Jumaat, 14 September 2012

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


China's Xi finally appears in public amid rumours over health

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 08:01 PM PDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping appeared in public on Saturday for the first time in about two weeks, visiting a Beijing university in what appeared to be an effort to dispel rumours of serious illness and a troubled succession.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrives for the opening ceremony of the World Peace Forum held in Beijing in this July 7, 2012 file photo. REUTERS/Ng Han Guan/Pool/Files

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrives for the opening ceremony of the World Peace Forum held in Beijing in this July 7, 2012 file photo. REUTERS/Ng Han Guan/Pool/Files

In a brief English-language report, the Xinhua news agency said Vice President Xi "arrived at China Agricultural University Saturday morning for activities marking this year's National Science Popularisation Day".

A single picture on the government's website (www.gov.cn) showed Xi, with a slight smile and wearing a black informal jacket over a white shirt, walking around the university.

Reuters had reported that Xi was likely to make an appearance on Saturday.

Sources have told Reuters that Xi hurt his back while swimming earlier this month and that he had been obeying doctors' orders to get bed rest and undergo physiotherapy.

A Reuters reporter at the university saw a man with sleek black hair wearing a white shirt -- who from a distance looked like Xi -- getting loud applause as he stepped out of the building housing an exhibition and raised his arms up and down twice in a gesture of vigour.

There was a light security presence around the university, but a building housing a science exhibition was closed off by police and plain clothes guards.

Hundreds of students applauded, some shouting "Vice President Xi" or even "President Xi".

A roar went up when his car rushed by and Xi waved his hand out the window.

"It was him for sure," said one student, who had taken a blurry shot of the car on his smart phone. "He must be better." The student refused to give his name.

The news spread rapidly on China's popular Twitter-like microblogging site Sina Weibo, with users referring to Xi as the "crown prince" to avoid the usual censorship associated with the names of top leaders.

"He looks well," wrote one user.

"In the future he should take better care when he goes swimming," added another.

Xi had been out of the public eye for almost two weeks and had skipped meetings with foreign leaders and dignitaries, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Chinese government officials repeatedly refused to say what had happened to him, fuelling speculation that has included Xi supposedly suffering a heart attack, a stroke, emergency cancer surgery and even an attempted assassination.

The health of the country's leaders has long been considered a state secret in China.

The ruling Communist Party's refusal to comment on his disappearance from public view and absence from scheduled events was in keeping with its traditional silence on the question of the health of top leaders, but it had worried or mystified most China watchers.

Xi had last appeared in public on September 1. He pulled a back muscle while swimming shortly before Clinton arrived on an official visit on September 4, the sources had said, forcing him to scrap a meeting with her the next day and also with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

Beijing has yet to announce formally a date for the party's five-yearly congress, at which Xi is tipped to replace Hu Jintao as party chief, although it is still expected to be held in mid or late October at the earliest.

In March next year, he is formally to take over the reins of the world's second-largest economy.

The uncertainty surrounding Xi's absence has had no impact so far on Chinese or foreign markets, which have been absorbed by Europe's debt crisis and China's own economic slowdown. But investors have been keeping a close eye on the mystery surrounding Xi, after months of political drama in China.

Senior leader Bo Xilai was suspended from the party's 25-member Politburo in April and his wife convicted of the murder of a British businessman. Blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng escaped from house arrest in April and took refuge in the U.S. embassy before leaving for New York.

In another scandal this month, a senior ally of President Hu was demoted after sources said the ally's son was killed in a crash involving a luxury sports car.

(Writing by Ben Blanchard, Editing by Dean Yates)

Copyright © 2012 Reuters

Hundreds protest at Japanese embassy in Beijing

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 07:33 PM PDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - Hundreds of people protested in front of the Japanese embassy in Beijing on Saturday, throwing objects at the building as police struggled to keep control, amid growing tensions between Asia's two biggest economies over a group of disputed islands.

On Tuesday, Japan brushed off stern warnings from China and said it had bought the islands, called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, from a private Japanese owner.

Plain-clothes police officers instruct demonstrators to move during a protest outside the Japanese embassy in Beijing September 14, 2012. REUTERS/David Gray

Plain-clothes police officers instruct demonstrators to move during a protest outside the Japanese embassy in Beijing September 14, 2012. REUTERS/David Gray

In Shanghai, streets around the Japanese consulate, in the western part of town, were cordoned off on Saturday. Hundreds of police let small groups of people in at a time to protest.

There have been smaller, better-behaved protests in front of the embassy located in an eastern part of Beijing for most of the week.

The long-running territorial dispute flared last month after Japan detained a group of Chinese activists who had landed on the islands.

Diplomats say Tokyo and Beijing would prefer to keep the row from spiralling out of control, but with China facing a once-in-a-decade leadership change, an election looming in Japan and mutual mistrust deep, managing the feud could be difficult.

The uninhabited islets were at the centre of a chill between Beijing and Tokyo in 2010, after Japan arrested a Chinese trawler captain whose boat collided with Japanese Coast Guard vessels in the area.

Sino-Japanese relations have long been plagued by China's bitter memories of Japan's military aggression in the 1930s and 1940s and present rivalry over resources and regional clout.

(Reporting by Maxim Duncan and Sui-Lee Wee, and John Ruwitch in Shanghai; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Paul Tait)

Copyright © 2012 Reuters

State media says China's Xi appears in public

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 07:16 PM PDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping appeared in public on Saturday for the first time in about two weeks, state news agency Xinhua reported, following rumours about his health or the state of the country's leadership succession.

In a brief English-language report, Xinhua said Vice President Xi "arrived at China Agricultural University Saturday morning for activities marking this year's National Science Popularisation Day".

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrives for the opening ceremony of the World Peace Forum held in Beijing in this July 7, 2012 file photo. REUTERS/Ng Han Guan/Pool/Files

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrives for the opening ceremony of the World Peace Forum held in Beijing in this July 7, 2012 file photo. REUTERS/Ng Han Guan/Pool/Files

It gave no other details.

Reuters had reported that Xi was likely to make an appearance on Saturday.

Sources have told Reuters Xi hurt his back while swimming earlier this month and that he had been obeying doctors' orders to get more bed rest and undergo physiotherapy.

Xi had been out of the public eye for almost two weeks and had skipped meetings with foreign leaders and dignitaries, including U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Chinese government officials repeatedly refused to say what happened to him, fuelling speculation that has included Xi supposedly suffering a heart attack, a stroke, emergency cancer surgery and even an attempted assassination.

The health of the country's leaders has long been considered a state secret in China.

The ruling Communist Party's refusal to comment on his disappearance from public view and absence from scheduled events was in keeping with its traditional silence on the question of the health of top leaders, but it had worried or mystified most China watchers.

Xi had last appeared in public on September 1. He pulled a back muscle while swimming shortly before Clinton arrived on an official visit on September 4, the sources said, forcing him to scrap a meeting with her the next day and also with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

On Wednesday, state media carried comments attributed to Xi for the first time since he dropped out of sight, but there was no public sighting of him or any new photographs.

Beijing has yet to announce formally a date for the party's five-yearly congress, at which Xi is tipped to replace Hu Jintao as party chief, although it is still expected to be held in mid or late October at the earliest.

In March next year, he is formally to take up the reins of the world's second-largest economy.

The uncertainty surrounding Xi's absence has had no impact so far on Chinese or foreign markets, which have been absorbed by Europe's debt crisis and China's own economic slowdown. But investors have been keeping a close eye on the mystery surrounding Xi, after months of high political drama in China.

Senior leader Bo Xilai was suspended from the party's 25-member Politburo in April and his wife convicted of the murder of a British businessman. Blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng escaped from house arrest in April and took refuge in the U.S. embassy before leaving for New York.

In another scandal this month, a senior ally of President Hu was demoted after sources said the ally's son was killed in a crash involving a luxury sports car.

(Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Paul Tait)

Copyright © 2012 Reuters

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Sports

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The Star Online: Sports


Golf: Veteran Bland leads Italian Open after late charge

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 06:16 PM PDT

TURIN: English 39-year-old veteran Richard Bland put himself in contention for a first European Tour title when a late birdie charge gave him a one-shot lead at the midway point of the Italian Open on Friday.

Bland carded a six under par 66 for the second round to stand at 12 under with France's Gregory Bourdy, Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, South Africa's Garth Mulroy and Scot Marc Warren all one shot back.

Bland admitted that he needs a good performance this weekend to help retain his Tour place - he currently lies 126th on The Race to Dubai, with only the top 115 keeping their cards.

"I've had a tough couple of years, but that's behind me now and I'm just trying to move forward and improve every day," said Bland who birdied the last three holes.

"There's still 36 holes to go - all it is right now is a great position. There are great players behind me, it's low scoring, so two 70s isn't going to get it done."

There were solid performances from members of Europe's Ryder Cup team taking part in the Italian Open.

Martin Kaymer's 66 took him to eight under - just three behind the leaders - while Francesco Molinari is only one stroke further back after a 69.

Belgium's Nicolas Colsaerts compiled a 67 to advance to six under for the week, while there was a second straight 70 put Ryder Cup skipper Jose Maria Olazabal. - AFP

Tennis: Champions Spain on final brink, Del Potro in tears

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 05:37 PM PDT

PARIS: Champions Spain edged closer to a sixth Davis Cup final in 10 years on Friday when they shrugged off the absence of Rafael Nadal to open a 2-0 lead over the United States in the semi-finals in Gijon.

Five-time champions Spain are defending a run of 23 consecutive home victories in the tournament, a streak stretching back to 1999.

World number five David Ferrer beat Sam Querrey 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 before Nicolas Almagro won a four-hour slog against giant American John Isner, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5.

"It was a hard match, difficult at every moment," said 30-year-old Ferrer.

Isner saved three match points in the ninth game of the decider but buckled on a fourth when he went long with a weary forehand in the 12th game.

"That was really disappointing because I did such a good job the whole fourth and fifth set of just hanging in there and I just kind of gave it away at the end," Isner said.

In Buenos Aires, Argentina, who have yet to win the tournament, and were defeated by Spain in the 2008 and 2011 finals, were 1-1 in the other semi-final against the Czech Republic.

Tomas Berdych recovered from two sets to one down, and 1-4 behind in the fourth set, to stun Juan Monaco 6-1, 4-6, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 and pull the Czechs level.

With Argentine football legend Diego Maradona and former tennis glamour girl Gabriela Sabatini amongst the raucous 13,00-crowd inside Parque Roca, Berdych dug deep to claim a famous win.

Berdych, who defeated Roger Federer on his way to the US Open semi-finals last week, won nine straight games to lead 5-3 in the decider.

But Monaco stopped the rot for a break to trail 4-5 before Berdych broke again to seal victory.

Earlier, world number eight Juan Martin del Potro beat Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 to earn a comfortable first point.

Del Potro was playing against medical advice after hurting his wrist at the US Open and he broke down in tears as he gave his victory speech.

"It was very difficult to play with a hurt wrist," said Del Potro.

"But the crowd was fantastic. I am very passionate about playing for my country. I like to give them a good show."

In the play-offs, where a place in the elite World Group will be assured for 2013, world number one Roger Federer and his 2008 Olympic gold medal partner Stanislas Wawrinka put Switzerland 2-0 up against the Netherlands in damp and chilly Amsterdam.

Federer eased past Thiemo de Bakker 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 before Wawrinka defeated 50th-ranked Robin Haase 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).

"It was important to get off to a good start and I played solidly in rainy and windy conditions," said Federer.

In Hamburg, Florian Mayer saw off Lleyton Hewitt 7-5, 6-3, 6-2 as Germany finished the day at 1-1 against Australia.

Hewitt became Australia's most capped player with 33 Davis Cup appearances, but the 31-year-old, now ranked 100 in the world, was swept aside by 25th-ranked Mayer.

Bernard Tomic had put Australia ahead with a 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) victory over left-hander Cedrik-Marcel Stebe.

Belgium are one win away from ending Sweden's 12-year stay in the World Group after opening a 2-0 lead in Brussels where Steve Darcis beat Michael Ryderstedt 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0 and David Goffin defeated Andreas Vinciguerra 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.

In Naples, Andreas Seppi beat Guillermo Hormazabal 7-5, 6-1, 6-2 to give Italy a 1-0 lead over Chile before bad light halted the second rubber between Fabio Fognini and Paul Capdeville at 1-1 in the final set.

Japan and Israel were level at 1-1 in Tokyo with Go Soeda beating Dudi Sela 6-2, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 and Amir Weintraub seeing off Tatsuma Ito 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Ito was only playing because Kei Nishikori suffered a shoulder injury on Friday morning.

In Astana, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were level at 1-1.

Canada were 2-0 up on South Africa in Montreal while Brazil took a 2-0 lead over two-time champions Russia in San Jose do Rio Preto. - AFP

Nicol marches on, Wee Wern goes down fighting at the CIMB M'sian Open

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 04:42 PM PDT

PETALING JAYA: National No. 2 Low Wee Wern came very close to create a historic all-Malaysian women's final in the CIMB Malaysian Open squash championships yesterday.

But facing three top five players in the world in three days took its toll on Wee Wern as she bowed out to world No. 2 Raneem El Weleily of Egypt.

But it was not before the 22-year-old Penangite had the crowd cheering for her as she gave Weleily a real scare before gallantly losing 8-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-9, 9-11 in 64 minutes.

The match started on a squeakily clean note, with not many lets as both Wee Wern and Weleily traded stroke for stroke.

Weleily, however, upped the tempo in the first set to nick it before world No. 10 Wee Wern did the same in the second.

The match was never a dull affair despite several long rallies as both players were on top of their game and it was only fair that it had to be decided by a fifth set.

Weleily once again stepped on the gas in the decider and raced to a 5-1 lead and held match point at 10-7.

Wee Wern, however, refused to stand down and pulled back two more points and appeared to have gathered momentum to force deuce.

But luck was not on her side as she hit the last ball into the tin to hand Weleily the match.

"It was a really good match despite losing because I played well and I'm really happy with my performances this week," said Wee Wern.

"In the fifth set she had a good lead and after chasing her towards the end, I just ran out of gas. But to push the second ranked player in the world to the limit is really good for my confidence.

"I was always getting close to the top players and my score was either 3-1 or 3-2. To turn that around and beat two of the three top five players in a week was really great."

Despite the narrow defeat, the crowd still had much to celebrate by the end of the day as world No. 1 Nicol David demonstrated much of her famed resilience to come back from a set down to beat England's Laura Massaro.

Nicol, who is chasing her eighth consecutive Malaysian Open crown and also her 63rd Women's Squash Association (WSA) title to equal Susan Devoy's all-time record, struggled initially but recovered well to win 10-12, 11-6,11-7, 11-8.

"It was a really solid game and I was feeling the court and the ball well."

"I've had so many tight matches with Laura in the past but I knew I could take it up a notch against her which I did. In the first set, she played some really good shots while I stepped back a little. But I was confident that I could come back and do the same," added Nicol.

The 29-year-old Penangite will face Weleily in a clash between the top two players in the world.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business


Life seems to revolve around mobile phones

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 06:38 PM PDT

ARE you as attached to your mobile phone as your body is to your arms? I'm not sure about you but I discovered I had an unhealthy attachment to my cell phone. I can't keep it away!

I was out with friends over the weekend and I realised that every one of us had our smartphones on the table, checking them constantly while we're supposed to be catching up with each other.

One might wonder what happened to face to face interaction without wondering if you received an email or Facebook notification. There was also moment when we were so engrossed with our smartphones that we were not talking to each other.

The scenario is not exactly unique. There's growing trend on how people are getting obsessed with their mobile phone and are not communicating face to face anymore.

The Star recently reported how unhealthy and exposed mobile users are to various risks when they use their mobile devices while crossing the road, using the stairs or walking alone.

The mobile phone obsession or distraction has even prompted some states in the United States to consider laws to stop pedestrians from using mobile phones, headphones or other electronic devices which can cause distraction while crossing streets after 1,152 people were injured last year when walking and using electronic devices.

Locally, Under Section 17A (1) of The Road Transport Act, motorists are liable to a fine of RM300 if caught using a cell phone while driving. Traffic authorities recently warned against the dangerous trend of motorists being on Facebook, Twitter or even uploading photos while driving.

In a recent YouTube video depicting Malaysian drivers, one scene showed how the driver threw his mobile phone on the passenger seat upon seeing a traffic policeman on duty. At the same time, the driver shouted "Police! Police!" to the person at the other end of the line. While we laughed at the scene, it's all too familiar to many of us.

My boring qwerty keypad smartphone does not stop me from obsessive habits such as repetitive checks of instant messages on WhatsApp, emails, posting pictures of various foods on social networks and using other applications. These checks typically last less than a minute and I will pause for a while before the my routine inspection begins again. This habit is common and very hard to be rid off. Sometimes, we don't even realise that we're doing it.

It's like a small jolt each time you get a message on your phone. An addiction in a way. Once you become accustomed to notifications from your phone, you won't be reaching out for the phone as often as you used to when you just got your device.

While I make sure I have my phone with me whenever I leave the house, I have outgrown the phase where I reach for my phone the moment it beeps.

A couple of years ago, I was robbed but my phone was safe because I was using it when the thieves ran away with my bag. We have come to a point where we reached out for our phone more than our bag.

Some say mobile phones ruin our social interaction. I think it is an opinion. I have seen how it has enriched me. I have group chats with siblings, friends and colleagues and we update each other on what we are thinking and doing. In such instances, we can exchange instant messages and pictures among ourselves.

It's just social evolution. With the iPhone 5 now launched, we'll be seeing long queues again of people trying to get the latest phone from Apple.

I believe it's a borderline addiction for me. Mental note to self. Get off your phone!

Will we find life on Mars?

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 06:38 PM PDT

Space exploration has always captured human imagination with its infinite galaxies and solar systems, while the many theories about existence of life on other planets never fails to pique mankind's imagination until today. Indeed the launch of the Curiosity rover to Mars last month by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) aims to do just that: to search for signs of life on the red planet.

This highly expensive search cost NASA about RM7.68bil (US$2.5bil). Despite the global economic recession, the Curiosity rover shows the insatiable quest for extraterrestrial life is important to enable us to reach the next frontier in technological knowledge and development.

The launch of the Curiosity rover to the planet Mars on Aug 6 has been followed very closely by many people including myself.

I followed the events through a live streaming feed through my smartphone during lunch time.

Curiosity's journey to Mars has not been an easy feat mind you, given that the rover is the fourth robot to be launched from earth while the time span for this latest journey to the red planet took a staggering 11 months.

This goes to show despite the exponential technological advances mankind has achieved over the past 100 years, it is still not up to par with the high technological standards that are required for space exploration.

NASA states in its fact sheet that Curiosity's assignment is to investigate whether conditions have been favourable for microbial life and for preserving clues in the rocks on Mars about possible past life.

Indeed the possibilities are infinite should Curiosity eventually find microbial life on Mars, and this may also hold the key to preserving the future of the human race today given that most of the modern civilisation's edifice today is due to how we are able to put petroleum to its full potential.

The many types of hydrocarbons which petroleum is derived from is needed not only as a fuel source but hydrocarbons are also required in many materials and industries we commonly require today including plastics, fertilisers, alcohol and medicine.

Given that petroleum is a finite resource here on earth, the presence of microbial life on other planets such as Mars could hold the key to the future of mankind including our very continued existence.

What a leap of faith means to me

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 06:38 PM PDT

I have never been a good swimmer so the idea of swimming in open waters has been too "ambitious" for me. Every time I go to the beach, I will only take a stroll on the sand, splash some water at friends or just enjoy the view. When my friends invite me to join them, I will usually decline. The monologue that usually plays in my head says: "You should not swim in the sea because you're not good enough".

Hence, I continue to find comfort in going to the swimming pool. There are lifeguards, the water is calm and I feel safe. I practise my not-so-perfect swimming style, increase the number of laps once in a while and am content with what I can do.

One day, The Star organised a trip to Pulau Perhentian under the Do Good. Volunteer programme that aimed to create environmental and cultural awareness.

As part of the programme, it was natural for participants to follow what the villagers practised. We ate home-cooked dishes, stayed in wooden houses and wore sarong. On top of that, we were told that one of the things the villagers do is "jetty jump" (jumping into the water from the jetty).

Jetty jump? The name of the activity alone was sufficient to pump my adrenaline.

Some of my colleagues were excited while others hesitated. I was numb. I could only recall how fast my heart was beating when the "jumping ceremony" began. I remember telling people around me before the critical moment: "I don't swim well, so please look after me."

After witnessing some of my friends jumped a few meters high from the jetty into the sea, I jumped too.

That few seconds before hitting the water was inevitably thrilling but what fascinated me was not that. It was my natural response to keep my head above the water when I was in the sea. I was enthralled to find out that I actually had the ability to float and swim towards my friends without much help.

That leap, was not merely a physical activity, it was a psychological breakthrough for me! I never thought that I could actually swim beyond the confines of tiles in a pool and the watchful eye of a lifeguard. More importantly, I have dispensed with the limiting self-thought that I could not swim in open water.

This lesson taught me not to underestimate my own capabilities and believe it is applicable to the other "first times" in life.

Psychological barriers may exist in things we have not done before, such as changing to a new job, moving to a new city or getting married. On an organisational level, it could mean transformation or expansion.

Sometimes, it takes calculated risk and some courage to overcome that hurdle. Of course, one must always gauge one's readiness and the conditions before taking the leap. Some might need more preparation than others but when the opportunity presents itself, action has to be taken. If we hold on to doubt, we might miss out a lot in life. Progress can be made when we let go of shackles.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf

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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf


Lessons for life

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 06:18 AM PDT

Life Through My Eyes
Author: Muhamad Hafiz Ismail
Publisher: MPH Publishing, 175 pages

THIS book started out as a blog by Muhamad Hafiz Ismail to document his beginnings as an educator when he was posted to an orang asli school in a remote part of Perak. It was a daunting task, so his blog helped him to stay positive.

Along the way, he came up with clever ways to get the orang asli children interested in school by making the lessons fun. In teaching the children, he also learned a few things about himself and also grew to love his profession.

Beyond Human Nature
Author: Jesse J. Prinz
Publisher: Allen Lane, 363 pages

IS it nature or nurture? Biology or culture? What is it that shapes our lives?

This book explores that question, taking into account all aspects of our behaviour.

It looks at everything from our intellects and emotions, love and sex, morality and madness.

Instead of debating the traditional way, philosophy professor Jesse Prinz seeks to understand, explain and celebrate our differences. Why is there a type of mental illness in South-East Asia that is not found in the West? Why do people of the Far East perceive things differently from those in the West?

Prinz shows that our diversity is not a biological matter.

I Change – The Truth We Need to Face
Author: Dr Muruga
Publisher: Wheatmark, 97 pages

EVERYONE seeks happiness. But how many of us know how to get on the right path to discover true joy?

This book wants to help its readers to "face the truth and find true happiness". It offers ways to break away from old habits of thinking to empower oneself.

It advises that for real change to happen, one must first start with making changes in one's life.

It provides principles that one can use in interpersonal relationships, whether at home or at work.

This is Business! My Life as a Singapore Gangster II
Author: Foo Yin Tung
Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Editions, 267 pages

A GRITTY account of a man's life in the gangster underworld of Singapore, this book tells the true story of the author's rise as a gang leader.

In this second part, he is now in charge of his gang's online gambling and money-laundering activities. But he has a plan. He wants to further expand his gang's territory, and in doing so, he is given recognition by his boss and feared by a rival gang.

But in a world driven by money and power, how long will he last? Very soon he finds himself having to protect the ones he loves in a raging turf war.

365 Stories to Make You Rich
Author: Chellie Campbell
Publisher: Advantage Quest, 365 pages

ONE inspiring story for each day of the year to help you become wealthy.

But this is not just wealth in monetary terms, but wealth in body, mind and spirit. How can one achieve financial success and at the same time not be stressed out by it all? This book offers six keys to unlock that secret. To begin with, one must think positive and believe that one deserves money and can get it.

Also, one should seek balance and enlightenment and promote peace and prosperity for all, starting with oneself, of course.

Inspire, Motivate, Lead
Author: Dr Ritch K. Eich
Publisher: Advantage Quest, 200 pages

THE author offers eight essentials of effective leadership. He gives us a lesson on how to be a true leader. To be one, we must know how to make ethical judgments whenever we are faced with real-world challenges.

We must recognise all that it takes to earn respect and loyalty from our employees. There must be positive relationships, and motivation must be through passion. Open communication must also be encouraged. This practical guide to leadership provides lots of real-life stories and also workable advice from the top leaders of today.

Pure or Crazy

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 06:18 AM PDT

A girl faces an uncertain future when she is found to be genetically predisposed to depression in a society that separates the Pures from the Crazies.

The Glimpse
Author: Claire Merle
Publisher: Faber and Faber, 411 pages

IN the future, the class system in England will be determined by one's mental health status. By 2042, science will have identified the genetic mutations for 304 mental illnesses, all dominant.

What is called the Big3 – schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and depression – affects 42.9% of the English population. And while these three conditions are caused by multiple interacting genes, any child with one parent affected by any of them is a Carrier at best, but is more likely to develop some form of the illness during their lifetime. However, a DNA test has also been discovered that can determine if a person is carrying any of these genetic mutations.

Those who are found not to carry them are called Pures, and are considered the elite of society – living in gated communities with the very best of facilities. They are also highly "encouraged" to only join with (i.e marry) and have children with fellow Pures, in order to preserve the purity of their genetic heritage.

Those who are proven to have mental illness mutations are known as Crazies, and live in the towns and cities that contain the Pure communities. Crazies can be divided into Sleepers – similar to a Carrier as they have yet to develop the illness they supposedly carry, and Actives – those who actually have a mental illness.

Seventeen-year-old Ariana Barber is not only a Pure girl, but also the daughter of Ashby Barber, the discoverer of the test that results in the Pure-versus-Crazies society. However, a simple request for her mother's death certificate triggers off an inquiry into her Pure status, as the Board of Psychiatric Testing and Evaluation discovers that her mother suffered from depression and committed suicide – a fact her father tried to cover up.

Now considered a Sleeper, Ariana's only hope of staying in the Community she has grown up in is to join (i.e marry) Jasper Taurell, a Pure boy she has had a crush on since she was 11.

However, Jasper, the son of the CEO of the pharmaceutical company that produces the miracle mental health drug Benzidox, is kidnapped before they can do so.

Desperate, Ariana goes into the City outside her Community to try to find Jasper.

There, she not only discovers a much larger conspiracy surrounding the test her father created, but also meets Cole Winter, a handsome young man involved with the mysterious Enlightenment Project.

I found the scientific underpinnings of The Glimpse quite dodgy as author Claire Merle oversimplifies a complex medical area in order to form the basis of her story. I did, however, appreciate the way she envisioned how this particular future developed from our current time.

Other than that, she tells a fair tale of a teen girl trying to hold on to what she's familiar with, and eventually learning that there are more things out there than her own personal issues.

There is a lot of build-up to a potentially big conspiracy plot throughout the story, which unfortunately, kind of just fizzles out at the end of the book.

Perhaps Merle is saving some revelations for the sequel, The Fall, expected to be out next year, although her ending hasn't exactly inspired me to look forward to it.

Part of the problem is Ariana herself. Despite being set up to be some sort of role model/hero by the end of the book, she puts her own desires first, which is just selfish, especially considering what happened to her best friend Tamsin.

As is typical of so many Young Adult books, there is a sort of love triangle going on in the story. But at least Merle makes Ariana's choice obvious, rather than having her moon about indecisively about which wonderful guy to choose.

Overall, an alright read, interesting more for its slightly more original setting than its main characters.

The triumphant loser

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 06:18 AM PDT

star2@thestar.com.my

The Choke Artist – Confessions Of A Chronic Underachiever
Author: David Yoo
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 259 pages

THE author David Yoo, an American Korean, claims to be a failure in life and that is the premise of this book when, in fact, he is an award-winning and published writer. That's the contradiction one has to grapple with when reading this book.

He paints not too pretty a picture of being an under-achieving Asian American growing up in a mainly white neighbourhood, thwarted by his over-achieving sister at every bend of the road. Even his parents seem to give up on him, when his hopeful start as a tennis prodigy at a young age quickly dwindles into a mess of insecurity and self-sabotage.

And that sets the tone of the book. He takes one step forward and five steps back. Every key point in his life is marked by failure, or at best, mediocrity, and high school was a tortuous rite of passage.

With self-deprecating humour, he makes you laugh out loud quite a lot. This is an extremely funny book. The only thing is, halfway through the book, you start to ask yourself: how is this guy ever going to gain any kind of self-esteem with the blows that are dealt him? Is he never going to get a break?

Well, apparently he did, when he won NYPL Best Book Teen Age Selection and Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best for his young adult novels. But reading this book, you would just be laughing at Yoo's misadventures and thinking what a loser he is.

Perhaps that is what he wants to get across. That a loser like him can win. That the human spirit triumphs. But this is far from being a motivational book. On every page, Yoo talks about his inadequacies and failings. Depressed yet?

Yoo is fully aware of the circumstances of his failures or almost successes – laziness. He admits so throughout the book, so much so that you would feel like slapping him. If he knew he was being lazy and not trying hard enough, why does he not do something about it?

I think Yoo taps into a basic fear that everyone has: we're all just frauds waiting to be found out. In the context of the American readership, where flamboyant success and outspokenness are celebrated, Yoo speaks to the vast majority – people just like him who are coasting along the mid-line, neither outstanding nor really bad. They will read this memoir and sigh in relief that someone out there is even worse off than they are.

But the clincher is, he's really not. He's a talented writer, one who has won awards. He will be receiving book royalties for the rest of his life, despite having spent his entire working life temping.

The last few pages of the book show him arriving at his epiphany, that he can write. These pages show a shift in his mind-set. He has finally found something to latch on to that would not categorically make him a failure. Reading this book is like watching a good old slapstick comedy. You would laugh a lot and at the end of it, if someone asks you what the story was about, you would not be able to tell. You would just say it was funny.

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William, Kate arrive in Sabah to traditional welcome

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 07:58 AM PDT

KOTA KINABALU: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton, arrived here Friday and were greeted by a traditional welcome of the rhythmic beating of tonggungak or bamboo percussion instruments.

The special aircraft carrying the royal couple touched down at 7.50pm at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Adding colour to their welcome were some 20 youths dressed in traditional costumes of Sabah's indigenous communities, each holding a bunga manggar.

Scores of people waited anxiously outside the fenced area of the airport to get a glimpse of the royal couple despite a brief downpour.

The couple were later driven to the Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Beach Resort where they were treated to a reception hosted by the Sabah state government.

The couple will fly via helicopter to Danum Valley in Sabah's east coast on Saturday where they will walk in one of the world's oldest rainforest dating back some 130 million years.

They will attend a briefing by scientists who have been carrying a variety of programmes at the 438 sq km conservation area that is about twice the size of Penang island.

Among the ongoing research are studies on the hydrological and geomorphological aspects of Danum, climate monitoring as well as those related to forest dynamics.

Many of the research programmes dating back to 1984 are being carried out under the Royal Society's South East Asia Rainforest Research Programme (SEARRP).

The couple will also be crossing Danum's famed canopy walkway.

Malaysia is the royal couple's second destination after Singapore on their nine-day tour of the Far East as representatives of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in conjunction with the celebration to mark the 60-year reign of the Queen of England.

A-G Chambers: Errors in Glenn Knight's book

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 07:29 AM PDT

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Attorney-General's Chambers has pointed out a few errors in the book, 'The Prosecutor', written by former crime-buster Glenn Knight.

Local television Channel NewsAsia (CNA) reported that Knight had said in his book that former MCA president Tan Koon Swan was wrongly convicted and that in Knight's words, 'he was technically an innocent man'.

In 1986, Tan had pleaded guilty to one charge of abetment of criminal breach of trust in the High Court here before Justice Lai Kew Chai, who sentenced him to two years' imprisonment and a fine of S$500,000.

Tan admitted to abetting a director of Pan-Electric Industries Ltd to commit criminal breach of trust by engaging in a conspiracy with that director to dishonestly dispose off property belonging to the company in violation of section 157(1) of the Companies Act.

Fourteen other charges were not proceeded with.

Tan's appeal against the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

CNA reported that the AG said Tan did not, and could not have appealed against the conviction, since he had pleaded guilty and that throughout the proceedings, Tan was represented by counsel.

In 1996, in the case of Cheam Tat Pang vs Public Prosecutor, Chief Justice of Singapore Yong Pung How, sitting as a High Court judge, concluded that a violation of section 157(1) of the Companies Act could not be the basis of dishonest disposal of property in a charge of criminal breach of trust.

CNA reported that Chief Justice Yong had referred to Tan Koon Swan's case, noting that there were no arguments about the correctness of the charge.

Although Chief Justice Yong disagreed with the view of the law taken in Tan's case, his decision did not and could not overrule the decision in Tan's case, as both decisions were made by the High Court.

The AG said the decision to charge Tan was made by the Public Prosecutor on the basis of the evidence against Tan and the applicable law and furthermore, Tan had legal advice throughout the whole process.

Neither he nor his counsel took issue with the correctness of the charge, CNA reported the AGC as saying and that Tan was convicted on the basis of his own plea of guilt, based on the law and facts as was accepted by his own counsel.

Knight's point was that if the law had been understood in 1986 to be as pronounced by Chief Justice Yong in 1996, then Tan could not have been convicted.

But the AG said that was not so, according to the CNA report. There were fourteen other charges that were not proceeded with in the 1986 case against Tan because he had pleaded guilty to the charge of criminal breach of trust through violation of section 157(1).

CNA reported that the AGC said Knight also made a number of errors in his book.

Firstly, he described the sentence imposed as including a fine of S$1 million. The correct fine was $500,000.

Secondly, the book stated that Chief Justice Yong concluded that Knight was wrong to charge Tan as he did, and that Chief Justice Yong was of the opinion that the section Mr Tan was charged with was wrong in law.

Chief Justice Yong referred only to the fact that there were no arguments about the correctness of the charge.

The AG said Chief Justice Yong did not go into any detailed discussion of Tan's case or Knight's conduct of the case.

Specifically, Chief Justice Yong did not express any opinion that Tan was wrongly charged.

Thirdly, it was said that the judgment in Cheam Tat Pang meant that Tan had been wrongly convicted and that he was technically an innocent man.

CNA further quoted the AG as saying that Tan's conviction stands, and he remains guilty of the crime that he had admitted to. - Bernama

Check status of appeals for IPTA intake from noon Saturday

Posted: 14 Sep 2012 06:13 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: The status of appeals for first degree intakes into local public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) using Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), matriculation, foundation and equivalent qualifications can be checked starting noon Saturday.

Higher Education Department director-general Datuk Prof Dr Rujhan Mustafa said the results will be available on the following websites:

http://upu.mohe.gov.my,

http://www.jpt.utm.my,

http://jpt.uum.edu.my,

http://jpt.unimas.my and

http://jpt.ums.edu.my.

"Candidates can also check their appeal status through the short-messaging service (SMS) by typing UPU space RESULT space identification card number, and send to 15888 or by calling our hotline at 03-88706767, helpline 03-88706777 and general line 03-88706755/ 6766," he said in a statement.

Official offer letters can also be printed out through the official website of respective universities starting Tuesday, and appeals are considered unsuccessful if candidates do not receive an offer by the end of the month.

For enquiries, candidates can also call the Higher Education Department's Student Intake Management Division at 03-88706767 and 03-88706777. - Bernama

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Kate - Regal and real

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 07:47 PM PDT

From glamorous Alexander McQueen gowns to recycling her clothes, she is a duchess who sets off a fashion revolution.

IN 1981, a beautiful, former kindergarten teacher married the heir to a throne. She went on to become the people's princess and was acknowledged as one of the most stylish women in the world.

Though she died tragically before her time, her son, now also in line to the throne, married a beautiful "commoner", who is presently acknowledged as one of the most stylish women in the world.

Is fashion history repeating itself? And who really wears the crown of eternal style? It would have been interesting to witness the bonding of the late Diana, Princess of Wales and her daughter-in-law, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge. Would they have gone high street shopping together? Why not? Princess Diana did raise her children to lead an ordinary life.

Catherine, arguably the most watched woman on the planet at this point, has the ability to move fashion unlike anyone else. (It will be interesting to see what she'll wear on her visit to Malaysia. Prince William and Catherine arrive in Kuala Lumpur today; their visit is in line with the celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee).

By just donning a dress, Catherine – more fondly known as Kate – can quite literally turn an outfit into a must-have, never mind that it's out-of-stock, or from the past season or two. In some cases, some of these designs were reissued.

Who else can do that? This is quite extraordinary, as in the world of fashion, it's the kiss of death to be seen in last season's clothes.

The duchess however, has made it not only fashionable, it is now perfectly acceptable to wear an outfit ... twice. And at high profile events.

For example, a grey shift by Roksanda Ilincic worn at an event at the Royal Academy of Arts in London on July 31, 2012 was first spotted in 2011 on an official visit to Los Angeles, the United States.

She's even wore the same outfit in a space of (gasp!) two weeks: an Emilia Wickstead dress worn to a reception before Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee lunch on May 18 was then seen at a garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 30!

And just to let you know how she is so much like the rest of us (don't lie and say you've never raided your mother's wardrobe before), she made her first official solo speech at the opening of the Treehouse Children's Hospice on March 19 in a blue Reiss frock that her mother, Carole Middleton, wore to the Ascot horse races in 2010. Do not faint, she is just like us.

So if someone says to you, "Haven't I seen you wearing that outfit before?", you can reply in your snootiest air: "Darling, I am doing a Duchess of Cambridge. WE are always in style."

As always, when it comes to fashion or style icons, their wardrobe is dissected to death; either cut to shreds or gushed with reverence by the self-appointed fashion police.

Every single fashion critic or writer would have written reams on their choices and colours. I've written before on the Duchess' style evolution, and of course, have waxed lyrical on Princess Diana, my all-time favourite Princess.

In the interest of being a fair critic, and bearing absolutely no favouritism, as I'm also a major fan of the Duchess, let's do a rundown on how their styles panned out (see sidebar on Princess power).

But before I go any further, can I just point out something: No matter who you find more stylish, I can't quite see the Duchess turning an emerald choker into a headband like her late mother-in-law did.

Diana was the epitome of style and she carried it with major attitude, while the Duchess is the perfect ideal of what a modern day princess should be, according to the palace.

We can't presume to know what really goes on behind closed doors, but the Duchess has so far, not put a well-shod nude L.K. Bennet foot out of place. She is polished, impeccably groomed, wears British designers, does her own hair and make-up (even on her wedding day) and she even recycles her clothes. Is that not the blueprint of a model princess in these economically-challenged times? Or Duchess, in this case?

You can say the royalty should be different, and not like the hoi polloi, but that's not the way it's done today. The world of the opulence, excessiveness, decadence and indulgence belong to the world of the nouveau rich, reality stars and footballers' wives or girlfriends.

Kate is never one of those women who followed trends slavishly. She wore classics, but somehow still managed to make them look modern. Even pre-engagement, she was never seen in trendy items. She liked cropped blazers and floral dresses paired with cardigans. Her skirts tended to be just above the knees and she loved her boots.

Favourite brands were British, of course, with Jigsaw, Kew, Whistles and L.K. Bennett leading the way, and high-end brands were added as she got closer to the nuptials, culminating in Alexander McQueen and Burberry.

What's interesting about the Alexander McQueen outfits is that hers are of the more sober variety; the actual McQueen outfits are more edgy. She dons the wearable versions.

As she moved into duchess territory, her look became more honed and polished. Like Diana, the combination of the tailored jacket and fitted skirt works well for public engagements. Her choices are pretty much pared down to well-cut suits, smart coats (preferably double breasted), the perfect hat or fascinator, and the ever-present nude pumps.

Her bags are rather discreet and tend to be a little clutch or a carry-on. And when it comes to dresses, it is never anything outlandish.

For colours, she's not afraid to take risks, sailing down London's River Thames for Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Pageant in a red Alexander McQueen dress and clutch with a floral hat by Sylvia Fletcher for John Locke and Company.

McQueen remains a favourite as she wore a white dress with a Jane Corbett fascinator for the Order of the Garter procession at Windsor Castle this year. There are also the military style outfits, also by McQueen, which is a look she carries off very well.

And she likes the designer so much she has no problems with repeating the outfit, wearing a white dress with navy trimmings to a visit on Prince Edward Island in Canada in 2011 and a year later, to a match at Wimbledon.

My favourite outfit of hers to date has to be the white Roland Mouret gown she paired with Jimmy Choo heels at a gala event marking the countdown to the London Olympic games. I think she looked stunning.

Such is her influence, the fashion industry has coined a term for it: the "Kate effect".

Do you doubt the power of Catherine the great? Here are some fashion moments:

> The famous deep blue Issa wrap dress she wore during the announcement of the engagement flew off the racks immediately and launched a thousand imitations.

> The Reiss dress she wore for her official engagement portrait (which was from her own wardrobe and from the 2009 line) was reissued by the brand.

> The beige Burberry trench coat in 2010 sold out in stores immediately.

> The beige Reiss bandage dress she wore when she met Michelle Obama at Buckingham Palace was sold out in the United States. It also caused the retailer's website to crash.

> An appearance in pair of coral jeans while meeting members of Britain's hockey team caused a boost in sales for the jeans.

> When the Duchess accompanied Queen Elizabeth II to Leicester earlier this year to kick-off her Diamond Jubilee tour in Britain, she wore a jacket and dress designed by L.K. Bennett. Of course, it was sold out after she wore it.

This is just a sample of the "Kate effect"; to go into every single one would be like doing a dissertation.

And she topped it off by heading the list of Vanity Fair's international best-dressed list this year and being on its cover this month.

Actually, she just did something even better. She helped London outdo New York in the style stakes. Reuters reported earlier this month that London had topped New York as the global fashion capital for the second consecutive year.

According to Paul Payack, the president of the Global Language Monitor (GLM), which compiles the annual results, the Duchess and the 2012 Summer Olympics helped London retain the title for the second consecutive year.

"Kate Middleton has proved to be incredibly impactful on the British fashion brand," said Payack, adding that a recent survey showed her influence has contributed to millions of pounds in sales this year.

"The second thing is the Olympics being in the UK." Please note the Olympics came SECOND after the Duchess.

Those who feel that Kate doesn't take enough fashion risks don't realise that the Duchess is someone, who like most stylish women, knows exactly what will work for them.

The combination of high street choices and a few luxury brands thrown into the mix, is worn with a clear eye as to what really suits her.

That's what personal style is about. Witness other pillars of style and see how they worked it. The Duchess of Windsor, Jackie Onassis, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Anna Dello Russo, Carine Roitfeld, Kate Moss and Victoria Beckham, just to name a few.

They all know what suits them and they all have a distinct personal style. And yes, I didn't forget Princess Diana, she was always stylish as well.

These were all women who also styled themselves, not for them the personal stylists!

The most important message Kate sends out when it comes to her appearance is this: you don't need a million bucks to look fabulous.

She makes it perfectly natural to wear the same outfit again, don reasonably-priced clothes, do your own hair and make-up and yet still come out looking polished and perfect.

Kate, like her late mother-in-law, will go down in fashion history as one of the most stylish Royals of our time.

And what's more astonishing is that she has managed to accomplish all these in just one year. Long live the Duchess of style!

Want that Duchess of Cambridge style but can't afford a Burberry? The Daily Chilli asked experts to show how anyone can get the Kate look with a little clever make-up and some smart tips on high street fashion. Go to dailychilli.com to see how we transformed one regular girl into a royal beauty.

Related Story:
Princess power

Princess power

Posted: 12 Sep 2012 06:45 PM PDT

Before the 'Kate effect', there was a princess who conquered the fashion world.

THE only person who would have been able to topple Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, off her current style pedestal was her late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales.

This was someone who knew how to not only work the crowd and have them eating out of her hand, she pretty much controlled how her image was presented to the world.

She has sold more magazines than probably anyone and the "Diana effect" in her time outstripped Catherine's. Diana appeared on three Vogue covers during her life and on the October 1997 issue commemorating her death.

The princess was in a different realm altogether, she wasn't just a style icon, she was the people's princess. Universally adored, her tragic death caused a near-constitutional crisis in Britain and never had the royal family been so disliked than during that time.

Therefore, to do a comparison between the two is rather unfair. Catherine, at 29, had time to hone her style and was older when she got married, hence less likely to make mistakes. She would have also seen what Diana had gone through and the shadow of the late princess would have fallen rather strongly on the duchess.

Diana, who married at 19, had to grow publicly into her role, and her fashion sense developed along the way. From the well-documented photo of the see-through skirt prior to her engagement to her transition from polka-dot and drop-waist dresses to the sheer elegance of sleek, fitted suits, glamorous ballgowns and dazzling dresses, she outshone everyone.

Her wedding dress, designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel, was a real princess dress, with a ruffled neck, full sleeves and skirt, and a 7.6m train – the longest in royal wedding history.

At the height of her popularity, no one could make an entrance quite like Diana. Long before the duchess wore Alexander McQueen military style outfits, the princess had already been there and done that in 1987 in Catherine Walker.

The late British designer Catherine Walker was a favourite and Diana wore several of her outfits during her official engagements. The princess was even buried in a Catherine Walker black dress.

She understood the power of an outfit, and she used it. When the programme on Prince Charles' relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles aired on TV, who made the papers the next day? Diana, of course, who appeared at a gala dinner the night before in a black off-the-shoulder Christina Stambolian dress with a pearl choker. Glamour has and will always rule the headlines.

While she favoured British designers like Catherine Walker, Jacques Azagury, Arabella Pollen, Bruce Oldfield and Amanda Wakeley to name a few, she also wore clothes by international designers such as Versace, Christian Lacroix, Ungaro and Chanel.

Her list of style accolades are numerous and one of them was her admission to the 1991/1992 International Best Dressed List's Hall of Fame.

Diana was always appropriately dressed, and even matched the designers to the countries she visited, like wearing Chanel to Paris and an Escada coat to Germany.

She made pearl chokers popular and don't forget the Lady Dior bag which became a must-have accessory when Diana started carrying it in 1995.

Diana never followed trends, she set them. Whether she was in jeans or a ballgown, she was, in her time, the most stylish fashion icon and will always be remembered as the most famous princess of all. – Dzireena Mahadzir

Related Story:
Regal and real

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Led Zeppelin to release reunion concert film

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:57 PM PDT

LONDON (Reuters) - British rockers Led Zeppelin will release a concert film based on their 2007 charity performance in London that hits cinemas on October 17, the band said on Thursday.

The film, called Celebration Day and directed by Dick Carruthers, was taken from the long-awaited reunion of one of rock's most successful acts.

The theatrical release will be across 1,500 screens in more than 40 territories, followed by an audio and video release on November 19.

There will be premieres in London, Los Angeles, New York and other major cities before the theatrical release, raising the possibility of seeing the three surviving band members on the same red carpet, if not the same stage.

The band broke up in 1980 after the death of their drummer John Bonham, but despite repeated calls from millions of fans to get back together to tour and record, reunions have been fleeting and, by their own admission, unsatisfactory.

But in 2007, singer Robert Plant, guitarist Jimmy Page and bass player John Paul Jones, along with Bonham's son and drummer Jason, took the stage at London's O2 Arena for a tribute gig to Atlantic Records' founder Ahmet Ertegun.

It was the first headline show by the band in 27 years, and according to Cineworld, the cinema chain which will screen the movie in Britain, it was the most over-subscribed gig in history after more than 20 million people applied for 18,000 tickets.

"It's a unique opportunity to savour what is likely to be Led Zeppelin's final performance," Cineworld said.

The band, one of rock's biggest acts with global album sales estimated at up to 300 million, played 16 songs on the night including hits like Whole Lotta Love, Kashmir and Stairway To Heaven.

The poster promoting the film features a cartoon of a zeppelin airship against a red sky above London's Houses of Parliament, reminiscent of the artwork on the band's 2007 compilation album Mothership.

Houston's death tops schock celeb moments

Posted: 13 Sep 2012 11:39 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Whitney Houston's accidental death in February was voted as the biggest "Oh My Gosh" (OMG!) celebrity headline in the first half of 2012, according to a poll released on Thursday.

Parade Magazine and Yahoo! celebrity gossip site omg! teamed up for a 2012 summer pop culture poll and found that Houston's drowning in a Beverly Hills hotel bathtub was the biggest headline of the year so far, earning 50 percent of votes.

The runner-up headline was Twilight actress Kristen Stewart's confession that she cheated on co-star Robert Pattinson, which got 21 percent of the votes. The couple edged out another big break-up - the divorce of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes - which scored 14 percent of votes in the shock factor stakes.

Rounding out the list was Jersey Shore star Snooki announcing her pregnancy (6 percent) while CNN anchor Anderson Cooper's declaration that he is gay, actress Demi Moore seeking treatment in rehab, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie finally getting engaged, each earned 3 percent each.

The poll also asked readers to rate their sexiest man, favorite book series, and most anticipated celebrity weddings.

There were few shocks there, with Drive star Ryan Gosling, erotic fantasy novel 50 Shades Of Grey, and the union of movie stars Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux coming top of those respective categories.

The poll was conducted for Parade and omg! in August and had 56,000 respondents.

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