Monday, April 3, 2023

What is the best sleeping position?

Experts say side sleeping is probably the better way to sleep.

MOST people spend a third of their lives either asleep or resting, according to the Sleep Foundation.

During sleep, the body recharges and repairs itself.

And a good night’s sleep often can be determined by what position you are lying in bed. Back-sleepers beware.

“I know many people find it to be comfortable, because they’re not putting weight on their joints,” says Dr Lois Krahn, a Mayo Clinic sleep specialist.

But experts say sleeping on your back is actually the worst sleeping position, especially if you have sleep apnea.

“Sleeping on the back means that your tongue and jaw can fall down and crowd your airway. And many people snore more on their back,” says Dr Krahn.

Sleeping on your stomach helps keep the airway open, but it can put a strain on your spine and neck.

“There’s a host of evidence overall suggesting that probably sleeping on the side is better,” says Dr. Virend Somers, a cardiologist and director of the sleep facility within Mayo Clinic’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science.

Side sleeping helps prevent the airway from collapsing and can reduce snoring.

“And so, all in all, sleeping on the side – perhaps with their head slightly elevated as long as that’s comfortable – is a good way to sleep,” says Dr Krahn.

Side sleeping is also recommended during pregnancy, especially the last trimester.

And sleeping on the left side is best because it keeps pressure off internal organs and promotes healthy blood flow.

“When you are in that third trimester of pregnancy and when you sleep on your back, the uterus is compressing your inferior vena cava (the largest vein in the body).

“It’s compressing the arterial system,” says Dr Somers.

Sleeping on your side also is considered by the Sleep Foundation as the best for people with neck and back pain, especially if you place a small pillow between your knees.

“Because if you don’t have a pillow between your knees, that stress of sleeping on the side pulls on your hip and can cause some issues,” says Dr Somers. – Mayo Clinic News Network/tribune News Service

Mad media mania, CNN and BBC for world news both become arguably biased and unreliable

Highlights From TikTok CEO's Testimony Before Congress | Insider News

China hits back after US lawmakers push for TikTok ban in 5-hour grilling

n the hot seat: Chew had the unenviable task of fielding questions, interrogated by this bunch of rude and abusive people with accusations that they can’t substantiate during the Congressional hearing. – AP/Bloomberg

The US is afraid a social platform, perceived as ticking timebomb, is about to explode in an expose of its nation

I wish most of us didn’t have to depend on CNN and BBC for our world news, but our choices are really limited.

The regional media, including those in Malaysia, also depend on Western news agencies for international news.

Only these news agencies have the resources and ability to deliver breaking news swiftly to the world.

As much as Al-Jazeera and CGTN (China Global Television Network) try to compete, they can’t because their presentations seem to lack global flavour.

Al-Jazeera is owned by the monarchy government of Qatar.

It focuses more on the Arab world while CGTN is bereft of appeal because its reporting appears government-centric and serious.

So whether we like it or not, we’re left with CNN and BBC for world news on TV, but unfortunately, both have become arguably biased and unreliable, and have even gone overboard at times.

If we are to believe what CNN has been reporting, the Russians lost the war with Ukraine a year ago. Almost every daily news bite is about the Russians suffering yet another blow, but the Ukrainians have yet to regain their lost territories.

The attacks on China have also become ridiculous and to many Asians, especially those in the Chinese diaspora, it has degenerated into comedy, when it used to merely be annoying previously.

The Chinese have been accused of wanting to supply arms to Russia. That has somehow stopped now because even Ukraine has quashed that claim.

So we have countries which are sending or selling arms to Ukraine who are hypocritically warning China against doing the same. They have given up on Iran being the beneficiary now, of course.

But the icing on the cake must be the US Congress hearing, where TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew, a Singaporean, was grilled by Republican and Democrat politicians.The lawmakers supposedly assumed bipartisan roles in this instance, meaning for once, they were on the same side, but they were clearly partisan.

The poor CEO had the unenviable task of fielding questions, interrogated by this bunch of rude and abusive people with accusations that they can’t substantiate.

They had already made up their minds even before listening to Chew, and they were given glowing reports by CNN until last week when it became obvious the world was making fun of these members of Congress.

To be more precise, they were even targeted in talk shows where they were mocked and ridiculed.

This was a classic case of a group of digitally illiterate political oldies sounding like leftovers from the McCarthy era of the 1960s which witch-hunted imagined communists. These fogies even believe TikTok users are being used to spy for the Chinese government and imagine the app is a national security risk.

The Americans, British, Russians, Israelis and many other countries have all been involved in spying activities since time immemorial, yet suddenly, they’re worried about TikTok being used to spy on Americans?

So these politicians have unwittingly exposed their ignorance of how modern technology works. The more they queried Chew, the more foolish they revealed themselves to be.

One Congressman asked, “if I have a TikTok app on my phone and my phone is on my phone’s Wi Fi network, does TikTok access that network?” What a stupid question.

To this Chew replied: “‘It will have access to the network to get a connection to the Internet, if that’s the question.”

It’s perplexing that a CEO of a tech company is asked about espionage and the plight of Uighurs in China, when Muslims in Syria, Yemen, Afghanistan, Libya, and Iraq have been bombed flat for decades.

And on the day CNN reported widely on the Congressional hearing, there wasn’t a peep about how Apple CEO Tim Cook was given a rousing welcome in China.

The treatment from the Chinese of Cook couldn’t have been more contrasting following the hours of Chew’s pummelling in the US.

Perhaps US politicians would want to haul Cook up to explain whether iPhones – of which 95% is made in China – could be used to spy on Americans.

These paranoid lawmakers should be worried about toting these Chinese-made US-owned mobiles.

But with more than 150 million TikTok users in the US, that translates into a massive number of votes. After all, the politicians can reach the voters more effectively via TikTok.

So why ban the app if it serves their selfish interests?

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Wong Chun Wai

Wong Chun Wai began his career as a journalist in Penang, and has served The Star for over 35 years in various capacities and roles. He is now group editorial and corporate affairs adviser to the group, after having served as group managing director/chief executive officer. On The Beat made its debut on Feb 23 1997 and Chun Wai has penned the column weekly without a break, except for the occasional press holiday when the paper was not published. In May 2011, a compilation of selected articles of On The Beat was published as a book and launched in conjunction with his 50th birthday. Chun Wai also comments on current issues in The Star.

Forcing TikTok to sell its shares is a shameless manifestation of US’ hegemonism

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Greatest threat to the USA is Peace; China is now fearless drawing red lines with US and no longer can be bullied. 史无前例！中美天津會談. 史無前例! 第一次有一個國家

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Greatest threat to the USA is Peace; China is now fearless drawing red lines with US and no longer can be bullied. 史无前例！中美天津會談. 史無前例! 第一次有一個國家

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Sunday, April 2, 2023

Stronger together with an eye on a shared future

Warm reception: Chinese President Xi Jinping welcoming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. — SADIQ ASYRAF/ Prime Minister’s Office

Xi Calls for Concerted Efforts to Advance China-Malaysia Ties, Boost All-Around Cooperation

Honoured: Anwar (second from right) and Xi (second from left) exchanging views at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. — Prime Minister’s Office

'An important neighbour'

BEIJING: In their first-ever face-to-face meeting, Prime Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and President Xi Jinping reiterated the strong friendship and trade ties between Malaysia and China, while looking to the future.

In his brief welcoming remarks, Xi said both countries have agreed to build a China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

“This bilateral relationship is a new historical starting point,” he said.

Xi added that he appreciated the fact that despite observing the holy month of Ramadan, Anwar had accepted his invitation to visit China.He said he also took note of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between both nations this year and the 50th anniversary of the Malaysia-China diplomatic relationship next year.

Hence, he said it is hoped that under Anwar’s leadership, Malaysia and China will work more closely together to bring the relationship to greater heights.

For his part, Anwar said he was awestruck by Xi’s humility.

“He is such a formidable leader on the world stage, a senior world statesman and yet there is so much humility in him.

“He even asked me about our Malaysia Madani concept and about The Asian Renaissance,” he said, referring to his 1996 book.

“The more you learn, the more humble one should become. The wisdom of humility is endless,” Anwar said in his speech after a buka puasa event with Maycham China (Malaysian Chamber of Commerce & Industry in China) here yesterday.

He had earlier called on Xi at the Great Hall of the People.

Anwar urged Maycham China to keep up the good work of promoting Malaysia in the eyes of Chinese businesses and investors. He said promoting collaboration should not just be left to the government.

“It is also very much the work of the private sector itself. That is why everywhere I go abroad, I always make it a point to listen to the business community ... to encourage them to do more.

“This is the only way we can spur more growth,” he added.

Maycham China chairman Loh Wee Keng, in his speech earlier, said the chamber was going the extra mile to further promote trade and business exchanges with Malaysia.

“The gotong royong spirit is well and alive here in China. In Malaysia, we may take some things for granted, but here we take the extra effort.

“That is why our trade with China is thriving,” he added.

Also present at the dinner were the accompanying Malaysian ministers, Ambassador to China and Maycham China patron Raja Datuk Nushirwan Zainal Abidin, and MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

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