Regarded as Malaysia’s premier short film competition, it has been hailed to make a difference. The competition is a cultural initiative by BMW Malaysia to identify, cultivate and support budding talents from the Malaysian society. For all those who interested, all you need to do is just make a short film, with no more than 10 minutes, around the theme “Joy” and submit it. You might just win it and grab a cash grant of RM75,000 to produce your own short film. There are no limits on the medium you use, be it an animation, a documentary or even a homage to the classic films.

More of the BMW Shorties 2011 entry details will be made available on tomorrow, 8th SEPT 2011. A Gala Premiere of “Memoria”, the BMW Malaysia funded production by BMW Shorties 2010 winner Chen Yih Wen will be held on 16th SEPT 2011 while the ever popular BMW Shorties Judges Clinic is scheduled to be held on 1st Oct 2011.

Please head on to the official Facebook page to find out the latest info and the full competition rules of BMW Shorties 2011.

Volkswagen is the original and biggest-selling marque of the German automobile manufacturer, Volkswagen Group, which now also owns Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, Skoda and truck manufacturer Scania. Volkswagen means “people’s car” in German. Its current tagline is Das Auto, which means “the car” in English.

This unique and dynamic show will be held in a one-of-a-kind Dome, specially built for this event. Come together with your friends and family, you’re all invited for a Volkswagen experience like no other!

Miss Universe is first bought by real estate tycoon Donald Trump in 1996, which later relocated the organization headquarters from Los Angeles to New York City. This year’s event has three categories of selection: swimsuit, evening gown and interviewing. Apart from the pageant’s routine programmes, candidates have also been keeping busy with philanthropic activities, as well as the Formula One racetrack events.

To get more latest updates of the contestants’ activities for Miss Universe 2011, please head on to HERE. You may also check out at HERE or HERE for more pictures of this year’s beauties.

Fellow Malaysians may also have a chance to share the excitement of this one of the event of the year. All you need to do is just predict your Top-5 finalist of Miss Universe 2011 at HERE and the closest Top-5 answer will win yourself a pair of tickets to the Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 grand finale which will be held on 10th NOV 2011. Check out my personal’s choices of the Top-5 finalist for this year’s pageant after the jump:

Miss Denmark Sandra Amer

Miss Egypt Sara El Khouly

Miss Korea Sora Chong

Miss Peru Natalie Vertiz

Miss Thailand Chanyasorn Sakornchan

The coin’s design draws inspiration from the distinct elements that define Malaysian heritage and culture. The theme Distinctly Malaysia features motifs like the jasmine and hibiscus flowers and weaving patterns of the indigenous people. The motif for the new coins series feature 14 dots representing the 13 states and the Federal Territory, together with five horizontal lines representing the five principles of the Rukun Negara. The new series of coins embodies the latest advancements in minting technology which incorporates improved counterfeit resistance security features. The new metal alloy used for minting has enhanced durability against wear and corrosion. Check out the technical specifications of Malaysia new coins series after the jump:

BNM will work closely with financial institutions, businesses and cash handling vendors to ensure a smooth transition to the new series. Vendors of cash handling machines will be given six months to calibrate their machines to ensure convenience for the use of the new coins.

The commemorative coins available at BNM headquarters and its branches since the launch of this new coins series. The 500,000 sets comprising all the coin denominations with special packaging will be sold in stages to the public at RM10 per set. Besides the coins, BNM also will issue the new Fourth Series banknotes in coming September, to be launched by Malaysia Prime Minister.

Do you know what exactly is our kidneys do for our body? Kidneys serve a very important function in the human body, mainly to remove toxins and excess water from our blood. They help to control our blood pressure and red blood cell production and keep our bones healthy.

This year’s campaign focuses on the theme “Protect your kidneys: Control diabetes”. Diabetes is one of the major contributing factors for kidney failure and is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease.

You can check out at HERE for more details about this annual campaign.

1. eBulding
2. Airzed
3. Arcnet NTT MSC Sdn Bhd
4. Atlas One Broadband Internet Provider
5. Biz Surf – Broadband Internet services
6. Celcom
7. Digi
8. Giga Broadband VDSL
9. Gold Information Systems Wireless broadband provider
10. iDiGi Internet Services
11. iZZi – Mobile wireless broadband, iBurst
12. Jaring
13. Maxis Broadband
14. Metro FON
15. NasionCom
16. Penang FON
17. PutraNet
18. Time Net
19. Time Broadband
20. TMnet
21. TMnet Streamyx
22. Webbit – Time Wireless Broadband
23. ZapZone Wireless Hotspot
24. Netlynx by TIME dotCom Berhad
25. Packet One
26. InfoLient
27. Amax
28. TIME Netlynx
29. UMobile
30. Lightspeed Broadband
31. MyKris
32. ASIASPACE SDN. BHD.

NOTE: Above providers list was just for reference and it might have other service providers in the market.

[Source The Danesh Project and Planet Low Yat]

If you want to take your awareness raising a step further, you can try finding a local event to take part in. Around the world there are hundreds of activities taking place to mark World AIDS Day, including candlelight vigils, art shows, marches and religious services.

To learn more about what is happening around the world, or to list any events that you may be holding locally on this year’s World AIDS Day, please visit the WAC’s events calendar. To look for more ways to face AIDS on World AIDS Day, you can check out at AIDS.gov.

World AIDS Day 2009′s promo video by AVERT

• Sir Bob Geldof – founder of Live Aid and Live 8
• Biz Stone – co-founder of Twitter
• Randi Zuckerberg – Director of market development at Facebook
• Amitabh Bachchan – Bollywood star and TV host of Kaun Banega Crorepati
• Dr. Mamphela Ramphele - former managing director of the World Bank
• Dato’ Seri Tony Fernandes – entrepreneur and founder of AirAsia
• Nando Parrado – survivor of the 1972 airplane crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571
• Garry Kasparov – Chess Grandmaster and political activst
• Lorraine Hahn – noted former presenter of CNN and CNBC
• Long Yongtu – former Vice Minister of Trade in China
• Yashwant Sina – Finance Minister of India (1998-2002)
• David Magliano – Director of Marketing for London 2012

For more details of this summit and those interested to attend YES 2009, please check out at www.yes2009.asia/index2.php.

Since 1981, World Food Day has adopted a different theme each year, in order to highlight areas needed for action and provide a common focus. This year’s theme is “Achieving Food Security In Time Of Crisis”. Below shows the themes for previous year since 1981:
1981 – Food Comes First
1982 – Food Comes First
1983 – Food Security
1084 – Women In Agriculture
1985 – Rural Poverty
1986 – Fishermen And Fishing Communities
1987 – Small Farmers
1988 – Rural Youth
1989 – Food And The Environment
1990 – Food For The Future
1991 – Trees For Life
1992 – Food And Nutrition
1993 – Harvesting Nature’s Diversity
1994 – Water For Life
1995 – Food For All
1996 – Fighting Hunger And Malnutrition
1997 – Investing In Food Security
1998 – Women Feed The World
1999 – Youth Against Hunger
2000 – A Millennium Free From Hunger
2001 – Fight Hunger To Reduce Poverty
2002 – Water: Source Of Food Security
2003 – Working Together For An International Alliance Against Hunger
2004 – Biodiversity For Food Security
2005 – Agriculture And Intercultural Dialogue
2006 – Investing In Agriculture For Food Security
2007 – The Right To Food
2008 – World Food Security: The Challenge Of Climate Change And Bioenergy

For more details of this year event, please click at www.fao.org/getinvolved/worldfoodday/en.

Warren Buffett, America’s second-richest citizen, hurts the most. The Oracle of Omaha dropped US$10 billion from his personal balance sheet as shares of Berkshire Hathaway fell 20% in 12 months. He is now worth US$40 billion. Beating out Buffett for the 16th straight year as America’s richest man is Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Sluggish Microsoft shares and declining outside investments pushed the software visionary’s net worth down US$7 billion in 12 months. The top-10 richest Americans lost a combined US$39.2 billion in the past 12 months, a 14% decline.

The biggest gainer is banker Andrew Beal, who tripled his net worth to US$4.5 billion buying up cheap loans and assets as the markets crumbled last fall. Membership on the list was made easier as the price of admission dropped US$350 million, from US$1.3 billion last year to US$950 million this year, paving the way for 19 new members and 19 returnees.

Newcomers to the list include Marvel Entertainment chief Isaac Perlmutter, whose net worth soared to US$1.55 billion after Disney agreed to buy the superhero outfit in August for US$4 billion in cash and stock. Other new members include Bloomberg LP co-founder Charles Zegar (US$1 billion), mapping-software magnate Jack Dangermond (US$2 billion) and trading titan Steven Schonfeld (US$1 billion). You can check out the top-24 of the ranking list below:

The complete list can be found at www.forbes.com/lists/2009/54/rich-list-09_The-400-Richest-Americans_Rank.html. You can also check out for more details of each of The Forbes 400 Richest Americans 2009 at www.forbes.com/2009/09/29/forbes-400_rich-list-09_all_slide_2.html.