Thursday's Triumph & Turmoil: Elite Action from Net, Wall, and Pitch

The Net: French Open Momentum Builds 

Building on their strong form in Denmark, Malaysia’s world No. 4 duo Pearly Tan and Thinaah Muralitharan cruised into the French Open third round yesterday. 

They defeated younger compatriots Ong Xin Yee and Carmen Ting 21-14, 22-20, just a day after brushing aside Turkiye's Bengisu Ercetin and Nazlican Inci in 37 minutes. 

The tournament holds special memories for the Malaysians, who made their career breakthrough here in 2022 as the country's first women's doubles champions. 

The Wall: Sivasangari's Squash Masterclass 

Also yesterday, Malaysia's Sivasangari Subramaniam proved to be an unstoppable force at the Silicon Valley Squash Open quarterfinals. 

In a devastatingly clinical 24-minute masterclass, she dismantled her compatriot Rachel Arnold 3-0 with a straight-game scoreline of 11–8, 11–7, 11–8 to seal her spot in the next round. 

The Pitch: Celtic’s European Woes Deepen 

The day concluded with a much bleaker narrative on the pitch, where Celtic suffered a 2-1 defeat against La Liga's RC Celta de Vigo. 

The loss leaves the Scottish champions languishing at 35th out of 36 teams after three consecutive Europa League games. 

Fresh off a 7-1 domestic win on Sunday, Martin O'Neill's men took the lead via Mika Baur in the 47th minute, only to capitulate to a rapid three-minute blitz (68', 71'). 

Celtic has now lost four consecutive European ties, marking their worst continental run since the 2017-18 Champions League.

Speech #960: Done! 🚀

A double-duty Wednesday at the Super Speakers Toastmaster Club in Bandar Kinrara, Puchong! 🎤✨ 

Thrilled to have delivered my Level 1 project speech, "Words to Wake the World", for the Motivation Strategies pathway. My speech #960! 👊👊👊

I also stepped up as the Table Topics Evaluator for the meeting, providing constructive feedback to four impromptu speakers.

Photos of the said meeting:

And I sold one copy of the Diamond book.

The Art of 'Cop Giliran': How Water Bottles Do the Waiting for Malaysians

Commuters at the Asia Jaya Light Rail Transit (LRT) station in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, have captured the Internet's attention after a viral social media post showed them lining up personal items on the floor to hold their spots in a queue for Rapid KL buses.

A Threads user, @irdinameria, shared a post showing various water bottles lined up to mark the queue. She said the practice reflected Malaysian culture and everyday habits. 

The post drew comments from other users who shared similar experiences. Threads user @zarahalus said the same practice was common among people waiting for treatment at government health clinics, particularly the elderly. She said some arrived early to place water bottles or clinic cards to mark their turns before waiting for the clinics to open. 

Another user, @syafiqiqbalz, said students in school hostels also used similar methods when queuing to shower. They would place baskets, soap, slippers or facial cleansers to mark their turns, the user said.

Sivasangari Subramaniam advanced to the quarter-finals of the Silicon Valley Open 2026 after surviving a gruelling five-game thriller against fellow compatriot Aifa Azman on Wednesday. 

As the third seed, Sivasangari had received a first-round bye before encountering this intense challenge. 

The world No. 4 displayed immense resilience in Redwood City, USA, bouncing back from being down twice to prevent a major upset and ultimately winning 6-11, 11-2, 9-11, 11-3, 11-7 in a tense 44-minute match. 

With this hard-fought victory, Sivasangari sets up an exciting all-Malaysian quarter-final clash later today against Rachel Arnold, who earned her spot by stunning the American world No. 10, Amanda Sobhy, in another grueling five-game battle.

Burn the Land, Serve the Time

FINALLY!! Indonesian authorities have reportedly identified 97 companies suspected of involvement in forest and land fires across Sumatra and Kalimantan islands. According to their Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Dudung Abdurachman on Monday. 

He added that the companies were identified based on reports received by regional and national police units, urging investigators to thoroughly investigate those responsible for the fires. 

As of October 13, police had named nine companies and 223 individuals as suspects in separate forest and land fire cases, said Pipit Subiyanto, a senior official with the National Police’s special crimes unit. 

The corporate cases were linked to 98 police reports, while the individual cases involved 273 reports, Pipit continued. 

He warned that offenders could face prison sentences of 10 to 12 years, stressing that burning land should not be used as a cheap and easy method of land clearing. 

The investigations follow President Prabowo Subianto’s order last month for police to intensify their crackdown on companies suspected of causing forest and land fires, which have spread haze across parts of Indonesia and neighboring countries. 

According to Forestry Minister Raja Juli Antoni on Wednesday, Indonesia has suspended the permits of six additional companies over forest and land fires in Central Kalimantan, bringing the total number of sanctioned agricultural estates to 32. 

Antoni noted that the ministry previously imposed administrative sanctions on 26 companies, including permit suspensions and ecosystem restoration orders. 

The six operators hold concessions covering a total of 201,391 hectares, with 7,531 hectares burned during recent forest fires. 

Furthermore, Antoni said that the firms could face separate criminal proceedings if investigations uncover evidence of criminal intent or wrongdoing.

BUT I really want to see punitive action taken against these errant plantation companies. 

For decades, corporate executives have treated prison sentences as an abstract threat and toxic haze as a mere cost of doing business. 

This paradigm must end now. The law allows for 10 to 12 years of prison time, and prosecutors must demand the maximum. The individuals orchestrating these fires from air-conditioned boardrooms must be held just as criminally liable as the laborers on the ground. We must see these executives behind bars, serving hard time for the ecocide they have financed. 

True deterrence is only achieved when the cost of burning land shifts from a cheap line-item expense to a mandatory decade in a prison cell.

WSC's Sixtieth Meeting

On Tuesday, beneath the timeless arches of Bungalow 37, a close-knit circle of  eight participants – seven dedicated members and one enthusiastic guest – gathered for our anticipated World Speakers' Coalition Kuala Lumpur monthly communion, stepping directly into a "Masquerade of the Monochromatic". 

This challenging theme, chosen alongside the venue by our thoughtful host, set the stark stage for a provocative evening of profound, penetrating introspection. Guided by Shanti R, we peeled back the layers of our own perceptions regarding the LGBTQ+ community. 

Within that beautifully restored 1950s sanctuary, we found a tranquil haven to reflect on what shapes our views, openly engaging with a polemical topic to challenge a bias or two.

Amid the shadows of our monolithic assumptions, vibrant perspectives bloomed as we shed rigid, monochromatic stereotypes to embrace the nuanced, colorful reality of human identity. 

Through the unfiltered power of frank speeches and honest conversations, we dismantled the barriers of our own biases. Each voice became a prism, transforming a singular theme into a spectrum of diverse insights that left us deeply transformed. 

Indeed, we spoke openly about the LGBTQ+ community, affirming our commitment to remain accepting, respectful, and non-judgmental. 

[FYI, this was my speech #959].

In the crucible of this safe space, we discovered that understanding is not found in a single shade, but in the courage to listen to the whole tapestry of human experience. 

Captured in the frames below is the breathtaking, timeless allure of Bungalow 37, alongside the radiant faces of the eight souls who filled its spaces with warmth and wonder. 

Surrounded by antique charm and the comforting glow of shared vulnerability, it was an evening where community felt less like a simple meeting and more like a courageous journey toward empathy.

#publicspeaking

#theartandscienceofrhetoric 

#confidentcommunication 

#communicationinnovations 

#worldspeakerscoalition