Latest news with #Shin

The Star
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
High-grade, single-ranch wagyu
DISTINGUISHING itself among the exalted ranks of Japanese premium beef is a variety with exceptional tenderness and richer umami flavours – Shimomuragyu. The award-winning beef derives from purebred cattle raised only on one ranch in Aichi Prefecture and has distinct marbling that results in a luscious, melt-in-the-mouth texture. Savouring it can be a transcendent experience, as gourmands in Penang have discovered after the opening of Yakiniku Tenshin in Gurney Paragon Mall. The restaurant – which one enters via a photogenic tunnel of torii gates – serves A5 (the highest grade) Shimomuragyu. The Shimomuragyu and caviar is a decadent pairing. Shimomuragyu has won the prestigious Aichi Prefecture Wagyu Competition for 10 consecutive years, among many other accolades. Diners can order unlimited portions for a fixed price. Most cuts are meant to be grilled over charcoal in sunken pits built into tables. Besides imparting pleasant smokiness, this also renders the beef's fine intramuscular fat well, creating delicate buttery notes without being overly greasy. Yakiniku Tenshin director Ng Wei Shen said the ethical husbandry practices employed at the source, Shimomura Farm, set this beef apart from other premium varieties. The cattle are fed a specialised, high-energy diet for over 600 days in a low-stress environment. This results in much higher levels of glutamic acid, the compound behind umami notes. The richly marbled cuts of Shimomuragyu have subtle nuances in flavour and texture. 'Coupled with our meticulous preparation, it results in an exquisite culinary experience for discerning palates,' Ng said. The restaurant offers two buffet options – the mid-range Ten and the premium-tier Shin, which offer over 100 and 140 items respectively. Ten's highlights include the Yakiniku Kiku and Yakiniku Takumi platters with several cuts of the Shimomuragyu alongside vegetables or seafood. 'We slice the beef at just the right thickness for the best mouthfeel. 'This allows its inherent qualities to shine,' Ng said, adding that cuts are also labelled for identification. Exploring their subtle nuances can be a tasty adventure, much like delving into the complexities of wines, spirits or cheeses. The highly marbled short plate and short ribs have luscious buttery qualities, in contrast to the beefier, more robust D rump and shoulder clod. Wagyu Don, one of the cooked items available on the Shin menu. The chuck roll strikes a nice balance between fat and lean meat, while the gooseneck round and top round are leaner with milder taste. The beef also features in dishes like Wagyu Croissant, Wagyu Katsu, Wagyu Tartare, Wagyu Sukiyaki, Wagyu Sando, Wagyu Maki, Wagyu and Engawa Don, Wagyu Nabe and Hamburg Steak on the Ten menu. The Shin buffet – which has everything from the Ten menu – will appeal to gourmands seeking the ultimate indulgence. Besides the King Crab Platter, it also offers Yakiniku Matsu or Yakiniku Ume platters with more luxurious cuts of Shimomuragyu alongside caviar or sea urchin. The Premium Wagyu Sanshiomori features thick slices while the Premium Wagyu Asparagus has egg yolk for added richness. Other lavish creations like Wagyu Foie Gras Sushi, Uni Wagyu Nigiri, Wagyu Puff, Uni Gyu Tartare, Uni Oyster, Wagyu Tataki and Uni Inaniwa Don ensure it is a feast to be remembered. Buffet options come with a free flow of drinks and ice cream. Prices for lunch, dinner, weekday and weekend sessions differ. The Ten starts from RM298+ for adults and RM188+ for children (145cm in height or less) and seniors (aged 60 and above). The Shin starts from RM478+ for adults and RM338+ for children and seniors. Each session lasts two hours. Yakiniku Tenshin is part of a trio of restaurants by the same company and located side-by-side on Level 2 of the mall's atrium. Its sister outlet, Wagyu and Rice, offers the Shimomuragyu in accessible donburi and udon meals while Tsukiji serves sushi made with air-flown seafood. 'We envisioned it as a Japanese dining destination where customers can enjoy the full spectrum of Japanese cuisine,' Ng said. YAKINIKU TENSHIN, Level 2, Gurney Paragon Mall, 163D Gurney Drive, George Town, Penang. (Tel: 016-819 7998). Business hours: 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 10pm. Pork-free. This is the writer's personal observation and is not an endorsement by StarMetro.


UPI
17 hours ago
- Politics
- UPI
Ex-South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol in solitary confinement
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, shown arriving at court to attend a hearing on his arrest warrant earlier this month, is being held in solitary confinement, his legal mentor said. Photo by Kim Hong-Ji/EPA/Pool SEOUL, July 30 (UPI) -- Former South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is being held in solitary confinement under conditions that have prompted concern from his legal adviser. According to his mentor, Shin Pyung, who recently visited him at the Seoul Detention Center, Yoon's treatment is "unfit for a human being" and may constitute a violation of both domestic and international human rights standards. Yoon is confined in 71-square-foot cell with no desk or chair. Instead, he sits on a makeshift cardboard platform, using it to eat meals and read the Bible -- which, according to his attorney, has become his only means of intellectual engagement during confinement. He eats meals while squatting, and his physical movement is limited to brief periods of outdoor exercise -- in isolation. Shin, who was granted access under attorney-client privilege, described the environment as "hell on Earth," noting that the former president lies flat on the floor at night without space to stretch. Despite evident physical discomfort and digestive issues, Yoon was said to maintain a calm and composed demeanor during the visit, even offering a faint smile when asked how he was doing. Claims of political retribution Shin condemned the conditions as politically motivated and accused the current administration of engaging in retributive justice. He further appealed to the international community to recognize the situation as an "uncivilized and barbaric act," urging diplomatic pressure from democratic allies to ensure humane treatment. The harsh conditions have sparked debate about whether South Korea is upholding its constitutional principle of equal dignity for all citizens -- including former heads of state -- while also observing international norms on the treatment of detainees. South Korea's Ministry of Justice has defended the detention center's actions, saying that Yoon is being treated like any other inmate under remand. Authorities said he has access to a fan for cooling during the summer heat, but denied that he is receiving any special accommodations due to his former status. The ministry also clarified that solitary confinement is standard for high-profile detainees during the investigative phase, primarily to prevent contact with other inmates and reduce the risk of evidence tampering. Comparisons with former presidents Critics note that previous presidents charged with criminal offenses, such as Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak, were confined under significantly less austere conditions. Park was given a converted cell with more space and access to reading materials, while Lee was allowed to use a private bathroom and had access to a separate visitation room. Further back, former presidents Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo were housed in specially constructed annexes with separate facilities, designed to respect the dignity of their former office.

CNBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Samsung backs South Korean AI chip startup Rebellions ahead of IPO
South Korean artificial intelligence chip startup Rebellions has raised money from tech giant Samsung and is targeting a funding round of up to $200 million ahead of a public listing, the company's management told CNBC on Tuesday. Last year, Rebellions merged with another startup in South Korea called Sapeon, creating a firm that is being positioned as one of the country's promising rivals to Nvidia. Rebellions is currently raising money and is targeting funding of between $150 million and $200 million, Sungkyue Shin, chief financial officer of the startup, told CNBC on Tuesday. Samsung's investment in Rebellions last week was part of that, Shin said, though he declined to say how much the tech giant poured in. Since its founding in 2020, Rebellions has raised $220 million, Shin added. The current funding round is ongoing and Shin said Rebellions is talking to its current investors as well as investors in Korea and globally to participate in the capital raise. Rebellions has some big investors, including South Korean chip giant SK Hynix, telecommunication firms SK Telecom and Korea Telecom, and Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco. Rebellions was last valued at $1 billion. Shin said the current round of funding would push the valuation over $1 billion but declined to give specific figure. Rebellions is aiming for an initial public offering once this funding round has closed. "Our master plan is going public," Shin said. Rebellions designs chips that are focused on AI inferencing rather than training. Inferencing is when a pre-trained AI model interprets live data to come up with a result, much like the answers that are produced by popular chatbots. With the backing of major South Korean firms and investors, Rebellions is hoping to make a global play where it will look to challenge Nvidia and AMD as well as a slew of other startups in the inferencing space. Rebellions has been working with Samsung to bring its second-generation chip, Rebel, to market. Samsung owns a chip manufacturing business, also known as foundry. Four Rebel chips are put together to make the Rebel-Quad, the product that Rebellions will eventually sell. A Rebellions spokesperson said the chip will be launched later this year. The funding will partly go toward Rebellions' product development. Rebellions is currently testing its chip which will eventually be produced on a larger scale by Samsung. "Initial results have been very promising," Sunghyun Park, CEO of Rebellions, told CNBC on Tuesday. Park said Samsung invested in Rebellions partly because of the the good results that the chip has so far produced. Samsung is manufacturing Rebellions' semiconductor using its 4 nanometer process, which is among the leading-edge chipmaking nodes. For comparison, Nvidia's current Blackwell chips use the 4 nanometer process from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Rebellions will also use Samsung's high bandwidth memory, known as HBM3e. This type of memory is stacked and is required to handle large data processing loads. That could turn out to be a strategic win for Samsung, which is a very distant second to TSMC in terms of market share in the foundry business. Samsung has been looking to boost its chipmaking division. Samsung Electronics recently entered into a $16.5 billion contract for supplying semiconductors to Tesla. If Rebellions manages to find a large customer base, this could give Samsung a major customer for its foundry business.


Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Korea Herald
Posco honors skilled workers in talent push
Posco Group is investing in workforce excellence through its 'Master Artisan' system, which recognizes outstanding technical professionals and passes down field expertise to the next generation, the Korean steel giant said Tuesday. Established in 2015, the system selects employees with world-class technical skills and exemplary character to enhance the prestige of technical positions and promote the development and transmission of steelmaking technologies. Artisans are evaluated not only on technical prowess but also on their contributions to the company and their integrity. Honorees receive a special promotion, financial rewards, paid leave and post-retirement opportunities as technical consultants to mentor junior staff. Shin Jae-seok, head of Rolling Equipment Department 2 at Posco's steel mill in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, was named this year's master artisan on July 16. Since joining the company in 1987, Shin has earned recognition for his exceptional capabilities in high-precision cold rolling technology to improve facility reliability, productivity and quality. To date, Posco has named 29 master artisans across the production, equipment, research and safety domains. The master artisans' achievements are permanently inscribed in the group's Hall of Honor alongside founding members and former CEOs. Posco Group plans to foster pride among its workforce and cultivate top-tier technical talent through such initiatives, advancing its vision of becoming a world-class enterprise.


Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Sakamoto Days Episode 13 review: A deadly new threat emerges in the shadows
Sakamoto Days Episode 13 continues the action-packed and hilarious energy that fans love, delivering powerful new character moments, savage fight scenes, and emotional backstories, all wrapped up in the series' trademark absurdist charm. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The episode picks up the momentum of Season 1 Part 2, following up on Shin's evolving psychic powers and Lu's dramatic transformation, while setting the stage for even darker developments. Here's a breakdown of the key highlights and why this episode keeps the hype alive. Shin's future sight powers up in Sakamoto Days but with a dangerous twist In one of the episode's most talked-about moments, Shin unveils a deeper level of his psychic ability. Rather than suddenly gaining new powers out of thin air, the anime cleverly explains Shin's future sight as an extension of his subconscious mind-reading. He taps into a person's buried thoughts, allowing him to 'predict' their actions almost instantly. But there's a twist: this power comes with a time limit. Once Shin crosses that threshold, his mind strains under the pressure. Just when he's about to end his battle with Saw, the limit kicks in, leaving him vulnerable and paving the way for another fan-favourite to shine. Lu's 'Mafia Drunk' mode steals the show in Sakamoto Days with booze-fuelled chaos and brutal action Lu finally gets her moment in the limelight after being sidelined in the previous episode. In a hilarious and over-the-top scene, she chugs a full bottle of ethanol to activate her Mafia Drunk mode. Her personality, voice, and fighting style all shift dramatically as she singlehandedly saves Shin and dismantles Saw in a brutal beatdown. Fans will enjoy her evolving collection of 'Drunk Modes,' from Angry to Happy to Crying Drunk—with 'Mafia Drunk' being a clear nod to her dangerous family origins. However, this transformation also raises concerns. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Lu now seems incapable of fighting unless she's intoxicated, hinting at a possible overreliance that could affect her long-term character arc. Osaragi vs. Dump: A violent showdown with unsettling depth A major portion of Episode 13 is dedicated to the intense fight between Osaragi and the unhinged Dump. While the pacing slows slightly, the scene offers compelling insight into both characters. Osaragi, usually emotionless, hints at her spiritual beliefs and sees it as her duty to rid the world of killers like Dump. Meanwhile, Dump's flashback reveals a chilling history, her love leads to violence, starting with her cat and escalating to her friends and lovers. Though Dump's tragic backstory attempts to humanise her, it doesn't excuse her actions. Osaragi delivers a powerful, poetic end to the fight, even declaring a twisted form of love before finishing Dump off. The battle is brutal, stylish, and tinged with psychological complexity. Source: Crunchyroll Apart reveals his ruthless genius in Sakamoto Days episode 13 Just after Dump's defeat, the story cuts to Apart, one of the inmates under Slur. Unlike the others, Apart shows cunning and emotional depth. He manipulates and eliminates Kashima with surgical precision, tying a deadly string around his neck. His scenes highlight a quiet, broken brilliance, showing he's not just another brute but a genuine threat with brains and emotional damage. The episode ends with Minimalist, another member of Slur's crew, arriving at Sakamoto's family shop, only to be greeted by Aoi, Sakamoto's wife. It's a nail-biting cliffhanger that raises the stakes for the episodes ahead, leaving fans eagerly waiting for what comes next. Despite minor pacing issues and a few inconsistencies in animation, Sakamoto Days Episode 13 successfully combines brutal action, sharp humour, and strong character development. Lu's Mafia Drunk transformation, Shin's evolving powers, and Osaragi's philosophical fight all serve as testaments to why this series continues to be a standout in the anime landscape. With the story heating up and darker elements creeping in, Season 1 Part 2 is shaping up to be an unforgettable ride. Also Read: