Latest news with #Behaviour
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Two Edinburgh drivers hit with ASBOs for excessive revving
Edinburgh Police have slapped two Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBO's) on drivers for excessive noise and revving. Officers were out on patrol after residents in South Queensferry complained of antisocial driving issues in the Ferry and surrounding areas. Sharing the information on Facebook, Police Scotland Edinburgh wrote: "Officers from the Almond Community Policing Team have been out over the last two nights addressing antisocial driving issues in South Queensferry and surrounding areas. READ MORE: Huge delays on Edinburgh Bypass as drivers urged to 'use caution' READ MORE: Edinburgh mental health charity raises alarm on 'lifeline' services facing the axe "This is in response to complaints from local residents. Two ASBOs were issued to drivers in relation to excessive noise and revving." But patrols won't stop there, officers will continue to police the are for the remainder of the week in an effort to curb the antisocial behaviour. They continued: "Officers will be out for the rest of the week and across the weekend focusing on deterring antisocial, careless and dangerous driving." Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
Edinburgh Live
28-05-2025
- Edinburgh Live
Two Edinburgh drivers hit with ASBOs for excessive revving
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Edinburgh Police have slapped two Antisocial Behaviour Orders (ASBO's) on drivers for excessive noise and revving. Officers were out on patrol after residents in South Queensferry complained of antisocial driving issues in the Ferry and surrounding areas. Sharing the information on Facebook, Police Scotland Edinburgh wrote: "Officers from the Almond Community Policing Team have been out over the last two nights addressing antisocial driving issues in South Queensferry and surrounding areas. "This is in response to complaints from local residents. Two ASBOs were issued to drivers in relation to excessive noise and revving." But patrols won't stop there, officers will continue to police the are for the remainder of the week in an effort to curb the antisocial behaviour. They continued: "Officers will be out for the rest of the week and across the weekend focusing on deterring antisocial, careless and dangerous driving."
Barnama
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
- 13 May And Youth Today: Reflecting On Unity And National Values
21/05/2025 02:41 PM Opinions on topical issues from thought leaders, columnists and editors. By Dr Lee J. Peter The date 13 May is observed not with celebration, but with thoughtful reflection. It marks a significant moment in Malaysia's journey, one that underscores the ongoing importance of fostering understanding and unity within our diverse society. Rather than dwelling on past divisions, 13 May should remind us all of the need to renew our commitment to the values that sustain national cohesion: mutual respect, inclusivity, and the shared principles that bind us as Malaysians. The introduction of the Rukun Negara in 1970 remains a lasting and significant legacy. This national philosophy, based on Belief in God, Loyalty to King and Country, Upholding the Constitution, Rule of Law, and Good Behaviour and Morality, is more than just symbolism. It continues to provide a vital framework for fostering unity and a shared sense of civic responsibility. More than five decades on, these principles are as important as ever in guiding us towards a harmonious society. A crucial question we must ask is how effectively we are helping the younger generation to internalise and uphold the ideals of the Rukun Negara. As Malaysia grows more diverse and interconnected, these guiding principles remain as relevant as ever. They provide a moral and ethical foundation that can inspire young Malaysians to work together in building a stronger, more cohesive society. Cultivating a meaningful sense of identity and belonging In a world where differing opinions can easily spark misunderstanding, education must go beyond mere facts. It should foster critical thinking, empathy and respect for diverse viewpoints. By encouraging young Malaysians to engage thoughtfully with national values, we help them cultivate a meaningful sense of identity and belonging. This awareness is best nurtured through inclusive and interactive experiences. Initiatives such as intercultural dialogues, creative arts, community projects, volunteering and sports provide young people with valuable opportunities to connect across cultural lines, develop teamwork and build mutual understanding. One shining example is the Mini Golf Charity Event organised by students at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia under the EmPOWER Programme. This initiative united participants from various backgrounds in support of EPIC Homes Malaysia, which builds homes for underserved Orang Asli communities. Through shared effort, teamwork and friendly competition, genuine bonds were forged, demonstrating unity in action far beyond words. While national bodies such as the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of National Unity play vital roles in shaping policy, true unity is often realised in everyday settings such as classrooms, universities and community spaces where Malaysians come together, support one another and affirm their shared identity. As we reflect on 13 May, let it renew our commitment to unity and understanding. The Rukun Negara remains a vital guide, particularly for the youth, in shaping a more harmonious Malaysia. Through inclusive education, respectful dialogue and active community engagement, we can inspire the next generation to build a future grounded in shared values and national pride. -- BERNAMA Dr Lee J. Peter is Assistant Professor at Heriot-Watt University Malaysia. (The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of BERNAMA)
Borneo Post
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Borneo Post
S'wak expands Motorcycle Licence Assistance Programme to Miri schools to tackle youth road safety crisis
Lee (seated, centre) highlights some points during the press conference. Joining him is JPJ Sarawak director Norizan Jili (seated, left). MIRI (May 17): The Class B2 Motorcycle Licence Assistance Programme (BLM) is being expanded to schools across Miri in an effort to reduce the high number of road accidents involving young motorcyclists. Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin announced the expansion during a recent press conference, stating that the initiative builds on the success of last year's Signature Programme held within the Senadin constituency. 'In 2024 alone, over 11,944 participants joined 14 BLM programmes held across various parliamentary constituencies in Sarawak. In Senadin specifically, 587 participants successfully obtained their licenses last year. This year, we are extending the programme to schools throughout Miri,' said the Senadin assemblyman. The BLM programme aims to make motorcycle licensing more affordable and to promote safer riding habits among students. According to Lee, many students already ride motorcycles to school but do so without a valid licence, which increases their risk of being involved in road accidents. 'This initiative provides them with a proper and legal pathway to become responsible road users,' he added. A total of 1,000 students across Miri are expected to benefit from the programme this year. Eligible participants will only need to pay a minimum of RM250 to obtain their B2 motorcycle licence. Lee stressed the urgency of the initiative in light of worrying statistics, noting that Sarawak has recorded more than 6,500 road accident cases so far this year. 'Motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable, so it is crucial they are properly trained and licensed,' he emphasised. Application forms for the BLM programme will be distributed through schools from May 22 to June 3. Each application requires school verification and parental consent. In addition to the BLM programme, complementary initiatives such as the Transport Awareness, Behaviour, and Change (TABC) programme and traffic simulation games are also being introduced to raise road safety awareness among school children. Lee added that the programme not only reduces the financial burden on families but also fosters a culture of road safety and legal compliance among the younger generation. The implementation of the BLM programme is made possible through strategic collaboration between the Sarawak Road Transport Department (JPJ), the Sarawak Transport Ministry, Royal Malaysia Police, the Miri District Education Office, and local school principals. 'This programme reflects the Sarawak government's commitment to developing safer, more responsible road users from a young age,' Lee concluded. BLM Lee Kim Shin miri Motorcycle Licence Assistance Programme
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Where does vanilla flavoring come from? Probably not beaver butts.
Are there beaver secretions in your vanilla ice cream? News articles or food influencers on social media might have you believe that castoreum, a yellow, syrupy substance from the castor sacs near a beaver's anus, is used as everyday vanilla flavoring, disguised as 'natural.' According to some of these sources, beaver castor is an ingredient in everything from vanilla ice cream to strawberry-flavored oatmeal. But experts say this couldn't be further from the truth. While people have used castoreum for medicinal purposes and, yes, to flavor perfumes and foods since ancient times, there's almost nothing in the grocery store today that contains castoreum. 'It turns out that the stuff is incredibly expensive, because it's rare; there's no way it's in your ice cream,' says Michelle Francl, a chemist at Bryn Mawr College who studies the science of food. According to Francl, in 2020 about 16 million pounds of vanilla extract —collected from vanilla orchids, a large group of flowering plants—was produced worldwide, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. That said, castoreum still exists in niche products such as bäversnaps, a Swedish liquor, according to the 2022 book Beavers: Ecology, Behaviour, Conservation, and Management by Frank Rosell and Róisín Campbell-Palmer. In total, the U.S. consumes less than 292 pounds a year of castoreum, castoreum extract, and castoreum liquid, according to the latest edition of Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. To harvest castoreum, trappers kill beavers and remove their castor glands, which are dried and crushed. They then use alcohol to extract castoreum, similar to how vanilla is removed from the plant to make your vanilla ice cream, Francl says. Read more about the history of vanilla. For over 2,000 years, people have turned to castoreum to cure all sorts of maladies, including fevers, stomach issues, and mental illnesses. The secretions were also used in soaps and creams, and at one point was added to cigarettes to enhance the scent. Hippocrates even wrote about castoreum's healing properties in 500 B.C. 'By the Roman period, it was a stock part of people's pharmacopeia,' says Francl. Castoreum's popularity as medicine likely has something to do with its chemical makeup. According to the 2022 book, castoreum can contain more than 75 different chemical compounds—an unusually high diversity. The molasses-like material also contains salicylic acid, or aspirin, which can alleviate pain. Castoreum also has fatty acids like those in expensive skin creams. And some of its molecules are structurally similar to vanillin, the compound in vanilla orchids that's responsible for the trademark vanilla taste. Learn more about how vanilla is produced in São Tomé and Príncipe. Unfortunately, the demand for castoreum came at a cost. It was a byproduct of the centuries-long fur trade, which decimated North American and Eurasian beaver populations, nearly rendering both species extinct by the 16th century in Europe and the 19th century in North America. Castoreum plays a vital role in beavers' everyday lives. To mark their territory, both beaver species deposit mud piles on the ground and excrete castoreum on top. This serves the threefold purpose of elevating the odor, adding moisture to the scent to make it more potent, and protecting the smell from rising water levels, according to Dietland Müller-Schwarze in his 2011 book The Beaver: Natural History of a Wetlands Engineer. While both males and females have castor sacs, adult males in a family are most likely to leave scent markings in strategic locations—like the pathways of other beavers—to send the message that this land is taken. Indeed, when Campbell Palmer smells castoreum in her research in Great Britain, she knows right away 'there's probably two families here, and they're telling each other, 'This is the line. This is my boundary,'' says Campbell-Palmer, head of restoration at Beaver Trust, a U.K.-based organization dedicated to increasing Eurasian beaver populations. Read how beavers are bouncing back in Sweden. 'It's a very distinctive smell, castoreum…it's kind of musky, but sweet,' says Campbell-Palmer. 'Even if you don't see beavers about, you know they're there.' Related beavers can also recognize their family members' individual castoreum scents, which is also a useful tool for Campbell-Palmer. When she wants to trap and relocate a family of beavers, she can extract one animal's castoreum and put it in a humane trap to attract its relatives. 'They're doing very well in Britain,' Campbell-Palmer adds. 'They're adapting readily.' The North American species is also rebounding, thanks to habitat preservation and hunting controls. If castoreum were ever to appear in something you ate, Francl says not to worry. 'When we're thinking about food, what really matters is the structures of the molecules,' says Francl. 'It doesn't matter whether it comes from bear or it comes from beaver, it's the same molecule—it does the same thing.' The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies castoreum as 'generally regarded as safe,' and a 2007 safety assessment published in the International Journal of Toxicology concluded that 'a long historical use of castoreum extract as a flavoring and fragrance ingredient has resulted in no reports of human adverse reactions.' 'I would try it,' Francl says. But 'probably not in ice cream.' This story was originally published on October 1, 2013. It has since been updated.
