Marseille on a winning streak, beats Saint-Etienne 2-1 |
- Marseille on a winning streak, beats Saint-Etienne 2-1
- At your fingertips: First aid advice from mobile app
- US team looks to revamp team after Ryder Cup loss
- Hinduisme kian merosot
- AFP Video: French tech company develops self-parking phone app
- Rossi suffers concussion, in hospital after Aragon GP crash
| Marseille on a winning streak, beats Saint-Etienne 2-1 Posted: 28 Sep 2014 05:58 PM PDT
Marcelo Bielsa's side produced a typically high octane performance in the first half and found themselves two goals ahead inside 28 minutes, Giannelli Imbula and Dimitri Payet both on target. The tempo dropped in the second half and Jonathan Brison got one back for Saint-Etienne, but OM held on to make it three wins in the last eight days and six in a row, their longest winning streak since the start of the 2012-13 campaign. This latest success saw them reclaim first place from Bordeaux, who had beaten Rennes 2-1 earlier yesterday, while stuttering champions Paris Saint-Germain are five points off the pace in fourth. Bielsa named an unchanged side following last Tuesday's 5-0 victory at Reims while the visitors made several changes, having drawn at home with Bordeaux on Thursday. The hosts looked the fresher of the two teams and got off to the perfect start, Imbula collecting a Brice Dja Djedje pass, controlling and then lashing a shot into the bottom-left corner from just outside the area. Payet, the former Saint-Etienne winger, then came close on two separate occasions before finding the net shortly before the half-hour mark, stroking the ball home from just inside the box after Andre Ayew had stolen possession back from Francois Clerc. Marseille could not maintain the same level of intensity and Brison reduced the arrears on 53 minutes with a sweetly struck half-volley after the home defence had failed to clear their lines. Nevertheless, the hosts held on and Andre-Pierre Gignac, scorer of eight goals already this season was only denied another by a good Stephane Ruffier save late on. Saint-Etienne, meanwhile, have still not won at the Velodrome since 1979, when Michel Platini and Johnny Rep were in their side. Bordeaux win it late Bordeaux were inspired by youngster Thomas Toure as they got the better of Rennes at the Stade Chaban-Delmas. Toure set up Wahbi Khazri to put Les Girondins ahead in the second half and then curled in a magnificent winning goal in the third minute of added time after Habib Habibou had levelled for Rennes in the 80th minute. "The players never gave up. They were cooked at the end, but they kept looking for the winner into the final minutes," said delighted Bordeaux coach Willy Sagnol. "They can be proud but they also know that there is work to be done in terms of the performance." Elsewhere, Lyon made it four games unbeaten but threw away the lead in a 1-1 draw away to Nantes at the Stade de la Beaujoire. Burkina Faso defender Bakary Kone headed in Alexandre Lacazette's free-kick to put OL ahead six minutes into the second half, but he then shoved Georges-Kevin Nkoudou to the ground inside the box, allowing Jordan Veretout to level from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute. Yesterday's other game saw Lens draw 0-0 with fellow promoted club Caen at their temporary home in Amiens. On Saturday, Paris Saint-Germain were held to a 1-1 draw at Toulouse, their fourth draw in their last five matches meaning that they will not go into Tuesday's Champions League showdown with Barcelona in the best shape. France's other Champions League group stage representative, Monaco, suffered a fourth loss in just eight league games this season, falling 1-0 at home to Nice in the Cote d'Azur derby, while there were wins for Lille, Metz, Montpellier and Evian. — AFP  |
| At your fingertips: First aid advice from mobile app Posted: 28 Sep 2014 05:55 PM PDT
The app offers tips in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil, as well as videos and quizzes. Scenarios featured include what to do if a person is unconscious and not breathing, accompanied by a step-by-step guide on how to check for signs of breathing and open one's airway. Singapore Red Cross chairman Tee Tua Ba said yesterday that the app was part of the organisation's goal of having a first aider in every home. The Singapore Red Cross also held a community outreach event yesterday, which saw 100 participants attend talks on injury prevention, providing a safe home for seniors, prevention and early detection of chronic diseases, as well as caregiving for dementia patients. The event was supported by the Eastern Health Alliance and Tampines West Active Ageing Committee, with Senior Minister of State (Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs) Masagos Zulkifli as guest of honour. Said Mr Masagos, who is also Member of Parliament for Tampines GRC: "I am glad the Singapore Red Cross is working actively with the community to build resilience, especially for and among the elderly. With an ageing population, it is important for us to work together in empowering caregivers, the elderly and the community at large with the skills to build a healthy, vigorous and resilient society. I also applaud the Singapore Red Cross for making first aid even more accessible with the launch of the mobile app." Launched in conjunction with World First Aid Day, the app is available for Android and iOS devices. — TODAY |
| US team looks to revamp team after Ryder Cup loss Posted: 28 Sep 2014 05:53 PM PDT
The 44-year-old left-hander spoke out after Europe completed a 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 triumph over the United States at Gleneagles, delivering the third US loss in a row, sixth in seven starts and eighth in the past 10 tries. The lone American victory since a 1999 last-day record rally at Brookline was in 2008 when Paul Azinger guided the US team to a 16 1/2 to 11 1/2 win at Valhalla. "Unfortunately, we have strayed from a winning formula in 2008 for the last three Ryder Cups," Miclkelson said. "We need to consider maybe getting back to that formula that helped us play our best." Mickelson cited Azinger's Pod system, allowing three groups of four players to bond together, and detailed plans of how to handle situations as the model emulated in the Presidents Cup, where the US team is 8-1-1 and won five in a row against a non-European global club. "We use that same process in the Presidents Cup and we do really well," Mickelson said. What went unsaid by the five-time major winner, benched all day for the first time in 10 Ryder Cup starts by Watson on Saturday, is that his ideas went directly against what had been done by Watson, the oldest-ever Cup captain at age 65. Watson made decisions on who would play together with little player input, relying on himself and vice-captains. "I had a different philosophy than Paul," Watson said. "It takes 12 players to win. It's not pods. It's 12 players. "I did talk to the players, but my vice captains were very instrumental in making decisions." Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, who suffered their first loss in five starts together in Friday foursomes, begged to play Saturday but Watson decided otherwise. "They struggled some in the afternoon match in the foursomes, and they had a hard time hitting the fairways," Watson said. "I put some players in there I thought could put the ball in the fairway maybe a little bit better." Asked if any player had input this week as they had in 2008, Mickelson paused and replied, "Uh no. No, nobody here was in any decision. So, no." Tom OK with Phil's words Watson said he did not see Mickelson's comments as disloyal, saying, "He has a difference of opinion. That's OK. My management philosophy is different than his." Watson said his philosophy was one that could have produced a winner. "I felt we had the very best teams out there possible," Watson said. "The bottom line is they kicked our butts." Asked about making a captaincy push, Mickelson replied, "Oh, no, no. I've been on eight losing teams. No. I'm only reflecting on the one time in the last 15 years that we've won and what allowed us to do that, make no mistake. "It sucks losing, but the experience of spending time with these guys and in Scotland and the emotions that this event brings out in us, I cherish those forever." Watson had not attended a Ryder Cup since 1993, when he led the US to its most recent win in Europe, but he watched the rest on television, feeling no different Yesterday that watching the 2012 US loss at Medinah. "Not a damn thing," said Watson "It's the same. it hurts." Furyk feels the tension Watson said he was confident he made the correct decisions. "It doesn't soothe the hurt," Watson said. Nine-time Cupper Jim Furyk could feel the tension over the remarks when asked his thoughts. "I have a lot of respect for both gentlemen. I've known Phil my entire life. Since I was 16, I've competed against him. He's one of my dearest friends," Furyk said. "And I have a lot of respect for our captain. I know he put his heart and soul in it for two years. He worked his ass off to try to provide what he thought would be the best opportunity for us. "I don't think it's wise for any one of us to be pitted in the middle of that." — AFP |
| Posted: 28 Sep 2014 05:52 PM PDT 29 SEPTEMBER ― Pengetahuan, pemahaman, penghayatan dan amalan sebenar ajaran Hindu dalam kalangan penganut agama berkenaan di Malaysia semakin merosot. Hakikat ini boleh dipertikaikan tetapi tidak boleh dinafikan sekiranya kita berpeluang melihat, menganalisis, meninjau dan berbual dengan orang Hindu, khususnya generasi muda. Kiru Muniandi dari Pulau Pinang bersetuju apabila saya menyatakan pandangan ini menerusi laman rangkaian sosial Facebook baru-baru ini. Seorang wartawan, Ali Imran pula menyatakan pandangan bahawa situasi sama berlaku dalam semua agama. "Islam juga hadapi krisis ini. Setakat perbincangan dengan rakan Kristian, juga sama," komennya. Berkongsi pandangan yang hampir sama ialah Calvin Pius Ohsey yang berasal dari Sabah. "Saya berpendapat ini krisis untuk semua agama dan aliran. Dunia semakin maju dan berkembang. Relativisme serta sekularisme telah mula mendominasi fikiran ramai manusia sekarang. "Ini bukan tidak bagus, cuma ramai yang beragama kerana ikutan dan bukan beragama sebagai cara hidup. Ada juga yang beragama secara selektif. Lebih parah, tafsiran agama yang ekstrim juga terjadi kerana ikut-ikutan serta pemahaman yang salah," katanya. Arun Sarravanan Rajaratnam turut bersetuju bahawa pengetahuan, pemahaman, penghayatan dan amalan sebenar ajaran Hindu dalam kalangan penganut agama berkenaan di Malaysia semakin merosot.
Dalam hal ini, Sargunan Sockalingam menganggap masalah yang dihadapi sudah mencapai tahap kritikal. "Saya percaya satu kurikulum terperinci berkaitan Sanathana Dharma – iaitu nama sebenar ajaran Hindu ― perlu diwujudkan dan diajar untuk dihayati oleh warga Malaysia yang beragama Hindu," katanya. Jahil terhadap agama tauhid tertua di dunia Semasa perbincangan berlaku menerusi Facebook pada 24 September 2014, Aslam Bigai mengemukakan pandangan dan pengalaman yang sedikit berbeza. Katanya, selama ini dia juga berpendapat penghayatan ajaran Hindu semakin merosot tetapi kehadiran beratus-ratus orang Hindu ke Kuil Shiva di Sentul pada hari sebelumnya membuatkan pandangannya berubah. "Kebiasaannya orang Hindu di Malaysia hanya mengetahui beberapa hari perayaan utama seperti Vinayagar Chaturthi, Ponggal, Deepavali, Navarathri, Thaipusam dan Chithirai Puttaandu. "Tetapi kehadiran mereka ke Mahalaya Amavasai untuk menjalankan upacara penghormatan kepada kaum-keluarga yang sudah lama meninggal dunia menunjukkan pengetahuan serta pemahaman mereka terhadap ajaran agama tertua ini masih teguh," katanya dengan penuh optimis. Pandangan keenam-enam rakan ini memang berasas dan mungkin sahaja mewakili pandangan orang ramai secara umum. Seperti yang sudah saya nyatakan sejak awal, tentu sahaja pandangan dan hujah kami berlima boleh dipertikaikan serta dibahaskan. Sebagai pengkaji dan pengamal multi-faith (mengakui ajaran sebenar dalam semua agama), saya sendiri selalu melakukan kritikan pedas terhadap kejahilan orang Hindu berkenaan ajaran agama tauhid tertua itu menerusi makalah, cerpen dan novel. Tidak kurang juga kritikan dan sindiran terhadap sikap endah tak endah terhadap kebudayaan dalam kalangan masyarakat India daripada pelbagai keturunan seperti Tamil, Telugu, Malayali, Punjabi dan Benggali. (Ya, orang Punjabi dan Benggali adalah dua keturunan yang berbeza.) Menerusi cerpen Jangan Pandang Sang Bulan (Kisah dari Siru Kambam), diceritakan mengenai kisah sebenar di sebalik sambutan Vinayagar Chaturthi pada bulan Avani (Ogos/September) mengikut kalendar Tamil. Cerpen Chitra Paurnami (Kisah dari Siru Kambam) yang pernah dituduh oleh penolong editor sebuah majalah sastera sebagai "ada unsur penyebaran agama Hindu" pula menampilkan makna sebenar di sebalik perayaan berkenaan yang sudah tidak diketahui orang ramai. Siri makalah Bahasa Malaysia yang diusahakan berkenaan ajaran Hindu dari semasa ke semasa serta didokumentasikan di www.uthayasb.blogspot.com bertujuan mengembalikan umat Hindu kepada ajaran sebenar Sanathana Dharma. Usaha kecil-kecilan ini juga membantu rakan-rakan Bukan Hindu memahami apa sebenarnya ajaran yang terkandung dalam Sanathana Dharma yang memang kompleks dan amat sukar dihuraikan tanpa budi (Sanskrit) dan akal (Arab). Minda orang Hindu semakin bercelaru Dalam hal ini, tidak dapat tidak, usaha yang dilakukan oleh Kamaludin Endol menerusi buku Hinduisme: Agama Tauhid Terawal? (2014) wajar dipuji, diucapkan tahniah dan dihargai. Walaupun buku berkenaan melakukan perbandingan dengan ajaran Islam serta tentunya memberikan "kemenangan" kepada Islam, kandungan buku separa ilmiah itu mampu membuka akal dan budi penganut Hindu yang masih teraba-raba dalam kegelapan dan kejahilan. Saya memuji serta kagum dengan sikap Kamaludin yang mampu bersikap objektif dalam menegaskan hakikat bahawa Hinduisme (Sanathana Dharma) sesungguhnya adalah agama tauhid pertama, terawal dan tertua di dunia. Dalam pada itu, beliau juga cukup berilmu dan berpengetahuan tentang ajaran sebenar Sanathana Dharma untuk menegaskan dengan berani bahawa banyak ajaran Hinduisme pada masa sekarang yang sudah terpesong jauh serta bercelaru akibat sikap para penganut sendiri. Pendedahan berani ini pasti membuatkan pihak tertentu marah-marah dan kononnya rasa terhina dengan "tuduhan" yang dilemparkan. Bagaimanapun, saya bersetuju dengan kritikan ilmiah yang dikemukakan oleh Kamaludin kerana kata-katanya memang benar. Pedas tetapi benar. Daripada marah-marah dengan kritikan yang dikemukakan, adalah lebih afdal jika orang Hindu melakukan muhasabah diri dan kembali kepada Hinduisme yang sebenar. Sekadar contoh mudah, baru-baru ini saya bertemu seorang remaja/pelajar yang memuji-memuji seorang guruji iaitu individu seperti ulama yang menjadi pembimbing (guru; guide) dalam soal agama Hindu. Menurut remaja berkenaan, guruji itu adalah "Tuhan" dan hanya dia yang mampu menganugerahkan apa-apa yang dipinta oleh para penganut Hindu. Sejak awal Disember 2013, saya menulis siri makalah bagi mendedahkan penipuan terancang yang dilakukan oleh Datuk Guluji (bukan nama sebenar) dan konco-konconya. Atas rasa ingin tahu, saya bertanya kepada pelajar berkenaan, bagaimana dengan amalan orang Hindu pergi ke kuil untuk bersembahyang dan meminta restu Tuhan. "Semua itu bukan Tuhan. Hanya guruji saya ialah Tuhan," katanya dengan penuh yakin. Nama guruji berkenaan tidak didedahkan di sini supaya tidak timbul sengketa dan pergaduhan antara pengikut tegar beberapa guruji yang menjadi ikutan di Malaysia dan masing-masing mungkin menganggap guruji mereka adalah Tuhan. Siapa yang perlu cari penyelesaian? Jawapan remaja itu memang amat memeranjatkan tetapi tidak pula menghairankan kerana seperti yang saya katakan sejak awal, pengetahuan, pemahaman, penghayatan dan amalan sebenar ajaran Hindu dalam kalangan penganut agama berkenaan di negara bertuah ini semakin merosot. "Khutbah atau ceramah keagamaan tidak dilakukan di kebanyakan kuil tetapi hanya di kebanyakan ashram atau pusat yang dikendalikan guruji. "Kehausan orang Hindu untuk lebih mendalami agama ini membuatkan mereka sanggup membayar wang kepada golongan guruji yang rata-rata bermata duitan," kata Aslam Bigai dalam komennya.
Tentulah penceramah yang benar-benar mendalami ajaran sebenar Hinduisme diundang menyampaikan ilmu; bukannya individu yang terpesong serta menyelitkan kepercayaan karut dan kisah dongeng atas nama agama. Pada tahun-tahun 1980-an dan 90-an, Persatuan Hindu Universiti Malaya (PHUM) aktif menterjemah serta menerbitkan buku-buku panduan dalam Bahasa Malaysia berkenaan ajaran Hinduisme. Buku-buku berkenaan sangat sesuai dibaca dan difahami dengan mudah; termasuk oleh remaja dan belia yang tidak ada penguasaan Bahasa Tamil. Namun begitu, belakangan ini nampaknya buku-buku seperti itu sudah tidak diterbitkan. Atau mungkin saya yang terlepas pandang. Bagaimana pula dengan Malaysia Hindu Sangam (MHS) yang mengiktiraf dirinya pertubuhan paling berkuasa dalam soal berkaitan Hinduisme di Malaysia; sebagaimana MIC mengiktiraf dirinya parti politik tunggal yang mampu memperjuangkan nasib "orang Tamil"? Dalam isu Datuk Guluji dahulu, apabila saya menyebut nama MHS dalam salah satu makalah, saya menerima mesej (SMS dan Facebook) amaran daripada beberapa "orang penting" dalam MHS yang "menasihatkan" saya berhenti mengkritik mereka. Maka, dalam isu berat yang sedang diperkatakan ini, biarlah orang ramai sendiri mengemukakan pandangan dan cuba mencari penyelesaian terbaik tanpa "mengkritik" atau melibatkan MHS dan MIC. Ayuh, kita mulakan dengan diri dan keluarga sendiri sebelum nasi menjadi bubur. * Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan Malay Mail Online. |
| AFP Video: French tech company develops self-parking phone app Posted: 28 Sep 2014 05:46 PM PDT Duration: 01:05, Published 29 Sep 2014 French automotive technology company Valeo has developed an app that will park your car with just a thumb swipe on your smartphone. ― AFP-Relaxnews |
| Rossi suffers concussion, in hospital after Aragon GP crash Posted: 28 Sep 2014 05:40 PM PDT
The Italian had come into the race full of confidence after winning last time out in San Marino, but any chance of a repeat performance ended early on as he ran wide onto the grass at the rain-hit Motorland track and was thrown from his bike. The bike narrowly missed the prone 35-year-old as it came to ground and Yamaha team doctor Michele Zasa is confident Rossi will suffer no serious ill effects. "Valentino suffered a concussion with a suspected loss of consciousness," Zasa said in a team statement. "From a neurological point of view he has recovered very well. He was taken to hospital in Alcaniz to make a further check, in particular a CT scan of the skull that has ruled out any bleeding in the brain. "As a precaution he will be observed in the coming hours, but there are no special reasons for concern." The race was won by Rossi's Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo, cutting Rossi's lead over Lorenzo in third place in the world championship standings to just 12 points with four races of the season remaining. Dani Pedrosa's 14th placed finish moved the Spaniard just three points ahead of Rossi in second place in the overall standings, but Spaniard Marc Marquez is well set for back-to-back world titles as he extended his lead over Honda teammate Pedrosa to 75 points. — AFP |
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