Isnin, 20 Mei 2013

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


North Korea releases detained Chinese fishing boat, owner says

Posted: 20 May 2013 06:58 PM PDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - North Korea released a Chinese fishing boat on Tuesday after it was taken from waters between the two countries, the boat's owner said, in an incident that had proved a new irritant in ties between the often uneasy allies.

Chinese counsellor to North Korea Jiang Yaxian had told state media earlier that North Korea had "grabbed" the private vessel from off the northern city of Dalian in waters between China and the Korean peninsula.

Other Chinese state media quoted the owner of the missing boat, Yu Xuejun, as saying North Korea was demanding 600,000 yuan ($97,600) for its safe return, along with its 16 crew.

Yu told Chinese media the boat had been snatched on the evening of May 5 and he had approached Chinese authorities five days later to ask them to intervene.

Tensions have been mounting between North Korea and China, Pyongyang's most important economic and political backer. Some Chinese banks have frozen out North Korea's main foreign exchange bank amid frustration in Beijing over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes.

Speaking to Reuters by telephone, boat owner Yu said his vessel was released early on Tuesday and they had not paid the North Koreans any money.

"The Chinese foreign ministry coordinated with them, so we do not know any details so far," he said in a brief interview.

The case has been widely discussed on China's Twitter-like service Sina Weibo, with angry comments directed at North Korea.

In an editorial on Tuesday published before news of the release, the influential Chinese tabloid the Global Times said China should reduce its aid to North Korea if it continued such behaviour.

"If North Korea continues to go rogue, China should take actions to push it toward a more measured response," the newspaper, published by the Communist Party's official People's Daily, said in an editorial.

"If it is difficult to teach North Korea in words, we can make it understand in deeds."

This is not the first time Chinese vessels have been held by North Korea. A year ago, the impoverished North held a number of boats and fishermen for two weeks before releasing them.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard, Huang Yan and Maxim Duncan; Editing by Paul Tait)

Copyright © 2013 Reuters

Guatemala court annuls Rios Montt genocide conviction

Posted: 20 May 2013 06:56 PM PDT

GUATEMALA CITY (Reuters) - Guatemala's constitutional court on Monday overturned a genocide conviction against former dictator Efrain Rios Montt, throwing out all proceedings in his case since a dispute broke out last month over who should hear it.

Rios Montt was found guilty on May 10 of overseeing the deliberate killings by the armed forces of at least 1,771 members of the Maya Ixil population during his 1982-83 rule. He was sentenced to 80 years in prison.

Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt is surrounded by the media after he was sentenced for genocide charges in the Supreme Court of Guatemala City May 10, 2013. REUTERS/Jorge Dan Lopez

Former Guatemalan dictator Efrain Rios Montt is surrounded by the media after he was sentenced for genocide charges in the Supreme Court of Guatemala City May 10, 2013. REUTERS/Jorge Dan Lopez

But the constitutional court said it had thrown out all proceedings in the case dating back until April 19. It was then that the trial against Rios Montt was suspended after a spat between judges over who should take the case.

(Reporting by Mike McDonald; Editing by Dave Graham)

Copyright © 2013 Reuters

Monster tornado devastates Oklahoma town; at least 51 dead

Posted: 20 May 2013 06:49 PM PDT

MOORE, Oklahoma (Reuters) - A massive tornado tore through the Oklahoma City suburb of Moore on Monday, killing at least 51 people with winds of up to 200 miles per hour (320 kph) that flattened entire tracts of homes, two schools and a hospital, leaving a wake of tangled wreckage.

Twisted metal lies in the road as people take pictures of damage after a huge tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, near Oklahoma City, May 20, 2013. REUTERS/Richard Rowe

Twisted metal lies in the road as people take pictures of damage after a huge tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, near Oklahoma City, May 20, 2013. REUTERS/Richard Rowe

Rescue workers raced against the setting sun to find survivors in Oklahoma as the dangerous storm system threatened as many as 10 U.S. states with more twisters.

The Oklahoma medical examiner confirmed 51 deaths, making it the deadliest U.S. tornado since one killed 161 people in Joplin, Missouri, two years ago, according to the National Weather Service. There were 70 reported deaths in all of 2012.

Some 20 to 30 school children were missing and feared dead beneath the rubble, KFOR television reported, citing unnamed officials from the scene.

Police and fire crews pulled third-graders from the devastated Plaza Towers Elementary school in Moore, a KFOR television reporter said from the scene, and aerial video showed teams sifting through the rubble left behind.

"I have never seen anything like this in my 18 years covering tornadoes here in Oklahoma City. This is without question the most horrific," said Lance West, a reporter for KFOR.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center provided the town with a warning 16 minutes before the tornado touched down at 3:01 p.m. local time (2001 GMT), which is greater than the average eight to 10 minutes of warning, said Keli Pirtle, a spokeswoman for the centre in Norman, Oklahoma.

The notice was upgraded to emergency warning with "heightened language" at 2:56 p.m., or five minutes before the tornado touched down, Pirtle said.

'A DEBRIS FIELD'

Television images showed blocks of homes levelled by the powerful tornado, cars piled atop one another and buildings on fire.

The National Weather Service assigned the twister a preliminary ranking of EF4 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale, meaning the second most powerful category of tornado with winds up to 200 mph (320 kph).

Briarwood Elementary School, which also stood in the storm's path, was all but destroyed. On the first floor, sections of walls had been peeled away, affording clear views into the building, while in other areas, cars hurled by the storm winds were lodged in the walls.

While the school was a wreck, nearby playground equipment stood undamaged, though littered with rubble.

Across the street, people picked through the remains of their homes, looking for any possessions they might salvage.

At least 45 people were injured, according to officials of four hospitals.

"They (injured) are coming in minute by minute," said Integris Southwest Medical Center spokeswoman Brooke Cayot. Of the 19 injured there, seven were in critical condition, seven serious and five listed as fair or good, Cayot said.

The University of Oklahoma Medical Center had received at least 20 injured. St. Anthony Healthplex South in Oklahoma City said it received four patients and Midwest Regional received four.

Moore Medical Center sustained significant damage.

"The whole city looks like a debris field," Glenn Lewis, the mayor of Moore, told NBC.

"It looks like we have lost our hospital. I drove by there a while ago and it's pretty much destroyed," Lewis said.

Fire, rescue and emergency medical teams from across the state converged on Moore, and members of the National Guard, activated by Governor Mary Fallin, were on the scene, said Terri Watkins, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management.

"They are going to going to go house to house, building to building to determine whether anyone is trapped," Watkins said. "If anyone is trapped we want to begin pulling them out as quickly as possible."

The massive twister struck at the height of tornado season, and more were forecast. On Sunday, tornadoes killed two people and injured 39 in Oklahoma.

Witnesses said Monday's tornado appeared more fierce than the giant twister that was among the dozens that tore up the region on May 3, 1999, killing more than 40 people and destroying thousands of homes. That tornado ranked as an EF5, meaning it had winds over 200 mph (320 kph).

The 1999 event ranks as the third-costliest tornado in U.S. history, having caused more than $1 billion in damage at the time, or more than $1.3 billion in today's dollars. Only the devastating Joplin and Tuscaloosa tornadoes in 2011 were more costly.

The National Weather Service predicted a 10 percent chance of tornadoes in parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. It said parts of four other states - Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and Iowa - have a 5 percent risk of tornadoes.

The area at greatest risk includes Joplin, which on Wednesday will mark two years since the tornado that killed 161 people.

(Additional reporting by Lindsay Morris, Carey Gillam, Nick Carey, Brendan O'Brien and Greg McCune; Writing by Daniel Trotta; Editing by Jim Loney)


Related Stories:
Frantic search for two dozen missing children in Oklahoma tornado

Copyright © 2013 Reuters

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The Star Online: Sports

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The Star Online: Sports


Plenty for Hafizh as 55 is significant in his early racing career

Posted: 20 May 2013 06:41 PM PDT

LE MANS: The number 55 is significant to talented rider Hafizh Syahrin. It is the Malaysian teenager's birth date and he intends to make it a permanent fixture as he charts his career in Moto2 of the World Motorcycle Championship.

Petronas Raceline Malaysia team manager Barry Leong, who has been guiding Hafizh since the early years of his career, said they have been eyeing the bike number for a long time as it was a significant one for Hafizh.

"We have to book the number as early as possible. His birthday falls on May 5 and that is why Hafizh likes it."

Hafizh felt it was a lucky omen when he used the number for the first time at the Asian Road Racing Championships final round in Qatar two years ago.

"He managed to win the race at Losail International Circuit and that was his maiden win in SuperSports category.

"Hafizh use a different number for his wildcard ride at the Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix in Sepang last year but he will be using this number for the whole year," said Barry, who has been guiding Hafizh since the early years of his involvement in motorsports.

There are plans to give Hafizh more wildcard rides to expose him to World Championships racing.

"We will definitely apply for a wildcard entry for the Malaysian GP in Sepang in October and the Grand Prix race in Catalunya later this year as he is based in Spain.

"If we have the budget, we will apply one more at a different circuit as the objective is to help him gain experience."

"We need to prepare him and build up his confidence well so that he is really ready when we decide to put him to race a full season," added Barry.

Hafizh finished 22nd in his first wildcard ride on foreign soil at the just concluded France Grand Prix in Le Mans on Sunday.

If all goes well, Hafizh will be looking at a Moto2 full season ride by next year.

Yi Ting on a mission

Posted: 20 May 2013 06:39 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: National swimmer Siow Yi Ting still has unfinished business in the pool. And that's to better her national records.

She currently holds the national records in the 100m breaststroke (1:09.82), 200m breaststroke (2:27.80) and 200m individual medley (2:14.57).

The Negri Sembilan swimmer took time off to complete her BA in Arts and Sculpture from the University of Arkansas in the United States in 2010 and only returned to competitive swimming August 2011.

"It wasn't easy to come back after a year off. In a way it was fun to take my mind of swimming and just focus on my studies but I still have some unfinished business in the pool," said Yi Ting.

"I'm still capable of swimming fast times so it's definitely given me a boost to want to try and break my national records."

And the 27-year-old has no plans to call time on her career yet.

"I'm taking it one meet at a time. The goal is to compete as long as I can," said Yi Ting.

"And I'm training better than ever ... even better than last year.

"I think I even surprised myself at how well I'm doing. So no, I don't think it's time yet."

What's more, her stellar performance at the recent Malaysian Open Swimming Champ–ionships where she amassed five gold medals in five events – 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 200m breastroke, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley – along with three meet records is proof that the swimmer is still as driven as ever.

"I'm very happy with my performance. It's definitely a great start for me ahead of the World Championships (July) and the SEA Games (December)," said Yi Ting.

In fact, she has already qualified for the 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke, 200m breastroke, 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley for the world meet in Barcelona, Spain.

"I'm satisfied with most of my times ... maybe except for the 200m breaststroke.

"I was doubling events the first two days of competition and so I think it finally hit me (on Saturday).

"I would have loved to swim around the 2:30 mark in that one but I did a 2:32," she added.

"It's been a while since I've dipped under that mark, so it'll be wonderful to achieve that at the worlds."

Razif: Indiscipline the cause of senior players’ poor performances

Posted: 20 May 2013 06:42 PM PDT

FORMER international Razif Sidek believes that there is more than meets the eye following the country's top men's doubles pair Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong's recent fall from grace.

Kien Keat-Boon Heong lost to scratch combination Lee Sheng-mu-Tsai Chia-hsin which led to Malaysia's 2-3 loss to lower ranked Taiwan in the opening Group C tie of the Sudirman Cup on Sunday.

They played without any sense of direction on court and Boon Heong even confessed to his coach that he lost concentration – half way through the match – but no reasons were given for his loss of focus.

Razif said that he believed the senior players' indisciplined lifestyles over the years had snowballed into problems and were affecting their performances on court.

He did not elaborate but said that there were discipline issues like late nights, gambling activities and absence from training. These, he believes, were some of the elements that prevented the players from giving their best during training and tournaments.

And the former All-England doubles champion (with brother Jalani in 1982) has taken the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to task for the situation.

"I have been travelling with the team (his professional players Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari-Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif) to tournaments overseas and sometimes, I see and hear things," said Razif.

"I believe that they (the BAM) are aware of it as well but they have been lenient. They did not nip the problem in the bud.

"It is difficult to control the players if certain rules and regulations are not enforced," he said.

Razif said that his "no holds barred statements" were not said in malice but he sincerely did not want the younger generation of players to be influenced.

"What example are we setting? BAM must instil discipline in their players – even if they are seniors. There is no exception to the rule. If not, the juniors will pick up all the bad habits."

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The Star Online: Business

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Alliance Research lowers Affin to Neutral buts target price

Posted: 20 May 2013 06:59 PM PDT

KLCI inches up in early trade, boost from PPB Group, HLFG

Posted: 20 May 2013 06:24 PM PDT

Published: Tuesday May 21, 2013 MYT 9:24:00 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's blue chips inched up in early Tuesday trade, lifted by gained in PPB Group and HLFG, but the overall breadth of the market was firm.

At 9.09am, the FBM KLCI was up 1.46 points to 1,778.61. Turnover was 174.78 million shares valued at RM94.25mil. Advancing counters beat decliners 301 to 70 or a margin of more than four to one, as retail interest in lower liners and penny stocks rose.

BIMB Securities Research said despite the late profit taking on Monday, "we may continue to see buying momentum to continue today as the spillover effect from Japan has been rather prominent. Immediate resistance is seen at the 1,780 level".

PPB Group rose 14 sen to RM13.84 with 500 shares done while HLFG added 12 sen to RM15.70 with 100 shares traded.

Nestle was the top gainer, adding 44 sen to RM63.98, Parmaniaga 27 sen to RM9.38, Naim 16 sen to RM3.91 and property-based Plenitude 14 sen to RM2.37.

Lafarge Cement fell 26 sen to RM10.70 with 100 shares done, Axis REIT shed 17 sen to RM3.79 while Affin was down five sen to RM4.46. Down four sen each were Genting Bhd and SP Setia to RM10.68 and RM3.71.

 

Malaysia's Titan seeks up to 130,000 tonnes of naphtha

Posted: 20 May 2013 06:08 PM PDT

Published: Tuesday May 21, 2013 MYT 9:09:00 AM

SINGAPORE: Malaysia-based Lotte Chemical Titan, a unit of South Korea's top ethylene maker Lotte Chemical, is seeking up to 130,000 tonnes of naphtha for July 2013 to June 2014 delivery, traders said on Monday.

The volumes are lower than the 200,000 tonnes of full-range naphtha it bought last year for October 2012 to September 2013 delivery at about $2 a tonne premium to Japan quotes on a cost-and-freight (C&F) basis.

The tender is coming at a time when spot naphtha premiums for June cargoes have fallen sharply from about three months ago when tight supply due to refinery maintenance and strong demand had pushed up prices to record-high levels.

High volumes of western naphtha coming to Asia, seasonal peak refinery maintenance coming to an end in the East and the availability of alternative feedstock liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) have helped bring naphtha spot premiums down.

Titan's tender stated that it needs a cargo of 25,000 to 32,500 tonnes naphtha every quarter for arrival at Pasir Gudang during the one-year period. The tender closes on May 23, with offers to stay valid until May 31. - Reuters

 

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The Star Online: Nation

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Malacca CM: Indonesian workers can work in Malacca and return home daily

Posted: 20 May 2013 06:48 AM PDT

MALACCA: Malacca and Indonesia are proposing to introduce a new gateway for Indonesian workers to travel and work in Malacca, especially in industries located in coastal areas, on a daily basis.

Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Idris Haron said that through the new initiative, Indonesian workers living in Dumai, Bengkalis and Pulau Rupat could coomute to and from Malacca on a daily basis under the supervision of the Malaysian Immigration Department.

"The new proposal is to assist Indonesian workers to fill job opportunities in the coastal areas of Malacca. They can work and return home just like Malaysians working in Singapore," he told reporters after meeting Indonesia's Ambassador to Malaysia Herman Prayitno at his office in Seri Negeri, here, Monday.

He added that Indonesian workers under the proposed initiative would use the sea route for their travel and would return to their country immediately after their fixed working hours.

Idris said Malacca and Indonesia had also discussed the prospect of turning the Malacca International Airport (LTAM) in Batu Berendam as a hub for tourists from Indonesia.

"We welcome airlines from Indonesia which bring tourists to Malacca through the LTAM. The Malacca government will find ways to increase the number of flights to Malacca on a daily basis," he said. - Bernama

Liow accepts Astro host apology over blackout posting

Posted: 20 May 2013 05:40 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has accepted the apology by Astro AEC host Gan Jiang Han who posted a message that a blackout had allegedly occurred in Bentong that led to the Barisan Nasional winning the parliamentary seat in the May 5 polls.

Liow said the Astro AEC should also carry the apology as a news report in one of its shows.

"It must tell the truth and only then will the rumours stop spreading," Liow said in a statement Monday.

Liow had expressed his unhappiness over Gan's posting on his Facebook fanpage.

Liow had said that it misled the people into believing there was indeed a blackout at the Bentong counting centre.

Liow hoped that Gan would cooperate with the police in its investigation to establish how the blackout rumour began in the first place.

"The rumour is not only a form of character assassination, it also damaged the credibility of the Barisan and created anger and dissatisfaction among the public," he said.

On Monday, Sin Chew Daily reported that Gan had apologised to Liow.

Gan had said in a statement that he posted the message in his personal capacity and took responsibility over the controversy it had caused.

He added that he had deleted the message, clarified the incident and issued an apology on May 7.

Gan got Astro AEC into hot water when he posted on his Facebook that "when my child is born, I will ask him to write an essay with the title, The Blackout Night.

"The beginning of the essay would be on May 5, 2013, there was a stiff fight in the Bentong seat. Someone had said that he would cut his ears if it is lost, and then the counting process started, blackout..."

His message had been shared by 18,775 people and 73,576 people had clicked "like" within 15 hours after he posted it.

Several reporters as well as DAP assemblymen Chow Yu Hui (Bilut) and Lee Chin Chen (Ketari) clarified later that there was no blackout or any sudden "appearance" of a ballot box.

Liow retained his Bentong parliamentary seat in a close fight with DAP's Wong Tack.

TV9 exec murder: Court sets June 26 for mention

Posted: 20 May 2013 06:04 AM PDT

SHAH ALAM: The High Court here on Monday set June 26 for mention of a case involving a former executive of an oil and gas company accused of murdering his wife, TV9 administrative executive Nur Syaleza Jaffar.

Justice Datuk Ahmadi Asnawi set the date in chambers. Lawyer Shah Rizal Abdul Manan, representing the accused, Norazman Bashah Ahmad Azam Bashah, when met by reporters outside the court, said the defence was still waiting for the port-mortem report from the prosecution.

"We will send a representation to the Attorney-General's Chambers to review the charge against my client after receiving the post-mortem report," he added.

Norazman Bashah, 32, is charged with murdering Nur Syaleza, 31, at their residence at No.115, Tingkat 1 Blok O, Apartment Saujana, Jalan PJU 10/1C, Damansara Damai, Petaling Jaya, between noon and 7.30pm on July 28, 2012.

The offence, under Section 302 of the Penal Code, carries the mandatory death sentence upon conviction. - Bernama

Related Stories:
Dec 10 for re-mention of TV9 exec murder trial
Murder case of TV9 executive postponed to Oct 25
Husband of TV9 executive charged with her murder
Police: Probe into murder of TV9 executive completed
Remand period of suspect in TV9 exec murder extended
Police record four more statements in Syaleza murder case

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies


Outside festival venue, Cannes is a movie in itself

Posted: 20 May 2013 03:56 AM PDT

CANNES: Inside the Cannes temple of film-making, moguls meet movie stars and buyers and sellers wrangle over what we will be watching on the big screen a few months from now.

But almost as compelling is the scene outside the Palais des Festivals.

During the day, movie wannabes draw attention to their career aspirations and red-carpet junkies wait for a glimpse of Leonardo, Justin, Nicole and the other superstars.

At night, luxury sports cars line the nearby streets like crouching greyhounds.

And the Croisette seafront becomes transformed into a slow-moving river of gowns and tuxedos, where overheard snatches of Arabic, Chinese and Russian point to where the new money is today.

Music pounds from invitation-only beach parties guarded by tough-looking men who mutter the occasional word into their shirt cuff.

"I've been coming here every year for 12 years," said a woman named France, among the camera-clutching crowd outside the grand entrance to the Palais.

"Last year, I had my glasses on the top of my head, and they fell off. You want to know who picked them up? It was Brad Pitt! He was so adorable and charming.

"I kissed the glasses all over - I'm wearing them today!"

Laura Bartoli, a 23-year-old Italian from Ancona, Italy, came just in the hope of seeing Leonardo Di Caprio, starring in "The Great Gatsby."

"We arrived here yesterday afternoon. We have never met him personally before," Bartoli said. "I am not sure it will work, but I will try."

Cannes first-timer Zhou Shi-shum, 31, from China, said the goal was "Chinese movie stars like Fan Bingbing, but also French stars like Marion Cotillard."

Some of the watchers bring aluminium stepladders, with their names painted on them, to get a better view.

A few even dress up as the characters from their favourite movies. Frenchman Alain Robie came as an astonishingly accurate copy of Mrs. Doubtfire, the gender-bending nanny portrayed by Robin Williams.

Also prowling the daytime streets are the folks seeking to maximise attention for movies that, to put it diplomatically, are unlikely to be Oscar contenders.

In a typically low-budget but colourful promotion, Lithuanian actors promenaded with two piglets on leashes - "Violet, the star of the film, and Pink, her gigolo," they helpfully explained.

Spray-painted on the porkers' backs was "REDIRECTED."

"It's an action movie about British people who fly to Malaysia but get redirected to Lithuania because of the volcano," said actor Mindaugas Papinigis.

The film's website bears no sign of any sponsorship by the Lithuanian Tourism Board.

"It tells a story of four friends turned first-time robbers John, Ben, Tim and Michael who accidentally get stranded in a middle-of-nowhere Eastern European country and have to fight their way back home through the land of whores, smugglers, dirty cops, cheap beer and sick fantasies," it says.

"Return to Nuke 'em High" - where members of a high-school glee club are mutated into zombies - is another movie that you may never have heard of.

But that won't be the fault of US mini-producers Troma Entertainment, who each day work the Cannes streets with megaphones and monster masks.

"If you want to express yourself there is a way to do it," said Troma's Doug Sakmann. "You won't be shut down by the fact that you don't have enough money to do it." - AFP

Bruce Willis to star as hit man in 'Expiration'

Posted: 19 May 2013 10:38 PM PDT

The German-born American actor is adding to his prolific filmography yet another action-packed picture, Expiration, a project developed by Emmett/Furla Films and announced at the 66th Cannes Film Festival's Marché du Film.

This feature film has Bruce Willis (pic) playing a poisoned hit man desperately seeking an 11th-hour antidote to save his own life.

Brian Tucker, author of the crime thriller Broken City, will be penning the screenplay to this thriller.

The producers of Expiration are hoping to start shooting in March 2014. In the meantime, Emmett/Furla Films say they're negotiating with a prospective director, but keeping his name under wraps until the deal has been clinched.

(Relaxnews)

Shots fired at Cannes Film Fest

Posted: 19 May 2013 09:28 PM PDT

CANNES, France (Reuters) - A man was arrested at the Cannes film festival on Friday after firing a starting pistol during a live TV broadcast on the palm-lined waterfront, sending actors Christoph Waltz and Daniel Auteuil running for cover.

French TV station Canal+ was interviewing Austria's Oscar-winning Waltz and French actor Auteuil live on its nightly news show from a beach-front set before a crowd of spectators when a man fired two shots into the air.

"The bodyguards jumped over the barriers into the crowd and pulled him to the ground. The police arrived and told everyone to run because there was a grenade in his hand," witness Arthur Laiguesse told Reuters.

Police arrested the man at the scene and found he was carrying a dummy grenade and a knife, authorities said.

"It really appears to be a crazy guy," said a police source.

After the man was taken away, the show's producers told the crowd the programme would continue: "The show must go on."

Waltz, who has won two best supporting actor Oscars for Django Unchained and Inglourious Basterds, and Auteuil, both of whom are serving on the Cannes jury, returned to the set.

The shooting was the second security incident on day three of the 12-day festival, the world's largest cinema showcase that attracts thousands of actors, directors, film executives, journalists and fans.

A police source said US$1.4 million worth of Chopard jewellery intended to adorn movie stars had been stolen from a room at the Suite Novotel hotel overnight on Thursday.

But Chopard said the value had been exaggerated and the items were not for actresses to use, declining to give further details.

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The Star Online: Metro: Central

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Developer of abandoned project in SS2 told to clean up pond

Posted: 20 May 2013 04:42 AM PDT

DEVELOPERS of a stalled development project next to Damansara Bistari flats in SS2, Petaling Jaya, have been asked to clean up the site.

Damansara Utama assemblyman Yeo Bee Yin said the approval plans submitted by the developers would not be processed until the site was cleaned up.

"The site has been there for more than three years and has changed hands twice. The current developer is hoping to develop a 42-storey office block. Their application will not be processed until they clean up the place," she said.

She said this during a visit to the site, which has now become a pond that is about 1.8m deep and is filled with algae.

Also present were Petaling Jaya councillor Lee Suet Sen and several Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) officers.

Lee had received complaints from worried residents of the Damansara Bistari flats.

Chairman of the flats, Abdul Samad Abdul Rashid, said the site was too close for comfort.

"There is no hoarding and our children could fall into the pond," he said.

Another resident, Shaari Osman, 59, said they had to put up with the foul-smelling pond each morning while praying at the surau, located in front of the pond.

Abdul Samad said he had lodged a complaint with the developer twice but no action had been taken.

Lee said a notice had already been issued to the developer in April but they had failed to act on it.

"It was a 14-day notice and MBPJ has conducted several tests for Aedes mosquitoes and cleaned up the rubbish in the pond but the developer has to be responsible for it," he said.

During the visit, Yeo also visited a collapsed embankment next to the flats that had not been fixed.

The drain collapsed last year and the Drainage and Irrigation Dep­artment (DID) had called for tenders three months ago.

"However, the project has not been awarded to any contractor. I hope the DID can speed up the process," she said.

KL city folk have high expectations of Tengku Adnan and Loga Bala

Posted: 20 May 2013 04:42 AM PDT

IT would seem that our newly-minted Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and his deputy Datuk Loga Bala Mohan have a lot to live up to if city folk have their way.

Both Tengku Adnan and Loga Bala will have their hands full dealing with vocal and empowered city residents.

They certainly have a lot of expectations to fulfil.

Apart from ratepayers, both men will also have to deal with Kuala Lumpur's nine newly-elected Pakatan Rakyat MP's who are sure to keep them on their toes.

Although both have pledged to do their best for the city and resolve some of KL's perennial woes such as traffic congestion, floods and lack of affordable housing, Kuala Lumpur residents do not only want good service.

They are demanding for accountability, transparency and good governance in Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and other government agencies.

Residents are also pushing for local government elections to be implemented in the federal capital.

"They need to engage in healthy dialogues with the people and that means including us in the decision-making process," said Bukit Bandaraya Residents Association chairman M. Ali.

"Don't finalise policies and only then come to us to have a dialogue about it," he said.

Ali added that if the new administration was not able to do that, then they should implement local government elections.

"It is much easier and is the way forward for a city like Kuala Lumpur," added Ali.

Brickfields Sector B Rukun Tetangga chairman S.K.K. Naidu wants the new leaders to make good the promises made by the previous administration.

"I want City Hall and the FT Ministry to keep all the promises they had made to the residents.

"We want the full-fledged police station promised to us.

"We also want a solution to the worsening traffic situation in Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad, Brickfields, and we want our green lungs preserved," said Naidu.

He agreed that implementing local government elections would bring about accountability at the local government level.

Masjid India Action Council deputy chairman Syed Akbar Ali, however, did not think that local government elections were all that important for now, but stressed that the city needed to resolve the worsening traffic situation and issue of cleanliness.

"Take Masjid India, for example. Many of the inner roads have been closed. This causes traffic congestion," Syed Akbar said.

"Cleanliness is also another major problem here. The rising number of foreigners operating illegal businesses in Masjid India have contributed to the filth and rot of this once lovely place," he added.

At a press conference on Friday, Tengku Adnan vowed to look at ways to resolve the traffic situation, flood woes and housing issues in the city.

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Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift big winners at Billboard Awards

Posted: 19 May 2013 09:42 PM PDT

(Reuters) - Pop stars Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift won the big prizes on Sunday at the Billboard Music Awards, which also honored legendary performers Madonna and Prince.

Bieber, who was named top male artist, also performed at the show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. He also took home Billboard's first Milestone Award, chosen by fans, for musical innovation and ingenuity.

"I'm 19 years old. I think I'm doing a pretty good job, Bieber said. "It should really be about the music. This is not a gimmick. I'm an artist and I should be taken seriously. And all this other bull should not be spoken of."

The teen heartthrob did not elaborate, but in recent months he has been involved in several high-profile incidents ranging from driving offenses to reports of hard partying and drugs being found on his tour bus in Sweden.

Swift won the top award of the night, artist of the year. She thanked her fans by telling them: "You are the longest and best relationship I've ever had."

Pop diva Madonna was named top touring artist for her MDNA Tour, 2012's highest-grossing concert series.

Madonna strode onstage to accept the accolade from will.i.am, wearing black fishnet stockings, garters and a padlock choker.

The MDNA tour grossed more than US$305 million from 88 sold-out shows and attracted an audience of 2.2 million people. Madonna acknowledged her fans, saying: "A showgirl needs her fans. Thank you for supporting me for three decades."

She also thanked her four children for being "incredibly supportive."

The Billboard Music Awards, hosted by 30 Rock star Tracy Morgan, opened with Bruno Mars performing Treasure.

Early awards went to Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, who won top rap song for Thrift Shop, and Nicki Minaj, who took home the top rap artist honor.

Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe was named top digital song, while Swift took home the top Billboard 200 album award for Red.

French producer and DJ David Guetta was named top electric dance music artist.

Among musical highlights, Bieber performed Take You, which was chosen by his fans via Twitter, before pairing up with will.i.am for "#ThatPOWER."

Other musical pairings included Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull singing #LiveItUp, Minaj and Lil Wayne who performed "High School," and Christina Aguilera and Pitbull singing Feel This Moment.

Selena Gomez, Chris Brown, Icona Pop, South Korea rap sensation Psy and Swift, who was nominated for 11 Billboard awards and received eight, performed as well.

In an apparently unscripted moment, Miguel, performing Adorn, leapt from the stage and landed feet-first atop two young women. No mention was made on the broadcast as to whether they were injured.

The show ended with the Icon Award for Prince, in recognition of his unique career and accomplishments in the music industry. Prince performed a medley to close the show, but did not deliver an acceptance speech.

Rod Stewart tops charts for first time in 34 years

Posted: 19 May 2013 09:17 PM PDT

LONDON (Reuters) - Veteran rocker Rod Stewart scored his first British album chart number one in more than 30 years on Sunday with Time, while the French electro outfit Daft Punk clung to the top of the singles chart, the Official Charts Company said.

Stewart, sporting his trademark spiky blonde hairdo, told Reuters that the process of putting together his new autobiography had freed up what is normally a slow song writing process.

"I've written some decent songs, but I've never considered myself a songwriter because it doesn't come naturally," he said. "It doesn't flow out of my pen like it does with some songwriters, it's always been a struggle. It was much more enjoyable this time round."

Time is Stewart's first fully self-penned album in more than 20 years, and his eighth British number one album. Despite his success, Stewart, a 68-year-old father of eight, said he had no intention of slowing down any time soon.

Stewart tours from June, and hopes at some point to work again with his old Faces bandmate Ronnie Wood, now a guitarist with the Rolling Stones.

"Once that window of opportunity opens up, then Ronnie and I will get together and we'll all come out on Zimmer frames and wheelchairs, but we'll do it," he said.

Another veteran singer, ABBA's Agnetha Faltskog, scored the highest charting album of her solo career with a sixth place for A, her first new album in almost a decade.

In the singles chart, Daft Punk's Get Lucky is on track to become Britain's biggest selling of the year, with the group's hotly anticipated new album out on Monday.

The highest new entry in the singles chart was Heart Attack by former Disney star and current U.S. X Factor talent show judge Demi Lovato, which came in at number three.

Beatles guitar auctioned for $408,000 in US

Posted: 19 May 2013 05:13 PM PDT

NEW YORK: A six-cord electric guitar that Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison played went under the hammer for $408,000, Julien's Auctions said Sunday.

The customized VOX guitar was the centerpiece of the annual Music Icons auction held Saturday at the New York Hard Rock Cafe by the Beverly Hills, California-based auctioneers.

Julien's Auctions had valued the guitar ahead of the auction at between $200,000 and $300,000.

The guitar, which had been at several exhibitions prior to auction, was a gift from John Lennon to "Magic Alex" Mardas, an engineer at Apple Records and a friend of the band in 1967, Julien's said.

Harrison used the guitar while practicing the song "I am the Walrus." Lennon played it during a video session for "Hello, Goodbye."

Some 450 other items were also auctioned at the event, including the pants that Elvis Presley wore in the "Jailhouse Rock" movie, a jumpsuit worn by 70s pop star David Cassidy and objects from David Bowie, Michael Jackson and the Grateful Dead.

An electric guitar that Elvis once played on sold for $50,000, while sunglasses that "the King" once wore sold for $28,125.-AFP

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Lego-themed components progressing well ahead of schedule

Posted: 19 May 2013 04:51 PM PDT

NUSAJAYA: Legoland Malaysia Theme Park is adding two new attractions by opening its water theme park and hotel probably towards the end of the year.

Its general manager Seigfried Boerst said construction work on the Lego-themed components were progressing well and expected to be completed a few months ahead of schedule.

"We will keep updating members of the media from time to time on the exact opening date of the two attractions,'' he said on Saturday.

Asked whether the opening date of the two attractions would take place on September 15, to coincide with the park's first anniversary, Boerst quipped "it could be''.

He told reporters this at the unveiling of the Menara Maybank Lego model at the Legoland Malaysia Theme Park here by Maybank president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar.

The 5.5-metre high model is designed and built by the park's master model builders from more than 318,000 Lego bricks and took over three months to complete.

The Lego model is the only Malaysian bank head office in Miniland and was chosen to be included as it is deemed to be one of the iconic buildings in the country.

At the Miniland, Asia's most famous countries, cities and landmarks have been recreated on a scale of 1:20 or 1:50 to be displayed in an interactive way for guests.

"The opening of the water theme park and the hotel will transform the park into a Legoland Resort,'' said Seigfried.

In conjunction with the unveiling of the bank's Lego model, Maybank Foundation also invited 23 special needs children from the HappyLand Special Edu Centre Johor Baru.

They were given the chance to witness the launch as well as to enjoy a day of fun in the park courtesy of the bank.

The event was also to bid farewell by Maybank staff in Johor Baru to Abdul Wahid who has been appointed as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department under the new Cabinet-line up.

He will be in charge of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU).

Abdul Wahid helmed Maybank on May 1, 2008, and prior to that he was the Group CEO of Telekom Malaysia Bhd.

He was also formerly the managing director and CEO of UEM Group Bhd and UEM World Bhd, as well as the executive vice-chairman of PLUS Expressways Bhd.

24 livestock theft suspects nabbed

Posted: 19 May 2013 04:20 PM PDT

JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested 24 suspects in four states believed involved in a syndicate that steals livestock using blowpipes loaded with tranquilliser darts.

Johor CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Dr Hashim Haron said with the arrests, the group's activities have now been halted.

He said their modus operandi saw members using blowpipes loaded with darts laced with tranquillisers which were shot at the animals to get them to sleep.

"They would then load the animal into a lorry before selling them to various parts in the country," he said.

Their tactics were uncovered when police spotted a suspicious lorry in Bandar Tenggara in Kota Tinggi here at around 3am on March 4.

Upon conducting checks, police found nine stolen cows hidden under a canvas in the vehicle and they eventually detained the driver and his attendant.

Johor CID chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Dr Hashim Haron said that following the first arrest, police then conducted raids in Malacca, Negri Sembilan and Bangi in Selangor and managed to clamp down on the rest of the syndicate members.

"All the suspects are aged between 20 and 40 and are believed to be involved with the syndicate," he said, adding that investigations revealed that the group had been actively stealing cows, goats and buffalos for the past three months.

He said that following the arrests, police also recovered 48 cows, 14 buffaloes, and nine goats and confiscated a Proton Perdana, blowpipes, darts, tranquillisers, parangs, ropes, ear taggers, and walkie-talkies believed to be used to steal the animals.

SAC Dr Hashim said some of the livestock had been slaughtered and sold in various markets in several states.

"The police have received more than 10 reports of stolen livestock in Kota Tinggi, Kluang and Kulai from farmers who lost a total of RM218,000 in stolen livestock," he said.

Home splashed with paint after branch was closed, says former Taman Nesa DAP chairman

Posted: 19 May 2013 04:51 PM PDT

JOHOR BARU: Former Taman Nesa DAP chairman S. Kogilavani has claimed that DAP members may be out to get her after her home was splashed with paint on Wednesday.

Kogilavani, who recently decided to close the branch following a disagreement with state DAP members, said she was not sure who committed the act but she was scared for her life.

"The paint had damaged my car, wall and motorcycle and it is scary as my house has never been attacked before.

"It is funny that this incident has taken place just weeks after I decided to close my branch down," she said.

Kogilavani added that the incident occurred at around 1.50am and she only heard her car alarm go off and was shocked to find the whole porch area splashed with paint.

"It was still dark outside and I was so scared and did not dare to step out of my door to inspect further.

"I became restless the whole night, and lodged a police report on the matter at about 9am on Wednesday," she said when contacted.

She added that the police came to inspect her home and took pictures of the affected area as well as cleared up to three bags full of paint.

"I do not wish to live in fear and hope that the police will investigate the matter," she said.

Johor Baru (North) OCPD Asst Comm Ruslan Hassan, who confirmed the report, said the police are investigating the case and have yet to establish the motive of the incident.

It was previously reported that Kogilavani along with 200 members from the branch had decided to leave DAP alleging that the party was racist and did not look into the needs of the Indian community there.

Kogilavani also made news when her husband, K. Murugan, was attacked by several men for shouting during a DAP ceramah in Taman Inang here on March 31.

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