BATU PAHAT, June 6 — Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) Annual Congress has been postponed to Aug 14-16 to allow the party to focus on preparations for the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections.
PKR information chief Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the decision was made at the party’s monthly Political Bureau and Central Leadership Council (MPP) meeting held here today.
He said the congress, originally scheduled for June 26-28, would still be held at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) in Ayer Keroh, Melaka.
“The postponement will provide PKR Johor and Negeri Sembilan with more time to strengthen preparations for the upcoming state polls,” he said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said the meeting also appointed Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail and PKR Johor chairman Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa as vice-presidents.
“The appointments are aimed at further strengthening the party’s organisation and operations at the central level,” he said. — Bernama
Measures to include restrictions on ‘safe’ social media apps, with some fearing banning some platforms and not others will lead to legal challenges
Teenagers under the age of 16 are to be banned from accessing “high-risk” social media apps while safer platforms will be subjected to restrictions, under a sweeping government crackdown.
Under-18s will also be banned from using romantic or sexual AI chatbots after a consultation on keeping children safe online.
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© Photograph: David Parry/PA
© Photograph: David Parry/PA
© Photograph: David Parry/PA
Toronto-based Kurdish artist Roda Medhat pushes the boundaries of fabric into the realm of sculpture, exploring the ways in which traditional West Asian textiles can be translated into various media. As digital fabrication and 3D scanning cross paths with memory and material, Medhat’s practice asks “how we carry our stories, and what happens when those stories are translated into new, synthetic languages?”
The artist’s new solo exhibition, titled From the Loom, fills Toronto’s Abbozzo Gallery with large-scale sculptures in conversation with a new series of textile works. Known in part for his neon installations, the artist also presents several glowing light-based works encased within glass or acrylic, redolent of patterned Kurdish rugs.
Several of Medhat’s images and symbols—most prominently young boys riding horses and interacting with nature—are sourced from Kurdish children’s books. These icons are woven directly into the surface of each textile by way of an electronic Jacquard machine, further accentuating the contrast between preserved cultural objects and contemporary reconstruction. In the exhibition’s statement, Medhat shares that his work “functions as a distillation of a wider body of research,” including the contemporary subversion of archival materials.
“The Sheep and the Chevrolet,” an anchoring work within the exhibition, reimagines François Balsan’s problematic 1947 ethnographic work of the same title. Pitting bucolic Kurdish life with Western modernism, Balsan’s off-key travelogue presented a stereotypical, highly subjective view of Kurdish culture. Medhat’s bold sculpture invokes 3D printing to construct a monumental sheep composedly sitting atop a small Chevrolet vehicle, offering a playful point of reconceptualization.
From the Loom is on view through May 26. You can find more from the artist on Instagram.
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Roda Medhat Subverts Traditional Kurdish Narratives Into Modern Tactile Experiences appeared first on Colossal.
TikTok executives decided not to disable notifications during school hours, ignoring recommendations from their own safety team, and paid millions of dollars to parents’ and teachers’ associations to promote the social network in schools. Snapchat sent alerts to teenagers while they were in class urging them to share what was happening in the classroom. Google executives knew that YouTube was recommending videos to students during the school day that were unrelated to their lessons. Meta paid “teen ambassadors” to promote Instagram and hand out gifts to their classmates.
© JUAN BARBOSA
BATU PAHAT, June 16 — The Ministry of Transport (MOT) and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) are targeting completion of the MyLesen B2 programme by July to help more youths obtain valid motorcycle licences.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the initiative aims to expand access to safe and structured licensing, particularly for young people and those facing financial difficulties.
A total of RM10.5 million has been allocated for the programme this year, benefiting more than 30,000 participants nationwide.
“We hope it will help more youths comply with existing laws when driving or riding motorcycles,” he said at the Youth Empowerment Programme, MyLesen B2 and MyLesen B2 Sekolah (MyB2S) event at SJK(C) Yong Peng 1 today.
Loke said the MyB2S programme, implemented with the Ministry of Education, involves 60,000 students nationwide with an allocation of RM18.5 million. Johor recorded the highest participation, with 8,000 students.
The programme enables students to obtain a Learner’s Driving Licence (LDL) before undergoing motorcycle training and tests in stages, beginning with practical lessons. — Bernama
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