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Argentina eye Davis Cup revenge against Spain Posted: 30 Nov 2011 07:24 AM PST Rafael Nadal of Spain looks at the ball before returning a shot during his Davis Cup World Group semi-final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France at the Cordoba bullring September 18, 2011. Rafa Nadal thrashed France's Tsonga 6-0 6-2 6-4 to put Spain through to the Davis Cup final on Sunday. – Reuters pic MADRID, Nov 30 – The last time Argentina met Spain in the Davis Cup, in the 2008 final in Mar del Plata, the South Americans were firm favourites to claim their first title but their challenge was wrecked by infighting within the team. The Spanish, without talisman Rafa Nadal, pulled off a dramatic victory on the indoor hard court for a third triumph in nine years, Fernando Verdasco battling from two sets to one down to beat Jose Acasuso and secure an unassailable 3-1 lead. With clay king Nadal leading the charge and the 2011 final to be played on the red dust indoors in Seville, the boot is very much on the other foot and anything other than a Spanish victory – giving them a third title in four years and fifth overall – would be a major surprise. Argentina, who have Juan Monaco, Juan Ignacio Chela and Eduardo Schwank alongside Juan Martin Del Potro and David Nalbandian in the squad for the Dec. 2-4 tie, say the personality clashes that ruined their 2008 bid are firmly behind them. "That's in the past, completely in the past," Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, told a news conference yesterday. "After that (2008) final, we grew up, I've improved my game a lot and now we have another chance," added the rangy 23-year-old, Argentina's top-ranked player at world number 11. "Here it's different players, different surface, different stadium and this time Spain is the favourite. "It's going to be different than Mar del Plata, if we are in good shape and remain focused." Verdasco said he knew the Argentines were hurt by the defeat three years ago. "They were at home and favourites and it's clear they want to pay us back," he said. "But we are preparing as if we have never won it before." TALL ORDER Argentina's players have been working hard on clay and are hoping the fact that neither Del Potro nor Nalbandian have played a competitive match since October will give them a freshness the Spanish may lack. Nadal and Ferrer competed on a hard court at last week's World Tour Finals in London, with Ferrer reaching the last four, and have had less than a week to make the switch to their favoured clay. However, getting the better of either world number two Nadal or number five Ferrer will be a tall order for the visitors as neither player has lost a Davis Cup singles rubber on the surface. Nadal boasts a 14-0 clay record and 18-1 overall, while Ferrer is 11-0 on clay and 16-4 on all surfaces. Spain have won their last 20 home Davis Cup ties and their last 22 on clay. "I'm sure it's an open match in some ways but I think Spain are really the overwhelming favourite," world number three Roger Federer told the Davis Cup website (http://www.daviscup.com) this week. "They are playing at home and they have an incredibly solid team," added the Swiss. "(Argentina) have their players and their team and anything is possible, but obviously it's normal to favour the Spaniards with Rafa on the team, back on clay." If the singles are a daunting prospect, Argentina may feel Saturday's doubles rubber is theirs for the taking. Spain's regular pairing of Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez crashed to a heavy defeat by France's Michael Llodra and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the semi-final. "We've learned from our mistakes," Verdasco told a news conference. "In Cordoba (in the semi-finals) things didn't work out as we wanted, but we've trained in Barcelona this week and prepared differently to in the past." The draw for the three-day final is on Thursday, when team captains Albert Costa of Spain and Argentina's Tito Vazquez will name their line-ups. – Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Leverkusen seal long-term deal with keeper Leno Posted: 30 Nov 2011 06:35 AM PST BERLIN, Nov 30 – Bayer Leverkusen have signed goalkeeper Bernd Leno, who was on loan from VfB Stuttgart, on a long-term deal until 2017, last season's Bundesliga runners-up said today. The 19-year-old Leno (picture), who arrived in August on a four-month loan contract following a long-term injury to Leverkusen's first choice keeper Rene Adler, has had an outstanding season, helping Bayer reach the Champions League round of 16. "I feel good here and am thankful to be playing in the Bundesliga and the Champions League," Leno said in a statement. "I want to pay back this trust in me." He was due to return to Stuttgart in January. "With Bernd Leno we have managed to secure the services of one of Germany's top goalkeeping talents on a long-term basis," Leverkusen sports director Rudi Voeller said. "He has done an outstanding job replacing injured Rene Adler and has a large share in the success of reaching the Champions League round of 16," Voeller added. – Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Lion City prepares for Art Stage Singapore 2012 Posted: 30 Nov 2011 07:26 AM PST TV Santhosh's "Howndingdown," on display at Art Stage Singapore 2011. The second edition of Art Stage Singapore will run from January 12-15, 2012 at the Marina Bay Sands resort complex and has attracted 120 exhibitors from 18 countries. ― AFP pic HONG KONG, Nov 30 ― The growing importance of the Asian art scene will be one of the main themes on display when Singapore hosts its largest annual art fair ― one that organisers claim now holds its own against the world's premiere arts events. The second edition of Art Stage Singapore will run from January 12-15 at the Marina Bay Sands resort complex and has attracted 120 exhibitors from 18 countries. Organisers say more than 50 special projects and presentations are being prepared for the fair, which will also feature works representing some of the world's most renowned galleries, among them the Galerie Eigen+Art (Leipzig/Berlin), Lehmann Maupin of New York and London's White Cube. Asia, meanwhile, is being represented by the likes of the Gana Art Gallery (Seoul/Busan), Tokyo's Mizuma Art Gallery and Tang Contemporary Art, which has galleries in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Beijing. "People will find not just smaller and commercially-popular art pieces on exhibition within the participating galleries' booths, but they can also expect to see ― and participate in ― performances and interactive projects such as the Gao Brothers' 'World Hug Day' (presented by Vue Privee, Singapore) and many spectacular large-scale installations...like the specially created works by world-renowned Antony Gormley (presented by London's White Cube)," the fair's organizers said in a statement. More than 30,000 people attended this year's inaugural event, which featured seminars chaired by some of the world's leading artists, among them American photographer/artist David LaChapelle, who said: "The fair is at once global and intimate. It isn't just all about anonymous selling; it's about relationships and art." The growing strength of the Asian arts scene has in recent years seen the development of major fairs in cities such as Hong Kong, which hosts the Art HK each May, and Shanghai, which hosts its annual Art Fair each September. International arts centers are also getting in on the act with the American city of Miami ― famed for hosting that country's largest art fair, Art Miami ― concurrently hosting Art Asia Miami from November 30 to December 4. Art Stage Singapore January 12-15 Marina Bay Sands Convention and Exhibition Centre, Singapore www.artstagesingapore.com. ― AFP-Relaxnews Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Microscopic worms may hold key to living on Mars Posted: 30 Nov 2011 03:44 AM PST [unable to retrieve full-text content]LONDON, Nov 30 — British scientists believe microscopic worms which are biologically very similar to humans may be the key to helping humans colonise other planets like Mars by giving clues on coping with long-term space living. A team of scientists led by Nathaniel Szewczyk from Notthingham University blasted 4,000 of the worms, known as known as ...

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Britney Spears to offer free Mexico City concert Posted: 30 Nov 2011 07:09 AM PST US pop idol Britney Spears will give a free Christmas concert in Mexico City. – AFP pic MEXICO CITY, Nov 30 – US pop singer Britney Spears will deliver a free Christmas concert in a downtown Mexico City plaza, Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said yesterday. Spears will perform at the Monument to the Revolution on Sunday, kicking of Christmas festivities in the populous city, Ebrard said. In late August 2009 some 11,600 volunteers set a Guinness world record by dancing the Michael Jackson song "Thriller" in unison at the Monument to the Revolution. Mexico City festivities include a giant Christmas tree; an ice rink at the Zocalo, the main city square; and artificial snow during a parade. The so-called "Princess of Pop" will also perform at concerts in the western city of Guadalajara on Friday, in Mexico City on Saturday, and in the northern city of Monterrey the following Tuesday. – AFP Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Hospitalised singer George Michael ‘improving’ Posted: 30 Nov 2011 06:52 AM PST LONDON, Nov 30 – British singer George Michael's health is improving, doctors treating him in Vienna for pneumonia said in a statement today. The 48-year-old former Wham! frontman (picture) was hospitalised in the Austrian capital and diagnosed with severe pneumonia, forcing him to cancel the remainder of his European tour. "The latest development in Mr Michael's case – which has evolved from a severe pneumococcal infection – necessitated intensive care due to its severity and extension," said professors Gottfried Locker and Christoph Zielinski. "We are happy to announce that Mr Michael is improving steadily with an impressive regression of pneumonic symptoms and follows a steady rate of improvement as hoped. "As we said previously, complete rest and peace and quiet are mandatory." The doctors also appeared to address speculation in the British tabloid press that Michael was suffering further, potentially serious health complications and that he was receiving state-of-the-art treatment during his stay at the Vienna General Hospital. "There are no other health issues with regards to the patient other than the underlying pneumonic disorder, and no further measures had to be taken," they said. "Michael is receiving precisely the same treatment as any ordinary patient in Austria would receive at the hospital for this disease." The Grammy award-winning singer found fame in the 1980s with Wham! before going on to pursue a successful solo career. He has sold an estimated 100 million records and has a personal fortune estimated at £90 million (RM445.13 million). – Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Is Najib in a tail-spin? Posted: 29 Nov 2011 04:03 PM PST NOV 30 — Najib Razak must be trembling. Nothing could be more terrifying to a premier than the prospect of losing a general election. For Najib, that is an understatement. Worse still, he will go down in history as the "appointed" prime minister of the Umno-led Barisan Nasional government that eventually lost its uninterrupted power to the opposition. That is indeed extremely scary. Losing is, thus, not an option for Najib. But Najib's penchant for flip-flopping is almost ingrained in his demeanour and style of leadership. Blaming it on "nature" is contrary to the "consistency" of the second prime minister of this nation. Beyond just flip-flopping, this writer would now have to believe that Najib hasn't got what it takes to bring this ailing nation out of its unending doldrums and despondency. Najib doesn't quite understand, or at least doesn't exude understanding of the "change process", much less a passion and a commitment to see it through. That is even more distressing, to say the least. Indeed, Najib has actually failed grasp the fact that, without "reformation", the hope for "transformation" is a merely an illusion. His revulsion for the word "Reformasi" could very well be his greatest "blind-spot" for the need to undertake genuine fundamental and structural reforms before he could ever hope to see a "Transformation", both in the economics and political sphere. In the same vein, without the "real reform" in the New Economic Model, Najib's Economic Transformation Programme and Entry Point Programmes are in fact a large-scale, anti-cyclical Keynesian pump-priming from Dr Mahathir Mohamad's "Mahathirnomics". Najib's failure to incorporate "real reform" in the NEM is the stifling factor has disabled the nation to propel into a higher performing economy with a concomitant higher income per capita. Perkasa, contracted by Najib's party, continues their vitriolic racial slurs. Never has religious understanding taken a worse beating. The major-ethnic-and-religion-under-siege narrative is evidently "laughable". He could talk in London, New York and Washington of opening up the public space and moderation in Islam when in fact the hollowness of his pronouncements is what we as Malaysians have to live with. On the back of his oft-repeated mantra of "Government Transformation", the colossal losses as evident by the Auditor-General's report remained unabated, to the disgust of many a tax-payer. The endemic leakages remain agonising. Critical examples of fiscal mismanagement such as Shahrizat Jalil's National Feedlot Corp's meltdown stood as a testimony. The impunity with which cronies live off government funds whilst BN ministers, Najib included, call for austerity and a "rationalisation" on subsidy, is a cardinal sin. Millions have been spent on international consulting firms that went on an orgy of image building rampage. Fresh in the minds of many is the shocking revelation that RM55 million of tax-payers' money was used for expensive propaganda to glorify Najib, his government and his policies, screened on international channels like CNN, CNBC and BBC. Najib must stop his fervour for "window-dressing" — the illusion something is being done when nothing of consequence is being accomplished. Never mind the bicycle-ride, on the bus, breakfast with the new social media Facebook-Twitter friends, etc. But beyond those, nothing much were achieved. He has almost perfected the art but failed miserably on the "real reforms". With genuine "reforms" constantly side-stepped, "transformation" is a far-cry. That's deplorable. Has Najib's grandstanding of September 15 come to naught? The much-hyped political reforms, promised by Najib to bring us into a new era of the "best democracy', have exploded in the face of the rakyat as a sham to democratisation. The rakyat were promised that the internal Security Act (ISA) would be revoked and they were jubilant. Their joy was short-lived, however, when it was later revealed that two other laws would replace the ISA, retaining the obnoxious detention without trial. The same undemocratic features of the ISA will now come under a new rubric, gravely disappointing the rakyat and further deepening their distrust and disgust towards Najib. The infamous "revolutionary" Bill ensued and what was supposedly to be a "giant leap" for the nation. The rakyat were promised democratic freedom of assembly without the need for police permit. They were again ecstatic until they realised that the Peaceful Assembly Bill was in fact to deny their democratic right to assemble. It wasn't meant to be a Peaceful Assembly Bill — it is a Bill against the Freedom of Assembly. The Bill imposes many unjust restrictions and conditions. Organisers and all participants are subjected to heavy penalties. It is clearly meant to discourage bona-fide dissent and protests from ever taking place. The entire civil society and the opposition are united against him. Najib has a few options: to withdraw the Bill, to refer it to a Parliamentary Select Committee, or to simply blame it on others. Granted, his choice is obvious. A gathering of disgruntled lawyers marched yesterday from the Lake Gardens to Parliament in protest against the Peaceful Assembly Bill, which has made a huge mockery of the fundamental liberty as enshrined in the Federal Constitution in Article 10. With Bersih 3.0 so real in the horizon, it only takes Hindraf 2.0 to be back on stage to trigger for Najib a disastrous tail-spin reminiscent of event preceding the 12th general election. His worst nightmare would still be his party's dissenting warlords, whom he has to appease and cajole in the on-going general assembly. Is an "Umno Spring" ever plausible on the verge of the 13th GE looming closer? Another long deferred reform has again to take a back-seat. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

When giants fall Posted: 29 Nov 2011 03:45 PM PST NOV 30 — The weekend delivered its share of surprises among teams that had played last week in the UEFA Champions League. The German giants Bayern Munich, who were top of the Bundesliga before the weekend, were beaten by a team in 15th place. Mainz 05 could not have picked a better time to play Bayern at home and scoring as early as the 11th minute got the hosts off to the right start. Obviously, the word "tired" was being bandied around by the German champions. But, seriously... tired? After beating Villareal 3-1 on Tuesday night in the Champions League, Bayern had almost five full days to recover. They didn't even have to make some arduous trip to some other part of Europe and back, having hosted the Spanish side at the Allianz Arena. Like Bayern, Barcelona also guaranteed their place on top of their Champions League group after their 3-2 win over Italian giants AC Milan last Wednesday night in a spectacular game of football at the San Siro, Milan. And again, like Bayern, they returned to Spanish Primera Liga action at the weekend, facing Getafe away, and losing 1-0 to the then 15th-placed side. Then we have current English Premier League leaders Manchester City, whom I think got away with a point despite being dead on their feet for the most part against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday evening. Roberto Mancini's team also had almost five full days to recover from the 2-1 loss at Napoli last Tuesday. Yet they needed an outstanding Joe Hart performance to keep the Reds at bay. I am sure "King" Kenny Dalglish will be regretting not grabbing all three points, especially since like Mainz 05 and Getafe, they had the fresh legs in the tie. Even Arsenal, on a great run of results, suffered the ignominy of only managing a draw at home. That too, after having to come from behind, against a Fulham side which was just two points off the relegation zone before Saturday. Robin Van Persie must have used up his quota of goals in the mid-week 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates. That sums up the perennial struggle of teams competing in Europe every season. It is a tough balancing act and even the best of coaches and teams struggle year-in year-out. It is worse if a team is making a trip away from home on both European and domestic competitions, as Pep Guardiola's men endured. Still, one would hope that being a top-tier side in their respective leagues and possessing a depth of squad that is the envy of their poorer cousins in the league, there is absolutely no excuse for those teams above in the Champions League dropping to such levels of mediocrity. Yeah, tired, right!  Try rotating and giving a few more of your millionaire players some time on the pitch for a change. Speaking of being tired, again... I simply cannot believe that that is the excuse given for our national U-23 side's amazing capitulation in the last 10 minutes against Bahrain in the Olympic qualifying match on Sunday. Such an excuse is very weak, not to mention irresponsible for the good of the team.  They had their previous game last Wednesday, and despite losing 2-0 to Syria, everyone gave them the benefit of the doubt as the boys had just returned from Jakarta after a gruelling 120 minutes of action before defeating Indonesia 4-3 on penalty kicks just two days before. But surely being two goals up against a 10-man Bahrain in the last 10 minutes of a football match, in front of a rapturous home crowd, should have been enough for Malaysia to keep the momentum, hold the midfield and defence and stay in the hunt for Olympic qualification with a win. Was it a tactical error on the part of coach Ong Kim Swee? I would hope not. One cannot take away the fact that the boys got into a great position with some excellent goals — I said it before and I will say it again, Nazmi Faiz Mansur is a great prospect for our future and he is already showing it — so, I will not join some detractors in condemning the team. However, I will condemn the authorities and anyone associated with the team for giving weak excuses. Just identify the problem and/or mentality that allowed Bahrain to get back into the game, and check it now, for the good of the team's potentially bright future. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Mahkamah: Suara Keadilan siar sembilan perkataan fitnah Zambry Posted: 30 Nov 2011 02:19 AM PST KUALA LUMPUR, 30 Nov — Mahkamah Tinggi mendapati sembilan perkataan dalam satu artikel yang disiarkan oleh "Suara Keadilan", akhbar Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), mengenai Menteri Besar Perak Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir membawa maksud fitnah. Hakim Datuk Hue Siew Kheng memutuskan demikian dalam kamar hari ini dengan dihadiri peguam Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahamd Jamaluddin yang mewakili Zambry selaku plaintif, dan peguam Jamie Wong yang mewakili PKR, Presiden PKR Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail dan tiga pihak lain. Pada 22 November lalu, Mahkamah Tinggi memutuskan tiga perkataan lain dalam artikel yang sama turut membawa maksud fitnah selepas defendan mengakui bahawa perkataan-perkataan tersebut adalah palsu dan tidak berasas. Firoz Hussein yang ditemui pemberita, berkata mahkamah memutuskan supaya taksiran ganti rugi dibuat di hadapan Timbalan Pendaftar, namun tiada tarikh ditetapkan, lapor Bernama Online. Pada 25 Februari tahun lepas, Zambry (gambar) memfailkan saman fitnah RM100 juta terhadap Wan Azizah selaku pemegang jawatan dalam PKR, Timbalan Presiden Dr Syed Husin Ali yang juga ketua editor Suara Keadilan, penerbit akhbar berkenaan, Pelita Koridor Sdn Bhd dan pencetak Suara Keadilan, Percetakan NPK Sdn Bhd. Dalam pernyataan tuntutannya, Zambry berkata artikel yang disiarkan dalam akhbar Suara Keadilan edisi 29 Disember 2009-5 Januari 2010, bertajuk "Zambry Disyaki Pengganas  Gagal Masuk Ke Amerika Syarikat" mengandungi perkataan berunsur fitnah yang palsu, tidak berasas dan disiarkan dengan berniat jahat. Katanya beliau tidak dihalang dari memasuki Amerika Syarikat, malah dibenarkan masuk ke negara itu serta diberikan pengiktirafan yang sesuai dengan kedudukan beliau sebagai Menteri Besar Perak. Zambry berkata lawatannya ke Amerika Syarikat mendapat liputan meluas media, dan defendan telah menyiarkan kata-kata berunsur fitnah itu dengan sengaja. Menteri Besar Perak itu berkata perkataan berunsur fitnah itu telah melukakan perasaannya dengan begitu mendalam, mencemarkan dengan teruk reputasi awam, peribadi dan politiknya serta membawa kepada skandal awam, kebencian dan penghinaan. Beliau menuntut ganti rugi RM100 juta, termasuk ganti rugi teruk dan ganti rugi teladan, faedah lapan peratus setahun dan juga injunksi bagi menghalang defendan daripada menyiarkan perkataan berunsur fitnah itu atau sebarang perkataan berunsur fitnah yang serupa terhadapnya. Defendan, dalam pernyataan pembelaan mereka, menyatakan bahawa permohonan maaf bertajuk "Mohon Maaf Dr Zambry" dan penarikan balik artikel telah disiarkan dalam akhbar parti keluaran 30 Mac-6 April 2010. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

PKR: RM5j dana NFC biaya Benz, tanah di Putrajaya dan cuti Posted: 30 Nov 2011 01:49 AM PST KUALA LUMPUR, 30 Nov — PKR meneruskan serangan berhubung skandal Pusat Fidlot Kebangsaan (NFC), dengan hari ini mendakwa RM5 juta dana awam projek ternakan lembu itu digunakan untuk membeli Mercedes Benz dan tanah di Putrajaya serta wang tunai RM588,585 disalurkan kepada syarikat-syarikat milik keluarga Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. Dakwaan terbaru oleh pemimpin PKR berhubung salah guna ini muncul beberapa jam selepas Shahrizat mempertahankan dirinya ketika berucap pada Persidangan Agung Tahunan Wanita di sini pagi ini. PKR juga berkata NFC telah mengeluarkan sebanyak 15 cek bagi agensi pelancongan Impian Global Network Services. Mendedahkan perkara itu petang ini, Pengarah Strategi PKR Rafizi Ramli mendesak Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat "memberitahu siapa yang pergi bercuti." Rafizi menambah RM534,622 digunakan untuk membeli Mercedes Benz CLS350, dana NFC yang disalurkan kepada National Meat and Livestock Corporation (NMLC) dan RM588,585 lagi dipindahkan kepada Meatworks (Singapore), kedua-dua syarikat yang milik penuh keluarga Shahrizat dan tiada apa-apa kaitan dengan rancangan perniagaan NFC. "Ketua Pemuda Umno (Khairy Jamaluddin) ada mengatakan bahawa NFC tiada bisnes di Singapura... jadi mengapa sejumlah wang itu dipindahkan ke sana?" kata beliau pada sidang media di sini. Dalam pada itu, Setiausaha Agung Saifuddin Nasution Ismail berkata, tanah juga dibeli di Precinct 10 Putrajaya, yang sebahagian besar merupakan  kawasan kediaman. "Saya pasti pelan induk Putrajaya tidak melibatkan ternakan lembu di sana," kata beliau yang juga Ahli Parlimen Machang. MENYUSUL LAGI Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Food for thought Posted: 29 Nov 2011 08:00 PM PST Michael Saxon says cooking is a serious business. – Pictures by Jack Ooi KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 — We have always been known as a nation of "eaters"; we eat when we are happy, we eat when we are sad and we eat just to eat. After all, how many times have you heard Malaysians talking about what food they miss most when they are abroad? Well, it looks like we also like watching people cook. On TV. Food shows themselves are certainly not new though. I remember watching The Galloping Gourmet with my family – on our black and white telly — back in the Seventies. (It was also the first time I heard of clarified butter!) I guess Graham Kerr — the galloping gourmet himself – was my first celebrity chef. But now, we are spoilt for choice with Jamie Oliver, Michael Smith, Nigella Lawson, Anna Olson and Laura Calder cooking regularly for us. Then there are the cooking reality shows/contests: I have to say I love them. Especially MasterChef Australia and Junior MasterChef Australia (those little pre-teens zipping around cooking things like celeriac remoulade, macarons, etc… freakish, I tell you!). So when it was announced last July that the Asian Food Channel (AFC) was partnering with Malaysian luxury lifestyle group Eastern & Oriental Berhad (E&O) to search for the next celebrity chef from this part of the world, there was definitely excitement. Now, just after three episodes of the E&O Search for AFC's Next Celebrity Chef, the city's foodies are already abuzz about the show, its contestants and of course, the judges – Chef Bruce Lim and E&O's director of Group Hospitality and Lifestyle Michael Saxon. Some people think the show is over the top – Episode 1 saw Chef Bruce throw a plate of food on the floor, then there was Episode Two where one of the contestants took off his shirt, plus we regularly see contestants quaking in their shoes when the judges critique them -- while others are enormously proud that Malaysia is so prominently featured in the show. Is the show an unequivocal success? While it's still early days (there are five more episodes to go), one has the sneaking suspicion there just might be a Season Two of E& O Search for AFC's Next Celebrity Chef. In showbiz (and this most certainly does fall into that category), any buzz is good. But Saxon, who was himself a professional chef for 26 years, said while Chef Bruce's Gordon Ramsay-like behaviour may be deemed over the top, the intent behind the action was absolutely spot on. It's about discipline in the kitchen, he explained. "If you are a chef, you are the most important person in the hotel or restaurant. Your food makes or breaks the reputation of a place." The way Saxon sees it, there is too much at stake and as a chef you only have that ONE chance to make a good impression. So, you simply cannot afford to say, "Never mind lah, try harder next time." He drew up some compelling scenarios why cooking professionally is a serious business: "Imagine a young couple who have saved, and saved for their big day. It may only be RM20,000 but it is all they have to celebrate their wedding. If the food is terrible, everything is ruined. Years from now, that will be all they remember of their wedding. There is no next time. They are not going to have another wedding banquet." Yes, Saxon may not throw a hissy fit and throw your plate of food on the floor but he is very exacting in the way he judges what or who makes a good chef. So what has he learned about the world of reality TV so far? "After being on set for about 16 hours a day, six days a week for about four weeks, I have a lot of respect for anyone who does TV," said Saxon. Despite the long hours, stress, time constraints and constant deadlines, he added that he had a lot of fun doing the show. "It's also taught me a bit of respect for celebrity chefs," he said, with a laugh. After all, to get one hour of good footage you very often have to shoot for up to 12 hours. Delicious is a home-grown Malaysian brand. Most of all, Saxon who started working in a professional kitchen at age 16 said he is most pleased to observe that Asian chefs have really come into their own. He first came to work as a chef in Asia back in 1988. "Those days it was all gweilos working as chefs in the big hotels," he explained. In fact, Saxon was already an executive chef at the young age of 29. Also, he enjoyed watching the contestants of AFC's Next Celebrity Chef grow through the episodes. So how much of the show was scripted and how much was real? "Pretty much all of it... every day was a surprise." Some of the highlights so far: Dayal from the Philippines taking off his shirt (it angered Saxon and floored guest judge Chef Wan!) and a couple contestants withdrawing from the contest. The show comes on every Wednesday at 10pm over the Asian Food Channel (Astro 703) and we can be sure there will be more surprises in the weeks ahead. But the show is already behind Saxon — even though he has become a celebrity from it... people recognise him now and strangers have walked up to him to ask if he is the guy from the TV show -- and he is now embarking on his next challenge: to grow the Delicious Group into a powerful brand. Saxon, who is also the CEO of Delicious, went on Twitter last week to solicit feedback on the restaurants (there are now seven in Malaysia and one in Singapore): "Calling all Malaysians, I am Mike Saxon the CEO of Delicious & I am calling on all customers to give me their feedback on our services." A bold move, but something Saxon is determined to follow through. He said that while it was great that they opened three new outlets this year, it really is time to improve the food and service standards in the restaurants. (By the way, his Twitter handle is @chefstales.) This week, in fact, he will be meeting — and lunching — with some of those who have given him feedback! This time, the judge will be judged and knowing Saxon he will be relishing every moment. Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Tokyo retains title as Michelin’s gourmet capital Posted: 29 Nov 2011 02:27 AM PST A chef grills a piece of beef strip at a restaurant in Yokohama on July 27, 2011. ― Reuters pic TOKYO, Nov 29 ― Tokyo retained the title of the world's gourmet capital today, when the Michelin guide awarded it more stars than any other city for the fifth year in a row. Tokyo restaurants also won more top awards than last year with 16 given the three-star rating, which Michelin defines as "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey". That is two more than last year and compares with 10 for Paris. Fourteen of Tokyo's top spots serve Japanese cuisine and two French. In the 2012 edition of the Michelin restaurant guide for Japan's capital, Yokohama and the adjacent coastal area of Shonan launched today, Tokyo sushi restaurant "Yoshitake" shot to the top ranking in its first listing. Restaurant "Koan" in the Shonan area covered for the first time also joined the ranking with three stars, bringing the total three-star haul of the Tokyo-Yokohama-Shonan area to 17. Tokyo's "Ryugin" was promoted from two to three stars. A Korean restaurant in Tokyo, "Moranbong" joined the list with two stars, becoming the highest-ranked Korean restaurant in the world. Among 247 starred Tokyo restaurants, 52 received two stars and 179 received one star. By comparison, Paris has only 70 starred restaurants in the guide published by the French tire maker. The selection features a range of styles of Japanese dining from fugu ― puffer fish that can be lethal if improperly prepared ― sushi and tempura to "salaryman" favorites such as soba buckwheat noodles and yakitori grilled chicken skewers. The awards are highly respected in Japan, one of the world's most food-obsessed nations and the guide's latest edition marks continued expansion of Japan's coverage. "Since the first publication of the guide in 2007, we have enriched the selection by expanding the area. Starting from Tokyo in 2007, we now cover 7 areas in our two guides: Tokyo, Yokohama, Shonan, and Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Nara," Bernard Delmas, president of Nihon Michelin Tire said in a statement. Tokyo's three-star Japanese restaurants are Araki, Azabu Yukimura, Esaki, Hamadaya, Ishikawa, Kanda, Koju, Ryugin, 7chome Kyoboshi, Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten, Sushi Mizutani, Sushi Saito, Sushi Yoshitake and Usukifugu Yamadaya. The French restaurants are Joel Robuchon and Quintessence. In Yokohama, Japanese restaurants Chiso Kimura, Masagosaryo and Sugai earned two stars, and 14 earned one. Two restaurants in Shonan earned two stars and 26 one star. In a separate edition for Japan's Kansai region published last month, centered on Osaka and the ancient capital of Kyoto, 15 restaurants garnered three-star ratings. The first Michelin restaurant guide, aimed at drivers in the early days of motoring, was published by the tire company in 1900, and the star rating system was introduced in the 1920s. The company only ventured out of Europe for the first time in 2005, with its guide to New York. Its Tokyo guide, launched late in 2007, was its first in Asia, though it has since added Hong Kong. ― Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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Liverpool and Man City reach League Cup semis Posted: 29 Nov 2011 03:15 PM PST LONDON, Nov 30 — Goals by Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Kelly earned Liverpool a 2-0 win at Chelsea in the quarter-finals of the League Cup yesterday, their second victory at Stamford Bridge in 10 days. Premier League leaders Manchester City also reached the last four when Sergio Aguero scored late in a 1-0 defeat of Arsenal in front of a 60,000 strong crowd at The Emirates. Blackburn Rovers' dismal season took another turn for the worse when the Premier League's bottom club lost 2-0 at Championship (second division) side Cardiff City, who reached the semi-finals for the first time since 1966. It was an emotional night in the Welsh capital with a ceremony in memory of Wales manager Gary Speed held before kickoff after his sudden death Sunday. Liverpool were worthy winners at Chelsea, dominating the first half in which Andy Carrol had an early penalty saved by Chelsea's reserve keeper Ross Turnbull. The visitors did take the lead early in the second half when Jordan Henderson played Craig Bellamy into space down the right and he slid a cross into the area for Rodriguez to slot home. Liverpool, who enjoyed a 2-1 Premier League victory at Chelsea this month, doubled their lead shortly after when Bellamy's free kick was headed in by Kelly. It was a good night for Anthony Gerrard, the cousin of injured Liverpool skipper Steven. He was on the scoresheet for Cardiff after Kenny Miller had given the Welsh club the lead. — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Meeting will decide Petrov’s future at Lotus Posted: 29 Nov 2011 07:33 AM PST LONDON, Nov 29 – Russian driver Vitaly Petrov's Formula One future looked uncertain today after Lotus/Renault announced Finland's 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen would be racing for them next year. Petrov (picture) has a contract with Renault, who will change their name to Lotus next year, for 2012 but his manager Oksana Kossatchenko said that the situation was not straightforward. "I have a meeting tomorrow morning to decide what we are doing, whether we are staying or not," she said. "We will have a discussion. "I guess we will find a solution and then we will have a few days to sort it out... we would like to know the plan from the team before we confirm our presence in the team." While the team said Raikkonen had signed a two-year deal, bringing him back to Formula One after two years competing in the world rally championship, they did not clarify who would be his team mate. Frenchman Romain Grosjean, this year's GP2 champion, had been presented as the leading contender for the seat Raikkonen has taken but could still be in the frame to be the team's number two. Brazilian Bruno Senna, who raced for the last eight races of this year after Germany's Nick Heidfeld was dropped, would be another possibility. Kossatchenko said the team wanted to "make the analysis of the year and then we will decide whether we can collaborate and go forward together or if it is better for us to split. "I would like to stay with what we have at the moment, so the best option is to keep Vitaly in Lotus for the next year," she said, adding that she also had a 'Plan B and a Plan C'. Petrov finished the season 10th overall with 37 points, more than half the fifth-placed team's total tally of 73. Renault team principal Eric Boullier told autosport.com that all scenarios were possible and Poland's highly-rated Robert Kubica, ruled out of the entire 2011 season due to injury, also remained in the frame. "I need to sit down with Robert and his manager to understand what is the timescale for him to come back," he said. "We have confirmed Kimi and we will confirm the second seat when we are ready to confirm it." – Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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US star meets Soviet legend in Bolshoi fairy tale Posted: 29 Nov 2011 01:59 AM PST US dancer David Hallberg as a Prince and Russian balerina Maria Alash as a Fairy perform during a rehearsal for a new production of Tchaikovsky's 'The Sleeping Beauty' by Russian choreographer Yuri Grigorovich at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow on November 17, 2011, on the eve of the premiere of this first full ballet production since the historic theatre reopened last month after six years of renovation. – AFP pic MOSCOW, Nov 29 – The real-life plot involves a dashing American superstar's historic encounter with a legendary Soviet figure; not to mention a young Russian couple lured away by an alleged dark force. The turbulent build-up to the new production of Tchaikovsky's ballet "Sleeping Beauty" at Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre has often read like the most fantastical fairytale. The production is the first full-length ballet performance at the Bolshoi since it reopened late October after a six-year closure for urgent renovations to literally save it from collapsing to the ground. The tale of a princess cursed by an evil fairy, put into a long slumber and then awoken by handsome prince has been revived by the man who dominated the Bolshoi Ballet for decades in its Soviet heyday – choreographer Yury Grigorovich. As the prince, it features star US dancer David Hallberg, who built his career with New York's American Ballet Theatre and stunned the ballet world this year by becoming the first ever American to join the Bolshoi company. His bold decision to join the Bolshoi was a historic reversal of the USSR-to-West defections that marked ballet in the Cold War period. In 1961, Rudolf Nureyev threw himself into the arms of Paris police at Le Bourget airport, while Natalia Makarova defected to the West in 1970 and Mikhail Baryshnikov requested asylum while on tour in Canada in 1974. Any collaboration between an American dancer and Grigorovich – a hero of the USSR who epitomized Soviet ballet – would have been unthinkable in those years. At the premiere of "Sleeping Beauty", Hallberg electrified the audience from his first entry, bounding across the stage with fearless jumps – his legs seemingly effortlessly extended to 180 degrees in midair. He appeared sublimely at ease with his partner as the Princess Aurora, Svetlana Zakharova, the Bolshoi's long-legged prima ballerina recently returned from maternity leave and dazzling with her trademark body extensions. "Working with Grigorovich and Zakharova – for me it's a milestone in my career," Hallberg recently told reporters at the theatre. "I am very honoured to be at the Bolshoi theatre and I respect its traditions. I feel that when I dance, I bring a mixture of my style of dancing, but I am very open to learning the techniques of the Bolshoi Theatre." The blond dancer – the first ever principal from a non-ex-Soviet state to join the Bolshoi -- said he was adapting to the challenges of living in a new country and grappling with an unfamiliar language. "For me it was a huge sacrifice deciding to come to the Bolshoi Theatre, I was very happy in my life in New York but it was an offer that I could not turn down. "I am learning day by day – I am learning Russian, a new technique of the Bolshoi Theatre and I'm learning how to grocery shop in Russia. It's a completely different life for me." Russia's ballet critics applaud his marriage of American style with respect for Russian tradition in a ballet whose choreography goes back to the original version made by Marius Petipa in 1890 for the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. "Zakharova and Hallberg merge Petipa's era with modernity," said daily newspaper Vedomosti. Hallberg's performance was a welcome boost for the Bolshoi, still reeling from the news that its most celebrated young duo – the real-life couple of Natalya Osipova and Ivan Vasiliev – were deserting it for the less well-regarded Mikhailovsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. An extraordinary war of words followed with the Bolshoi sniping that the Mikhailovsky's businessman boss Vladimir Kekhman lured the two with promises of big money and then accusing him of blackmailing the Bolshoi. While praise for the dancing in "Sleeping Beauty" has been universal, the same cannot be said for the production itself, showing the new Bolshoi still has some work to do. The monumental decor created by an Italian team led by designer Ezio Frigerio is colourful to the point of kitsch while the jewel-encrusted costumes threaten to overshadow the performances. The Bolshoi ballet's director has admitted the dancers are still getting to know the gigantic stage, most having spent their careers dancing in the smaller replacement theatre during the Bolshoi's closure. "The fabled capacities of the reconstructed stage about which so much was written before the opening were not evident at all in this fairy tale," the Kommersant daily said. Noting that the premiere was attended by President Dmitry Medvedev, his wife Svetlana and Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the newspaper's critic noted acidly: "This ritualistic, parade-like 170-minute Sleeping Beauty could be a very effective diplomatic weapon if our high-ranking guests need suddenly to be sent to sleep in the interests of our state." – AFP Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Taiwan films reach out to Asia and beyond Posted: 29 Nov 2011 12:50 AM PST This year's hit film in Taiwan, 'Night Market Hero' depicts street vendors standing up against ruthless developers, while 'Jump Ashin' tells the true story of a struggling gymnast-turned-coach. – All rights reserved TAIPEI, Nov 29 – After a slump of over a decade, Taiwan's home-grown films are not only sweeping box offices at home but winning awards and hit status overseas thanks to a new cohort of filmmakers. Box office revenues for local films as of mid-November had already set a new record of Tw$1.5 billion (RM159.30 million) – triple the 2010 full-year figure, and up a staggering 200-fold from 2001. Once best known for its arthouse films, the island has recently produced blockbusters with broad appeal thanks to themes that resonate with large swathes of the public. "Monga", which topped the local box office in 2010 and was screened at the Berlin film festival, portrays a brotherhood of five boys and touches on social issues such as gang violence and teenage bullying. This year's hit "Night Market Hero" depicts street vendors standing up against ruthless developers, while "Jump Ashin" tells the true story of a struggling gymnast-turned-coach. "Previous directors tackled profound issues such as destiny and history – issues that seemed distant to many," said influential film critic Steven Tu. "The new generation of directors address current Taiwan issues and sentiments that strike a chord with the audience." Tu, who is also the curator of the Taipei film festival, noted that the number of productions has picked up, with a new movie released as often as every two weeks, up from every three or four months a few years ago. "In the past some directors might only get one shot at making a movie. Now the market is bustling and new investors are coming in, so directors and actors can move from one production to the next at a faster rate," he said. Taiwan's premier film event, the Golden Horse awards, saw a record submission of 182 films, which organisers said reflected the renaissance of Chinese-language film and the island's rising cinematic clout. The biggest surprise this year was arguably the teen romance "You are the Apple of My Eye", which has topped box offices in Taiwan and Hong Kong and generated buzz in Southeast Asia. The movie, which grossed Tw$400 million in Taiwan, marked the directorial debut of popular novelist Giddens – the pen name of local author Ko Ching-teng – and is based on his personal story of love and friendship. "I like the movie because it is realistic, funny, and touching," said Sam Lau, a 16-year-old Hong Konger who saw it with 30 classmates after school this month. "Many students at my age want to start dating and it is what we often talk about, so we can easily relate to the movie," he said. Giddens said he was overjoyed by the film's success in Hong Kong, where it had raked in about US$7 million (RM22.30 million) as of November 20 and is poised to become the territory's best-selling Chinese-language film this year. "I truthfully and sincerely shot the story of my youth and I think that's why people from different places find it moving," he said. Giddens said he now "faces pressure every day" to produce his next work, but intends to take time to write a brand-new script to shoot, as he sees filmmaking as primarily about "seeking happiness and self-fulfilment". Taiwanese films have also won critical acclaim overseas, with nearly 20 titles scooping various awards at festivals in Asia, the United States, Europe and South America this year, according to the Government Information Office. Director Wei Te-sheng – who holds the local box-office record of Tw$530 million for his 2008 romance "Cape No. 7" – has outdone himself with the epic "Seediq Bale", about aboriginal hunters battling Japanese colonial power in the 1930s. The film drew attention abroad as a contender for the prestigious Golden Lion award at the Venice film festival earlier this year. It is scheduled to be released in the United States in February, and rights have been sold to Australia and New Zealand as well as to European and South American countries. But it remains to be seen how much reach outside Asia the new wave of Taiwanese films will have. Giddens is cautiously optimistic. His agent is expected to close a deal soon for the sale of his movie to Europe and the United States. "In the east, love is more ambiguous, and one might not dare to ask or take action for the object of his affections," he said. "(But) even though we have different ways of expressing them, I think feelings and emotions can be understood." – AFP Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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The Spirited Traveller: Berlin’s booming bar scene Posted: 29 Nov 2011 01:53 AM PST A man takes a picture with his iPad of the Brandenburg Gate as it is illuminated during the Festival of Lights in Berlin on October 12, 2011. ― Reuters pic NEW YORK, Nov 29 ― If you're Berlin-bound, I sure hope you're well rested, because you might not get much sleep while you're there. "Nightlife is booming," declares Helmut Adam, the Berlin-based editor of Mixology magazine. "You have more and more classic and upscale cocktail bars, but Berlin has always been famous for its massive underground. Bars still pop up on every corner with second-hand furniture and bottled beer and shots as the main staple." He adds one more urgent note: "Berlin has NO curfew. You can go 24/7." In many ways, it seems like Berlin is making up for lost time. From 1961 to 1989, the city was divided by the Wall, marking the Cold War standoff between East and West. Now, the former East Germany's central bank building has been transformed into the swanky Hotel de Rome, and its Bebel Bar (here) is among Adam's recommendations. The space is grand and high-ceilinged, with separate rooms for discreet conversations. A plus for deal-makers: "It's open in the afternoon." Meanwhile, the once bomb-damaged Mitte area has been rebuilt into a vibrant district full of exciting bars and clubs, such as trendy Tausend (www.tausendberlin.com/). Whether East or West, what to drink? "If there's an iconic drink, it's Mampe," Adam advises, a bitter liqueur usually consumed as a shot, and identified by the elephant on the logo. Some Berlin bartenders even sport an elephant tattoo as a tribute. Elsewhere, keep an eye out for the Buck & Breck cocktail, made with Cognac and absinthe. It's a fairly obscure drink and likely only has a presence in Berlin because cocktail historian Dave Wondrich mentions it in his book Imbibe! It's on the menu of Becketts Kopf (www.becketts-kopf.de/), an after-work spot known for its excellent drinks and impeccable service. Lauded new speakeasy Buck & Breck (buckandbreck.com/) even takes its name from the drink. It is also a prime spot for impressing clients if you can score one of the 14 precious seats. Still awake and ready for more? Head over to the legendary Berghain (berghain.de/), "the most famous club with the toughest door in Berlin," Adam recommends. "Don't go there before midnight." RECIPE: Buck and Breck (Adapted from Imbibe! By David Wondrich) The name is derived from the popular epithet given to the 1856 Democratic Presidential ticket of James Buchanan and John C. Breckinridge. Wondrich cites as the original source Cocktail Boothby's "American Bartender, 1900." Water Superfine sugar 1.5 ounces Cognac 2 dashes Angostura Bitters 1 dash absinthe Champagne Rinse the inside of a Champagne flute with water and swirl to coat inside of glass. Discard liquid. Fill flute with superfine sugar, coating inside to make glass appear frosted. Discard excess sugar. Fill glass with Cognac, bitters and absinthe. Top with cold Champagne. ― Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

Laptop Wi-Fi said to nuke sperm, but caveats abound Posted: 28 Nov 2011 09:19 PM PST Laptop friend or foe? — Reuters pic NEW YORK, Nov 29 — The digital age has left men's nether parts in a squeeze, if you believe the latest science on semen, laptops and wireless connections. In a report in the venerable medical journal Fertility and Sterility, Argentinian scientists describe how they got semen samples from 29 healthy men, placed a few drops under a laptop connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi and then hit download. Four hours later, the semen was, erh, well-done. A quarter of the sperm were no longer swimming around, for instance, compared with just 14 per cent from semen samples stored at the same temperature away from the computer. And 9 per cent of the sperm showed DNA damage, threefold more than the comparison samples. The culprit? Electromagnetic radiation generated during wireless communication, says Conrado Avendano of Nascentis Medicina Reproductiva in Cordoba and colleagues. "Our data suggest that the use of a laptop computer wirelessly connected to the internet and positioned near the male reproductive organs may decrease human sperm quality," they write in their report. "At present we do not know whether this effect is induced by all laptop computers connected by Wi-Fi to the internet or what use conditions heighten this effect." A separate test with a laptop that was on, but not wirelessly connected, found negligible EM radiation from the machine alone. The findings fuel concerns raised by a few other research teams. Some have found that radiation from cell phones creates feeble sperm in the lab, for example. And last year urologists described how a man's sitting with a laptop balanced on his knees can crank up the temperature of his scrotum to levels that aren't good for sperm. So between the heat and the radiation from today's electronic devices, testicles would seem to be hard-pressed. But that was not at all clear, said Dr Robert Oates, who has managed to father two kids despite having both a laptop and an iPad. Oates, president of the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology, told Reuters Health he did not believe laptops were a significant threat to male reproductive health. "This is not real-life biology, this is a completely artificial setting," he said about the new study. "It is scientifically interesting, but to me it doesn't have any human biological relevance." He said that so far, no study had ever looked at whether laptop use had any influence on fertility or pregnancy outcomes. "Suddenly all of this angst is created for real-life actual persons that doesn't have to be," said Oates, of Boston Medical Centre. According to the American Urological Association, nearly one in six couples in the US have trouble conceiving a baby, and about half the time the man is at the root of the problem. While the impact of modern technology is still murky, lifestyle does matter, researchers say. Earlier this month, a report in Fertility and Sterility showed that men who had a diet rich in fruit and grains and low in red meat, alcohol and coffee had a better shot at getting their partner pregnant during fertility treatment. "You should be keeping yourself healthy," including staying lean, eating healthy foods, exercising, not taking drugs and not smoking, agreed Oates. And for those laptop worries, he mused, "I don't know how many people use laptops on their laps anyway." — Reuters Full content generated by Get Full RSS.

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