
'Almost Homeless' says the sign on Paul Nawrocki, of New York as he walks through Times Square seeking employment. After nine fruitless months of looking for work, Nawrocki has turned to a Depression-era tactic to try to land himself a job. — AP pic

Petra says Bruce Willis will be repaid 'in a few weeks' KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 - The Petra Group said today it is in the process of buying back Hollywood actor Bruce Willis's shares in a "green rubber" venture amounting to US$900,000 and is surprised at the "Die Hard" star's decision to sue them.. >Read more	Yusli gets one more year at Bursa Islamic councils say courts have no right to decide on ‘Allah’ Ka Chuan opens up over resignation

Opinion

In Malaysia, bailouts are old hat

NOV 20 — If there's any consolation for enduring the post-Mahathir era hangover, it is that bailouts seem to be a thing of the past. Or are they?

The Columnists

Baradan Kuppusamy
Brian Yap
Cheah Sin Ann
Fahmi Fadzil
Hafiz Noor Shams
Hsu Dar Ren
Joan Lau
John Lee
Jeremiah Mahadevan
Jerome Martin
K Anand
Khalid Jaafar
Leslie Lau
Liew Chin Tong
Muaz Omar
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad
Nur Jazlan
Ooi Kee Beng
Shannon Teoh
Zulkifli Sulong
James Chin
Wan Hamidi Hamid
Vazeer Alam

Malaysia

Bruce Willis sues Petra, Tunku Imran as green venture turns sour

LOS ANGELES, Nov 21 — Hollywood actor Bruce Willis of “Die Hard” fame is suing Malaysia’s Petra Group and Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja’afar over a “green rubber venture”, Bloomberg news...

By Adib Zalkapli KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 - Wanita Umno chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz today announced that she would be defending her post in the party polls in March...

By Adib Zalkapli PUTRAJAYA, Nov 21 - Umno President Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi said the contest for the top post in Wanita Umno will allow the best leader to prevail....

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — This year's break-up of utility giant Telekom Malaysia Berhad into fixed-line and mobile units to unlock their share value has achieved the reverse and is...

Don’t let polls affect unity, Najib tells Wanita Umno

LIMA (Peru), Nov 21 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the Wanita Umno elections should not affect unity within the women's wing. "Wanita Umno must be professional...

PM: Human capital development in Defence Ministry must be main agenda

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 - The Defence Ministry should invest in human capital development as one of its main agendas, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today. Abdullah,...

DAP readies for snap election

By Shannon Teoh PETALING JAYA, Nov 21 - It has been barely nine months since the last general elections, but the DAP is now readying itself for possible fresh elections...

Sisters in Islam hits out at ‘tomboy’ fatwa

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — Sisters in Islam today took the religious authorities to task for its fatwa on “tomboys”, saying that it could lead to arbitrary arrests and undue...

Petra says Bruce Willis will be repaid 'in a few weeks'

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 - The Petra Group said today it is in the process of buying back Hollywood actor Bruce Willis's shares in a "green rubber" venture amounting to...

Islamic councils say courts have no right to decide on ‘Allah’

By Debra Chong KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — The ongoing lawsuit filed by the Catholic Church in Malaysia seeking a judicial review of the government decision to ban it from...

Bursa: Share prices end firmer after last- minute rally

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 - Share prices on Bursa Malaysia ended firmer today, with the key index recouping its early losses as large cap stocks staged last-minute rebound, dealers said....

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — Bursa Malaysia chief executive Datuk Yusli Mohamed Yusoff, whose future was resting on a new trading system due to start on Dec 1, will have...

BANGKOK, Nov 21 — Most Asian markets rebounded today after days of sharp declines in global markets as investors scooped up battered financial and technology shares. Major regional benchmarks opened...

Urgent need for new global financial system, says Najib

LIMA (Peru), Nov 21 — Malaysia wants a new global financial architecture drawn up soon to combat the financial crisis, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday. He...

Bank Negara’s international reserves at RM343b

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — Bank Negara Malaysia’s international reserves stood at RM343.8 billion (US$99.7 billion) as of Nov 14. The reserves were lower as compared with RM345.5 billion (US$100.2...

Dell 3Q profit falls as PC spending slows

NEW YORK, Nov 21 — Dell Inc’s fiscal third-quarter profit sank 5 per cent as concerns about the deepening economic crisis crimped corporate spending on computers and other technology products....

Singapore provides S$2.3b boost for businesses

SINGAPORE, Nov 21 — The Singapore government today announced that it will enhance business financing schemes to support an additional S$2.3 billion in loans to help local firms gain access...

Oil falls to 3-year low below US$49 in Asia

SINGAPORE, Nov 21 - Oil prices fell to a 3-year low below US$49 a barrel Friday in Asia as plunging stock markets, driven down by more bad US economic news,...

Asian nations brace for economic crisis

MANILA, Nov 21 - Asian countries led by economic powerhouses China and Japan want an expanded regional emergency fund in place next year to better shield the region from the...

Singapore economy may shrink up to 1pc next year

SINGAPORE, Nov 21 — Singapore's economy could contract by up to 1 per cent next year as a global slowdown undermines demand for exports, the government said today. The government...

Villa looks to end 13-year hoodoo against Devils

LONDON, Nov 21 - Ending 13 years of frustration against Manchester United suddenly doesn’t seem so daunting for Aston Villa after winning at Arsenal for the first time since 1993....

PARIS, Nov 21 - Arsenal captain William Gallas has called for the team’s coveted young stars to toughen up and accept that having the stomach for a fight is just...

ROME, Nov 21 - Rival coaches Jose Mourinho and Claudio Ranieri will meet for the first time when Serie A leader Inter Milan hosts resurgent Juventus this weekend. Besides the...

Barcelona’s success hurts for Real

MADRID, Nov 21 - Barcelona’s best-ever league start isn’t helping under-pressure Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster. Barcelona has won nine straight to sit five points ahead of its classic rival,...

Sunderland boss Keane denies improper conduct

LONDON, Nov 21 - Sunderland manager Roy Keane denied a charge of improper conduct on Thursday and requested a personal hearing to explain his behavior towards a referee. Keane confronted...

KANPUR, India , Nov 20 - India's 16-run win over England today left the tourists 3-0 down in the series and frustrated at the outcome of a game decided under...

BRASILIA, Nov 20 - Forward Luis Fabiano’s hat-trick powered Brazil to its biggest win over Portugal, a 6-2 thrashing in a friendly on Wednesday.The win was a reprieve for embattled...

World Cup Qualifying - Europe Group 3: San Marino 0 Czech Repubic 3 Asia - Final Round Group A: Bahrain 0 Australia 1, Qatar 0 Japan 3. Group B: Saudi...

LONDON, Nov 20 — Diego Maradona was a winner in his debut as Argentina coach yesterday, and John Terry atoned for a blunder with a header that gave England a...

BERLIN, Nov 20 - England captain John Terry scored a late goal Wednesday to give his young team a 2-1 win over Germany in a friendly. Terry made up for...

China says 19,000 students died in May earthquake

BEIJING, Nov 21 — China acknowledged today for the first time that more than 19,000 schoolchildren were among the dead in the massive earthquake that struck Sichuan province in May....

WASHINGTON, Nov 21 — Attorney-General Michael Mukasey, the no-nonsense ally in President Bush's war on terror, was hospitalised yesterday after he collapsed during a late-night speech and lost consciousness. "Oh,...

Obama all set to nominate Hillary, says aide

WASHINGTON, Nov 21 - President-elect Barack Obama is on track to nominate Hillary Rodham Clinton as secretary of state as early as next week, an aide to his transition said...

What climate change? Meltdown trumps fears at Apec

LIMA, Nov 21 - Countries on both sides of the Pacific have reason to be very afraid of climate change. Rising sea levels could swamp coastal farms, higher temperatures wipe...

Sun sets on US power: Report predicts end of dominance

WASHINGTON, Nov 21 - The United States' leading intelligence organisation has warned that the world is entering an increasingly unstable and unpredictable period in which the advance of western-style democracy...

World confronts a choice between chaos and order

LONDON, Nov 21 - It seems only yesterday that scarcity was the story. Energy and commodity prices were heading into the stratosphere. The oil was running out, food shortages loomed,...

Britain to overhaul outdated bribery laws

LONDON, Nov 21 - Employers who turn a blind eye to corruption face up to 10 years in jail as part of a radical overhaul of Britain’s bribery laws proposed...

No drama? With Hillary aboard? Forget it

LONDON, Nov 21 - When the man they call No Drama Obama met the Clinton Psychodrama in the Democratic primary campaign, it was bound to produce an epic for the...

US judge orders release of 5 Gitmo detainees

WASHINGTON, Nov 21 - A federal judge ordered the release of five Algerians held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the continued detention of a sixth on Thursday in a major...

Dubai parties at hotel gala despite economic gloom

DUBAI, Nov 21 — Dubai developers threw a US$20 million (RM72 million) party yesterday complete with Hollywood celebrities Robert DeNiro and Charlize Theron and fireworks that lit up the evening...

A strong middle class is key to a united country

NOV 20 — While everyone from the taxi driver to the corporate CEO often talks about race and religion, Malaysians in general don't often discuss economic class. Perhaps it's a...

Cabaran terbesar generasi kita

NOV 20 — Mohamed Nasheed umpama Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim atau Nelson Mandela bagi Maldives. Beliau pernah dipenjarakan sebanyak 23 kali, diseksa dan ditahan berseorangan selama 18 bulan oleh Kerajaan...

DAP's Personality Disorder

NOV 19 - From being Umno lackeys and yes-men to condoning abuses of power and corruption, we already know the inability of Gerakan leaders to move Penang forward. That is...

Cabaran yang belum tersahut

By Fahmi Fadzil Nov 19 – Tiga senario mutakhir yang bagi saya mencerminkan perjalanan auh yang masih harus kita tempuhi sebagai satu Keluarga Besar Malaysia untuk menzahirkan Bangsa Malaysia. Pertama....

The race for polarisation

By Muaz Omar Nov 19 - Recent developments, both local and international have heightened the debate on the role of race in politics. The election of Barack Obama as the...

Freedom to err and to learn

NOV 18 — Failure is simply part of life. A world without failure is a fanciful dream incapable of withstanding reality. No matter how much failure hurts, it teaches us...

Bomoh economics

NOV 17 — Economics is such a funny subject. According to economics theory, there is a "hidden hand" in the market and if you leave the market alone, it will...

NOV 15 — Wanted: Attorney-General with ability to marshal strong prosecution team and achieve some degree of success in high-profile cases. Caveat: present holder of the position need not apply....

Inconsistency will lead to Gunners’ and Devils’ undoing

NOV 15 — You would have read that Arsenal are back in the race for the English Premiership title following last week’s outstanding performance against defending champions Manchester United. Many...

Permission to speak, sir?

NOV 14 — The Malaysian authorities have done it again. A year ago, they took it upon themselves to violently disperse Malaysians calling for free and fair elections; earlier this...

Surprise! Violinist Shaham gets Avery Fisher Prize

NEW YORK, Nov 21 - The last time they shared a Lincoln Center stage, violinist Gil Shaham wielded the big smiles as Gustavo Dudamel made his conducting debut with the...

LONDON, Nov 21 — Michael Jackson has become a Muslim — and changed his name to Mikaeel. The skint superstar, 50, donned Islamic garb to pledge allegiance to the Quran...

NEW YORK, Nov 21 — Movies are increasingly creeping online, as video sites like YouTube and Hulu are adding feature films to their extensive libraries. At the Google-owned YouTube, there...

LONDON, Nov 21 — A judge will likely grant Madonna and Guy Ritchie an initial divorce decree today, according to the schedule for London’s High Court. The court lists “Ciccone...

NEW YORK, Nov 21 — Britney Spears is craving more freedom — and less of the "control" that's stabilised her personal life and reinvigorated her career over the last several...

LOS ANGELES, Nov 21 — Jennifer Garner has won a restraining order from a man she says has been stalking her for years. An attorney for Garner appeared in a...

GOMA, Nov 21 — Ben Affleck is talking to children and aid officials in refugee camps in war-torn eastern Congo in an effort to raise awareness of the conflict that...

NEW YORK, Nov 20 — Spending six days with Jack Bauer has not only entertained us, but also taught us a lot. We have learned to trust no one, least...

NEW YORK, Nov 20 – Hugh Jackman says wife Deborra-Lee Furness teased him after finding out he’d been named People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive”. Recalling Furness’ reaction, Jackman says: “God...

NEW YORK, Nov 20 — Suri Cruise is the most popular kid on the playground. The 2-year-old daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes tops Forbes.com’s second annual list of...

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