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The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


Idea that American held by Venezuela is a spy 'ridiculous' - Obama

Posted: 04 May 2013 07:37 PM PDT

SAN JOSE (Reuters) - The Venezuelan government's suggestion that an American citizen it has detained is a spy is "ridiculous," U.S. President Barack Obama said in a television interview recorded on Saturday during a visit to Costa Rica.

U.S. President Barack Obama waves as he arrives to take part in a forum on Inclusive Economic Growth and Development hosted by INCAE, a Costa Rican business school, and the Inter-American Development Bank, in San Jose May 4, 2013. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

U.S. President Barack Obama waves as he arrives to take part in a forum on Inclusive Economic Growth and Development hosted by INCAE, a Costa Rican business school, and the Inter-American Development Bank, in San Jose May 4, 2013. REUTERS/Juan Carlos Ulate

Venezuela said late last month it had detained an American called Timothy Hallet Tracy, accusing him of financing opposition student demonstrations after April's disputed presidential election and saying he had clearly been trained as an intelligence agent.

Venezuela said Tracy, 35, from Michigan, had received money from a foreign non-profit organisation and had redirected those funds toward student organizations, seeking to provoke "civil war".

Relatives and friends of Tracy have described him to U.S. media as a documentary maker who was in Venezuela to make a film about the presidential election.

"This U.S. citizen who apparently has been detained, we will handle (it) like ... every situation where we get a U.S. citizen who gets into some sort of legal tangle in a foreign country," Obama told Noticias Telemundo in an interview set to be aired on Sunday.

"The notion that this individual is some spy is ridiculous," Obama added as he wrapped up a three-day trip to Mexico and Costa Rica. "We've seen some of this rhetoric occasionally come out of Venezuela."

U.S. officials say the matter is being handled privately, rather than government-to-government, and they are unaware of details of the case. They are, however, seeking consular access to Tracy.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, elected in April by a narrow margin, has accused former U.S. officials of fomenting plans to assassinate him and also said Washington is supporting efforts to destabilize Venezuela.

FLOOD OF ACCUSATIONS

The U.S. government has denied that, and Venezuela's opposition has derided the torrent of accusations as a smokescreen to distract people from difficult domestic issues.

Obama said in a separate interview with Univision News, aired on Friday, that the United States was watching "crackdowns on the opposition" in Venezuela, when asked if he considered newly elected Maduro to be the country's legitimate president.

The United States angered Maduro when it last month held back recognition of his narrow victory over Capriles.

"What we want for Venezuela is ... Venezuelans ... able to choose their own leadership in fair and free elections a democratic process that is credible," Obama told Noticias Telemundo. "We have not tried to interfere in any way with what happens there."

"What we've said is, you know, let's make sure that the rules are being followed, that people are not being thrown into jail or intimidated, that the press is allowed to report fairly on what happens, that the ruling party doesn't resort to intimidation in terms of skewing results."

Maduro responded to Obama's criticism of Venezuela's democratic credentials with an angry denunciation of the U.S. leader's "insolence" on Saturday during a government "cadena" broadcast that all local television channels are obliged to show live.

"There's now no doubt that Obama himself, as the puppet of that imperial power, is behind the financing in dollars of this right wing that wants to mess with and destroy Venezuela's democracy," he said.

Maduro said he would not let up in his defence of Venezuela's sovereignty and constitution, and was prepared to talk with Washington despite its antagonism towards him.

"We can sit down even with the devils' major-general, Obama," he said in a speech to red-shirted workers who chanted "Obama, fascist" as he wound up.

A later statement by the Venezuelan government accused Obama of turning a blind eye to deaths that occurred in opposition-led protests the day after Maduro's election, and showing hypocrisy on human rights given his failure to close a prison for foreign terrorism suspects at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

(With reporting by Andrew Cawthorne and Deisy Buitrago in Caracas; Writing by Simon Gardner; Editing by Eric Walsh)

Copyright © 2013 Reuters

Explosions shake Damascus, Syria blames Israel

Posted: 04 May 2013 07:06 PM PDT

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Powerful explosions struck the outskirts of Damascus early on Sunday, sending columns of fire into the night sky, and Syrian state television said Israeli rockets had struck a military facility just north of the capital.

Israel declined to comment on the attack, but the blasts occurred a day after an Israeli official said his country had carried out an air strike targeting a consignment of missiles in Syria intended for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah.

One of the sites hit on Sunday, the Jamraya military research centre, was also targeted by Israel in January.

"The new Israeli attack is an attempt to raise the morale of the terrorist groups which have been reeling from strikes by our noble army," Syrian television said, referring to recent offensives by President Bashar al-Assad's forces against rebels.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights quoted eyewitnesses in the area as saying they saw jets in the sky at the time of the explosions.

It said the blasts hit Jamraya as well as a nearby ammunition depot. Other activists said a missile brigade and two Republican Guard battalions may also have been targeted in the heavily militarised area just north of Damascus.

Video footage uploaded onto the Internet by activists showed a series of explosions. One lit up the skyline over the city, while another sent up a tower of flames and secondary blasts.

There was no immediate comment from Israeli officials on Sunday's explosions. "We don't respond to this kind of report," an Israeli military spokeswoman told Reuters.

The Jewish state has repeatedly made clear it is prepared to use force to prevent advanced weapons from Syria reaching Lebanon's Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah guerrillas, who fought a 34-day war with Israel in 2006. Assad and Hezbollah are allied to Iran, Israel's arch-enemy.

With Assad battling a more than 2-year-old insurgency, the Israelis also worry that the Sunni Islamist rebels could loot his arsenals and eventually hit the Jewish state, ending four decades of relative cross-border calm.

The U.S. State Department and Pentagon had no immediate comment and the Israeli Embassy in Washington declined comment.

The uprising against Assad began with mainly peaceful protests that were met with force and grew into a bloody civil war in which the United Nations says at least 70,000 people have been killed.

Assad has lost control of large areas of north and eastern Syria, and is battling rebels on the fringes of Damascus.

But his forces have launched counter-offensives in recent weeks against the mainly Sunni Muslim rebels around the capital and near the city of Homs, which links Damascus with the Mediterranean heartland of Assad's minority Alawite sect.

(Additional reporting by Mariam Karouny in Beirut, Marwan Makdesi in Damascus, Dan Williams in Jerusalem and Arshad Mohammed and Phil Stewart in Washington; Editing by Peter Cooney)

Copyright © 2013 Reuters

Iraq PM's coalition emerges as strongest force in local vote

Posted: 04 May 2013 03:11 PM PDT

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's coalition came top in provincial elections two weeks ago, results released on Saturday showed, but failed to win a majority in any district, meaning it will need alliances to hold onto senior provincial posts.

Iraqi's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki speaks at a news conference in Baghdad April 19, 2010 (File photo). REUTERS/Iraqi Government/Handout

Iraqi's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki speaks at a news conference in Baghdad April 19, 2010 (File photo). REUTERS/Iraqi Government/Handout

Maliki's State of Law won the most seats in seven out of 12 provinces, in a vote that was the biggest test of Iraqi democracy since U.S. troops pulled out in December 2011.

Iraqi politics are deeply split along sectarian lines, with Maliki's power-sharing government mired in crisis over how to share power among Shi'ites, Sunni Muslims and ethnic Kurds who run their own autonomous region in the north.

"Ahead of the 2014 elections, the results signal to the blocs that pursuing a majoritarian government approach is difficult to bear fruit," said Ahmed Ali, an Iraq analyst at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War.

"Coalition building remains a main characteristic of forming governments in Iraq."

Iraqiya, a secular but Sunni-dominated bloc that posed a serious challenge to the Shi'ite Maliki in 2010 parliamentary elections, won no more than three seats in any province, according to figures released by Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission.

Months of Sunni unrest have come to a head since security forces raided a protest camp on April 23, three days after the provincial elections. Clashes swiftly spread to other Sunni areas, pushing the monthly civilian death count to 712, the highest since 2009, according to the United Nations.

Civil war in Syria is fanning Sunni-Shi'ite rivalry across the Middle East, exacerbating tensions in Iraq. Under late dictator Saddam Hussein, the minority Sunnis were politically dominant, but now they complain of being marginalised.

Maliki's State of Law received the most votes in the capital Baghdad, where it took 20 of the 58 available seats.

Voting in two Sunni-majority provinces was put off until July due to concerns about security, a delay criticised by the United States. The cabinet said the date could be postponed again unless the situation improved.

The Kurdistan region has its own timetable for provincial elections in its three governorates.

Copyright © 2013 Reuters

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio


Malaysian TV stations vie for GE13 ratings

Posted: 04 May 2013 08:37 PM PDT

Television newsrooms across the country kick into high gear to provide Malaysians with the best news coverage on polling day.

IT'S the moment of truth. By the end of today, candidates who have been hitting the campaign trail over the past two weeks will finally learn if those gruelling, full-day walkabouts, dialogues and ceramah have paid off.

But politicians aren't the only ones who have been breaking their backs, trying to win the hearts of Malaysians. Television newsrooms across the country have been working months in advance to provide the most comprehensive coverage, in a bid to draw in the highest viewership on polling day.

Star2 stepped inside some of Malaysia's most well-known TV stations to uncover the workings of a newsroom and find out what it means to prep for, arguably, the most highly-anticipated general election to date.

From the ground up

It sounds like a logistical nightmare, to say the least. With 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats spread across 13 states and three federal territories, TV newsrooms have to deliver the latest results and news from each of these constituencies to living rooms – and mind you, all these in real-time.

Ntv7's 7th Edition producer and news anchor Jasmine Abu Bakar described how the election results are gathered: "We have established a link with the Election Commission (EC). When the votes are tabulated in each constituency, they will immediately share the results with us."

Nevertheless, the results provided by the EC are just facts and figures. The sentiment of the voters, reactions from the winning and losing candidates, and the overall atmosphere in a constituency can only be captured by broadcast reporters on the ground.

"Reporters positioned at the various polling stations will send their stories to the command centre in the newsroom. Here, there is a work station and a personnel in charge who gathers the news from each state," Jasmine said in an interview at Sri Pentas, Petaling Jaya.

Media Prima (which operates TV3, Ntv7, 8TV and TV9) has dispatched a total of 196 broadcast reporters and crew members to constituencies throughout Malaysia according to TV3 head of news and veteran news anchor Nasharudin Tajudin. This does not include a production and technical team of around 200 people stationed at the main hub.

"When news arrives at the command centre, news editors will be on standby to pick out the most interesting and newsworthy report. A producer will then be assigned to develop the news report further and ensure that it is ready to be aired," Nasharudin explained.

Jasmine also mentioned the news team has started planning for the May 5 coverage since August last year. The programming block for both TV3 and Ntv7 begins at 6pm right up to the moment the new Government is formed. As the news stations have six hours or more worth of content to fill, panelists are invited to speak on topics such as the influence of the new media, the rise of young voters and other hot issues to accompany the election results.

RTM deputy director of production under the TV programme division Norliza Mohd Ali said that most, if not all, of her staff are on duty on May 5.

She added that RTM's TV1 news crew has been stationed at 20 locations all over Malaysia and is responsible for delivering live feed to the main studio in Angkasapuri, Kuala Lumpur.

"Close to 200 people will be on duty and they are made up of reporters, technical crew, backup staff and even the data entry team. Of course, our focus is to try and deliver the results as fast as possible. But we also want to make sure that we're reliable and accurate," she said.

As expected, emotions will be riding high on the night when results go out.

"Yes, especially when you're doing a live news programme where anything can happen. You really feel the tension," Norliza said.

Meanwhile, this polling day will only be Astro Awani's second time in providing news coverage in the general election. Established in 2007, Astro Awani refused to be called the new kid on the block.

"Our news team may be relatively young, but it's made up of some really experienced journalists," vice-president and general manager of the station Rozina Aziz said in an interview.

Rozina added that about 160 people, from the administrative end to the editorial team, are involved in covering GE13. She half-joked that even the tea lady is involved.

For Astro Awani managing editor and news presenter Suhaimi Sulaiman, GE13 is the time to showcase what TV has been doing for so many years; showcasing the best in live reporting.

"We've been preparing for this moment for over a year now. We're very kiasu like that!" Suhaimi said.

Sharpening the edge

With so many television stations vying for viewers' attention, these newsrooms need to roll out something special to set themselves apart.

Aside from running the four television channels, Media Prima also operates radio stations and print publications. Group general manager of news operations Sofwan Mahmood said Media Prima is leveraging this strength in its GE13 newsgathering process.

"For instance, if our print arm gets the news first, we will be able to tap into that and air the story on television immediately, resulting in a synergetic information gathering," he said.

Jasmine added this information-sharing also occurs between television channels, thus maximising the company's resources. "Not all Ntv7 reporters are sent to the same states. If I wanted information from Johor Baru but I do not have a reporter there, I can ask the TV3 reporter who is stationed there," said Jasmin.

To remain competitive, the company has also purchased new recording equipment. TV3 will be presenting the GE13 coverage from its new virtual studio, complete with robotic cameras (that operate without a cameraperson).

Meanwhile, RTM, being the first and oldest broadcaster in Malaysia, is sticking to its tried-and-tested formula that most viewers have grown accustomed to. Apart from providing live updates, TV1's offering will also include comprehensive data and analysis.

"If you're just following updates on social media, you won't get a full picture of what happened. Viewers can find out what factors affected the outcome of some of the results and learn some exlusive details. We believe this is the kind of information you can't get elsewhere," said Norliza.

This year, the EC has allowed unnofficial results to be reported. (Previously, polling results can only be announced from the tabulation centres.)

"With competition coming from different platforms like social media, online news and even pay TV operators, we cannot afford to fall behind on the announcement of the results. So, this year, we'll be able to announce unofficial results based on countings done at polling stations."

She added that the announcement of unofficial results must be accompanied with a disclaimer saying it's yet to be confirmed by the EC and viewers should stay tuned for more updates.

For Astro Awani, Suhaimi explained that the network's focus on people-centric news content differentiates itself from the other news broadcasters.

"Seventy percent of our news content is about the people. We focus on telling the people's stories, airing their views and saying what they expect from the political candidates. We also feature content from citizen journalists," said Suhaimi.

There's also an added feature on Astro Awani; look out for Awani Index, the channel's exclusive political analysis based on data that Suhaimi believes most viewers can relate to.

"We work with Universiti Malaya's Centre for Election and Democracy to explain how factors like broadband penetration, urbanisation rate, innovation and creativity affect the outcome of GE13."

Learning from the past

"We were slightly less prepared," said Jasmine when asked about the political tsunami that struck GE08 (general election in 2008).

"There was a big hoo-ha on election day. But if you noticed, the next day, everybody fell quiet. When you switch on the TV, Doraemon was on," she remembered.

As no one anticipated the results, Jasmine said the channel did not have a post-election programme planned, adding that this year, Ntv7's morning talk show, The Breakfast Show, will review the events that took place the night before.

The rise of the online media during GE08 also caught many in the mainstream media by surprise. Jasmine admitted that Media Prima's online presence was weak back then. They have since beefed up the online department. RTM, on the other hand is taking cue from the Sarawak state election in 2011.

"We were prepared to only go live at 8pm with the results. Then, we found out that results were already out at 7pm! So we had to go with a breaking news programme right away. We believe the same will happen for GE13, maybe even faster and we are prepared for that."

Keeping the news reports short and simple is another lesson RTM has learned from previous GE coverage. While prepping the newscasters and on-ground reporters, Norliza gave them one simple rule.

"We told them to make sure they focus on bringing us the results and then move on to the next announcement. Don't talk about frivolous matters like the weather or give us statements that are more than three-minutes long," she said.

She added there will be too many things happening on the day that the news programme cannot waste airtime on matters that will not interest their viewers.

"We don't want our stand uppers to take such a long time to talk about the results and risk losing our viewers to another news platform."

The online media has indeed posed a serious threat to television newsrooms, but Sofwan probably summed up the discussion best: "I see the challenge as something good because instead of coming up with a mediocre report, it motivates us to give the best news report to the public."

GE13 TV guide

> Selamat Pagi 1Malaysia: Hari Mengundi (TV1 / Astro Ch 101 & HyppTV Ch 101, 7.30am) – This extended five-hour edition of the popular Bahasa Malaysia morning talk show will capture the sights and sounds of election day with on-the-ground correspondents reporting from polling stations.

> Analisis Malaysia Memilih Result Show (Awani / Astro Ch 501, 5pm) – Suhaimi Sulaiman, Cynthia Ng and Ashwad Ismail break down the election data for viewers as the results come in. Also, get election updates every two hours throughout the day starting at 7am. > Malaysia Votes GE13 (Ntv7 / Astro Ch 107 & HyppTV Ch 107, 6pm) – Hosted by Praevitriana Yul, Sheahnee Iman Lee, Jasmine Abu Bakar, Tan Chung Han, Raymond Goh and Anita Woo, the show brings live result updates, analysis and interviews with political experts. > Mandat 2013 (TV3 / Astro Ch 103 & HyppTV Ch 103, 6pm) – Datuk Johan Jaaffar, Datuk Ahmad A. Talib, Datuk Manja Ismail, Norliza Mohd Zain, Nasharudin Tajudin, Saiful Nizam Ismail and other TV3 presenters will keep viewers updated with live results and interesting discussion topics until the new Government is formed. > 8TV Mandarin News: General Election-13 Special (8TV / Astro Ch 708 & HyppTV Ch 108, 7pm) – Follow the GE13 coverage in Mandarin with 8TV news personalities Than Chia Yong, Owen Yap, Liew Li Li, Chew Siew Yeong, Lee Siad Huey and Tan Ley Teng.

> Polling Night 2013 (AEC / Astro Ch 301, 7pm) – Get the scoop on GE13 in Mandarin from Astro AEC news anchors Siow Hui Mei, Gan Jiang Han, Ho Hai Chyi, Loong Boon Min and Tan Yunn Chzuan.

> Malam PRU (TV9 / Astro Ch 119 & HyppTV Ch 109, 8pm) – Apart from GE13 news reports and analysis by hosts Zainal Ariffin Ismail, Amin Hayat Abdul Rahim, Syed Mohd Khair and Azura Abu Samah, local musicians and celebrities will perform live on the show. > Siaran Langsung Keputusan Pilihanraya 13 (TV1 / Astro Ch 101 & HyppTV Ch 101, 8.30pm) – Who will win? Who will fall? Catch all the election action as RTM broadcast live from Angkasapuri.

> Special GE13 - Election Day (The Capital TV / HyppTV Ch 420, 8.30pm) – Learn about the polling process and what the Election Commission is doing to enhance its efficiency and transparency on HyppTV's 24-hour business channel.

Related stories:
Facing the outcome
Election action from The Star's SwitchUp.TV

Facing the outcome

Posted: 04 May 2013 08:38 PM PDT

Newscasters weigh in on what it means to deliver the news on the country's biggest political event.

SUHAIMI Sulaiman said he hasn't been sleeping much since word got out that GE13 will be held on May 5. His work routine now consists of staying in office till late at night with his news team.

Suhaimi said: "Part of my job involves strategising the editorial content and managing the news team. From 8pm, we start getting all these information coming in from on-the-ground reporters and online team. Then I will discuss with the team on what to put out for the next news bulletin."

After that is done, the managing editor of Astro Awani and newscaster stays on to continue his research and make index cards to remember what to say when the information is needed on air.

"We eat a lot of fast food for dinner (laughs). My news team also has to stay on to memorise and think about how they are going to present the information given. Then we go home and come back and do it all over again from 7am."

Suhaimi's word of advice to his news team is to inform, educate and entertain.

"I tell my reporters that viewers want news reporting that is relatively fair and balanced, presented in a fast and entertaining way. I want them to report the people's element."

He added enthusiastically: "Don't be dry or monotonous. We want our reporters to tell the story differently. For example, instead of saying 'This candidate is going against this person …' try talking to someone on the street like the air tebu drink seller and ask what he thinks of the candidate!"

With more than 20 years of experience in news reporting, GE13 will be Suhaimi's fourth time covering the country's elections.

"My first time was in 1990 and I remember being a field reporter in Sungai Siput, Perak. I thought it was easier back then, as all I had to do was send stories from the site to the news editor in the studio."

Of course, times have changed. Suhaimi said viewers are basically spoilt for access to information.

"Back then, television was the one with all the information. Now, you have social media, online media and so much more; the challenge is for us to remain relevant to our viewers!"

He said Awani has social media platforms where viewers are invited to share their story.

"Young people are all about social media. We ask them to send in Instagrams or tweets related to GE. We'll verify the content and then show it on air. Instead of expecting viewers to just sit there and listen to us, we get them to engage in some form of news reporting."

RTM broadcast journalist Hazel Desmond is being stationed at Pagoh, Johor Baru till May 6. Her location is one of the hotspots for GE13 as deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin will be defending his parliamentary seat against PAS candidate Mohd Rozali Jamali.

Desmond said she's expected to do a live telecast, report breaking news and look for human interest stories.

"There will be more than 10 of us in a team there. I also need to provide newsfeed for the morning talk show and news bulletins throughout the day starting from 7am," she said.

With five years working experience in RTM and prior experience covering the Sarawak state election in 2011, Desmond is excited for this new chapter in her career.

"This is it. We've been preparing since last year. I believe this is where our teamwork skills and capabilities will be tested."

With live news coverage, anything can go wrong. Desmond said: "Once, we were scheduled to go on air at 8.15pm but due to equipment failure; the studio couldn't receive our live feed!

"We have to handle situations like that as a team. So while the technical guys strived to resolve the issue, I scrambled to get as much news updates as I can to present it for later."

Being in a remote area with limited access to communication also poses another challenge for Desmond to stay connected to the studio.

"I have three power banks ready just for my mobile phone. I know anything can go wrong, I'm mentally prepared (laughs)."

Ntv7 newscaster Adriana Aris found anchoring on the night of the last general election in 2008 an experience she will never forget. The unexpected election results meant that the programming schedule dragged on longer than expected.

"I was in the studio from 7pm till 2.30am. There were only three of us presenting, and only two left after midnight," said Adriana who has read news in Media Prima for 19 years.

"We had chosen high stools without backs, which were extremely uncomfortable for long use. And things were coming in so fast, there was no time for toilet breaks," she remembered.

Adriana stressed the importance of remaining impartial despite how one feels when covering news on election.

"We are human after all, and can be affected and swayed easily by emotions or personal opinions. However, we are also professionals and know that when we are on air, our main job is to deliver news to the public. We are not there to sway opinions or tell people how they should feel," she said.

Meanwhile, TV3 news presenter Norliza Mohd Zain brought up the misconception that news anchors are mere talking heads.

"As I will be interviewing a variety of political experts throughout the GE13 coverage, I have to read up and research on the relevant topics," said Norliza who also doubles up as a TV3 news producer.

In fact, Adriana pointed out that most Media Prima news anchors aren't mainly hired to read news.

"At Ntv7, we do not believe that being an anchor is a primary task. Our anchors are firstly broadcast journalists, assistant producers, producers, editors and so on.

"It's important that anchors get maximum exposure of the news gathering and production process. Only then will they fully understand and feel the news they present," she reasoned.

Tonight, Adriana will be overseeing the overall production of Ntv7's news coverage while Norliza will co-anchor TV3's election special, Mandat 2013.

Norliza admitted to feeling slightly nervous, as this is the first election where TV3 will be using the virtual set, making it significantly harder as she has to time her movements to match the graphics.

Related stories:
Malaysian TV stations vie for GE13 ratings
Election action from The Star's SwitchUp.TV

Election action from The Star's SwitchUp.TV

Posted: 04 May 2013 08:40 PM PDT

SWITCHUP.TV is a webTV under The Star which churns out exclusive news and lifestyle content daily. Although the newspaper has been producing videos to accompany and enhance its news articles since 2001, it was only in June 2008 that SwitchUp.TV was formed to generate its own content.

Beginning in March this year, the webTV has rolled out a series of GE13-themed videos in conjunction with the general election. GE13 Showdown for instance, is a talk show anchored by some of The Star's own reporters, featuring interviews with political candidates, analysts, strategists, bloggers and businessmen on issues pertaining to the general election.

Senior producer Ian Lau said: "The show not only gives politicians but also individuals from various industries a platform to talk about how the election affects different aspects of the country."

So far, between 30 to 40 episodes have been uploaded with guests including Selangor state assembly speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim, Indian astrologer Master Yuvaraj Sowma, Lembah Pantai candidate Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin and Seputeh candidate Teresa Kok just to name a few.

Besides that, SwitchUp.TV has also produced short documentaries to give viewers an idea of how consituencies around the country such as Lembah Pantai, Batu Gajah, Kuala Terengganu and Seberang Jaya are preparing for the election as well as surveying the opinion of locals living in the area.

On May 5, Lau said new content will be uploaded frequently.

"We have sent our team out to Penang, Pahang, Johor, Perak, Sabah and Putrajaya. Hence, every one hour or so, viewers can expect to see news reports with crossovers by our reporters from these states until the new government is formed." – Kenneth Chaw

> Log on to switchup.tv. for the latest on GE13.

Related stories:
Malaysian TV stations vie for GE13 ratings
Facing the outcome

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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Bangladesh urges no harsh EU measures over factory deaths

Posted: 04 May 2013 06:35 AM PDT

DHAKA: Bangladesh on Saturday urged the European Union not to take tough measures against its economically crucial textile industry in response to the collapse of a garment factory that killed nearly 550 people.

Bodies were still being pulled from the ruins on Saturday as tearful families stood by waiting for news of victims of the country's worst ever industrial accident.

The European Union, which gives preferential access to Bangladeshi garments, had threatened punitive measures in order to press Dhaka to improve worker safety standards after the collapse of the illegally built factory on April 24.

The disaster has put the spotlight on Western retailers who use the impoverished South Asian nation as a source of cheap goods.

About 4 million people work in Bangladesh's garment industry, making it the world's second-largest apparel exporter after China. Some earn as little as $38 (24.40 pounds) a month, conditions Pope Francis has compared to "slave labour".

Duty-free access offered by Western countries and low wages have helped turn Bangladesh's garment exports into a $19 billion-a-year industry, with 60 percent of clothes going to Europe.

"If the EU or any other buyers impose any harsh trade conditions on Bangladesh it will hurt the country's economy ... millions of workers will lose their jobs," Mahbub Ahmed, the top civil servant in Bangladesh's Commerce Ministry, told Reuters.

The government has not received any formal notification of punitive action from the EU or any other country over the deaths, he said.

Authorities have arrested nine people in connection with the collapse, including an engineer who had raised safety concerns about the eight-story complex a day before the disaster.

On Saturday, verses from Islam's holy book the Koran were read out for the souls of the victims, as the stench of decaying bodies hung in the air around the site.

"The bodies that are coming now cannot be identified. The clothes the victims were wearing are also damaged, the faces are decomposed," Mohammad Masum, a volunteer rescue worker at the site in Dhaka's suburbs told Reuters Television.

The collapse was the third deadly incident in six months that raised questions about worker safety and labour conditions in Bangladesh. Human-rights groups say there has never been a case in which a factory owner was prosecuted over the deaths of workers.

"After this accident we are very scared and worried about such an accident happening at our factory," said garment worker Farida Parveen.

"We have demanded that the government take action and examine all factories so that we can all work in a good environment." - Reuters

Wall Street Week Ahead: Few roadblocks to equities' climb after new high

Posted: 04 May 2013 06:33 AM PDT

NEW YORK: With Friday's payrolls report serving as a springboard to lift Wall Street stock indexes to fresh all-time highs, investors are left to contemplate whether the gains will fizzle or if the upward momentum will continue.

Investors cheered the jobs report on Friday, which showed employment rose at a faster than anticipated pace an April and hiring in the prior two months was much stronger than previously thought.

The report eased investor concerns after a raft of soft data, particularly in the manufacturing sector, and sent the S&P 500 hurtling past what was viewed as its final resistance level of 1,600 to a fresh all-time closing high of 1,614.42.

With little in the way of economic data on tap next week and earnings season moving into the home stretch, there appears to be little that could derail a move higher.

"That's the $64,000 question - without a micro or macro focus, what do we shift our attention to?" said Art Hogan, managing director of Lazard Capital Markets in New York.

"I would argue in a lack of critical information this market has found a path of least resistance to the upside."

The economic calendar for next week is extremely light, with consumer credit and wholesale inventories for March among the few notables.

Earnings season continues its wind down, with Walt Disney Co the only Dow component scheduled to report for the week. Its results could also provide a glimpse into the health of consumer spending.

Other notable S&P 500 companies expected to post earnings include Tyson Foods Inc , Dean Foods Co , Electronic Arts Inc , Whole Foods Market , Nvidia Corp and Priceline.com .

Corporate earnings have improved from earlier market expectations, with the expected earnings growth now at 5.2 percent, up from 1.5 percent at the start of earnings season.

According to Thomson Reuters data through Friday, of the 404 companies in the benchmark 500 index that have reported earnings, 68.3 percent have topped analyst expectations, above the 63 percent average since 1994 and the 67 percent average for the past four quarters.

But revenue remains disappointing, with only 46.3 percent of S&P 500 companies topping Wall Street expectations, well below the 62 percent beat rate since 2002 and shy of the 52 percent average for the past four quarters.

With the S&P easily breezing past what was seen as its final resistance point of 1,600, the index is now in uncharted waters for investors to try and predict when a pullback may occur or gains may slow.

"(The S&P 500) broke through that 1,600 resistance level like it wasn't even there based on the payrolls report," said Paul Mendelsohn, chief investment strategist at Windham Financial Services in Charlotte, Vermont.

"Generally you don't want to fight a 52-week high, you definitely don't want to fight an all-time high."

For the week, the Dow rose 1.8 percent, the S&P 500 gained 2 percent, and the Nasdaq advanced 3 percent.

With the gains on Friday, the S&P 500 put together its first consecutive weekly advances since a seven-week run that ended in mid-March, a possible sign of a further move higher. Markets now head into the traditionally weaker summer months. The index has fallen in May for the past three years.

"The key now is, you want to see the bulls continue to push higher, you don't want to see the slip back," said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer's Investment Research in Cincinnati, Ohio.

"The ultimate contrarian would say a lot of that very well could be priced in, the thing most people aren't expecting is a continued rally in the normally weak summer months.

By the same token, the lofty levels for equities could make them ripe for a pullback, with investors resuming the battle between booking profits and buying dips. That battle caused the index to alternate between weekly gains and losses throughout the latter portion of March and most of April.

"It is a bipolar market. It is either all on or all off," said Mendelsohn. "Either things are great and we are going to the moon, or everything is falling apart and it's all over." - Reuters

Credit Suisse says ex-VP stole trade secrets in move to Goldman

Posted: 04 May 2013 06:27 AM PDT

NEW YORK: Credit Suisse Group AG sued the former vice president of its emerging markets group on Friday, claiming she stole confidential documents and trade secrets to transfer business to her new employer, Goldman Sachs Group Inc.

In a complaint filed in Manhattan state court, Credit Suisse said Agostina Pechi sent confidential and highly sensitive company documents to her personal email account in the months leading up to her resignation, including databases, client contact information and sales team targets.

The Swiss bank also accused her of conducting an "after-hours document raid" when she was scheduled to be on vacation in which she allegedly copied transaction documents related to a longtime Credit Suisse client.

After Pechi resigned on April 2 and told the human resources department she was accepting a new position with rival Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse launched an investigation into her departure and found 60 work emails in her personal account, according to the filing. The next day, those emails had been deleted and could not be recovered, the complaint said.

"Upon information and belief, Pechi intends to use confidential Credit Suisse information to compete with Credit Suisse, and intends to provide this information to her new employer to specifically target Credit Suisse's clients," the complaint said.

Michael DuVally, a Goldman Sachs spokesman, declined to comment. A lawyer for Pechi could not immediately be located.

Credit Suisse is seeking a temporary restraining order, barring Pechi for 30 days from seeking business from the company's clients. In addition, it asked the court to order Pechi to return all confidential Credit Suisse information and trade secrets.

Under her employment agreement, Pechi agreed to resolve any employment-related disputes in arbitration. In its court filing, Credit Suisse said it would pursue expedited mediation, and, if that fails, arbitration. But a court order was needed to prevent Credit Suisse from being harmed in the interim, the company said.

The case is Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC v. Pechi, New York Supreme Court, No. 651617-2013. - Reuters

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Cricket: Dwayne Bravo leads Windies at Champions Trophy

Posted: 04 May 2013 06:34 PM PDT

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua and Barbuda: All-rounder Dwayne Bravo was Saturday named as West Indies captain for next month's Champions Trophy, replacing Darren Sammy who stays in charge of the Test and Twenty20 squads.

Bravo, who took over from Sammy for the three-match whitewash of Zimbabwe in the Caribbean this year, leads a 15-man squad for the June 6-23 tournament in England.

"Our results in Tests and T20s have been showing consistent improvement and Sammy deserves every kudos for the work he has done in leading and moulding the team in these formats," said Clyde Butts, chairman of the selection panel.

"However our ODI results have not been as strong and we believe that it is best that we freshen the leadership of the team in this format. "Dwayne Bravo is an experienced, seasoned and senior cricketer who has demonstrated leadership qualities."

Bravo, 29, made his ODI debit in 2004 and has played 137 matches, scoring 2,311 runs and taking 160 wickets.

His top score is 112 not out while 6-43 represents his best bowling return.

Bravo said he was honoured to be appointed West Indies captain.

"To be named captain of the West Indies is one of the highest honours and I am truly humbled to have been appointed to this most prestigious position."

Sammy congratulated Bravo and said he will give the new captain his full support.

"I congratulate Dwayne Bravo and give him my full support as he leads the ODI team and he can be assured of my unwavering commitment to the team and our plans to be champions of One Day cricket," Sammy said.

Kieran Powell was not considered for selection due to a finger injury.

West Indies are in Group B at the Champions Trophy along with India, South Africa and Pakistan. West Indies squad: Dwayne Bravo (capt), Denesh Ramdin (wkt), Tino Best, Darren Bravo, Johnson Charles, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Sunil Narine, Kieron Pollard, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Marlon Samuels, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Devon Smith. - AFP

Boxing: Klitschko sees off Pianeta to claim 60th win

Posted: 04 May 2013 06:18 PM PDT

BERLIN: World heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko defended his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts on Saturday as he out-classed challenger Francesco Pianeta with a sixth-round knock-out to register the 60th win of his career.

Although German-Italian Pianeta, who survived testicular cancer three years ago, came into the fight undefeated in his 29 previous fights, he was outclassed by the 37-year-old champion in Mannheim, south-west Germany.

"I want to thank my opponent, there are a lot of challengers who talk a lot, but he got in the ring and fought bravely," said Klitschko.

His comments were a thinly-veiled dig at David Haye who has constantly tried to lure Klitschko back in the ring, despite the British fighter's points defeat to the Ukrainian in Hamburg in July 2011.

After Pianeta fought on, despite first hitting the canvas in the fourth round, the champion paid further tribute to the challenger's courage.

"After the battle he has had against cancer he deserves respect," said Klitschko.

"He tried everything to hit me, if he had landed one his big punches, I wouldn't have got up."

Pianeta made an ambitious start with one huge right-hand coming over the top of Klitschko's guard but failing to connect, while the champion responded with two heavy jabs which found their target.

Klitschko relied on his jab in the opening three rounds as the challenger landed several heavy shots, but a big right from the Ukrainian put Pianenta on the floor in the fourth round.

From then on, the challenger was struggling to stay in the fight and although he showed plenty of heart by fighting on, he was down again in the fifth, but managed to survive the referee's count.

With his co-ordination clearly compromised, it was only a matter of time before the fight was brought to an end.

With his trainer ready to throw in the towel, Pianeta did not come up again after hitting the canvas after 2mins 52 seconds of the sixth round after a brutal left-right combination floored him for the last time.

"I'm ok, just very disappointed and sad," added Pianeta after receiving treatment in the ring.

Victory gave Klitschko the 51st knock-out of his career, but the last of his three defeats came nearly a decade ago.

For his next fight, Klitschko has been ordered by the World Boxing Association to face Russia's Alexander Povetkin in Moscow on August 31.

Russian promoter Vladimir Hryunov won the purse bid to stage that bout with a staggering $23.33 million bid last week.

The Ukrainian is entitled to 75 percent of that figure, which would give him a career-high $17,250,000 purse.

Povetkin is the 'regular' WBA champion and Klitschko the governing bodies' 'super' champion - an honour bestowed on him when he added the WBA belt to his three others with his points win over Haye in 2011.

Now Klitschko and Povetkin are obliged to fight in order to leave just a single WBA belt-holder.

The two former Olympic champions were due to clash twice before but Povetkin pulled out in 2008 because of injury and then backed out a second time in 2010. - AFP

Snooker: O'Sullivan sinks Trump to reach final

Posted: 04 May 2013 06:15 PM PDT

SHEFFIELD, United Kingdom: Ronnie O'Sullivan booked his place in the World Championship final for the fifth time as the defending champion cruised to a 17-11 victory over Judd Trump in the semi-finals on Saturday.

O'Sullivan will take on fellow Englishman Barry Hawkins in the final after the latest in a long line of dominant displays at the Crucible Theatre in the northern English city of Sheffield.

The four-time champion held a 14-10 overnight lead and he never looked likely to surrender that advantage as he clinched the three frames needed to progress to the final.

After almost a year out of snooker, reaching another Crucible final must ranks among O'Sullivan's finest achievements.

But the English star has already claimed this will be his last appearance at the World Championship due to a lack of passion for the game and that would be a relief to his rivals, who have once again failed to step up to his level.

However, despite an apparently comfortable victory margin, O'Sullivan said he had had to endure several moments of unease.

"It doesn't seem like you're being pushed, but there are times out there where you're that close to cracking," he said.

"Then something will happen and you'll pull ahead and that'll give you belief and confidence, but in every match there has been a point where I've felt, 'This could be slipping, this could be cracking.'"

Trump had talked up his chances of defeating the reigning champion prior to the match, but O'Sullivan said he sympathised with the 23-year-old.

"Obviously I've been in that position myself and you tell yourself you're not scared of someone," O'Sullivan said.

"But when you get out there and the pressure mounts, you then realise why someone like Stephen Hendry or John Higgins (is hard to beat). There's no hiding place out there.

"It's all right going in there with lots and lots of confidence and saying these things. Against some people it might knock them off their game, but there's always going to be players around, no matter what sport you're in, who choose to ignore that and use it as motivation."

Trump was 50-39 ahead in the opening frame of the session but missed a red to a corner pocket and O'Sullivan rifled in a 41 break.

O'Sullivan pinched the next frame after winning a tactical battle and finishing off with a crowd-pleasing 33.

Trump crashed in a 77 break to give himself the slightest hope, but the reprieve was all too brief as O'Sullivan produced breaks of 31 and 33 in the following frame.

Hawkins defeated English compatriot Ricky Walden 17-14 to book his place in the final. - AFP

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American pastor found bound and dead

Posted: 04 May 2013 10:07 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: A 62-year-old American pastor was found bound and dead at a his double-storey house in Taman Sri Ukay here.

David James Ginter's body was discovered with his hands and legs bound while his neck was wrapped with a mobile phone charger's wire.

Sources revealed that Ginter had been living in Malaysia for four years and was a pastor in a Jalan Ampang church.

Ampang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Amiruddin Jamaluddin said the victim's wife, an Australian woman, who is away in Australia, last contacted her husband at about 10pm on Friday.

"We are still investigating the motive. There is no sign of forced entry but we are not ruling out the possibility of robbery as one of the motives," he said when met at the scene on Saturday.

ACP Amiruddin said the body has been sent to Kuala Lumpur Hospital for post-mortem.

"She had asked her neighbour to check on her husband after she failed to contact him this morning," he said, adding that, the neighbour had a spare key.

GE13: IGP warns against any gathering on Sunday

Posted: 04 May 2013 09:41 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have warned the organisers of the Perhimpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat gathering on Sunday not to go ahead with the event in conjunction with the general election.

Inspector General Of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar called on all parties to respect the democratic process and not disrupt the election.

He confirmed that the police had received information that there were plans to hold the gathering with the intention to dispute the results if it did not favour their side.

It was learnt that the organisers intended to gather about 5,000 at a the Putrajaya Mosque near the Prime Minister's Office complex.

Ismail said everyone must accept the results otherwise "the police is prepared to act against those intended to threatened the country's peace and harmony."

"It is our responsibility to keep the peace according to the law and we will not hesitate to arrest anyone and take whatever action to protect the country."

GE13: Muhyiddin urges BN and Pakatan leaders to accept people’s verdict

Posted: 04 May 2013 07:46 AM PDT

MUAR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says all political party leaders in the country must accept the people's verdict in Sunday's general election.

He pledged that Barisan Nasional leaders would accept and respect the outcome of the polls announced by the Election Commission, even if Barisan lost.

Speaking to villagers in Taman Temiang in Kampung Temiang here, he said politicians, especially PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, should be "gentlemen and accept the result."

"Whichever party wins the general election, it is the decision of the people and we should respect it," he said Saturday.

Muhyiddin said he wanted to know what Anwar's views were about accepting the result if Pakatan lost.

He said Anwar had accused Barisan and Umno of adopting dirty political tactics to influence voters.

"But Opposition leaders have told the people that there will be riots if Barisan lost the election. But Barisan will not do such a thing,'' he stressed.

Muhyiddin, who was accompanied by Jorak Barisan candidate Datuk Dr Shahruddin Mohd Salleh, also urged voters not to simply believe any SMS they received.

He cited SMS messages distributed by certain parties that Barisan would use foreigners, including Bangladeshi nationals, to vote this time.

The DPM explained that non-citizens could not vote and the Election Commission would not even allow them to enter polling stations.

"The Opposition leaders are getting very desperate and will create any issue and adopt any tactic to scare the people.

"I am asking all voters not to be afraid to go to polling stations and cast their votes," he added.

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What compels us to lie

Posted: 03 May 2013 04:56 PM PDT

The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone – Especially Ourselves
Author: Dan Ariely
Publisher: Harper

HAVE you ever lied on your CV? Yeah, right. Sure you haven't. How about fudging the truth a bit? Was that an affirmative you just mumbled?

Well, don't beat yourself up about it. According to Dan Ariely, a behavioural economist and popular psychologist, and the bestselling author of The Upside of Irrationality and Predictably Irrational, we – generally speaking – all lie sometimes. And some of us lie all the time. What is worse, and no big surprise to any urban professional in Malaysia, is that the job-hunting game provides fertile ground for duplicity on both sides.

In his latest book, Ariely examines the contradictory forces that both compel us to be dishonest and restrain us from lying.

From cheating-by-smartphone in schools to political leaders who take liberties with the truth, to the commercial shenanigans that hurt the poorest in society, cheating, lying, and compromising the truth in other ways, are inescapable components of the human condition.

Drawing on his own empirical research, and penned in the breezy accessible style of Malcolm Gladwell's What The Dog Saw and Freakonomics by Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner, Ariely reveals, with remarkable candor, what knocks us off the true and straight road of honesty.

If you've ever wondered why corporate culture is so slimy and dishonest, you'll find thought-provoking answers here. Indeed, some of the most engrossing parts of this book are those that reveal examples Big Business' enabling of mendacity. There are also lucid and well-signposted answers to the following: Why do some people lie even when they don't need to? Do the odds of getting caught affect how likely we are to lie or cheat? And what is the role religious faith plays in keeping us on the straight and narrow?

One would assume that lying, like most other rational decisions, is based on a rational cost-benefit analysis. Ariely refutes this, and then demonstrates that it's actually the irrational forces – those we don't take into account – that, more often than not, determine our ethical conduct.

Ariely does this by pointing out the limitations of the traditional "Simple Model of Rational Crime", and by reintroducing the "fudge factor" from his previous book.

In addition to addressing dishonesty in the workplace, Ariely looks at its impact on schools, relationships, and society at large. The effectiveness – and otherwise – of institutional and cultural safeguards against dishonesty are also explored.

What else will you find here? Why some things are easier to lie about than others. Whether or not we're better off lying collaboratively. Discourse concerning the "slippery slope" – longer-term impact of an initial transgression. The art of self-deception and the "storytelling" abilities used to rationalise them. And much more.

The (Honest) Truth About Dishonesty comprises ten illuminating chapters on how unethical behaviour works in our professional, personal, and political worlds, and how it impacts us, even those souls who, in this hard-boiled nation of round-the-clock business, consider ourselves as having lofty moral standards.

Lucy Windsor, a London-based life coach and HR consultant supports the concurs with Ariely's take on the unfortunate malleability of "the truth". She's worked with professionals on every rung of the corporate ladder. "Each experience is a venture into the unknown. That said, there are patterns of behaviour that have become apparent to me over a decade and a half of working in this field. One such pattern that manifests itself in several ways is the "lie" and the lie is this: "If I am myself, I will be found lacking and I will fail".

The element of self-doubt cannot be overestimated. "The tendency therefore is to put on a 'professional' mask, in the hope this will protect them from being vulnerable and give them credibility – this is particularly noticeable, when individuals are under the pressure of a recruitment or development process, or other high-pressure tasks such as giving a presentation," Windsor explains.

The problem with the "professional" mask, is that it is a bit like taking drugs – it provides a false feeling of confidence, but at the same time, strips us of the ability to properly connect with those around you.

Windsor adds: "When we don the 'professional mask', we go through the motions of asking questions, but without really listening to the answers, because we have already made up our minds." In others words, there is much more than an ethical dimension to be considered – we truly are hard-wired in modern-working society to – to put it charitably – "fake it".

It's almost a survival instinct in the primeval jungle of the 21st century office.

However, all is not lost for us perennially fibbing mortals. Ariely also identifies what keeps us honest, and lights up paths for us to attain higher ethical standards. And these incur less risk than we might fear, by actually not bending truth. Honesty is the best policy, as the old adage goes. Ariely writes persuasively why this is so, and on many levels. An outstanding follow-up to 2010's The Upside of Irrationality and Predictably Irrational.

Great historical minds on the importance of being truthful, or not

Posted: 03 May 2013 04:54 PM PDT

"ONE per cent of people will always be honest and never steal," the locksmith said. "Another one per cent will always be dishonest and always try to pick your lock and steal your television. And the rest will be honest as long as the conditions are right – but if they are tempted enough, they'll be dishonest too. Locks won't protect you from the thieves, who can get in your house if they really want to. They will only protect you from the mostly honest people who might be tempted to try your door if it had no lock."

Dan Ariely, The Honest Truth About Dishonesty: How We Lie to Everyone – Especially Ourselves

Time will inevitably uncover dishonesty and lies; history has no place for them.

The late King of Cambodia, Norodom Sihanouk

"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."

– Plato

"It is not only by dint of lying to others, but also of lying to ourselves, that we cease to notice that we are lying."

– Marcel Proust, Sodom and Gomorrah

"If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."

– Mark Twain

"I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you."

– Friedrich Nietzsche

"I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible."

– J.D. Salinger, The Catcher In The Rye

"I always tell the truth. Even when I lie."

– Al Pacino

"I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me."

– Susan Eloise, The Outsiders

Clay is moulded to make a vessel, but the utility of the vessel lies in the space where there is nothing. Thus, taking advantage of what is, we recognise the utility of what is not.

– Lao Tzu

Snapshots

Posted: 03 May 2013 04:53 PM PDT

Creative Intelligence: Harnessing the power to create, connect and inspire
Author: Bruce Nussbaum
Publisher: Harper Business

WITH conventional methods of dealing with problems being outmoded, the author shows how creative intelligence, or CQ, is a practical antidote to uncertainty and complexity. He investigates how nations, organisations and people are learning to be more creative, and how they enhance their CQ. He has lots of examples about how work is being done today and writes about the rules and need to change some of those rules. Some of his ideas may be rather radical and may appeal to a certain audience, though.

Midnight Lunch: The 4 phases of team collaboration success
Author: Sarah Miller Caldicott
Publisher: Wiley & Son

LEADERS need to know how to design teams for maximum innovation impact, "rewire" their organisational culture to create growth, and hire collaborative employees that will thrive in an innovation-driven environment. The author considers building a team from diverse disciplines, the importance of dialogue and experimentation, reskilling team members and the need for collaboration.

How to Close a Deal like Warren Buffet: Lessons from the world's greatest dealmaker
Author: Tom Searcy and Henry Devries
Publisher: McGraw-Hill

DEALMAKERS themselves, the authors study the world's greatest dealmaker. Here's a sampling of what's in store for this hands-on guide. Choose quality. Think long-term – the holding period is "forever". Think for yourself because you cannot afford to be someone else. Be honest, be honest and be honest.

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