass serving reduces the amount of wine sold in bars and pubs, study finds. | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2024/02/13/using-smaller-wine-glasses-could-make-people-drink-less-study-says | |
1,280,170 | Chinese actress Esther Yu to spend CNY with family in Singapore | Do not be surprised if you see Chinese actress Esther Yu in the vicinity of Marina Bay Sands.
The 28-year-old, now in Singapore, shared on Instagram on Feb 7 photos of her in a hotel room overlooking Gardens by the Bay. She also shared a video of her passing by the Singapore Flyer, with the caption: “Hello SG.”
Yu was earlier spotted at Changi Airport on Feb 7 by fans who then shared their videos of her on Chinese social media. Her staff told Chinese-language daily Lianhe Zaobao that this is a private trip for Yu and she is likely spending Chinese New Year here with family members.
Previous local media reports said Yu is an alumnus of Lasalle College of the Arts in Singapore.
Yu took part in the second season of China’s idol reality show Youth With You in 2020 and placed second. She was part of the girl group The9, which dissolved in December 2021 at the end of the members’ contracts.
Yu rose to prominence after starring in the Chinese fantasy drama Love Between Fairy And Devil (2022) with Chinese heart-throb Dylan Wang.
She also acted in the Chinese period drama My Journey To You (2023) with her Love Between Fairy And Devil co-star Zhang Linghe, and fantasy drama Sword And Fairy (2024), which has just ended its run. | Lifestyle | Entertainment | Complimentary | Short | null | 2024-02-09 00:00:00 | null | She rose to prominence after starring in the Chinese fantasy drama 'Love Between Fairy And Devil' (2022). | https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/entertainment/2024/02/09/chinese-actress-esther-yu-to-spend-cny-with-family-in-singapore |