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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

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The Malaysian Insider :: Sports

Liverpool smash Arsenal to stake title claim

Posted: 08 Feb 2014 06:57 AM PST

February 08, 2014

Daniel Sturridge puts the nail in the coffin, scoring the fourth goal to give Liverpool an unassailable lead after just 18 minutes, as Arsenal goalie Szczesny and defender Koscielny (6) can only watch. - AFP pic, February 8, 2014.Liverpool re-energised their Premier League title challenge with a magnificent 5-1 rout of sorry leaders Arsenal on an afternoon of one-way traffic at Anfield on Saturday.

Brendan Rodgers's rampant side struck four times in the first 20 minutes, as Arsenal saw a run of 10 games without defeat in all competitions torn to shreds in brutal fashion.

Martin Skrtel scored twice in 10 minutes to spark the rout, with Raheem Sterling claiming a brace and Daniel Sturridge also finding the net before Mikel Arteta replied for Arsene Wenger's humbled Arsenal.

The one-sided victory lifted fourth-place Liverpool to within five points of Arsenal, a week before the sides are due to meet again at the Emirates Stadium in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Liverpool's performance, meanwhile, suggested that they cannot be discounted from the title picture despite media projections of a three-horse race between Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City.

Seeking to return to winning ways after a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion last weekend, Liverpool went ahead inside a minute when Skrtel kneed Steven Gerrard's free-kick past Wojciech Szczesny from close range.

The same combination doubled Liverpool's lead in the 10th minute, with Skrtel stooping to guide a looping header into the top-left corner from Gerrard's right-wing corner.

Sturridge lobbed wide and Luis Suarez hit the post with a blistering half-volley from outside the box before Sterling tucked in a low cross from Suarez to make it 3-0.

The fourth arrived in the 20th minute, Sturridge steering the ball past Szczesny from Philippe Coutinho's delicately weighted pass as Arsenal's travelling fans looked on in disbelieving horror.

Sterling scored at the second attempt in the 52nd minute to tighten the screw yet further, before Arteta netted from the penalty spot in the 69th minute after Gerrard was penalised for felling Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Arsenal's dejection could be compounded later on Saturday as both Manchester City and Chelsea will overtake them if they win their respective matches.

Chelsea, who won 1-0 at City on Monday, host Newcastle United, while City visit Norwich City.

In the late game, meanwhile, Swansea City tackle local rivals Cardiff City in their first match since Michael Laudrup was sacked as manager. – AFP, February 8, 2014.

T-Team players ready to swear on the Quran

Posted: 08 Feb 2014 06:25 AM PST

February 08, 2014

The Muslim players in T-Team (pic) are prepared to swear on the Quran over a fracas in Larkin, Johor Baru recently, as requested by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said yesterday.

T-Team chief executive officer Ab Rasid Jusoh said all Muslim players in the team were prepared to do this at any time.

"We are still waiting for a suitable date. All the players are prepared to swear at any time," he said when contacted by Bernama in Kuala Terengganu, today.

Yesterday, the Terengganu menteri besar had asked T-Team's Muslim officials and players to swear on the Quran on what actually transpired when they were wlaking in the tunnel at half-time during their FA Cup match against Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) at the Tan Sri Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium in Larkin, Johor Baru last Saturday.

In the incident, T-Team refused to resume the match after half-time, claiming the safety of the players was at stake, since a high ranking JDT official had allegedly assaulted a player and the fitness coach from T-Team while heading to the dressing room.

FAM later decided to award the match to JDT, who were leading 2-1 when the match was abandoned, which saw them qualifying for the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

Ab Rasid said T-Team would fully focus on the Super League competition after this.

He said it was a challenge to the team when Ahmad urged them to continue their struggle for football and the fans.

"We will focus fully in the Super League competition. In fact, we will play with determination to ensure we can compete with the other teams to improve our position in the league," he added. – Bernama, February 8, 2014.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Features

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The historians’ view – what triggered World War I

Posted: 07 Feb 2014 04:58 PM PST

February 08, 2014

A picture of a post card released by the Historial de Peronne, Museum of WW1, shows officers of the Russian Imperial Guard infantry regiment Pavlovski, posing during World War I. – AFP pic, February 8, 2014.What was it that led the Great Powers to fall into one of the bloodiest conflicts of all time? Two historians, Gerd Krumeich of Duesseldorf University and John Horne of Trinity College, Dublin, offer their explanations.

GERD KRUMEICH: "It seems clear to me it was the Germans who pressed the 'war' button by refusing, throughout the crisis sparked by the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo, to engage in any negotiation that would have allowed Serbia to withstand the aggression from Austria-Hungary.

The Austrian government decided to use the assassination to subdue Serbia, which had become, since the Balkan wars, a worrying neighbour with 'pan-Serbian' policies which threatened to pull apart the multinational Austro-Hungarian empire.

Germany, an ally of Vienna, saw the crisis as an excellent opportunity to test Russia's intentions: if Russia came to the aid of Serbia against Austria-Hungary, it would be war – a war that Berlin thought it could win. If, on the other hand, the Russians allowed the Austro-Hungarian forces to wipe out Serbia, Russia would emerge weaker from the crisis.

The German government's calculations were driven by the military, who believed a European war was inevitable and that it would be better for Germany to enter it as quickly as possible. The other powers concluded from this that Germany – deaf to any attempts at making peace – wanted to go to war.

Russia, reassured by the support France had offered during the crisis, took the risk of a robust response in the hope of intimidating Vienna: for the first time it decided to introduce conscription while continuing to negotiate.

But this conscription in fact set in train the German war plan – the Schlieffen Plan – which meant that Germany, if threatened by Russia, would quickly attack and conquer France so it could then turn all its forces on Russia, avoiding the nightmare of a war on two fronts."

JOHN HORNE: "All those who accepted a Europe divided into two armed camps and the idea that war was an acceptable tool of politics – if not a Darwinian necessity – had their share of responsibility for the outbreak of war.

But the role of the Austrians and above all the Germans – without whose approval Austrian action was unthinkable – was fundamental.

The question of who was 'responsible' for the war must nonetheless be seen in the context of the conflicts and understanding of the European balance of power at the time.

It only became a fundamental issue after the conflict in view of the gulf between the causes of the war and its outcome, which destroyed the pre-war world." – AFP, February 8, 2014.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

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The Malaysian Insider :: Showbiz

Woody Allen attacks ex over abuse allegations

Posted: 07 Feb 2014 10:59 PM PST

February 08, 2014

Film director Woody Allen (pic) yesterday again denied molesting his daughter and launched a furious attack on his ex-partner Mia Farrow, blaming her for the abuse allegations.

In a nearly 2,000-word op-ed in The New York Times, Allen castigated his former partner over shocking allegations detailed by their daughter Dylan in the paper last week.

"Of course, I did not molest Dylan," he wrote, adding that he had "loved" the girl he adopted with Farrow during their 12-year relationship that broke up in enormous acrimony.

"I... hope one day she will grasp how she has been cheated out of having a loving father and exploited by a mother more interested in her own festering anger than her daughter's well-being."

Allen also addressed reports that Ronan Farrow may be Frank Sinatra's son, not his.

"Granted, he looks a lot like Frank with the blue eyes and facial features, but if so what does this say? That all during the custody hearing Mia lied under oath and falsely represented Ronan as our son?" the director asked.

"Even if he is not Frank's, the possibility she raises that he could be, indicates she was secretly intimate with him during our years. Not to mention all the money I paid for child support. Was I supporting Frank's son?"

Allen said he raised the matter to "call attention to the integrity and honesty of a person who conducts her life like that," referring to the older Farrow.

In an open letter on a New York Times blog, 28-year-old Dylan Farrow said today she was molested by Allen as a seven-year-old, detailing the alleged abuse for the first time in her own words.

Farrow suggested that other abuse may have started even earlier, saying: "For as long as I could remember, my father had been doing things to me that I didn't like."

The unproven allegations first emerged in the aftermath of Allen's split with Mia Farrow in 1992.

Allen, 78, left Farrow after starting a relationship with the actress's adopted daughter from a previous marriage, Soon-Yi Previn.

A New York judge who presided over the 1994 custody battle between Allen and Farrow ruled that the abuse allegations were inconclusive, but at the same time lambasted the director as "self-absorbed, untrustworthy and insensitive."

And a Connecticut police investigation did not result in any charges.

"Could it be any clearer? Mr Allen did not abuse Dylan; most likely a vulnerable, stressed-out seven-year-old was coached by Mia Farrow. This conclusion disappointed a number of people," Allen wrote, referring to himself in the third person.

The younger Farrow accused Hollywood of sweeping Allen's alleged crimes under the carpet by honouring his films.

Allen was celebrated with a lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes in January and his latest movie "Blue Jasmine" is up for three Oscars at the Academy Awards.

Writing in the Times, the director said experts from Yale University's child sex abuse clinic at the time concluded he had not molested Dylan.

The younger Farrow added "a few little added creative flourishes that seem to have magically appeared during our 21-year estrangement," Allen wrote.

It was his second denial since Dylan's post was published. On Sunday, his publicist called the allegations "untrue and disgraceful". – AFP, February 8, 2014.

Lawyers seek to protect Bieber’s ‘personal parts’ from media exposure

Posted: 07 Feb 2014 09:04 PM PST

February 08, 2014

Pop singer Justin Bieber appears via video conference in his first court appearance after being arrested on a drunk driving charge in Miami, Florida in this file photo taken January 23, 2014. – Reuters pic, February 8, 2014.Lawyers for pop star Justin Bieber are asking a judge to prevent semi-clad images of the teenage singer in Miami Beach police custody following his arrest last month, from being released to the media, according to a motion filed late yesterday.

"While in custody at the Miami Beach police station the defendant was captured on videotape in various states of undress which show intimate personal parts of the defendant's body," the motion states, noting that the Florida constitution and state law prevent such images from being publicly disclosed.

Bieber, 19, was charged with driving under influence, resisting arrest and using an expired license after police say they caught him allegedly drag racing on January 23. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He also had marijuana and prescription medication for anxiety in his system at the time of his arrest, according to the state attorney's office.

One video of Bieber in police custody being patted down by and Miami Beach officer was already released to the media this week, the motion states, in violation of the law and prior to Bieber's lawyers being notified of its existence.

Yesterday, Bieber's Miami lawyers Black, Srebnick, Kornspan & Stumpf, said they learned from the state attorney's office that various news media outlets had filed public records requests for all videotape footage from Bieber's time in detention.

The Miami Beach police and the state attorney's office were not immediately available to comment.

A Florida court has set a March 3 trial date for Bieber, who is Canadian, on the charges stemming from the January 23 arrest.

Bieber, whose private life has taken a tumultuous turn in the past year, was also charged last week with assaulting a limousine driver in Toronto in December. – Reuters, February 8, 2014.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Books

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‘Anansi Boys,’ ‘American Gods’ headed for TV

Posted: 07 Feb 2014 04:48 PM PST

February 08, 2014

'American Gods' won multiple accolades, including the Hugo, Nebula and Locus awards. – AFP/Relaxnews pic, February 8, 2014.Neil Gaiman's "Anansi Boys" and "American Gods" have been optioned for TV adaptations, each on a different side of the Atlantic.

Set after "American Gods", "Anansi Boys" has a mild-mannered English accountant discover that he is actually brother to Spider, a stylish and outgoing inheritor of godly powers.

The siblings are reunited after their father's death and Charlie soon has to deal with the unexpected and fantastical events that follow Spider's introduction to his London life.

It's being made into a miniseries for the BBC under the guidance of production company Red, which has "Last Tango in Halifax", "Bob & Rose" and "Queer as Folk" on its credit roll.

"American Gods", meanwhile, is to visit the US under the guidance of FreemantleMedia, the company behind "American Idol", "American's Got Talent" and "The Tomorrow People".

The original novel sees America's immigrants bring ancient deities and mythological beings with them, who find themselves challenged by the a range of newer gods based on modern cultural and technological values.

Gaiman judged Freemantle to have a trickier assignment, "as they are going to have to open up 'American Gods' into something bigger than the book", while "Anansi Boys" appears to be destined for a more literal interpretation – "an absolutely brilliant faithful version," he said. – AFP/Relaxnews, February 8, 2014.

Canada, publishers reach ebooks competition settlement

Posted: 07 Feb 2014 04:44 PM PST

February 08, 2014

The newly–signed settlement is expected to lower the price of ebooks in Canada. – AFP pic, February 8, 2014.Four major ebook publishers reached a settlement yesterday with Canadian authorities to end practices which officials said choked off competition and kept prices high.

The Bureau of Competition said in a statement that the publishers "have agreed to remove or amend clauses in their distribution agreements with individual ebook retailers that the Bureau believes have the effect of restricting retail price competition, which will allow retailers to offer discounts on ebooks."

As a result, the deal "is expected to lower the price of ebooks in Canada," the statement said.

The settlement follows an 18-month investigation into the ebook industry in Canada and was signed by Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan and Simon & Schuster.

The consent agreement was registered with Canada's Competition Tribunal.

"This agreement should benefit Canadian consumers by lowering the price of ebooks in Canada," said Competition Commissioner John Pecman.

"Businesses operating in the digital economy must realize that anti-competitive activity will not be tolerated, whether it occurs in the physical world or the digital one."

Officials said similar settlements reached in the United States in 2012 and 2013 resulted in lower prices for ebooks in the US market, including discounts of 20% or more on top-selling titles.

In the United States, major publishers reached an agreement to settle a probe into illegal collusion with Apple, but the maker of iPads went to trial and lost. Apple is facing court supervision in the case. – AFP, February 8, 2014.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

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The Malaysian Insider :: Bahasa

Bendung provokasi penyokong, kata Khairy

Posted: 08 Feb 2014 02:18 AM PST

February 08, 2014

Menteri Belia dan Sukan Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar (gambar) meminta Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) agar segera mencari langkah penyelesaian dalam menangani provokasi melampau penyokong bola sepak tempatan.

Sambil meluahkan kekecewaan terhadap kekecohan yang berlaku antara penyokong Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) dan Pahang di Stadium Darul Makmur, Kuantan malam tadi, beliau berkata FAM perlu menangani perkembangan itu dengan tegas.

"Saya sudah berbincang dengan Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin (Setiausaha Agung FAM) dan beliau memberi jaminan akan menangani isu ini dengan serius. "Saya amat risau dengan apa yang berlaku," katanya kepada pemberita selepas menyampaikan ucaptama pada simposium kepimpinan "National Aspiration and Leadership Symposium" di Kuala Lumpur hari ini.

Berlaku provokasi antara penyokong kedua-dua pasukan sebaik perlawanan tamat yang turut menyebabkan ada penyokong JDT cedera dipercayai akibat terkena balingan objek keras.

Sebelum kira-kira 300 penyokong JDT cuba bertindak balas, Pasukan Simpanan Persekutuan berjaya meleraikan kumpulan terbabit yang cuba menyerbu ke arah kumpulan penyokong Pahang.

Pahang menang tipis 3-2 dalam perlawanan itu. - Bernama, 8 Februari, 2014.

Nalla buat laporan polis, dakwa ada pihak cuba halangnya bertanding di Kajang

Posted: 08 Feb 2014 02:11 AM PST

February 08, 2014

Senator Datuk S. Nallakarupan (gambar) membuat laporan polis mendakwa ada pihak cuba mengganggu dan menghalang beliau daripada bertanding pada pilihan raya kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kajang.

Presiden Parti India Bersatu Malaysia (MUIP) itu, yang diiringi tujuh penyokong, membuat laporan di Balai Polis Daerah Sentul pada 3 petang.

Nallakarupan memaklumkan pemberita laporan itu bagi membolehkan polis menyiasat gangguan terhadapnya yang didakwa bertujuan menghalang hasrat beliau untuk bertanding seperti diumumkan kepada media Selasa lepas.

PRK itu diadakan setelah Anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Kajang Lee Chin Cheh meletak jawatan pada 27 Januari lepas.

Selain Nallakarupan, yang juga Anggota Dewan Negara, Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim menawarkan diri untuk bertanding bagi merebut kerusi DUN Kajang pada 23 Mac ini.

Nallakarupan pernah mendakwa pemimpin pembangkang itu tidak layak menjadi pemimpin atas alasan masalah moral. - Bernama, 8 Februari, 2014.

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The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

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The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

A Copa hard luck for Atletico, while Roma serve an Italian epic

Posted: 07 Feb 2014 03:28 PM PST

February 08, 2014

As a player, Shebby Singh won everything there was to win in Malaysia football, and represented the country on the international stage.

There was some high-intensity Cup action in mid-week in both Spain and Italy, with the matches filled to the brim with delicious, flowing football.

From the derby in Madrid to the drama in Rome, the football proved that both La Liga and Serie A are overflowing with quality and deserving of more attention from football fans.

Atletico shoot themselves in the foot

The Madrid Derby at the Santiago Bernabeu ended in tragedy for Atletico Madrid as they got smacked 3-0 in the first leg of the Copa Del Rey.

Big result for Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti looks set for his chance to win a first trophy with Real Madrid.

Diego Simeone put out a full strength side (minus David Villa, who is out with an injury) but own goals by Emiliano Insua and centreback Miranda, as well as inspired goalkeeping by Iker Casillas have almost certainly cost Simeone a chance to contest a final against Barcelona.

Yes, I know that Barcelona only hold a 2-0 advantage from the first leg at Camp Nou, but it is difficult to envision Real Sociedad scoring two without reply from the Catalans in the return leg next week.

Inigo Martinez's straight red on the stroke of half-time did not help matters, though Barcelona's dominance in possession did not translate into a hatful of goals. Gerard Martino will still be pleased with a clean sheet and victory.

All indications point to a Real Madrid versus Barcelona final and it will be a big test for Carlo Ancelotti and his 4-3-3 formation.

The midfield three of Luka Modric, Xabi Alonso and Angel di Maria do not give the required balance to the team (despite reverting into a 4-4-2 when defending against Atletico) and it is a surprise as to why more teams have not beaten this midfield trio.

Real Madrid's attacking prowess has never been in doubt, though it is highly unlikely that Ancelotti will set out with this identical line-up against Barcelona, be it in the league or cup.

Drama in Rome

Over in Italy, a Gervinho double (let that sink in) lifted Roma to a 3-2 win over Napoli in the first leg of the Coppa Italia.

Rafael Benitez's side found itself 2-0 down within the first 35 minutes, clawing their way back before succumbing to an 88th minute winner.

Going back to Naples with a pair of away goals does make the defeat feel less tragic than the circumstances would seem for Napoli.

Gervinho. Gervinho?!? What can you make of this man with the most questionable hairdo in football?

Taribo West's forfeiture of the title was due to his retirement, but even if he was still an active footballer today, his hairdo would pale in comparison to the enigmatic Ivorian with a mysterious hairline.

The forward who could not shoot straight for Arsenal in England may have just booked the Romans an appearance in the Coppa Italia final.

Perhaps playing with an established playmaker rather than one in the making (Jack Wilshere) has made goal-scoring opportunities easier to come by – an exquisite through ball by Francesco Totti for Gervinho's first suggests this is indeed true.

There was a fantastic array of stars on display in Rome as Napoli contributed to a sparkling game of football.

The composure of Mehdi Benatia in defence and the streetwise Kevin Strootman in midfield are two examples of class that has to be seen to be appreciated, their contributions failing to light up the back pages of newspapers as often as they should.

The Naples outfit, too, showcased the precocious talents of Lorenzo Insigne and Jose Callejon. And mind you, these players do it week in and week out.

Obviously Francesco Totti, Daniele de Rossi, Gonzalo Higuain, Gokhan Inler and Marek Hamsik are already world class and bring their talent to a new level with almost a smirk to the rest of the world.

My advice? We all should watch more Italian football.

Though it is not the dramatic showcase which is the English Premier League, the Serie A has plenty of quality for one who appreciates tactical nuance.

You could also do a lot worse this weekend than to take heed of my advice as third-place Napoli host AC Milan on Saturday night (Sunday, 3.45am) while Roma travel across town for the fiery local derby against Lazio (Sunday, 10pm). – February 8, 2014.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

A Copa hard luck for Atletico, while Roma serve an epic