Standard Chartered Bank are holding a roadshow until July 30 at Supa Save Mabohai.
The bank is showcasing their latest promotion on personal loans with exciting rates and credit cards, which includes a three-year annual fee waiver.
Additionally, any successful sign-ups for the bank’s services and products during the roadshow will be rewarded with exclusive giveaways, including shopping vouchers and other bank’s merchandise.
As a well-seasoned casual gamer with an unhealthy obsession with Pokémon, JRPGs, and life sims, puzzle games are never my go-to for a relaxing night of gaming. However, Tetris Effect: Connected has always been on my radar.
It’s forever on sale at the Nintendo eShop, and whenever my cursor floats above the thumbnail, I’m drawn in by the kaleidoscope of heavenly visuals and stimulating sounds, along with a soundtrack that can be both heart-pumping and breathtaking.
Tetris Effect: Connected is a stunning evolution of the classic Tetris formula, blending mesmerising visuals, a captivating soundtrack and innovative gameplay mechanics.
Available on the Nintendo Switch, this version of Tetris not only brings the timeless block-dropping puzzle action to a portable platform but also enhances it with a unique sensory experience that’s both engaging and visually arresting.
From the moment you launch Tetris Effect: Connected, you’re immersed in a world where sight, sound, and gameplay converge into a harmonious experience.
The game’s presentation is nothing short of spectacular. Each stage is beautifully crafted, featuring dynamic backgrounds that evolve as you play.
The synchronisation of music and sound effects with your actions creates an almost meditative state, making each cleared line feel immensely satisfying.
The musical score ranges from soothing ambient tracks to energetic beats, each piece perfectly complementing the visual theme of the level.
With the constant deluge of sights and sounds, it can be a challenging time sink for some. I recall my first day playing, and I must admit, I had to resort to practice mode because I couldn’t even get through the first level on Journey Mode due to the sensory overload.
That experience made me step away from the game for a while; it was frustrating.
However, Tetris has now become a mini daily ritual for me, where I tackle a few levels each day. Once you’re familiar with a stage, all those distractions just slide off like water off a duck’s back.
Speaking of Journey Mode, this is one of the standout features of this modern tetris; a single-player campaign that takes you through a series of levels, each with its own unique aesthetic and soundtrack.
The difficulty gradually increases, offering a balanced challenge that keeps you engaged without becoming frustrating.
There is also a new “Zone” mechanic which allows you to stop time and clear multiple lines at once, adding a strategic layer to the classic gameplay.
The Switch version of the game takes full advantage of the console’s portability. The vibrant OLED screen (if you’re using the OLED model) and excellent sound quality make it an ideal platform.
Whether you’re playing in handheld mode or docked on a television, the game looks and sounds fantastic. The controls are responsive and intuitive, ensuring smooth and precise gameplay.
Multiplayer is where Tetris Effect: Connected truly shines. The “Connected” mode allows you to team up with two other players to take on AI-controlled bosses, adding a cooperative twist to the classic gameplay. This mode requires communication and teamwork, as you share a collective board and must work together to clear lines and defeat the boss. It’s a refreshing take on multiplayer Tetris that emphasises cooperation over competition.
For those who prefer traditional competitive play, there are also modes where you can go head-to-head with other players online.
The game also includes various other modes that cater to different playstyles. The “Effect Modes” offer a wide range of gameplay variations, from relaxing sessions where you can play at your own pace to intense challenges that test your skills.
These modes provide a great way to unwind or to push yourself, depending on what you’re in the mood for.
For now, my favourite stage is Ritual Passion, where Tetris blocks blaze with fire and humanoid figures engulfed in flames dance around a floating inferno.
The soundtrack is almost meditative, with fast beats and a South Asian-inspired melody that adds to the hypnotic experience. If you had told me I’d enjoy a puzzle game this much, let alone Tetris, I would have laughed in your face.
Tetris Effect: Connected on the Nintendo Switch is more than just a puzzle game; it’s an experience. The stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and innovative gameplay mechanics make it stand out from other Tetris titles.
It honours the legacy of the original game while pushing the boundaries of what Tetris can be. – Wardi Wasil
Drowning remains one of the most pressing public health issues worldwide, claiming an estimated 236,000 lives annually. It is the third leading cause of unintentional injury deaths, accounting for seven per cent of all injury-related fatalities.
Tragically, drowning is particularly devastating for children and young people aged one to 24 years, where it stands as a leading cause of death.
The impact of drowning extends across all regions and economies.
However, low- and middle-income countries bear the brunt, accounting for over 90 per cent of these deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific and Southeast Asia Regions are the most severely affected, with drowning rates in these areas being 27 to 32 times higher than those seen in the United Kingdom or Germany.
A WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REPORT
The Global Report on Drowning marks the first comprehensive attempt by the WHO to tackle this overlooked but preventable issue. This report aims to address the global drowning crisis through a strategic and evidence-based approach.
It outlines 10 key interventions designed to reduce drowning rates, offering a roadmap for non-governmental organisations, researchers, and policymakers to follow.
These interventions include practical measures such as installing barriers to control access to water, providing safe childcare facilities, and teaching swimming and water safety skills.
The report also emphasises the importance of public awareness and engagement in bolstering drowning prevention efforts.
WORLD DROWNING PREVENTION DAY: A GLOBAL REMINDER
World Drowning Prevention Day, established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in April 2021, is observed annually on July 25. This global event serves to spotlight the profound impact of drowning on families and communities and to advocate for preventive measures.
Stakeholders ranging from governments and UN agencies to civil society organisations and individuals are encouraged to participate.
Key actions include installing water barriers, offering safe places for children, and training both bystanders and professionals in rescue and resuscitation techniques.
The UN General Assembly resolution also tasked the WHO with leading drowning prevention efforts, including producing advocacy materials and supporting global and local initiatives.
UNDERSTANDING THE SCOPE
In 2019, drowning claimed approximately 236,000 lives, reflecting its significant burden on public health. Despite this, global estimates may underestimate the true scale of the problem. Drowning is particularly prevalent among children, males and individuals with frequent access to water.
Several factors contribute to the risk of drowning:
Age: The highest drowning rates are seen in children aged one to four years. In the WHO Western Pacific Region, children aged five to 14 years old experience the highest drowning rates compared to other causes.
Gender: Males are at a higher risk of drowning, with twice the mortality rate of females. Riskier behaviours such as swimming alone and alcohol use contribute to this disparity.
Access to Water: Individuals with frequent access to water, including those in occupations like fishing, and children living near open water, are more vulnerable.
Flood Disasters: Floods are a significant cause of drowning, accounting for 75 per cent of flood-related deaths. The increasing frequency and severity of floods, exacerbated by climate change, heighten these risks.
Water Travel: Overcrowded and unsafe vessels used for commuting or migration also pose drowning risks.
PREVENTION STRATEGIES
Effective drowning prevention requires a combination of strategies:
Physical barriers: Installing barriers around water bodies and using playpens for young children can significantly reduce drowning risk.
Community-based childcare: Supervised childcare programmes for pre-schoolers can prevent drowning and offer additional health benefits.
Swimming and water safety education: Teaching children swimming, water safety, and rescue skills is crucial. However, these programmes must be properly designed and supervised to ensure effectiveness.
Policy and legislation: Enforcing safe boating regulations, improving flood risk management, and developing national water safety strategies are essential for long-term prevention.
Investing in these interventions can yield substantial returns. For example, funding day-care programmes and swimming lessons could save 774,000 children from drowning by 2050 and prevent severe injuries in 178,000 children.
Each dollar invested in drowning prevention can return up to nine times its value, potentially saving over USD400 billion in economic losses.
WHO: ROLE AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
The WHO has been instrumental in addressing drowning as a global health issue. The 2017 publication, Preventing Drowning: An Implementation Guide, provides practical guidance for implementing prevention strategies.
The UN General Assembly’s 2021 resolution and the 2023 World Health Assembly’s commitment to accelerate action through 2029 highlight the importance of global and multi-sectoral coordination.
At the country level, WHO supports the development of national drowning prevention strategies and funds research in low-income countries. Regional efforts include training programmes and workshops to unite various stakeholders in combating drowning.
While drowning is a significant and often overlooked public health issue, comprehensive and coordinated efforts can make a profound difference.
Through effective prevention strategies, public awareness, and international collaboration, we can work towards a world where drowning is no longer a leading cause of death. – Borneo Bulletin Features Desk
KUALA LUMPUR (BERNAMA) – Strict enforcement and penalties for individuals committing cyberattacks need to be implemented to curb the escalating situation, says crime analyst Shahul Hamid Abdul Rahim.
He stressed that the issue requires serious attention as cybercrime in the country has become increasingly complex.
“The country has laws, regulations, and penalties, but if enforcement is not carried out seriously, the threat to the nation will continue. The Cyber Security Act has been established and is still new, so I haven’t seen it used seriously yet.
“Enforcement is not being practised thoroughly. Investigations, prosecutions, and arrests need to be conducted so that those who intend to hack data will be wary because we are serious about implementing the Act.
“(We need to) reexamine existing standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure they are accurate and effective because proving cyberattacks is not easy and requires many specifications in the investigation,” he said during the Ruang Bicara programme produced by Bernama TV on Wednesday, July 24.
Shahul Hamid emphasised that the laws should be re-evaluated to determine whether they are sufficient or need improvement to effectively address cyberattacks.
“We need to conduct serious investigations and prosecute offenders with heavier charges. If there are weaknesses in enforcement, we may need to amend sections and penalties for the offenders.
“For example, recently, netizens were dissatisfied with the maximum MYR100 fine imposed on a welfare home owner for intentionally using abusive language, which led to the death of an influencer. This involves people’s dignity and other such matters,” he said.
Additionally, he suggested that social media users be educated to handle and identify cyber threats and scams.
“We need to educate users on best security practices. This education must start from home through parents, then move to the school level and beyond.
“Children are already proficient with phones, they are smart and can access various websites, so education needs to come from home first.
“This includes scam crimes. Malaysians are easily deceived; a little pleading, and they immediately hand over what they have. Be cautious when using social media, if someone you don’t know contacts you, immediately stop the conversation,” he said.
DHAKA (AFP) – Bangladesh further eased a nationwide curfew Thursday as students weighed the future of their protest campaign against civil service hiring rules that sparked days of deadly unrest last week.
Last week’s violence killed at least 191 people including several police officers, according to an AFP count of victims reported by police and hospitals during some of the worst unrest of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s tenure.
Thousands of troops are still patrolling cities and a nationwide internet shutdown remains largely in effect, but clashes have subsided since protest leaders announced a temporary halt to new demonstrations.
Hasina’s government ordered another relaxation to the curfew it imposed at the height of the unrest, allowing free movement for seven hours between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm.
Streets in the capital Dhaka, a sprawling megacity of 20 million people, were choked with commuter traffic in the morning, days after ferocious clashes between police and protesters had left them almost deserted.
Banks, government offices and the country’s economically vital garment factories had already reopened on Wednesday after all being shuttered last week.
Student leaders were set to meet later Thursday to decide whether or not to again extend their protest moratorium, which is due to expire on Friday.
Students Against Discrimination, the group responsible for organising this month’s rallies, said it expected a number of concessions from the government.
“We demand an apology from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the nation for the mass murder of students,” Asif Mahmud, one of the group’s coordinators, told AFP.
“We also want the sacking of the home minister and education minister.”
Mahmud added that the estimated toll in the unrest was understated, with his group working on its own list of confirmed deaths.
Police have arrested at least 2,500 people since the violence began last week, according to an AFP tally.
Protests began after the June reintroduction of a scheme reserving more than half of government jobs for certain candidates, including nearly a third for descendants of veterans from Bangladesh’s independence war.
With around 18 million young people in Bangladesh out of work, according to government figures, the move deeply upset graduates facing an acute jobs crisis.
Critics say the quota is used to stack public jobs with loyalists to Hasina’s Awami League.
The Supreme Court cut the number of reserved jobs on Sunday but fell short of protesters’ demands to scrap the quotas entirely.
Hasina, 76, has ruled the country since 2009 and won her fourth consecutive election in January after a vote without genuine opposition.
Her government is also accused by rights groups of misusing state institutions to entrench its hold on power and stamp out dissent, including the extrajudicial killing of opposition activists.
TOKYO (AFP) – Keita Suzuki leads a group of young analogue photography fans around a coastal city in Japan, stopping to snap pastel hydrangea blooms with bulky vintage film cameras.
The participants later share their lush retro-looking snaps online – a trend a top Japanese camera brand wants to capture with its first new film model in two decades.
Instead of pressing a smartphone button, more and more young people “want to experience the original act of taking a photograph: winding the film up, looking through the viewfinder and releasing the shutter”, Suzuki told AFP.
Another “beauty” of film photography is that with limited physical film, you must think carefully about which memories to “lock in” to each photograph, he said.
Suzuki advertises his tours on social media and has seen a growing interest from teens and 20-somethings loading 35mm film and taking it to be developed for the first time.
Yuriko Yamada was one of around 20 people who joined a recent gathering in Kamakura near Tokyo.
“Digital photos are clear and clean, but film ones have faint, soft colours, which I prefer,” the 34-year-old said.
“It takes time to see the final product, but I really enjoy the process,” she added. “It feels nostalgic.”
Japan’s biggest camera brands stopped making analogue film models in the 2000s as digital ones became dominant.
Countless camera sellers in Japan’s big cities have since stepped up to fill the void, refurbishing old models for a new generation of analogue enthusiasts.
Despite the surge in popularity, many of those on the photo tour said they still find it difficult to repair their old cameras because the parts are no longer being produced.
Many hurdles
To meet rising demand from new film fans, the USD500 Pentax 17 – the brand’s first analogue model in 21 years – was launched in Europe and the United States in June, and Japan this month.
The camera has a classic black appearance but takes half-frame photos, meaning a 24-exposure film yields 48 shots, which are portrait-orientated like phone photos.
It has been so popular in Japan that pre-orders sold out, according to manufacturer Ricoh Imaging Company.
Product planner and designer Takeo Suzuki, nicknamed TKO – a revered figure among photography fans – said Ricoh had been “surprised” by the “huge” global response.
Plans to release a new analogue camera were hatched around 2020, but weren’t easy to realise.
“This was a completely new project, so it was like groping in the dark,” Suzuki said.
“There were so many hurdles, but we received a lot of support from many people.”
Pentax engineers used archive drawings of past cameras, some on paper, to try and make manual winders and other analogue technology.
But they struggled, so the company asked retired colleagues to come back to help.
“They taught us tips and tricks that were not on the blueprints, but were really recipes in the engineer’s head,” Suzuki said.
By doing so, they “revived the old technology little by little”.
Spark conversations
Instant and disposable film cameras made by Ricoh’s rival Fujifilm have also become popular as the trend for sharing old-fashioned photos on social media grows.
Sales of the palm-sized Instax, launched in 1998 as a competitor to Polaroid, stagnated for several years in the 2000s due to the shift to digital cameras.
But they are rising again in part thanks to an expanded range including sleek, classic designs made to appeal to men and older customers, the company says.
“People enjoy prints as a communication tool, because they spark conversations,” said senior Fujifilm manager Ryuichiro Takai, who is responsible for the Instax business.
Young customers at Popeye Camera, a specialist film photography shop in Tokyo’s Jiyugaoka district, seem to agree.
Yoshinobu Ishikawa took over the family business in 2000, when the rise of digital cameras had nearly forced the shop’s closure.
Back then, “young people found it difficult to enter” as mostly older male customers would be having “intimidating, technical conversations” with staff, he said.
But now Ishikawa actively courts them with fun items such as stickers to decorate photos and leather camera straps, as well as a custom developing service – speaking to customers beforehand about the style they want.
“Young people see film photography shared on social media, and they want to try it themselves,” he said.
Yamada, the photo tour participant, says she feels “more and more into film photography”.
“It’s inconvenient, but I feel it’s something new.”
Magistrate Hajah Normazdina binti Haji Md Maskub on Thursday sentenced Haji Julaime bin Yakup, 49, to six months in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges of theft.
The defendant admitted to stealing two backpacks from a convenience store on July 15.
Co-accused, Armi bin Haji Sarbini, 66, pleaded not guilty and is set to reappear in court on August 1.
Prosecutor Abdul Hanan bin Haji Erwan revealed that on the day of the theft, the defendant and an accomplice were driven to the vicinity of the convenience store by a designated getaway driver. There the defendant and his accomplice observed the unattended backpacks. The defendant stole the bags. The theft was captured on the store’s CCTV.
The stolen items, including a laptop, a pen drive, and other personal belongings, were later recovered by the police. The victims discovered the theft after reviewing CCTV footage.
The defendant, who has prior convictions, was promptly arrested following a police investigation. – FADLEY FAISAL
TOKYO (AFP) – Nissan tumbled more than 10 per cent on Thursday after the Japanese automaker issued a profit warning, citing “intense sales competition”, especially in the United States.
The company and its domestic rivals are also struggling to stand their ground in China’s market as fast-growing electric vehicle firms backed by Beijing race ahead.
Net profit in the first quarter plunged 73 per cent year-on-year to JPY28.6 billion (USD190 million), Nissan said — far below analyst expectations of JPY97.1 billion.
The auto giant now predicts a full-year net profit of JPY300 billion (USD2 billion), down from JPY380 billion previously forecast.
“Our first-quarter results were very challenging” and “we have implemented measures to recover our performance,” CEO Makoto Uchida said in a statement.
“From the second half we aim to maximise sales of new and refreshed models to achieve the revised forecast of sales volume and profit,” he added.
Although global sales remained even, “profit was impacted by increased sales incentives and marketing expenses to meet intense sales competition and optimise inventory,” particularly in the United States, Nissan said.
The disappointing first-quarter earnings come after the company nearly doubled full-year net profit in 2023-24, partly thanks to the weak yen inflating its takings.
On Thursday, Nissan shares tanked 11 percent right after the earnings release but recovered to close down 6.98 per cent.
In China, competition also “remained intense”, but Nissan performed well among international brands, chief financial officer Stephen Ma said.
Uchida said at a Financial Times summit in May that Nissan would work with Chinese firms to launch five new electric or hybrid vehicles in the country within the next two years, calling operating in the market there “a survival game”.
Nissan recently ceased production at a factory west of Shanghai as part of efforts to cut production capacity.
A company spokesman confirming the move said Nissan was “committed to China under the strategy of ‘in China, for China’ with a focus on NEV transformation, corporate value, and overall competitiveness in the Chinese market”.
The plant in Changzhou was a joint venture with state-owned Chinese auto company Dongfeng Motor.
It had an annual capacity of 130,000 vehicles — eight percent of Nissan and Dongfeng’s total capacity in China — and only opened in 2020, according to Japanese media.
Japan’s Honda is also struggling with sales in China and plans to reduce its annual car output capacity there by 50,000 units, Kyodo News reported on Thursday.
China overtook Japan as the world’s biggest vehicle exporter last year, helped by its global dominance in electric cars as firms such as BYD speed ahead of international rivals.
SEOUL (AFP) – South Korean chip giant SK hynix reported its best quarterly profits in six years Thursday thanks to explosive global demand for artificial intelligence, but its shares tumbled with other tech firms following a hefty sell-off on Wall Street.
The world’s second-largest memory chip maker dominates the market for high-bandwidth memory (HBM) semiconductors and is a key supplier for Nvidia, which controls about 80 per cent of the global AI chip market.
SK hynix posted an operating profit of KRW5.47 trillion (USD3.96 billion) in April-June, its third consecutive quarterly profit after losses last year.
Net profit jumped 115 per cent on-year to KRW4.12 trillion and revenues surged 125 per cent to KRW16.42 trillion – a record quarterly high.
The company said “the continuous rise in overall prices of DRAM and NAND products with strong demand for AI memories including HBM led to 32 per cent increase in revenues compared to the previous quarter”.
Revenues for HBM chips rose more than 80 per cent from the previous quarter and 250 per cent on-year.
“The company will further solidify the position as a leader in AI memory products by focusing on developing the best process technology and high-performance products based on a stable financial structure,” said chief financial officer Kim Woo-hyun.
However, the firm’s shares plunged more than eight percent at one point, its biggest intraday drop since November 2022.
Rival Samsung Electronics sank more than two per cent.
The downturn was part of a wider retreat in tech stocks after the sector took a hammering on Wall Street in reaction to disappointing earnings from Tesla and Google-parent Alphabet.
In early July, SK group, the parent company of SK hynix and South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate, said it would invest KRW103 trillion in chips – the bulk into HBM chips.
SK hynix CEO Kwak Noh-jung said in May that its entire 2024 production of high-end memory chips had sold out and most of next year’s line was gone too, reflecting the huge demand for cutting-edge AI hardware.
