Sabtu, 23 Julai 2011

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio


Lisa Kelly takes the long and winding road

Posted: 24 Jul 2011 01:09 AM PDT

Lisa Kelly shares what it is like to drive a truck in the dangerous mountains of the Himalayas.

ARGUABLY the second most famous woman to come out of Wasilla, Alaska, Lisa Kelly, for three months last year drove a truck around the mountains of the Himalayas in the Himalayan Road Challenge, hauling a wide range of cargo from cement to water and even sheep!

And you can see all that in Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads, a documentary-style reality TV series that details the treacherous job of driving trucks over frozen lakes, also known as ice roads, in Canada's Northwest Territories.

Kelly started out driving a school bus to get her licence before trucking for Carlile Transportation and has been in love with her job since.

"(I love) The freedom and the independence. Besides that, I also get to listen to music all day. I can work in my pyjamas, get some alone time and most of all, I get to travel. As much as I like to be at home, it's part of the job and part of the lifestyle," said Kelly in a recent phone interview from Alaska.

She continued, "It was never a dream of mine to truck when I was young. I just happened to be a trucker. My family and friends didn't really object but they were surprised when they found out that I was a trucker. I guess they wanted me to shoot higher or hoped that I would do something better."

Asked to compare Alaskan roads with the ancient Himalayan roads, Kelly said the latter was definitely more challenging.

She said: "It's a lot more difficult because I have been in Alaska for over 20 years and I am aware of where things are and the culture is more familiar. Whereas in the Himalayas, they drive on the other side, have different trucks, different kinds of roads and a different culture."

Asked about an unforgettable moment while truck driving, she said: "There was this guy who fell to his death in front of my eyes. I have yet to have any near-death experience, but there were some pretty scary moments."

Kelly took up the Himalayan Road Challenge because she liked challenges and felt that this could help her become a better truck driver.

She regards some of the biggest challenges of the job as having to do a lot of work, being able to think and plan ahead and being willing to work hard.

One of the other problems she faced during the road challenge was with her spotter, a local resident who acted as a co-driver.

"He did help me a lot but there was this language barrier as I couldn't understand what he was saying and it got frustrating when I needed to know something important. But all in all, he was really a good guy."

Kelly also revealed that she always prayed before driving, which prompted us to ask if she was afraid of landslides and whether the danger was worth it.

"Well, we encountered landslides and there were a lot of times that I was wondering if it was worth it. But I conquered it eventually."

She also hailed Freefall Highway – the first road she took on in the Himalayas – as one of the toughest she has ever driven on. "It was steep and really high up."

Also, as opposed to the snowy mountains of the Himalayas, the average temperature was warm for Kelly and she stated that one of the must-haves for job was the right clothes.

Has the Himalayan trip changed the 30-year-old?

"It opened my eyes to what the world is like and what trucking in other countries is like. I also realised how important it is to get out of your comfort zone. It has made me a more understanding person and I started enjoying listening to Indian music.

"I have this need to finish what I start. And now I've been getting people telling me that they don't quit because of me, and that has in turn inspired me as well."

In fact, Kelly said that since she got on the show, she has been getting shoutouts from people almost every other day.

She remembered one instance when a lady came close to her and stared at her for a bit before going 'Oh my god! I can't believe it's you!' "

But it isn't all drama and glamour in ice road trucking.

"It's really about long hours, packed lunches and driving as much as you can. When I'm on the road, I live in the truck and lunch is basically jelly bars and sandwiches," said Kelly.

But all truck and no play, makes Kelly a dull girl. "I also like to race motorcars, skydive, riding, biking," said the former motorcross rider.

Kelly also has a family of four-legged animals like horses, cats and a dog, and, of course, her husband Travis. "I miss them a lot when I am on the road," confessed Kelly.

Regarding challenges faced as a women truck driver, Kelly said: "At times, we do get teased and there are also some drivers who can't accept the fact that women can drive trucks. But there are also nice ones, and I do have quite a number of female truck driver friends. For the most part, I am generally accepted here and have many truck drivers as friends.

"On the show, I'm one of the 'guys', but they sometimes watch over me as I am a lady, too."

When asked what her family thinks of her profession, she said: "Well, my husband gets worried but he knows that I got to do what I got to do. He's very supportive and my four-legged kids don't give opinions."

Truck driving has also changed her as a whole. "It taught me that hard work pays off."

When asked if she had any advice for amateur truckers, she said: "Never think you know it all. You can always learn something."

Catch Lisa Kelly in the premiere of Ice Road Truckers: Deadliest Roads on July 28 at 10pm on History Channel (Astro Ch 555).

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The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


YouTube video apparently shows Norway killer with gun

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 08:34 PM PDT

OSLO (Reuters) - A video on the YouTube website promoting a fight against Islam apparently shows pictures of the man suspected of a gun and bomb attack in Norway, wearing a wetsuit and pointing an automatic weapon.

The pictures appear at the end of an approximately 12-minute video called "Knights Templar 2083". The video was posted at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQOfH8Dj1mw.

People light candles as they mourn for the victims of the massacre on an island in the countryside and the bomb blast in the capital Oslo July 23, 2011. (REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay)

The pictures in the video also appeared on the now closed Facebook page of Anders Behring Breivik, detained after 85 people were gunned down at a youth camp and another 7 killed in a bomb attack on Friday.

A Norwegian discussion website, www.freak.no, also had a link to a 1,500-page book called "2083 - A European Declaration of Independence".

It was not possible to verify who uploaded the video, which was posted on July 22 by an Andrew Berwick.

The 2083 book is also signed by an Andrew Berwick. The author says within the document that Andrew Berwick is an Anglicised version of Anders Breivik.

(Reporting by Patrick Lannin and Johan Ahlander; Editing by Sophie Hares)

Copyright © 2011 Reuters

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Scores hurt in clashes, Egypt rulers promise democracy

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 08:34 PM PDT

CAIRO (Reuters) - Scores of people were injured in Cairo on Saturday when thousands of demonstrators fought opponents with stones on their march to the Defence Ministry to urge their military rulers to speed up reforms, witnesses said.

An Egyptian protestor carries a wounded fellow protestor during clashes with loyalists of the ruling military council near the defence ministry, the headquarters of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, in Cairo July 23, 2011. (REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

They said most of the injuries occurred when civilians believed to be thugs hurled barrages of stones and firebombs at protesters, who fought back with stones torn up from pavements.

Military police, armed with Tasers and batons, fired in the air to stop the demonstrators from approaching the Defence Ministry. A Reuters witness said tear gas fumes were wafting outside the area as military helicopters circled overhead.

The Health Ministry told state television at least 143 people were hurt in the violence.

The clashes broke out after the head of the ruling military council, Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi, promised in a televised speech to push ahead with elections to transform the Arab world's most populous nation into a democracy.

Young demonstrators are angered by clashes between military police and protesters in a number of cities on Friday. The army denied using force against them.

Thousands of protesters marched from Tahrir Square, the epicentre of the Jan. 25 protests that ousted Hosni Mubarak, towards the Defence Ministry chanting "peaceful, peaceful".

"The people want to bring down the field marshal," they chanted as they headed for the ministry, snarling traffic.

Tantawi, whose military council took over after Mubarak's overthrow, was seen leaving the area before protesters arrived.

PROMISES OF REFORM

It was the 15th day of demonstrations, in Tahrir Square and other squares across the country, to back demands for more freedom for the civilian government, led by Essam Sharaf, an end to military trials and a timetable the completion of reforms.

Prime Minister Sharaf reshuffled his cabinet last week and promised to speed up trials and political reforms.

He called on all political groups and movements in a statement on his Facebook page to work for "calm and stability, upholding the principles of dialogue and the exchange of opinion, and allowing the government to fulfill those goals."

"The government is fully keen on implementing the demands of the people for freedom, democracy and social justice and it will work on translating those goals," Sharaf said.

He was echoing promises of reform and a transition to democracy that were delivered earlier by Tantawi, in a speech to mark the anniversary of the 1952 revolution which overthrew King Farouk in a bloodless coup.

"We are committed to pressing ahead in turning Egypt to a modern civilian state," Tantawi said.

"We are moving forward on the path to entrenching democracy that upholds freedoms and the rights of citizens through free and fair elections," he added in a pre-recorded speech, his first address to the public since Mubarak was ousted.

Tantawi, Mubarak's defence minister for two decades, did not give details, but spoke broadly of a "united front" to confront challenges facing Egypt both domestically and abroad.

"The decisive period in our people's history requires concerted efforts from all Egyptians to confront the urgent challenges facing us that cannot be dealt with by hesitation or semi-solutions," Tantawi said, citing efforts to limit the economic damage caused by the uprising.

RIFTS

Many ordinary Egyptians fear continued protests are derailing efforts to kick-start an economy that was hard hit when investors and tourists fled.

The clashes on Saturday broke out after civilians threw rocks from rooftops in adjacent buildings. Many in the crowd were thought by protesters to be thugs but some residents of the Abbassiya district were fearful protests in their neighbourhood were obstructing business and normalcy.

State media said the civilians fighting with the demonstrators were from "people's committees" protecting the neighbourhood and the army had maintained all self-restraint, blaming the violence on protesters.

Some Abbasiya residents appeared to believe protesters were seeking to create rifts between the army and the people. One resident shouted at a woman with a bloodied skirt at the scene:

"Get out of here. You want to bring the entire country to a stand-still. Who is backing you? Do you want to doom us all?"

Such sentiment follows a series of statements from the ruling military council in which it warns of groups manipulating the revolution and seeking to drive a wedge between the armed forces and the people.

In the latest accusation, the military council denied the authorities used force against demonstrators on Friday and accused the April 6 Movement, one of the main groups behind the uprising that toppled Mubarak, of creating divisions.

April 6 described the statement as "misleading allegations".

"We will be the last to leave Tahrir Square, either alive with our heads held high after triumphantly achieving the demands of the Egyptian people or as martyrs for the sake of God and the nation," the group added.

(Additional reporting by Mohamed Abdallah, Amr Abdullah and Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Sami Aboudi and Dina Zayed; Editing by Sophie Hares)

Copyright © 2011 Reuters

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New Yorkers ready vows as state allows same-sex marriage

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 08:34 PM PDT

NEW YORK (Reuters Life!) - Thousands of gay and lesbian New Yorkers are getting ready to say "I do" this weekend, as the Empire State becomes the sixth in the U.S. to embrace same-sex marriage.

A state law signed June 24 by Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo goes into effect at 12:01 (0401 GMT) on Sunday, allowing hundreds of couples statewide to tie the knot, including 823 in New York City alone.

A participant in the Gay Pride Parade holds a sign reading, 'Promise Kept!' in reference to the recent legalization of gay marriage as they march past the Stonewall Inn in New York June 26, 2011. (REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi)

In preparation for the crush of well-wishers and media, police on Friday installed barricades near the Manhattan marriage bureau, where 459 same-sex couples are to be married on Sunday.

With the addition of New York, same-sex marriage will be legal in six of the 50 U.S. states -- Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont -- and the District of Columbia.

Gay rights activists say the move by New York, the most populous state to date to allow gay marriage, sends a clear signal to Washington that it's time to push changes to federal laws.

"This historic step shows that marriage equality is an increasingly nonpartisan issue," said Herndon Graddick, a senior director of programs at the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

"Republicans and Democrats joined the majority of Americans who agree that equal protections under the law for loving and committed couples is the only option in a healthy and just society."

A recent Siena poll found that 58 percent of New Yorkers support gay marriage. Nationally, the U.S. public is nearly evenly split, with 45 percent in favor and 46 percent opposed, according to a recent Pew Research Center poll.

Gay and civil rights activists want to see changes to a federal law, the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

U.S. President Barack Obama's administration in February concluded that the 15-year-old law that prohibits same-sex couples from receiving marriage-based federal benefits was unconstitutional and indefensible in law.

In another victory for gay rights advocates, President Obama on Friday announced the U.S. military's ban on gays will end on Sept. 20.

The move will make good good on his 2008 campaign promise to end the 18-year-old "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that forced gays to keep their sexual orientation secret in order to serve in the military.

(Reporting by Eric Johnson; Editing by Tim Gaynor and Eric Walsh)

Copyright © 2011 Reuters

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The Star Online: Business

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CIMB first Asean corporate to be rated by Dagong

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 06:52 PM PDT

BEIJING: CIMB Bank has become the first Asean corporate to be rated by Chinese private rating house Dagong Global Credit Rating Co.

The rating is CIMB's fourth rating after ratings by the Big 3' of Moody's, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's (S&P).

"I have long advocated the need for an Asian rating agency to offer an alternative perspective to those of Western rating agencies," said CIMB Group group chief executive Datuk Seri Nazir Razak.

The unfair perception of Asian debt, institutionalised by international ratings had driven investors to look elsewhere for higher-rated investments, Nazir said.

Speaking at the bank's inaugural credit rating by Dagong here yesterday, Nazir said Dagong's rating would provide an alternative assessment of CIMB Bank's financial strength and credit standing to regulators, fund managers and investors in China and the Asian region.

Dagong yesterday assigned a long-term local currency issuer rating of AA and a long-term foreign currency rating of AA-, with a positive outlook to CIMB Bank.

The ratings are higher than the ratings assigned to CIMB Bank by the other international rating agencies.

Dagong chairman and president Guang Jianzhong said: "If the world's best banks can be rated at AAA class, then it is nothing unusual for CIMB Bank to be rated at AA or AA-, given the bank's systemic importance to Malaysia."

He said Dagong put relatively more weight on the growing prospects of CIMB compared to the other international agencies, backed by the healthy regional and domestic macroeconomic environment it was operating in as well as taking into account CIMB's corporate governance and development strategy.

"Despite being the custodian of most of the world's savings as well as holding the most attractive investment opportunities, Asia remains extremely dependent on Western financial intermediation. I don't understand that," Nazir said.

"Dagong has the foundations to become Asia's leader in the field of ratings and we will support that," he said.

Nazir voiced out his disagreement on RAM Holdings Bhd's plan to give US-based S&P a substantial shareholding in the company, saying that it was a "wrong strategy".

"RAM has very good credentials and I think it is giving up on those credentials by partnering with a Western agency.

"That is why we have to find others and in this case, we are betting on Dagong," he said.

He said CIMB was not expecting immediate benefits from the rating as the benefits would likely be reaped in the long term.

"It depends on the future of Dagong we don't know how long it will be before we reap the benefits but given that Dagong's creditability is growing fast, I think it would be sooner rather than later," he said.

Dagong is currently the largest credit rating agency in China.

In July 2010, Dagong became the world's first non-Western credit rating agency to issue credit ratings for 50 countries.

Guang said he believed that more overseas corporates would seek its services following CIMB Bank's rating by Dagong.

Separately, Nazir said there were plans to convert CIMB's representative office in Shanghai into a branch. He did not elaborate on the timeframe for this.

CIMB's presence in China is also via its 19.99% stake in the Bank of Yingkou Co, Ltd.

Nazir said CIMB's strategy in China would not be via equity stakes but would be focused on partnerships.

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Wong appointed country head of Beiersdorf

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 06:46 PM PDT

WONG Fatt Weng (pic), managing director of Bates141 Malaysia, has been appointed the country head of Beiersdorf Malaysia, a leading skin and beauty care company, effective Sept 1.

Wong has been with Bates141 Malaysia for three years.

"I'm returning to marketing, which really is my first love," he says when contacted by StarBizWeek, adding that a search for a replacement at Bates141 is currently underway.

Prior to Bates 141, Wong was marketing director at Johnson & Johnson Malaysia, and has more than 18 years of mixed experience in brand and sales management with a comprehensive understanding of market research, new product development, sales, distribution, product positioning, pricing, packaging, promotion and advertising.

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Tanah Sutera sells green concept to house buyers

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 06:43 PM PDT

BUYING a property at The Seed @ Sutera Utama in Johor Baru is similar to taking an oath of allegiance to take care of the environment for the present and future generations.

The first question that the developer will ask its prospective buyers is whether they are willing and ready to be part of the community by contributing their efforts and time to protect the environment.

"If the answer is yes, they proceed to the signing of the sales and purchase agreement, if not they (buyers) can look for other properties,'' Tanah Sutera Development Sdn Bhd general manager Steven Shum says in an interview with StarBizWeek.

He says the company is not being "selective or arrogant" but is committed to a clean and green neighbourhood and wants to offer more than just houses to its buyers.

Shum says the company is probably the first in Johor or even Malaysia to ask such question to its potential buyers. He also claims many of the buyers do not feel offended and those who bought the properties are looking forward to be part of the "green community" when the project fully developed in 2015.

The project with a gross development value of RM700mil is located within a gated 19.02ha encompassing 1,230 units of residential properties ranging from penthouses to garden suites namely the three-storey Garden and Duplex Suites, six-storey Boutique Suites and nine-storey Boutique Suites with floor area ranging from 1,240 sq ft to 2,390sq ft and priced between RM558,000 and RM1.1mil.

Tanah Sutera Development Sdn Bhd is a consortium of Malaysian and Singapore-based companies namely Permodalan Nasional Bhd, Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera, CapitaLand, Keppel Land and Lee Rubber Co (Pte) Ltd.

"We don't only preach on green-related issues to our buyers but we also practice the green building initiatives in the construction of the houses,'' Shum says.

The green initiatives include using pre-mixed reinforced concrete with the effective micro-organisms (EM) glass panels to allow sunlight in and harvesting rainwater to water and clean the gardens.

Shum says it is proven in Japan that by mixing concrete with the EM, the concrete become water-repellent and thus prevents sick-building syndrome which is common in Malaysia.

Similarly, he says each household is expected to play their part as the "green community" by separating rubbish such as plastic, glass, paper into their respective bins.

Shum adds each family will be provided with a container for them to discard their food waste to make compost and the compost will be used as fertiliser for the communal gardens within the projects.

"We want to bring back the communal living or the kampong spirit in the good old days where everyone basically knows his neighbours,'' he says.

Shum says this can be achieved via activities organised such as get-together parties for residents in celebrating festivals, birthdays or weddings.

He says as for the communal garden, each block will have its own piece of land where residents can set-up a garden committee to plant vegetables or fruit trees on the plot.

Shum says residents have their own freedom in managing their communal gardens but must adhere to organic farming by not using chemical ferlitisers and use rainwater to water the plants.

He says residents can harvest and share the vegetables or fruits among themselves or exchange them with residents of other blocks or may be, they can set ad-hoc make shift stalls to sell the produce.

"Living in a gated and guarded community does not mean that ones have to mind their own business for the sake of privacy; our objective is promote esprit de corps,'' says Shum.

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The Star Online: Sports

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Van Pelt finishes strong, takes Canadian Open lead

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 05:21 PM PDT

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) - Bo Van Pelt birdied four of his last five holes, including the final two, to finish with 65 on Saturday and a one-stroke lead after three rounds at the RBC Canadian Open.

Canadian Adam Hadwin, playing on a sponsor's exemption, missed a 12-foot birdie putt on 18 to finish with a 68, and alone in second at 4-under 206.

Andres Romero (67) and first-round leader Kris Blanks (69) are tied for third, two shots back, after another tough day in the thick rough along the tight, tree-lined Shaugnessy Golf and Country Club.

John Daly, who four-putted No. 18 for triple-bogey Friday, shot 67 and is in a group of four at 2 under with Sean O Hair (66), Aron Price (69), and Geoff Ogilvy (70) heading into Sunday's final round.

Van Pelt, who had five-straight top-15 finishes before tying for 57th at last week's British Open, was 1-over at the turn and mad at himself for leaving strokes on the course with poor putting. He hit every green - no easy task this week - but had a couple of three-putts and missed three "short" birdie putts.

But with no one else going low, Van Pelt calmed himself on the walk to No. 10.

"I felt if I could get one hot nine, I could get in contention," he said.

The 36-year-old from Indiana did just that, starting with a birdie on the par-4 10th, another on the par-3 12th, and four on the final five holes, ending with a 5-foot putt after another beautiful approach on the tough par-4 18th.

With only 11 players still under par after three days of thick rough and narrow fairways, few expected to see anyone setting the nine-hole record at the 7,010-yard, tree-lined Shaugnessy Golf and Country Club. Van Pelt did it by keeping his driver in the short grass, and hitting 17 of 18 of the small greens.

"You never know you are going to shoot 29," said Van Pelt, who used his driver for all but one hole on Saturday. "You have to drive it in play. If you drive it in rough, you can't hit the green. I grew up on a tree-lined golf course with small greens, so from a visual standpoint, I like the looks of it." Like Van Pelt, Daly said the key was hitting his driver well.

"You have to," said Daly, saying it at least gave him a chance to get to the small greens from the rough if he hit it further off the tee. "If you lay up you can t get to the green on your approach shots. You've just got to attack."

Van Pelt played in front of sparse crowds Saturday. But there will be plenty of attention on the final pairing Sunday with local hero Hadwin.

The 23-year-old Hadwin tipped his cap and gave a wave to a raucous reception walking up the 18th green, and the roars continued long after he missed a 12-foot birdie putt and tapped in for par. For a second-year pro from the third-tier Canadian Tour, Hadwin appeared to be taking it all in stride as he tries to become the first Canadian since Pat Fletcher 1954 to win his national open championship.

"It's indescribable," Hadwin said of the reception. "It's a very exciting feeling to have that many people behind you and cheering for you. If I keep doing what I'm doing they will have something to cheer for tomorrow."

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Ariya Jutanugarn takes US junior title

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 05:19 PM PDT

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Illinois (AP) - Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand won the 63rd U.S. Girls Junior championship on Saturday, scoring a 2 and 1 victory over Dottie Ardina of the Philippines at Olympia Fields Country Club.

Ariya closed out the match by getting up and down for par on the par-4 17th hole of the afternoon round. Ardina three-putted from 65 feet.

It was the first victory in a match-play tournament for the 15-year-old, who captured the AJGA Girls Junior title earlier this year.

"This tournament is so big, it's like a major to me," Ariya said.

Earlier this month, she played in the U.S. Women's Open, as did her sister Moriya, who caddied for her in this tournament because of a sore left wrist.

"I was so confident this week, because it's easier than the Open," Ariya said. "The back nine (in the afternoon), I had no power, but I still played good."

Ardina was 1 up after the morning round, gaining the advantage when Jutanugarn bogeyed the South Course's par-4 17th. The players had halved the previous 10 holes.

Ariya evened the match with a 5-foot birdie putt on the first hole of the afternoon round, and won the fourth hole to go 1 up when Ardina flubbed a chip. While Ardina evened the match twice, Ariya never trailed thereafter.

She took the lead for good with a par on the par-3 12th.

The 17-year-old Ardina made three birdies, including two in the final eight holes, but edged the hole or came up short on 10 other birdie attempts.

"I think it was because of the overnight rain," Ardina said. "And I made a couple of three putts. It's pretty tough."

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Newcomers Terengganu stun former champions Perak

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 04:17 PM PDT

MALACCA: Terengganu, who are playing in Division One of the Razak Cup hockey tournament for the first time created the biggest upset of the day when they defeated five-time champions Perak 4-2 in a Group B match at the Bukit Serendit Stadium yesterday.

Terengganu powered by three national players went on the offensive from the start and took a 2-0 lead in the space of three minutes.

Mohd Syafiq Nordin gave them the lead from a field goal from the top D in the 21st minute. And three minutes later they

increased the lead through Ahmad Alif Nazaruddin.

Terengganu kept up pressure in the second half and made it 3-0 off another field goal through Mohd Fitri Saari in 51st minute.

Perak, the losing finalists last year, reduced the deficit in the 54th minute through Amir Farid.

National forward Mohd Firhan Ashaari scored Terengganu's fourth goal in the 65th minute before Perak's Tajol Rosli put in a goal in the 70th minute.

Terengganu coach Nik Rozemi Nik Mohamed praised his boys for playing exceptionally well and capitalising on their chances.

"We are playing for the first time in Division One and were hoping for a draw but created the biggest upset in the tournament. My boys are in high spirits and we will go all out against Pahang today to seal a place in the semi-finals," said Nik Rozemi.

Former champions Johor could also face an early exit after losing 0-2 to Armed Forces in a Group A match.

Forces took the lead through Mohd Zulkifli Abdullah in the second minute before Ahmad Ridzuan Zainal Abidin made it 2-0 in the 15th minute.

Forces just need to beat Penang today to book a place in semi-finals while Johor will face18-time champions Kuala Lumpur in today's match.

KL, meanwhile, defeated Penang 6-3.

Selangor got off to a flying start in Division Two when they trounced Kelantan 10-2 in a Group A match.

Former champions Selangor are expected to beat the Project 2017 team today to seal a place in the semi-finals.

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies


New webmaster Garfield: Spidey's always in style

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 09:22 PM PDT

SAN DIEGO (AP): The new Peter Parker says it's never too soon for another "Spider-Man" movie.

Andrew Garfield, who plays Peter and his superhero alter-ego in next summer's "The Amazing Spider-Man," said Friday at the Comic-Con fan convention that his take on the Marvel Comics icon is a departure from Tobey Maguire's, which concluded just four years ago after three films.

Though it's a short turn-around for a new version, lifelong Spidey fan Garfield says people need a hero such as Peter.

"We love it. We need it. We need his strength, we need his joy. We need to see that guy swing among the buildings of New York City. We all love that guy. We all dreamed of being him," Garfield, 27, said in an interview. "It's never going to die, and I can't wait to see what the next actor does with it."

Garfield, director Marc Webb, co-star Emma Stone, who plays romantic interest Gwen Stacy, and Rhys Ifans, who plays a villain known as the Lizard, had plenty of kindred spirits at Comic-Con, where they gave fans a preview of their new story of how nerdy Peter transforms into the agile crime fighter. The film is due in theaters next summer.

After the trailer for "The Amazing Spider-Man" played, Garfield gave Comic-Con fans a rousing opening to the presentation. Dressed in a cheap Spider-Man costume, Garfield rushed to a question-and-answer microphone in the audience posing as a jittery fan for a few moments before whipping off his mask and introducing himself as the film's star.

In a breathless voice, Garfield read an impassioned summation of his adulation for Spider-Man, saying that "Peter Parker inspired me to feel stronger. He made me, Andrew, braver." Before introducing Webb, Stone and other collaborators, Garfield gushed: "This is definitely the coolest moment of my life."

Director Sam Raimi and his stars, Maguire, Kirsten Dunst and James Franco, bid farewell to the franchise after 2007's "Spider-Man 3," opening the door for Marvel and Sony Pictures to go back to the drawing-board for a fresh approach.

Webb, best known previously for his clever romantic comedy (500) Days of Summer," said the decades of "Spider-Man" comic books are a bottomless source for big-screen adaptations.

"The Amazing Spider-Man" footage Sony showed included scenes of Garfield's Peter getting used to his strength and other superpowers, then running afoul of the police, who declare him a masked vigilante. The studio also presented scenes of Ifans as a one-armed scientist who transforms into the hulking Lizard.

The footage also showed Peter building his mechanical web-shooters, a return to the comic-book tradition after the Maguire-Raimi films gave the character the ability to shoot webs organically out of his wrists.

The story sets Peter on a quest to unravel secrets about his long-gone father, a journey that puts him on the path to his own fateful transformation. Born in the United States but raised in England, Garfield was a virtual unknown in Hollywood when cast last year in the new "Spider-Man" series. Before that, he had starred in the acclaimed British drama "Boy A" and co-starred in Robert Redford's "Lions for Lambs" and Heath Ledger's last film, "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus."

After the "Spider-Man" casting announcement, Garfield quickly shot to prominence with well-received roles in "Never Let Me Go" and "The Social Network," the latter earning him a supporting-actor nomination at the Golden Globes.

Stone also has been on the rise, starring in last year's comedy hit "Easy A" and in next month's literary adaptation "The Help," as well as co-starring in Steve Carell's romance "Crazy, Stupid, Love," opening next week.

Garfield recalled that Maguire phoned him on the day it was "announced that I would be taking on the mantle of this symbol that means more than him or me, and he kind of gave me his blessing, which made me feel OK about jumping into it. ... He's the best. I'm Team Tobey."

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Schwarzenegger son hurt in Malibu surf mishap

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 06:07 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES (AP): The youngest son of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver is recovering in a hospital after a body-boarding accident at a Malibu beach last weekend, a family statement said Friday.

Christopher Schwarzenegger, 13, "is a brave boy and is expected to make a full recovery," the statement said.

The teen suffered a collapsed lung and broken bones. Shriver was composed when she alerted emergency workers in a phone call - apparently from the beach - about 12:20 p.m. Sunday.

He "can't move off the beach - maybe like a broken ribs or something like that," Shriver tells a Los Angeles County Fire Department operator, according to a recording released by the department.

"He's having trouble breathing," she says.

Two of his siblings tweeted about their 13-year-old brother: Sister Katherine says "he's a tough little guy and getting better," and brother Patrick says "keep praying."

The statement thanked paramedics, lifeguards, doctors and hospital staff who have cared for the injured teen.

The statement was issued by the former California governor and Shriver. The couple are separated and in the midst of a divorce.

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'Burn Notice' actress conflicted about violence

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 06:05 PM PDT

NEW YORK (AP): Gun-toting vixen Fiona takes great pleasure in firing off guns and explosions in the TV series "Burn Notice."

But the woman who plays her isn't comfortable with that. Actress Gabrielle Anwar says she's "adverse to any kind of weaponry and violence."

The 41-year-old British-born actress describes herself as an "ardent pacifist" and says she has a "really hard time" with handling weapons that sometime come from the military and may have been used in actual warfare.

The USA Network show describes Fiona as the "trigger-happy ex-girlfriend" of Michael Weston (Jeffrey Donovan), a spy who is stranded in Miami after he's discredited or "burned." Among those he turns to for help is Fiona - or Fi - a former IRA operative with a violent streak.

Fiona knows her weapons, but Anwar does not. She says she is "faking everything" she does with weapons. The show's "amazing prop master" instructs her on how to look like she knows what she's doing and "how not tire fire the gun by mistake," she says, noting there are often live weapons on set.

Anwar has a 10-year-old son and says she worries about glamorizing violence.

She says it "bugs" her on a "personal level" when her son visits the set and sees her dolled up in heels and makeup shooting people.

She admits she's "in denial" over the conflict.

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M'sian student pilot killed in training flight in the Philippines

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 04:47 AM PDT

MANILA (AP): A Malaysian student pilot and his Filipino instructor were killed when their Cessna plane crashed in northern Pampanga province Friday, said Philippine civil aviation officials.

A police report identified those killed as Malaysian Tian Yu Wong and flying instructor Alfred Christian de Leon.

Capt Amando Soliman of the civil aviation said it was not immediately clear why the two-seater plane crashed in an open field. He says no one was hurt on the ground.

Soliman said the plane was owned by Omni Aviation flying school based in Clark Freeport, a former U.S.-run air base in Pampanga.

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Najib joins international community in condemning attacks in Norway

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 04:43 AM PDT

Photo gallery

KANGAR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak joined world leaders in expressing horror over the deadly attacks in Norway which claimed at least 94 lives.

The Prime Minister said the incident, which claimed scores of lives, especially youths was a catastrophe.

"What happened was certainly unexpected and not only shocked Norway but other nations too. It is a cause for concern when there are people who act extraordinarily violent," he said of the incident.

Meanwhile Bernama, quoting China's Xinhua news agency, said the shooting and bombing had drawn strong condemnation from around the world,

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon voiced his shock over the attacks in Norway.

"The Secretary-General was shocked to learn about the large explosion in central Oslo and the shooting that took place in Utoya.

"He condemns this violence and expresses his condolences to the Government of Norway and the families of the victims," the UN Chief said in a statement issued by his spokesperson.

"The United Nations stands together with the people of Norway at this terrible moment," he said.

UN General Assembly President Joseph Deiss also expressed shock and strongly condemned these attacks.

"President Deiss is particularly distressed that one of the attacks has targeted young people, and that this has happened on the eve of the High-Level Meeting on Youth convened by the General Assembly in New York on July 25 and 26, 2011 to mark the International Year of Youth," his spokesperson Jean-Victor Nkolo said.

Deiss also "strongly condemns these attacks and offers his condolences to the people and government of Norway."

In Washington, United States President Barack Obama on Friday sent condolences to Norway, calling on the world to work together to fight terrorism.

Obama pledged to provide support to the investigation and said the attacks were a reminder that the whole world has a "stake" in stopping this kind of terror from happening.

In Ottawa, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said he was "shocked and intensely saddened to learn of the attacks in Oslo and Utoya."

Condemning the terrorist activities, Harper said in a statement that he was also horrified to learn that a gunman opened fire at a youth camp at Utoya.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key denounced the attacks as an act of global terrorism.

"I think it shows that no country is immune from that risk," Key said after a meeting with Obama at the White House on Friday.

In Copenhagen, Danish Prime Minister Lars Loekke Rasmussen expressed sympathy and solidarity with Norway and conveyed Denmark's readiness to assist in handling the situation.

"On behalf of Denmark and the Danish government I express my deepest condolences, sympathy and solidarity with the Norwegian people and the Norwegian government in this difficult time," said Rasmussen in a press statement.

In Bucharest, the Romanian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the attacks and expressed its full solidarity with the Norwegian government and people at this difficult moment.

In Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica and El Salvador sent condolences to the victims of the attacks and expressed solidarity with Norway through various channels.

The twin attacks hit the northern European country on Friday. A bomb exploded in downtown Oslo near government offices, killing 7 people and injuring more than 19 others.

Hours later, a gunman dressed in police uniform opened fire at a youth camp of Norway's ruling political party on Utoeya, an island south of Oslo, killing at least 80 people. - Bernama

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Protesters travel in convoy before dispersing

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 04:33 AM PDT

PUTRAJAYA: Bersih 2.0 protesters have yet again taken to the streets. But this time, they travelled in a convoy of 15 cars from Shah Alam to Masjid Putra here.

The group were asked to leave by about 50 policemen when they gathered at Dataran Shah Alam at 11am.

They then split into two smaller groups and went to the mosque and the Alamanda shopping centre here.

At about 4.30pm, the group ended their trip at Taman Jaya in Petaling Jaya before dispersing.

Putrajaya OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Razak Abdul Majid said members from the convoy entered the mosque at about noon.

He said about 30 people, clad in yellow shirts, left the mosque shortly after seeing a heavy police presence.

"They were dressed in yellow shirts but without the Bersih logo on them," he added.

In IPOH, a group of about 30 people in yellow t-shirts gathered at the Sultan Abdul Aziz recreational park, known locally as Polo Ground, at 8am and dispersed an hour later.

The group's spokesman said they just want to show it is not wrong to wear yellow clothing.

Meanwhile, DAP leaders, led by Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang, handed out Pakatan Rakyat campaign leaflets to people at the Kampung Simee market.

State CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim said that no arrest was made.

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MTV World concert brings you the best music acts

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 03:15 AM PDT

MTV WORLD Stage Live In Malaysia 2011 is set to rock the house tomorrow at i-City in Shah Alam.

The outdoor concert will be held for the third time in Malaysia in front of a live audience of about 15,000 fans.

The concert this time is all about rocking out, what with the stellar lineup of international, regional and local recording artistes comprising Thirty Seconds To Mars, Neon Trees, BEAST and Pop Shuvit all pumped up to put on a fantastic show.

The two-hour on air version of the concert will premiere on MTV SEA channel on Aug 8 at 10pm (Indonesia), 11pm (Singapore, Hong Kong and the Philippines) and midnight (Malaysia). An hour-long version of concert will also be broadcasted globally to 154 countries reaching more than 550 million households later in the year.

It will be quite interesting to see how the different acts from different continents will entertain the crowd.

Los Angeles-based American rock band 30 Seconds To Mars has played at many music festivals the world over, including Lollapalooza (United States), Summer Sonic (Japan) and Rock AmRing (Germany).

Founded in 1998 by brothers Shannon Leto and Jared Leto, the band also comprises guitarist Tomo Milicevic and touring members bassist Matt McJunkins and keyboardist Braxton Olita.

Like their name, Utah-based American alternative rock band Neon Trees are a combination of slick pop hoops and sturdy organic rock whose sound is themed with adolescent angst, longing, love lost and found, reminiscing the music of the '60s garage rock scene all the way to today's dance rock anthems.

The six-piece boy band from South Korea, Beast, has established themselves as one of the top acts in the K-pop world since their debut in 2009. Originally known as B2ST (Boys to Search for Top), the group's name was changed to Beast (Boys of East Standing Tall), a couple of days before they debuted. On Oct 14, 2009, they released their first mini-album BEAST Is The B2ST on the same day they also held a showcase performance on MTV.

With their unique blend of funky eclectic beats, hard hitting riffs and adrenaline-fuelled live shows, Pop Shuvit — Moots! (vocals), JD (guitar), AJ (bass), Rudy (drums) and Uno (turntables) — is undeniably Malaysia's best hip-hop/rock band.

A truly multi-lingual and multi-cultural band, Pop Shuvit has five albums under their belt and has released tracks in numerous languages including English, Japanese, Malay, Tagalog, Thai and even Spanish.

Their consistent and steady creative output also won them various accolades across the industry, including 10 Malaysian No. 1 radio hits, an MTV Asia Award nomination, a special achievement award (AIM Kembara) in 2008 & Best Music Video Oh Sizuka! last year at the Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM).

For more information on MTV World Stage, visit worldstage.mtvasia.com.

Getting to i-City Shah Alam
(source: worldstage.mtvasia.com)

If you are driving, i-City is about 30 minutes away from Kuala Lumpur and is accessible via the Federal Highway and New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE). Here's how to drive to i-City:

From PJ/KL, use the Federal Highway heading towards Shah Alam. Exit at the Batu Tiga toll booth and look for the first BP petrol station you see. Turn left at the UiTM/i-City signage. Drive until you reach the traffic lights and turn right. Drive on the left side of the road until you see the Shell petrol station and KFC before the traffic lights. UiTM will be on your right. Turn left before the traffic lights then go straight until you reach a T-junction then turn left. When you see a chrome ball turn left and then left again and you will reach i-City. Look for the Carpark B signage and park at i-City Carpark B area.

(Source: Tourism Malaysia)

If you are using public transport from KL Sentral, take the KTM train bound for Shah Alam until the Batu Tiga commuter station. From there, you will have to take a taxi to i-City.

MTV Worldstage Survival Guide

1. Parking

Parking space is limited and is available only on a first-come-first-serve basis.

2. Weather

MTV World Stage Live In Malaysia 2011 is a rain-or-shine event. Bring a raincoat or a cap, sun block lotion and sunglasses if needed.

3. Travel Light

There will be security checks at the door for prohibited items including but not limited to recording devices, dangerous objects and controlled substances. No bags are allowed in the venue.

4. Be Early

About 15,000 people are expected so if you want the best view possible, come early as registration starts at 3.30pm and the door opens at 6.30pm. Also note that pass holders who are 15 years old and below are to be accompanied by an adult (aged 21 years or above) who must also have a pass to the event.

5. Dress Code

MTV World Stage Live In Malaysia 2011 is a free-standing event. Wear comfortable clothes with non-slip, covered shoes. Bring earplugs if you wish to protect your ears.

6. Safety First

Cameras, video recorders and all other recording devices, helmets, long umbrellas and other sharp, imflammable and dangerous objects and controlled substances are strictly prohibited. MTV also reserves the right to refuse admission to any person whose conduct is disorderly or unbecoming or who is in violation of the foregoing restrictions. Photo­graphy and any recording of the event are also strictly prohibited.

7. Food and Water

Alcoholic beverages and outside food and drinks are not allowed in the venue, so have a hearty meal before you head to the event. Drink a lot of water.

8. Epilepsy Warning

Please note that this concert uses strobe lighting. Anyone suffering from epilepsy should note that strobe lighting has been linked to epileptic seizures.

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Metro watch

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 03:11 AM PDT

BUDDHIST SEMINAR

There will be a free seminar entitled "Discover the Universe Within You" by Sean Y.Matsumoto tomorrow from 9.30am to 1pm at Plenary Hall, Level 1, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, organised by the Buddhist Society for Human Happiness (for non-Muslims only). It will be conducted in English with simultaneous Mandarin translation. Early reservation is encouraged. For details, call 016-361 6805 or 016-235 1750 or 012-280 0680.

CHARITY CARNIVAL

THE Impian foundation will be having its 5th charity carnival tomorrow from 9am-6pm. It will be held at the Pusat Jagaan Impian, No.4, Persiaran Titiwangsa, Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, Kuala Lumpur. Among the programmes planned are handicraft sale, batik paintings, sale of food and drinks and special appearances by local celebrities like Vanida Imran and Awal Ashaari. For coupon sales and enquiries, call 03-4022 0308

RESTAURANT CLOSURE

The Sungai Buloh Overhead Bridge Restaurant (north and south bound) at Km458.4 on the North-South Expressway will be temporarily closed on July 27 from 6am to 6pm to facilitate maintenance work. During the exercise all stalls and public facilities will be closed except for the petrol station. For details, call PLUSline on 1-800-880000.

CALLIGRAPHY COURSES

The Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) offers Chinese Calligraphy short courses at its Centre for Extention Education (CEE), PJ campus. The course will commence on Aug 24 (every Wednesday) from 7pm to 9pm. The registration is now open. Utar will also be conducting a short course on Emotional Excellence for Corporate Managers on that same day. For details, call 03-7957 2818 or 016-223 3563 (Swee Leng) or email cee@utar.edu.my

RECYCLE OLD PEWTER

The Royal Selangor has launched a donation drive to invite the public to donate old and unwanted pewter items in aid of the Malaysian Nature Society. Only pewter made by Royal Selangor or Selangor Pewter will be accepted and melted down to be made into new pewter pieces for the The Alam Collection. One third of the sales from the collection will go to the Malaysian Nature Society. Drop off old pewter pieces at any Royal Selangor store. For details, call 03-4145 6233/ 6234/6237.

BLOOD DONATION DRIVE

The National Mosque Public Relations and Resource Centre Unit together with Jakim will organise a blood donation campaign and Health Education Exhibition Series 2/2011 in conjunction with Warrior Day 2011. The event will be held on July 29 from 10am to 4pm at Anjung Makam Pahlawan at the National Mosque in Jalan Perdana.

KL FESTIVAL

There will be a series of dance performances in conjunction with KL Festival until tomorrow at the DBKL Auditorium in Jalan Raja Laut from 8.30pm to 10.30pm. Admission is free.

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