Khamis, 24 Januari 2013

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

Keeping with the times

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 01:50 AM PST

RTM brightens up with an array of fresh, contemporary programmes.

HOST Kuah Jenhan confessed that he only watches RTM (Radio Televisyen Malaysia) channels, TV1 and TV2, when the remote control runs out of battery and he has no way to change the channel.

Paired with the effervescent Adibah Noor, Kuah candidly shared his perception of the public broadcaster during the RTM Media Screening 2013 at Sime Darby Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur, last week.

As blunt or direct as his statement had come off, this is undeniably the very sentiment shared by many viewers of RTM.

The Secretary General Of The Ministry Of Information Datuk Seri Kamaruddin Siaraf readily acknowledged this and had drawn up a plan to ensure RTM remains a worthy contender when it comes to entertaining Malaysians with high quality content.

"RTM has been with us for the past 50 years and it is still going strong, standing tall and ready to take on another 50 years and beyond," he said, determined to take RTM to greater heights.

To do this, Kamaruddin began by introducing the evening's theme "Breaking Perception". Apart from engaging a new rating system that helps the broadcaster better understand its viewers and their viewing habits, he said viewers can expect a line-up of brand-new, riveting programmes that will have many on the edge of their seats.

Here's a look at some of the shows heading to TV1 and TV2 this year:

Hollywood's finest

If you think RTM isn't catching up with the latest shows from Hollywood, think again. The science-fiction thriller Alcatraz and fantasy cop drama Grimm both aired in the US just last year and is now showing on TV2 at Fridays, midnight and Mondays, 12.30am respectively. Meanwhile, Emmy-nominated crime series Justified that made its debut in 2010 is also airing on TV2, Tuesdays, 1am.

But the most highly-anticipated series slated to join RTM's line-up has got to be the 2012 sequel to the 70s soap opera hit Dallas. The show picks up where it left off in 1991 whereby J.R. Ewing (the late Larry Hagman) was shot. As it turns out, the ruthless oil mogul survived and is back to reclaim his power. In the meantime, his son John Ross Ewing III (Josh Henderson) is trying to prove his worth to his father by starting a drilling project. However, things get complicated when Christopher (Jesse Metcalfe), Bobby and Sue Ellen Ewing's adopted son, returns from his studies on alternative energy in Asia and raises his concerns on the family's projects.

To top it off, RTM will also be airing Hollywood hits such as Mr & Mrs Smith, Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes, Avatar and all six episodes of the Star Wars Saga during TV2's Friday to Sunday, 10pm programming belt in May.

Korean flavour

For South Korean drama addicts, RTM is serving up three exciting titles! Bachelor's Vegetable Store is an inspiring true story based on entrepreneur Lee Young Suk's successful business venture, turning a humble vegetable stand to a 33-store nationwide franchise.

Meanwhile, in Ojakgyo Family, the Hwangs are a bunch of happy-go-lucky people living on a country farm in the outskirts of Seouls. But one day, the family discovers a shocking revelation after a visit from a mysterious rich girl: their treasured family farm isn't theirs.

Finally, Color Of Woman focuses on the rivalry between two careerwomen. To get ahead in a cosmetic company, one believes in working hard and putting her PhD education to good use while the other is banking on her charm and good-looks.

All three shows aired in South Korea just last year and have begun airing every Friday, 5pm, under TV2's Kristal segment.

The homegrown edge

On the local front, RTM has roped in some of the nation's most popular actresses to entertain viewers. Queen of television drama Rozita Che Wan is currently starring in Chef Cinta, which started airing just two weeks ago on TV2, Mondays to Wednesdays, 1.30pm. The show revolves around a love affair between a junior chef at a prestigious hotel and his manager.

The second season of Evolusi KL Drift is also expected to swing by TV2 sometime in April after a successful run last year. The Fast And The Furious-style local series is centred on friends Zack and Sham who shares a passion for drift racing.

And with more than two million Facebook followers, Malaysian sweetheart Lisa Surihani will dazzle audiences in Maskara this April on TV1. Said to be inspired by Marc Cherry's Desperate Housewives, look out for other local beauties like Nasha Aziz, Anzalna and Andrea Abdullah.

Exclusive live telecasts

From sporting action to the country's biggest political event, TV1 is bringing viewers live coverage of the current Malaysian Super League 2013, the upcoming Le Tour De Langkawi 2013 in February, the biennial Sea Games 2013 from Myanmar in December, and not forgetting the long-awaited 13th General Election.

RTM has purchased a new election reporting system that costs over RM2mil in an effort to provide viewers with the most comprehensive coverage of the election.

Red FM deejay to shave for charity

Posted: 25 Jan 2013 05:25 AM PST

Red FM deejay to shave his head for charity.

TERRY from The Red Fix (Mondays to Fridays, 4pm to 7pm) has been known to lend a helping hand whenever possible. This year, he is "baldly" stepping forward to assist in raising funds to support families living with cancer patients.

In conjunction with World Cancer Day on Feb 4, Terry will be participating in "Bald and Beautiful," a fund-raising event held to aid families with children battling cancer. The event happens on Feb 3 at Waikiki Bar, No1, Lorong Sultan, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

At the charity event, Terry will be going bald with the public generously sponsoring him for the cause. To date, more than RM2,000 has been pledged towards Terry.

Come join Terry as Azura holds his hand while he gets his head shaved.

Tune in all next week to The Red Fix (Mondays to Fridays, 4pm to 7pm) to learn more on how you can sponsor Terry and help support families coping with cancer patients.

The big Grammy trip

Elsewhere, it's the Grammy buzz at Red FM! Today, during The Red Breakfast Show, the winner of Red FM's 60 Seconds To The Grammys was announced. Listeners were able to be part of the show as two finalists faced-off to win the coveted prize of a priceless Grammy experience. The show was streamed live through the newly-revamped Red FM website. The finalists were judged on their creativity, showmanship and passion by a panel of experienced judges.

To learn more and also share in the winner's experience, stay tuned to Red FM and keep yourself logged onto red.fm as the Grammy experience is documented through video and phone calls. The winner will be back on-air once again after returning from the trip of a lifetime to share all the juicy details.

For more info, log on to (red.fm). Join the Red FM Malaysia Facebook fan page on (facebook.com/redfm.my) and follow us on Twitter @iloveredfm. Red FM is owned and operated by The Star. Red FM's Station Frequencies: Taiping, Kedah, Perlis & Pulau Langkawi: 98.1FM, Georgetown and Seberang Perai: 107.6 FM, Ipoh, Perak: 106.4 FM, Klang Valley, Negeri Sembilan and Tapah: 104.9FM, Kuantan, Pahang: 91.6 FM, Batu Pahat and Melaka: 98.9FM, Johor Baru and Singapore: 92.8FM.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates

Japan envoy says territory dispute with China can be resolved
Spanish newspaper sorry for ''false photo'' of Venezuela's Chavez
Spanish newspaper sorry for ''false photo'' of Venezula's Chavez

Japan envoy says territory dispute with China can be resolved

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 07:54 PM PST

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Japanese envoy to Beijing said on Friday that he believed tensions with China over a group of uninhabited islands could be resolved, after meeting China's president-in-waiting Xi Jinping.

Natsuo Yamaguchi, head of New Komeito, the junior partner in Japan's ruling coalition, said Japan will look at the "big picture" in dialogue to resolve territorial disputes with China. He said he did not directly discuss the islands issue with Xi.

A staff shows the way to Japan's New Komeito's party leader Natsuo Yamaguchi (C) as he walks out from the VIP exit of Beijing Capital International airport January 22, 2013. REUTERS/Stringer

He also said he delivered a letter to Xi from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Tensions over the islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, have flared in recent months, dragging down bilateral ties.

(Reporting by Terril Yue Jones; editing by Jonathan Standing)

Spanish newspaper sorry for ''false photo'' of Venezuela's Chavez

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 07:10 PM PST

MADRID/CARACAS (Reuters) - Spain's influential El Pais newspaper apologised on Thursday for splashing a "false photo" of Venezuela's cancer-stricken leader Hugo Chavez on its front page, prompting a furious response from the government in Caracas, which vowed to take legal action.

A woman poses with a copy of the January 24 first edition of Spanish newspaper El Pais in a cafe in central Madrid January 24, 2013. Spain's influential El Pais newspaper withdrew what it said was "false photo of Hugo Chavez" that it had published in its on-line and print editions on Thursday. The grainy photo that El Pais originally splashed on its front page, billed as a global exclusive, portrayed the head of a man lying down with a breathing tube in his mouth. REUTERS/Andrea Comas

Within minutes of posting the image online as a global exclusive, El Pais said it had discovered from social media that the photo was not of Chavez. It removed it from its website and withdrew its print edition.

Venezuela's government said the publication of the photo - which showed the head of a man lying down with a breathing tube in his mouth - was "grotesque," while Argentinean President Cristina Fernandez, a close ally of Chavez, called it vile.

"El Pais apologises to its readers for the damage caused. The newspaper has opened an investigation to determine the circumstances of what happened and the errors that were committed in the verification of the photo," the paper said.

Chavez, 58, is fighting to recover in Cuba after undergoing his fourth cancer operation in just 18 months. He has not spoken or appeared in public for six weeks, fuelling speculation about how serious his condition is.

El Pais, one of the world's biggest Spanish-language publications and an institution both in Spain and in Latin America, said it received the grainy image from the agency Gtres Online, which it said represents 60 other agencies in Spain.

In a statement, El Pais said the newspaper was told it had been taken seven days earlier by a Cuban nurse who was part of Chavez's medical team, and was then sent to the nurse's sister, who lives in Spain.

"The agency has acknowledged it was deceived by those who provided the material and will take legal action," El Pais said.

The photo was on the newspaper's website for half an hour and also appeared in early editions of the print version that were then pulled from newsstands and replaced with a new edition with a different front page.

In Venezuela, anxious Chavez supporters and opponents alike are waiting for any new picture, video or audio message from the socialist leader, who is famed for filling the airwaves with long-winded speeches, jokes and withering jabs at his foes.

NO SIGHT OF CHAVEZ

Officials say his condition is improving after he suffered multiple complications, including unexpected bleeding and a severe respiratory problem following the December 11 surgery.

But, in contrast to Chavez's previous visits to Havana, officials have not published any evidence of his condition. In 2011, with great fanfare, they broadcast video footage of him reading a newspaper, walking in a garden, and chatting with his friend and mentor, Cuba's ex-leader Fidel Castro.

In the absence of such proof this time, many Venezuelans are questioning the terse official bulletins and suspect Chavez's extraordinary 14 years in power could be coming to an end.

The president has never said exactly what type of cancer he has, only that the initial tumour found in mid-2011 was in his pelvic area and was the size of a baseball.

Venezuelan opposition leaders have long accused the government of secrecy over his illness, while supporters accuse "bourgeois" local and foreign media of being in league with the opposition to spread rumours he is at death's door.

The handling of information relating to Chavez's health has become as contentious as the man himself, and his administration's updates have been confusing and contradictory.

The government says it has never been more transparent. It described El Pais's publication of the picture - a screengrab from an unrelated 2008 video - as part of efforts by far-right political forces to attack Chavez's self-styled revolution.

It said it would take appropriate legal action, and that the newspaper's apology to its readers was not enough.

"Neither their disgusting photos nor their systematic campaigns will stop the president's advance," Information Minister Ernesto Villegas told a news conference in Caracas.

"Would El Pais publish a similar photo of a European leader? Of its director? Sensationalism is valid if the victim is a revolutionary 'sudaca'," he added, using a pejorative term that is sometimes used in Spain to refer to Latin Americans.

(Editing by Eric Walsh)

Spanish newspaper sorry for ''false photo'' of Venezula's Chavez

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 06:14 PM PST

Venezuela's government said the publication of the photo - which showed the head of a man lying down with a breathing tube in his mouth - was "grotesque," while Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez, a close ally of Chavez, called it vile.

"The agency has acknowledged it was deceived by those who provided the material and will take legal action," El Pais said.

NO SIGHT OF CHAVEZ

Officials say his condition is improving after he suffered multiple complications, including unexpected bleeding and a severe respiratory problem following the December 11 surgery.

In the absence of such proof this time, many Venezuelans are questioning the terse official bulletins and suspect Chavez's extraordinary 14 years in power could be coming to an end.

The president has never said exactly what type of cancer he has, only that the initial tumour found in mid-2011 was in his pelvic area and was the size of a baseball.

The handling of information relating to Chavez's health has become as contentious as the man himself, and his administration's updates have been confusing and contradictory.

It said it would take appropriate legal action, and that the newspaper's apology to its readers was not enough.

"Neither their disgusting photos nor their systematic campaigns will stop the president's advance," Information Minister Ernesto Villegas told a news conference in Caracas.

(Editing by Eric Walsh)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Sports

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The Star Online: Sports

Lilian proves dad wrong with historic world bodybuilding crown
Liu Ying to play in mixed and women’s doubles after pow-wow
Perlis BA revive Closed badminton meet

Lilian proves dad wrong with historic world bodybuilding crown

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 04:58 PM PST

"YOU will not grow muscles and you will never make it as this is a man's sport."

These words from her father rang loud and clear in Lilian Tan's mind when she continued to lift weights on her return to Penang in 1997 after graduating with a business management degree from the United States.

It only strengthened Lilian's resolve to go out and prove her father wrong.

Today, the 40-year-old Lilian is a world champion bodybuilder and the first woman from Malaysia to do so.

Lilian struck a historic first for Malaysia by bagging gold in the above 50kg division at the World Championships in Bangkok last month.

* Full story in your copy of The Star today.

Liu Ying to play in mixed and women’s doubles after pow-wow

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 04:59 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Shuttler Goh Liu Ying's dilemma on which event — the mixed doubles or women's doubles - is more important to her has finally been solved.

Yesterday, after a meeting between the doubles coaches and players at Stadium Juara in Bukit Kiara, it was decided that the pretty-faced Liu Ying will give equal attention to both events until after the World Championships in Guangzhou in August.

Liu Ying, however, has been given a target – to win a medal in the mixed doubles with Chan Peng Soon for the first time at the world meet.

As for the women's doubles, she has given a target to qualify for the world meet with Lim Yin Loo.

Liu Ying-Yin Loo are ranked 24th in the world and they will have to stay within that range to qualify for the world meet.

Earlier, Liu Ying's participation in both events was in doubt because of her persistent knee problems, which had affected her performances at the recently concluded Maybank Malaysian Open at the Putra Stadium in Bukit Jalil. The critics believe that playing in two events would put too much strain on her knee and she would not be able to give her best in either one.

Yesterday, all uncertainties were cleared.

Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)'s coaching and training committee chairman Ng Chin Chai, who facilitated the meeting, said an open discussion between the coaches and players had proved fruitful.

"The doubles event is a tricky one and one has to tread on it carefully. Most of our players are playing dual roles. Sometimes one feels left out when their partner is injured. The coaches are also sometimes caught in between as they want to give their best to their respective departments," said Chin Chai.

"Today, we laid our cards out.

"The players are now clear of their roles and targets in the team. Liu Ying is still confident that she can give her best in both events and her partners are willing to stand by her. It is good that we have it all out in the open.

"She is taking all the measures to ensure that her knee does not give her any more problems."

Chin Chai added that he was confident that Peng Soon-Liu Ying, the world No. 3, would shine in the world meet.

"This is the first year after the Olympic Games and there are changes in the pecking order and some players are slowing down. It is usually easier to win as the race is quite open. We hope Liu Ying-Peng Soon will take advantage of that," he said.

Besides the world meet, the other important events for Liu Ying-Peng Soon are the All-England in Birmingham in March and Sudirman Cup in May.

Perlis BA revive Closed badminton meet

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 04:59 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM)'s development programme is finally "on fire".

Yesterday, Perlis, one of BAM's most dormant affiliates, revived their local tournaments with the first leg of the State Closed Junior Tournament at the Perlis BA Hall.

Three age categories – Under-12, Under-15 and Under-17 – for both the boys and girls are being staged in the tournament. The boys' Under-15 drew an overwhelming response with 77 competitors.

BAM secretary Ng Chin Chai said their aggressive investment in the states over the last two years was bearing fruit.

"The BAM have pledged to hand out subsidies for the states to re-invent their tournaments at grassroots level. The subsidies are only given when the state organises tournaments. So far, we see more states taking up our challenge," said Chin Chai.

He added that he was happy to see the states keeping abreast with the IT technology.

"All the results, including the junior events, are updated immediately on www.tournamentsoftware.com.

"Last year, we invited three officials from every state to attend a course to familiarise themselves with the results software. We want to develop the officials at the states too," said Chin Chai.

With Maybank coming in a big way to sponsor the national team and the development programmes since 2011, the BAM are now able to dispense about RM100,000 to each state to revamp their programmes at junior level.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business

Tenaga rallies to highest since September 2010
U.S. researchers tracking flu through Twitter
Whitman Capital founder jailed for 2 years for insider trading

Tenaga rallies to highest since September 2010

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 05:52 PM PST

Published: Friday January 25, 2013 MYT 9:52:00 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: Tenaga Nasional Bhd's share price powered to RM7.19 in early trade on Friday, the highest since September 2010 after reporting a strong set of financial results amid a firm positive outlook for the power giant.

At 9.34am, it was up 11 sen to RM7.07. There were 4.92 million shares transacted at prices ranging from RM7.05 to RM7.19.

The FBM KLCI was up 6.75 points to 1,642. Turnover was 117.87 million shares valued at RM195.54mil. There were 180 gainers, 88 losers and 145 counters unchanged.

Maybank KE Research said it maintained its earnings forecast with a Hold recommendation and a discounted cashflow target price of RM7.50.

For the first quarter ended Nov 30, 2012 (excluding RM400mil worth of forex gains), Tenaga's pre-exceptional net profit of RM1.016bil (up 420% on-year, up 10% on-quarter) was 27% of its FY13 net profit forecast and 31% of consensus.

"Gas supply remains tight, although the power sector benefitted from lower coal prices," it said.

Meanwhile, CIMB Equities Research said Tenaga was bidding for 3GW of coal-fired capacity, and it believed the odds of winning are high.

"The stock remains a Trading Buy rather than an Outperform due to election risks," it said, as it maintained its target price of RM8.55.

CIMB Research believed strong demand, backed by Economic Transformation Programme projects, and new coal power plant capacity would catalyse the stock.

U.S. researchers tracking flu through Twitter

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 05:40 PM PST

NEW YORK: Researchers and computer scientists at Johns Hopkins University have devised a way to track cases of influenza across the United States using the microblogging site Twitter.

Twitter is full of tweets about the flu, which has been severe and reached epidemic proportions this year, but it has been difficult to separate tweets about the flu from actual cases.

"We wanted to separate hype about the flu from messages from people who truly become ill," said Mark Dredze, an assistant research professor in Johns Hopkins' department of computer science, who monitors public health trends by looking at tweets.

To solve the problem, Dredze and his colleagues developed a screening method based on human language-processing technologies that only delivers real-time information on actual flu cases and filters out the rest of the chatter on the public tweets in the United States.

The researchers at the Baltimore university tested the system by comparing their results with data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"In late December," Dredze said on Thursday, "the news media picked up on the flu epidemic, causing a somewhat spurious rise in the rate produced by our Twitter system. But our new algorithm handles this effect much better than other systems, ignoring the spurious spike in tweets."

The scientists, whose research was funded partly by the National Institutes of Health's Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study, have also produced maps of the United States that show the impact of the flu on each state.

Dredze said he hoped the system could be used to track the other illnesses. - Reuters

Whitman Capital founder jailed for 2 years for insider trading

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 05:36 PM PST

NEW YORK: California hedge fund manager Doug Whitman was sentenced on Thursday to two years in prison after he became the first defendant in a broad U.S. crackdown on insider trading to take the stand to convince jurors of his innocence.

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan imposed the sentence, which was less than half the 4-1/4 to 5-1/4 years that federal prosecutors wanted.

Whitman, the founder of Whitman Capital LLC in Menlo Park, was convicted in August of securities fraud and conspiracy over his involvement in two insider trading schemes between 2006 and 2009.

Prosecutors said one scheme resulted in more than $900,000 of illegal profit from trading the shares of Google Inc and video-conferencing company Polycom Inc.

They said the other involved "soft-dollar" payments used to obtain tips on and then trade in chipmaker Marvell Technology Group Ltd.

Rakoff said he believed Whitman "repeatedly perjured himself" on the stand and was "willfully, blatantly aware that he was trading on inside information every step of the way."

But he also noted evidence of the defendant's good character, including his assistance to children with learning disabilities, in imposing punishment.

Before learning his punishment, Whitman, 55, choked up as he read from a prepared statement in which the Atherton, California, resident alluded to the breakup of his 20-year marriage soon after he was charged.

"This has been the most painful and shaming experience of my life," Whitman said. "My father taught me not to cut corners and I tried to apply that to my life and my job ... My trial and my conviction have served as a rude and bitter wakeup call."

Whitman was also fined $250,000 and sentenced to one year of supervised release. He was granted bail pending an expected appeal. Federal prosecutor Chris LaVigne said the government will seek a forfeiture of $935,306 of illegal profit.

"Doug Whitman maintains his innocence and looks forward to vindication on appeal," his lawyer David Anderson said in a statement.

Whitman had sought a maximum prison term of six months.

Another of his lawyers, David Rody, told Rakoff that a long sentence was not needed for deterrence, and that prosecuting a "relatively smaller player" such as Whitman was enough to convince others in the hedge fund industry that "nobody's safe."

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara in New York has obtained well over than 60 guilty pleas and verdicts since publicly revealing his insider trading probe in late 2009.

MULTIPLE INSIDERS

Prosecutors said Whitman tried to make illegal profit with the help of insiders such as Roomy Khan, a former Intel Corp employee who passed tips on Google and Polycom, and Karl Motey, a consultant who passed tips about Marvell.

Also testifying against Whitman was Wesley Wang, a former Whitman Capital employee who later worked at Steven Cohen's SAC Capital Advisors LP.

Khan, Motey and Wang have pleaded guilty to various crimes linked to insider trading. They have been cooperating with investigators with the hope of receiving lighter sentences.

As in many other recent insider trading prosecutions, the government's evidence against Whitman included telephone conversations secretly recorded by the FBI.

Khan was also a central figure in the government's prosecution of Galleon Group LLC hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam, a former billionaire who is now serving an 11-year prison sentence for insider trading.

Wang, meanwhile, has given the government information on as many as 20 people who may have been involved in insider trading, prosecutors have said. Among those he named was Dipak Patel, a former SAC portfolio manager.

Rakoff often imposes lesser sentences than the sentencing guidelines recommend and ignored the 10- to 12-month recommended lengthening of Whitman's sentence for perjury.

The judge said that provision could "chill" defendants from defending themselves under oath and be "an impediment to innocent people taking the stand and clearing their name."

In October, Rakoff sentenced former Goldman Sachs Group Inc director Rajat Gupta to two years in prison for tipping Rajaratnam - well below the eight to 10 years guideline range that prosecutors wanted. Gupta is appealing his conviction.

The case is U.S. v. Whitman, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 12-cr-00125. - Reuters

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The Star Online: Nation

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The Star Online: Nation

Severely decomposed body of boy found in Klang (Update)
Security guard dies after going amok at cemetery
MB directs council to stop condo project in Batu Caves

Severely decomposed body of boy found in Klang (Update)

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 10:25 AM PST

KLANG: A severely decomposed body of a young boy was found floating in a river near here.

South Klang OCPD Asst Comm Mohamad Mat Yusop said the body was found near the jetty of Sungai Sireh, near the Sri Perantau flats at about 6.30pm on Thursday.

"Based on the height, the boy is either six or seven years old. He was wearing a yellow t-shirt and shorts and has fair skin. The T-shirt had the words 'Active Group' in white and 'Best Team' in blue on it," he told reporters at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Hospital.

When asked whether the body could be that of missing boy William Yau Zhen Zhong, ACP Mohamad urged the public not to speculate until post-mortem and DNA tests, scheduled for Friday morning, were completed.

"There have been no cases of missing children reported in the area recently," he said.

William's parents, Yau Kok Kang and Goh Ying Ying, arrived at the hospital's mortuary soon after midnight and left about 30 minutes later.

Security guard dies after going amok at cemetery

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 07:30 AM PST

PETALING JAYA: A 24-year-old security guard died after he allegedly went amok with a metal rod near Taman Perkasa cemetery in Hulu Langat.

It is learnt that C. Sugumar acted wildly while waving a metal rod at bystanders at about 6.30pm on Wednesday.

Several police personnel rushed to the scene, tackled Sugumar and proceeded to handcuff him with the help of members of the public.

Sugumar died when he was about to be transported to a patrol car.

This led to allegations that the police as well as some members of the public had beaten up Sugumar while he was handcuffed.

However, Kajang OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Rashid Abdul Wahab said:

"The police tackled him but we never beat him up or even condone the public to do so."

Post-mortem results showed that he had succumbed to a heart illness.

ACP Abdul Rashid said Sugumaran had suffered from a coronary heart disease.

"The post-mortem showed that he did not suffer any other injuries aside from some scratches on his hands and knees when he fell down," he said.

He said the man had walked for about 2km from Dusun Nanding to Taman Legenda Suria where he fell.

Police would request for an inquest once investigations were completed, he said.

MB directs council to stop condo project in Batu Caves

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 06:31 AM PST

PETALING JAYA: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has directed the Selayang Municipal Council to stop the condominium project in Batu Caves after studying the building and structural report on the project and the impact to the area.

He said the decision was made for the people's safety and to protect the environment.

"I hope this decision will be accepted by all parties as it involves the public's safety," he said in a statement.

Khalid said an independent committee, which researched and evaluated the site and the surrounding areas, had it's first meeting last Tuesday.

"After listening to the explanation, I have decided that the Selayang Municipal Council revoke the approval given to Dolomite Properties Sdn Bhd for the building of 26-storey Dolomite Park Avenue condominium," he said.

In an immediate reaction to the decision, Dolomite Properties expressed its surprise about the matter, Bernama reported.

"We were not given the opportunity to present our case or findings...nor have we been able to review the research presented by the state Town Planning Department for accuracy and further discussion," it said in a statement.

"We still hope to be able to find an amicable solution and will explore all options including legal avenues to find a just result," it added. - Bernama.

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

Assange hits out at WikiLeaks movie
Sazzy’s all for ‘youth power’ in helping the needy
'Avatar' director Cameron accused over screenplay

Assange hits out at WikiLeaks movie

Posted: 23 Jan 2013 11:56 PM PST

LONDON: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange hit out on Wednesday at a Hollywood film about his secret-spilling website, calling the movie "a massive propaganda attack".

Speaking to students at Britain's prestigious Oxford University by videolink from the Ecuadoran embassy in London, Assange revealed that he had acquired a copy of the script for "The Fifth Estate", due to be released in November.

"It is a lie upon lie. The movie is a massive propaganda attack on WikiLeaks and the character of my staff," the Australian Internet activist told the audience at the university's Oxford Union debating club.

Assange, 41, also blasted the movie for "fanning the flames" of war against Iran by implying that the Islamic republic was working on a nuclear bomb.

Reading from the script, he said the opening scene was set inside a military complex in Iran with documents containing nuclear symbols.

"How does this have anything to do with us?" Assange said from the embassy, where he has been holed up since June after claiming asylum in a bid to avoid extradition to Sweden, where he faces allegations of sex crimes.

DreamWorks Studios announced on Tuesday that it had begun shooting the WikiLeaks movie, which stars British actor Benedict Cumberbatch as Assange.

A photo released by the company showed Cumberbatch with lank hair dyed the same platinum shade as the WikiLeaks founder's, with German actor Daniel Bruehl standing beside him as former WikiLeaks spokesman Daniel Domscheit-Berg.

"'The Fifth Estate' traces the heady, early days of WikiLeaks, culminating in the release of a series of controversial and history changing information leaks," DreamWorks said, adding that the movie would open in the United States on November 15.

Director Bill Condon, who directed the final two instalments in the "Twilight" vampire saga, said the movie "won't claim any long view authority on its subject, or attempt any final judgement".

"We want to explore the complexities and challenges of transparency in the information age and, we hope, enliven and enrich the conversations WikiLeaks has already provoked," he said.

Ecuador granted asylum to Assange in August but Britain refuses to grant him safe passage out of the country, leaving the former computer hacker stuck inside the embassy.

Britain says it is obliged to see Assange extradited to Sweden. Assange denies the sex crime allegations, which he says are a politically-motivated attempt to see him sent to the United States and prosecuted.

WikiLeaks enraged the United States in 2010 by publishing hundreds of thousands of classified documents on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as a huge cache of US diplomatic cables that embarrassed governments worldwide. -AFP

Sazzy’s all for ‘youth power’ in helping the needy

Posted: 23 Jan 2013 04:30 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Actress Sazzy Falak is all for "youth power" in giving a helping hand to the less fortunate.

And for those who do not know where to start, she is encouraging them to join the 1Malaysia For Youth (1M4U) My Beautiful Malaysia programme that will kick off at Taman Medan here on Feb 3.

The massive nationwide gotong-royong drive, with an expected participation of a million young Malaysians, will include repainting school buildings, community halls and park facilities as well as clearing clogged drains and collecting rubbish.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who will launch the programme and the national Volunteer Year 2013 at SMK Taman Medan, will have breakfast with the youths ahead of the event that will be aired live over national television.

"For those who want to give back to society and get into the action, this is the perfect avenue.

"Just go and join the group nearest to your home," said Sazzy, one of the 20 1Malaysia Ambassadors honoured by the prime minister last week.

She credits her upbringing and showbiz job for placing her on the path of volunteerism, which includes feeding the homeless.

"Being a volunteer has truly made me a better person.

"But I know there are many who would love to help but don't know how to get started," Sazzy, who has acted in films and TV dramas, told The Star.

Meanwhile, 1M4U exco member Datuk Irmohizam Ibrahim said their coordinators would lead the state-level activities.

Everyone is welcome to join the activities, he told reporters here.

Present were 1M4U chief executive officer Dr Jake Abdullah, Sazzy and fellow ambassadors Michael Teoh and Anand Rajaraam.

Dr Jake hoped the programme would create a ripple effect and instill a culture of volunteerism among youths.

For more information, visit its website (www.1m4youth.com.my), Facebook page (www.facebook/1m4youth) and Twitter account @1m4youth.

'Avatar' director Cameron accused over screenplay

Posted: 23 Jan 2013 03:44 PM PST

LOS ANGELES - A US judge ordered director James Cameron to hand over drafts of the screenplay for "Avatar" Wednesday, to lawyers for a man claiming he wrote the script on which the 3D blockbuster was based.

Eric Ryder is seeking compensation from Cameron and his production company Lightstorm Entertainment, claiming that the 2009 Oscar-nominated film is based on a story he wrote called "K.R.Z. 2068."

He filed a lawsuit in December 2011, saying he spent two years developing the story. On Wednesday Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Alan Rosenfield ordered Cameron's lawyers to turn over screenplay drafts.

"We have to be careful and sensitive about ideas and information," said the judge.

But he denied a request by Ryder's lawyers to grant access to the personal calendars of Cameron and Jon Landau, the chief operating officer of Cameron's Lightstorm Entertainment Inc.

Ryder's lawyer K. Andrew Kent said his legal team will also get access to backup tapes from computers used by Cameron.

"Avatar," about a paraplegic US marine with split loyalties after being sent to a distant world wanted for its mining potential, was seen as a breakthrough in the use of 3D technology, and has grossed more than $2.7 billion worldwide. - AFP

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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A revival of kilts, whiskers and beards in men's fashion
Uniqlo's unique approach
In Beckham’s boxers

A revival of kilts, whiskers and beards in men's fashion

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 06:37 AM PST

Men's fashion turns hair-raising as beards and kilts are revived.

KILTS made a comeback at the recent Paris menswear shows courtesy of Japan's Yohji Yamamoto while Louis Vuitton looked east to another national costume for inspiration.

To the wail of bagpipes, models sporting beards and every conceivable style of whiskers from Dali and fu manchu to handlebar and walrus teamed Yamamoto's 21st century take on the kilt with ties, hats and long flowing woollens.

Double breasted jackets combined with the facial hair conjured up an Edwardian gents look with red and black tartan and mauve adding a splash of colour for winter. Trousers – where they did feature – were cut short.

For his fourth collection for Louis Vuitton, Briton Kim Jones, working with artistic director Marc Jacobs, said he had travelled to the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan for inspiration.

"A collection is often an actual journey for us. It comprises what you take with you and what you bring back both physically and mentally from the experience," he said.

Unspoilt by mass tourism due to restricted access, Bhutan "still had that mystery surrounding it. Almost a fantasy idea as well as a real place ... the only place where snow leopards and tigers cross paths," he added.

Silk robes in a Garden In Hell print by British artists Jake and Dinos Chapman resembled the gho, the heavy, knee-length garment worn by Bhutanese men, and its traditional checks and stripes featured in much of the collection's suiting.

A snow leopard pattern and motif recurred throughout the collection.

In other looks, "the figure of the gentleman climber is compared and contrasted with Bhutanese traditions and symbols", the house said, with soft structured jackets and coats in Bhutanese Yak felt and Himalayan stone buttons.

The travel theme found fresh expression at Dutch design duo Viktor & Rolf's collection inspired by Jules Verne's A Journey To The Centre Of The Earth.

In the suitably hushed environs of a Natural History Museum gallery, earnest, bespectacled models strode past stone columns and high glass-fronted cabinets.

Here was the "house's eccentric gentleman on his style journey, a curious monsieur who is playful while serious, adventurous while cautious", the duo said.

Super slim silhouette suits dominated in shades of black "interwoven with dark earthy tones in browns, graphites, greens and midnights", with fabrics such as boiled wool and satin quilting.

Footwear featured the Chelsea boot with gunmetal toe embellishment, described as Rolf Snoeren and Viktor Horsting's "unique take on the mountaineering boot". The pair mark their 20th anniversary this year.

Elsewhere, American Rick Owens continued his focus on light and dark in a typically restrained palette of black, white and ecru with mixed materials such as leather sleeves on wool coats.

Owens said that designing the collection had been one of the few occasions he had actively thought about masculinity.

"I was thinking about almost a joyous masculinity," he said, adding that wearing a military coat "automatically gives you a certain swagger".

Around 80 shows were held during the five-day Paris menswear shows. – AFP

Uniqlo's unique approach

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 06:34 AM PST

Refreshing colours and prints are featured in the latest collection from a popular Japanese brand.

MADE for all – that has always been the philosophy for Uniqlo.

Founded in 1949, the popular Japanese brand has no plans for a drastic change anytime soon.

However, this doesn't mean Uniqlo is any less unique. With its strong clout and presence as a unisex casual wear label, it has always showcased a combination of minimalism and vibrancy in its designs since the beginning.

Although each of Uniqlo's collections is distinctive in its own way, there is an obvious flow in all of the designs.

"Creating clothes that people can mix and match on their own is what Uniqlo is all about," said Naomi Takizawa, the company's design director.

"As much as we would to like follow trends, we still want everyone to be able to wear Uniqlo," added Takizawa in a recent media interview in Ginza, Tokyo.

For its Spring/Summer 2013 collection, Uniqlo is inspired by elements of nature. Takizawa said that the eccentric theme bears a strong organic and human element.

"Normally, when a designer looks for a creative direction, it may come from entertainment, art, music or something particular that happened in society," he said.

Takizawa wanted to focus on people's thoughts and their desires, which isn't always easy to figure out.

Of tea and ice cream

He used daily life activities as a lead to identify colour concepts, such as a herb – shades of brown – which can represent a simple act of drinking tea.

"If you're tired, sipping a cup of hot tea will help you relax. When you're stressed, drinking tea is also good."

This "earthy" pastel colour concept is featured in items like long sleeve linen shirts, three-quarter chinos, long skirts and even printed culottes.

To counter summer heat, blue – representing water – is also a colour concept in the products.

For denim, the range takes on a more solid, darker blue. This is the first time Uniqlo is releasing denim wear as a complete series, which consists of jackets, shirts, cardigans, jeans and blazers. They are expected to be hot items this season.

"When the weather is hot outside, you'd naturally want to drink some water, something cooling that refreshes you. So 'aqua' is the inspiration behind this colour concept," explained Takizawa. "The varied shades of blue represent different kinds of water like the sea, river, rain and even mineral water. Meanwhile, white represents the colour of a bubble."

Ice cream is another pivotal "ingredient" for Uniqlo this season.

"Gelato", the Italian word for ice-cream, is used by Takizawa to explain the most colourful and youthful looking pieces in the collection.

Apart from the cooling sensation that an ice cream can give, Takizawa chose gelato as a colour concept because of its many enticing shades. Baby pink, light yellow, bittersweet orange and mint green are some of the colours on the shirts, cardigans and chequered items.

According to Takizawa, prints are the signature of this collection, with the introduction of new patterns in line with the themes chosen to express more enjoyment and a casual lifestyle. This includes dresses, which are released on a larger scale.

"We are releasing more dresses in this collection, featuring different designs, prints and patterns. I am expecting them to be a sell-out; the same goes for the denim series," said Takizawa.

"Our dresses receive great response, especially when we infuse them with Heattech (Uniqlo's fabric technology that helps provide greater warmth)," concurred Yukihiro Katsuta, the group senior vice president of research and development.

The popular Uniqlo Tee (UT) series is also back with more collaboration with brands such as Rhythmic Textile, MTV, Fender, Coca-Cola and Disney. Fans of the UT series can look forward to pocket Ts this season as well.

Achieving a balance

Uniqlo constantly thrives to overcome challenges in the fashion industry by offering the best to their customers by understanding what they want, instead of focusing on what the designers favour.

"We like to keep our designs simple, but not 'basic', because 'basic' may come off as 'boring'," explained Katsuta. "So we make our patterns or prints as interesting as possible while maintaining the concept of making simple clothing. This is what sets us apart from other fashion brands."

To provide a deeper insight, Takizawa emphasised that Uniqlo products must not only look good, but they must be comfortable and useful.

"Sometimes, a design may ruin the apparel's usefulness. For example, if a jacket looks good with two pockets but ends up confusing the customer (he may forget which pocket he placed his money in), then it might as well have just one pocket!"

He reiterated that there has to be a good balance between aesthetics and functionality when it comes to creating a good design.

"We do not ask people to fit into our clothing, but we tailor our clothing to fit them," said Naomi Otama, the brand's group executive vice president.

"As a brand, I don't think we stand out much from the crowd, but what we want to do is to meet consumer needs.

"That is the challenge we face every day – making comfortable and useful clothing while keeping it sharp," concluded Otama.

The Spring/Summer 2013 collection, priced between RM39.90 and RM169.90, is available at all Uniqlo stores. Uniqlo will also be opening a store in Queensbay Mall, Penang this March. For more information, visit uniqlo.com/my.

In Beckham’s boxers

Posted: 24 Jan 2013 02:32 AM PST

FILM director Guy Ritchie (and Madonna's ex) has directed a new campaign for David Beckham Bodywear at H&M. In it, Beckham is cast as an action hero.

"David is the perfect leading man," said Ritchie in a press statement. "For me, this felt like more than a campaign – it was like directing a short film."

The tongue-in-cheek campaign, which debuts worldwide on Feb 6, follows Beckham being chased through his neighbourhood streets of Beverly Hills clad only in his boxer briefs.

"Working with Guy has been a fantastic experience," enthused Beckham. "I hope everyone has as much fun watching the film as I had making it."

The bodywear line offers a new range of colours that come in tones of dark navy, red and utility green.

For Beckham fans, no doubt this ad will be a Valentine's gift in itself.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Khamis, 24 Januari 2013