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Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Over 30 dead, tens of thousands evacuated as torrential rain, landslides hit northern China
MIYUN, July 30 — Heavy rain killed more than 30 people and forced authorities to evacuate tens of thousands as swaths of northern China were lashed by torrential downpours that sparked landslides and flooding, state media said Tuesday. Weather authorities have issued their second-highest rainstorm warning for the capital Beijing, neighbouring Hebei and Tianjin, as well as 10 other provinces, state news agency Xinhua said. The rains are expected to last into Wednesday. The heavy rainstorms had left 30 people dead in Beijing as of midnight Monday, Xinhua said, citing flood control authorities. More than 80,000 people have been evacuated in the capital alone, according to state-run Beijing Daily. The death toll was highest in Miyun, a north-eastern suburb, it said. 'This time the rain was unusually heavy, it's not normally like this,' a Miyun resident surnamed Jiang told AFP as water streamed down the road outside her house. 'The road is full of water so people aren't going to work,' she said. In Xinanzhuang village, AFP journalists saw murky water had submerged homes, cars and a road. A local man in his sixties said he had never seen water levels so high. Record floods Nearby, torrents of water gushed from spillways in the Miyun Reservoir, which authorities said reached its highest levels since its construction in 1959. Beijing's northern Huairou district and south-western Fangshan were also badly affected, state media said. Dozens of roads have been closed and over 130 villages have lost electricity, Beijing Daily said. 'Please pay attention to weather forecasts and warnings and do not go to risk areas unless necessary,' the outlet said. More than 10,000 people also evacuated their homes in the neighbouring port city of Tianjin, which saw major flash floods, according to state-owned nationalist tabloid Global Times. And in Hebei province, which encircles Beijing, a landslide in a village killed eight people, with four still missing, state broadcaster CCTV said Tuesday. The army was mobilised to help disaster relief operations, the channel said. CCTV footage showed soldiers in orange life vests bringing supplies including bottled water, carrying people on stretchers, and clearing debris from roads. Social media users online shared anxious accounts of being unable to reach family members in Hebei's mountainous Xinglong county. Mudslides and floods forced more than 8,000 people to evacuate, while rescuers were still attempting to reach some villages that had 'lost contact', China National Radio said Tuesday. Local authorities have issued flash flood warnings through Tuesday evening, with the city of Chengde and surrounding areas under the highest alert, Hebei's radio and television station said. 'All-out efforts' Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on authorities to plan for worst-case scenarios and relocate residents of flood-threatened areas. The government and Communist Party have collectively allocated around 490 million yuan (RM288 million) for disaster relief in nine regions hit by heavy rains, CCTV said. Another 200 million yuan will be allocated for the capital. In 2023, heavy rain killed more than 80 people across northern and north-eastern China, including at least 29 people in Hebei where severe flooding destroyed homes and crops. Some reports had suggested the province shouldered the burden of a government decision to divert the deluge away from Beijing. Natural disasters are common across China, particularly in the summer when some regions experience heavy rain while others bake in searing heat. China is the world's biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases that drive climate change and contribute to making extreme weather more frequent and intense. But it is also a global renewable energy powerhouse that aims to make its massive economy carbon-neutral by 2060. — AFP
New Paper
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Paper
Penang crowns new char kway teow champion
It was a fiery showdown as 30 of Penang's top char kway teow traders competed over roaring flames for the coveted title of the state's best. The intense cook-off on June 1, aimed at uncovering the finest char kway teow and ultimate wok hei (breath of the wok), saw contestants battling it out with their own secret recipes. Held at the Toi Shan Ningyang Wui Kwon clan temple at King Street, a smoky aroma filled the air as an eager crowd gathered to see each contestant dish out their version of the popular street food. Contestants brought their own seasoned woks, cockles, lap cheong (Chinese sausage), sauces and cooking oil. Other ingredients including flat rice noodles or kuey teow, eggs, bean sprouts and white prawns, along with stoves and gas supply were provided by the organisers. It took less than two minutes for each contestant to dish out their plate of char kway teow, which was then judged by a panel of six for presentation, aroma and taste. Penang Koo Soo Kwong Choon Tong Restaurant and Tea Shop Association chairman Vinah Yee, who was on the panel of judges, said char kway teow with the most ingredients was not necessarily the best. "Each component should be balanced and complement the dish without overpowering the overall flavour. "One of the key criteria we looked for was the presence of wok hei, that distinct aroma and flavour created when food is stir-fried over intense heat in a seasoned wok. "If the strands of kuey teow stick together, they may not cook evenly, become gummy and lose that wok hei flavour. "High flames may look impressive, but if the heat is too strong, the noodles can become over-charred and have a burnt taste," said Ms Yee. After two hours of sizzling action and clanging woks, Ms Ong Siew Kean, 53, of Hean Char Koay Teow in Jalan Burma, Pulau Tikus, was crowned champion. "This is my first competition and I am grateful to be recognised. I never thought my char kuey teow was anything special but I'm glad my effort paid off. Ms Ong, who fries up about 200 plates of char kway teow on weekends, beat out 29 other competitors. PHOTO: THE STAR "Maybe it was my sauce blend that made the difference as soy sauce plays a crucial role in creating a flavourful dish," she said. Ms Ong, who is fondly known as Winny, said she began frying char kway teow in her 20s but took a break before returning to the trade about three years ago. "My brother-in-law taught me the basics and over time, I tweaked the recipe to suit my taste," she said. Ms Ong, who fries up about 200 plates of char kway teow on weekends, said she was looking forward to an influx of customers following her win. Second place went to Mr Chin Foh Shin, 51, of Hobe Kedai Makanan & Minuman, Butterworth, while third place was awarded to Mr Khoo Kay Keat, 47, of Kong Long Char Koay Teow in Beng Chin Garden, Air Itam. The three winners received RM388 (S$118), RM288 and RM188 respectively, presented by Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. The competition was jointly organised by the Village Community Management Council of Padang Kota and Jalan Transfer/Jalan Argyll, along with Toi Shan Ningyang Association, and promoted by Kwangtung and Tengchow Association of Penang.
Hype Malaysia
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Kentaro Sakaguchi Fan Meeting In KL Cancelled; Organiser Issues Statement
Back in April, fans were delighted by the announcement that Japanese actor Kentaro Sakaguchi (坂口 健太郎) would be visiting Malaysia for a fan meeting at JioSpace in Kuala Lumpur this June. Best known for his roles in 'My Love Story!' and 'The 100th Love with You', the actor was looking forward to meeting his supporters, as this marks his first fan meeting tour across Asia. Unfortunately, those who were looking forward to seeing him live on stage will have to wait a little longer, as it was announced last night (Wednesday, 28th May) that his appearance in Malaysia has been cancelled. Here's what happened: Event organiser Mahocast issued an official statement informing fans that Kentaro Sakaguchi's highly anticipated fan meeting in Malaysia would no longer go ahead as planned due to unforeseen circumstances. The exact reason for the cancellation, however, was not disclosed. The statement read: 'This decision was not made lightly, and we understand the disappointment it may cause. We deeply appreciate your understanding and continued support during this time.' Ticket holders will receive full refunds, and the organiser will be contacting them soon for further details. The announcement of the event's cancellation understandably left both Malaysian and Japanese fans disappointed, although some had anticipated the outcome due to concerns over the ticket prices. When ticket sales were first announced in April, prices ranged from RM288 to RM988, amounts that many fans felt were a little too steep for a venue like JioSpace. Some took to Twitter to express their frustration over the cancellation, having splurged on the tickets. Others urged the organiser to be more mindful of pricing for future events. As for Kentaro Sakaguchi himself, he has yet to post anything about the update, but we hope that he'll still consider visiting Malaysia in the future. This isn't the first time an international event at JioSpace has been cancelled. K-pop girl group Billlie (빌리) were scheduled to perform at the venue in February, but the concert was later called off. Fans speculated that poor ticket sales and a lack of marketing were to blame. Source: Twitter
New Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
AirAsia X seeks shareholder nod for new related-party deals worth over RM43mil
KUALA LUMPUR: AirAsia X Bhd (AAX) is seeking shareholder approval for several new related-party transactions (RPTs) worth over RM43 million. This includes a RM42 million base maintenance services agreement with Asia Digital Engineering Sdn Bhd, the group said in a bourse filing. The proposals, to be tabled at the company's annual general meeting on June 18, also cover a RM945,000 customer services partnership with Move Travel Sdn Bhd and a RM1.5 million merchandising arrangement with Move Duty Free Sdn Bhd. At the same time, AirAsia X is proposing to renew its existing shareholder mandate for RRPTs involving services such as aircraft leasing, inflight catering, insurance, advertising and cargo operations. These involve entities linked to Capital A Bhd, AirAsia Bhd and other associated companies. Among the most significant RRPTs are cargo-related transactions with Teleport Everywhere Pte Ltd valued at RM288 million, platform services from AirAsia MOVE Sdn Bhd estimated at RM75.7 million and inflight catering and merchandise procurement from Santan at RM57.7 million. AirAsia X said the transactions are part of its ordinary course of business and will be conducted on normal commercial terms, with no special treatment given to related parties. The parties involved include directors and major shareholders such as Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, Datuk Kamarudin Meranun and Datuk Fam Lee Ee, who are linked to both AirAsia X and the related companies. In a separate filing, the group announced that Kamarudin, who is also a non-independent executive director, has declared his intention to deal in the company's shares during the closed period ahead of its financial results. Kamarudin holds a direct stake of 8.54 per cent, or 38.17 million shares, and an indirect stake of 29.31 per cent, or 131.03 million shares, via a combination of personal holdings and stakes through Tune Group and AirAsia Bhd.
