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        <title>Lowyat.NET: Latest topics by Divou</title>
        <description></description>
        <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/</link>
        <lastBuildDate>Wed, 03 Jun 2026 19:21:19 +0800</lastBuildDate>
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            <title>US To Pay Illegal Immigrants Up To &amp;#036;450K</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5211029</link>
            <description>WASHINGTON—The Biden administration is in talks to offer immigrant families that were separated during the Trump administration around &amp;#036;450,000 a person in compensation, according to people familiar with the matter, as several agencies work to resolve lawsuits filed on behalf of parents and children who say the government subjected them to lasting psychological trauma.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The U.S. Departments of Justice, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services are considering payments that could amount to close to &amp;#036;1 million a family, though the final numbers could shift, the people familiar with the matter said. Most of the families that crossed the border illegally from Mexico to seek asylum in the U.S. included one parent and one child, the people said. Many families would likely get smaller payouts, depending on their circumstances, the people said.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The American Civil Liberties Union, which represents families in one of the lawsuits, has identified about 5,500 children separated at the border over the course of the Trump administration, citing figures provided to it by the government. The number of families eligible under the potential settlement is expected to be smaller, the people said, as government officials aren’t sure how many will come forward. Around 940 claims have so far been filed by the families, the people said.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The total potential payout could be &amp;#036;1 billion or more.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As part of a so-called zero-tolerance enforcement policy, immigration agents separated thousands of children, ranging from infants to teenagers, from their parents at the southern border in 2018 after they had crossed illegally from Mexico to seek asylum in the U.S. In some cases families were forcefully broken up with no provisions to track and later reunite them, government investigations found. The lawsuits allege some of the children suffered from a range of ailments, including heat exhaustion and malnutrition, and were kept in freezing cold rooms and provided little medical attention.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Sat, 30 Oct 2021 21:55:20 +0800</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>Singapore Offers Malaysian Doctors Covid Contract</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5207050</link>
            <description>PETALING JAYA: Faced with an increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Singapore, a hospital group in the republic has sent out a message on social media inviting medical officers (MOs) from Malaysia to work there on a contract basis.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Besides offering a reasonably attractive salary upon conversion to the Malaysian currency, the advertiser said all necessary documents required for Malaysian doctors to be employed in Singapore would be fast tracked.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Quarantine, work permit and Singapore Medical Council licensing will be fast tracked so that they can start work immediately. Graduates from non-MoH (ministry of health) approved medical schools can also apply,” the viral message said, adding that those interested were required to have at least three years of experience.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Checks with the contact person named in the message confirmed that the offer is from the HMI Group, a regional private healthcare provider with a presence in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;According to the terms of the offer, the MOs will be paid a monthly salary of S&amp;#036;3,500 (RM10,796) for four days of work with a 12-hour shift.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Thereafter, S&amp;#036;300 (RM925) will be paid for each additional 12-hour shift that they take on for the month. In addition, S&amp;#036;10 (RM30) will be paid for every telemedicine consultation performed,” it added.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;HMI said the contract would be for a minimum of six months with the possibility of longer term arrangements based on the performance of the doctors.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“They must be prepared to care for Covid-19 patients in an in-patient setting. Training and PPE (personal protective equipment) will be given. Assistance with housing will also be provided,” it added.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Mon, 18 Oct 2021 15:31:20 +0800</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>Times Are Bad People Buy These In Small Packets</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5203940</link>
            <description>Left to right ( Dynamo, Sunlight, ketchup, cooking oil )&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/BpdMiQ' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/10/09/BpdMiQ.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Sat, 09 Oct 2021 07:00:01 +0800</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>First Ever Miss UAE Will Join Ms Universe In Israe</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5203579</link>
            <description>After months of rumours, it has been confirmed: Dubai will host its first Miss Universe contest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The glittering and glamour-filled Miss Universe UAE will take place at La Perle, Al Habtoor City on November 7 – and it is &lt;b&gt;open to all female UAE residents from the age of 18 to 28 with more than three years of UAE residency.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Miss Universe UAE is not just a parade of beauty or celebration of intelligence but moreover she is a paragon of a purposeful queen and a heart to serve and help through her advocacies,” says Josh Yugen, founder and chief executive of Dubai&amp;#39;s Yugen Events and the new president and national director of Miss Universe UAE.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The application and casting will start from Thursday through online registration. The selected ladies will be called for casting on October 15 at Al Habtoor Palace Hotel, then on October 20 the names of 30 ladies will be announced, who will advance to the live show in November.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;During that time, participants will go through numerous pre-pageant activities including a photoshoot, runway challenge, commercial shoots and a closed-door panel interview.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The three-hour-long event will feature a number of different rounds, including giving personal statement, couture activewear, evening gown and an interview. There will be no swimsuit round.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Miss Universe UAE has appointed members of the council to further prepare the event and the winner for the global pageant, which will take place in Israel in December. The team includes Yugen; Filipino fashion designer Furne Amato; creative consultant Maggie Wilson; philanthropist Afaf Meky; first female Emirati general manager of Emaar, Sharihan Al Mashary; and humanitarian Zel Ali.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“We are going to bring a new take on pageantry,&amp;quot; said Amato, head of fashion and creatives. &amp;quot;A new breed of fashion, beauty and pageant which Dubai is known for. This will mark a new era in the whole regional fashion scene.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The winner will represent the UAE on a global stage at the Miss Universe contest.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“I could not be more pleased to welcome the first-ever representative from the UAE to our globally televised event in December,” said Paula M Shugart, president of the Miss Universe Organisation. “The UAE is marking a very important time in its history, from the signing of the Abraham Accords, to hosting the World Expo, and there has never been a better time to shine a spotlight on the women residing in this country.&amp;quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;Its gonna end up with all Filipino contestants. Lets see if there will be a Miss Saudi Arabia contest&lt;/b&gt;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Fri, 08 Oct 2021 06:07:28 +0800</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>Ahli Lembaga Pengarah Muda UM</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5203313</link>
            <description>KUALA LUMPUR: Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi menjelaskan pelantikan Danesh Raj Nagarajan sebagai Ahli Lembaga Pengarah Universiti (LPU), Universiti Malaya adalah bersesuaian dengan kepercayaan kerajaan kepada golongan muda.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Menterinya, Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad memberitahu Dewan Rakyat hari ini pelantikan anak muda berusia 26 tahun itu turut mengambil kira penglibatannya dengan alumni universiti berkenaan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;Lantikan beliau (sebagai Ahli Lembaga Pengarah) adalah berdasarkan bahawa penglibatannya dengan alumni universiti terbabit.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;Inilah masa yang paling sesuai untuk kita memberi kepercayaan kepada orang muda terutamanya dalam melihat peranan mereka sebagai Ahli Lembaga Pengarah,&amp;quot; katanya.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Beliau berkata demikian ketika menjawab soalan tambahan Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (PH-Kulim) mengenai rasional pelantikan anak muda itu yang disifatkan akan menggambarkan kepimpinan dan Lembaga Pengarah universiti.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Terdahulu, menjawab soalan tambahan yang dibangkitkan oleh Datuk Mohd Fasiah Mohd Fakeh (Bersatu-Sabak Bernam) mengenai penetapan elaun minimum kepada pelajar yang menjalani latihan praktikal, Noraini memaklumkan kementeriannya memohon peruntukan tambahan dengan RM450 juta untuk pelajar yang mengikuti latihan industri pada 2022.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;Kita ada memohon peruntukan tambahan kepada Kementerian Kewangan dan kami berharap ia akan dipersetujui,&amp;quot; tambahnya lagi.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;CV Danesh Raj ( Pegawai Khas Azalina )&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/BpUXMn' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/10/07/BpUXMn.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Thu, 07 Oct 2021 12:44:46 +0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Segambut Terima Cuma 60 Laptop Dari 150k</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5203019</link>
            <description>&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/BpxOr6' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/10/06/BpxOr6.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Wed, 06 Oct 2021 15:55:45 +0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Pengemis Rohingya Ludah Pada Yang Tegur</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5202707</link>
            <description>Kuala Lumpur: Etnik Rohingnya kini dikesan &amp;#39;mendominasi&amp;#39; lampu isyarat di sekitar Jalan Ampang Ulu dan Jalan Ampang di sini, bagi mengemis di kawasan berkenaan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Kehadiran pengemis di kawasan itu juga menyebabkan pengguna jalan raya menjadi rimas dengan tindakan mereka yang mengetuk tingkap kereta untuk meminta sedekah.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Tinjauan Harian Metro mendapati ada antara mereka menggunakan modus operandi baru iaitu mendukung anak kecil bagi meraih simpati pengguna jalan raya.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jurugambar Harian Metro sempat merakam kegiatan mereka yang dikesan bermula pada 9 pagi sehingga petang.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Wartawan cuba mendekati pengemis berkenaan namun mereka bertindak melarikan diri sehingga membahayakan pengguna jalan raya.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Seorang pengguna jalan raya, Badrulhisham Md Arshad, 48, berkata, lokasi itu sering menjadi tumpuan pengemis kerana kawasan yang redup dan kurang tindakan penguatkuasaan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;Jika kita sebagai penunggang motosikal sangat bahaya kerana mereka berada di jalan raya persimpangan lampu isyarat berkenaan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;Pernah sekali saya hampir melanggar kanak-kanak Rohingya yang sedang meminta sedekah di sebuah kereta,&amp;quot; katanya ketika ditemui, hari ini.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sementara itu, ahli perniagaan, Muhammad Amirul Azlan Shah, 32, berkata, tindakan tegas perlu diambil pihak berkuasa bagi menjamin keselamatan pengguna jalan raya di kawasan itu.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;Jika dahulu peniaga tempatan yang menjual mangga di persimpangan lampu isyarat berkenaan diambil tindakan, kini tindakan serupa perlu diambil.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;&amp;quot;Mereka berani kerana tidak ada tindakan diambil, pernah sekali saya menegur kumpulan pengemis ini namun mereka bertindak kurang ajar dengan meludah cermin tingkap kereta saya,&amp;quot; katanya.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Menurutnya, kegiatan pengemis itu bukan baru di kawasan berkenaan malah mereka berada di persimpangan itu hampir setiap hari.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;Jika dilihat pada waktu puncak semakin ramai pengemis dipercayai Rohingya di persimpangan lampu isyarat itu.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;Bila petang kumpulan ini makin ramai, ada yang dukung anak, ada yang memimpin tangan anak mereka malah ada juga kumpulan kanak-kanak berkopiah bagi meraih simpati,&amp;quot; katanya.</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Tue, 05 Oct 2021 21:19:49 +0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>4 Pusat Vaksin AZ Ditutup</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5201716</link>
            <description>&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/B1Cq79' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/10/03/B1Cq79.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Sun, 03 Oct 2021 15:32:05 +0800</pubDate>
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            <title>Summary Of SOPs For Klang Valley From Tomorrow</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5200795</link>
            <description>&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/B1lDGc' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/09/30/B1lDGc.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/B1lsCG' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/09/30/B1lsCG.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Thu, 30 Sep 2021 18:31:07 +0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Now 18 Years Olds Can Vote</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5200330</link>
            <description>I know last time PR proposed a voter&amp;#39;s age to be lowered to 18. Didnt know this proposal has been approved.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/B1H86u' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/09/29/B1H86u.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/B1HMbg' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/09/29/B1HMbg.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Wed, 29 Sep 2021 14:31:19 +0800</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>KJ Makes Sudden Visit To Kajang Hospital</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5196346</link>
            <description>Apparently he made a sudden lowkey visit to the hospital with only one assistant. Well done, only by doing this he is able to see the reality.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/BlAz5P' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/09/18/BlAz5P.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/BlASeG' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/09/18/BlASeG.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/BlA6nc' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/09/18/BlA6nc.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/BlA11j' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/09/18/BlA11j.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Sat, 18 Sep 2021 18:45:27 +0800</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>Lagi Bangla Peluk Peluk</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5194836</link>
            <description>[fb]https://www.facebook.com/214492465931215/posts/845036072876848/[/fb]</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:54:03 +0800</pubDate>
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        <item>
            <title>Japan Warns Citizens Of Possible Terrorist Attack</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5194404</link>
            <description>KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — The Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur has confirmed that a warning has been issued to Japanese citizens in Malaysia over possible terrorist threat in South-east Asia.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;According to media reports, Japanese Foreign Affairs Ministry had issued an advisory to all of its citizens in Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Myanmar to stay away from religious facilities and other crowded areas.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;An official from the embassy when contacted by Bernama said the advisory was issued to all Japanese citizens in Malaysia this morning.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“We issued the advisory following an instruction from Tokyo,” he said without providing further information on the matter.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The official said currently approximately 31,000 Japanese nationals reside in Malaysia.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The warning cited intelligence reports and that there could be possible attacks on houses of worship and places of large gatherings in the region. — Bernama&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;No Indonesia , no Brunei ??</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Mon, 13 Sep 2021 18:56:17 +0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Still Have Road Block After KLIA Toll</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5194252</link>
            <description>After Klang Valley enters 2nd phase ?</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Serious Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Mon, 13 Sep 2021 13:21:47 +0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>At Bukit Raja Tol Klang</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5193332</link>
            <description>&lt;a href='https://pictr.com/image/BS4joX' target='_blank'&gt;&lt;img src='https://pictr.com/images/2021/09/10/BS4joX.md.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Fri, 10 Sep 2021 17:40:11 +0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>70% Teachers Scored Not More Than 3As In Their SPM</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5193105</link>
            <description>GEORGE TOWN: With at least 70% of teachers in the country having scored no more than 3As in their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM), an education-interest group today said more needs to be done to enhance the professional training of educators in the country.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Teach For Malaysia trustee Chen Li-Kai said while academic results are not the best predictor in teaching quality, the aim of hiring teachers with at least 7As in SPM ought to be pursued as part of the Malaysian Education Blueprint.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He said while the country has great teachers and assistants, the entry requirements to teachers’ training institutes should follow the aspirations in the blueprint.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“One of the big shifts in our country’s education blueprint is to have 70% of the intake (into training institutes) to have at least 7As in SPM. That would be one step in terms of dramatically increasing the quality of our teaching.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“There is a need to enhance professional development and ways to coach them in pedagogy (teaching methods), and ensuring consistency in teaching. That will be an important focus going forward.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“We need to transform teaching to the profession of choice, not as the last choice,” he said in a G25 talk titled “Reflections On The Malaysia Education Blueprint”.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Chen said with at least 50% of the 400,000-odd teachers and assistants teaching for the next 20 years, there must be more effort taken to help them improve through better teaching methods.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“That is the big challenge. It is the single biggest lever because unless we improve pedagogy and the quality of instruction in the classroom, nothing done at the ministry level in terms of policy could match up.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A snapshot of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 involving teacher trainees’ induction into the training institutes.&lt;br /&gt;“The most important thing is to improve teaching quality and investing in the education system. It is also not how much we spend, but what we spend it on,” he said.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Former minister and technocrat Idris Jala said despite shortcomings, there were good teachers from the teachers’ training institutes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He said the distinction between a good teacher and a bad teacher was in their thinking. So the government should speak to the best teachers and replicate them elsewhere.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“You could pull out the best teachers in say, geography, history, and math and interview them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Ask them to reveal their teaching methods and codify that. Then that could be used for the rest of the 400,000-odd teachers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“In this way, we will make progress in leaps and bounds. It is not about the curriculum, it is the way the subjects are taught,” Idris said.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;According to the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025, the candidates selected for teachers’ training institutes are evaluated on a range of factors including attitude, aptitude for teaching, and personality.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The blueprint states that candidates must have at least three distinctions and three credits in SPM to be a trainee teacher pursuing an education degree.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The education ministry, however, now states it is prioritising applicants with a minimum of seven distinctions, especially as teacher trainees with better results were inducted in 2012, prior to the blueprint being adopted</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Fri, 10 Sep 2021 07:21:14 +0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Taliban Rules For Female Afghan Students</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5191561</link>
            <description>KABUL: &lt;b&gt;Women attending private Afghan universities must wear an abaya robe and niqab covering most of the face, the Taliban have ordered, and classes must be segregated by sex - or at least divided by a curtain.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In a lengthy document issued by the Taliban&amp;#39;s education authority, they also ordered &lt;b&gt;that female students should only be taught by other women, but if that was not possible then &amp;quot;old men&amp;quot; of good character could fill in.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The decree applies to private colleges and universities, which have mushroomed since the Taliban&amp;#39;s first rule ended in 2001.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;During that period, girls and women were mostly excluded from education because of rules regarding same-sex classrooms and the insistence they had to be accompanied by a male relative whenever they left the house.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;There was no order for women to wear the all-enveloping burqa in the new regulations issued late Saturday (Sep 4), but the niqab effectively covers most of the face anyway, leaving just the eyes exposed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In recent years burqas and niqabs have largely vanished from the streets of Kabul, but are seen more frequently in smaller cities and towns.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The decree comes as private universities prepare to open on Monday.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;Universities are required to recruit female teachers for female students based on their facilities,&amp;quot; the decree said, adding that &lt;b&gt;men and women should use separate entrances and exits.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If it is not possible to hire women teachers, then colleges &amp;quot;should try to hire old men teachers who have a good record of behaviour&amp;quot;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;While women now have to study separately, they must also end their lesson five minutes earlier than men to stop them from mingling outside.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;They must then stay in waiting rooms until their male counterparts have left the building, according to the decree issued by the Taliban higher education ministry.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;Practically, it is a difficult plan - we don&amp;#39;t have enough female instructors or classes to segregate the girls,&amp;quot; said a university professor, who asked not to be named.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;But the fact that they are allowing girls to go to schools and universities is a big positive step,&amp;quot; he told AFP.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Afghanistan&amp;#39;s new rulers have pledged to be more accommodating than during their first stint in power, which also came after years of conflict - first the Soviet invasion of 1979, and then a bloody civil war.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They have promised a more &amp;quot;inclusive&amp;quot; government that represents Afghanistan&amp;#39;s complex ethnic makeup - though women are unlikely to be included at the top levels.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Over the past 20 years, since the Taliban were last in power, university admission rates have risen dramatically, particularly among women.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Before the Taliban returned in a lightning military campaign, entering the capital Kabul last month, women studied alongside men and attended seminars with male professors.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But a spate of deadly attacks on education centres in recent years sparked panic.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Taliban denied being behind the attacks, some of which were claimed by the local chapter of the Islamic State group.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;#39;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Mon, 06 Sep 2021 15:14:02 +0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Biden Caught Lying About Taliban Progress</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5190546</link>
            <description>WASHINGTON, Aug 31 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani spoke by phone July 23. Here are excerpts from that call, based on a transcript and recording reviewed by Reuters:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;BIDEN: Mr. President. Joe Biden.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;GHANI: Of course, Mr. President, such a pleasure to hear your voice.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;BIDEN: You know, I am a moment late. But I mean it sincerely. Hey look, I want to make it clear that I am not a military man any more than you are, but I have been meeting with our Pentagon folks, and our national security people, as you have with ours and yours, and as you know and I need not tell you the perception around the world and in parts of Afghanistan, I believe, is that things aren’t going well in terms of the fight against the Taliban.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;And there’s a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;…..&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;BIDEN: If you empower Bismillah [Defense Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi] to execute a strategy focused on key parts of the population centers, and I’m not a military guy, so I’m not telling you what that plan should precisely look like, you’re going to get not only more help, but you’re going to get a perception that is going to change in terms of how , um…[unclear].. our allies and folks here in the States and other places think you’re doing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You clearly have the best military, you have 300,000 well-armed forces versus 70-80,000 and they’re clearly capable of fighting well, we will continue to provide close air support, if we know what the plan is and what we are doing. And all the way through the end of August, and who knows what after that.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We are also going to continue to make sure your air force is capable of continuing to fly and provide air support. In addition to that we are going to continue to fight hard, diplomatically, politically, economically, to make sure your government not only survives, but is sustained and grows because it is clearly in the interest of the people of Afghanistan, that you succeed and you lead. And though I know this is presumptuous of me on one hand to say such things so directly to you, I have known you for a long while, I find you a brilliant and honorable man.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;But I really think, I don’t know whether you’re aware, just how much the perception around the world is that this is looking like a losing proposition, which it is not, not that it necessarily is that, but so the conclusion I’m asking you to consider is to bring together everyone from [Former Vice President Abdul Rashid] Dostum, to [Former President Hamid] Karzai and in between, if they stand there and say they back the strategy you put together, and put a warrior in charge, you know a military man, [Defense Minister Bismillah] Khan in charge of executing that strategy, and that will change perception, and that will change an awful lot I think.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;…&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;GHANI: &lt;b&gt;Mr. President, we are facing a full-scale invasion, composed of Taliban, full Pakistani planning and logistical support, and at least 10-15,000 international terrorists, predominantly Pakistanis thrown into this, so that dimension needs to be taken account of.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Second, what is crucial is, close air support, and if I could make a request, you have been very generous, if your assistance, particularly to our air force be front loaded, because what we need at this moment, there was a very heavily reliance on air power, and we have prioritized that if it could be at all front-loaded, we will greatly appreciate it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And third, regarding procedure for the rest of the assistance, for instance, military pay is not increased for over a decade. We need to make some gestures to rally everybody together so if you could assign the national security advisor or the Pentagon, anyone you wish to work with us on the details, so our expectations particularly regarding your close air support. There are agreements with the Taliban that we [or “you” this is unclear] are not previously aware of, and because of your air force was extremely cautious in attacking them.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;And the last point, I just spoke again to Dr. Abdullah earlier, he went to negotiate with the Taliban, the Taliban showed no inclination. We can get to peace only if we rebalance the military situation. And I can assure you…&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;GHANI: And I can assure you I have been to four of our key cities, I’m constantly traveling with the vice president and others, we will be able to rally. Your assurance of support goes a very long way to enable us, to really mobilize in earnest. The urban resistance, Mr. President is been extraordinary, there are cities that have taken a siege of 55 days and that have not surrendered. Again, I thank you and I’m always just a phone call away. This is what a friend tells a friend, so please don’t feel that you’re imposing on me.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;BIDEN: No, well, look, I, thank you. Look, close air support works only if there is a military strategy on the ground to support.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Reporting by Aram Roston and Nandita Bose&lt;br /&gt;Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2021 22:07:28 +0800</pubDate>
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            <title>Taliban Parade Suicide Bombers Vests Bombs</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5190302</link>
            <description>[YOUTUBE]zqgvhF-jabs[/YOUTUBE]</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Fri, 03 Sep 2021 12:23:08 +0800</pubDate>
        </item>
        <item>
            <title>Army To Be Deployed To 5 States</title>
            <link>http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5190104</link>
            <description>KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) is ready to assist efforts to combat Covid-19 in five states with high infection rates, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (pic).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Senior Minister said efforts to manage and remedy the situation at the five states - Sabah, Johor, Kedah, Penang and Kelantan - will be a priority for the MAF.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;As I mentioned previously, among the main thrust of the MAF is to fulfil the national agenda in combating the virus.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;The MAF has sufficient infrastructure, assets and expertise and is ready to be deployed at any time,&amp;quot; he told a press conference at the Defence Ministry on Thursday (Sept 2).&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On Wednesday (Sept 1), Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the Health Ministry will be shifting its Covid-19 focus towards five states that have seen a rapid rise in infections.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;He had said Sabah, Johor, Kedah, Penang and Kelantan will be given boosts in terms of vaccination supply and human resource deployment in order to bring the infections in those states under control.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In line with such efforts, Hishammuddin, who is also Defence Minister, said the MAF is ready to assist with various efforts, especially in building field hospitals at states identified by the Health Ministry.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;The field hospitals will be able to give treatment to Covid-19 patients, especially those at Stage 3 and above.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;I believe the assistance of the MAF will lessen the burden of the Health Ministry in such states,&amp;quot; he added.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The MAF is also ready to deploy its vaccination team in efforts to boost vaccination at the five states, especially in rural areas, Hishammuddin said.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;The MAF is also ready to render assistance in other states including establishing drive through vaccination.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&amp;quot;The military is only waiting for confirmation of locations from the Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force (CITF),&amp;quot; he said.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;</description>
            <author>Divou</author>
            <category>Kopitiam</category>
            <pubDate>Thu, 02 Sep 2021 20:27:52 +0800</pubDate>
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