Latest news with #TomWright
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
‘Billion Dollar Whale' co-author slams Tim Leissner's light jail sentence
Former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner (left) at the US district court in New York yesterday for his sentencing hearing. (AFP pic) PETALING JAYA : US-based journalist Tom Wright, who co-authored the 'Billion Dollar Whale', has criticised the two-year sentence handed down to a former Goldman Sachs banker for his role in the 1MDB scandal. On X, Wright said the sentence 'is no justice'. Earlier today, Tim Leissner, a former employee of the investment bank was sentenced to jail by a New York court. Leissner, a former Southeast Asia chairman for Goldman Sachs, pleaded guilty in 2018 to a conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and participating in a money laundering conspiracy, all tied to his role in the 1MDB scandal. Wright said Leissner should have been sentenced for a longer period and suggested that his two-year sentence was in view of the cooperation he had given to get Roger Ng, another former Goldman Sachs banker 'sent to jail'. 'But that is punching down.' Separately, in his weekly newsletter, 'Whale Hunting', Wright wondered if justice had been served as regards Goldman Sachs's role in helping steal billions of dollars. 'Not by a long shot.' Goldman had helped sell US$6.5 billion of bonds for 1MDB, an investment arm set up by former prime minister Najib Razak, with the help of fugitive financier, Low Taek Jho or Jho Low, the central figure in Wright's book. Leissner later became a US government witness in the case after his arrest in 2018 and testified against Ng.
Korea Herald
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
'The Rising World' - a message-driven opera that wades through cloudy narrative
While not perfect, 'The Rising World' marks a bold and promising step for the Seoul Arts Center. "Tick, tick, tick, tick ..." A chorus encircles a giant ticking clock as they chant. Inside is a figure -- an artisan who sacrifices herself to restore order. Her act saves the princess and many others from a world submerged by water. What follows, the scene shows, is left to those who remain. One might read this as an allegory -- a warning about climate change, or a meditation on the power of unconditional sacrifice. In its first-ever original opera production, the Seoul Arts Center on Sunday premiered 'The Rising World,' composed by Mary Finsterer with a libretto by Tom Wright. While the music -- performed by the cast and the Korean National Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Steven Osgood -- was solidly executed, the narrative's arrival at that core message required the audience to wade through water -- slow and murky. The new opera presents a female-driven drama performed by top singers, soprano Hwang Soo-mi and mezzo-soprano Kim Jung-mi, set in an imaginative world that suffers from rising water after the princess becomes possessed by a water spirit. It offers no explanation of why the princess is possessed. That lack of exposition might have been forgivable -- even compelling -- had the narrative flowed with greater emotional momentum. A dramatic scene in which court advisers argue over how to handle the princess' possession stretches on without a dramatic payoff. One wonders if, with tonal variation -- even humor -- this segment could have landed more effectively. Musically, the score feels accessible and at times gently textured. Fluidity runs through the opera, echoing the motif of water throughout its orchestration, but it falls short of a powerful moment of catharsis. Visually, the aesthetic of the set and costumes evokes Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" -- a world defined by slate grays and deep blues. The stage is minimal yet symbolic, evoking ancient ruins. With this work, the Seoul Arts Center signals its ambition to reach global audiences through an English-language opera, backed by an international creative team -- including director Stephen Carr, who ensured that the production also incorporated culturally resonant elements for Korean audiences, such as traditional jars, the melancholic twang of the geomungo, and chants delivered in Korean. "The Rising World" will be presented two more times on May 29 and 31. gypark@
Time Out Dubai
16-05-2025
- Time Out Dubai
Burj Al Arab: 14 photos showing napkin sketch to 'seven star' hotel
Opened on December 1, 1999, the Burj Al Arab has since become one of Dubai's most iconic landmarks With its eye-catching dhow sail design and its own man-made island, it continues to be one of the must-see attractions in the city, and pictures of it have filled up many a camera roll over the years. For such a glamourous piece of architecture, its origins are far more humble with the initial sketches being doodled on a restaurant napkin by architect Tom Wright back in October 1993. The design was a spontaneous one that the architect came up with when he spotted one of the emirate's distinctive dhow boats sailing nearby while at the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club. The brief from the Dubai Ruler's office was to 'create an identifiable link for people around the world with the UAE' according to the designers WS Atkins. The first sketch of the Burj Al Arab was made on a restaurant napkin in 1993 (Credit: Jumeirah) The initial recognisable sketch of Burj Al Arab would have placed it on the beach, which would have meant that the shadow of the tower would have affected local people living nearby. Instead, the royal family of Dubai ultimately decided to move the hotel to an island site. Back in the early 1990s, the beach was known locally as the Chicago Beach and the project started life as a replacement for the existing Chicago Beach Hotel. Eventually, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum decided on the name of Burj Al Arab. A literal translation means 'the tower of Arabs' which reflects the original vision of the Dubai rulers for the hotel. Construction began not long after the original design was doodled on a napkin with building underway in 1994. A team of the best international designers and project managers from all over the world was assembled to manage the design and construction of the 321 metre tall luxury hotel. The Burj Al Arab became a Jumeirah project when the group was established in 1997. A man-made island was constructed in order to build the Burj Al Arab (Credit: Jumeirah) Burj Al Arab under construction in the 1990s (Credit: June G) (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) The iconic dhow sail arrives at the Burj Al Arab (Credit: Jumeirah) Construction of the Burj Al Arab was initially kept under wraps, with not a peep until the world's media were told of the project at the World Travel Market Expo in November 1995. Somehow, no images were leaked at this time despite the scale of the project. All told, it took five years to build the Burj Al Arab with the man-made island taking up two of them. You might also like: Here's how to eat at 11 expensive Dubai restaurants for less Upon completion, a visiting journalist was famously so overwhelmed by the design of the hotel that she declared it must be rated seven stars out of the maximum five. Jumeirah, the owners of the hotel are quite content with its well-earned five stars and have never claimed it to be a seven-star hotel. (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) The interiors of the hotel are the epitome of Dubai luxury with more than 30 different types of Statuario marble – the same marble that was used by Michelangelo in his famous sculptures – used in the walls and flooring. Approximately 1,790sqm of 24-carat gold leaf was used to embellish the interior and an estimated 86,500 individual hand-fixed pieces of Swarovski crystals have been etched into the frame of the mirror in the Junsui bar and the entrance. Skyview Bar once served what was at the time the world's most expensive mixed drink: the 27.321 (inspired by the bar's location on the 27th floor, 321 metres high) which cost Dhs27,321. (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) (Credit: Jumeirah) Since opening in 1999, the hotel has played host to a number of iconic Dubai moments. The helipad has been repurposed as a sports venue on multiple occasions with golf legend Tiger Woods teeing off it in 2004 before Roger Federer rallied against Andre Agassi in 2005 to promote the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. Formula 1 driver David Coulthard also took to the helipad in a Red Bull car to perform doughnuts on the iconic building. Burj Al Arab as we know it today (Credit: Jumeirah) Thomas Meier, Chief Operating Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer of Jumeirah, said that welcoming travellers remains at the heart of what the hotel group does: 'As we celebrate 25 years since we opened the iconic Jumeirah Burj Al Arab, we reflect on our legacy of excellence in luxury hospitality, inspired by the warmth and generosity of Arabian culture. 'This tradition of welcoming travellers to stay and share in culture and conversation is at the heart of our vision: to create not just beautiful destinations but spaces to connect the world.' Looking for things to do in Dubai? 112 best things to do in Dubai in 2025 Everything to tick off your Dubai bucket list 50 free things to do in Dubai Feeling the pinch? Enter free things to do Here's how to eat at 10 expensive Dubai restaurants for less Early bird dinners, lunch specials and more
The Star
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-Another piece of the Wallabies jigsaw in place as Wright extends
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - Wales v Australia - Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - November 17, 2024 Australia's Tom Wright celebrates scoring a try REUTERS/Molly Darlington/File Photo SYDNEY (Reuters) -Rugby Australia locked in another of the players they hope will help the Wallabies to success against the British & Irish Lions and at the 2027 World Cup when fullback Tom Wright extended his contract for another three years on Friday. Wright, a dynamic ball carrier who played 12 tests in the number 15 shirt last year, was courted by rugby league clubs looking to entice him back to the 13-man game as well as by overseas union sides but decided to stay put. "There's definitely so much to look forward to, and it definitely played a part," the 27-year-old told reporters in Canberra. "Guys' careers can pan over a certain amount of time, and it just doesn't fall at the same time that a Lions series does. A few years ago, I probably didn't appreciate how awesome that opportunity might be ... to don the jersey against the Lions. "With it being so close now, you sort of get the taste for that atmosphere starting to build, and how much hype there is around, and similarly with a home World Cup ..." Wright played rugby league professionally after school before making the switch back to union with the ACT Brumbies and said the desire to remain in Canberra with his young family was another big attraction. Under Director of High Performance Peter Horne, Rugby Australia have been remarkably successful this year in securing the services of a number of top players through 2027 and beyond. Wright joins Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Fraser McReight, Nick Frost, Harry Wilson, Jeremy Williams, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Matt Philip, Isaac Kailea and Lachlan Lonergan in committing his future to Australia. "Tom has developed into an excellent outside back," Horne said in a RA statement. "He has established himself as a consistent and popular member of the Wallabies squad and we feel he is entering the prime of his career as a test player." Australia host the Lions in three tests at the end of July and start of August. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Another piece of the Wallabies jigsaw in place as Wright extends
Another piece of the Wallabies jigsaw in place as Wright extends SYDNEY - Rugby Australia locked in another of the players they hope will help the Wallabies to success against the British & Irish Lions and at the 2027 World Cup when fullback Tom Wright extended his contract for another three years on Friday. Wright, a dynamic ball carrier who played 12 tests in the number 15 shirt last year, was courted by rugby league clubs looking to entice him back to the 13-man game as well as by overseas union sides but decided to stay put. "There's definitely so much to look forward to, and it definitely played a part," the 27-year-old told reporters in Canberra. "Guys' careers can pan over a certain amount of time, and it just doesn't fall at the same time that a Lions series does. A few years ago, I probably didn't appreciate how awesome that opportunity might be ... to don the jersey against the Lions. "With it being so close now, you sort of get the taste for that atmosphere starting to build, and how much hype there is around, and similarly with a home World Cup ..." Wright played rugby league professionally after school before making the switch back to union with the ACT Brumbies and said the desire to remain in Canberra with his young family was another big attraction. Under Director of High Performance Peter Horne, Rugby Australia have been remarkably successful this year in securing the services of a number of top players through 2027 and beyond. Wright joins Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Fraser McReight, Nick Frost, Harry Wilson, Jeremy Williams, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Matt Philip, Isaac Kailea and Lachlan Lonergan in committing his future to Australia. "Tom has developed into an excellent outside back," Horne said in a RA statement. "He has established himself as a consistent and popular member of the Wallabies squad and we feel he is entering the prime of his career as a test player." Australia host the Lions in three tests at the end of July and start of August. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
