Japan Display shares plunge from IPO price

Japan Display shares plunge from IPO price
Two part programme for students by the Philippine embassy
Python’s homing trick stuns scientists
Sarawak, New Zealand harus perkembang kerjasama: Jabu
Misi ‘pikat’ pengundi wanita
Majlis umum keputusan SPM 2013 Sarawak esok

Posted: 18 Mar 2014 07:09 PM PDT

Japan Display shares plunged 14.6 percent from their initial public offering price on their debut in Tokyo Wednesday, after the world's biggest maker of screens for smartphones and tablets raised $3.2 billion in a share sale.

The company, a key supplier to Apple, listed the stock at 900 yen per share ($8.90). It dropped to 769 yen at the open, as the benchmark Nikkei 225 index added 0.59 percent in the first few minutes of trading.

The liquid crystal display maker last week priced the offering at the low end of expectations, suggesting that investors were wary about the offer, but the firm insisted at the time that demand was strong.

The sale marked one of the biggest offerings in Tokyo after drinks giant Suntory's food-and-beverage unit raised $3.9 billion in 2013.

Japan Display had said it would sell 140 million new shares between 900 yen and 1,100 yen, while its major private shareholders would offload 213.9 million shares.

The company, set up in 2012 through the merger of Hitachi, Toshiba and Sony's money-losing LCD units, is looking to boost production of small and medium-sized screens in the face of tough competition from South Korean and Taiwanese rivals.

The merger was aimed at helping Japanese firms better compete in high resolution display technology, which has become the standard for smartphones, tablets and other electronic gadgets.

The government-backed Innovation Network Corp. of Japan (INCJ) held about a 70 percent share of the firm with the three electronics giants each claiming a roughly 10 percent stake.

Apple accounts for nearly a third of Japan Display's revenue, but the firm also deals with other top gadget makers such as Samsung and Microsoft.

Many Japanese electronics and technology giants have struggled in recent years as they face price undercutting by foreign rivals and painful losses in some consumer product units, including the television segment where profit margins are wafer-thin.

Once mighty firms like Sony and Panasonic have been undergoing painful restructuring in a bid to move past years of losses.

Earlier this month, Sony said it would sell properties at a prestigious Tokyo site where it had its headquarters for six decades, as the once-world beating firm struggles to repair its bottom line. -AFP

Two part programme for students by the Philippine embassy

Posted: 18 Mar 2014 06:52 PM PDT

Bandar Seri Begawan: The 11^th Filipino language and cultural programme saw 34 children that learned conducts in accordance with the local Malay traditions, held at the Philippine Embassy in Brunei during the first term break, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.

A piece of literature by Filipino poet, Francisco Baltazar was also recounted by a teacher.

The March edition of a programme is a preparation for the longer version to take place in July, where novels will be discussed in addition to cultural songs and dance.

20 volunteer teachers from Brunei Educators Club under the Filipino Association in Brunei are to oversee the 5 beginners, 14 juniors and 15 senior students.

The programme is held by the embassy on behalf of children of overseas Filipino workers who were born and raised in Brunei in preparation to when they will return to the Philippines one day.

The graduation ceremony on March 21 will also celebrate the recent International Women's Day.

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Python’s homing trick stuns scientists

Posted: 18 Mar 2014 06:50 PM PDT

The Burmese python has a built-in compass that allows it to slither home in a near-straight line even if released dozens of kilometres away, researchers said Wednesday.

Capable of growing over five metres (16 feet) long, pythons are among the world's largest snakes. Although native to South and Southeast Asia, the snakes have taken up residence in South Florida's Everglades National Park, possibly after being released as unwanted pets.

They have adapted so well to their new habitat that they now pose a serious threat to several species which they hunt as prey.

Scientists captured six of the pythons in the Everglades, placed them in sealed, plastic containers, and drove them to locations between 21 and 36 kilometres (13-22 miles) away.

They implanted radio trackers in the animals and followed their movements with GPS readings from a small fixed-wing plane — measuring their direction and speed.

All the snakes immediately oriented themselves towards the place where they were captured, with five of the six returning to within five kilometres (three miles) of that spot.

The sixth veered somewhat off course as it was nearing its destination.

The snakes travelled between 94 and 296 days, displaying "high motivation to reach home locations", according to the study, published in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters.

"This study provides evidence that Burmese pythons have navigational map and compass senses," the authors wrote.

No other snake species has yet been shown to possess a similar homing ability.

Such navigational skills suggest the python has a razor-sharp sense of territoriality. This could help combat the species in places where it is unwanted by predicting where the snake is likely to spread.

Burmese pythons eat everything from tiny birds to deer and even alligators. They swallow their food whole. -AFP

Sarawak, New Zealand harus perkembang kerjasama: Jabu

Posted: 18 Mar 2014 04:15 PM PDT

KUCHING: Sarawak dan New Zealand perlu meneroka pelbagai bidang kerjasama tatkala terus memperkukuhkan hubungan pendidikan.

Timbalan Ketua Menteri Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang berkata, Sarawak mempunyai hubungan cemerlang dengan New Zealand selama lebih setengah abad di mana jalinan itu dipupuk melalui pendidikan.

Jelasnya, ramai penduduk Sarawak generasi pasca kemerdekaan melanjutkan pengajian tinggi di negara itu.

"Tidak mustahil untuk Sarawak dan New Zealand membuka jendela yang lebih besar dan ruang penambahbaikan yang lebih luas terutamanya dengan hubungan baik terjalin lebih 60 tahun.

"Selain rangkaian pendidikan, banyak bidang lain seperti pelancongan, perdagangan, pelaburan boleh dibangunkan hasil daripada hubungan baik ini," ujarnya ketika berucap merasmikan pameran 'Tuku Iho | Living Legacy' di Muzium Seni Sarawak di sini, semalam.

Hadir sama isterinya Dato Sri Empiang Jabu, Pesuruhjaya Tinggi New Zealand ke Malaysia David Pine, Pengarah Institut Kraf dan Seni Maori New Zealand Karl Johnstone, Menteri Muda Pelancongan Mong Dagang dan Datuk Bandar Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai.

Jabu berkata, hubungan baik tersebut perlu diteruskan dari semasa ke semasa khususnya oleh generasi lebih muda di negeri ini.

"Saya menyeru generasi lebih muda di Malaysia khasnya Sarawak untuk meneruskan hubungan baik ini kerana kita mempunyai banyak bidang yang boleh dibangunkan bersama," katanya.

Mengulas mengenai pameran yang diadakan sempena Minggu New Zealand itu, Jabu menjelaskan penduduk Sarawak dan kaum Maori dari New Zealand tidak banyak perbezaan, khasnya dari segi adat dan warisan.

Justeru, katanya, penduduk negeri ini boleh berkongsi pengetahuan dengan kaum Maori lebih-lebih lagi berkenaan ukiran kayu dan motif.

"Budaya New Zealand dan kita di sini tidak banyak perbezaan, seperti kita di Sarawak mempunyai banyak adat dan budaya yang unik.

"Dijadikan contoh, tadi (semalam), mereka (Maori) mengalu-alukan kedatangan tetamu dengan tarian 'haka', sama seperti kita Iban mengalu-alukan kedatangan tetamu dengan ngajat, serta Melayu dengan pencak silat," katanya.

Misi ‘pikat’ pengundi wanita

Posted: 18 Mar 2014 04:14 PM PDT

by Nicklos Louis Kaderi. Posted on March 19, 2014, Wednesday

Wanita BN pergiat usaha pastikan kemenangan besar calon BN di Balingian

MUKAH: Pengundi wanita akan menjadi tumpuan pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Balingian kerana jumlah mereka adalah lebih ramai berbanding pengundi lelaki.

Timbalan Ketua Wanita Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Datuk Fatimah Abdullah berkata, terdapat 6,725 pengundi wanita pada PRK kali ini, berbanding 6,651 lelaki.

Justeru, katanya, Wanita Barisan Nasional (BN) negeri akan mempergiatkan usaha untuk 'memikat' pengundi wanita bagi memastikan kemenangan besar calon BN Yussibnosh Balo, 48, pada PRK hujung bulan ini.

"Kami tahu BN akan menang, namun kami perlu berusaha keras kerana sasaran adalah untuk menang dengan majoriti yang besar pada PRK ini.

"Kami akan menugaskan anggota kami untuk menjaga setiap satu daripada 21 pusat pengundian dan menggesa pengundi agar keluar beramai-ramai menunaikan tanggungjawab pada hari mengundi, 29 Mac ini," ujarnya pada sidang media selepas merasmikan Program Kebajikan dan 1AZAM di Kampung Teh di sini, semalam.

Fatimah berkata, biarpun BN diramal menang mudah di kerusi Balingian berdasarkan statusnya sebagai kubu kuat BN, namun kempen dan usaha mendekati pengundi tidak akan dipandang ringan.

Beliau memberitahu, seramai 1,872 pengundi layak mengundi di DUN Balingian bekerja dan tinggal di kawasan lain iaitu seramai 569 di Dalat, Bintulu (381), Miri (364), Sibu (264), Kuching (167), Semenanjung Malaysia (73) dan 54 orang lagi berada di beberapa kawasan di Mukah.

"Jentera BN akan cuba untuk mendekati pengundi ini kecuali mereka di Semenanjung Malaysia.

"Saya akan berkempen dua kali di Daerah Dalat pada PRK ini. Kita akan membantu dan mengingatkan mereka agar melaksanakan tanggungjawab sebagai pemilih pada PRK ini nanti," katanya.

Menurutnya lagi, bagi mencapai sasaran majoriti besar sebagai tanda sokongan kepada Ketua Menteri baharu dan menunjukkan rasa terima kasih kepada bekas ADUN Balingian Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, jentera Wanita BN negeri telah menggerakkan 29 subcawangan untuk mendekati pengundi di kawasan itu.

"Kami telah berpecah dalam kumpulan di mana setiap kumpulan akan menjaga di beberapa tempat yang telah ditetapkan bermula hari pertama berkempen hingga hari terakhir.

"Sehari sebelum mengundi, kami juga akan memberikan penerangan mengenai proses mengundi. Pada hari mengundi itu sendiri, kami juga akan mengatur pengangkutan untuk para pengundi," katanya.

Beliau menjelaskan, pihaknya akan menggunakan senarai semak bagi memastikan para pengundi menunaikan tanggungjawab mereka pada hari pengundian nanti.

"Akan ada senarai semak. Sebagai contoh, jika seseorang telah mengundi, kami akan 'tick' (tanda pada senarai semak).

"Dan, jika kami dapati ada pengundi yang belum ditanda, kami akan cari kenapa. Dan jika orang yang sakit, maka kami akan melihat bagaimana untuk membantu orang tersebut untuk pergi mengundi," jelasnya.

Fatimah yang juga ADUN Dalat berkata, langkah tersebut diambil bagi memastikan setiap pengundi menunaikan tanggungjawab mereka pada hari tersebut.

"Kami mahu memastikan bahawa semua datang untuk mengundi dan mereka mengundi BN," katanya.

Terdahulu, Fatimah selaku Menteri Kebajikan, Wanita dan Pembangunan Keluarga merasmikan Program Kebajikan dan 1AZAM yang bertujuan membasmi kemiskinan di kawasan luar bandar.

Dalam ucapannya, beliau menggesa agar penduduk miskin mendaftar dengan e-Kasih agar kebajikan mereka terbela menerusi pelbagai bantuan yang disediakan kerajaan.

Majlis umum keputusan SPM 2013 Sarawak esok

Posted: 18 Mar 2014 04:13 PM PDT

KUCHING: Jabatan Pendidikan Sarawak (JPS) akan mengadakan majlis pengumuman keputusan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2013 peringkat negeri Sarawak, Khamis ini.

Pengarah Pendidikan negeri, Datuk Abdillah Adam berkata majlis akan diadakan bermula jam 10 pagi di Auditorium JPS, Jalan Diplomatik Off Jalan Bako, Petra Jaya.

"Laporan terperinci analisis keputusan SPM 2013 peringkat negeri Sarawak akan diedarkan kepada semua petugas media selepas majlis tersebut," katanya dalam satu kenyataan kepada Bernama, semalam.

Menurut beliau pada majlis yang sama, acara penyampaian slip keputusan dan sijil kepada kepada calon-calon cemerlang SPM 2013 akan turut diadakan.

"Majlis penyampaian slip keputusan dan sijil akan disempurnakan oleh Menteri Kebajikan, Wanita dan Pembangunan Keluarga Sarawak Datuk Fatimah Abdullah," katanya. — Bernama