Latest news with #ASCI
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Sport
- Borneo Post
More than a game: How a Miri lass made Scrabble a global bridge
The participants focus on their game during ASCI 2025 at the KPPI in UM, Kuala Lumpur. WHEN 22-year-old Vanessa Ting Mei Yu stood in the heart of the buzzing Research and Innovation Management Complex (KPPI) at Universiti Malaya (UM) in Kuala Lumpur, surrounded by rows of Scrabble boards and focused players from across the globe, she was not just witnessing a tournament. The young woman was truly living her dream. A second-year pharmacy student from Miri, Vanessa had just led one of the biggest students-run Scrabble tournaments in the world – the ASTAR Scrabble Challenge International (ASCI) 2025. 'Becoming the director of ASCI really pushed me to a level that I never imagined,' she told thesundaypost in Kuching. 'There were moments when I doubted myself, but then, I reminded myself that I was doing this not just for the event, but to prove what students like us were capable of.' The recent ASCI 2025 brought together around 230 players of different ages and backgrounds, not only from Malaysia but also from countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Sweden, New Zealand, Thailand, and the Philippines. The event was organised by the committee of UM's First Residential College (KK1), endorsed by the Malaysian Scrabble Association (MSA), and sanctioned by the World English Scrabble Players Association (WESPA). Over the years, ASCI has earned the reputation as one of the most recognised international Scrabble competitions. This year's edition featured a mix of seasoned veterans and enthusiastic newcomers, ranging in ages from 10 to 86. Among them was the legendary Nigel Richards, widely hailed as the 'Greatest of All Time' (GOAT) having clinched five 'World Scrabble Championships' in English, as well as in French. His presence added prestige and excitement to an already-electrifying tournament. Players competed in four main categories: Under-12, Under-15, Under-18, and Open. Guiding the organising team alongside Vanessa were advisors Dr Mohd Nur Ashraf Mohd Yusoff and Nor Arissa Yasmin Abdul Mo'men, whose experience was invaluable throughout the months of preparation. What made ASCI 2025 truly special was not just its size, but also the dedication, the teamwork and the heart that brought it all together. Legendary Scrabbler, Nigel Richards (front) seen during the intense ASCI 2025's Masters game. He won the category. Leadership with a mission Vanessa's journey with ASCI began last year when she first served as its treasurer, and later, she stepped up as director – a bold move motivated by a desire to grow and create something meaningful. 'I wanted to challenge myself. Being part of the team made me realise how much potential ASCI had to become something lasting and impactful,' she said. 'I learned so much, especially about leadership, communication, and working with people,' she added. Balancing academic life with the responsibilities of running an international event was not easy, though. From handling venue logistics and registrations, to managing a team and handling endless messages, Vanessa was constantly on her feet. Still, her persistence paid off. The tournament ran seamlessly and drew the attention of the global Scrabble community. 'I wanted ASCI to be more than just a competition,' she said. 'I wanted it to be a space where young people could learn, connect and feel inspired – all through Scrabble.' Vanessa (left) and fellow member of the organising committee seen at the ASCI 2025. More than just a game To some people, Scrabble may look like a quiet board game, but at the competitive level, it is a fast-paced mental battleground. Every move demands sharp strategy, strong command in vocabulary, and a calm focus. 'Scrabble is where language meets logic,' said Vanessa. 'It's not just about fancy words, as it is also about quick thinking, staying calm, and adapting as the game unfolds.' Since its debut in 2006, ASCI has grown into one of Southeast Asia's most respected Scrabble tournaments. According to Vanessa, Scrabble is a game where language meets logic. Aside from a one-year pause in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been held annually and has consistently attracted passionate players from across the region. Beyond gameplay, ASCI upholds the values of the '3Ms': 'Membaca', 'Menulis', 'Mengira' (Reading, Writing, Arithmetic), while fostering critical-thinking and global friendships. This year's event also hosted some of the top-ranked global players like Hubert Wee and Toh Wei Bin from Singapore, and Thacha Koowirat from Thailand, as well as Malaysia's own elite William Kang and Ahmad Amirul Hakimi. Also present were international icons like Manop Phiphatboonserm of Thailand, Douglas Tsang of Hong Kong, and Mohamad Ali Ismail, the president of the MSA. Young players attempt to outdo one another in their category. Sarawak pride on the board Vanessa was not the only one flying the Sarawak flag high. Three young players – Delbert Tiong Guo-Yi, Herby Liew Yong He, and Shelifina Dangkan – represented the state with pride and passion. For Delbert, ASCI 2025 was deeply meaningful. 'It was a proud and unforgettable experience. I wasn't just playing for myself, but for Sarawak and everyone who has supported me,' said the student from Catholic High School in Sibu. One of his highlights was finally beating his long-time Malaysian rival Dresden Lim, who had previously defeated him by over 100 points at a previous World Youth Scrabble Championship. 'This time, I won and it meant the world to me. It felt like all the hard work finally paid off.' Herby, from SMK Simunjan No 1, echoed that sentiment. 'There aren't many Scrabble players in Sarawak, so I really hope that my journey would encourage more people to give it a try, even if it's just for fun.' His toughest challenge came from Tsang, whom he faced three times. 'I won two of those games. It was intense, but I stayed focused and calm.' Herby, who placed second in the Open category, accepts the prize from UM First Residential College principal Dr Mohd Istajib Mokhtar (right), as Mohamad Ali looks on. For Shelifina, it was her first time competing outside Sarawak, and the experience left a lasting impression. 'It felt surreal. I met so many amazing players, even some of my idols,' said the student from SMK Pending in Kuching. She said her most memorable game was against a player named Marten. 'I was leading until he played a bingo, 'REAPINGS', followed by 'QAID' for 72 points. That game really taught me the importance of tile tracking.' Shelifina maintains focus on her strategy during her round. All these three young Sarawakians shared a dream: to see ASCI hosted in their home state one day. Delbert expressed hope that fellow Scrabblers from other countries could experience Sarawak's unique diversity and breathtaking landscapes. Stating similar sentiments, Herby wanted visitors to feel the warmth and hospitality of Sarawakians. For Shelifina, she knew exactly what she would share first. 'They should visit Sarawak Cultural Village and not leave without trying the 'kolo mee' and Sarawak Laksa!' Delbert arranges the letter pieces for word options to be placed on the Scrabble board. Building bridges ASCI 2025 was never just about high scores or titles, as it was also about new friendships, lasting lessons, and the belief that when young people got entrusted and empowered, they could create something incredible. For Vanessa, the most rewarding part was watching people come together. 'What touched me most was how Scrabble brought everyone together. People of all ages and backgrounds bonded over the same board. 'I hope that the ASCI would continue to grow and maybe one day, could make its way to Sarawak. 'Scrabble is more than just a game – it's a bridge between people, places, and ideas, and I'd love to see more people experience that.' bridge global kuala lumpur miri Scrabble Vanessa Ting Mei Yu
Kuwait Times
5 days ago
- Science
- Kuwait Times
From Failaka to the final frontier
Kuwaiti rocks orbit Earth as part of global space mission KUWAIT: In a first-of-its-kind cultural and scientific venture, rocks from Kuwait's Failaka Island were launched into space aboard a SpaceBy X capsule early Tuesday. The Advance Space Civilization Initiative (ASCI) partnered with Lunex EuroMoonMars, Space Renaissance International (SRI), and several other global space organizations for the 'Space for All Gallery' mission, which included the Failaka rocks in its payload. The 'Space for All Gallery' is an international initiative that launched aboard The Exploration Company's Nyx capsule on June 23, 2025 via SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The capsule carried a diverse payload of science samples, art and cultural artifacts into low Earth orbit before it was supposed to return for study and public display. Spearheaded by LUNEX CEO and SRI President Prof Bernard Foing, the 'Mission Possible' project aims to promote inclusive access to space through science, technology and the arts. In an update posted approximately 12 hours after liftoff, The Exploration Company confirmed that the capsule had successfully powered on its passenger payloads, stabilized itself after separation from the rocket's upper stage, reentered Earth's atmosphere and reestablished communication following an expected blackout period. Despite a successful reentry and the reestablishment of communication, the company reported that it lost contact with the capsule just minutes before the expected splashdown. The Exploration Company deemed the mission 'a partial success' and said it was investigating the root cause of the issue. Speaking to Kuwait Times, Ghanim Al-Otaibi, co-founder of ASCI, shared details of the groundbreaking project and his team's role: 'I'm also a board member at the Space Renaissance Initiative (SRI), an international nonprofit think tank based in Italy. At SRI, we promote ideas like astronautical humanism and publish forward-looking research.' A small tray containing compartments filled with miniature artworks and cultural items from around the world, including the Failaka rocks. The Failaka rocks before they were loaded into the tray. The rocks were sliced in half before launch — one half remained in Kuwait, while the other half was sent into space. A Falcon 9 rocket carrying 70 payloads for a variety of customers lifts off from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base today on June 23, 2025. Al-Otaibi has also been conducting academic research in Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) at the University of Strathclyde in the UK. SBSP is an emerging technology that aims to harvest solar energy in space and beam it back to Earth — offering a promising solution to global energy challenges. The Failaka rocks, collected by Al-Otaibi and astrophysicist Aziz Al-Areedh, were chosen for their profound cultural and historical importance. 'Even though Failaka is no longer inhabited, its contribution continues — this time, to the future of humanity in space,' said Al-Otaibi. 'The rocks symbolize a future rooted in the ancient heritage of our land.' As part of the mission, a small tray was sent into space containing compartments filled with miniature artworks and cultural items from around the world. The Failaka rocks were sliced in half before launch — one half remains in Kuwait, while the other half were to be retrieved for post-flight analysis, particularly to study the effects of radiation exposure on terrestrial materials. Located off Kuwait's coast, Failaka Island has been a cradle of civilizations for millennia and was inhabited until the 1990s. Today, it stands as a key archaeological site. Al-Otaibi explained that the team saw the island's geology as a powerful symbol of Kuwait's identity — capable of communicating meaningful ideas through a small but significant gesture. The rocks, once returned, will become new archaeological artifacts for future generations. Al-Otaibi's passion for space began with Kuwait's early space efforts, including the KuwaitSat-1 project and participation in international events like the 'Moon Village' conference. In 2022, he joined the Space Renaissance Initiative and now leads its 'Towards the Young Generation' committee, which aims to engage youth in the space sector. The mission is part of the broader vision of ASCI, a Kuwait-based organization co-founded by Al-Otaibi to promote humanity's expansion into space through education and the arts. ASCI is powered by a dynamic local team, including Dr Rawan Al-Shemmery, astrophysicist Al-Areedh and contributors Mohammed Al-Thuwainy and Mohammad Al-Failakawi.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
McDonald's Announces Big Change to Value Menu For Limited Time
McDonald's is stepping up its game when it comes to its McValue menu. According to G. Ramsay of The Fast Food Post, McDonald's is launching an under $4 McValue Menu, which is available at select locations around the United States for a limited time. The facelift will feature any size frozen drink for $2, the medium iced coffee for $2.50, the vanilla cone for $1 and more great deals on the McChicken, double cheeseburger and the small McFlurry. The $4-or-less price point is a big change from the previous iteration of the menu that featured items for $5 or less. In January, McDonald's unveiled a "buy one, add one for $1" feature for breakfast, lunch and dinner with the McValue Menu. The move from McDonald's comes amid the industry-wide battle to offer customers the best bang for their buck to get them in the door more often. McDonald's could certainly use a boost after performing poorly in a customer satisfaction survey recently. The fast-food giant scored a lackluster 70 in the 2025 American Customer Satisfaction Index, which was the worst among its competitors and a 1 percent drop from last year. According to Christian Rizzo of the ASCI, McDonald's effort to speed up research and development to improve technology and menu changes could help turn that around. McDonald's Announces Big Change to Value Menu For Limited Time first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 22, 2025
Mint
7 days ago
- Business
- Mint
Massive rise in betting ads: A call for vigilance
With the growing number of advertisements for illegal offshore betting platforms flooding the digital space, the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI) has had to take serious steps to protect consumers. Recognizing the scale and sophistication of these ads, ASCI instituted advanced digital monitoring systems and deployed specialized vigilance teams to detect and report misleading promotions. What these teams uncovered was alarming. Many of these platforms used artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos featuring fabricated testimonials—people claiming they had made so much money from betting that they no longer needed to work. These ads were not only deceptive but dangerously persuasive. In several cases, up to 60 different URLs directed users to the same illegal betting site—an elaborate strategy to bypass detection and takedown measures. Also read: Here's how to navigate complex TDS rules for ads, software subscriptions & more Even more concerning was how such promotions were embedded in seemingly innocent content. Cooking tutorials, lifestyle tips, and other harmless-looking videos were found to contain hidden links—via tickers, hashtags, or even bio links—leading viewers to betting platforms. Major social media platforms, despite their advanced ad systems, struggled to catch and block these ads. This raises a crucial question: Who is responsible for ensuring such illegal and misleading ads don't reach consumers? While ASCI continues to do its part through proactive monitoring, there is a clear need for stronger platform accountability to detect such violations of the law, and prevent such ads from appearing in consumer feeds. ASCI works closely with government regulators to report such breaches of the law, who then take them down; however addressing this at scale remains a challenge. Digital infrastructure growth and smartphone usage, while being critical economic drivers, have facilitated such potentially harmful targeting of consumers. As has the promotion of betting apps by celebrities and social media influencers. A Digital India Foundation report in March said that just four such platforms accounted for 1.6 billion visits in a mere three months. Organic search traffic to these sites was recorded at 184 million visits. Also read: Brands pile in, ads get shorter: IPL 18 rewrites the rules of cricket-time marketing: Report Another recent report, by the think tank Consumer Unity & Trust Society (CUTS) International, warned about the explosive growth of illegal online gambling platforms, of threats to minors, young adults and national financial integrity. Such platforms, the report said, had estimated annual deposits of about $100 billion and the top 15 illegal platforms logged 5.4 billion visits in FY25. The CUTS report further highlighted that these platforms often bypass basic safeguards such as Know Your Customer and age verification, giving minors and young adults unregulated access to gambling content. Some offshore operators even use tactics like cash-on-delivery, making it easier for minors who may lack digital payment access, to gamble. Such is their reach that in March 2025, one such platform outranked even universally popular sites like and as per reports. ASCI's recently released annual complaints report showed a sharp spike in the rise of illegal offshore betting and gambling ads. From 1,311 in 2023-24 to 3,081 in 2024-25, the number of cases reported more than doubled. ASCI enhanced monitoring resources and set up a special monitoring cell, under an MoU it signed with the federations representing Real Money Games, which are legally permitted and regulated in most states in India. Left unchecked, the gambling platforms can lead to addictive behaviour and financial risks. Additionally, they can expose consumers to risks like cyber attacks and unsafe online environments. Such unregulated activity can even threaten national security by acting as channels for money laundering and terror financing. Also read: From skincare to smartphones: Ads by Apple, Mamaearth, L'Oreal under scrutiny Hence, there is a serious risk for consumers and society. As digital infrastructure and access to it grows, such platforms have the potential to target more consumers who are unaware of their illegality and harmful impacts. Regular monitoring and collaborations between industry, self-regulators and the government will be the key to consumer protection in the days to come. In the long term, a comprehensive regulatory framework that addresses some of the challenges of online gambling will need to be established to provide systemic solutions to this large-scale consumer threat. Manisha Kapoor is chief executive officer and secretary general of the Advertising Standards Council of India.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Water bills in Hyderabad set to shoot up as water board mulls tariff overhaul
Hyderabad: If you've been taking the monsoon rains as a cue to waste water, it's time to rethink. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) is planning a significant hike in water tariffs after almost 14 years, including the imposition of a 35% sewerage cess, which could dent household budgets. The last revision for domestic users was in 2011, while commercial tariffs were last increased in 2013. Currently, HMWSSB serves nearly 14 lakh consumers across Greater Hyderabad, of which about 6 lakh households receive free water under government schemes. The move comes on the heels of similar tariff hikes by water boards in Chennai and Bengaluru. To guide its decision, HMWSSB has roped in the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) to conduct a comprehensive review of tariff structures and assess revenue deficits. Based on ASCI's recommendations, a new tariff framework will be proposed. The revised rates will factor in consumption patterns, operational costs, infrastructure upkeep, and debt servicing. Under Section 22 of the HMWSS Act, 1989, the board is empowered to levy tariffs sufficient to meet these obligations. Water board officials say the tariff revision is crucial, citing a 50% gap between revenue and expenditure. The tariff enhancement is essential as it will help the board improve its service quality, maintain infrastructure, and reduce dependency on govt subsidies, they said. 'It will take ASCI about a month to complete its assessment. Once we have their findings, we shall consult our board of directors before submitting the report to the state govt for finalising the revised rates. Over the past 15 years, while electricity charges have seen three hikes and PRC has undergone three revisions for staff members, the water tariffs have remained unchanged. We aim to ensure the revised charges remain reasonable while helping achieve financial sustainability,' said a senior official in HMWSSB. According to the water board, operations and maintenance of its assets have become a burden as there is a monthly net revenue deficit of Rs 130 crore, apart from an accumulated revenue deficit. It has become difficult to effectively maintain the system with low tariff rates, with an increasing incidence of consumer-related concerns requiring major investments and improvements. Restructuring of the existing tariff structure would be approved so that the existing common rates of different categories will be replaced by a differential category-wise tariff structure for each category, i.e., domestic, commercial, and industrial, with differential structures for bulk connections and multi-storied buildings.
