Selasa, 15 April 2014

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

William, Kate and baby George kick off Australia tour
Scores rescued from sinking South Korean ferry, two dead
William and Kate depart New Zealand for Australia

William, Kate and baby George kick off Australia tour

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 10:30 PM PDT

Sydney (AFP) - Prince William and his wife Kate flew into Sydney on Wednesday with their baby son George to kick off the Australian leg of their tour Down Under.

The royals disembarked from an Australian air force 737 under sunny skies after arriving from New Zealand, an AFP photographer said.

Eight-month-old Prince George was in his mother's arms as Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove -- who represents William's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II in Australia -- greeted the couple at Kingsford Smith airport.

A grand reception by the state of New South Wales awaited in the afternoon at the harbourside Opera House, where several thousand onlookers had gathered.

A new poll published Wednesday showed support for a republic in Australia, where the British queen remains head of state, has dropped to a more than two-decade low.

Some 51 percent oppose switching from a constitutional monarchy to a republic, compared to 42 percent who support it, according to the Fairfax-Nielsen survey of 1,400 people carried out from Thursday to Saturday.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were greeted by crowds in the tens of thousands during their 10-day tour of New Zealand, even in small regional towns such as Blenheim and Cambridge.

The royals visit the Blue Mountains on Thursday, Brisbane on April 19 and Uluru (Ayers Rock) on April 22.

They head to Adelaide on April 23 and the capital Canberra on April 24 and 25, before flying home.

Scores rescued from sinking South Korean ferry, two dead

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:07 PM PDT

LATEST: SEOUL (Reuters) - More than 100 people remained missing on Wednesday after a South Korean ferry with 477 people aboard capsized off the country's southwest coast, Yonhap news agency said.

Yonhap and YTN television said 368 people had been rescued from the vessel, which sank after issuing a distress call early on Wednesday. Those numbers could not be independently verified.

EARLIER REPORT:

SEOUL (Reuters) - About 160 passengers, including high school students, were plucked to safety on Wednesday in a dramatic rescue from a South Korean passenger ferry sinking with 475 on board, officials said, although at least two people had died.

South Korean officials said the rescue operation was still underway and it was difficult to offer any confirmed information about the remaining 300 or so people on board.

The ferry, identified as the Sewol, was carrying 475 passengers and crew and 150 vehicles, according to Korean port authorities, when it began to list badly as it neared Jeju island, about 100 km (60 miles) south of the Korean peninsula.

Within hours, television pictures showed the Sewol lying on its port side. Soon after the ship had completely capsized, with only the forward part of its white and blue hull showing above the water.

An official from the Danwon High School in Ansan, a suburb in the capital Seoul, said all its 338 students and teachers had been rescued safely but that could not be confirmed by the coast guard or other officials involved in the rescue.

The students and teachers were on a field trip to Jeju, said the official, who asked not to be identified.

A distress signal was sent from the ship early on Wednesday, the South Korean coast guard said, triggering a rescue operation involving dozens of ships and helicopters.

Photo taken on April 16, 2014 shows people being brought onto land in Jindo after a South Korean ferry carrying 476 passengers and crew sank on its way to Jeju island from Incheon.

There was no immediate indication of what caused the ship to list and roll on its side, although one witness told YTN television there had been a "loud impact and noise" before it started sinking.

The coast guard later said one person had been found dead inside the sinking ferry. An official from the Mokpo Hankook hospital on the mainland said another person had died soon after arriving at its emergency ward.

Television and still pictures showed the badly listing ferry surrounded by debris, rescue ships, helicopters and at least one inflatable lifeboat.

Chang Kyung-hak, a crew member on a ship sent from a nearby town to help with the rescue, said his vessel was carrying dozens of people, including students who had been saved from the ferry, and that most were in fair condition.

However, two people were suffering minor burns, Chang told Reuters by telephone. Weather conditions were fair, he said, and the sea appeared calm.

South Korea Coast Guard members rescuing some of the passengers and crew aboard the South Korean ferry.

The ferry had left from the port of Incheon, about 30 km (20 miles) west of the capital, Seoul, late on Sunday.

A government official said the rescue operation involved 18 helicopters and 34 navy and coast guard vessels.

The ferry, which also carries cars and trucks, has a capacity of about 900 people and has an overall length of 146 metres (480 feet) and weighs 6,586 gross tonnes. Shipping records show it was built in Japan in 1994.

A passenger on board told YTN television the first rescue helicopter had reached the vessel soon after the distress signal was sent.

The unidentified passenger, who spoke before people were evacuated, sounded calm and said those on board were in their cabins but were having trouble keeping their balance.

Heavy fog had set in overnight off the west coast, leading to the cancellation of many island passenger ferry services.

(Additional reporting by Ju-Min Park and Meeyoung Cho; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Paul Tait)

William and Kate depart New Zealand for Australia

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 07:09 PM PDT

Wellington (AFP) - Prince William and his wife Kate departed New Zealand with their baby son Prince George on Wednesday, an AFP reporter saw, heading for Sydney to begin the Australian leg of their tour Down Under.

The royals waved as they boarded an Australian air force 737, with William carrying his eight-month old son in his arms.

On their final day in New Zealand, William and Kate were introduced to German Shepherd puppies destined to become police dogs when they visited Wellington's Royal New Zealand Police College.

They also conducted a walkabout in the capital's downtown area.

They have been treated like celebrities during their 10-day visit, attracting crowds in the tens of thousands, even in small regional towns such as Blenheim and Cambridge.

The New Zealand trip has included yacht racing, Maori ceremonies involving warriors with tattooed backsides on display, and an adrenaline-charged jetboat ride on a lake nestled between the picturesque mountains of Queenstown.

The highlight was undoubtedly a "play date" involving George and 10 local babies at Wellington's Government House, giving the public a rare glimpse of the royal toddler.

They set off from Wellington at 0100 GMT and are due to touch down at about 0430 GMT.

They will travel straight to the Sydney Opera House for an official reception to begin their Australian tour, which continues until April 25 and includes a trip to Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the country's fabled outback.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

Pierce Brosnan gets a 'horrible feeling' watching himself as James Bond
Actress Emma Stone makes smart wardrobe choices
Top pictures from the MTV Movie Awards red carpet

Pierce Brosnan gets a 'horrible feeling' watching himself as James Bond

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 10:15 PM PDT

The former Agent 007 star is currently promoting his new film, A Long Way Down.

Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan recognises the role as a "gift that keeps on giving", but he doesn't particularly enjoy watching himself order martinis shaken, not stirred.

"I have no desire to watch myself as James Bond, because it's just never good enough – it's a horrible feeling," Brosnan told The Telegraph.

Brosnan played Agent 007 in four films released between 1995 and 2002: Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day. "I felt I was caught in a time warp between Roger and Sean. It was a very hard one to grasp the meaning of, for me," the 60-year-old actor said.

"The violence was never real, the brute force of the man was never palpable. It was quite tame, and the characterisation didn't have a follow-through of reality, it was surface. But then that might have had to do with my own insecurities in playing him as well."

As insecure as Brosnan may be about his Bond legacy, he recognises that the opportunity to play Ian Fleming's creation secured him the means to make passion projects like 2005's The Matador or his upcoming comedy How To Make Love Like An Englishman.

"It's the gift that keeps on giving, that allowed me to create my own production company and make my own movies," Brosnan said.

Brosnan is currently promoting his film A Long Way Down with actress Toni Collette and will soon be seen opposite Emma Thompson in The Love Punch,"a comedy about a happily divorced couple who scheme to recover the retirement money that was stolen from them. — Reuters

Actress Emma Stone makes smart wardrobe choices

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 08:25 PM PDT

The star of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and her wonderful red carpet looks.

Emma Stone, who will grace the big screens again later this month with co-star and real-life boyfriend Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, has been busy promoting the movie across the globe.

In the past few days, 25-year-old Stone has been walking the red carpet in Britain, France and Italy in eye-catching outfits by major fashion designers.

On April 11 in London, Stone wore a gorgeous canary yellow dress by Atelier Versace. Later that same day, the actress showed up in a black PVC Lanvin dress at the Paris premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Emma Stone in a gorgeous Atelier Versace at the London premiere of her movie. -- AFP

Yesterday in Rome, Stone wore a two-piece ivory lace number by Dolce & Gabbana. It wasn't, perhaps, her best look but since she wore the outfit for press interviews and not for a premiere, we forgive her.

That same night, also in Rome, Stone attended the movie's Italy premiere in a two-piece Valentino creation.

Directed by Marc Webb, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 opens in Malaysia on May 1. Stone plays Gwen Stacy to Garfield's Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Others in the movie include Jamie Foxx (Electro), Dane DeHaan (Green Goblin) and Paul Giamatti (The Rhino).

Top pictures from the MTV Movie Awards red carpet

Posted: 13 Apr 2014 09:20 PM PDT

Somebody give Johnny Depp some money to buy a new hat. -- AFP

Jared Leto wished he was at the beach instead of the Nokia Theatre, but we think Lupita Nyong'o's cute arts-and-craft dress made him stay and party on. -- AFP

Full list of winners:

Movie of the year – The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Best female performance – Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Best male performance – Josh Hutcherson, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Breakthrough performance – Will Poulter, We're The Millers

Best kiss – Emma Roberts, Jennifer Aniston and Will Poulter, We're The Millers

Best fight – Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly vs Orcs, The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug

Best comedic performance – Jonah Hill, The Wolf Of Wall Street

Best scared-as-s**t performance – Brad Pitt, World War Z

Best on-screen duo – Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, Fast & Furious 6

Best shirtless performance – Zac Efron, That Awkward Moment

#WTF moment – "The Lude Scene", The Wolf Of Wall Street

Best villain – Mila Kunis, Oz The Great And Powerful

Best on-screen transformation – Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

Best musical moment – Backstreet Boys, Jay Baruchel, Seth Rogen and Craig Robinson perform in Heaven, This Is The End

Best cameo performance – Rihanna, This Is The End

Best hero – Henry Cavill as Clark Kent, Man Of Steel

Trailblazer award – Channing Tatum

Generation award – Mark Wahlberg

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

Stars of TV's 'Resurrection' are coming to Malaysia
'Suits' star Gabriel Macht reveals his struggling years
Cheer up and banish those blues with Red FM, Capital FM and 988

Stars of TV's 'Resurrection' are coming to Malaysia

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 12:30 AM PDT

Actors Omar Epps and Kurtwood Smith are heading their way here to promote their TV series.

Resurrection is a new TV series based on a book by author Jason Mott called The Returned. The show revolves around the residents of a US town called Arcadia in Missouri, whose lives turn upside down when their loved ones return from the dead!

One of those who has "returned" is Jacob Langston, an eight-year-old boy who drowned more than three decades ago. Found "alive" somewhere in a rice field in China, Jacob is then brought back to Arcadia by an immigration agent named Marty Bellamy, who is played by Omar Epps. Kurtwood Smith plays Henry Langston, Jacob's father.

Other stars in the show includes Frances Fisher, Matt Craven, Devin Kelley, Mark Hildreth and Samaire Strong, with Landon Gimenez as Jacob.

Resurrection premiered in the US early last month and will make its debut here on the Lifetime channel (Astro Ch 709) on May 12 at 10pm. To promote the launch of the show, Epps and Smith will be coming to Malaysia to meet the press, and to hang out with some fans. And guess what? We have FIVE pairs of meet-and-greet passes to give away!

To win these exclusive passes, all you need to do is to answer one simple question and state why you want to meet the stars of Resurrection:

1. When can you catch Resurrection on the Lifetime channel (date and time)?

2. Tell us why you want to meet Omar Epps and Kurtwood Smith (in not more than 20 words).

Send all entries to contest@indeedcommunications.com by April 30. Winners will be contacted by the organiser, with details of the meet-and-greet session.

'Suits' star Gabriel Macht reveals his struggling years

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

This actor has followed in the footsteps of his famous father and has no regrets.

Gabriel Macht's parents hoped their son would be a doctor or a lawyer. Their wish has been granted, in a way. He's played both on TV.

But acting wasn't really a choice for Macht. He's the son of actor Stephen Macht, and from the time he was eight he knew reciting lines and hitting his mark would be his destiny.

"At an early age I watched movies and was able to recite some lines and my father was an actor, and he had a bunch of his actor friends around. They'd always come over to the house and there was a lot of hanging out and having coffee and all this stuff," he recalls.

"And I'd come in and fool around and jump on the table and do a song and dance. And they'd start cracking up and laughing. And some say why'd you become an actor? One of the reasons is because some (expletives) clapped," he laughs.

Macht didn't have to pass the bar for his role as pragmatic lawyer Harvey Specter on, Suits, now into its fourth season.

But he faced a trial anyway. Another actor had been cast when he read the script. "I had been doing film for 15 years and saw a lot of the better writing was in television and started reading scripts," he says.

"I asked my representation about it, and they said they were going with another guy. And they did ... And he turned it down.

"Then I said, 'Can I get in?' I sat down with Aaron Korsh, the creator, and the producers and coming out of that meeting they said, 'This is our guy. We need to see him read, but this is our guy.' So I had that confidence and support going into the audition," he says.

"Then I got nervous and upset and angry that they just didn't hire me right on the spot – all that stuff. But I went and did the work and came prepared and did the audition. I felt the support, the energy in the room – that they all believed in me which allowed me to believe more and more in the character. That's how I got the role," he says in a dimly lit lounge of a hotel here.

He didn't have to learn organic chemistry for his role as Dr Mark Gabriel in Steven Spielberg's sci-fi series, The Others, either. But that was a different case. Macht didn't want to do television when that part came across his path. "I was making US$210 (RM681) a week doing a play, fully committed to the play. I was told to go out for pilot season and I didn't want to do television.

"I was told there was one show that Steven Spielberg was doing, I thought, 'OK, I'll go in. I'll just show my face. I'll do a cold reading. I won't even prepare for it. He's never going to hire me, but I'd love for him to just see my face and think of me for a movie he's doing, whatever.'"

So Macht gave it a cursory try. "I had rehearsal from 11 to 2 and was able to do the audition at 2.30pm and came back to prepare for the night's performance. I found out five minutes before I was going to do the performance that I got the series and had to fly to Toronto two days later – where I would be making a lot more than US$200 a week," he nods.

"And I was, like, 'Uhhhh, I didn't want to do television. I have to forego my responsibility for this show?' I ended up being sued by the theatre."

Macht has endured his struggling years, too. Right after college at Carnegie Mellon he studied for two years with coach Harold Guskin, snatching intermittent jobs.

But watching his father's career prepared him, he says. "Seeing the ups and downs of a career in Hollywood helped me in many ways to see it – it's like the stock market. There are times when you're successful, and there are tons of failure. And to see that growing up was really the best sort of model.

"To see that careers – 1% of careers knock it out of the park every single time. And even those people have failures and misses. So it was good to learn that at an early age. I knew what was coming. I knew there would be times I'd work a lot and times not."

Married to actress Jacinda Barrett for nearly 10 years, he has a six-year-old daughter. "I'm so appreciative of the opportunity I've had to work and the people I've been able to work with, but I think family trumps everything," says Macht, 32.

"To produce a human person that has an incredible sensitivity; just a little being who's empathic and who's exploring everything and is kind and is motivated and strong and stubborn – all these things. I hate to label her because she's a billion things more than that. But to produce a child that's going to be good for humanity, that's what I'm more proud of. And becoming a father is enormous." — McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

>> Season Three of Suits airs every Tuesday at 8.05pm on Diva (Astro Ch 702).

Cheer up and banish those blues with Red FM, Capital FM and 988

Posted: 13 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

Red FM's Red Fix, hosted by Terry and Azura, helps listeners beat the blues.

Red FM's Red Fix, hosted by Terry and Azura, helps listeners beat the blues while keeping the momentum going on weekday evenings (8pm-midnight).

"The show is exactly what the name suggests – The Fix! We aim to help listeners end their day right. If they had a good day, we keep that vibe going and if they had a bad day, we want to help fix it! Azura and I always have a great time hanging out. We have fun being ourselves and making each other laugh by goofing off and we want you to join in!" says Terry.

"Even though it is a late-evening show, we can still engage and entertain our listeners through various topics in the He Said She Said segment or in an impromptu karaoke session during 'Karanokay'," adds Azura.

He Said She Said is a segment where Terry and Azura come out with a funny twist on the "Mars versus Venus" analogy, while in Karanokay, the duo put listeners through a karaoke test.

In the Mr Foo Yoh 2.0 Contest, listeners can win their share of RM30,000 by identifying the songs and artistes that Mr Foo Yoh is mimicking.

So, tune in to Red FM on 104.9FM in the Klang Valley and 106.4FM in Ipoh. Visit www.red.fm for more information.

> 988's 8.8 Seconds is a contest that puts you through a race against time to win your share of RM26,000. List out nine items in a given category in 8.8 seconds to win RM500 (if it is the bonus hour, you could win RM1,000).

So, tune in to 988's Morning Up (6am-10am) and the Good Show (4pm-8pm) for a chance to win!

For more information, visit www.988.com.my or www.facebook.com/988.my on Facebook.

> Malaysian diver, Bryan Nickson Lomas shocked the nation when he announced his decision to quit the national diving team in 2013.

The young athlete, who won the gold medal at the World Junior Championship in Belem, Brazil in 2004, decided to put his passion on hold to pursue a degree in Sports Science at a local university.

Lomas will speak to Janice and Pamela of the Capital Breakfast show on April 18.

Also, join April Kuan in Global Passport on April 19 (noon to 4pm) as she speaks to the Venezuelan Strings Duo (cuatro player Jorge Polanco and harpist Leonard Jacome).

Apart from this interview, April will also be playing music from Venezuela on her show.

For more information, visit www.capitalfm.com.my or www.facebook.com/CapitalFM88.9.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates

More than 100 remain unaccounted for after South Korea ferry sinks - reports
Scores rescued from sinking South Korean ferry, two dead - officials
China stresses need for stability at first meeting of new security council

More than 100 remain unaccounted for after South Korea ferry sinks - reports

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:35 PM PDT

SEOUL (Reuters) - More than 100 people remained missing on Wednesday after a South Korean ferry with 477 people aboard capsized off the country's southwest coast, Yonhap news agency said.

Yonhap and YTN television said 368 people had been rescued from the vessel, which sank after issuing a distress call early on Wednesday. Those numbers could not be independently verified.

(Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Ron Popeski)

Scores rescued from sinking South Korean ferry, two dead - officials

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:05 PM PDT

South Korean officials said the rescue operation was still underway and it was difficult to offer any confirmed information about the remaining 300 or so people on board.

Within hours, television pictures showed the Sewol lying on its port side. Soon after the ship had completely capsized, with only the forward part of its white and blue hull showing above the water.

The students and teachers were on a field trip to Jeju, said the official, who asked not to be identified.

A distress signal was sent from the ship early on Wednesday, the South Korean coast guard said, triggering a rescue operation involving dozens of ships and helicopters.

There was no immediate indication of what caused the ship to list and roll on its side, although one witness told YTN television there had been a "loud impact and noise" before it started sinking.

Television and still pictures showed the badly listing ferry

surrounded by debris, rescue ships, helicopters and at least one inflatable lifeboat.

However, two people were suffering minor burns, Chang told Reuters by telephone.

Weather conditions were fair, he said, and the sea appeared calm.

The ferry had left from the port of Incheon, about 30 km (20 miles) west of the capital, Seoul, late on Sunday.

A government official said the rescue operation involved 18 helicopters and 34 navy and coast guard vessels.

A passenger on board told YTN television the first rescue helicopter had reached the vessel soon after the distress signal was sent.

The unidentified passenger, who spoke before people were evacuated, sounded calm and said those on board were in their cabins but were having trouble keeping their balance.

Heavy fog had set in overnight off the west coast, leading to the cancellation of many island passenger ferry services.

(Additional reporting by Ju-Min Park and Meeyoung Cho; Writing by Jack Kim; Editing by Paul Tait)

China stresses need for stability at first meeting of new security council

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 08:50 PM PDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping held the first meeting of a new national security commission on Tuesday, saying China needed a coordinated approach to domestic and foreign challenges, including social unrest, in "the most complex time in history".

China announced the formation of the commission in November at the end of a key party meeting to map out reforms.

Experts say it is based on the National Security Council in the United States and will increase coordination among the various wings of China's security bureaucracy, split now among the police, military, intelligence and diplomatic services.

Possible international flashpoints for China include Japan, North Korea and the South China Sea. China says it also faces considerable threats at home, pointing to continued unrest in two regions heavily populated by ethnic minorities which chafe at Chinese rule - Tibet and Xinjiang.

Xi told the commission's first meeting that China faced the "most complex time in history" at home and abroad when it came to its security, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

China must "implement and put into practice an overall national security view, paying attention to external as well as internal security", Xi was cited as saying.

While Xi listed areas ranging from economic to nuclear security, he also said the commission had to "take political security as its base" and "seek stability", references to protecting the ruling Communist Party's hold on power and dealing with domestic unrest.

"Security is the condition for development. We can only build up our military power by making the country rich, and only with military power can we protect the country," Xi said.

The report did not mention any specific topics that were discussed.

On Monday, Xi urged the air force to adopt an integrated air and space defence capability, in what state media called a response to the increasing military use of space by the United States and others.

While Beijing insists its space programme is for peaceful purposes, a Pentagon report last year highlighted China's increasing space capability and said Beijing was pursuing a variety of activities aimed at preventing its adversaries from using space-based assets during a crisis.

Fears of a space arms race with the United States and other powers mounted after China blew up one of its own weather satellites with a ground-based missile in January 2007.

Visiting air force headquarters in Beijing, Xi, who is also head of the military, told officers "to speed up air and space integration and sharpen their offensive and defensive capabilities", Xinhua said.

It gave no details of how China expects to do this.

China has been increasingly ambitious in developing its space programmes for military, commercial and scientific purposes. Xi has said he wanted China to establish itself as a space superpower.

But it is still playing catch-up to established space superpowers the United States and Russia. China's Jade Rabbit moon rover has been beset by technical difficulties since landing to great domestic fanfare in mid-December.

(Corrects Xi's comments in paragraph 8 to clarify he meant building up China's military power to make the country rich)

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business

China Q1 economic growth slows to 7.4 pct
Petronas Dagangan, Sime Darby lead KLCI higher in early trade
Coca-Cola sales beat estimates as China volumes soar

China Q1 economic growth slows to 7.4 pct

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 07:33 PM PDT

BEIJING: China's annual economic growth slowed between January and March 2014 to 7.4 percent from 7.7 percent in the previous three months, but beat market expectations for growth of 7.3 percent, data showed on Wednesday.

Other data released alongside GDP showed industrial output rose 8.8 percent in March from a year ago, versus expectations of a rise of 9 percent in a Reuters poll.

Retail sales in March rose 12.2 percent on a year ago, above expectations for a 12.1 percent rise.

Fixed-asset investment rose 17.6 percent in January-March from the same period a year earlier, versus a forecast for an 18.1 percent rise. The government only publishes cumulative investment data. - Reuters

Petronas Dagangan, Sime Darby lead KLCI higher in early trade

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 06:19 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Blue chips on Bursa Malaysia extended their gains early Wednesday, with Petronas Dagangan and Sime Darby taking the lead amid a firmer broader market, underpinned by the recovery on Wall Street.

At 9.02am, the KLCI was up 0.25 of a point to 1,854.13. Turnover was 89.11 million shares valued at RM32.57mil. There were 139 gainers, 55 losers and 156 counters unchanged.

Reuters reported Asian markets took some comfort from a late spurt by Wall Street on Wednesday as investors tensed for a reading on Chinese economic growth, while rising tensions in Ukraine kept safe-haven sovereign debt well bid.

BIMB Securities Research said it expected some profit taking after the last minute revival where the KLCI closed 2.35 points higher at 1,853.88 after spending the entire day in negative territory.

"Such resilience has kept our market valuation on a high of 16.2 times as compared to Indonesia's 13.1 times and the Philippines 15.9 times. We expect some profit taking to appear today with 1,845 and 1,850 as the immediate support levels," it said.

Petronas Dagangan rose 16 sen to RM30.66 with just 100 shares done and heavyweight Sime Darby added six sen to RM9.36. MISC rose five sen to RM6.80.

Sarawak counters including cement producers Cahya Mata Sarawak rose 12 sen to RM9.92 and property-based Naim Holdings added eight sen to RM4.13.

I-Bhd rose five sen to RM3.10. The property company plans to set up its own real estate investment trust (Reit) as the property developer strives to unlock more value and derive at least half of its earnings from recurring income in five years' time.

Meanwhile, Petronas Gas fell 20 sen to RM23.72 with 100 shares done.

Datasonic continued to lose ground, falling 20 sen to RM2.70 in active trade.

Among the banks and finance stocks, Hong Leong Capital fell 18 sen to RM12, AFG eight sen to RM4.52 and BIMB five sen to RM4.25.

Telekom Malaysia lost six sen to RM5.98 as it pared its gains from Tuesday's late buying.

Coca-Cola sales beat estimates as China volumes soar

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 05:59 PM PDT

NEW YORK: Coca-Cola Co reported better than expected quarterly revenue as strong sales in China more than offset a drop in Europe and flat volumes in North America.

The company's shares rose 2% in premarket trading on Tuesday.

Global case volumes rose 2% in the quarter, while those in China rose 12% due to increased marketing around the Chinese New Year, the company said.

"Our North America Group delivered even volume versus the prior year quarter while gaining value share and maintaining volume share," the company said in a statement.

North America is the company's biggest market. Sales declined 4% in Europe, but rose 6% in both India and Russia.

The company's net income attributable to shareholders fell to US$1.62bil, or 36 cents per share, in the first quarter ended March 28 from US$1.75bil, or 39 cents per share, a year earlier. Excluding items, earnings were 44 cents per share, matching the average analyst estimate.

Revenue fell 4% to US$10.58bil. Analysts on average were expecting US$10.55bi, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Coca-Cola shares were up 1.9% at US$39.48 before the bell. The stock has fallen 3.5%. - Reuters

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf

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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf

Batman Eternal #1

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

DO we REALLY need another Batman title? After all, DC's "Batman" umbrella of books in the New 52 includes (deep breath): Batman, The Dark Knight, Detective Comics, Batgirl, Batwing, Batwoman,Nightwing, Catwoman, Batman/Superman, the Batman And … team-up series, and to a certain extent, Red Hood And The Outlaws, Birds Of Prey and the now-cancelled Talon. And that's not even counting appearances by Batman and his allies and villains in Justice League, Earth 2, and the Forever Evilcrossovers.

As a result, with the possible exception of Scott Snyder's Batman and David Finch's The Dark Knight series, many of these titles have been suffering from a case of Bat-fatigue. In fact, after the exhausting Death Of The Family crossover in 2012, most of the Batman books have been pretty unmemorable, with the recentGothopia crossover passing by without as much as a whimper.

So excuse my incredulity when DC announced ANOTHER Batman title – and a weekly one at that – to the already swollen family of Batman titles in the New 52.

Scheduled to run for 60 issues, Batman Eternal will involve five writers (Snyder, James Tynion IV, Ray Fawkes, Kyle Higgins and Tim Seeley) and eight artists (Jason Fabok, Dustin Nguyen, Andy Clarke, Trevor McCarthy, Emanuel Simeoni, Guillem March, Ian Bertram and Mikel Janin), with each writer and artist team working on different story arcs over the 60 weeks.

Snyder and Tynion's first story arc kicks off by introducing long-time Batman character Jason Bard into the New 52 universe, and throwing the rookie cop into the deep end of what turns out to be a horrible first day at work with the Gotham City Police Department (GCPD).

The action consists of Commissioner Jim Gordon and Batman battling the insanely creepy Professor Pyg and his minions, which ends in a horrifically tragic way and results in a rather sticky situation for Gordon at the end of the issue.

Before reading this, I already feared the worse – that this would finally push me to give up on the New 52's Batman comics altogether.

Fortunately, Batman Eternal #1 is explosive enough to actually make me want more, thanks in part to Snyder and Tynion's fast and furious start to the first story arc, as well as some stunningly visceral artwork by Fabok.

Ironically, this issue works because Batman was NOT the focal point of the story. Snyder and Tynion's decision to make this opening chapter revolve around Bard and Gordon deftly counters any Bat-fatigue I might have had before reading this.

Being a fan of the excellent but ultimately short-lived GCPD-centric Gotham Central, I was happy to see Gotham's Finest given the limelight in a Batman book once again. Things might change in subsequent issues of course, and with 59 issues to go, there is still a chance that the Bat-fatigue might creep in. For the next three Snyder/Tynion-written issues at least, Batman Eternal deserves to be given a chance.

The Encyclopedia Of Early Earth

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

When a storyteller from the North Pole loses part of his soul, he has to traverse the world to find it.

Firstly and most importantly, don't let the word "encyclopedia" (sic) in the title deter you – or conversely, fool you – into picking up this graphic novel.

As stated in its back-page blurb: "This book is not a real encyclopedia (sic)!

"It is an epic work of fiction, detailing the many tales and adventures of one lonely storyteller on a quest for Enlightenment and True Love."

This debut graphic novel, both written and illustrated by Isabel Greenberg, starts off with a poignant love story between a Nord boy from the North Pole and a Soo-it girl from the South Pole.

But in the tradition of Scheherazade – the brave and cunning storyteller from the Arabian Nights – this little tale serves as a jumping-off point into a series of cascading stories that make up this book.

The protagonist of this novel is the Nord boy, who is a storyteller, and who was also once divided into three boys, because his adoptive mothers – three sisters – could not decide who should raise him.

As you can imagine, being split into three created certain, shall we say, personality issues – something his mothers soon realised, and regretted.

So, off they went to the Medicine Man, who managed to put him back together again.

But (there's always a but), it was not a happy ending yet, as during the original process of splitting him into three, the Medicine Man had inadvertently lost a small piece of the Nord boy's soul!

And no, the piece was no longer in the Land of Nord.

Cue a quest through seas unknown and lands unimagined!

Most of the stories told here are either part of the Nord boy's repertoire, or tell of his travels across Early Earth.

They are divided into four parts: The Land of Nord, Britanitarka, Migdal Bavel and the South Pole.

Interspersed between are also stories about the gods – the Eagle God, BirdMan, and his twin children, Kid and Kiddo the Ravens – in their Cloud Castle located in the "fourth (or maybe fifth) dimension".

Readers will find many familiar elements in Greenberg's stories, as she reworks well-known tales like the Biblical stories of Cain and Abel, Jonah and the Whale, Noah and the Great Flood, and the Tower of Babel, as well as Homer's Odyssey, among others.

Her usage of the three sisters – the Nord boy's adoptive mothers – reminded me of the mythological trope of the triune goddess or the female triumvirate representing the three phases of womanhood; while the pebble the Medicine Man gives our hero to enable him to understand all languages reminded me of the Babel fish from Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy "trilogy".

Art-wise, Greenberg employs a simple style akin to that of naive art.

Her panels are flat and two-dimensional, with strong bold lines and patterns dominating the illustrations, and she uses a mainly black-and-white palette, with the occasional red, yellow, brown or blue accent thrown in.

All of which goes quite well with the theme of a "history" of an earlier, more primitive Earth.

Readers who look closely at the illustrations will also notice that Greenberg sometimes adds clever little touches that embellish the story, demonstrate her quirky sense of humour, or subtly imply action in an otherwise static panel.

For example, her images of Cloud Castle show a background filled with bathtubs, toilet seats, pots and books, which include titles like Being Godly, Idol Worship, God Com and Creation. And do check out the stoles the Shaman, Medicine Man and Wise Old Crone wear.

Her simple inclusions of the words "scuff" or "flump" alongside her drawings, for example, immediately evoke a sense of sheepishness or the sensation of falling back on a bed.

The continuity of the stories makes it easy to finish the book in one sitting. But a second reading also has its own rewards as the reader will have more time to take in the details of the illustrations.

Overall, I quite enjoyed the reworked stories and Greenberg's subtle use of detail and colour.

But more original stories would have elevated the experience, especially as The Encyclopedia Of Early Earthis essentially a story about stories.

Older teens who are readers might appreciate getting this as an alternative gift, although prudish parents might want to flip through this before selecting it as such.

And adults who enjoy a more introspective yet quirky graphic novel might like it too.

> The Encyclopedia Of Early Earth is available at the graphic novel section of Kinokuniya, Suria KLCC. Call 03-2164 8133 or e-mail ebd3_kbm@kinokuniya.co.jp or visit www.kinokuniya.com/my.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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Upset Perak fans turn rowdy
Water rationing plan stage one, three and four to be continued
Difficult to implement affordable housing promise, says Khalid

Upset Perak fans turn rowdy

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:39 AM PDT

PETALING JAYA: The Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) had to use water cannons and tear gas to disperse disgruntled fans after Perak was defeated by Johor Darul Takzim 1-0 on Tuesday night at the Perak Stadium in Ipoh.

Some fans showed their displeasure towards the home team's management when they protested after the game.

The situation spiralled out of control and the FRU had to step in to disperse the crowd.

In a separate incident, a photographer was reported to have suffered injuries after some supporters threw stones during the match.

Perak, who have never been relegated since Malaysia adopted a two-tier system, currently languish in last place with seven points after thirteen games.

Water rationing plan stage one, three and four to be continued

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 06:58 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor (Syabas) will continue with the water rationing plan stage one, three and four as decided by the Selangor state government and approved by the National Water Services Commission.

Its corporate communications and public affairs assistant general manager Priscilla Alfred said, to date, all the plans were being implemented according to schedule.

She said the Cheras Batu 11 Water Treatment Plant was still not operating since it was closed again Monday when the ammonia level continued to be at a level higher than that permitted by the Health Ministry.

"Syabas was informed by Puncak Niaga (M) Sdn Bhd, the company operating the water treatment plant that from their observations, the ammonia content in Sungai Langat was still high," she said in a statement here Tuesday.

The water rationing plan stage one involved several areas in Hulu Langat, Kuala Langat and Sepang while the third stage involved Gombak, Petaling, Kuala Lumpur, Klang/Shah Alam, Hulu Selangor and Kuala Selangor.

Areas in stage four were Gombak, Petaling, Klang/Shah Alam, Kuala Selangor, Kuala Langat, Hulu Selangor, Hulu Langat and Sepang.

She said Syabas also urged consumers to be prudent in their water consumption and not commit any offences such as vandalising the distribution pipe system to get water supply.

Syabas also encouraged consumers to surf its website (www.syabas.com.my) to obtain information on the list of areas and rationing schedules. – Bernama

Difficult to implement affordable housing promise, says Khalid

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 06:38 AM PDT

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid has admitted that the state government was facing difficulties in implementing Pakatan Rakyat's election promise with regard affordable housing in the state.

Pakatan, in its election manifesto, had promised to allocate RM100mil for the purpose of building affordable homes in Selangor. However, Khalid said that the plan was unfeasible at this juncture.

"Although the state government is doing its best to build affordable homes in the state, the demand for it has become far too great," he said, Tuesday at the Selangor State Assembly in response to Haniza Talha (PKR-Taman Medan) who had asked of the progress of the state government's affordable housing plan.

Khalid said that to date some 15,000 affordable homes had been built by the Selangor State Development Corporation and Perbadanan Nasional Selangor Berhad, while about 30,000 units were built by Sime Darby.

He added that a huge sum was needed to carry out affordable home projects, adding that current state funds did not allow the government to do so.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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Top pictures from the MTV Movie Awards red carpet
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