Bloomberg Video: Charlie Hebdo attack ― Cartoonists worldwide pay tribute |
- Bloomberg Video: Charlie Hebdo attack ― Cartoonists worldwide pay tribute
- British MI5 chief warns: Al Qaeda attacks in the West coming
- True Malaysian culture
- France in mourning after fatal media attack
- Bad moon rising
- Coca-Cola plans job cuts in cost-saving move
| Bloomberg Video: Charlie Hebdo attack ― Cartoonists worldwide pay tribute Posted: 08 Jan 2015 04:58 PM PST Duration: 00:35, Published 9 Jan 2015 Following the brutal attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, cartoonists from around the world displayed their reaction art on Twitter. ― Bloomberg  |
| British MI5 chief warns: Al Qaeda attacks in the West coming Posted: 08 Jan 2015 04:52 PM PST
Speaking after gunmen killed 12 people in an assault on a French satirical newspaper, MI5 boss Andrew Parker warned a strike on the United Kingdom was highly likely. "A group of core al Qaeda terrorists in Syria is planning mass casualty attacks against the West," Director General Parker said in a rare public speech at MI5 headquarters in London. His last public speech was in October 2013. In the speech, planned before the killings in Paris, Parker said seasoned al Qaeda militants in Syria aimed to "cause large-scale loss of life, often by attacking transport systems or iconic targets" in the West. Al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 people by attacking the United States with hijacked passenger planes on September 11, 2001. Militants inspired by the group killed 52 commuters in London on July 7, 2005 with suicide bombs. Al Qaeda's leader Osama bin Laden was killed by US special forces in 2011, and the threat posed by the network to the West seemed to recede in recent years. But spies in Europe and the United States have been troubled that al Qaeda militants from Pakistan have appeared in wartorn Syria, in what some intelligence analysts say could be part of a plot to mount a major attack against the West. Yesterday's stark warning from one of the West's most influential spymasters mirrors a growing concern among Western political leaders and their Arab allies about the threat from the cauldron of militant groups in Syria and Iraq. 'Dark places' Parker said around 600 British extremists had travelled to Syria, many joining the militant group which calls itself "Islamic State" and has taken control of swathes of Iraq and Syria. The group, an offshoot of al Qaeda, has beheaded two US journalists and an American and two British aid workers in an effort to put pressure on a US-led international coalition bombing its fighters in Syria. Islamic State militants in Syria were plotting attacks on Britain and making sophisticated use of social media to incite British nationals to carry out violence, Parker said. MI5, established in 1909 to counter German espionage ahead of World War One, had stopped three potentially deadly "terrorist plots" against the United Kingdom in recent months, he said. "We face a very serious level of threat that is complex to combat and unlikely to abate significantly for some time," said Parker, who has argued strongly for more surveillance powers to spy on militant communications on the Internet. He said that the security services needed to have access to such communications. "My sharpest concern as Director General of MI5 is the growing gap between the increasingly challenging threat and the decreasing availability of capabilities to address it," he said. Twitter and Facebook are so important to militants that technology giants should give security services greater access to their networks, the head of Britain's GCHQ eavesdropping agency said last year. "The dark places from where those who wish us harm can plot and plan are increasing," Parker said. "We need to be able to access communications and obtain relevant data on those people when we have good reason." — Reuters |
| Posted: 08 Jan 2015 04:43 PM PST JANUARY 9 ― I am a Muslim and I am a Malay. I am proud and I am okay. I am not an extremist. On Wednesday, 12 people were shot dead as three gunmen attacked the Paris office of French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, in what some now call a militant Islamist attack. The magazine's editor-in-chief and four well-known cartoonists, along with two police officers, were among those killed. Apparently, the gunmen claimed to be "avenging the Prophet Muhammad" as they fled the crime scene. Unfortunately, this tragedy is not an isolated incident. There is now a global trend of young confused Muslims resorting to murder and vengeance in a twisted idea of jihad, justifing their violence in the name of religion. As the recent government White Paper on the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria proves, even Malaysians are not exempt as 39 Malaysians were identified to have been involved in the violent jihadi movement. This situation contradicts the nature of Islam as the majority of Muslims believe it to be ― the religion of peace. Tariq Ramadan is therefore right to condemn the Charlie Hebdo attack as as a "pure betrayal of our religion," which we all know to preach compassion and mercy. In Malaysia, we face a similar problem. Malay culture is known for its grace and courtesy. Even when expressing disagreement or reproach, Malays are known to use subtle hints, sometimes even invoking poetry in the form of pantun nasihat, in order not to offend their counterparts. One personal example that I have learned, is that serving food with a stick of lemongrass in the dish is to signal that the host is running out of food and that they are scraping the bottom of the pot. Hence, guests should consider eating less to make sure there is enough for everyone. These subtle Malay manners seem to have disappeared today. We now have Malay groups publicly offering rewards for slapping women and tainting people's faces with chicken blood. We also have a former Chief Justice bent on instigating racial and religious hatred by making provocative statements pitting the Chinese and the Malays against one another. It is extremely unfortunate that these extremist voices are allowed to dominate the public agenda. This is why it is important not only to fight back against these purveyors of hate, but also to replace their agenda with a moderate one espousing peace, harmony and universal Malaysianness. It is dangerous to allow them to define the image of Islam and the Malays. If we do, then it would be a victory for all extremists. In order to move forward, we need to focus not on primordial traits like ethnicity or religion, but on values ― in particular, the values of compassion, kindness, charity, honesty, justice and benevelonce that every Malaysian shares, regardless of culture. Perhaps it is also tragic that Malaysians need disasters to remind us of our shared values. It is only when tragedy strikes that we stand together, respect each other more, and readily come to each other's aid. Having visited the flood-stricken areas in the East Coast myself, I have seen how thousands of Malaysians of all walks of life and colour have risen above where the government has fallen below expectations. Where the state and federal governments faltered, regular Malaysians in their own capacities took matters into their own hands, gathering whatever resources they could and launched an unorganised (but not disorganised) aid campaign that crossed the boundaries of political partisanship, race and religion. Now that is true Malaysian culture! We may have started the year 2015, but old courtesies are never out-dated. While the last year may have ended on a despondent note, this year may be the beginning of better times for our country, provided true Malaysians stand up. Here's hoping we always stick to it and not only act like true Malaysians when disasters strike. Happy New Year! *This is the personal opinion of the columnist. |
| France in mourning after fatal media attack Posted: 08 Jan 2015 04:42 PM PST
"Charlie will be free!" cried a woman joining a crowd in front of Paris' Notre Dame cathedral a moment before noon (1100 GMT) when the country observed a national minute of silence. Among the hundreds gathered on the ancient square, many were in tears or stood with their eyes closed, while some prayed and a long line formed to enter the cathedral for a special memorial mass. "When you attack the press, you attack liberty," said Jean-Paul Doussin, an elderly man who removed his beret to show his respect, despite heavy rain. "You have to fight for freedom of expression." There was also tension, with large numbers of riot police moving through Paris in vans and camouflaged soldiers with automatic rifles on guard outside some government buildings. But the main feeling in the capital was one of sadness. At the major rail station of Saint-Lazare, staff called on travellers and workers to pause at midday. "We must stick together and save our freedom of speech," said Julie, 37, who works for the national SNCF rail company. Another Paris icon, the Eiffel Tower, was to dim its lights at 8:00 pm.
The government has called for another round of even bigger demonstrations of nationwide solidarity on Sunday. Imams at Charlie Hebdo Ten people at Charlie Hebdo — including the chief editor and renowned cartoonists — were gunned down yesterday by two men who shouted they were taking revenge for the magazine's repeated publication of cartoons widely seen as insulting to Islam. Two policemen were also shot, one of them shot in the head at close range as he lay wounded on the sidewalk. Shocked politicians led by President Francois Hollande were seen on television taking part in the minute's silence. Islamic organisations from across France quickly sought to distance themselves from the jihadists and called on Muslims to join today's moment of silence and for imams to condemn terrorism at Friday prayers. Twenty imams went a step further by appearing together outside the offices of Charlie Hebdo, along with hundreds of other people coming to express sympathy with the victims and to leave flowers. "We are all Charlie, down with barbarity" and "Charlie will live" were among the notes left outside. "I will come here every day until Sunday. Charlie Hebdo was not my kind of newspaper, but they killed people who were there to make us smile and think," said Dominique Vivares, a saleswoman, 49. Whole country in sorrow Sorrow and fear spread right through a country that has long prided itself on freedom of expression, but which for decades has struggled to integrate its rapidly growing Muslim population. In Bordeaux, capital of France's most famous wine growing region, mourners gathered late into the night and continued to come by early today leaving candles, flowers, inscriptions of support and old copies of Charlie Hebdo at a makeshift memorial. In Nantes, in western France, a young man at a similar memorial was in tears, bearing the words "Je suis Charlie" or "I am Charlie" on his black T-shirt. The phrase has gone viral at impromptu demonstrations and in social media campaigns over the last 24 hours, even featuring at a demonstration of several hundred people on the French island of La Reunion in the Indian Ocean, some 9,000 kilometres (5,600 miles) away. "They wanted to kill Charlie Hebdo, but they made it immortal," the man in Nantes said. Children's fears As France tried to come to terms with the bloodbath in what had been a quiet Paris neighbourhood, parents wondered what to tell their children. In Saint Germain-en-Laye, just outside Paris, one mother said she explained to her children what had happened before they heard about it in the playground, "where things could get twisted." Another mother, though, said she "couldn't find the words. I hope the teacher will do it." In the neighbourhood where the Charlie Hebdo offices are located, Herve Roch, a father of two, said he had told his children, "that evil people came to do bad things and the police would catch them." Sarah, 12, said she did not want to go alone to school. Her mother decided to accompany her. "It's important that she goes. If we allow ourselves to be afraid, they will win," the mother said. — AFP |
| Posted: 08 Jan 2015 04:37 PM PST JANUARY 9 — Personal cost is immense, it even conjures up comedy. And there is naked panic and desperation. The screaming and crying, there is no end to the pain. There is no end in sight. Poor devastated souls. I'm talking about Malaysian politicians and their power-play over the floods— you have to read other columns and news reports to know about how the other 300,000 people displaced by rising waters are faring. Apparently the politicians never got the memo. Every side — Barisan and Pakatan — has gone pear shaped in their response, which means one thing. Somewhere out there in some meeting room consultants are rubbing their palms in glee. BN Facebook pages are displaying aerial views of Kelantan jungle cleared and logging stats. Pakatan operators as expected dish out in response the logging pictures and stats from the BN states afflicted. A silence follows. Much hubbub was made over the late arrival of the prime minister to the floods, and he won't ever live it down. But on the same token the leader of the Opposition did not rush back from his holidays too. And the various politicians on both sides of the divide pick and choose when commenting on the double absenteeism. He had a jet, yeah but the other guy can book a flight back too. No really, he can. But he's prime minister, sure, but wasn't he supposed to be prime minister if not for counting errors? Aspire so you inspire, no? And don't ask how the money for the flooding has been disbursed, not right now. Any government expenditure is up for scrutiny, in time. The sound-bites are awful any which way you look at it because the guy on the ground is sitting on his roof so he won't drown. While Pakatan can get holier than thou about government flood workers marking all relief goods with the coalition emblem or leader pics, they might want to form a single voice over why Kelantan is in such a mess — federal government's obstinence notwithstanding — PAS is still in Pakatan, they've run the state for 25 years and it is the epicentre of the calamity. Though, politicians are not the only ones facing the heat... there are the disaster tourists. Selfies have become double-edged swords in the rescue efforts all over the country. While thousands of Malaysians have headed over to help their brethren in the flood-fraught states, some — a real minority but substantial enough to cause traffic jams — have opted for tourism in a time of tragedy. The ethos being "I was here", rather than "let's help", and coupled with "I need the photo to prove it" has become too irresistible. Come on, let's be fair, it's not easy to switch off the selfie button. Classic case of Klang Valley couples upset there was nothing on TV on a Saturday night and decided to take a drive to Kuala Krai to experience the sights and sounds with their new ASUS camera phone. Plus they actually keep the attention on the flood situation, even if they are slightly self-involved. I rather have benign Malaysians taking selfies beside flooded homes than say a disconnected Malaysian taking selfies in a Bangkok department store. Someone lost a school debate It has to crack anyone up. Top exec leaves in a huff controversial fund with huge implications on the Malaysian economy, and we are made to time travel to the early 90s boarding school scene. Hazem Rahman resigns as CEO of 1MDB with instant effect and the top brass replace him on the spot with Arul Kanda Kandasamy. A VI (Victoria Institution) boy resigns and a RMC (Royal Military College) boy replaces him. An MCKK (Malay College Kuala Kangsar) boy — Opposition whistleblower extraordinaire and MP Rafizi Ramli — cautions about the move because Arul used to have good communication skills as a schoolboy debater in the inter-boarding school competition. Everyone studied in the United Kingdom. And I get booed when I say that elitism reigns in Malaysian power structures. How about giving a leg up to the boys and girls from Kepong's Raja Ali and Klang's Raja Mahadi? #JustSaying Still, 1MDB is about to be overcooked and all eyes are on all the players, and even second stringers. But not far from the maddening crowd, our home minister is smashing up an arsenic-filled dish, for himself. Here's the story. A Malaysian bases himself in Hong Kong and runs a business in Macau. So far, nothing special. He's a gambling kingpin according to many, has gambling operations in the island and is involved with football betting. A bit like my local Hokkien mee stall owner, he gives good odds and doesn't fail to collect despite being illegal. Paul Phua, that's his name, gets arrested in the United States because it's illegal. Paul seemingly has less trouble in Hong Kong because they say he's with the triad, the 14K Triad — which I am assuming is far more polished than the 13K Triad (I don't have stock triad jokes). Anyhow, this sounds like a random story, except when Paul Phua gets arrested and charged in Las Vegas for illegal football betting out of the blue, the Malaysian Home Minister Zahid Hamidi writes a note to vouch for him. I don't know. It's nice when you have friends from afar. But I wonder if the home minister would write an official letter backing me the next time I organise illegal gaming in countries 20,000 miles away. Will you Zahid Hamidi? Moderately moderate Finally, to the Johnny come lately. In the liberal circles the group of 25, and their supporters are seemingly the best thing since sliced bread. I want change, so I have a soft spot for those willing to rock the boat. But this lot? What I get from the whole play is that they are dignified members of a dignified class who have always acted well. But since there are too many shenanigans by the undignified, they are bent on returning our collective dignity by praising moderation. You know, say this and that about Perkasa and Isma. Seriously you don't need to have been a diplomat for 30 years to piss on them, Perkasa and Isma write their own comedy. G25 are meeting everyone, the prime minister, ex-prime ministers, religionists and owners of pink Cadillacs to convince them that moderation is the answer. I'm in shock and awe. The thing is moderation is two steps to the left and two steps to the right, and to never step on the cake. It is as arbitrary as it gets. How about this instead? Don't argue about moderation, argue about principle, and defend it even if it hurts you. That's what the country needs now. If you want the cheeky, one would ask, where were all these senior retired civil servants during all those years these things we bemoan today were being implemented? Loyal and obedient servants of the state. Civil servants run the country, and if the politicians got their way for decades then what were the civil servants, the senior ones, doing then? Standing up or standing out of the way? I applaud them for sticking their necks out today, but don't expect others to follow your lead. You kept quiet then, because you needed to get little Mikey and Tina to uni and pay the mortgage for the Damansara Heights home. And now retired the conscience acting up? It's still raining This is just the first work week. If it stays like this people might just cancel their Astro subscription and watch the political drama playing out in high dimension. While hogging the limelight is fun, and surviving political attacks a necessity, somewhere between these preoccupations ideas that give long term gains are desperately wanted. The economy is contracting for sure and the value of the country's human capital is not on the up and up. Real solutions are not sexy, but really, were they ever expected to be? *This is the personal opinion of the columnist. |
| Coca-Cola plans job cuts in cost-saving move Posted: 08 Jan 2015 04:36 PM PST
Coca-Cola, which has struggled to grow sales, said the cuts would come from its corporate headquarters, as well as from its North American and international divisions. The company began notifying employees today. "As part of our recently announced, multi-year productivity initiatives, we are redesigning our operating model to streamline and simplify our structure and accelerate the growth of our global business," the spokeswoman said in an email message. "As we have acknowledged previously, this redesign work will result in impacts to jobs across our global operations." Coca-Cola has struggled with weak sales in its home US market and beyond amid rising health concerns on the link between soda and obesity and other health ills. Global sales were down two per cent at US$35.1 billion (RM121.79 billion) for the first nine of months of 2014. The company in March announced it was streamlining its global operations and expected US$3 billion in annual savings by 2019. It said the moves would enable it to keep to its long-term growth target of high single-digit earnings-per-share growth. Coca-Cola had 130,600 employees globally at the end of 2013. — AFP |
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