Latest news with #KJ
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
The One App Travel Experts Say Everyone Should Download Before Going Abroad
The One App Travel Experts Say Everyone Should Download Before Going Abroad originally appeared on Parade. When traveling abroad, especially to many different countries, it can be stressful and difficult to figure out how to get cell service. Many cellular carriers in the United States have international plans; however, they can be a bit expensive, have strict limits on amount of gigabytes used and are difficult to keep track of your usage. I used to work as a cruise ship performer, and was often traveling to different countries every single day for weeks at a time. I found that although my home cellular carrier, T-Mobile, offered an international plan, it wasn't very reliable or affordable. I would constantly get stuck with the predicament of running out of gigabytes in my cellular plan, and I'd have to roam with incredibly low-speed internet. When trying to use Google Maps to navigate around foreign cities, or attempting to communicate with my family, this became quite a problem. Related: On TikTok, @beachykj, also known as the carry-on queen, shares valuable travel tips all over her social media. From packing tips, flying hacks and app recommendations, her page is a great spot for all things travel. Averaging 75 flights a year, KJ knows what she's talking about. In one video, KJ shares her most-used app while traveling–Airalo. She shares that roaming charges can be incredibly absurd, and that she's come home to expensive phone bills after trips abroad–clearly regretting that mistake. She then introduces Airalo, which is an app that allows users to buy and download eSims onto their phones, allowing them to get cell service to their specific location. This is similar to a physical Sim card that you can place into your phone, but with this app, you can download it straight onto your device without having to insert anything into your phone. KJ continues to share that having data when she travels is non-negotiable, and she uses it constantly for navigating maps, social platforms, working and communicating with others. It can be deceiving how quickly data gets used up, and Airalo tends to be a cheaper option than any offerings from American cell service lines. Related: When getting an eSim through the Airalo app, you can start by choosing the country or region that you are traveling in. There are local eSims, where you can choose one specific country to get your coverage in. Then, there are regional eSims, which give you a more generalized area–like Europe, Caribbean Islands, or Oceania. You can also choose a global eSim, which gives you global service. Within each of these categories, you choose which eSims you want based on gigabytes used. The wider the range of your location, the more expensive the eSim. For example, the local eSims are the cheapest, while the global eSims are the most expensive. Related: I've used just about every type of eSim on the Airalo app while traveling, and the type that I've used always depended on how many countries I was visiting within a given amount of time. One thing that I found incredibly useful in the app is that you can easily track how much data you've used. This way, you have an idea of when you'll need to purchase more coverage. Another great reason to use Airalo is that it finds the best cell service provider in the area that you're in. When I was traveling onboard cruise ships, I would often toggle between my eSim and my home T-Mobile plan, which gave me a small amount of International coverage every month. In the top corner of my phone, I would always see what cell service company my phone would be connected to. Many times, the one that T-Mobile would connect to would be different from the one Airalo connected to, and 9 times out of 10, the service through Airalo was much faster. Lastly, a great perk with using the Airalo app is that if you share it with a friend, and they download the app using the link that Airalo creates for you, you will get Airmoney added to your account. This is a balance that can go towards future eSims, helping you save money as well. With every referral, Airalo sends $3 to the friend who uses your code, and you get $3 added to your account in return. Ultimately, I find that the Airalo app takes away a lot of stress when it comes to traveling and having access to the internet, and saves me money while doing so. Sources: One App Travel Experts Say Everyone Should Download Before Going Abroad first appeared on Parade on Jun 19, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- Borneo Post
KJ's redefinition of leadership
At the same park, I took these two pictures. Just minutes after I snapped that photo of the tree aglow (left), I turned back — and the golden light was gone. It reminded me how leadership, like sunlight, is never permanent. But its warmth, when it lands, is unforgettable. What a perfect metaphor for leadership and legacy: fleeting moments of light, quiet impact, and how quickly the spotlight can shift or disappear altogether. I HAD a delightful walk in my neighbourhood park last Saturday morning. Usually my regular walks are to the beat of the songs of my youth, but recently, I had switched from listening to music to listening to podcasts. On this particular day, my 'companions' were Khairy Jamaluddin or 'KJ', Datuk Seri Idris Jala and his son Leon Jala, who kept me entertained thoroughly for an hour with their engaging, insightful and enlightening conversations. When asked about the kind of legacy he hoped to leave behind, KJ didn't mention the ministries that he had led, the policies that he had formulated, or the elections that he had won or lost. Instead, speaking on Idris and Leon's podcast, 'The Game of Impossible', he gave an answer that I felt was so downplayed, it was downright surprising. 'I just want that when someone Googles me, the word that comes up is 'helpful'.' Yes, for the average listener listening in the background, it is a sort of answer that can easily slip past you. But for those of us who have long been following Malaysia's colourful political arena, it was the kind of answer that would probably make you fall out of your chair. Thankfully for me, I was not seated at the time, nor did I take a stumble during my walk. The answer, which didn't sound like it came from a typical politician at all, lingered on in my mind. I paused and slowed down my pace, ruminating on the nuances of his answer and eventually coming to a conclusion that his simple and short answer probably said more about leadership than a full-page broadsheet interview of a self-aspiring politician would. This was coming from a man who once stood at the height of Malaysian politics – a former Minister of Youth and Sports; Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation; and even Minister of Health. For KJ, an Oxford educated blue-blood political elite and son-in-law to a former prime minister, one might expect a grand proclamation, something like 'reformer' or 'visionary'. Instead, he gave us one word – 'helpful'. That word hits differently in our current political climate, where ego and relentless self-branding often seem like the tools of the trade. Politicians name bridges and roads after themselves, and chase publicity in the media like oxygen. Yet here is KJ, a man whose career has seen both high and low, stripping leadership down to its core function by declaring that he aspires to just being useful to others. In fact, at the start of the podcast, KJ said he became a politician not because of his upbringing, but rather due to his belief that politics was important to the world. 'Politics more than anything else is about trying to organise the society in a way that is fair,' said KJ. I could not remember KJ being particularly 'fair' during his time in power. But what had impressed me most was how he led during the Covid-19 crisis as a coordinating minister for the National Covid-19 immunisation programme and later on, as the Minister of Health. His policies at the time were measured, composed and effective. Perhaps it's because he's now 'keluar' (out) from the political arena and acting as an independent podcaster and commentator that he can speak with this level of detachment and honesty. Or perhaps, the extra quality time that he has spent with his children and family these years has changed his perspective on things. Or even perhaps age and experience have taught him what few leaders admit: that power is fleeting, but impact is permanent. That being admired is easy, but being remembered kindly is rare. KJ's wish isn't about being famous. It's about being of service. That's a striking departure from the usual definitions of legacy that we hear, not only from politicians but also from corporate leaders, influencers, and public figures everywhere. It echoes something deeper – a hunger for relevance that's rooted in doing, not appearing. Let's be honest. In Malaysian public life, titles still hold sway. The Datukship, the Tan Sri-ship, the ceremonial positions – these are still sought-after badges of honour. We all fall into it sometimes. We want our work to mean something. 'Helpful' isn't a word that gets carved on a monument, but it is a word that people use when you've shown up for them, when you've answered a call, opened a door, or just made their load lighter. And in the end, isn't that the more honest legacy? There's something else about that podcast that struck me: the dynamic between Idris, Leon, and KJ. It wasn't just a talk show – it was a conversation between generations. Idris, the corporate and public service veteran; Leon, the son and new-generation voice; and KJ, the former golden boy; reflecting on what leadership really meant. What emerged was not just personal reflection, but a map of how leadership must evolve: less about command, more about connection. I've spent a lifetime in the media, often seeing the rise and fall of leaders. Some came in with trumpets, some left with sirens; others just faded quietly. But the ones I remember best? The ones who called back; who treated junior reporters with respect; who gave more than they took. They weren't always the smartest in the room, but they were the most helpful. They made the job, and the journey, easier for others. And that, to me, is legacy. But perhaps the real leaders of tomorrow are those who, like KJ, realise that lasting impact doesn't need a spotlight – it just needs a human touch. Of course, one might ask – has he been helpful enough? For me, I believe the jury's still out, but at least he's asking the right question and in politics, that's rare. Perhaps KJ hasn't been 'helpful enough' – not in the way he now values, but the beauty of that statement is that it suggests he's still trying. It's the humility of a man in progress. So here's to the 'helpful' ones. May their legacy grow in the grateful words of those whom they quietly helped along the way. Khairy Jamaluddin KJ leadership podcast
Black America Web
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
KJ Smith Accidentally Reveals Her Baby's Gender at the BET Awards
Source: Christopher Polk / Getty The BET Awards Pink Carpet served up more than just fashion this year. Actress KJ Smith and her husband Skyh Black spilled the beans with big news about their growing family on the red carpet with PEOPLE. Dressed to impress, KJ debuted her radiant baby bump in a stunning green gown outside Los Angeles' Peacock Theater on June 9. But the real jaw-dropper? An unplanned gender reveal. STAY INFORMED! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER! While speaking to PEOPLE, KJ gushed about her pregnancy experience—but accidentally spilled the beans about their baby being a girl! Clapping her hand over her mouth after using 'her' in reference to the baby, KJ laughed as Skyh teased, 'I wasn't even the one who told it this time!' The couple humorously admitted they had tried so hard to keep it a secret, with KJ saying, 'This whole time I've been giving him the death stare every time someone asks. Now look at me!' READ MORE STORIES: Rocsi Diaz and AJ Calloway Apologize After Missing 106 & Park Reunion TS Madison Explains Why She Doesn't Date Gay Men Bark & The Bite: Leon Thomas Announces 'Mutts Don't Heel' World Tour The couple, who tied the knot in a star-studded Malibu wedding in 2023, met on the set of Tyler Perry's Sistas in 2020. Their love story has been a whirlwind that's now adding another joyful chapter with their first child. Skyh shared his excitement, wearing his 'Girl Dad' pride on his sleeve, quite literally, saying, 'Every day I have a new 'Girl Dad' shirt! I'm over the moon.' Though they kept the baby name tightly under wraps, the pair made it clear they're eager to meet their little one later this year. For now, KJ and Skyh are basking in the glow of their pregnancy and proving that even accidental moments can be truly magical. Congratulations to the beautiful couple. We can't wait to see what's next for the Blacks! LIKE US ON FACEBOOK . FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER . SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE . STAY INFORMED! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER! HEAD TO THE HOMEPAGE The article 'KJ Smith Accidentally Reveals Her Baby's Gender at the BET Awards' was created with the help of SEE ALSO Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
FDA meeting gives window into gene therapy field's angst
This story was originally published on BioPharma Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily BioPharma Dive newsletter. Anyone looking for evidence of genetic medicine's enormous promise need only read of KJ Muldoon. The 10-month-old infant headed home from a Philadelphia hospital this week, dressed in a celebratory cap and gown, after his life-threatening disease was successfully treated with a bespoke CRISPR therapy. While baby KJ is not cured, the treatment has stabilized his disease, a rare liver condition known as CSP1 deficiency, to such extent he's able to resume eating a normal diet. Doctors, who hurriedly designed and constructed KJ's custom therapy in a matter of months, have backed off supportive medications and hope he'll no longer need a liver transplant. 'Each year, 10 million babies are born with one of about 10,000 known rare genetic diseases, many of which are, in principle, now treatable with genetic medicines,' David Liu, a pioneering CRISPR scientist whose laboratory helped in KJ's treatment, said at a meeting hosted by the Food and Drug Administration Thursday. 'The opportunity created by this perfect storm moment in scientific, medical, regulatory and manufacturing innovation is to provide on-demand genetic treatments like KJ's at scale.' Yet Liu and 22 other gene therapy experts and advocates who attended Thursday's roundtable didn't travel to the regulator's headquarters in White Oak, Maryland to extol the field's advances. By and large, they came to warn of a crisis. There are now dozens of approved cell and gene therapies in the U.S., some of which offer near-curative potential for serious diseases like spinal muscular atrophy, sickle cell disease and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, the sector that's produced these therapies is struggling. Investors have soured on genetic medicine as developers struggle to prove they can profitably sell the complex and often hugely expensive treatments. Biotechnology companies are cutting research, laying off staff and, in some cases, shutting down. Large pharmaceutical firms are no longer willing to bet billions of dollars they can surmount the regulatory and reimbursement hurdles that stand in the way of many of these therapies. And academic labs, still bursting with promising new ideas for technologies like CRISPR, now fear their projects will wither on the vine. 'We estimate that over 100 rare disease gene therapy products that had reached clinical stage have been discontinued since 2023 — not because of treatment failure, but because of the risk of market failure,' said Terence Flotte, dean of the University of Massachusetts' T.H. Chan School of Medicine and president of the American Society of Cell and Gene Therapy. 'The scientific advances that we have witnessed are just nothing short of spectacular. It's not hyperbole,' said Crystal Mackall, a professor at Stanford University and founding director of the cancer cell therapy center there. 'Despite this unconditional scientific success, the field is really struggling to deliver these therapies to all patients who can benefit.' Their warnings found a receptive audience in FDA leadership. Commissioner Martin Makary and top official Vinay Prasad, who leads the office that oversees cell and gene therapies, were sympathetic to experts' arguments and pledged to help. 'We are going to continue the successes of the FDA in facilitating the regulatory process for these conditions and these products,' said Makary. 'We're also going to try to improve by creating more efficiencies.' Prasad, who in the past has criticized the FDA's accelerated approval of a gene therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, showed support for flexible trial designs and endpoints when appropriate for the disease or treatment. He also noted the agency accepts that cell and gene therapies don't always comes with transformative potential. 'We understand that progress is not always made in a single leap,' he added. 'We will consider incremental steps forward, because those add up.' The assembled experts came with lists of possible solutions. Carl June, a famed immunologist and cell therapy researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, called for the U.S. to borrow from the two-tier regulatory system used in China, which allows for medical institutions to more rapidly start first-in-human trials under the supervision of local review boards. Don Kohn, a University of California, Los Angeles scientist who has developed gene therapies, asked the FDA to reduce the requirements for 'comparability' testing when companies transition production from academic to commercial settings. Others emphasized the importance of regulatory awards, like the priority review vouchers granted by the FDA to developers of certain therapies, who often sell them for needed capital. And many called for the agency to share more feedback and lessons learned from the applications they receive from industry. Behind all of their suggestions was a consistent concern: If regulators don't help solve the field's problems, the U.S. risks losing its leadership in developing the kinds of treatments that can cure diseases. 'If we don't adapt, the next generation of treatments will emerge abroad,' said June. 'The future of medicine with cell and gene therapy is at stake.' Their message seemed to be heard by Makary and Prasad, who noted that many of the issues raised are on their radar at FDA. Prasad, for instance, noted that they hope to redact and make available more internal documents to aid developers' understanding of what the FDA is looking for. 'This is not a horse and pony show to say we did this,' added Makary. 'This is an honest listening session.' Recommended Reading A bespoke CRISPR therapy suggests a blueprint for treating 'N-of-1' diseases
Malaysiakini
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
KJ, charismatic but dangerous
YOURSAY | 'Are there no other educated and capable leaders in Umno?' Khairy's rumoured cabinet return: Reform opportunity or political gamble? Cyclonus: Khairy Jamaluddin, better known as KJ, is an impressive intellectual (or appears to be) with lots of charisma. But this is what makes him even more dangerous. The younger crowd will trust him blindly, no matter what his agenda. Amid the 1MDB scandal, he supported jailed former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak. You would think a smart guy like him could see through Najib when the rest of the civilised world could. However, KJ put loyalty to Umno and Najib above the good of all Malaysians and Malaysia. That was very disappointing and dangerous. Forget him. GreenFalcon2290: Ah, yes, KJ is known as a 'progressive and reformer'. Like Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and his deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi? Where are the voters located, urban centres or elsewhere? Are PAS voters desperate to vote for progressive, reformer candidates? How many in the Parliament are progressive and anxious to get a leader? Nice. In 2016, KJ was embroiled in a controversy surrounding a RM100 million scandal involving the Youth and Sports Ministry, where he was its minister. If the ministerial post was a certainty, would KJ make this bizarre statement that he is busy? Do you know anyone for the past 67 years who was too busy to accept a minister position? As for his remarkable qualities, they seem very common and routine for anyone working in the corporate world. Interesting? No. Milshah: Something appears to be not right. Umno should be a party where there is a good pool of educated and capable young leaders. What happened to all the educated and capable Umno leaders? I refer to another article related to the retirement age for politicians, where the young ones were supportive, but the old guard were against the idea. They (politicians) do not know when to quit and let the younger generation take over. They 'cantas' (get rid of, as in trimming a branch on a tree) potential leaders, or they do not give them opportunities to lead, as they see these young leaders as threats. I'm not talking about party central committees but division leaders as well. They want the position for life and will 'cantas' any young leaders who could take over from them. Then, when the party asks: Where are the young educated capable leaders? There is no one, comes the answer. Why? Because all of them have been 'cantas' already. FairPlay: What's so great about KJ? He is also an old wine in a new bottle, as the saying goes. He may not be as old as the others, but soon, he will fall into the group known as 'recycle'. There is no future (whatsoever) if the politics in the country keep rebranding old and recycled wine as new wine. We have 68 years of journey as a sovereign nation. Where is the nation today when compared with the tiny red dot south of the border? Headhunter: We thought he had crossed the Rubicon (point of no return) and had moved on. He is better off if he joins the likes of outgoing Economy Minister and ex-PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, who recently resigned from his minister post. They can move to or form a new party. Umno is fundamentally rotten to the core, and nothing much can be done to revive it. The entrenched old dogs will not easily or willingly give up their lucrative positions and will not give him a free rein to 'kill their golden goose'. He will be seen as a threat, as history has shown. Furthermore, his past grassroots supporters have moved on to find new pastures. Coward: KJ is already in Umno. In fact, despite his sacking from Umno in January 2023, he has remained in the party. He has his flaws, but overall, he is one of the more capable and less tainted leaders in Umno. As such, his return to the government is probably good news instead of bad. KJ is definitely one, if not the only, candidate who will be chosen by an Umno leader who has the party's future. However, other undeserving and definitely way worse candidates will likely edge him out because they have the ears of Umno leaders. Umno leaders are also those who are known to prioritise themselves over the party. Winning Scarecrow: Khairy must enhance his Islamic credentials before making a comeback. Anwar needs leaders who can help him accomplish his goal of making Malaysia a great Islamic state. Young Malaysians have indicated in surveys that they prefer to have leaders with a strong Islamic background like Anwar, newly minted PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and other leaders from PAS. We cannot find such leaders in Umno so far, so Khairy needs to prove that he is more Islamic than PAS leaders before being accepted again by Malaysians as their leader. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
