Rabu, 19 Februari 2014

The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business

MAS plans multi-billion dollar aircraft orders in turnaround plan
Australia's SeekAsia buying JobStreet's business for RM1.73b (Update)
Vehicle sales down 8.7% in January

MAS plans multi-billion dollar aircraft orders in turnaround plan

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 09:21 PM PST

SINGAPORE: Loss-making Malaysia Airlines is waiting for government approval to place multi-billion dollar orders for up to 100 Airbus and Boeing passenger aircraft in a move aimed at boosting its profitability, two people familiar with the negotiations told Reuters.

The new aircraft will lower the airline's operating costs by allowing it to retire its older, less fuel-efficient aircraft. That may help it cope with intense competition at home and within South-East Asia, the sources said.

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) has 88 aircraft in its fleet, including Airbus A330s and A380s, and Boeing 777-200s and 737s, according to its website.

It plans to initially order around 30 widebody aircraft, including Airbus A330s and A350-900s, to replace its older Airbus A330s and Boeing 777-200s over this decade. It could also order either the Boeing 787-10 or the Airbus A350-1000 for its fleet beyond 2020, one of the people said.

MAS is keen to begin taking delivery of some aircraft from 2016, which means that it could meet part of it requirements from leasing companies, the sources said.

While the airline considered adding one or two more A380s to the six in its fleet, it has decided that twin-engined widebody aircraft are its priority.

MAS, which operates Boeing 737-800s for its short haul and regional services, is also looking at an order for the 737 Max to replace the older planes in its fleet.

A Malaysia Airlines spokesman was not immediately available for comment and the people familiar with the order declined to be named as the details were confidential.

INCREASED COMPETITION

The airline believes the fuel efficiency and lower maintenance requirements of the new aircraft will help it cut costs. It will also be able to fly more passengers and reach new destinations with the planes, potentially raising revenues.

On Tuesday, the airline reported a net loss of RM343.4mil (US$104.23mil) in the October-December 2013 period, its fourth consecutive quarterly loss. Its full year losses were nearly three times higher than in 2012 at RM1.17bil.

"Malaysia Airlines expects the business environment to remain challenging with high fuel prices, volatile foreign exchange and intense competition impacting yield from both existing as well as new entrants into the market," the airline said in a statement.

"The significant increase in capacity, especially the continued expansion of Middle Eastern and European carriers into our region, is adding further competition to the already crowded marketplace."

The airline faces stiff competition at home from low-cost carrier AirAsia on the short-haul and domestic segments, and from AirAsia X in the medium and long-haul market.

The entry last year of Malindo, a full-service airline that is partly owned by Indonesia's Lion Air, sent yields sharply lower in 2013 as both MAS and AirAsia slashed fares to keep their market share.

MAS is also trying to keep up with other South-East Asian full-service carriers in the highly competitive medium and long-haul markets, while Gulf carriers like Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways are also eating into its market on services to Europe and Australia.

Regional rivals like Singapore Airlines and Thai Airways have also ordered new generation widebody aircraft such as the A350 and 787. Garuda Indonesia is set to also choose between those two aircraft – or possibly pick both – for its fleet. – Reuters

Australia's SeekAsia buying JobStreet's business for RM1.73b (Update)

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 09:04 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Australia's SeekAsia Ltd has launched a takeover offer for the entire online employment businesses of JobStreet Corporation Bhd in a RM1.73bil deal.

It told the Australian Stock Exchange on Wednesday the JobStreet has a strong financial track record with earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) compounded annual growth rate of 18% (FY09 to FY13) and generates EBITDA margins of 48% (Q3 CY13).

"This acquisition is a continuation of SEEK's expansion in the strategic and high growth Asian region," it said. However, the acquisition was subject to regulatory approval in Singapore & Jobstreet shareholder approval.

SeekAsia said the combination of JobStreet and JobsDB "will unlock large growth opportunities".

It explained the attractive "blended" valuation was based on standalone earnings profile & combined growth opportunities; ability to access debt in SEEK Asia to reduce funding task and historic cost of SEEK's investment in JobStreet.

"SEEK's consideration is A$374mil made up of existing JobStreet equity of A$113mil and cash of A$261mil. SEEK Asia co-investors, Newscorp & Tiger Global are collectively contributing A$83mil.

Seek Asia said the settlement was expected in the fourth quarter of FY14.

CIMB and Goldman Sachs are acting as financial advisors, Baker & McKenzie and SBA Law are acting as legal advisors and PriceWaterhouseCoopers is acting as accounting and tax advisor to SeekAsia.

Vehicle sales down 8.7% in January

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 12:24 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia recorded an 8.7% decline in total vehicle sales to 50,273 units in January from 55,066 vehicles a year ago and the trade body is expecting sales to be maintained at the same level in February.

The Malaysian Automotive Association said on Wednesday that of the 50,273 units sold in January, 44,702 were passenger vehicles and the remaining 5,571 commercial vehicles.

MAA said the sales volume in January was also lower than December 2013 by 17%.

"Heavy discounting by car companies given out in December 2013 resulted in many booking concluded in December 2013 itself," it said.

On the outlook for February, it said the sales volume was expected to be maintained at the January level because of the short working month due to the Chinese New Year holidays.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Nation

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The Star Online: Nation

Dry and cloudless now, so seeding put on hold
Veteran journalist loses fight against cancer
Barisan the one to beat, says Anwar

Dry and cloudless now, so seeding put on hold

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

PETALING JAYA: The Meteorological Department's decision to carry out cloud seeding has been put on hold due to unfavourable weather conditions.

Its director Alui Bahari said cloud seeding could only be carried out in suitable atmospheric conditions.

"The department has had several meetings on cloud seeding but the decision to carry it out has been put on hold due to unfavourable weather conditions.

"Cloud seeding operations may not be successful if it is carried out now due to the current weather.

"The weather is quite dry now and it is cloudless. If we do it now, the success rate will be low so we need to wait until the atmosphere is quite suitable.

"If there are no clouds, then nothing can be done," he told The Star yesterday.

The department, he said, was constantly monitoring the changes and would carry out the cloud seeding operation once there were changes in the atmospheric condition.

According to its website, cloud seeding was carried out over dams in Durian Tunggal, Malacca, and Langat, Klang Gate, Semenyih and Sungai Tinggi in the Klang Valley over the years during dry spells.

Earlier yesterday, Deputy Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid had said that the Government planned to carry out cloud seeding around water catchments this week to prevent a water crisis in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Related story:
Dams in Selangor drying up fast

Veteran journalist loses fight against cancer

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

PETALING JAYA: Bernama journalist Rosyatimah Tukimin has passed away after battling cancer for several years.

Rosyatimah, who joined The Star in 1985 as a reporter with the features desk after studying mass communication at the then Mara Institute of Technology (ITM), was 53.

StarSport deputy editor Brigitte Rozario said that when she first joined in 1989, Rosyatimah had taken her along on assignments and showed her the ropes.

"She was kind enough to teach me my first few lessons on reporting. In fact, when she left The Star, I took over her two columns – Starchild and Around the Schools," she said.

Rosyatimah had a second career as a diplomat's wife, following her husband, Muhammad Husni Mohd Jazri, on a posting to the Malaysian High Commission in Australia between 1990 and 1994.

After returning to The Star for a two-year stint, she followed Husni again in 1996 when he was posted to Libya.

Bernama assistant editor Hafizah Kamaruddin said Rosyatimah, who joined the news organisation in 2002, had been working as a sub-editor at the International Desk until last week.

"She was tough and despite all the challenges, fought the cancer until the end," said Hafizah.

Rosyatimah leaves behind her husband Husni and two sons, Muhammad Ikhsan and Muhammad Ikhwan.

Barisan the one to beat, says Anwar

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

PETALING JAYA: The Kajang by-election will be a battle between Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional candidates, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, dismissing the independent candidates who have thrown their hats into the ring.

He said that while he did not underestimate any of the candidates, Pakatan needed to be realistic and acknowledge that Barisan would be the one to beat.

Anwar pointed out that once Barisan finally decided on its candidate, its machinery would go full-fledged into holding a massive by-election campaign.

"I think the battle will be with the Barisan candidate, and the issue is what the Barisan candidate would have to say," he told reporters here yesterday.

Former minister Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim announced last Sunday that he would join the fray in Kajang, standing as an independent to protect healthy politics and uphold the people's mandate given to Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim as Selangor Mentri Besar.

Others who have announced their intention to contest in Kajang include 1980s dangdut singer Herman Tino, Malaysian Indian United Party president Datuk S. Nallakaruppan and Anwar's former legal aide Yuktes Vijay.

When asked to respond to Mohd Zaid's statement that he was the more credible leader, Anwar said he would leave it to the wisdom of the Kajang voters to decide who they want to represent them.

"I have never said that I am invincible or over-confident. Otherwise, I would not be seen there every other day. I am realistic enough to acknowledge that the decision will be made by the voters," he said.

He added that he had no reason to doubt unity within the Pakatan coalition, as the PAS, DAP and PKR machinery was all out in force for the March 23 by-election.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

Colin Farrell's film flops, again
Never too late for a nom
Ron Howard to direct The Jungle Book

Colin Farrell's film flops, again

Posted: 17 Feb 2014 09:40 PM PST

The Irish actor, whose latest film is Winter's Tale, seems to be on a losing streak at the box office.

With Winter's Tale misfiring over the weekend, leading man Colin Farrell has suffered another box-office bummer.

The romantic fantasy from Warner Bros is going to take in less than US$10mil (RM32mil) over the four-day Presidents Day weekend.

That makes three movies in a row in which Farrell has played the leading man that have tanked.

Of course, it's not all on Farrell. Winter's Tale, written and directed by Akiva Goldsman, was savaged by the critics (14% on Rotten Tomatoes) and the complex time-travel tale had to be tricky to market.

But last March's FilmDistrict thriller Dead Man Down was dead on arrival, opening to US$5.3mil (RM16.96mil) and topping out at US$10mil domestically at the box office.

And before that, Seven Psychopaths debuted with US$4.1mil (RM13.12mil) and wound up with US$15mil (RM48mil) domestically for CBS Films in 2012.

There was the disappointing Total Recall remake that year as well, and the 2011 horror dud Fright Night before that. The films in which he's had a supporting role have done better.

Saving Mr Banks, in which he plays the father of Emma Thompson's Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers character, has done pretty well at the box office. It's taken in US$82mill (RM262.4mil) domestically and another US$17mil (RM54.4mil) overseas since opening in December for Disney.

The 37-year-old Irish actor's biggest box-office score came in 2011's Horrible Bosses, in which he had a secondary role as one of the title characters. That comedy featuring Jason Bateman and Jennifer Aniston brought in US$117mil (RM374.4mil) domestically and another US$92mil (RM294.4mil) from overseas.

His breakout role, a semi-comic turn in 2008's In Bruges that earned him a Golden Globe, was an indie hit with US$33mil (RM105.6mil) worldwide.

Farrell's box office mettle will next be put to the test in Miss Julie, an historical romance directed by Liv Ullman, in which he'll star with Jessica Chastain. It's due this year, but doesn't have a release date yet. He's also in Solace, a thriller in which he'll star with Abbie Cornish and Anthony Hopkins, which is in post-production.

And he recently agreed to co-star with Rachel Weisz in the dystopian love story The Lobster. — Reuters

Never too late for a nom

Posted: 17 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

June Squibb on her first Oscar nomination at age 84.

June Squibb earned her first Oscar nomination at age 84. If she were to win in the best supporting actress category for her role in Nebraska, she would make Academy Award history by becoming the oldest winner in any of the acting categories. The Times reached Squibb at home for her reaction to the nomination.

How are you?

Good. Very good, in fact. My son and I watched the nominations together at my house in Sherman Oaks. When he heard, he was so dear. He got up and came over and held me – and we were both almost crying and it was lovely. He's doing all of the events with me. He's a filmmaker himself so there are a lot of directors that he admires and respects tremendously and likes to see at events.

How have the events been?

I thought the Golden Globes were a lot of fun. My dress for one – I loved it. I was just so comfortable in it. I just felt really good.

Have you ever been to the Oscars before?

I've just watched it on the television.

What do you think it will be like?

I have no idea, other than the fact that the red carpets are pretty much all the same. I'll probably be talking to a lot of the same people. Now what's nice is I've met some of them two or three times or more. The TV people you sort of know now.

Have you been getting lots of calls from people eager to work with you?

Yes, I have gotten a few ... I think something is happening now ... I don't even know the particulars – it's a television show. I had also shot three shows after Cannes – The Millers, Getting On and Girls.

What does it feel like to be getting this much recognition at this stage of your career?

I've worked my whole life – years on stage – and a lot of wonderful things have happened, but it's fun to have it in film. I've been doing it since the early 90s, and it's really kind of fun to do.

What performances have you enjoyed this year?

I haven't been able to see all that much. I did see Matthew McConaughey's Mud, and I don't think he's up for that, but I think he's doing such great work now. I did see August: Osage County, and there's some wonderful people in that. I'm friends with Margo Martindale. We were neighbours in New York for 30 years.

Why do you think it was such a strong year for film?

I think it's probably one of the richest years we've had in film. There were just extraordinary films this year and we simply don't have that kind of thing every year. I feel blessed because there's so many women who could have been put in my category, and I think we all feel that way a little bit this year.

Did you have a backup career if acting didn't work out?

My backup career was sort of modelling. I did a lot of the print modelling and what they used to call industrial modelling at the big conventions. I was the Ortho girl for bug spray for gardening and Santa Claus' helper. Luckily, I didn't have to do it very often.

Is there another movie role you would have liked to have had this year?

Of course, things like Philomena – I'm sure that's a wonderful film, and she's such a wonderful actress (Judi Dench). Some years, there are roles for older women and some years, there aren't. I was never a leading lady or an ingenue. I was always a character actress. I think you're better off in that respect as you get older. I've had wonderful roles. I've done leading roles, but never the idea of a straight role that isn't somehow a character role. – Los Angeles Times/McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Ron Howard to direct The Jungle Book

Posted: 17 Feb 2014 09:35 PM PST

The director-producer is set to work on the project for Warner Bros.

Not one but two Jungle Book remakes are on the way, with Ron Howard now signed on to direct Warner Bros' live-action version of the Rudyard Kipling classic.

Well known for directing Rush, J. Edgar, Frost/Nixon and A Beautiful Mind, Howard also helmed the first two Dan Brown movies, with Inferno due 2015.

His schedule means that the Warner Bros' Jungle Book will avoid any immediate clash with Disney's fourth pop at the classic children's story, observes The Hollywood Reporter.

After its 1967 animation, re-released several times over the years, Disney followed up with two more live-action interpretations in the 1990s.

Several high-profile actors starred in 1994 flick Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, including Jason Scott Lee (Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story), Carey Elwes (The Princess Bride), Lena Headey (The Remains Of The Day, Game Of Thrones) and John Cleese (Monty Python).

Then in 1998, Brandon Baker, Eartha Kitt, Clancy Brown and Brian Doyle-Murray appeared in The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story.

While Jon Favreau's take on The Jungle Book for Disney is expected in October of 2015, Howard's Inferno is due December of the same year.

The Happy Days star is also currently working on maritime tragedy In The Heart Of The Sea, with cross-border contraband thriller Mena lined up, and Jay-Z documentary Made In America ripe for cinematic distribution this summer.

Previously attached to Warner Bros' Jungle Book was Mexican director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, known for his work on Amores Perros, 21 Grams and the upcoming Birdman. — AFP Relaxnews

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Metro: Central

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The Star Online: Metro: Central

Rescued Japan diver says sea spun 'like washing machine'

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 12:44 AM PST

Semawang (Indonesia) (AFP) - A Japanese scuba diver who survived three days in waters off Bali after going missing with six other women has told how the weather suddenly turned bad and the sea spun "like a washing machine".

Saori Furukawa, one of five Japanese divers rescued Monday, gave her dramatic account as rescuers hunted for a woman still missing and a day after a body of one diver was found.

Furukawa said the weather had seemed "serene" when the group set off Friday from Nusa Lembongan, just east of the Indonesian resort island of Bali.

"At the start of our diving there was no problem in terms of weather and sea conditions," she said in a statement released to Japanese media late Tuesday, adding there were "almost no waves".

But suddenly the group was hit by a huge storm, she added.

"The surface of the sea started to spin like a washing machine and all of us span around together, hand in hand," she said.

The 37-year-old and four others managed to clamber onto rocks and coral reefs after drifting for a long time and were picked up by rescuers on Monday and taken to hospital.

They were found some 20 kilometres (12 miles) from where they set off, although Furukawa was in a different spot to the others.

She had separated from the other divers to try and reach a passing tugboat in the hope it would pick them up, but said that she "couldn't get close".

"The current was running in the opposite direction from the current where the rest of the members stayed, so I was swept further away from them," she said.

She arrived at a rocky outcrop late Saturday and survived for a further two days by drinking rainwater.

Rescuers continued to search for the seventh diver, instructor Shoko Takahashi, who with her Indonesian husband ran the company Yellow Scuba that took the divers out on the expedition.

Her husband, Putu Mahardena Sembah, joined the search Wednesday, telling reporters "I wish we can find" her -- although police cautioned that her chances of survival were slim after five days at sea.

Some 15 rescuers left Semawang beach in south Bali in three boats, while a search and rescue helicopter hovered overhead, an AFP reporter at the scene said.

Japanese friends and relatives of the divers, who had travelled to Bali to help in the search, were among the rescuers setting off from the beach, which is lined with scuba diving centres.

Rescue agency officials said they would expand their search area to the neighbouring island of Lombok, as well as hunting near the tourist areas of Sanur and Kuta in southern Bali.

However local police chief Nyoman Suarsika warned: "The chances of finding her alive are very slim now that she has been missing for five days.

"Whether alive or dead, we will try our very best to find her."

The rescued divers were found in the Manta Point area off Nusa Penida island, which is next to Nusa Lembongan.

They are now in hospital in Bali with sunburn and dehydration but doctors say none are in a serious condition.

Koreans gather ahead of longed-for reunion

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 09:34 PM PST

SEOUL: A group of 83 mostly elderly South Koreans accompanied by family converged Wednesday on a coastal resort prior to crossing into North Korea for the first reunion in more than three years for the peninsula's divided families.

Having had their hopes shattered when Pyongyang cancelled a previous reunion last September, many had been wary of the agreement to hold a gathering from Thursday at a mountain retreat in North Korea.

The accord almost fell apart when the North took exception to overlapping joint military drills by South Korea and the United States, and was only saved by some rare high-level talks last week.

The group travelled Wednesday to the resort near the eastern port city of Sokcho, where they were to spend the night before crossing the heavily-fortified border nearby.

With an average age of 84, they were accompanied by 59 family members for physical and emotional support.

The reunion at a complex on North Korea's Mount Kumgang will be the first of its kind since 2010.

Lee Ok-Ran, 84, said she had barely been able to sleep at the prospect of seeing the two sisters she left behind in the North's western province of Hwanghae.

South Korean TV showed her at home carefully packing bundles of gifts, ranging from underwear and analgesic patches to Choco Pies - a South Korean chocolate and marshmallow biscuit snack.

"I've heard Choco Pies are popular and expensive in the North", Lee said.

"Ok-Bin, Ok-Hi, I'm waiting to hug you hard and dance together," she said looking into the camera and calling her sisters' names.

Millions of Koreans were separated by the 1950-53 war, and the vast majority have since died without having any communication at all with surviving relatives.

Because the Korean conflict concluded with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, the two Koreas technically remain at war and direct exchanges of letters or telephone calls are prohibited.

Up to 73,000 South Koreans are wait-listed for a chance to take part in one of the reunion events, which select only a few hundred participants at a time.

The reunion programme began in earnest in 2000 following an historic inter-Korean summit.

Sporadic events since then have seen around 17,000 relatives briefly reunited.

But the programme was suspended in 2010 following the North's shelling of a South Korean border island.

The Mount Kumgang reunion with 180 North Korean relatives will last until Saturday, after which the South Korean group will return home.

Then a group of 88 selected North Koreans will travel to Mount Kumgang to meet 361 of their relatives from the South from Sunday to Tuesday.

For the vast majority it will be the last contact they ever have with each other.

Last year alone, around 3,800 South Korean applicants for reunions died without ever realising their dreams. -AFP

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

Drake apologises for blowup

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 08:00 AM PST

The singer issued an open letter to apologise for his behaviour.

Drake has apologised for railing on Rolling Stone after the magazine bumped him off the cover in favour of the late Philip Seymour Hoffman.

He took to his website on Friday to issue an open letter "to clear the air about an extremely emotional day".

"I completely support and agree with Rolling Stone replacing me on the cover with the legendary Philip Seymour Hoffman. He is one of the most incredible actors of our time and a man that deserves to be immortalised by this publication," Drake wrote.

"My frustration stemmed from the way it was executed. The circumstances at hand are completely justifiable (on the magazines behalf), but I was not able to salvage my story or my photos and that was devastating."

He went on to write that had he be given the choice, he would have waited "until it was my time".

"I understand the magnitude of the cover they chose but I just wasn't given that option and that made me feel violated. I apologise to anybody who took my initial comments out of context because in no way would I ever want to offend the Hoffman family or see myself as bigger than that moment," he continued.

The rapper-singer created a Twitter firestorm on Thursday when he admonished the publication in a series of tweets to his more than 14 million Twitter followers (some of which were subsequently deleted).

He vented over remarks on Kanye West that he believed were off the record and was peeved that he lost the cover "last minute" after the mag replaced him with a tribute to Hoffman, who died of an apparent overdose on Feb 2.

Drake went so far as to say that he was "disgusted" by the publication and later added that he's "done doing interviews for magazines".

The rapper didn't further address another issue he has with the magazine – that it used comments he made over West's polarising Yeezus, saying he was ambivalent about the album and criticising some of the album's lyrics.

"After dwelling on it for a few hours or days you will come to the conclusion that you brought it on yourself almost every time," he went on to write. "I respect Rolling Stone for being willing to give a kid from Toronto a shot at the cover.

"I guess this is a day to learn and grow." – Los Angeles Times/McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

K-pop’s Girls’ Generation and 2NE1 lead comeback month

Posted: 17 Feb 2014 04:55 AM PST

A host of K-pop acts is blazing the music scene with new albums this February.

THIS month has been filled with comeback releases including from B.A.P., Crayon Pop and Ga In, and more are on the way.

Girls' Generation

With two of South Korea's most popular girl groups, Girls' Generation (or SNSD) and 2NE1, announcing the release of their new albums, the remaining two weeks of February look to be a hot battle among those hoping to make a huge comeback.

CNBlue (FNC Entertainment)

Along with the K-pop powerhouses, popular boy band CNBlue as well as R&B vocal group Brown Eyed Soul and veteran singer-songwriter Lee Sang-eun are also returning with their latest releases this February.

As if Feb 24 isn't already keeping K-pop fans abuzz with the highly anticipated comeback albums of 2NE1 and Girls' Generation, the four members of CNBlue are hoping to make their mark that day with their brand new EP Can't Stop. The boy band recently released a best-of album titled Present in Japan and secured a No. 2 spot on the Oricon Weekly Albums Chart. The boys are looking to repeat their success in their home country with the release of their fifth EP, coming a year after the hit EP Re:BLUE.

2NE1 (YG Entertainment)

The K-pop superstars of 2NE1 finally announced the official release of the group's second studio album this month after their debut more than five years ago. The four ladies of 2NE1 will be going head to head with CNBlue and Girls' Generation with their follow-up album Crush.

Although SNSD's upcoming EP Mr.Mr. was originally slated to be released the same day as the albums by 2NE1 and CNBlue, officials from SM Entertainment announced on Friday that the release of SNSD's new album may be postponed after a number of scenes for the title track's video were reported to have been accidentally deleted. They are currently looking to see if restoration of these files is possible.

Lee Sang-eun (Breeze Music)

Outside the mainstream K-pop spectrum, veteran soft rock singer Lee, who also goes by the stage name Leetzsche, also announced her return to the music scene with her 15th studio album. Since her debut album Happy Birthday in 1989, Lee has produced more than 20 studio albums including 14 full-length ones. – The Korea Herald/Asia News Network

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Metro: South & East

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The Star Online: Metro: South & East

Rescued Japan diver says sea spun 'like washing machine'
Koreans gather ahead of longed-for reunion
Philippine leader defends controversial 'cyber libel' law