Ministry aims to revamp 3D sector into high-income jobs

SHAH ALAM: The dirty, dangerous and difficult (3D) sector will be transformed into high-income jobs to reduce the dependence on foreign labour, says Human Resources Ministry secretary-­general Datuk Seri Dr Zaini Ujang. Read full story

S.Africa avoids Putin arrest dilemma at BRICS meeting

SOUTH Africa attempted to shift attention away from its stance on the Ukraine conflict today as it hosted a BRICS meeting overshadowed by questions about a possible visit to the country by Russian President Vladimir Putin.   Top diplomats from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa met in Cape Town for a second day of […]

Breast cancer drug shown to reduce recurrence risk

EVEN when the disease is caught early, breast cancer recurrence is relatively commonplace – and for survivors, the prospect can be daunting.   A drug developed by Swiss pharmaceutical maker Novartis reduced this risk by a quarter in a large group of early-stage survivors of the most common type of breast cancer, according to clinical trial […]

Nato chief to visit Turkey for Erdogan inauguration

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg will visit Turkey this weekend to attend the inauguration of re-elected President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and hold talks with him, the alliance said today. The trip comes as pressure builds on Erdogan to drop his opposition to Sweden joining Nato.

Halal certification by Jakim does not cover animal feed

THE halal certification by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is focused on food for human consumption and does not cover animal feed, said the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS).  In a statement issued today, DVS said the halal logo cannot be used on labels for animal feed. 

Chong Wei urges Taufik to seek clarification with BWF

NATIONAL badminton great Lee Chong Wei has urged former Indonesian badminton champion Taufik Hidayat to seek clarification from the Badminton World Federation (BWF) over his recent induction into the BWF Hall of Fame.  Speaking to Bernama, Chong Wei admitted that he was unhappy and surprised with Taufik’s statement that seemed to indicate his disagreement over the selection, […]

Taiwan tribe despairs as drought shrinks bamboo crop

HACKING at a bamboo plant with a machete, Avayi Vayayana peels back the shoot’s stiff bark as he scans southern Taiwan’s mountains, anxious for more of the money-making crop his indigenous tribe increasingly struggles to find.   Generations of the Tsou tribe have lived off Alishan township’s bamboo forests, which Vayayana says were planted by his […]