Berita Network | What Happen In Malaysia Today?

Chong Wei sets sights on sixth Japan Open title

Chong Wei sets sights on sixth Japan Open title
EU seeks stricter controls on WhatsApp, Skype
Grand welcome awaits Paralympians’ homecoming on Sept 22
Aphex Twin confirms first US show in eight years
内阁：发展商发房贷需从长计议
大马菲律宾英语水平亚洲第一

Chong Wei sets sights on sixth Japan Open title

Posted: 14 Sep 2016 05:20 AM PDT

Chong Wei graces the Proton Perdana 2.4L he received. — Bernama picSHAH ALAM, Sept 14 — World number one and five times Japan Open Super Series winner Datuk Lee Chong Wei has set his sights on a sixth title when the tournament starts from September 20-25.

The Rio Olympics silver medal winner has been preparing diligently despite shuttling between training and incentive presentation ceremonies.

"To me this tournament is very important to me... we have slowed down intensive training after the Rio Olympics. However, we will be preparing well before heading for the tournament because it will not be a holiday.

"Furthermore, the Japan Open Super Series will be offering points to qualify for the Dubai World Superseries Finals and only eight players will be listed," he told reporters when met at the presentation of Proton Perdana 2.4L cars to winners of medals at the Rio Olympics at the Proton Excellence Centre, here today.

Chong Wei won the Japan Open in 2007, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Meanwhile, divers Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoong received a Proton Suprima S 1.6L Turbo Premium each for winning a silver medal in the women's 10m platform synchronised diving in the Rio Olympics. — Bernama

EU seeks stricter controls on WhatsApp, Skype

Posted: 14 Sep 2016 05:11 AM PDT

In a major victory for traditional phone companies, the European Commission, the executive arm of the 28-nation bloc, recommended tighter privacy and security for services like WhatsApp and Skype. — File picBRUSSELS, Sept 14 — The European Union will subject internet services like WhatsApp and Skype to similar rules that traditional telecommunications firms face, according to major reform proposals unveiled yesterday.

The demand is part of a package of reforms proposed by Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, which includes a promise to provide free wifi in European towns by 2020.

"We propose today to equip every European village and every city with free wireless internet access around the main centres of public life by 2020," Juncker said as he gave his annual State of the Union speech.

The plan also includes a commitment to begin converting Europe to 5G networks as early as 2018 in order to not lose ground to Asia and the United States.

The proposal gives companies that invest in 5G networks longer running licenses to operate mobile services as well as the right to block rivals except in under-served areas.

"It's a small revolution. It's no longer historic operators on one side and new entrants on the other, it's those investing in the future and the others," said Gregoire Verdeaux, head of international policy at Vodafone.

The demands on services such as Skype are unprecedented, but were underplayed by the commission.

But under the proposal, the commission would require companies like WhatsApp or Skype to offer emergency-calling services when customers dial traditional phone numbers as well as obey stricter privacy rules.

"The Commission should use this opportunity to reduce regulation in the hugely competitive market for communications services, rather than adding complexity," said James Waterworth, of the Computer & Communications Industry Association, a lobby group that represents Microsoft, Facebook and Google. — AFP

Grand welcome awaits Paralympians’ homecoming on Sept 22

Posted: 14 Sep 2016 05:02 AM PDT

Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi of Malaysia celebrates after winning the Rio Paralympics gold medal in the men's 100m in Rio de Janeiro September 10, 2016. — Reuters picSHAH ALAM, Sept 14 ― A grand welcome awaits the national paralympics contingent's homecoming on September 22.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin told a press conference here that the Cabinet meeting today had agreed to accord the contingent a heroes welcome at the Bunga Raya Complex, KL International Airport upon the arrival of their flight.

He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was scheduled to join well wishers in welcoming the contingent.

The country's hopes of seeing an end to its gold medal drought in the Paralympic Games became a reality at the ongoing Rio Paralympics when the national paralympians won not one but three gold medals.

Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi "broke the ice" in the men's 100m T36 (cerebral palsy) category to deliver Malaysia's first ever gold medal in the Paralympic Games on Saturday.

Hours later Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli won Malaysia's second gold medal in the men's F20 (intellectual disability) shot put event and on Sunday, Abdul Latif Romly bagged the third in the men's T20 (intellectual disability) long jump event.

The victories were all the more sweeter as all the three paralympians set new records. Mohamad Ridzuan set a Games record while Muhammad Ziyad and Abdul Latif world records.

"They (national Paralympics contingent) will then be brought to the Paralympics Excellence Centre in Kampung Pandan in Kuala Lumpur to celebrate their outstanding showing," Khairy said.

Abdul Latif Romly set a new world record of 7.60m and won gold in men's T20 long jump at the 2016 Rio Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro September 11, 2016. — Picture from Twitter.com/ISNMalaysiaHe said their success brought new awareness among Malaysians to give greater recognition to the contributions of people with different abilities.

In a related development, Khairy said that he had instructed the National Sports Council (MSN) to pay a monthly pension of RM2,000 from October to former national Paralympian P. Mariappan.

He stressed that although Mariappan no longer represented the country, the ministry had never forgotten his contributions in winning bronze medals in powerlifting at the 1988 and 1992 Paralympic Games in South Korea and Spain.

Khairy said that MSN was also willing to offer Mariappan a coaching job at the Paralympics Excellence Centre and that it was up to him whether to accept it or not.

"All previous Paralympics medal winners will also receive a monthly pension," he added.

Under the MSN's permanent incentives scheme, national Paralympians who win gold medals will receive a monthly pension of RM5,000; silver (RM3,000) while bronze winners get RM2,000.

Earlier, Khairy had witnessed a ceremony to hand over cars to medal winners at the 2016 Rio Oylmpics at the Proton Excellence Centre here.

Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli celebrates winning gold and setting a new world mark in the Rio Paralympics men's shot put final in Rio de Janeiro September 10, 2016. — Reuters picNational badminton star Datuk Lee Chong Wei who won a silver in the men's singles, his third consecutive silver in the Olympics since the Beijing Games in 2008, was rewarded a Proton Perdana 2.4L which was presented by DRB-Hicom group managing director and Proton chairman Datuk Seri Syed Faisal Albar.

Silver winning national men's doubles pair, Goh V Shem/Tan Wee Kiong, mixed doubles pair Chan Peng Soon/Goh Liu Ying and women's diving pair Pandelela Rinong/Cheong Jun Hoong each received a Proton Suprima S 1.6L Turbo Premium.

National track cyclist "Pocket Rocketman" Azizulhasni Awang who won the bronze in the keirin, was rewarded the latest Proton Persona model but was not present at the ceremony. ― Bernama

Aphex Twin confirms first US show in eight years

Posted: 14 Sep 2016 05:00 AM PDT

Aphex Twin made a cryptic announcement on Twitter about his upcoming performance in Houston. — AFP picNEW YORK, Sept 14 — Aphex Twin will perform in the US for the first time in eight years, reports Billboard, when the electronic artist plays Houston, Texas's Day for Night festival running December 17-18.

This will be the artist's first time playing on US soil since his Coachella performance in 2008. In October 2011, he performed at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Paris, France.

The news comes just after the artist released his most recent EP, Cheetah, in July. The Houston festival is expected to offer more details about concert times tomorrow. — AFP-Relaxnews

内阁：发展商发房贷需从长计议

Posted: 14 Sep 2016 04:58 AM PDT

诺奥马仅以文告回应交代内阁今日谈及发展商房贷计划的讨论结果。-M中文网Choo Choy May-（布城14日讯）房地部长丹斯里诺奥马说，内阁已指示该部研究房地产发展商房贷计划的可行性。

他在一篇文告指出，内阁今日召开会议时，该部门被令进行这项计划的可行性，包括房贷利率及摊还期，以期不会对人民构成负担。

"我们也被令研拟出一份简易明白的指南，供持有放款牌照的房屋发展商及购屋者所用。"

但他强调，其实这项政策已进行中，一些房屋发展商也已获得牌照，以提供过桥贷款给购屋者付房贷头期付款。

诺奥马是在上周突如其来宣布会发牌照给房地发展商来发放房贷，然而反对声音一面倒，狠批此等做法难以为继，而且危险十足，不论是商界、发展商或是民间里的购屋者皆认为行不通。

然而按照大马房屋发展商会主席拿督斯里依斯干达今天的说法，其实那是房贷头期的过桥贷款，而非全额房贷。

大马菲律宾英语水平亚洲第一

Posted: 14 Sep 2016 04:46 AM PDT

IELTS区域经理表示，能在考试中得分6.5已经很不错。-图取自南华早报-（墨尔本14日讯）澳洲IDP教育集团公布"2015年亚洲区IELTS考生水平测试成绩"，马来西亚及菲律宾考生整体测试成绩为6.8分，在10个亚洲国家及地区中并列排名第一。

调查涵盖40个去年最多人报考IELTS的国家及地区，亚洲区占当中10个，以马来西亚及菲律宾考生成绩最高；香港则以6.5分紧随其后，亦高于台湾的6.1分及中国的5.7分。

印尼以6.4分排第4。泰国和越南以6分并排第6。韩国和日本分别排第8和第9。新加坡由于考生数目较少，并未纳入此此调查。

IDP IELTS区域经理（北亚）温家辉指，能在考试中得分6.5已经很不错，因为大部分的考生都是在籍学生，多数外国大学的英语水平最低入学要求也就是6.5分。

他还透露，亚洲地区没有哪一国的英语水平有明显的改变，调查对于地区或国家的英语能力可作参考，但未必有直接关系。

根据IELTS评分标准，考生若得分6到7之间，代表能很好的掌握英语，但偶尔会出现用词不当或语境不当的情况。

Roland Mouret moves flagship store into New York townhouse

Roland Mouret moves flagship store into New York townhouse
Muslims around the world celebrate AidilAdha holiday
Siti Noor Iasah in Paralympics women’s 400m final, rewrites Asian record
Indian Kashmir to impose curfew, use drones for vigil ahead of Eid (VIDEO)
Facebook Messenger now supports payment feature
More than half of UK girls sexually harassed in school

Roland Mouret moves flagship store into New York townhouse

Posted: 12 Sep 2016 06:38 PM PDT

A file picture of French designer Roland Mouret. — AFP picPARIS, Sept 13 — French designer Roland Mouret has moved his flagship New York store into a townhouse on Madison Avenue that will house a mix of retail along with his personal art collection and porcelain sculptures.

Mouret has relocated his store just a block down the road into a larger space that that will use the first floor as a retail area, while the upper floors of the house will be reserved for appointments, fittings and the designer's personal use, reports WWD.

To mark the opening, Mouret has created a special-edition jumpsuit that will be sold exclusively at the flagship New York store.

The store will contrast concrete floors against white carpets and mid-century modern European furniture.

A franchise store in Dubai is also in the works. — AFP-Relaxnews

Muslims around the world celebrate AidilAdha holiday

Posted: 12 Sep 2016 06:37 PM PDT

Muslims attend an AidilAdha mass prayer marking the end of the haj pilgrimage near Moscow's grand mosque in Russia, September 12, 2016. — Reuters picLONDON, Sept 13 — Muslims around the world celebrated the AidilAdha holiday today, one of the two most important festivals of the Islamic calendar.

Marking the willingness of Ibrahim, or Abraham, to sacrifice his son on God's command, Muslims mark the holiday by slaughtering animals such as sheep and goats.

The meat is shared among family and friends and also donated to the poor.

Faithful across continents marked the festival which comes as the annual Haj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia draws to a close.

Palestinians flocked to Jerusalem's al-Aqsa mosque for prayers.

In Iraq, authorities adopted tough security measures during the festival, searching worshippers as they entered Abdul-Qadir al-Gilani mosque in Baghdad.

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad prayed at a mosque in the Damascus suburb of Daraya, which was evacuated by rebels and surrendered to government control last month, state media reported.

In Asia, tens of thousands of people left Bangladesh's capital Dhaka on crowded trains and ferries for their hometowns to celebrate the holiday with family and friends, while in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, Muslims attended morning prayers.

The festival was also celebrated across Africa, with the faithful in countries such as Somalia and Kenya attending mass prayers.

In Russia, thousands of Muslims gathered for prayers in Moscow while in Britain, Prime Minister Theresa May released a video message to the country's Muslim community.

"I am proud of the contribution British Muslims make to this country and proud that Britain is home to people from vibrant and diverse backgrounds," she said. — Reuters

Siti Noor Iasah in Paralympics women’s 400m final, rewrites Asian record

Posted: 12 Sep 2016 06:29 PM PDT

Siti Noor Iasah Mohamad Ariffin (left) and Natalia Iezlovetska of Ukraine during the Rio Paralympics women's 400m heat 2 in Rio de Janeiro September 12, 2016. — Reuters picKUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — Siti Noor Iasah Mohamad Ariffin has qualified for the women's 400m final in the T20 (intellectual disability) category at the Paralympics Games in Rio de Janeiro.

In the heats at the Rio Olympic Stadium yesterday, Siti Noor Iasah, 27, won the second heat in a time of 58.96s, a new Asian record.

She bettered her own old Asian Record of 1:01.33s at the 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Siti Noor Iasah then went on to rewrite that record as well at the IPC World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar last year, clocking 60.35s to pick up the bronze.

The T2 400m final will be held today and will see the top eight from the two heats held competing. — Bernama

Indian Kashmir to impose curfew, use drones for vigil ahead of Eid (VIDEO)

Posted: 12 Sep 2016 06:28 PM PDT

A Palestinian girl attends AidilAdha mass prayer marking end of haj pilgrimage, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip September 12, 2016. — Reuters pic SRINAGAR (India), Sept 13 — Indian-controlled Kashmir will impose a curfew during the Eid festival starting from today and will use drones and choppers for air surveillance to limit any violence in the strife-torn state.

Seventy-six protesters have been killed and more than 7,000 wounded in clashes since July in the worst violence in six years in the disputed territory.

Two police officers and more than 5,000 security personnel have been wounded.

Authorities decided to impose a curfew and keep an aerial watch after reviewing the situation ahead of the festival, a police spokesman said yesterday.

Today, Kashmiri separatists are scheduled to march to the United Nations Military Observers Group India Pakistan (UNMOGIP) Office in Srinagar, the state capital.

"It has become imperative to impose a strict curfew . . . in view of the separatist march," the spokesman said.

Mobile internet and cell phone services have been partially blocked ahead of the festival, the second such disruption since July 9, the day after security services shot dead Burhan Wani, a 22-year-old militant known for his calls to arms on social media.

Wani led Hizb-ul Mujahideen, prominent among the groups fighting Indian control of the majority Muslim region.

His death came amid a rise in violence and separatist sentiment across the state, which has been at the centre of a decades-long tussle between India and Pakistan. — Reuters

Facebook Messenger now supports payment feature

Posted: 12 Sep 2016 06:22 PM PDT

Businesses will be able to sell directly to consumers via their Facebook Messenger application. — AFP picSAN FRANCISCO, Sept 13 — Facebook announced yesterday a new online payment system that will allow businesses to sell directly to consumers on its Messenger application.

"We're kicking off the beginning of messages with payments that will allow businesses to sell products and services directly to customers in Messenger," the huge social network said in a statement.

"Customers can check out with a few easy clicks, without ever leaving the Messenger app."

The announcement suggests Facebook may be able to monetise its free messaging application, which is used by over a billion people, by making it an e-commerce platform.

Facebook earlier this year opened up Messenger to developers to create new applications and "bots" which can interact with users. These bots can provide information but consumers who wanted to make a purchase had to be directed to an external website.

The company said developers have created more than 30,000 bots for Messenger, and many more developers are working on applications.

"We believe the potential for the Messenger platform is huge, and we continue to invest in making it better for developers to build and create," the statement said.

"Moving forward, we are also simplifying the payment and checkout experience in order to reduce the overall friction between wanting something and getting it. People can use their payment information already stored on Messenger and Facebook to check out faster in Messenger threads." — AFP

More than half of UK girls sexually harassed in school

Posted: 12 Sep 2016 06:22 PM PDT

Britain’s Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge takes part in some drumming ‘music therapy’ as she attends the Anna Freud Centre Family School Christmas Party in London December 15, 2015. — Reuters pic Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge takes part in some drumming 'music therapy' as she attends the Anna Freud Centre Family School Christmas Party in London December 15, 2015. — Reuters picLONDON, Sept 13 — More than half of girls in British schools and colleges have faced sexual harassment, according to a new report today that called for sex education to be provided for all children in primary and secondary school.

A parliamentary committee report said sexual bullying had become an expected part of girls' everyday lives.

The report found evidence that almost a third of 16 to 18-year-olds had experienced unwanted sexual touching at school.

"Surely, no one who reads or hears these striking statistics today could now deny how serious ... this problem is," Katie Russell of Rape Crisis, a charity which works with survivors of sexual abuse, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Young people told the committee that complaints of sexual harassment would often be forgotten, with no action taken.

Maria Miller, the lawmaker who chaired the committee, said the report found teachers often accepted sexual harassment as "just banter".

Nearly three quarters of 16-18 year old students said they heard terms such as "slut" used towards girls on a regular basis.

Miller, from the ruling Conservative party, criticised Britain's education department for having "no coherent plan" to tackle the problem.

Under the current UK curriculum, sexual health education is compulsory at secondary school but teaching pupils about relationships and sexual consent is not.

A government spokesperson said the department would consider the report's recommendations.

"Schools should be safe places and fortunately crime is rare, but no young person should suffer harassment or violence," the spokesperson said. — Reuters

Parent-teacher group urges more comprehensive sex education

Parent-teacher group urges more comprehensive sex education
Nicole Kidman: I don’t think there is a Hollywood anymore
Players protest anthem on 15th anniversary of 9/11
Reuters Video: ‘Sully’ takes flight at box office
Johnson wins US PGA BMW Championship in record fashion
PSG’s Emery with all to prove in Champions League

Parent-teacher group urges more comprehensive sex education

Posted: 11 Sep 2016 06:32 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — The National Parent-Teacher Associations Collaborative Council wants comprehensive and integrated sex education which is not gender-bias, for introduction in schools, beginning next month.

Its president, Associate Prof Datuk Dr Mohamad Ali Hassan said the pilot project was held to address the issue of sexual misconduct among teenagers from varying angles, including from the involvement of parties such as the health ministry, Department of Islamic Development, as well as other religions.

"To form a wholesome plan comprising various dimensions, everyone must collaborate in developing an integrated and comprehensive module that is not gender-bias and is general in focus.

"Women should also have the right to protect themselves," he told Bernama in a recent interview.

Two days ago, the women, family and community development ministry announced that a module on reproductive health education and the sexuality of teenage boys would be introduced in schools, beginning next month, in five states, namely, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Sabah.

The module which was developed by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) will be implemented for a month-long probation, which will be included in the schools' counselling programme, focusing on teenage boys aged 16 and above, to instil awareness in taking care of themselves and the environment.

Mohamad Ali hoped the aims of the education plan would be materialised through a more effective approach that is not temporary in nature.

He said it was crucial to prepare skilled teaching staff in ensuring the success of its implementation, adding that a spiritual approach was much more important, namely in terms of religion, culture and customs.

Meanwhile, LPPKN director-general Datuk Dr Siti Norlasiah Ismail said there was a need to have differing modules for teenage boys and girls as based on a study in 2011, it was found that teenage boys tended to commit sexual offences.

"We will carry out more interactive activities to instil awareness while emphasising on the importance of respect and responsibility," she said. — Bernama

Nicole Kidman: I don’t think there is a Hollywood anymore

Posted: 11 Sep 2016 06:30 PM PDT

Actress Nicole Kidman arrives for the premiere of the film 'Lion' at the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto, September 9, 2016. — Reuters picTORONTO, Sept 12 — Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman warned yesterday that Hollywood was facing new challenges in the era of online streaming, and needed festivals more than ever to get films noticed.

"I don't think there is a Hollywood anymore," the Aussie star told a press conference in Toronto following the world premiere of Lion by director Garth Davis.

"We're all scattered around the world and we make films all around the world and Hollywood is of some bygone era now, which is sad in a way," she said.

Generations ago, the district of Hollywood in Los Angeles was the centre of the American film industry.

American movie studios collectively remain a powerhouse in cinema but international productions are increasingly common, with features shot at various locations around the world.

With the demise of the corner video store over the last decade, and cinemas struggling to capture audiences, more and more people are streaming films at home.

Amid these changes, publicists are seeking creative new ways to reach audiences.

"I think film festivals are so important right now because it's very hard for films to be discovered," said Kidman, who has launched several films at the Toronto, Cannes and Venice gatherings.

"We need all the help we can get for smaller films and films that are not big, big studio films or superhero films." — AFP

Players protest anthem on 15th anniversary of 9/11

Posted: 11 Sep 2016 06:24 PM PDT

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7, bottom middle) kneels during the national anthem before the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. — Reuters picWASHINGTON, Sept 12 — A handful of NFL players joined San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's controversial protest against racial inequality yesterday, the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, kneeling or raising fists during the US national anthem.

Kaepernick sparked a firestorm of criticism when he sat or kneeled during The Star-Spangled Banner at NFL pre-season games, but the latest protests came on the first big Sunday of the regular season.

He has said he is protesting US racial discrimination and police brutality in the wake of multiple high-profile fatal shootings of black men by law enforcement — most often by white police officers.

Yesterday, four members of the Miami Dolphins kneeled during the anthem while Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters raised his right black-gloved fist — a protest that evoked memories of American runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos on the medal podium at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.

"What was going on in law enforcement, it does need to change," Peters said Friday.

"It does need to change for all, equal opportunities for everybody, not just us as black Americans. (...) I don't think nothing is being done about it."

The Chiefs had linked arms in a sign of unity but Peters, who was on the right end of the line of players, raised his clenched fist.

In Seattle, where the Dolphins were taking on the Seahawks, Dolphins running back Arian Foster and teammates Kenny Stills, Michael Thomas and Jelani Jenkins kneeled on the sidelines during the US anthem.

Host Seahawks players linked arms during the anthem, including cornerback Jeremy Lane, who had taken a knee at a pre-season game.

NFL players, many of them African-Americans, also joined US first responders and military personnel across the league in pre-game tributes on the anniversary of the attacks on New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.

Video messages marking the 9/11 anniversary from US President Barack Obama and his predecessor George W. Bush — who was in office when the attacks took place — were played in NFL stadiums.

Kaepernick and the 49ers do not begin the season until today at home against the Los Angeles Rams.

Players have rights

US Vice President Joe Biden was among those holding a huge flag before the Philadelphia Eagles' home victory over the Cleveland Browns, where a"U-S-A, U-S-A chant broke out.

New York Jets players joined first responders in holding a huge American flag before their home victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Bush performed the pre-game coin toss as the Dallas Cowboys hosted the New York Giants, accompanied by his wife Laura and two New York police officers who were at Ground Zero in 2001.

"We hold the victims of 9/11 and their families in our hearts and on this 15th anniversary, we lift them up in our prayers," Bush said in a statement.

The Giants called tails, the special coin side featuring the Twin Towers, but the coin flipped by Bush landed heads up, featuring the Lone Star logo of the Cowboys.

At some stadiums, US military airplanes flew a "Missing Man" formation over the venues, a nod to nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives 15 years ago.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told NBC that players should be allowed to protest — even on the anniversary of the deadly 9/11 attacks — but should also respect those who have sacrificed for America.

"They have rights and we have to respect that," he said.

"I support our players speaking out on issues that need to be changed in society. But that's what the focus should be on, the changes he wants to see in the society.

"What I do believe, though, is the respect for our country, the people who fought for those freedoms and values, the people who protect us here and abroad — those are very important. We're a patriotic league." — AFP

Reuters Video: ‘Sully’ takes flight at box office

Posted: 11 Sep 2016 06:21 PM PDT

Duration: 01:24, Published 12 Sep 2016

Tom Hanks' 'Sully' lands at the top spot this weekend with the tale of the 'Miracle on the Hudson' flying past the competition. Jillian Kitchener reports. — Reuters

Johnson wins US PGA BMW Championship in record fashion

Posted: 11 Sep 2016 06:15 PM PDT

Dustin Johnson poses with the Western Golf Association Trophy after winning the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick GC. — Reuters picCHICAGO, Sept 12 — World number two Dustin Johnson fired a five-under par 67 yesterday to win the US PGA's BMW Championship by three strokes over England's Paul Casey with a tournament scoring record.

The 32-year-old American, who captured his first major title at the US Open in June at Oakmont, finished on 23-under par 265 over 72 holes at the 7,516-yard Crooked Stick layout in suburban Indianapolis.

"I played really solid, drove it really nicely, wedged it really good," Johnson said.

"I played really solid all week."

It was the 12th career victory for Johnson on the US PGA Tour and his third of the year, his personal best following his major breakthrough and the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational.

"I've got a lot of confidence in every part of my game.

"All the work I have put in on my wedges has really paid off this year. I putted really great this week."

In the 113th edition of an event that traces its history to 1899, Johnson broke the 72-hole record of 22-under set by Tiger Woods in 2007 and matched last year by Australia's top-ranked Jason Day.

Casey settled for second place for the second week in a row on 268, his seventh runner-up finish on the US PGA Tour, after a 67 with American Roberto Castro third on 271.

Day withdrew from the event Sunday after aggravating a pinched lower left joint capsule reaching for a tee at the ninth hole, but was still able to finish among the five season points leaders.

That means Day would win the US$10 million (RM41.02 million) season points bonus if he wins the season-ending Tour Championship in two weeks at Atlanta. But so would points leader Johnson, Casey, American Patrick Reed and Aussie Adam Scott.

"I'm looking forward to the Tour Championship.

"It would definitely mean a lot if I win it. I'm going to go out there and play good golf and see what happens."

Day was leading for the Vardon Trophy as the season low scorer but is now ineligible due to the withdrawal.

Johnson opened with a birdie to seize a four-stroke edge, squandered the lead after back-to-back lip-out bogeys at the second and third combined with consecutive Casey birdies, but then birdied four of the next five holes and roared to victory.

"I hit a couple squirrelly shots there.

"It was a little frustrating I lipped them out.

"It was nice to make a good birdie on four. I rolled the ball really nicely today. I made some nice shots after the first few holes."

Big-driving Johnson, the 2010 BMW winner, went 15-under on the par-5 holes this week as he converted a 54-hole lead into a title for the third time in seven career opportunities.

Holmes in, Fowler out

Yesterday's results determined the 30-man field for the Tour Championship. American J.B. Holmes parred the last hole to lock up the last spots for himself and South African Charl Schwartzel with US star Rickie Fowler missing out. Had Holmes missed the final four-foot putt Fowler would have been in and Holmes would have been out.

Schwartzel, Holmes and Scott were in a pack sharing fourth on 276 that also included Americans Ryan Palmer and Matt Kuchar.

Casey, a 13-time European Tour winner who was runner-up to Rory McIlroy last week, won his only US PGA title at the 2009 Houston Open but was level with Johnson with 15 holes to play.

Johnson answered his consecutive bogeys with a 20-foot birdie putt at the fourth, a seven-foot birdie putt at the par-5 fifth and four-foot birdie putts at seven and eight to reach 21-under, restoring his four-stroke lead over Casey.

Johnson would add a tap-in birdie at the par-5 11th, a bogey at the par-3 13th and an eagle at the par-5 15th, sinking an 18-foot putt after Casey had made a 24-footer to pull within a stroke. — AFP

PSG’s Emery with all to prove in Champions League

Posted: 11 Sep 2016 06:05 PM PDT

Paris St Germain's coach Unai Emery gestures during the Paris St Germain v St Etienne French Ligue 1 match at Parc des Princes stadium, Paris, France. — Reuters pic PARIS, Sept 12 — Unai Emery arrived in France with a reputation as one of Europe's brightest coaching talents, but he admits that he has moved out of his "comfort zone" by taking the Paris Saint-Germain job.

The 44-year-old Spaniard leads the French giants into their Champions League opener against Arsenal at the Parc des Princes tomorrow knowing the outcome could prove crucial in determining who wins Group A.

Certainly in a section also featuring Basel and Ludogorets Razgrad, nobody at PSG is envisaging anything other than progress to the knockout stage for a club who have reached four successive quarter-finals.

Indeed, going beyond the last eight, while also dominating domestically, is the only way Emery can improve on the job done by his ousted predecessor Laurent Blanc.

"I've arrived at a club that want to keep on winning and to kick on to the next level. That's the challenge and it's a difficult one," Emery said in an interview with UEFA.com last week.

"Here the requirement is to win and the players are aware of that. And that is not easy. That demands a lot of mental effort from me, the players and the club."

A coach as intense as Emery is not afraid to put in the work, although he must be aware that he has put his reputation on the line by coming to Paris.

Losing at home is unthinkable for a club that have won every domestic trophy in the last two years, and their unconvincing start to the season has brought inevitable criticism.

PSG's inability to rise above that glass ceiling of the quarter-finals in the Champions League was what led to Blanc's downfall, and yet this is a competition in which Emery still has everything to prove.

Patchy

Winning the Europa League three years in a row with Sevilla is a remarkable achievement, and three straight third-place finishes with Valencia in La Liga before that was impressive too.

But Emery's Champions League record is patchy at best.

With Valencia, he lost to Schalke in the last 16 in 2011 and then went out in the group stage a year later.

A previous stint abroad with Spartak Moscow lasted just a few months before he was fired in November 2012 after a poor showing in the Champions League, and Sevilla went out in the group stage last season.

"The objective is to grow and do everything in order to become a candidate to win the Champions League," Emery told sports daily L'Equipe in July.

To do that he has to improve a team that has lost its talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Manchester United and not replaced him with a player of similar stature.

Emery has overseen the arrivals of Jese, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Hatem Ben Arfa and Thomas Meunier since his appointment.

All are good players, if not stars in the Zlatan mould. None has yet made an impression at the Parc des Princes.

David Luiz surprisingly left to return to Chelsea on transfer deadline day — against Emery's wishes — and Edinson Cavani still struggles to convince having been handed the keys to the attack post-Zlatan.

All of which means Emery has work to do.

"It is a challenge moving from a big team like Sevilla to another great one like PSG. Each has advantages and drawbacks, but PSG give me the chance to move out of my comfort zone," Emery told UEFA.

It remains to be seen if Emery can export his methods abroad, even if France is not an alien place to him — he hails from Hondarribia, the pleasant Spanish town that looks over the Bidasoa river to Hendaye in the French Basque country.

He has no qualms about expressing himself in French, but the fluency is not there yet, and it is not there in PSG's play so far either.

Emery's PSG remain a muddled work in progress, and Arsenal will hope to take advantage of that. — AFP