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Wednesday, November 1, 2023

China urges efforts to eliminate war chaos at Beijing Xiangshan Forum

 Xiangshan Forum's Opening Ceremony Held in Beijing

Delegations from around the world attend Beijing Xiangshan Forum

Seminar on Sun Tzu's Art of War Attracts Attention at Xiangshan Forum


The first plenary session of the 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum is held on October 30, 2023 with the focus on major countries' responsibility and global security cooperation. Photo: VCG

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times that the China-proposed Global Security Initiative is an international security view based on domestic security but also takes a broader view that allows countries to coexist peacefully.


The Global Security Initiative is an important manifestation of building a global community of shared future, as it is also an international security view that avoids oppression of the weak and other forms of inequality, Song said.

Lieutenant General He Lei, former vice president of the Academy of Military Sciences of the People's Liberation Army, told the Global Times during the forum on Monday that Zhang's keynote speech promoted and elaborated on the concept of building a global community of shared future and the Global Security Initiative, as he reiterated China's independent and peaceful diplomatic policy, its strategic decision of walking the path of peaceful development, its national defense policy that is defensive in nature, and its military strategy of active defense.

The keynote speech by Zhang also rejected Cold War mentality and bloc confrontation, as he made an in-depth analysis of the current international security situation, and expressed the Chinese military's wish to develop friendly relations, enhance communications, build strategic mutual trust and jointly make positive efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the world, said He Lei.

Lü Chao, an international affairs expert at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times at the forum on Monday that at a time when the West is hyping up the "China threat" theory, the forum also served as a good opportunity to refute those claims.

At this domestically hosted international security forum, China declared to the whole world its initiative for peaceful development, Lü said, noting that he expects positive feedback from the international community.

Lü, who has attended many previous editions of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, said that this year's event further stressed China and the international communities' joint development and joint efforts in achieving lasting peace.

"What impressed me greatly were the speeches from representatives from Cambodia, Indonesia, Nigeria and other countries, because in other international conventions I seldom get the chance to hear from them. Their remarks are actually very close to China's ideas, so China's diplomacy really wins the hearts of others," Lü said.

While the West is demonizing China, in fact everyone knows who is the real one that is threatening global peace, Lü said. 


The 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum is held on October 30, 2023. Photo: Leng Shumei/GT

Unique platform


On Monday, the forum organized two plenary sessions - Major Countries' Responsibility and Global Security Cooperation and The Role of Developing Countries in Global Security; and eight simultaneous sessions - Security Trend and Configuration of Security Situation in Northeast Asia, ASEAN Centrality in Regional Security Cooperation Architecture, New Security Architecture in the Middle East, Reconfiguring Peace in Europe, Preventing and Managing Military Maritime Crisis, Nuclear Risk and Global Security, Artificial Intelligence Security and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief: International Military Cooperation.

The wide selection of topics, covering a number of regional affairs and sensitive issues, shows that China is shouldering its responsibilities as a major country, particularly in upholding justice in the international community, experts said.

Senior Colonel Zhao Xiaozhuo, deputy director of the Beijing Xiangshan Forum Secretariat, told the Global Times that the Beijing Xiangshan Forum would not be a real international security forum if it did not cover all important hot topics.

The forum invited experts in various fields from all over the world who seek opportunities to communicate over the current hot topics, Zhao said. "We do not avoid hot topics, nor do we go around sensitive topics."

During the sessions discussing the Palestine-Israel conflict and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, parties involved in those conflicts remained objective and reasonable in their discussions, which is not easy considering conflicts are going on between them, Zhao said, noting that the forum is a platform that offers sides engaged in conflicts a chance to talk to each other.

In all plenary and simultaneous sessions, there were a large number of representatives and experts who had come from developing countries.

Zhao said that representatives from developing countries seldom get the chance to make themselves heard in international forums, particularly those with influence, so the Beijing Xiangshan Forum offers them an opportunity, and takes them into full consideration when arranging topics so that developing countries can raise their suggestions and claims.


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Tuesday, October 31, 2023

Stroke rehab to recover


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In conjunction with World Stroke Day today, three survivors share how consistent rehabilitation has enabled them to regain function again.


AT 41, Chin Kang Wei had everything going for him.

He had married the love of his life four years earlier, was a proud papa of a daughter and an owner of a successful accelerated learning centre.

As far as Chin was aware, he had no health issues although he was a little overweight and seldom exercised.

He never smoked and drank occasionally socially.

Like most people, the Ipoh, Perak-based lad had bouts of stress, but always rode it out.

Until one fateful morning on Dec 29, 2014.

He recalls: “I woke up at 6am like I usually do and didn’t feel well.

“I picked up my phone and dropped it, like I couldn’t control my hand.

“I walked to the toilet and my body felt weak, so I went back to sleep.

“After 30 minutes, I woke up again and still didn’t feel good, so I woke my wife up.

“She said I was probably tired and asked me togo back to sleep, bu ti was slurring as I spoke and she immediately knew I was having a stroke.

“I couldn’t believe it because a month prior, I had donated blood at the hospital and my blood pressure was normal.” Chin was rushed to a private hospital. “Strangely, I was somehow able to walk while holding on to something, but after they did an MRI a few hours later, which confirmed I had a stroke, I couldn’t move my entire right side any more,” he says.

Chin was hospitalised for a week and was confident he’d be cheerily walking out of hospital before long.

Alas, he could barely stand and had to relearn how to sit.

He says: “I’ve always had a positive mindset, but the moment I sat on the wheelchair, I realised how bad my stroke was.

“Everyone was sad, including me, and the thought of ‘why me’ entered my mind.

“The worst part: I couldn’t hug my daughter, who was then three years old,” says Chin.

The attending doctor had recommended physiotherapy, while a friend mentioned the National Stroke Association of Malaysia (Nasam), so the day after being discharged, Chin started rehabilitation.

His goal: to be able to walk and drive again.

Support and motivation


Under the dedicated care of therapist Kathiravan Tangaraju, Chin went for daily sessions and was able to stand and walk a few steps within two weeks.

He was taught how to get up from bed using his left side, and how to get dressed.

What really motivated him was peer support from older stroke patients.

Laughing, Chin says: “These aunties and uncles would come and tell me I would definitely walk again.

“They were all very kind with their encouraging words.”

In February 2015, Chin’s wife found out she was pregnant again.

The couple were delighted, and Chin was further determined to recover so that he could drive her to hospital when the baby was due.

“I’m glad I was able to it,” he says. Chin also took private yoga classes for a year.

By April 2015, he had not only returned to work, but was also back behind the wheels.

He has had other successful personal accomplishments post-stroke, including completing a 6km charity run in 2016, where he walked the entire distance.

The stroke had also affected his ability to write.

It took more than a year before he could hold a pen again.

Chin says: “The writing was the last function to return to normalcy.

“I was lucky my speech returned faster and that was because my wife would ask me to read storybooks to our daughter.

“I sounded exactly like a Chinese man reading English for the first time, and everyone would burst out laughing, including my daughter.

“In hindsight, I’m glad my daughter didn’t give us much trouble and understood what I was going through.”

Grateful for every day


In August 2019, he was hospitalised for dizziness, but thankfully, it was nothing serious.

“The doctor said I was overweight and my blood glucose was also on the high side.

“He asked if I wanted to be on medication and I said no.

“Instead, I took up the challenge to walk 10,000 steps once a week, and by the time, I saw him again in three months, I had lost weight from 114kg to 91kg and my blood glucose had normalised.

“He was surprised, but happy. “Eventually, I began walking 10,000 steps three times a week until the movement control order, then I bought a stationary bike and rode it to keep fit,” he shares.

Diet-wise, Chin says the family always ate healthy because there is family history of non-communicable diseases.

He reveals: “Frankly speaking, my mum’s food has no taste because everything is less in salt, sugar, oil, etc.

“Even the vegetables are boiled or steamed – there is no sauce or flavouring!

“So once in a while, I will have nasi lemak or fast food – I can’t resist, I am Malaysian!”

These days, Chin, now 50, no longer takes his health for granted, goes to bed by 10pm and is grateful for every small blessing.

“The family hugs every day. “When my son was born, I couldn’t bathe him, but I was able to hold him.

“When my daughter was born, I was the one who bathed her daily while my wife concentrated on breastfeeding.

“The kids were breastfed until they were three – saved us a lot of money!” he says with a chuckle.

The stroke has left Chin, a law-of-attraction facilitator, more emotional as his tears flow freely nowadays.

“I was not like that before,” he says. “I remember my grandma also suffered a stroke and she would always cry.

“When I asked why, she said she couldn’t control her emotions – the same thing is happening to me.”

Last year, Chin was honoured with an invitation to deliver a keynote address at a business platform in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, showcasing his remarkable journey of triumph over adversity.

It was his first trip out of Malaysia since he had the stroke, and yes, the tears trickled down his cheeks as he narrated his story to applause.


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Monday, October 30, 2023

How to lose weight without exercising

 

Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep every night to restore and repair the body. — TNS


Who doesn’t want to be lean and slim without putting in effort?

Physical activity or exercise has plenty of physical, emotional and mental benefits, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you will shed the kilos easily by partaking in it.

Some people hate exercising and are not motivated to push or challenge themselves – they simply don’t get the same endorphin release as others.

Reluctant exercisers need external motivators to keep going, like the promise of boosting their overall health, to look good, or because their physician has said they must do so to stay alive.

Our ancestors remained active out of necessity, not choice: they had to move to hunt for food.

Once fed, they rested to conserve energy because there was nothing much to do.

When food supply diminished, they’d be on their feet, hunting again.

Resting is a natural human tendency, so don’t beat yourself up if that’s what you like to do.

With advances in technology and labour-saving devices, the world is now accessible with our fingers, and even minimal movement seems to have taken a backseat.

That’s why we are blossoming sideways.

Is that bad?

It depends on how much weight you’re putting on.

One 2021 study published in the Annals of Epidemiology found that people who started adulthood with a body mass index (BMI) in the normal range, and became overweight – but never obese – in later life, tend to live the longest.

Adults in this category lived longer than even those whose BMI stayed in the normal range throughout their life.

However, those who started adulthood as obese and continued to add weight had the highest death rate.

So, a bit of extra weight is okay as long as you don’t balloon out of control.

Any healthy person can lose weight without exercising – you just need a lifestyle tweak and some discipline.

Prioritise what you enjoy doing instead of struggling to achieve unrealistic goals.

Try some of the following tips to help you trim down.

Chew your food thoroughly and savour every morsel before you swallow it to feel full faster. — AFP

> Hydrate with water


Make it a point to drink two glasses of water after waking up to help “activate” your internal organs.

The water will help to remove any toxins before your first meal of the day.

Water helps regulate body temperature, lower blood pressure, carry nutrients and oxygen to various cells, and maintain optimal kidney function.

Replacing sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages with water can help reduce your daily caloric intake.

Whenever you feel hungry, you may actually be thirsty, or even slightly dehydrated.

So don’t reach out for snacks, but drink a big glass of plain water first – and ideally wait 30 minutes before eating.

Drinking water prior to meals can help you feel fuller and reduce your overall food intake, which can lead to weight loss over time.

If plain water isn’t appealing, try adding fruit slices like oranges, or herbs like mint, lemon and rosemary, for extra flavour and nutrients.

> Eat slowly and mindfully


Instead of munching down solid food, especially poultry and meat, chew thoroughly.

Some time back, I attended a wellness retreat where we were told to chew every mouthful 27 times and savour all the flavours before swallowing.

The food almost turns to liquid by the time it goes down the throat.

Not only does this increase the amount of nutrients absorbed by the body, it’s also easier on the digestive process.

Additionally, longer chewing also helps develop a stronger jaw and chin, suppress hunger and gets you full faster, aiding in your weight loss journey.

> Load up on fibre and protein


You don’t have to eliminate all carbohydrates, just minimise overly-processed ones, such as white breads and pre-packaged foods like cookies and crackers.

This is because such foods are rapidly digested and converted into blood sugar.

Instead, consume more protein and fibre.

Protein takes longer to digest and decreases the level of the hunger-regulating hormone ghrelin, making you feel fuller for a longer period.

Fibre expands in your gut like a sponge, so it’s a natural appetite suppressant.

It also moves faster in your intestines, which signals to the brain that you are full.

Along with lean meats and poultry, add on a good mix of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains to make up the rest of the meal.

Even a five-minute break to take deep breaths at work can do wonders to bring down stress levels. — AFP

> Scale back on added sugar


Sugar itself doesn’t make the weighing scale jump up, but it tends to be in foods that have too many calories.

Whether it’s soft drinks, teh tarik or desserts, it should be the first thing to go if you’re trying to lose weight.

The sweet stuff is also hidden in all sorts of foods from salad dressing to sauces to canned fruits, so don’t be deceived that you’re eating a healthy salad when you’ve doused the greens with salad dressing.

ALSO READ: You wouldn't expect to find sugar in these foods

When it comes to caffeinated beverages, skip the sugar, honey and creamer if possible, as these can quickly add to the calories.

Having your tea or coffee black is best, but if like me, you need to add some milk, opt for skim or low fat over full cream.

By eliminating sugar, you can lower your risk of heart disease dramatically because too much sugar in your diet heightens your risk of high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes – the three main risk factors for heart disease and cardiovascular decline.

ALSO READ: What you can do to reduce heart attack and stroke risk

> Manage stress levels


This is hard for everyone, but we’ve got to try.

When the body is under pressure, it releases the hormone cortisol, which is linked to increased appetite and fat storage.

Excess cortisol levels can increase appetite and cravings for energy-dense, comfort foods.

High cortisol levels over time have also been linked to abdominal fat gain.

Take time daily to do something to lower the stress levels: laugh, read a good book, play with a pet or just take deep breaths.

Find a quiet corner at work, close your eyes and spend five minutes mid-morning and in the afternoon to do a few rounds of deep breathing by inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth or nose.

Do this again in bed, just before you sleep.

> Get proper sleep


Your body relies on sleep to restore and repair itself, and getting enough rest can also benefit your weight-loss efforts.

There is mounting evidence that people who get too little sleep have a higher risk of weight gain and obesity than people who get seven to eight hours of sleep a night.

Sleep deprivation changes your endocrine function and metabolism by affecting your production of the hunger-regulating hormones ghrelin and leptin.

This can make you feel hungrier than usual, increasing the likelihood of craving for unhealthy snacks.

It’s no surprise that when you’re exhausted, it’s harder to control your impulses for comfort food like cookies, chocolates and ice cream.

Practise good sleep hygiene by sleeping at the same time every day, switching off all gadgets two hours before bedtime and ensuring the room temperature is comfortable.

By Revathi Murugappan who is a certified fitness trainer who tries to battle gravity and continues to dance to express herself artistically and nourish her soul. For more information, email starhealth@thestar.com.my. The information contained in this column is for general educational purposes only. Neither The Star nor the author gives any warranty on accuracy, completeness, functionality, usefulness or other assurances as to such information. The Star and the author disclaim all responsibility for any losses, damage to property or personal injury suffered directly or indirectly from reliance on such information.


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Sunday, October 29, 2023

US can’t halt SMIC, Huawei’s tech advances, chip guru says

 

 A Kirin 9000s chip fabricated in China by Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), taken from a Huawei Mate X5 foldable smartphone, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on Sept 19. Huawei's Kirin 9000s processor supports 5G wireless speeds, TechInsights said, dispelling some of the mystery around the Chinese company's latest devices.

The US won’t be able to stop Chinese firms including Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC) and Huawei Technologies Co from making progress in chip technology, according to one of the semiconductor industry’s leading figures.

SMIC and Huawei, which stunned Washington by unveiling a made-in-China phone processor, can use existing older machines to make even more sophisticated silicon, said Burn J Lin, a former Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) vice-president. SMIC should be able to advance to the next generation at five nanometres with machines from ASML Holding NV that it already operates, said Lin, who at TSMC championed the lithography technology that transformed chipmaking.

Huawei electrified the chip industry when it unveiled a 7nm processor made by SMIC in the Mate 60 Pro, triggering celebration in China and accusations in the US that a campaign to contain the country’s tech ascent had failed. 

And Yangtze Memory Technologies Co (YMTC) is now also producing some of the most advanced memory chips in the industry. In October, the Biden administration tightened existing curbs to close loopholes through which the country may be accessing advanced American gear, marking a new phase in a struggle to influence technologies crucial to the economic and political balance.

But that may not stop China’s technological ascent, said Lin, who’s highly regarded in the industry for being the first person to propose immersion lithography, the technology that ASML’s core products rely on.

SMIC used ASML’s immersion lithography machines to make the 7nm chip for Huawei. Beyond trying to reach the 5nm milestone, it’s likely China will experiment with new materials or advanced chip packaging to make more powerful semiconductors, Lin said. Shares in SMIC gained as much as 5.8% in Hong Kong, their biggest gain in about two weeks.

“It is just not possible for the US to completely prevent China from improving its chip technology,” Lin said in an interview this week at the National Tsing Hua University in Hsinchu, where he serves as dean of the semiconductor research college. That echoed comments from Arm Holdings plc boss Rene Haas this month.

“What the US really should do is to focus on maintaining its chip design leadership instead of trying to limit China’s progress, which is futile as China is adopting a whole nation strategy to boost its chip industry, and hurting the global economy,” Lin added.

In fact, the US may have inadvertently granted SMIC a golden opportunity, he argued.

In 2020, Washington effectively banned TSMC — the supplier of the world’s most advanced silicon to Apple Inc and Nvidia Corp — from doing business with Huawei. That’s when SMIC stepped up to inherit the massive orders that helped it improve its manufacturing technique, Lin said. Representatives at SMIC and YMTC did not respond to requests for comment.

A debate is now raging in the US and beyond about whether Washington and its allies should step up their Chinese containment campaign. US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has said Washington doesn’t have evidence China can make advanced chips “at scale”. But Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security Alan Estevez said it’s “absolutely” a concern for Washington that the Asian nation could use 7nm technology — or better — in military applications.

Industry analysts including Haitong International Securities’s Jeff Pu have estimated that Huawei could build as many as 70 million smartphones using its own Kirin chips in 2024 — not insignificant compared to the roughly 220 million iPhones that Apple Inc ships annually.

In another area of concern for Washington, China is also charging ahead on memory chips — a more commoditised type of silicon than processors but still critical in everything from smartphones and artificial intelligence training servers to military drones.

Canadian research firm TechInsights Inc discovered an advanced chip made by Yangtze Memory in a solid state drive launched around July — months after US curbs announced last year forced foreign equipment suppliers to sever ties with the Chinese semiconductor company.

TechInsights, which unearthed SMIC’s and Huawei’s 7nm chip through a joint investigation with Bloomberg News, found the 232-layer quad-level cell 3D NAND die during a routine device teardown, calling it one of the most advanced it had seen.

“YMTC is quietly developing advanced technology despite being hampered by issues following sanctions,” TechInsights said in a blog post on Tuesday. 

“Evidence is mounting that China’s momentum to overcome trade restrictions and build its own domestic semiconductor supply chain is more successful than expected.”

By Debby Wu / Bloomberg


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