Khamis, 8 Ogos 2013

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


Monasteries decline as TV and smartphones grip Bhutan

Posted:

THIMPHU, Bhutan (AFP) - Kencho Tshering, a red-robed Buddhist monk, takes a call from the King of Bhutan's office, then duly dashes off to start a ceremony praying for a break in the monsoon rains.

But while he may be on speed dial for royal requests, the clout of his fellow monks is on the wane in the remote kingdom as it absorbs the impact of technology and democracy as well as an abuse scandal.

"Bhutan is changing. The monastic body is going down and down," Tshering told AFP at Dechen Phodrang, the monks' school where he is principal, which is perched with majestic views over the capital Thimphu.

"Even for senior monks, there's no respect in the city," he sighed.

Bhutan -- nestled in the Himalayas and flanked by both India and China -- is renowned for its rich Buddhist culture, and villages are still steeped in its traditions.

Fluttering prayer flags are a common sight, as are giant flying phalluses painted on walls to ward off evil -- a symbol of a national saint, the "Divine Madman", who is believed to have subjugated demonesses with his penis in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Protecting the Buddhist culture is a key pillar of Bhutan's unique "Gross National Happiness" development model, which aims to balance spiritual and mental well-being with economic growth.

Yet Tshering, who spent three years, three months and three days in silent meditation, believes Buddhist devotion has waned since Bhutan allowed television in 1999 -- the world's last country to do so.

"People are less god-fearing, less superstitious... The number of rituals they do has gone down," agreed Karma Phuntsho, author of "The History of Bhutan" and a former monk.

Phuntsho said the Bhutanese worldview has changed dramatically since secular education was widely introduced in the 1960s, weakening the dominance of monastic schools that for centuries were a powerful force.

Bhutan was unified in the 17th century by a Tibetan Buddhist teacher, and the old 'dzong' fortresses, part-monastery and part-government offices, are a reminder of the previous intertwining of religion and politics.

The decline in monastics' clout was clear with the onset of democracy five years ago. Bhutan's monks, nuns and a large community of lay priests are now barred from the process to ensure religion and politics are kept apart.

"They don't have a say at all, they don't have a franchise to vote. So political authority has really waned," said Phuntsho.

In terms of spiritual influence, some say monastic materialism is partly to blame for a decline.

Although usually associated with a spartan existence, Bhutan's strand of Buddhism allows monks to own a range of possessions -- "there are even monks with big cars," said Damber K. Nirola, a psychiatrist in Thimphu.

But the monasteries still play a vital social role, providing homes to thousands of children whose parents may have died or feel unable to support them.

At Dechen Phodrang, young monks can be found busy learning the national 'dzongkha' script, making colourful cakes to offer the deities, or blowing the sound of the long 'dungchen' Buddhist trumpet over the valley.

With a government allowance per boy of less than a dollar a day, Tshering says it is a struggle to look after their 260 students, aged as young as six, who sleep in rows on classroom floors.

While just over 7,000 monks are registered with the central monastic body, on the ground about 9,000 to 11,000 exist at any one time, according to Karma Penjor, secretary at the Commission for the Monastic Affairs of Bhutan.

"They can't say no when people come with their children," he told AFP, saying the monasteries look after and educate "Bhutan's poorest of the poor".

They are also not without controversy.

A recent report by The Raven, a Bhutanese magazine, told the story of two young boys who said they escaped their monastery after being sexually abused by two of the older monks, who are supposed to be celibate.

The National Commission for Women and Children confirmed to AFP that the case had been dealt with internally by the monastic body, and one of the accused had been disrobed.

Between young monks, non-penetrative "thigh sex" is also "common", according to a UNICEF-supported report in 2012 on vulnerable Bhutanese adolescents.

Psychiatrist Nirola, a former district medical officer, said he found sexually transmitted diseases were quite regular among monks and possibly from heterosexual liaisons outside the monasteries.

He also came across youngsters suffering stress from the highly disciplined lifestyle, which was often not one of their own choice.

"They want to go to town, play on smartphones. That creates a lot of problems in their mind."

In May, the monastic commission opened a child protection office for the welfare of young monks and to raise awareness about their rights, but Penjor said better backing was crucial to its success.

"It's one thing to keep having awareness workshops, but if support for infrastructure is not there, after a while rights keep falling off, it's not very effective."

Some monks have embraced Bhutan's modernisation in a bid to get more support.

The Phajoding monastery, which is a three-hour uphill hike from the nearest road, is using social media to spread its news and raise funds, with regular updates on Twitter and Facebook.

Phuntsho thinks it will take more than PR to get Bhutan's monastic body on the rise again, and a key to that is modernising its education system.

"It's a big challenge for the monastics. I can see a very urgent need for them to reform and develop, but it's very unfair to expect that of them when they don't have the resources." - AFP

International flights resume at Nairobi after fire

Posted:

NAIROBI (AFP) - International flights landed at Nairobi airport Thursday morning, the first since a fire a day earlier gutted the arrivals terminal causing widespread chaos and delays, airport officials said.

The fire forced the cancellation or diversion of scores of flights at east Africa's biggest transport hub.

Using the domestic terminal for passengers instead of the fire-damaged international hall, flights from London and Bangkok safely landed early Thursday morning, said Eric Kiraithe, head of security at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).

"We have received two flights from London and Bangkok, and currently we are checking in passengers flying to other destinations including Zanzibar, Johannesburg and Paris," Kiraithe told AFP.

Some of those passengers will fly first to Kenya's second city Mombasa before taking connecting international flights, but others are expected to leave directly for their destination from Nairobi, he added.

"We are confident we will process other flights in the course of the day, although we are not fully operational," Kiraithe said.

Cargo and domestic flights out of the Kenyan capital had already resumed on Wednesday evening.

However, it was not clear when airlines other than the national carrier Kenya Airways would also land at Nairobi.

The fierce fire, which started before dawn on Wednesday, took around four hours to bring under control, with firefighters hampered by a lack of both water and equipment.

The interior ministry was forced to issue public appeals for Nairobi's notoriously congested traffic to give way to trucks ferrying water to the airport after firefighters tackling the blaze ran "dangerously low on water".

Some 16,000 passengers usually transit through JKIA every day, according to official figures.

The airport is a regional hub for east Africa, with many long-distance international flights landing there to connect to countries across the region.

There were no casualties in the fire but two people -- an airport worker and a passenger -- were taken to hospital due to smoke inhalation.

August is one of Kenya's busiest months for tourism, a key industry for the country, as foreign travellers fly in to see its wildlife and enjoy the white sand beaches on its Indian Ocean coast.

The airport offers direct connections to Europe, the Middle East, the Far East and other African cities. - AFP

Yemen says Qaeda plotted to take hostages at oil port

Posted:

ADEN (AFP) - Yemen said it had foiled an Al-Qaeda plot to storm a Western-run oil terminal and seize a port city, as a terror alert kept US Middle East missions closed.

The jihadist network's feared Yemeni affiliate planned to assault the Canadian-run Mina al-Dhaba oil terminal on the Arabian Sea coast and take staff hostage, including Western expatriates, government spokesman Rajeh Badi told AFP.

A nearby export facility for oil derivatives was also targeted, Badi said.

Al-Qaeda also plotted to seize the nearby Hadramawt provincial capital Al-Mukalla, a port city of 100,000 people, and the Ghayl Bawazeer area to its north, where they briefly declared an Islamic emirate earlier this year.

"If they were to fail in seizing control of the facilities, the plan was to take foreign experts away as hostages," Badi said.

The attack was planned for Monday, which coincided with the 27th day of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan and was the second day of a mass closure of US missions across the Middle East and North Africa.

The plot was foiled around two days before its planned launch, Badi said.

Both Washington and London pulled diplomatic personnel out of Sanaa on Tuesday citing intelligence reports of an imminent attack by the Yemen-based Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

The United States took the unusual step of closing some 25 diplomatic missions in the Muslim world Sunday, and then extending the closure for a week at 19 of them, in response to what it said was a credible and imminent threat of a major Al-Qaeda attack.

The Netherlands late Wednesday became the latest Western power to close its embassy in Yemen, citing "information that several western countries are potential targets of an upcoming terrorist attack."

An intercepted conference call between Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and top operatives was reportedly the trigger for the US embassy closures.

More than 20 Al-Qaeda operatives from across the globe were on the call, including representatives of Nigeria's Boko Haram, the Pakistani Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Iraq as well as AQAP, US media reported.

In the call, Zawahiri is said to have named AQAP chief Nasir al-Wuhayshi as the operational controller of the group's affiliates throughout the Muslim world.

A lack of clarity about the wider threat, however, remains. Late Wednesday, a UN report said Zawahiri has struggled to unite Al-Qaeda's various factions though the group continues to pose a threat.

"A fragmented and weakened Al-Qaeda has not been extinguished," said the report, adding: "The reality of Al-Qaeda's diminished capabilities and limited appeal does not mean that the threat of Al-Qaeda attacks has passed."

This was later stressed by US President Barack Obama, who told some 3,000 marines that while Al-Qaeda's top ranks had been "hammered", "the end of the war in Afghanistan doesn't mean the end of threats to our nation."

While the closures span cities across the Arab world, the focus of concern has been Yemen, where Washington has been fighting a drone war against AQAP militants for several years.

US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Wednesday that Washington's embassy in Sanaa remained closed, "and we continue to evaluate the threats on a daily basis".

Tribal sources said a US drone killed seven suspected jihadists in Shabwa province, to the west of Hadramawt, on Wednesday, the second such strike in as many days.

The early-morning attack in the town of Nasab destroyed two vehicles, the sources said.

It was the fifth US drone strike in Yemen since July 28. At least 24 suspected Al-Qaeda militants have been killed.

Washington has launched scores of drone strikes in Yemen, where AQAP thrives in vast, lawless areas largely outside the government's control.

In recent days, Yemeni authorities beefed up security in Sanaa, where they feared the attack would be launched.

But they responded angrily Tuesday to the withdrawal of Western diplomats, saying they acknowledged the safety fears but noting that the pullout "serves the interests of the extremists."

"It undermines the exceptional cooperation between Yemen and the international alliance against terrorism," the foreign ministry said.

Yemen-based AQAP has attempted several attacks on the United States, including a failed bid to bring down a passenger plane by a man wearing explosives in his underwear and another to send bombs concealed in printer cartridges.

The intent of the foiled plot on oil facilities appears to have been similar to a spectacular January attack by Islamist militants on a gas plant deep in the Algerian desert.

Thirty-eight hostages died, all but one of them foreigners, along with 29 militants, in the four-day siege at the In Amenas plant, which was ended by the Algerian army.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews


Sad ending for actress

Posted:

Actress Karen Black has lost her battle with cancer.

US actress Karen Black, who played leading roles in 1970s films Five Easy Pieces and Nashville, died in Los Angeles on Thursday, her representatives said. She was 74.

Black died at West Hills Health & Rehab Centre and had been suffering from cancer in recent years, her publicist Elliot Mintz said. Black was best known for her role as Rayette, the big-dreaming waitress in the 1970 working class drama Five Easy Pieces, in which she starred alongside Jack Nicholson.

The role earned Black a Golden Globe award for best supporting actress and an Oscar nomination.

She also played a prominent role as a country singer in the ensemble cast of Robert Altman's 1975 musical drama Nashville.

Black was diagnosed with ampullary cancer, which is similar to pancreatic cancer, in 2010, and made headlines earlier this year after turning to the Internet to help fund her medical treatment. She and her husband raised about US$62,000, according to her fundraising page.

Illinois-born Black won another best supporting actress Golden Globe award for the role of mistress Myrtle Wilson in 1974's The Great Gatsby and was also lauded for her role as an aspiring actress in the 1975 drama The Day Of The Locust.

She played a small part as a prostitute in the 1969 counter-culture road movie Easy Rider, which starred Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Nicholson. — Reuters

Mix and match

Posted:

Hans Isaac's latest film has a little bit of everything – romance, comedy, supernatural thriller and drama.

THE title Lemak Kampung Santan may sound a little comedic. But after watching a special screening of the film recently, Lemak Kampung Santan offers audiences much more than comic relief.

The movie, producer-director Hans Isaac's latest offering, is a romantic comedy with a twist: it is also a supernatural thriller. With funny dialogues and some pretty beautiful scenes, it is already generating buzz in the Malaysian entertainment industry.

This is partly due to the hot gossip circulating in the media regarding Hans' alleged romance with the movie's lead actress, Neelofa.

Produced by Tall Order Productions, Lemak Kampung Santan is set in a remote Malay village and follows the story of Ridzuan (played by Hans), an architect who heads a project in Kampung Santan. The company he works for wants to build a five-star resort there, but villagers are fiercely against it.

While staying at the village, Ridzuan falls in love with a beautiful girl named Tiqa (Neelofa), who makes the best nasi lemak.

Hans said that he wants people to watch the movie for the story and not because of the gossip surrounding him and Neelofa.

"I can't really stop people from saying whatever they want to, but I really hope that the focus will be given to the movie itself, and not us," explained Hans after the screening in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

"I chose the story of 'city boy-meets-village girl' because it's easily accepted by the Malaysian audience," he added. "But it's not just a love story. Yes, on the onset it is a romantic one, but there are a lot of twists and turns – a different style of storytelling."

The idea is loosely based on Afdlin Shauki's movie Misteri Jalan Lama (which also starred Hans). "I like that kind of movie (which has some mythical elements). However, in Lemak Kampung Santan I tried to combine that with comedy and a love story. Let's just say it is a 'jigsaw puzzle' that I dreamed of."

With a budget of RM1.7mil, the movie also stars big names such as Awie, Khir Rahman, Harun Salim Bachik and Natasha Hudson.

"It took me one year and eight months to produce this movie. That's longer than I anticipated because I'm really particular about quality," said Hans.

Even though he is aware that the movie market is not doing too well these days, Hans still insists on screening the movie.

"I also made the decision not to show the movie on TV (via Astro First). No offence, but if people want to see it, they have to watch it in the cinemas. I'm having my own way of marketing the movie. I really hope that it will contribute something to our film industry," he noted.

For leading lady Neelofa, she said that her experience making the movie was wonderful and that playing a village girl wasn't all that hard for her.

"I was brought up in a kampung, so it wasn't that difficult to bring out that side of me. Seriously, though, the most difficult part was riding a motorcycle!" Neelofa shared. She revealed that when she auditioned for the show, she told the casting director that she knew how to ride a bike, when she didn't.

However, with the help of the production crew, she looked convincing enough zipping through some of the scenes on the bike.

The movie also had other surprises – talented actor-director Khir Rahman, who is known for playing dramatic roles, plays an effeminate character named Badrul in Lemak Kampung Santan.

"It was definitely an experience for me," said Khir, laughing.

"I learned by observing some friends to make my character look more natural and convincing (as an effeminate man)."

As part of the movie's promotion, Hans said that 100 lucky winners will have the chance to go on a holiday with the movie's cast.

"I'm going all out to promote this movie. We are selecting 100 winners to go on a holiday with us to Langkawi island. But you need to watch the movie to participate!" said Hans.

Lemak Kampung Santan opens in cinemas nationwide today.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz


Sad ending for actress

Posted:

Actress Karen Black has lost her battle with cancer.

US actress Karen Black, who played leading roles in 1970s films Five Easy Pieces and Nashville, died in Los Angeles on Thursday, her representatives said. She was 74.

Black died at West Hills Health & Rehab Centre and had been suffering from cancer in recent years, her publicist Elliot Mintz said. Black was best known for her role as Rayette, the big-dreaming waitress in the 1970 working class drama Five Easy Pieces, in which she starred alongside Jack Nicholson.

The role earned Black a Golden Globe award for best supporting actress and an Oscar nomination.

She also played a prominent role as a country singer in the ensemble cast of Robert Altman's 1975 musical drama Nashville.

Black was diagnosed with ampullary cancer, which is similar to pancreatic cancer, in 2010, and made headlines earlier this year after turning to the Internet to help fund her medical treatment. She and her husband raised about US$62,000, according to her fundraising page.

Illinois-born Black won another best supporting actress Golden Globe award for the role of mistress Myrtle Wilson in 1974's The Great Gatsby and was also lauded for her role as an aspiring actress in the 1975 drama The Day Of The Locust.

She played a small part as a prostitute in the 1969 counter-culture road movie Easy Rider, which starred Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Nicholson. — Reuters

Mix and match

Posted:

Hans Isaac's latest film has a little bit of everything – romance, comedy, supernatural thriller and drama.

THE title Lemak Kampung Santan may sound a little comedic. But after watching a special screening of the film recently, Lemak Kampung Santan offers audiences much more than comic relief.

The movie, producer-director Hans Isaac's latest offering, is a romantic comedy with a twist: it is also a supernatural thriller. With funny dialogues and some pretty beautiful scenes, it is already generating buzz in the Malaysian entertainment industry.

This is partly due to the hot gossip circulating in the media regarding Hans' alleged romance with the movie's lead actress, Neelofa.

Produced by Tall Order Productions, Lemak Kampung Santan is set in a remote Malay village and follows the story of Ridzuan (played by Hans), an architect who heads a project in Kampung Santan. The company he works for wants to build a five-star resort there, but villagers are fiercely against it.

While staying at the village, Ridzuan falls in love with a beautiful girl named Tiqa (Neelofa), who makes the best nasi lemak.

Hans said that he wants people to watch the movie for the story and not because of the gossip surrounding him and Neelofa.

"I can't really stop people from saying whatever they want to, but I really hope that the focus will be given to the movie itself, and not us," explained Hans after the screening in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

"I chose the story of 'city boy-meets-village girl' because it's easily accepted by the Malaysian audience," he added. "But it's not just a love story. Yes, on the onset it is a romantic one, but there are a lot of twists and turns – a different style of storytelling."

The idea is loosely based on Afdlin Shauki's movie Misteri Jalan Lama (which also starred Hans). "I like that kind of movie (which has some mythical elements). However, in Lemak Kampung Santan I tried to combine that with comedy and a love story. Let's just say it is a 'jigsaw puzzle' that I dreamed of."

With a budget of RM1.7mil, the movie also stars big names such as Awie, Khir Rahman, Harun Salim Bachik and Natasha Hudson.

"It took me one year and eight months to produce this movie. That's longer than I anticipated because I'm really particular about quality," said Hans.

Even though he is aware that the movie market is not doing too well these days, Hans still insists on screening the movie.

"I also made the decision not to show the movie on TV (via Astro First). No offence, but if people want to see it, they have to watch it in the cinemas. I'm having my own way of marketing the movie. I really hope that it will contribute something to our film industry," he noted.

For leading lady Neelofa, she said that her experience making the movie was wonderful and that playing a village girl wasn't all that hard for her.

"I was brought up in a kampung, so it wasn't that difficult to bring out that side of me. Seriously, though, the most difficult part was riding a motorcycle!" Neelofa shared. She revealed that when she auditioned for the show, she told the casting director that she knew how to ride a bike, when she didn't.

However, with the help of the production crew, she looked convincing enough zipping through some of the scenes on the bike.

The movie also had other surprises – talented actor-director Khir Rahman, who is known for playing dramatic roles, plays an effeminate character named Badrul in Lemak Kampung Santan.

"It was definitely an experience for me," said Khir, laughing.

"I learned by observing some friends to make my character look more natural and convincing (as an effeminate man)."

As part of the movie's promotion, Hans said that 100 lucky winners will have the chance to go on a holiday with the movie's cast.

"I'm going all out to promote this movie. We are selecting 100 winners to go on a holiday with us to Langkawi island. But you need to watch the movie to participate!" said Hans.

Lemak Kampung Santan opens in cinemas nationwide today.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business


Marvel Artist Kirby's Heirs Lose Appeal Over Copyrights

Posted:

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an earlier decision finding that creations amounted to "works made for hire" under the federal copyright laws and belonged to Marvel.

Kirby, who died in 1994, was an influential comic book artist, and fans closely associated him with the rise of Marvel Comics in the 1960s along with former editor and writer Stan Lee.

Kirby helped create iconic characters including the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, the X-Men, Captain America and Thor, many of which have become the subjects of recent blockbuster films.

Walt Disney Co <DIS.N> bought Marvel for $4 billion in 2009. "Iron Man 3," the latest Marvel movie based on a character Kirby helped create, has grossed $1.2 billion worldwide since May, according to Box Office Mojo.

The lawsuit stemmed from documents Kirby's heirs served Marvel in 2009, claiming rights to works he created from 1958 to 1963, when he was a freelance artist and drew some of Marvel's most prized characters.

Marvel subsequently sued the Kirbys in January 2010, seeking a court ruling declaring they had no rights to terminate the company's rights to the characters.

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon in July 2011 ruled for Marvel, finding the works constituted works for hire under the Copyright Act of 1909.

In its ruling, the three-judge appeals panel upheld part of McMahon's decision.

"Marvel's inducement, right to supervise, exercise of that right, and creative contribution with respect toKirby's work during the relevant time period is more than enough to establish that the works were created at Marvel's instance," U.S. Circuit Judge Robert Sack wrote.

The ruling follows other fights by comic book writers, artists and their heirs to reclaim the rights to famed comic book characters.

In June, the 2nd Circuit revived a lawsuit by former Marvel freelancer Gary Friedrich against the company over his rights to the motorcycle-riding vigilante character Ghost Rider.

Trial in that case was pushed back to December 16 while Marvel and Friedrich pursue mediation and hopefully achieve a resolution," according to an August 1 letter by a lawyer for Marvel.

Jeff Klein, a spokesman for Marvel, said in an email that the comic company was "gratified by the appellate court's definitive ruling that there is no legitimate basis to terminate our ownership of the copyrights at issue."

Marc Toberoff, a lawyer for the Kirbys, did not respond to requests for comment.

The case is Marvel Characters, Inc. v. Kirby2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 11-3333. (Reporting by Nate Raymond; Editing by Leslie Gevirtz and Ken Wills)- Reuters

Britain Catches One Of 'Most Wanted' Tax Cheats, Names 10 More

Posted:

LONDON: British authorities said on Friday they had captured one of their 'most wanted' tax criminals and added 10 new names to a list of high-priority targets who are accused of cheating the government out of hundreds of millions of pounds.

Anthony Judge, who had spent 10 years in hiding after fleeing money laundering charges, was detained when trying to enter Britain on a forged passport on July 4, the finance ministry said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron, looking to boost public coffers and win voter support, has been coordinating a global push for tighter international taxation rules to weed out criminal activity as well as curb legal corporate tax avoidance.

Tobacco smugglers, company directors and money launderers featured among the new members of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) 'most wanted' list - a compilation of 30 people suspected of, or found guilty of, tax crimes worth a total of 725 million pounds ($1.1 billion).

"Our message is clear; tax fraud and evasion is illegal and will not be tolerated," said Finance Minister George Osborne. "The government has stepped up HMRC's enforcement activities to enable them to pursue tax cheats relentlessly around the world."

The clampdown on tax avoidance and evasion was a major issue at the Group of Eight wealthy economies summit in June and has won voter support in Britain.

The high-profile HMRC list, styled on the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) long-running 'Ten Most Wanted Fugitives' list, was launched in 2012 and asks the public to supply information that could help track down its members.

Judge, whose case had one of the lowest values on the list with an estimated cost to the taxpayer of 350,000 pounds, was the second person detained since the list was released. He was added to the list in May when John Nugent, guilty of a 22 million-pound fraud, was jailed for four-and-a-half years after being caught in the United States.

Britain's opposition Labour party said catching only two targets was a 'huge failure'.

HMRC said it had received new information on 17 of the original 20 fugitives, who are now believed to be hiding in countries around the globe, including Dubai, Switzerland and Tunisia. As many as nine on the list could still be in Britain. ($1 = 0.6445 British pounds)- _ Reuters

UK House Prices Hit All-Time Peak, Deterring First-Time Buyers

Posted:

LONDON: House prices in England and Wales reached an all-time peak in July, driven by strong demand in London, though purchases by first-time buyers remain well below historic levels, a report showed on Friday.

House prices rose 0.3 percent in July to a record 232,969 pounds ($361,500) in July, bolstered by a government housing scheme to subsidize purchases, according to the report by LSL Property Servicesand economics consultancy Acadametrics.

Business Secretary Vince Cable has warned the scheme to help homebuyers could just fuel a house price bubble.

David Brown, commercial director of LSL Property Services, said low housing stock was inflating prices and first-time buys were running at half of normal levels.

LSL said that since July last year, house prices have risen 2.6 percent, the biggest year-on-year rise since April. But London price are rising much faster, by 7.1 percent annually.

The LSL/Acadametrics index is based on Land Registry data on completed house purchases, adjusted for the type of property sold and the time of year.

It is less timely but covers a wider range of purchases than the closely watched indexes published by mortgage lenders Nationwide and Halifax, which both show prices rising by around 4 percent, their fastest annual rate in about three years.

"Supply is restrained, and without a sudden rush of properties hitting the market, prices will rise even more over coming months. The bottom line is that the divide between London and the rest of the UK housing market is deepening," Brown said.

While many economists have warned that incentives for house purchase announced by finance ministerGeorge Osborne in his March budget may fuel a property bubble, on Wednesday Bank of EnglandGovernor Mark Carney played down these fears.

Mortgage applications are below average and the proportion of high loan-to-value housing loans was well below pre-crisis levels, he said.

($1 = 0.6445 British pounds)- Reuters

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies


Mix and match

Posted:

Hans Isaac's latest film has a little bit of everything – romance, comedy, supernatural thriller and drama.

THE title Lemak Kampung Santan may sound a little comedic. But after watching a special screening of the film recently, Lemak Kampung Santan offers audiences much more than comic relief.

The movie, producer-director Hans Isaac's latest offering, is a romantic comedy with a twist: it is also a supernatural thriller. With funny dialogues and some pretty beautiful scenes, it is already generating buzz in the Malaysian entertainment industry.

This is partly due to the hot gossip circulating in the media regarding Hans' alleged romance with the movie's lead actress, Neelofa.

Produced by Tall Order Productions, Lemak Kampung Santan is set in a remote Malay village and follows the story of Ridzuan (played by Hans), an architect who heads a project in Kampung Santan. The company he works for wants to build a five-star resort there, but villagers are fiercely against it.

While staying at the village, Ridzuan falls in love with a beautiful girl named Tiqa (Neelofa), who makes the best nasi lemak.

Hans said that he wants people to watch the movie for the story and not because of the gossip surrounding him and Neelofa.

"I can't really stop people from saying whatever they want to, but I really hope that the focus will be given to the movie itself, and not us," explained Hans after the screening in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

"I chose the story of 'city boy-meets-village girl' because it's easily accepted by the Malaysian audience," he added. "But it's not just a love story. Yes, on the onset it is a romantic one, but there are a lot of twists and turns – a different style of storytelling."

The idea is loosely based on Afdlin Shauki's movie Misteri Jalan Lama (which also starred Hans). "I like that kind of movie (which has some mythical elements). However, in Lemak Kampung Santan I tried to combine that with comedy and a love story. Let's just say it is a 'jigsaw puzzle' that I dreamed of."

With a budget of RM1.7mil, the movie also stars big names such as Awie, Khir Rahman, Harun Salim Bachik and Natasha Hudson.

"It took me one year and eight months to produce this movie. That's longer than I anticipated because I'm really particular about quality," said Hans.

Even though he is aware that the movie market is not doing too well these days, Hans still insists on screening the movie.

"I also made the decision not to show the movie on TV (via Astro First). No offence, but if people want to see it, they have to watch it in the cinemas. I'm having my own way of marketing the movie. I really hope that it will contribute something to our film industry," he noted.

For leading lady Neelofa, she said that her experience making the movie was wonderful and that playing a village girl wasn't all that hard for her.

"I was brought up in a kampung, so it wasn't that difficult to bring out that side of me. Seriously, though, the most difficult part was riding a motorcycle!" Neelofa shared. She revealed that when she auditioned for the show, she told the casting director that she knew how to ride a bike, when she didn't.

However, with the help of the production crew, she looked convincing enough zipping through some of the scenes on the bike.

The movie also had other surprises – talented actor-director Khir Rahman, who is known for playing dramatic roles, plays an effeminate character named Badrul in Lemak Kampung Santan.

"It was definitely an experience for me," said Khir, laughing.

"I learned by observing some friends to make my character look more natural and convincing (as an effeminate man)."

As part of the movie's promotion, Hans said that 100 lucky winners will have the chance to go on a holiday with the movie's cast.

"I'm going all out to promote this movie. We are selecting 100 winners to go on a holiday with us to Langkawi island. But you need to watch the movie to participate!" said Hans.

Lemak Kampung Santan opens in cinemas nationwide today.

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Marathon man sacrifices festivities to prepare for race in the US

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PUTRAJAYA: Razif Yahya just doesn't stop running.

Even the Hari Raya celebrations will not put him out of the race that he has always set his sights on. The ultra-marathon runner will miss the festivities to be the first Malaysian to take part in the 161km-long Leadville Trail 100 Run.

He will be leaving today (Aug 8) to get a headstart on adjusting to the climate for the race which takes place 3,048m above sea level in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado in the United States, from Aug 17 to 18.

"It feels strange to only be meeting my family on Raya morning and then rushing off to another country by evening," the 41-year-old runner said in a recent interview here.

"It's my dream to complete this race as it is the Boston marathon of ultra­-marathons."

Razif will attempt such a distance again after completing the 160km-long Singapore Craze Ultramarathon on Sept 22 last year.

"It was the longest run in my life; it took more than 31 hours. But I made sure I took my time to avoid injury. I even stopped for dinner at McDonalds," he said.

Razif, who works as a Customs assistant director, has completed 23 races, nine of which were ultra-marathons with a distance of between 50km and 160km.

An ultra-marathon is a race which involves running longer than the conventional marathon's length of 42km. For ultra-marathons, there are usually the 50km, 80km and 160km events.

To train for the Leadville Trail, Razif has been running an average of 100km a week, clocking 2,400km in total. That is about three times the distance from Kota Baru to Johor Baru.

Even during the Ramadan period, he and his running group continued their routine but changed their training time to later in the evening.

"A member of my running circle inspired me to run further. She did marathons and even ultra-marathons despite being a housewife in her 40s," he said.

When asked if he finds long-distance running more challenging as he had started running late in life, Razif explained that long-distance races were easier than short ones as it would come down to stamina and not just physical strength.

"Ultra-marathons are an old man's game. The average age is about 30, and you can see many participants in their 40s to 60s.

"In fact, I find normal marathons quite stressful since you are racing against time and cannot enjoy the journey. With an ultra-­marathon, you can take pictures and talk to other participants," he added.

Lorry driver facing gun, bullets and drugs charges denied bail

Posted:

PETALING JAYA: A lorry driver was denied bail after he pleaded not guilty in several courts here to having a gun, bullets and drugs.

Judge Yasmin Abdul Razak said that in light of the spate of gun-related crimes, the court had decided not to allow A. Siva, 29, bail for the duration of his trial.

Siva was charged in the Sessions Court here to illegally possessing a Forjas Taurus S.A 9mm handgun.

He is alleged to have committed the offence on the side of Jalan Sungai Buloh – Subang, Kota Damansara at 1am on July 30.

Siva also claimed trial to having 14 rounds of ammunition at the same time and place.

The first offence carries a jail term of up to 14 years and whipping of not less than six strokes, while the second is punishable by a maximum seven years prison, RM10,000 fine, or both.

Judge Yasmin fixed Sept 13 for next mention.

Siva was also charged in a magistrate's court with having eight red-and-white papers , which each contained 10 pills believed to be erimin 5.

The offence under the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 are alleged to have occurred at the same time and place as the gun offences.

Counsel Gerard Lazarus represented Siva, while DPP Dhiya Syazwani Izyan Mohd Akhir and Tan Gin Han prosecuted in the Sessions and magistrate's courts, respectively.

Magistrate Surya Wati Shawal set the next mention for Sept 13.

Suaram leader quizzed over dinner to raise funds

Posted:

PETALING JAYA: Police have recorded a statement from Suaram leader Cynthia Gabriel in an investigation under the Sedition Act over a fund-raising dinner it held two weeks ago.

Cynthia came to the Petaling Jaya police headquarters at around 3pm yesterday with her lawyers – Latheefa Koya and Derek Fernandez – as well as a small group of supporters. She was questioned for about half an hour.

Speaking to reporters later, Cynthia alleged that the investigation was merely an excuse for police to harass and discourage her and Suaram from their inquiry in France over the Scorpene submarines.

"They asked me questions which have nothing to do with Section 4(1)A of the Sedition Act under which they are investigating the case," she said.

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21 months' jail for maid abuse in Singapore

Posted:

A WOMAN, who was convicted of five charges of abusing her Indonesian maid in one of the "most distressing" domestic maid abuse cases in Singapore, was sentenced to 21 months' jail.

Chan Huey Fern, 32, is appealing against conviction and sentence.

Bail of S$20,000 (RM51,337) pending appeal was offered.

The mother of two, who has seven other similar charges pending, was found guilty last week by district judge Low Wee Ping for causing hurt to Juwarti, 25, at her Buangkok Link flat between mid-December and Dec 31, 2010.

She was convicted of punching the maid in the eye, kicking her body and private parts several times.

The court heard that she lashed out at the maid on Dec 31 that year when she found her son's blanket on the floor in the children's room.

After kicking her repeatedly, she called the maid to the kitchen where she kicked her again on the body and private parts several times, causing her to bleed.

The maid ran away the same day as she was afraid of being tortured further by Chan.

The judge found her injuries, including bruises in her eyes and groin area appalling.

Judge Low, in his brief grounds of decision said that Chan became the maid's tormentor during her second year of work.

For nine months, she repeatedly abused Juwarti, both mentally and physically.

"Your abuses were systematic. What you have done to a helpless domestic helper, is repugnant to all notions of common humanity," he added.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jason Chua had cited several aggravating factors in the case, particularly the serious injuries inflicted on the victim's private parts and Chan's abuse of her position.

The fact that Chan denied that she had committed any of the offences showed a clear lack of remorse on her part, and she was not repentant for what she had done, he said. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Minister signals impending changes

Posted:

EDUCATION minister Heng Swee Keat signalled impending policy changes on several fronts including housing, as he sketched out how the government intends to ensure that growth becomes even more inclusive.

Underpinning the way forward, however, must be the "critical ingredient" of trust between the government and citizens, he said in a speech at an Economic Society of Singapore function.

Speaking ahead of the Prime Minister's National Day Rally speech on Aug 18 – widely expected to contain policy shifts informed by the Our Singapore Conversation (OSC) exercise which Heng heads – he sketched out elements of a "fairer and more just society".

These include giving lower-income Singaporeans substantial benefits to own a home, something that would be a "tangible way to share the fruits of success".

There must also be targeted assistance for the needy and a progressive tax system to avoid excessive inequality, Heng said, noting that the government intends to build on the current progressive system where the wealthy pay the bulk of taxes.

Turning to education, he said that his ministry is "looking at various ways to let off some of the pressure that has built up (in the education system) over the years".

But he added that it would not swing to the other extreme, and that "it must still be part of the Singaporean psyche to want to pursue excellence".

In the 35-minute speech that preceded a question-and-answer session at the event held at Mandarin Orchard hotel, Heng also summed up the main aim for the OSC exercise, which will release its final report this week.

Heng, a former Monetary Autho­rity of Singapore managing director, also touched on how the global financial crisis has shown that the government must play a multi-faceted role of "enabling, regulating and stabilising markets".

On a final note, he also emphasised that Singa­pore is a price-taker in a tumultuous world buffered only by its reserves. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

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21 months' jail for maid abuse in Singapore

Posted:

A WOMAN, who was convicted of five charges of abusing her Indonesian maid in one of the "most distressing" domestic maid abuse cases in Singapore, was sentenced to 21 months' jail.

Chan Huey Fern, 32, is appealing against conviction and sentence.

Bail of S$20,000 (RM51,337) pending appeal was offered.

The mother of two, who has seven other similar charges pending, was found guilty last week by district judge Low Wee Ping for causing hurt to Juwarti, 25, at her Buangkok Link flat between mid-December and Dec 31, 2010.

She was convicted of punching the maid in the eye, kicking her body and private parts several times.

The court heard that she lashed out at the maid on Dec 31 that year when she found her son's blanket on the floor in the children's room.

After kicking her repeatedly, she called the maid to the kitchen where she kicked her again on the body and private parts several times, causing her to bleed.

The maid ran away the same day as she was afraid of being tortured further by Chan.

The judge found her injuries, including bruises in her eyes and groin area appalling.

Judge Low, in his brief grounds of decision said that Chan became the maid's tormentor during her second year of work.

For nine months, she repeatedly abused Juwarti, both mentally and physically.

"Your abuses were systematic. What you have done to a helpless domestic helper, is repugnant to all notions of common humanity," he added.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Jason Chua had cited several aggravating factors in the case, particularly the serious injuries inflicted on the victim's private parts and Chan's abuse of her position.

The fact that Chan denied that she had committed any of the offences showed a clear lack of remorse on her part, and she was not repentant for what she had done, he said. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Minister signals impending changes

Posted:

EDUCATION minister Heng Swee Keat signalled impending policy changes on several fronts including housing, as he sketched out how the government intends to ensure that growth becomes even more inclusive.

Underpinning the way forward, however, must be the "critical ingredient" of trust between the government and citizens, he said in a speech at an Economic Society of Singapore function.

Speaking ahead of the Prime Minister's National Day Rally speech on Aug 18 – widely expected to contain policy shifts informed by the Our Singapore Conversation (OSC) exercise which Heng heads – he sketched out elements of a "fairer and more just society".

These include giving lower-income Singaporeans substantial benefits to own a home, something that would be a "tangible way to share the fruits of success".

There must also be targeted assistance for the needy and a progressive tax system to avoid excessive inequality, Heng said, noting that the government intends to build on the current progressive system where the wealthy pay the bulk of taxes.

Turning to education, he said that his ministry is "looking at various ways to let off some of the pressure that has built up (in the education system) over the years".

But he added that it would not swing to the other extreme, and that "it must still be part of the Singaporean psyche to want to pursue excellence".

In the 35-minute speech that preceded a question-and-answer session at the event held at Mandarin Orchard hotel, Heng also summed up the main aim for the OSC exercise, which will release its final report this week.

Heng, a former Monetary Autho­rity of Singapore managing director, also touched on how the global financial crisis has shown that the government must play a multi-faceted role of "enabling, regulating and stabilising markets".

On a final note, he also emphasised that Singa­pore is a price-taker in a tumultuous world buffered only by its reserves. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Soh escapes the gallows

Posted:

A FULL-TIME national serviceman originally facing the death penalty for stabbing a mother of two to death during the Mid-Autumn Festival three years ago will escape the gallows.

The prosecution has indicated that it will reduce the murder charge against Soh Wee Kian, 23, to that of culpable homicide, which carries either life imprisonment and caning, or up to 20 years' jail and a fine or caning.

This emerged in the High Court yesterday, which was originally scheduled to be the first day of Soh's trial for murdering Hoe Hong Lin, 32, at Mandai Tekong Park in Wood­lands Drive 50 on Sept 22, 2010. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

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More goodies on air

Posted:

RTM also offers numerous programmes on its TVi channel and radio stations.

Raya treats

Posted:

Celebrate this festive season with RTM.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

What to watch for Raya

Posted:

Loads of special programmes on television this Hari Raya!

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

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