Ahad, 4 Ogos 2013

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro


JB deals better with Singdollar

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MASSAGE therapist Nur Hayaty Jaafar and her family of five were at Plaza Angsana in Johor Baru, stocking up on goodies for Ramadan and Hari Raya.

The mother of two bought a tin of rempeyek, crackers made of deep-fried flour with peanuts and anchovies, for RM50 (S$19.50) and four bottles of assorted cookies and snacks, spending less than RM200.

She estimated that she saved 30% by shopping across the Causeway. "We are buying most of our festive goods here because it's cheaper. 

"There are also different varieties of food and clothes every year."

The 36-year- old and her family members have been shopping in Johor Baru about twice a month for close to a decade.

Many shoppers like her from Singapore, who head across the Causeway, are enjoying even more savings with the Singapore dollar hitting a 15-year-high against the Malaysian ringgit.

Regulars interviewed at KSL City Mall, Plaza Angsana and Aeon Bukit Indah Shopping Centre told The Sunday Times they can shave anything from a few cents to a few dollars off the prices of tidbits, soft drinks and even movie tickets.

They can now expect to save even more, with the exchange rate hitting RM2.55 to S$1 last Friday, the strongest the Singdollar has been against the ringgit since early 1998, just after the Asian financial crisis.

Most of these regulars who visit Johor Baru for their grocery shopping also found good deals at pharmacies and restaurants, while others were stocking up on Hari Raya cakes and cookies.

Warehouse storekeeper Micheal Samy, 52, who drives there with his wife once a week, said: "We usually spend RM200 but that includes everything like petrol and groceries.

"We also take our three children to watch movies. 

"Each ticket only costs about RM10, compared to an average of S$10 for a ticket in Singapore on the weekends. 

"We live in Clementi, but it's still very worth it to drive in."

For property agent Irene Yeo, an outing with her friends means a day trip to Johor Baru.

Yeo, 42, and her friends, housewife Cassandra Lim, 37, and nurse Serene Ang, 36, go there at least once a month to shop. 

The trio take a bus from Woodlands across the Causeway.

When they visited Tesco supermarket at KSL City Mall last Thursday, they spent RM279.86 on groceries.
These included 15 packets of tidbits such as potato chips, two bottles of shampoo, clothes hangers, tea sachets, T-shirts, female sanitary items and dairy products including milk concentrate and milk.

Yeo said: "I think we can save about S$20 (RM51) ... Milk powder is much cheaper here."

"When there are promotions in the supermarkets in Singapore, things are also quite cheap. 

"But coming to JB is like a gathering for us, we can eat and see what they have here. Shopping malls in Singapore are all about the same," she added.

Shopkeepers said they are expecting more customers from Singapore this weekend and the next.
Chai Ming Jiek, 29, manager of Berlian Optical at KSL City Mall, said that Singaporeans make up about 40% of her customers, and more are expected this week due to the low exchange rate and the Hari Raya cum National Day long weekend.

She added: "I think Singaporeans like it here because there is the bargaining culture, and we give discounts. 

"And they have done their research, they know where to get things at a cheaper price." — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Court allows shoplifter to keep stolen designer wear

Posted:


A 34-year-old shoplifter was allowed to keep the designer clothes she had stolen after she had made restitution to the shop owners.

Lawyers said this was an unusual move, and it means Teo Bee Hwee gets to keep a pair of black Miu Miu pants and two Prada dresses worth more than S$5,000 (RM12,789) that she had lifted on separate occasions last year.

According to lawyers, stolen items are usually returned to the owners or disposed of by the police.

Last Wednesday, Teo, who faced three counts of theft, was sentenced to a four-month Day Reporting Order, without tagging, which means she is required to report regularly to a centre run by the Singapore Prison Service for supervision and counselling. She also has to serve 200 hours of community service within a year.

Criminal lawyer Rajan Subrama­niam said it was rare for the offender to be allowed to keep the stolen goods as it could risk sending the wrong message to the public.

But lawyer Gloria James said: "The court has already punished her for the offence and she has made restitution for the goods. Also, the goods had been away from the stores for some time and the owners probably would not want them back." — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


Envoys in Egypt visit jailed Brotherhood leader - reports

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CAIRO (Reuters) - Western and Arab envoys visited a high-ranking member of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood in jail on Monday, the state news agency reported, to press an international bid to defuse the crisis ignited by President Mohamed Mursi's downfall.

The envoys met deputy Brotherhood leader Khairat El-Shater just after midnight, having received permission from the prosecutor general to visit him at Tora prison, south of Cairo, the state news agency MENA reported.

The report citing "an informed source" contradicted an earlier government denial of a visit by the envoys from the United States, European Union, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

MENA gave no further details. Earlier, the Doha-based Al Jazeera news channel reported the meeting had taken place. The reports could not be independently confirmed.

Shater is deputy leader of the group that propelled Mursi to office last year in Egypt's first democratic presidential election. Seen as the Brotherhood's main political strategist, he was arrested after Mursi's downfall on charges of inciting violence.

The international mediation effort is helping to contain the conflict between Mursi's Islamist backers and the interim government installed by the military that overthrew him on July 3, following mass protests against his rule.

The army-backed government said on Sunday it would give mediation a chance but warned that time was limited.

Thousands of Mursi supporters remain camped out in two Cairo sit-ins, which the government has declared a threat to national security and pledged to disperse.

The authorities say the Brotherhood has incited violence, accusing it of engaging in terrorism - a charge the movement denies as it grapples with one of the toughest moments in its 85-year history.

The crisis has left Egypt, the Arab world's biggest nation, more dangerously divided than at any point since the downfall of U.S.-backed strongman Hosni Mubarak in 2011 and raised questions over the future of its nascent democracy.

Mursi became Egypt's first freely elected leader in June 2012. But fears that he sought to establish himself as a new dictator coupled with a failure to ease economic hardships afflicting most of its 84 million people led to huge street demonstrations on June 30, triggering the army move.

COURT SETS DATE FOR TRIAL OF SHATER, OTHERS

The military has laid out a plan that could see a new head of state elected in roughly nine months. The Brotherhood, an Islamist movement that spent decades in the shadows before Mubarak's downfall, says it wants nothing to do with the plan.

However, diplomats say the group knows Mursi will not return as president and wants a face-saving legal formula for him to step down that guarantees it a stake in the political future.

Almost 300 people have been killed in political violence since Mursi's overthrow, including 80 shot dead by security forces in a single incident on July 27. Much of the Brotherhood's leadership is in custody.

On Sunday, a Cairo court announced that the top leader of the Brotherhood and two other officials including Shater would go on trial in three weeks' time for crimes including incitement to murder during protests in the days before Mursi was toppled.

That could complicate efforts to launch a political process, encourage national reconciliation and avert further bloodshed.

The interim administration has said it wants political reconciliation to include the Brotherhood but says the group must first renounce and halt violence.

Suggesting an appetite for compromise, a spokesman for the Mursi camp said on Saturday it wanted a solution that would "respect all popular desires," an apparent recognition of the strength of the protests against his one year in power.

During a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and European Union envoy Bernadino Leon on Saturday, the pro-Mursi delegation also said they would be willing to negotiate with politicians that backed Mursi's ouster.

But they are also seeking the restoration of a constitution suspended when Mursi was deposed and want the military, together with army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, out of politics.

Mursi is being held at an undisclosed location and facing a probe into accusations including murder.

In the United States, which supplies Egypt with $1.5 billion in aid each year, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham said the Egyptian army must move "more aggressively" to hold elections. He said future U.S. aid will hinge upon a return to civilian rule.

U.S. President Barack Obama has asked Graham and Senator John McCain to travel to Egypt to meet members of the new government and the opposition.

"The military can't keep running the country. We need democratic elections," Graham said in a CNN interview.

Washington has been grappling with how to respond to the situation in Egypt, for decades an important ally in its Middle East policy.

"I want to keep the aid flowing to Egypt, but it has to be with the understanding that Egypt is going to march toward democracy, not toward a military dictatorship. And that's the message we're going to send," Graham said.

(Reporting by Tom Perry; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Stacey Joyce)

Vietnam orders recall of Fonterra milk powder

Posted:

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam has ordered an immediate recall and halt of circulation of a milk powder manufactured by Fonterra after New Zealand authorities said some of the protein concentrate produced there was found to be contaminated.

Abbott Laboratories S.A office in Vietnam, the owner of the milk powder manufactured by Fonterra in New Zealand, will conduct the recall and report the result by August 9, the Health Ministry-run Vietnam Foodstuff Safety Department said in a statement on its website

Egypt news agency confirms envoys met Shater

Posted:

CAIRO (Reuters) - Western and Arab envoys met senior Muslim Brotherhood leader Khairat El-Shater on Monday at the jail where he is being held, Egypt's state news agency reported on Monday, contradicting an earlier denial of a visit by the Interior Ministry.

The MENA agency cited an "informed source" as saying the envoys seeking to mediate an end to Egypt's crisis had received permission from the prosecutor general to visit Shater.

"(The delegation) met Shater from 12 (midnight) until 1 a.m.," it said.

(Reporting by Tom Perry; Editing by Doina Chiacu)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews


Priyanka's popularity soars in Hollywood

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Bollywood's Priyanka Chopra targets stereotypes in Hollywood.

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has a higher mission than just making it in Hollywood: she wants to break down stereotypes of Indians in Tinseltown's eyes and maybe make things easier for her compatriots who live in the United States.

Here's her first lesson: "We don't travel on elephants, there aren't any snake charmers on the side of the road, everybody doesn't talk like Apu from The Simpsons," the actress says, with a bit of a laugh.

Chopra, 31, is one of the biggest stars to emerge in Indian film in recent years, alongside Bollywood heavyweights Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan, with big budget franchises such as Krrish and Don.

She has also won plaudits for taking on unconventional roles, most recently playing an autistic woman in 2012's Barfi!. But in her latest role as an eye-catching animated racing airplane in Disney's global adventure Planes, Chopra said she is hoping to cross the boundaries of Bollywood to Hollywood.

"This is a very global movie. You have characters from all across the world, and I think for kids, it's great to understand that there's so many different kinds of culture and people out there," the actress told Reuters. Chopra plays the voice of Ishani in the movie.

Priyanka Chopra is Ishani in Disney's 'Planes'.

Chopra first rose to fame in 2000, winning the Miss World beauty pageant and transitioning into Bollywood film. But the journey has not come easily for the actress, who said she had to learn the ropes of acting.

"I was 17 years old, I didn't know anything. I just went with my gut and I wanted to take a chance," she said, adding "I've made so many mistakes along the way."

Chopra is currently in production on a biopic about Indian Olympic boxing champion Mary Kom, and learning to box herself, Chopra said the role was "the most difficult film I've ever done".

"Mary is a national icon. She's a five-time world champion, a mother of three kids, an Olympic medallist and she has an incredible story," the actress said. "The challenge was that I have to learn a completely new sport and play a living, breathing person."

Chopra, who was born and raised in India and also spent a few years living in the United States in her teens, has conquered the ranks of Bollywood, but cracking into Hollywood has presented its own challenges. "There is a very big stereotype with Indian actors, and you get only Indian parts. There is a stereotype that there's a certain accent and there's a certain vibe and how is that cool. I felt a lot of that and I really want to be able to change that, for people to be proud of their roots," the actress said.

Pop album, top producer
Chopra's step into Hollywood coincides with her foray into pop music, releasing her first single, Exotic, featuring rapper Pitbull from her upcoming yet-to-be-titled album. The album is being overseen by renowned pop music producer RedOne, who has worked with Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez, and is expected out in early 2014.

It will feature more collaborations with other artistes, although Chopra said it was too early to reveal any names. "My album is like me – eclectic in my taste." said Chopra. "I like a little bit of everything, so my album has ballad, mid tempos, pop, a little rap, EDM ... a little bit of everything."

With her music and film career expanding outside of Bollywood, Chopra said she was now in a position to change common misconceptions that people may have about India.

"It was really hard for me when I went to school in the US, and I don't want that to happen to any more kids or people who come from my part of the world. So if I can do something to change that perception, I'd be happy," she said. — Reuters

> Disney's Planes opens in cinemas in Malaysia on Aug 15.

Most wanted voices

Posted:

Regional cast in the Bahasa Malaysia version of latest Madagascar movie.

THIS coming Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, HBO Asia serves up an exclusive treat for its Malaysian viewers: the Asian television premiere of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.

Looking at the cast list, the voice actors for the Bahasa Malaysia version comprise an impressive lineup of celebrities from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

Voicing the lead character Alex the Lion is award-winning singer Hafiz Suip, actress Lisa Surihani is Gloria the Hippo, and Singaporean singer Taufik Batisah and actor Fahrin Ahmad voice the characters of Marty the Zebra and Melman the Giraffe respectively.

Others in the cast include Singaporean host and musician Najip Ali as Julien the Lemur. Singers Jazz Hassan from Brunei and Hazama Ahmad Azmi from Malaysia will voice penguins Private and Skipper.

You'll also hear actress Didie Alias (as Captain DuBois), director Hafizuddin Fadzil (Vitaly the Tiger), actress Nabila Huda (Gia the Jaguar), host and actor Farish Aziz (Mort), ERA FM announcers Zahid (Maurice), Ray (Stefano the Sea Lion), Adi (Jonesy), Haniff (Comandante) and Hitz FM deejay Rizal (Freddie) in the movie.

Lisa Surihani was excited about playing a voice role as she is a big fan of the animated movie franchise. Playing Gloria was a dream come true of sorts for her.

"I have always wanted to do a voice-over for an animation and I got it! So I'm really excited. Yes I watched the movie several times so I would really understand the story.

"Even though we are different sizes – myself and Gloria – we are so similar on the inside!" said Lisa during the recent press conference.

"It was challenging as it is done in Bahasa Malaysia and I had to make sure that I spoke in sync with the lip movements on the screen at all times, but (at the same time) I also tried my best not to imitate the character too much as I wanted to give it a Malaysian touch.

For Hafiz, he was grateful for the experience and found taking on the role of Alex the Lion really challenging because he had the most lines.

"Alex is hyper at times and it was difficult initially but I was being myself and put my identity into my voice," he said.

The affable Najip welcomed the part of Julien with open arms – voicing the manic character was both interesting and challenging.

"I've been a fan of the film series and I just love Julien's signature song," he revealed before proceeding to sing the chorus (I like to move it, move it). "I decided to voice Julien with an identifiable Indian twang. It was a real challenge but fun nonetheless."

Taufik, on the other hand, was hesitant at first to accept this role because he had never done voice acting before.

"Seriously, I didn't want to sound like Chris Rock (who voices Marty in the original Madagascar films). I did try to imitate him but I got a headache afterwards. It was a fun experience, though."

Fahrin was glad that his experience in voice acting for the animation series Saladin helped him to voice Melman the Giraffe.

"I knew what I had to do. I had watched the film the night before recording, and recorded all of my parts for Melman in three hours the next day," he recalled.

Actress Didie had a challenge – she had to speak with a French accent for the role of the animal control officer, Captain DuBois.

"She is a unique character, so I watched the film with my kids to get an idea of how to voice her," she explained.

HBO Asia sales and affiliate marketing head Jacelyn Kek said that it did a similar project with The Smurfs last year but only recruited Malaysian talents. "This year, we decided to include talents from South-east Asia," she explained.

Seeing double: Voicing the lead character of Alex the Lion is award-winning singer Hafiz Suip.

Seeing double: Voicing the lead character of Alex the Lion is award-winning singer Hafiz Suip. 

In Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, the famous foursome – Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman – who are stranded on an island, are still trying to find their way home to New York. Their journey takes them to Europe where they are relentlessly pursued by the murderous Captain DuBois. The four join a failing travelling circus and end up reviving the business, leaving them to question where home really is.

  •  Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (with dual-language options of Bahasa Malaysia and English) will be aired on Aug 8 at 8pm on HBO / HBO HD (Astro Ch 411/ Ch 431). Local language subtitles of Bahasa Malaysia or Chinese are also available.
Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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Priyanka's popularity soars in Hollywood

Posted:

Bollywood's Priyanka Chopra targets stereotypes in Hollywood.

Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has a higher mission than just making it in Hollywood: she wants to break down stereotypes of Indians in Tinseltown's eyes and maybe make things easier for her compatriots who live in the United States.

Here's her first lesson: "We don't travel on elephants, there aren't any snake charmers on the side of the road, everybody doesn't talk like Apu from The Simpsons," the actress says, with a bit of a laugh.

Chopra, 31, is one of the biggest stars to emerge in Indian film in recent years, alongside Bollywood heavyweights Shah Rukh Khan and Hrithik Roshan, with big budget franchises such as Krrish and Don.

She has also won plaudits for taking on unconventional roles, most recently playing an autistic woman in 2012's Barfi!. But in her latest role as an eye-catching animated racing airplane in Disney's global adventure Planes, Chopra said she is hoping to cross the boundaries of Bollywood to Hollywood.

"This is a very global movie. You have characters from all across the world, and I think for kids, it's great to understand that there's so many different kinds of culture and people out there," the actress told Reuters. Chopra plays the voice of Ishani in the movie.

Priyanka Chopra is Ishani in Disney's 'Planes'.

Chopra first rose to fame in 2000, winning the Miss World beauty pageant and transitioning into Bollywood film. But the journey has not come easily for the actress, who said she had to learn the ropes of acting.

"I was 17 years old, I didn't know anything. I just went with my gut and I wanted to take a chance," she said, adding "I've made so many mistakes along the way."

Chopra is currently in production on a biopic about Indian Olympic boxing champion Mary Kom, and learning to box herself, Chopra said the role was "the most difficult film I've ever done".

"Mary is a national icon. She's a five-time world champion, a mother of three kids, an Olympic medallist and she has an incredible story," the actress said. "The challenge was that I have to learn a completely new sport and play a living, breathing person."

Chopra, who was born and raised in India and also spent a few years living in the United States in her teens, has conquered the ranks of Bollywood, but cracking into Hollywood has presented its own challenges. "There is a very big stereotype with Indian actors, and you get only Indian parts. There is a stereotype that there's a certain accent and there's a certain vibe and how is that cool. I felt a lot of that and I really want to be able to change that, for people to be proud of their roots," the actress said.

Pop album, top producer
Chopra's step into Hollywood coincides with her foray into pop music, releasing her first single, Exotic, featuring rapper Pitbull from her upcoming yet-to-be-titled album. The album is being overseen by renowned pop music producer RedOne, who has worked with Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Jennifer Lopez, and is expected out in early 2014.

It will feature more collaborations with other artistes, although Chopra said it was too early to reveal any names. "My album is like me – eclectic in my taste." said Chopra. "I like a little bit of everything, so my album has ballad, mid tempos, pop, a little rap, EDM ... a little bit of everything."

With her music and film career expanding outside of Bollywood, Chopra said she was now in a position to change common misconceptions that people may have about India.

"It was really hard for me when I went to school in the US, and I don't want that to happen to any more kids or people who come from my part of the world. So if I can do something to change that perception, I'd be happy," she said. — Reuters

> Disney's Planes opens in cinemas in Malaysia on Aug 15.

Most wanted voices

Posted:

Regional cast in the Bahasa Malaysia version of latest Madagascar movie.

THIS coming Hari Raya Aidil Fitri, HBO Asia serves up an exclusive treat for its Malaysian viewers: the Asian television premiere of Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted.

Looking at the cast list, the voice actors for the Bahasa Malaysia version comprise an impressive lineup of celebrities from Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

Voicing the lead character Alex the Lion is award-winning singer Hafiz Suip, actress Lisa Surihani is Gloria the Hippo, and Singaporean singer Taufik Batisah and actor Fahrin Ahmad voice the characters of Marty the Zebra and Melman the Giraffe respectively.

Others in the cast include Singaporean host and musician Najip Ali as Julien the Lemur. Singers Jazz Hassan from Brunei and Hazama Ahmad Azmi from Malaysia will voice penguins Private and Skipper.

You'll also hear actress Didie Alias (as Captain DuBois), director Hafizuddin Fadzil (Vitaly the Tiger), actress Nabila Huda (Gia the Jaguar), host and actor Farish Aziz (Mort), ERA FM announcers Zahid (Maurice), Ray (Stefano the Sea Lion), Adi (Jonesy), Haniff (Comandante) and Hitz FM deejay Rizal (Freddie) in the movie.

Lisa Surihani was excited about playing a voice role as she is a big fan of the animated movie franchise. Playing Gloria was a dream come true of sorts for her.

"I have always wanted to do a voice-over for an animation and I got it! So I'm really excited. Yes I watched the movie several times so I would really understand the story.

"Even though we are different sizes – myself and Gloria – we are so similar on the inside!" said Lisa during the recent press conference.

"It was challenging as it is done in Bahasa Malaysia and I had to make sure that I spoke in sync with the lip movements on the screen at all times, but (at the same time) I also tried my best not to imitate the character too much as I wanted to give it a Malaysian touch.

For Hafiz, he was grateful for the experience and found taking on the role of Alex the Lion really challenging because he had the most lines.

"Alex is hyper at times and it was difficult initially but I was being myself and put my identity into my voice," he said.

The affable Najip welcomed the part of Julien with open arms – voicing the manic character was both interesting and challenging.

"I've been a fan of the film series and I just love Julien's signature song," he revealed before proceeding to sing the chorus (I like to move it, move it). "I decided to voice Julien with an identifiable Indian twang. It was a real challenge but fun nonetheless."

Taufik, on the other hand, was hesitant at first to accept this role because he had never done voice acting before.

"Seriously, I didn't want to sound like Chris Rock (who voices Marty in the original Madagascar films). I did try to imitate him but I got a headache afterwards. It was a fun experience, though."

Fahrin was glad that his experience in voice acting for the animation series Saladin helped him to voice Melman the Giraffe.

"I knew what I had to do. I had watched the film the night before recording, and recorded all of my parts for Melman in three hours the next day," he recalled.

Actress Didie had a challenge – she had to speak with a French accent for the role of the animal control officer, Captain DuBois.

"She is a unique character, so I watched the film with my kids to get an idea of how to voice her," she explained.

HBO Asia sales and affiliate marketing head Jacelyn Kek said that it did a similar project with The Smurfs last year but only recruited Malaysian talents. "This year, we decided to include talents from South-east Asia," she explained.

Seeing double: Voicing the lead character of Alex the Lion is award-winning singer Hafiz Suip.

Seeing double: Voicing the lead character of Alex the Lion is award-winning singer Hafiz Suip. 

In Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted, the famous foursome – Alex, Marty, Gloria and Melman – who are stranded on an island, are still trying to find their way home to New York. Their journey takes them to Europe where they are relentlessly pursued by the murderous Captain DuBois. The four join a failing travelling circus and end up reviving the business, leaving them to question where home really is.

  •  Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (with dual-language options of Bahasa Malaysia and English) will be aired on Aug 8 at 8pm on HBO / HBO HD (Astro Ch 411/ Ch 431). Local language subtitles of Bahasa Malaysia or Chinese are also available.

Top money earner

Posted:

Angelina Jolie has topped Forbes magazine's annual list of top-earning actresses after pulling in an estimated US$33mil (RM107mil) in a year, marked by her decision to have a double mastectomy.

Last year's top earner Kirsten Stewart slipped to third in the list with US$22mil (RM71mil), behind Jolie and second-placed Jennifer Lawrence, whose Oscar for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook helped her pick up US$26mil (RM84mil).

Jolie's bumper earnings reflected her return to blockbusters with the 38-year-old having signed up to star in Disney's Maleficent, a new version of Sleeping Beauty which began filming last month and is due for release in 2014.

The film is the celebrated beauty's first since she revealed in May that she had undergone a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery after being diagnosed as having a gene which gives her a very high chance of developing breast and/or ovarian cancer.

The decision to go public over a choice influenced by the loss of her mother to ovarian cancer at the age of 56 was widely praised as empowering for other women facing a similar dilemma, and appears to have had no impact on Jolie's standing in the business.

"Hollywood hasn't shied away from Jolie," Forbes reporter Dorothy Pomerantz wrote. "She's still one of the few actresses who can demand a paycheck north of US$15mil (RM49mil) for the right movie."

Lawrence meanwhile earned relatively modest fees for her Oscar Best Actress role and for starring in the hugely successful first movie in The Hunger Games series. But, according to Forbes, she was able to leverage that success into much bigger cheques for the upcoming Catching Fire, which hits theatres in November, and for co-starring in the next X-Men film, Days Of Future Past.

Stewart's fortunes meanwhile appear to be on the wane, now that her mega-hit franchise, the Twilight series, has ended.

Former Friends star Jennifer Aniston placed four on the list with estimated earnings of US$20mil (RM65mil) while newcomer Emma Stone came fifth, with US$16mil (RM52mil). – AFP Relaxnews

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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HwangDBS Research maintains "Buy" on MISC

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: HwangDBS Vickers Research is maintaining its "Buy" call on MISC Bhd with a target price of RM5.29.

"Petronas announced that it will directly procure and own its next phase of LNG vessels. The move is disappointing, removing a potential long-term growth avenue for MISC," it said.

It added this year the group will benefit from contribution of floating storage units for the Malacca regas project, commissioning of

Gumusut-Kakap in second half of 2013  and two additional Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) that will be delivered in the same period.

"Floating production, storage and offloading cendor will provide another boost to next year's earnings.

"We understand the group is exploring possibilities for new offshore projects. In our view, there are opportunities to unlock value from its portfolio of world-class oil & gas assets," it said.

HwangDBS said despite the disappointing news, the stock remains undervalued with its resilient LNG cashflows, solid oil and gas assets, and significantly stronger balance sheet following the sale of 50% stake in Gumusut-Kakap and the liner business last year.

Affin Research maintains "Add" on Perdana Petroleum, higher TP

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: Affin Research is maintaining its "Add" call on Perdana Petroleum Bhd with a raised target price of RM2.13 from RM1.90 for its modern offshore support vessel (OSV) fleet.

"Also, we remain positive on the OSV sector, expecting strong earnings recovery in OSV operators to further re-rate share prices.

"Key risks to our positive view are further weakening of the Ringgit and unexpected slowdown in domestic oil and gas activities," it said.

It added Perdana Petroleum has returned to profitability since its second quarter 2012 after enduring a four-year industry downturn.

"Within a short span of one year, Perdana has ordered five accommodation work barges from Nam Cheong at US$29.5mil (RM96.1mil)," it said.

Affin noted four of the five new accommodation work barges will be chartered to Dayang on a five-year chartering contract while the group has yet to secure a client for the fifth work barge.

"Moving forward, Perdana will gradually expand its OSV fleet, focusing on work boats and work barges," it said.

"We believe that Perdana may order a further two to three new vessels annually through its financial year 2014 and 2015," it said.

Tags / Keywords: Investing

PetGas, AmBank lead KLCI higher, Iris in focus

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's FBM KLCI advanced in early trade on Monday, supported by mild buying of Petronas Gas, AmBank and UMW while Iris Corp was in focus.

At 9.07am, the KLCI was up 3.15 points to 1,785.66. Turnover was 99.11 million shares valued at RM36.71mil. There were 110 gainers, 80 losers and 113 counters unchanged.

JF Apex Research said it expected the KLCI to remain lackluster for this week, trading sideways below 1,800 with thin volume transacted as investors stay away from the market in view of the upcoming Hari Raya holidays.

Petronas Gas rose 36 sen to RM21 with 200 shares done while BAT added 24 sen to RM63.24, UMW 16 sen to RM14.28 and AmBank 12 sen higher to RM7.93.

Iris rose three sen to 24 sen with 34.38 million shares done, its warrants Iris-WA added 2.5 sen to 12.5 sen and Iris-WB two sen to 13 sen.

Iris Corp Bhd has received an offer from Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) to subscribe for up to 394.1 million new ordinary shares, representing 25% of the issued and paid-up capital of Iris at 28 sen, thus raising some RM110.3mil.

HL Industries fell 18 sen to RM5.31, PPB Group 14 sen to RM14.70 and GAB 10 sen to RM18.10. MMHE shed four sen to RM4 and Kimlun three sen to RM2.05.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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Danone Dumex Malaysia recalls some of its milk products, possible botulism contamination

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KUALA LUMPUR: Danone Dumex (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd has recalled limited batches of Dumex Dupro, Mamex Cherish, Mamex Explore and Bebelac as a precautionary measure for consumers due to possible botulism contamination.

Danone Dumex, in a statement here Sunday, said Fonterra informed Danone Dumex Malaysia that one of their ingredients had a potential quality issue.

"The safety of our consumers is our primary concern. Danone Dumex's quality and food safety management system includes rigorous testing procedures of our finished products. None of the products tested and sold in Malaysia indicate any contamination.

"However, given the new information supplied by Fonterra, we have taken the decision to make a precautionary recall on specific batches of products," it said.

On Saturday, New Zealand authorities had issued a warning on a whey protein concentrate (WPC) product manufactured by Fonterra, as it was suspected to have been contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which can cause food poisoning (botulism).

WPC is an ingredient in infant formula, growing-up milk powder and sports drinks. It was reported these products are exported from New Zealand to several countries including Malaysia.

This new information indicated that some of the ingredients supplied to Danone Dumex may also have been contaminated. For this reason, Danone Dumex has instigated a precautionary recall in Malaysia.

The products being recalled are:

Dumex Dupro Step 2 with batch numbers 04263B2, 04273B2, 05033B2, 05093B2, 05153B2, 05223B2, 05233B2, 05143T1, 05153B1, 04263B1, 04273B1, 04273B2, 05033B1, 05033B2, 05093B1, 05093B2, 05153B1, 05153B2, 05223B1, 05223B2 and 05233B1;

Mamex Cherish Step 1 with batch numbers 06103T1, 06213B1, 06213B2, 06053R1, 06123R1, 06093T1 and 06213B1;

Mamex Explore Step 2 with batch numbers 06093T1, 06123R1, 06213B1 and 06213B2;

Bebelac Step 2 with batch numbers 05023R1 and 05033R1.

"Consumers should not feed products with these batch numbers to infants. If you have been using these products to feed your infant and your child shows any sign of illness, please contact your health care professional as a precautionary measure," it said.

This recall only affects batches noted above, sold in Malaysia. The recall does not include other batches of the same products and other Danone Dumex products.

"If you have recently purchased any products with the batch numbers detailed above, please return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Danone Dumex apologises for any inconvenience or stress caused by this, but the safety of our consumers is our paramount concern. We are doing everything we can to resolve this issue and provide as much information and support as possible," it said.

Consumers in possession of the products should contact the Careline on 1-800-38-1038. - Bernama

Health Ministry:'Nutricia Karicare' only Fonterra product possibly contaminated by botulism

Posted:

PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry has identified 'Nutricia Karicare follow-on formula products for children from 6 months old' as the sole product that is possibly contaminated with bacteria that could lead to botulism.

As a precautionary measure, all imports of this product will undergo a "hold, test and release" inspection effective immediately.

This is following the latest information obtained from New Zealand's Primary Industries Ministry through the High Commission here that only one product is suspected to contain the whey protein concentrate (WPC) which is the source of the contamination.

In a statement Saturday, the Ministry said it was verifying whether the product is available in the Malaysian market.

"As a precautionary measure, parents and guardians who use the product are advised to not use it and to replace it with another brand for the time being," said Noraini Othman, the Ministry's Food Quality and Safety Division senior director in the statement.

The Ministry has taken into account the alert from the International Food Safety Authorities Network (Infosan) under the World Health Organisation about the WPC manufactured by Fonterra from New Zealand.

The WPC is used as an ingredient in baby formula, growing-up milk powder and sports drinks.

There have been no food safety incidents reported on this particular product as of now.

The Ministry, she added, was also working closely with the New Zealand High Commission here and will issue updates on the latest developments.

"We hope with this explanation, the public need not worry because food safety monitoring and enforcement is always carried out to ensure the safety of consumers are always guaranteed," she said.

She added that if consumers felt wary of the safety status of a food product in the market, they can inform the Health Ministry through the nearest district health office or state health department, or go to the website at fsq.moh.gov.my.

Dr Subramaniam: 'I'll decide when time is right'

Posted:

PETALING JAYA: MIC deputy president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam will decide which post he will contest during the upcoming party polls at the appropriate time.

"It will be my personal decision based on the needs of the Indian community. It is not because of pressure or threats from anyone," he said in a statement to The Star.

This is the first time Dr Subramaniam, who is also Health Minister, was making a statement following reports that he might contest for the president's post in September.

He was also commenting on media reports where several national and state leaders had asked Dr Subramaniam to announce his intention.

The nomination for the MIC president's post has been set for Sept 1, with polling scheduled on Sept 22 should there be a contest.

MIC President Datuk G.Palanivel and his deputy Datuk Dr S.Subramaniam sharing a laugh during the 65th MIC general assembly last year.

MIC president Datuk G.Palanivel and his deputy Datuk Dr S.Subramaniam sharing a laugh during the 65th MIC general assembly last year.

President Datuk Seri G. Palanivel had indicated he would contest the post and would remain for a three-year-term only.

Dr Subramaniam said he had meetings with the branch chairmen in various states to discuss problems and ways to overcome them at ground level.

"I have said that these meeting were not to further my politics. I am disappointed that some quarters have been criticising the meetings," he said.

He said there had been differing views from his supporters, with some claiming that a contest for the top post would weaken and cause division in the party, while others feel that new leadership would bring change and strengthen the party.

Dr Subramaniam said another group claimed that a contest should be avoided, as it would put the party in bad light and disadvantage the Indian community.

"I will study all the views given by the people and my supporters and decide at an appropriate time. I will take into consideration the future of the party and the community.

"The decision will not because of my personal interests," he said.

Dr Subramanian also urged leaders not to make unnecessary statements on the president and deputy president positions so as not to confuse members.
Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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The Ghost Bride

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Once a management consultant, she even spent some time working at a start up. That was before she had kids and became their slave, she says. Life as a

slave does seem to have worked out pretty well, however. It allowed her to transform her long-time hobby of writing from mere indulgence to bona fide priority. "Now I get to legitimately tell my children to be quiet because I'm 'writing'."

In fact, Choo just recently made it to the Barnes & Noble Fall 2013 "Discover Great New Writers" list, and is also recommended by a whole bunch of others (Indie Next List, Bookseller Editor's Pick, and Library Journal Barbara's Pick).

It's probably safe to say that just over a year ago, having her very own audio book would have also been beyond imagination.

A "gazillion" hours in the studio later, however, and she's a seasoned voice-over artist: "I was kicking myself because there are so many old men in this book; cunning old men, opium-addicted old men, wheezy old men … and I had to make them all sound different!"

If you want to get your hands on a copy of The Ghost Bride, it's out tomorrow in MPH stores. And if you want to meet the brains behind the book, Choo says she has plans to attend the Singapore's Writers festival this November, and is currently still in discussions about a date for a visit to Malaysia.

To get taste of the author, you can visit her blog at yschoo.com for recipes, more info on the book, and other random (and often very funny) things.

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Japanese rocket takes supplies, robot to space station

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TOKYO, Japan (AFP) - Japan launched a cargo-carrying rocket Sunday loaded with supplies for the crew of the International Space Station, along with a small robot meant as a companion for one of the country's astronauts.

The H-2B rocket blasted off from the southern island of Tanegashima at 04:48 am local time (1948 GMT Saturday), images broadcast by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) showed.

"The HTV4 module has separated from the rocket as scheduled and continues its journey to the ISS," a JAXA spokesman said during the broadcast streamed over the Internet.

"Information on its progress will be given later, as and when," he added of the module which is due to dock at the station on August 9.

The unmanned rocket carried a cargo transporter filled with drinking water, food, clothing and work supplies for the six permanent ISS crew.

The annual mission, which has previously been completed by countries including the United States and Russia, will also pick up waste from the space centre.

"The H-2A and H-2B rockets have been successfully launched total 20 times in a row," said Yoichi Kujirai, chief of the aerospace division at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, which carried out the project.

"We would like to sell this technology to Asia and the Middle East," he said, as quoted by Jiji Press.

A small talking robot accompanied Sunday's mission. The android is designed to act as a chatting companion for astronaut Koichi Wakata, who is set to arrive at the space station later this year.

Standing at just 34 centimetres (13.4 inches) tall and weighing about one kilogram (2.2 pounds), Kirobo is programmed to communicate in Japanese and keep records of its conversations with Wakata, who is the first Japanese astronaut to command the ISS.

The robot's creator Tomotaka Takahashi and his team posted photos taken near the launch pad on Twitter.
"The launch was so beautiful and breath-taking," they said in a tweet. "Thank you everyone for watching our project so warmly."

The black-and-white humanoid robot, wearing bright red boots, displayed its communication skills in June:
 "This may look a small step, but it will be a big stride as a robot," Kirobo told reporters.

"Kirobo will remember Mr Wakata's face so it can recognise him when they reunite up in space," Takahashi had told AFP.

"He will be the first robot to visit the space station."

The robot, which has a wide range of physical motion, will also play a role in some missions, relaying messages from the control room to the astronaut.

Sending the android to space is part of a study aimed at seeing how a non-human companion can provide emotional support for people isolated over long periods.

Back on earth, twin robot Mirata will be on the lookout for any problems encountered by its electronic counterpart, which was inspired by the legendary animation character Astro Boy.

In January, Japan launched two satellites from Tanegashima to strengthen its surveillance capabilities, including keeping a close eye on North Korea after it vowed to launch another nuclear test.

One of them was a radar-equipped unit to complete a system of surveillance satellites that would allow Tokyo to monitor any place in the world at least once a day.

The other was a demonstration satellite to collect data for research and development.

Home makeovers help needy students

Posted:

TO GET ahead at school, children need somewhere clean and safe to do their homework.

The trouble is many lack even this basic amenity.

To combat the problem, a new online initiative has been set up that posts pictures of dirty or badly lit study areas in needy households.

The public can then pick which household they wish to donate their money or time to in order to help provide home furnishings such as tables or shelves.

And when the makeover is complete, a set of "before and after" photographs are posted so contributors can see how much of a difference they have made.

The first-of-its-kind project, which does not reveal the families' identities or addresses, was launched last month by the Student Advisory Centre.

"By comparing the before and after pictures, donors can see for themselves where their money or labour went," said the youth charity's director, Trevor Xie, 32.

"This also helps others to choose which house they would like to help out with."

The centre started its Home Improvement Programme last year after seeing how hard it is for families to break out of poverty without a conducive environment for youngsters to study or live in.

For example, it brought in a set of bunk beds for Sim Ai Song's two children, aged seven and 10, after finding out that the springs of their old mattress were poking through its thin threads.

"We tried to flip the old mattress over so that they could sleep on the other side, but they couldn't," said Sim, a 54-year-old cleaner. "They sleep sounder now."

The makeovers leave pupils better equipped for class and can prevent them from wandering around the neighbourhood. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

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It's the school holidays, and for some parents, this is a time stress levels ratchet up

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School's out! While teachers rejoice, we take a look at some strategies to calm your parental jitters during the school holidays.

WHEN your kids are officially out of school and home for their semester break, and you are stuck with the task of constantly trying to keep them entertained, while juggling your day job, on top of your regular mummy (and daddy) duties, things can occasionally get a bit dicey.

Sure, it is great to be spending quality time with your children, but being huddled up at home all day can put a tonne of pressure on parents who want to make sure that their kids stay active and continue learning new things.

Trying to maintain a functional household by managing chores such as washing, cleaning and grocery shopping, while trying to keep up with the children's daily activities, can be overwhelming for parents.

You can end up feeling exhausted and stressed out from trying to meet these incessant demands.

Prolonged periods of stress can wreck havoc on both mental and physical health. Stress has also been linked to mood swings and a weakened immune system, leaving you more vulnerable to illnesses.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the simple act of learning how to chill out can provide benefits such as lowering your blood pressure, reducing muscle tension, improving concentration, as well as giving your confidence a boost.

Some tried-and-tested antidotes for stress include taking some time off to relax and getting enough rest. Restoring balance in your life can help defuse some tension and promote better overall health.

Other methods that can help alleviate stress include regular exercise, meditating, and maintaining regular contact with like-minded friends.

While teachers rejoice, we take a look at a few strategies to calm your parental jitters about the school holiday season, and how to keep your kids happy while you're at it.

Have a little structure

School's out, and your kids are bent on sleeping all day and staying up all night. It is tempting to throw all semblance of a schedule out the window during the holiday season, but having no structure at all can lead to chaos in your children's lives.

For starters, it pays to maintain a regular sleep schedule. Children aged five to 12 require about 10 to 11 hours of sleep. Poor or inadequate sleep at this age can lead to mood swings, behavioural problems such as hyperactivity, as well as cognitive problems that can impact their ability to learn.

Allocating specific time slots for different activities throughout the day can help parents create some structure and balance for their kids during the holiday season.

They can include activities such as reading and writing, light chores like gardening or watering the plants, and practising skills such as painting, singing or playing the piano.

Homemaker Teh Wen Li, 31, shares her experience in keeping up with her two daughters, aged five and eight.

"Holidays can get too long, and sometimes, the kids can get restless and bored," she observes. The chatty mum says she tries to find a good mix of activities that her daughters can participate in throughout the day. "They can't be watching television the entire day, so I set up a routine for them, and establish slots for revision, playtime, and fun activities like going to the park."

Go for a relaxing retreat

Family holidays are a perfect opportunity for fun-filled memories that will stay with you and your children for life. The real magic of a family holiday lies in the quality time you spend together.

Whether it is watching your kids learn how to swim, exploring new destinations together, or relaxing over a nice family meal, family retreats are a great opportunity to bond.

Just ask Nurul Suhaida Musa, a 40-year-old mother of seven. Nurul, who is a dance instructor, has four sons and three daughters – including a pair of twins – aged two, three, eight, 14, 18 and 20. While her older children have outgrown their school-going years, Nurul still spends a significant amount of time managing the lives of her younger offspring.

"I always prefer family getaways to staying at home," she tells this writer.

"During long holidays, I usually bring my kids back to my hometown in Pahang to visit their grandmother, as well as my brother and my sister."

For Nurul, going out of town provides a peaceful escapade from the bustling city.

"My kids are usually glued to the computer at home. They certainly spend more time participating in outdoor activities when we balik kampung," she shares.

"My boys would play games like football, while my girls would spend time with their grandmother in the kitchen.

"The best part about school holidays is that I do not have to wake up as early to send my children to school," she says with a laugh.

Do activities together

Doing things with your children is not only a great way to set the pace for the holidays, it also helps promote parent-child bonding.

Creating an environment of mutual trust is integral during your child's formative years.

Activities like colouring, playing board games, baking and going to the park together, are just some of the things you can do with your kids.

You can even go high-tech by engaging your child with games and learning programmes that emphasises good old-fashioned fun, using the latest gadgets and technologies.

Despite his busy schedule, corporate trainer Palani Murugappan makes it a point to take time off work to do activities with his 10-year-old son. Palani, 47, also has a six-month-old daughter.

"Child number two isn't much of an issue for the time being, as she is still very young.

"The eldest, however, can be really demanding. He always expects me to do things with him," he says with a laugh.

To placate the active youngster, Palani says he often takes his son out for activities such as jungle trekking and cycling.

"I prefer outdoor activities to staying at home. I think it's better for my son to be exposed to nature, rather than be glued to his gadgets," says the doting dad.

Set play dates with other parents

Play dates are a great way for children to develop and practise their social skills.

It also allows them to gain confidence and tact in a social environment.

Spending time with other children their age also allows them to sharpen their abilities to engage, connect and empathise.

An added bonus is that, while your kids are busy fiddling with Lego blocks or enjoying a game of badminton, you get at least a couple of hours off to indulge in some precious "me-time".

You can start by talking to other parents at your children's school, or friends who have children of the same age.

Parents can devise simple games or programmes for their children, or even set up mini-competitions to heighten the excitement.

However, it may be a good idea to establish some basic ground rules, such as, "eat only in the kitchen" or "the door must always stay open" before your kids proceed with their play dates, to ensure a safe and pleasant experience.

It may also be a good idea to keep a play date to under two hours – just enough time for your kids to have fun, and for you to chill out and unwind with activities such as going to the gym.

Ship them off to a sleep-away camp

Plenty of parents agree that sending their kids away for a sleep-away camp provides a much-needed respite from their hectic schedules.

Sleep-away camps also provide a good opportunity for kids to gain a sense of independence, while developing social and living skills.

Going for a camping trip may give your child a chance to interact with nature, and gain fresh and novel experiences.

The best part is, they will come home with tonnes of new friends and funny stories to tell. They might even pick up some useful skills such as cooking and starting a camp fire.

Pick up a new skill

If your child isn't ready to be sent away for the weekend, picking up a new skill makes a cool and equally intriguing alternative.

Maybe your child has always fancied ballet or the piano. Or like the pint-sized proteges in the tv show Junior Masterchef: Australia, has always displayed a knack for whipping up delicious meals.

Whatever their hobbies and interests, the holiday season might be the perfect time for them to try it out.

Enrolling your child into group classes allows him or her to socialise with other like-minded youngsters, as well as help nurture their talents.

Being in a group setting may even encourage them to speak up, be assertive, and develop leadership abilities.

Juggling life and kids, especially during the school holidays, can leave you physically and mentally drained.

However, the holidays provide a good opportunity for parents to bond with their children, and to create memories, as well as important life lessons that they will take into adulthood.

If you are normally busy at work, perhaps now is the perfect time to take a breather and spend some quality time with your family.

In any case, keep calm and parent on.

E-liminating fatty liver disease

Posted:

Recent studies show that vitamin E tocotrienols may have a positive effect on fatty liver disease.

IT is understood that as your belly expands, fat also piles up in your liver, and this fat could clog the liver, causing a state of malfunction.

The liver is the metabolic factory of the body, so a clogged liver certainly spells trouble. Poor liver function could set off health problems, such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic conditions.

Among the spectrum of metabolic diseases resulting from poor function of the liver are diabetes, hypertension and fatty liver.

Fatty liver disease is a term used to describe a build-up of excess fat in the liver cells.

It may not sound like a big deal, but fat build-up in the liver could result in dangerous health consequences, such as liver inflammation, liver tissue scarring (fibrosis), and even liver cancer.

While heavy drinkers are more likely to end up having lots of fat deposits in the liver, teetotallers or casual drinkers are not exempt from this scourge.

People who drink little or no alcohol, and have no history of alcoholism, can develop a liver condition known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

"In the 1980s, medical experts discovered liver lesions – commonly caused by alcohol abuse – in patients who had never been significant consumers of alcohol," explains Dr Marilyn O. Arguillas, of Davao Doctors Hospital's Department of Internal Medicine in the Philippines.

"Their liver biopsies showed that they had fatty livers, similar to that of alcoholics. This phenomenon, now known as NAFLD, occurred mostly in people who were diabetic or obese," the gastroenterologist tells Fit4life in an interview.

Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are becoming more common around the world.

"Ultimately, both variations of fatty liver disease are two roads that are head towards the same destination, which is liver tissue scarring or fibrosis.

"The development of fibrosis marks the connection between fatty liver disease and end-stage liver disease," says Dr Arguillas.

Liver disease on the rise

The prevalence of NAFLD is disturbingly high around the world. In Western countries, NAFLD affects between 15% and 30% of the general adult population.

In Japan, the incidence of NAFLD is believed to range from 18% to 30%, and about 14% in Thailand.

Dr Arguillas believes that NAFLD is becoming a common problem in the South-East Asian region, due to modern lifestyle factors such as a diet high in fructose corn syrup and fat, as well as physical inactivity.

"Popular fast food joints, for instance, are now just as easily available here in South-East Asia as they are in the West," she says.

The rising incidence of diabetes and obesity, especially in Malaysia, contributes to the prevalence of NAFLD.

Diabetics who have poor blood sugar control are at an increased risk of developing fatty liver disease.

Those who are overweight or obese, and have high blood cholesterol, also have the tendency to accumulate fat in the liver. This will affect the cells, as well as impede liver function.

Often, the symptoms of liver disease are not obvious, and are often dismissed as tiredness, or a general feeling of being unwell.

Most patients do not show many visible symptoms, and NAFLD is usually discovered incidentally when doctors discover abnormal liver function test readings, or find an enlarged liver in the course of looking for something unrelated.

Fighting liver fat

Recent studies show evidence that vitamin E tocotrienols may play a role in helping to improve,, or even correct, health conditions brought about by fatty liver disease, Dr Arguillas shares.

Dr Arguillas cites a study carried out by Dr Enrico Magosso and his team at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) that demonstrated the correlation between regular intake of vitamin E tocotrienols and fatty liver disease.

In 2010, at the Liver Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in Boston, US, Dr Magosso's team presented a study that shows that tocotrienols can improve, and even cure, NAFLD.

In the study, the first of its kind, 30 patients were supplemented with a full spectrum of tocotrienols for a year. Of the 30 NAFLD patients, 15 were completely cured of the disease by the end of the year, as evidenced by ultrasound diagnosis.

Meanwhile, another five patients showed significant improvement in their liver health.

Dr Magosso speculates that vitamin E tocotrienols impact on multiple pathways when it comes to the treatment of fatty liver disease.

For one, they have been found to inhibit the build-up of fat in liver cells.

Vitamin E tocotrienols have also been noted for their ability to activate multiple gene signals in liver cells. This facilitates fat metabolism, while preventing fatty build-up.

Dr Arguillas predicts that vitamin E tocotrienols will become a significant player in fatty liver disease prevention, although more evidence and clinical studies are needed to substantiate the current claims.

The doctor adds: "We are looking for a cost-effective treatment for fatty liver disease. With these ongoing clinical trials with vitamin E tocotrienols, I think we are seeing some promise."

"We hope to conduct larger clinical trials that will involve more fatty liver disease patients in the near future," she says.

My baby will not live

Posted:

Preparing for death with a hospice programme for women carrying babies who're unable to survive.

JENNY Mohler lay on an examining bed holding her pregnant belly at Sinai Hospital in northwest Baltimore, US. Sonogram pictures hung from a machine in the right corner of the room. She was nervous, unable to block a feeling of uneasiness as she waited for a specialist to come in and decipher the images.

Just two days earlier, she had received a call while sitting at her desk at a Catholic Charities health clinic in Baltimore, where she worked as a school counsellor. There were developmental concerns about the baby, Dr Mary Ann Sorra told her. The baby's head was misshapen and its limbs short. Don't worry, Dr Sorra told Jenny, but more tests were needed as soon as possible.

Jenny, who was 19 weeks into her pregnancy, began a frantic Internet search, typing "developmental disorders" and "short limbs" into her office computer. Could it be Down syndrome? Or maybe dwarfism?

As she and husband John, now 33, waited at Sinai that September day last year, he tried to assure her that nothing major was wrong. She wanted to stay positive, but it was difficult.

A perinatologist, who deals in high-risk pregnancies, came into the room to deliver the diagnosis: Your baby has thanatophoric dysplasia, they remember him saying.

The Mohlers' unborn child was suffering from a rare disorder – whose name meant "death-bearing malformation" in Greek – that would prevent the rib cage from growing, smothering the heart and lungs. The baby would likely be stillborn. Or it would die shortly after birth, unable to breathe on its own.

The baby, whose gender they didn't even know yet, had just been given a death sentence.

Two months later, across town at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Kimberly Queen lay in a bed – 30 weeks' pregnant and fighting for her life. Machines beeped all around her, monitoring her blood pressure, heart rate and other vital signs. A nutritional tube ran from her arm, trying to nourish a body so frail that her organs were on the verge of shutting down.

Queen's health was deteriorating from hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition that causes severe nausea and vomiting, making it hard for expectant mothers to keep enough nutrients in their bodies. She had cycled in and out of the hospital her entire pregnancy, and just days before Thanksgiving, was admitted to Howard County General Hospital.

Her symptoms were so severe that doctors transferred her by ambulance to Hopkins for more specialised care.

A small group of doctors in scrubs entered her room to give Queen and her fiance, Keith Brown, now 34, some news about her fourth child. Brown held her hand while two doctors sat in chairs near the bed. One did most of the talking.

An ultrasound, the doctor said, showed blood and fluid around the brain of the baby Queen had already named Kirsten. The baby's weight was below normal, and she probably wouldn't survive the pregnancy.

If she did, her quality of life would not be good. She might not be able to breathe on her own, the doctors said, urging Queen to consider terminating the pregnancy.

Queen, a certified nurse technician at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, took the news as if she were on the job. She felt the doctors were talking about some other patient, someone other than her. She found herself explaining to her fiance what the doctors were saying, but not fully absorbing the news herself. She said little to them.

But in the middle of the night, her maternal instinct kicked in. She woke up and could only think of one thing: Her baby might die.

Queen and Jenny discovered themselves in a spot they would never have predicted: grieving instead of celebrating new life and growing families. Terminating the pregnancy was not an option for either. Jenny cited her strong Catholic beliefs. Queen wanted to give her baby every chance to live, no matter the odds.

Their predicaments would become the most trying they had ever confronted.

Doctors encouraged Queen and Jenny to connect with a hospice programme to handle the myriad of emotions.

Both women turned to Gilchrist Kids, a division of Towson, Maryland-based Gilchrist Hospice Care, one of a handful of hospices in the area with a perinatal component.

Through the programme, they were connected with social worker Briana Shirey, who became a lifeline and source of comfort through their pregnancies.

Queen, now 33, said her doctors focused on the possibility of terminating the pregnancy and pushed palliative care for the baby to prepare her for death after she was born. But Queen did not want to think about that; she even ignored advice to contact Gilchrist.

"I was feeling my baby moving around in me," she recalled. "I had already seen the sonogram with her features. She had the nose of my son, the mouth of my daughter. In order for me to accept the possibility that my child wasn't going to be here anymore, I had to know I did everything I could to make sure the doctors did what they could to save her."

One afternoon, she was sitting in her apartment watching television when the phone rang. She picked up to hear a soothing voice: Shirey from Gilchrist Kids. Shirey had reached out, despite Queen's reluctance to contact her.

The social worker asked some simple questions: How are you feeling? Is there anything bothering you?

For Queen, talking about what was going on brought clarity to her situation and a sense of relief.

"She made it easier to concentrate," Queen said. "She made me realise that whatever happened, I could deal with it."

Queen's plan called for doctors to do "whatever was necessary" to keep Kirsten alive. She also wanted to bathe, dress and hold the baby right away – she knew Kirsten's life might be measured in minutes.

As the months of pregnancy passed, Shirey also worked with the Mohlers, encouraging them to bond with their child.

Talk to the baby, she said. Rub Jenny's belly and interact with him anyway you can, she urged husband John.

"Your time is limited, so during pregnancy, that is your time," Jenny said. "That is your time to love the baby, to bond with the baby and parent while the baby is in the womb – and while the baby is still alive."

Jenny, now 32, had no illusions about the chances of their baby's survival – the condition occurs in one in 20,000 to 50,000 newborns, and few survive. It was the first case Dr Sorra had seen since she began practising medicine in 1997.

The Mohlers had to accept that they wouldn't have long with their baby.

The couple felt unconditional love for their unborn child, and drew strength from their faith during the pregnancy.

The Mohlers hadn't planned on finding out the gender of the baby until it was born. After the diagnosis, they wanted to know.

They named him Joseph Angelo Mohler – Angelo because Jenny felt she was carrying an angel in her womb.

They took him to concerts – the Allman Brothers at Merriweather Post Pavilion – and to a football game at Virginia Tech, their alma mater.

John frequently sang to him, mostly "Silent Night" and other Christmas songs. Their daughter, Abby, two, talked to her little brother through the womb.

"It was hard to explain to her because she was so young," Jenny said. "We just told her that this was her little brother and he would soon be an angel."

Creating these memories helps families better prepare for the death of a baby, says Shirey, who lives in Towson. When it actually happens, it does not come as a shock and they are less overwhelmed.

Shirey has been drawn to helping families cope with life's big moments ever since she was an undergraduate studying mental health, social work and psychology.

People have always found her easy to talk to and trust, which has helped her in her career. She has counselled children from abusive families and helped spouses navigate divorces.

She thought the hospice job would be a new challenge as advances in prenatal testing put more parents in the position of grieving during pregnancy.

Dealing with death day after day is not an easy job, Shirey acknowledges.

She tries not to think about her own family, including her two children. Instead, she focuses on how she can help someone else's family.

Mohler entered the hospital on Dec 13, 2013. Joseph's head had grown too large and doctors needed to perform an emergency Caesarean soon.

Dr Sorra started to worry that the baby would die in the womb, putting the mother at risk. Jenny had gotten frequent sonograms throughout the pregnancy to monitor the baby's development.

Within seconds of delivery, Jenny and her husband were greeted by a sound they weren't sure they would ever hear from Joseph. He cried. Their son was alive.

Dr Sorra felt a sense of relief. She went into the waiting room to deliver the news to the Mohlers' parents.

"Congratulations," she said. "Everything went well. You have a grandson."

John, the father, swaddled Joseph and nuzzled him.

He held him up so Jenny could see her son as doctors sutured the incision from her C-section.

He then brought him over for Jenny to kiss on the cheek. The parents remember their baby gazing at them almost knowingly.

The Mohlers took their son to another room, where their parents, young Abby, Shirey, and other relatives and friends waited.

Photos were taken as everyone in the room bonded with the baby. They made moulds of his tiny feet and hands.

Their actions stirred the emotions of the medical staff, Dr Sorra said.

"It was extremely moving," she said. "There was so much joy and tragedy at the same time."

Soon, the baby's breaths became further and further apart. He became still, as if he was sleeping. A doctor came in to say Joseph had died.

Joseph lived one precious hour, which the Mohlers say they will remember forever.

"It was very peaceful," Jenny said. "We didn't even realise he had passed."

"I know most people would expect us to say the most difficult day was the day of his death, but to be honest, it wasn't at all," she said.

"December 13th was an amazingly grace-filled and peaceful day full of love.

"Because we had good care and we were prepared, the hour we spent with our son was truly one of the most beautiful and meaningful of my life."

As Queen's pregnancy progressed, her baby began to defy the doctor's dire diagnosis. The bleeding in Kirsten's brain stopped and the swelling went down.

She went into labour at 37 weeks on Jan 13. Doctors at Hopkins were prepared for the worst, stationing equipment nearby to help resuscitate Kirsten if that were needed.

"None of us knew if the baby was going to breathe at birth," recalls Dr Renee Boss, a neonatologist.

"None of us knew if the baby would have a normal heart rate.

"We were prepared to do whatever we needed to do for the baby if it came to that."

After three days of labour, Queen delivered Kirsten, who weighed 5 pounds 9 ounces and had a healthy heartbeat. She looked like her father, but had Queen's nose.

"She's breathing," fiance Brown bellowed upon hearing his baby girl's cries. "She's breathing."

Queen felt an overwhelming sense of happiness and relief.

"She came out crying," she recalls. "It was the best sound ever." – The Baltimore Sun/McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

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