Isnin, 15 Julai 2013

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro


Model cop charged with murders

Posted:

A Singapore policeman once portrayed as a model officer was charged with the gruesome double murder of a businessman and his son in a case that has shocked the city-state.

Senior Staff Sergeant Iskandar Rahmat, 34, could face hanging if convicted of murdering car workshop owner Tan Boon Sin, 67, and his son Tan Chee Heong, 42, last Wednesday.

The older man was fatally slashed in his home while his son's body was found a kilometre away after being dragged under one of their cars, leaving a trail of blood on a busy road as other motorists watched in horror.

Iskandar appeared dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans with his hands shackled behind his back, as prosecutors read the murder charges in court.

His right hand had a deep gash closed with stitches between the thumb and forefinger.

No plea was taken and he was taken away in a police car within minutes of his appearance.

Prosecutors said investigations were continuing. Iskandar will reappear in court next Monday.

Iskandar, once portrayed as a model officer on the Singapore Police Force website, abandoned the older victim's car and fled to Malaysia by scooter. He was arrested within two days in neighbouring Johor state and repatriated on Saturday.

Singapore media said the suspect, a married 14-year veteran of the force, was bankrupt and under an official investigation for failing to report his personal financial problems to his superiors. He was banned from carrying firearms at the time of the killings.

There was no immediate indication of a motive for the murders. But a police spokesman confirmed reports that Iskandar had attended to a theft complaint filed by the elder Tan in November last year, after which the sergeant was reassigned to another position.

In a weekend statement, Police Commissioner Ng Joo Hee said: "Our police force and every police officer is tarred by the actions of this single officer." — AFP

YouTube lessons for referee to rig games

Posted:

A Lebanese football referee jailed for accepting sex in exchange for agreeing to rig matches testified that a Singaporean businessman used YouTube to show him how to fix a game.

Ali Sabbagh, speaking on the first day of the trial of Eric Ding Si Yang, said the businessman sent him "20 to 30" YouTube links to "teach me how to make wrong decisions".

"The videos had too many decisions where the decision made by the referee is not the right decision," he said.

Ding is accused of providing Ali, 34, and two other Lebanese officials with women who gave them free sexual services ahead of a match in Singapore in April in which they were supposed to officiate.

Ali and the other two officials were all pulled out and placed under investigation before the match. He was found guilty in June and sentenced to six months in jail over the scandal.

Assistant referees Ali Eid and Abdallah Taleb were also convicted and have since been released and deported.

Ali said that in a series of e-mail exchanges late last year, Ding told him that the best way to rig a match was to award penalties.

Ali quoted Ding as saying that "nobody will stop you, nobody will do anything... When the corner comes, just blow and say pushing and pulling... If there is anything in the penalty area, you can blow your whistle".

He said Ding, currently out on bail, gave him assurances that he would not be asked to rig matches that would affect his career within the Asian Football Confederation.

State prosecutors said in an opening statement that they filed three charges against Ding for "corruptly giving gratification to three football officials as an inducement to fix football matches that they would officiate in the future".

Ding faces a maximum prison term of five years and fines of up to S$100,000 (RM252,000) for each count of corruption.

The case is a colourful addition to Singapore's long history of match-fixing scandals, including allegations that syndicates organised the rigging of hundreds of games worldwide. — AFP

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


Spain apologises to Bolivia for presidential plane delay

Posted:

LA PAZ (Reuters) - Spain apologised on Monday for its part in the events that led Bolivian President Evo Morales' plane to be delayed earlier this month during an international search for U.S. fugitive Edward Snowden.

Bolivia has accused Spain, France, Portugal and Italy of closing their skies to Morales' plane, which was searched at the airport in Vienna on July 3, after being told it was carrying the former U.S. spy agency contractor from Moscow to Bolivia.

"We recognize publicly that perhaps the procedures used in the Vienna airport by our representative were not the most effective," Spain's ambassador to Bolivia, Angel Vázquez, told journalists after dropping the letter off at Bolivia's Foreign Ministry.

"We regret this fact ... the procedure was not appropriate and bothered the president (Morales), putting him in a difficult situation," Vázquez said.

Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said last week that the country was ready to apologise to Bolivia for inconveniencing Morales, but denied it had closed its airspace to his flight.

Spain is keen to maintain historical ties to South America, a growing export market, and has renewed efforts to nurture relationships with Latin America after expropriations last year by Bolivia and Argentina hit Spanish companies.

The unusual treatment of the Bolivian leader touched a sensitive nerve in Latin America, which has a history of U.S.-backed coups, and Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia offered Snowden asylum.

U.S. President Barack Obama has said any country that gives Snowden shelter would face serious repercussions. Snowden has been holed up at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport since June 23, when he landed in Russia from Hong Kong.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday he wanted Snowden to leave, but also signalled that the American was moving towards meeting Russia's asylum conditions.

(Reporting by Daniel Ramos; Writing by Caroline Stauffer; Editing by Paul Simao)

U.S. case against Zimmerman would require proof of racial malice

Posted:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - For all the complex issues raised by the death of Trayvon Martin, whether the U.S. Justice Department turns it into a civil rights case may depend on the relatively simple question of whether George Zimmerman was motivated by racism when he pulled the trigger.

Unless federal prosecutors can present new evidence that suggests racial malice motivated Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic, to shoot Martin, an unarmed black teenager, they are unlikely to pursue charges, lawyers with expertise in civil rights said on Monday.

A jury in Sanford, Florida, on Saturday found Zimmerman, a 29-year-old neighbourhood watch volunteer, not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the 2012 shooting death of Martin. Defence lawyers argued Zimmerman shot 17-year-old Martin in self-defence.

State and federal courts generally have the same threshold for a criminal conviction: a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt by a unanimous jury, or by a judge if a defendant waives a jury trial.

By finding Zimmerman not guilty of second-degree murder, the Seminole County jury rejected the charge that Zimmerman acted with ill will, spite or hatred.

Attorney General Eric Holder said on Monday his Justice Department had yet to decide whether to file federal civil rights charges against Zimmerman.

Like the videotaped police beating of Rodney King in 1991 or the 2006 fatal shooting of Sean Bell by New York police, the Martin case is a window into the federal government's authority to enforce civil rights.

Preachers led by Al Sharpton planned a news conference at Justice Department headquarters in Washington for Tuesday to add pressure to prosecute Zimmerman. They believe he racially profiled Martin before pursuing him with a 9mm pistol.

HATE CRIMES LAW

The law federal prosecutors would most likely use against Zimmerman was passed in 2009 to target hate crimes.

It requires that prosecutors prove that someone caused bodily injury "because of the actual or perceived race" of the victim, a bar that while straightforward can be hard to clear.

"The difficult part is always showing the perpetrator's state of mind, and the statute requires that there was racial motivation, that the defendant was thinking in racial terms," said William Yeomans, a former Justice Department civil rights lawyer.

The government typically uses evidence such as an attacker's contemporaneous racial epithets, or a pattern of planning to target a specific race, said Samuel Bagenstos, who served in the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division during President Barack Obama's first term.

"If you look at the standard patterns of these cases, there are often statements made by the defendant expressly referring to the race of the victim during the attack," he said.

"That is a cut above the evidence that we've seen so far" against Zimmerman, he added.

In an emergency call before the encounter with Martin, Zimmerman told a police dispatcher that Martin "looks black" but only after the dispatcher asked for Martin's race.

One of the jurors in Zimmerman's state trial told CNN on Monday that she did not think Zimmerman racially profiled Martin. "All of us thought race did not play a role," said the juror, granted anonymity by the television news network.

Further, there is no video of the encounter as there was of King's beating at the hands of four Los Angeles police officers.

After a jury acquitted the officers of state charges in the King case, the Justice Department relied heavily on the video when it tried the officers on federal charges that they deprived King of his civil rights. Prosecutors analyzed the baton blows to King and zeroed in on those that came after the video showed King had been subdued.

The second jury convicted two of the officers, helping to calm a poisonous U.S. racial climate that included riots.

RACIAL ANIMUS

Wayne Budd, who as a Justice Department official oversaw the prosecution of the Los Angeles police officers, said he believed it would be difficult for the government to prove racial animus by Zimmerman with the evidence that has become public so far.

"They're going to have their hands full. It's not going to be easy," Budd said.

Terree Bowers, the U.S. attorney in Los Angeles during the police officers' second trial there in 1993, said prosecutors were able to refine their case the second time around. He said he was not sure the Justice Department could do the same thing against Zimmerman.

"I don't know what else is out there for the government to develop if they decide to proceed," he said.

Holder, the chief U.S. law enforcement official and an Obama appointee, in April 2012 referred to the difficulty of proving racial motivation.

"We have a very ... high bar that we have to meet in order to bring federal charges in this case so we are continuing in that regard," Holder said while addressing Martin's death at a news conference.

A Justice Department statement on Sunday alluded again to the challenges prosecutors face, referring to the "limited" civil rights laws.

One advantage for prosecutors is a change in the hate-crimes law in 2009 that eliminated a requirement that they show a connection between the crime and a federally protected activity, like voting.

A Justice Department spokeswoman on Monday declined to say whether prosecutors had convened a federal grand jury to hear evidence about Zimmerman, a step that would indicate increased activity on the part of prosecutors.

Asiana to sue TV station after gaffe over pilot name

Posted:

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Asiana Airlines said Monday it will sue a TV station that incorrectly reported racially offensive names of four pilots onboard the flight that crash-landed on July 6 at San Francisco International Airport.

An anchorwoman at KTVU, a Cox affiliate based in Oakland, California, fell victim on Friday to an apparent prank and reported four bogus pilot names, including "Sum Ting Wong" and "Wi Tu Low," during the noon newscast. Within hours, the broadcast footage had gone viral on the Internet, drawing widespread criticism and ridicule.

"We decided to sue KTVU because Asiana Airlines thinks their news defames our pilots and our company's reputation," said Kiwon Suh, an Asiana spokesman. The company also said the fake names "disparaged Asians in general."

During an extended on-air apology late Friday, KTVU said its staff should have caught the prank but neglected to "read the names out loud, phonetically sounding them out." But in a bizarre twist, the station also blamed the National Transportation Safety Board, which had confirmed the names for the station prior to the broadcast.

The NTSB apologized late Friday and acknowledged that a summer intern who was answering phones as a volunteer at the agency confirmed the fake names "in good faith" for KTVU. Kelly Nantel, an NTSB spokeswoman, said the intern did not make up the names but acted "outside the scope of his authority" by confirming information for reporters.

As of late Monday, the intern was no longer working at the agency, according to a CNN report.

So far, neither KTVU nor the NTSB have explained where the names originated. KTVU declined to comment, citing the potential lawsuit.

On Monday, Suh, the Asiana spokesman, played down earlier reports that the company had threatened legal action against the federal agency as well. "We will never sue the NTSB," Suh said.

KTVU's gaffe came five days after Asiana disclosed the names of the pilot and co-pilot on Flight 214 as Lee Kang-kook and Lee Jeong-min, respectively.

The crash of the Boeing 777 plane resulted in the deaths of three teenage girls in a group of students from eastern China who were visiting the United States for a summer camp. Over 180 passengers and crew members were injured.

The Washington-based NTSB investigators said they were preparing to finish work in San Francisco after eight days on the scene. Although the agency warned it could take months to determine the cause of the crash, information released by investigators so far suggests pilot error contributed to the accident.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio


Bahasa-speaking Korean export

Posted:

South Korean actor Kim Jin Sung tackles relationship problems – in Bahasa Malaysia – in 'Autumn Di Hatiku'.

AT first glance, Kim Jin Sung is everything you would expect a South Korean heartthrob to be.

He's gloriously tall (1.86m), mysteriously handsome, effortlessly fashionable and has a complexion so fair and flawless even my Hazeline Snow-using aunt would envy. But many would be surprised to discover that the 27-year-old actor speaks Bahasa Malaysia quite fluently.

"Bahasa Malaysia Dan Indonesia: Terjemahan Dan Intonasi," he said proudly of the course he took in Hankuk University Of Foreign Studies in Seoul, South Korea while working part time as a model and actor. Kim, who spoke mostly in Bahasa Malaysia during this interview, said he decided to take the course because he fell in love with the unique language.

After completing the year-long course, Kim's Malaysian lecturer encouraged him to pursue an acting career here.

His first project is the 28-episode Autumn Di Hatiku, a five-minute web series aired on Tonton. Not to be mistaken as a remake of the 2000 South Korean drama Autumn In My Heart, Autumn Di Hatiku is an original series by the local video portal. It tells the story of the K-pop-obsessed Nina (Hanez Suraya) and her hilarious adventures in trying to land a hunky South Korean businessman, Park Au Tum (nicknamed "Autumn"), played by Kim.

Autumn, a young CEO who plans to expand his business in Malaysia, catches Nina's attention one day when he stops by the bakery she works in. Smitten, Nina begs her co-worker Zidick (Aiman Hakim) who lived in South Korea during his teenage years, to teach her everything she needs to know about the Korean culture in order to impress Autumn. But little does she know that Zidick is harbouring feelings for her.

The romantic comedy, helmed by well-known short film directors MJ Woo and Edmund Yeo, was shot at the end of May for over a period of 10 days.

"I watched a lot of Bahasa Malaysia dramas like Teduhan Kasih and Epilog Cinta Kirana to get a feel of things. After that, I memorised the script and practised in front of the mirror regularly," said Kim, describing his preparations for the show.

He also felt pressured to perform well as this was his first time acting in a lead role, having only starred in TV commercials and a non-speaking role in the 2009 South Korean hit Iris prior to this.

As his character is the subject of Nina's affection, many may wonder what Kim's thoughts are on Malaysian ladies – take note, female fans!

Kim expressed his fondness for Malaysian girls, stating they are "kind and friendly" and wouldn't rule out going on a date with them if the opportunity arises.

Kim also talked about Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, saying he didn't realise the magnitude of the trend before coming to Malaysia.

"I'm proud of my country and my culture. I'm glad so many people here embrace it," he said, adding that catchy K-pop songs play a part in drawing people to the culture.

In light of the plastic surgery "craze" in South Korea (brought about by reality series Let Me In where participants are given the chance to go under the knife for free), the actor also spoke candidly about his stand against it.

"I've never done it and I don't think I ever will because it makes everyone look the same after the operation," he shared.

Although Kim's commitment with Autumn Di Hatiku will end in September, he said that he will continue to stay in Malaysia if he receives more acting offers. Asked if he feels his career may be limited here – as he would probably be cast as "the Korean guy" in most local productions – Kim said: "I know people will start to get bored if I keep doing the same thing. But I will improve my Bahasa Malaysia and English so I can play more varied roles."

Catch Autumn Di Hatiku from Monday to Saturday at noon on tonton.com.my/autumndihatiku.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews


No Leighton Meester in 'Veronica Mars'

Posted:

'Veronica Mars' movie replaces Leighton Meester with Andrea Estella.

Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas has been doing a really great job bringing the cult series' original players back for the movie. But, a scheduling conflict is KO-ing Leighton Meester from reprising the role of Carrie Bishop.

Thomas announced last weekend that indie pop band Twin Sisters singer Andrea Estella has been cast in the part of "the gossip queen of the 09ers" who falsely accused Neptune High teacher Mr Rooks (Adam Scott) of having an affair with her to protect her best friend on Season 1 of the series.

"Sadly, Leighton was doing a different movie during the same time frame on the wrong coast. In the end, she was unavailable," Thomas said. "One of the reasons I wanted Leighton, beyond her talent/beauty/history in the show, was that we needed a performer who could sing in this important role. Once it became evident that we couldn't make Leighton's schedule work, I decided to cast someone from a band I already wanted in the movie."

Other than singing, Thomas didn't elaborate on Bishop's storyline in the movie. He did say that there will be Twin Sisters songs on the soundtrack. "This is the first movie I've ever appeared in," Estella said in a statement. "I had never seen Veronica Mars before all of this. I've been increasingly interested in finding new TV shows to plow through. I watched the Veronica Mars pilot and was totally into it! It's the exact kind of show I would get obsessed with, so it's been a bit of dream to be in a movie, especially being a messed up rock princess. How could I say no? I think the VM fans are going to be very happy!"

Estella's addition follows an announcement earlier that Gaby Hoffman (Field Of Dreams, Sleepless In Seattle, Uncle Buck) had been cast in the entirely new role of Ruby Jetson – again no specifics on the role were released.

The two women join returning castmembers Kristen Bell, Enrico Colantoni, Ryan Hansen, Jason Dohring, Max Greenfield, Tina Majorino, Krysten Ritter, Chris Lowell, Percy Daggs III and Francis Capra for the movie, which is currently in production.

Veronica Mars set multiple records for Kickstarter when the campaign launched in March, becoming the fastest project to reach US$1mil (RM3mil), doing so in a little more than four hours. It reached its US$2mil (RM6mil) goal the same day. – Reuters

Joyce Cheng stars in Malaysian film

Posted:

MALAYSIA is a very special place to me because my mum and dad met here in this beautiful country, where the people are nice and the food is great," shared Joyce Cheng Yan Yee during a press conference recently in Kuala Lumpur for local Chinese New Year flick Huat Ah! Huat Ah! Huat.

The 26-year-old Canadian-born Hong Kong-based artiste, daughter of Hong Kong stars Adam Cheng and the late Lydia Shum, was revealed as the made-in-Malaysia film's lead actress.

Cast as a fishmonger named Xiao Ping in the US$1mil (RM3.2mil) comedy, the cheery actress is prepared to portray a full-figured character in the movie.

"I have not stopped eating ever since I got off the plane. The food is wonderful, but I am not skinny to begin with, so need I actually eat that much?" she jested.

"She enjoys spicy food as much as we Malaysians do. In fact, she can even eat super spicy small chillies without batting an eyelid," chorused the film's director Tan Boon Huat and lead actor Aniu (Tan Kheng Seong), who plays her love interest Ah Huat, an autistic man with an extraordinary sense of smell and a unique ability to brew the perfect cup of coffee.

Child actors Leong Sawyer, five, and Bosvin Chen Chung Kai, eight, were also unveiled during the press conference.

Huat Ah! Huat Ah! Huat revolves around a young man named Ah Huat, who strives for success, armed with his motto that "honesty is the best policy".

As the main character in the movie, Ah Huat reflects the typical Malaysian Chinese guy who treats everyone with kindness and sincerity.

The movie is jointly produced by Golden Screen Cinemas, Clover Films, and Very Good Movie, with The Star's 988 as the official radio station.

The movie commenced filming last week in Kuala Lumpur and will continue in other locations like Serendah, Selangor and Rasah, Negri Sembilan.

Filming is due to be completed before Hari Raya.

Huat Ah! Huat Ah! Huat will be released during Chinese New Year next year. – Seto Kit Yan

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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No Leighton Meester in 'Veronica Mars'

Posted:

'Veronica Mars' movie replaces Leighton Meester with Andrea Estella.

Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas has been doing a really great job bringing the cult series' original players back for the movie. But, a scheduling conflict is KO-ing Leighton Meester from reprising the role of Carrie Bishop.

Thomas announced last weekend that indie pop band Twin Sisters singer Andrea Estella has been cast in the part of "the gossip queen of the 09ers" who falsely accused Neptune High teacher Mr Rooks (Adam Scott) of having an affair with her to protect her best friend on Season 1 of the series.

"Sadly, Leighton was doing a different movie during the same time frame on the wrong coast. In the end, she was unavailable," Thomas said. "One of the reasons I wanted Leighton, beyond her talent/beauty/history in the show, was that we needed a performer who could sing in this important role. Once it became evident that we couldn't make Leighton's schedule work, I decided to cast someone from a band I already wanted in the movie."

Other than singing, Thomas didn't elaborate on Bishop's storyline in the movie. He did say that there will be Twin Sisters songs on the soundtrack. "This is the first movie I've ever appeared in," Estella said in a statement. "I had never seen Veronica Mars before all of this. I've been increasingly interested in finding new TV shows to plow through. I watched the Veronica Mars pilot and was totally into it! It's the exact kind of show I would get obsessed with, so it's been a bit of dream to be in a movie, especially being a messed up rock princess. How could I say no? I think the VM fans are going to be very happy!"

Estella's addition follows an announcement earlier that Gaby Hoffman (Field Of Dreams, Sleepless In Seattle, Uncle Buck) had been cast in the entirely new role of Ruby Jetson – again no specifics on the role were released.

The two women join returning castmembers Kristen Bell, Enrico Colantoni, Ryan Hansen, Jason Dohring, Max Greenfield, Tina Majorino, Krysten Ritter, Chris Lowell, Percy Daggs III and Francis Capra for the movie, which is currently in production.

Veronica Mars set multiple records for Kickstarter when the campaign launched in March, becoming the fastest project to reach US$1mil (RM3mil), doing so in a little more than four hours. It reached its US$2mil (RM6mil) goal the same day. – Reuters

Joyce Cheng stars in Malaysian film

Posted:

MALAYSIA is a very special place to me because my mum and dad met here in this beautiful country, where the people are nice and the food is great," shared Joyce Cheng Yan Yee during a press conference recently in Kuala Lumpur for local Chinese New Year flick Huat Ah! Huat Ah! Huat.

The 26-year-old Canadian-born Hong Kong-based artiste, daughter of Hong Kong stars Adam Cheng and the late Lydia Shum, was revealed as the made-in-Malaysia film's lead actress.

Cast as a fishmonger named Xiao Ping in the US$1mil (RM3.2mil) comedy, the cheery actress is prepared to portray a full-figured character in the movie.

"I have not stopped eating ever since I got off the plane. The food is wonderful, but I am not skinny to begin with, so need I actually eat that much?" she jested.

"She enjoys spicy food as much as we Malaysians do. In fact, she can even eat super spicy small chillies without batting an eyelid," chorused the film's director Tan Boon Huat and lead actor Aniu (Tan Kheng Seong), who plays her love interest Ah Huat, an autistic man with an extraordinary sense of smell and a unique ability to brew the perfect cup of coffee.

Child actors Leong Sawyer, five, and Bosvin Chen Chung Kai, eight, were also unveiled during the press conference.

Huat Ah! Huat Ah! Huat revolves around a young man named Ah Huat, who strives for success, armed with his motto that "honesty is the best policy".

As the main character in the movie, Ah Huat reflects the typical Malaysian Chinese guy who treats everyone with kindness and sincerity.

The movie is jointly produced by Golden Screen Cinemas, Clover Films, and Very Good Movie, with The Star's 988 as the official radio station.

The movie commenced filming last week in Kuala Lumpur and will continue in other locations like Serendah, Selangor and Rasah, Negri Sembilan.

Filming is due to be completed before Hari Raya.

Huat Ah! Huat Ah! Huat will be released during Chinese New Year next year. – Seto Kit Yan

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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Scomi shares up on RM159mil contract win

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: Shares of Scomi Energy Services Bhd rose 6.5 sen to 90.5 sen after it bagged a RM158.7mil contract from TNB Fuel Services Sdn Bhd.

At 9.27, Scomi Energy, one of the most actively traded stock in Bursa Malaysia, saw 10.54 million shares done between 87 sen and 93.5 sen.

Its parent company, Scomi Group Bhd's shares rose one sen to 43 sen with 4.19 million shares traded between 42.5 sen and 43.5 sen.

The FBM KLCI rose 2.10 points to 1,788.77. Turnover was 194.33 million valued at RM171.9mil. There were 211 gainers, 100 losers and 171 counters unchanged.

In a statement, Scomi Energy said the bulk coal affreightment  contract was for a period of two years commencing Sept 1, with an option to be extended for another year.

Under the contract, Scomi Energy is expected to transport about three million tonnes of coal per year to and from various locations.

"Scomi has had a longstanding business relationship with TNB Fuel Services as we have been on their vendors' list since 2005.

We are delighted to continue working with TNB Fuel as we continue to consolidate our offerings in marine logistics," Scomi Energy president (marine services) Mukhnizam Mahmud said.

China’s wealth a mirage for foreigners

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: China's 20-year economic boom has been the big economic story of recent times and boosted the wealth of its 1.3bil citizens at the fastest pace worldwide and spawned some of the biggest companies in history.

Outsiders hoping to scoop up some of that wealth have been less fortunate, however.

This snippet of news picked up by M&A Securities said foreigners earned less than 1% a year investing in Chinese stocks – just one-sixth of what they would have made owning US Treasury bills.

While China's shift toward a market economy has lifted per-capita incomes by 1,074% and helped its companies raise at least US$195 billion through stock sales in Hong Kong, investors with US$695 billion say that corporate governance concerns, competition and state intervention have eroded returns for minority shareholders. 

China is a case in point that great GDP doesn't mean a great stock market.

KLCI down 0.15 point in early trade

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI fell almost one point on Tuesday in volatile trading, after closing in the positive zone on late buying of bank stocks on Monday.

At 9.11am, the KLCI fell 0.15 point to 1,786.52. Turnover was 91.98 million valued at RM78.24mil. There were 151 gainers, 62 losers and 130 counters unchanged.

HwangDBS Vickers Research said on the back of selective buying of index-linked counters, the key FBM KLCI will probably attempt to break away from the immediate resistance threshold of 1,785 today. From a technical perspective, the benchmark index may be inching its way towards the psychological mark of 1,800 next. 

"This comes as Wall Street made further gains last night. Leading US bellwethers were marginally up by between 0.1% and 0.2% at the closing bell amid better corporate profit reports," it said.

Reuters reported Asian shares edged higher on Tuesday, taking their cue from US shares after weaker-than-forecast retail sales growth backed the view that the U.S Federal Reserve will hold off reducing its bond-buying stimulus anytime soon.

MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan added about 0.1% to 440.75.

Citigroup's strong earnings helped the S&P 500 end higher on Monday for an eighth straight day, the longest such streak since mid-January.

The Nikkei share average rose 0.8%, catching up after Japanese financial markets were closed for a public holiday on Monday.

At Bursa Malaysia, BAT fell 32 sen to RM60 and Carlsberg 10 sen to RM14.60.

KL Kepong fell 10 sen to RM21.60 and BLD Plantation 10 sen to RM8.50.

MyEG fell nine sen to RM2.12 on news that it was to roll-out the custom service tax monitoring system project by year end.

Puncak rose 28 sen to RM2.93 and Muhibah 21 sen to RM2.27.

Zecon rose 7.5 sen to 75.5 sen as it had received a selective capital repayment proposal to privatise the company via a cash offer of RM0.80 per share.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Nation

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After MCMC, police to grill sex bloggers next

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: After being questioned for more than nine hours by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivien Lee will now be questioned by the police.

Two investigators from the police arrived at the MCMC building at 9pm to question the two.

They are expected to be questioned for another two hours by the police.

Gathered media were expecting the duo to come out of the building at 8pm, but only managed to catch glimpses of them going to the toilet.

At around 9.30pm, the two, accompanied by two policeman, drove to an undisclosed location.

"We have apologised on YouTube. We were sincere," said Tan as they were walking to the car.

Before they posted a video apology last night, they were unrepentant in their tweets.

Last Thursday, sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivien Lee uploaded a picture on their Facebook page depicting them eating bak kut teh and describing it as fragrant, delicious and appetising, with a Selamat Berbuka Puasa greeting.

Mechanic's sweet tooth leads him to a bitter end

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: A mechanic's sweet tooth for chocolate bars has driven him to a bitter end - behind bars.

Mohd Faizal Abd Rahman was jailed for two weeks Monday morning when he pleaded guilty to stealing eight bars of chocolate from a supermarket in Jalan Alor here.

Magistrate Zuraini Abdul Razak ordered Mohd Faizal, 30, to serve the sentence from the day of arrest last Thursday.

He was charged with stealing eight bars of Cadbury chocolate worth a total of RM63.20, at the KK Supermart & Superstore Sdn Bhd at 10pm on July 10.

The charge, under Section 380 of the Penal Code, carries a maximum imprisonment of 10 years and a fine upon conviction.

According to the facts of the case, a supervisor had noticed Mohd Faizal entering the supermarket last Wednesday, with a sling bag and leaving the premises.

Checks with the security camera recording showed that Mohd Faizal had taken the chocolate bars.

The next day, he returned to the supermarket to buy a few bars of Kit Kat chocolate.

When he went to pay for the purchase at the counter, the alert supervisor recognised him as the man who had shoplifted chocolate bars the day before.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Siti Aisyah Ahmad prosecuted. – Bernama

Najib calls on Perdana fellows to be unofficial govt spokesmen

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Najib calls on Perdana fellows to be unofficial govt spokesmen

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has called on young Perdana fellows to become unofficial government spokesmen in disseminating information on government programmes and initiatives.

The Prime Minister said the prestigious programme, which was a government initiative to foster strategic engagement with young people, reflected the government's trust in the younger generation.

He said as Perdana fellows were social media savvy, they could help the government reach out to young people to enable them to learn and understand government policies and programmes.

"Use social media to spread the good things done by the government, what is the purpose of a government policy and what is not true.

"A lot of nonsense were posted on social media, and to a certain extent, some people were taken in by it.

"We need you to disseminate the information because you know what's going on in the government.

"Hopefully, you can become unofficial government spokesmen to enable us to foster a more robust and effective engagement and connectivity with young people," he said when presenting 70 Perdana fellows to Cabinet ministers at Parliament House here Monday.

Implemented for the first time this year, he said the Perdana Fellowship was a pertinent method to provide a golden opportunity to young people to get a real-live work experience at a minister's office.

It also provides an opportunity to sharpen the skills of talented young people to prepare them as future leaders as the programme enables the participants to understand government policies, programmes and challenges as outsiders, he added.

"When I got the chance to be a politician, began my career as a Member of Parliament and a member of the administration, then only I realised that making changes are not as easy as what we think from outside.

"But this does not mean that change cannot happen. Change certainly can happen, provided we have the policies, programmes, commitment and political will to make the changes expected," he said.

Perdana fellows comprise local and foreign graduates and students of institutions of higher learning (IPT).

The mentee term placement for fresh graduates is between three months and six months while IPT students, between six weeks and three months.

The programme, which is tailored along the line of the White House Fellows Programme, enables brilliant and talented young Malaysians to gain a first hand experience of how government works.

Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said 70 youths were selected out of 600 applicants for the fellowship after a rigorous interview.

They also had to write a 500-word essay on government policies and to make recommendations on ways to improve them, he said, adding that the essay was a tie-breaker in the selection.

He said prior to their placement at the mentor's office, the Perdana fellows attended an orientation session conducted by the Youth and Sports Ministry with the cooperation of the Razak School of Government and the National Institute of Public Administration (Intan) on administration and policymaking.  - Bernama
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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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No Leighton Meester in 'Veronica Mars'

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'Veronica Mars' movie replaces Leighton Meester with Andrea Estella.

Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas has been doing a really great job bringing the cult series' original players back for the movie. But, a scheduling conflict is KO-ing Leighton Meester from reprising the role of Carrie Bishop.

Thomas announced last weekend that indie pop band Twin Sisters singer Andrea Estella has been cast in the part of "the gossip queen of the 09ers" who falsely accused Neptune High teacher Mr Rooks (Adam Scott) of having an affair with her to protect her best friend on Season 1 of the series.

"Sadly, Leighton was doing a different movie during the same time frame on the wrong coast. In the end, she was unavailable," Thomas said. "One of the reasons I wanted Leighton, beyond her talent/beauty/history in the show, was that we needed a performer who could sing in this important role. Once it became evident that we couldn't make Leighton's schedule work, I decided to cast someone from a band I already wanted in the movie."

Other than singing, Thomas didn't elaborate on Bishop's storyline in the movie. He did say that there will be Twin Sisters songs on the soundtrack. "This is the first movie I've ever appeared in," Estella said in a statement. "I had never seen Veronica Mars before all of this. I've been increasingly interested in finding new TV shows to plow through. I watched the Veronica Mars pilot and was totally into it! It's the exact kind of show I would get obsessed with, so it's been a bit of dream to be in a movie, especially being a messed up rock princess. How could I say no? I think the VM fans are going to be very happy!"

Estella's addition follows an announcement earlier that Gaby Hoffman (Field Of Dreams, Sleepless In Seattle, Uncle Buck) had been cast in the entirely new role of Ruby Jetson – again no specifics on the role were released.

The two women join returning castmembers Kristen Bell, Enrico Colantoni, Ryan Hansen, Jason Dohring, Max Greenfield, Tina Majorino, Krysten Ritter, Chris Lowell, Percy Daggs III and Francis Capra for the movie, which is currently in production.

Veronica Mars set multiple records for Kickstarter when the campaign launched in March, becoming the fastest project to reach US$1mil (RM3mil), doing so in a little more than four hours. It reached its US$2mil (RM6mil) goal the same day. – Reuters

Joyce Cheng stars in Malaysian film

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MALAYSIA is a very special place to me because my mum and dad met here in this beautiful country, where the people are nice and the food is great," shared Joyce Cheng Yan Yee during a press conference recently in Kuala Lumpur for local Chinese New Year flick Huat Ah! Huat Ah! Huat.

The 26-year-old Canadian-born Hong Kong-based artiste, daughter of Hong Kong stars Adam Cheng and the late Lydia Shum, was revealed as the made-in-Malaysia film's lead actress.

Cast as a fishmonger named Xiao Ping in the US$1mil (RM3.2mil) comedy, the cheery actress is prepared to portray a full-figured character in the movie.

"I have not stopped eating ever since I got off the plane. The food is wonderful, but I am not skinny to begin with, so need I actually eat that much?" she jested.

"She enjoys spicy food as much as we Malaysians do. In fact, she can even eat super spicy small chillies without batting an eyelid," chorused the film's director Tan Boon Huat and lead actor Aniu (Tan Kheng Seong), who plays her love interest Ah Huat, an autistic man with an extraordinary sense of smell and a unique ability to brew the perfect cup of coffee.

Child actors Leong Sawyer, five, and Bosvin Chen Chung Kai, eight, were also unveiled during the press conference.

Huat Ah! Huat Ah! Huat revolves around a young man named Ah Huat, who strives for success, armed with his motto that "honesty is the best policy".

As the main character in the movie, Ah Huat reflects the typical Malaysian Chinese guy who treats everyone with kindness and sincerity.

The movie is jointly produced by Golden Screen Cinemas, Clover Films, and Very Good Movie, with The Star's 988 as the official radio station.

The movie commenced filming last week in Kuala Lumpur and will continue in other locations like Serendah, Selangor and Rasah, Negri Sembilan.

Filming is due to be completed before Hari Raya.

Huat Ah! Huat Ah! Huat will be released during Chinese New Year next year. – Seto Kit Yan

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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Arts & Fashion

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Othello in Venice

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Shakespeare's 'Othello' made a triumphant return to Venice last week.
 

St Mark's Square in Venice last week was the spectacular backdrop to a tragic opera in the first open-air performance in 43 years by the famous La Fenice theatre – a new must on the global culture calendar.

La Fenice staged Italian maestro Giuseppe Verdi's interpretation of Shakespeare's Othello, The Moor Of Venice – with South Korea's Myung-Whun Chung conducting La Fenice's orchestra and choir.

The performance, which coincided with the 200th anniversary of Verdi's birth, was the first since 1970 and was held in the courtyard of the richly decorated Doge's Palace that took up one side of the square. Othello was a popular opera in Venice in the 1960s.

US tenor Gregory Kunde played Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, and Italian soprano Carmela Remigio played his spouse Desdemona.

Othello is one of Verdi's last works and premiered to a rapturous welcome at La Scala in Milan in 1887. Verdi at the time had not composed an opera since Aida in 1871 and there were doubts about his career.

Othello is set in a town in Cyprus in the 15th century when the glory of Venice was at its peak and is filled with references to the great trading empire.

In a Venetian production "the spirit of the place of course plays a role", producer Francesco Micheli told Italian daily La Stampa.

"All this is taking place in a city suspended on the water, always on the point of falling down, but always miraculously surviving," he said.

Othello is "a man of the sea who won against his enemies and a storm, but also shows his personal frailty -- a Messiah who walks on water but then drowns in a glass of water," he said. Othello is the highlight of a music festival in Venice running until Aug 24. - AFP Relaxnews

Keeping the shine

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Dewan Filharmonik Petronas unveils new season packed with diverse flavour.

NEW season, new delights! It's that time of the year again when you thumb through Dewan Filharmonik Petronas' brochure for the upcoming season's highlights.

Outside the classical repertoire, the 2013/2014 season of performances at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) in KLCC, Kuala Lumpur will offer audiences a contemporary cultural snapshot of music and beyond. Together with resident orchestra the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO); discerning music fans can look forward to everything from songbirds, accomplished jazz artistes, an acclaimed dance legend, indie rock straight through whimsical tunes from Pixar.

Kicking things off the new season is a performance by teen prodigy and piano virtuoso Tengku Ahmad Irfan on Aug 17. The showcase will see Irfan premiering his original composition titled Sahibul Hikayat Fantasy Overture alongside pieces by R. Strauss, Sergei Prokofiev and Jongen.

MPO specifically chose Aug 17 because it was on this day – 15 years ago – that the orchestra performed its first concert at DFP. In September, the celebration continues with the fourth instalment of DFP Seni Festival. Look out for Malam Melayu Klasik; a nostalgic showcase featuring veteran singer Datuk Andre Goh and Badan Kesenian Yayasan Warisan Johor on Sept 16. There will also be an MPO & All That Jazz showcase on Sept 22, featuring the likes of singers Atilia Haron, Elvira Arul and Dina Nadzir.

It's an opportunity to catch these songbirds on the big stage as they run through favourites from the jazz songbook and beyond. Then on Oct 8, Kelab Sukan & Rekreasi Petronas and DFP will present a one-night only charity concert featuring the undisputed jazz queen Datuk Sheila Majid and Indonesian pop crooner Harvey Malaiholo. Expect to hear hits like Sinaran, Lagenda and Ku Mohon by Sheila Majid as well as Dia, Aku Begini Kau Begitu and Jerat by Harvey Malaiholo.

Music lovers can also look forward to rousing performances by the Vienna Boys Choir (Oct 30), Grammy-nominated German guitarist Ottmar Liebert (Nov 18) and Icelandic jazz-funk fusion band Mezzoforte (Nov 25).

Vienna Boys Choir, is one of the oldest boys' choirs in the world. For nearly 500 years it has been an enduring symbol of Austria. Its first-class training has produced numerous highly qualified vocalists, violinists and pianists.

Liebert, 54, is no stranger to jazz guitarists. Despite being European, he is best known for his Latin-influenced music and brings contemporary flamenco to the forefront. His new album Dune, is a slight detour from the man's signature sound as it embraces a more intimate and reflective tone. All said, Liebert's guitar style will be the focus on stage at DFP.

Mezzoforte, meanwhile, is considered to be Europe's most important jazz funk fusion band since it emerged as a teenage jazz outfit in 1977.

In 2012, the band celebrated its 35th anniversary. Its latest album Islands documents the band's process of maturing musically and adds another gem to its discography.

In 1996, the three founding members Eythor Gunnarsson, Johann Asmundsson and Gulli Briem expanded the band with the saxophonist Oskar Gudjonsson, in 2006 with the guitarist Bruno Müller and trumpet player Sebastian Studnitzky, adding new colour.

On Nov 25, you can bet Mezzoforte will be a hot concert ticket. Watch the fans go crazy as the band plays its summer hit Garden Party.

Homegrown indie outfit Hujan will end the year with an acoustic set on Dec 2 under the DFP Spotlight Series. The band's catalogue of hits will be significantly rewired but you can count on Hujan frontman Noh and bandmates to deliver an enjoyable performance.

The New Year brings in more joy as MPO presents a series of Valentine's Day concerts next February. Prepare to be serenaded by the smooth vocals of English singer Stephen Rahman-Hughes (Feb 8-9), husband-wife piano duo Robert Levin and Ya-Fei Chuang as well as violinists Liza Ferschtman and James Ehnes.

It's Beatlemania all over again as MPO Plays The Beatles next March. Movie buffs are also in for a treat. Next June, MPO presents Disney's Pixar in Concert. For the first time ever, the orchestra will perform memorable tunes from feature films like Toy Story and Finding Nemo. The musical arrangement will be accompanied by visually stunning film clips.

For a dance spectacle, legendary dancer Datuk Ramli Ibrahim will also hold down a two-night engagement with the MPO next June. 

For enquiries and subscription (03-2051 7007) or email dfp_boxoffice@petronas.com.my. Visit the Box Office to get your copy of the new brochure or download it at www.mpo.com.my.

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The Star Online: Metro: Central

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Suicides highest among those in their 50s

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PEOPLE aged 50 to 59 made up the largest proportion of suicide victims in Singapore last year, new figures show.

Last year, 57 men and 38 women in this age group took their lives.

There was also a worrying rise in suicides among people in their 60s and older.

"Those in their 50s experience significant life changes," said Gleneagles Hospital psychiatrist Adrian Wang.

"They might be retrenched or have their jobs taken over by younger colleagues or they might experience the empty-nest syndrome when children leave home. Marriages might also take a turn for the worse because of these factors."

Multiple stress points could trigger depression and lead to suicide if the person cannot cope, he added.

People in their 50s have been among the top three age groups with the most suicides for four of the past five years. Suicide numbers among those aged 40 to 49 have also been significant.

Two out of three among all who killed themselves last year were men. Professor Kua Ee Heok, senior consultant psychiatrist at the National University Health System (NUHS) said men who live alone, have money problems and have poor social support are more prone to ending their lives.

Dr Alex Su, chief of general psychiatry at the Institute of Mental Health, said male rates have traditionally been higher because when they attempt suicide they use more extreme methods with a higher likelihood of guaranteeing death.

As for women, relationship problems are often a cause for depression.

Rachel Lee, assistant director of Fei Yue Community Services, said: "Many women in their 40s and 50s come to us with marital issues. It could be a combination of relationship problems and physical changes like menopause. Those with good support or fulfilling relationships with their friends or children tend to cope better."

The total number of suicides hit at least a 20-year high at 467 last year, national statistics show. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Jakarta caves in to prisoners' demand

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JAKARTA: The Indonesian Government is to evaluate a 2012 government regulation on remissions believed to have triggered a prison riot in Medan.

Law and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin said he had met inmates at Tanjung Gusta Peniten­tiary after the Thursday riot that left five people dead, including two prison guards, and led to more than 200 inmates escaping.

During the meeting, he said prisoners complained about the regulation, which imposed stricter remission requirements on drug, graft and terror convicts.

"We will review the regulation," the minister said, adding the prison's protest might represent inmates' discontent over the new policy.

President Susilo Bambang Yud­hoyono has ordered his aides to issue supporting regulations on the implementation of the new remission policy to avoid confusion.

It is alleged that about 1,700 drug convicts or about 65% of the total number of inmates at the penitentiary were upset they would no longer get sentence remissions and decided to incite a riot.

The regulation, however, only applies to drug dealers, not all drug convicts, the government said.

The regulation, aimed to serve as a deterrent to terror, graft and drug convicts, has long been a subject of controversy. Critics claim that it violates the rights of inmates and also contradicts higher laws.

Noted lawyer and former law and human rights minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra, representing several high-profile graft suspects, has challenged the regulation through the Supreme Court, arguing it contradicts the 1995 Penitentiary Law and the 1999 Human Rights Law.

A thorough police investigation will be launched to determine both the motive behind the riot in the maximum security penitentiary – whether it was due to blackouts and water stoppages only, or also to the new remission policy – and whether it was planned or spontaneous.

Djoko said that as of Saturday morning, the police had recaptured 94 inmates, including five convicted terrorists, and were still hunting down the remaining 118 escapees.

A total of 212 inmates, not 240 as earlier claimed, including nine terrorists, escaped from the prison while a fire raged following the riot.

Djoko said Amir has ordered prison guards in other prisons to anticipate similar occurrences, as the incident highlights a nationwide overcapacity problem.

There are currently 160,000 prisoners across the country, making a national average of 150% overcapacity, with one guard for 50 every prisoners against the ideal 1:5 ratio, Amir's deputy, Denny Indrayana, said recently.

"The president has also instructed extra money should be allocated if the 1 trillion rupiah (RM300mil) earmarked for the establishment of new penitentiaries since 2010 is not enough," Djoko stated after a limited Cabinet meeting on Saturday at the air base led by Susilo immediately after he landed from a work visit to Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara.

Susilo slammed his ministers for being late in issuing an official statement, saying that the lack of a statement might "give an impression of omission or that steps have not been taken".

Susilo told the ministers he learnt about the incident from foreign television channels and social media like Twitter and Facebook. — Jakarta Post /Asia News Network

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

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Jay-Z on top

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Rapper Jay-Z tops British album chart for first time

American rapper Jay-Z has reached the top of the British album charts for the first time with his new release Magna Carta ... Holy Grail, sales figures showed last weekend.

The hip-hop artiste knocked the English folk rock band Mumford & Sons off the number one spot, according to the Official Charts Company, which compiles the weekly rundown. Jay-Z's new album features guest appearances by his wife Beyonce and singer Justin Timberlake.

Seven of his previous albums have entered the British Top 40, but none had reached the number one position, the compiler said. He saw off a challenge from Scottish veteran Rod Stewart, whose album Time climbed three places to number two. The English folk rock band Passenger took third place with All The Little Lights.

On the singles chart, Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines took the number one spot, displacing British soul singer John Newman's Love Me Again. Swedish DJ Sebastian Ingrosso was the highest new entry, at number three, with the dance hit Reload. – Reuters

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