AFP Video: ‘Galaxy Quest’ makes a return to TV |
- AFP Video: ‘Galaxy Quest’ makes a return to TV
- More and more Chinese are travelling abroad
- Bundesliga: Wolfsburg cruise past Schalke without De Bruyne
- Traders fear bloodshed at Bersih 4
- In flashpoint refugee town, Germany reinstates ban on demos
- Emerging-market stocks rise as currencies end week of volatility with advance
| AFP Video: ‘Galaxy Quest’ makes a return to TV Posted: 28 Aug 2015 06:16 PM PDT Duration: 01:54, Published 29 Aug 2015 A sincere "Star Trek" spoof that was warmly received in 1999, "Galaxy Quest" is making a return ― as a TV series ― after Amazon Studios struck a deal with the film's Paramount. We take a look at what made the movie special in the first place. ― AFP-Relaxnews  |
| More and more Chinese are travelling abroad Posted: 28 Aug 2015 06:08 PM PDT
The official Xinhua news agency said that about 107 million Chinese ventured overseas in 2014 for leisure, citing a report by the China Tourism Academy, an institute under the China National Tourism Administration. Xinhua quoted Dai Bin, the head of the academy, as saying the rising number of tourists going abroad was due to more relaxed visa policies in receiving countries. The report predicted that the number of Chinese tourists heading overseas will increase more than 16 per cent next year, Xinhua said. The academy's report also said that Chinese tourists spent US$164.8 billion (RM687.5 billion) while overseas last year, a total about four times higher than in 2008, Xinhua reported. Chinese tourist numbers have dramatically increased over the past two decades as the economy has boomed to become the world's second largest. The country's currency, the yuan, has also steadily strengthened over a period of years, making overseas holidays more affordable. ― AFP |
| Bundesliga: Wolfsburg cruise past Schalke without De Bruyne Posted: 28 Aug 2015 06:07 PM PDT
The 24-year-old was left out of yesterday's squad with Wolfsburg poised to agree to a reported Bundesliga record fee of £54 million (RM346.752 million) before Germany's transfer window closes at 1800 (1600 GMT) on Monday. In De Bruyne's absence, Dutch striker Bas Dost gave Wolfsburg an early lead by drilling home a 17th-minute cross before Swiss left-back Ricardo Rodriguez converted a penalty just before the hour mark. Centre half Timm Klose then netted Wolfsburg's third goal with 61 minutes gone as his side bounced back with a convincing win compared to last weekend's uninspired 1-1 draw at Cologne. Wolves' director of sport Klaus Allofs expects the on-going De Bruyne transfer saga to be resolved over the weekend. "It's all about a few small details. It could be that we reach an agreement today or tomorrow," Allofs told Sky before kick-off. The De Bruyne deal is set to smash the Bundesliga transfer record after Liverpool paid Hoffenheim 41 million euros for Brazil striker Roberto Firmino in July. Reports suggest Wolfsburg could pocket up to 80 million euros, with an extra six million euros in bonuses, for De Bruyne if the attacking midfielder helps City win this season's Premier League title. Schalke's Germany midfielder Julian Draxler, who played the first 73 minutes yesterday, could be his possible replacement at Wolfsburg, but Allofs added: "I could give you ten to 15 possible names". Croatia midfielder Ivan Perisic, who was also left out of the Wolfsburg squad, is poised to join Inter Milan for 20 million euros before the transfer window closes. Both De Bruyne and Perisic were in the stadium to watch their team win to top the table by a point from Borussia Dortmund and third-placed defending champions Bayern Munich. "We need players who identify themselves 100 per cent with the club," explained Allofs when asked why the pair were left out. — AFP |
| Traders fear bloodshed at Bersih 4 Posted: 28 Aug 2015 05:56 PM PDT
An elderly man, who sells tissue in front of Dataran Merdeka, said the capital city was "too eerie" this morning despite the blaring noise of the Merdeka Day celebration rehearsals. "There will be trouble, something will definitely happen," the man, who only wanted to be known as Khaled, told Malay Mail Online. "There is going to be bloodshed." There were also talks of trouble among a nasi lemak vendor and customers outside the Masjid Jamek LRT Station, with the trader saying that the police had chased away early this morning a few people who were waving a Malaysian flag and dressed in yellow, the official colour of rally organisers Bersih 2.0. "Imagine later today, surely it will be worse," the nasi lemak vendor, who declined to be named, told Malay Mail Online. Just as she completed her sentence, two police cars sped through, heading towards Jalan Raja Laut with blaring sirens. The government has also instructed the media to register later this morning to get special vests for coverage of the Bersih 4 rally. The Home Ministry said that 4,000 police officers will be deployed for the demonstration. Security guard Muhammad Akmal, 70, said that judging by how the authorities acted at the last Bersih rally in 2012 that was marred by a police crackdown, there might be a bigger tussle between the police and demonstrators at Bersih 4 later. "This time will surely be more bloody. You can expect a lot more clashes from both sides," Akmal told Malay Mail Online. "Since a lot of orders like banning yellow shirts were given this week, the people are fuming. They will take to the streets in numbers and the police will not like it," he said, adding that he has attended all previous Bersih rallies by the polls reform group. The Home Ministry banned yesterday yellow Bersih 4 shirts and printed materials on the mass rallies that is scheduled this afternoon the city centre, Kota Kinabalu in Sabah and Kuching in Sarawak, even as Bersih 2.0 has already sold thousands of Bersih 4 tees. Akmal told Malay Mail Online that the building where he works at here will be locked down during the Bersih 4 rally later and that his superiors have prohibited him from giving shelter to anyone. "My boss has already warned us. I can't go out, even if people come begging for help," said the security guard. A 24-hour restaurant owner here contemplated cutting short his operating hours should things get out of hand after the rally kicks off at 2pm. "I am worried. If there is a riot, we will close. We cannot afford to lose or damage our rice bowl because of one day," he said, refusing to be named. Retiree William Leong said he came down from Penang for the overnight Bersih 4 rally here, despite his family's objections. "I do not want to leave this earthly world without doing anything for my country. My family told me not to come, it would be too dangerous but I don't care," Leong, who used to work at the Penang Port, told Malay Mail Online. "I am here because I love my country. Even if it is pointless rallying here in KL, I together with the people just want to show dissatisfied we are with the way things are being run," he added. The retiree also said he would wear his yellow T-shirt despite the government ban on Bersih 4 shirts. "If they arrest me, I won't resist," he said. Other than calling for fair elections, the 34-hour Bersih 4 rally also demands for institutional reforms and the resignation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over his handling of controversial state fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). |
| In flashpoint refugee town, Germany reinstates ban on demos Posted: 28 Aug 2015 05:55 PM PDT
Heidenau, a town of around 16,000 inhabitants near Dresden, has become the focus of Germany's struggle to absorb a vast wave of asylum seekers that is expected to reach a record 800,000 this year. "Saxony sought the help of federal police and this support will be provided," interior ministry spokesman Johannes Dimroth said, without saying how many officers would be deployed. Last weekend, police and far right demonstrators clashed outside a refugee centre in Heidenau. On a visit to the town this week Chancellor Angela Merkel was booed by protesters. The incidents prompted local authorities to outlaw all outdoor public gatherings from yesterday afternoon until Monday morning, claiming they could not ensure public safety. An administrative court in Dresden yesterday declared the ban "clearly illegal", saying police forces from around the country could be sent as backup. "In addition, the police have the resources, including water cannon, to prevent any disproportionate damage," the court said. But a few hours later Saxony's administrative court of appeal reinstated the prohibition, banning all gatherings over the weekend, including those in support of refugees. Chancellor Angela Merkel herself pledged to do "everything possible to provide support to the Saxony police" at a news conference with Danish Prime Minister Lars Rasmussen. Merkel has condemned the anti-migrant protests as "vile" and travelled to Heidenau on Wednesday in a show of support for refugees and volunteers at the shelter. But as she arrived at the centre, some 200 people jeered and booed her, shouting far-right slogans, including "Traitor, traitor!" and "We are the mob". As the courts were weighing legal arguments for and against the ban yesterday, dozens of pro-refugee activists travelled to Heidenau to hold a 'welcome party' for the newcomers. "Refugees are welcome here!" they shouted, many of them wearing t-shirts bearing the slogan "No one is illegal". They also handed out clothes and other supplies to the 250 refugees staying at the shelter. An anti-racism demonstration was also planned Saturday afternoon in Dresden, stronghold of the anti-Islam PEGIDA movement, whose demonstrations drew up to 25,000 at the start of the year. Kneeling before the mob The initial decision to ban public gatherings had been sharply criticised by politicians and Germany's police union GdP, whose deputy chief Joerg Radek described it as "kneeling before the mob in Heidenau". It is "a slap in the face" for all who "stand against the stupid cheap propaganda of the far right," said Radek. Opposition Greens party leader Cem Ozdemir told public broadcaster ARD that the decision effectively "overwrites democracy for four days because the Saxony state is overwhelmed". The sudden surge in people seeking refugee in Europe's biggest economy has exposed a wave of anti-migrant sentiment, particularly in the eastern part of the country which lags behind the west in terms of jobs and opportunities some 25 years after reunification. A spate of arson attacks have targeted refugee shelters in recent weeks. Yesterday, local police reported an apparent arson attempt against an asylum-seekers' shelter in the northwestern state of Lower Saxony, where a molotov cocktail was thrown into a former school building now serving as a refugee home. A woman and her three children living at the shelter in Salzhemmendorf escaped without injury as fire fighters were able to put out the flames quickly, police said. A 24-year-old man with a history of violence, a 30-year-old man with previous theft convictions and a 23-year-old woman were arrested over the incident. Regional interior minister Stefan Weil told NDR radio that the three had confessed to the attack. — AFP |
| Emerging-market stocks rise as currencies end week of volatility with advance Posted: 28 Aug 2015 05:52 PM PDT
The ruble extended its first weekly advance in 10 as the currency of the world's biggest energy exporter climbed with crude oil, while the South African rand and Brazilian real fell in a rout exacerbated by China's unexpected depreciation of the yuan on August 11. A 7.9 per cent five-day loss in the Shanghai Composite Index was offset by gains in stock benchmarks from Mexico to Korea. Financial markets have been convulsed by concerns over weaker Chinese growth, with as much as US$8 trillion erased from the value of global equities since the move to weaken the country's currency. Some investors speculate that the Fed won't raise rates in September because of market developments. "Volatility will stay high near-term, at least until the Fed meeting," said Hertta Alava, who helps oversee the equivalent of about US$395 million (RM1.6 billion) as the head of emerging markets at FIM Asset Management Ltd in Helsinki. "Weakness in EM currencies seems to continue and those countries which have a large current account deficit are most vulnerable." Stocks rebound Emerging-market equities posted the first weekly advance in more than a month as investors searched for bargains amid speculation funds linked to the government in Beijing are buying equities. Policy makers want to stabilise shares before President Xi Jingping appears at a military parade next week to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the World War II victory over Japan, people familiar with the matter said. A 23 per cent decline in emerging-market stocks from an April peak pushed valuations to an 18-month low before a rebound this week. Still, most investors are betting on gains fizzling out, with attention focused on the Fed. The Chinese rally will be short-lived because state intervention is too costly to continue and valuations are still not justified given the slowing economy, according to Bank of America Corp. "China has its problems, lots of them, but they are by now priced into the market and they are well known to the investors," Leopold Quell, a co-fund manager at Raiffeisen Capital Management in Vienna, said by e-mail. Stocks are "at attractive levels" after the selloff, he said. Slowing growth The MSCI Emerging Markets Index rose 0.9 per cent to 820.25 in New York yesterday, widening its gain this week to 1 per cent for the first five-day increase since July 17. Developing-nation stocks tumbled on Monday before gaining 4.2 per cent in the last two trading days. Even so, the stocks benchmark is poised for the biggest monthly loss since May 2012. The Shanghai Composite climbed on the last trading session of the week, paring its loss and taking its two-day increase to more than 10 per cent. The latest speculation about market intervention by China follows a halt to an unprecedented government effort to prop up equity prices that had prompted a debate among officials over the merits of such a programme. The MSCI developing-nations measure is still down 6.6 per cent since the yuan devaluation, with the price-to-earnings ratio for the next 12 months at 10.7 times, a 30 per cent discount to the MSCI World Index of advanced-nation stocks. Emerging-market currencies rose less than 0.1 per cent, avoiding a 10th weekly drop that would have been the longest streak since the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Malaysia's ringgit, among the worst-hit currencies in the meltdown 18 years ago, fell 0.7 per cent for a 10th weekly decline. The yuan climbed the most since March after the central bank boosted the currency's reference rate in the biggest increase in five months. Currencies of oil-producing nations rebounded as crude capped the biggest two-day gain since 2009, sustaining a rebound above US$40 a barrel amid signs of a strengthening economy in the US, the world's biggest crude- consuming country. ― Bloomberg |
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