US writer Philip Roth awarded France’s top honor - ( M4L4YS14 )

France has awarded US writer Philip Roth its highest decoration, the Legion d’honneur (Legion of Honor), with the country’s foreign minister bestowing the award in New York.

At a ceremony on Friday, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, in the Big Apple for the United Nations General Assembly, praised Roth’s prolific career as one of the leading men of American letters.

The distinction, first established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to give recognition to civilians and soldiers, has five degrees and Roth, 80, was given the title of Commander.

“This highest honor is a wonderful surprise,” Roth said. Then, speaking in French, he said that he was “absolutely delighted.”

Fabius, describing Roth’s “huge success” in France, added: “France is giving you back what you have given to my country.”

Roth achieved fame with his sexually explicit novel “Portnoy’s Complaint” in 1969, and is well known for mining the Jewish-American experience as source material for his work.

He is the author of nearly 30 novels, including “The Humbling” (2009) about an aging actor and erotic desire, and “Nemesis,” framed by a 1944 polio epidemic, which was published in 2010.

Roth’s numerous US literary prizes include two National Book Awards, two National Book Critics Circle Awards, three PEN/Faulkner awards, and the 1997 Pulitzer Prize for fiction for “American Pastoral.”

Roth, who told a French magazine in 2012 that he would no longer write fiction, said he studied French when he was a teenager but has since forgotten most of it.

PCA tidak selari dengan hak asasi manusia, kata Suhakam - ( M4L4YS14 )

Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (Suhakam) memandang serius terhadap cadangan pindaan ke atas Akta Pencegahan Penjenayah (PCA) 1959 yang disifatkannya menafikan hak seseorang untuk perwakilan undang-undang seperti yang terjamin di bawah Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan perisytiharan Hak Asasi Manusia Sejagat (UDHR).

Pengerusi Suhakam, Tan Sri Hasmy Agam berkata, pihaknya rasa bimbangnya ke atas cadangan pindaan yang dibentangkan di Dewan Rakyat untuk bacaan kali pertama pada 25 September 2013.

“Setelah mengkaji Rang Undang-undang tersebut, Suruhanjaya berpendapat bahawa terdapat beberapa peruntukan terutama sekali berkenaan dengan penahanan tanpa bicara dan perwakilan undang-undang, yang tidak selari dengan prinsip asas hak asasi manusia seperti yang termaktub di dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan dan Perisytiharan Hak Asasi Manusia Sejagat (UDHR),” kata Hasmy dalam kenyataannya.

Menurutnya, Suhakam juga bimbang dengan cadangan Seksyen 7C yang memberi kuasa kepada Lembaga untuk mengeluarkan perintah tahanan terhadap seseorang yang telah melakukan dua atau lebih kesalahan yang serius, sama ada dia telah disabitkan atau tidak, dan semata-mata berdasarkan kecukupan bukti.

“Suruhanjaya berpendapat bahawa peruntukan ini mencabuli hak seseorang kepada perbicaraan yang adil, perlindungan terhadap perbicaraan berulang serta hak untuk kesaksamaan di sisi undang-undang dan hak untuk dipertimbangkan tidak bersalah sehingga terbukti bersalah, seperti yang diperuntukkan di bawah Perkara 7(2) dan Perkara 8(1) dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan,” katanya.

Pihaknya juga melahirkan rasa kecewa ke atas cadangan Seksyen 15A yang menghalang semakan kehakiman ke atas keputusan Lembaga melainkan perkara-perkara yang berkenaan prosedur seterusnya menafikan hak seseorang individu untuk mendapatkan perbicaraan yang adil di mahkamah dengan segala jaminan yang perlu untuk pembelaannya.

Dalam usaha Kerajaan memerangi jenayah, adalah penting untuknya memastikan bahawa undang-undang yang digubal adalah progresif dan tidak mundur, menyedari akan kedudukan Malaysia sebagai ahli kepada Majlis Hak Asasi Manusia Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa yang mengkehendakinya menegakkan piawaian tertinggi dalam mempromosi dan melindungi hak asasi manusia di negara ini.

Oleh itu, katanya, suruhanjaya berpendapat adalah penting untuk Kerajaan menangguhkan pembentangan kali kedua rang undang-undang tersebut dan menjalankan kajian semula ke atas cadangan-cadangan pindaan dengan mengambil kira prinsip-prinsip hak asasi manusia berikut

• Bahawa penahanan tidak boleh dibuat sewenang-wenangnya;

• Bahawa penahanan mestilah berdasarkan sebab dan prosedur yang ditetapkan oleh undang-undang;

• Bahawa maklumat tentang sebab-sebab penahanan mesti diperuntukkan; dan

• Bahawa hak untuk perbicaraan yang adil dan akses kepada perwakilan undang-undang mesti diperuntukkan.

Menurut Hasmy, suruhanjaya berpendapat bahawa selaras dengan matlamat ternyata Kerajaan untuk menggerakkan negara ke arah mencapai status negara maju pada masa akan datang, adalah penting untuk Malaysia menunjukkan pematuhan sepenuhnya dengan norma-norma hak asasi manusia di samping memastikan penglibatan yang bermakna bersama pelbagai pihak berkepentingan di dalam proses kajian semula undang-undang dan perancangan dasar yang mana Kerajaan komited untuk menjalankan. – 28 September, 2013.

Take lesson on law before making “foolish remarks”, Gobind tells Home Minister - ( M4L4YS14 )

By saying that the Prevention of Crime Act had no provision for detention without trial, the Home Minister has proven to be a “shallow” person, said a DAP MP.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo (pic) said Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi should take lessons on legislation from the Attorney-General before making “foolish remarks” about the proposed amendments to the PCA.

In a forum earlier today, Ahmad Zahid said that lawyers of those arrested under the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) can challenge their clients’ detention in court.

Insisting that the proposed amendments to the law will not be the same as the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), which was abolished in 2011, the home minister said the PCA “does not allow detention without trial”.

“There is still legal remedy for them. They can appeal to the High Court,” he said.

Calling Ahmad Zahid’s statement “laughable”, Gobind clarified that there is a vast difference between a right to trial and a right to judicial review.

“A trial means a hearing which relates to the merits or reasons for detention. Will detainees have that, an opportunity to defend themselves, against the allegations levelled against them in court under the proposed amendments to the PCA?

“I would like to ask Zahid what trial he is talking about?” the MP said.

Gobind explained that the proposed amendments provided for the court to be allowed to review the detention from a viewpoint of whether or not the procedure in making the order has been complied with.

Noting that the provision was exactly the same as in the ISA and Emergency Ordinance (EO) which were abolished in 2011, Gobind pointed out that the AG, Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, had also criticised it as an abuse of human rights, which was an affront to the Federal Constitution.

“He should have some guts and accept that the PCA amendments revert back to preventive detention which is detention without trial and deal with the issue head on,” Gobind added.

On Wednesday, Putrajaya tabled the proposed amendments to the PCA to give it the power to detain hardcore criminals for up to two years without trial.

Ahmad Zahid immediately described the PCA and the related 10 Bills up for amendment as “transformation”.

“You are wrong if you say it’s draconian,” he said in Parliament, countering opposition claims that the Act was similar to the repealed ISA and EO.

The proposed amendments exclude the provision of judicial review, except for procedural measures.

Presently, under the PCA, suspects can be detained up to 72 days. However, it is required that they be produced in court at certain stages during the 72-day detention. It was effectively used before the ISA was enacted decades ago. – September 28, 2013.

Kate Moss ‘gives love advice’ - ( M4L4YS14 )

Kate Moss has reportedly advised Russell Brand’s new girlfriend to be careful.

The British supermodel is close friends with writer and campaigner Jemima Khan, who is currently dating the comedian.

After Russell openly commented about his short-lived marriage to pop star Katy Perry, such as joking he would think of “anyone else” during intimate moments, Kate is thought to have given Jemima a heads up on what could possibly come from their relationship.

“I think Kate will have warned Jemima that she needs to be careful she doesn’t end up in one of Russell’s infamous kiss and tells,” a close pal told British magazine Look. “He isn’t one to keep his love life private and can be incredibly indiscreet – unlike Jemima, who has worked hard to avoid anything like that.”

Kate apparently believed it was appropriate to give her friend some helpful tips before Jemima ventured into anything serious.

Russell has been spotted with a string of women following his divorce, including former Spice Girl singer Geri Halliwell.

“Kate and Jemima are famously close. They’ve been friends for almost a decade,” the insider added. “So when Kate realised Jemima was growing closer to Russell, I imagine she will have called to give her some friendly advice.”

The comic actor has reportedly already been banned from London members club No 5 Hertford St. by Jemima’s half-brother Robin Birley. It is thought Robin is embarrassed by Russell’s involvement with his half-sibling.

“Robin had no idea Jemima was dating Russell until he saw pictures of them together. He told his friends and family he was ‘mortified’,” a source told MailOnline. “He doesn’t think it is appropriate for his sister to be dating someone like Russell.”

© Cover Media

Bekas tahanan Simpang Renggam ditemui dibunuh dengan kejam – Bernama - ( M4L4YS14 )

Seorang lelaki bekas tahanan Simpang Renggam ditemui mati, dipercayai dibunuh dengan kejam, di Jalan Oya Lama pagi ini.

Ketua Polis Daerah Sibu ACP Shafie Ismail berkata mangsa dikenali sebagai Ting Liong Kwong, 38.

“Mayatnya ditemui dalam sebuah van yang dipercayai ditinggalkan di kawasan itu sejak semalam.

“Polis telah mendapat maklumat daripada orang ramai pada jam 9 pagi,” katanya kepada pemberita di sini.

Beliau berkata pemeriksaan awal polis menemui kesan tusukan benda tajam pada muka dan badan mangsa namun tiada kesan pergelutan.

Shafie berkata polis percaya mangsa telah mati dalam 12 jam lepas dan siasatan lanjut akan dijalankan bagi menentukan sama ada mangsa dibunuh dalam van atau di tempat lain, serta puncanya.

“Kita akan menyiasat kes di bawah Seksyen 302 kanun Keseksaan. Polis akan menunggu laporan bedah siasat untuk mengenal pasti punca kematian dan jenis senjata yang diguna,” katanya.

Beliau juga berkata tiada nombor pendaftaran dan cukai jalan ditemui pada van itu, yang dilapor hilang di Sibujaya pada 12 April lepas. – Bernama, 28 September, 2013.

Stylish Harry Styles - ( M4L4YS14 )

Harry Styles is in high demand with fashion brands thanks to his “credibility”.

The One Direction heartthrob is a style icon who was a regular at the recent round of London Fashion Week shows. He was spotted front row at Burberry Prorsum and House of Holland, with designers now vying to get him in their clothes in an effort to attract new fans.

“His friendships with the likes of Kate Moss give him a credibility that the other boys lack, and when he wears a high-end item or attends a show, it guarantees money-can’t-buy publicity,” an insider told Heat magazine.

Harry cemented his style credentials by wearing the shirt of the moment to the One Direction: This Is Us premiere in London earlier this year. The Burberry top was black with a heart pattern and has been seen on the likes of Victoria Beckham.

The singer has hordes of female fans who look to him for fashion inspiration, but his friendships with hip celebrities also makes him popular with boys. He is known to hang around with Daisy Lowe, Kelly Osbourne and Sienna Miller and is even rumoured to be romancing model-of-the-minute Cara Delevingne.

“Harry is the coolest member of One Direction by a mile, with the broadest appeal,” the source added.

Any true fashionista knows the trick to staying at the top of the fashion pack is to mix things up. It’s something Harry is familiar with and he recently hinted he might be ready for a restyle of his famous curly locks.

“I might bleach my hair… yeah, I’ll go blonde!” he laughed earlier this month.

© Cover Media

Kim ‘stressed about Kanye trial’ - ( M4L4YS14 )

Kim Kardashian is reportedly worried Kanye West will be sent to jail.

The rapper is due in court next month over an altercation with photographer Daniel Ramos, who claims Kanye “punched him and threw his camera to the ground”.

Kim is said to be worried about the verdict from the case, especially since the couple now have daughter North to look after. She fears her beau may be given a severe punishment and that she will be left to look after the tot alone.

“Kim is really upset. She’s been sobbing to Kanye, saying she needs his support with North,” an insider told British magazine Closer. “She’s been insisting that she can’t cope on her own and is so worried the judge will make an example of the rapper, especially considering his previous outburst.”

Kanye’s violent reaction follows a similar incident in 2008. He was arrested for destroying a paparazzo’s camera at LAX airport, but charges were dropped shortly after.

Kim is also reportedly upset due to the timing of her boyfriend’s trial. The couple are setting up a family home in Bel Air and the reality star allegedly believes this upheaval could affect their future together.

“Just when things were starting to get better and her relationship with Kanye was back on track, everything seems to be falling apart again,” a close friend added. “Their home won’t be ready until February and Kim’s scared she’ll be moving in alone. Kanye’s acting very cocky, saying he’ll be sure to get off, but Kim’s not impressed with his attitude.”

© Cover Media