Police officers on Ladbroke Grove as the Notting Hill Carnival takes place in west London, England. PHOTO: AP
LONDON (AP) – Two people critically injured in attacks while attending London’s Notting Hill Carnival earlier this week have died, police said.
The Metropolitan Police force said 32-year-old Cher Maximen died early Saturday after being stabbed in the street on August 25. She had been visiting the carnival, billed as Europe’s biggest street party, with her child, who was not hurt.
A 20-year-old local man was arrested and charged with attempted murder, and is now likely to face a murder charge.
Police also announced the death of Mussie Imnetu, 41, who was found unconscious in a west London street with a head injury last Monday night.
The chef had been visiting Britain from his home in Dubai.
A 31-year-old London man has been charged with causing grievous bodily harm, and police said the charge would be reviewed after Imnetu’s death. More than one million people each year attend the carnival, a two-day celebration of Afro-Caribbean culture that takes place on the streets of the Notting Hill neighbourhood in west London.
The event draws revelers from around the world for its flamboyant dancers, colourful costumes, rousing steel bands and booming outdoor sound systems, but is sometimes marred by violence on the sidelines.
Police said eight people were stabbed at the event this year and more than 300 people were arrested, most for possessing an offensive weapon or drug offences.
“Carnival is about bringing people together in a positive celebration. That it has ended with the tragic loss of life, among other incidents of serious violence, will sadden everyone involved,” said the police spokesperson for Carnival Commander Charmain Brenyah.
Police officers on Ladbroke Grove as the Notting Hill Carnival takes place in west London, England. PHOTO: AP
The site of the helicopter crash in Kamchatka, Russia. PHOTO: AFP
AFP – Rescuers yesterday said they had found 17 bodies after a helicopter crashed with 22 people aboard in Russia’s Kamchatka peninsula in the far east.
The helicopter went missing shortly after takeoff on Saturday carrying 19 tourists and three crew, regional authorities said.
Kamchatka is a picturesque, wild region popular for adventure tourism due to its active volcanoes and pristine nature.
Rescuers spotted the remains of the helicopter yesterday morning in a hilly area at a height of 900 metres, Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov said in a video posted on Telegram.
Aerial video footage posted by Russia’s Emergency Situations Ministry showed helicopter debris lying on a slope close to the top of a large wooded hill.
The ministry said the aircraft was found close to the location where it went off the radar.
A ministry official, Ivan Lemikhov, said: “At this moment we have already found 17 bodies.The rescuers have set up camp and the search has halted until daybreak,” he added.
The Mi-8 is a Soviet-designed military helicopter that is widely used for transport in Russia.
The helicopter that crashed was operated by a Kamchatka-based company called Vityaz-aero that organises flights for tourists, according to the Emergencies Ministry.
Accidents involving planes and helicopters are very frequent in Russia’s far eastern region, which is sparsely populated and where many areas are only accessible by helicopter.
In August 2021, a Mi-8 helicopter with 16 people on board including 13 tourists crashed into a lake in Kamchatka due to poor visibility, killing eight.
In July the same year, a plane crashed as it came in to land on the peninsula, with 22 passengers and six crew aboard, all of whom were killed.
The site of the helicopter crash in Kamchatka, Russia. PHOTO: AFP
The damaged bus after it overturned on Interstate 20 in Mississippi, United States. PHOTO: AP
BOVINA (AP) – Seven people were killed and dozens were injured in Mississippi, United States (US) after a commercial bus overturned on Interstate 20 on Saturday morning, according to the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
Six passengers were pronounced dead at the scene and another died at a hospital, according to a news release. The bus was travelling west when it left the highway near Bovina in Warren County and flipped over. No other vehicle was involved.
The crash was caused by tyre failure, the National Transportation Safety Board said on the social media platform X. The bus was operated by Autobuses Regiomontanos. A woman who answered the phone at its Laredo, Texas, office said it was aware of the crash, but she didn’t answer questions or provide her name.
The transit company said it has 20 years of experience providing cross-border trips between 100 destinations in Mexico and the US. Its website promotes “a modern fleet of buses that receive daily maintenance”, and offers “trips with a special price for workers”.
The dead included a six-year-old boy and his 16-year-old sister, according to Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey. They were identified by their mother.
Authorities were working to identify the other victims, he said.
Thirty-seven passengers were taken to hospitals in Vicksburg and Jackson.
The department is continuing its investigation and hasn’t released the names of the deceased.
No other information was immediately provided.
The damaged bus after it overturned on Interstate 20 in Mississippi, United States. PHOTO: AP
ANN/ THE DAILY STAR – In a world where cognitive abilities and technical skills are frequently emphasized as key drivers of success, the significance of emotional intelligence (EI) is often underappreciated. Yet, EI – a concept brought into the spotlight by psychologist Daniel Goleman – plays a crucial role in enhancing our daily interactions and professional accomplishments.
Mohammad Moqsud Malaque, a seasoned consultant, trainer, facilitator, and practitioner in the mental health field at Monobikash Foundation, shares his valuable insights on EI.
UNDERSTANDING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Often abbreviated as EI or EQ for “emotional quotient”, emotional intelligence refers to the ability to perceive, evaluate, and manage emotions in oneself and others. He defines emotional intelligence as “the ability to manage our own emotions and understand the emotions of people around us”.
From the first cries of an infant signalling hunger to the complex emotional dynamics in a corporate office, EI is integral to navigating life’s varied challenges. Malaque’s extensive experience reveals that regardless of mental ability, “we all have intelligence”, pointing to the universality and importance of EI in enhancing personal well-being, fostering healthy relationships, and driving professional success.
EVERYDAY APPLICATIONS OF EI
In everyday life, emotional intelligence manifests in various practical ways. Consider the scenario of a family disagreement. A person with high EI might first recognise their feelings of frustration and then choose to respond calmly rather than impulsively.
Drawing from his professional observations, Malaque highlights how EI is pivotal in maintaining personal relationships. He noted, “If you can’t regulate your anger, you will eventually unleash it upon your loved ones, resulting in resentment and broken relationships.”
This practical example underlines the necessity of emotional intelligence in fostering and sustaining deep, meaningful connections with others.
PHOTO: ENVATOPHOTO: ENVATOPHOTO: ENVATO
EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE WORKPLACE
In professional settings, EI is vital. Malaque explains that regardless of one’s environment, from corporate offices with strict rules to more flexible workplaces, emotional intelligence is important. “You need to learn to cope with the ingrained system of the organisation with emotional intelligence,” he advised. This skill helps professionals balance responses, comply with team dynamics, and recognise personal strengths and limitations – thereby, fostering essential skills like conflict management, effective communication, and teamwork.
Even in the educational sector, EI plays a crucial role in classroom management and student engagement. Teachers with high emotional intelligence can better understand student behaviours and craft responses that foster a supportive learning environment. This was illustrated in a study by the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, which showed that teachers trained in EI strategies reported a significant decrease in burnout levels.
LEADERSHIP AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
Leadership demands a high level of EI. Malaque elaborates on the foundation of leadership which includes mental strength built upon balanced emotion and cognition, manifesting through behaviour. He describes three types of leadership behaviours – passive, aggressive, and assertive – and argues that assertive behaviour, guided by emotional intelligence, is most effective.
“Leaders need to have assertive behaviour as they are followed by many and looked towards for guidance,” Malaque states, highlighting how emotional intelligence facilitates the development of this leadership style.
DEVELOPING EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE
The good news is that unlike IQ, which remains relatively fixed throughout life, EI can be developed. Activities like mindfulness meditation, journaling, and active listening exercises can enhance one’s emotional intelligence. Training programmes and workshops designed to improve emotional regulation and empathy can also be beneficial.
As we advance into a future dominated by complex interpersonal dynamics and rapid professional shifts, the importance of emotional intelligence only grows. Reports from leading global forums suggest that emotional intelligence will be among the top skills needed in the 21st-Century job market. This trend underscores the need for continuous development of emotional competencies in both current and future generations.
Emotional intelligence is a force that shapes how we interact, respond, and connect with the world around us.
Firefighters extinguish the fire adjacent to the primary structure involved after a small plane crashed in Oregon, United States. PHOTO: AP
PORTLAND (AP) – Three people died after a small plane crashed into a row of townhouses on Saturday morning in a neighbourhood east of Portland, United States, setting the homes ablaze, authorities told KATU-TV.
Officials earlier in the day had said the plane was carrying two people and that at least one resident had been unaccounted for.
Photos and videos published by KGW-TV in Portland showed one of the townhomes engulfed in flames while black smoke poured out of the adjoining houses. Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis said the fire had spread to at least four of the homes, displacing up to six families. He said two people were treated at the scene, but he didn’t describe the type or severity of injuries.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the aircraft as a twin-engine Cessna 421C, which it says went down around 10.30am near Troutdale Airport, about a 30-minute drive east of Portland.
As the plane went down, it knocked over a pole and power lines, causing a separate brush fire in a nearby field, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office. The plane was split into multiple parts as it crashed in the residential area in the city of Fairview, which is home to about 10,000 people.
Firefighters extinguish the fire adjacent to the primary structure involved after a small plane crashed in Oregon, United States. PHOTO: AP
Jude Law poses for photographers at the photo call for the film ‘The Order’ during the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival. PHOTO: AP
VENICE (AP) – Jude Law plays an FBI agent investigating the violent crimes of a white supremacist group in The Order, which premiered on Saturday at the Venice Film Festival.
An adaptation of Kevin Flynn and Gary Gerhardt’s nonfiction book The Silent Brotherhood, Nicolas Hoult was cast as Robert Jay Mathews, the charismatic leader of the group which was considered the most radical hate group since the Ku Klux Klan.
Their crimes, including bank robberies and armored car heists that the group was using to fund an armed revolution, led to one of the largest manhunts in FBI history, in 1983.
“What amazed me was it was a story I hadn’t heard about before,” said Law, who also produced. “It like a piece of work that needed to be made now.”
He added: “It’s always interesting finding a piece from the relative past that has some relationship to the present day.”
Law made the trip to Italy with his director, Justin Kurzel, and co-stars Hoult, Jurnee Smollett and Tye Sheridan for the premiere.
Jude Law poses for photographers at the photo call for the film ‘The Order’ during the 81st edition of the Venice Film Festival. PHOTO: APABOVE & BELOW: Photos show Tye Sheridan and Nicholas Hoult at the festival. PHOTO: APPHOTO: AP
His character, called Agent Huss, is an amalgam FBI agent and not based on a specific person. This, they said, was important for positioning him within this story.
“He represents an awful lot of us,” Law said. “He felt his hardest work was behind him and in fact he had his biggest battle ahead of him.”
Kurzel, an Australian filmmaker known for the 2015 adaptation of Macbeth with Michael Fassbender, said he’d always wanted to make an American film in the vein of dramatic thrillers from the 1970s like The French Connection, Mississippi Burning and All the Presidents’ Men. He tried to make this film with the classic simplicity he admired in those classics.
Hoult felt it was a “difficult story to tell and difficult characters to inhabit”, but praised his director for helping to create a safe and creative environment as they explored the darkness of Mathews. He’d just recently learned, on the boat over to the Lido, that Kurzel had told Law to actually follow him around one day to get into character.
“The first time we spoke was in the first scene we interact,” Hoult said. “It gave a great energy.”
And all were struck by the parallels to today. Though no one wanted to comment directly on the upcoming US presidential election, the film, they hope, speaks for itself.
“The history of America is very complex,” Smollett said. “This level of bigotry is not new and it has existed in our nation since it was founded. As artists we get to hold a mirror up to society… explore the very complex sides of humanity, the ugliness, the darkness in order for us to learn from it and hopefully not repeat it.” – Manjira Majumdar
The stairs and Naga balustrades at the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province, Cambodia.
PHOTO: XINHUA
PHNOM PENH (XINHUA) – Cambodia’s famed Angkor Archaeological Park made USD30.33 million from ticket sales in the first eight months of 2024, up 31.3 per cent from USD23.09 million over the same period last year, said an official report yesterday.
The Angkor attracted 651,857 international tourists during the January-August period this year, up 30.7 per cent from 498,513 over the same period last year, said the state-owned Angkor Enterprise’s report.
The top five source markets for the ancient site were Britain, China, France, South Korea and the United States, according to the report.
In August this year alone, the site received 67,482 foreign holidaymakers, earning USD3.15 million in revenue, up 14 per cent and 13.7 per cent, respectively compared to the same month last year, the report said.
Situated in northwest Siem Reap province, the 401-square-kilometres Angkor Archaeological Park is home to 91 ancient temples, which had been built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.
The site, inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1992, is the most popular tourist destination in the Southeast Asian country.
Ministry of Tourism’s Secretary of State and Spokesperson Top Sopheak said the Chinese-invested Siem Reap Angkor International Airport, which was put into commercial operations in November 2023, has helped attract more international travellers to the Angkor park.
“The Cambodia-China people-to-people exchange year 2024 has also helped encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Cambodia and the Angkor,” he told Xinhua.
The stairs and Naga balustrades at the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap province, Cambodia. PHOTO: XINHUA
Containers at South Korea’s largest port in Busan. PHOTO: AP
SEOUL (XINHUA) – South Korea’s export grew for the 11th straight month due to strong demand for locally-made tech and oil products, government data showed yesterday.
Export, which accounts for around half of the export-driven economy, rose 11.4 per cent from a year earlier to USD57.90 billion in August, continuing to climb since October 2023, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.
Import gained 6.0 per cent over the year to USD54.07 billion in August, sending the trade surplus to USD3.83 billion.
The trade balance stayed in black for the 15th consecutive month since June 2023.
Of the country’s 15 major export items, seven products saw an increase in outbound shipment.
Semiconductor export soared 38.8 per cent over the year to USD11.88 billion in August, keeping an upward trend for the 10th successive month.
The rapid expansion was attributed to chip demand relevant to artificial intelligence (AI), higher memory chip prices, and the launch of new smartphones.
Containers at South Korea’s largest port in Busan. PHOTO: AP
Mobile device shipment jumped 50.4 per cent to USD1.81 billion thanks to the global smartphone market recovery, while computer export almost tripled to USD1.48 billion on the continued demand for solid state drive (SSD).
Display panel export declined 4.9 per cent to USD1.82 billion last month, marking the first fall in 13 months.
Automotive shipment reduced 4.3 per cent to USD5.07 billion, with auto parts export sliding by 3.5 per cent to USD1.84 billion.
General machinery shipment decreased 5.9 per cent to USD3.86 billion, but export for ships spiked 80.0 per cent to USD2.84 billion owing to higher demand for high-value-added ships such as LNG carriers and container ships.
Shipment for oil products and petrochemicals increased in single digits to USD4.53 billion and USD4.18 billion each on robust global demand that offset lower prices.
Dubai crude, South Korea’s benchmark, averaged USD77.60 per barrel in August, down 10.2 per cent compared to August 2023.
Steel export retreated 1.7 per cent to USD2.81 billion, while shipment for home appliances, textiles and secondary batteries shrank in single digits to USD620 million, USD790 million, and USD710 million respectively.
Export to the United States advanced 11.1 per cent from a year earlier to USD9.96 billion in August, maintaining an upward trend for the 13th successive month since August 2023.
Shipment to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) added 1.7 per cent to USD9.82 billion on strong demand from Vietnam, and export to the European Union (EU) jumped 16.1 per cent to USD6.43 billion.
Export to Japan, Latin America and India gained to USD2.52 billion, USD2.56 billion and USD1.64 billion each last month.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates her victory over Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. PHOTO: AFP & AP
NEW YORK (AFP) – Jannik Sinner avoided plunging through the United States (US) Open trapdoor which claimed Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz when he stormed into the last 16 yesterday as fellow world number one Iga Swiatek stayed on course for a second New York triumph.
Australian Open champion Sinner raced past 87th-ranked Christopher O’Connell 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.
The 23-year-old Italian’s win came a day after four-time champion Djokovic was sent spinning to his earliest loss in New York in 18 years by Alexei Popyrin.
One day earlier, 2022 winner Alcaraz was defeated in the second round by Dutch journeyman Botic van de Zandschulp.
“I knew I had to play very solid. My serve worked well so I am happy with my performance,” said Sinner after firing 15 aces in his 46 winners past outclassed O’Connell of Australia.
Sinner did not face a single break point in his one-hour 53-minute victory which took him into the last 16 for a fourth successive year.
“There have been some upsets in the tournament so let’s see what’s coming. I’m happy to still be here and play as many matches as possible,” added Sinner.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates her victory over Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. PHOTO: AFP & APJannik Sinner of Italy returns a shot. PHOTOS: AFP & AP
Sinner will take on 14th seed Tommy Paul for a quarter-final place after the American defeated Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo in four sets.
Four-time French Open champion Swiatek was equally dominant as Sinner as the top-seeded Pole eased into the fourth round with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
The 23-year-old will face another Russian, Liudmila Samsonova for a quarter-final place.
“I like the night sessions but it’s noisy so I need to focus on my job and stay inside my bubble,” said Swiatek.
With Djokovic and Alcaraz heading home to Europe, Daniil Medvedev finds himself as the only former champion left in the men’s tournament. The eccentric Russian, seeded five, swept past Flavio Cobolli, the world number 31 from Italy, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3.
Medvedev famously shattered Djokovic’s bid for a rare calendar Grand Slam when he captured the 2021 title in New York.
“I said before the match that for me the upsets don’t matter. The conditions here are tricky and the favourites have fewer margins,” said Medvedev after making the fourth round for the sixth straight year.
He’ll face unseeded Nuno Borges of Portugal who saved three match points in a five-set triumph over Czech teenager Jakub Mensik.
Meanwhile, 2023 semi-finalist Karolina Muchova, who knocked out two-time champion Naomi Osaka in the second round, cruised through by beating Anastasia Potapova 6-4, 6-2.
She next faces French Open and Wimbledon runner-up Jasmine Paolini, the fifth-seeded Italian, who beat Yulia Putintseva.
Motorcyclists on a main street in Jakarta, Indonesia. PHOTO: XINHUA
JAKARTA (XINHUA) – Indonesia has been grappling with a marked reduction in the middle class in recent years, even as the Southeast Asian country strives to reach an economic growth of 5.2 per cent in 2025.
At a recent hearing with the House of Representatives in Jakarta, the Statistics Indonesia (BPS) revealed that the middle class reached 57.33 million people, or 21.45 per cent of Indonesia’s total population, in 2019, but then plummeted to 47.85 million people, or 17.13 per cent, by 2024.
“Many people have faced economic difficulties during recent crisis, leading to a decrease in their purchasing power. The middle class now faces a greater risk of falling into the vulnerable group,” said BPS acting head Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti.
The decline sounded a critical alarm, as Indonesia’s 2045 vision targets the middle class at 80 per cent of the population.
In the face of ongoing global economic challenges, Widyasanti said the middle class finds it increasingly difficult to move up to the upper class and is at risk of falling back into the “approaching middle class” or even “poor” categories.
Chairman of the House Budget Committee Said Abdullah emphasised the importance of a robust middle class, citing its vital contribution to boosting domestic consumption, tax revenue, and fostering social and economic stability, all of which are essential for economic growth.
Motorcyclists on a main street in Jakarta, Indonesia. PHOTO: XINHUA
“A decline in the middle class could also potentially reduce domestic consumption, which significantly contributes to economic growth,” he said.
In the 2025 state budget, the government has proposed an economic growth target of 5.2 per cent for 2025.
Abdullah said that Indonesia has surpassed this figure once between 2015 and 2023, achieving a 5.31 per cent growth in 2022.
From a structural perspective, Abdullah mentioned that the challenge of boosting economic growth while increasing the middle class involves high economic costs, legal affairs and quality of human resources. He urged the government to address these structural issues.
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati highlighted the government’s efforts to support not only the poor but also the middle class, including subsidies for necessities and energy, credit and value-added tax exemptions.
“The government is also committed to strengthening the middle class through tax incentives, human resource development programs, and affordable healthcare access,” Indrawati said.
Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs Secretary Susiwijono Moegiarso said that increasing quota for subsidised housing from the original target of 166,000 units to 200,000 units is part of the government’s commitment to expand the middle class.
“Increasing the middle class contributes significantly to expanding the tax base,” he said.
Meanwhile, Raden Pardede, advisor to the coordinating minister, stressed the importance of developing the formal sector, particularly quality manufacturing, where job opportunities are broader and decent wages are available.
This aims to boost people’s purchasing power, prevent the middle class from falling into vulnerable categories, and create high-quality jobs.
“Previously, our garment industry only produced towels, shirts, T-shirts and sarongs.
Moving forward, we must be able to produce branded products like Uniqlo (a Japanese casual wear designer, fast-fashion manufacturer and retailer). The jobs may be the same, but the quality of the products differs,” he said.
Improving product quality is essential for driving middle class growth and enhancing global competitiveness, he said.
