General

2021 marks twenty years since the first sequencing of the human genome was published back in February 2001. In the past two decades, the Human Genome Project has played a huge role in advancing medical research but even when the project ended, the human reference genome wasn’t really finished. So what lies ahead for research in this field and why does it matter? That is our topic for today’s Brain Waves segment, and as always neurogeneticist Dr Azlina Ahmad Annuar is back to help us better understand the contributions and the limitations of the Human Genome Project. 

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It looks like it’s shaping up to be a pretty hectic couple of weeks at the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s palace. His majesty wrapped up his first day of meetings with the head honchos from the opposition bench yesterday, with more meetings scheduled for today. On top of that, the YDPA is also set to convene a special Rulers’ conference next week. 

But what exactly is going on? And should we expect any significant changes in the coming months? Dr Bridget Welsh, joins us to discuss.

Image source: Anwar Ibrahim Facebook, Istana Negara Facebook, Dr. Mahathir bin Mohamad Facebook 

New Naratif is an online journalism platform and independent media outlet which tells stories that empower Southeast Asians to take action for positive change. Independent, ad-free and pro-democracy, the outlet publishes investigative reporting, academic research, comics, explainers, videos and podcasts in English, Bahasa and other languages of Southeast Asia. We catch up with the founder and managing director, Thum Ping Tjin and also Deborah Augustin, who is New Naratif's Membership Engagement Manager and Malaysia Lead, to find out more about what they stand for, and the work they do, and also how they are aiming to keep their work 100% independent.

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Two days after Tim Cook informed Apple employees that they would have to come into the office 3 days a week, Apple employees pushed back with requests for a properly flexible working policy in the name of inclusion and diversity.

After working at home for over a year, some employees are finding it nearly impossible to fathom going back to the office full-time. On the other hand, employees who were offered remote jobs and then asked to attend on-site meetings are also equally frustrated, saying they’d rather quit than give up WFH perks.

Angkasa-X has plans for a 500-satellite constellation to connect the region in a conducive manner, with their first satellite scheduled to launch in 2022. Their purpose is to provide internet connectivity, particularly for the region’s underserved communities, through what is known as Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) satellites. We’ll be speaking with their Executive Chairman & CEO Dr Sean Seah, to find out just how much of a reality this is.

Many of us don’t like the idea of going to a hospital, for anything. Thanks to advances in technology and some smart partnering, BioD Medica have managed to bring a Medical Grade portable ECG system into Malaysia - which could save some Malaysians having to go through the uncomfortable situation of going to the hospital. How did they do it?

Should I buy and hold index funds for the long term or actively trade to beat the market? That’s the essential debate between active and passive investing. To get a better understanding of active and passive investing, and which one might be for you, Roshan Kanesan speaks with Ben Johnson, Director of Global ETF Research with Morningstar Research Services.

They get into fund performances, how fees factor into performance, what to watch when looking at fund facts sheets, and a look at Malaysian data on fund performance and survivorship.

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> Mr Stingy's 10 Investing Principles

> How To Analyse Property Stocks In Malaysia

> How To Invest While Managing Anxiety?

> Bitcoin and Roboadvisors: How Do They Fit In A Portfolio?

> 5 Steps To Jumpstart Your Retirement Planning

With the covid 19 crisis continuing, will gloves continue to see stellar growth in 2021 especially with recent restrictions on worker capacity? Dr Supramaniam Shanmugam, President of the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association gives us the outlook and also whether enough is being done for worker welfare.

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We speak to Vinod Chandramouli, Head of ASEAN Business at Freshworks on their expansion plans and how this SAAS (Software as a Solution Provider) plans to expand its offerings and broaden its solutions across vertical and horizontal industries.