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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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TV's Barbara Walters laughs off talk of retirement Posted: 01 Apr 2013 05:30 PM PDT WASHINGTON: US television news icon Barbara Walters, 83, laughed off reports of her imminent retirement Monday, indicating she has no immediate plans to draw a line under her long and storied career. Chatting with Whoopi Goldberg and other fellow co-hosts of her ABC daytime talk show "The View," a vivacious Walters said "nothing is going on" regarding her future after more than a half-century on US television. "There was an assumption I would be making an announcement today. However, here I am and I have no announcement to make," she said to loud applause from the studio audience. "But I do want to say this: if and when I might have an announcement to make, I would do it on this program, I promise." The New York Times, quoting "an executive familiar with the newswoman's plans," reported Thursday that a formal announcement of Walters' retirement would probably be made on "The View" in May. The Hollywood Reporter, a showbiz trade journal, meanwhile said it had been told by its sources that Walters - who weathered a bout of chicken pox at the start of this year - was poised to retire in May 2014. Walters did not address either time frame in her remarks Monday, nor did she explain why she or ABC let four days go by before reacting to the reports. In a career spanning more than half a century, Walters has sometimes made news herself. In 1976 she became the first woman ever to anchor a US evening network newscast, and her interviews with entertainers and politicians, notably on ABC's "20/20" news magazine program, were often must-see viewing. - AFP

US reality TV star found dead on logging road Posted: 01 Apr 2013 05:26 PM PDT WASHINGTON: Officials in West Virginia are investigating the death of a 21-year-old reality TV star after his body was found Monday in a vehicle on an remote logging road. Cable network MTV said on its website that Shain Gandee, 21, from its hit series "Buckwild," was among three people found dead inside a Ford Bronco a day after he went missing. "Shain had a magnetic personality, with a passion for life that touched everyone he met and we will miss him dearly," an MTV spokesman said. Described as a redneck version of MTV's popular "Jersey Shore," "Buckwild" - which premiered in January - followed the lives of nine hard-partying young adults, including Gandee, in rugged and mainly rural West Virginia. MTV has commissioned a second season of the show despite criticism from some quarters - including a state senator - that it portrayed West Virginians in a poor light. On its website, the Daily Mail newspaper in the state capital Charleston said Gandee's uncle was among the fatalities. While local police ruled out foul play, the exact cause of death had yet to be determined. - AFP

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• Palestinian Islamist group Hamas re-elects Meshaal as its leader
• Assange appoints British monarchy opponent for Australian Senate bid
• Dissident Cuban blogger gets warm reception from Miami exiles

Palestinian Islamist group Hamas re-elects Meshaal as its leader Posted: 01 Apr 2013 08:30 PM PDT GAZA (Reuters) - Hamas re-elected Khaled Meshaal on Tuesday as the Islamist group's leader, at a marathon overnight closed-door meeting held in Cairo, an official with the organisation said. Once reviled as a hardliner but now seen increasingly in the Arab world and by some Westerners as a moderate, Meshaal, 56, has headed the movement that rejects Israel's existence and controls the Palestinian territory of Gaza, since 2004. Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal shakes hands with a man as he leaves the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip December 10, 2012. REUTERS/Ahmed Jadallah Born near Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, Meshaal steered Hamas through the upheaval unleashed by the Arab Spring uprisings. He spent decades in exile and visited Gaza for the first time ever in December. Meshaal left Syria about a year ago after ties ruptured with President Bashar al-Assad over the bloody civil war there. Building on relations with Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, said to be an old friend, Meshaal moved on to win a delicate truce with arch-enemy Israel in November and has also sought to heal a rift with rival Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Palestinian officials and analysts said Meshaal, dogged by Gaza critics of his ceasefire with Israel and efforts to reconcile with Abbas, had to be persuaded to continue as Hamas's leader for another term. "Meshaal was re-elected," a Hamas official said, reporting in a terse statement on Tuesday on the results of a meeting that began in the Egyptian capital on Monday. The official gave no other details of the vote by which about 60 top officials of the group had reaffirmed Meshaal anew as Hamas's political leader. Both Egypt and powerful Gulf emirate Qatar also lobbied strongly on Meshaal's behalf, a diplomat in the region told Reuters. "They saw Meshaal as a moderate and an example of a leader who saw the world more comprehensively than other hardliners in the group," said the diplomat, who spoke on condition of anonymity. European nations that boycott Hamas and list it as a terrorist group for its violence against Israel - including suicide bombings in an uprising a decade ago and rocket strikes on Israeli towns - were also seen as supportive of Meshaal retaining in his post. 'REAL ENGAGEMENT' WITH WEST? "I do not say Europe is going to open to Hamas tomorrow," said the diplomat, who saw an opening for a "real engagement with the West" if Meshaal persuaded Islamist colleagues to change their policies. Meshaal burnished his credentials as leader of the Palestinian militant group after surviving a 1997 Israeli assassination attempt. Hamas was founded in 1988 shortly after the launch of an uprising against Israel. In 2004, Meshaal succeeded Hamas's founder, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, after the cleric was assassinated by Israel during a second Palestinian revolt against the Jewish state. On his watch, Hamas has emerged as an ever more important player in the Middle East conflict, weakening the U.S.-backed Palestinian Authority by seizing control of coastal Gaza in 2007, and challenging Abbas's peacemaking with Israel. Despite his falling out with Syria over Assad's bloody attempts to quell a revolt, Meshaal has gone out of his way to maintain relations with Islamist Iran, which has supplied Hamas with weaponry including rockets it has fired at Israel. More lately though Meshaal has sought to overcome his differences with Abbas, leader of the Fatah movement founded by the late Yasser Arafat and head of a Palestinian self-rule authority in the West Bank. Two years ago he faced down angry Gazans by voicing support for Abbas's peace moves with Israel, though he remained sceptical whether the negotiations frozen since 2010 would ever secure the Palestinian goal of independent statehood. More recently Meshaal was involved in indirect talks with Israel mediated by Egypt, striking a truce that has largely silenced fighting along the Israel-Gaza frontier since a deadly eight-day conflict four months ago. (This version of the story corrects the third paragraph to show Meshaal's visit to Gaza in December was his first.) (Reporting by Allyn Fisher-Ilan; Editing by Mohammad Zargham and Eric Beech) Copyright © 2013 Reuters

Assange appoints British monarchy opponent for Australian Senate bid Posted: 01 Apr 2013 07:51 PM PDT CANBERRA (Reuters) - Fugitive WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, holed up in London's Ecuadorian embassy for nine months, has appointed a high-profile opponent of Britain's monarchy to run his campaign for a seat in Australia's upper house of parliament. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange makes a speech from the balcony of Ecuador's Embassy, in central London December 20, 2012. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor Former Australian Republican Movement head and barrister Greg Barns said on Monday he would be campaign director for the WikiLeaks Party spearheading Assange's rare absentee bid for a Senate seat in Australia's September 14 election, which even if successful would not bring him any legal protection. "It's most definitely a serious campaign," Barns told Australian radio. "He does attract support from across the political spectrum. The party will offer a refreshing change from the Australian government culture of secrecy." The former computer hacker, an Australian citizen, announced last year he would run for the 76-seat Senate and would use the protection of parliament to champion free speech and break court suppression orders. Assange is considered a long shot to win a Senate seat as he would need to attract about 15 percent of votes in the Victoria state. If he wins, he would be able to take his seat from July 1, 2014, but would need to return to Australia to be sworn in. If he wins a Senate seat, he would be covered by Australia's parliamentary privilege rules, which protect politicians against legal action over comments made in parliament. Barns, a high-profile political campaigner at home, said Assange's party had already secured backing from a prominent Melbourne philanthropist -- former Citibank executive Philip Wollen -- and needed 500 members to fulfill party registration. Assange struck a defiant tone in a recent interview, telling Australian academic website The Conversation that he felt "no fear" about the legal accusations against him. "Truth is I love a good fight. Many people are counting on me to be strong. I want my freedom, of course. But confinement gives me time to think," he said. Assange, 41, whose website angered the United States by releasing thousands of secret diplomatic cables, took sanctuary in Ecuador's embassy in London last June, jumping bail after exhausting appeals in British courts against extradition to Sweden for sexual assault allegations. The silver-haired Assange burst into global prominence in 2010 when Wikileaks released secret footage, military files and diplomatic cables about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, prompting a furious response from the United States. (Editing by Michael Perry) Copyright © 2013 Reuters

Dissident Cuban blogger gets warm reception from Miami exiles Posted: 01 Apr 2013 07:21 PM PDT MIAMI (Reuters) - Cuba's best-known dissident, journalist Yoani Sanchez, received a hero's welcome on Monday from the Cuban-American exile community in Miami, her latest stop in an 80-day tour of more than a dozen countries. Yoani Sanchez, the best-known dissident blogger from Cuba, reacts to applause before speaking at the Freedom Tower in Miami, Florida April 1, 2013. REUTERS/Joe Skipper It was the largest and most politically unified reception in at least a decade for a dissident from the island by Miami's Cuban-American exile community, which has often clashed with opposition figures in Cuba over political strategy. With many leaders of Miami's Cuban-exile community in attendance, Sanchez was introduced as "an authentic defender and heroine" of human rights in Cuba by Eduardo Padron, the president of Miami Dade College, which hosted the event. She was greeted by about 1,000 invitees with a standing ovation accompanied by shouts of "Freedom! Freedom!" as she took the stage at Miami's iconic Freedom Tower, a one-time processing centre in the 1960s for Cuban refugees. Seemingly surprised by the warmth and size of the reception, she smiled and flashed the V for victory sign in response, before receiving the keys to the city of Miami. Sanchez, a slender 37-year-old Havana resident with striking waist-length hair, has incurred the wrath of Cuba's government for constantly criticizing its communist system in her "Generation Y" blog and using Twitter to denounce repression. The blog has won several top international journalism prizes and is translated into 20 languages, while her Twitter account has nearly 500,000 followers. Few of these though are in Cuba, where the government severely restricts the Internet. In a prepared speech, Sanchez described in often poignant terms her empathy with the pain felt by many Cuban exiles who have left the island over the last half century following the 1959 revolution that swept Fidel Castro to power. Sanchez blamed the Castro government for dividing the country and called for unity between exiles and Cubans still living on the island. "That's why I am here today with you so that nobody again can divide us," she said to roars of approval. "Without you (exiles) our country would be incomplete, like someone missing an amputated limb," she added. CUBA'S BERLIN WALL Sanchez compared Cuba to Germany before the Berlin Wall was brought down in 1990. Unlike the Berlin wall, Cuba's was "not made of concrete but of lies," she said, to another standing ovation. Despite her sharp attacks on Cuba's one-party rule, she plans to return to Cuba in May where she said she hopes to dedicate the rest of her life to practicing and teaching journalism. Sanchez defended her highly publicized criticism of the longstanding U.S. economic embargo against Cuba, saying it provided the Cuban government with an excuse for tough living conditions on the island under communist rule. "There are much more important things (than the embargo)," she said. "The (Cuban) government has exaggerated its importance," she added, saying different opinions about the embargo among opponents of the Cuban government were not a reason for division. Unlike other dissidents, who have been received with suspicion in Miami, Sanchez appears to have won the exile community over with her charm and wit, as well as her straight-talking blog. "No one has been more effective in denouncing what's going on in Cuba and the myths of the Cuban regime," said Carlos Alberto Montaner, a prominent Cuban exile politician and journalist. "I don't know of any dissident from the island who has been this warmly received," said Felice Gorordo, co-founder of Roots of Hope, a group of young, Cuban American professionals and university students. "She has the ability to speak to the pain of the exiles and to the daily struggles of life in Cuba." REFORM IN CUBA Sanchez's case is viewed as a test of the Cuban government's commitment to free travel under reforms announced late last year that require only a passport, renewed every two years, to leave the country. It is the first time Cuban authorities have allowed Sanchez to leave the island since 2004, when she returned from a two-year stay in Switzerland and began launching a string of digital publications. Cuba's leaders consider dissidents traitorous mercenaries in the employ of the United States and other enemies. Official bloggers regularly charge that Sanchez's international renown has been stage-managed by Western intelligence services. Asked on Monday how she has been able to finance her trip crisscrossing the Atlantic several times between the United States, Europe and Latin America, Sanchez praised the generosity of friends and universities that have invited her to speak. "The Cuban government says I am a millionaire. It's true. I have millions of friends," she said. Sanchez is in Miami this week for a string of public appearances at local universities and a family reunion with her sister, a pharmacist, and brother-in-law, as well as her niece, whom she has not seen since they left Cuba two years ago. She arrived in Miami after stops in Washington and New York that followed visits to Brazil and Mexico. She leaves for Peru on Thursday before returning to Europe, including stops in Germany. Copyright © 2013 Reuters

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• Banks, Petronas Dagangan lead KLCI higher in early trade
• 20% more Putra Brand winners
• M'sia, S'pore and Thai regulators implement standards for multi-jurisdiction offerings

Banks, Petronas Dagangan lead KLCI higher in early trade Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:15 PM PDT Published: Tuesday April 2, 2013 MYT 9:15:00 AM KUALA LUMPUR: Some nibbling of index-linked stocks including Petronas Dagangan and banks helped nudge the FBM KLCI higher in early trade on Tuesday despite the cautious key regional markets. At 9.01am, the FBM KLCI was up 1.66 points to 1,669.27. Turnover was 6.52 million shares valued at RM6.0mil. There were 55 gainers, 24 losers and 55 counters unchanged. However, Hwang DBS Vickers Research said due to the lack of fresh market developments, trading activity is expected to remain slow today. "Coupled with the weaker overnight Wall Street performance (which saw its key equity indices finishing between flat and -0.9%), we reckon the benchmark FBM KLCI could pull back a bit further away from the support-turned-resistance level of 1,670," it said in its technical outlook. Petronas Dagangan rose 18 sen to RM23 with 1,000 shares done as the group plans for a special dividend payout of 35 sen a share with ex-date on April 26. HLFG rose six sen to RM15.06, Maybank five sen to RM9.35 and AmBank four sen higher to RM6.59. BToto rose six sen to RM4.20 after it declared an 8.0 sen third interim dividend. Meanwhile, Carlsberg fell 20 sen to RM13.92 on mild profit taking, Bursa shed five sen to RM6.80 and Axiata two sen to RM6.80. More News

20% more Putra Brand winners Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:08 PM PDT Tuesday April 2, 2013 PETALING JAYA: The Putra Brand Awards, a brand valuation award measured by consumer preference, will see a 20% increase in the number of winners this year as well as the entry of several new Malaysian brands on the final list. The Association of Accredited Advertising Agents Malaysia (4As), the organiser, said in a statement that for the first time this year, gold Putra Brand Award winners from the previous years and this year would be inducted into the "hall of fame" as a tribute to Malaysia's best-loved and most recognised brands. "The Putra Brand Awards is a significant event that champions local brands and SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) based on a set of measurable deliverables chosen by Malaysian consumers," said Datuk Johnny Mun, 4As vice-president and the Putra Brand Awards organising chairman. He added that brands must continually invest in a broad range of marketing communications to make an impression on the minds of consumers. "The rules of engagement have surely changed in the past decade and continue to evolve with media convergence and advancing digital technology," Mun said. "Consumers now are in charge of brands by accessing and evaluating a product or service through multiple media and social platforms." The winners of the Putra Brand Awards, now in its fourth edition, are chosen by 6,000 respondents through a rigorous research methodology. "These respondents from all over the country are different every year – and they choose the top brands based on how they engage and interact with the brands covering relevance and accessibility," he said. The Putra Brand Awards ceremony, which is endorsed by the Malaysia External Trade Development Corp (Matrade), would be held on April 26 in Kuala Lumpur. The 4As plans to organise a roadshow jointly with Matrade to key market centres with this year's Putra Brand Awards winners. More News

M'sia, S'pore and Thai regulators implement standards for multi-jurisdiction offerings Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:06 PM PDT Tuesday April 2, 2013 PETALING JAYA: The securities regulators in Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have jointly implemented the Asean Disclosure Standards Scheme for multi-jurisdiction offerings of equity and plain debt securities in the region. According to the Asean Capital Markets Forum (ACMF), the scheme aims to facilitate fund-raising activities as well as enhance investment opportunities within Asean capital markets. "Issuers offering equity and plain debt securities in multiple jurisdictions within Asean will only need to comply with one single set of disclosure standards for prospectuses, known as the Asean Disclosure Standards, bringing about greater efficiency and cost savings to issuers," it said in a statement. The scheme replaces the Asean and Plus Standards Scheme that was announced on June 12, 2009, and is one of the capital market initiatives undertaken by the ACMF as part of the regional capital market integration plan endorsed by the Asean Finance Ministers in April 2009 in Pattaya, Thailand. The scheme operates on an opt-in basis and Asean members will adopt the scheme as and when they are ready to do so. Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand are the first three Asean jurisdictions to implement the scheme. "The initiative represents a significant milestone towards creating a more efficient environment for access to capital across the region, and is a key initiative by Asean capital market regulators to promote greater cross-border investment flows and grow the region's capital markets. "The fully harmonised disclosure standards will allow issuers more seamless access to financing opportunities within the region while facilitating investors' decision making in multi-jurisdiction offerings," said Securities Commission chairman Datuk Ranjit Ajit Singh. More News

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• Top divers head to Barcelona instead of Kazan
• A crucial week in Kuantan for the premier teams
• High time for Thien How and Wee Kiong to justify world No. 7 ranking

Top divers head to Barcelona instead of Kazan Posted: 01 Apr 2013 03:52 PM PDT PETALING JAYA: Malaysia will have to make do without their top divers, including London Olympic bronze medallist Pandelela Rinong, in the World University Games (Univer-siade) in Kazan, Russia from July 6-17. The Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) do not want to release them as the Games are too close to the World Championships in Barcelona from July 19-Aug 4. For Asum, the divers' priority should be on the Barcelona meet, which is the biggest event in the international aquatic calendar for the year. Asum secretary Edwin Chong said it would not be ideal for the divers to compete in both meets. "We have met and discussed with MASUM officials (Malaysian Univer-sity Sports Council) on this matter. "They requested for the services of the national divers as they believe diving has the brightest chance of winning medals at the Universiade. "However, we told them we cannot release divers like Pandelela, Wendy Ng Yan Yee and Cheong Jun Hoong. "Their priority should be on the World Championships because their chances of making it to the FINA Diving World Series hinge on how they fare in Barcelona. "It is important for our divers to make it to the top 10 in their respective events as that will get them into the elite field for the World Series. "We do not want them to commit to two competitions in the span of three weeks. "If they were to go for both, it would be too taxing for them in terms of travelling. "They have to cut short the centralised training stint in China by three weeks to go to Kazan. And then it's back to China before leaving for Barcelona. Their preparations will surely be affected. "However, we can release divers like Ooi Tze Liang, Chew Yiwei and Kam Ling Kar to represent our country at Universiade," said Edwin. At the last Universiade in Shenzhen, China, two years ago, Malaysia won all their three medals in diving. Pandelela made history by becoming the first Malaysian diver to win a medal by snatching the silver in the women's 10m platform individual. She also won a bronze with Leong Mun Yee in the synchro event. Malaysia also bagged a bronze as the third best overall team for the women's events.

A crucial week in Kuantan for the premier teams Posted: 01 Apr 2013 03:53 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: It may be still early days in the Malaysia Hockey League (MHL) but the battle lines are already being marked out in the Premier Division title chase. Double champions Kuala Lumpur Hockey Club lead the way with 10 points after four matches. They are followed by Maybank on nine and Tenaga Nasional on six. KLHC and Maybank are clearly the early favourites with Tenaga, touted by many as potential champions, clearly losing their winning touch with three draws. KLHC team manager George Koshy believes it's still early days to predict who will emerge champions. "I see every team in the Premier Division with a fighting chance for the title. We have yet to reach the halfway mark. Tenaga may have drawn a few matches but they are still very much a threat and a potential challenger for the title. "Most of the teams have assembled a balanced team. Based on the results last weekend, we can expect more surprises in the coming weeks," said Koshy. All the seven teams will now move to Kuantan for this week's matches. All three – KLHC, Maybank and Tenaga – will be involved in two matches each. "One defeat can change the positions of the teams in the standings. We are not going to take anything for granted but to ensure we win our matches," said Koshy, whose team will tackle Terengganu on Friday and Sapura on Sunday. As for Maybank, they are down to play Nur Insafi on Friday and Tenaga on Sunday. For Maybank coach Wallace Tan, he is quietly confident of winning the title this time around. The last time the Tigers emerged league champions was in 1995. Wallace, a shrewd tactician, has retained the three Pakistanis – Shakeel Abbas, Mohamed Waqas and Mohamed Irfan – he hired last year. For this season, he added two more top players – Pakistani Shafqat Ali and national star Jiwa Mohan – to his squad. The rest are local players who have been with the team for the last few years. "We have a more settled team this year. The difference this year is that the foreigners are able to merge well with the local players and we have more experience in the line-up. It's important for us to keep pace with KLHC in the title chase," said Wallace. Tenaga coach Nor Azlan Bakar said it was disappointing to have drawn all their last three matches. "It is back to the drawing board for my team. We are still searching for an answer. We had chances to score but failed to put them away. "The good thing is that we did not lose any matches. But three draws are one too many. We need to win and our next two matches are very important. "Dropping points will only increase the distance with the top two sides. There is simply no other way but to gain full points in Kuantan," said Nor Azlan. Both Koshy and Azlan believe the matches in Kuantan will provide a better assessment of the teams' chance for the title. "The Kuantan venue will be tricky as we have not played there before. So, it does not give any team a clear advantage. "For us, staying at the top of the heap after this weekend will put us in the driving seat. "But it will not mean the title race is over. It will just give the leaders the edge in the next six matches," added Koshy.

High time for Thien How and Wee Kiong to justify world No. 7 ranking Posted: 01 Apr 2013 05:41 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: Doubles shuttlers Hoon Thien How-Tan Wee Kiong wrapped up their campaign in the Axiata Cup at Kuala Lumpur Badminton Stadium without dropping a match to justify their standings as the country's second best pair. Now, it is high time for the duo to justify their No. 7 ranking in the world. The duo have broken into the top 10 since January this year to book a ticket to the World Championships in Guangzhou in August. Unfortuna-tely, they are the only pair in the world's top 10 without any titles to their name. All the other pairs – Mathias Boe-Cartsten Mogensen of Denmark (No. 1), Malaysians Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong (No. 2), Ko Sung-hyun-Lee Yong-dae of South Korea (No. 3), Hiroyuki Endo-Kenichi Hayakawa of Japan (No. 4), Kim Ki-jung-Kim sa-rang of South Korea (No. 5), Hong Wei-Shen Ye of China (No. 6), Bodin Issara-Maneepong Jongjit of Thailand (No. 8) and China's Liu Xiaolong-Qiu Zihan and Cai Yun-Haifeng — have tasted success before. Thien How-Wee Kiong have played together for more than a year now but they have never reached a final in their international outings. Thien How said they were still in the midst of stabilising their game. "We have done well to consistently reach the quarter-finals or semi-finals but it gets tougher after that as the opponents are so much stronger. "We are struggling to get past them. We know we can beat them but just can't lift our performances on match day. We have to be more stable and focused," added Thien How. National coach Paulus Firman insisted that Thien How-Wee Kiong would make it at the right time. "I have two pairs in the top 10 but the standard of play between Kien Keat-Boon Heong and Thien How-Wee Kiong is of a different level. Thien How and Wee Kiong have not become champions yet but we are working towards that," said Paulus. "They did well in the Axiata Cup. In the absence of Kien Keat-Boon Heong, they justified their role by beating all their opponents (all ranked lower than them). There is still room for improvements. "We must be patient. If Thien How-Wee Kiong can work harder in training, we will surely see progress. They have already taken the first step to break into the top 10. "The men's doubles competition is wide open now. Even the top pairs can be beaten in the early rounds," added Paulus. Paulus is happy that he has about a month to whip Thien How-Wee Kiong into tip-top condition. The next tournament for the pair is the India Open Super Series in New Delhi from April 23-28. "Thien How-Wee Kiong will stay at home while Koo-Tan will be taking part in the Australian Open GP Gold in Sydney this week. I will be able to spend more quality time with them and prepare them for the India Open," said Paulus. In the Australian Open, Kien Keat-Boon are the top seeds. Hopes are high on the duo to win their first international title this year after their below-par performances in the last three Super Series in South Korea, Malaysia and England.

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• GE13: DAP announces candidates for Pahang seats
• Lahad Datu: 'Datuk Seri' detained over possible links to Sulu incursion
• GE13: Pahang PAS to field 40% new faces

GE13: DAP announces candidates for Pahang seats Posted: 01 Apr 2013 07:57 AM PDT RAUB: Former Pulau Manis assemblyman Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz has been named as the DAP candidate for the Raub parliamentary. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng made the announcement to party members and supporters in Sungai Lui near here on Monday, adding that Pahang DAP deputy chairman Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji would contest against MCA for the Mentakab state seat. Mohd Ariff, 57, a one-term assemblyman from 2004 to 2008, blogs under the name "Sakmongkol AK47." He applied to join the DAP in January last year, together with another former Umno veteran Aspan Alias. Mohd Ariff will face off with senior Pahang executive councillor and Bilut assemblyman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun, who is expected to replace incumbent Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen. Tengku Zulpuri, 47, is a member of the Pahang royal family. He contested and won the deputy chairmanship during the state party election in 2010. He will square off with incumbent Datuk Chuah Boon Seong, who is the Temerloh MCA division chief. In addition to the two influential personalities, Lim also told the crowd that incumbent Tras assemblyman Choong Siew Onn would be defending his seat. Tras is one of the three state seats in the Raub parliament. The other two state seats are Batu Talam and Dong. In the 2008 elections, Choong won the Tras seat with a majority of 2,451 due to the Bukit Koman issue. Later at a separate ceramah in Kampung Baru Ulu Perting, Lim announced that five-term DAP assemblyman Leong Ngah Ngah would switch seats to stand in Ketari. Leong, the Pahang DAP chief, was the Triang assemblyman since 1990. Lim also told the crowd that Bentong DAP Youth chief Chow Yu Hui would contest in Bilut while state committee member Kamache Doray Rajoo would stand against MIC in Sabai. In the last elections, Kamache lost narrowly to incumbent Datuk M. Davendran by 145 votes. The state seats of Sabai, Ketari and Bilut are under the Bentong parliament. The other state seat is Pelangai, which is held by Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob. Last month, Lim announced that Himpunan Hijau chairman Wong Tack will contest Bentong under the DAP banner. Wong will square off with Health Minister and MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Lahad Datu: 'Datuk Seri' detained over possible links to Sulu incursion Posted: 01 Apr 2013 07:56 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: Al-Ehsan Islamiah charity foundation president Datuk Seri Muhammad Ridzwan Sulaiman was detained Monday under Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 over possible links to the Lahad Datu intrusion by Sulu gunmen, said his personal assistant Hasbiallah Hakaman. He was taken from the Ampang Jaya police station, where he had surrendered himself earlier Monday, in an unmarked police car with escorts. He was not seen to be handcuffed and is believed to be on the way to the Selangor police headquarters in Shah Alam. In Lahad Datu, Sabah Commissioner of Police Datuk Hamza Taib told reporters that Ridzwan was arrested to facilitate investigations pertaining to the Sulu intrusion and could be detained up to 29 days. Earlier Monday, Ridzwan told reporters that he did not know the self-styled Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, the man behind the group of armed Sulu intruders who entered Sabah in February with the aim of reclaiming it. However, Ridzwan admitted giving money to another claimant to the Sulu throne, Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram. On Sunday, Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib said they were looking to contact one Muhammad Ridzwan from George Town in connection with their investigations into funding of the intrusion. According to sources, it is believed that several other Malaysians were also being investigated for funding the Sulu militants who entered Kampung Tanduo before security forces began flushing them out on March 5. Ridzwan was supposed to give his statement at the Dang Wangi police station but changed the location at the last minute. Related Stories: Lahad Datu: Cops looking for 'Datuk Seri' from Penang

GE13: Pahang PAS to field 40% new faces Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:29 AM PDT TEMERLOH: Pahang PAS will be fielding at least 40% new faces in the coming general election but there will not be a single ustazah this time. State PAS commissioner Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the list of candidates had been finalised at the state level and submitted to the central leadership for approval. "We will reveal the names of the contesting candidates once Parliament is dissolved. "For this elections, we decided not to field any women candidates as they are not ready to serve as a full-time politician due to work and other commitments," he said in an interview. In the 2008 general election, two women were fielded in the Tahan and Luit state seats but both of them lost to Barisan Nasional candidates. Tuan Ibrahim said however, the names of two ustazah were listed as one of the three potential candidates for the Pekan and Rompin parliamentary constituencies. He said it was up to the central leadership to make last minute changes but the state leadership had decided not to field any women for this elections. "We have more than enough candidates with religious credentials and professionals to contest against Barisan in the six parliamentary and 21 state seats allotted to the party. "Our target is to win three parliaments and an additional 10 state seats, besides retaining Kuala Semantan and Beserah which we won in the last elections," he said. Tuan Ibrahim said new faces were likely to be fielded in Pulau Tawar, Inderapura, Luit, Kerdau, Sungai Lembing and Chenor. He said the incumbent Kuala Semantan assemblyman Syed Hamid Syed Mohamed would defend his seat while a new face would replace Beserah assemblyman Syed Mohammed Tuan Lonnik at the latter's request. "I should be re-contesting in Jengka which I lost narrowly by 596 votes. However, it is up to the central leadership," he said. On swapping of seats, Tuan Ibrahim said PAS would be contesting the Temerloh parliamentary and Dong state seat for this elections. He said in exchange, PKR would be given the Lipis parliamentary and Batu Talam state seat, which were contested by PAS in 2008. In view of the automatic dissolution of Pahang state assembly on April 7, Tuan Ibrahim said a mammoth gathering involving leaders of Pahang Pakatan Rakyat would be held at its party's base in Indera Sempurna on the eve of the historic date. "We would gather there for a countdown to the dissolution of the state assembly and plan our strategies to take over the state government," he said.

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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• Forest Whitaker takes up Richard Pryor's biopic
• From London with love: Bond show in Shanghai
• The Joes blast past The Croods to win box office

Forest Whitaker takes up Richard Pryor's biopic Posted: 31 Mar 2013 09:17 PM PDT Deadline.com has revealed actor and director Forest Whitaker is now at the helm of a movie project that will tell the life story of American comedian Richard Pryor. Forest Whitaker (pic) will produce the project that started in the mid-1990s. He is collaborating with the comedian's widow, Jennifer Pryor, to develop the movie. The new team will start the screenplay from scratch in order to tell the story of a man who remains one of the most famous American comedians. Before Forest Whitaker, Adam Sandler wanted to produce a biopic about Richard Pryor. Marlon Wayans was supposed to play the comedian and Bill Condon was set to direct. At one stage, Martin Scorsese was also interested in recounting the life of Pryor, who was tormented by drugs before he was struck down by multiple sclerosis. (Relaxnews)

From London with love: Bond show in Shanghai Posted: 31 Mar 2013 09:12 PM PDT SHANGHAI (AFP) - An exhibition on fictional British spy James Bond opened in Shanghai Thursday, just weeks after the Communist government's censors cut parts of the latest film in the franchise, Skyfall. But Neil McConnon, lead curator of Designing 007 -- Fifty Years Of Bond Style said there had been no censorship of the show, organised by London's Barbican. "We certainly didn't edit at all for a Chinese audience," he told AFP. "We have encountered censorship before in some exhibitions, but not in this exhibition." Parts of Skyfall -- partly shot in China's commercial hub -- proved too sensitive for the authorities ahead of its release in January. A scene showing prostitution in Macau, a special administrative region of China, was removed, as was a line in which Bond's nemesis mentions being tortured by Chinese security agents. A section in which a hitman takes out a Chinese security guard in a skyscraper in Shanghai itself was also cut. The Shanghai exhibition, backed by a commercial company, is being mounted at the privately-owned Minsheng Art Museum. It is an expanded offering from previous shows in London and the Canadian city of Toronto, incorporating more material from Skyfall including the boat used by Daniel Craig as Bond to enter a Macau casino. In a room dedicated to villains, the display also includes an outfit worn by Michelle Yeoh playing Chinese spy Wai Lin in Tomorrow Never Dies -- who as a cover story claimed to be a reporter for China's official news agency, Xinhua. Visitors can see a model of Bond's Aston Martin DB5, the bowler hat used as an airborne weapon by the character Oddjob in Goldfinger, and the orange bikini worn by actress Halle Berry in Die Another Day. But Chinese audiences are more familiar with recent Bond films, through both theatrical release and pirated DVDs, than the classics of the franchise. "It will be perhaps a different experience for a Chinese audience who won't have the same shared experience and the same resonance as audiences in the US or Europe," McConnon said.

The Joes blast past The Croods to win box office Posted: 31 Mar 2013 08:34 PM PDT REUTERS - Action movie G.I. Joe: Retaliation won the weekend box office battle in the United States and Canada, fighting off competition from cartoon cavemen, a Tyler Perry drama, and an alien-possessed heroine trying to save the human race. G.I. Joe, a sequel starring Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson and Bruce Willis, secured US$41.2 million in domestic ticket sales from Friday through Sunday, according to studio estimates. Last week's winner, animated prehistoric adventure The Croods, slipped to second place with US$26.5 million in North America (the United States and Canada). Tyler Perry's Temptation landed in the No. 3 slot with US$22.3 million. G.I. Joe opened Wednesday evening to get a jump on the Easter holiday weekend. The cumulative box office after Sunday is estimated at US$51.7 million. In international markets, the movie racked up US$80.3 million, for a global haul of US$132 million. "The result is as spectacular as the look of the movie," said Don Harris, president of domestic theatrical distribution at Paramount Pictures. "We couldn't be happier with the result in terms of both the domestic and international box office and the response from movie goers." Inspired by a Hasbro toy, G.I. Joe tells the story of elite soldiers fighting the enemy organization called Cobra as well as threats from within the federal government. The sequel to 2009's G.I. Joe: The Rise Of Cobra was slated to open last summer, but the release was delayed to convert the film to 3D. Viacom Inc's Paramount Pictures, MGM and Skydance Productions produced the sequel for about US$130 million. Ahead of the weekend, forecasters predicted a domestic tally around US$38 million for G.I. Joe. Domestic ticket sales for The Croods, a Dreamworks Animation comedy about a family of cave dwellers, dropped 39 percent from its debut a week ago. The cumulative international box office takings rose to US$140.5 million. Temptation, a departure from Perry's hit comedies, focuses on a married woman drawn to a handsome billionaire. The movie stars Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Lance Gross and Vanessa Williams. Reality TV star Kim Kardashian plays a small role and helped promote the film through TV appearances and social media. Another new release, sci-fi romantic thriller The Host, finished in sixth place with US$11 million. The movie is based on a novel by Stephenie Meyer, author of the Twilight vampire series that became a blockbuster movie franchise. Host features a love triangle centered around a young woman whose body is taken over by an alien with good intentions. The two live in the same body, first as enemies before they become friends who team up to save the human race. Irish actress Saoirse Ronan plays the lead character. Distributor Open Road Films acquired domestic rights for The Host for US$2 million. In fourth place, thriller Olympus Has Fallen earned US$14 million during its second weekend. The movie stars Gerard Butler and Morgan Freeman in the tale of a White House under attack. Disney's Oz The Great And Powerful came in fifth with US$11.6 million.

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Bad to the bone Posted: 01 Apr 2013 12:47 AM PDT Judging by the number of tabloid headlines vindicating celebrities and their bad behaviour – be it posting photos online that leave little to the imagination, acting up in public and picking fights randomly – you would not be wrong in questioning where all the positive role models have gone? While there still are celebrities out there that are always at their best knowing they have a responsibility to their fans, unfortunately not everyone practices such good form. Justin Bieber thought it acceptable to show up two hours late for his recent concert at London's O2 arena. According to reports, he was busy playing video games during the time that his young fans where waiting in the arena crying over the realisation they would miss most of the concert as their parents were coming to pick them up at the time it was supposed to end. The April 1 issue of Galaxie has this story and more as it uncovers many tales of celebrities like Kanye West, Rihanna and Chris brown who behave shockingly. Also featured in the magazine are insights on celebrities who make our entertainment moments – from singer Justin Timberlake and his latest album to TV actor Chord Overstreet who moves on from Glee. Rita Ora and Ed Sheeran are among showbiz's top entertainers and Galaxie has updates on these stars and their masterplan for conquering the top of the charts. For a little fun and frivolity, a must read this issue is Galaxie's Zombie Survival Guide. It's doomsday-prepping 101 – just in case a Zombie apocalypse should hit – with tips and pointers on what you can do to not end up as zombie food. The staples on gossip and contests to be won are still part and parcel of the April 1 issue while the latest highlights on what's new on the tube and in the cinemas are a plenty, as well as all the reviews on music's current releases. Galaxie, owned by Star Publications (M) Bhd and voted Entertainment Magazine Of The Year for two years running, also has a presence online at galaxieblog.com.my. For updates on the magazine and the entertainment world, follow Galaxie on Twitter (@galaxiemag) and visit its Facebook page (facebook.com/GalaxieMagazine).

Why succeed when you can FAIL Posted: 01 Apr 2013 12:00 AM PDT More News

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Metro Watch Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:54 AM PDT TRAFFIC DIVERSION New Pantai Expressway Sdn Bhd will be diverting the traffic at the main route to Jalan Templer beginning April 2 from 6.30am to 9am. This is to ease the traffic congestion for the lanes heading to Kuala Lumpur and Seremban during peak hours. Vehicles from Subang Jaya will only be allowed to use the left lane to get into Jalan Templer and Jalan Klang Lama while vehicles from Maju Jaya and Federal Highway will only be allowed to use the route on the right to Kuala Lumpur and Seremban via New Pantai Expressway. Motorists are advised to adhere to the road safety signages and speed limits. For detail, call 1300-88-1010. SCHOOL REUNION Calling all St George Girls' School Penang class of 1963. There will be a 50th reunion anniversary on Saturday, June 8, from 11am to 3pm at Function Room, Level 16, Bayview Georgetown (fomerly known as City Bayview) in Farquhar Street, opposite St. Xavier's Institution. For details, call on 012-425 7651 / 04-657 7051 (S.K. Mui) or 017-543 6978 (Azizah Mohd Noor). VAISAKHI CELEBRATION Come experience an evening of Punjabi cultural extravaganza with upbeat folk songs, dazzling Bollywood dances as well as the vibrant dhol drum and bhangra performances at the 27th Annual Vaisakhi Celebration on April 7 at 4pm in Central Market Kuala Lumpur (outdoor stage). For details, visit www.centralmarket.com.my / www.facebook.com/centralmarketkualalumpur TALK ON CANCER A talk on "Women and Cancer" by consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Dr Wong Sum Keong will be held on April 5, 12.30pm at Sunway Mas Community Centre, Jalan PJU 1/3G, Pusat Dagangan Sunway Mas, Petaling Jaya. Registration fee is RM5 and lunch will be served. To register, email smcc.community@gmail.com or call 012-707 2095. MEDITATION CLASSES Kevala Centre will be holding a "Breath Healing Meditation" session on April 7 from 6pm to 7pm. Admission is free. For details, visit www.drdhilip.com or call 03-5636 7986 / 012-2873502 (Jayanthi). HEALTH TALK Malaysian Diabetes Association will be organising a talk on "Hypnotherapy, Stress and Diabetes" on Saturday, April 13 at 2pm at 2, Lorong 11/4E, 46200, Petaling Jaya. Registration is free. For details, call 03-7957 4062/3. EYE SCREENING In conjunction with World Glaucoma Week, the Kuala Lumpur Eye Specialist Centre is organising a free eye screening from April 12 to 14 at the centre in Taman Usahawan Kepong. For details, call 03-6250 0077.

Pesrob KL grab two medals at Malaysia and Singapore Disability Football Tournament 2013 Posted: 01 Apr 2013 06:54 AM PDT THE Sports & Recreation Association for the Blind KL (Pesrob KL) emerged as one of the big winners at the recent third Malaysia and Singapore Disability Football Tournament 2013 held at the National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. Pesrob KL bagged two medals from four categories after emerging victories in the Visually Impaired Class B2/3 five-a-side futsal category while bagging the runner-up spot for the Visually Impaired Class B1 five-a-side futsal category. Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) also bagged the top spot for the Cerebral Palsy seven-a-side and Intellectually Disabled five-a-side runner-up spot during the tournament. The Persatuan Sukan & Rekreasi Orang Kurang Upaya Negeri WP/KL (Pesron KL), meanwhile, bagged the top spot for the Intellectually Disabled five-a-side and Persatuan Sukan & Rekreasi Orang Buta Selangor bagged the Visually Impaired B2/3 five-a-side futsal category top prize. SMK Cacat Penglihatan, Setapak KL also bagged the runner-up spot for Visually Impaired B2/3 five-a- side futsal category while event organiser Intellectually Mentally Challenged Training Centre, USJ 4 Subang Jaya bagged the runner-up spot for the Cerebral Palsy seven-a-side category. Organising chairman Sunny Shalesh said the annual event, being held for the third year, was to help create pathways and opportunities for talented disabled individuals. "The objective of the event is to identify and groom disabled footballers to become elite competitors. "We also hope to establish a nat-ional Disability Football League in Malaysia and Singapore," he added. The event, which saw 250 disabled players from 20 teams from Malaysia and Singapore, was organised by the Intellectually Mentally Challenged Training Centre, USJ 4 Subang Jaya together with the Malaysia Blind Sports Association. Also present for the prize presentation ceremony was national football coach Datuk K. Rajagopal. Cerebral Palsy 7 A-Side Intellectually Disabled 5-a-side Visually Impaired B1 5 A- Visually Impaired B2/3 5

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