Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Left for Bali

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Left for Bali
Deputy PermSec at PMO Now the MD of AMBD
Monarch Congratulates Thais’ New Prime Minister
Boob Aid: Japan porn queens in 24-hour ‘squeeze-a-thon’
‘Thrones’ eyes Emmys crown, but all to play for
Kiev says battling armour from Russia

Posted: 25 Aug 2014 07:56 PM PDT

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah yesterday left the country for Bali, Indonesia, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.

While in Bali, His Royal Highness will attend the 6th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) from August 29 to 30.

Present at the Brunei International Airport to bid farewell was Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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Deputy PermSec at PMO Now the MD of AMBD

Posted: 25 Aug 2014 07:55 PM PDT

Posted on August 26, 2014, Tuesday

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: By command of His Majesty the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister's Office hereby announces that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to appoint Yang Mulia Awg Yusof Hj Abd Rahman, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as Managing Director of Authority Monetary Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) to succeed Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Awg Hj Md Rosli Hj Sabtu, upon completion of his contract of service, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.

The date of appointment of the said officer is effective from Tuesday, Syawal 30 1435 Hegira corresponding to August 26 2014.

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Monarch Congratulates Thais’ New Prime Minister

Posted: 25 Aug 2014 07:53 PM PDT

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: His Majesty the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and the Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to send a message of congratulation to His Excellency General Prayuth Chan-Ocha following his recent appointment as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.

In the message, His Majesty extends his warmest congratulations to His Excellency on his appointment as Prime Minister. The Monarch also wishes His Excellency much success and looks forward to working with His Excellency in enhancing the warm friendship and close cooperation between the two countries. In ending his message, His Majesty extends his kindest regards to His Excellency General Prayuth Chan-Ocha.

Boob Aid: Japan porn queens in 24-hour ‘squeeze-a-thon’

Posted: 25 Aug 2014 07:45 PM PDT

A group of Japanese porn actresses are preparing to have their breasts squeezed by fans for 24 hours this weekend for a charity event loosely translated as "Boob Aid".

The nine adult movie stars told local media on Monday they could barely contain their excitement about the "Stop! AIDS" campaign event — which will be televised live — but asked, perhaps somewhat optimistically: please be gentle.

"I'm really looking forward to lots of people fondling my boobs," Rina Serina told the Tokyo Sports newspaper. "But I would be very happy if you would please be delicate."

The event, the 12th since its launch in 2003, will be broadcast on adult cable television, with punters donating to the anti-AIDS campaign in exchange for a feel.

It comes after sexist heckling of a Tokyo assemblywoman hit the headlines, highlighting old-fashioned views towards women that still permeate Japanese society.

"I never thought my boobs could contribute to society," added the ponytailed Serina, apparently unaware of any contradiction.

Fellow porn actress Iku Sakuragi had no qualms about being groped by hundreds of pairs of hands.

"It's for charity," said the 21-year-old. "Squeeze them, donate money — let's be happy."

Lawmakers from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's ruling party sparked a public outcry in June when they subjected Tokyo assemblywoman Ayaka Shiomura to sexist taunts, shouting "Why don't you get married?" at her during a debate on motherhood.

Japan has one of the lowest rates of female workforce participation in the developed world and a lack of childcare facilities, poor career support and deeply entrenched sexism are blamed for keeping women at home.

The 24-hour "squeeze-a-thon" begins at 8pm on Saturday (1100 GMT) and is backed by the Japan Foundation for AIDS Prevention. -AFP

‘Thrones’ eyes Emmys crown, but all to play for

Posted: 25 Aug 2014 07:43 PM PDT

Royal feud saga "Game of Thrones" battles for glory Monday at the annual Emmy awards, where stars will also pay emotional tribute to comic Robin Williams after his apparent suicide.

But all was to play for at television's equivalent of the Oscars, with hit shows including "Breaking Bad," "True Detective" and "Orange Is the New Black" tipped for gold at the 66th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles.

"The Emmys are the hardest to gauge" of all Hollywood's annual awards fests, said industry journal Variety, which included "Masters of Sex" and "The Good Wife" among its top predictions.

Emmys host Seth Meyers joined fellow stars in rolling out the red carpet at the Nokia Theater, hours ahead of curtain up at 5:00 pm (0000 GMT Tuesday).

"Thrones," based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling novels about power struggles between dueling clans in seven mythical kingdoms, won most nominations overall with 19 including in the prestigious best drama series.

"Thrones" — already renewed for a fifth and sixth season — is among Home Box Office's nominated shows. Overall, HBO heads into the glittering ceremony with a winning 99 nods, compared to 31 for online streaming giant Netflix.

"Fargo," an offshoot of the quirky 1996 Coen brothers' movie, heads into the ceremony with nominations in an impressive 18 categories, with Billy Bob Thornton a contestant for lead actor in a miniseries.

- Breaking Bad vs True Detective -

Cult crime series "Breaking Bad" — which won best drama last year — is again among the top contenders for the coveted title, although dismayed fans saw it end almost a year ago after five highly acclaimed seasons.

Bryan Cranston, who played cancer-stricken teacher-turned-drugs kingpin Walter White in the blockbuster series, is nominated for best drama actor, while the series is also up for best supporting drama actress and actor.

But "Breaking Bad" executive producer Mark Johnson played down expectations. "There are so many good shows… I've learned a long time ago you don't take anything for granted."

Another hot commodity is HBO crime drama "True Detective," which scored competing lead actor nominations for its co-stars Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey, a police duo who hunt for a serial killer in Louisiana.

It is in the running for best drama series as well.

But Netflix's breakthrough women's prison show "Orange Is the New Black" is very much on the radar, too.

It is vying for the best comedy series crown against long-running series "The Big Bang Theory," "Louie," "Modern Family" and "Veep," as well as HBO newcomer "Silicon Valley."

Taylor Schilling from "Orange Is the New Black" and Julia Louis-Dreyfus from "Veep" are among those facing off for lead actress in a comedy.

The race for lead drama actress, meanwhile, pits last year's laureate Claire Danes from "Homeland" against Michelle Dockery from "Downton Abbey," Lizzy Caplan from "Masters of Sex," Julianna Margulies from "The Good Wife," Kerry Washington from "Scandal" and Robin Wright from "House of Cards."

But the ceremony was overshadowed by the August 11 death, at age 63, of Hollywood great Williams, which rocked the entertainment world.

With emotions still raw, his friend and fellow actor-comedian Billy Crystal will pay tribute to the Oscar winner during the "in memoriam" part of the primetime program.

When nominations were announced in July there were some notable snubs, including CBS's widely acclaimed "The Good Wife" in the best drama race, as well as for "Homeland" star Damian Lewis and Elisabeth Moss of "Mad Men."

Bruce Rosenblum, chairman of the Television Academy, which nominates and votes on the awards, said its members were faced with an embarrassment of riches.

"We're in a golden age of television," he said. "When you look at the dramas that were nominated, I'm not sure which one of those you would move out" to accommodate others, Rosenblum said. -AFP

Kiev says battling armour from Russia

Posted: 25 Aug 2014 07:24 PM PDT

Moscow dismisses claims but ratchets up tension with plan to send another aid convoy to east Ukraine

DONETSK, Ukraine: Kiev yesterday said its forces were clashing with an armoured column that crossed the border from Russia as Moscow ramped up tensions ahead of crunch talks by pledging to send in a new aid convoy.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian leader Vladimir Putin are under pressure to defuse the crisis when they meet for the first time in months alongside top EU officials in Minsk today.

A Ukrainian military spokesman told AFP that border guards were battling 'several dozen' armoured vehicles that smashed through the border in the south and headed in the direction of the government-held city of Mariupol.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the report as Ukrainian and Western media disinformation, telling a Moscow news conference: "I haven't heard about it, but there has been more than enough disinformation about our invasion. No doubt some foreign newspaper will print that 'news' tomorrow."

If confirmed, the incursion could represent a dangerous push into territory in the Donetsk region under Ukrainian control after a brutal offensive by Kiev had seen government forces pin back struggling insurgent fighters.

A top rebel chief on Sunday announced a counter offensive to the south of the main rebel stronghold of Donetsk and claimed to have deployed fresh tanks and artillery.

AFP journalists witnessed heavy fighting raging to the south of the city with the sound of explosions ringing out and smoke rising from towns to the south.

While fighting raged on the ground, Moscow ratcheted up the pressure further by saying it would send another controversial aid convoy into east Ukraine.

Russia sent cross-border tensions spiralling last week by unilaterally ordering over 200 lorries filled with what it said was aid to east Ukraine's rebel stronghold Lugansk in a move that Kiev slammed as a 'direct invasion.'

Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that Russia wanted to send a new convoy 'this week' and had appealed to Kiev to help facilitate the delivery after the first batch of lorries returned on Saturday.

Kiev and the West fear that the aid initiative could be a gambit to bolster the ailing insurgency or used by Moscow as a pretext to invade but Russia insists it just wants to help the stricken region.

Over 400,000 people have fled the fighting since April and residents in some rebel-held cities have been without water or power for weeks.

The upcoming meeting between Poroshenko and Putin has been seen as a rare opportunity to de-escalate more than four months of fighting that has cost over 2,200 lives.

Poroshenko has pledged to 'talk peace' with the Russian strongman but insists the withdrawal of pro-Kremlin forces is the only way to end the conflict in east Ukraine.

Kiev has accused Russia of ramping up arms supplies to the rebels as government troops have cut deeper into their territory while Moscow has demanded Ukrainian forces cease their punishing offensive.

Lavrov played down hopes for a major breakthrough in Minsk by saying only that the talks would "facilitate the exchange of opinions about the situation concerning efforts to start the political process to settle the political crisis." — AFP