The Star Online: World Updates
The Star Online: World Updates |
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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio
The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio |
| '30 Rock' closes its doors with a sentimental farewell Posted: 31 Jan 2013 09:02 PM PST LOS ANGELES: Emmy-winning TV comedy "30 Rock" bowed out after seven seasons on Thursday with bittersweet farewells but giving all its zany characters a happy ending. The satirical show-within-a-show about the inside workings of a fictional television sketch series saw Tina Fey's hapless writer Liz Lemon try to round up her unruly cast for a last hurrah. Along the way, unpredictable sketch star Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan) causes chaos, self-centered actress Jenna Maroney (Jane Krakowski) attempts to find her true calling on Broadway, and producer Pete Hornberger (Scott Adsit) finally achieves his dream to disappear without a trace. The show's simpleton page-turned-janitor Kenneth Parcell (Jack McBrayer) finds himself in his element with his sudden promotion to head of television network NBC. But under the jokes, the cast showed some real emotion in Thursday's hour-long series finale. "There's a reason people don't say honest goodbyes. It's because when stuff is coming to an end, people freak out and they act crazy," Liz tells Tracy. Despite small audiences, "30 Rock" became a cult favorite, while Liz has been a hero for single geeky women as she tackled the male-dominated world of network television, with phrases such as "what the what," "blerg" and "I want to go to there" becoming popular. The show's finale comes after perpetual unlucky-in-love Liz finally got her happy ending earlier in the season with her marriage to hot dog vendor Criss Chross (James Marsden) and they adopt two children. But after grappling with the trials of being a stay-at-home mother, Liz and Criss agree to swap roles and she returns to work. Liz also finds peace in her dysfunctional relationship with suave, egotistical network executive Jack Donaghy (played by Alec Baldwin). Thursday's show also saw the return of guest stars Julianne Moore and Salma Hayek as Jack's ex-girlfriends, Conan O'Brien as one of Liz's ex-boyfriends, along with appearances from "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" stars Ice-T and Richard Belzer and Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic leader in the U.S. House of Representatives, as herself. "30 Rock" was inspired by Fey's stint as head writer for "Saturday Night Live." It has won multiple Emmys since its 2006 premiere but has always suffered from low audience ratings. In the show's prime in 2008-2009, an average of 7.5 million viewers tuned in each week, but the final season has garnered an average of 4 million viewers per episode. In honor of the show's finale, ice cream brand Ben & Jerry's announced a new flavor, the "Liz Lemon Greek Frozen Yogurt," which will be available this spring. "30 Rock," which is aired in more than 20 countries around the world, has skyrocketed Fey's career, and she has appeared in films including "Baby Mama," "Date Night" and the upcoming "Admission." Both Fey and Baldwin won the best TV comedy actor and actress accolades at the Screen Actor's Guild awards last Sunday, with Baldwin tweeting, "What a nice note for @nbc30rock to end on." - Reuters |
| Posted: 01 Feb 2013 12:41 AM PST Red FM rewards plucky engineer with a trip to the 55th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. NOT many can say they have been part of the biggest awards night in music. But soon Rosalina Rashidi will be as she jets off for the 55th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb 10. The young talented engineer won Red FM's 60 Seconds To The Grammys while on-air with The Red Breakfast Show last Friday. The lucky 23-year-old beat two other contestants to grab her seat at the Staples Center in Los Angeles for the glitzy Grammy night. Her creativity, showmanship and passion made her standout amongst the hundreds of videos submitted to red.fm for the competition. The competition, which started on Jan 7, was a big highlight with Lil' Kev and Sarimah on The Red Breakfast Show. Rosalina was picked as best of the bunch not only for her charisma but for her quirky rapping and her energetic dance moves to Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. She shared a bit of what made her take part in this competition. How did you come up with the idea for your video submission? My mind is always running wild with plenty of ideas. I'm currently loving Maroon 5's Daylight, the chords were easy to learn. My brother taught me to play it on the guitar and I decided to change the lyrics to dedicate the song to Red FM. To mix it up, I decided to showcase my love for Michael Jackson and move like him while rapping. What was the first thing that popped into your mind when deejay Jeremy Teo announced you as the winner? I didn't think I was going to win but I kept hoping and praying. So when I heard my name, the first think I thought was thank God! This trip is going to allow me to do what I have been longing to do, which is work in the entertainment industry. Who are you looking forward to seeing at the awards? I can't wait to be in the same place with Foster The People and Logan Lerman. Part of the prize includes a day trip to either Disneyland or Universal Studio, which one is your choice? Universal Studio! There is no thinking twice about this. I'm very passionate about movies, film-making and I want to be a movie producer and director. I have written lots of movie scripts, ranging from a big budget two-hour movie to low budget movies. During my university years, I wrote, filmed and starred in my own short movies. To follow Rosalinda's Grammy experience, head over to red.fm. She will document her trip, who she meets and and where she goes from Feb 7 to Feb 12. 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 & Seberang Perai: 107.6 FM, Ipoh, Perak: 106.4 FM, Klang Valley, Negeri Sembilan & Tapah: 104.9FM, Kuantan, Pahang: 91.6 FM, Batu Pahat and Melaka: 98.9FM, Johor Baru and Singapore: 92.8FM. |
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The Star Online: Sports
The Star Online: Sports |
| Defending champions back on track after big win in Penang Posted: 31 Jan 2013 04:06 PM PST [unable to retrieve full-text content]GEORGE TOWN: SSTMI-Thunderbolt showcased their credentials as strong contenders to retain the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior Hockey League Division One crown by whipping MSSP-USM 7-0 at the USM Stadium here yesterday. |
| Malaysia in tough company for World League semi-finals Posted: 31 Jan 2013 03:28 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will have Germany, England, Pakistan and South Korea for company when they host the FIH World League semi-finals from June 29-July 7. The four teams are automatic qualifiers for the semi-finals based on their FIH world rankings. Malaysia received an automatic berth after being selected as the host country. The tournament will be held in Johor Baru. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) confirmed the five teams for the second semi-final yesterday. The tournament will have eight teams in the fray. Three more teams will be picked after Round Two of the World League. Holland will host the first semi-final in Rotterdam from June 13-23. The teams who have automatically qualified for Rotterdam are hosts Holland, Australia, Spain and New Zealand. Four more teams will join the fray after Round Two. The top four teams from each semi-final will then play in the final round and these teams will gain automatic berths to the 2014 World Cup. Malaysia were initially scheduled to play in Round Two in Elektrostal, Russia, at the end of May. Their place in that tournament will now be taken by the Czech Republic. The other teams are Russia, Japan, Austria, Ukraine and Egypt. Germany were originally scheduled to host both the men's and women's Hockey World League semi-finals as well as the Women's Junior World Cup (from July 27-Aug 4 in Moenchengladbach). However, they have chosen to host only the Women's Junior World Cup due to financial restrictions. As such, Malaysia will now host the men's Hockey World League semi-final while the women's event will be hosted by another country. FIH president Leandro Negre was pleased to have found an alternative host despite the short notice. "There is not a doubt that the month of June will be historic and fantastic for our sport. I would especially like to thank Malaysia for stepping in to be hosts on short notice. It is further evidence of the spirit of cooperation that we enjoy in international hockey." The Hockey World League Round Two recently kicked off with a women's five-team tournament in Cape Town, South Africa. Hosts South Africa and Belgium became the first two teams to earn a spot in the Hockey World League semi-final through the qualification process. |
| Poor response for this year’s Malaysia Hockey League Posted: 31 Jan 2013 03:28 PM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Only 11 teams have signed up for this year's Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) – compared to 13 last year – when entries closed yesterday. There were six teams in the Premier Division and seven in Division One last year. All six Premier Division teams are back in the fray this time. But the Malaysian Hockey Confederation (MHC) have been saddled with a minor problem with Terengganu's entrance. Terengganu, having hired some of the best players in the country, will surely be way too strong for the other teams in Division One. They have asked to play in the Premier Division and the MHC will only make a decision prior to the team managers' meeting on March 3. The six Premier League teams who are back for another season are KL Hockey Club, Tenaga Nasional, Maybank, Sapura, Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and Nur Insafi. The teams who have signed up for Division One are UiTM, Uniten-KPT, Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) and Thunderbolt. Last year's Division One champions Johor have not entered a team while Politeknik-KPT have declined to take part. Armed Forces have verbally agreed to take part but have asked for more time to make a final decision. MHC secretary general Johari Abdul Aziz said that teams could still register with them in the coming week. "The competitions committee will also look at Terengganu's request to play in the Premier Division and decide on the format of play for the new season," he said. Terengganu's request is not without precedent. In 2011, Yayasan Negri Sembilan entered a team comprising 11 foreign players. The MHC put them in the Premier Division although they should have featured in Division One. The team did not take part the following year. This season's MHL is due to start on March 22, with the final slated for May. Last year, KLHC won the double. |
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The Star Online: Business
The Star Online: Business |
| Petronas takes MISC private in RM8.8billlion deal Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:15 PM PST PETALING JAYA: In a move that has caught the market by surprise, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) is offering RM5.30 per share to buy out minority shareholdings in MISC Bhd, with the intention of taking the latter private. The buyout, if successful, will remove the close to RM20bil company in market capitalisation from Bursa Malaysia, making it one of the largest privatisation deals in recent times. Petronas, which owns 62.67% or 2.797 billion shares of MISC, would be forking out around RM8.83bil to buy back the shares it does not own. The RM5.30 offer price works out to a premium of 18.04% or 81 sen above MISC's closing price of RM4.49 on Wednesday. In the takeover notice issued to MISC, Petronas said it did not plan to maintain MISC's listing status. Petronas said the offer was conditional on having received valid acceptances, which would result in Petronas holding 90% or more of the total MISC shares. MISC's other substantial shareholders are the Employees Provident Fund at 9.66% and Skim Amanah Saham Bumiputra at 6.35%. The takeover notice did not state the rationale for the privatisation of MISC. However, in a statement issued by Petronas, it said that MISC was an important part of its integrated business and that the prevailing industry backdrop and uncertain global economy had made efforts to sustain and transform the business of MISC challenging. "The offer represents a significant step by Petronas to take MISC private and obtain full control of it." The national oil corporation said this would provide it with greater flexibility in deciding MISC's strategic direction. MISC is one of the largest shipping companies in the world and also operates shipping-related services. Petronas said that it had no plans to dismiss or make redundant the employees of MISC after the privatisation. It also said that it had "no intention of making a separate takeover offer for MISC's listed subsidiary Malaysia Marine and Heavy Engineering Holdings Bhd (MMHE). MISC owns 66.5% of MMHE. However, the proposed buyout has surprised many analysts, as it came at a time when the shipping giant was turning around after several quarters of losses. It was also coming close on the recent C$5.2bil (RM16.16bil) takeover of Canadian-listed Progress Energy Resources Corp by Petronas. Zulkifli Hamzah, head of research at MIDF Amanah Investment Bank, said: "We are caught by surprise by the privatisation of MISC, especially as it had gone through a kitchen-sinking exercise in late 2011 or early 2012 and would have, therefore, been in a much better financial shape." He added that while the petroleum tanker division was still suffering from high supply in the sector, recovery should be due in the near future. "Nevertheless, the decision to delist MISC reflects the stance of the controlling shareholder that the market is not doing justice to the valuation of the company. Taking the company private could be a precursor to more corporate actions involving MISC." MISC's share price has remained lacklustre in recent years. It had hit a high of RM9.94 on Dec 6, 2007 and a nine-year low of RM3.87 on June 5 last year. Yesterday, the stock closed at RM4.45 before trading was suspended. Another analyst said: "I think Petronas just feels that MISC's valuation is at a rock bottom, and it can add a lot more value by restructuring the business away from the public eye." He, however, thought that the offer price could be higher. "Our sum-of-parts calculation for MISC is RM6.20, so RM5.30 is not fair'." MISC's bottomline has been volatile in the recent past due to the challenging shipping business. But it was turning the corner following the sale of its liner business in December 2011. |
| Citigroup may exit consumer banking in more nations Posted: 31 Jan 2013 04:57 PM PST NEW YORK: Citigroup Inc is looking to pull out of consumer banking in more countries in an effort to lower costs and boost profits, according to two people familiar with the matter. In December, Citigroup said it was withdrawing from consumer banking in five countries Pakistan, Paraguay, Romania, Turkey and Uruguay as part of an expense reduction plan that would save US$1.1bil a year and eliminate 11,000 jobs. The cuts were one of Michael Corbat's first major steps as chief executive, a position he took in October. "There is more on the list," said a source familiar with the situation. The bank had been looking for months at countries, customer segments and products to cut, the source said, but declined to name any of the additional countries. Sean Kevelighan, a Citigroup spokesman, said the bank was focused on major cities with the highest growth potential for its consumer business and would continue to invest in its franchise and optimise its assets. Citigroup is one of the most international of US banks, serving consumers in 40 countries out of the 100 in which it has some kind of presence. Any cuts would likely represent a paring of the portfolio rather than a complete rethinking of the bank's commitment to global consumer banking. Outside the United States, just three countries Mexico, South Korea and Australia account for half of the company's loans to consumers and the bank's presence in many other countries is tiny. Investors said scaling down in some markets made sense. "If they're not going to have a significant presence, they shouldn't be there," said Mark Mandell, portfolio manager at Dalton Investments, which has US$1.8bil under management and owns Citigroup shares. Speaking on a conference call with analysts and investors earlier this month, Corbat said he intended to make regular assessments of "how and where and with whom" the company generated revenue, so the process of cost cutting is more "BAU," or business as usual, instead of a one-time event. Analysts unsuccessfully pressed Corbat to give more detail about which other countries he might focus on to cut costs. Corbat, who previously oversaw company operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said that, over time, managers in different countries tended to expand by veering into tangential businesses and ended up saddling the company with extraneous and inefficient operations. - Reuters |
| Posted: 31 Jan 2013 04:55 PM PST TOKYO: Honda Motor Co Ltd has trimmed its annual net profit forecast by 1.3% to 370 billion yen (US$4.1bil) on poorer-than-expected car sales in China and Europe, even as it sees strong sales in the United States, its biggest market. Japan's third biggest automaker said that its net profit for OctoberDecember was 77.4 billion yen (US$849.9mil), compared with the 47.7 billion yen booked last year when it suffered from disrupted supply chains after floods hit it and its suppliers' factories in Thailand. The third-quarter result was below the average estimate of 111.4 billion yen among seven analysts polled by Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. "The market had expected the company to release a bright outlook on the back of a weakening yen," said Yoshihiro Okumura, an analyst at Chibagin Asset Management. "It was negative that the company did not raise its full-year outlook. Now, investors will be watching how the carmaker will try to raise sales in the core US market this year," Okumura said. Honda, which relies on the United States for 40% of its global sales, maintained its North American car sales forecast for the year to March. For rivals Toyota Motor Corp and Nissan Motor Co Ltd, the United States accounts for about a quarter of global auto sales. In calendar year 2012, the US auto market posted its strongest sales figures since 2007 at 14.5 million vehicles, and the momentum is likely to continue into January. Honda cut its global car sales forecast to 4.06 million vehicles from 4.12 million, and its European car sales outlook to 185,000 vehicles from 205,000. In China, Honda sold 604,000 vehicles in 2012, lower than the initial goal of 750,000 it set before sales started falling in September. The financial year in China ended in December. Japanese brands in China suffered from an outbreak of anti-Japan sentiment in late 2012 after the two countries became embroiled in a diplomatic dispute over islands both claim as their own. The pace of recovery in China was slower than Honda had expected, executive vice-president Tetsuo Iwamura said. In the final quarter and the next business year, Japanese carmakers will be helped by the yen's recent weakening against the dollar, as they can convert overseas profits back to the yen at a more favourable rate and export cars more cheaply. The Japanese currency is trading around 91 to the dollar, well down from 78 at the start of the OctoberDecember quarter. Honda changed its average dollar rate assumption to 81 yen from 80 yen for the financial year that ends in March. For the fourth quarter, its dollar rate assumption was 85 yen, executives said. Honda is the first among major Japanese automakers to announce third-quarter earnings. Toyota is set to announce on Feb 5, and Nissan on Feb 8. - Reuters |
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The Star Online: Nation
The Star Online: Nation |
| Malaysians advised to avoid Egyptian cities under state of emergency Posted: 31 Jan 2013 08:17 AM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians living in Egypt have been advised to avoid travelling to Port Said, Suez and Ismailia which are currently under a state of emergency. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said the Malaysian Embassy in Cairo had advised Malaysian citizens in Egypt to observe the state of emergency in the three cities and keep in touch with the embassy on developments. "Malaysians are also advised to avoid Cairo's Tahrir Square and its surrounding areas such as the Ministry of Interior, Parliament building, Nile Corniche and the Presidential Palace," he said in a statement Thursday. Anifah said the situation in several cities in Egypt remained volatile and uncertain as clashes between demonstrators and security forces were expected to continue. However, he said there was no report of Malaysians' involvement in the clashes. Anifah also advised Malaysians planning to travel to Egypt to remain vigilant and cautious, and avoid conflict-ridden areas. "Malaysians are strongly advised to travel in groups and stay away from large gatherings and demonstrations," he said. The Malaysian Embassy in Cairo, which is situated at 21, El Aanab Street, Mohandesseen, Giza, can be reached at (202)37610013/19/68/73 or (202)37610216 (fax).
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| KTM intercity service in southern sector back to normal Posted: 31 Jan 2013 06:58 AM PST Published: Thursday January 31, 2013 MYT 10:58:00 PMKUALA LUMPUR: The Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Intercity train service in the southern sector, which was disrupted by train derailment last Saturday, was restored at 7.25pm Thursday. In a statement, KTM Berhad said the first train to resume services was the Ekspres Senandung Sutera No.24 (Woodlands-Sentral KL), scheduled to depart at 11.30pm tonight. Service disruption in the southern sector since Jan 26 was caused by the derailed Ekpres Sinaran Selatan No.13 during its journey from KL Sentral to Woodlands, Singapore at Km738.0 (Kulai-Kempas Baru) at 3.20pm. For more information, KTM Berhad's Customer Service Centre can be reached at 1-300-88-5862. - Bernama Related Stories:
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| Dr Mahathir confident BN will remain in power Posted: 31 Jan 2013 05:53 AM PST KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has expressed confidence that the Barisan Nasional government will remain in power after the upcoming general election. The impending 13th general election, slated to be held this year, would be the most crucial political battle that Barisan has to face, he said. The former premier also hoped that Barisan would win a two-thirds majority in Parliament so that the Government could implement its policies without resistance. "Pakatan Rakyat is merely a coalition for the sake of the upcoming elections. If they are elected to govern, I am sure each party will then battle for its own ideology. "That is definitely not good for Malaysia and will disrupt all efforts to build the economy, undertaken by the present government," he said at the 15th Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference 2013 here Thursday. Dr Mahathir said the infighting within the opposition group was the main reason for the return in confidence among Malaysian voters for the ruling coalition. He also said the Barisan government, under the able leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, was knowledgeable on social and economic issues, which was very important for a developing nation. He said the Government had drawn up ambitious development plans for the future of Malaysia, and it was the responsibility of Malaysians to give it a chance to prove the effectiveness of the plans. "Change itself will be destructive and comes with uncertainties. Turmoil is not good for any country. "A fresh government will also take a long time to adjust to its new role from the opposition to the government. This wasted period of time will jeopardise Malaysia's growth," he added. Asked on the suitable time to dissolve Parliament to allow for the elections, Dr Mahathir said: "I think it should be after the Chinese New Year festive period." - Bernama
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The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| MBPJ should not have left vacant flats in disrepair Posted: 31 Jan 2013 04:05 AM PST THE TAMAN Putra Damai and Kota Damansara public housing project were built by the Federal government to uplift low-income families and help them obtain decent, secure and clean housing. Both the high-rise low-cost projects were handed over to the Selangor government with the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) acting as the landlord to ensure high standards of maintenance. However, MBPJ has failed to put in place strategic measures to ensure good upkeep of the two projects. Selangor MCA liasion committee vice-bureau chief for health affairs Datin Wong Fong Leng said the Federal government had built the public housing projects to provide houses with affordable rental for low-income families, senior citizens and the disabled. "We are flabbergasted that MBPJ has failed to put into place mechanisms to ensure that the apartments are kept in a liveable condition. MBPJ claims the vacant units were vandalised, leaving it without water and electrical connections but this state of disrepair would not have happened if the council had stationed two enforcement officers to patrol each block in shifts," she said. Taman Putra Damai PPR, which comprises eight blocks of 12-storey buildings, has 428 vacant apartments while Kota Damansara has 158 vacant units that have been vandalised and are unfit to live in. Yesterday, Wong who visited the apartments said MBPJ was wasting rate-payers' money carrying out the repairs over and over while it ignored simple but vital precautions to prevent if from happening. "I have been told the council wanted to cut down on overtime for enforcement officers. Overtime would not have come too much but the repairs are costing close to RM1mil annually. Now, the council has resorted to the unwise move of getting the new tenants to rehabilitate the apartments and move in," she said. "This goes against the Federal government's idea of providing affordable housing. "The Selangor government and MBPJ are unable to manage the public housing and have shifted the blame to the people. Now, the urban poor are burdened with repair bills that are no fault of theirs. The vandalism could have been done by outsiders," she said. Wong said MBPJ, as the landlord, must keep the structure, exterior and interior of the properties in good condition and whatever damage must be put right. "Landlords must ensure that premises rented out are fit to be lived in. People are not demanding for a furnished apartment but it must be fit to live in. Basic amenities and even the front door must be intact. But here the front doors are missing. It is outrageous," she said. She said based on feedback, tenants are afraid to keep their motorbikes in the parking area and even resort to bringing the vehicles up to their units. "If the Selangor government cares for the people then it must order MBPJ to provide enforcement officers to guard the flats and give peace of mind to the tenants. I have been told some miscreants take the opportunity to cannibalise the stolen bikes in the vacant units and this is a crime," Wong said. She added that MBPJ must repair all the lifts within two weeks and not cause further hardship to the people. |
| Posted: 31 Jan 2013 03:57 AM PST LANE CLOSURE Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) will be closing the left-most lane on Jalan Cheras (Kajang-bound) beside the motorcycle lane starting today until April 12 to facilitate utilities relocation works along the 600m stretch of the road. The lane closure will be done in stages, from 9pm to 5am. Also, the alternative motorcycle lane for a stretch of 200m in the Kajang-bound direction will be closed for two years starting today until Jan 30, 2015 to facilitate utilities relocation works and construction of the Taman Bukit Ria Station. As an alternative, motorists can use Jalan Cheras (Kajang-bound) and Jalan Sembilang. ASSESSMENT TAX PAYMENT The Subang Jaya Municipal Council (MPSJ) has opened a mobile counter to facilitate assessment tax payment from Feb 16 to 17 and Feb 23 to 24 at Aeon (Jusco) Taman Equine, from 11am to 8pm. MPSJ ratepayers can check, make enquiries and payment, print bills, update mailing address and apply for property transfer via the mobile counter. For details, call 03-8026 3286 / 3285/ 4317 / 4316 / 4314. MAINTENANCE WORKS The KL-Kuala Selangor Expressway (Latar Expressway) will undertake maintenance and remedial works until May 2. Road users are advised to follow traffic signage and instructions by Latar workers along the affected stretch. For details, call the Latar hotline at 03-6145 1515 or visit www.latar.com.my SELF TRANSFORMATION The Centre for Prana Yoga & Self Transformation will be a organising a workshop titled "Achieving Oneness with the Higher Soul" for those who are interested in pursuing a spiritual path. To know more about the workshop, there will be a free preview talk by senior Arhatic Yoga practitioner and Pranic Healing instructor Indra Ramamoorthy on Feb 1, at 7.30pm, at Zenith 1 Corporate Park, Block D, 41-1, SS 7/26, Kelana Jaya, Selangor. For details and reservations, call 03-7887 1028 / 012-974 2028 or visit www.pranichealingmalaysia.org WORLD WETLANDS DAY The Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) are celebrating World Wetlands Day on Feb 2 at Kuala Selangor Nature Park (KSNP). Come with your family and participate in exciting nature-based activities like tree planting and guided walks. Activities start from 10.30am onwards and admission to KSNP is free. For details, call 03-3289 2294 or visit www.mns.my ANTENATAL WORKSHOP Sri Kota Specialist Medical Centre Klang (SKSMC) will be organising a free "Antenatal Workshop" on Feb 23 from 2pm to 5.30pm at SKSMC, 2nd Floor, Conference Room (SK Terbilang). There will be health talks by a panel of doctors as well as an antenatal exercise. Participants are advised to bring along suitable attire for the exercise. Basic health check will be given. To book a seat, call 03-3373 3636 ext 7313 / 7335 / 7356. |
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The Star Online: Entertainment: Music
The Star Online: Entertainment: Music |
| Future Music Festival Asia 2013 confirms line-up Posted: 31 Jan 2013 04:51 AM PST By MELLY LING CLASSIC hip hop gets a big nod at the Future Music Festival Asia 2013 (FMFA) at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur on March 16. The announcement of legendary hip hop groups De La Soul and Naughty By Nature as additional highlights for FMFA 2013 is set to raise the party temperature at this outdoor festival. Both groups, which were huge in the late 1980s and early 1990s, made their commercial impact while signed to the legendary Tommy Boy label. Other add-ons, which were announced today, include British indie darlings Ladytron (deejay set), dance deejays Sidney Samson, Andy Moor and regional electronica favourite Angger Dimas. Homegrown acts were also finalished with Goldfish & Blink, Kyoto Protocol, LapSap, They Will Kill Us All, Brains & The Eye (B.A.T.E), H3 featuring Arabyrd, Dangerdisko, Eva T, Deer Society, Darren Ashley, Bud Culture, OMP DJs, Mr Fluff, Twilight Actiongirl, Mister Ariffin, FONO, DJ Fuzz, Jakeman & Skeletor, Nadira, Johan Nasir, Mr. Nasty and GuruGuru on board. From electro to dub reggae and hip hop to indie rock, the Malaysian content at FMFA 2013 is as diverse as it gets. Asian names also feature prominently in the line-up with Korean acts Idiotape and Shut Da Mouth set to thrill. Last November, the first wave of acts were announced for FMFA 2013 with South Korean rapper Psy as one of the main crowd-pullers while dance pop star Rita Ora, British indie rock outfit Bloc Party, veteran dance act The Prodigy, US pop act Fun, Australian indie band Temper Trap and other contemporary electronica/dance acts (Zed's Dead, Timmy Trumpet, Tenzin, Feed Me, Kill The Noise, DJ Fresh and Stafforf Brothers) are firmed up to bring this multi-stage outdoor festival to life. Elsewhere, trance music superstar Armin Van Buuren also brings his "A State of Trance 600: The Expedition Tour" to Sepang International Circuit on March 15. This sister event is part of the FMFA 2013 bandwagon. Organised by Future Entertainment Australia and Livescape Asia, FMFA 2013 marks the second time the massive Australian-based music festival will be held in Malaysia. It is supported by MyCEB as part of an initiative to kickstart the promotional campaign of Visit Malaysia Year 2014 with a bang. Organisers are expecting an influx of over 10,000 fans from abroad for this year's festival. To date, the festival has sold over 16,000 tickets. This year's target is to hit the 40,000 attendance mark. Browse www.futuremusicfestival.asia for ticket information, festival programme and more. |
| Barbra Streisand to sing at Oscars Posted: 30 Jan 2013 11:32 PM PST LOS ANGELES: Legendary diva Barbra Streisand will sing at the Oscars next month, her first Academy Awards performance in 36 years, organizers said Wednesday. Streisand has earned two Oscars, but has only performed at the top Hollywood awards show once before, in 1977 when she sang the winning song from "A Star Is Born." "In an evening that celebrates the artistry of movies and music how could the telecast be complete without Barbra Streisand?" said the show's producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. "We are honored that she has agreed to do a very special performance on this year's Oscars, her first time singing on the show in 36 years," they added in a statement. Streisand - whose latest movie, "Guilt Trip," came out in the US last month - won her first Oscar for Best Actress in "Funny Girl" 1968, and her second for best original song for "A Star is Born" in 1977. She was nominated for best actress in 1973 for in "The Way We Were," for producing 1991's "The Prince of Tides" (1991), and for co-writing the original song "I Finally Found Someone" from "The Mirror Has Two Faces" (1996). Others already confirmed for the February 24 Oscars show include British songstress Adele, who will sing her 007 theme tune "Skyfall," and foul-mouthed teddy bear Ted, with his big-screen sidekick actor Mark Wahlberg.- AFP |
| It's official: Chris Brown, Rihanna are back on Posted: 30 Jan 2013 07:56 PM PST NEW YORK (Reuters) - It's official: R&B diva Rihanna says she is back together with Chris Brown, who is still on probation for assaulting her in 2009, saying "It's different now." "I decided it was more important for me to be happy," Rihanna told Rolling Stone magazine in an interview published on Wednesday on its website. "I wasn't going to let anybody's opinion get in the way of that. Even if it's a mistake, it's my mistake," she said of her renewed romance with singer Brown, 23, that has prompted consternation from fans and celebrity media because of their history. "After being tormented for so many years, being angry and dark, I'd rather just live my truth and take the backlash," said Rihanna, 24, adding, "I can handle it." The couple's reconciliation had been rumored for months, even before the pair unveiled a duet, Nobody's Business, in November. That track was included on Rihanna's latest album Unapologetic. Brown pleaded guilty in 2009 to beating and punching Rihanna. He was sentenced to community service, anger management classes, given a restraining order and is still on probation. The Barbadian singer told Oprah Winfrey in an emotional interview in August that she and Brown now had a "very close friendship," and that she still loved him. "When you add up the pieces from the outside, it's not the cutest puzzle in the world," Rihanna admitted to Rolling Stone, which hits newsstands this week with her gracing the cover above the headline, Rihanna Crazy In Love. "You see us walking somewhere ... and you think you know. But it's different now. We don't have those types of arguments anymore. We talk," she said. "We value each other." But she noted that Brown is on probation with her as well, saying, "He doesn't have the luxury of (messing) up again." "That's just not an option ... And I wouldn't have gone this far if I ever thought that was a possibility." The interview was published three days after Brown's latest dustup, which involved fellow musician Frank Ocean, over a parking space at a West Hollywood recording studio. Ocean has said he wants Brown prosecuted following the Sunday brawl. In 2012 Rihanna was rated by Time and Forbes magazines as among the world's and celebrity arena's most powerful people. |
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The Star Online: Metro: South & East
The Star Online: Metro: South & East |
| Snake exhibition draws nearly 1,500 in Malacca Posted: 31 Jan 2013 04:13 AM PST MALACCA: As the Year of Water Snake draws near, revellers are getting the chance to find out more about the slithery reptile. Ikia Aquaria and Pet is ushering in the Year of the Snake with a 30-species snake exhibition at Taman Malim Permai, here. The one-week long exhibition has thus far attracted roughly 1,500 people from as far as Kuala Lumpur, Johor and Singapore. According to Ikia Aquaria's general manager, Eric Chee, the main purpose of the exhibition is to counter the public's perception that snakes are are something to be afraid of. He added that snakes are more afraid of humansthan we are of them. The highlight of the exhibition was a snake show by Historical Exotic, a local snake collector and performing group. They showcased a few breath-taking feats like kissing a king cobra and putting fingers into the mangrove serpent's mouth. Their brave acts received thunderous applause from both kids and adults who visited the exhibition. Snake-handler, Asyraf Farhan Md Shah, said the well-trained performers need to know the movements, mood and speed of the snake well before playing with them. "Snakes do not attack people unless they are provoked or feel threatened," he added. Among some of the non-venomous and tamed snakes showcased during the snake performance were Catsnakes, Copperhead Racers, and King Snakes. At the exhibition, young children were seen fearlessly touching and handling the exotic animals compared to their adults. One of the unique snakes which attracted the attention of many visitors was the four-year-old, 2.5 meter-long Albino Burmese Python, owned by Ikia Aquaria and Pet. |
| Drug trafficker caught during pre-dawn raid Posted: 31 Jan 2013 04:18 AM PST KUANTAN: Police stormed a house in Taman Datuk Abdul Rashid near here during a pre-dawn operation last week and arrested a drug trafficker high on drugs. Pahang narcotics chief Supt Yap Toon Khuan said the suspect, aged 36, had seven previous convictions. He said background checks showed the suspect was working as a security guard. "Urine tests also revealed that the suspect was tested positive for morphine. "Checks in the premises saw the seizure of 82gm of heroin hidden inside a safe deposit box," he told a press conference here. Supt Yap said the operation, acting on a public tip-off and own surveillance, was carried out by a Kuantan narcotics department team led by Insp Mohd Izzudin Zulkifly. He said the suspect refused to co-operate when instructed to open the safe deposit box in his bedroom. "We had to prise open the safe deposit box before confiscating a bag with the drugs stuffed inside three small packets. "The market value of the drugs is estimated at RM2,000 and enough for the consumption of 100 drug addicts," he said. Supt Yap said police believed the drugs were brought in from Kuala Lumpur to be distributed in Kuantan town. He added police were in the midst of tracking down his suppliers and other accomplices. "The case is being investigated under Section 39B of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 which carries the mandatory death penalty, upon conviction. "The suspect has been remanded for a week to assist in investigations," he said. |
| Posted: 31 Jan 2013 04:13 AM PST TEMERLOH: Some 1.5 million hawkers and stalls operators could benefit from the interest-free small scale business loan provi- ded by Bank Rakyat in a move to offer business opportunities to them. Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the amount of loans eligible are between RM1,000 to RM5,000 and the interest for the loans will be subsidised by the Government. Ismail Sabri said they also do not need to provide guarantors and the payment period can be between 60 months to 108 months. He said they are also eligible to apply for the loans even if they have poor records from other financial institutions like CTOS. "However, they have to be free of other current loans during the period of applying this type of loans. "Meaning that if they still have unsettled loans like the small scale entrepreneur loan (Tekun), they have to settle that loan first before applying," Ismail Sabri said after officiating the 1Malaysia Traders programme in Lurah Semantan here recently. He said giving out the business loan like this was the Government's appreciation to them for their support. Ismail Sabri said they have to be fulltime hawkers or operating the stalls. "For this year, we have allocated RM50mil fund for the loans. "In the future, we can increase the amount depending on the needs," he said. Ismail Sabri also said that a sum of RM7mil has been allocated for them to do some repair works or upgrading works on the stall sites. |
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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health |
| No meat a day keeps the doctor away: study Posted: 30 Jan 2013 08:48 PM PST A vegetarian diet can cut the risk of heart disease by as much as 32 per cent, according to a British study published on Wednesday. Researchers who followed more than 44,500 volunteers for about 11 years on average, found vegetarians were significantly less prone to cardiac trouble. In the 50-70 age group, 6.8 per cent of people who ate meat or fish were hospitalised or died from heart disease, compared to 4.6 per cent of vegetarians. "We think (it) is due to their lower cholesterol and blood pressure," lead researcher Francesca Crowe from the University of Oxford's Cancer Epidemiology Unit told AFP. A third of participants in the study, dubbed the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), the largest of its kind in Britain, were vegetarians. Heart disease is the single-largest cause of death in developed countries, claiming 65,000 lives in Britain each year. A total of 1,235 people in the study group developed heart disease, of whom 169 died. "These results show that diet is important for the prevention of heart disease," said Crowe of the results published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Vegetarians in the study typically had a lower weight-to-height ratio and a reduced risk of developing diabetes, they found. The results had taken into account the effects of the participants' age, smoking habits and alcohol use, exercise routine, educational level and income. Ninety-seven per cent of the participants were Caucasian, said Crowe, but there was no difference in the results for different ethnic groups. "There is no particular reason why it would not be generalisable to vegetarians in other population groups," she added. Previous studies have found that vegetarians have a reduced rate of bowel disease and cataracts, but no difference in cancer risk from meat-eaters, said Crowe. -- AFP |
| Loading up your day’s essentials with goodness from nature Posted: 30 Jan 2013 03:52 PM PST Protein is found in every single cell in the body. An important building block for bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and blood, high quality protein provides all of the essential amino acids needed by healthy adults and growing children. People who don't get enough of this important macronutrient will lack energy, and they will see their muscles and immune systems weaken. To help people meet their daily protein needs, leading direct selling company Amway is introducing NUTRILITE™ All Plant Protein Powder which helps to load up your day's essentials by unlocking more goodness from nature. The unique tri-blend of soy, wheat and pea provides the right combination of proteins and amino acids to keep you feeling healthy and energetic, without animal products or dairy side effects. "As one of the macronutrient foundations of a balanced diet, protein needs to be consumed each day to maintain health," says Gene Maly, Senior NUTRILITE Research Scientist. "Most people have difficulty consuming the recommended amount of protein in their diet, which is why adding a high quality protein source, like NUTRILITE All Plant Protein Powder, helps people give their bodies the fuel to power their cells, provide energy to their bodies, and with the recommended amount of 25 grams of soy protein per day, also helps to reduce cholesterol." But most people associate protein with meat, poultry, eggs and dairy. In today's world, that isn't always what people want to hear. Many people want to incorporate as many plant-based options as they can into their diets. A simple observation Many of the essential amino acids found in NUTRILITE's previous version of Protein Powder came from dairy, essentially from cows. In the history of NUTRILITE, observing the diet of cows signified an "ah-ha" moment for its founder, Carl Rehnborg. After a return from China in the early nineteen hundreds he made a simple observation that the healthiest cows ate a diet of alfalfa and water -- they had shinier coats, they produced the most milk, and they gained the most weight. He realized that for cows to thrive, they needed the essential nutrients found in plants like alfalfa. Today, NUTRILITE scientists have taken Carl Rehnborg's observation one step further by going back to the natural source, creating a plant-based protein powder that provides all of the essential amino acids people need in their diets to maintain cellular health throughout their body. This simple idea has resulted in NUTRILITE All Plant Protein Powder. Protein keeps us feeling healthy by acting as a cell repair nutrient, it provides energy by producing hemoglobin – the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout our bodies, it builds lean muscle, and it supports the immune system by manufacturing antibodies, the substances that fight off illness. - This article is brought to you by Amway |
| Loading up your day’s essentials with goodness from nature Posted: 30 Jan 2013 01:51 AM PST Protein is found in every single cell in the body. An important building block for bones, muscles, cartilage, skin and blood, high quality protein provides all of the essential amino acids needed by healthy adults and growing children. People who don't get enough of this important macronutrient will lack energy, and they will see their muscles and immune systems weaken. To help people meet their daily protein needs, leading direct selling company Amway is introducing NUTRILITE™ All Plant Protein Powder which helps to load up your day's essentials by unlocking more goodness from nature. The unique tri-blend of soy, wheat and pea provides the right combination of proteins and amino acids to keep you feeling healthy and energetic, without animal products or dairy side effects. "As one of the macronutrient foundations of a balanced diet, protein needs to be consumed each day to maintain health," says Gene Maly, Senior NUTRILITE Research Scientist. "Most people have difficulty consuming the recommended amount of protein in their diet, which is why adding a high quality protein source, like NUTRILITE All Plant Protein Powder, helps people give their bodies the fuel to power their cells, provide energy to their bodies, and with the recommended amount of 25 grams of soy protein per day, also helps to reduce cholesterol." But most people associate protein with meat, poultry, eggs and dairy. In today's world, that isn't always what people want to hear. Many people want to incorporate as many plant-based options as they can into their diets. A simple observation Many of the essential amino acids found in NUTRILITE's previous version of Protein Powder came from dairy, essentially from cows. In the history of NUTRILITE, observing the diet of cows signified an "ah-ha" moment for its founder, Carl Rehnborg. After a return from China in the early nineteen hundreds he made a simple observation that the healthiest cows ate a diet of alfalfa and water -- they had shinier coats, they produced the most milk, and they gained the most weight. He realized that for cows to thrive, they needed the essential nutrients found in plants like alfalfa. Today, NUTRILITE scientists have taken Carl Rehnborg's observation one step further by going back to the natural source, creating a plant-based protein powder that provides all of the essential amino acids people need in their diets to maintain cellular health throughout their body. This simple idea has resulted in NUTRILITE All Plant Protein Powder. Protein keeps us feeling healthy by acting as a cell repair nutrient, it provides energy by producing hemoglobin – the red blood cells that carry oxygen throughout our bodies, it builds lean muscle, and it supports the immune system by manufacturing antibodies, the substances that fight off illness. - This article is brought to you by Amway |
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