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Whitmarsh says McLaren can still win title Posted: 15 Aug 2011 08:29 AM PDT Whitmarsh monitors the race during the Chinese F1 Grand Prix at Shanghai International circuit April 17, 2011. — Reuters pic LONDON, Aug 15 — McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh reckons his drivers could still win the Formula One world drivers' championship this season despite Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel enjoying a huge lead. The German defending champion is 88 points ahead of Lewis Hamilton and 100 in front of McLaren team mate Jenson Button with most pundits believing the title race is already over. "I think it's tough, but it's possible," Whitmarsh told autosport.com. "And winning races is tough, but I think all you can do is try to win every race, and you can't do more than that. It is difficult to pull back the gap, but it's possible." Eight races remain this year with F1 returning from a break for the Belgian Grand Prix on August 28. "I'd like a one-two and it'd be handy if a Red Bull was not the third car on the podium if we get a one-two, and so we'd welcome Ferrari on the podium as well. We never give up," added Whitmarsh, who thinks 2008 champion Hamilton now looks more focussed. "His head's now in a great place, because he suddenly believes he can win, and there's lap time in that," he said. "I think Lewis desperately wants to win. I think he's tough on himself. He still takes too much to heart what's said in the media. He has a little bit too much sensitivity about that. But he will learn. — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Wenger sad to lose ‘world-class’ Fabregas Posted: 15 Aug 2011 08:16 AM PDT Wenger said Fabregas's return to Barcelona made sense for the player. — Reuters pic LONDON, Aug 15 — Arsenal have lost a "world-class player" with the departure of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona, manager Arsene Wenger said today at the same time his former club captain was speaking to the media in Spain. Fabregas, who joined Arsenal as a 16-year-old from Barcelona in 2003 and has turned into one of the best midfielders in world football, moved back to his boyhood club today. "We have lost a world-class player and we are sad about it, we did try to keep him," Wenger told a news conference ahead of his club's Champions League playoff first leg against Italians Udinese at the Emirates Stadium tomorrow. "In the end we had to respect the desire of the player. This club is 125 years old this season and many big players have left the club and the club has gone on. So we want to show we have the strength and the unity to fight as ever." He added the move made sense for Fabregas for many reasons. "He comes back to Barcelona, he was educated at Barcelona. His grandfather was part of the (club) committee," Wenger said in his native French. Fabregas today returned to the club he left as a teenager. — Reuters pic "He was virtually brought up at Barcelona's crèche. On top of that, he is going to a club that has the best team in the world at the moment. "So from that point of view, we can also understand that it has nothing to do with money, it is an affair of the heart." At the same time Wenger was speaking, so was Fabregas who praised his former manager in front of the Spanish media. "I'll never have enough words to say what I think about Arsene Wenger and if Arsenal wants to be the club they are they always have to be under his control," the 24-year-old said. "He is the best, everyone respects him and he will always be the best person I met in football. He was like a father figure to me. If today I am here with you, living my dream, then it's greatly due to him." Fabregas added he was sorry he had not been able to tell fans what was happening, explaining Arsenal had effectively gagged him from speaking about the situation. "My biggest regret is that we won only one FA Cup and the biggest regret I will have in my career is that I did not lift a trophy as an Arsenal captain, but I am sure they will be a strong team again," he added. "I will always be an Arsenal fan because what they have done for me is unbelievable and I will never forget it." Losing Fabregas's creativity, versatility and eye for a goal is a big blow for Wenger and his squad could be further depleted if France midfielder Samir Nasri heads off to Manchester City. "The two things are not linked," Wenger said. "Ideally I want Samir Nasri to stay ... the situation is a bit different with Samir and hopefully we can sort the situation out and keep him. "I am encouraged by the fact we can still bring one or two players in because we are a bit short," he added, explaining the talks surrounding Fabregas's move had taken up so much time he had been unable to concentrate on prospective signings. Wenger has been criticised by some fans for the first time since becoming Arsenal's manager in 1996 for failing to win a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup — and his seeming reluctance to spend money in the transfer market. "We are not scared to spend money if we find the right player," he said. "Just spending the money is not the target we want, we want to find the right players and if we find the right ones, it can be for two million pounds or 20 million, we will do it. "We have scouts all over the world and we are looking everywhere." — Reuters Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

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Brooke Burke, David Charvet tie the knot Posted: 14 Aug 2011 08:39 PM PDT Television personalities Brooke Burke (left) and Chris Harrison host the 2011 Miss America Pageant at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 15, 2011. — Reuters pic LOS ANGELES, Aug 15 — "Dancing With the Stars" co-host Brooke Burke and former "Baywatch" star David Charvet have tied the knot after a five-year engagement. Burke hinted at the news Saturday morning on Twitter, posting that she had "big news to share." Her rep later confirmed the marriage reports to E! News. The couple, who are both 39 and have two children together, were married Friday aboard a yacht off the Caribbean island of St. Barts, Life & Style magazine reported. Burke also is the mother of two daughters, ages 9 and 11, from her previous marriage to "Extreme Makeover" plastic surgeon Garth Fisher. — Reuters  Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Tina Fey gives birth to second child Posted: 14 Aug 2011 07:10 PM PDT Actress Tina Fey smiles as she participates in a Live Talks Los Angeles session ''Tina Fey: A Conversation With Steve Martin'' at Nokia theatre in Los Angeles April 19, 2011. — Reuters pic LOS ANGELES, Aug 15 — "30 Rock" creator and star Tina Fey gave birth to a girl on Wednesday, People magazine has reported. Penelope Athena Richmond is the second child for Fey, 41, and her composer husband, Jeffrey Richmond, 50. The Emmy-winning writer/performer and author of the nonfiction book "Bossypants", Fey first revealed her pregnancy to Oprah Winfrey in April. Earlier, in an essay for the New Yorker, she had written about agonizing over having a second child. Fey and Richmond's first child, Alice, is 5. Fey told Winfrey, "My husband and I really decided that we felt rather than risk having '30 Rock' end in several years and feeling like part of our family is missing that we were going to prioritise our family." — Reuters  Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

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Madame Tussauds to open in Sydney Posted: 15 Aug 2011 02:17 AM PDT A wax figure of actress Nicole Kidman at Madame Tussauds in Hollywood, California, on February 25, 2010. Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman are expected to be among the first Australian stars to feature when waxworks museum Madame Tussauds opens a venue in Sydney next year. – AFP pic SYDNEY, Aug 15 – Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman are expected to be among the first Australian stars to feature when waxworks museum Madame Tussauds opens a venue in Sydney next year, the company said recently. The world-famous London attraction will begin welcoming visitors in the Darling Harbour tourist district of the city next May. "The latest attraction will reflect the franchises 200 years of expertise and research, with each figure crafted with both a high level of artistry and accuracy," the company said "Most contemporary figures are also produced following sittings with the celebrities themselves, and talks are already well advanced with a number of Australian icons." The first Australian to be waxed will be "Home and Away" soap opera actor Ray Meagher, who has played Alf Stewart in the popular series since 1988. Politicians and sports stars are also expected to feature. There are already branches of the museum in cities across the globe, including Hong Kong, Las Vegas, New York, Amsterdam and Bangkok. – AFP Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Want to quit smoking? Get pumping, study suggests Posted: 14 Aug 2011 07:10 PM PDT A new study suggests that lifting weights could help you snuff out your smoking habit. — AFP pic PROVIDENCE (Rhode Island), Aug 15 — Lifting weights or resistance training can build muscles, tighten, and tone, and a US study out last week shows it may also help smokers kick the habit. Although prior research on exercise and quitting smoking has yielded some mixed results, researchers from the Miriam Hospital's Centres for Behavioural and Preventive Medicine, affiliated with Brown University in the US, report their study is the first to examine the effect of resistance training, rather than cardiovascular workouts, on quitting smoking. The new study is published online in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research. According to the findings, 25 male and female smokers who completed a 12-week resistance-training regimen as part of a smoking cessation programme were twice as likely to quit compared to the control group. Smokers in the study were between the ages of 18 and 65 and reported smoking at least five cigarettes a day for the past year or more. The resistance-training group engaged in two 60-minute training sessions per week for 12 weeks. The full-body routine involved 10 exercises, with researchers gradually increasing weight and intensity every three weeks. How does it work? Exercise of any type produces neurotransmitters including dopamine, a feel-good chemical that can provide the same positive mood as smoking. But science has yet to provide concrete practical exercise recommendations for kicking the habit, because the benefits of a workout aren't that long lasting, researchers say. Still, exercise does your body good in myriad ways, so hitting the gym could be a smart move in terms of eliminating nicotine addiction from your life. Dr. Nora Volkow of the National Institute on Drug Abuse in the US told health and fitness website Livestrong.com that exercise can help relieve stress and reduce depression, two key factors that can help you fight off an addiction or any other bad habit. What's the best type of exercise to help with addiction? George Washington University in the US advises doing something you enjoy. Just about any type of exercise can enhance energy, burn fat, and lift your mood by releasing vital endorphins and dopamine. Also, try yoga or Pilates to quiet your mind and relax frayed nerves. Learn more about exercise tips to help you quit smoking: http://www.livestrong.com/article/387911-exercises-to-quit-smoking/#ixzz1FwAgHNQ7 Access the new study here: http://ntr.oxfordjournals.org/content/13/8/756 Watch a video with tips ti quit smoking: http://www.howcast.com/videos/364-How-To-Quit-Smoking. — AFP-Relaxnews Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

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Perak timbang naik elaun Adun Posted: 15 Aug 2011 03:11 AM PDT IPOH, 15 Ogos – Kerajaan negeri Perak bersetuju untuk menimbangkan cadangan bagi menaikkan kadar elaun kesemua 59 anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri (Adun) Perak yang merupakan antara terendah berbanding negeri-negeri lain. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir berkata kenaikan terakhir elaun Adun Perak adalah pada 1 Januari 2004 dengan kenaikan 10 peratus. "Itu (cadangan kenaikan elaun Adun) satu cadangan yang bernas," katanya ketika menjawab soalan Sum Cheok Leng (DAP-Bercham) pada sidang DUN Perak hari ini. Sum mempersoalkan jumlah elaun Adun di Perak yang masih jauh lebih rendah berbanding yang diterima Adun di negeri lain dan mencadangkan kerajaan negeri menaikkan elaun itu. Dipetik Bernama Online, Zambry berkata perbandingan jumlah keseluruhan elaun sebulan yang diterima di negeri-negeri adalah RM7,300 (bagi Adun Sabah), RM7,500 (Johor), RM5,400 (Kedah), RM8,200 (Kelantan), RM6,012 (Pulau Pinang), RM8,500 (Pahang), RM9,700 (Selangor), RM7,500 (Sarawak), RM6,000 (Terengganu) dan RM7,730 (Melaka). Beliau berkata setiap Adun di Perak menerima elaun berjumlah RM5,912 setiap bulan yang mana RM4,112 merupakan bayaran perkhidmatan, RM400 bagi elaun keraian, RM400 bagi elaun pemandu, RM200 elaun tetap, RM300 untuk elaun telefon dan elaun khas sebanyak RM500. Ketika menjawab soalan Su Keong Siong (DAP-Pasir Pinji) Zambry berkata sebuah jawatankuasa yang telah ditubuhkan akan mengkaji semua aspek yang dibincangkan dalam persidangan DUN. Ia termasuk kadar kenaikan elaun Adun dan pelantikan lima hingga 10 orang pegawai penyelidik bagi memastikan kelancaran persidangan DUN seperti yang dikemukakan kedua-dua wakil rakyat itu, katanya. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Nazri: Saya tak pelawa DAP Posted: 15 Aug 2011 01:48 AM PDT KUALA LUMPUR, 15 Ogos – Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz menafikan yang beliau ada mempelawa DAP agar menyertai Barisan Nasional (BN) bagi menarik sokongan pengundi Cina kepada perikatan kerajaan pusat itu. Ketika dihubungi The Malaysian Insider hari ini, Nazri (gambar) berkata, beliau hanya memberi respons kepada satu soalan mengenai kemerosotan sokongan kaum Cina kepada BN. "Tidak, itu tidak benar. Saya tidak mempelawa DAP," katanya sambil menambah, "MCA mesti bekerja keras" apabila ditanya bagaimana BN akan mendapatkan balik sokongan pengundi Cina. MENYUSUL LAGI Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

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Who do we think we are? Posted: 14 Aug 2011 06:52 PM PDT AUG 15 — Watching the wild gyrations of the New York Stock Exchange last week, it dawned on me that economically Malaysia really does not matter much to the rest of the world. While in the Nineties the KLSE index may have been important enough for cable networks to cover and compare with other Asian indices, today they don't really care too much about us.  By contrast what the world rating agencies say and what the Federal Reserve or the European Central Bank say are studied in great detail. Commentaries are sought from the leading banks and fund managers around the world. It does not matter if the global talking heads and financial experts are actually right. Since many hold opposing views, it isn't a surprise that many predictions fall by the wayside. The sad part is that Malaysia's views are not sought. It is sort of like if Malaysia's football team wanted to comment on other national teams: no one would care about their opinion whatsoever. When Malaysia does get global coverage, it is usually negative. Caning of women, suppressing peaceful protests, denying religious freedoms, significant criminality, corruption and the Obedient Wives Club are not what Malaysia should be known for. We actually have to spend many millions of ringgit just to show another side of the country but everyone knows this is just a sales pitch to increase our tourist arrivals.  Some of our religious talking heads are even less astute. They won't or can't tolerate Malaysians becoming Wahhabi or Shia. I am sure that if the Wahhabi or the Shia took our clerics seriously, we would have a major conflict on our hands. Lest we forget, Iran is a theocracy in practice and they are quite prepared to die for their beliefs. The Wahhabis, on the other hand, are the main force in Saudi Arabia and if Malaysian clerics upset them too much, those same Malaysians may find themselves unwelcome in Saudi Arabia. As it stands, neither the Wahhabis nor the Shias even bother about our ulamas. In their eyes our guys are no threat to them. After all what influence do our ulama have beyond Malaysia's borders? Saudi Arabia and Iran wield great influence beyond their borders not just because of their theocracies but also because of their massive oil reserves.  To be fair, even our politicians are finding it hard to be relevant in the global discourse. When our PM preaches moderation and yet stifles freedoms, what do you think the world believes we are? I dare say many countries around the world do not consider Malaysia moderate. We are seen as a more conservative Muslim country.  When some PAS leaders point to their rule in Kelantan as an example of what we can expect if the opposition comes to power: few in the world are at all impressed. When the leader of the opposition's major clarion call remains the injustice perpetrated against him and little else, the world's attention begins to wander after a while. The reality for us is that the world recognises us as Malaysians. It does not see us as Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Bajaus, Ibans or the many other ethnicities that make up Malaysia. If we have internal racial issues, the world does not really care which community is right or wrong. They will simply avoid doing business with all of us if there is internal strife. Both the government and the opposition would be well advised to handle our nation's citizens with care. Our people need nurturing, not nannying. We want unity and not discord. But most of all we all want a better life, full of opportunities in all aspects, be they economic, political, cultural, religious or even social. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Dilema raksasa berkepala dua Posted: 14 Aug 2011 05:02 PM PDT 15 OGOS — Pada suatu ketika dahulu, mengikut mitos dan lagenda Yunani, terdapat seekor raksasa berkepala dua yang dipanggil Orthrus. Ia dikatakan tinggal di Pulau Erytheia, di kawasan barat laut Mediterranean, di mana ia ditugaskan untuk menjaga sekumpulan sapi istimewa yang berkulit merah akibat dikucup dewa mentari Helios. Lantas pada ketika ini, terdapat sebuah negara yang nyata walaupun riwayatnya kebelakangan ini menyerupai cereka mitos. Suatu ketika dahulu, pada zaman kegemilangannya, negara ini pernah digelar "ekonomi harimau", tetapi kini lagaknya lebih terjurus kepada sapi yang senantiasa menuruti buta arahan penggembala. Di negara ini, bukan sapi tetapi penggembala yang berkulit merah. Bergantung kepada keadaan, ia berupaya untuk bertukar warna kulitnya. Jika tidak merah ia akan menyalin biru tetapi tidak sekali pun kuning. Malah, bencinya kepada warna itu sehingga diharamkan kepada seluruh warga sapi dalam negara ini. Si gembala merah-biru yang membenci kuning ini merupakan seekor raksasa juga. Seperti Orthrus, ia juga berkepala dua dan amanatnya tidak berbeza, iaitu untuk melindungi sapi-sapi di bawah penjagaannya. Namun pada akhir hari ini, raksasa penggembala mengalami kesulitan. Kedua-dua kepalanya sudah tidak sehaluan. Mengimbas peristiwa sebulan lepas, sapi-sapi peliharaannya mula menunjukkan gelagat memberontak. Gara-gara segelintir sapi menyalin kulit kuning, raksasa penggembala menjadi gusar. Cabaran semberono sekaligus disahut dengan tindakan kuku besi. Maka ditangkap sapi-sapi biadap yang berkulit kuning untuk dibuat contoh kepada yang lain. Namun tindakan keras yang digunakan hanya berjaya merangsangkan kemarahan warga sapi. Justeru sapi-sapi mengumumkan sebuah rancangan untuk berkumpul di perkarangan kota. Raksasa penggembala berasa janggal dengan cabaran yang menghina ketuanannya, maka ia melepaskan amaran yang keras dan mengharamkan perhimpunan sapi-sapi kuning. Akan tetapi, hari demi hari kemarahan sapi semakin membara. Dalam keadaan terdesak, raksasa penggembala lantas mengadap raja negara demi mencari jalan penyelesaian. Setelah berunding, Raja bertitah menasihati supaya sapi-sapi berhimpun di mana-mana ladang yang lapang. Titah raja dipersetujui semua. Jalan penyelesaian sudah tampak ditemui. Walau bagaimanapun, pada keesokan hari raksasa penggembala mengalami kekeliruan. Kepala utamanya setuju melaksanakan titah raja tetapi kepala keduanya enggan bekerjasama, malah mula menyalak membantah cadangan untuk berhimpun di ladang. Kepala yang kedua juga mengarah anjing-anjing gembala untuk menangkap dan mengurung mana-mana sapi yang ingin berhimpun. Titah diraja tidak diendah dan kepala utama raksasa penggembala terdiam tidak mampu terkata. Tetapi sapi tidak gentar. Keluarlah mereka dalam berpuluhan ribu sehingga setiap lubuk kota dibanjiri kuning. Berdepanlah mereka dengan anjing-anjing gembala yang berang dan ganas. Walaupun diugut, ditangkap dan dibaham, sapi-sapi kuning tetap teguh berdiri. Raksasa penggembala tidak dapat menerima hakikat rusuhan yang telah berlaku. Namun yang digeruninya bukanlah kebangkitan sapi. Sebaliknya, pemberontakan oleh kepala yang kedua serta anjing-anjing gembala yang paling merunsingkan si raksasa. Ketuanannya tercabar bukan hanya dari luar tetapi juga dari anggota badannya sendiri. Tidak lama selepas peristiwa perhimpunan kuning itu, raksasa penggembala berkunjung ke luar negeri untuk mencari ketenteraman. Sejurus berangkatnya meninggalkan tanahair, anjing-anjing gembala pun giat bermaharajalela. Warta yang menjadi lidah rasmi raksasa penggembala tiba-tiba memainkan desas desus yang bersifat tohmah mengenai tuannya sendiri. Laporan warta secara langsung mengisahkan tentang rahsia-rahsia terpendam kerabat si penggembala. Dibongkarkan cerita tentang sebentuk berlian yang tidak terkira nilainya. Diceritakan juga tentang penggadaian tanah di perkarangan sungai yang mengalirkan besi. Dan jika itu tidak mencukupi, diungkitkan juga kisah seorang wanita ayu yang telah kehilangan nyawa kerana dua buah kapal ajaib yang mampu berlayar di bawah dan bukan di atas permukaan air. Dalam ketiadaan tuan mereka, bisikan antara anjing-anjing gembala makin berani dan gempar! Tanpa melengahkan masa, raksasa penggembala segera membatalkan kesantaian dan kembali ke negara. Lalu berjumpalah ia dengan setiap seekor anjing gembalanya. Di hadapan tuan raksasa, anjing-anjing gembala ligat berlagak setia. Buat sementara, salakan anjing-anjingnya berjaya disenyapkan dengan berangus, tetapi untuk berapa lama? Mengikut lagenda, raksasa Orthrus telah menemui ajalnya apabila termuncul seorang wira gagah perkasa yang bernama Heracles. Dalam persaingan yang sengit, Heracles berjaya menjunamkan pedang ke dalam hati raksasa Orthrus, lalu mengambil nyawanya. Heracles kemudian mengiringi sapi-sapi merah merentasi laut mencari wilayah baru. Tetapi dalam negara yang dikisahkan kita pada hari ini pula, dilema sebenar raksasa penggembala yang berkepala dua bukanlah serangan musuh dari luar ataupun sapi-sapi perusuh yang kian menunjuk belang. Ancaman yang paling bahaya berpunca daripada pemberontakan anjing-anjing gembala yang diketuai oleh kepala sekundernya sendiri. Raksasa penggembala kini terpaksa berjaga sepanjang masa. Ia tidak mampu terlelap walaupun sekelip, kerana taring yang berbisa senantiasa menunggu di sisi. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

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