Pages

Share This

Saturday, March 29, 2025

Penangites shocked as Myanmar quake shakes high-rise buildings

 

GEORGE TOWN: A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar sent shockwaves as far as Penang, causing tremors that rattled high-rise buildings and left many startled.

Office workers in skyscrapers described feeling sudden dizziness, with some even witnessing objects wobbling around them.

Buletin Mutiara writer M. Thanushalini, 38, was focusing on work on the 47th floor when she suddenly sensed her surroundings swaying.

"I was in the middle of typing an article when I unexpectedly experienced vertigo. At first, I thought I was feeling dizzy as it only lasted a few seconds, so I continued working.

"It was only later, after learning about the earthquake, that I connected the dots. In my eight years here, this is the first time I’ve felt tremors from an earthquake," she said on Friday (March 28).

Penang Economic Planning Unit assistant secretary Zeulqarnain Wahid, 33, also felt the unsettling tremors from his 26th-floor office.

"The Hari Raya decorative lights in our office began to sway, and I felt lightheaded. Several colleagues also mentioned feeling the same, and we realised it was unusual.

"Fortunately, there was no need for evacuation," he said.

Those working in Komtar, Penang's tallest building, also reported feeling the tremors shortly after the earthquake struck at 2.21pm.

According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the earthquake occurred approximately 55km southwest of Mandalay, Myanmar, at a depth of 57km.

No tsunami threats were detected in Malaysia following the quake.

Related stories:

Friday, March 28, 2025

Boao forum conveys powerful roar of Asian engine

 

Ban Ki-moon, Boao Forum for Asia Chairman of the Board, addresses a plenary session at the BFA on March 27, 2025. Photo: IC




The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2025 opened on Thursday in Boao, South China's Hainan Province.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony, calling for strengthening mutual trust, enhancing win-win cooperation, promoting economic globalization and safeguarding the free trade system. 

Ding's remarks resonated with officials, business executives as well as scholars participating in the forum. They called for collaboration, highlighting China's role as a stabilizer and promoter of the global multilateral framework and free trade at a time when the world is facing increasing global challenges such as climate change and a complex international situation.

However, as voices for cooperation spoke loudly during the ongoing BFA, the US on Wednesday announced plans to impose 25-percent auto tariffs, with the measures set to take effect on April 2. Participants at the forum slammed the US' irresponsible move, saying that unilateralism has no future.

China presents opportunity

On the Chinese economy, Ding said economic performance in the country has been running steadily with a stronger outlook. The country will do its best to fulfill this year's goals and tasks for economic and social development, he said. "China is confident of realizing these goals and will contribute to development in Asia and the world."

Noting that China has set an economic growth target of around 5 percent for 2025, Michele Geraci, former Undersecretary of State at the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, told the Global Times that "I think 5 percent is a very, very good number...we do know that China is now evolving into a high-tech, innovative model, and this is also reassuring."

"This year, technology and innovation will become the main driver for China's economy," Geraci said, taking DeepSeek as an example, "It's open source, it's cheap, it's fast. DeepSeek is more efficient in the use of resources... and when we have a tech revolution that makes the hardware cheaper, that means that the whole world now can start developing applications on top of this hardware that is not as expensive as we thought it would be."

Wang Huiyao, founder and president of the Center for China and Globalization, a leading Chinese nongovernmental think tank, said that China is once again sending a signal to the world of its continuous opening-up, and the country will put the goals set during the annual two sessions into practice this year. "This has given the world a 'reassuring pill,' and China serves as the ballast stone of global development," Wang told the Global Times.

Jenny Shipley, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, told the Global Times on Thursday during the forum that "One of the greatest strengths of the Boao forum is that it brings government leaders and visitors from around the world, and they cherish the moment to be able to hear the update."

"The speech this morning gave real clarity on areas that China is focusing on. And I know that many people will take that back to their own businesses and to their home economies and think about how we can as partners leverage together. So it was an excellent speech, refreshing in this moment where people are very distracted. And I think we'll create some positive momentum after this conference," she noted.

Unilateralism vs multilateralism

While the BFA was advocating multilateral cooperation and free trade, the US announced on Wednesday its decision to impose 25 percent tariffs on imports of automobiles and certain automobile parts under the name of a so-called national security threat, a move that CNN described as "a significant escalation in a global trade war."

The new levies on cars and light trucks will take effect on April 3, the day after US plans to announce reciprocal tariffs aimed at the countries responsible for the bulk of the US trade deficit, Reuters reported. They come on top of duties already introduced on steel and aluminum, and on goods from China.

Speaking at a session of the BFA themed "US Foreign Policy and Its Implications on Asia-Pacific Cooperation" on Thursday, panelists from home and abroad outlined their respective concerns over the US government's tariff policy, saying that the move will not serve its purpose but backfire on the US.

"Do not try hard to understand the new US administration's trade policy. It is based on many falsehoods and many basic misunderstandings. It is primitive," US economist Jeffrey Sachs said at Thursday's session.

"If you do the basic arithmetic, the tariffs don't come anywhere close to offsetting the tax cuts for the richest people in America... they (tariffs) hit the poor Americans," Sachs said.

The American economist also noted that the tariffs will not protect the corresponding US industry but will have the opposite effect. "When the auto duties were announced, what happened to the auto share prices? They went down 5 percent... this will harm the US auto industry, making it permanently uncompetitive," Sachs said.

Responding to the tariff policy of the new US administration, Cui Tiankai, a former Chinese Ambassador to the US, said at the session that "more tariffs is an indication of less competitiveness... afraid of competition. It's a lack of confidence."

The latest tariff moves, particularly the increased tariffs on the automotive sector, are part of a broader pattern of escalating measures by the new US administration, Wang Huiyao said.

Wang believes the 25 percent tariff hike on automobiles will have little impact on China, "as we do not export many cars to the US." In contrast, this move will have a significant effect on other countries, such as those in Europe and Japan, Wang said.

In stark contrast with the US move, China has a clear perspective on tariffs, which is exemplified by offering zero-tariff treatment on 100 percent of tariff lines to the 43 least developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations in a bid to support their development and foster mutual benefits.

While the US raises tariffs, we are lowering them, creating a dynamic contrast, Wang said. 

Zheng Yongnian, dean of the School of Public Policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, said during the BFA that we should not underestimate the ability of China's opening-up policy to reshape the global trading system. China has now entered a high level of openness, and its unilateral opening-up is the best international public platform.

"History has proven time and again that only with opening-up and cooperation can a better prospect be embraced. China will continue to join hands with all parties to create an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for sci-tech development, bringing benefits to more countries and peoples," Guo Jiakun, spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry, said on Thursday.


RELATED ARTICLES


Thursday, March 27, 2025

Police patrol many homes in safe hands

 

Keeping a watchful eye: Lans Kpl Mohammad Azwan Azman (left) and Konstabel Muhammad Al Mubarak Zulkifli, from the Taman Tun Dr Ismail police station in Kuala Lumpur, checking and patrolling homes as residents return to their hometowns for Hari Raya. — File pic

PETALING JAYA: More than 3,000 crime hotspots will be watched by police during patrols for the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations, says Bukit Aman.

The balik kampung holiday exodus, which begins this weekend, will also see the deployment of more than 6,000 personnel from the Crime Prevention and Community Safety Depart­ment (JPJKK) throughout the dura­tion of Op Selamat, from March 29 to April 3.

Speaking to The Star, Bukit Aman JPJKK director Comm Datuk Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad said 3,148 crime prevention hotspots had been identified across the country.

“These hotspots are identified based on reports received by the police regarding crimes involving property and violence and have been studied by the JPJKK chiefs at the state and district levels,” he said.

Selangor tops the number of hotspots with 764, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 446.

Comm Wan Hassan said JPJKK would focus on efforts to reduce property crime rates such as burglary cases throughout the period of Op Selamat.

“To achieve this objective, the elements within JPJKK that will be fully mobilised are the Mobile Patrol Vehicle (MPV) and Motor­cycle Patrol Unit (URB) elements.

“This will involve more frequent patrols in residential areas and high-risk locations,” he said.

A total of 2,670 patrol cars and 1,800 URB motorcycles along with 6,543 personnel from MPV and URB will be deployed for patrol duties through this festive season.

(Click To Enlarge)(Click To Enlarge)

“Patrols will be conducted 24 hours in shifts, covering 1,129 patrol areas,” he said, adding that leave had been frozen and would only be granted for emergency cases.

Police statistics show that there was a slight increase in burglary cases during the Raya period last year compared to previous years.

There was a total of 190 burglary and theft cases in 2024 compared to 166 in 2023 and 172 in 2022.

Comm Wan Hassan said crime prevention patrols during the festive season and Op Selamat will also focus on homes that have been left vacant by residents returning to their hometowns, where residents have made movement reports at nearby police stations or through online reports using the Volunteer Smart­­phone app.

“Based on the information received, frontline personnel will carry out more frequent patrols at these places,” he said.

“Checks show that most of these burglary cases involve homes or premises whose occupants had not reported their return to their hometown to the police.”

Additional patrols will also be conducted by other elements within the police force, including patrols at the police station levels.

Comm Wan Hassan advised those who are not returning to their hometowns to report suspicious activities to the police.

Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay said Bukit Aman had identified 432 congestion hotspots and 122 accident blackspots nationwide.

For highways and expressways, police found hotspots and 46 black­spots, while federal, state and city roads contained 407 hotspots and 76 blackspots.

“Traffic Investigation and Enforce­ment Department (JSPT) personnel will be on hand to monitor the situation continuously and provide assistance in case of emergencies or vehicle breakdowns.

“The presence of JSPT personnel is aimed at facilitating traffic if a major congestion occurs.

“Stern action will also be taken against any traffic offenders.”

“Close to 7,000 JSPT personnel will be on duty for this year’s Ops Selamat.

“We advise the public to abide by traffic regulations and drive or ride safely.

“Road users must also ensure their vehicles are at optimum level and get enough sleep and rest before beginning their journeys,” he said.

Source link

Make sure your vehicles have a 'selamat' Hari Raya too



Volunteer Smartphone Patrol (VSP) @Rakan Cop adalah medium perantara untuk merapatkan jurang antara polis dan masyarakat. Ia mengambil konsep yang mudah dan ...
Volunteer Smartphone Patrol (VSP) from malaysia.gov.my


Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Learn about your urine – it tells you more about your health than you think

 

Your urine can tell you several things about your diet and health even without a test. — 123rf

Go ahead, get the giggles out of the way; we’re about to take a close look at urine, and in such conversations, bathroom humour is often the number one byproduct.

But once you’re through, perhaps you can also relieve yourself of the notion that urine is simply material for third-grade (primary school) punchlines – or even simple at all.

Urine is the result of a fascinating and complex system – of which the kidneys are the star – that evolved to keep our internal systems in balance, said University of Alabama at Birmingham cardio-renal physiology and medicine co-director and professor of medicine Dr David Pollock.

“It’s basically what keeps your cells alive,” he said.

“It maintains the internal environment of your entire body.”

Which makes understanding what’s in your pee important.

And that begins with understanding how it’s made.

Kidney control

Urine is created in the kidneys, whose job is usually described as filtering blood.

But the kidneys do much more than that, Prof Pollock said.

“There’s a very close relationship between the heart and the kidneys,” he said.

The kidneys control how much sodium and water your body retains.

That water equates to the volume of blood you carry, and the greater the volume, the higher the pressure will be.

And that makes the kidneys the primary organ in charge of blood pressure.

“And basically, the kidney is responsible for making sure that it doesn’t get too high,” said Prof Pollack.

The kidneys control that volume by regulating sodium.

When sodium is retained, blood volume goes up.

The kidneys also regulate potassium, which helps limit the effects of sodium.

Both are electrolytes, and the kidneys maintain electrolytes at “very, very precise concentrations,” said George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences professor of medicine Dr Janani Rangaswami.

Those concentrations can significantly affect health, said the chief of nephrology at the Washington VA Medical Center.

Electrolyte imbalances such as low sodium levels, can lead to seizures.

High or very low potassium could lead to heart rhythm problems.

The kidneys also balance the blood’s acidity and filter out waste products, as well as some drugs, from the bloodstream.

The result of all this balancing and filtering is urine.

It flows from the kidneys through the ureters to the bladder, where it’s stored until the next commercial break, rest area or whenever it’s your turn in the bathroom.

Depending on a person’s size, the kidneys might filter around 48 gallons (181.7l) of blood each day, Prof Rangaswami said.

That might yield up to a couple of quarts (1.9l) of urine, although it’s important to not fixate on how much urine you produce, she said.

Patients sometimes get the mistaken notion that “if they don’t have a certain urine output, that’s a bad thing, which is not true,” she said.

In reality, the amount can be “all over the place”, varying because of how much fluid you’re drinking, the health of your kidneys and the medications you may be taking.

Urine composition

The exact composition of urine can vary day to day as well, she said.

But most of it – from 91% to 96% – is water.

Thousands of additional components have been identified in urine.

Prof Pollock and Prof Rangaswami say these are the most prominent ones:

Urea

“Your body takes the protein that you eat, it breaks it down and takes energy from it, and then you have urea left over,” Prof Pollock said.

Urea is mostly nitrogen.

It makes a good fertiliser, and bacteria break it down into ammonia.

This made urine valuable in pre-industrial times for everything from tanning leather to cleaning laundry.

In ancient Rome, urine was collected from public toilets, and it was taxed.

Ammonia is what makes urine smell the way it does, Prof Pollock said.

Electrolytes

In addition to sodium and potassium, electrolytes include chloride, magnesium and calcium.

Phosphorus, another electrolyte, is what causes urine to glow under ultraviolet light.

Uric acid

This nitrogen-based compound is created when the body breaks down food and drinks that contain chemicals called purines.

Meats, seafood, beer, beans and some vegetables are high in purines.

Too much uric acid can lead to kidney stones or gout.

Creatinine

This waste product is created as muscles work and as protein is digested.

A test called UACR, which stands for urine albumin-creatinine ratio, looks for albumin, a protein that can be a warning sign of kidney disease, Prof Rangaswami said.

That, along with blood tests that look at creatinine or urea nitrogen levels, can give doctors a good idea of current kidney function and future risk for worsening kidney function.

That’s important, she said, because “kidney disease is a powerful risk enhancer for cardiovascular disease”.

Observing your pee

Although urinalysis is as old as medicine itself – Sumerian and Babylonian physicians recorded their findings on clay tablets 6,000 years ago, and Sanskrit texts from 100 BC noted 20 types of urine – your urine can tell you several things even without a test.

Urine gets its yellow colour from a chemical called urobilin, or urochrome.

But the intensity of that colour can vary depending on how much water you’ve been drinking.

“A lot of patients wrongly infer that if their urine looks concentrated, or if it’s dark yellow, that something is wrong,” Prof Rangaswami said.

“That’s just a reflection of the urine being more concentrated.

“And usually, drinking more fluids will make it clear.

“So there is no reason to get concerned every time you notice a slight change in the colour.”

Certain foods, such as beets and asparagus, and some medications can also cause exotic, but harmless, changes in the colour or smell of urine, she said.

But “any blood that is visible in the urine should always prompt a medical evaluation,” Prof Rangaswami said.

And persistent foamy urine could be a sign of too much protein in the urine.

This would be a symptom to discuss with a doctor, she said, particularly for someone who is at risk for kidney disease.

That would include people with diabetes, obesity or high blood pressure.

Prof Rangaswami encourages people to make sure their healthcare team is performing routine UACR tests to monitor kidney health, and to follow a doctor’s advice if they have specific conditions such as kidney stones.

But for the most part, healthy urine flows naturally from healthy kidneys, and kidneys are kept healthy by the same habits that help the rest of the body.

“In terms of diet, what would generally be considered a heart-healthy diet is also a kidney-healthy diet,” she said.

That would include eating less sodium and more fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, while backing off on heavily-processed foods.

Overall, Prof Rangaswami said, a conversation about urine is a good way to put the importance of kidney health in focus.

And “anything we can do to protect and keep the kidneys healthy is going to be good for their heart as well”. – By Michael Merschel/American Heart Association News/Tribune

Source link

Related stories:


Related posts:










Boosting your metabolic rateain fog

A lack of this important mineral could be causing you health problems without you even knowing it.