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United lead by 18 points after win at Sunderland Posted: 30 Mar 2013 08:23 AM PDT [unable to retrieve full-text content]LONDON, March 30 — Manchester United moved 18 points clear at the top of the Premier League, for a few hours at least, when they won 1-0 at Sunderland on Saturday thanks to a first-half own goal from Titus Bramble. United, closing in on their 20th title and their fifth in the last seven seasons, went ahead after 27 minutes when Robin van Persie ...

Thai Prayad canters to five-stroke lead at home Posted: 30 Mar 2013 05:55 AM PDT March 30, 2013 CHIANGMAI, March 30 — Thailand's Prayad Marksaeng maintained his tight grip on the Chiangmai Golf Classic with a six-under-par 66 in the penultimate round on Saturday to open up a five-shot lead at the top of the leaderboard. The 47-year-old, who has led on all three days at the Alpine Golf Resort-Chiangmai, mixed six birdies and an eagle with two bogeys for a 54-hole total of 18-under-par 198. Prayad's countryman Thongchai Jaidee and Australia's Matthew Stieger, who continued his bogey-free streak, were at 13-under 203 in the $750,000 event in Thailand. Yang Yong-eun, the first Asian man to win a major, was among six players a shot further behind, while four-times major winner Ernie Els of South Africa carded a six-under-par 66 to move up to tied 15th place. The smooth-swinging Prayad, whose round was highlighted by a chip-in eagle on the seventh hole, briefly lost his touch with two consecutive bogeys on the 15th and 16th hole but regained his composure with a birdie on the 17th. "I have a five-shot lead now and I will play steadily and not be aggressive," Prayad, chasing his seventh title on the Asian Tour, said. "I think the pressure is on those chasing me. They need to have a good front nine or else they won't be able to catch up with me. "I made mistakes but it doesn't matter. I was careless on 16 but I still think I have a very strong advantage." Thongchai, ranked 59 in the world, hit five birdies against two bogeys in the third round and needs a win on Sunday to have a chance of qualifying for the Masters in two weeks' time. "I think the problem was my putting and reading the lines," the three-time Asian number one, said. "I hit a lot of good shots but the greens are killing (me). They are tough to read. Prayad played so well. He dropped a couple of shots but he came back. "He likes the course and he's in form. He's got a good chance. I'll try my best but I'll need luck tomorrow."— Reuters

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What draws people to violent films? Posted: 30 Mar 2013 12:01 AM PDT March 30, 2013 Filmgoers may be drawn to violent films if they feel the violence is meaningful in confronting difficult aspects of real life, scientists say. ― Afp picLOS ANGELES, March 30 — A new joint US and German study finds that filmgoers are more likely to watch violent or gory films if they feel the violence has a meaningful purpose relatable to real life. Researchers from the University of Augsburg, Germany and the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the US found that filmgoers were willing to watch violent scenes "if they felt there was meaning in confronting violent aspects of real life," researchers said in a March 28 press release.  The scientists enlisted 482 participants both in Germany and the US, ranging in ages from 18 to 82. Subjects viewed film trailers featuring different levels of gore and meaningfulness, and rated their likelihood of watching the full movie. They also indicated their perceptions of the film, as in how gory, meaningful, thought-provoking, or suspenseful they thought it was.  Earlier studies have suggested that audiences are not necessarily attracted to violence per se, but seem to be drawn to violent content because they anticipate other benefits, such as thrill and suspense. However the researchers say that this is only part of the story: audiences are also attracted to violent films if they promise to "satisfy truth-seeking motivations by offering meaningful insights into some aspect of the human condition," researchers said.  "Perhaps depictions of violence that are perceived as meaningful, moving and thought-provoking can foster empathy with victims, admiration for acts of courage and moral beauty in the face of violence, or self-reflection with regard to violent impulses," said head researcher Anne Bartsch of the University of Augsburg.  Bartsch and her colleagues will present their findings at the 63rd Annual Conference of the International Communication Association this June in London. — Afp-Relaxnews

No link between autism, many vaccines, US study shows Posted: 29 Mar 2013 08:03 PM PDT March 30, 2013 A US study sought to dispel the fears of about one third of American parents that giving a series of vaccines to children may be linked to autism. ― Afp picWASHINGTON, March 30 — A US study out today sought to dispel the fears of about one third of American parents that giving a series of vaccines to children may be linked to autism. Even though children are receiving more vaccines today than they did in the 1990s, there is no link between "too many vaccines too soon" and autism, said the study in the Journal of Pediatrics. About one in 10 US parents refuse or delay vaccinations for their children because they believe it is safer than following the schedule put out by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, according to previous research. Prior studies have already shown there is no link between vaccines and autism, including a 2004 comprehensive review by the Institute of Medicine. This time, researchers at the CDC decided to look children's exposure to antigens, the substances in vaccines that cause the body to produce antibodies to fight infection and disease. Researchers looked at data from 256 children with autism spectrum disorder across three separate managed care organizations in the United States. They compared the cumulative exposure to antigens in those children to 752 children without autism. "We found no evidence indicating an association between exposure to antibody-stimulating proteins and polysaccharides contained in vaccines during the first two years of life and the risk of acquiring autism spectrum disorder, autism disorder or autism spectrum disorder with regression," said the study. Nor were there any links between autism and cumulative exposure to antigens, either from birth to two years of age or within the course of a single day after receiving multiple vaccines at the doctor's office, it said. "These results indicate that parental concerns that their children are receiving too many vaccines in the first two years of life or too many vaccines at a single doctor visit are not supported in terms of an increased risk of autism," it said. Autism affects as many as one in 88 in the United States and about one in 100 in Britain. The brain disorder has no single known cause but experts believe it may be triggered by a combination of genetics and environment. — Afp-Relaxnews

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Cyprus expected to detail heavy losses for major bank customers Posted: 30 Mar 2013 08:52 AM PDT March 30, 2013 Lawmakers raise their arms to vote during a parliamentary session in Nicosia March 22, 2013. - Reuters picNICOSIA, March 30 — Cyprus was expected to confirm on Saturday that major depositors in its biggest bank will lose around 60 percent of their savings over 100,000 euros, under a bailout that has shaken European banks but saved the island from bankruptcy for now. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble sought to reassure bank customers elsewhere in Europe, saying in an interview in Germany's Bild tabloid on Saturday that their savings were safe after the Cyprus deal. European officials have sought to stress that the island's bailout terms were a one off - after a suggestion by Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem that the rescue would serve as a model for future crises rattled European financial markets. Initial signs that big depositors in Bank of Cyprus would take a hit of 30 to 40 per cent - the first time the euro zone has made bank customers contribute to a bailout - were already enough to unnerve investors in European banks this week. But a source with direct knowledge of the terms told Reuters on Friday that the conditions announced on Saturday would give depositors shares in the bank worth just 37.5 per cent of savings over 100,000 euros. The rest of such holdings might never be paid back. The toughening of the terms will send a clear signal that the bailout means the end of Cyprus as a hub for offshore finance and could accelerate economic decline on the island and bring steeper job losses. There is no sign for now, however, that ordinary customers in other struggling euro zone countries like Greece, Italy or Spain are taking fright. "Cyprus is and will remain a special one-off case," said Schaeuble, one of the main architects of the euro zone's response to a debt crisis now in its fourth year. "The savings accounts in Europe are safe." "Together in the Eurogroup we decided to have the owners and creditors take part in the costs of the rescue - in other words those who helped cause the crisis. "Cyprus's economy will now go through a long and painful period of adjustment. But then it will pay back the loan when it is on a solid economic foundation." Angry Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said on Friday that the 10-billion euro (RM39.66 billion) bailout had contained the risk of national bankruptcy and would prevent it from leaving the euro. Cypriots, however, are angry at the price attached to the rescue - the winding down of the island's second-largest bank, Cyprus Popular Bank, also known as Laiki, and an unprecedented raid on deposits over 100,000 euros. Under the terms of the deal, the assets of Laiki bank will be transferred to Bank of Cyprus. At Bank of Cyprus, about 22.5 per cent of deposits over 100,000 euros will attract no interest, the source said. The remaining 40 per cent will continue to attract interest, but will not be repaid unless the bank does well. Those with deposits under 100,000 euros will continue to be protected under the state's deposit guarantee. Banks on the island reopened to relative calm on Thursday after an almost two-week shutdown and the imposition of capital controls to prevent a run on banks by worried Cypriots and wealthy foreign depositors. The imposition of the controls has led economists to warn that a second-class "Cyprus euro" could emerge, with funds trapped on the island less valuable than euros that can be freely spent abroad. Under the terms of the capital controls, among other things Cypriots and foreigners are allowed to take only up to 1,000 euros in cash when they leave the island. Anastasiades said the restrictions - unprecedented in the currency bloc since euro coins and banknotes entered circulation in 2002 - would be gradually lifted. He gave no time frame but the central bank said the measures would be reviewed daily. — Reuters

Egypt’s prosecutor general to appeal his sacking Posted: 30 Mar 2013 08:42 AM PDT March 30, 2013 Anti-Mursi demonstrators protest near the High Court in Cairo. — Reuters picCAIRO, March 30 — The man chosen as Egypt's chief prosecutor by President Mohamed Mursi will appeal a court ruling demanding he stand down, a fellow prosecutor said on Saturday. Mursi appointed Talaat Ibrahim prosecutor general last November, to the dismay of the Islamist president's opponents who said he had exceeded his powers. The decision to hire Ibrahim came in a constitutional decree issued in November that made all Mursi's acts immune from legal challenge. The president was forced to retract it after bloody street violence between his supporters and opponents that left at least 11 dead and hundreds injured. A Cairo court ruled on Wednesday that Ibrahim must quit and give the job back to his predecessor, Abdel Maguid Mahmoud. "Judge Talaat Ibrahim told us that he would challenge the ruling against him in front of an appeal court after he had reviewed the details of the ruling that he described as void, unconstitutional and illegal," state prosecutor Hisham al-Karmouty told Reuters after meeting Ibrahim. Wednesday's court ruling came two days after Ibrahim ordered the arrest of several opposition activists accused of inciting violence against Mursi and his Muslim Brotherhood. Ibrahim's appointment had prompted protests by members of the judiciary and many courts suspended their work in protest. He tendered his resignation in December when thousands of prosecutors surrounded his office for several hours, but later withdrew it. — Reuters

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Harry Potter actor Richard Griffiths dies after surgery Posted: 29 Mar 2013 07:32 PM PDT March 30, 2013 Actors Richard Griffiths (L) and Daniel Radcliffe speak on stage at the 62nd Annual Tony Awards in New York, in this June 15, 2008, file photo. — Reuters picLONDON, March 30 — British actor Richard Griffiths, best known for his roles in 'Withnail and I' and the Harry Potter films, has died at the age of 65 after complications following heart surgery, his agent said yesterday. Griffiths spent almost four decades in radio, film, on television and on stage, and received some of his industry's top awards for his role in Alan Bennett's play "The History Boys". The portly actor filled the screen as the lascivious Uncle Monty in the cult 1987 film 'Withnail and I'. But younger fans will remember him for his portrayal of a much crueler avuncular figure - Harry Potter's red-faced and bullying uncle Vernon Dursley. Daniel Radcliffe, who played the boy wizard and performed with Griffiths in the stage play "Equus", said the veteran performer had encouraged and coached him and helped him get over his nerves. "Richard was by my side during two of the most important moments of my career ... any room he walked into was made twice as funny and twice as clever just by his presence. I am proud to say I knew him," Radcliffe said in a statement. Griffiths' agent, Simon Beresford, described him as "a remarkable man and one of our greatest and best-loved actors". He said Griffiths died in hospital on Thursday. The actor was born in Thornaby-on-Tees in Yorkshire, northern England, the son of a steelworker. Both his parents were deaf and he learned sign language to communicate with them. After studying drama in Manchester, he worked in radio and theatre, building a reputation as a Shakespearean clown. He reprised his role as teacher Hector in a film of "The History Boys" in 2006. One of his best known roles on television was a cookery-loving detective in "Pie in the Sky". On stage, he was known for his intolerance of mobile phones ringing during performances, and halted plays several times to complain and even eject offending audience members. Nicholas Hytner, director of Britain's National Theatre, said Griffiths' unexpected death would devastate his "army of friends". "Richard Griffiths wasn't only one of the most loved and recognisable British actors — he was also one of the very greatest," Hytner said in a statement. Griffiths was given an OBE in 2008 and is survived by his wife Heather. — Reuters

Zombie television show turns Georgia town into tourism hub Posted: 29 Mar 2013 05:38 PM PDT [unable to retrieve full-text content]SENOIA, March 30 — Frank Hollberg III, whose family has sold furniture in Senoia, Georgia since 1894, laughed as he recalled the odd sight of watching a man walk through the idyllic downtown holding a head in his hand. The head was a prop and the man an actor filming “The Walking Dead,” the hit zombie-themed television series that has drawn ...

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Marcus Sedgwick moves from youth to adult fiction Posted: 30 Mar 2013 06:04 AM PDT Wise guys Alan Wong KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 — Seth Grahame-Smith's darker retelling of the Nativity took me by surprise. I actually liked it – though I knew from just the title and synopsis that I would.The story of the three ... Read More

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Tun Abdullah yakin keupayaan BN menang besar PRU-13 Posted: 30 Mar 2013 02:56 AM PDT March 30, 2013 KEPALA BATAS, 30 Mac — Bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yakin dengan keupayaan Barisan Nasional (BN) untuk menang besar pada pilihan raya umum ke-13 (PRU-13). Beliau berkata ini berikutan BN telah berusaha keras membawa perubahan besar kepada negara dan rakyat menerusi pelbagai perancangan dan program transformasi. "Nak kerajaan yang kuat perlu menang dua pertiga kerusi Parlimen dan saya yakin BN boleh dapat kerana mereka telah bekerja keras. "Saya harap mereka (rakyat) akan terus bagi sokongan (kepada BN) supaya segala program transformasi dan perancangan dapat diteruskan pada masa hadapan. Itu semua adalah untuk rakyat juga," katanya kepada pemberita selepas merasmikan Program Jiwa Murni KD Sri Pinang bersama masyarakat Permatang Sintok di sini hari ini. Pada program sehari itu, seramai 75 anggota pasukan simpanan sukarela Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia bersama penduduk kampung membaiki rumah orang miskin dan Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU), menjalankan kerja gotong royong dan aktiviti membersih rumah di kawasan itu. Mengenai pembubaran Parlimen, beliau berkata ia bukan satu isu kerana Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mempunyai jangka masa tertentu untuk berbuat demikian. — Bernama

Perlindungan insurans, imbuhan RM500 untuk warga kerja Pos Malaysia Posted: 30 Mar 2013 02:52 AM PDT March 30, 2013 SHAH ALAM, 30 Mac — Timbalan Perdana Menteri Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin hari ini mengumumkan 16,191 warga kerja Pos Malaysia Berhad di seluruh negara akan menerima pelan perlindungan insurans untuk diri sendiri dan keluarga selain imbuhan istimewa RM500. Beliau berkata pelan insurans itu menjadi perlindungan jika kakitangan syarikat dan anggota keluarga mereka menghadapi kecemasan. Muhyiddin mengumumkan berita gembira itu ketika berucap pada Majlis Mesra Bersama Warga Kerja Pos Malaysia di Pusat Mel Nasional di sini. Mengulas lanjut, Timbalan Perdana Menteri berkata imbuhan RM500 untuk setiap warga kerja Pos Malaysia itu akan dibayar bersama gaji bulan April manakala pelan insurans itu membabitkan anggaran kos RM670,000 setahun. "Imbuhan ini ialah tanda penghargaan Pos Malaysia atas usaha gigih warga kerjanya," katanya. Pada majlis itu, Muhyiddin menerima sumbangan RM80,000 yang disampaikan Menteri Penerangan Komunikasi dan Kebudayaan Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, hasil kutipan warga Pos Malaysia dan Koperasi Pos Nasional Bhd untuk membantu keluarga anggota keselamatan yang terkorban dalam insiden pencerobohan pengganas di Lahad Datu, Sabah. Selain itu, beliau menyampaikan komputer Netbook 1Malaysia kepada 12 anak warga Pos Malaysia yang cemerlang dalam peperiksaan Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah, Penilaian Menengah Rendah dan Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia. Muhyiddin menarik perhatian sungguhpun peredaran zaman menyaksikan ledakan teknologi seperti yang dicerminkan oleh penggunaan e-mel dan kecanggihan telefon pintar, namun perkhidmatan pos masih memainkan peranan penting dalam kehidupan harian masyarakat. Ini termasuk dalam soal penghantaran bungkusan dan dokumen penting. Dalam pada itu, Muhyiddin berkata pimpinan negara melakukan perubahan dan menangani pelbagai isu secara terancang bagi memastikan nasib rakyat terbela dan pendapatan mereka meningkat. Bagaimanapun, beliau menegaskan prasyarat kepada segala usaha kerajaan dalam menjamin kesejahteraan rakyat dan memastikan ekonomi negara terus berkembang ialah keselamatan yang berterusan. — Bernama

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Welcome back, The Pinholes! Posted: 29 Mar 2013 06:37 PM PDT March 30, 2013 MARCH 30 ― As easy listening as power pop may be, you'd be surprised at how hard it is to actually find bands that play power pop or just sugar-coated melodic rock 'n' roll in South-East Asia.  Most bands who fall under the "melodic" umbrella in this region are either Britpop bands, indie pop bands, punk pop bands or hipster bands playing melodic indie rock. The rare few who do rock 'n' roll or garage rock usually have attitude to spare, but barely enough melody to pass around.  Playing rough yet catchy rock 'n' roll songs is an art form that very few in the region have mustered enough courage to master, because catchy rock 'n' roll by definition necessitates the sort of simplicity that many a musician's ego can never tolerate.  So whenever I come across a kindred spirit from a neighbouring country, I'd get unreasonably excited and am almost certain to try and start a friendship with said kindred spirit, and more often than not we do end up becoming real good buddies afterwards.  Despite the many mainstream Indo rock bands conquering the airwaves even in Malaysia and Singapore, my heart still belongs to Sheila On 7, who turned out to be really nice people in person as well and of course one of my all-time favourites Naif.  But it's in the Indonesian underground where my true kindred spirits hide, in the form of the very Weezer-inspired The Adams, the very Wondermints-ish Sore and Surabaya boys Vox. To this very day I still listen to their albums like I would talk to my best friend, which is as often as I can.  When a country with as big a population (and as rich a music scene) as Indonesia can only offer a handful of bands for my heart to truly love, it's quite a surprise that a country as small as Singapore can offer two (not counting those that have disbanded).  While the Indonesian bands I mentioned may not actually be power pop fans, the boys in Singaporean band Typewriter (or at least their frontman) are true blue power pop fans who are tuned in to the pop underground. And the fact that their debut album is so excellent is more reason to love them.  Still, one of the earliest buddies I've made from a neighbouring country is the Singaporean band The Pinholes, whom I first met when my band Couple played there for the Baybeats festival in 2004.  If I'm not mistaken, it's either right back then or a year or two later that I got a copy of their wonderful EP (released as a CD-R), and we've even played quite a few shows together there over the years.  Even though in all of my music-related friendships I've always made it a point to make actual friends instead of "contacts", which means that I'd have to like them as people first, I've been quite lucky that most of the bands I admire have turned out to be sweet people as well.  So even though I love the Pinholes boys like brothers, it's their awesome music that got me hooked in the first place. And for years I've pestered them to make an album or at the very least release something on a properly pressed CD instead of CD-R, and after numerous stops and starts and scrapped recording sessions, they've finally released a new EP called "Youth Of Gold" earlier this week, which they launched on Monday March 25, 2013.  Not being able to make it to their EP launch in Singapore because of work commitments, they kindly emailed me MP3s of the songs from the 4-song EP. I've already heard their single "Sunshine", a sweet little guitar pop jam that will remind people of chilling on the beach, for which they released a music video on YouTube about a month back.  They've rearranged "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll", which on their old EP sounded more like The Cribs but has now been transformed into an altogether different beast courtesy of a bassline that's obviously inspired by The Beatles' "Taxman."  And of the two new songs (to me at least), my favourite would have to be "Preferably", which perfectly encapsulates the old Pinholes that fans have loved and missed all these years (they've changed line-ups quite a bit over the years) and the current incarnation.  If there's one thing about them that I find totally endearing, but some may not, is their sometimes grammatically (and maybe even purposely?) incorrect English, best exemplified by the opening lines of "Preferably" which goes – "My life has been so wonderful and miracle" – just so it can rhyme with the word "circle."  It might look weird on paper, but once you hear it sung with that irresistible melody, I'm sure you'll forgive them and enjoy the song for what it is – rock 'n' roll.  So if catchy rock 'n' roll is your cup of tea, please seek The Pinholes' new EP out as it's already one of my favourite releases of the year. And if you're already a fan, we'll be playing a gig with them at a new venue called Alternate HQ on the 3rd floor of Fahrenheit88, Bukit Bintang, next Saturday, April 7, 2013 at 3pm. See you there and long live rock 'n' roll! * This is the personal opinion of the columnist

Boring, boring Europe Posted: 29 Mar 2013 06:32 PM PDT March 30, 2013 Andy West is a sports writer originally from the UK and now living in Barcelona. He has worked in professional football since 1998 and specialises in the Spanish Primera Division and the English Premier League. Follow him on Twitter at @andywest01. MARCH 30 — Is this the most boring league season in the history of European football?  A few months ago I wrote despairingly in this column that the major leagues were bearing the resemblance of rather uninteresting two horse races.  If only Id been right. Instead, an even more dull pattern has emerged with all of the "big four" leagues effectively already decided.  In England, Manchester United have got the Premier League title pretty much wrapped up. With just nine games to play, theyre already 15 points clear of second placed Manchester City, and have a great chance to further strengthen their grip on the trophy as they travel to out of form Sunderland this weekend.  Although Uniteds haul of 74 points from 29 games is extremely impressive, I think it says more about the paucity of the opposition than their own excellence.  Robin van Persies acquisition last summer has significantly improved the Red Devils but this is by no means a vintage United side and, a few miles across Manchester, Citys hierarchy at the Etihad Stadium must be losing faith in Roberto Mancini after his failure to mount anything like a meaningful challenge to retain the title.  Mancini has made many errors, but principally he is paying the price for failing to resolve his squads striker issues before it became too late.  Even a year ago, when they were en-route to the title, it was blatantly obvious that the talented but fiery quartet of Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko was not a viable long-term solution: too many egos, too many soloists.  But Mancini failed to act, despite several warning signs, and his sides lack of firepower is the biggest single reason for their poor campaign. City have only scored 51 league goals so far this season – 18 fewer than United and even six fewer than Liverpool (and only nine more than Lionel Messi on his own).  Sir Alex Ferguson, I may suggest, would never have made the same mistake — one of his greatest strengths over the years has been the ability to know exactly when to dismantle a successful squad and build anew.  Speaking of Messi, the title race is no more interesting in Spain, where Barcelonas imperious start to the season has allowed them to establish a 13-point lead over Real Madrid with just 10 games remaining.  In the same way that I feel Mancini is largely responsible for his teams poor campaign, my regular readers will not be surprised to learn that Im more than happy to point the finger at Jose Mourinho as well (any excuse, frankly).  The poisonous atmosphere within and around the Bernabeu camp, which so badly affected their progress in the early months of the season, has been largely caused by Mourinhos insatiable ego; and although his teams form has improved markedly in recent weeks, Id wager thats a case of the squad bonding together against Mourinho, rather than with him.  Over in the German Bundesliga, Bayern Munichs progress has been even more emphatic, with the Bavarian giants no less than 20 points clear of second placed Borussia Dortmund. This means Bayern could even clinch the title this weekend — all they need to do is beat Hamburg at home and see Dortmund drop points in their trip to mid-table Stuttgart.  Although Munich are a fabulous team who have a good chance of winning the Champions League, Dortmund are also a formidable outfit and their relatively poor league form (five defeats and seven draws in their 26 games) appears to be a side-effect of their determination to advance deep into the Champions League – a task they have achieved in impressive style to line up next weeks quarter final against Malaga.  And then theres Italy, where last seasons champions Juventus are well on course to retain their Serie A crown: Antonio Contes team are nine points ahead of second placed Napoli, whose form has faltered badly in recent weeks.  So theres little excitement in store in Europes big four leagues; but at least there could still be some drama in Frances Ligue 1.  Paris St Germains Qatari-backed multimillionaires — David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and friends — are five points ahead of Lyon, but the Parisians have looked fragile away from home all season, failing to win any of their last three road trips.  Lyon still have a chance, and Premier League fans will be keeping an eye on whether third placed Marseille — containing notorious former Newcastle et al bad boy Joey Barton — can make a late charge for the title.  If its real late-season cliff-hangers that youre after, however, theres no option but to go Dutch. Theres a veritable four-horse race in the Netherlands Eredivisie, where Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord and surprise packages Vitesse are separated by just three points.  But Im afraid thats it. In terms of title chases, Europe can currently offer nothing more exciting than Joey Barton and Vitesse Arnhem — I feel almost apologetic.  At least we have the final stages of the Champions League to look forward to, and there are some terrific encounters in store ahead of Mays final at Wembley.  I believe five of the remaining eight teams are easily good enough to win it — Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and Real Madrid — and the quarter finals get underway next week.  So if youre after top quality football, forget the domestic leagues and set your alarm clocks for late nights on Tuesday and Wednesday: thats where the finest action will be found. * This is the personal opinion of the columnist

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