Saturday, January 25

Month: November 2023

Ian Fleming: The Man Behind the Spy
4Nov By Webmaster IKON MalaysiaNo Comments
Culture

Ian Fleming: The Man Behind the Spy

Nicholas Shakespeare's classy biography of the James Bond creator, Ian Fleming, dives into the life of the man who gave us the iconic 007. But it's not just about Bond; it's about the intriguing fellow behind the spy novels. Shakespeare tantalisingly hints at Fleming being a "complete man" during his stint with British naval intelligence in World War II. Now, that's quite the pitch, right? Are we about to uncover juicy bits left out in previous bios like John Pearson's compact authorised version from 1966? Fleming, also known as "Flemingway" by his pal Noël Coward, wasn't just a writer. He dabbled in journalism, stockbroking, and led a life akin to his famous creation – a playboy who puffed away 70 cigarettes a day. Sadly, he passed away at just 56 during a plagiarism row over h...
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Real Life Iron Man Inspired Mansion
4Nov By Webmaster IKON MalaysiaNo Comments
Lifestyle

Real Life Iron Man Inspired Mansion

Hey Marvel fans! Remember Tony Stark's epic Malibu house perched on the cliff? Well, guess what? You can actually live it up in South Africa! They call it the "Iron Man Villa" in Clifton, Cape Town. According to local architecture firm Peerutin Karol, it's a "futuristic architectural masterpiece" paying homage to American Architects' finest works. Situated on Clifton’s Nettleton Ridge, it's in one of Cape Town's swankiest neighborhoods, and let's be real, probably one of the most envy-inducing spots on the globe. Now, here's the kicker - this six-bedroom villa can host up to 12 lucky folks for a 'mere' $20,000 a night. The big question is, if you had the cash, would you go all in for a night in the Tony Stark-inspired digs? Watch the video below for a tour of the house. ...
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Former ‘Crypto King’ Sam Bankman-Fried Found Guilty of Fraud and Money Laundering
4Nov By Webmaster IKON MalaysiaNo Comments
Finance

Former ‘Crypto King’ Sam Bankman-Fried Found Guilty of Fraud and Money Laundering

Once hailed as the 'King of Crypto', Sam Bankman-Fried, the former head of major crypto exchange FTX, has been convicted of fraud and money laundering in a New York trial. This marks a dramatic downfall for the 31-year-old, who now faces the prospect of spending decades behind bars. Bankman-Fried's arrest came after FTX, once valued at $32 billion, declared bankruptcy last year with $8 billion in customer funds unaccounted for. US attorney Damian Williams stated, "Sam Bankman-Fried perpetrated one of the biggest financial frauds in American history - a multibillion-dollar scheme designed to make him the king of crypto." The jury found Bankman-Fried guilty on seven counts of fraud and money laundering, accusing him of deceiving investors and embezzling billions from FTX, leadi...
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“Pepper X” Takes the Crown as the World’s Hottest Pepper
4Nov By Webmaster IKON MalaysiaNo Comments
Lifestyle

“Pepper X” Takes the Crown as the World’s Hottest Pepper

In a fiery upset, Guinness World Records has officially declared "Pepper X" as the hottest chili pepper on the planet, unseating the Carolina Reaper after a decade of reign. Ed Currie, the mastermind behind both record-breaking peppers, proudly shared, "This was a team effort. We knew we had something special, so I only let a few of my closest family and friends know what was really going on." After a decade of meticulous cultivation on his South Carolina farm, Mr. Currie remained tight-lipped about his project to safeguard his intellectual property. As a result, Pepper X pods and seeds will not be available for sale. Laboratory tests conducted at Winthrop University in South Carolina revealed that Pepper X boasts an average of 2,693,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU), a staggerin...
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Luxury goods tax to roll out on May 1 next year
3Nov By Webmaster IKON MalaysiaNo Comments
Life Style

Luxury goods tax to roll out on May 1 next year

The new luxury goods tax will take effect on May 1 next year, says Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said the specifics regarding the implementation mechanism, types of goods applicable, and the tax rates on high-value items will be disclosed once the details are finalised and approved by the Cabinet. “At this time, the finance ministry is in the final stages of completing the tax policy and legislation,” he said in a written parliamentary reply. “The process of policy determination and legislation drafting has taken into account input received from various stakeholders through engagement sessions conducted by the finance ministry and the customs department.” Anwar was responding to Chong Zhemin (PH-Kampar), who asked if the luxury good...
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Anthony Loke: Govt examining new implementation model for KL-Singapore HSR project
3Nov By Webmaster IKON MalaysiaNo Comments
Business

Anthony Loke: Govt examining new implementation model for KL-Singapore HSR project

The government is examining a new implementation model for the proposed Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High-Speed Rail (HSR) project, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. He said it includes a new financing model to determine whether any private parties are interested in covering the cost of the project, system management and the operation of the HSR. “Malaysia, through MyHSR Corp, has issued an RFI (request for information) and a number of companies have expressed interest and have submitted paperwork; some have also requested more time to finalise their proposal. “The bilateral agreement with Singapore was terminated during Pagoh time (when Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was the prime minister). Compensation has been given, so now we are free to determine a new direction. “That’s why...
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AirAsia Secures RM29.7 Million Charter Deal for UNIFIL Deployment in Beirut
3Nov By Webmaster IKON MalaysiaNo Comments
Business

AirAsia Secures RM29.7 Million Charter Deal for UNIFIL Deployment in Beirut

AirAsia Bhd (AAB) has recently inked a Passenger Charter and Ancillary Services Agreement with its affiliate, AirAsia X Bhd (AAX). Under this agreement, AAX will be responsible for handling passenger charter services and ancillary provisions for the deployment of the Malaysian Battalion 850 UNIFIL (Malbatt) to Beirut, Lebanon. The contract is valued at RM29.7 million. Capital A Bhd, in a disclosure to Bursa Malaysia, stated that its wholly owned subsidiary, AAB, successfully secured the tender for the charter operation. The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) awarded AAB the contract for a period of three years, commencing from October 1, 2023, and concluding on September 30, 2026. As per the terms outlined in the letter of acceptance, AAB is set to conduct 12 round-trip charter flights, ...
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Laugh Your Way to Better Stock Performance: CEOs’ Humor Boosts Share Prices, Study Finds
3Nov By Webmaster IKON MalaysiaNo Comments
Business

Laugh Your Way to Better Stock Performance: CEOs’ Humor Boosts Share Prices, Study Finds

CEOs may need to add humor to their repertoire, as a recent study published in the Review of Accounting Studies suggests that cracking a joke during earnings calls can lead to a positive impact on a company's stock price. Using machine-learning tools to analyze nearly 12,000 earnings calls, the research found that humor from executives could elicit a more favorable immediate market response. The paper's authors, Andrew Call, Rachel Flam, Joshua Lee, and Nathan Sharp, noted that when managers incorporate humor during earnings calls, it can result in more positive stock market returns and analyst forecast revisions, particularly when delivering negative earnings news. The use of humor was found to be significantly associated with the immediate market reaction, subsequent analyst beha...
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