DNA discoverer’s Nobel medal goes for US$4.75m |
- DNA discoverer’s Nobel medal goes for US$4.75m
- German accused of fighting for Islamic State waits for sentencing
- Old names aren’t better, they’re just more suitable — Dickson Chan
- Ex-world boxing champ Riddick Bowe among Hall of Fame inductees
- Cover Media Video: ‘Frozen’ short film set to wow audience
| DNA discoverer’s Nobel medal goes for US$4.75m Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:59 PM PST
The sale, the first of a Nobel Prize by a living laureate, was considerably more than the US$2.5-$3.5 million estimate, the auction house Christie's said. Watson was awarded the prize in 1962 for discovering the double-helix structure of DNA nine years earlier — one of the 20th century's most important scientific findings. But the 86-year-old's reputation took a major hit after he questioned the intelligence of black people — comments for which he subsequently apologised — and he has been shunned ever since by some in the scientific community. Made of 23-karat gold, the medal features the profile of Swedish chemist and inventor Alfred Nobel. Christie's also sold Watson's handwritten notes for his speech during the Nobel banquet on December 10, 1962. Valued at US$300,000-$400,000, the fives pages went under the hammer for US$365,000. Watson had also participated in the Nobel conference. A corrected, 46-page manuscript valued at US$200,000-$300,000 sold for US$245,000. The author of numerous scientific volumes, Watson intends to donate a portion of the proceeds to the University of Chicago, where he studied, Clare College at the University of Cambridge, where he worked, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he served as president for many years. — AFP  |
| German accused of fighting for Islamic State waits for sentencing Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:56 PM PST
Prosecutors are asking for a jail term of four years and three months for the man, known only as Kreshnik B., who was born in Germany to Kosovan parents. They say he spent six months in Syria last year fighting and being trained by the insurgents. His lawyer says he went to Syria to help support Syrians trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad and has asked judges for a maximum term of three years and three months. Judges in the months-long trial have indicated that they may show leniency if he cooperates with authorities. Islamic State militants have captured large swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq, beheaded Western prisoners, killed many non-Sunni Muslims and declared a caliphate governed by Sharia law in the heart of the Middle East. Thousands of Western volunteers have travelled to Syria and Iraq to join militant groups, raising fears in Europe and the United States of attacks by returning fighters, and authorities are cracking down on them and on fundraisers and recruiters. About 550 German citizens have joined Islamic State in Iraq and Syria and about 60 have been killed, some as suicide bombers, authorities say. Some 180 are believed to have returned to Germany. Prosecutors are investigating about 300 others. French judges last month sentenced a returning jihadi to seven years in prison, in the first verdict of its kind there, even though he spent only 10 days in Syria and did not fight. Britain has sentenced two brothers to four and three-and-a-half year prison terms for attending training in Syria. Some politicians and legal experts have argued that tough sentences may only build resentment and say more de-radicalisation programmes are essential to countering the waves of youngsters leaving to fight in the region. — Reuters |
| Old names aren’t better, they’re just more suitable — Dickson Chan Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:39 PM PST
Take the MINI as an example, the current MINI has obviously grown vastly in size, but the name remains. The same scenario goes for Porsche with its 911, or Ferrari with the GTO, or the soon to be unveiled Honda NSX, which the previous generation had its production ended back in 2005. The reason behind this is simple, the familiar name shows heritage, the blood line that earns its reputation for their unique characteristics will bring back the old memories. The names, are easily remembered, and will not be forgotten. Now though, it seems that the Federal Territories has joined the club too. Recently, the Federal Territories Ministry had decided that some of the main roads in the capital city will have their name changed as they resemble absolutely no specific meaning. It is just a name, or so they said. The correct action then, will be to make a switch, jettison the names like Jalan Duta to Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, Lebuhraya Mahameru to Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar, and so on and so forth. The names of the latter, if you stayed well awake during the history class, are the names of the Malay rulers who were once coronated as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the King of the country. This, the authority believes, will solve the issue where the identity of the monarchy system is lacking in the capital city, a problem which has never existed in the first place. Apparently, the abrupt change of the road names which have been driven on by the motorists for years will definitely spark some sort of controversies. The Ministry, however, is not crass either. By stating that the changes are made on the request from the Conference of Rulers (and I'm not making this up, the statement is on the news), the people will have to duly accept the decision. Until, several days later, the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, stepped out and denied it, this particular matter was never brought to the table for discussion, and therefore is definitely not a decision made by the Conference of Rulers. In another word, the Federal Territories Ministry is being promiscuous with the road names and even had the chutzpah to bring the rulers' name into play. The mayor, Ahmad Phesal, said and insisted that a lot of thought had been put into the nomenclature of the roads. "We know what we are doing, there should not be such concerns over the name changes", he said. But, does he really know what he is doing? And, why shouldn't the citizen be concern over the lurch? It might be a slightly lesser issue for those living and working in the city as they have already familiarise themselves with the paths, but what about those visitors coming from other places? Make a call to the local friends while you are searching for the roads to your destination, imagine the wry expression on your face when you have been driving, looking and searching for an hour but still couldn't find Jalan Ipoh, and your friend over the phone does not know the new name because a.) it is long, and b.) he does not need to remember anyway. The frustration of being encapsulated in the vehicle under the relentless hot weather, will lead to a fractious mood and of course, vicious vibe, which in turns might be the cause of road accidents. You will, inevitably, got caught and charged and had to spend some time behind the bar because the number plate on your car is now clearly visible for the eyewitnesses, a supposedly euphoric holiday turned into a painful jail time. Nevertheless, most of the cars nowadays have their onboard satellite navigation system, and even if it doesn't have any, there is still a myriad of navigation applications available to install on the mobile phones. And this leads to another issue. Due to the fact that the road names change in a jiffy, it is not easy for even the most superlative navigation system to change the road names instantly, which effectively mean you will still be highly unsure of where you are heading as the name on the screen and the one on the signboard is utterly different. There will be plenty of cars on the road scurrying around with the drivers nodding their head, comparing the former and new names, eventually crashing into the rear of those in front. Now, since the road is named after the former rulers, you will have to call the police and said "I crashed at Sultan Mizan," the conversation will be rather awkward and I believe the King wouldn't be delighted to be continuously crashed into, too. I am certainly not opposing the idea of naming public amenities after the name of the rulers, or in fact, naming after anyone that has made huge contributions to the country. But, isn't that having their names on the sinewy-looking stadium or sumptuous building a better choice than writing them on the signboard? * This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online. |
| Ex-world boxing champ Riddick Bowe among Hall of Fame inductees Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:35 PM PST
Also among the 2015 class of inductees are British standout "Prince" Naseem Hamed, and Japan's Yoko Gushiken, who held the World Boxing Association light-flyweight world title from 1976-81 who was voted in via the Old-Timer category. Longtime US broadcaster Jim Lampley, manager Rafael Mendoza, referee Steve Smoger and journalist Nigel Collins were elected in the non-participant category. Three others were named as inductees posthumously: former flyweight champ Masao Ohba of Japan and ex-middleweight champion Ken Overlin and publicist John F.X. Condon. Bowe, who compiled a 43-1 record with 33 knockouts, is best remembered for his three battles with Evander Holyfield in the mid-1990s. Bowe took the World Boxing Council, World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation belts from Holyfield in the first meeting, then scored a technical knockout of his rival in the third bout after Holyfield won the rematch. Mancini (29-5) captured the WBA lightweight title with a first-round technical knockout of Arturo Frias in 1982 to fulfill the dream of his father Lenny, a former championship contender who had his career cut short after being wounded in World War II. The younger Mancini was also involved in one of boxing's most tragic moments, when he knocked out Korean challenger Kim Deuk-Koo in a title defense. Kim died four days after the fight from a brain hemorrhage. Hamed won the World Boxing Organization, WBC and IBF featherweights belts during a 10-year career from 1992-2002 and was regarded as one of the premier fighters of his era. One of the flashiest performers of the time as well, he amassed a 36-1 record with 31 knockouts. The 2015 Hall of Fame induction ceremony will take place June 14 in Canastota, New York. ― AFP |
| Cover Media Video: ‘Frozen’ short film set to wow audience Posted: 04 Dec 2014 04:34 PM PST Duration: 0:56, Published 5 Dec 2014 Since the huge success of Disney's Frozen, the animation house has announced a short film based on the same characters, and now, it's been given a premiere date of March next year. Meanwhile, Russell Crowe's directorial debut The Water Diviner is really building up steam and has received a staggering eight nominations from the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. And finally, Helena Bonham Carter and Rebecca Hall have just signed on to star in Steve McQueen's upcoming TV drama Codes of Conduct. — Cover Media |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malay Mail Online | All To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States | |
