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Daily Express
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Express
5,500 take part in Friendship Run
Published on: Monday, July 28, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 28, 2025 Text Size: The participants at the start of the Friendship Run. Kota Kinabalu: More than 5,500 participants took part in the Jom! Malaysia-China Friendship Run 2025, held early Sunday morning at Padang Merdeka to commemorate the 51st anniversary of diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China. Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew flagged off the 7km run on behalf of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. The route stretched along scenic Likas Bay, turning at the Bay 21 roundabout and ending back at Padang Merdeka. Also present were Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities Datuk Chan Foong Hin, Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Tan Lee Fatt, Chinese Consul General Zhu Xinglong and Malaysia-China Friendship Association Sabah President Dr Oh Ei Sun. Dr Oh said the event aimed to honour the enduring friendship and cooperation between the two nations. Christina praised the organisers and expressed hope that the run would become an attractive cultural activity for visitors. 'I hope tourists will be able to join future runs as a value-added experience. She expressed pride in joining the celebration, describing the event as a symbol of shared ideals between the two nations. 'This is more than just a cultural and sports event, it strengthens people-to-people ties and reflects the trust, peace and harmony we continue to build together,' she said. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Bella Astillah joins birthday celebration for Syed Saddiq's older brother
Local actress Bella Astillah (3rd from left) joined Syed Saddiq (2nd from left) at his older brother's birthday celebration on June 28. Photo: Aishah Kamal/Instagram. Malaysian actress Bella Astillah has grabbed public attention after she was seen celebrating the birthday of Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman's older brother, alongside the Muar MP and his family. On June 28, Syed Saddiq's sister-in-law Aishah Kamal shared three photos from the small gathering on Instagram. The first featured a family picture with Bella, 31, standing next to Syed Saddiq, 32. The other two captured her posing with the politician's mother, sister and Aishah herself. 'Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband! So happy we could celebrate you today with our family. You're the best father and husband, and you deserve all the happiness in the world! 'Big thanks to my sister-in-law and Bella for helping me pull together this lovely gathering,' Aishah wrote in the captions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Aishah_kamal (@aishahkamalb) The post quickly set social media abuzz, with many netizens gushing over Bella and Syed Saddiq's closeness. Some also applauded her for supporting the former Youth and Sports Minister during his darkest times. 'Bella is loyal. Even when Syed Saddiq was at his lowest, she never left,' one netizen commented. Another added: 'Alhamdulillah, YB's family is on very good terms with Bella.' For the record, Bella and Syed Saddiq sparked romance rumours earlier this year after appearing together in a Hari Raya Aidilfitri campaign for a local fashion label. On June 25, Bella arrived at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya to show support as Syed Saddiq awaited a ruling on his appeal. He was later acquitted of all four charges in the RM1.2mil graft case involving funds from Armada Bersatu. Bella (1st from right) arrived at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya on June 25 to show her support as Syed Saddiq awaited a ruling on his appeal. Photo: mStar In a TikTok livestream the next day, Syed Saddiq revealed that Bella had been a constant presence in his life over the course of their six-month acquaintance. He described her as an 'extraordinary woman', adding: 'Whatever hardship I've faced is nothing compared to what she has gone through.' Bella was previously married to Singaporean artiste Aliff Aziz, with whom she shares two kids. The former couple first divorced in 2019 but reconciled in 2020. They divorced for the second time on June 13, 2024.
Morocco World
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Morocco World
Five Moroccan Youth Handball Players Disappear During Tournament in Poland
Rabat — Five Moroccan handball players disappeared from their team headquarters during a youth tournament in Poland last month. This incident marks the second involving Moroccan athletes in the country within ten days. Players left their delegation during the Under-19 tournament in late June, embarrassing Moroccan officials and prompting a formal investigation. Morocco's National Authority for Fighting Corruption in Sports contacted the Ministry of National Education, Preschool, and Sports about what they called a 'sporting and diplomatic scandal.' Investigators suspect 'internal collusion' may have helped the players escape, with officials having identified a man over 30 years old who traveled with the delegation and allegedly has connections to illegal migration networks. As it happens, the Moroccan Handball Federation faces criticism for failing to send responsible officials to accompany the young players and staff during the tournament. This incident follows another disappearance involving Moroccan handball players in Poland. Two members of Morocco's Under-21 national team vanished during the World Championship held from June 18-29. Oussama Hakaoui and Moubarak Messaoudi, both players from Ittihad Nouacer, left their hotel during a stopover in Bologna, Italy, before the team traveled to Poland. Neither player has made contact since their disappearance. The back-to-back incidents signal growing concerns about Moroccan athletes using sporting events as opportunities to illegally immigrate. Anti-corruption officials have called for an urgent investigation into both cases. In 2022, a similar case took place when three players from Morocco's national amputee football team fled the Amp Futbol Cup 2022 in Poland. Meanwhile, eight Moroccan minors fled the World School Championship in Slovakia in May of the same year. Tags: Handball playersHandball tournamentMoroccoPoland
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Costly cycle of buy now, pay later
A TOTAL of 5,272 youths aged 34 and under have been declared bankrupt between 2020 and 2025, accounting for 14.94% of all bankruptcy cases in the country. According to Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, 5,189 of them were between the ages of 25 and 34 while 83 were under 25. Based on these statistics, the growing accessibility of buy now, pay later (BNPL) services is concerning as it could further increase bankruptcy among young adults, especially if they are not properly educated about its risks and financial responsibilities. BNPL is especially popular among young, tech-savvy users due to its easy accessibility and the appeal of interest-free instalment payments. Research by the Consumer Credit Oversight Board Task Force, a government agency, found that 2.9 million Malaysians are active BNPL users in the country, with 44% aged between 21 and 30. Unsurprisingly, the easy accessibility of BNPL has led many users to struggle with repayments as their deferred spending continues to rise. With each instalment payment missed, the penalty can range from RM10 to RM50. This constant habit of using BNPL, especially among impulsive individuals, can be financially damaging as it can lead users into repeated cycles of debt. For those with poor control over their spending habits, it is easy to lose track and take on more than they can afford to repay. This can lead to missed instalment payments, late penalties and mounting debt that continues to grow. On the flip side, it is undeniable that BNPL has also helped many from the lower income group, with data from Bank Negara Malaysia showing that 80% of users earn less than RM3,000 per month. This can be a lifeline for some users who need to resort to BNPL to afford essential items such as milk powder, diapers and groceries. However, while BNPL can provide temporary relief for urgent needs, it remains a tool that must be used with caution. What starts as a necessity can easily become a habit, especially when the line between essentials and non-essentials becomes blurred. At the end of the day, as with most things, moderation is key. It is important that education institutions such as universities hold campaigns to educate students about the benefits and harm of BNPL to encourage greater financial responsibility among young adults.
Ya Biladi
01-07-2025
- Business
- Ya Biladi
Morocco's National AI Conference highlights urgent need for training
Training public and private sector actors in artificial intelligence (AI) tools is essential to fully harness the potential of these emerging technologies, ministers said on Tuesday in Salé during the opening plenary of the National AI Conference. As AI becomes a key driver of competitiveness, training has become a critical requirement for turning this opportunity into a catalyst for sustainable and inclusive growth, the speakers emphasized. Mohamed Saad Berrada, Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, underscored the importance of mastering AI tools to improve educational system management and tackle pressing challenges, particularly in processing data related to students and teachers. He cited AI's potential to personalize curricula, support continuous teacher training, enhance language learning, and help reduce absenteeism and dropout rates. Younes Sekkouri, Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment, and Skills, stressed that AI is a transformative force for the job market. In light of this shift, he said the government's role is to integrate AI within a tailored legal and regulatory framework that unlocks the full potential of society. Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, highlighted the vital link between energy and AI: «Without energy, there are no servers, no data centers, and no AI», she said. Benali noted that Morocco plans to double its capacity for producing non-conventional energy in under five years—a leap equivalent to the progress made over the past three decades. Chakib Alj, President of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM), pointed to the urgent need to effectively implement Morocco's national AI strategy. He emphasized the private sector's need for skilled engineers and digital talent, praising the 1337 coding school as a successful model for training tech-savvy youth—a model, he suggested, that should be scaled up to meet evolving market demands.
