While smoking is declining, many young people have instead adopted e-cigarettes, a habit that has overtaken conventional cigarettes among this group. NEW YORK: The widespread use of alcohol and e-cigarettes among adolescents is “alarming”, according to a report released on Thursday by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) European branch, which recommended measures to limit access. Based on survey data from 280,000 young people aged 11, 13 and 15 in Europe, Central Asia and Canada, the WHO said it showed a “concerning picture” of substance use among young people. “The long-term consequences of ..read more

The Bank of Japan is widely expected to keep its key interest rate, after ditching its negative rate policy in March, its first rate cut since 2007. (Reuters pic) TOKYO: Tokyo stocks were flat in early trade on Friday, shrugging off falls on Wall Street with traders’ eyes on the Bank of Japan’s policy decision later in the day and the weak yen. The benchmark Nikkei 225 index was down 0.05%, or 20.30 points, at 37,608.18 about an hour after the opening bell, while the broader Topix index was down 0.13%, or 3.40 points, at 2,660.13. “A wait-and-see attitude will likely grow” ahead of the Bank of ..read more

Political analyst James Chin says the government must “double down” on reforms while IIUM’s Syaza Shukri says it must consider the sentiments of the people. PETALING JAYA: A political analyst has called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s government to work harder at communicating the implementation and progress of reforms to meet the public’s high expectations. Syaza Shukri of the International Islamic University Malaysia said the Pakatan Harapan-led government must show more tangibly its commitment to fulfilling promises of reform made by the coalition in the lead up to the 2022 general electi ..read more

Scientists have found a link between silica dioxide or E551, which is commonly found in the products we consume, and celiac disease. (Envato Elements pic) E551 is a widely used additive in the food industry that we might consume daily without even realising it. Researchers at France’s National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (Inrae) now suggest it may not only promote gluten intolerance, but also aggravate the inflammation associated with celiac disease. In soups, instant coffee, chocolate, and even in cereal-based baby foods, E551 – otherwise known as silica dioxide ..read more

Bersih says the open house organised by the Selangor government in Kuala Kubu Baharu will coincide with nomination day for the May 11 by-election. PETALING JAYA: Electoral watchdog Bersih today warned that the Selangor government’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house in Kuala Kubu Baharu, scheduled for tomorrow evening, may be in violation of the Election Offences Act 1954. It said the event would coincide with nomination day for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election and involve activities such as feasting and the giving out of monetary gifts for Raya. “Giving or feasting during the election period is ..read more

Ketua Pengarah JPA, Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz berkata, ketua jabatan perlu menjalankan analisis berkala terhadap perkhidmatan pelanggan untuk membaiki kelemahan secepat mungkin. (Gambar Bernama) PETALING JAYA: Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam (JPA) mahu kaunter perkhidmatan di jabatan kerajaan dikendalikan sepenuhnya setiap masa, menurut pekeliling dikeluarkan kepada penjawat awam. Dalam peringatan kepada kakitangan kerajaan susulan gesaan Perdana Menteri, Anwar Ibrahim baru-baru ini untuk melakukan pembaharuan dalam perkhidmatan awam, khasnya dalam soal tadbir urus dan integriti, Ketua Pengarah JP ..read more

‘TopSpin 2K25’ has garnered generally positive reviews despite some criticism of the graphics. (Take Two Interactive Software pic) NEW YORK: Avatars of tennis stars past and present will reunite Friday on the virtual courts of the “TopSpin” video game, as the franchise gets its first release in 13 years. Spanish wunderkind Carlos Alcaraz is among the crop of current stars that gamers can enjoy controlling, and he is joined by legends from bygone eras such as Germany’s former world No. 1 Steffi Graf. Tennis has long had appeal beyond its sporting confines, pushing fashion trends and providing t ..read more

Guatemalan police stand guard outside Save the Children’s headquarters as agents from the attorney-general’s office wind up their raid on Thursday. (AP pic) GUATEMALA CITY: Guatemalan authorities raided the offices of the international organization Save the Children on Thursday in what the prosecutor’s office said was part of an investigation into alleged abuses against minors. A spokesman for Save the Children confirmed that officials had entered its offices in Guatemala City, but declined to give more details. The operation was the result of “a transnational investigation of great significan ..read more

‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ will see its worldwide release in cinemas from May 8. (20th Century Studios pic) LONDON: “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes”, the latest instalment in the sci-fi-fantasy franchise, is both a sequel and a prequel, its director Wes Ball says. The action-adventure is the 10th “Planet of the Apes” movie and follows the reboot trilogy, which debuted in 2011 with “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” and includes the 2014 film “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” and 2017’s “War for the Planet of the Apes”. “It’s certainly big shoes to fill,” Ball, known for the “Maze Runn ..read more

Weinstein, 72, was convicted in February 2020 of rape and sexual assault by a New York court and sentenced to 23 years in prison – a verdict that was overturned on Thursday. (AP pic) LOS ANGELES: Thursday’s ruling overturning Harvey Weinstein’s New York rape conviction gives the one-time film mogul a chance at a new trial and calls into question what evidence prosecutors can use in future sex crime cases. Here is a look at what happened to the case, which helped define the #MeToo movement, and what might happen next. Why was Weinstein’s conviction overturned? Weinstein, 72, was found guilty of ..read more