Ahad, 25 November 2012

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

Hitting the spot
Greatest love
Tales of horror

Hitting the spot

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 10:55 PM PST

Michelle Lukes finds out she is a crack shot during sniper training for military drama series Strike Back.

MILITARY drama series Strike Back is so testosterone-packed that the predominantly male cast sometimes forget there is a woman among them.

English actress Michelle Lukes, 28, who plays Sergeant Julia Richmond, is one of the few female characters on the British-American series.

"The boys are brilliant but can be bossy sometimes. There is a lot of farting and burping, and I'm like, 'Excuse me, excuse me'," she says with a laugh over the telephone from London.

"But they just say, 'Hey, you've got to be one of the boys. So before you know it, I'm treated as one of the lads. But it's all good."

Leading the show are hunky beefcake actors Philip Winchester and Sullivan Stapleton, who play sergeants Michael Stonebridge and Damien Scott, respectively.

The series, now in its second season, is centred on Section 20, a branch of the British Secret Intelligence Service, that operates high-risk, counter-terrorism missions around the world.

Lukes plays Section 20's chief communications officer, who is extremely adept with both technology inside the control room as well as weapons during combat. In real life, she turned out to be quite the ace shot.

Winchester told Britain's What's On TV magazine that she hit the target almost every time right from the start during sniper training, a feat matched by no one else in the cast.

Chuckling, she says: "I really surprised myself, because all of the military training is a totally new experience for me, and I had no idea how I would fare, but it turns out, I'm a genius at it. The boys are very competitive, so it was awesome to be able to hold my own. I probably surprised the boys when I won the competition, so I'll be reminding them of that forever."

Despite the grittiness of the show and her role, Lukes says she would not have it any other way.

"Obviously, sometimes, when we're on the set and I come out of my trailer and bump into these fabulous women – as in real hotties who are guest stars – and I'm in my army clothes with slicked-back hair, I feel maybe a twinge for a second for that kind of glum role. But you know, I adore playing Julia. I think she has a warmth and humanity to her, and she does bring a different energy to the macho guys' locker-room stuff. She's a good balance of feminine-masculine."

The role is her most prominent to date. Previously, the actress who trained at theatre company Bristol Old Vic, played fitness instructor Lisa Torres in British soap drama Doctors for two years (2009 to 2011).

Lukes, who is single, says she has a Singaporean connection. The pretty Eurasian actress, an only child born to an English Caucasian father and a Singaporean-Chinese mother, says: "My side of the family is still in Singapore, including my grandfather, so I visit as often as I can. The last time I came by was two years ago, but hopefully I can come again at the end of this year. I do want to keep that side of my heritage alive."

Until then, she is enjoying her time on Strike Back. "We've had a lot of positive feedback and you know, I receive loads of letters from military people and veterans that say, 'Thank you, it's so refreshing to see something so brilliantly put together and so accurate'. Obviously I've never been in real-life military situations, but from the feedback, it seems that we're doing something right.

"It's amazing how much time and effort go into even just our training. We shoot pellets, and though they're not-real bullets, they hurt. So you're sweating and your heart races, and it's just full-on hardcore stuff."

When it comes to which of the two male leads she finds more attractive, she is much less decisive.

She says with a hearty laugh after much thought: "They're chalk and cheese, so it's really impossible to choose. The good thing about them is that there is something for everyone. Maybe the best would be to combine the two into one perfect man. I have to say, they're both very yummy." – The Straits Times Singapore/Asia News Network

Strike Back Season Two premieres on Cinemax (Astro Ch 412) tonight at 11pm.

Greatest love

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 10:53 PM PST

This week, 988 focuses on the selfless love of parents.

The Feature
(Monday and Tuesday, 9am-10am)

Being a parent is never easy and it is even more difficult for parents whose children are autistic or suffer from other illnesses. These parents face a unique set of challenges which outsiders may not be able to fully comprehend.

This week, let us hear the touching stories of these proud parents as they share their parenting experiences of raising their children.

Street VIP
(Wednesday-Friday, 9am-10am)

During his four years abroad in Taiwan, Zhang Z-Chen depended solely on the small income from irregular campus performances.

The Malaysian singer said modestly that he is the "poorest lad" among singers of his generation. He is a star, yet he has never been given rock star treatment. So, what keeps Zhang going – his unwavering belief in his music?

Music VIP
(Monday-Friday, 2pm)

Taiwanese singer-songwriter Yen Jue comes from a family of doctors. Despite his family's objections, Yen Jue's determination to be a singer is unrelenting.

His combination of jazz and pop has been well-received and his songs have been selected as soundtracks for some popular dramas.

Let us get up close and personal with this rising star.

The Good Show
(Monday-Friday, 5pm-8pm)

988 is not only providing you with information and good music, the station is also giving away cool prizes to its listeners.

This week is your last chance to win a free 11-day/8-night trip to Switzerland and Italy plus ReJeune massage therapy.

Night Chat
(Monday-Friday, 10pm-midnight)

Unveiling the love life of renowned Hong Kong star Leo Ku Kui Kei, where he talks about his relationship that has never been made public.

For more information, log on to www.988.com.my. The radio station is owned and operated by The Star.

Tales of horror

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 10:54 PM PST

BEFORE we move on to a new year, Chinese radio station 988 has a blockbuster drama in store for its faithful listeners to end the year on a spine-tingling note.

It has managed to get Master Szeto Fat-ching, Macau's "Ghost King", to take part in the drama.

The thriller is an adaption of Szeto's famous paranormal TV documentary series The Unbelievable (Guai Tan). The radio drama entitled Guai Tan, features five chilling stories– Chan Shang Ni (Entanglement), Shi Fang Cai (Human Cuisine), Meng Gui Jun Di (Violent Ghost In Military Base), Du Chang Yuan Ling (Casino Wraith) and Xue Tai Jiang (Bloody Black Magic) – that take place in China, Thailand and Vanuatu.

The drama is aired on weekdays at noon starting this Friday.

The station's social media platforms are already buzzing with excitement over the thriller. Many are looking forward to a great show.

Chilling paranormal phenomenon ranging from exorcism, witchcraft to voodoo, this is a whole new level of horror not to be missed. n For more information, visit www.988.com.my.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates

Voters in tsunami-hit zone feel let down as Japan election nears
Catalan election weakens bid for independence from Spain
China's princelings come of age in new leadership

Voters in tsunami-hit zone feel let down as Japan election nears

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 07:52 PM PST

IWAKI/KAMAISHI, Japan (Reuters) - Three weeks before Japan's first national election since the March 2011 earthquake, none of the contenders has managed to win the hearts, and votes, of those hardest-hit by the disaster - with many feeling let down by the entire political class.

A family offers prayers for victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami at a seaside which was damaged by the disaster in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, in this March 11, 2012 file photo. Weeks before Japan's first national election on December 16, 2012, since the earthquake, none of the contenders has managed to win the hearts, and votes, of those hardest-hit by the disaster - with many feeling let down by the entire political class. Volunteers and donations had poured in after the magnitude 9.0 quake off the northeast coast of Japan's main island Honshu unleashed a deadly tsunami that killed nearly 19,000 and triggered reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant. But 20 months later, residents of towns and cities ravaged by the country's worst disaster in generations say the nation's biggest rebuilding effort since the aftermath of the World War Two has slipped off the political agenda. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/Files

Volunteers and donations had poured in after the magnitude 9.0 quake off the northeast coast of Japan's main island Honshu unleashed a deadly tsunami that killed nearly 19,000 and triggered reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

But 20 months later, residents of towns and cities ravaged by the country's worst disaster in generations say the nation's biggest rebuilding effort since the aftermath of the World War Two has slipped off the political agenda.

"I am not expecting anything from the election results," said Akio Ono, president of seafood processing firm Ono Foods Co, in Kamaishi, a port with a population of 38,000, where more than 1,000 residents were killed by the tsunami.

"None of the politicians seem to be thinking about Japan seriously, they are not paying attention to the disaster-hit areas."

In Kamaishi, like many communities along the coast, scars of the disaster are still visible -- gaping empty lots left after buildings swept away by the tsunami side-by-side with prefabricated temporary buildings hosting shops and eateries.

The December 16 vote pits Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Democrats against the Liberal Democratic Party, led by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and a clutch of smaller parties.

LOW EXPECTATIONS

Polls show Abe's LDP in pole position with about 23-25 percent, not enough to form a government without an alliance with one of its rivals. About 40 percent of voters are reluctant to back any party.

A common thread of some dozen interviews with residents of the disaster-hit region is their low expectations that any party has much to offer to an ageing region that was already struggling to stem its economic decline before March 11, 2011.

Those who plan to vote seem to accept that the election will be fought over other issues, such as national security, the stagnant economy or the role of nuclear power after the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

"Since this is going to be a national election, diplomacy and security should be the primary focus," said a 56-year-old civil servant in Iwaki, a city of 337,000 people just outside the 30-km (18.5 miles) evacuation zone around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The man, who declined to be named, backed the LDP, accusing the ruling Democrats of alienating the bureaucracy during their three-year rule and allowing the recent flare-up in tensions with China by weakening Japan's alliance with Washington.

LEFT BEHIND

Lawmakers have signed off 19 trillion yen ($230 billion) in public funds to cope with the aftermath of the world's costliest natural disaster and the fallout of the Fukushima crisis.

But an audit last month showed only about half has been spent because of bureaucratic inertia and bottlenecks. Some of those funds have also been funnelled to other parts of Japan and projects at best loosely related to reconstruction.

Besides the slow trickle of funds a lack of comprehensive rebuilding plans is another source of frustration. While the second anniversary of the disaster is fast approaching, many businesses operate in provisional facilities and thousands live in temporary housing not knowing whether they will be able to rebuild their homes or have to relocate elsewhere.

Managers such as Masahiko Numari, who runs a fish processing company in Miyako, who were able to rebuild their factories with government help, say they need more financial aid to expand.

The region, long dependent on fishing and farming, also craves new investment that would bring permanent jobs and stop the exodus of young people.

"I would like to vote for someone who would help improve the employment situation for young people like me," said Ryuhei Toubai, 23, who works nights as a bartender in Kamaishi but is looking for a day job that would pay his healthcare and pension benefits. "I want a stable job when I think about my future."

Many of those in towns and cities hit by the tsunami and the radiation crisis who are still in a limbo feel ignored.

"I am not going to vote this time," said Megumi Kinno, 40, who owns a pub operating in a government-run food complex in the coastal town of Ofunato and lives in temporary housing with her 16-year-old son and a seven-year-old daughter.

"I don't know how much of what we want will be heard," she said, adding that too much aid money was caught up somewhere in the bureaucracy. "I wish all the politicians were washed away by the tsunami." ($1 = 82.3700 Japanese yen)

(Additional reporting by Mari Saito; Writing by Tomasz Janowski; Editing by Alex Richardson)

Catalan election weakens bid for independence from Spain

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 06:21 PM PST

BARCELONA, Spain (Reuters) - Separatists in Spain's Catalonia won regional elections on Sunday but failed to get a resounding mandate for a referendum on independence, which had threatened to pile political uncertainty on top of Spain's economic woes.

Convergencia i Unio (CIU) party's candidate Artur Mas for Catalunya's regional government gestures during a meeting in Barcelona November 23, 2012. Catalunya regional elections shall be held on November 25. REUTERS/Albert Gea

Catalan President Artur Mas, who has implemented unpopular spending cuts, had called an early election to test support for his new drive for independence for Catalonia, a wealthy but financially troubled region in northeastern Spain.

Voters frustrated with the economic crisis and the Spanish tax system, which they claim is unfair to Catalonia, handed almost two-thirds of the 135-seat local parliament to four different separatist parties that all want to hold a referendum on secession from Spain.

But they punished the main separatist group, Mas's Convergence and Union alliance, or CiU, cutting back its seats to 50 from 62.

That will make it difficult for Mas to lead a united drive to hold a referendum in defiance of the constitution and the central government in Madrid.

"Mas clearly made a mistake. He promoted a separatist agenda and the people have told him they want other people to carry out his agenda," said Jose Ignacio Torreblanca, head of the European Council on Foreign Relations' Madrid office.

The result will come as a relief for Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, who is battling a deep recession and 25 percent unemployment while he struggles to cut high borrowing costs by convincing investors of Spain's fiscal and political stability.

Mas, surrounded by supporters chanting "independence, independence", said he would still try to carry out the referendum but added that, "it is more complex, but there is no need to give up on the process."

Resurgent Catalan separatism had become a major headache for Rajoy, threatening to provoke a constitutional crisis over the legality of a referendum just as he is trying to concentrate on a possible international bailout for troubled Spain.

Catalonia shares some of its tax revenue with the rest of Spain and many Catalans believe their economy would prosper if they could invest more of their taxes at home. The tax issue has revived a long-dormant secessionist spirit in Catalonia.

Mas had tried to ride the separatist wave after hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated in the streets in September, demanding independence for Catalonia, which has its own language and sees itself as distinct from the rest of Spain.

In a speech to supporters on Sunday night Mas recognised that he had lost ground and though CiU is still the largest group in the Catalan parliament, he said he would need the support of another party to govern and to pass harsh austerity measures.

"We've fallen well short of the majority we had. We've been ruling for two years under very tough circumstances," he said.

Catalonia's traditional separatist party, the Republican Left, or ERC, won the second biggest presence in the Catalan parliament, with 21 seats. The Socialists took 20 seats. And Rajoy's centre-right People's Party won 19.

Three other parties, including two that want a referendum on independence, split the remaining 25 seats. ECFR's Torreblanca said the Catalan elections were similar to those around Europe in that economic woes have benefited marginal political groups, while larger, traditional parties have lost ground.

MAS MADE BIG BET

Mas's bet on separatism may have helped the big winner of Sunday's election, the Republican Left, which more than doubled its seats in the Catalan parliament to 21 from 10,

"He talked about it so much that he ended up helping the only party that has always been for independence, which is the Republican Left," said political analyst Ismael Crespo at the Ortega y Gasset research institute.

Mas's CiU had always been a pro-business moderate nationalist party that fought for more autonomy and self-governance for Catalonia without breaking away from Spain.

Mas broke with that tradition in September when he made a big bet on a referendum, tapping into a centuries old Catalan dream of independence that is rooted in the Middle Ages when there was a Principality of Catalonia.

Modern day Catalonia, with 7.5 million people, is more populous than Denmark. Its economy is almost as big as Portugal's and it generates one fifth of Spanish gross domestic product.

Since Spain returned to democracy in the 1970s after the Francisco Franco dictatorship regions like Catalonia and the Basque Country, which also has its own language, won significant autonomy.

For several decades the Catalan independence movement had died down. But it has flared up again in the economic crisis.

The momentum has been inspired in part by Scotland's plans to hold a referendum in 2014 and by the break away movement in Flanders. But it could subside as voters contemplate the economic realities of independence especially if the price to pay is leaving the European Union.

Wary that separatism could spread to the Basque Country and beyond, Rajoy said this week that the Catalan election was more important than general elections.

Home to car factories and banks and the birthplace of surrealist painter Salvador Dali and architect Antoni Gaudi, the region also has one of the world's most successful football clubs, FC Barcelona.

SPENDING CUTS HURT MAS

After a decade of overspending during Spain's real estate boom, Catalonia and most of the country's other regions are struggling to pay state workers and meet debt payments.

Mas was one of the first Spanish leaders to embark on harsh austerity measures after Catalonia's public deficit soared and the regional government was shunned by debt markets. He has also had to take billions of euros in bailout funds from the central government.

Josep Freixas, 37 and unemployed, voted for CiU but recognised the party had lost seats "because people have been really affected by the spending cuts and by the crisis."

At CiU headquarters on Sunday night Freixas carried a rolled up pro-independence flag - a single star against yellow and red stripes - that has become a symbol of the separatist movement.

Turnout was very high in the election, 68 percent, 10 percentage points higher than in the previous vote two years ago.

Raquel Correa, a 30-year-old journalist, said she travelled home from Brussels for the vote. She cast her ballot for Republican Left, or ERC. "I think people who want independence voted ERC because they are the real thing. They have fought for independence for a long time."

(Additional reporting by Sarah Morris in Barcelona and Emma Pinedo in Madrid; Editing by Jackie Frank)

China's princelings come of age in new leadership

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 06:20 PM PST

BEIJING (Reuters) - In China they are known as "princelings" â— the privileged children of the revolutionary founders of the People's Republic of China. And in the generational leadership change that just took place in Beijing, it could not have been clearer that having the right family bloodlines is among the most important attributes an ambitious cadre could possess.

A combination picture shows Xi Jinping, the new general secretary of Chinese Communist Party and China's new Politburo Standing Committee members, Wang Qishan, Yu Zhengsheng and Zhang Dejiang attending the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in Beijing, in this November 15, 2012 file photo. In China they are known as "princelings" - the privileged children of the revolutionary founders of the People's Republic of China. And in the generational leadership change that just occurred in Beijing, it could not have been clearer that having the right family bloodlines is among the most important attributes an ambitious cadre could possess. In addition to Xi, 59, those on the committee with familial ties to the countryâ€™s red founders are Vice Premier Wang Qishan, who will lead the party's efforts to contain corruption; former Shanghai party secretary Yu Zhengsheng, 67, the oldest member on the committee; and Zhang Dejiang, who studied economics in North Korea and replaced Bo as party boss in Chongqing.REUTERS/Jason Lee/Files

Of the seven men who now comprise the Communist Party's new politburo standing committee, the apex of political power in China, four are members of "the red aristocracy", led by the new general secretary of the party, Xi Jinping.

The thriving of the princelings should not be a surprise, analysts and party insiders say. Rarely in its six decades in power has the party been under more stress. Public anger over widespread corruption, widening income inequality and vast environmental degradation have chipped away at its legitimacy.

The party's over-arching goal is to maintain its grip on the nation, and moving so many princelings into top positions is akin to taking out a political insurance policy.

"Fundamentally, princelings advocate maintaining one-party dictatorship," said Zhang Lifan, a Beijing-based political commentator. "This is (their) bottom line."

The rise of the princelings comes despite the fall of one of their own ambitious brethren, Chongqing party secretary Bo Xilai, himself a one-time contender for the standing committee and a son of one of Mao Zedong's closest comrades. Earlier this year, Bo's wife was convicted of murdering a British businessman in one of modern China's biggest political scandals.

Bo himself faces possible charges of corruption and abuse of power.

But in the wrangling over the new leadership, the princelings got a boost from former president and party elder Jiang Zemin, 86, widely viewed as a backroom powerbroker. Jiang had long supported Xi's rise and helped get another princeling onto the standing committee.

Jiang sees himself as a princeling as well, party sources say. His uncle, who died in 1939, is hailed as a martyr of the revolution that brought the Communists to power in 1949. Jiang additionally hopes that backing Xi will preserve his legacy and protect his family.

Party insiders say Jiang wants to make sure his two sons, both of whom are successful businessmen, are protected at a time of enhanced scrutiny of the wealth accumulated by the families of the country's top leadership.

The new standing committee is the first to be dominated by princelings. Jiang's successor, outgoing president Hu Jintao, was the first among equals in the previous line-up, which comprised mainly technocrats and bureaucrats.

But now, according to several analysts, most senior party members have fallen in line with what late economic tsar and one-time standing committee member Chen Yun once said: "The land under heaven should one day be handed to princelings, who can be trusted not to dig the party's grave."

PRINCELING IN CHIEF

In addition to Xi, 59, those on the committee with familial ties to the country's red founders are Vice Premier Wang Qishan, who will lead the party's efforts to contain corruption; former Shanghai party secretary Yu Zhengsheng, 67, the oldest member on the committee; and Zhang Dejiang, who studied economics in North Korea and replaced Bo as party boss in Chongqing.

Beyond their commitment to party rule, insiders say the princelings' inclinations on the critical issues facing China - especially political and economic reform - are harder to discern. Xi has used standard party rhetoric since taking the top job, saying China must "continue reforming and opening up".

The princelings, analysts said, tend to be bound not by strong policy preferences, but by their privileges and the conviction they were born to rule.

"The way they rode to power is very similar, but whether they share the same outlook, the same preferences for policies, I think that's not really the case," said Damien Ma, an analyst at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group.

Some analysts are cautiously optimistic that a leadership dominated by Xi and the other princelings might move with surprising boldness.

One Beijing-based political analyst, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity surrounding discussions on the leadership, said princelings believe it is their birthright to rule, and act accordingly. Analysts contrast them with leaders from a rival political faction, the Communist Youth League which produced President Hu.

"(The princelings) are naturally more confident and bolder than the children of commoners like Hu, whom they see as a mere caretaker, or a hired CEO," the analyst said. "The CEO is more prudent. The stakeholders are more anxious than the CEO if the company is not doing well. Princelings are likely to be bolder in pushing for change."

Some members of the political elite believe the party, after a decade of stagnation on political reform, needs to move quickly to improve government transparency, accountability and the rule of law, as well as allow more freedom of expression. They point hopefully to Xi's princeling bloodlines.

His father, Xi Zhongxun, who gave refuge to Mao during the Long March from 1934 to 1936, was a liberal. As party secretary of Guangdong in 1980, the elder Xi convinced Deng Xiaoping to allow him to set up market-oriented special economic zones in the province, the first place to do so in the Communist era. He also opposed the army crackdown on student protesters at Tiananmen Square in 1989, and championed the rights of Tibetans and other minority groups.

Others believe Xi junior's public comments and writings, however rare, indicate he and the other princelings are pragmatists.

A TALE OF TWO PRINCELINGS

Xi's ascension, along with the other members of the red aristocracy, came at an awkward moment for the princelings.

Their princeling comrade Bo Xilai was ousted in March as party boss of Chongqing, lost his seat in the wider Politburo in April and was expelled from the party in September.

But the downfall of such a high-profile princeling, analysts suggested, was not necessarily unhealthy. At a time of deepening cynicism about the leadership among many Chinese, it showed that when a princeling breaks the law, "his crime is the same as that of a lawbreaking commoner", commentator Zhang said, quoting a Chinese proverb.

The different outcomes for Xi and Bo also suggest that even for the offspring of well-connected families, the way they wield power matters. By all accounts, Xi mostly kept his head down and did what was asked of him as he rose through the party's ranks.

Bo, by contrast, was flamboyant by Chinese political standards and played the family card if he thought it could help.

Bo's father, Bo Yibo, was one of the so-called "eight immortals," and helped guide China away from some of the most disastrous policies of the Mao era. He died in 2007.

At one point before the elder Bo's death, President Hu summoned Bo and Xi and offered them the same job: to run the landlocked province of Inner Mongolia, an economic backwater.

Bo, then commerce minister, was reluctant to go and told Hu he would have to ask his father first, one party insider told Reuters. Xi, then party boss of prosperous Zhejiang province in eastern China, said he was not familiar with the ethnic issues in Inner Mongolia but was willing to go.

"It was a test, but Bo used his father to pressure Hu," the party insider said, requesting anonymity to avoid repercussions for discussing secretive elite politics. "Xi was willing to accept whatever the party arranged."

All along, Xi understood intuitively that "the higher the profile (of an up and coming official), the more difficult promotion will be", even for a princeling, said Zhang, the political commentator.

In 2000, as governor of Fujian province in the southeast, Xi gave an interview in which he quoted an ancient Chinese military strategist:

"Do not try the impossible. Do not seek the unattainable ... Do not do the irreversible. Taking up a new government post is a relay. Don't drop the baton and run your leg well."

(This story has been refiled to fix a typo in a name in the 16th paragraph and the description of analyst's employer)

(Additional reporting by John Ruwitch; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Sports

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The Star Online: Sports

Lions selection headaches aplenty for Gatland
Ferrari bitter over Vettel's sweet success
Vettel becomes F1’s youngest triple champion as Button wins thriller

Lions selection headaches aplenty for Gatland

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 06:53 PM PST

CARDIFF: Next year's British and Irish Lions tour to Australia is nothing but gruelling, the 35-strong squad expected to come together in a short space of time before playing six games and three Tests.

Head coach Warren Gatland will take a back seat from his main Wales coaching job during the Six Nations in a bid to scout for potential players to fill the highly cosseted red Lions jersey.

And the Kiwi certainly faces a tough task, as has been proved by the domination of southern hemisphere teams over England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales so far in the autumn series of internationals.

Injuries, non-selection for national set-ups and loss of form all take their toll, which leaves Gatland with a mountain to climb when it comes to drafting 35 players together for the nine games including three tests in Australia next June and July.

"I've just been forming some opinions," said Gatland of his decision to miss Wales' opening November defeats by Argentina and Samoa to take in other internationals as part of his Lions brief.

"At this initial stage it's about going to games, looking at players and trying to establish where players are at the moment and where teams are, too.

"There's a long way to go before final selection and a lot of rugby to be played," said Gatland, who was an assistant coach on the Lions' last tour to South Africa in 2009.

The Wallabies at home are a tough prospect, as shown by Wales' losing three-Test series last summer.

And Australia coach Robbie Deans will hope to have scrum-half Will Genia and openside flanker David Pocock, undoubtedly the country's two best players, back from injury and motoring the home side.

The battle with Pocock in the loose will be key, and at the moment there is only one outstanding number 7 in British rugby and that is Wales captain Sam Warburton, who is just about emerging from an alarming dip in form since the World Cup.

Arguably the best contender for the Lions openside slot is a player who is ignored by England, but who performs fantastically well for Toulon week-in, week-out in the highly competitive Top 14: Steffon Armitage.

Welshman Dan Lydiate and Ireland's Stephen Ferris may both be currently injured, but it will likely be that duo battling to make up the back-row, with Jamie Heaslip and Scotland's Zimbabwe-born David Denton surely in the running for the No 8 shirt.

The boiler room could feature two giants in Scotland's Richie Gray and Perpignan-based Luke Charteris of Wales, but Gatland could also fall back on experienced duo Paul O'Connell and Alun Wyn Jones.

Australia's scrum weaknesses have again been targeted during their tour in the northern hemisphere, but apart from the France game they lost 33-6, it has pretty much held its own.

The Lions' front-row in South Africa was an all-Welsh one of Adam Jones, Matthew Rees and Gethin Jenkins.

Jenkins has fallen behind Andrew Sheridan in the Toulon pecking order, and it would be no surprise to see the former England loosehead prop included if he continues his exceptional form.

Cian Healy of Ireland and England tighthead Dan Cole should also be considered, with Rees, injured Irishman Rory Best and Kiwi-born Englishman Dylan Hartley the potential trio of hookers.

The halfbacks are perhaps the biggest conundrum for Gatland on current form.

Nailing down Genia will be a monumental task, so Gatland might be tempted to go for Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips over the slicker ball passers, with Ireland's Jonny Sexton in the driving seat for the keys for No 10.

The centre combination of Jamie Roberts and veteran Brian O'Driscoll worked well in South Africa, but England's Manu Tuilagi will likely tour for his direct running, alongside fleet-footed Welshman Jonathan Davies.

On current form Leigh Halfpenny of Wales is a shoo-in at full-back, while his two wingmen at national level, Alex Cuthbert and George North, have both performed well.

Ireland's Rob Kearney played the final two Tests in 2009 but is currently injured. Scotland's flying Dutchman Tim Visser and England's rugby league convert Chris Ashton should add spice in their bid to break up a potential all-Welsh back three. - AFP

Ferrari bitter over Vettel's sweet success

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 06:53 PM PST

SAO PAULO: Ferrari gatecrashed Sebastian Vettel's triple world title party by insisting that Spaniard Fernando Alonso should have been crowned champion in an acrimonious, season-finale parting shot.

Red Bull driver Vettel's sixth-placed finish in the Brazilian Grand Prix on Sunday allowed him to become the youngest three-time champion in the sport's history as the 25-year-old German claimed the title by just three points.

But Ferrari insisted that Alonso, who was second at Interlagos, should have been the man celebrating a third career title, pointing to controversial races in Belgium and Japan to support their argument.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said that Alonso paid a heavy price for first lap exits in Belgium and Japan where he was shunted out of contention by Lotus duo Romain Grosjean and Kimi Raikkonen respectively.

The Italian giants had been further aggrieved when Vettel, accused of blocking Alonso in qualifying in Japan before going on to win the race, escaped with just a reprimand.

"We are proud of Fernando," Domenicali told www.autosport.com. "But we are very disappointed because the one who deserved this championship was really him.

"It is a shame because, after such a long season that we really fight in all conditions, we raced 18 races and not 20 - and being second by three points is not a lot.

"Watch the facts. Zero points in two races (Belgium and Japan) so we have done what we have done with 18 races. The others had 20 - and the points were over 20 races. These are facts, not words."

But Domenicali remained gracious in his praise of Vettel who had collided with Williams driver Bruno Senna on the opening lap and was sent spinning to the rear of the field in Sunday's rain-lashed race before recovering.

"Sometimes there is a sign of destiny where you really can appreciate what is the direction of the wind," he said.

Alonso, who was second behind Jenson Button of McLaren in the race, also insisted his campaign had been undermined at Spa and Suzuka.

"The championship was not lost here," said the two- time champion. "The championship was lost when (Romain) Grosjean flew over my head (at Spa) or when Vettel surprisingly only got a reprimand after qualifying in Japan."

Vettel refused to get involved in a war of words although he did allude to his rivals' controversial decision last weekend in Texas to change the gearbox on Felipe Massa's Ferrari in order to allow Alonso to enjoy a starting advantage on the grid.

"A lot of people tried to play dirty tricks but we did not get distracted by that and kept going our way and all the guys gave a big push right to the end," Vettel told the BBC.

The German struggled with his emotions and wept on Sunday's final lap which was completed behind the safety car.

"It is difficult to imagine what goes through my head now even for myself. I am full of adrenaline and if you poke me now I wouldn't feel it," he admitted.

"It was such an incredible race. When you get turned around at Turn Four for no reason and it becomes like heading the wrong way down the (British motorway) M25 it is not the most comfortable feeling."

Vettel became only the third driver in history to win three successive titles, equalling the feats of the great Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio and childhood idol Michael Schumacher, who finished seventh for Mercedes in his final race before retiring.

After 21 years, seven drivers' championship triumphs and 91 victories, the 43-year-old Schumacher recovered from an early puncture to score points in his final outing.

"I think it's a nice ending," he said. "I'm finishing off and he's (Vettel) clinching his third title. I'm very proud of him."

Pole-sitter Lewis Hamilton blasted Nico Hulkenberg after the Force India driver sent the former world champion crashing out of his final race as a McLaren driver.

Hulkenburg lost control as he attempted to squeeze into the lead on lap 55 of the 71-lap race and rammed into Hamilton's McLaren.

"The dude did not even come and say sorry," fumed Hamilton.

Vettel becomes F1’s youngest triple champion as Button wins thriller

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 05:34 PM PST

SAO PAULO: Sebastian Vettel became the youngest triple champion in Formula One history yesterday when he finished sixth behind the victorious Jenson Button in a tumultuous Brazilian Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old German, who was involved in an opening lap collision, made light of the damage to his Red Bull car as he fought through the field in a dramatic race run in treacherous rain-swept conditions at the Interlagos circuit.

Vettel's only title rival, two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso, finished a fine second after a courageous drive for Ferrari, but it was not enough to overhaul a pre-race 13-point deficit as his German rival won the crown by just three points.

The race was littered with accidents and incidents and ended behind a Safety Car with Vettel bringing his car home in the rain in tears, unable to respond to the screamed congratulations from Red Bull team chief Christian Horner.

Vettel became only the third driver in history to win three successive titles, equalling the feats of the great Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio and his own childhood idol Michael Schumacher, who finished seventh for Mercedes in his final race before retiring.

Alonso's Ferrari team-mate, local hero Brazilian Felipe Massa, drove brilliantly to finish third ahead of Australian Mark Webber in the second Red Bull and German Nico Hulkenberg of Force India.

"We lost communication at the start but Sebastian stuck at it. He drove with determination," said Horner.

"He just never gives up. After the first lap spin I thought that was it because we knew Fernando would be on the podium. But he got back to the top six, the rain came, we went to inter (tyres) and then slicks.

"It was maximum stress throughout the race, but Seb stayed cool. Fernando did a great job but he knew he was up against one of the best. What Seb achieved was incredible."

Hulkenberg played a prominent role in the race, not only leading for a spell but also crashing into Lewis Hamilton's McLaren to wreck the Briton's hopes of a triumphant conclusion to his career with the British team just when he looked sure of winning.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton had led from pole position but could not shake off team mate Button, who made a wise decision to do a long first stint along with Force India's Nico Hulkenberg.

Hamilton's last race for McLaren before he joins Mercedes ended when he and Hulkenberg collided on the 54th lap as they came up to lap back markers into turn one.

Hulkenberg, who had led for much of the race, was able to rejoin but was given a drive through penalty that ended his hopes of a podium finish.

Vettel was sixth, Schumacher seventh and Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne eighth for Toro Rosso ahead of Japanese Kamui Kobayashi of Sauber and Finn Kimi Raikkonen of Lotus.

Vettel, whose Red Bull team took a third constructors' championship in succession last weekend in Texas, finished with 281 points and Alonso with 278.

It was Briton Button's first win in Brazil, his third of the season and the 15th of his career.

Alonso paid tribute to his Ferrari team.

"First of all I'm very proud of the team. We lost the championship before today, not in Brazil, this is a sport after all," said the Spaniard.

"When you do something with your heart and do it 100 percent you have to be proud of yourself and your team and we'll try again next year."

Button added: "First of all I want to congratulate the whole team. This is the perfect way to end the season. We have had ups and downs and to end on a high bodes well for 2013."

Out of the points, Caterham celebrated 11th place for Russian Vitaly Petrov that lifted them back ahead of Marussia into 10th place overall in the championship - a finish worth millions to the team. — Agencies

1. Jenson Button (Bri) McLaren Mercedes 1'45:22.656, 2. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Scuderia Ferrari 2.754 seconds behind, 3. Felipe Massa (Bra) Scuderia Ferrari 3.615, 4. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull Racing 4.936, 5. Nico Hlkenberg (Ger) Force India 5.708, 6. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull Racing 9.453, 7. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Mercedes AMG 11.907, 8. Jean-Eric Vergne (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 28.653, 9. Kamui Kobayashi (Jpn) Sauber 31.250, 10. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Lotus at 1 lap, 11. Vitaly Petrov (Rus) Caterham at 1 lap, 12. Charles Pic (Fra) Marussia 1 lap, 13. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Scuderia Toro Rosso at 1 lap, 14. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Caterham 1 lap, 15. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes AMG at 1 lap, 16. Timo Glock (Ger) Marussia at 1 lap, 17. Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) HRT at 2 laps, 18. Narain Karthikeyan (Ind) HRT at 2 laps, 19. Paul di Resta (Bri) Force India at 3 laps. n Overall final standings

Drivers: 1. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) 281.0pts, 2. Fernando Alonso (Spa) 278.0, 3. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) 207.0, 4. Lewis Hamilton (Bri) 190.0, 5. Jenson Button (Bri) 188.0, 6. Mark Webber (Aus) 179.0, 7. Felipe Massa (Bra) 122.0, 8. Romain Grosjean (Fra) 96.0, 9. Nico Rosberg (Ger) 93.0, 10. Sergio Perez (Mex) 66.0, 11. Nico Hlkenberg (Ger) 63.0, 12. Kamui Kobayashi (Jpn) 60.0, 13. Michael Schumacher (Ger) 49.0, 14. Paul di Resta (Bri) 46.0, 15. Pastor Maldonado (Ven) 45.0, 16. Bruno Senna (Bra) 31.0, 17. Jean-Eric Vergne (Fra) 16.0, 18. Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) 10.0.

n Constructors: 1. Red Bull Racing 460.0pts, 2. Scuderia Ferrari 400.0, 3. McLaren Mercedes 378.0, 4. Lotus 303.0, 5. Mercedes AMG 142.0, 6. Sauber 126.0, 7. Force India 109.0, 8. Williams 76.0, 9. Scuderia Toro Rosso 26.0.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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Malaysia's blue chips slip, KLK, Hong Leong Bank fall
How to spend your money
Malaysia’s only listed oil recycler Hiap Huat opens up 62.5% at 32.5 sen

Malaysia's blue chips slip, KLK, Hong Leong Bank fall

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 05:40 PM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia's blue chips gave up their early gains on Monday and slipped into negative territory, weighed down by mild selling of banks, consumer stocks and DiGi.

At 9.21am, the KLCI was down 3.08 points to 1,611.24. Turnover was 121.16 million shares valued at RM44.52mil. There were 85 gainers, 103 losers and 143 counters unchanged.

Hwang DBS Vickers Research said from a technical perspective, the KLCI may be on its way towards the psychological support mark of 1,600 with a key resistance level currently seen at 1,635.

BAT fell the most, down 74 sen to RM57.22 and Dutch Lady gave up 30 sen to RM45. However, Nestle jumped RM1.78 to RM60.74 with 400 shares done.

Among the banks, Hong Leong Bank dropped 14 sen to RM14.22, Public Bank and its foreign shares six sen lower at RM15.34 and RM15.32.

As for plantations, KL Kepong was down 12 sen to RM20.52 and FGV five sen lower at RM4.60. However, Genting Plantations rose 25 sen to RM8.65 and PPB Group 16 sen higher at RM12.26.

DiGi gave up seven sen to RM4.57 with 371,900 shares done.

Used oil recycler Hiap Huat Holdings rose 11.5 sen to 31.5 sen on its trading debut with 60.76 million shares done.

How to spend your money

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 05:25 PM PST

IS there such a thing as unconscious spending? Of course, there is! And we are guilty of it almost daily. JOYCE CHUAH writes...

Now, let me help you young adults and college-going students go through your daily activities one by one, from the moment you wake up. Did you switch off the air-con, fan or lights? Did you keep the tap running while you brush your teeth?

Building your financial habits start from smaller things the very areas you are not directly responsible for. Take care of the smaller things and you can take care of the bigger ones.

Now, take special notice about how you spend your money the moment you step out of the house. Did you drop by your favourite coffee haunt? What about a cigarette or two, if you smoke? Did you take the shortest route to college or take the highway, paying an extra RM1.50 for the toll just because you wanted to get a high from speeding on the highway?

What about lunch? Is the RM40 steak a once-in-a-while treat or is that your daily budget for a meal? You get my point now.

There are also other unconscious pre-planned spending like unused subscriptions for gym, cable TV, magazines, massage, etc.

By the way, do you date? For guys, this means more strain on your budget though you tell me it's worth the tab for the girl of your dreams.

And girls, when you date, you spend more on your hair, nails, face, clothes, shoes you just want to look like a million dollars and it is going to cost you many holes in your monthly budget, too.

If you can cut down on these unconscious spending and add a bit more consciousness into them, you'll have your budget more in control and your money more well spent. And yes, your parents will be happy, too.

Malaysia’s only listed oil recycler Hiap Huat opens up 62.5% at 32.5 sen

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 05:22 PM PST

Published: Monday November 26, 2012 MYT 9:22:00 AM

KUALA LUMPUR: Used oil recycler Hiap Huat Holdings Bhd made a strong debut on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on Monday, opening 62.5% higher at 32.5 sen.

At 9am, it was up 12.5 sen to 32.5 sen in very active trade.

The FBM KLCI rose 1.72 points to 1,616.04. There were 34.11 million shares done valued at RM11.12mil. There were 61 gainers, 25 losers and 66 counters unchanged.

The company raised about RM17mil from the initial public offer (IPO). The IPO comprised of 85 million new 10 sen shares. The shareholders had also offered sale 50 million existing shares.

Hiap Huat Holdings' core activity is collecting, recycling, re-refining and producing recycled products and it is the only such listed company on the Malaysian stock exchange.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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MIC Youth cancels planned demonstration over visit by Sri Lanka president
Himpunan Hijau protestors say will stay overnight near Dataran Merdeka
Muhyiddin: Education blueprint has no ulterior motives

MIC Youth cancels planned demonstration over visit by Sri Lanka president

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 05:35 AM PST

Published: Sunday November 25, 2012 MYT 9:36:00 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: MIC Youth and a number of non-governmental organisations have cancelled a planned demonstration against the scheduled visit by Sri Lanka president Mahinda Rajapaksa to Malaysia on Wednesday.

Its chief T.Mohan told a press conference on Sunday that the demonstration, planned to be held in front of the Sri Lankan High Commission here, was cancelled following a news report that Rajapaksa would not be attending the Islamic World Economic Forum in Johor scheduled from Dec 4 to 6. - Bernama

Himpunan Hijau protestors say will stay overnight near Dataran Merdeka

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 05:12 AM PST

KUALA LUMPUR: Thirteen days after leaving Kuantan on a 300km march the Himpunan Hijau group protesting the Lynas Advanced Materials Plant reached the capital and parked themselves outside Dataran Merdeka which was cordoned off.

Surrounded by a big crowd that had joined the original group of protestors from Gombak, Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tack declared that they would remain outside Dataran until 9am on Monday but would not march to parliament as was the original plan.

As dusk fell on Sunday, the crowd began to shrink as many left the place.

Dang Wangi OCPD ACP Zainuddin Ahmad had earlier reminded the crowd that it was an offence to gather without giving notice.

The group had set off from Kuantan on Nov 12 and gathered at the Sentul market at about 1pm on Sunday before starting the last leg of their march to Dataran Merdeka.

Along the way, more supporters and a number of Pakatan leaders joined them.

However, the group had to stop at police barricades on two roads leading to Dataran Merdeka and volunteers formed a human chain to prevent marchers from going any further.

Organisers had originally planned to camp at Dataran Merdeka on Sunday night before heading to Parliament the next day to submit a memorandum against the commencement of the Lynas plant.

The People's Green Coalition representative Dr Khim Pa had said on Thursday that they decided to change the route and had invited MPs to listen to their woes and receive their memorandum at Dataran Merdeka.

The Kuantan High Court had on Nov 8 lifted the suspension of Lynas' temporary operating licence (TOL), paving the way for the plant to start operations.

Justice Datuk Mariana Yahya fixed Nov 30 to set the date for judicial review for an interim injunction application on the TOL filed by three Kuantan residents.

Muhyiddin: Education blueprint has no ulterior motives

Posted: 25 Nov 2012 03:43 AM PST

SERDANG: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said on Sunday that the National Education Blueprint (PPPM) 2013-2015 was launched with no ulterior motives or hidden agenda to sideline other languages.

Describing the query on the status of Chinese education raised by the United Chinese Schools Committees Association of Malaysia, or better known as Dong Zong, as a misunderstanding, Muhyiddin said the government was fair to all schools.

"The blueprint which was introduced to develop the country's education is being seen as something done at the expense of Chinese education, that is not true at all.

"All schools, except Chinese private schools which want to be independent, will benefit from the plan because we want to upgrade all schools," he told reporters after visiting the Malaysian International Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism (MAHA) Xxhibition here.

On Sunday, Dong Zong held a gathering to protest the blueprint claiming it feared that vernacular schools would be sidelined. It also called on the government to be fair to all schools.

On the issues raised by Dong Zong, Muhyiddin said there was no mention in PPPM that Chinese or Tamil schools would be sidelined.

In fact, it clearly stated that all national-type Chinese (SJKCs) and Tamil (SJKTs) schools would be maintained.

He said the additional teaching time for Bahasa Malaysia in SJKCs and SJKTs would be carried out by conducting extra classes without affecting the time for the teaching of Chinese or Tamil.

On the abolition of transition or 'remove' classes, which Dong Zong objected to, Muhyiddin said the classes would be unnecessary if the learning of the Malay language in SJKCs and SJKTs was on par with normal schools.

The deputy prime minister said Dong Zong should stop making accusations at the government, adding that their action was politically motivated.

He said Dong Zong always looked at efforts made by the government as ill-intentioned and aimed at diminishing the Chinese language. "If that is the intention, it could have been done ages ago. The proof is that after 55 years of independence, the Barisan Nasional government did not do it. No Chinese schools were closed.

"There is no ruling that Chinese cannot be taught, instead there are more Chinese teachers and also Chinese schools now," he added.

This, he said, proved that the views of the Dong Zong were wrong and hoped that the Chinese community would not be misled by them. - Bernama

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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Translation, please?
Bestsellers
Women under pressure

Translation, please?

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 11:10 PM PST

Why should children who read BM story books be deprived of well-written reading material?

I THINK we should translate more children's books into Bahasa Malaysia and (heck, why not?) English. By "we" I mean Malaysian publishers and, as I am not one, I guess I should say "they". However, I also mean "we" in the sense that they (translated books) are something that we (Malaysians) need, and when I say "we should" I mean we should expect and demand more good BM translations of good books originally written in English and other languages.

My children's school often has these mini book fairs and the titles on offer never fail to induce a paroxysm of eye-rolling and wincing in me. The books – usually folk tales, ghost stories or moralistic fables – are obviously mass produced on cheap paper. They are badly and gaudily illustrated, and the texts read like compositions from school workbooks. We need good books in BM. Why should children who read BM story books be deprived of enjoyable and well-written reading material? Students are encouraged to read BM and English fiction. At my kids' school, there are two reading periods a week – one for BM books and the other for English books. It's a shame that for the BM book period, kids have to make do with ugly editions of cerita dongeng and cerita ngeri.

So, until we start producing good, original BM children's fiction, please, PTS and Karangkraf and all the other local publishers of children's books, do consider the translation option.

And it needn't just be English language books into BM. As hard as it may be to imagine, Britain and the United States aren't the only countries that publish good children's books. We have the whole of Europe to choose from, as well as Asian countries like Japan, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Epigram Books, a Singapore publisher, has started translating and publishing books originally published in various European countries, plus one title (so far) from Korea.

At present there are seven titles. These are my three favourites:

Why Cats Don't Wear Hats? is written by Victoria Perez Escriva and illustrated by Ester Garcia. I love cats, so naturally I love this book, which reminds me a little of Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi and Ron Barrett. The concept is similar. Escriva and Garcia show us why cats don't wear hats or other pieces of clothing. It's not quite because they would look as ridiculous as the beasts in the Barretts' book … cats could never look quite that silly (the feline in this book is a sleek and sophisticated male, or perhaps a female who likes challenging gender stereotypes); instead, Escriva presents hat- and clothes-wearing as all very well for some, but quite unnecessary for cats who are splendid just the way they are. Plus, who would pay for the top hat and the sharp suit and shiny shoes? Can you imagine a cat working? No, neither could a cat!

Blanket Travel, written and illustrated by Kim Da Jeong, is a lovely bedtime story that many children will be able to relate to. Three siblings share a room, a sleeping mat and a blanket (rendered in muted colours to create the ambience of a dimly-lit bedroom).

They have problems going to sleep for all the usual reasons – they need a drink of water, they need to go to the loo, they've left their favourite soft toy in another room – and so they have adventures instead, with the blanket as a magical prop (submarine, igloo and kangaroo's pouch) as well as, obviously, some kind of portal to alternate realities and worlds. For adults, it makes you wish you were three again, when your imagination could turn a bunk bed into a sailing ship in a storm, and a sandpit into the Sahara.

The King and the Frog is written by Alain Chiche, and illustrated (in brilliant colours) by Sylvain Diez. It's a variation of the classic fairytale in which a princess' kiss turns a frog back into the handsome prince he was before he was bewitched.

The royal personage in this book is a king (a lion). As in The Frog Prince, he meets a frog who claims to be human and begs for a kiss to break the spell it's under. The amphibian promises him various rewards (beautiful princesses, desserts galore, a magic crown), but the king is steadfast in his refusal. I won't say what happens next – let's just say it's not a Hollywood or Disney ending – but an even nicer one.

These books and four others, The Run of the Snail, The Nightingale Who Couldn't Sing, I Love Chocolate and Tim's Moving Day are published by Epigram Books and available at selected Malaysian bookstores; call ahead to check!

Now that they have been translated into English by Epigram, the next step seems to be to get them translated into BM. PTS? Karangkraf? Anyone?

Bestsellers

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 11:09 PM PST

FOR the month of November, 2012:

Non-fiction

1. Syed Mokhtar Albukhary: A Biography by Premilla Mohanlall

2. Unstoppable: The Incredible Power Of Faith In Action by Nick Vujicic

3. Dare To Dream: Life As One Direction by One Direction

4. Another Forgotten Child by Cathy Glass

5. Guinness World Records 2013 by Guinness World Records Ltd

6. A World Without Islam by Graham E. Fuller

7. Justin Bieber: Just Getting Started (100% Official) by Justin Bieber

8. Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo & Lynn Vincent

9. I Declare by Joel Osteen

10. Steven Gerrard: My Liverpool Story by Steven Gerrard

Fiction

1. Fifty Shades Of Grey by E. L. James

2. The Casual Vacancy by J. K. Rowling

3. The Hobbit (MTI) by J. R. R. Tolkien

4. The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

5. The Sins Of The Father by Jeffrey Archer

6. The Charm Bracelet by Melissa Hill

7. Life Of Pi by Yann Martel

8. One Hundred Names by Cecelia Ahern

9. Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

10. The Garden Of Evening Mist by Tan Twan Eng

This month's list compiled by MPH Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur; mphonline.com.

Women under pressure

Posted: 24 Nov 2012 10:55 PM PST

11th Hour
Author: James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing, 416 pages

JAMES Patterson has always been one of those writers who could spin the most absurd tales, and yet tie everything up nicely by the end. That has always been one of his strong suits, and also maybe the reason why most of his fans are still drawn to his work despite him churning out a few duds in the past few years.

Perhaps fans hoped that the thriller genre genius, whose fine past works include Along Came A Spider, Cat And Mouse and When The Wind Blows, would return to his full glory and give them the one mind-blowing novel they have craved for years.

Sorry to disappoint, but 11th Hour is not that masterpiece. However, The Women's Murder Club is back in business, and this time the ladies get not one, but two absolutely thrilling cases to work on.

San Francisco Police Department homicide detective Lindsay Boxer and her friends Cindy Thomas (crime desk reporter), Claire Washburn (chief medical examiner) and Yuki Castellano (district attorney) are gal pals who don't just bond over Mexican cuisine and drinks, but also over some of the city's most gruesome crimes.

Boxer, who is now pregnant with her first child with FBI consultant husband Joseph Molinari, finds herself facing one of the city's toughest and sleekest vigilantes.

When millionaire drug dealer Chaz Smith is gunned down in his daughter's school, Boxer learns that the weapon used in the crime was taken from her department's evidence locker.

Unable to accept that one of her own is behind the murder of some of the dirtiest drug dealers in town, Boxer and her partner Richard Conklin (with the help of the other Women's Murder Club members) try to track down the killer before he or she brings the department down with their vigilante justice.

But before Boxer can fully sink her teeth into the cop-gone-wild case, she is rushed to another crime scene where two human heads are elaborately displayed in the backyard of a famous actor, who's already been acquitted for the murder of his wife years ago.

As more human remains are unearthed in the garden, Boxer realises that there could be far more victims than they initially estimated.

Making Boxer's already difficult period tougher is a rookie journalist who is hell-bent on being the first person to break the news, and isn't above fabricating stories just to get his name on the front page. He also makes a few discoveries about Boxer's husband that threaten to break down their marriage. Can a pregnant Boxer handle all this pressure?

While 11th Hour has everything that fans have come to love about a Patterson/Paetro novel (drama, suspense, believable characters and comedy), it lacks several crucial elements, such as a solid storyline and jaw-dropping revelations.

This is definitely not one of Patterson and Paetro's finest works, but it is thankfully not as bad as some of their other books.

Fans may be left a little disappointed, but hey, don't stop believing in Patterson's magic. He may just come back with a gem of a novel and when that happens, we can proudly say we've been with him through thick and thin. That's what a true Patterson fan is all about.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Ahad, 25 November 2012