ABOVE & BELOW: Participants of the reef ball fabrication programme in a group photo; and the participants naming their reef ball. PHOTO: JAMES KON
Officials from sponsors and partners of Ocean Week Brunei recently participated in the reef ball fabrication programme, gaining hands-on experience in creating reef balls.
The event was part of a series to wrap up the first-ever Ocean Week Brunei, organised by Poni Divers and LAUT Brunei, with support from the Department of Fisheries.
Marketing and event manager of Poni Divers Donna Baltazar said the event celebrated Ocean Week Brunei’s success, which directly impacted over 900 individuals, planted 300 corals, and donated 50 reef balls to support the fishing community.
Representatives from organisations, event partners and media partners Radio Television Brunei (RTB) and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd, joined the programme to learn the step-by-step process of making reef balls. Haji Muhammad Azizi bin Ahmad and Haji Noor Azzat bin Haji Ismail from RTB said, “It’s a new experience for us. We now understand the importance of reef balls in marine conservation.” Five reef balls were successfully created during the event, marking a step towards protecting the oceans. – James Kon
ABOVE & BELOW: Participants of the reef ball fabrication programme in a group photo; and the participants naming their reef ball. PHOTO: JAMES KONPHOTO: JAMES KON
A patient having her blood pressure measured. PHOTO: MOH
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in Brunei Darussalam. In 2023, there were 520 deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases, of which 31 per cent were premature deaths. This was a five-per-cent increase over 2012. Meanwhile, 1,722 individuals were hospitalised with cardiovascular disease diagnoses.
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar shared this in his message to mark World Heart Day and expressed concern over the increasing rate of premature deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases from year to year, especially in the last decade.
According to the World Heart Federation, cardiovascular diseases like heart attack, stroke and heart failure cause more than 20.5 million deaths each year. In 2019 alone, an estimated 17.9 million people died prematurely (death before the age of 70), of which 38 per cent were due to cardiovascular diseases.
The minister said, “Cardiovascular diseases are increasingly attacking the younger generation and causing a significant social and economic burden to society. This issue needs to be addressed as early as possible, as most of the risk factors that contribute to cardiovascular diseases are preventable.”
World Heart Day, marked globally every September 29, aims to increase public awareness on cardiovascular diseases and their preventive measures.
A patient having her blood pressure measured. PHOTO: MOH
The main risk factors contributing to cardiovascular diseases include behavioural, such as tobacco use; unhealthy diets, such as excessive fat and salt intakes; and leading an inactive lifestyle. In addition, biological factors, such as obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes, can also lead to cardiovascular diseases.
“By making small changes in lifestyle, a healthy heart can be maintained and cardiovascular diseases prevented,” the minister said.
This year’s theme, ‘Use Heart for Action’, emphasises individual reasonability to take proactive steps to maintain a healthy heart, as well as collective efforts that emphasise the importance of involvement and support of community in providing inspiration and encouragement to people to create a lasting positive change; and finally to provide equitable health access for all – a call to action in supporting equitable access to healthy heart, by empowering the community to insist on policies that overcome inequalities in health and ensure that every individual has the same opportunity to lead a healthy lifestyle.
On an individual level, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham said, “Several proactive steps can be taken to maintain a healthy heart, including understanding the characteristics of a healthy heart, such as having normal levels of blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol, recognising the symptoms of heart disease such as shortness of breath, dizziness or chest pain, increase awareness and knowledge on cardiovascular diseases and their preventive measures, following doctor’s instructions, and carrying out health screenings for early detection and treatment to prevent complications.
“Finally, individuals can practise healthy lifestyle, such as adopting a healthy diet, quitting smoking, exercising regularly and having good quality sleep to reduce stress,” he said.
The minister added, “The Ministry of Health has carried out several initiatives to encourage all levels of society to practise healthy living and detect risk factors through the BruHealth app.
“The BN on the Move Championship was introduced through the BruHealth app with several new features including community challenge, corporate challenge and incentive points system aimed to increase the level of physical activity in the community.
“A Health Index and Risk Assessment initiative has also been introduced to encourage people to assess their health and undergo regular screening.”
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham also urged every individual to “act now and be responsible for their own health in a bid to improve health. Let’s all take proactive steps and inspire people around us. Together, we can create positive change and ensure that everyone has the opportunity to live a healthy and high-quality life”. – James Kon
In conjunction with World Heart Day, a team from Gleneagles JPMC comprising 20 climbers took on Mount Kinabalu on September 16.
The team, including healthcare professionals and fitness enthusiasts, embarked on the climb to symbolise the importance of cardiovascular health and to raise awareness on heart disease prevention.
The expedition supported this year’s World Heart Day theme ‘Use Heart for Action’, empowering individuals to take cardiovascular health seriously and encouraging others to focus on their fitness journey.
The climb up the mountain in severe weather conditions served as a testament to the team’s commitment. Due to worsening weather condition, the expedition was halted before reaching the summit, as advised by officials in charge. However, reaching Panalaban, the final pit stop of the mountain expedition, safely was an accomplishment on its own.
Gleneagles JPMC Chief Operating Officer ‘Izzul Hamzi bin Haji Jomari, who was part of the expedition, said, “We anticipated the climb to be challenging but not to the level that we experienced, especially with the severe weather. Our months of dedicated training prepared the team well to collectively overcome these challenges.
“We hope this experience will inspire others in their fitness journey, for them to live stronger and healthier lives.”
Assistant nurse manager Roslinda binti Bachok from the Operating Theatre Department added, “It was a difficult expedition, especially with the severe weather, but experiencing the moment with my colleagues feels incredibly rewarding.”
Meanwhile, Gleneagles JPMC Chief Executive Officer Dr Peter Tay said, “We at Gleneagles JPMC are proud of our team for taking on the challenge of climbing Mount Kinabalu for a good cause. We are committed to supporting a healthy work-life balance for our staff, and initiatives like this help them stay connected with each other as well as boost their mental well-being.
“The expedition is a great example of how staying active can be very beneficial for them as individuals and as a team, in line with the spirit of World Heart Day.”
World Heart Day is celebrated annually on September 29, as a global campaign to educate and motivate individuals to take charge of their heart health.
ABOVE & BELOW: Photos show the Gleneagles JPMC team during the climb at Mount Kinabalu. PHOTO: GLENEAGLES JPMCPHOTO: GLENEAGLES JPMC
Walid Lachkar in action during the tournament.PHOTOS: JAMES KON & BRUNEI DARUSSALAM WUSHU FEDERATION
Brunei Darussalam wushu exponent Yee Sean Lim secured a bronze medal in the Girl’s Taijijian ‘A’ event during the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex yesterday.
The wushu sensation amassed a total of 9.083 points behind eventual gold medallist China’s Yilin Zhang who posted a score of 9.243 points and silver medallist Chinese Taipei’s Yu Tzu Liu who managed 9.150 points.
Yee, who took bronze in the Girl’s Taichi Sword event during the previous edition in Tangerang, Indonesia two years ago, added to her country’s overall medal tally of three gold medals, three silver and one bronze.
Her podium finish ensured the country’s consistent showing in the championship having won a medal every day since it was opened last Wednesday.
Meanwhile in the Boy’s Nangun ‘A’ event, Abel Wee Yuen Lim finished ninth out of 19 entrants while Quintus Ming Jun Yii was placed fifth in Boy’s Nangun ‘B’. In the afternoon session, Walid Lachkar competed in the Boy’s Gunshu ‘A’ event and finished in seventh spot. – Fadhil Yunus
Walid Lachkar in action during the tournament. PHOTO: JAMES KON & BRUNEI DARUSSALAM WUSHU FEDERATIONBronze medallist Yee Sean Lim with her coaches in a group photo PHOTO: JAMES KON & BRUNEI DARUSSALAM WUSHU FEDERATION
DPMM FC and Hougang United FC players during a Singapore Premier League match. PHOTO: SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE
DPMM FC head coach Jamie McAllister has called for improvement after his charges relinquished a two-goal lead during the 2-2 draw with Hougang United FC in the Singapore Premier League at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore on Friday.
The Gegar Gegar men enjoyed a rapid start as Julio Cruz converted a 13th minute penalty before an own goal from Ismail Salihovic two minutes later added a two-goal cushion.
However, the visitors conceded in the second half with Stjepan Plazonja halving the deficit before Dejan Racic scored deep into stoppage time. The head coach said, “We got ourselves two-nil up, a commanding lead really but in the second half we took a step back, stopped doing the right things and made bad decisions.”
He continued, “So I just had a good chat with the lads there. They know how they feel. It’s frustration and we got to keep on improving.”
Meanwhile his opposite number Hougang United FC head coach Marko Kraljevic said, “We start the game with mistakes and we were 2-0 down.”
He further added, “It was a shock to the players. As we were down by two goals, we must start attacking but also watch out our opponents who are quick in counter attack.
“We came strongly in the second half and we need to score the first goal so everything can get moving.”
The former Balestier Khalsa FC boss concluded, “We could have finished the game (with a win) but we didn’t have time.” – Fadhil Yunus
DPMM FC and Hougang United FC players during a Singapore Premier League match. PHOTO: SINGAPORE PREMIER LEAGUE
Jannik Sinner during a media conference. PHOTO: AFP
MONTREAL (AFP) – The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said Saturday that it has lodged an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in the case of tennis world number one Jannik Sinner.
“WADA is seeking a period of ineligibility of between one and two years,” it said in a statement, after the Italian twice tested positive for the banned substance clostebol in March but was cleared to carry on playing.
The 23-year-old Sinner, who recently won the US Open and is currently in action in Beijing, has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Last month, the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) said that Sinner had been cleared of any wrongdoing after twice testing positive earlier in the season.
The ITIA accepted his explanation that the drug entered his system when his physiotherapist used a spray containing it to treat a cut, then provided massage and sports therapy to the player.
The global anti-doping body said in its statement that it lodged its appeal against the ruling to CAS, the top court in sport, on Thursday.
“It is WADA’s view that the finding of ‘no fault or negligence’ was not correct under the applicable rules,” it said.
It added: “WADA is not seeking a disqualification of any results, save that which has already been imposed by the tribunal of first instance.
“As this matter is now pending before CAS, WADA will make no further comment at this time.”
Clostebol is an anabolic agent prohibited at all times by WADA.
AP – It’s often said there is a thin line between love and hate, but is it OK to sometimes hate your long-term partner? If you ask actress Jamie Lee Curtis, it’s practically necessary.
Asked about the secret to her 40-year marriage to actor Christopher Guest, she recently said the key includes patience, perseverance and “a really good dose of hatred”.
“All of a sudden you literally want to hate each other. And then the next day, it’s a pretty, sunny day, and the dog does something cute or your child does something cute, and you look at each other and you’re like, ‘Aw, gosh’,” Curtis told Entertainment Tonight after picking up an Emmy Award for her role in The Bear. “And you’re on another track.”
Relationship experts say it’s normal for couples to experience moments of what feels like genuine hatred. The difference between couples who last and those who don’t can lie in how they handle their emotions in those moments.
“Hating the person you love is the most common thing in the world,” said Jane Greer, a marriage and family therapist and author of Am I Lying to Myself? How to Overcome Denial and See the Truth. “We think we’re supposed to love our partner all the time unconditionally, but that’s not the way it works.”
A couple sits by the lake in Cismigiu park, in Bucharest, Romania. PHOTO: AP
Yes, you should ‘sweat the small stuff’
Stereotypical annoyances, like leaving the toilet seat up or cluttering the floor with shoes, accumulate when left unaddressed, said Terri Orbuch, a sociology professor at Oakland University and author of “Five Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage from Good to Great.”
To prevent pet peeves from growing into a bigger problem, it’s important to “sweat the small stuff,” said Orbuch, who in her research has followed hundreds of couples over the course of 36 years.
“What starts out as a small, irritating habit becomes, ‘You’re not listening to me. You don’t love me. Maybe we’re not right for one another, and I hate you,’” she said.
Criticizing an issue in the moment, however, isn’t the best approach, Orbuch said. Find a good time and situation to discuss it: away from kids and not right after work, just before leaving for the day or while tired in bed.
Be specific
Orbuch recommended opening the discussion with positives, then using what she called an XYZ statement. For instance, give examples that show you know they are a great partner overall, such as being a wonderful friend or being good to your mother. Then, follow with: when you do X (throw your clothes on the floor) in situation Y (instead of in the hamper), I feel Z (frustrated).
Then follow with: “Can we talk about that?”
Calling out a specific behavior helps your spouse or partner process the issue better than if you had accused them of having a character flaw, such as, “You’re such a slob.”
“We box that person in where they don’t know what to say or what to change to alleviate the frustration,” Orbuch said.
When you can, highlight the loving moments
Greer said a great way to help hateful moments dissipate faster is to build up a reservoir of positive emotions. Take note not only of aspects of your partner that you adore, but also why they make you feel good.
If your partner gives you flowers, for example, instead of simply thanking them, let them know how you felt when you received them. Saying you appreciate the flowers because it showed they had listened to something you needed helps to reinforce those positive emotions, she said.
“When you’re feeling the love, it’s important to label it,” Greer said. “It’s important to say, ‘You know what, I’m having a love-you moment.’”
Used dirty heap of crockery in sink before washing
For illustration only. PHOTO: ENVATO
ANN/THE STAR – Some 101 pupils at a public primary school here came down with food poisoning.
Perak Health director Dr Feisul Idzwan Mustapha said one has been warded at the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital while 62 received outpatient treatment and others showed mild symptoms.
“The pupil who was hospitalised is stable. The department received a notification about the food poisoning incident on Wednesday at about 8am,” he said in a statement.
“Five pupils had then experienced diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach ache and fever, and received treatment at two health facilities here.
“Further investigations conducted by the Kinta Health Office found that there were 96 more cases,” he said, adding that some 1,054 people, including teachers and other school support staff were also exposed.
Dr Feisul Idzwan said the department has sent 10 clinical samples, five environmental samples and three swab samples taken from the food operator to a laboratory to be analysed.
“Based on our initial investigation, it is suspected that the cause for the food poisoning was a chocolate drink and fried chicken dish that were prepared in the school canteen kitchen.
“An evaluation was also conducted at the premises on September 25 and found it to be dissatisfactory, with a rating of 67.8 per cent,” he said, adding that the canteen has been ordered to be closed for 14 days under the Food Act.
“A compound notice was also issued due to an offence related to the wearing of accessories while preparing food,” he added. Dr Feisul Idzwan said the people are advised to always have a habit of practising food safety.
“They should look, smell and taste the food before consuming it. “All food handlers are to adhere to the Food Act and Food Hygiene Regulations to prevent incidences of food poisoning,” he added.
Panda fans (R) queue for the gates to open on the last day of viewing before two pandas are sent back to China after 13 years, at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on September 28, 2024. Thousands of thankful, sobbing fans flocked to Tokyo Ueno Zoo on September 28 to bid an emotional farewell to the pair of beloved, ageing pandas before their imminent return to China. (Photo by Richard A. Brooks / AFP)
Panda fans queue for the gates to open on the last day of viewing before two pandas are sent back to China after 13 years, at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoo. PHOTO: AFP
TOKYO (AFP) – Thousands of thankful, sobbing fans flocked to a Tokyo zoo Saturday to bid an emotional farewell to a pair of beloved pandas before their imminent return to China.
Sporting T-shirts, hats and sun umbrellas featuring the black and white bears, visitors shed tears, took selfies and eagerly waved at Ri Ri and Shin Shin on the panda couple’s penultimate day at Tokyo’s Ueno Zoological Gardens.
More than 2,000 panda lovers formed long queues outside the zoo Saturday morning, some having spent the whole night there armed with picnic blankets and camping chairs.
Among the most committed was Mayuko Sumida, 44, who said she had arrived around 10 pm the previous night, carrying with her panda-shaped key rings.
“I’m overwhelmed,” she said after admiring the two for the last time.
“They are the best duo that brings comfort and smiles to me.”
The mammals are immensely popular around the world, and China loans them out as part of a “panda diplomacy” programme to foster foreign ties.
The pandas Ri Ri and Shin Shin arrived at Ueno Zoo in 2011 and were due to stay until February 2026, but Japan and China agreed it would be better for the 19-year-olds to return to their home country in light of their declining health.
They will be transported back to China on Sunday.
Shin Shin relaxes in her enclosure on the last day of viewing before she and another panda, Ri Ri, are sent back to China. PHOTO: AFP
‘Emotional support’ pandas
On Saturday, strict crowd control measures were in place at the zoo to escort fans away after giving them just a few minutes to adore and photograph the pair through the glass.
Ri Ri and Shin Shin were “like the sun to me” and “always gave me emotional support”, Machiko Seki, who like other fans wore black to avoid window reflections ruining their pictures, told AFP.
“When I look at their smiles, whatever worries me just goes away… I can’t be more grateful for them,” the woman in her 50s said, shedding tears.
The pair gave birth in 2017 to cub Xiang Xiang – the zoo’s first baby panda since 1988, who became a massive draw – as well as twins in 2021.
Many fans cried when Xiang Xiang was returned to China last year, and her departure was broadcast live on local television.
Michiyo Matoba, 61, has been coming to see Xiang Xiang’s parents almost every week.
“Ri Ri loves climbing trees so I hope he will enjoy those mountains of China as much as he likes, and the glutton Shin Shin will hopefully start eating to her heart’s content after regaining her health”, she said.
Despite the panda diplomacy, relations between the two countries have soured in recent years following Beijing’s growing maritime assertiveness.
Politics, Matoba said, doesn’t taint her love for the animals.
“Just like pandas, I hope Japan and China can be friends,” she said.
There are an estimated 1,860 giant pandas left in the wild, mainly in bamboo forests in the mountains of China, according to environmental group WWF.
There are about 600 in captivity in panda centres, zoos and wildlife parks around the world.
