While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Jan 5 edition

Tens of thousands bid farewell to murdered Chinese-American New York policeman

Thousands of police from across the United States and Canada gathered in New York on Sunday to bid farewell to a murdered Chinese-American officer.

A sea of blue uniformed officers lined the streets outside a Brooklyn funeral home to honour Liu Wenjian, 32, shot in the head with partner Rafael Ramos, 40, on Dec 20 as the pair sat in their patrol car.

The funeral was believed to be the city's first for a Chinese-American officer killed in the line of duty, and New York's increasingly diverse police department drew on its growing knowledge of ceremonial rites, including the burning of paper money for Liu, and to adapt its own traditions to the desires of the grieving family.

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AirAsia boss says latest flight incident 'not stalled engine'

AirAsia downplayed on Sunday an incident that saw one of its planes turned back before takeoff in Indonesia, a week after another of its jets crashed into the Java Sea with 162 on board.

Indonesia AirAsia flight 7633 was taxiing in preparation for takeoff on Saturday at Surabaya airport - where last week's doomed flight also took off - when a power unit used to start the plane shut down, an airline official said.

AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes lashed out at the initial media reports, calling the headlines "sensational" and "silly".

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Club Med set to back Chinese takeover bid this week

French holiday company Club Mediterrannee is expected to back an offer from a consortium led by Chinese billionaire Guo Guangchang this week after Italian rival bidder Andrea Bonomi declined to raise his offer on Friday.

Bonomi's decision puts an end to the longest-running bid battle in recent French corporate history and removes uncertainty over the future of struggling Club Med, which is fighting weaker demand in Europe and heavy restructuring costs.

Investors are hoping Club Med's new owners will invest in the operator's upscale repositioning and expansion in markets such as China, which should widen a client base historically dominated by Europeans.

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Football: Big guns progress in cup, as Arsenal beats Hull City

Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and holders Arsenal reached the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, while third-tier Sheffield United demonstrated their cup pedigree by eliminating Queens Park Rangers.

Arsenal progressed after winning 2-0 at home to Hull City in a repeat of last season's final, which saw Arsene Wenger's side end their nine-year trophy drought by coming from behind to win 3-2.

The reunion with Steve Bruce's Hull was a less dramatic affair. Per Mertesacker headed Arsenal in front from Alexis Sanchez's 20th-minute corner and Sanchez sealed victory with a precise shot eight minutes from time.

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Hobbit takes third straight win at North American box office

The last of Peter Jackson's three Hobbit films rode to a third straight weekend atop United States and Canadian box office charts, selling an estimated US$21.9 million (S$29.2 million) in tickets.

Disney's film version of the dark Broadway musical Into The Woods claimed the No 2 spot with US$19.1 million, while the World War II drama Unbroken, directed by Angelina Jolie, finished third with US$18.4 million.

The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies grabbed another US$9.3 million from New Year's Day screenings for a four-day take through Sunday of US$31.2 million, and has a domestic total of US$220.8 million since its Dec 17 release, according to estimates from tracking firm Rentrak.

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