Sayings getting older

This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on August 1, 2022 - August 07, 2022. Koong: Many SMEs are in a bind - A + A A growing number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are stepping forward to ask for assistance to cope with their loan repayments, according to Koong Lin Loong, treasurer-general and chairman of the SMEs committee at the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM). Koong tells The Edge that the financial impact on SMEs after more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, compounded by current hurdles such as rising raw material prices, high operating costs and labour shortages, have led to cash flow issues and forced many businesses to their knees. “Many SMEs are in a bind as they may come to a point where they can no longer service their loans, yet their cash-strapped plight renders their businesses ineligible for new borrowings,” he says, adding that other SME groups lament similar … [Read more...] about Cover Story: ‘More SMEs struggling to cope with existing loans, and getting new loans’

Thailand is notorious for its human trafficking problems, but a Phuket government sub-committee says it has found no human trafficking cases on the island province. The sub-committee works with the Phuket Provincial Trafficking Prevention and Suppression Action Center. At a meeting at City Hall yesterday, Phuket’s vice governor said the sub-committee’s efforts are focusing on five key areas of human trafficking: labour, prostitution, people living in poverty, and migrants, especially Rohingyas from Myanmar. Vice Governor Anupap, who is also the centre’s chairman, says officials have inspected fishing boats and ports, and have found no cases of any type of human trafficking. Anupap said the finding is a positive sign. He said the reason officials haven’t found trafficking cases is because measures have been taken continuously. He stressed, however, that officials can’t ditch their efforts to fight trafficking, and all departments are continuing to surveil for any trafficking … [Read more...] about Phuket officials say no human trafficking cases found in island province

| PHOTO: The Nation/Asia News Network BANGKOK — A top virologist has said that human beings will have to live with Covid-19 forever, though the virus would be less severe as we would build immunity against it. In a Facebook post on Thursday, Dr Yong Poovorawan of Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine, said it was a natural law, citing several diseases that had spread in the past, including smallpox and plague. He said that the available knowledge and the medical field at that time were not modern as in the current era, but humanity could still survive until today as the pandemics did not last for a long time like Covid-19. Explaining the survival instinct, Yong explained that once upon a time rabbits used to destroy a lot of crops so humans used a severe virus to kill rabbits and that became an epidemic for them. A lot of rabbits died but some of them built immunity to the virus and survived to reproduce in large numbers as in the past. Looking back at history, he … [Read more...] about COVID-19 is here to stay, top Thai virologist says

Filipino nurses (INQUIRER.net file photo) MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has supported a proposal to implement a “ladderized” program to address the “brain drain” among nurses in the country, Malacañang disclosed Thursday. According to a Palace statement, Marcos Jr. expressed his support during his meeting with members of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) in Malacañang on Thursday afternoon. “I like the ladderized idea for the nurses because that’s really becoming a problem – the brain drain that we are suffering,” Marcos Jr. was quoted as saying during the meeting. “They are so good everybody wants them, and they are willing to pay for it, and we are not, or we’re not able. So we have to come up with some strategies for that,” the President added. READ: Nurses’ exodus: Choice obvious between better future abroad, shabby treatment at home During the meeting, Department of Health (DOH) officer-in-charge Ma. Rosario Vergeire raised the idea … [Read more...] about Proposed ladderized program for nurses gets Bongbong Marcos’ backing

- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (August 12): Offshore wind is a proven technology on course to play a key role in the decarbonisation of the global economy and over the next decade, the industry will attract almost US$1 trillion in new investment, said  energy research and consultancy Wood Mackenzie (WoodMac). In an commentary on Thursday (Aug 11), WoodMac principal analyst for corporate research Akif Chaudhry said a growing number of competitors are flocking to take advantage of the massive opportunities that will be created by the boom. He said that right now, their share of the market is small, but ambition is ramping up as they bet bigger with their investments in the zero-carbon value chain. “And there is all to play for as the offshore wind industry scales rapidly and globally. “Even the lowest offshore wind portfolio average operating cash margin is above the upstream average,” he said. Chaudhry said offshore wind’s strong operating cash margin performance shows … [Read more...] about Global offshore wind industry to attract US$1 trillion investment over next decade, says WoodMac

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Just like that, the Boston Bruins’ window to contend for a championship has snapped back open. The Bruins dominated the NHL headlines with three announcements earlier this week. Captain Patrice Bergeron, at 37, signed a new contract to return for one more year. Center David Krejci, 36, also signed for one year after playing in his native Czechia in the 2021-22 season. And general manager Don Sweeney avoided the scheduled August 11 salary arbitration hearing with newly acquired Pavel Zacha, coming to terms with the 25-year-old on a one-year contract. It was a flurry of activity after the Bruins have had a relatively quiet summer. Other than trading for Zacha by sending veteran center Erik Haula to the New Jersey Devils, most of Boston’s news had been injury related. Last season’s leading scorer, Brad Marchand, is expected to be sidelined until late November after having undergone surgery on both his hips in late May. … [Read more...] about Boston Bruins Get A Boost With Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci Set To Return

The weak ringgit will propel earnings of these sectors, say analysts - A + A KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 12): The weak ringgit, which depreciated by 4.9% in the second quarter of 2022 (2Q22) — from 4.2040 (March 31) to 4.4082 (June 30) — is expected to boost export-oriented companies' earnings. The sectors that analysts expect to benefit from the soft local currency include manufacturers such as furniture makers and semiconductor-related companies. When contacted, MIDF Research head of research Imran Yassin Md Yusof said the semiconductor sector stands to benefit from a depreciated ringgit against the greenback, as export demand remains strong. Meanwhile, OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Bhd executive director of wealth advisory Michael Lai said that the export sector has performed well on the back of the reopening of the economy with the electrical and electronics products segment being a key driver of Malaysia's export growth in 2022. Unisem (M) Bhd's latest result proved that … [Read more...] about The earnings of these sectors will get a boost from the weak ringgit

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Petty GMS Motorsports made it official Wednesday: Noah Gragson will move up to the NASCAR Cup series fulltime in 2023 driving the team’s No. 42 Chevrolet. “To be able to finally announce my plans for next season and officially say I will be competing full time in the NASCAR Cup Series is a dream come true,” said Gragson. “This is what we all dream of when we start racing at a young age, to be able to compete at the top level with the best in the world. I’m excited to join Petty GMS and drive a car that has so much history in our sport, the No. 42.” The 24-year-old Las Vegas native will replace driver Ty Gibbs at the end of this season. Gragson made his NASCAR debut in 2016 in the Truck series winning his first race at Martinsville Speedway with Kyle Busch Motorsports the following year. He ran the 2017-2018 seasons with winning again in 2018 and finishing second in the championship standings. Gragson has competed … [Read more...] about Noah Gragson Gets A Ticket To Drive Full Time For Petty GMS In Nascar’s Cup Series In 2023

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline The U.S. is one of the most divided countries when it comes to attitudes about the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a new Pew Research Center poll published Thursday, underscoring the political dividing lines that split the nation on key issues and the partisan nature of individuals’ response to vaccines and restrictions. Key Facts The partisan gap over the importance of getting vaccinated against Covid-19 in the U.S.—46 percentage points—was the largest among the countries Pew surveyed, according to the poll, which was conducted among 24,000 people between February and June 2022 in 19 countries including Canada, Singapore, Sweden, Spain, Japan, the U.K. and Israel. Liberal Americans—Democrats or Democrat-leaning independents—were far more likely than conservatives—Republicans or Republican-leaning independents—to say getting a vaccine is very important to be a good member of society, 64% and 20%, … [Read more...] about Covid Split U.S. Along Political Lines More Than Other Countries, Poll Finds

This article first appeared in City & Country, The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on August 1, 2022 - August 07, 2022. The Zhongshan Building, which was built in the 1950s, has been restored at a cost of RM1 million and now houses an arts and research community (Photo by Patrick Goh/The Edge) - A + A Kuala Lumpur is an amazing city. The mix of old and new buildings juxtaposed with pockets of greenery presents a tropical feel that only a few cities can boast of. As the city moves with the times, what is to be done to the older buildings? Should they be replaced with something sparkling new? Or should we consider the historical value they bring to the landscape? City & Country asks property experts about the practicalities of upgrading these old properties — be it through converting, refurbishing or rebuilding. “This is a very interesting and evergreen topic, where all developers or landowners would like to know what to do with their old buildings when they … [Read more...] about Is it worth upgrading KL’s old buildings?