Khamis, 4 Oktober 2012

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


Son of prominent Mexican politician shot dead

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 08:32 PM PDT

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A son of the former chairman of Mexico's most powerful political party was found shot dead in a town south of the U.S. border notorious for drug traffickers, as the violence dogging the country struck the ruling establishment.

The body of Jose Eduardo Moreira, son of the embattled ex-chairman of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and former Coahuila state governor Humberto Moreira, was discovered near Ciudad Acuna, across the Rio Grande river from Texas, late on Wednesday, the state's government said on Thursday. He had been reported missing several hours before his body was found.

The centrist PRI ruled Mexico continually between 1929 and 2000 and is due to retake power in December, when Enrique Pena Nieto will assume the presidency.

Military reinforcements were sent into Coahuila to assist investigations into the killing, which hit one of the most prominent political families in the PRI and sparked outrage among party leaders.

A funeral service was held for Jose Eduardo on Thursday evening and television pictures showed his father breaking down in tears as he bore his son's coffin in Ciudad Acuna.

"I've had to put up with a lot of things, but I can't bear this," Moreira told reporters. "They killed my son. They shot him twice in the head. I expect justice," he added, calling his son a victim of Mexico's struggle with criminal violence.

Around 60,000 people have been killed in turf wars between drug gangs and their clashes with security forces since President Felipe Calderon of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) took office at the end of 2006.

Calderon staked his reputation on a military offensive to bring the gangs to heel. He has captured or killed many of the top bosses, but the violence has increased on his watch.

Pedro Joaquin Coldwell, who replaced Moreira as PRI chairman, said there could be no impunity in Mexico. "We need a crusade against violence with all tiers of government, society and religious organizations taking part," he said.

IMPUNITY

Pena Nieto has vowed to quickly reduce the violence after he takes power on December 1. He called the killing an "irreparable loss" to the Moreira family in a Tweet, and said the "murder should not go unpunished."

Critics of the PRI, which became a byword for corruption during its long domination of Mexico, say it is partly to blame for the impunity in the country, accusing it of having made deals with drug gangs in the past to keep the peace.

Jose Eduardo, who was in his twenties, worked for the Coahuila government now led by his uncle, Ruben Moreira.

Ciudad Acuna is a key transit point for cartels running drugs to Texas. It was not immediately clear if Jose Eduardo Moreira's murder was linked to organized crime in the city.

Some media reports said the killing may have been a revenge attack by the brutal Zetas gang on the Moreira family for losses suffered in recent clashes with security forces.

Humberto Moreira stepped down as PRI chairman in December due to a scandal surrounding a massive increase in Coahuila's debt when he was governor between 2005 and 2011.

Coahuila has become one of the states worst hit by drug violence. Though the number of killings nationwide linked to organized crime has eased somewhat this year, the death toll has surged toward its highest level under Calderon in Coahuila.

Calderon also condemned the killing, saying that he "deeply regretted this cowardly murder."

(Reporting by Miguel Angel Gutierrez, Tim Gaynor and Verónica Gomez Sparrowe; Writing by Dave Graham; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Lisa Shumaker)

Copyright © 2012 Reuters

Colombian drug boss turns himself in to U.S. officials

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 08:00 PM PDT

BOGOTA (Reuters) - Suspected Colombian drug trafficker Luis Enrique Calle has surrendered to U.S. drug enforcement officials in Panama, Colombia's defence minister said on Thursday.

"These criminals have no option. The pressure by the security forces leaves them no room and that's why they end up handing themselves in," Colombian Defense Minister Juan Carlos Pinzon told a press conference in Bogota.

Calle, 36, is considered the leader of "Los Rastrojos" (The Leftovers), a violent criminal network that controls some smuggling routes and sends several tonnes of cocaine to the United States annually.

High-ranking Colombian police officials said several drug traffickers in the Andean country are in talks to turn themselves in to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents. The DEA is offering lighter jail sentences in the United States if the traffickers provide officials information about other drug kingpins and their smuggling routes.

Luis Enrique is the third Calle brother arrested this year for drug trafficking. The U.S. government was offering $2.7 million (1.6 million pounds) for his capture.

Javier Antonio Calle surrendered to DEA agents in Aruba in May. His brother Juan Carlos was arrested in Ecuador in March.

As leaders of the Rastrojos, the brothers gained control of critical routes along Colombia's Pacific coast and cemented ties with Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel.

Aided by billions of dollars in U.S. aid, Colombia, one of the world's biggest cocaine exporters, has made strides in recent years against Marxist guerrillas and paramilitary groups that finance themselves with drug sales.

(Reporting By Luis Jaime Acosta; Writing By Eduardo Garcia; Editing by Stacey Joyce)

Copyright © 2012 Reuters

Blast outside Nigerian bar kills one, wounds 11 - witness

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:57 PM PDT

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (Reuters) - A bomb at an outdoor bar in a remote part of eastern Nigeria killed at least one person and wounded 11 on Thursday, a witness said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast in the town of Jalingo, Taraba state, an area which has been occasionally targeted by Islamist sect Boko Haram.

The sect is waging a low level insurgency against President Goodluck Jonathan's government and wants to impose sharia law on the northern part of Nigeria, a country whose 160 million people are spilt roughly evenly between Muslims and Christians.

The group has been blamed for hundreds of deaths in bombings and shootings this year.

It usually targets members of the security forces or government officials, though churches and bars are also frequent targets.

Witness Sadiq Adamu said the blast shook the area in the late evening.

"I saw one dead body and three people were critically injured and taken off to hospital," he said.

Police in the area were not immediately available for comment. In April, a bomb blast struck a police chief's convoy in Jalingo, killing 11 people, although it has been largely quiet since then.

(Reporting by Ibrahim Mshelizza; Writing by Tim Cocks; Editing by Andrew Osborn)

Copyright © 2012 Reuters

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio


Drive and survive

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 02:59 AM PDT

The hosts of One Car Too Far are taken to extreme locations where they must drive a jeep back to civilisation.

THE red jeep featured in TV documentary series One Car Too Far is truly an example of a little engine that could.

As the series shows, the vehicle can charge through wildforest growths, skid over glaciated crevasses and even drive through a freezing river.

The immense lasting power of the jeep has surprised even that of the show's two hosts, who in the series, are tasked with getting the vehicle out of the precarious situations where it has been air-lifted into and drive it back to civilisation.

Co-hosts Gary Humphrey and Bill Wu agree that they have had their doubts about how the jeep would survive the torturous elements.

Humphrey, 46, a former British Special Forces operative, says: "When we first saw the car, Bill was immediately like, 'I want a Hummer'. This is the most basic car that a 17-year-old girl can drive to a mall in America.

"But it just shows that you don't need thousands and thousands of dollars for a fancy car to go through tough situations. With the right tricks, the show is proof that even such a basic, basic car can get through them. And it has really surprised us, how much it's been through and survived."

Wu, 37, a car enthusiast from San Diego, California, adds: "We're talking about the most base model here, with no air-conditioning even. All it has are slightly bigger wheels than the usual ones of its type. It costs only like US$2,000 (RM6,000) to US$3,000 (RM9,000) to buy, but if you know how to work it, it can become a completely trail-prepped car."

In the show, Humphrey and Wu are taken to four different extreme locations around Chile, including the top of a snow-capped volcano, a desert filled with tall dunes, an almost impenetrable rainforest and a steep rocky mountain, where they must figure out how to drive themselves and the jeep back to a nearby town.

As much as the show is about tackling these scenarios, the two hosts, who did not know each other before the show, had to learn how to cooperate with each other as well.

That is easier said than done, given how different they are.

One is a macho, ex-military survival expert who looks like Daniel Craig (Humphrey), while the other is a chubby American with a vast knowledge of car mechanics, but who is more interested in goofing around than fighting the wilderness.

Both recall their first meeting as one fraught with mutual suspicion.

With a laugh, Humphrey says: "When I first saw this guy, with his spiky hair and wearing all sorts of bling, I was like, 'are you serious'? I was really wondering how on earth I would be able to work with this guy."

Wu is quick to jump in on his first impression, and says half in jest: "Yeah well, when I saw him, I was also like, oh my God, this is the real deal, he's this big tough guy, but also obviously much older than me."

Through their experiences on the show, however, they have managed to figure out a relationship that works.

Humphrey says: "Bill is the joking type of guy, but when we get to these places, to points where you're just at your lowest – you're cold and tired and wet – he comes up with a fix and thinks outside the box which is probably where I'm lacking. He has a good engineering mind.

"These days, I don't even blink at his hair. In fact, I was just telling him earlier that he needs to have more bling."

The hosts add that despite its seemingly macho premise, the show is not geared only for men who love cars.

Wu says: "The show features some great survival tips, and of course, there is the drama between me and Gary as well, that makes the show entertaining for everyone. We definitely think that the women will enjoy the show too, so get your sisters and aunts to come and watch." – The Straits Times Singapore/Asia News Network

> One Car Too Far airs on Discovery Channel (Astro Ch 551) on Wednesdays at 9pm.

Spectacle for foodies

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 03:00 AM PDT

Life Inspired brings the Jakarta Culinary Festival 2012 to the small screen.

CALLING all food lovers! The prestigious Jakarta Culinary Festival 2012 is happening soon and lifestyle channel Life Inspired (Li) has got all the scrumptious details.

The festival is a month-long event held in Jakarta, Indonesia, that features the who's who of the culinary world and the intricate craftsmanship that goes behind every dish.

It is considered to be the first-ever true culinary festival in Indonesia and is widely acknowledged for its efforts in pushing the industry forward.

Following the grand opening, the festival will be packed with festivities such as masterchef dinner sessions, cooking demos plus other exciting culinary events at various partner establishments in the city.

As such, beginning Oct 27, Li will be providing viewers with exclusive updates on the gastronomic event on two-minute segments called The Link.

Hosted by Face of Li, Hannah Al Rashid (pic), the programme will feature interviews with celebrity chefs such as Marcel Vigneron, George Calombaris and Diego Muñoz, the head chef of the award-winning Peruvian restaurant Astrid y Gaston.

She will also be talking to Mario Batali, a critically-acclaimed chef and television personality, who along with his business partner Joe Bastianich, has created a successful restaurant and culinary empire in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Singapore.

But if you want to do more than just watch these famous chefs prepare their delicious gourmet meals on screen, then be prepared to tantalise your taste buds as Li is sending three lucky viewers to experience the festival in Jakarta.

All you need to do is log on to litvchannel.com, answer three questions and stand a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip there. So what are you waiting for?

Beginning Oct 27, catch The Link on Li (Astro B.yond Ch 728). Li is the offcial TV channel of the Jakarta Culinary Festival 2012.

K-pop rules

Posted: 05 Oct 2012 03:01 AM PDT

Red FM has lots to offer K-pop fans this month.

K-POP has firmly established itself as a popular music genre in countries outside Korea.

Tickets to Big Bang's first concert in Malaysia on Oct 27 in Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur, sold out in a matter of hours. Red FM, the official radio station for Big Bang's Alive Galaxy Tour 2012, was there to witness people lining up for close to 24 hours before tickets officially went on sale. The organisers had to come up with extra tickets to ensure fans did not miss out on the highly anticipated concert. The budget for this concert exceeds RM4mil.

Red FM is also the official radio station for Wonder Girls' second concert in Malaysia. The talented and beautiful five will be performing on Oct 13 at Stadium Negara. The Wonder Girls – "the girls who can amaze the world" – is the first South Korean group to make it to the American Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Throughout this week, Red FM is giving away Wonder Girls concert passes; today is your last day to get your hands on the remaining tickets to see the lasses perform live. Next week, tune in to The Edge On Red (7pm – 10pm) with Fiqrie to win passes to Big Bang's concert.

Red FM has officially named October as K-Poptober as it is the official radio for Big Bang and Wonder Girls concerts here.

It is also the official radio station for My K-pop Talent Quest 2012 organised by Korea Tourism Organisation.

The first and second rounds of the competition have been completed, and the grand finale will be held on Oct 13 at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre, Petaling Jaya, Selangor. The finale is open to the public for free, and the emcee is Red FM announcer Mynn Lee.

Mynn is very happy to be part of this talent quest. She says: "It is exciting to see how our local talents are perfecting their skills so that one day they, too, can be a big name in this industry. The effort the participants put into this competition is inspiring."

The hair colours of K-pop stars may change constantly but one thing's for sure: K-pop is here to stay.

Big Bang Alive Galaxy Tour 2012 Malaysia is presented by YG Entertainment and Live Nation Entertainment, and organised by Running Into The Sun.

Wonder Girls Wonder World Tour 2012 in Malaysia is organised by DAOL Entertainment, Fooyoh.com and R&J Company.

For more information, log on to red.fm. Join the Red FM Malaysia Facebook fan page on facebook.com/redfm.my and follow them on Twitter @iloveredfm.

Red FM is owned and operated by The Star.

> Red FM's Station Frequencies: Taiping, Kedah, Perlis and Pulau Langkawi: 98.1FM; George Town and Seberang Prai: 107.6FM; Ipoh, Perak: 106.4FM; Klang Valley, Negri Sembilan and Tapah: 104.9FM; Kuantan, Pahang: 91.6FM; Batu Pahat and Malacca: 98.9FM; Johor Baru and Singapore: 92.8FM

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Sports

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The Star Online: Sports


Arif overcomes Tommy for the first time in sixth attempt

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:54 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: First, it was on Chong Wei Feng. Now another back-up shuttler, Mohd Arif Abdul Latif, has stolen the thunder with a stunning win over his nemesis Tommy Sugiarto of Indonesia to reach the men's singles quarter-finals of the Taiwan Open Grand Prix Gold.

The 22-year-old Arif had lost all his five previous matches to Tommy over the last five years but yesterday he turned on the power to beat Tommy, the son of the former world champion Icuk, 21-16, 21-10.

Arif, who trains under Hendra­wan, faces Wei Feng today to assure Malaysia of a place in the men's singles semi-finals.

World No. 30 Wei Feng continued his fine form when he disposed of Lin Yu-hsien of Taiwan 21-16, 20-22, 21-19. He had packed off seventh seed Alamsyah Yunus of Indonesia on the opening day.

However, two other aspiring players – Liew Daren and Iskandar Zulkarnain Zainuddin – bit the dust.

Daren lost 11-21, 21-16, 14-21 to Chou Tien-chen of Taiwan while Iskandar went down fighting 17-21, 17-21 to Vietnam's Nguyen Tien Minh.

Arif, ranked 47th – his best-ever position in the world – was thrilled with his second big scalp, having beaten world No. 31 Hsu Jen-hao of Taiwan in the opening round.

"I am enjoying a great run. I beat Jen-hao on Wednesday and I finally beat Tommy (world No. 24) today. This is the first time that I have beaten two higher ranked players in one tournament," said Arif.

This is Arif's second quarter-final appearance in a Grand Prix Gold after reaching the same stage in Indonesia last week. His best was reaching the semi-finals of the South Korean GP Gold last year.

The other quarter-finals will be between Indonesian Wisnu Yuli Prasetyo and Hu Yun of Hong Kong; Taiwan's Hsueh Hsuan-yi and Tien-chen; and Wong Wing Ki of Hong Kong and Tien Minh.

Malaysia's hopes in the men's doubles will rest on the shoulders of former world junior champions Chooi Kah Ming-Ow Yao Han and former internationals Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif-Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari.

Kah Ming-Yao Han have a good chance to reach the semis when they take on Taiwan's Chen Chung-jen-Lin Yen-jui while Zakry-Fairuzizuan of KLRC face Hong Kong's Chan Tsz Kit-Lo Lok Kei.

It was also a good day for Malay­sia in the mixed doubles, with two pairs in the quarter-finals.

Mohd Lutfi Zaim Abdul Khalid-Vivian Hoo and Ong Jian Guo-Woon Khe Wei will come up against top seeds Mohd Rijal-Debby Susanto of Indonesia and second seeds Danny Bawa Chrisnanta-Vanessa Neo Yu Yan of Singapore respectively.

Khe Wei-Vivian are Malaysia's sole hopes in the women's doubles and they'll meet Huang Mei-ching-Wen Kuo-yu of Taiwan.

Alex hopes to play patient game on tough lane conditions

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:08 PM PDT

PETALING JAYA: National bowler Alex Liew is hoping that the tougher lane conditions will not derail his plans of bagging a fourth Indonesian Open title at the Jaya Ancol Bowling Centre in Jakarta.

Alex, who won the tournament in 2005, 2006 and 2008, admitted that he will have to quickly adapt to the tricky lane conditions before the Masters first round roll off tomorrow.

Alex last bowled at the venue during the SEA Games last year, when the national bowlers brought back five gold medals.

Alex played a part in three of the gold medals by winning the doubles (with Adrian Ang), trios (with Adrian and Zulmazran Zulkifli) and team events.

"The lane conditions are slightly tougher this year and it's apparent from the average scores of other bowlers here," said Alex from Jakarta yesterday.

"I've changed my style of bowling a bit before coming here and all I need to do now is get used to it."

Alex, who won the Euro-Med Storm International Masters in the Philippines in May, is hoping to add more feathers to his cap by winning in Indonesia.

Thirty bowlers will compete in the men's Masters first round, where they will play 10 games.

"Winning a couple of tournaments a year is just nice. But I'm in no rush for it and I have to keep it cool. Everybody here has a chance of winning ... so I have to be patient," said the 36-year-old veteran.

The other national bowlers in the fray are Zulmazran, Chong Jun Foo, Isaac Russel Paul, Mohd Haziq Sahli and Aris Ardila Santosoh.

The women bowlers vying for spots in the Masters are Siti Safiyah Amirah Abdul Rahman, Hee Kar Yen, Zandra Aziela Ibrahim Hakimi, Dayang Khairuniza Dhiyana Abang Jamalidon, Sharon Koh, Shalin Zulkifli, Victoria Chin and Syaidatul Afifah Badrul Hamidi.

Twenty-four bowlers will compete in the women's Masters first round tomorrow.

Birmingham to stay

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:03 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: National swimming coach Paul Birmingham (pic) will stay put in Malaysia but expects a change of guard in the squad as the country looks at ways to make a bigger splash in the international arena.

At the London Olympic Games in August, Malaysian swimmers were overshadowed by the divers.

Malaysia had only two qualifiers in swimming – Khoo Cai Lin and Heidi Gan – while the diving squad showed their depth by parading nine qualifiers, led by Pandelela Rinong.

Cai Lin did not go beyond the heats in the 800m freestyle while Heidi put up a commendable showing en route to finishing 16th in the 10km marathon.

But it was Pandelela who stole the show with her historic bronze medal effort in the 10m individual platform event to become Malaysia's first woman Olympic medallist and put diving in the same elite league as badminton.

This has led to Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) secretary Edwin Chong telling critics to watch out for new faces in the national team.

"Paul will continue to lead the national swimming team but we need to make some changes in the training programme. New faces will be identified at the end of this year," said Edwin.

Australian Paul, who has been in Malaysia since 2007, has done well to improve the standard of the swimmers. He led Malaysia to a big success at the Laos SEA Games in 2009 and guided several swimmers to qualify for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games on merit.

"Paul has earmarked some new talents ... their names will be revealed later. Asum have no problems over the small participation of swimmers at the London Olympics but we know that we need to bring in new faces and give them the correct exposure if we are to move forward," said Edwin.

Malaysia lost several good swimmers at the start of the year, including Siow Yi Ting, Leung Chii Lin and Chui Lai Kwan.

Besides Olympian Cai Lin, some of the more prominent members of the swim team are Daniel Bego, Kevin Yeap, Christina Loh, Vernon Lee, Lim Ching Hwang, Yap See Tuan, Ian James Barr, Erika Kong, Hii Siew Siew and Marellyn Liew.

Daniel, the top male athlete at the Laos SEA Games, may not last long in the team as he is battling injuries.

Edwin said that although the swimmers are training diligently under Paul's watchful eyes daily, there will be no major tournaments for them until the end of the year.

"This is the examination period for many of the national swimmers and we want them to concentrate on their studies. Most of the major tournaments are over anyway," he said.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business


Malaysia Airlines charts course for next 20 years

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:18 PM PDT

THEY say life begins at 40. This is the time when some choose to lift their foot off the accelerator to enjoy what they have achieved, and some begin to re-prioritise their lives.

A group of former employees of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) they are certainly not 40 years old met for a game of golf and had a sumptuous lunch on Monday to mark the airline's 40 yearsanniversary. To them it was an important landmark because it was on that day four decades ago that MAS broke away from Malaysia-Singapore Airlines to chart its own flight path.

More than 100 people had lunch together and reminisced about their days at the airline. Those at the lunch included Tan Sri Saw Huat Lye, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman (first and second GM/MD of MAS respectively), Datuk Kamarudin Ahmad, Datuk Resham Singh and Datuk Ahmad Don.

They had reasons to celebrate.

Amid all the turbulent years of falling into private hands and later back to the Government, this airline has carried a great number of passengers across the globe. Although it is undergoing restructuring, it is still flying unlike several other carriers that began about the same time.

Many travellers have fond memories of flying with MAS and the one thing that continues to captivate many is the big smiles and hospitality of its crew. Despite its ups and downs, MAS was accorded three Skytrax awards again this year, including World Best Cabin staff 2012,

There must be something that the crew and MAS are doing right.

And at 40, MAS is beginning to build a new fleet that comprises the A380 to fight competition although it would in the red much of this and next year, so say the bosses at MAS.

Interestingly at 40, there is still talk that MAS may be taken private once again. There is a long-standing rumour that MAS parent Khazanah Nasional Bhd would want to do a "Proton" i.e. sell its MAS shares to a businessman.

Some say the suitors may include Middle Eastern investors. Others say Tan Sri Ahmad Johan of Nadi Sdn Bhd is keen to acquire a stake in MAS. His name has long been linked with a possible MAS sale, but it should be noted that he has partnered Indonesia's Lion Air to set up Malindo Airways, a low-cost airline that will begin operations on May 1 from KLIA2.

At this point, any talk of MAS having a new controlling shareholder is mere rumour. However, come Saturday there is likely to be a retreat with some MAS union leaders. Ahmad Johan and Aziz have been linked to this.

The venue of the retreat is said to have changed three times from Rompin to Bukit Tinggi and now it will be held at a hotel near MAS office in Subang.

Aziz did clarify that it was a "brainstorming meeting". "They (the unions) want to know what's now and what's the future of the industry," he said.

MAS is rebuilding itself once again. A lot has to be improved and even its directors are going help out.

MAS still has a good brand. Its safety and security standards are respectable, and the A380 is a great morale booster. The enhancements in efficiency are slowly showing results in some areas.

Those within MAS can help by improving their performance and staying united. A lot more can be achieved if they are all on the same page.

Another retreat is on the cards after Saturday, but this will involve the MAS management as they map out the airline's flight path to 2030.

  • Deputy news editor B. K. SIDHU is keen to find out how the average South Korean reacts to the Gangnam style phenomenon.

KLCI streaks to another record high in early trade

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:12 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian blue chips rose at the start of trade on Friday, pushing the 30-stock FBM KLCI to a record high of 1,665 on fund buying of Axiata and CIMB.

At 9am, the KLCI was up 3.70 points to 1,665.17. Turnover was 10.37 million shares valued at RM4.57mil. There were 55 gainers, 19 losers and 69 counters unchanged.

Asian stocks rose, with the benchmark regional index set to gain a second day, after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi said the bank stands ready to buy bonds, easing concern over the debt crisis. The Bank of Japan ends a two-day policy meeting on Friday, Bloomberg said.

On Wall Street, key indices closed higher as the S&P extended its gains for the fourth day. Bloomberg reported the gains on the S&P were due to better-than-forecast jobless claims and factory orders while the European Central Bank said it stands ready to buy bonds.

At Bursa Malaysia, Axiata rose seven sen to RM6.77, CIMB five sen to RM7.68 while HL Bank added four sen to RM13.72.

Petronas Dagangan rose six sen to RM22.42, PetGas added four sen to RM20.20 and KLK, also four sen to RM21.56.

HP’s outlook disappoints

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 06:10 PM PDT

SAN FRANCISCO: HewlettPackard Co's shares plunged to a nine-year low on Wednesday after chief executive Meg Whitman warned of an unexpectedly steep earnings slide in 2013, with revenue set to fall in every business division except software.

Wall Street had hoped for quicker signs of progress on Whitman's turnaround plan, which centers on transforming the former industry powerhouse into an enterprise computing corporation that can take on IBM and Dell Inc.

Whitman, who took the helm of HP just over a year ago after a failed bid to become governor of California, told investors that the company's recovery will start to become visible only in fiscal 2014, when investments begin to pay off.

She blamed unprecedented executive turnover in past years for dragging out the Silicon Valley company's turnaround.

Analysts say HP is struggling to shore up its credibility on Wall Street while battling crumbling margins in an increasingly cutthroat PC arena, tapering-off of IT spending, and an internal organisational overhaul that involves thousands of layoffs.

"I was surprised that nothing new was really said in terms of strategy, and the problem here is there is lack of investor confidence in the current strategy," said Shaw Wu, an analyst with Sterne Agee.

Shares of HP, the largest U.S. technology company by sales, tumbled 13% on Wednesday in the biggest single-day decline since August 2011.

HP gave a particularly gloomy outlook for enterprise services, its business providing services to corporations and a key component of Whitman's rescue plan.

Revenue from that division will dive 11% to 13 % in fiscal 2013 and be barely profitable, with operating margins of zero to 3%. That stands in stark contrast to IBM, which raised its fullyear earnings outlook, reflecting its ability to manage costs, despite flat software revenue in the second quarter and a 2% decline in services.

Whitman became HP's third CEO in as many years after taking over following Leo Apotheker's abrupt dismissal just over one year ago. She is trying to revitalise the former industry icon via layoffs, cost cutting, and expansion into areas with longerterm potential such as enterprise computing services.

"The single biggest challenge facing HewlettPackard has been changes in CEOs and executive leadership, which has caused multiple inconsistent strategic choices, and frankly some significant executional miscues," Whitman told the investor conference in San Francisco. - Reuters

"This is important because as a result it is going to take longer to right this ship than any of us would like," she added.

HP has lost more than twothirds of its value since 2010, when its capitalization topped out at about $104.5 billion. Squeezed by crumbling demand for personal computers in a mobile era, significant leadership turbulence, and the advent of Apple Inc's iPad that year, HP's stock embarked on a steady decline. The company now has a market value around $30 billion.

Since Whitman took the helm in September 2011, the stock has fallen about 35 %.

HP has suffered through years of turbulence. Apotheker's 11month tenure was marked by an acceleration of departures from various divisions, such as networking chief Marius Haas, as he brought in former coworkers from SAP AG.

Apotheker's predecessor, Mark Hurd, who is now president of Oracle Corp, also departed abruptly, after a sexual harassment scandal.

HP, like rival Dell, is trying to transform itself into a major enterprise computing provider in the mold of IBM, while slashing expenses to boost the bottom line. Shares of Dell, the No. 2 U.S. PC maker after HP, fell 4.7 % on Wednesday, mired near nineyear lows.

HP is laying off 29,000 employees over the next two years and has written off $10.8 billion mostly related to the writedown of its EDS services business. Meantime, its business continues to be hit by a slowing in corporate spending and personal computer demand worldwide.

For 2013, the company forecast overall earnings, excluding restructuring charges and other items, at between $3.40 to $3.60 a share in fiscal 2013. That's well below the average forecast by Wall Street analyst of $4.18, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

A large part of the shortfall rests on the projected plunge in enterprise revenue, a division that sells myriad services to businesses and has seen an erosion in profitability.

Operating profit fell 22 % in the July quarter, surpassed only by a 28 % slump in personal computers.

Mike Nefkens, HP's acting global enterprise leader ,said fiscal 2013 "will be a fix and build year."

"We expect longterm growth to be back in the 35 % range and longterm profit to be in the 79 % range," he said.

The heads of other business units also addressed Wednesday's conference, touting both new products and challenges facing the groups.

HP is battling formidable rivals on several fronts, particularly in cloud, or remote computing, products and services, with Oracle and IBM aggressively courting corporate customers. China's Lenovo Group Ltd may overtake HP as the world's biggest PC seller this year.

Whitman vowed to reduce the number of product offerings and to cut costs as HP tries to recover in a worsening macroeconomic environment. She has said it will take five years for the turnaround to be effective.

"All of this is fixable but it is going to take some time," she said.

She said HP eventually will have to compete in the smartphone market, but stopped short of laying out a plan and said there were no plans to introduce a smartphone in 2013.

Longer term, HP expects "to be a GDPlike growth company with key pockets of higher growth," said Cathie Lesjak, HP's chief financial officer.

Its stock closed down 13 % at $14.91 on the New York Stock Exchange.

(Reporting By Poornima Gupta and Edwin Chan; Editing by Leslie Adler)

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Pregnant former accounts executive gets 80 days jail for CBT

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 08:44 AM PDT

SHAH ALAM: A former accounts executive who is three months' pregnant, broke into sobs when she was sentenced to 80 days' jail by the Sessions Court for commmitting criminal breach of trust (CBT) involving RM60,651 belonging to her former employer last year.

Judge Mat Ghani Abdullah also ordered the accused, Noraniza Idris, 25, to pay compensation of RM40,000 to her former employer, East West Freight Services Sdn Bhd.

If she fails to pay the compensation before or by Feb 4 next year, she will face another eight months' jail.

Noraniza committed the offence by using the RM60,651 belonging to the company for her own use, at the company's premises at No.27-A, Jalan Berangan, Port Klang, near here, between July 29 and Sept 7, 2011.

The accused, who was unrepresented, was charged under Section 406 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years, whipping and a fine.

DPP Faten Hadni Khairuddin appeared for the prosecution. - Bernama.

Malaysian Bar welcomes additional RM20mil for Legal Aid Foundation

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 08:27 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Bar Thursday welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's announcement of an additional RM20mil allocation for The National Legal Aid Foundation (NLAF) under the 2013 Budget.

Its president Lim Chee Wee said this apportionment was a clear indication of the Government's commitment to ensure the legal representation for arrested persons.

"And giving a real meaning to article 5(3) of the Federal Constitution, which states that when a person is arrested he shall be allowed to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice" he said in a statement here Thursday.

He said it was estimated that some 39,000 Malaysians are arrested by the police every year, and between April and July this year, NLAF's lawyers assisted 13,046 persons in remand hearings and a total of 254 criminal files were opened.

The NLAF scheme nationwide extends to 68 of the 163 police district headquarters and 70 of the 99 remand courts, he added. Lim suggested that the current nominal sum paid to the lawyers who sign up for NLAF to be increased at least to match that of an equivalent jurisdiction, such as Taiwan.

"It is notable that the fees paid to lawyers in the United Kingdom and Australia under their legal aid schemes are many times higher than those paid here," he added.

He also acknowledged "the dedication and diligence of the Attorney-General, whose pivotal push in, and leadership of, YBGK led to its commencement and subsequent smooth operation."

Lim said the Bar looks forward to the government's continuing support to ensure the success and sustainability of this comprehensive legal aid programme for those ensnared in the criminal justice system. - Bernama

Prosthetic legs bring new hope to amputees

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 07:49 AM PDT

KLANG: Below-knee amputees are being given a new lease of life, thanks to free artificial legs provided under a programme run by the Rotary Club of Bandar Sunway with the cooperation of Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital here.

Bandar Sunway Rotary Club president Dr R.Thirunavukarasu said more than 200 amputees had so far benefited from the 'Leg for the Legless' project since it started in 1996.

"The waterproof prosthetic leg, also known as the 'Jaipur leg', has given a new lease of life to many amputees who have lost their legs due to diabetes or accidents," he told reporters Thursday.

Thirunavukarasu said two prosthetic technicians from Calcutta, India were assisting the club and the hospital in fixing the artificial limbs.

He said this year's project kicked off on Oct 1, with 23 amputees having benefited from it.

Those wishing to get the prosthetic leg could download the application form at www.rotarysunway.org or visit HTAR's rehabilitation centre. - Bernama

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Natalie Portman mulling two thrillers on top of 'Jackie' biopic

Posted: 03 Oct 2012 08:21 PM PDT

Natalie Portman has been approached for lead roles in Code Name Sasha and Last Witness, according to Thewrap.com.

Aged 31, the winner of the Oscar for best actress in 2011 is being actively courted by several studios. According to the website, Portman is in line for the title role in Code Name Sasha, a Paramount project in which she would play a single mom with an extensive rap sheet dating back to her teen years. She is offered a way out of trouble if she collaborates with authorities on a weapon trafficking sting.

Fox Studios is also eyeing Portman for Last Witness, a drama in which she would play a psychologist dealing with the last survivor of a terrorist attack in a Boston café.

Code Name Sasha and Last Witness join Jackie, a Jackie Kennedy biopic, among the numerous offers sent to Natalie Portman. After winning an Oscar and delivering a baby, the actress will be back in theaters in 2013 with Thor: The Dark World, Jane Got a Gun and an as yet untitled Terrence Malick drama. - AFP

Bond fans set to mark 50 years of big-screen style

Posted: 03 Oct 2012 08:16 PM PDT

LONDON: A series of events are to be held on Friday to mark the 50th anniversary of the James Bond films, the iconic spy saga that helped define half-a-century of cultural, political and technological upheaval.

The suave British agent, code name 007, appeared on the silver screen for the first time in the 1962 classic "Dr. No", introducing himself with the immortal line "Bond... James Bond" over a high-stakes game of baccarat.

Bond has been played by six different actors over the 22-series adventure, but has always maintained his obsession with fast cars, beautiful women, high-tech gadgets and vodka Martinis - shaken, not stirred.

"For all the attempts at change, the core of the Bondian world remains the same: obsessed with sex and violence, hypermasculine, simplistically nationalistic, and addicted to conspicuous consumption," Christoph Lindner, editor of "The James Bond Phenomenon: A Critical Reader," told AFP.

Worldwide events to celebrate Global Bond Day include an online charity auction, a survey to discover the favourite Bond film by country, a film retrospective at New York's Museum of Modern Art and a Music of Bond night in Los Angeles.

London's Barbican Centre marked the occasion with an exhibition showcasing the design and style of "the world's most influential and iconic movie brand", which has moved on to Toronto where it opens on October 26.

Britain's tourist agency has joined forces with the iconic spy for the first time, launching a campaign across 21 countries based around the slogan "Bond is GREAT Britain."

A new feature documentary "Everything or Nothing: The Untold Story of 007", will be also be unveiled, focusing on producers Albert "Cubby" Broccoli and Harry Saltzman and author Ian Fleming, the three men most responsible for building the brand.

The 23rd and latest film, "Skyfall", has its worldwide premiere in London on October 23 with Daniel Craig playing Bond for the third time.

The "Skyfall" theme tune, sung by British diva Adele, will be released at 00:07 British time on Friday, although the track was leaked online on Tuesday.

The release caps a busy year for 007, who provided one of the highlights of the London 2012 Olympic opening ceremony by "parachuting" into the event with Queen Elizabeth II.

Few would have believed that Bond would become a global institution when "Dr. No", an adaptation of Fleming's 1958 novel, was released on October 5, 1962.

Critical reaction to the film saga's first installment was mixed, with Time magazine calling Sean Connery's Bond "a great big hairy marshmallow".

Critics have noted that Craig's muscular and moody performances are in sharp contrast to Roger Moore's light-hearted portrayals and Connery's old-fashioned machismo, mirroring changing social conventions.

"The 007 series now presents a male hero who is emotionally vulnerable, fallible, and in many ways psychologically broken," explained Lindner. "Ironically, this is much closer to the 'screw-up' Bond of the original novels.

"But attempts to modernise the so-called 'Bond girls' do not break with the formula, and the feminism - and, more recently, post-feminism - of the 'Bond girls' doesn't change the gender dynamics of the films," added the University of Amsterdam professor.

Watt noted the development of Bond's attitude towards older women, saying "the idea that the sexist 'dinosaur'... could evolve into working for a female boss is very interesting."

As well as evolving Bond's personality, the franchise has also adapted to shifting geopolitics.

"We went from Cold War villains, to post-Communist villains, to post-9/11 terrorists, and so on," said Lindner.

Watt said this ability to reflect the changing political world was crucial to the brand's survival.

"We all know where the battle lines are drawn today," he stressed. "To stay current, current threats to the West have to be part of the picture."

But Bond chiefs face a delicate task in staying loyal to Fleming's original vision and meeting the demands of the modern movie-goer, argued Watt.

The Indiana University professor called the stripped-down 2008 release "Quantum of Solace" "a mundane action film" and urged the franchise to remember its roots.

"The entire Bond lifestyle of the 1950s and 60s - of walking into the casino in a tuxedo, the exquisite and peculiar taste in food and in alcohol - all of this is extraordinarily exotic," he added. - AFP

Pinewood Iskandar studios expected to generate more than RM2bil for local movie industry

Posted: 03 Oct 2012 06:33 PM PDT

NUSAJAYA: The Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia Studios is expected to generate an estimated RM2.2bil in revenue for the local film industry.

Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the money would help with the development of the local film industry.

"About 5,000 workers are expected to directly benefit from the studios but there will also be plenty of opportunities for related industries to grow as well," he said.

He was speaking to reporters after visiting the Pinewood site and attending a briefing here yesterday.

Dr Rais said that currently, the Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) was also looking at how to encourage foreign investors to produce their movies or television series here.

"We have suggested several incentives for film and television production. Finas is studying the best way to implement tax exemptions and other incentives for both local and international filmmakers," he said.

He added that the ministry would come up with special guidelines and set up a website for the purpose.

Dr Rais expressed the hope that locals would be able to learn the latest film-making methods with the presence of Pinewood here.

He added that this would help boost the local film industry and promote the country as an attractive film-making destination.

Pinewood is located on a 20ha site and will be the largest independent integrated studio facility in South-East Asia. The studio complex is expected to open next year and will include TV studios, post-production suites, film stages and even a stage with a water tank for productions related to water.

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Metro Watch

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 05:26 AM PDT

IT MEGA SALE

Check out bargains on IT gadgets and phones at The Mines IT & Digital Mega Sale from now until Sunday, 10am to 10pm. Take part in the Spin and Win contest this weekend, 3pm to 3.30pm, and 5pm to 5.30pm, and walk home with a voucher or mystery gift with every RM100 spent and above in a single receipt at the sale or any IT outlets. For details, visit www.the-mines.com.my and www.facebook.com/theminesshoppingmall.

WORLD DIABETES DAY

To learn more about diabetes, join the World Diabetes Day 5km Walkathon and 10km Fun Run on Nov 11, 7am to noon at Dataran Merdeka. There will be free T-shirts, goodie bags, glucose test and diabetes risk analysis. Register at www.wdd2012.com. Registration ends on Oct 20 or upon reaching 5,000 participants. For details, call the Federal Territory Amateur Athletic Association (FTAAA) at 03-2715 2843 or the event management partner at 03-5192 0071/5192 0771.

CHARITY EXHIBITION

The Photograph Exhibition for Charity 2012 (PEC 2012) is on until Sunday at Global Business & Convention Centre, Rose Hall, Level 3, No. 8, Jalan 19/1, Section 19, Petaling Jaya. Opening hours are from 9am to 6pm. It features 50 photo-shoots from previous EPSON 100 photo/art exhibition. Thirty per cent of proceeds from the sales of the photograph prints will be donated to the National Kidney Foundation of Malaysia (NKF).

SYABAS OPERATION

Syabas is conducting an arrears operation in the Klang Valley this month. Customers are advised to pay their bills to avoid water cut. The affected areas are Kuala Lumpur, Hulu Langat, Klang/Shah Alam, Gombak, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Petaling, Sepang and Sabak Bernam districts. For details, call 1800 885 252, SMS by typing Puspel and send to 39222 or visit www.syabas.com.my

BLOOD DONATION

A Blood Donation Campaign will be held this Saturday, between 10am and 3pm, at the Quill Orthopaedic Specialist Centre, 95, 97 & 99 Jalan Aminuddin Baki, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur. It is co-organised by the National Blood Centre and Quill Orthopaedic Specialist Centre in conjunction with Patient Families Day. For details, visit www.quillorthopaedic.com or call 03-7727 0633.

USJ6 CARNIVAL

Persatuan Penduduk USJ6 Subang Jaya is holding the PPUSJ6 official launch and carnival event this Saturday from 8am to 1pm along Jalan 6/6 D, E&F. All USJ6 residents are invited. The event is aimed at getting to know the neighbourhood and creating awareness on security.

BLOOD DONATION DRIVE

The National Blood Centre is having blood donation drives tomorrow, 10am to 4pm at Help University College, Wisma HELP; Hospital Ampang; and PJ Development Holding Bhd, Plaza OSK. For details, visit www.pdn.gov.my

Run conducted simultaneously in 82 cities

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 05:26 AM PDT

ABOUT 1,000 participants took part in the Spirit of Wipro Run at the Subang Jaya Municipal Council MPSJ) Sports Complex in Subang Jaya recently.

The event was unique as Wipro Limited, the parent organisation of Wipro Unza, conducted the run simultaneously across 82 cities in 30 countries across six continents.

The run started with sunrise in one continent and continued as other teams in other countries/continents joined in.

The event brought together employees of Wipro Unza, their family members, their business associates and all other running enthusiasts together for the cause of charity.

Wipro Unza matched the donations employees made to Wipro Unza Cares – a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of Wipro Unza, throughout the year. Wipro Unza managing director Kumar Chander said the run itself marked the spirit of sharing among their employees.

"As an organisation and individuals, there was a strong commitment to share with the community and the company is happy to do its part in this endeavour," said Kumar.

The run was divided into two categories — a 3km fun run for the family and kids and a longer 7km run for the running enthusiast.

"This year too, money collected from the employees will be matched with an equal amount by Wipro Unza to fund the charitable activities of Wipro Unza Cares. The run is an embodiment of how Wipro as an organisation believes in the spirit of inclusivity,'' added Kumar.

Wipro Unza cares donated RM10,000 to the 'Taman Megah Handicapped and Disabled Home' last year. In another initiative besides giving a donation to Ractar (Pertubuhan Rumah Amal Cahaya Tengku Ampuan Rahimah) located in Subang USJ1, the company officials also conducted an IT workshop for the children.

It similarly helped Jireh Charity Home as well. In acknowledgement of the stellar services rendered by public servants like the police force, Wipro Unza also supported "Suara Penghuni Rumah Kediaman Polis Diraja Malaysia" with RM4,000 to be used to buy wheelchairs for the handicapped former policemen, their widows, children and families.

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