Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by Daylight2018

Calling PAS Pak Lebai is a Racist Word?

Daylight2018 — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 21:16:21 +0800

Dear /k/, kindly advise, is calling PAS, a political party 'Pak Lebai' is racist?
Got suspended due to using the word 'pak lebai'.
[@se7en] justification, that this is a racist word.
The best part, he never reply on my query right after I provided the supporting news that mentioned PAS is called Pak Lebai by various political leader and proceed to invi my subsequent reply on that thread.

This is what I commented on this thread which were already invi-ed by [@se7en]

» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «

By his logic, calling UMNO as UMNGOK, DAP as DAPIG or Durian Action Party, China as CCP is racist as well?
If that's the case, a lot of people in /k/ would had been banned.
This case will set a serious precedence and I guess most /k/tard will be banned.

Thanks guys, appreciate for your feedback as the forum moderator do not give me a firm answer on this matter and just keep quiet after I send supporting news article to them.

QUOTE(imceobichi @ Aug 1 2021, 09:53 PM)

Then moderators should be fair through banning DAPIG
[right][snapback]101852848[/snapback][/right]

Pirate taxi operator starts new Covid-19 cluster

Daylight2018 — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 11:15:16 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...66-indi/1990321
Pirate taxi operator starts new Covid-19 cluster in Sabah involving 66 individuals
Friday, 16 Jul 2021 09:07 AM MYT

KOTA KINABALU, July 16 ― Sabah recorded 370 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, with two deaths ― one in Keningau and the other one in Semporna.

State spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun in his daily statement also revealed that one new cluster was recorded in Beaufort ― Kluster Kota Klias.

“The community cluster involved a family and customers of a ‘pirate taxi’ in several localities in Kota Klias.

“This cluster was detected when the index case, a pirate taxi business owner tested positive at Beaufort Hospital with 100 per cent grading on July 3. He started experiencing fever and coughing on July 1.

“From 71 samples taken from his close contacts, 66 individuals were confirmed positive,” he said.

Kota Kinabalu topped the list on July 15, followed by Tawau.

A total of 49 out of 113 cases in Kota Kinabalu are from Kepayan Prison.

Meanwhile, 35 remand prisoners made up the bulk of Tawau’s 55 cases.

Penampang recorded 29 cases, followed by Kudat (29), Kota Belud (23), Sipitang (23), Sandakan (21), Beaufort (15), Papar (11), Putatan (11), Tuaran (10), Keningau (9), Pitas (9), Kinabatangan (4), Semporna (2), Telupid (2), Ranau (2), Kota Marudu (1) and Kuala Penyu (1).

The State government also announced three localities to be placed under enhanced movement control order (EMCO) namely Kampung Perpaduan Gumpa in Kudat, Perumahan Sabah Forest Industry (SFI) in Sipitang and Tawau Prison and Quarters at Taman Ehsan. ― Borneo Post

Malaysian-made Covid-19 rapid antigen available

Daylight2018 — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 11:12:47 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...r-publi/1990456
First Malaysian-made Covid-19 rapid antigen testing kit available for public purchase from Monday
Friday, 16 Jul 2021 06:09 PM MYT

A healthcare worker collects swab samples to test for Covid-19 at Dewan Desa Temuan in Kota Damansara January 29, 2021. MeDKAD project manager Syahriah Razak said the Salixium kit can detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antigen in human saliva and anterior nasal swab specimens. — Picture by Ahmad Zamzahuri
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KUALA LUMPUR, July 16 — The first Malaysian made Covid-19 rapid antigen self-testing kit —Salixium Covid-19 Rapid Antigen Test — will be available for public purchase this coming Monday, said MeDKAD Sdn Bhd.

MeDKAD project manager Syahriah Razak said the Salixium kit can detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antigen in human saliva and anterior nasal swab specimens.

The rapid test takes 10 to 15 minutes to perform and the result is judged by visible bands which confirm the presence of the antigen.

“The presence or absence of the SARS-CoV-2 antigen in the specimen will be indicated by a pink-purplish band appearance in the test region. If the specimen does not contain the SARS-CoV-2 antigen, no colour band will appear at the test region, indicating a negative test result,” she said in a statement.

“As a procedural control, the appearance of a coloured band in the control region confirms a proper flow of the specimen regardless of the presence or absence of the SARS-CoV-2 antigen in the specimen.”

A total of 242 saliva or nasal swab samples were tested with Salixium and the results showed that the sensitivity of Salixium was 91.23 per cent and the specificity at 100 per cent, according to the statement.

The company’s chief executive officer and co-founder Ezuan Yaacob said MeDKAD has its own in-house scientists and medical experts with the capability to not only develop their own tests but to work together with research institutions locally and abroad to ensure the effectiveness of the product.

Besides Malaysia, MeDKAD is planning to penetrate other countries in Asia, Europe and the Middle East as Salixium has also been widely used in countries such as France, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, especially in Dubai.

Founded in 2016 and based in Shah Alam, Selangor, MeDKAD is a health technology company that empowers companies to better manage their medical benefits. — Bernama

Seventh anniversary of the downing of MH17

Daylight2018 — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 11:09:56 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...wning-o/1990552
Foreign ministers of five nations mark seventh anniversary of the downing of MH17
Saturday, 17 Jul 2021 09:32 AM MYT

Wreckage from the nose section of the MH17 plane is seen near the village of Rozsypne, in the Donetsk region July 18, 2014. — Reuters pic

PUTRAJAYA, July 17 ― Today July 17 marks the seventh anniversary of the downing of MH17, resulting in the tragic deaths of 298 passengers and crew members.

The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, the Netherlands, and Ukraine, whose countries comprise the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) on the incident issued a Joint Ministerial Statement to mark the seventh anniversary of the tragedy.

The statement was made available to the media here, today by the Malaysian Foreign Ministry.

“Our thoughts remain with those who perished on board, their families and loved ones. While nothing can bring back those who lost their lives, or diminish the anguish and grief suffered by the family members, it is imperative that we remain steadfast in our commitment to pursuing truth, justice and accountability,” the Foreign Ministers said in the joint statement.

They acknowledged the cooperation of their respective investigative agencies and reiterated their full support on the efforts to establish the truth of what happened.

The Foreign Ministers said they have full confidence in the independent, open and impartial criminal proceedings against the alleged perpetrators.

They also reiterated their deepest sympathies and condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of the downing of Flight MH17. ― Bernama

FBI: Man wanted in the US for child rape arrested

Daylight2018 — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 08:08:16 +0800

FBI: Man wanted in the US for child rape arrested in Kepong
Friday, 25 Jun 2021 07:40 PM MYT

BY KEERTAN AYAMANY
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...-kepong/1985005

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — A man wanted in the US for various sexual crimes involving minors has been arrested in Malaysia, after being located by the US’ Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

In a statement, the Seattle division of the FBI said the 38-year-old fugitive, Scott Barry Uchida, was arrested “without incident” by the local police in Kepong here on April 21, and has since been deported.

“Uchida is wanted for second degree rape, second degree rape of a child, promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor, and third degree rape of a child in King County,” read the statement.

According to the Seattle FBI, court documents allege that in January 2018, the Kirkland Police Department had opened an investigation into the “commercial sexual exploitation, rape and unlawful imprisonement” of three juvenile victims between 2015 and January 2018.

One of the victims, a 15-year-old, had reported to a Kirkland Police Department school resource officer that two men had raped her, forced her into sex work, and made her recruit others.

Uchida, who was determined to be one of the men, allegedly met the victim through the social media application meetme.com when she was just 12, and took her to a Seattle apartment where he threatened violence against her and her family members, and held her against her will.

In March 2021, the Kirkland Police Department requested the Seattle FBI’s assistance in locating Uchida, who was thought to have fled the country.

The Seattle FBI thanked the Malaysian police, Immigration Department and the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur for coordinating Uchida’s deportation to the US so he can face his charges in King County.

“Thanks to successful international partnerships and the FBI’s global reach, fugitives from justice can find few places to hide,” said Donald M. Voiret, the FBI special agent in charge of locating Uchida.

Malaysian Harvest-to-table Vegetables

Daylight2018 — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 08:06:22 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...vest-to/1985280
How a Malaysian company born during the pandemic is championing harvest-to-table in Kuala Lumpur
Sunday, 27 Jun 2021 07:00 AM MYT

BY KENNY MAH

Harvest-to-table vegetables have arrived in Malaysia, courtesy of The Vegetable Co. — Picture courtesy of The Vegetable Co.
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PUCHONG, June 27 — The vegetables we eat and where we get them from can be a quagmire of questions: Is it organic? Local or imported? Is it safe? Is it fresh?

Getting your daily intake of healthy greens shouldn’t be this stressful, I reckon.

Enter The Vegetable Co. This fledgling harvest-to-table startup was launched early last year and is based on sustainable vertical farming concepts and in-house, customised technology.

The Vegetable Co. founders Shawn Ng (left) and Sha G.P. (right). — Picture courtesy of The Vegetable Co.
The brainchild of founders Shawn Ng, 28, and Sha G.P., 27, The Vegetable Co. aims to deliver fresh greens within three to four hours after harvest to their customers in various parts of Klang Valley.

Quality is a major differentiator. Ng explains, “Our vegetables are meant to be better than what’s available in the market due to their freshness and growing method. The indoor farming method ensures that they are delicious and pesticide-free while still reaching optimal size, taste and nutritional value.”

Through their Controlled-Environment Agriculture farming method, the startup has devised and built an indoor, environment-controlled chamber that saves significantly on land and water consumption.

This indoor environment approach differs from conventional farming practices as they grow vegetables utilising LED lights, vertical stacks, hydroponic systems and environmental control to keep the internal atmosphere at an optimal constant that encourages optimal plant growth.

Ng adds, “The chamber is also an isolated environment, which prevents external contaminants from entering and as such mitigates the need for pesticide usage. Basically, we are farmers in lab coats, or plant scientists. Our aim is to grow food in the best possible environment to get the most nutrition and freshness onto your table.”

As with many startups, The Vegetable Co.’s overall ambitions and strategy are heavily influenced by the founders. The duo first met when they were doing their A-levels, and have been friends for well over a decade.

This meant they understood each other’s strengths and differences — Sha has a BSc in Economics from The University of Manchester while Ng received a Masters in Green Management and Sustainability from the University of Bocconi in Italy — and how best to complement each other.

Ng recalls, “Since college, we have always been young idealists who spent countless nights debating on the many ways in which we could contribute to the nation’s development. Generally, Sha is always pragmatic in nature, while I’m a bit of an optimist who dreams of a better future for the Malaysian people.”

Therefore, unlike many businesses that are driven solely by profit making, the two friends started their venture due to their burning need to drive change in a significant and tangible manner.

A sense of purpose was crucial, as Ng observes: “We both had work experiences prior to this, and they never fully aligned to our overarching goals and principles. By working on the business, we were given the opportunity to pursue and craft our own paths forward.”

But why vegetables?

Loyal customers have the 2015 film The Martian to thank. Ng explains, “It really intrigued Sha as the astronaut had to find a way to grow food in an extreme environment to survive. He began considering whether it could be feasible and commercially viable in the Malaysian context. He approached me with the idea, and the rest is history.”

Assembling their team was another piece of the puzzle they had to solve early on.

Ng says, “One of our most important hires remains our first farm operator, Bryan Lee. We hired him back in late 2019 when he was 19, and he has been with us since. Combining his love for plants with his mechanical and electrical engineering skills has made him essential for the work here, especially during the early stages.”

Plenty of care is taken in growing the vegetables, with the latest vertical farming technology. — Picture courtesy of The Vegetable Co.
The Vegetable Co. also has an in-house Research & Technology team — comprising young Malaysians below the age of 30 from varying backgrounds — working to optimise their automated systems, fit-for-purpose farm designs, as well as the quality and nutritional value of their produce.

That last attribute, Ng notes, is a crucial factor to market acceptance: “Our customers can smell the fragrance of the basil when they first open the box. This, combined with the springiness of our lettuce, really drives a good impression on people.”

The key to the freshness of their produce lies in their harvest-to-table approach, typically within a three- to four-hour window.

Ng explains, “Our intention is to move away from mass industrial agriculture and long supply chains. Research has shown that vegetables travelling far distances tend to lose nutritional value over time, some as fast as within 48 hours. There are also the concerns of food waste, as a third of all food stuff is usually discarded in the beginning, generating methane through open decomposition and exacerbating climate change.”

A typical subscription box contains seven types of freshly harvested vegetables. — Picture courtesy of The Vegetable Co.
As a result, The Vegetable Co. strives to grow within 20 kilometres of high populated districts within the Klang Valley, such as Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, Subang, Puchong, and Shah Alam.

In doing so, Ng claims this will help preserve the maximum nutrients possible, cut down on transport emissions and increase transparency as they minimise the number of unknown variables between the farm and the consumers.

He adds, “During the past year, we also observed interruptions in supply and knee-jerk reaction price hikes due to inter-state logistical issues associated with Covid-19 restrictions and we believe our solution helps address these challenges by farming right in the middle of population centres.”

By growing in vertical stacks within urban areas, The Vegetable Co. purportedly mitigates around 95 times the land use through conventional farming methods. In the future, the duo also plans to activate unused urban spaces to further increase land use efficiency.

Given the constraints of each individual farm being able to only service a certain radius around it, The Vegetable Co. will leverage both localisation and decentralisation to scale up in a sustainable manner.

Ng explains, “The modularity of our farms enables us to install farms in every urban centre where there is demand. This is how we envision the growth of our company and the vertical farming sector here in Malaysia.

Sounds like a reasonable and promising business model, no? But as any seasoned entrepreneur would tell you, the journey is never a smooth nor swift one.

The Vegetable Co. was self-funded by the two co-founders at the beginning. Ng says, “We really had to dig deep into our coffers and commit all our resources into the start of the company — scraping for whatever savings or equipment we have in order to make things work.”

Harvesting time. — Picture courtesy of The Vegetable Co.
Beyond a startup tendency to stay lean and agile, part of the scramble came from launching the business barely a month before the first movement control order (MCO) last year. Initial plans for pop-up booths and taste testing as a market education tool were immediately shelved.

With only a small number of early adopters, they decided to focus solely on promoting their subscription model. Ng explains, “This was what truly appealed to our first base of customers — those who were concerned about regular access to freshly-grown produce without needing to brave the supermarkets or fearing a shortage of supply.”

That gamble paid off handsomely as revenue grew by 300 per cent in the first few weeks alone. Both co-founders realised that customer satisfaction and confidence were critical for pushing the product to market, and have since made it part of their company promise: To reduce the time and distance for quality produce to reach their customers.

“Customers who took the chance on us in the early stages could immediately tell the difference,” Ng says, “From there the product sold itself by word-of-mouth. The popularity of the subscription service drove demand and allowed us to expand and to increase our capacity as we prepare for the launch of our next phase in July.”

Packing the just-harvested vegetables into subscription boxes. — Picture courtesy of The Vegetable Co.
Since then, the duo has gotten the support of an angel investor as they expanded their operations. Ng adds, “Although we have no immediate fundraising plans, we’re looking at raising a bridging round sometime Q3/Q4 this year to continue our business expansion and technology consolidation.”

Part of that expansion would include gradually doubling the number of their produce variants as production capacity increases. Currently The Vegetable Co. has about 10 variants; a standard box comes with about seven variants, making every delivery a little surprise, not unlike CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) boxes.

The Vegetable Co. aims to deliver fresh greens within three to four hours after harvest to their customers. — Picture courtesy of The Vegetable Co.
According to Ng, by having fresh vegetables delivered to them on a frequent basis, many of their customers have changed their diets for the better: “Some of our customers have taken to snacking on our veggies and moving away from the bad habit of eating junk food. Fundamentally, we are in the business of encouraging healthy habits and lifestyles.”

Are vertical farming and vegetable subscription boxes the future of our dining tables? It is early days yet but The Vegetable Co. certainly makes a strong and admirable case for Malaysian harvest-to-table.

To borrow from a classic jingle: Any fresher and you’d have to pick these greens yourself.

The Vegetable Co.

Web: thevegetable.co

FB: facebook.com/thevegetable.co/

IG: instagram.com/thevegetable.co/

Girl feared dead after refusing arranged marriage

Daylight2018 — Sat, 29 May 2021 22:00:06 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2021/0...arriage/1978056
Italy: girl feared dead after refusing arranged marriage
Saturday, 29 May 2021 08:38 PM MYT

ROME, May 29 — Police in Italy are searching for the body of an 18-year-old girl suspected to have been killed by her Pakistani family after refusing an arranged Muslim marriage.

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Late on April 29, five people can be seen walking off from the house holding shovels, a crowbar and a bucket, and returning after about two-and-a-half hours.

The Carabinieri have identified the five as the family members suspected of murder. All are believed to have left Italy for Pakistan.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people took part in a solidarity rally for the missing girl organised on Friday night by the town hall of Novellara.

“Saman, tonight you are not alone and you will never again be alone,” Mayor Elena Carletti said in a video posted on local news website Reggioonline. — AFP

LRT Kelana Jaya, MRT two positive covid-19 case

Daylight2018 — Sat, 29 May 2021 19:03:21 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...after-t/1978009
Operator urges some LRT Kelana Jaya, MRT riders to test for Covid-19 after two report infection
Saturday, 29 May 2021 06:20 PM MYT

BY JUSTIN ONG
KUALA LUMPUR, May 29 — Riders who used the LRT Kelana Jaya line and MRT Kajang line during yesterday’s morning peak hour should test for Covid-19 if they show signs of infection, said Rapid Rail Sdn Bhd.

The operator of both lines said it has been informed by two riders via social media that they have tested positive for Covid-19.

“Health screenings are also recommended for those who used the LRT service from Taman Melati and KLCC at peak hours on May 27,” it said in a statement.

Rapid Rail said one rider informed it that she had boarded the LRT from Wangsa Maju for Pasar Seni, before switching over to the MRT line at the Semantan station between 7.30am and 8.30am yesterday.

Another infected rider reported using the LRT from Taman Melati to KLCC between 8am and 9am on May 27, it said.

Rapid Rail thanked both for communicating their infections and urged riders to obey all standard operating procedures introduced to minimise the risk of Covid-19 infections.

Gardenia confirms price hike for six products

Daylight2018 — Sat, 29 May 2021 17:42:24 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...roducts/1977993
Gardenia confirms price hike for six products
Saturday, 29 May 2021 05:05 PM MYT

SHAH ALAM, May 29 — Renowned bread producer Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd (GBKL) has confirmed that the prices of six of their products will be increased effective June 1.

GBKL, in a statement, said the six products involved are Gardenia Delicia Hazelnut Chocolate Spread 200g; Gardenia Delicia Hazelnut Chocolate Spread 375g; Gardenia Delicia Milky Chocolate Spread 200g; Gardenia Delicia Milky Chocolate Spread 375g; Gardenia Auntie Rosie — Original Homestyle Kaya 200g dan Gardenia Auntie Rosie — Natural Pandan Kaya 200g.

It also said that over the past few years, the company had experienced a drastic increase in costs, especially in terms of manufacturing and raw material costs, which were beyond their control.

“All this while GBKL has been absorbing the cost, and now we do not have any alternative other than to review the prices of selected Gardenia products, that will take effect this June 1,” it said.

However, it said other Gardenia product prices remained unchanged and the company will absorb the increase in the cost of these products.

“The costs of raw ingredients that have increased dramatically include vegetable fat and milk, as well as packaging.

“GBKL’s focus now is to continue to optimise productivity and efficiency at factories, and the price increase is the last resort after all other avenues have been exhausted,” the statement read. — Bernama

Research firm: Revises rating on AirAsia to 44 cen

Daylight2018 — Sat, 29 May 2021 08:32:08 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2021/0...t-price/1977707
Research firms maintain rating on AirAsia, revises target price
Friday, 28 May 2021 03:41 PM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — Research firms have maintained their rating on AirAsia Group Bhd (AAG), following the airline’s lower-than-expected financial results.

The group’s net loss for the first quarter ended March 31, 2021 (Q1 FY2021) narrowed to RM767.42 million from RM803.85 million in the same quarter last year.

MIDF Research reiterated its “sell” call on AAG’s shares but revised the target price (TP) higher to 44 sen from 21 sen previously.

“We opine that although recovery for the aviation sector and air travel is expected to gradually take place in 2021, it remains an uphill battle for AAG, given that it is struggling financially to remain afloat in the current pandemic-laden operating environment,” the research house said in a note today.

Another research firm, CGS-CIMB Securities Sdn Bhd has reiterated its "reduce" recommendation on AAG as it now projects an even lower traffic volume in 2021 than 2020, but noted that a much lower operating costs might help to narrow core losses year-on-year.

However, it had increased the TP to 19 sen per share in view of a potential 30 per cent cut to AAG’s operating lease liabilities.

It noted that the airline could face a potential de-rating on the back of a slower-than-expected recovery in domestic travel demand due to the reimposition of interstate travel restrictions, the longer-than-expected closure of international borders due to the surge in new Covid-19 cases, and the slow pace of vaccination in Asia. — Bernama

Dr. Wee: LRT crash victims free to sue Prasarana

Daylight2018 — Sat, 29 May 2021 08:29:03 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...asarana/1977723
Transport minister says LRT crash victims free to sue Prasarana
Friday, 28 May 2021 04:11 PM MYT

BY RADZI RAZAK
KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — Any victims of the train crash on the Kelana Jaya LRT line on May 24 could sue operator Prasarana Bhd if they desired, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.

He said that Malaysia is a democratic country and everyone should have access to the legal system.

“Malaysia is a democratic country. What legal action is allowed.

“I will hand it over to Prasarana; anyone who intends to take action will follow the law,” he said in a press conference at KLCC LRT station today

In the 8.45 pm incident on Monday, a total of 47 passengers were reported to be seriously injured while 166 escaped with minor injuries, when a train carrying passengers and another train, said to have been test-driven following a fault, collided in a tunnel between the Kampung Baru and KLCC stations

Six out of 47 were treated at the intensive care units.

We said he has visited and been in touch with all six victims, adding that he will be ensuring they all healed up.

“Out of the six, one is currently treated in a private hospital and another was discharged.

“Four others are still at Hospital Kuala Lumpur and I have extended my sympathy for the family. I am monitoring their condition in the hospital,” he said.

On May 25, Prasarana reportedly said it would be making a payment of RM1,000 to each of the 213 passengers who were injured in the collision.

Scientists: Microplastics get into our food

Daylight2018 — Sat, 29 May 2021 08:24:13 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2021/05...ur-food/1977766
Scientists are investigating the microplastics that get into our food
Friday, 28 May 2021 06:23 PM MYT
NEW YORK, May 28 — Plastics discarded in the oceans decompose to the point where they end up in what we eat and drink. Faced with this phenomenon, scientists are still struggling to assess the consequences of these microplastics and nanomaterials on our health.

Would you like another serving of microplastic? Through human activities, 8 million tonnes of plastic make their way every year into the oceans. Of the nearly 400 million tonnes of plastic manufactured per year, 81 per cent become waste within months. Non-biodegradable, these materials fragment, decompose and become part of the fauna and flora. They are thus found in coastal and remote areas, but also in the majority of marine organisms studied. These particles of less than 5 millimeters ultimately end up in our food. Scientists have recently begun studying the effects on marine creatures and humans.

Not all products from the sea are equal in terms of transmission risk. The risk of transmission to humans is higher for seafood, because “we consume the digestive system that contains the plastic particles,” explains Guillaume Duflos, researcher at a food safety laboratory in Boulogne, France. As for fish, there is less risk, because only the fillet is consumed. What about the quantities ingested by the consumer? “The latest data from an American study show that we could ingest from 39,000 to 59,000 particles per year,” notes the scientist. A researcher in the Netherlands, Albert Koelmans of Wageningen University, suggested it could range from dozens to 100,000 specks each day per person, a report in Nature outlined.

Bitcoin slumps 8pc,heads for bruising monthly drop

Daylight2018 — Sat, 29 May 2021 08:20:59 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2021/0...ly-drop/1977779
Bitcoin slumps 8pc as it heads for bruising monthly drop
Friday, 28 May 2021 07:06 PM MYT
LONDON, May 28 — Bitcoin slumped today to its lowest this week, taking losses sparked by a growing crackdown in China and environmental concerns to almost 40 per cent so far this month.

The biggest cryptocurrency extended earlier losses, falling as much as 8.2 per cent to US$35,339 (RM146,162) as it stayed pinned in this week’s relatively tight trading range. It was last down 6.2 per cent.

“Bitcoin is currently in a bit of ‘slumber mode’ trading in the range of US$34,000 and US$40,000,” said Ulrik Lykke, executive director at crypto hedge fund ARK36.

“Many traders are acknowledging that price seems to be range-bound for the moment, why they may be hesitant to take a position with high conviction.”

The cryptocurrency has lost 37 per cent in May, which if sustained would be its worst monthly performance since September 2011.

Its drop was triggered by China’s efforts to crack down on mining and trading of cryptocurrencies, and Tesla’s move to halt payments over worries about energy use.

Energy regulators in China’s Sichuan will soon meet local power companies to gather information on cryptocurrency mining, an official said on Thursday, potentially leading to a clampdown in the country’s second-biggest bitcoin production hub.

Still, bitcoin has eked out a gain of around 3 per cent so this week. Crypto markets trade 24/7, with volatility common at weekends.

Smaller coins, which typically rise and fall in tandem with bitcoin, also slumped. Second largest digital token ether fell as much as 11 per cent to a four-day low. — Reuters

France: Radical Muslim Man stabs policewoman shot

Daylight2018 — Sat, 29 May 2021 08:17:16 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2021/0...-police/1977814
Man stabs policewoman in western France, dies after shoot-out, say police
Friday, 28 May 2021 09:28 PM MYT

CHAPELLE-SUR-ERDRE (France), May 28 — A man stabbed and badly wounded a policewoman in the town of La Chapelle-sur-Erdre in western France today, and he later died following a shoot-out with officers, the national gendarmerie force said.

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A source close to the investigation told Reuters the suspect had been released from jail in March following a conviction for violence. He was reported by prison staff to have been radicalised in jail, the source added.

The incident came a month after a female police administrative worker was stabbed to death near Paris by a Tunisian national who had watched Islamic religious videos glorifying acts of jihad just before launching his attack.

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US$6t budget lays out Biden’s vision, but Republic

Daylight2018 — Sat, 29 May 2021 08:06:54 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2021/0...-swayed/1977841

A US$6t budget lays out Biden’s vision, but Republicans unlikely to be swayed
Friday, 28 May 2021 10:59 PM MYT
WASHINGTON, May 28 — The White House today will present President Joe Biden’s budget for trillions of dollars in spending on infrastructure, education and other initiatives, but the plan is unlikely to sway Republicans who want to tamp down US government spending.

Biden, a Democrat, will put price tags on his policy priorities aimed at fighting US inequality and climate change, and increasing funding for research, education and childcare in what is expected to be a roughly US$6 trillion (RM24 trillion) blueprint for the fiscal year that starts on October 1.

The budget is Biden’s first full spending outline since taking office in January and serves as the fiscal blueprint for his political priorities. Its release at 1.30pm ET will kick off what will likely be months of difficult negotiations with Congress, which needs to approve most of the spending.

It will build on a partial “skinny budget” the White House released last month that sought spending increases for fighting climate change, cancer and underperforming schools.

The new, longer document will spell out allocations for foreign aid, immigration and other areas.

Republicans’ opposition is growing to much of Biden’s push to spend more to revamp the US economy, as they argue it could fuel inflation and tamp down corporate competitiveness.

Biden has tussled with Republicans over the price of his initiatives, recovery from the pandemic and improvement of roads and bridges. No Republicans voted for his US$1.9 trillion stimulus bill, but some touted its benefits later, drawing some chiding from the president.

Biden’s budget will reflect his initial proposal for some US$4 trillion in spending on infrastructure, childcare and public education, including free community college tuition.

The White House has since said it would accept a less costly infrastructure bill of US$1.7 trillion instead of the originally proposed US$2.2 trillion plan. Republicans countered with a US$928 billion offer, which has kept talks alive.

Biden has pledged to fund his proposals by increasing taxes on corporations and wealthy people as he seeks to create a reshaped, more equitable economy in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic.

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Thursday that the budget would push US debt above the size of the US economy but would not contribute to inflationary pressures.

Despite the large price tag, not all of the promises Biden made as a presidential candidate will make it into the plan, the White House has said, sparking disappointment from progressive Democrats, who favour bigger increases in spending on social programs and cuts to defence.

The budget will include some US$715 billion for the Department of Defence and modernization of the nuclear arsenal to deter China, while also developing future warfare capabilities, according to people familiar with the matter. — Reuters

Airline body hails Big Oil backlash as catalyst

Daylight2018 — Sat, 29 May 2021 08:01:14 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2021/0...n-fuels/1977844
Airline body hails Big Oil backlash as catalyst for green fuels
Friday, 28 May 2021 11:38 PM MYT

PARIS, May 28 — The increasingly effective green backlash against oil majors by activists and shareholders is a welcome development for the aviation industry as it prepares to raise its own environmental goals, the head of global airline body IATA said today.

Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association, said that challenges of the kind encountered by Exxon, Chevron and Shell this week could boost investment in the lower-emission fuels so desperately needed by airlines.

“I think it’s great that the oil industry has been criticised. Anything that accelerates the production of sustainable fuels is a positive,” Walsh told Reuters.

Oil majors suffered a trio of defeats on Wednesday as 61 per cent of Chevron shareholders demanded end-use emissions cuts and Exxon Mobil saw a pair of activist candidates elected to its board to push climate demands. A Dutch court also ordered drastic emissions cuts by Royal Dutch Shell.

The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the focus and pressure on climate emissions, said Walsh, the former boss of British Airways and its owner IAG.

Global airlines that have so far pledged to halve net emissions by 2050 will be asked to go further at IATA’s annual meeting in October, Walsh said, confirming indications given by his departing predecessor, Alexandre de Juniac.

Walsh said the previous 2009 goal had been overtaken by the Paris Agreement and resulting pledges from governments and companies — including many airlines — to eliminate net emissions by mid-century.

“Anything less than net-zero by 2050 will be disappointing for the industry and will leave us open to criticism that we’re not doing enough,” he said while acknowledging that some states including China still consider the target too ambitious.

Raising the aviation goal will require investment burden-sharing by energy companies and aerospace manufacturers, as well as removal of fuel-wasting air traffic control inefficiencies that are particularly acute in Europe, Walsh said.

A new push to replace Europe’s airspace patchwork with a “single European sky” has foundered on diplomatic and military objections, a senior Brussels official said this week.

The European Union plans to require airlines to use a minimum percentage of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), made from waste oil, biomass or synthetically with renewable power.

But SAF prices remain prohibitively high because the volumes produced by fuel companies are inadequate, Walsh said.

“It shouldn’t be for the airlines to fund research and development into sustainable fuels,” he said. “It should be for the companies that are making the unsustainable fuels to start investing.”

Latest-generation jets are certified to run on anything up to 50 per cent SAF — a proportion that could be increased to help aviation meet its goals until new propulsion technologies arrive, Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury told Reuters.

The European planemaker wants to “trigger investments so that we increase very significantly the percentage of SAF with the planes we are delivering today,” he said on Thursday.

Rolls-Royce this month announced a business jet engine that runs on pure SAF, and sources say work is underway to extend the capability to larger aircraft engines this decade.

Airbus has also pledged to put a hydrogen-powered airliner into service by 2035, with technology that CEO Faury described as “less challenging that what we saw two or three years ago”.

Airlines are now counting on the Airbus hydrogen programme to deliver, IATA’s Walsh said.

“We’re going to hold them to that, because it’s a big part of the solution.” — Reuters

Ford says 40pc of sales to be electric vehicles

Daylight2018 — Thu, 27 May 2021 08:03:16 +0800

https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2021/0...by-2030/1977233
Ford says 40pc of sales to be electric vehicles by 2030
Wednesday, 26 May 2021 09:54 PM MYT

NEW YORK, May 26 — Ford said today it is ramping up investment in zero-emission cars and by 2030 expects 40 per cent of its vehicle volume to be comprised of fully electric vehicles.

The US automaker announced it is increasing its investment in electrification to more than US$30 billion (RM124 billion) by 2025, boosting the amount from the US$22 billion announced in February.

The company last week unveiled an all-electric version of its bestselling F-150 truck in an eco-friendly reinvention of a flagship American car brand, and said it has received 70,000 reservations from customers in just one week.

“This is our biggest opportunity for growth and value creation since Henry Ford started to scale the Model T, and we’re grabbing it with both hands,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a statement.

Farley and other executives will be presenting the latest developments later Wednesday morning in a virtual meeting with financial analysts and other stakeholders.

Besides the battery-powered F-150, called the Lightning, Ford has begun selling the electric Mustang Mach-E sport utility vehicle and will soon bring the E-Transit cargo van to showrooms.

The company also is investing in battery production, and recently announced a joint venture with South Korea’s SK Innovation.

Automakers have joined the growing move towards zero-emission vehicles to help address global warming.

General Motors, Ford’s main competitor in the US market, pledged in January to stop making diesel- or gasoline-powered cars by 2035. — AFP

Malaysian doctor reported arrest in Israel

Daylight2018 — Thu, 27 May 2021 07:48:55 +0800

Wisma Putra says needs more info after Malaysian doctor’s reported arrest in Israel
Thursday, 27 May 2021 06:04 AM MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, May 27 — The Foreign Affairs Ministry is urging individuals as well as the owners of Instagram accounts @iesya_toh and @nurhelizahelmi to quickly come forward and provide information on ‘Dr Nur’ who is allegedly a Malaysian being held by Israel.

Wisma Putra in a statement last night said any individuals with information on the identity and whereabouts of Dr Nur have been told to come forward and furnish information via email at bkrm@kln.gov.my.
According to Wisma Putra, the ministry acknowledged the sharing which went viral on social media on the detention of a Malaysian known as Dr Nur by Israelite authorities

“However, the ministry has not been able to ascertain the personal details as well as the incident which befell Dr Nur which complicated efforts by Malaysian representatives to contact and provide aid to the person,” the statement said.
https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/202...rest-in/1977285

According to Wisma Putra, checks with Malaysian Embassies in Cairo, Egypt and Amman, Jordan also found that no individual named ‘Dr. Nur’ had registered his presence in Palestine or contacted the Malaysian Representative for assistance.

At the same time, according to the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already contacted the authorities in Malaysia to help identify Dr Nur and his whereabouts.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has collected information on reports submitted by the public, including screenshots of posts made by the public regarding the incident that happened to ‘Dr. Nur 'and has extended the information to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for further investigation, it said.

According to the statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also tried to contact two individuals allegedly serving at Kuala Lumpur Hospital named Dr Aida and Dr Shafiq to get more information on ‘Dr. Nur 'but both of them could not be contacted. .

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is always concerned and prioritises the welfare of Malaysian citizens abroad. Malaysian representatives abroad are always ready to help if Malaysian citizens abroad are in trouble,” according to Wisma Putra.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises Malaysian citizens abroad to keep in touch with the nearest Malaysian Representative in the event of any emergency or need for any consular assistance. — Bernama

COURT FINDS TESLA GUILTY OF NERFING BATTERY PERFOR

Daylight2018 — Wed, 26 May 2021 10:14:58 +0800

COURT FINDS TESLA GUILTY OF NERFING BATTERY PERFORMANCE IN SOFTWARE UPDATE

by VICTOR TANGERMANN
00:05
FUTURISM
TESLA NEVER SHOWED UP TO COURT.
Cannot Stop the Battery
A court in Norway has found Tesla guilty of limiting charging speeds and battery capacity via software update, Electrek reports.

Barring an appeal, Tesla will have to pay $16,000 to any Norwegian drivers whose Teslas were affected by the update — roughly 10,000 customers, according to Norwegian online newspaper Nettavisen.

In fact, in Electrek‘s analysis, the case could lead to similar charges in other countries as well — meaning that this is a legal decision that could potentially send shockwaves through Tesla’s worldwide operation.

Range Drop
Several Model S and X models that were discontinued in 2016 were affected by a range drop, which equated to between 12 and 30 miles. The update dates back to the car company’s 2019.16.1 and .2 software updates.

More than 30 customers in Norway came forward with the case, which went ahead as Tesla Norway did not come forward with a response, according to Nettavisen.

It’s hard what to say what Tesla plans to do, as the Elon Musk-led company dissolved its PR department last year.

Path Forward
Tesla will have to pay out by May 31 or appeal the case by June 17 to the Oslo Conciliation Board, according to Nettavisen.

“It is extremely ridiculous of Tesla as a large publicly traded company not to show up at the conciliation board when there are over 30 customers who have complained about it,” CEO of consumer advocacy group Bilklager.no Torbjørn Stølen told the newspaper, as translated by Google Translate.

“It is downright ridiculous,” he added.

READ MORE: Tesla is found guilty of throttling charging speed, asked to pay $16,000 to thousands of owners [Electrek]

More on Tesla: Elon Musk Congratulates Ford on Electric F-150

https://futurism.com/the-byte/court-tesla-g...ery-performance

Wuhan lab staff sought hospital care before COVID-

Daylight2018 — Mon, 24 May 2021 08:53:40 +0800

https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare...wsj-2021-05-23/
Wuhan lab staff sought hospital care before COVID-19 outbreak disclosed - WSJ
Reuters
May 24, 20216:20 AM +08
Security personnel keep watch outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during the visit by the World Health Organization (WHO) team tasked with investigating the origins of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Wuhan, Hubei province, China February 3, 2021. REUTERS/Thomas Peter/File Photo

Three researchers from China's Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report.

The newspaper said the report - which provides fresh details on the number of researchers affected, the timing of their illnesses, and their hospital visits - may add weight to calls for a broader probe of whether the COVID-19 virus could have escaped from the laboratory.

The report came on the eve of a meeting of the World Health Organization's decision-making body, which is expected to discuss the next phase of an investigation into the origins of COVID-19.

A National Security Council spokeswoman had no comment on the Journal's report but said the Biden administration continued to have "serious questions about the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its origins within the Peoples Republic of China."

She said the U.S. government was working with the WHO and other member states to support an expert-driven evaluation of the pandemic's origins "that is free from interference or politicization."

"We're not going to make pronouncements that prejudge an ongoing WHO study into the source of SARS-CoV-2, but we've been clear that sound and technically credible theories should be thoroughly evaluated by international experts," she said.

The Journal said current and former officials familiar with the intelligence about the lab researchers expressed a range of views about the strength of the report's supporting evidence, with one unnamed person saying it needed "further investigation and additional corroboration."

The United States, Norway, Canada, Britain and other countries in March expressed concerns about the WHO-led COVID-19 origins study, and called for further investigation and full access to all pertinent human, animal and other data about the early stages of the outbreak.

Washington is keen to ensure greater cooperation and transparency by China, according to a source familiar with the effort.

The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.

On Sunday, China's foreign ministry noted that a WHO-led team had concluded a lab leak was extremely unlikely after a visit in February to the virology institute. "The U.S. continues to hype the lab leak theory," the ministry said in response to a request for comment by the Journal. "Is it actually concerned about tracing the source or trying to divert attention?"

The Trump administration had said it suspected the virus may have escaped from a Chinese lab, which Beijing denies.

A State Department fact sheet released near the end of the Trump administration had said "the U.S. government has reason to believe that several researchers inside the WIV became sick in autumn 2019, before the first identified case of the outbreak, with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illnesses." It did not say how many researchers.

China refused to give raw data on early COVID-19 cases to the WHO-led team probing the origins of the pandemic, according to one of the team’s investigators, Reuters reported in February, potentially complicating efforts to understand how the outbreak began.