STORY TO BE TOLD

Six Malaysians in Christchurch quake found alive, one still missing

SERIAN (Sarawak): Six of seven Malaysians reported missing in Christchurch, New Zealand, in Tuesday's earthquake have been found alive and safe, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Richard Riot said Saturday.

He said based on the latest update emailed by his ministry and received at 1.10pm, the six Malaysians were identified as Anthony Das, Paulin Joseph, Tan Chin Pih, Celine Wong, Lin Siao Jin and Chon Siow Lim.

"However, Sandra Hii from Sibu, Sarawak, an employee at Christchurch's King's Education College, with permanent residence status, is still unaccounted for.

"Her next-of-kin have been informed," he told reporters after attending the Samarahan division's welfare services office briefing on monthly aid here.

He said the ministry's crisis management committee in Putrajaya had activated its operations room within a few hours of the earthquake. It is manned by 30 officers, at any one time.

A similar operations room has also been set up at the Malaysian mission in Christchurch.

As of Saturday, the death toll from the earthquake is at 123. The number of those reported missing stands at about 200, many of whom are believed to be foreigners.

Riot advised Malaysians who intended to study, work or travel abroad as tourists to register themselves at the Malaysian embassy or consulate in the respective countries to enable the ministry to trace them, in the event of untoward incidents.

He said the Malaysian Embassay in Christchurch had so far, contacted 70 of 246 Malaysians who had registered as staying there, adding that Malaysia would not despatch rescue teams to the disaster zone as the New Zealand government had said that teams from several countries were already on the ground.

The 6.3 magnitude earthquake was the worst to hit New Zealand since a major earthquake of 7.8 magnitude took the lives of 256 people in Hawke's Bay in 1931.

An earthquake in September last year measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale destroyed 100,000 homes but no lives were lost.

New Zealand is situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire which also extends to Chile, Japan and Indonesia. - Bernama

Read more/More news on: http://thestar.com.my/news/

Credits to and source taken from: http://thestar.com.my/news/

Leona Lewis wants to get on 'Glee'

Leona Lewis would love to get on 'Glee'.

Pop princess Britney Spears has done it, so as Gwyneth Paltrow and Neil Patrick Harris, but there’re many more celebrities who would love to get on Emmy-winning American hit musical series Glee.

Leona Lewis is one of them. In an interview with E! Online, the Bleeding Love star expressed her wish of landing a guest-starring gig in the show.

"I'd love to be on Glee," she said.

It’s apparent that the British singer is eager to challenge herself and stretch her potential.

"I'd love to play a rebel. Be a real biker chick in leather and covered in tattoos. A real badass. I could also play like a geek who becomes a swan," she said.

Lewis, 25, was no stranger to the Glee cast, at least not to Matthew Morrison, who plays Mr. Schuester in the series. The pair hung out together at a party two weeks ago while earlier on, they shared the stage and did a duet on Somewhere Over the Rainbow at Lewis’ concert.

Source: E! Online

Published Feb 26 2011

Bieber's locks on sale at RM22,000

Justin Bieber's hair is being sold on eBay.

The pop star recently had his famous locks cut and they are now listed on the Internet auction site with the current top bid at US$7,200 (RM22,000)

The sale ends on March 2 and the unusual item has so far attracted interest from 61 users.

The locks are being sold by Ellen DeGeneres who received some of his hair - which is encased in a Plexiglas box that has been signed by the 'Baby' singer - as a gift when he appeared on her talk show this week.

As he handed the strands over to the 53-year-old star - who had previously written on her twitter page that she wanted some of his hair - he said: "That's my hair. I'm giving pieces of it to different people. We're doing something special. We want you to donate it to whatever charity you want to."

Ellen is donating all proceeds from the auction to animal rescue foundation The Gentle Barn.

Justin decided to change his trademark hairstyle ahead of his 17th birthday next Tuesday (March 1).

Discussing why he wanted to ditch 'The Bieber' look, he said: "I just wanted to, that's all, not really a big reason. I just woke up and said, 'I don't want this anymore', so I just cut it."

Source: Xinmsn

Published Feb 26 2011

Actors shortlisted for 4th Bourne flick

Who’s going to be the next leading man in the next Bourne film?

A round of guessing game on who’s going to fill in Matt Damon’s shoes began when the Oscar-nominated actor announced that he will not be starring in The Bourne Legacy, the fourth Bourne film which will not feature the character of Jason Bourne.

(From left) Tobey Maguire, Josh Harnett and Jake Gyllenhaal are rumoured to be among the actors that are shortlisted to star in The Bourne Legacy. (image source: The Guardian)

A brand new story that is inspired by the amnesiac spy, the film will be directed by Tony Gilroy and will feature "a whole new hero".

A string of names are rumoured to be on the shortlist. Among them are Jake Gyllenhaal, Garrett Hedlund, Tobey Maguire, Taylor Kitsch, Kellan Lutz, Josh Hartnett, Michael Fassbender and Alex Pettyfer.

A decision shall be reached one of these days, as shooting is slated to commence this spring and the film will be released in Aug 2012.

Source: E! Online

Published Feb 26 2011

Nintendo 3DS on sale

Natsumi Miyasaka showing her new Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo's latest game machine, offering glasses-free 3-D images, went on sale in Japan on Saturday ahead of a global rollout.

Analysts said it promises to be the world's first 3-D mass-market product.

"I'm so excited," said nine-year-old Natsumi Miyasaka, clutching her brand new blue 3DS portable that her father bought for her.

Lines formed outside Tokyo electronics stores, although they were not as long as some previous gadget launches, as Nintendo offered purchase reservations in advance.

The Nintendo 3DS - which costs 25,000 yen (RM934) in Japan - goes on sale in Europe on March 25, for 250 euros (RM1,050), and US on March 27, for US$250 (RM763).

Customers waiting in line to buy the Nintendo 3DS at retail chain Yamada Denki in Tokyo, Japan

Nintendo expects to sell four million of the 3DS machines through the end of March including 1.5 million in Japan.

"It is the most comprehensive handheld gaming device from Nintendo to date, with high-quality graphics and online features," said Hiroshi Kamide, an analyst with J.P. Morgan in Tokyo.

"I believe the 3DS will be the first mass-market 3-D device."

The 3DS looks much like older DS machines, and has two panels.

The top panel shows 3-D imagery, giving players an illusion of virtual reality, such as a puppy licking the screen from inside the machine. The bottom screen is a touch panel.

The device also comes with three cameras, and allows the user to take 3-D photos. It does not require the special glasses. They also don't require 3-D TV sets.

Sony is promising a new handheld code-named NGP later this year, but has yet to give pricing and the machine does not offer 3-D gaming.

Although more game software is expected to be ready by the Europe and U.S. launch dates, only eight games were ready for the Japan launch. But the machine comes with several built-in games and other features.

Such drawbacks did not faze Toyohisa Ishihara, a 43-year-old engineer, who stood in line for two hours to get his 3DS.

"The images seem to pop out. There is a sense of a world spreading beyond," he said. "I can't wait to play it."
Source: AP

Teacher’s slimming ‘hot blanket’ leads to itchiness
Other news & veiws
Compiled by Qishin Tariq

A MOTHER of four’s wish to regain her figure went awry when her slimming treatment caused severe itchiness instead.

“My husband gave me RM10,000 to get a ‘hot blanket’ slimming treatment at a well-known beauty centre in Taman Johor Jaya last November,” said Hasnah (not her real name), a teacher in Johor Baru.

According to her, the itchiness started after her third slimming session, Harian Metro reported.

“I ignored it and kept going for the treatment until my seventh session, at which point, my condition worsened considerably,” she said.

Hasnah said her condition led to depression as her husband became increasingly distant and her students remarked about her constant scratching.

“My husband became cold towards me and even my children asked whether it was safe to eat the food I cooked,” she said.

Read more/More news on: http://thestar.com.my/news/

Credits to and source taken from: http://thestar.com.my/news/

Trader pays RM20.7mil ransom to kidnappers
By NELSON BENJAMIN
nelson@thestar.com.my

JOHOR BARU: A businessman from Singapore was forced to pay a staggering S$9mil (RM20.7mil) to secure the release of his family in what has been described as the country’s largest ransom payment in recent years.

The nightmare began when the businessman’s wife, their maid and daughter were driving home. They were forced off the road by another vehicl e in Permas Jaya recently. Subsequently, the kidnappers took over the wheel and drove off with the three of them to an undisclosed location.

Bukit Aman sources said that the kidnappers sent an MMS of the three victims being held at gunpoint to the businessman before demanding a ransom of S$50mil (RM115mil).

The kidnappers warned the million aire, who has businesses in real-estate and gaming, not to alert the police and to pay up if he wanted his family back.

It is learnt that after negotiations, the kidnappers agreed to a ranso m of S$9mil and demanded that the money be prepared in large denominations of Singapore dollars.

Apparently, the businessman was then instructed to drive to a plantation in Kulaijaya to drop off the money.

Sources said that the victims were only released at least two days after the ransom was paid. It is learnt that they were blindfolded and gagged during the ordeal which lasted several days.

The three victims, who were all unharmed, were eventually dropped off around Danga Bay. Police have launched a manhunt for the kidnappers who are believed to be professionals.

The authorities are also checking whether the group could have been involved in other kidnappings in the country.

Interpol has been roped in to help with the investigations as police believe that the suspects could have fled the country. Bukit Aman has formed a special taskforce to investigate the case.

Published: Saturday February 26, 2011 MYT 5:06:00 PM
Bank officer found dead with multiple stab wounds

KUALA LUMPUR: A bank officer was found dead with multiple stab wounds on his chest and abdomen, at his house in Bukit Antarabangsa here Saturday.

Lee Soong Chin, 56, had more than 10 stab wounds on the chest and abdomen when his body was found in his bedroom in Wangsa 11.

His 51-year-old widow, who hails from England, found the body of the Standard Chartered Bank officer about 6.40am.

A blood-stained knife was found near the body.

Ampang Jaya police chief Assistant Commissioner Amiruddin Jamaluddin said, based on a statement from Lee's family, the victim was believed to have committed suicide due to depression.

"Nevertheless, further investigations will be carried out to ascertain the motive and case of death," he said.

Amiruddin said that during the incident, the couple's two daughters and son were in the house.

The body was sent to the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre. - Bernama

NZ rescuers find only dead in quake city, toll 145
By Adrian Bathgate

CHRISTCHURCH (Reuters) - Violent aftershocks hampered desperate efforts to find survivors in quake-hit Christchurch on Saturday as the death toll climbed to 145 and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key called for a two-minute silence for the nation to grieve.

A magazine page is seen in the remains of a house, which was destroyed by Tuesday's earthquake, in Christchurch February 25, 2011. (REUTERS/Tim Wimborne)

Rescue teams from New Zealand and six countries including the United States, China, Japan and Australia scoured ruined buildings in the central city and suburban areas hardest hit by Tuesday's 6.3 tremor -- but found only bodies.

"We expect that number to rise as the search and rescue teams progressively find more and more deceased among the ruins," police commander Dave Cliff told reporters.

The dead include people from 20 nations, including dozens of students from Japan, China, India and Taiwan who were in Christchurch, one of New Zealand's most attractive cities, to learn English in view of the country's dramatic southern Alps.

Hopes of finding people alive five days after the quake were dimmed by aftershocks of up to magnitude 4.4 which brought down masonry and sent rescue teams scrambling for safety.

Key called for a two-minute national silence on March 1 as a sign of unity for the people of Christchurch, New Zealand's second largest city, and to grieve for people killed in the country's worst natural disaster for 80 years.

"For now we must do all we can to show its people that all of New Zealand grieves with them," said Key, who met with the families of those still missing.

"They fear the worst but there is still a glimmer of hope," he said. "The urban search and rescue crew made it clear that this was still very much a rescue effort, not a recovery.

No survivors have been rescued since mid-afternoon on Wednesday. The number of missing remains at more than 200, but police have said it is likely that the number includes recovered bodies that have yet to be identified.

REBUILDING

Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said rebuilding plans were already underway for the ruined centre, but much of the financial district could be sealed off for months as a "huge demolition effort" of up to a quarter of the buildings began.

Early estimates of insurance losses have ranged from $3 billion to $12 billion.

"When we do rebuild the type of building will have to pass an economic test for future use and it will have to meet pretty stringent (building) code requirements," Brownlee said.

"That doesn't deter us from doing that, the prospects for this city are quite bright there are not many other cities that get to completely rebuild."

In the central city, the search concentrated on a finance company office block, the city's landmark cathedral and a local television building, which housed an English language school, but aftershocks hampered efforts.

"Work did have to stop there temporarily during the period of falling masonry," said Cliff.

More than half of the dead have come from the ruins of the Canterbury Television (CTV) building. About 61 people, including 26 Japanese and 13 Chinese students, attended the school where floors pancaked down on one another.

More than 600 rescue workers scoured the city and hardest-hit suburbs, where broken water and sewage pipes, toppled power lines and ruptured gas mains have made large areas uninhabitable, forcing thousands to flee.

In the devastated eastern suburbs nearest the quake epicentre, where hundreds of homes have been marked with red tape for demolition, Andre de Roo pumped water for neighbours from a backyard well near a makeshift sign reading "must boil".

"It's almost my duty to share it with everybody," said de Roo.

Authorities are concerned about an outbreak of gastric disease in the city, prompting frustration that repair efforts are not continuing fast enough.

Bob Parker, the local mayor, appealed for patience as services were slowly restored in the city of 400,000, New Zealand's second biggest.

"This will not get easy in a hurry," Parker said. "The next few days as we try to work as hard as possible on restoring services, we need to ask that you support us. Nobody is sitting back watching this. Everybody is involved."

Thousands of volunteers from unaffected parts of the city or nearby towns converged on the worst-affected areas, shovelling away sun-baked mud and sand contaminated with sewage and debris.

Ratings agency Standard & Poor's backed New Zealand's ability to withstand the massive economic impact of the quake, saying the country's AA+ foreign rating was secure, albeit with an existing negative outlook.

(Writing by Rob Taylor and Gyles Beckford; Editing by Sugita Katyal)

Copyright © 2011 Reuters

Motorists to pay higher insurance premiums but will enjoy faster claims
By Yvonne Tan
yvonne@thestar.com.my

PETALING JAYA: Motorists will need to pay more for their insurance premiums from next year under a new framework but will enjoy faster claims.

Bank Negara assistant governor Abu Hassan Alshari Yahaya who announced this yesterday said the premiums were not expected to have a material impact on the low-income group as the increase would be spread over four years.

After 2016, the premiums would be liberalised and determined mostly by market forces.

“The new framework is also expected to improve the time taken to settle claims from the current average of one to five years to six to 18 months,” he said at a media briefing here yesterday.

Abu Hassan stressed that the adjustment would be “manageable”, refuting a report in a local daily which stated that motorists may see premiums rise by between 250% and 450%.

“That is totally incorrect,” he said.

Citing preliminary figures for certain segments, he said for motorcycles 100cc and below, the annual increase would be between RM1 to RM3.50 (for third party insurance) and RM1 to RM2 (for comprehensive insurance).

For cars 1,500cc and below, the annual increase would be RM6 to RM34 (third party) and RM7 to RM19 (comprehensive).

The amount of premiums paid would depend on factors such as the vehicle’s age and the motorist’s history of claims.

“The fact is that insurance premiums have not been adjusted for a very long time,” he said.

Abu Hassan said discussions had been held with key stakeholders such as the police, hospitals and judiciary. A joint committee will also be established.

The current motor insurance rating framework has not been reviewed since 1978 and insurance companies have constantly raised the issue of the third party motor insurance business being unprofitable given low premiums which are not commensurate with high claim costs.

According to Bank Negara, the motor insurance business incurred an estimated annual loss of RM650mil as at 2009/2010.