ANAK TERKEJUT PENGASAS ARAB MALAYSIAN BANK DIBUNUH

KUALA LUMPUR  (Malaysia) -- Anak lelaki pengasas Kumpulan Perbankan

Arab Malaysian Hussain Ahmad Najadi terkejut dengan pembunuhan bapanya di sini

hari ini.

   "Saya terkejut apabila mendengar tentang kejadian bunuh itu, lebih-lebih

lagi apabila ia dilakukan pada waktu siang di Kuala Lumpur," Pascal Najadi

kepada Bernama dalam satu temu bual menerusi telefon dari Eropah.

   Sehubungan itu, Pascal, 45, pemegang kerakyatan dua negara iaitu Switzerland

dan British, menggesa pihak berkuasa Malaysia mengambil tindakan sewajarnya bagi

menahan individu yang terlibat dalam pembunuhan bapanya serta mengheret mereka

ke muka pengadilan.

   Pascal, yang turut menceburi bidang perbankan, berkata ironinya adalah

Hussain Ahmad dibunuh di Malaysia, negara yang amat disayanginya dan dianggap

sebagai tanah tumpah darah beliau selama lebih empat dekad.

   Hussain Ahmad, 75, maut manakala isterinya yang berusia 49 tahun cedera

parah ditembak dari jarak dekat di parkir kereta selepas keluar dari Tokong Kuan

Yin di Lorong Ceylon pada 2 petang.

   Mangsa terkena dua das tembakan di bahagian dada dan meninggal dunia di

tempat kejadian manakala isterinya cedera di pergelangan tangan kiri serta peha

kanan.

   Siasatan awal polis mendapati seorang lelaki bersenjata merupakan antara

tiga individu yang menunggu Hussain Ahmad di luar tokong berkenaan, yang

dikatakan ke situ untuk bertemu rakannya bagi membincangkan urusan jual beli

saham.

   Pascal berkata beliau mengetahui tragedi yang menimpa bapanya beberapa jam

selepas kejadian selain menerima panggilan daripada polis Malaysia berhubung

pembunuhan itu.

   Hussain Ahmad mengasaskan Kumpulan Perbankan Arab Malaysian pada 1975

sebelum ia bertukar tangan pada 1982 dan dikenali sebagai Arab Malaysian Bank

atau Ambank – Bernama.

JOHNNY DEEP GIVES WILLIAM PARENTING TIPS

Johnny Depp has given some advice to Britain’s Prince William, saying fatherhood is the “greatest ride ever”.

  The 31-year-old royal and his wife Catherine welcomed their first child, a son, into the world yesterday. Johnny has two children with his ex-partner Vanessa Paradis and is confident that William will relish having a family just as much as he does.

  “I would say the same thing to any pop, you know,” he told UK TV show Daybreak when asked to give the prince some words of wisdom. “The best thing – the only thing you can do – first of all it’s the greatest thing you will ever experience, without question. It’s the greatest ride ever. The best thing you can do is just love them and be there.”

  Bruce Willis also has a lot of experience as a father, raising three grown up daughters with ex-wife Demi Moore. He became a dad for the fourth time last year, when his wife Emma Heming gave birth to a baby girl called Mabel. The Hollywood star has urged William and Catherine to spend as much time as possible with their new arrival.

  “Stay home for the first year, don’t go anywhere, just be there,” he smiled. “Play with that baby every day. They will be very good at it, they seem like really cool people.”

  Dame Helen Mirren famously won an Oscar for portraying Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 movie The Queen. She was thrilled to hear that the Prince of Cambridge had been safely delivered when the news was announced on Monday evening in the UK. The actress was also full of praise for the 31-year-old duchess, insisting she will be a natural when it comes to parenting.

  “It’s a lovely moment in our history, it’s always important when the heir to the throne is being born and it’s very exciting,” Helen smiled at the UK premiere of Red 2. “And I think we are very blessed with the mother, I think we have a great mum there.”

William spent his first night as a father with Catherine and their son at St Mary’s Hospital in London.

  The future king, who remained with his wife during the labour, released a statement following the birth, saying the couple “could not be happier”.

  He personally phoned his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, to tell her the good news, before calling his father Prince Charles and his younger brother Prince Harry. William also contacted the Middleton family, who briefly spoke to Catherine.

  The baby will be known as Prince (Christian name) of Cambridge, and replaces Harry as third in line to the throne.

  The Muppets are currently shooting their new movie in the city and Miss Piggy admits the announcement has left her feeling broody.

  “Kermit, it’s so exciting, Kate is a mommy and Prince William is a daddy and there is a new royal baby boy... It kind of makes me want to have a royal child of my own, what about you Kermit?” she asked her long-term partner during a TV interview. “Can’t you just hear the pitter patter of tiny tadpole feet?”

  Kermit was quick to deflect Miss Piggy’s question, replying: “Tadpoles don’t have feet…. Congratulations William and Catherine.”

  The duke and duchess are expected to leave hospital later today, and will pose on the steps of St Mary’s to give the world a first glimpse of the new prince.

  A series of celebrations will be held in the UK to mark the royal baby’s arrival, including gun salutes across London.

A DIVE GONE WRONG

IT  was supposed to be the dive that would’ve put Pandelela Rinong on the brink of capturing the elusive World Championships individual medal in Barcelona, instead it cost her dearly as she ended up in sixth place in the 10m platform individual final.

The two-time National Sportswoman of the Year, who is competing in her third consecutive finals chalked up 334.55 points.

Pandelela falls at the final hurdle to end up sixth
 in the 10m individual platform final

Pandelela, an Olympic bronze medallist in the event, failed to balance herself while preparing to take-off from the platform for her ‘Armstand Back 2 Somersault 1 1/2 Twist Free’ routine during her third attempt.

To her credit, she then retook and execute the dive well enough, but was slapped with a hefty penalty that cost her 14 points, with each of the seven judges deducting two points.

She was awarded a low 54.50 for that attempt.

It dealt a huge blow to the 20-year-old’s morale, having started convincingly with 70.50 and 76.80 in the first two dives to stay on course for the bronze medal. She was already off pace from the two mighty Chinese divers Chen Ruolin and Si Yajie, who had opened a big lead at the top.

The previous dive indeed affected Pandelela’s spirit as she flopped in the subsequent dive, earning just 56.00. With two poor scores in a row, her position plummeted from third to sixth.

But to her credit, she picked herself up to conclude her unhappy campaign with a decent dive that gave her 76.80 points to hang on in sixth place – a standing that left her crushed in the end.

The competition also saw 14-year-old prodigy Yajie (392.15) became new world champion as she narrowly dethroned defending champion Ruolin (388.70).

Ruolin, also a two-time silver medallist in Rome 2009 and Melbourne 2007, had never lost in any of the world major competition since 2011 as she went on to win the World Cup and London Olympic last year.

European champion Iuliia Propkochuk (358.40) of Ukraine, won her first ever world meet medal as she emerged triumphant in the ‘battle of the rest of the world’ to take the third spot.

KERAJAAN MUNGKIN BATALKAN DAP -- Kit Siang

Penasihat DAP Lim Kit Siang berkata beliau melihat petunjuk bahawa kerajaan sedang bersedia untuk membuat kejutan dengan membatalkan pendaftaran DAP menjelang sambutan Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Katanya, beliau menjangka kerajaan mungkin bertindak demikian berdasarkan kenyataan ketua pengarah Jabatan Pendaftaran Pertubuhan Malaysia (ROS) Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman dalam satu laporan The Star hari ini.

Abdul Rahman dalam laporan itu memberi peringatan kepada anggota DAP supaya tidak memasang harapan untuk membentuk parti baru jika jabatan itu bertindak membatalkan pendaftaran parti baru.

Abdul Rahman berkata mereka mungkin tidak akan memenuhi permintaan untuk menubuhkan parti baru.

"Kami malah tidak melayan 29 permohonan untuk menubuhkan parti baru yang dikemukakan sejak lima tahun lalu," katanya seperti dipetik akhbar berbahasa Inggeris itu.

Laporan itu menyebut, Abdul Rahman diminta mengulas mengenai usaha anggota DAP untuk membentuk parti parti sekiranya pembatalan parti tersebut tidak dapat dielakkan.

Laporan berkenaan mengaitkan perkara itu dengan isu pemilihan parti jawatan pusat DAP pada Disember lalu.

Mengulas perkara itu, Lim berkata kenyataan tersebutadalah berdasar hujah yang tidak berasas dan sembarangan.

"Laporan The Star itu mengandungi hujah palsu dan tidak berasas yang menunjukkan ketua pengarah ROS bertindak dengan cara yang sangat tidak patut, tidak adil dan tidak profesional," katanya.

Lim menambah, Abdul Rahman sepatutnya menjalankan tugasnya dengan bebas dan tidak berpihak.

Jelasnya, DAP masih belum menerima sebarang permintaan daripada anggota parti untuk menjalankan pemilihan CEC yang baru.

Isu berkenaan hanya ditimbulkan oleh ejen propaganda Umno dan BN sejak beberapa bulan lalu, katanya lagi.

HATTAN, ARIANIE KEMBALI HIDUP BERSAMA

BERKAT doa dan kesungguhan penyanyi Datuk Hattan meraih kembali hati hati bekas isterinya, Datin Arianie Abidin selepas bercerai pada tahun 2005 membuahkan hasil apabila Arianie berjaya menerimanya semula.

  Mereka dinikahkan buat kali kedua dengan mas kahwin sebanyak RM300 dalam satu majlis perkahwinan serba sederhana dihadiri oleh 200 orang tetamu yang dilangsungkan di Hotel Marriot, Putrajaya pada hari Rabu dengan dua kali lafaz.

   Pasangan yang dinikahkan oleh Penolong Pendaftar Nikah Cerai dan Rujuk Putrajaya, Abdul Halim Mat Isa pada pukul 6 petang ini memilih untuk disatukan pada bulan Ramadan kerana mahu mengambil keberkatan di bulan yang mulia.

   Arianie, 42, mengakui bahawa dia tersentuh dengan kesungguhan Hattan atau nama sebenarnya Mohd Shukri Sahabuddin, 49, yang cuba menambat hatinya sejak sembilan tahun lalu walaupun dia mengambil masa yang agak lama untuk kembali bergelar suami isteri. 
   Ketika ditanya Hattan mengenai perkahwinan ini, dia mengucapkan syukur kerana doa untuk bersama dengan Arianie termakbul. Mereka juga tidak merancang untuk mendapatkan zuriat buat masa sekarang namun tidak menolak jika ditakdirkan mendapat anak.

  "Sukar saya nak gambarkan dengan kata-kata kegembiraan saya kerana doa saya selama bertahun-tahun akhirnya termakbul. Sampai saya tersasul semasa akad nikah kerana berasa sebak dan gembira pada masa sama," kata Hattan

   Hattan yang sebelum ini pernah mendirikan rumah tangga dengan Noorfarahikin Othman pada 11 November 2011 bagaimanapun telah berpisah selepas dua bulan sementara Arianie juga pernah bertunang pada September 2011 namun hubungan tersebut terputus tiga bulan kemudian apabila tunangnya menghilang. Bermakna, ini adalah perkahwinan kali ketiga buat Hattan dan kali kedua dengan Arianie.

   Terdahulu, pasangan ini pernah mendirikan rumah tangga pada 17 Disember 1996 sebelum bercerai talak satu pada 10 Mac 2005 di Mahkamah Rendah Syariah Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Hasil perkahwinan pertama pasangan itu, mereka dikurniakan seorang anak lelaki bernama Adam Eiman yang kini berusia 15 tahun.

   Anak tunggal pasangan itu juga turut merasa gembira dengan hubungan keluarga yang kembali terjalin walaupun hanya mendapat tahu ibu dan bapanya bakal berkahwin semula menerusi laporan akhbar dan ketika membeli cincin.

   Dia juga merasa tidak sabar untuk memulakan kehidupan sebagai sebuah keluarga dan berharap akan mendapat seorang adik selepas ini.

   Pasangan Hattan dan Arianie juga turut merancang membawa Adam bercuti ke London pada hujung tahun ini.

Sex bloggers given bail, barred from using communication devices

THE Malaysian couple who shot to "fame" for their sexploits and controversial Ramadhan greeting posted on Facebook have been given bail and barred from using communication devices by the Kuala Lumpur High Court today.

Judge Datuk Azman Husin granted Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee bail of RM30,000 bail with two sureties each, after allowing their revision application for three charges against them last week.

He also ordered their passports be impounded and prohibited them from uploading any offensive articles, comments or provocative and pornographic photographs that touches on racial and religious insensitivity.

The judge also prohibited the couple, who are popularly known by the name "Alvivi", from using any network communication device such as smartphones for the purpose of inciting racial or religious tension.

Tan and Lee were also ordered to report to the police station once a month.

The young couple had filed the revision to challenge Sessions judge Murtazadi Amran's decision in denying them bail last Thursday, after they were charged with three counts of insulting Muslims through the Facebook greeting and with posting pornographic pictures on their blog.

The decision by the Sessions judge in denying the young couple bail was viewed by some as "a lesson" to the public not to incite religious tension, but to others it was seen as harsh, considering they were not "hardened" criminals and were still innocent until proven guilty.

The revision application was also filed to review the Sessions Court's decision in allowing all the charges the couple faced, to be jointly tried.

In submissions today, counsel Chong Joo Tian, who appeared for both Tan and Lee, said bail should be granted as there was no materials presented at the lower court showing there was any risk of tampering of witnesses by the two.

"They are not a flight risk, there is no evidence they would abscond, and there was no submissions by the prosecutors to that effect," said Chong.

"It is also baseless and pure speculation by the respondents that my clients would repeat the alleged offences if they were to be released on bail."

Chong also said that no doubt the charges were severe, but the offences they were charged with was not as serious as rape or robbery cases, when courts have routinely granted bail.

"The Sessions judge had also denied bail, citing public interest. But that is wrong," he said, adding that what the lower court had done in denying bail was to serve the 'politicians out there who are calling for severe punishment'.

"The 'public interest', as the Sessions judge had worded, was only used as a pretext to punish my client. That is punitive to them and paves the way for a muddy road to justice."

Chong added that Lee's hand was injured two weeks ago and her hand was bandaged, even while she stood in the dock on Thursday.

He said she required medical attention, and this was not considered by the lower court.

Chong also said the Sessions judge should not have allowed the prosecution's application for the charges be jointly tried as it did not involve the same transactions.

DPP Ishak Mohd Yusoff, however, argued that Tan and Lee showed tendency of repeating similar offences as based on the tweets they posted on the Twitter microblogging site, they did not show full remorse.

"They had on July 13 tweeted 'You may shut us down but we will be back and will be stronger than ever'."

"Tan had also said that the offensive greeting was just a dark humour."

Ishak also said that the charges preferred against Tan and Lee should be jointly tried as it involved the same witnesses and the same police investigating officer.

Judge Azman dismissed the revision for a joint trial and said the Sessions judge's decision in allowing this was correct.

He, however, allowed the revision on bail.

Tan, 24, and Lee, 24, were charged under the Sedition Act, the Film Censorship Act, and the Penal Code.

Insulting Muslims

Alvivi stirred a storm for their controversial Facebook posting, said to be insulting Muslims during the holy month of Ramadhan.

They were alleged to have published a seditious publication on Facebook entitled 'Alvin and Vivian-Alvivi' at https://www.facebook.com/alvivi.swingers with a photograph titled "Selamat Berbuka Puasa dengan Bak Kut teh.. Wangi, enak, menyelerakan!!!" with the Halal logo beside it.

The Facebook administrator has since shut down their page.

They were alleged to have committed the offence at an apartment located in a building on Jalan Ipoh, Batu 3 1/2, Kuala Lumpur, at 10.48pm between July 11 and 12.

Under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, they are liable to a maximum RM5,000 fine or maximum three years, or both, upon conviction.

Under Section 298A(1)(a) of the Penal, they are liable to a jail term of between two and five years, if found guilty.

The both were also charged with uploading pornographic photographs at http://alviviswingers.tumblr.com/ between 9am on July 6 and 2am the next day.

For this offence under Section 5(1) of the Film Censorship Act 2002, they are liable to be punished under Section 5(2) of the same Act which carries a fine between RM10,000 and RM50,000, or a maximum 5 years' jail, or both, upon conviction.

The duo had also issued an apology on YouTube saying the stunt was done out of humour.

The couple came into the limelight since last October for posting lewd sexual acts on the internet.

Tan was a law student and was on scholarship at the National University of Singapore. But his scholarship was revoked following his Internet sexploits last year.

Tan was an Asean scholar and had been on "leave of absence" from his classes for almost a year when he started uploading pornographic pictures and videos of himself and his girlfriend Lee on a blog titled "Sumptuous Erotica".

Tan and Lee, a kindergarten teacher, started the blog in September 2012.

CALON PAS AKUR KEKALAHAN DI KUALA BESUT

 KUALA BESUT (Malaysia)-- Calon PAS Endot@Azlan Yusof akur dengan kekalahannya kepada calon Barisan Nasional (BN) Tengku Zaihan Che Ku Abd Rahman pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Besut hari ini.

"Saya terima kekalahan ini dan kalah itu perkara biasa, kita tidak merasa pelik dengan kekalahan ini tetapi jikalau kita menang ia memang suatu yang luar biasa," katanya yang juga dikenali sebagai Che Long, 48, pada sidang media di markas PAS PRK Kuala Besut di Kampung Baharu di sini.

Azlan, seorang kontraktor, menyifatkan pilihan raya ini sebagai aman dan beliau berpuas hati dengan kempen yang berlangsung selama 12 hari sejak 12 Julai lepas.

Calon PAS itu bagaimanapun tidak hadir ketika keputusan itu diumumkan oleh Pegawai Pengurus PRK A Rahim Jusoh di Dewan Majlis Daerah Besut di Jerteh, dekat sini malam ini.

Beliau memberi alasan tidak sempat untuk menghadirinya kerana sibuk tetapi enggan mengulas lanjut.

Azlan kalah kepada Tengku Zaihan, 37, dengan majoriti 2,592 undi setelah mendapat 5,696 undi berbanding calon BN yang mendapat 8,288 undi.

Sementara itu, PAS mengakui strategi ''Gelombang Biru'' BN lebih mantap berbanding slogan ''16-16 Terengganu Baru'' dan BN mempunyai tawaran yang tidak boleh ditolak oleh pengundi Kuala Besut berbanding tawaran PAS.

Yang Dipertua PAS kawasan Besut Wan Azhar Wan Ahmad berkata penduduk Kuala Besut dilihat lebih mementingkan pembangunan yang dicanangkan oleh BN.

PRINCE GEORGE OF CAMBRIDGE

THE  Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have named their son George Alexander Louis.
   George, the patron saint of England, was the 12th most popular name in the UK in the past year.
   The baby will be known as Prince George and as third in line to the throne will one day be king.
   Kensington Palace said: "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son George Alexander Louis.
   "The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge."
   Before the royal couple left the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London where their baby was born, William revealed that naming the infant was a priority, saying: ''We're still working on a name, so we will have that as soon as we can.''
   It had been thought the Duke and Duchess would spend a few days deliberating on what to call their son but it appears they may have had a name in mind and were discussing it with family members.
   They followed tradition and picked names for their newborn which all have royal connotations.
   Baby Prince George's other middle name - Alexander - is one that three medieval Scottish kings have had.

   There have been six King Georges since the German-born George I, the first Hanoverian king of Great Britain, acceded to the throne in 1714.
   The last was the Queen's father George VI who died in 1952 but was known to his family as Bertie.
   George was the most popular name with the bookies with betting firms William Hill, Coral and Paddy Power all offering short odds on the moniker.
   William Hill said that George had been by far and away the best backed boys name with the firm and ended as the 2/1 favourite ahead of James and Louis.
   William Hill spokesman Joe Crilly said: "Yes, George has been incredibly popular with our punters in the last 24 to 48 hours but the pregnancy has lasted a lot longer than that and up until Monday the majority of the betting was for a girl .
   "We are paying out a six figure sum to winning punters but the Royal Baby betting has been so popular that we have enough to get in a bottle of bubbly to wet the baby's head tonight."
   Since the baby was born on Monday William Hill has taken 3,400 bets on the name George with 25 of those being three figure punts - the biggest was a £500 wager at 2/1 on Tuesday.

   George Alexander Louis was born on Monday afternoon at 4.24, weighing 8lbs 6oz (PA)

Press gather outside Kensington Palace on Wednesday, after the royal baby spent his first night at home. (PA)

   The name Louis is likely to be a tribute to Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Duke of Edinburgh's uncle and the last British Viceroy of India before independence in 1947.
   Mountbatten and William's father the Prince of Wales were very close, with Charles confiding in his relative.
   He was known by the Royal Family as Uncle Dickie and was assassinated by the IRA in August 1979.
   His boat was blown up on a fishing trip off the coast of County Sligo, Republic of Ireland.

 

PEWARIS KETIGA TAKHTA MONARKI BRITAIN LAHIR

LONDON  - Isteri Putera William, Kate Middleton selamat melahirkan seorang bayi lelaki seberat 3.8 kilogram di Hospital St Mary, semalam.

   Berita gembira itu diumumkan oleh Istana Buckingham dan menyatakan Duchess of Cambridge selamat melahirkan bayi tersebut pada kira-kira pukul 4.24 petang waktu tempatan (11.24 malam waktu Malaysia).

   "Duchess of Cambridge telah selamat melahirkan bayi lelaki pada pukul 4.24 petang (11.24 malam waktu Malaysia)," kata satu kenyataan yang dikeluarkan dari Istana Kensington, semalam selepas empat jam, Middleton bersalin.

   Putera William dalam satu kenyataan ringkasnya berkata, dia dan keluarga sangat gembira dengan kelahiran bayi tersebut, manakala Ratu Elizabeth II, 87, pula menyifatkannya sebagai satu kelahiran yang dinanti-nanti dan menyeronokkan.

   Bayi pasangan diraja itu yang masih belum diberi nama, merupakan pewaris ketiga takhta monarki Britain, menggantikan Putera Harry dan digelar Prince of Cambridge.

Kelahiran bayi tersebut turut disambut sorakan orang ramai yang berkumpul di pekarangan Istana Buckingham dengan ada yang mengibarkan bendera Union Jack dan membawa sepanduk mengucapkan tahniah.

   Mercu tanda Britain termasuk London Eye dan Menara BT turut dinyalakan dengan warna merah putih dan biru sebagai tanda meraikan kehadiran pewaris takhta diraja Britain itu, manakala tembakan meriam turut kedengaran di seluruh kota raya itu, semalam.

   Para pengamal media termasuk jurugambar juga terus berkumpul di hadapan hospital tersebut bagi merakamkan detik-detik Duch dan Duchess of Cambridge membawa pulang bayi mereka.

Media Britain meraikan kelahiran waris diraja itu dengan akhbar The Sun mengubah sementara namanya kepada The Son, sementara The Guardian pula menyediakan satu butang 'Republikan' pada laman webnya bagi memudahkan pengguna mencari berita berkaitan.

   Keluarga diraja Britain turut dihujani ucapan tahniah dari seluruh dunia selepas pengumuman tersebut dibuat.

   Presiden Amerika Syarikat (AS), Barack Obama dan isteri, Michelle muncul pemimpin dunia pertama mengucapkan tahniah atas kelahiran bayi itu, diikuti Kanada dan Australia.

Middleton dimasukkan ke hospital tersebut, awal pagi semalam, hospital sama mendiang Puteri Diana melahirkan Putera William pada 1982. - AFP

Putera William, Catherine dapat anak lelaki

PUTERA WILLIAM DAN KATE

ANAK sulung pasangan ini dilahirkan pada jam 4.24 petang (waktu tempatan) dengan berat 3.8 kilogram.
  Putera William berada di sisi isterinya ketika dia melahirkan anak pertama mereka.
  "Ibu dan anak selamat dan akan bermalam di hospital," menurut keyataan Kensington Palace.
    Pada 18 Jul lepas,  pasangan diraja Putera William dan Kate Middleton berkata mereka tidak mengetahui lagi jantina anak sulung tetapi berharap untuk menyambut seorang putera.
   Bagaimanapun, Putera William pula mahu anak perempuan.
Kate yang sedang  hamil lima bulan ditemui pada satu majlis di St. Patrick Day.
   “Saya bertanya kepada baginda sama ada bayi yang dikandung itu lelaki atau perempuan dan baginda menjawab belum tahu lagi,” kata Guardsman Lee Wheeler.
   Wheeler menambah yang pasangan diraja itu juga belum menemui nama yang sesuai buat anak mereka tetapi akan meletakkan nama ketiga bagi menunjukkan takhta British -- AP.

Parti Abe menang pilihan raya Dewan Tinggi Jepun

TOKYO: Parti komponen Perdana Menteri Jepun, Shinzo Abe mendapat kemenangan majoriti dalam pilihan raya Dewan Tinggi negara ini, semalam.

Stesen penyiar NHK mendedahkan, Parti Liberal Demokratik Jepun (LDP) dan parti gabungannya, New Komeito membolot sekurang-kurangnya 71 daripada 121 kerusi yang dipertandingkan sekali gus membolehkan parti menguasai kedua-dua dewan Parlimen.
Menurut NHK, parti komponen kerajaan boleh memenangi sekurang-kurangnya 80 kerusi yang dipertandingkan. - AFP

Dr M: Cash aid didn’t help BN as people think it’s their money anyway

TUN MAHATHIR

MALAYSIA'S  grand old man of politics Tun Dr Mahathir opened up in an interview to say that direct cash grants did not help the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in Election 2013 as people thought it was rightfully their own money.

In an interview carried in Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia's Sunday edition, the country's longest-serving prime minister answered leading questions on the political and social scene.

He was asked about BN's efforts to do everything to court support from voters including ensuring all races received aid but was not reflected in the May 5 general election results.

"Actually, what was given was not effective," Dr Mahathir told the interviewer in the Mingguan Malaysia article today.

"For those who receive the aid, they were not thankful, especially opposition supporters who thought it was their own money anyway. That is tax money and not government money or BN's," he added.

Dr Mahathir contrasted the cash aid to his administration between 1981 and 2003.

"Previously, the government ensured an environment that facilitated society to find work, conduct business, investment and others that the people enjoyed. That wasn't government money but we created space and a suitable environment for people to make their livelihood.

"Now we see many including graduates who don't have a job yet. Maybe people feel that once they get the cash aid they will be satisfied but actually the money is not enough, it will just last a few days," the still-influential politician said.

BN has given two direct cash aid under the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) plan and promised in their Election 2013 manifesto to give RM1,200 to families who earn less than RM3,000 a month.

Despite that and a slew of other promises, BN lost more seats to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in Election 2013, taking only 133 federal seats to 140 gained in the 2008 general elections.

In another leading question, Dr Mahathir was asked about liberal Malays who have achieved success such as a chief executive and who then condemned other Malays, in what is seen as a reference to AirAsia X's Azran Osman Rani's criticism of Utusan Malaysia for its racially-slanted reports.

"That is a type of Malay who is low quality. This is because their life values have no gratefulness or thanks or gratitude considering that for the Malays, there are many poems about gratitude," the former prime minister replied.

He was also questioned about the growing interference by foreign quarters in the country's internal situation and their real agenda in the matter.

"This is our fault as we cannot control after repealing laws that previously protected the people's and country's interest, such as the ISA.

"But we eliminated the laws to be more liberal but the United States and Britain now have the same laws as the ISA. They can detain people without trial for up to 10 years - and there are no protests - and also passing the death sentence without trial.

"We at least only detain for as long as two years and then we release, we don't kill anyone. Why should we follow people and now that we don't have such laws, many things happen," Dr Mahathir said.

He said an open situation would lead to foreigners trying to influence Malaysian politics.

"For the US, they openly want an administration change and those who are not friendly, they will change.

"In this matter, I think they have a tendency to support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and they will help him although they haven't shown any hostility with Datuk Seri Najib Razak. But their best choice is still Anwar," Dr Mahathir said.

2013 Primetime Emmy Nominees

ON Thursday morning, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced its nominees for the 65th Primetime Emmy Awards. On hand to reveal the exciting news were Aaron Paul of "Breaking Bad" and this year's master of ceremonies, Neil Patrick Harris.

The nominations are in, and FX's "American Horror Story: Asylum" drama series — make that, drama miniseries — leads all contenders with 17 nominees, despite the fact that the show ended its season in January 2013 and might not have had the strong buzz of shows that ended in the spring. Like HBO's "Game of Thrones," which racked up 16 nominations (including a Best Drama nod) for a season that wrapped in June and featured one of the season's most talked-about episodes with the Red Wedding in "The Rains of Castamere."

Here's a look at the shows and actors who'll be competing in the biggest categories come Sunday, September 22, when the star-studded soiree airs live on CBS at 8 PM.

Outstanding Drama Series

"Breaking Bad"
"Downton Abbey"
"Game of Thrones"
"Homeland"
"House of Cards"
"Mad Men"

Lead Actress in a Drama Series

Connie Britton, "Nashville"
Claire Danes, "Homeland"
Michelle Dockery, "Downton Abbey"
Vera Farmiga, "Bates Motel"
Elisabeth Moss, "Mad Men"
Kerry Washington, "Scandal"
Robin Wright, "House of Cards"

Lead Actor in a Drama Series

Hugh Bonneville,"Downton Abbey"
Bryan Cranston, "Breaking Bad"
Jeff Daniels, "The Newsroom"
Jon Hamm, "Mad Men"
Damian Lewis, "Homeland"
Kevin Spacey, "House of Cards"

Outstanding Comedy Series

"30 Rock"
"The Big Bang Theory"
"Girls"
"Louie"
"Modern Family"
"Veep"

Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

Laura Dern, "Enlightened"
Lena Dunham, "Girls"
Edie Falco, "Nurse Jackie"
Tina Fey, "30 Rock"
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Veep"
Amy Poehler, "Parks and Recreation"

Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

Alec Baldwin, "30 Rock"
Jason Bateman, "Arrested Development"
Don Cheadle, "House of Lies"
Louis C.K., "Louie"
Matt LeBlanc, "Episodes"
Jim Parsons, "The Big Bang Theory"

Outstanding Made for TV Movie/Miniseries

"American Horror Story: Asylum"
"Behind the Candelabra"
"The Bible"
"Phil Spector"
"Political Animals"
"Top of the Lake"

Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series

"The Colbert Report"
"The Daily Show With Jon Stewart"
"Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
"Late Night With Jimmy Fallon"
"Real Time With Bill Maher"
"Saturday Night Live"

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

"The Amazing Race"
"Dancing With the Stars"
"Project Runway"
"So You Think You Can Dance"
"Top Chef"
"The Voice"

Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program

Tom Bergeron, "Dancing With The Stars"
Anthony Bourdain, "The Taste"
Cat Deeley, "So You Think You Can Dance"
Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, "Project Runway"
Ryan Seacrest, "American Idol"
Betty White, "Betty White's Off Their Rockers"

Lead Actress in a Made-for-TV Movie/Miniseries

Jessica Lange, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Laura Linney, "The Big C: Hereafter"
Helen Mirren, "Phil Spector"
Elisabeth Moss, "Top of the Lake"
Sigourney Weaver, "Political Animals"

Leading Actor in a Made-for-TV Movie/Miniseries

Benedict Cumberbatch, "Parade's End"
Matt Damon, "Behind the Candelabra"
Michael Douglas, "Behind the Candelabra"
Toby Jones, "The Girl"
Al Pacino, "Phil Spector"

Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

Morena Baccarin, "Homeland"
Christine Baranski, "The Good Wife"
Emilia Clarke, "Game of Thrones"
Anna Gunn, "Breaking Bad"
Christina Hendricks, "Mad Men"
Maggie Smith, "Downton Abbey"

Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

Jonathan Banks, "Breaking Bad"
Bobby Cannavale, "Boardwalk Empire"
Jim Carter, "Downton Abbey"
Peter Dinklage, "Game of Thrones"
Mandy Patinkin, "Homeland"
Aaron Paul, "Breaking Bad"

Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

Mayim Bialik, "The Big Bang Theory"
Julie Bowen, "Modern Family"
Anna Chlumsky, "Veep"
Jane Krakowski, "30 Rock"
Jane Lynch, "Glee"
Sofia Vergara, "Modern Family"
Merritt Wever, "Nurse Jackie"

Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

Ty Burrell, "Modern Family"
Adam Driver, "Girls"
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, "Modern Family"
Bill Hader, "Saturday Night Live"
Tony Hale, "Veep"
Ed O'Neill, "Modern Family"

Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie

Ellen Burstyn, "Political Animals"
Sarah Paulson, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
Charlotte Rampling, "Restless"
Imelda Staunton, "The Girl"
Alfre Woodard, "Steel Magnolias"

Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie

Scott Bakula, "Behind the Candelabra"
James Cromwell, "American Horror Story: Asylum"
John Benjamin Hickey, "The Big C: Hereafter"
Peter Mullan, "Top of the Lake"
Zachary Quinto, "American Horror Story: Asylum"

Outstanding Reality Program

"Antiques Roadshow"
"Deadliest Catch"
"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" 
"MythBusters"
"Shark Tank"
"Undercover Boss"

Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series

"The Abolitionist"
"American Masters"
"The Men Who Built America"
"Through the Wormhole With Morgan Freeman"
"Vice"

Outstanding Informational Series or Special

"Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown"
"Brain Games"
"Inside the Actors Studio"
"Oprah's Master Class"
"Stand Up to Cancer"

Outstanding Variety Special

"The Kennedy Center Honors"
"Louis C.K.: Oh My God"
"Mel Brooks Strikes Back!"
"Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update Thrusday (Part One)"
"12-12-12: The Concert for Sandy Relief"

Outstanding Animated Program

"Bob's Burgers"
"Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness: Enter the Dragon"
"Regular Show: The Christmas Special"
"The Simpsons"
"South Park"

Outstanding Children's Program

"Good Luck Charlie"
"iCarly"
"Nick News With Linda Ellerbee"
"The Weight of the Nation for Kids: Quiz Ed!"
"A Young Arts Masterclass"

Guest Actress in a Drama Series

Linda Cardellini, "Mad Men"
Joan Cusack, "Shameless"
Jane Fonda, "The Newsroom"
Margo Martindale, "The Americans"
Carrie Preston, "The Good Wife"
Diana Rigg, "Game of Thrones"

Guest Actor in a Drama Series

Michael J. Fox, "The Good Wife"
Rupert Friend, "Homeland"
Robert Morse, "Mad Men"
Harry Hamlin, "Mad Men"
Dan Bucatinsky, "Scandal"
Nathan Lane, "The Good Wife"

Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

Dot-Marie Jones, "Glee"
Melissa Leo, "Louie"
Melissa McCarthy, "Saturday Night Live"
Molly Shannon, "Enlightened"
Elaine Stritch, "30 Rock"
Kristen Wiig, "Saturday Night Live"

Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

Will Forte, "30 Rock"
Nathan Lane, "Modern Family"
Bobby Cannavale, "Nurse Jackie"
Louis C.K., "Saturday Night Live"
Bob Newhart, "The Big Bang Theory"
Justin Timberlake, "Saturday Night Live"