Selasa, 10 Disember 2013

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro


Singapore bans alcohol in riot-hit Race Course Road area

Posted:

SINGAPORE: There will be a complete ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol this coming weekend in the Race Course Road area where a riot broke out in Little India on Sunday night, Second Minister for Home Affairs S. Iswaran said.

The details of the ban, such as exactly what time it would apply and what geographical area it would cover, would be worked out by the police, Iswaran told reporters.

Though it was too early to say definitively what caused the riot – which was triggered after a fatal traffic accident – it was "plausible that alcohol consumption was a contributory factor", he added.

"And that is why we have taken this step in the first instance in order to stabilise the situation."

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, who is the MP for the ward in Moulmein-Kallang GRC, said that he had wanted curbs on the sale of alcohol in the area for some time, after seeing the proliferation of liquor licences there.

"I know my residents will fully support this immediate measure," he said.

He and Iswaran were speaking to the media after a visit to the area on Monday evening, during which they spoke to shopkeepers.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Monday that a committee of inquiry (COI) would be set up to investigate the causes of the riot.

"The COI will look into the factors that led to the incident and how the incident was handled on the ground. It will also review the current measures to manage areas where foreign workers congregate, whether they are adequate and how they can be improved. MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) will provide more details when ready," he said in a statement.

Lee said the riot was an isolated incident arising from the unlawful actions of an unruly mob reacting to a fatal traffic accident.

"The vast majority of foreign workers in Singapore are law-abiding workers. They contribute to our economy, working hard to earn a living and support their families back home. We must not allow this bad incident to tarnish our views of the foreign worker community here," he said.

He also offered his deepest condolences to the family of Sakthivel Kumaravelu, who was killed in the traffic accident that preceded the riot, and urged Singaporeans to remain calm and continue with their daily lives.

"Support our frontline officers in the Home Team, and share any leads you may have with the police. Let us stay united as one people as we deal with this unfortunate incident, and keep Singapore a safe and orderly country," he said. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Learn the lessons from Little India fracas

Posted:

SINGAPORE: On Sunday night, in Little India, a bus involved in an accident was smashed by a crowd of angry men; 16 police cars were damaged; one ambulance was completely burnt and two ambulances and other support vehicles were badly damaged.

It was as shocking as it was unacceptable. Whoever was responsible for the damage must be apprehended and punished according to the law. That much was clear but many questions are also crying to be answered.

Chief among them was what led to this outbreak of violence.

At the time of writing, the authorities have not provided a definitive answer and investigations are ongoing. But the media and online chatter have thrown up a host of speculation and charges that I would like to offer some observations to as a response.

One common refrain I hear is how such behaviour is un-Singaporean and these foreign workers have wilfully violated our norms. Others point to the possibility of underlying issues afflicting foreign workers.

For a start, I would urge that everyone be careful not to read too much into this incident until we get a fuller picture of what happened.

From the experience of TWC2 (migrant workers' group Transient Workers Count Too), we do not find foreign workers any more prone to violent, criminal or anti-social behaviour than Singaporeans.

Singapore crime statistics also bear this out. In fact, I sometimes marvel at how stoic the foreign workers are in the face of a bullying employer or a rogue agent or an unresponsive bureaucrat.

A Singaporean in that situation might have become far more confrontational. So I would appeal to Singaporeans not to jump to conclusions that foreign workers are an unruly lot.

TWC2 has always emphasised the importance of observing the law in Singapore, because that is the only way foreign workers – or local workers for that matter – can avoid trouble and be protected when they are in trouble.

We always tell migrant workers we work with to raise their grievances with the Ministry of Manpower while seeking the help of non-governmental organisations like us. And that advice has always been followed.

Was the rioting an expression of bottled-up grievances with their working life in Singapore?

My thinking is we should not play sociologist too readily. At the present moment, little is known about how exactly the rioting started. All we have heard is that the crowd was upset with the bus driver, and for some yet unclear reason started lobbing objects at the police and ambulance first responders.

But why were they directing ire at the first responders? What interaction took place between the gathered crowd and first responders that might have led to misunderstanding?

It is a well-known fact that riots are complex events, often triggered by some minor dispute.

The minor dispute could be one where an authority figure, for example a police officer, may be trying to do his job, but in doing so, was perceived by a crowd as being excessive, rude or overbearing.

It is also well known that when a community harbours an underlying grievance, the threshold for tipping into anti-social acts is lower.

The foreign worker communities have been at the receiving end of employment unfairness for a long time. Many do not receive correct salaries, or have no way – in the absence of payslips – to check whether they have been correctly paid. Some have not been paid for months; TWC2 sees a regular stream of such complaints.

Other workers have seen their friends injured at work, but denied proper medical treatment by their employers. Yet others have seen their friends repatriated suddenly without receiving full salaries or injury compensation.

But while we can understand there are festering grievances, it is not possible at this stage to say what part these feelings played in the explosion of random violence.

Nonetheless, it would still be good for the authorities to pay more attention to such grievances. Doing so would reduce whatever sense of resentment may exist, and thereby raise the threshold of the tipping point, to better prevent another incident from happening again.

And this is what I want to stress.

Singapore, its Government and its people, should not see this purely as a law and order problem. It should not be just a case of find the culprit, mete out the sentences and then the punished would not dare do it again. I am hoping, and it is more important, that we learn the right lessons from this episode.

Finally, I find the online xenophobic comments targeting foreign workers offensive. My TWC2 colleagues and I believe that generally foreign workers do not face xenophobia. They very rarely complained about xenophobic treatment. On the contrary, they find Singaporeans generally treat them reasonably.

If a majority of Singaporeans are reasonable fair-minded people, then I would urge every single one of us to rebuke, rebut or ignore the nasty xenophobes among us. This is the time to take a stand against ugly values that sow dissension. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

> The writer is president of migrant workers' group TWC2..

24 Indian nationals charged

Posted:

SINGAPORE: The republic filed charges against 24 Indian nationals who allegedly took part in its first riot in over 40 years, as officials and activists warned against inciting racial hatred over the incident.

The men face up to seven years in jail plus caning for the hour-long fracas on Sunday night, triggered when an Indian construction worker was struck and killed by a private bus in a district known as Little India.

They were among an estimated 400 South Asian migrant workers involved in the rampage that left 39 police and civil defence staff injured and 25 vehicles - including 16 police cars - damaged or burnt.

The charge sheet said the men threw pieces of concrete and were "members of an unlawful assembly whose common object was to overawe, by a show of criminal force, police officers in the exercise of their lawful power to maintain law and order at the scene."

The suspects, aged between 22 and 40, looked sombre as the charges were read in Tamil by an interpreter.

They were remanded at a police complex for one week for further investigations.

Police earlier said the suspects could be charged with a more serious offence punishable by up to 10 years in jail, but they faced a lesser charge yesterday. Singapore's foreign ministry said it was working closely with the Indian High Commissioner "to facilitate consular access and support for their nationals, including legal representation."

Two Bangladeshis, another Indian national and a Malaysian also arrested after the riot were released as investigations showed they were not involved.

The 55-year-old Singaporean bus driver who knocked down and killed Indian construction worker Sakthivel Kumaravelu, 33, has been released on bail after being charged with causing death by a negligent act.

The wealthy but tiny Southeast Asian nation of 5.4 million depends heavily on guest workers, with labourers from South Asia dominating sectors like construction.

Sunday's riot was the second incident involving a large group of foreign workers in the past year.

In November 2012, 171 Chinese bus drivers stopped work to demand better wages and living conditions - the first industrial strike in Singapore since 1986.

Five of the drivers served jail terms after it was declared an illegal strike, while 29 others were deported without trial.

Officials have called for calm after the Little India riot, which triggered a wave of foreigner-bashing in social media.

On the Facebook page of Yahoo! Singapore, reader Tan Beng Ming wrote: "Jail them, cane them and send them packing! For good measure, send their compatriots back too!"

"Only foreigners will start a riot, it is their norm," wrote another reader, Koh Koh. — AFP

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


Thai 'red shirts' prepare rally to back PM against protesters

Posted:

BANGKOK (Reuters) - The red-shirted supporters of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Wednesday they could take to the streets to protect the government from protesters who have forced her to call a snap election, setting the scene for a possible confrontation.

The warning by the "red shirts" highlights the risks ahead as anti-government protesters keep pushing to eradicate the political influence of Yingluck's brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, a hero in the rural north and northeast who was toppled by the military in 2006.

Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban, a former deputy prime minister in the previous government that Yingluck's ruling party beat by a landslide in 2011, has ignored her call for a snap election to be held on February 2.

He wants Thailand to be governed by an unelected "people's council" made up of appointed "good people". Such an unprecedented move alone would potentially spark conflict with Yingluck's red-shirted supporters in the country of 66 million.

The United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), as the red shirts are known, could rally to protect the government, said Jatuporn Promphan, one of its leaders.

"It is the UDD's job to bring together en masse the red shirts and those who love democracy and don't agree with Suthep's methods. There will be many more people than Suthep managed to gather," he told Reuters in an interview.

Suthep, who a few weeks ago resigned the parliamentary seat he had held for 34 years, derives support from a small but powerful minority: the royalist elite in Bangkok and the opposition Democrats, the country's oldest party, who have failed to win an election since 1992.

In 2010, he authorised a crackdown by security forces that left downtown Bangkok burning and killed scores of red shirts, who say they remain supportive of Yingluck and her billionaire brother Thaksin, who lives in self-exile to avoid jail for abuse of power charges that he says were politically motivated.

Thaksin is widely seen as the power behind Yingluck's government, sometimes holding meetings with the cabinet by webcam. They have huge support in the countryside because of pro-poor policies and any party associated with Thaksin stands a good chance of winning the election.

"When Suthep speaks he should bear in mind that there are millions of Thais who love Thaksin and love the Shinawatra family," Thida Thawornseth, the top UDD leader, told Reuters.

"Where does Suthep come off thinking he can speak on behalf of all Thais?" she added. "Suthep has said Yingluck cannot go anywhere in Thailand without being insulted. What about him? He is the one who should be worried."

TREASON CHARGE

The comments from the red shirts suggest the protests could lead to a wider conflict if Yingluck's elected government is forcibly removed.

After courts brought down two Thaksin-allied governments in 2008 and the Democrats came to power through a parliamentary vote believed to be orchestrated by the military, the red shirts built up a street movement that paralysed Bangkok in April-May 2010 and ended with the bloody military crackdown.

A year later, the Democrats were trounced in an election.

The red shirts cut short a rally on December 1 after fatal clashes around the stadium where it was being held and postponed a mass demonstration that had been planned for Ayutthaya to the north of Bangkok on December 10.

Asked what would bring them out on to the street, Jatuporn said: "When chaos ensues or when Suthep's side uses violent methods to gain power".

He declined to say where the rally could be held but said the aim was not to seek confrontation but to show that the pro-Thaksin forces could bring out more people than Suthep.

After forcing the snap election on Monday, when 160,000 people massed around the prime minister's office, Suthep gave Yingluck 24 hours to step down. She is caretaker prime minister until the election, set for February 2.

After that deadline ran out on Tuesday night, Suthep said police should arrest her.

"I ask police to arrest Yingluck for treason because she did not meet our orders," he told supporters still camping out at Government House.

Before the deadline had elapsed, he said: "If you don't listen, we will escalate our protest until you and the rest of the Shinawatra family are unable to stand it any more.

"How long will you be able to stand it if people spit on your car every day?" he said. In previous speeches he has said the whole Shinawatra family should leave the country.

Suthep says the government has violated the constitution in several ways. In return, he has been charged with insurrection.

So far no attempt has been made to arrest him.

In his speech, Suthep urged the military, traditionally close to the royalists, to take control of government buildings in place of the police, who are closer to Thaksin, himself a former police officer.

The politically powerful army, which has staged or attempted 18 coups in the past 80 years, has said it does not want to get involved, although it has tried to mediate.

(Additional reporting by Apornrath Phoonphongphiphat and Pairat Temphairojana; Writing by Alan Raybould and Jason Szep; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Unpaid Thai rice farmers may protest, adding to PM's woes

Posted:

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thai farmers who have not been paid by the state for rice bought under an intervention scheme are threatening to block roads in 26 provinces, adding to the problems of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who called a snap election this week.

Yingluck dissolved parliament on Monday and called an early election after facing protests for weeks in the capital.

The farmers have been natural supporters of Yingluck and her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, a former premier whose policies helped the poor before he was ousted in a coup in 2006.

Yingluck won a landslide victory in 2011 with support from the countryside after promising to buy rice from farmers at 15,000 Thai baht ($470) per tonne, well above the market.

The rice-buying scheme priced Thai grades out of export markets and left it with large stocks of the grain. When the government was unable to sell enough rice overseas, the state bank running the scheme ran out of funds to pay farmers.

"Farmers are very angry and they are gathering. They said they will block roads in those provinces, asking for their money, which they have been waiting for nearly two months," said Prasit Boonchoey, head of the Thai Farmers Association.

The provinces likely to be affected are in the rice-growing regions in the centre and northeast of the country.

The Bank of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) turned to the bond market in November to get funds to pay farmers, but managed to raise only 37 billion baht on a 75 billion baht offering.

BAAC said it would try to sell more bonds in January.

Somchart Soithong, director-general of the Commerce Ministry's Department of Internal Trade, which oversees the rice-buying programme, said farmers should be paid gradually with money from the November bond.

However, the farmers are running out of patience.

"We won't stop. We are gathering and we will stage protests by this week as we haven't got our money," said Wichian Phuanglamchiak, a farmers' leader in Ayutthaya province to the north of Bangkok.

($1 = 32.1350 Thai baht)

(Editing by Alan Raybould and Tom Hogue)

India's Supreme Court reinstates ban on gay sex

Posted:

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's Supreme Court on Wednesday threw out a 2009 ruling by a lower court that had decriminalised gay sex, in a major blow to gay rights in the world's largest democracy.

The top court stated that only India's government could change the law, deeming the Delhi High Court had overstepped its powers with the decision four years ago.

"This is not a retrograde judgment," a lawyer for a Muslim charity who received the judgment told reporters outside the court. "All the communities - Muslims, Christians, the majority community Hindus - have all challenged the judgment of the Delhi High Court."

Section 377 of India's penal code bans "sex against the order of nature", which is widely interpreted to mean homosexual sex. The colonial-era rule dates back to the nineteenth century.

The Supreme Court's move came as a shock to gay rights activists, who had expected it to rubber-stamp the 2009 ruling.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews


Adam Sandler tops Forbes' list of most-overpaid actors

Posted:

Comedian dethrones Eddie Murphy for the dubious distinction this year.

AMERICAN comedian Adam Sandler topped Forbes' list of Hollywood's most-overpaid actors, commanding a high up-front fee while delivering middling returns, the magazine said on Monday.

Sandler, 47, the star of recent comedies Jack & Jill and That's My Boy, dethroned Eddie Murphy for the dubious distinction. Forbes estimated that Sandler's last three films returned an average of US$3.40 (about RM11) for every dollar he was paid.

Murphy topped last year's list, returning an average of US$2.30 (RM6.90) at the box office for each dollar earned.

Katherine Heigl, who starred in the poorly performing films Killers and One For The Money, placed slightly behind Sandler, returning an average of US$3.50 (RM11.20) per every dollar she earned.

The list, compiled annually by Forbes, counts the last three films an actor has starred in over the past three years. This year's list was cut off at June 1, and so it excluded Sandler's buddy comedy Grown Ups 2, which was released in July and performed well at the box office.

Forbes did not say how much Sandler earned on his last three films. But the magazine said he was one of the few movie stars who could still command more than US$15mil (RM48mil) per film, on an "up-front" arrangement. Hollywood studios in recent years have shifted to paying smaller up-front fees and tie actors' pay with the film's box-office performance.

The magazine said it examined actors' pay, film budgets and expenses to calculate the average return an actor brings per dollar paid.

Reese Witherspoon, the star of recent films Water For Elephants and This Means War, was third on this list, with an average return of US$3.90 (RM12.50) for every dollar she was paid.

Nicolas Cage was fourth, with a US$6 (RM19.20) average return, and comedian Kevin James was fifth, returning an average of US$6.10 (RM19.60) – Reuters

Juliette Binoche and James Brolin join Chilean miner drama

Posted:

JULIETTE Binoche and James Brolin are to star in a feature on one of 2010's most dramatic and widely followed news stories, Deadline.com reports.

Binoche has inherited the female lead in the movie after Jennifer Lopez bowed out due to scheduling conflicts with American Idol.

The French actress, together with American actor Brolin (pic), will be joined on the set by Antonio Banderas and Martin Sheen, both connected to the project since last spring.

The 33 is currently being filmed, primarily in Chile, by Mexican-American director Patricia Riggen, hailed in 2007 for her film Under The Same Moon. The feature will tell the true story of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground for 69 days. Media outlets around the globe followed their struggle and rescue in 2010. – AFP Relaxnews

Eddie Murphy to return as Beverly Hills Cop

Posted:

A fourth feature of the police comedy franchise will be directed by Brett Ratner.

THE police comedy film series starring Eddie Murphy will soon return to the silver screen for a fourth movie, Deadline.com announced.

Thirty years after its debut, the Beverly Hills Cop franchise will provide the basis for a fourth movie, this time taking the form of a reboot.

Eddie Murphy will return to the legendary role of Axel Foley, a fearless cop who knows how to speak his mind. In the forthcoming feature, the character will leave the California sun and return to his roots in Detroit.

Jerry Bruckheimer and Paramount are producing the show, which will be directed by Brett Ratner. The director behind the Rush Hour franchise worked with Murphy on the set of Tower Heist in 2011. Ratner will follow in the footsteps of Martin Brest, Tony Scott and John Landis, who directed the first three Bevery Hills Cop movies in 1984, 1987 and 1994.

News that Bevery Hills Cop will return to cinema comes several months after CBS decided no to go ahead with plans for a series on the franchise. In the pilot for the series, which never got off the ground, Murphy made a cameo, which unexpectedly led to a new level of enthusiasm for the Axel Foley character. – AFP Relaxnews

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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Adam Sandler tops Forbes' list of most-overpaid actors

Posted:

Comedian dethrones Eddie Murphy for the dubious distinction this year.

AMERICAN comedian Adam Sandler topped Forbes' list of Hollywood's most-overpaid actors, commanding a high up-front fee while delivering middling returns, the magazine said on Monday.

Sandler, 47, the star of recent comedies Jack & Jill and That's My Boy, dethroned Eddie Murphy for the dubious distinction. Forbes estimated that Sandler's last three films returned an average of US$3.40 (about RM11) for every dollar he was paid.

Murphy topped last year's list, returning an average of US$2.30 (RM6.90) at the box office for each dollar earned.

Katherine Heigl, who starred in the poorly performing films Killers and One For The Money, placed slightly behind Sandler, returning an average of US$3.50 (RM11.20) per every dollar she earned.

The list, compiled annually by Forbes, counts the last three films an actor has starred in over the past three years. This year's list was cut off at June 1, and so it excluded Sandler's buddy comedy Grown Ups 2, which was released in July and performed well at the box office.

Forbes did not say how much Sandler earned on his last three films. But the magazine said he was one of the few movie stars who could still command more than US$15mil (RM48mil) per film, on an "up-front" arrangement. Hollywood studios in recent years have shifted to paying smaller up-front fees and tie actors' pay with the film's box-office performance.

The magazine said it examined actors' pay, film budgets and expenses to calculate the average return an actor brings per dollar paid.

Reese Witherspoon, the star of recent films Water For Elephants and This Means War, was third on this list, with an average return of US$3.90 (RM12.50) for every dollar she was paid.

Nicolas Cage was fourth, with a US$6 (RM19.20) average return, and comedian Kevin James was fifth, returning an average of US$6.10 (RM19.60) – Reuters

Juliette Binoche and James Brolin join Chilean miner drama

Posted:

JULIETTE Binoche and James Brolin are to star in a feature on one of 2010's most dramatic and widely followed news stories, Deadline.com reports.

Binoche has inherited the female lead in the movie after Jennifer Lopez bowed out due to scheduling conflicts with American Idol.

The French actress, together with American actor Brolin (pic), will be joined on the set by Antonio Banderas and Martin Sheen, both connected to the project since last spring.

The 33 is currently being filmed, primarily in Chile, by Mexican-American director Patricia Riggen, hailed in 2007 for her film Under The Same Moon. The feature will tell the true story of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground for 69 days. Media outlets around the globe followed their struggle and rescue in 2010. – AFP Relaxnews

Eddie Murphy to return as Beverly Hills Cop

Posted:

A fourth feature of the police comedy franchise will be directed by Brett Ratner.

THE police comedy film series starring Eddie Murphy will soon return to the silver screen for a fourth movie, Deadline.com announced.

Thirty years after its debut, the Beverly Hills Cop franchise will provide the basis for a fourth movie, this time taking the form of a reboot.

Eddie Murphy will return to the legendary role of Axel Foley, a fearless cop who knows how to speak his mind. In the forthcoming feature, the character will leave the California sun and return to his roots in Detroit.

Jerry Bruckheimer and Paramount are producing the show, which will be directed by Brett Ratner. The director behind the Rush Hour franchise worked with Murphy on the set of Tower Heist in 2011. Ratner will follow in the footsteps of Martin Brest, Tony Scott and John Landis, who directed the first three Bevery Hills Cop movies in 1984, 1987 and 1994.

News that Bevery Hills Cop will return to cinema comes several months after CBS decided no to go ahead with plans for a series on the franchise. In the pilot for the series, which never got off the ground, Murphy made a cameo, which unexpectedly led to a new level of enthusiasm for the Axel Foley character. – AFP Relaxnews

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio


Smooth criminals

Posted:

The story of Bonnie and Clyde is worth telling again, says Emile Hirsch.

WHEN Emile Hirsch got a call from his manager about an offer for a potential part in a miniseries called Bonnie & Clyde, he immediately jumped at the opportunity.

"As soon as he said, 'Bonnie and Clyde', I knew I was going to do it. I just love that time period and the movie side of it. I wanted to explore that era and the gangster mythology that surrounds it," Hirsch says during a phone interview recently.

Part history and part drama, the four-hour epic retells the tale of lovebirds Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker whose notorious crime spree shocked and captivated the American public in the early 1930s.

Rumoured to have a sixth sense that enabled him to see events before they happened, Barrow was described as a charismatic convicted armed robber who was always able to stay one step ahead of the law. His one blind spot was Parker, a perceptive small-town waitress intent on fame.

Together, both Barrow and Parker went on to commit risky and dangerous crimes that made them a regular fixture on newspaper headlines during the Great Depression.

"There's a lot of adventure in breaking the rules and I think that's what makes people continuously fascinated by Bonnie and Clyde and made them a phenomenon," offers Hirsch, 28.

That phenomenon has even led to the couple's own legacy in modern popular culture. Hollywood has tackled the story of Bonnie and Clyde several times.

The most popular version would of course be the iconic 1967 film which starred Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway.

However, Hirsch was unperturbed by the fact that he took on a role which the Academy Award-winning Beatty made famous on the big screen.

"I didn't find it hard to fill those shoes because I didn't try on those shoes until after I finished filming.

"What I mean by that is I didn't actually watch Beatty's version of Bonnie And Clyde until I was done playing Clyde," he reveals.

"I purposely did that because I know what a good actor Beatty is and I didn't want to be influenced by him. I wanted my version of Clyde to be mine," adds the California native.

It's worth mentioning that Parker and Barrow were among the first celebrity criminals of the modern era.

At the core of it all, the story of Bonnie and Clyde remains one of the most tragic romances in American history. This begs the question – what is it about their tale that still appeals to people even to this day?

"I think there are very opposing forces in their relationship. There's the love for each other, but at the same time, there's also hatred for the law, society and rules. These different qualities are very rarely paired up together.

"It's also surprising to a lot of people that Bonnie herself is willing to be a participant in a lot of the crimes, especially in an era where women are considered very traditional. And it's a shock that she's a bit of a gangster herself," says Hirsch.

Emile Hirsch and Holliday Grainger star as infamous American outlaws Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker respectively in a new four-part miniseries.

Lethal love: The story of Bonnie and Clyde remains one of the most tragic romances in American history.

The female lead in the new star-studded miniseries is played by Holliday Grainger. Other cast members include veteran actors Holly Hunter and William Hurt.

The fact that Bonnie & Clyde is based on real life events does make one wonder which version of the truth the film adhered to.

"You never know exactly what happened, but I feel like obviously there's going to be a bit of poetic licence. When you make a movie based on historical facts, you can never include everything. You have to invent certain things and come up with your own interpretation. The essence is still there. Our version is very tragic and very poetic," offers Hirsch.

He went on to reveal that the miniseries focuses on the early years that Clyde spent in prison before he embarked on a criminal rampage with his romantic interest.

"It was something that the series really explores and you'll get to see how hard prison was for him, how he was abused and sexually assaulted. It's awful and kind of a dark subject, so I felt that the series had a lot of courage to explore that," he says.

After delving into Barrow's character, Hirsch came to the conclusion that the man was fundamentally a tragic villain.

"It's tragic because he wanted a way out but the horrors he faced in prison changed him. It sort of created a monster of him. But the real tragedy is that he really was in love with someone and he let that love, in a weird way, ruin his life," Hirsch says.

All the bleak stuff aside, the actor does think there's something inherently cool about the flawed outlaw.

"Even though he's a criminal, he makes his own rules and he's not afraid of danger. He's very impulsive and he's got a beautiful girl. Clyde basically controlled his own destiny," reasons Hirsch.

When asked if he sees any part of himself in the late convict, Hirsch hesitated for a bit before answering, "Not too much. I don't think I could take the intensity of the world on your back. Clyde was constantly on the run for his life and getting shot at. That's not the way I'm wired. That's not in me.

"But if I were given a chance to pick his brain, I'd probably ask, 'Are you sure you guys don't want to turn yourselves in?' ," he says with a laugh.

After a long pause, though, Hirsch adds on a more serious note, "I'd probably ask if they would change anything about it if they could do it all over again because ultimately, they were two people in love."

> Bonnie & Clyde will be aired on Dec 9 and 10 at 9pm on History (Astro Ch 555) and Lifetime (Astro Ch 709).

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Familiar face

'America's Next Top Model' finalists take public transport in KL

Posted:

Aspiring models ride with LRT passengers on feelgood mission by Red FM.

IT was a pleasant surprise for Klang Valley commuters using the LRT this morning when they were greeted by the top five finalists of America's Next Top Model Cycle 20.

As part of the Red FM Random Act Of Kindness initiative, the contestants of the hit reality TV series stepped onto the train at the Kelana Jaya LRT station in Selangor at around 10.20am to shower passengers with compliments.

The models – Chris Hernandez, Cory Hindorff, Jourdan Miller, Marvin Cortes and Renee Bhagwandeen – praised commuters on their unique facial features and bold fashion choices before disembarking at the KLCC LRT stop.

Earlier in the morning, the models shared their experiences of being on the reality show with Lil' Kev from Red FM's WTF show and Janice on Capital FM's Capital Breakfast programme.

Familiar face

Posted:

EMILE Hirsch may not be a household name, but that's about to change with the release of the four-hour miniseries Bonnie & Clyde. We track down some of his more notable work.

Alpha Dog (2006)

Hirsch plays a young marijuana dealer in this crime film which was directed by Nick Cassavetes. This was based on the true story of the kidnapping and murder of 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz and the subsequent events that ensued in 2000.

Speed Racer (2008)

Arguably one of Hirsch's most commercial films to date, Speed Racer sees the actor taking on the role of an 18-year-old whose life and love revolves around racing. The film was nominated in multiple categories at the Teen Choice Awards. Unfortunately, it was also nominated for a Golden Raspberry Award.

Milk (2008)

After the critically-panned Speed Racer, Hirsch bounced back to the big screen alongside Sean Penn. Milk chronicles the life of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk. Hirsch plays activist Cleve Jones in the movie. 

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MRCB downgraded, FY13 and FY14 forecasts cut

Posted:

MALAYSIAN RESOURCES CORP BHD

By RHB Research

Target price: RM1.32

Neutral (from trading buy)

RHB Research has downgraded Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) to "neutral" from "trading buy," cut its financial year ending Dec 31, 2013 (FY13) forecast numbers to a loss from a profit, and lowered its FY14 forecast by 76%.

The research house believes it will have to overcome several company-specific issues as well as headwinds in the property sector before it can capitalise on its enlarged size and scale for growth post the merger with the Gapurna group.

Its fair value has been slashed by 35% to RM1.32 (from RM2.02).

RHB Research believes that MRCB has a number of issues that will take time to be addressed or sorted out, namely the RM167mil provisions in its latest quarterly results, its recent removal from the syariah-compliant list and the legal tussle with the Selangor state government with regards to the acquisition of Lot 12 of PJ Sentral.

There is also long overdue issue on the Eastern Dispersal Link in Johor; the delay in the implementation of the redevelopment of the Rubber Research Institute land in Sungei Buloh, in which MRCB is expected to play a significant role; the impact of overall weakened sentiment and hence sales in the property market; as well as reduced investors' appetite towards property stocks following various cooling measures introduced by the Government recently, and finally, investors' lack of familiarity with MRCB's new management and the new management style it brought in with it.

RHB Research cut FY13 forecast to a loss from a profit and slashed FY14 forecast by 76% to factor in MRCB's weakened earnings prospects on company-specific issues as well as headwinds in the property sector, as mentioned.

MRCB is not a good proxy to the construction sector given its seemingly downsized construction operation, coupled with persistent construction losses due to weak project execution.

While we do acknowledge that MRCB has good assets comprising landbank and investment properties in prime locations, their value can only be fully unlocked over the longer term.

The research house has cut its fair value by 35% to RM1.32 (from MYR2.02) to reflect a weakened earnings outlook coupled with the dilution from an enlarged share base post the merger with Gapurna.

AEON CO (M) BHD

By RHB Research

Target price: RM15.90

Neutral (maintained)

AEON Co (M) Bhd participated in the 2nd Annual Emerging Markets Conference organised by RHB Research's partner, Espirito Santo Investment Bank (ESIB), in London.

Fund managers were generally drawn to AEON's strong brand name, unique business model and solid earnings record.

The research house's partner ESIB played host to 12 companies from six regions during the two-day event, at which AEON was the sole representative from Asean.

Investors were generally positive on the company's outlook given its strong branding and aggressive expansion. They were interested in the group's expansion plans, potential synergy and cannibalisation with AEON Big, as well as the competitive landscape in Malaysia.

On Nov 27, AEON opened its 27th mall in Kulaijaya in Johor, which has a net lettable area of around 457,000 sq ft.

The four-storey mall comprises two retail floors and two levels for car parks.

In financial year ending 31, 2014 (FY14), the group will open three new malls – one each in Bukit Mertajam in Penang, Taiping and Klebang in Perak.

RHB Research sees some procurement synergies from the collaboration with AEON Big due to the larger collective orders.

Cannibalisation should be negligible as AEON Big operates hypermarkets that target the lower- to mid-income earners, while AEON is a department store-cum-mall operator targeting the middle-income group.

Competition between mall operators is, however, heating up with construction players venturing into mall operation (eg WCT's Paradigm Mall), department stores starting to operate malls (eg Parkson's Festival City Mall), and hypermarkets like Tesco revamping their tenant mix.

That said, AEON is unique as most of its outlets are close to residential/suburban areas, while its strong branding is a crowd-puller.

RHB Research revises its FY13 and FY14 earnings forecasts slightly lower – by 3%-4% – owing to higher depreciation from the heavier capital expenditure arising from new stores.

The research house maintains "neutral" with a new fair value of RM15.90 (from RM16).

The stock is currently trading near its historical price earnings of 23 times, which RHB Research deems fair.

LAND & GENERAL BHD

By Malaysia Equity Research

Trading buy

LAND & General Bhd (L&G), with a share price of 41 sen and market cap of RM258mil, is an old guard which has been given a new lease of life post-Asian financial crisis with the emergence of a new major shareholder in 2007.

Mayland Group owner Tan Sri David Chiu (affiliated to Hong Kong-based Far East Group) acquired a 17% stake from Tan Sri Wan Azmi (who currently holds only a 2% stake), and has since increased his stake to 29% (if irredeemable convertible unsecured loan stock (ICULS), already in-the-money, are exercised).

A debt-restructuring exercise undertaken in 2008 had cleaned up L&G's books, allowing for the launch of its first new project in 2009, i.e. 8trium in Bandar Seri Damansara (recently completed).

Its two latest projects, Elements@Ampang (JV with Mayland) and Damansara Foresta launched in 2010 and 2012 respectively, have seen strong take-up of more than 90% – a positive sign that buyers are warming up to L&G's products again.

Long before the emergence of the critically-acclaimed Desa ParkCity, L&G has been developing the 1,200-acre Bandar Sri Damansara township.

It still has 93 acres remaining, with Damansara Foresta spanning over 42 acres, Sri Damansara Club 36 acres (to be redeveloped into a mixed development in the near future) and private school Sekolah Sri Bestari 15 acres.

Its land cost is more than RM20 per sq ft (psf) versus commercial land value of higher than RM300 psf in nearby Mutiara Damansara, and above RM500 psf for Desa ParkCity bungalow lots.

L&G also owns 230 acres in Seremban, 14 acres of industrial land in Tebrau (Iskandar Malaysia) and 2,500 acres of plantation land near Lembah Beringin (may be developed in the longer term).

L&G has about RM800mil unbilled sales for Elements@Ampang and Damansara Foresta Phase 1, which will be completing in the second quarter of calendar year 2014 and the fourth quarter of 2015, respectively.

This works out to be 4 times financial year ended March 31, 2013 (FY13) property development revenue, translating to a RM200mil profit, to be recognised over the next three years.

Much stronger growth is already being seen for second quarter FY14, with earnings jumping to RM23mil vs RM2mil in the previous corresponding period and RM10mil in the first quarter of FY14.

In 2014, L&G is planning to launch RM1.5bil worth of residential projects, i.e. Damansara Foresta Phase 2, Elements 2@Ampang and Seremban Phase 1.

While property demand has been dampened by further tightening measures and rising inflation, the research house expects take-ups to remain relatively resilient for prime location and landed properties.

L&G justifiably trades at a discount – in part likely due to scepticism over some related party transactions.

However, its 70% discount to revised net asset value (RNAV) and 5 times March FY15 forecast fully diluted price earnings (PE) seem too steep compared with 48% and 9 times current average for small-mid-cap property developers respectively.

Not only has earnings visibility improved (estimated 3-year compound annual growth rate of 35%), L&G's net cash has also grown to RM250mil (matching market cap) with potential maiden dividends to be declared next year.

The research house's fair value of 65 sen is based on 50% discount to RNAV of RM1.30 versus 30%-40% used to derive target price for small-mid-cap property developers under its coverage.

Perisai Petroleum crosses RM1.50 on vessel contract

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: Shares of Perisai Petroleum Teknologi Bhd crossed RM1.50 on Wednesday as investors were upbeat about its prospects following its associate's US$272.1mil (RM870mil) contract with Hess Exploration and Production Malaysia BV.

At 11.14am, it was up five sen to RM1.51. There were 2.40 million shares done at prices ranging from RM1.48 to RM1.51.

The FBM KLCI was flat at 1,843.85. Turnover was 371.91 million shares valued at RM428.83mil. There were 265 gainers, 255 losers and 270 counters unchanged.

Perisai is expected to recognise earnings from its new floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel in the fourth quarter of financial year ending Dec 31, 2013.

Its 40% owned Larizz Petroleum Services Sdn Bhd haf completed start-up and commissioning of the FPSO named Perisai Kamelia for Hess' development block at the North Malay Basin. The vessel's three-year charter started in November.

Twitter adds photo sharing to direct messages

Posted:

SAN FRANCISCO: Updated mobile software rolled out Tuesday by Twitter lets smartphone users send pictures in direct, personal messages seen only by recipients instead of being shared publicly on the social network.

"For the first time, you can share and view photos via direct message on your mobile phone," Jeremy Gordon, the company's senior director of product engineering, wrote in a post on the Twitter blog.

"We've also introduced a new tab in the navigation bar that makes it easy to access direct messages - they're just one tap away from wherever you are on Twitter."

The Instagram-style feature is in the latest Twitter applications tailored for Apple or Android smartphones, according to Gordon.

Twitter users now also have the option to "swipe" from their home screen timelines to a "discover" section to explore trends or popular 'tweets.'

"There are a bunch of other great updates in this release," Gordon said. - AFP

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Christmas comes alive at the Xaviers

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SUBANG JAYA: For more than 10 years, Roland Xavier and his family have been decking their house with Christmas decorations to share the festive joy.

Just take a drive along Persiaran Tujuan and Persiaran Perpaduan, and it is hard to miss the house in USJ 11 all lit up with Christmas decorations.

And next year will be the same, despite the electricity tariff increase by Tenaga Nasional Bhd which will be effective Jan 1.

"I never look at the electricity bill for every December.

"Even with the electricity tariff hike, we will try to save in other areas but Christmas happens only once a year," Roland's wife Joyce Evanson said.

"We tighten our belts for the rest of the year. We have always tried to conserve energy and recycle. We eat less of processed foods, which are overpriced."

It was evident that she walks the talk as she was seen with two recyclable bags of grocery during the interview.

"Some ask us why do we keep doing this every year, 'Isn't this a waste of electricity?'. We look at the bigger picture, we hope to touch people's hearts.

"Just a few nights ago, a lady saw me outside the house and gave me a Christmas card, thanking us for putting up the Christmas lights.

"She said, 'Thank you for putting a smile to our faces and for making the Christmas season come alive'," she recalled fondly.

Girl gets jail for raping boy

Posted:

A 17-YEAR-OLD girl was sentenced to three years in jail for raping a 13-year-old boy in Shandong, reported China Press.

The girl, who befriended the boy on the instant messaging service QQ, allegedly drugged him before forcing herself on him at a hotel.

The girl and the boy had just met.

The girl claimed that she was tired and needed a rest. She then brought the boy to a nearby hotel where the incident took place.

> The daily also reported that two boys, aged eight and 10, were nabbed for allegedly stealing two handphones and a laptop from two shops at a shopping mall in Alor Setar.

A closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera in the shop caught them in the act.

The shop operator said the boys took the handphones when two of her employees were in the office while the third was busy repairing a handphone.

After studying the CCTV footage, she released the images to other traders in the shop.

The boys were later caught in a mall.

Prior to the arrest, the boys had also stolen a laptop. They claimed they were paid to steal the items.


> A 24-year-old woman claimed that she was raped by her mother's colleague in Singapore when she was 15, reported Sin Chew Daily.

The victim, known only as Azura, said she was raped at least three times.

She said the police told her that her mother could have been aware of the incidents and might have even received money from the suspect.

Azura, a telephone operator, said her father became bankrupt after his business failed when she was a teenager.

Her mother then had to work as a cleaner to support the family.

The suspect, she said, was very close to her mother and sometimes stayed overnight at their house.

"He forced himself on me one day when my family members were asleep. I tried to push him away but he threatened me and told me not to make any noise.

"He said if I did not follow his instructions or told anybody, he would harm my family," she said.

Azura said the suspect outraged her modesty again two weeks later, and she was raped at least three to four times by him.

Other News & Views is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this > sign, it denotes a separate news item.

Goh warns against interference in MCA's internal affairs

Posted:

YONG PENG: The MCA does not need anyone from outside the party to interfere in the party's affairs, said MCA Youth chief aspirant Datuk Goh Gaik Meng.

"This is about the dignity of the party. We don't want outsiders to come into the picture," he said, commenting on speculation that party veteran Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek was trying to get Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to intervene in the party's internal squabbles.

Goh, the Batu MCA Youth chief, said this in his speech at the installation of Johor MCA Youth committee members and fund-raising drive here yesterday.

Present was state executive councillor and state MCA liaison committee member Datuk Tee Siew Kiong, representing party chief Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Goh said Lim, a former MCA deputy president, had admitted he had spoken to Najib, who is Barisan Nasional chairman, on the party's leadership.

"Delegates have the wisdom to decide on the leadership and do not need to rely on others in dealing with its internal matters," he said, adding that the Chinese community would look down on the MCA and accuse the party of being subservient to Umno.

Goh, who had announced his candidacy for the post of MCA Youth chief in the wing's election on Dec 19, claimed the movement had not been active in the past five years.

He touched on issues of education, job and business opportunities and the new media that were important to the young people in the community.

Regarding the issue of hiring more bumiputra employees in companies that was raised at the just-concluded Umno general assembly, Goh said employment could not be forced.

He pledged to transform the MCA Youth wing by uniting its members first before getting public support.

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Olympiakos through as Anderlecht finish with eight men

Posted:

ATHENS (Reuters) - Olympiakos forward Javier Saviola scored twice in a 3-1 victory over Anderlecht, who finished with eight men, as the hosts reached the Champions League last 16 at Benfica's expense in Group C despite missing two penalties.

The win puts Olympiakos in the knockout phase for the first time since 2010, having finished in second place level on 10 points with Benfica but with a better head-to-head record.

The Portuguese side failed to progress despite a 2-1 success over group winners Paris St Germain, who have 13 points, and drop into the Europa League. Anderlecht were last on one point.

Argentine forward Saviola opened the scoring after 33 minutes with a clinical finish but Olympiakos were punished on the counter after losing concentration when Sacha Kljestan finished off a flowing move to level for the Belgians.

Veteran Saviola, 32, had a penalty saved at the start of the second half after Anderlecht defender Cheikhou Kouyate was dismissed for collecting a second yellow card for a handball but the striker then scored from close range for his second goal.

There was late drama as Anderlecht's Fabrice N'Sakala and goalkeeper Silvio Proto, who saved twice from the penalty spot, were sent off for picking up two yellow cards.

Vladimir Weiss had also been denied by Proto before Alejandro Dominguez succeeded with the home side's third spot-kick to complete the scoring in added time.

Michel's Olympiakos team began the match on the attack with Michael Olaitan providing a threat with his direct running in the absence of injured leading scorer Kostas Mitroglou.

Paulo Machado had the first effort on target for the hosts with a curling free kick that was turned around the post by Proto.

SAVIOLA STRIKES

Chances were at a premium but Olympiakos made their possession count when Saviola pounced to score.

The Argentine, who had curled a shot just wide moments earlier, latched on to David Fuster's deflected shot which fell kindly for him to bury a low drive past Proto.

Anderlecht were level six minutes later after executing a classic counter down the left following an Olympiakos corner.

It culminated in Dennis Praet's unselfish pass to American Sacha Kljestan, who slotted into an empty net from close range.

Olympiakos were presented with a golden chance to reclaim the lead when they were awarded a penalty for Kouyate's handball only for Saviola to see his weak effort saved by Proto.

Saviola made no mistake in the 58th minute though, stretching to prod Fuster's miss-hit shot into the top corner to put the Reds ahead for the second time in the match.

Substitute Weiss became the second Olympiakos player to miss from the penalty spot with 18 minutes left with the Slovakian also denied by Proto, who then showed brilliant reflexes to palm away Olaitan's goal-bound effort moments later.

N'Sakala and Proto were both sent off for late lunges, the latter resulting in a third penalty which Dominguez converted deep into added time to wrap up the victory.

(Editing by Ken Ferris and Josh Reich)

Battling City shatter Bayern air of invincibility

Posted:

MUNICH (Reuters) - Bayern Munich's air of invincibility was blown away as they squandered a 2-0 lead and bungled their way to a 3-2 Champions League defeat against Manchester City in front of their own incredulous fans on Tuesday.

James Milner won a penalty and side-footed the winner in a three-minute second-half spell as City recovered impressively from an awful start to avenge their 3-1 defeat at home earlier in Group D.

Although both teams had already qualified, it was still a humbling evening for Bayern, who had won their last 11 games in all competitions, were unbeaten in their last 23, and had thrashed Werder Bremen 7-0 away at the weekend.

The titleholders' record-breaking run of 10 consecutive Champions League wins was also stopped in its tracks as coach Pep Guardiola suffered only his second defeat in 25 matches since taking over.

"It was a terrible start from us. They looked like they were going to walk away with it," Milner told UEFA.com. "To come back after that shows a lot of the character in the dressing room."

City coach Manuel Pellegrini told the BBC: "We wanted revenge for the first game and to show it was not that different between Bayern and our team."

Bayern shrugged off the defeat and still finished top of the group on their better head-to-head record after both teams finished level with 15 points.

"When you go 2-0 ahead, you have to play better than that," Bayern captain Philipp Lahm told Sky Sports Deutschland. "But we can live with the defeat, we are still group winners."

City gifted Bayern a head start by conceding two soft goals in the opening 12 minutes, yet it was last season's treble winners who ended the evening a collective nervous wreck.

RAKING PASS

With Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero starting on the bench and Yaya Toure suspended, City began in kamikaze mode when Joleon Lescott's backpass left goalkeeper Joe Hart hugely relieved to see it go out for a corner.

Bayern were in front in five minutes when Dante sent a long, raking diagonal ball out of defence and Thomas Mueller got behind his marker to chest down and place the ball beyond Hart.

The hosts were in complete control as Hart diverted a Franck Ribery shot on to the post before they scored again in the 12th minute, helped by woeful City defending at a corner.

The ball fell at the feet of Mario Mandzukic and he had time to slip it to an unmarked Mario Goetze, who scored with ease from close range.

There was finally some overdue excitement at the other end when Manuel Neuer rushed out of his penalty area, South American-style, to head clear from a City attack after 25 minutes.

If Bayern fans thought that was an isolated incident they were proved wrong, and the complexion of the game quickly changed after City pulled a goal back out of nothing in the 28th minute.

Jesus Navas crossed from the right, an unmarked Milner headed the ball back across goal at the far post, and David Silva scored from close range.

There were still some delightful touches by Bayern in attack, including a Ribery reverse pass that opened up a chance for Goetze, but the Bavarians had already lost much of their swagger by halftime.

There was still an air of disbelief in the 59th minute when Milner was tripped by Dante, going down under minimal contact, and Aleksandar Kolarov fired a low penalty to Neuer's right as the keeper went left.

Bayern barely had time to recover when central defender Jerome Boateng failed to clear a low Navas cross and Milner side-footed his shot low into the far corner.

Dante produced another slip 10 minutes from time as he allowed Alvaro Negredo to sneak in but the substitute's shot from a tight angle was saved by Neuer.

At the other end, Bayern forced a string of corners, a total of 14 in the match to City's none, but never looked like equalising.

(Writing by Brian Homewood in Berne; Editing by Tony Goodson and Stephen Wood)

Top winter apps for your ski holiday

Posted:

Put away the books and laptops, just whip out your phones if you want to ski!

FROM scoring cheap lift tickets to finding your friends on the mountain, here are a few of the best apps for your ski holiday.

Liftopia (Free, iOS) - This app offers discounts of up to 80% off ski lift tickets and rentals at more than 150 ski resorts around the globe, from Alaska to the Alps. For those without an iPhone, check out the website at www.liftopia.com.

Waze (Free, iOS, Android) – Get to the mountain without the hassle of traffic jams with this crowdsourced mapping app that alerts users to traffic, accidents, and black ice.

Ski and Snow Report (Free, iOS, Android)

Ideal for powder lovers. App staffers analyse and post snowfall data all day long, making the figures more reliable than what the resorts themselves often claim.

iTrailMap 3D (US$4.99 - RM16.05, iOS)

This app lets you access some 750 interactive topo resort maps around the globe, download them onto your phone, and access them anywhere on the mountain, no WiFi or mobile service needed. A standard non-3D version is available for Android.

Ski Tracks (US$0.99 – RM3.19, iOS)

This app uses your phone's GPS to provide a data-filled snapshot of your day on the slopes, logging the steepest slope you rode to your maximum speed.

Find My Friends (Free, iOS, Android)

Once you and your pals download the app and agree to share your locations, this app can tell you precisely where to spot each other on the mountain. – AFP Relaxnews

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