Selasa, 24 Mei 2011

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

Down to the wire
Fairly fun ride
Two contestants tied in race for 'Dancing' crown

Down to the wire

Posted: 25 May 2011 03:29 AM PDT

For a season which once showed so much promise, American Idol Season 10 has really coughed up the most boring finalists … but hey, at least we can gawk and ROTFL.

AFTER trying to make sense of how these two country rug rats have managed to crawl (okay, drawl then) their way into the finals of American Idol, I've just about given up. From over 125,000 auditioned, this is what America chose? GO. FIGURE.

I suppose that's what you get when you have teenage girls with smartphones voting a thousand votes an hour (NYdailynews.com says it, not me).

I've heard more than a handful of fans cry foul, and suggest the whole competition was rigged from the week Casey Abrams dramatically earned his judges save. Perhaps it is true, to appeal to the younger demographic, maybe you need to have a battle between a 16- and a 17-year-old. I don't know and I really couldn't care either way. All the contestants who showed any versatility, credibility, musicality; they're all long gone. So why bother splitting hairs over whether Scotty or Lauren should win?

Apart from Casey and James Durbin, if I had to look back on this season, I think I would best remember it for all the zany things people rocked up in onstage.

Some of the girls (and maybe Jacob Lusk and Randy Jackson too) seemed to think this was American Idol meets Project Runway, and came up with all sorts of crazy outfits. Naima Adedapo, enough said.

Actually, when I saw Gordon Ramsay in one episode, it completely threw me off. Please NO mash-ups! We don't need to see the Biggest American Loser or Idol Survivor or So, Idol, You Think You Can Dance?.

Anyway, I wait with bated breath for tonight's show just to find out what everyone will be wearing ... although I'm pretty sure Scotty – the "unpredictable" person that he is – may just opt for the same jeans he's been wearing the last six months and a brand new checkered shirt.

Oh wait, hopefully the producers will throw in a waistcoat, scarf, hat, bootlace tie and spurs. Yeehaw! It is the grand finale, after all.

The final two performance of American Idol will air tonight at 6pm and 8pm on Star World (Astro Channel 711). The grand finale airs tomorrow live at 8am with repeats at 6pm and 8pm.

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Fairly fun ride

Posted: 25 May 2011 03:26 AM PDT

Fairly Legal offers a peek into the fast-moving world of lawyer-turned-mediator Kate Reed.

FAIRLY Legal takes off in the world of spastic Kate Reed (Sarah Shahi), a former attorney who is so frustrated by the law she becomes a mediator.

As such, the fast-mouthed Anne Hathaway lookalike uses her considerable powers of persuasion to talk people out of their problems.

In earlier episodes, these include dealing with a groom-to-be who is suing the hired help that messed up his wedding proposal, a grandmother and stepfather who are fighting over an orphan, and a traffic misdemeanour that occurred between a cyclist and her cab driver while he was err … sniffing his coffee – all outside the rigid and legally hamstrung court system in San Francisco.

In fact, Reed is so good with what she is doing she manages to defuse an armed robbery at a store even before she tastes her coffee. She ends up satisfying the robber with a jar of beef jerky and a case of light beer.

Now, if that's not cute enough, guess what? She lives on a boat too and almost every episode begins with her dragging herself out of bed.

Though for someone who doesn't live in an actual house, Reed boasts some pretty impressive outfits. In the pilot itself, she dons a gorgeous red leather jacket and runs around in a pair of Christian Louboutin pumps.

Other than her rocking wardrobe and killer shoes, Reed has interesting ringtones and different Wizard Of Oz characters assigned to people in her life on her phone (now where can I get those?).

Inevitably, her super-prissy step-mum/managing partner Lauren (Virginia Williams) is the "Wicked Witch" who runs her late father's law firm after his recent death and who she tries to avoid whenever she can.

I actually quite like Lauren and despite Reed's Wicked Witch of the West ringtone for her, I'm glad the show's creator, Michael Sardo, didn't turn her into a snivelling caricature.

Lauren reminds me a great deal of Desperate Housewife's uptight perfectionist Bree Van de Kamp. While she is beautiful, ice-cold and shrewd on the surface, William's character is marked by an underlying vulnerability and looks ready to combust anytime. She looks great in her range of sleek, fitted dresses though.

Reed's hunky assistant district attorney ex-husband Justin Patrick (Michael Trucco) makes delectable eye candy too. Reed and Patrick also have a hell of a complicated relationship – they have some genuine chemistry, still have great sex and he obviously still has feelings for her.

Predictably, there will be a lot of ding-donging between squabbles and serendipitous reconciliations for the two leads throughout the season and probably even the next (the show has been renewed for a second season).

Luckily for Reed, dramedy loves company and her trusty assistant Leonardo (Baron Vaughn) often helps her get out of sticky situations and is perceptive enough to anticipate her needs. Personally, Leo is my favourite character. He is snappy, mischievous and his brand of geeky cool, interspersed with sparks of understated humour draws the most laughs.

Also popping up in her life every now and then is her brother Spencer (Ethan Embry) and Judge David Nicastro (Gerald McRaney) who apparently gives her a hard time for becoming a mediator but still engages her periodically to settle disputes.

Some of the show's pithier moments come in the form of Reed's mixed emotions about her ex and her heart-to-heart chats with her dead father's ashes although I feel they are somewhat underplayed.

But what I really like about Fairly Legal is while it borders on being just another law series, it sets itself apart fairly well from the tried-and-tested genre. There is no courtroom drama, no legal jargon to confound the layman, just a good ol' story about a really pretty girl who is fighting for the little guy.

Still, Reed is someone you have to know to love. At first glance, she comes across as a ditzy, though a slightly less neurotic Ally McBeal. At times, she even looks like she's trying too hard to sound clever.

And come on, Katesville is too Utopian, where bad guys are invariably just naughty, misunderstood kindergarten kids to which she plays teacher to. Even the most obstinate, mean-bean baddies inevitably end up opening up to her come the end of every episode.

That being said, Reed's world is still a nice place to visit. There is a pleasant fairy-lit light-heartedness to it, as to Reed's personality. Much like her subjects, I ultimately end up becoming a fan of hers too as the series progresses.

All in all, Fairly Legal offers a fairly fun ride that keeps getting better in time. Now, if only we can get someone like Reed to come by the office ...

Fairly Legal airs on Thursdays at 9pm on Diva Universal (Astro Channel 702).

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Two contestants tied in race for 'Dancing' crown

Posted: 24 May 2011 12:07 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES (AP): With one dance remaining, two "Dancing With the Stars" finalists are tied for the judges' top spot.

Chelsea Kane and Hines Ward each scored 59 points out of 60 for their two dances on Monday's episode. Fellow finalist Kirstie Alley finished with 54 points.

Each will perform one final dance on Tuesday, when a new "Dancing" champ will be crowned.

"I may not have a Super Bowl ring or an Emmy, but I'm gunning for that mirrorball trophy," said Kane, a Disney Channel star. She's competing against Ward, who was named most valuable player at the Super Bowl in 2006, and Emmy-winning actress Alley for the show's coveted disco-ball prize.

Kane and Ward each earned a perfect score of 30 for their freestyle dances.

Judge Bruno Tonioli said Kane's routine was "pushing the limit and advancing dance." He called Ward's halftime-themed dance "a crowd-pleasing event."

The two top competitors each collected 29 points for their judges' choice dances: Samba for her and quickstep for him. She was called an "ultra-sexy bombshell," and he was praised as an entertainer who connects with his audience.

Ward says he's already cleared a space on his shelf for the mirrorball trophy, "right by my Super Bowl trophy."

Alley earned 27 points for each of her routines: A samba and a freestyle that she performed in a black bodysuit that revealed her leaner figure.

"That dance embodies what I think you have become," judge Carrie Ann Inaba said, "which is the new poster child for life as it should be lived at 60 years old."

Alley said winning the show's big prize "would be like winning an Oscar, because it's something I haven't won before, it's something I've always really wanted, and I don't know, it's a different category."

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The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates

North Korea leader's armoured train arrives in Chinese capital
Car bomb destroys police station in Pakistan, 1 dead
Car bomb destroys police station in Pakistan's Peshawar, 15 hurt

North Korea leader's armoured train arrives in Chinese capital

Posted: 24 May 2011 09:03 PM PDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - North Korean ruler Kim Jong-il's armoured train arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, setting the stage for a summit with Chinese leaders that he will want to underscore the bond between his isolated state and Asia's biggest economy.

A motorcade later swept down central Beijing's Chang'an Avenue under unusually tight police guard, suggesting the secretive Kim was in the Chinese capital.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency said Kim was there "apparently for a summit meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao".

Neither China nor North Korea have confirmed the visit.

This would be the third trip to China in just over a year for Kim, who in previous years rarely travelled abroad and then only in his personal train, reportedly scared of flying.

Impoverished North Korea has recently been scouring the world for food aid and analysts say Kim is keen to ensure China's support for his youngest son to eventually take over the family dynasty that has ruled the North since its founding.

As ties with South Korea and most of the outside world have soured, Pyongyang has been forced to rely increasingly on Beijing for economic and diplomatic support.

"He seems to want to tacitly remind China's current leadership of their solidarity and call on them to fulfill their obligation as a big brother," a South Korean newspaper, the JoongAng Daily, said.

"That's in sharp contrast with the Chinese government's purpose of inviting Kim: to stress economic reform."

A number of analysts say China, keen to keep North Korea from collapse but concerned by its deep economic decline, has been prodding Pyongyang's leaders to finally start economic reforms.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told South Korean President Lee Myung-bak in Tokyo on the weekend that Kim was in China to study "economic development", Yonhap reported, citing a South Korean presidential aide.

The reclusive Kim's latest train journey to China began on Friday and took him through China's frigid northeast to the prosperous eastern province of Jiangsu.

Kim visited China, his country's sole major supporter, last year in early May and then in August. In the past, neither side has openly confirmed his visits until they are over.

Beijing sees North Korea as a strategic buffer against the U.S. and its regional allies. It has sought to shore up ties with the North in recent years with more aid and trade and visits there by leaders.

(Reporting by Chris Buckley in Beijing and Jeremy Laurence in Seoul; Editing by Ben Blanchard and Jonathan Thatcher)

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Car bomb destroys police station in Pakistan, 1 dead

Posted: 24 May 2011 07:32 PM PDT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Suspected militants drove a car packed with explosives into a police station in the Pakistani town of Peshawar on Wednesday, killing a policeman and wounding 15 people, the latest attack since Osama bin laden was killed this month.

The police station, where the office of the Criminal Investigation Department, which also investigates militancy, is located, was destroyed in the blast, a Reuters witness said.

Residents said the explosion rattled windows throughout town. Television showed police and soldiers cordoning off the affected district.

One policeman was killed and 15 were wounded in the dawn attack, hospital officials said.

"The car was packed with explosives, it hit the gate of the police station," said senior superintendent of police Ejaz Khan.

Rescue officials said death toll could rise as several people are believed to be trapped in the rubble.

The bombing comes days after a brazen raid on a heavily guarded Pakistani naval base in the southern city of Karachi in which 10 military personnel were killed and two aircraft destroyed. The Pakistani Taliban said they staged that assault to avenge the death of al Qaeda leader bin Laden.

Wednesday's attack in Peshawar occurred about 1 km (half amile) from the U.S. consulate and in the same district where a car bomb exploded last week as a U.S. consulate convoy passed by. One man was killed and about a dozen people were wounded,including two U.S. nationals.

Peshawar is the gateway to Pakistan's turbulent northwest region believed to have become a hub of al Qaeda and Taliban militants.

The Pakistani Taliban also clamed responsibility for the attack on the U.S. convoy, the first attack on foreigners since a U.S. commando team killed bin Laden early this month.

(Additional reporting by Zeeshan Haider; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Chris Allbritton)

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Car bomb destroys police station in Pakistan's Peshawar, 15 hurt

Posted: 24 May 2011 07:01 PM PDT

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Suspected militants drove a car packed with explosives into a police station in the Pakistani town of Peshawar on Wednesday, wounding 15 people, the latest in a wave of attacks since Osama bin laden was killed this month.

The police station, where the office of the criminal investigation department which investigates crime as well as militancy is located, was destroyed in the blast, a Reuters witness said.

Residents said the explosion rattled windows throughout the town. Television showed police and soldiers cordoning off the affected district.

At least 15 people were wounded in the dawn attack, police said. "The car was packed with explosives, it hit the gate of the police station," said senior superintendent of police Ejaz Khan.

Wednesday's attack in Peshawar occurred about 1 km (half a mile) from the U.S. consulate and in the same district where a car bomb exploded last week as a U.S. consulate convoy passed by. One man was killed and about a dozen people were wounded, including two U.S. nationals.

Peshawar is the gateway to Pakistan's turbulent northwest region believed to have become a hub of al Qaeda and Taliban militants.

The Pakistani Taliban also clamed responsibility for the attack on the U.S. convoy, the first attack on foreigners since a U.S. commando team killed bin Laden early this month.

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The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business

Oil rises near US$100 on weaker US$
US stocks down on lingering worries over Europe
US copper mining heiress dies aged 104

Oil rises near US$100 on weaker US$

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:06 PM PDT

NEW YORK: Oil rose close to US$100 per barrel Tuesday after the dollar weakened and a trio of major investment banks predicted that prices will rise later this year.

Benchmark West Texas Intermediate for July delivery added $1.89 to settle at $99.59 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

In London, Brent crude rose $2.43 to settle at $112.53 on the ICE Futures exchange.

Prices climbed early as the dollar fell against other currencies. Oil, which is priced in dollars, tends to increase when the dollar falls and makes crude cheaper for investors holding foreign money.

Oil also got a boost from reports by Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley that said prices will almost certainly be higher later this year. The investment banks said the recent 15 percent drop was only a brief pause in what will likely be a long-term rise to near-record levels.

Goldman Sachs expects WTI to hit $135 per barrel by the end of 2012. Morgan Stanley predicts Brent will average $120 per barrel in 2011 while J.P. Morgan said Brent should hit $130 per barrel in the third quarter.

Even though U.S. drivers cut back on gasoline purchases this year as pump prices rose, the rest of the world is expected to keep consuming more. And OPEC countries will have an increasingly tougher time meeting demand for oil, the investment banks said.

"It is only a matter of time until inventories and OPEC spare capacity will become effectively exhausted," Goldman Sachs analyst David Greely said in a research note.

Analyst and trader Stephen Schork said oil prices could possibly rebound to the predicted levels later this year, but that would put extreme pressure on the economy. At those levels for oil, gasoline prices would rise well beyond $4 per gallon ($1.05 a liter) - squeezing travel budgets and likely forcing many Americans to drive less.

"You have to look back at what that means for the consumer," Schork said. "We can get back to those levels, yeah. But I think it occurs at great detriment to the global economic recovery."

MasterCard SpendingPulse, which tracks gasoline purchases at retail stations around the U.S., said Tuesday that demand has dropped for 9 weeks in a row. Its survey showed Americans bought an average of 386 million gallons of gasoline per day for the four weeks ended May 20. That's down about 1.6 percent from the same period last year.

The recent drop in oil has taken some pressure off the U.S. economy. Gasoline pump prices fell this month after nearly reaching a national average of $4 per gallon. A gallon of regular is now $1.035 higher than the same time last year.

In other Nymex trading, heating oil added 6.16 cents to settle at $2.9213 per gallon and gasoline futures gained 5.21 cents to settle at $2.958 per gallon. Natural gas lost less than a penny to settle at $4.391 per 1,000 cubic feet. - AP

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US stocks down on lingering worries over Europe

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:04 PM PDT

NEW YORK: Continued worries about Europe's lingering debt crisis overshadowed a small rebound in oil prices and pushed stocks slightly lower on Tuesday.

Oil rose nearly $2 to $99.59 per barrel after major banks raised their forecasts for crude prices. Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley analysts predicted a rise in global demand would drive oil prices higher later this year. Goldman analysts say oil prices could reach $135 a barrel by the end of 2012.

Stocks swung between gains and losses throughout the day, with Chevron Corp. and other energy companies posting the largest gains. Energy companies in the S&P 500 rose 1.3 percent, the most of the ten industry groups in the index.

The Dow Jones industrial average fell 25.05 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at 12,356.21. The Standard & Poor's 500 index fell 1.09 point to 1,316.28. The Nasdaq fell 12.74, or 0.5 percent, to 2,746.16.

Stocks had been on a tear for the first four months of the year, lifted by stronger earnings reports, an improving job market and other signs of economic recovery. But all three major indexes have lost more than 3.5 percent this month, even as earnings remain strong. Widespread optimism has been shoved aside by a host of concerns, especially the impact of higher oil prices on consumer spending and the risk that Europe's debt troubles could get worse.

Markets faced more troubling news about Europe on Tuesday, when Greece's main opposition party said it opposed the government's latest attempts to reduce debt. The news further dampened hopes that the country might be able to repair its finances enough to get another loan package from the International Monetary Fund.

Ratings agency Moody's also warned that a restructuring of Greece's debt would be considered a default. That would cause borrowing costs for other debt-strapped European countries to soar.

Uri Landesman, president of hedge fund manager Platinum Partners, said a Greek default could start a chain reaction affecting larger countries like Spain - the fourth-largest economy in Europe - wreaking havoc on the global economy.

"If you had a Spanish default, there wouldn't be a single world bank not affected," Landesman said.

U.S. banks had $187 billion at stake in Spain as of the end of last September, according to the most recent data from the Bank of International Settlements. The amount includes holdings of government debt, derivative contracts and other commitments.

European stocks managed to recover from Monday's declines, in part because of a reassuring report from Germany that business optimism was holding steady.

Both Germany's DAX and England's FTSE 100 ended the day 0.4 percent higher. France's CAC-40 added 0.3 percent. The euro also rose slightly against the dollar after falling to a two-month low Monday.

The U.S. Commerce Department reported that sales of new homes rose slightly in April, but at a pace far below what would be normal in a healthy housing market. New home sales rose to an annual rate of 323,000 from 300,000 in March.

New homes are unappealing to budget-conscious families because their median price is nearly 31 percent higher than previously-occupied homes. That's twice the price difference typical of a healthy economy. At their current rate, new-home sales are on track to experience a sixth straight year of declines.

Energy company El Paso Corp. rose 6 percent, the most of any stock in the S&P 500, after saying it plans to split itself into two publicly-traded businesses by the end of this year.

AutoZone Inc. rose 6 percent after the specialty retailer's earnings jumped 12 percent on strong sales of its Duralast auto parts.

Stanley Black & Decker Inc. fell 2 percent after law firm Goldfarb Branham LLP announced they were investigating the company's board of directors over questions about CEO compensation.

Medtronic Inc. fell 1 percent after its earnings fell short of forecasts.

Falling shares outpaced rising ones by a small margin on the New York Stock Exchange. Trading volume was 3.6 billion shares. - AP

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US copper mining heiress dies aged 104

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:02 PM PDT

NEW YORK: Huguette Clark, a 104-year-old heiress to a Montana copper fortune who once lived in the largest apartment on New York City's Fifth Avenue, died Tuesday at a Manhattan hospital, as prosecutors were looking into her care and how her finances were being handled.

The reclusive Clark spent the last two decades of her life in New York City hospitals.

"Miss Clark's passing is a sad event for all those who have loved and respected her over the years," her attorney, Wallace Bock, said in a statement. "She died as she wanted, with dignity and privacy, and we intend to continue to respect her request for privacy."

The statement was released by Bock's lawyer, Robert J. Anello, who declined to comment on a Manhattan district attorney's investigation into how Bock and Clark's accountant had handled her affairs. Anello represents Bock in the probe.

The District Attorney's office has been looking into claims made by Clark's family that she was kept isolated from almost everyone except Bock and her accountant, Irving Kamsler, people familiar with the probe have said. They were in charge of a fortune estimated at a half-billion dollars.

Distant relatives said they never saw her, and feared she may not have understood decisions the two men made for her.

Clark inherited the riches amassed by her father in Montana's mining industry. William A. Clark was one of America's wealthiest men and built railroads across the country, founding Las Vegas in the process. Nevada's Clark County is named for him.

Huguette Clark was born in 1906, when her 67-year-old father was a U.S. senator representing Montana and was married to a 28-year-old Michigan woman named Anna Eugenia La Chapelle. He died in 1925.

At 22, she married a poor bank clerk studying law, but they parted ways after only nine months.

As of last year, Clark still owned a 42-room, multi-floor apartment at 907 Fifth Ave.; a Connecticut castle surrounded by 52 acres of land; and a Santa Barbara, Calif., mansion built on a 23-acre bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Beginning in the 1960s, after her mother died, Clark rarely left her Fifth Avenue home overlooking Central Park. She was rarely seen by building staff, who delivered whatever she needed.

She moved into a hospital in the 1980s.

Clark shunned most visitors and left decisions in the hands of Bock - from bidding on vintage dolls at auction to settling disputes among her nurses.

But Clark "has always been a strong-willed individual with firm convictions about how her life should be led and who should be privy to her affairs," Bock said in an affidavit filed in court last year.

The Manhattan district attorney's office also prosecuted the case involving Brooke Astor, another heiress whose son was convicted of colluding with her attorney to steal millions of dollars from her.

In September, two of Clark's nieces and a nephew asked a Manhattan judge to appoint a guardian for her.

Citing press reports and other information, the relative accused the attorney and accountant of exercising "improper influence" over Clark and limiting family member's contact with her.

The relatives - Ian Devine and Carla Hall Friedman, of New York, and Karine Albert McCall, of Washington, D.C. - said Clark was at risk of personal and financial harm" from Wallace and Bock.

In addition, the relatives said, the men falsely claimed she did not want to see them.

But state Supreme Court Justice Laura Visitacion-Lewis rebuffed the request for a guardian, writing that the relatives relied on hearsay and "speculative assertions" that Huguette Clark was incapacitated.

No criminal charges have been filed against either Bock or Kamsler. Both have denied any wrongdoing in their dealings with Clark.

A state grand jury issued subpoenas for documents that are part of the ongoing investigation.

Attorney Elizabeth Crotty, who represents Kamsler, declined to comment on any investigation.

She confirmed Clark's death, saying in a statement that "during her life and in her passing she always wanted to maintain her privacy, and we are going to continue that request." - AP

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The Star Online: Sports

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The Star Online: Sports

US lawmakers' resolution calls for pardoning boxer
Choi congratulates Toms for rebounding with win
Azinger, 4 others bow out of Senior PGA

US lawmakers' resolution calls for pardoning boxer

Posted: 24 May 2011 05:42 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (AP): U.S. lawmakers John McCain and Peter King, who lost their last attempt to win a presidential pardon for first black heavyweight champion Jack Johnson, are looking for a rematch.

The pair reintroduced a congressional resolution on Tuesday urging President Barack Obama to pardon Johnson, who was imprisoned nearly a century ago because of his romantic ties with a white woman.

A similar resolution passed both houses of Congress in 2009, but the president gave it a TKO by refusing to act on it. Although Obama didn't comment publicly on the effort, the Justice Department told McCain and King that its general policy is not to process posthumous pardon requests.

In a statement, McCain said he and King were reintroducing the resolution "to send a clear message to rectify this unacceptable historical injustice."

"A full pardon would not only shed light on the achievements of an athlete who was forced into the shadows of bigotry and prejudice, but also allow future generations to grasp fully what Jack Johnson accomplished against great odds," McCain said.

The White House declined to comment on the resolution. King and McCain have both sparred in the ring and are lifelong boxing fans. In a telephone interview, King said he hadn't talked to the White House but that perhaps he and McCain could sit down with Obama to make a personal appeal.

He said there's a lot of symbolism of a white politician - McCain, the Republicans' presidential nominee in 2008 - losing a race to the first black president, and then asking that president to issue a pardon to the first black heavyweight champion. King conceded that he didn't know if the effort would have any more success this time.

"I just believe in doing this," he said. "We owe it to the sport of boxing and the memory of Jack Johnson to pursue this. It transcends sports. This is a sad moment in history that has to be corrected. John and I think, just keep trying. The president may look at it differently now."

The resolution, which references the 2009 congressional vote calling for the pardon, says a pardon should be issued "to expunge a racially motivated abuse of the prosecutorial authority of the federal government from the annals of criminal justice in the United States; and in recognition of the athletic and cultural contributions of Jack Johnson to society."

Johnson inflamed white sensibilities with his flamboyant lifestyle and relationships with white women. Racial resentment boiled over after he defeated James J. Jeffries in the "Fight of the Century" 100 years ago last summer. Three years later, Johnson was convicted of violating the Mann Act, which made it illegal to transport women across state lines for immoral purposes.

In their efforts to prosecute Johnson, authorities first targeted Johnson's relationship with Lucille Cameron, who later became his wife, but she refused to cooperate.

They then found another white witness, Belle Schreiber, to testify against him. Johnson fled the country after his conviction, but he agreed years later to return and serve a 10-month jail sentence.

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Choi congratulates Toms for rebounding with win

Posted: 24 May 2011 05:39 PM PDT

IRVING, Texas (AP): K.J. Choi is happy for the way David Toms rebounded from losing their playoff at The Players Championship to winning at Colonial a week later.

"I first want to congratulate David for his performance last week after what he went through," Choi said Tuesday after a practice round at the Byron Nelson Championship. "I'm not surprised at all that David pulled it off."

Choi became the Players' champion when Toms missed a short par putt on the extra hole at TPC Sawgrass less than two weeks ago. Choi didn't play at Hogan's Alley last week, where Toms opened with consecutive rounds of 62s.

Toms blew a seven-stroke lead in the third round, but came back for his 13th career win that was his first since January 2006.

The 44-year-old Toms is taking a planned two-week break after playing four consecutive tournaments and isn't playing the Nelson.

"It was that one shot, that one putt that David missed," Choi said. "I don't think he won last week by chance. I mean it was definitely due."

Choi, who now lives in the Dallas area, returned Monday from South Korea, after the 41-year-old South Korean announced plans there for the K.J. Choi Invitational tournament in October.

The tournament is something he has wanted to do since first being invited by Jack Nicklaus to play at Memorial in 1999. He remembers how impressed he was with how Memorial was set up and also how local citizens and volunteers were part of the charitable event.

"Ever since then I thought to myself that if I ever had the opportunity to have a tournament on my own, this is what I want to emulate," he said. "And I want to give back to the community by holding the tournament. I just want it to be a special event for the people."

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Azinger, 4 others bow out of Senior PGA

Posted: 24 May 2011 05:32 PM PDT

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky (AP): Paul Azinger, who captained the U.S. to an emotional Ryder Cup win at Valhalla Golf Club in 2008, has withdrawn from this week's Senior PGA Championship at the same course.

Azinger announced his decision on Tuesday, two days before the start of the senior major. Tournament officials did not know why he was withdrawing.

Joey Sindelar (back), Andy Bean (family illness), Kentucky native Russ Cochran (wrist) and Blaine McCallister (family illness) also dropped out. McCallister had replaced Fred Couples, who withdrew on Monday because of back problems.

Taking the spots of those five players were Matt Seitz, Trevor Dodds and PGA Club Professionals Dave Kendall, Mark Keating and Mark Johnson.

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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf

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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf

Towering books

Posted: 24 May 2011 03:36 AM PDT

MARTA Minujin, Argentina's most famous artist, is known for artwork that is both out-sized and outlandish. Her latest creation might also be described as vertigo-inducing: a spiralling, 25m-tall tower meant to pay homage to the written word.

In the Plaza San Martin, in the heart of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, Minujin has erected her latest work, The Tower of Babel, that is built from 30,000 books, most of them donations from some 50 embassies.

"I don't know why we have to have different languages," she says, adding that she sees her mission as an artist as being here to "unite all people".

Unlike the thousands of tomes that form the basis of this current massive sculpture, she says, "art needs no translation".

An "enfant terrible" of Argentina's art world who has cavorted during her career with the likes of Andy Warhol and Christo (the French artist who swathed islands and bridges in plastic), Minujin, 68, is a celebrity who has exhibited all over the world.

She has been a mainstay of Argentina's avant-garde scene since the 1960s, famous for works that speak to the public's artistic sensibility, while at the same time tickling its funny bone.

Referring to The Tower of Babel, "It's really amusing to be able to climb up and down a work of art," says Minujin, graced with emblematic white-blonde hair and ever-present sunglasses.

The unveiling last week of the soaring structure is timed to coincide with the Buenos Aires Book fair and the city's role this year as the World Book Capital 2011, a designation conferred by Unesco (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).

The artist can scarcely believe that she received funding for her latest work, in which the books are mounted on an enormous metal spiralling scaffold.

The books run the gamut from serious works of philosophy and children's fairy tales to everything in between.

"The United States donated 1,000 books. Ecuador gave 3,500," says Minujin.

She is still exultant as she shows off the enormous sculpture, floor by floor and book by book – a work by Kafka in German, followed by texts in Japanese and in Russian, books of every size and colour.

"Look, an anthology of French poetry!" she exclaims, running up the spiralling stairs. Nearby there is another European work – an old issue of Tintin: The Calculus Affair.

Like much of her work, she says the Tower Of Babel is meant to be not only imposing, but ephemeral, Minujin says. The entire structure is to be disassembled on May 28. Even when it's gone, however, the tower will have a lasting legacy because, once taken apart, the books will form the basis of the first multilingual library in Buenos Aires.

"As of the 28th," says Minujin as she surveys the vista of Buenos Aires from the top of the work, "the people will be able to keep these books." – AFP

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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Thai horror thriller explores 'Voices From The Grave'

Posted: 23 May 2011 05:11 PM PDT

Voices From The Grave whispers the horror of the invisible power that brings the dead back to life and stops babies from being born.

THE cycle of life begins with birth and ends with death. But what happens when that is interrupted? What can you do when the dead do not die and when new life cannot be born? How do you deal with that?

That is the premise of Thai horror thriller Voices From The Grave.

Also known in Thai as 6.66 Death Happen, the gore fest tells of all the strange and inexplicable incidents that happen to a crime reporter, Dao, within the span of 24 hours.

The victims in each incident suffer tremendously while Dao herself narrowly escapes death time after time. It's as if some kind of power does not want her to live.

Her scientist father Ajarn Din, whom she has not seen in 15 years since her mother's death, has been admitted for shooting himself, but is miraculously resurrected in the hospital.

Determined to unravel the mystery, she joins forces with her police friend Wut as they battle the unseen powers despite knowing that she may be the next victim.

Directed by Thaklaew Ruengrat and produced by Phanich "Ooh" Sodsri, the movie stars Jason Young, Susira "Susie" Angelina Nanna, Titawin Kamjareun and Yodchai Meksuwan.

Ooh, the brains of the project, spoke of how he came up with the idea: "We had long thought of making thrillers with the kind of suspense never before found in Thai ghost movies. What we present here is something new and unconventional. We use death to get the story going. The main point is to show that when people who are supposed to die cannot die, new lives cannot be born. We want to tell the audience what will happen when the cycle of life and death is interrupted. We make up our own theory to explain this phenomenon. The audience will find out what the theory is and the consequence it will bring if people attempt to block destined death."

Veteran music video and commercial advertisement director Thaklaew Ruengrat also shares his thoughts about making his directorial debut in a feature film that brings the dead back to life. "It's challenging but at the same time worrisome for me. I had to emphasise on the building-up of atmosphere and tension in the characters, especially Dao.

"In developing the script, I discussed with Ooh on how to make the audience terrified by something they cannot see, how to create a state of fear without using merely ghostly characters. There were a lot of problems to solve for this movie."

The director wanted the audience to feel the suspense and horror that surpassed those they might have experienced in the past.

"Dao is a modern and tough girl who grew up independently as she was separated from her father at a young age. But painful memories from her childhood keep haunting her. So she needs to communicate to the audience that she is really terrified of the strange and unexplainable things she runs into.

"From a tough and fearless girl, the horror she has repeatedly experienced finally gets to her. Her fear intensifies until she comes to realise how threatening the power of death can be," said Ooh.

Glamorous model-turned-actress Susie, who was named sexiest newcomer of the year at the annual FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World 2010, shared her excitement of making her film debut as the tomboyish crime reporter Dao.

The pretty lass of Thai, Chinese and English parentage had to familiarise herself with corpses besides analysing the script in detail to portray her character effectively.

"Playing Dao was very challenging for me, especially since it's my first movie. I had to put immense effort to make my character believable.

"I would have to make the audience share Dao's feelings all the time as if they were watching a reality show of this girl for 24 hours. In the movie, I hardly smile and have to be tense all the time," said Susie in the production notes.

> Voices From The Grave opens in local cinemas on Thursday.

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It’s party time with Jumping JellyBeans

Posted: 23 May 2011 05:05 PM PDT

Children's theatre company Jumping JellyBeans celebrates its anniversary with an engaging show.

THESPIAN Shanthini Venugopal can't believe her "baby" has turned 11. No, we're not talking about her child but her theatre company – Jumping JellyBeans (JBB) – co-founded in 2000 with Italian theatre performer Cinzia Ciaramicoli.

The theatre company specialising in children's programmes has been around for over a decade.

"It's amazing how 11 years has swept by so quickly. Thankfully, during this period, we have managed to produce a series of educational shows like Terra Arata, The Little Red Riding Hood, Urano And Gea, Cleaning Company, Investigative Company, Whispers Of The Wind and Memories Of The Sun.

"When the PJ Live Arts (PJLA) invited us to participate in their on-going Laugh Festival, we decided to put up a show that incorporates our anniversary celebrations," said Venugopal in an interview recently.

The upcoming show, titled Jumping JellyBeans' Party, centres around a birthday celebration that involves the audience.

"Like in every show that keeps the audience captivated, JJB's one-hour show opens with storytelling, followed by a segment about icing a cake and a dream sequence. It is a very energetic performance featuring different elements of theatre," said Venugopal, who directs and co-stars in the show with Cinzia's younger sister, Ilaria.

At PJLA's inaugural Laugh Festival last year, JJB had staged Story Telling Company – an interactive and humorous show featuring storytelling of a popular children's fairy tale – with twists and turns.

This time, Venugopal will be angling JJB's Party with some fun themed elements.

"Our theatre performances try to keep the audience engaged. This time, we are focusing on aspects that enable the audience to stretch their imagination in a fun and light-hearted way.

"Although working on this production has been a challenging task, we have had an exciting time creating the storyline and rehearsing," said Venugopal, a familiar face in the local theatre scene for over 20 years.

Venugopal assured the audience will be tickled pink with one of their antics – where they play creative chefs preparing a pot of soup.

"JJB's Party invites the audience to participate in the making of a 'soup'. They get to create and put all the ingredients in the soup. At the end, there will be jelly beans in the pot and all get to enjoy them," said the versatile director, who acted in Andy Tennant's 1999 movie Anna And The King, alongside Hollywood A-listers Jodie Foster and Chow Yun-fat.

Props-wise, Venugopal said: "We make all the props. In this show, the audience will feast their eyes on many boxes of presents received from fans from all over the world. We also have a 'cake' that will be iced by cake icing expert Pinky Lala (played by Ilaria)."

While JJB may have carved a name for their fun-filled children's theatre performances, they are equally renowned for their theatre training programmes for students with learning disabilities.

The theatre company is the first of its kind that works with special children in the country.

Currently, Venugopal and a team of theatre practitioners and volunteers conduct classes at the Special Needs Learning Centre in Bukit Nanas in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Association of Guardians for the Intellectually Challenged and Kiwanis Down Syndrome in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

The company has also created a programme, Creative Stars, to educate the disabled on different aspects of the performing arts.

In 2005, JJB's efforts in introducing theatre to children with special needs was rewarded with the BOH Cameronian Arts Awards' Best Community Arts or Arts Education Project.

"A lot of people are concerned that they don't have proper training to teach children with special needs. People need to get down to doing it. These children are regular kids who require different methods of teaching and understanding. Hopefully our lessons help develop their skills and confidence," said Venugopal.

> Jumping JellyBeans' Party, supported by Nestle Malaysia and HSBC In The Arts, is being staged from today till May 27 (11am) at PJ Live Arts, Section 13 in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. Admission is RM35 and RM30 (students). For further details, call 03-7960 0439. Alternatively, browse boxoffice@pjla.com.my or facebook.com/group.php?gid=17433272023&v=wall.

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The Star Online: Nation

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EC prefers simultaneous state and parliamentary elections
Malaysia’s mission to Gaza expected to continue on land
MCA: Give top 300 students overseas scholarships based purely on academic results

EC prefers simultaneous state and parliamentary elections

Posted: 24 May 2011 06:43 AM PDT

SHAH ALAM: The Election Commission (EC) prefers state and parliamentary elections be held simultaneously as it will save cost, time and energy.

Its chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof said EC was in favour of holding simultaneous elections, as it did not want to prolong politicking.

"Imagine having one election after another, there will be no end to this," he told Bernama when contacted Tuesday.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had said the Selangor State Legislative Assembly would not be dissolved even if Parliament was dissolved this year.

Aziz said the Selangor government had the right to dissolve the legislative assembly after receiving assent from the sultan on the advice of the mentri besar.

EC will have to call the election 60 days after the state legislative assembly is dissolved.

Asked whether Selangor should bear the cost of holding a separate election, he said the cost would be borne by EC which received allocation from the federal government.

Aziz said EC preferred simultaneous elections like Bukit Gantang (Perak), Bukit Selambau (Kedah), and Batang Ai (Sarawak) in 2009 and Merlimau (Melaka) and Kerdau (Pahang) in March.

He likened holding elections simultaneously to organising a wedding for three children as it is cost-effective and save manpower.

The 2008 general election cost over RM200mil while the Sarawak state election cost RM50mil. - Bernama

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Malaysia’s mission to Gaza expected to continue on land

Posted: 24 May 2011 05:05 AM PDT

EL-ARISH: The mission to send PVC pipes to Gaza is expected to continue by land following the Egyptian authorities' decision to allow the MV Spirit of Rachel Corrie (formerly MV Finch) carrying humanitarian aid to berth and unload the cargo at El-Arish Port.

Bernama reporter Mohd Faizal Hassan sent a SMS text to the national news agency's headquarters in Kuala Lumpur: "It is understood that the Egyptian foreign minister has given permission (for the ship) to berth and unload the goods today...InsyaAllah (God willing), we will be on land."

The Malaysian-owned ship had to wait outside El-Arish Port for a week, waiting for the Egyptian authorities to allow it to berth at the port. Now the ship's engine has broken down.

On May 16, the cargo ship carrying 12 passengers and crew members, as well as two Malaysian reporters had to cancel its plan to enter Palestinian waters to deliver aid to Gaza when Israeli soldiers fired warning shots at the ship when it tried to run the blockade.

The ship is skippered by a Malaysian, Captain Abdul Jalil Mansor, who is assisted by four crew members, Malaysians Zainuddin Mohamad and Mohd Jaffery Ariffin and Indian nationals Sharma Chandan Shimla and Pal Satya Prakash.

Besides the Bernama reporter, onboard are New Straits Times reporter Iskandar Alang Zainuddin, volunteer Mohd Radzillah Abdullah from Felda, Derek Graham and Jenny Graham from Ireland, and Julie Levesque from Canada. - Bernama

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MCA: Give top 300 students overseas scholarships based purely on academic results

Posted: 24 May 2011 04:49 AM PDT

*Dr Chua: MCA will set up an education fund worth RM30mil to help poor students from all races with grants and interest-free loans.

KUALA LUMPUR: Four MCA ministers will propose to the Cabinet on Wednesday that the top 300 SPM students be selected for Public Service Department (PSD) overseas scholarships based purely on academic results and should not be required to go through an interview.

Party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said Tuesday these students should be selected for the scholarships solely based on their academic results.

"Currently, some of these top students only obtained local scholarships but they should automatically be granted overseas scholarships based on their results," he told a press conference after chairing the presidential council meeting here Tuesday.

Under the PSD scholarships, 20% goes to top students based on merit but they still need to undergo an interview process before they are awarded the grants.

Dr Chua, who met PSD director-general Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Abdullah and a few party leaders on Tuesday, said the department had promised to rectify mistakes that involved 66 students who had a mismatch of courses that they had applied for.

"It will also rectify the mistakes that involved 102 students who applied for degree courses but were given scholarships for diploma courses," he said.

Dr Chua said two disabled students who failed to get the scholarships would also be awarded the grants.

He said the issue would be brought up in the Cabinet on Wednesday to ensure that the PSD followed through with its promise to rectify mistakes in the distribution of the grants.

When asked if it was appropriate for Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz to comment that MCA Youth chief Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong was "acting as a hero" when he tried to bring up the issue, Dr Chua said: "If Nazri, being a senior minister, does not know the role of MCA, that is rather unfortunate."

On another matter, Dr Chua said the party would set up an education fund worth RM30mil to help poor students from all races.

"The fund will be given out as financial assistance and interest-free loans to help these students," he said.

He said party treasurer-general Datuk Seri Tan Chai Ho would lead a committee which would prepare a proposal on how to disburse the fund.

More in The Star on Wednesday

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The Star Online: Metro: Central

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Metro watch

Posted: 24 May 2011 04:40 AM PDT

REUNION DINNER

Old Boys of St John's Institution Kuala Lumpur class of 1950 are marking their 60th year of leaving school with "Walk Down Memory Lane" dinner at the Rendezvous Chinese Restaurant, Armada Hotel, Jalan Utara, Petaling Jaya on June 11 at 7pm. All St John's boys who left school in 1950/51 or earlier are welcome. For details and reservations, contact Francis Lee Che Kok 017-881 5519 or George Menezes 012-3368 4396 or Albert Talalla 017-304 7954.

ANATOMIC THERAPY

Master Baskaran from India will be giving a free seminar on anatomic therapy titled "Healing Through Hearing" tonight at PC Gomez Hall, 1st Floor 12 Nube House, Jalan Tun Sambathan 3, Brickfields (beside Brickfields Petronas) at 8pm. The seminar will explain how one can avoid various diseases including diabetes, heart problems and cancer by self discipline. It will be conducted in Tamil. For details, call 014-631 1631 or 012-371 2080.

PUBLIC HEALTH DAY

D' Happy Club is collaborating with Eulogia Community Centre to organise a blood donation drive for Universiti Hospital on May 29 from 11am to 4pm, at 11 Jalan SS26/6, Taman Mayang Jaya, Petaling Jaya. There will also be health checks and talks by Assunta Hospital and eye checks by Centre for Sight Laser Eye Centre. It is open to the public and admission is free. For details, call 03-7806 2635.

DEPOSIT CLAIM

Banner and bunting owners who have not claimed their deposit fee from the Kuala Langat District Council (MDKL) are requested apply to the MDKL Department of Environmental Health and Municipal Services with supporting documents from now until June 22. For details, visit www.mdkl.gov.my or call 03-3187 2825/03-3187 2732.

RAMADAN BAZAAR FORM

Those interested in setting up stalls in the Ampang Jaya municipality during the fasting month can download the MPAJ Ramadan Bazaar 2011 form from www.mpaj.gov.my and submit to Menara MPAJ by June 13. For details, call the MPAJ Hawkers Division at 03-4296 8007.

GOLF FOR CHARITY

Persekutuan Kebajikan Kasih will organise a charity golf tournament at the Kajang Hill Golf Club on May 27. Participation fee per golfer is RM250. For details, call 012-213 4468 or 019-380 4331.

BLOOD DONATION

There will be a blood donation campaign by Amoda Sdn Bhd and the National Blood Centre tomorrow at the lobby of Amoda Building, 22 Jalan Imbi, Kuala Lumpur from 10am to 4pm.

LAY-BY REPAIR

The facilities at the Salak South Toll Plaza Lay-by (north-bound) of Maju Expressway are temporarily closed to highway users today to facilitate repair work. For details, call MEX Helpline at 03-8315 9111.

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Duta Tennis Academy and RSH set up new tennis academy in Malaysia

Posted: 24 May 2011 04:40 AM PDT

THE Duta Junior Tennis Academy have joined forces with Royal Sporting House (RSH) Malaysia to set up the Babolat Duta International Tennis Academy in Malaysia.

The academy, based at the National Sports Council (NSC) sports complex in Jalan Duta, was recently launched by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

Also present at the launch was Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) secretary Datuk Sieh Kok Chi, National Sports Council (NSC) director-general Datuk Zolkples Embong and Kuala Lumpur Tennis Association (KLTA) president Tan Sri Salehuddin Mohamed.

Ahmad Shabery was impressed with the academy and said it was a platform to identify new talents.

He praised the implementation of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) recommended training method — the Play and Stay campaign, and commended on the collaboration and initiative by RSH (Malaysia) to help develop tennis in Malaysia.

"The ministry plans to build a gymnasium at the academy to help make it become a more comprehensive training centre,'' said Ahmad Shabery.

Former international V. Selvam had established the Duta International Tennis Academy (now known as Duta Junior Tennis Academy) in 1999. It started with one programme and 20 students.

Now, it has several different programmes. About 100 trainees from children to high-performance players are attending the programme.

The academy has produced talents such as Khoo Er Yang, currently the highest ranked Malaysian player on the ITF Junior Circuit (ranked 373).

Selvam, who was once ranked 390 in the world, was the youngest National No. 1 player at the age of 16. He has played consistently for Malaysia in international competitions including the Davis Cup, SEA Games and Asian Games.

Selvam said the partnership between the academy and renowned international brand Babolat would help expand and reach out to more potential players.

"We are very lucky to be associated with Babolat. We are confident the programmes at the academy would be well received by the local tennis fraternity," said Selvam.

The Babolat Duta International Tennis Academy offers different levels of quality tennis training on court and off court.

They adopted the ITF Play & Stay campaign that focuses on "Serve, Rally and Score" whereby beginners play the game from the first lesson.

The campaign aims to retain players introduced to the sport by ensuring that their first experience is positive, enjoyable and educational.

Babolat Duta International Tennis Academy director of coaching Jens Hiestermann said the ITF Play and Stay method promoted the use of slower balls and smaller court size that allowed players more time and control to develop efficient techniques and advanced tactics.

"Young children will be able to learn the game faster, staying longer while having fun,'' said Hiestermann.

The academy offers four programmes; for children, juniors, elite and high-performance players. The children's programme is for those under 10 years old while the Junior programme is for youngsters aged 11 to 18.

Beginners start off with the B-Ball and Kids ball — tennis balls used in the programme that are 75% and 50% lighter than a standard tennis ball.

As the students progress, they move up to playing with the intermediate ball — 25% lighter compared with the standard tennis ball. Eventually, they progress to using the standard tennis ball.

The elite programme is for players who are more serious about tennis. The programme uses the standard tennis ball in training while still using the slower balls when necessary, such as learning a new technique or in a warm-up.

The high performance programme is an intense tennis programme for players who want to take up tennis professionally at national and international levels. It involves training five-and-a-half days a week with two sessions a day.

This programme is to help players to be the best, pushing individuals to reach the pinnacle of their game on and off the court.

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Selasa, 24 Mei 2011