Hoffman leaves money to long-time girlfriend

Hoffman leaves money to long-time girlfriend
Chinese masseuse in critical condition following mishap at swimming pool
‘Belia Cinta Tanah Air’ completes flag parade ceremony
New chairman and members of aiti elected
Facebook buys WhatsApp message service for $16 bn
Thai protesters besiege PM’s HQ

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 05:35 PM PST

Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, who died this month from an apparent heroin overdose, left all his money to his long-time girlfriend and their young son, US media said Wednesday.

Under the terms of the will, drawn up a decade ago before the couple's two daughters were born, Hoffman left his estate to Mimi O'Donnell — from whom he had recently separated — and set up a trust fund for Cooper.

He stipulated that his son be raised in New York, Chicago or San Francisco, or visit at least twice a year to be exposed to the "culture, arts and architecture" on offer.

Cooper, 10, is to inherit half his trust fund when he turns 25 and the rest when he is 30 years old, US media said.

O'Donnell lives with Cooper, and daughters Tallulah, 7 and Willa, 5, in Manhattan's West Village neighborhood.

The Oscar-winning actor was found dead in his rented apartment on February 2.

O'Donnell had raised the alarm after Hoffman failed to turn up as planned to see the children. The couple had recently split up, reportedly because of his drug use.

The 46-year-old Hoffman was hailed by many as the finest character actor of his generation.

He won an Oscar in 2006 for his portrayal of author Truman Capote in "Capote" and earned three further Academy Award nominations as best supporting actor in 2008, 2009 and 2013. -AFP

Chinese masseuse in critical condition following mishap at swimming pool

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 03:30 PM PST

KUCHING: A masseuse from China, who planned to return home at the end of the month, is in critical condition after she was found floating at the bottom of a public swimming pool yesterday.

The 25-year-old, identified as Li Hui Yu, had gone to the swimming pool at Taman BDC with a close friend – described as her adopted sister – around 4.30pm from their apartment unit located just adjacent to the pool complex.

Once there, her friend realised she had forgotten to bring her swimsuit and went back to the apartment to get it. She returned to the pool about five minutes later.

However, she could not locate Li, who had already changed and gotten into the pool. She then decided to call her mobile phone, but with no success.

The friend then walked to the edge of the pool and was shocked to see Li motionless at the bottom, and immediately screamed at nearby swimmers for help.

Paramedics who were summoned to the scene immediately performed cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on Li and were able to revive her before taking her to the Sarawak General Hospital.

She is currently warded in critical condition.

It was learned that both Li and her friend worked as masseuses at a reflexology centre along Jalan Song, and that both women planned to return to China at the end of the month.

‘Belia Cinta Tanah Air’ completes flag parade ceremony

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 03:18 PM PST

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Thirty participants comprising of youths from the 'Belia Cinta Tanah Air', representing the four districts took part in the parade carrying the national flag in the capital yesterday, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.

The event commences with the handing over of the national flag by the Brunei-Muara District Officer, Awang Haji Jamain bin Momin to the head of the contingent, Awang Habiibullah bin Haji Mohamad Zain.

The event flagged-off at the Youth Centre to the designated area – flag from the Youth Centre to Saint George's School, Saint Andrew's School, Pusar Ulak Primary School, Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien College (SOASC), Raja Isteri Fatimah Primary School, Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam Secondary School (SMJA), Mabohai Primary School, and Raja Isteri Girls Secondary School (STPRI) and concluded at the Indoor Stadium in Berakas.

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New chairman and members of aiti elected

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 03:17 PM PST

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei has consented for the appointment of the Chairman and members of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.

The appointments commences from February 1, 2014, to January 31, 2016, as stated from yesterday press release by the Ministry of Communication.

The appointed Chairman of AITI is Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications, and members of AITI are Awang Adi Shamsul bin Haji Sabli, Deputy Permanent Secretary (IT & eGovernment) at the Prime Minister's Office; Awang Haji Zakaria bin Haji Serudin, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Performance & Compliance) at the Ministry of Finance; Dayang Hajah Rahayu binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Razak; Awang Haji Yahkup bin Haji Menudin, Chief Executive of AITI; Awang Haji Shahrom bin Haji Suhaimi, Acting Commissioner of Town and Country Planning, Town and Country Planning Department, Ministry of Development; and Dayang Haslina Taib, Chief Executive Officer of BAG Networks Sdn Bhd.

Facebook buys WhatsApp message service for $16 bn

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 03:15 PM PST

Posted on February 20, 2014, Thursday

Facebook said Wednesday it was buying the fast-growing messaging service WhatsApp for more than $16 billion in cash and stock, expanding the global footprint of the social networking giant.

"The acquisition supports Facebook and WhatsApp's shared mission to bring more connectivity and utility to the world by delivering core Internet services efficiently and affordably," said a Facebook statement.-AFP

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Thai protesters besiege PM’s HQ

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 02:40 PM PST

Tensions eased after military officials at the site agree to talk to opposition leader Suthep

BANGKOK: Defiant Thai opposition protesters surrounded Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's crisis headquarters yesterday, stepping up their campaign a day after dramatic street clashes left five dead and dozens wounded in Bangkok.

The spike in violence has punctured hopes of an easing of a three-month political standoff in which 16 people have been killed – both demonstrators and policemen – and hundreds injured in gunfire and grenade blasts.

The backdrop to the unrest is a nearly decade-long political rift between opponents and supporters of Yingluck's brother, fugitive former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, that has unleashed a series of rival street protests.

Several thousand anti-government protesters massed outside the office of the permanent secretary of defence in a Bangkok suburb where Yingluck has held meetings over the last few weeks, after being driven out of her besieged headquarters in the government district.

The premier was not believed to be inside at the time. Tensions eased after military officials at the site agreed to talk to protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban.

"If Yingluck still comes to work here we will come every day," Suthep said.

The firebrand senior opposition figure even suggested the premier might be driven out of the country.

"We will hound her all day long until she cannot live here," he later told a cheering crowd.

"Retaliation against Yingluck must intensify."

On Tuesday violent clashes broke out after riot police tried to clear rally sites in the capital's historic district.

Chaotic scenes ensued as explosions and gunfire shook an area of the city near the Golden Mount temple and other tourist attractions.

A policeman was shot dead and four civilians were killed, the Erawan emergency centre said in a new toll yesterday, while more than 60 were injured.

Police said 24 officers were among those hurt.

National Security Council chief Paradorn Pattanatabut said there was no plan to launch a new operation yesterday to clear protest areas, but he denied Tuesday's operation marked a defeat for the authorities.

"The operation was not a failure. At least we regained the energy ministry and 80 per cent of the government complex," he said, referring to a group of state offices in the north of the capital.

The protesters are demanding Yingluck quit to allow an unelected prime minister to take office to introduce vaguely-defined reforms such as an end to corruption and alleged misuse of public funds to buy political influence.

In a new twist, the National Anti-Corruption Commission said Tuesday that it was pressing charges against Yingluck for neglect of duty in connection with a controversial rice subsidy scheme. If found guilty she could be removed from office.

More than seven years after royalist generals ousted Yingluck's brother Thaksin in a bloodless coup, the kingdom appears more politically divided than ever. — AFP