Jumaat, 28 Februari 2014

The Malaysian Insider :: Food

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The Malaysian Insider :: Food

A nostalgic and delicious turn with kuih at Chaco King

Posted: 28 Feb 2014 05:15 PM PST

BY EU HOOI KHAW
March 01, 2014

Black Sesame broth – so pure with black sesame. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 1, 2014.The black sesame broth was fragrant, velvety and had the right consistency and sweetness. I could taste pure sesame in every spoonful. We were at Chaco King in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, on a late Saturday afternoon, when the yearning for tea and cakes or in this case, tong sui and kuih, hit us.

We had some green and brown woon chai koh, the first flavoured naturally with pandan and the other with brown sugar. Both were slightly wobbly, topped with fresh grated coconut and had a nice soft bite.

Chan Chi Kit at his stall at night in front of the Majestic Photo Studio. It's been there for 50 years. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 1, 2014.The rempah udang – glutinous rice with a spicy and sweet filling of dried prawn and coconut wrapped in banana leaf and grilled – was perfect. The glutinous rice grains were translucent and sticky, the filling was distinctly nyonya in flavour.

The ubi kayu or yeh tong muk sui ko was lovely, being sticky, slightly firm and textured with fine tapioca fibres.

This is an unusual shop. All the food sold here is made on site, by a father and son.

Chan Chi Kit, the son, keeps going back and forth, from the front of the shop to the back, where he would have his hands deep in batter, to make a fresh batch of kuih to steam.

Chan explained why the kuih and the tong sui are never too sweet.

"There are lots of old people in Pudu and they can't take too much sugar."

As for the black sesame broth, "we grind everything ourselves, from the sesame to the pulut and rice flour."Taiwan bowl kuih. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 1, 2014.

This explains the full-bodied flavour of the pure sesame. It's organic, the way Chan cooks the broth, without adding in too much rice flour to dilute the flavour.

When the sweet potato tong sui was brought to the table, I caught a wonderful whiff of ginger and pandan just as I would have expected it at home when my mum cooked it.

I just had to have the loh mai chee, a sticky, pliable dumpling with a peanut filling. This peanut snowball was so fine, soft and smooth. One bite and a finely ground peanut and sugar filling spilled out, sealing my mouth. It was so, so good.

Sang Chau Lor mai farn or fried glutinous rice. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 1, 2014.It's not all about sweet desserts in this shop. We also tried the savoury items like the sang chau lor mai farn (fried glutinous rice), yam cake, and the unique Taiwan bowl kuih.

The sang chau lor mai farn was done well, with oodles of flavour from Chinese sausage, mushroom, egg and peanuts. I couldn't stop eating this.

The yam cake held its own, studded with lots of yam, and topped with crispy shallots, dried prawns, chopped chilli and spring onions, just the way I like it.

The Taiwan bowl kuih is a white, slightly firm woon chai koh that has salted egg, chicken and mushroom and egg tucked within it.

The snowy looking loh mai chee, a glutinous rice dumpling with powdery peanut filling. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 1, 2014.It is topped with lots of fried shallots, garlic, choy poh or preserved radish, crispy fried dried prawns, some chilli and spring onion.

It's drizzled with a little sauce and served with a chilli sauce. It's delicious, with intense spurts of flavour on an otherwise bland kuih. It had a great mouth-feel. Chan used to study in Taiwan where he encountered this kuih, but he tweaked the flavours with the help of his parents and turned it into a talking point in his shop.

The very popular far sang gou at the stall. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 1, 2014.There are 30 types of kuih at the shop every day, but it also serves Hakka abacus seeds, curry laksa, fried chee cheong fun, Foochow fishball noodles and fishhead noodles. There are lots I haven't tried here, and it's worth many more visits.

While Chaco King is the bright, pleasant shop which is open from 1pm to 12am daily, except Tuesday, Chan also runs a stall round the corner from the shop, just in front of the Majestic Photo Studio.

The stall, started by his grandfather, has been around 50 years! The shop was opened only 10 years ago. "My grandfather, who was from China, started it two days before Merdeka in 1957. He used to sell yau char kway and harm cheen pang, and pak tong koh and soong koh too."

The last two brings back such memories, especially when Chan tells me the kuih is left to rise naturally after fermenting rice flour with sugar.

Yam cake. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 1, 2014."Only three of us (he and his parents) know how to do it. It's hard to teach others to do it as they don't have the patience."

The earnest young man is at the stall serving a steady stream of customers from 8.30pm onwards until midnight.

The kuih are mostly 70 sen each, with RM3.20 for the Taiwan bowl kuih.

Chaco King is located at 43 Jalan Kancil, Pudu 55100 Kuala Lumpur. Tel: 03-2141 9714, 016-391 3068. It's just a five-minute walk from Pudu Plaza. – March 1, 2014.

Hotel Istana ‘out-cooks’ the competition at Halal Battle of the Chefs

Posted: 27 Feb 2014 08:24 PM PST

February 28, 2014

Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur executive assistant manager Clement Paul (left) with the Hotel Istana KLCC winners of the first Halal Battle of Chefs. – February 28, 2014.Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur's chefs recently "out-cooked" other chefs at the Halal Battle of the Chefs in Penang recently.

The event was held at the Subterranean Penang International Convention & Exhibition Centre (SPICE). The chefs won the most outstanding halal team award.

The first halal battle of the chef was held in conjunction with the 5th Penang International Halal Expo & Conference 2014 organised by the Penang government's halal facilitation agency, Halal Penang, PIHEC.

The expo served as a one-stop centre for halal exporters and importers sourcing domestic and international products and services.

The Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur City Centre team was led by Shahrul Amin Mansor, junior sous chef of banquet.

The team has won two gold, four silver and two bronze medals at the competition. Mohd Sakhawi Azizi and Mohamad Fauzan Martin won the most outstanding halal team award.

Culinary competitions evaluate the skills of the chefs and pastry chefs, as well as their presentation skills of the latest developments and dishes in an eventful and attractive manner.

The growth of international competitions in the kitchen has resulted in extraordinary sharing of knowledge and creation. – February 28, 2014.

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

Rabu, 19 Februari 2014

The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

Russia crash out of ice hockey, Kim glides towards gold

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 02:49 PM PST

February 20, 2014

Korea's Kim Yu-Na competes during the Figure Skating Women's Short Programme at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, yesterday. – Reuters pic, February 20, 2014.Russia crashed out of the Olympic ice hockey event to a chorus of jeers and recriminations yesterday while Kim Yu-Na swept majestically closer to a successful defence of her figure skating crown.

With many fans believing the Olympics begin and end with Russia's vaunted hockey team, things looked good when the hosts took the lead in their quarter-final against Finland.

But a lacklustre performance saw them slump to a 3-1 defeat, their second successive Olympic Games quarter-final exit.

Russian coach Zinetula Bilyaletdinov knows the reaction from the Russian media and fans to another embarrassment will be swift and scathing.

"Well, eat me now. You'll eat me and I'll be gone," said Bilyaletdinov.

Russia's highest profile star Alex Ovechkin, one of the faces of the Sochi Games, moaned: "It sucks."

Finland go on to face Sweden, 5-0 winners over Slovenia, in the semi-finals.

Defending champions Canada edged Latvia 2-1 and will face old rivals United States who reached the semi-finals with a 5-2 win over the Czech Republic.

South Korean superstar Kim Yu-Na opened up a fractional 0.28 lead on Russian teenager Adelina Sotnikova in the short programme of the women's figure skating.

Fifteen-year-old Julia Lipnitskaia had been expected to challenge Kim after helping Russia to the new team gold just over a week ago but instead she is struggling in fifth after a fall on a triple flip.

It was national champion Sotnikova, 17, who lifted Russian spirits with a rousing skate to "Carmen" which brought the 17,000-capacity crowd at Iceberg Skating Palace to their feet.

Kim, 23, had earlier scored 74.92 points for her skate to "Send In The Clowns" with Sotnikova just marginally behind with 74.64.

Italy's Carolina Kostner is sitting third with 74.12 with less than a point separating the top three skaters.

"I was really nervous, my legs started trembling and shaking," said Kim, who opened with a triple lutz-triple toeloop combination and also included a triple flip and double axel.

"The jumps didn't go well in the warm-up. I tried to remember the good practices I had. I just told myself: 'believe in yourself'."

Japanese star Mao Asada's Olympic challenge is however over as the Vancouver silver medallist slumped to 16th leaving her facing mission impossible when the free skate takes place today.

In the mountains above Sochi, four-time world champion skier Ted Ligety won the men's giant slalom.

The 29-year-old, who won combined gold at the 2006 Turin Games, did enough on his second ski to beat Frenchman Steve Missillier by nearly half a second in an overall time of 2min 45.29sec. French tyro Alexis Pinturault took bronze.

"This is the event I wanted the most," Ligety said. "This is the event I have been putting so much pressure on myself to win, so to pull through is an awesome feeling."

Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen finally sealed his reputation as the greatest Winter Olympian in history by taking a record 13th medal with gold in the mixed relay.

Bjoerndalen, 40, now holds the record outright for the most medals at Winter Games after overtaking his compatriot, the cross country ski legend Bjoern Daehlie, who won 12 medals.

Bjoerndalen has now also won eight gold medals at Winter Olympics, equalling Daehlie's own record.

"It's cool. It's a big thing for me," he said.

Russia's Vic Wild captured the men's snowboarding parallel giant slalom title just minutes after his wife Alena Zavarzina took bronze in the women's event behind winner Patrizia Kummer of Switzerland.

Cross country skiing superstar Marit Bjoergen took Norway to victory in the women's team sprint race, the fifth Olympic gold of her career, while Finland won the men's race.

Czech speed skater Martina Sablikova defended her Olympic crown in the women's 5,000m while Ireen Wust of the Netherlands took silver – her fourth medal of the Games. – AFP, February 20, 2014.

Costa late show gives Atletico precious Milan win

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 02:44 PM PST

February 20, 2014

Atletico Madrid's Diego Costa (not seen) scores as AC Milan's goalkeeper Christian Abbiati fails to save during their Champions League round of 16 first leg match at the San Siro stadium in Milan, yesterday. – Reuters pic, February 20, 2014.Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa headed home late on to seal a 1-0 win over AC Milan yesterday and give a huge boost to the Spaniards' hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Milan had kept Diego Simeone's side on a tight leash throughout a thrilling encounter at the San Siro, but after missing three golden chances to take a first-half lead, the hosts were stunned in the 83rd minute when Costa rose to head inside Christian Abbiati's near post following a corner.

Atletico, currently joint top of the Spanish top flight, will now fancy their chances of qualifying for the last eight of the competition for the first time since 1997 when the sides meet at the Vicente Calderon in a fortnight.

The visitors started crisply, stringing passes together with apparent ease and Costa holding off challenges to give Milan an early reminder of their current form.

However Los Colchoneros failed to build on that momentum and, after weathering the early storm, Clarence Seedorf's side found their feet to go on and hit the woodwork three times in an enthralling opening half.

Milan sniffed the opener when Adel Taarabt's ball was put through for Kaka only for the Brazilian to send a curling left-footed strike off Thibaut Courtois's crossbar.

Minutes later Taarabt's cross was met by Kaka, but Courtois performed heroics down low to palm the former Real Madrid man's precision header off the post.

Tempers flared when Emiliano Insua put in a crunching tackle on Mattia De Sciglio and, after both sets of players clashed, the Argentine was shown a yellow card.

De Sciglio tried to play on, but soon hobbled off to be replaced by Ignazio Abate.

Atletico had few clear chances in the opening period, while Milan proved dangerous on the counter, just as Simeone had predicted, and they came close again on the half-hour when Balotelli's backheel found Kaka, whose latest effort skimmed the bar on its way over.

Atletico started strongly after the interval and on 52 minutes Costa was allowed space at the back post to attempt a bicycle kick when a cross was whipped in at the back post, but his effort was off target.

Kaka then sidestepped a challenge on the edge of the area but sent a tame shot wide.

Balotelli was coming in for some punishment and, before being replaced by Giampaolo Pazzini, he had a number of free-kick attempts.

One, on 65 minutes, was deflected out for a corner, from which Michael Essien sent a glancing header wide of Courtois's upright.

Atletico had the momentum in the closing stages and, on 75 minutes, Costa did well to hold off his marker and set up Raul Garcia, whose drive from 20 metres was blocked down low by Abbiati.

Seedorf replaced Balotelli with Pazzini on 77 minutes but by then a tiring Milan had little left to offer.

The visitors pressed and, after a first-time Garcia effort had just missed the target, they made the difference from a corner, which Abate inadvertently headed towards the back post where Costa met it with a powerful header of his own. – AFP, February 20, 2014.

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

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Clooney, Damon to attend White House screening of ‘Monuments Men’

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 07:20 PM PST

February 19, 2014

(L-R) Writer Robert Morse Edsel, cast members Bill Murray, Matt Damon, George Clooney, Jean Dujardin, Harry Ettlinger, an original member of the 'Monuments Men', John Goodman, Grant Heslov, Dimitri Leonidas and Bob Balaban pose during a photo call for the film 'The Monuments Men' in Paris. - Reuters pic, February 19, 2014.Actors George Clooney, Matt Damon and Bill Murray attended a screening of their new movie "The Monuments Men" at the White House last night, hosted by President Barack Obama.

The film, directed by Clooney, is based on the true story of US soldiers in World War Two who rescued art masterpieces from Nazi thieves.

A member of the original Monuments Men group, Harry Ettlinger, will also attend the screening, along with Robert Edsel, whose book is the basis for the film, and Sara Bloomfield, director the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.

The White House has its own screening room and occasionally invites movie stars and other dignitaries to watch a new film.

The "Monuments Men" has received mixed reviews from critics and came in a distant second to "The LEGO Movie" in US and Canadian box office receipts in its opening weekend earlier this month. – Reuters, February 19, 2014.

For Sports Illustrated models, cover makes anything possible

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 06:51 PM PST

February 19, 2014

2014 Sports Illustrated cover models Nina Agdal (L), Lily Aldridge and Chrissy Teigen. - Reuters pic, February 19, 2014.Models Nina Agdal, Lily Aldridge and Chrissy Teigen were already at the top of their game, but the trio say anything is possible after gracing the cover of the Sports Illustrated 50th Anniversary Swimsuit Edition that hit newsstands yesterday.

They joined an illustrious club of former swimsuit models, including Christie Brinkley, Heidi Klum, Elle Macpherson and Tyra Banks, with their topless cover photo that appears in the most widely read edition of the magazine. It will be seen by about 70 million readers in print and online.

"Doing a Sports Illustrated cover opens so many doors," said Aldridge, a 28-year-old California brunette, who landed the cover in her first shoot for the magazine.

She was already a Victoria's Secret model, the wife of Caleb Followill of the Grammy-winning band Kings of Leon, and the mother of their young daughter when she did the photo shoot last October in the Cook Islands with 21-year-old Danish model Agdal and fellow American Teigen, 28.

But Aldridge said being chosen for the cover was a huge surprise and an amazing opportunity.

"You really can do anything," she told Reuters in an interview with her cover mates. "You can start a brand. You can build a company. It's incredible."

The group photo of Aldridge, Agdal and Teigen, smiling and arm in arm, posing in bikini bottoms while peering over their shoulders with their backs to the camera, is the first cover since 2006 to have multiple models - and only the fifth in the magazine's history.

Agdal is making her third appearance in the swimsuit issue, but the 50th anniversary edition will be her first cover, along with Teigen, who has been in every issue since her debut in 2010.

Although critics deride the annual swimsuit issue, claiming it objectifies women and presents unrealistic images, Teigen believes the magazine is inclusive.

"There are so many different types of women in the issue. We go down the spectrum," she said. "People are always going to say things like that, but honestly I think we represent many different nationalities, many different sizes. That's what's special about the magazine."

To mark the 50th anniversary, the magazine features 22 former models and cover girls, including Babette March, who graced the first swimsuit cover in 1964, 2010 cover model Brooklyn Decker, and Kate Upton, who did back-to-back covers in 2012 and 2013.

Mattel Inc's Barbie doll, posing in her black-and-white swimsuit from 1959, also makes her first appearance in the 50th anniversary issue as part of a promotional campaign with the magazine. – Reuters, February 19, 2014.

Kredit: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com

The Malaysian Insider :: Features

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The Malaysian Insider :: Features

As discontent grows, Singapore budget to tighten noose on the rich

Posted: 19 Feb 2014 01:35 AM PST

February 19, 2014

Singapore is known as a tropical refuge for the world's wealthy, endowed with exclusive residential enclaves, a marina for super-yachts, two casinos and an annual Formula One race that brings in the global jet-set.

But as the orderly city-state comes within a whisper of overtaking Switzerland as the world's largest offshore wealth hub, a growing public backlash is forcing the government to tone down its policies catering to the rich.

The government's budget on Friday could raise levies on high-end cars and purchases of multiple properties, along with a possible widening of the top income-tax rate, say economists. It would build on measures announced last year that cooled Singapore's red-hot property market and targeted mostly rich homeowners.

With maximum income tax rates of 20% and no capital gains tax, Singapore has long been synonymous with affluence, boasting the world's highest concentration of millionaires. Daimler's Mercedes was the top selling car brand last year, followed by BMW, government data shows.

Businesses that service the wealthy say their clients fear the new policies could mark the start of a trend as the long-standing ruling party, under pressure since its worst-ever election showing in 2011, tries to ease the burden in a country where the average monthly wage is S$3,705 (RM9,686).

"There are a lot of people who don't know what's next," said Juliet Poh, owner of SG Vehicles, which sells car brands Ferrari, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin and Lamborghini.

Cars in Singapore are already expensive by most global standards owing to the cost of a government 10-year licence that must be purchased with each new vehicle.

In last year's budget, the government introduced a new tiered tax system targetting luxury cars. The first S$20,000 (RM52,286) of a car's open market value is taxed at 100%, the next S$30,000 (RM78,370) at 140%, and anything above S$50,000 (RM130,716) at 180%. As a result, sales of luxury cars fell more than 80% in the second half of 2013, official data shows.

In measures partly aimed at buyers of multiple homes, the government also tightened property curbs last year, including a rise in stamp duties. Sales of private homes to the wealthiest 15% of the population have tumbled in the past few months.

"A lot of people are affected by the property curb. It is like an indirect curb on cars," said Poh, whose dealership saw car sales drop around 50% in 2013.

"A lot of people can't buy and sell properties and do not make money. Thus, they don't have the cash flow to buy the cars."

Public anger at the rich-poor divide and new taxes aimed at the ultra rich has been bubbling in fiscally stretched large Western economies since the 2008 global financial crisis. The changes in Singapore illustrate how that is spreading to countries usually seen as low-tax enclaves for the wealthy.

Ten years ago Singapore courted the world's wealthy, offering permanent residency to people with personal assets of at least S$20 million (RM52 million), as long as they parked a certain amount here. That scheme was scrapped two years ago amid criticism over the number of wealthy immigrants. Switzerland is now seeing a similar debate.

Canada's government this month ended a programme that effectively allowed rich Chinese nationals to buy permanent residency. Critics said it allowed wealthy foreigners to buy their way into the country without long-term benefits.

"All these established cities for high net worth individuals are feeling the strain," said Tan Choon Leng, head of the private wealth practice group at legal practice RHTLaw Taylor Wessing LLP in Singapore.

Singapore income inequality, measured by the Gini coefficient, is the biggest after Hong Kong among advanced economies, based on its 2012 reading of 0.478. The level eased in 2013 to 0.463, according to government figures.

The budget is likely to play well with an electorate increasingly hostile towards ostentatious displays of wealth, a mood that was highlighted last month when an expatriate wealth manager fled to Australia following uproar over his complaints on social media about "poor people" riding public transport while his Porsche was in for repairs.

While average wages in Singapore rose last year by 6.5%, the wealth of Singapore's high net worth individuals raced ahead 11.5%.

Wealthy foreign residents include Eduardo Saverin, the co-founder of Facebook, who has called Singapore home since 2009. Brazilian-born Saverin, who renounced his US citizenship in 2011, was ranked 7th on a Singapore's rich list published by Forbes Magazine with an estimated net worth of US$2.65 billion (RM8.7 billion).

Locals who made fortunes in real estate, finance and trading figured prominently but the list also included New Zealand-born investor Richard Chandler with US$2.8 billion (RM9.2 billion), ranked 6, and China-born property developer Zhong Sheng Jian with US$1.35 billion (RM4.4 bilion), ranked 16.

The changes follow pressure on the Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to respond to signs of growing disquiet over the vision of the country set forth by the People's Action Party (PAP), which has ruled for five decades.

Founded by Lee Kuan Yew, father of the current prime minister, the PAP is credited with transforming Singapore from a colonial outpost in the 1960s into a global business centre. Part of that success is built on cheap foreign labour and a consumer class full of wealthy expatriates.

ASung in 2011 by its worst election showing in history, when 40% of voters went against the PAP, the government has become more open to seeking input from citizens and factoring their views into policymaking ahead of the next election in 2016.

"I would understand if the wealthy people might be angry, but this is for the future," Khairul Adzmie, 39, a coffee shop manager, said of the new measures, echoing a comment heard in other areas of the island of 5.3 million people. "With all these taxes, Singapore can build a better future with better financial security." - Reuters, February 19, 2014.

Women man the Home Front in World War I

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 08:31 PM PST

February 19, 2014

Driving trams, ploughing fields and manning production lines, World War I radically changed women's role in society, as they stepped into the boots of men gone to fight for their countries.

In cities across Europe, women took on traditionally "male" jobs - waiting on tables, delivering the mail, teaching in boys' schools or handling cash as bank clerks.

"Women rapidly became indispensable, not only in the nursing and welfare services but in offices and factories and agriculture, changing the whole balance of society in the process," says the historian Michael Howard.

As soon as war broke out in 1914, France's Prime Minister Rene Viviani called on women to "replace in the workplace those who are on the battlefield."

In Germany, some 44 percent of Bavarian farms were being run by women in 1916, according to the historian Benjamin Ziemann, with some even forced to pull carts in place of horses requisitioned for battle.

From 1915 onwards, Europe's industry - now devoted to the war effort - relied massively on the female workforce, as did the United States from 1917.

"Without women, victory will tarry," warned Britain's soon-to-be Prime Minister David Lloyd George in 1915.

Some 400,000 women were toiling in France's war factories by 1918 - a quarter of the workforce - handling some 2,500 shells per exhausting 11-hour shift.

In Britain, women's share of the workforce had risen by 50 percent by the end of 1917, with one million employed in its war factories in 1918, many of them married women from the middle classes, few of whom worked outside the home until then.

Roles were again reversed after the end of the 1914-18 conflict, as returning men looked to regain their jobs, but women's contribution is widely held to have helped secure them the vote, as early as November 1918 in both Britain and Germany, and in 1920 in the United States.

Up until the outbreak of war, feminists on both sides had pledged themselves to peace in a kind of transnational women's solidarity, according to the historian Joshua Goldstein.

But within months all the major feminist groups had thrown their weight behind their respective governments, predicting that patriotism would enhance the prospects for women's suffrage, he said.

Pretty English girls in khaki

Women's contribution was mostly on the home front, but more than 80,000 also served in Britain's Women's Army Auxiliary Corps, the WAAC, as nurses, mechanics, cooks or ambulance drivers.

An emblematic few were exposed to the danger of war, as soldiers - or spies.

Among them was Mata Hari, the Dutch-born dancer, seductress and spy who was executed by a French firing squad during the war.

Mata Hari was the stage name of Margaretha Zelle, who had charmed her way into European society in the pre-war years.

Recruited by German intelligence at the start of World War I, she became a double-agent for the French, but when they suspected she had been turned once again, they arrested her and shot her on October 15, 1917.

Another famous figure was Edith Cavell, the British nurse celebrated for saving the lives of soldiers in Brussels from all sides without distinction - who was found guilty by a German military court of assisting the enemy and shot by firing squad on October 12, 1915.

"She died like a heroine," the German military chaplain said after her execution.

Britain's Imperial War Museum published the testimony of Sarah Macnaughton, a journalist who visited the Belgian front line in 1914, and paid tribute to the nurses working there.

"It is a queer side of war to see young, pretty English girls in khaki and thick boots, coming in from the trenches, where they have been picking up wounded men within a hundred yards of the enemy's lines, and carrying them away on stretchers... I lift my hat to you!" she said.

A tiny number of women even went into combat.

One was Dorothy Lawrence, an ambitious 20-year-old journalist who became the only woman soldier enlisted in the British army - by passing herself off as a man.

She turned herself in after only 10 days, worried for the safety of the men who helped her.

Flora Sandes, another Englishwoman, enlisted with the Serbian army in 1916, aged around 40, and reached the grade of sergeant major. She stayed on after the war, eventually becoming a major.

In Russia, some women took part in combat, driven both by patriotism and the desire to escape a drab existence. Most joined up dressed as men, but a few served openly as women.

The most famous were the "Battalion of Death": several hundred women soldiers led by a 25-year-old peasant girl named Maria Boshkareva, who set up the Battalion with permission from the Czar. – AFP, February 19, 2014.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Books

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The Malaysian Insider :: Books

Rockers in the sacristy – book recounts St Francis’s famous fans

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 07:04 PM PST

February 19, 2014

Rock star Patti Smith (C) is seen next to Father Enzo Fortunato (2nd L) during a visit to the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi. Smith's visit is one of many that are detailed in a new book by Father Enzo Fortunato. - Reuters pic, February 19, 2014.What do Bruce Springsteen, Mick Jagger's daughter, Carlos Santana and Patti Smith have in common? It's not only rock and roll: all of them are fans of a saint who lived 800 years ago.

St. Francis of Assisi, known worldwide for his simple spirituality, his closeness to the poor, his love of nature and his preaching of peace, has some unlikely admirers.

Father Enzo Fortunato, the spokesman and public face of the convent complex in Assisi where St. Francis is buried, has written a new book on the people who have been influenced by the teachings of the gentle saint who gave up his worldly goods.

"Vado da Francesco" (I am going to Francis), takes the reader on a historical trip through accounts of the visitors to the basilica in the past few decades.

They include popes who sought solace in prayer and politicians who sought picture opportunities. But they also include artists and rockers, most of whom came and went quietly, sometimes even secretly.

On October 6, 2006, for example, the monks reopened the upper basilica, scene of the famous 13th century frescoes by Giotto depicting scenes from the life of St. Francis, for a nocturnal visit by Bruce Springsteen.

Springsteen, who was playing in nearby Perugia, badly wanted to visit the basilica but feared the media and the public would have spoiled the place's spiritual nature if he visited during the day, Fortunato explains in the 179-page book.

So, in one of the few times in its history, the basilica was reopened and its lights turned on at about 10:30 pm for Springsteen and his group, the Seeger Sessions Band.

Springsteen wrote in the guest book: "This basilica has the colours of the Resurrection," which Fortunato calls "an almost theological, masterful synthesis" of what the basilica is about.

"The Boss" and the Saint

As Springsteen was leaving, Fortunato mentioned that the saint's tomb was on the other side of a wall but they could not go in because it was nearly midnight. Springsteen stopped in his tracks, turned in the direction of the tomb and bowed his head in respect.

The book also reproduces a letter by Jade Jagger, Mick Jagger's daughter, telling the monks that she named her own daughter Assisi because "for me he (Francis) was always the first environmentalist and hippy and was a true inspiration to me from my early years."

Another rocker who thinks Francis rocks is Carlos Santana. On July 20, 2011, he was playing at the Umbria Jazz Festival in Perugia. Between songs he told his audience that he felt a "feeling of love (in Umbria) because in this place long time ago was a gentleman named Francis of Assisi".

But perhaps the most surreal visit to Assisi by a rocker came on July 25, 2012, when Patti Smith, the "godmother of punk," meditated before St. Francis's tomb and even helped restore a fresco by Giotto.

"When I think of St Francis I don't think of religion, I don't think of any rules and regulations," she said that day after a visit of several hours to the convent complex which included a frugal lunch with the monks.

St. Francis inspired "Constantine's Dream", one track of Smith's 2012 album Banga.

"I think of his love of nature. I think of his absolute love of life and I think any human being can relate to that ... If you approach St Francis with love, you receive love in return," Smith, 67, said.

Of course, rockers are not the only famous people who have gone to Assisi and Fortunato paints vignettes of about 50 visits.

When Iraqi Foreign Minister Tareq Aziz, a Christian, visited on the eve of the Iraq war in 2003, his bodyguards wanted to bring their machine guns into the refectory where Aziz ate with the monks.

The monks said 'no,' and the guns stayed outside. – Reuters, February 19, 2014.

Rockers in the sacristy: Book recounts St. Francis’ famous fans

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 07:04 PM PST

February 19, 2014

St. Francis of Assisi, known worldwide for his simple spirituality, his closeness to the poor, his love of nature and his preaching of peace, has some unlikely admirers.

"Vado da Francesco" (I am going to Francis), takes the reader on a historical trip through accounts of the visitors to the basilica in the past few decades.

So, in one of the few times in its history, the basilica was reopened and its lights turned on at about 10:30 pm for Springsteen and his group, the Seeger Sessions Band.

Springsteen wrote in the guest book: "This basilica has the colours of the Resurrection," which Fortunato calls "an almost theological, masterful synthesis" of what the basilica is about.

"The Boss" and the Saint

St. Francis inspired "Constantine's Dream", one track of Smith's 2012 album Banga.

Of course, rockers are not the only famous people who have gone to Assisi and Fortunato paints vignettes of about 50 visits.

When Iraqi Foreign Minister Tareq Aziz, a Christian, visited on the eve of the Iraq war in 2003, his bodyguards wanted to bring their machine guns into the refectory where Aziz ate with the monks.

The monks said 'no,' and the guns stayed outside. – Reuters, February 19, 2014.

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Jepun pun malu bila kerajaannya menindas

Posted: 18 Feb 2014 04:00 PM PST

February 19, 2014

Haji Subky Abdul Latif seorang penulis bebas dan tinggal di Kuala Lumpur. Seorang pendiam, dia gemar meneliti perangai manusia dan berita politik di Malaysia.

Maka ramailah orang memperleceh Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, kerana dia percaya imigresen Jepun dipengaruhi oleh anasir pro-BN atau pro-Najib sehingga menyekatnya masuk ke negara itu.

Dia terpaksa balik bodoh sahaja ke tanah air.

Mungkin justeru kes fitnah yang dikenakan kepadanya menyebabkan kerajaan Jepun melarangnya masuk.

Dia ke Jepun untuk bercakap tentang Islam dan demokrasi yang dikendalikan oleh NGO Jepun sendiri.

Sejak dia keluar daripada sekolah Sungai Buloh, sudah beberapa kali dia masuk ke Jepun, tiada apa-apa sekatan.

Sebelum pecah isu Kajang ini pula, dia dilarang masuk, dan kerajaan Jepun gagal memberi alasan.

Apabila dia mengesyaki anasir tertentu dari negara ini mempengaruhi Jepun, ramailah jurubodek Umno dan kerajaan Najib mempelupuh Anwar sebagai orang yang gelojoh mempolitikkan apa saja demi kepentingannya dan politiknya.

Bagi mereka, Anwar adalah orang yang paling tidak berguna, dan logiknya geng anti-Anwar itulah wargenegara kita yang paling berguna, paling benar dan tiada cacat.

Tentulah Jepun ada alasan kukuh untuk melarang Anwar masuk.

Anwar sekadar menyatakan bahawa Jepun tidak pernah antinya dan merasa ajaib apabila tiba-tiba dilarang masuk.

Tentulah pihak tertentu di Jepun terkeliru.

Tiba-tiba datang orang dari Jepun yang berkaitan dengan jemputan ke atas Anwar itu meminta maaf kepada Anwar atas tindakan imigresen Jepun yang dikiranya memalukan Jepun dan rakyat Jepun.

Tindakan kerajaan Jepun itu dibantah oleh orang Jepun.

Lalu mereka menganjurkan satu majlis lain, meminta Anwar jangan serik untuk ke Jepun lagi.

Mereka meminta Anwar memberi jaminan akan hadir juga pada tarikh yang mereka tetapkan itu, dan Anwar pun bersetuju untuk ke Jepun semula.

Apa terjadi kepada tempelak konco anti-Anwar tadi?

Dalam kes di imigresen Jepun ini, Anwar dimalukan dan menjadi mangsa penindasan.

Penindas jelasnya ialah imigresen Jepun.

Masyarakat Jepun malu menjadi pihak yang menindas dan bangun membela sesiapa saja yang dirasakan ditindas dan tidak diberi layanan yang adil.

Dalam kes Anwar ini, rakyat Jepun mengeluarkan belanja datang ke Kuala Lumpur, meminta maaf kepada Anwar.

Habis duit mereka untuk menebus malu itu. Tiada apa ertinya duit dibandingkan rasa malu dan jati diri.

Apakah bagi orang Malaysia, kejadian ke atas rakyatnya bukan satu penindasan dan tidakkah ia sengaja memberi malu kepada rakyat kita?

Jika Malaysia sebuah negara bermaruah dan rakyatnya merdeka dan bermaruah, maka ia tidak akan benarkan sesiapa dengan sesenang itu memalukan rakyatnya.

Jangankan ketua pembangkang di Parlimen dimalukan, hatta seorang Orang Asli yang tidak pernah bersekolah dan tidak tahu memakai kasut pun jika dimalukan, maka bangsa yang bermaruah mesti mengutuk penindasan dan tidak menafikan keadilan.

Itulah bezanya Jepun dengan orang kita yang separuh masak maruahnya. Jepun benci kepada penindasan, sekalipun terhadap orang asing.

Tetapi ada orang di Malaysia bukan sahaja tidak peka kepada keadilan dan penindasan, suka pula Anwar ditindas.

Adalah benar Anwar banyak menyusahkan Perdana Menteri dan kerajaan Malaysia.

Dia penentang ulung Umno dan BN, tetapi bukankah dia rakyat kita dan ketua pembangkang yang diiktiraf oleh Parlimen?

Ketua pembangkang adalah Perdana Menteri menunggu. Maka suka pula rakyatnya ditindas.

Mungkin kerajaan tidak terasa untuk membelanya, kerana itu adalah masalahnya.

Tetapi janganlah jadi bangsa yang setuju kepada penindasan, sekalipun terhadap orang yang kita benci.

Apa yang terjadi adalah, rakyat Jepun mengajar kerajaannya dan jangan kata ia tidak mengajar maruah rakyat Malaysia yang separuh masak! – 19 Februari, 2014.

* Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider.