Certificate recipients posing for a photo. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLI
As part of Carrier’s commitment to providing solutions that matter to people and the planet, the company collaborated with government regulators to spearhead a new training program certifying HVAC professionals on the safe handling of low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant R-32.
Refrigerant R-32 is an energy efficient and sustainable option for air conditioners. After extensive coordination with the Public Works Department (JKR) and Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRE), Carrier volunteered its facilities and resources to institute a dedicated R-32 certification curriculum for HVAC professionals.
The inaugural cohort graduated in a ceremony held in Saturday at Tarindak D’ Seni in Subok and was attended by 20 members from JKR and JASTRE.
More than 170 HVAC professionals completed the certification with an 80 per cent pass rate.
Certificate recipients posing for a photo. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLI
Japan's Daiki Matsuoka (right) battles for the ball against South Korea's Song Minkyu (centre) and Hyong Hyunseok during their men's soccer gold medal match at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Saturday. PHOTO: AP
HANGZHOU, China (AP) – South Korea’s men took gold at the Asian Games on Saturday after defeating Japan 2-1, and also collected the much bigger prize of military exemption.
All male gold-medal winners at the Games are, by South Korean law, granted exemptions from the 18 to 21 months of military that all able-bodied men must start by the time they turn 28. Instead, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in along with 21 other players in the roster will only be required to do 544 hours of community service.
It is the third successive triumph in the tournament for South Korea after winning gold in 2014 and 2018, when English Premier League star Son Heung-min and Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae were triumphant.
The 2018 final saw victory against Japan and revenge looked possible as Kotaro Uchino put the Blues ahead within 90 seconds, shooting high into the net from close range.
Just before the half-hour, Stuttgart midfielder and tournament top scorer Jeong Woo-yeong netted his eighth goal with a powerful header to level the scoreline.
Ten minutes after the restart, a low shot from Cho Young-wook put South Korea ahead. The remaining 35 minutes were comfortable for the victor as it recorded a seventh win out of seven in the tournament, scoring 27 goals and conceding just three.
Japan’s Daiki Matsuoka (right) battles for the ball against South Korea’s Song Minkyu (centre) and Hyong Hyunseok during their men’s soccer gold medal match at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on Saturday. PHOTO: AP
Prominent Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi is seen in a meeting on women's rights in Tehran, Iran on July 3, 2008. PHOTO: AP
STOCKHOLM (AP) – The head of the Norwegian Nobel Committee urged Iran to release imprisoned Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi and let her accept the award at the annual prize ceremony in December.
Such appeals have had little effect in the past.
Mohammadi is the fifth peace laureate to get the prize while in prison or under house arrest. In none of the previous cases did the prize result in the recipient’s release. Two of them remained in captivity until they died.
Prominent Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi is seen in a meeting on women’s rights in Tehran, Iran on July 3, 2008. PHOTO: AP
Here’s a look at previous Nobel laureates who were in detention:
Carl Von Ossietzky
The 1935 Nobel Peace Prize to German journalist Carl Von Ossietzky so infuriated Adolf Hitler that the Nazi leader prohibited all Germans from receiving Nobel Prizes.
Ossietzky had been imprisoned for exposing secret plans for German rearmament in the 1920s. He was released after seven months but arrested again and sent to a concentration camp after the Nazis took power in 1933.
Despite a campaign to set him free, the government refused to release Ossietzky, who was ill with tuberculosis.
Ossietzky was barred from travelling to Norway to accept the award and was kept under surveillance at a civilian hospital until his death in 1938. He was the first Nobel peace laureate to die in captivity.
This undated picture shows German journalist Carl von Ossietzky (left) as a prisoner in a concentration camp. PHOTO: AP
Aung San Suu Kyi
The Nobel Peace Prize helped raise international support for Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest when she won the award in 1991. However, she remained in and out of house arrest until her release in 2010.
She gave her Nobel acceptance speech two years later, but once in government, her Nobel glory faded as she faced criticism for ignoring and sometimes defending atrocities by the military, including a 2017 crackdown on Rohingya Muslims.
Suu Kyi was detained again when the military ousted her elected government in 2021, and she remains imprisoned despite calls for her release by the Norwegian Nobel Committee and others. In August, the military-led government reportedly reduced her prison sentences, but the 78-year-old must still serve a total of 27 of the 33 years she was given.
Myanmar’s then leader Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a speech in Naypyitaw, Myanmar on January 28, 2020. PHOTO: AP
Liu Xiaobo
Liu Xiaobo was serving an 11-year sentence for inciting subversion by advocating sweeping political reforms and greater human rights in China when the Norwegian Nobel Committee selected him for the peace prize in 2010.
The award prompted world leaders, including US President Barack Obama, to call for Liu’s release, but to no avail.
The decision deeply angered Beijing, which suspended trade negotiations with Norway.
No friend or relative was able to accept the award on Liu’s behalf. His wife was placed under house arrest, and dozens of his supporters were prevented from leaving the country. Liu’s absence was marked by an empty chair at the award ceremony in Oslo.
He died from liver cancer in 2017.
This file photo shows Nobel Commitee chairman Thorbjorn Jagland sits next to an empty chair with the Nobel Peace Prize medal and diploma during a ceremony honouring Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo at city hall in Oslo, Norway on December 10, 2010. PHOTO: AP
Ales Bialiatski
Belarussian pro-democracy campaigner Ales Bialiatski, who shared last year’s Nobel Peace Prize with human rights groups in Russia and Ukraine, was the fourth person to receive the award while in captivity.
Bialiatski, now 61, founded the non-governmental organisation Human Rights Centre Viasna. He was detained following protests in 2020 against the re-election of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
A court sentenced him to 10 years in prison in March. Bialiatski and his colleagues at Viasna were convicted of financing actions violating public order and smuggling, the centre reported. In May, his wife said he had been transferred to a notoriously brutal Belarusian prison.
Ales Bialiatski, the head of Belarusian Viasna rights group, stands in a defendants’ cage during a court session in Minsk, Belarus, on November 2, 2011. PHOTO: AP
The minister presenting the prizes. PHOTO: AZLAN OTHMAN
Dikir Brunei teams from Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah mosque in Kampung Kiarong both won top spot in men and women’s categories in the Dikir Brunei competition.
The Mosque Affairs Department through Glorifying Division and Mohamed Bolkiah mosque in Kampong Serusop committee members held the dikir competition for mosque officers, mosque commitee and congregants as well as female mosque worshippers throughout the country in conjunction with the birth of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) for 1445 Hijrah.
10 teams competed including four women teams in a competition held at the hall of Pengiran Anak Puteri Mutawakkilah Hayatul Bolkiah religious school in Kampong Serusop.
Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman presented the prizes.
Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) is unable to get a shot on goal as Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom and defenceman Alex Vlasic defend during the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game on Thursday in Chicago. PHOTO: AP
ST PAUL, Minnesota (AP) – The Minnesota Wild signed its forward Ryan Hartman to a three-year, USD12 million contract extension on Saturday.
It marks the third veteran they’ve secured with a long-term deal during training camp to take them off the market next summer.
Eight days earlier, the Wild signed right wings Mats Zuccarello (two years, USD8.25 million) and Marcus Foligno (four years, USD16 million) to extensions. They now have their top nine forwards signed through at least 2024-25 — and seven of them through at least 2025-26.
The 29-year-old Hartman had 15 goals, 22 assists, 90 penalty minutes and a plus-seven rating in 59 games last season. He tied for the team lead with six game-winning goals, mostly centering the top line between leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov and Zuccarello. In the 2021-22 season, Hartman set career highs in games (82), goals (34) and assists (31).
Hartman was drafted in the first round in 2013 by the Chicago Blackhawks. He’s the first player in NHL history born in South Carolina.
Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) is unable to get a shot on goal as Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Arvid Soderblom and defenceman Alex Vlasic defend during the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game on Thursday in Chicago. PHOTO: AP
The religious talk was conducted online. PHOTO: MORA
A religious talk entitled ” Munajat that is accepted or rejected” was delivered by the Director at Research Centre & Jawi & Turath Book Studies at Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) Ustaz Azman bin Haji Kassim in a weekly Munajat held for 106th time on Saturday night.
Ustaz Azman said that those who supplicate will have their prayers answered by Allah especially when one is facing certain condition. However his/her prayers will be rejected if they drink or consume food that is ‘Haram’ or forbidden or wearing Haram clothes.
In this file photo, Myanmar's then leader Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a speech in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, on January 28, 2020. PHOTO: AP
BANGKOK (AP) – Myanmar’s Supreme Court on Friday declined to hear special appeals from the country’s ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi against her convictions of a string of criminal charges mostly brought by the military, a legal official said.
The 78-year-old Suu Kyi, who was arrested when the army toppled her elected government in February 2021, is serving prison sentences totalling 27 years after being convicted in six corruption cases where she was found guilty of abusing her authority and accepting bribes
Her supporters and independent analysts say the charges, all of which have been contested by Suu Kyi and her lawyers, are bogus and an attempt to discredit her and legitimise the military’s seizure of power.
She initially received sentences totalling 33 years but Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military government, granted her clemency in five cases and reduced her sentence by six years as part of a broader amnesty for more than 7,000 prisoners to mark a Buddhist religious holiday in August.
The legal official, who is familiar with Suu Kyi’s court cases, said the appeals that the court in the capital Naypyitaw declined to hear included four cases in which she was convicted for abusing her position to rent parcels of land and property in Naypyitaw and Yangon, the country’s biggest city. The cases alleged that she had obtained the land at below-market prices for a charitable foundation that she chaired and had built a residence for herself on one plot with money donated for the foundation.
The legal official spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to release information. Suu Kyi’s lawyers, who had been a source of information about the proceedings, were served with gag orders in late 2021.
He said the other appeal cases were related to the two counts of corruption in which Suu Kyi was found guilty of receiving a total of USD550,000 between 2018 and 2020 from Maung Weik, a tycoon who in 2008 had been convicted of drug trafficking.
Special appeals are usually the final stage of the judicial process in Myanmar. However, they can be re-examined by the Special Appeals Tribunal or the Plenary Tribunal if the chief justice sees them to be in the public interest.
Appeals of Suu Kyi’s convictions on the charges including election fraud, breaching the official secrets acts and six other corruption cases are still being processed, several legal officials have said.
Suu Kyi’s legal team has faced several hurdles, including being unable to meet with her to receive her instructions as they prepared her appeals.
In this file photo, Myanmar’s then leader Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a speech in Naypyitaw, Myanmar, on January 28, 2020. PHOTO: AP
They have applied at least five times for permission to meet with Suu Kyi since they last saw her in person in December, but have not received any response, legal officials said.
There were reports last month that Suu Kyi was suffering from symptoms of low blood pressure including dizziness and loss of appetite, but had been denied treatment at qualified facilities outside the prison system.
The reports could not be independently confirmed, but Kim Aris, the younger son of Suu Kyi, said in interviews that he had heard that his mother has been extremely ill and has been suffering from gum problems and was unable to eat. Aris, who lives in England, urged that Myanmar’s military government be pressured to free his mother and other political prisoner.
FC Cincinnati forward Yuya Kubo (left) vies for the ball with Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match on Saturday. PHOTO: AP
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (AP) – Inter Miami surrendered a late goal in a 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati on Saturday night, ending its post-season hopes.
Lionel Messi’s entry into the game in the second half wasn’t enough. The seven-time Ballon d’ Or winner, who had missed five of his last six games because of a leg injury, was not in the starting lineup but was expected to play at some point in the match.
Anticipating a second-half appearance, fans at DRV PNK Stadium screamed his name when Messi and teammates began warmups along the sidelines in the second half. The screams intensified as Messi approached the midfield area and entered the match in the 55th minute.
He made an immediate impact, drawing a foul and free kick in the 59th minute. But his shot from 25 yards sailed high and wide.
Cincinnati, in first place in the Eastern Conference, won the game on Álvaro Barreal’s goal in the 78th minute. Miami goalkeeper Drake Callender stopped Yuya Kubo’s point blank shot and Barreal retrieved the deflection and converted with his left foot from 8 yards.
Messi had another free kick during stoppage time but his equalizing attempt sailed wide left.
The loss kept Miami (9-17-6) at 33 points with two matches remaining while ninth place Montreal, which held the ninth and last Eastern Conference playoff berth solidified its spot with its 4-1 win over Portland.
Miami went 1-2-2 with Messi out of the lineup.
Cincinnati (20-5-8, 68 points) has already clinched the top berth in the East and a first-round bye.
Miami pressured throughout the first half with but could not beat goalkeeper Roman Celentano.
Josef Martinez and Benjamin Cremaschi had the best scoring opportunities but their shots deflected off the goalpost in the 22nd and 24th minutes. Celentano also dove and deflected Facundo Farias’ 20-yard shot in the 30th minute.
Messi will join Argentina for 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Paraguay and Peru on October 12 and 17 respectively.
Miami’s remaining league matches after Saturday will be a home and road set against Charlotte October 18 and 21.
FC Cincinnati forward Yuya Kubo (left) vies for the ball with Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10) ball during the second half of an MLS soccer match on Saturday. PHOTO: AP
NEW YORK (UPI) – Pop music star Bruno Mars’ Saturday night concert in Tel Aviv was cancelled following attacks.
“Dear customers, Bruno Mars concert scheduled to take place tonight is cancelled,” promoters Live Nation announced in Hebrew in a statement on Instagram, according to a translation to English by an agency.
“All ticket purchases to the show will receive an automatic refund to the credit card through which the purchase was made,” the message said.
The Times of Israel said Mars performed in Israel for the first time Wednesday night in Tel Aviv in front of a crowd of 60,000.
The singer-songwriter has not publicly commented on the situation.
Kenichi Miyauchi looks across his rice fields in Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, on Thursday. PHOTO: ANN/THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN
TOKYO (ANN/THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN) – Farmers were the one particularly dealing with heavy blows from the recent record-breaking heat wave, driving down the quality of rice crops – and, in some cases, causing crop failures – while pushing up prices for vegetables and other products.
“I can’t continue growing rice if things continue like this,” said one farmer.
Experts have stressed the urgent necessity to develop crops that are more resistant to summer heat.
“I’ve been growing rice for 50 years, but I’ve never experienced a year like this,” said Kenichi Miyauchi, 72, of Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture.
Miyauchi, who produces Uonuma Koshihikari among other notable rice varieties, has had to suspend his harvesting plans due to poor crops this year.
In August, Niigata Prefecture suffered a record-breaking heat wave, with 27 of 28 monitored locations logging unprecedented temperatures.
Some of Miyauchi’s rice fields have dried up completely. His harvests have included many low-quality grains, and “top-grade” rice – which usually accounts for 90 per cent of shipments from his farm – has been scarce.
“Production costs, including fertiliser prices, continue to rise,” Miyauchi lamented. “This year’s harvest will drive me into the red. If things continue this way, I won’t be able to farm anymore.”
A Niigata Prefecture survey found that only 3 per cent of the prefecture’s September-harvested Koshihikari rice was “top-grade” – a considerable drop from the average figure of 69 per cent logged from 2018 to 2022.
The prefectural government has attempted to assuage public concerns, saying “The grade may have fallen, but flavours remain the same.”
Local farmers’ cooperatives affiliated with the Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) Group have been promoting their crops by holding tasting events to reassure customers that the taste of their respective products is unchanged.
According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the average national temperature from June to August hit an all-time high since statistics were first collated in 1898. The agency described the recent weather as “abnormal.”
The unprecedented heat has severely undermined rice quality. According to the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry, as of the end of August, the ratio of top-class rice stood at 31 per cent in Saitama Prefecture, a year-on-year fall of 22 percentage points; 39 per cent in Aichi Prefecture, marking a 19 percentage point decline; and 34 per cent in Hyogo Prefecture, which also marked a 19 point dip.
The ratio of this year’s top-grade rice is expected to fall in the Hokkaido, Tohoku and Hokuriku regions, too.
Harvest grades are directly linked to rice growers’ incomes. Pre-harvest commissions from the JA and other organisations are set according to the quality of rice crops. Agricultural cooperatives in areas where the ratio of top-grade rice is low plan to support members by boosting advance payments.
The heat wave has also impacted other agricultural products. According to a survey report released Tuesday by the farm ministry, the national average retail price for 1 kilogramme of carrots from September 25 to 27 was JPY635 – 47 per cent higher than the same period in average years. In the same period of time, the retail price of tomatoes rose by 36 per cent to JPY1,181.
High prices are expected to continue through October for radishes and green onions due to smaller harvests caused by the negative effects of high temperatures.
Kenichi Miyauchi looks across his rice fields in Tokamachi, Niigata Prefecture, on Thursday. PHOTO: ANN/THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN
