Both will be keen to avoid each other as well as reigning champions Barcelona and Jose Mourinho’s Inter when the draw takes place here.

It is an open draw without restrictions and the English clubs could be pitted against each other.

If Arsenal draw United it would mean a repeat of last year’s semi-final when United ran away as 4-1 aggregate winners.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will be desperate to exact revenge on United chief Alex Ferguson after Arsenal’s demoralizing defeat to the Red Devils last season.

There is also a mouth-watering prospect of either Arsenal or United facing Inter.

It would revive memories of manager Mourinho’s bitter rivalry with Wenger which dates back to his years as Chelsea boss.

Mourinho’s relationship with Fergie has always been more cordial but it would be intriguing to see whether it would stand the test of an intense Champions League face-off.

The Special One’s future at the San Siro is inextricably linked with whether or not he can restore Inter to the top of European football, 45 years after they last won the trophy.

And while Mourinho’s buoyant Inter come with high hopes after dumping Chelsea out of the competition, Barcelona are still regarded as the team to beat.

The Catalan giants outclassed United in last year’s final in Rome, running out 2-0 winners.

And Wednesday night’s 4-0 demolition of Stuttgart, engineered by the brilliant Lionel Messi, shows they are hitting their stride once again in this campaign.

United and Arsenal could also face French outfits Lyon or Bordeaux, Germans Bayern Munich or Russia’s CSKA Moscow.

The first-leg ties are scheduled for March 30 or 31 with the return legs a week later on April 6 or 7.

Today’s draw will also determine the semi-final ties en route to the final at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium on May 22.

The semis are scheduled for April 20 or 21 with the second legs on April 28 and 27.

Penantian penonton nampaknya tidak merugikan apabila Ain mengambil tempat di tengah pentas. Penuh keyakinan dan disertakan dengan vokal yang baik, Ain tidak mempunyai masalah untuk menggamit sokongan daripada peminat yang datang, menerusi persembahannya yang mantap.

Pengkritik tetap, Aznil Nawawi dan Adlin Aman Ramlie, serta pengkritik undangan, Ning Baizura, juga nyata gembira dengan persembahan memberangsangkan peserta berkenaan. Ning menganggap persembahan Ain adalah yang terbaik pada konsert pengenalan itu, mengetepikan saingan 11 pelajar AF8 yang lain.

Lalu, tumpuan peminat rancangan realiti popular ini tentunya kini sedikit sebanyak terarah pada pelajar yang boleh diumpamakan seperti peserta pertandingan ratu cantik terbabit. Namun , Ain harus lebih bersedia pada minggu depan kerana saingan daripada beberapa pelajar lain termasuk Zafarina Jamhari (Farina), Muhammed Shahril Mohd Saleh Hussein (Shah), serta peserta adik-beradik, Erma Suhaimi (Ema) dan Siti Adira Suhaimi (Adira) usah dipandang remeh.
Muhammad Alif Kadim atau Alif yang menyampaikan lagu Kris Allen, Live Like We’re Dying, juga mempunyai potensi untuk menghadirkan saingan sengit bagi pelajar lain pada musim ini. Persembahannya tidak menghampakan, serta mendapat pujian juri. Kata Adlin, Alif memiliki vokal belum pernah ditemui dalam AF, manakala Ning menganggap suaranya penuh berpotensi. Aznil pula memuji keberanian peserta dari ibu kota itu menggunakan pentas dengan baik.

Pelajar lain yang turut mengadakan persembahan pada konsert pertama mereka ialah Dayang Nor Anum Arjuna Aharun (Anum), Muhd Shahril Firdaus Eli (Daus), Muhd Firdaus Maulana Mohamed (Maulana), Nadia Emilia Roselan (Nad), Emirza Azwan Zulazrin Chew (Iwan) dan Ahmad Shahir Zawawi (Shahir).

Selain daripada pelajar yang berasakan bahang kali pertama menaiki pentas konsert AF, dua pengacaranya, Sarimah Ibrahim dan Jimmy Shanley juga berasakan pengalaman serupa.

Pada ketika Sarimah kelihatan lebih selesa, mungkin dek pengalamannya yang lebih luas dalam bidang pengacaraan, Jimmy pula menunjukkan wajah yang agak ‘cuak’ ketika mengendalikan program siaran langsung itu buat julung kali.

Pengetua bangga

NORMAN Abdul Halim yang memikul tanggungjawab sebagai pengetua AF8 melahirkan kegembiraan dengan persembahan pelajar pada konsert pengenalan berkenaan.
Katanya, paling tidak, sepuluh daripada 12 pelajar terbabit menunjukkan persembahan yang memberangsangkan, dengan tiga atau empat daripadanya pula selangkah di hadapan peserta lain.

Menurut Norman, banyak perubahan ditunjukkan peserta apabila muncul pada konsert pengenalan itu, dari segi keyakinan dan kemampuan menguasai pentas.
Kelebihan itu pastinya memudahkan lagi tenaga pengajar memperbaiki keupayaan masing-masing, apabila sesi pembelajaran bermula secara rasmi.

Katanya, pada konsert berkenaan, pelajar diberikan peluang memilih genre lagu kesukaan masing-masing. Begitupun, bermula Sabtu ini, mereka akan tampil menyanyikan lagu pilihan tenaga pengajar dan pengetua rancangan itu. Proses berkenaan bakal memperlihatkan kecenderungan seseorang peserta serta kelebihan mereka pada sesuatu genre muzik.

“Secara ringkasnya, saya percaya persaingan pada musim kali ini adalah lebih sengit. Undian peminat untuk peserta dari Sabah juga pastinya akan pecah apabila wujudnya empat peserta dari negeri itu dalam musim terbaru ini. Keadaan itu tentu saja melahirkan suasana persaingan lebih menarik pada AF8,” kata Norman yang berazam melahirkan penyanyi yang mampu bertahan lama dalam industri muzik

The 500C Pink is based on the 1.2-litre petrol-powered Pop version of the convertible Fiat. It comes with pink paintwork and door mirrors, 16in alloy wheels, chrome trim and unique carpet mats. There’s also a special pink key fob and the limited edition model also includes split and fold rear seats and Fiat’s Blue&Me infotainment pack in the price.

Costing £1200 more than a standard 500C 1.2 Pop, the Pink comes in at £13,500, but Fiat points out that it includes £1870 worth of extras as part of the package.

The fabric roof is finished in black cloth, but the limited edition model also comes with a pink-painted centre console. Like the hatchback version, only 500 of the 500C Pink drop-tops will be built and are available to order now.

InXile’s presentation begins in the game world, right in the middle of a muddy village street flanked by burnt out buildings on either side. Hunted might be an RPG at heart, but after an extensive hands-off demonstration, it’s evident that there’s more to InXile’s game than initially meets the eye.

Hunted: Demon’s Forge is third-person co-op focused action adventure that takes traditional Tolkien-esque fantasy tropes and transplants them into a Gears of War-style gameplay mechanic complete with dynamic cover system. Hunted is what InXile are calling “co-op at a distance”, which means each player can happily go off and explore without fear of leaving their partner twisting in the wind if they should happen to run into trouble.If you or your partner should become low on health, you can use a regenerative vial to heal one another regardless of your proximity. You’re also able to combine spells to take down enemies and heroes Caddoc and E’lara – a male and female pairing – each boasts differing abilities that give you numerous tactical options to employ during battle.

Apart from the simple fact that variation comes from Caddoc carrying a short sword and shield where E’lara packs a bow and arrow, you’re also able to ‘Battle Charge’, which makes you both temporarily invincible and doubles the effects of your magic. Being able to freeze an enemy with an ice spell before smashing them to pieces with a well-aimed arrow is just one such (rather basic) tactic you might choose to adopt, but there are plenty of other strategies at your disposal thanks in part to the ability to switch characters at designated checkpoints.

The very definition of chalk and cheese, the pair enjoy a relationship tinged with sexual frisson and frequent exchanges of sarcastic dialogue. E’lara is a bloodthirsty warrior who uses her bow and arrow to puncture skulls from range whereas Caddoc is a more introspective, thoughtful character, who nonetheless still relishes the opportunity to unleash strong melee attacks on his foes. They might not particularly break the mould as far as fantasy characters are concerned, but there’s something intrinsically likeable about the duo, which is a very good thing as you’ll be spending the duration of the game with them.

In battle, Caddoc’s shields degrade and can be broken, so he has to keep collecting new ones on his travels, although there are plenty dropped by the savage orc-like Wargar creatures the duo face in the demo. E’lara meanwhile, needs to keep a supply of arrows, which she can pull from the punctured flesh of a fallen enemy and light in any nearby fire source or imbue with magic to create frost arrows for instance. Regardless of which character you play as however, the combat is always suitably brutal and bloody with your character being caked in a layer of gore as they cleave their way through the monstrous hordes, performing violent finishing moves while receiving wounds that can result in permanent battle scars.

Centring upon Caddoc and E’lara’s quest to collect crystals for the powerful, ethereal spirit known as Seraphim, the story deals with aspects of sacrifice and addiction as the Wargar are obsessed with an infectious liquid substance known as ’sleg’ which when consumed, turns them into even more twisted and violent versions of what they already are. Whether you can choose to drink sleg yourself might be a decision you have to face at some point in the game.

During the narrative, there are plenty of opportunities for exploration and challenging – though mostly optional – puzzles to overcome that grant extra rewards such as more crystals that grant new spells as well as gold and other loot. You might even find captive townspeople, who you can either rescue or execute as you see fit, which can bring about varying consequences. In the demo, the duo save a grateful prisoner who then runs into the waiting jaws of a gigantic beetle creature, but had he been killed by Caddoc or E’lara, the outcome could have been quite different.

Designed entirely around the co-op experience, Hunted includes multiple routes that enable you to experiment with various approaches, which will apparently be adapted to by the intelligent AI in single-player, which will know when you’re trying to go with a certain flanking method or plan of attack and will help accordingly. Low on health? Then the AI will sort you out with a health vial before going into Battle Charge to help reduce enemy numbers. Sounds pretty smart to us.

Online, co-op is a drop in/drop out affair complemented by a robust matchmaking system that ensures you can play with your favourite character, who remains your character even if you choose to switch at a checkpoint. You needn’t worry about another player tinkering with your skill points or ruining your custom abilities and items as they simply won’t be able to just as you’ll be unable to mess with another character’s abilities. Loot and other items are shared between players and remain persistent between your single-player and co-op campaigns, which you can almost seamlessly switch between.

Hunted has an incredible sense of scale and impressive attention to detail in its environments, with rocky caverns leading to faces hewn into the rock, choked by enormous vines and overgrowth. Claustrophobic, winding subterranean tunnels give way to vast exterior arenas or interior chambers, wherein large-scale encounters take place such as a frantic Wargar assault, which is countered in the demo by toppling enormous stone columns that fall like dominoes, crushing any enemies in the way, including a meddlesome catapult unit hurling flaming projectiles.

Elsewhere, we see a huge fire demon arise in a deep cave, which provides an increasingly staunch challenge for the pair that reinforces the need for teamwork as Caddoc and E’lara combine spells to send the hellspawn packing. After a few arrows, devastating magic spells and Battle Charge attacks, the demon is weakened, ready to be tackled with a God of War-style QTE that sees Caddoc stab the skeletal monster in the neck, dispatching it in a satisfyingly gory fashion.

After a thorough presentation, we’ve still only seen a fraction of what Hunted: Demon’s Forge has to offer, but the potential is clearly evident in the game’s well-realised dark fantasy remit, bolstered by rough and ready combat, thoughtful puzzling and some good, old classic dungeon crawling. Hunted looks as though it’ll provide a happy mix that InXile hope will satisfy both the devoted players raised on traditional fantasy and the bloodthirsty action gamers looking to shoot a slow-motion arrow straight into their enemy’s eye

The livid 42-year-old suffered the humiliation of having to roll up her trouser leg in public while guards checked her fake limb at Heathrow.

To make matters worse, Heather was then denied access to an exclusive airport lounge because staff left her name off the list.

After setting off the security alarm, Sir Paul McCartney’s ex-wife was led to a seat. An onlooker said: “Heather was flabbergasted. There was a brief impasse but she said nothing, just staring in disbelief.

“She quietly went and sat down, shaking her head, and pulled up her trouser leg for an official to hold up her false limb and swab it.

“Heather looked furious but bit her tongue. She appeared humiliated at having her prosthetic leg highlighted in front of other passengers.”

Airport owners BAA defended the move. A spokeswoman said: “She was swabbed because something set off the alarm in the metal detector archway.

CAST

“Staff could not see inside the leg so it was swabbed instead. This would be the same protocol if a passenger had a cast on a broken arm or leg.”

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Heather’s spokesman added: “There was no suggestion of her having to remove her leg during the security procedure.”

After being given the all-clear, Heather – who was flying to the US to launch her meat-free ready meals – made her way to the Concorde Lounge, reserved for first class passengers and guests.

But she was refused entry to the suite, which gives customers access to the flight gate without having to walk through the terminal building.

Heather refused to budge, insisting arrangements had been made for her to be allowed in and ordered the receptionist to call a senior official.

She was heard pleading: “Please let me through. I’m having a bad day.”

After a stand-off the official caved in agreed she could go inside.

Her spokesman added: “She was told she could use the special BA door to the Concorde Lounge. But for whatever reason the guy on the door did not have the list with her name on.

“Their staff did not have the correct information.

“She was finally allowed to use the door to the Concorde Lounge to access another BA lounge because otherwise it would have meant a long walk around the terminal building.”

The 18-year-old pop singer was picked for the job by designer Christopher Kane, according to The Mirror. He has already posed for some snaps taken by photographer Simon Harris.

“I couldn’t believe it when I saw the pictures,” said the reality TV star. “I really enjoyed the shoot. It will be so exciting to do this alongside my music.”

A Next Models spokesperson said: “Not only does Joe have those classic James Dean-type looks but he also photographs fantastically and has great potential. We are already in talks with two major British designers who are keen for Joe to front campaigns.”

McElderry is expected to release his debut album on Simon Cowell’s Syco label in the autumn. He has also expressed an interest in working in the West End.

Schwimmer, 45, reportedly met Buckman, 24, while he was in London directing 2007 film Run Fatboy Run, which starred Simon Pegg.

The actor and director’s representative confirmed the news to US magazine, Entertainment Weekly.

Schwimmer is still best known for playing Ross in hit US sitcom Friends, which ended its 10-year run in 2004.

Schwimmer directed a number of episodes of Friends before the show ended.

He received mixed reviews for his West End debut in Neil LaBute’s play Some Girls in May, before going on to appear in the role of Lieutenant Barney Greenwald in Herman Wouk’s play – The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial on Broadway in 2006.

The 34-year-old midfielder flew to Finland this morning to visit Dr Sakari Orava, professor of orthopaedics and traumatology at the Mehilainen Clinic in Turku, who is expected to perform surgery on the player’s left tendon this afternoon.

Dr Orava confirmed it would take a minimum of four months for Beckham to fully recover from the injury, prompting some to predict the setback could even curtail his illustrious 18-year playing career.

Yet Beckham has already set his sights on a return to the game. “I am on my way to Finland to see a specialist and have a scan on the injury,” Beckham said in a statement released on his website earlier today.

“I am upset but want to thank everyone for their messages of support. I hope to make a swift and full recovery.”

The injury occurred when Beckham pulled up under no pressure from an opposing player in the final minutes of AC Milan’s 1-0 victory over Chievo at San Siro last night. The former England captain hopped from the pitch in obvious pain and collapsed on the sidelines. He was treated for about five minutes on the touchline before eventually being carried from the arena face down on a stretcher in tears, mouthing “it’s broken, it’s broken” to those on the home bench, while members of Milan’s backroom staff tried to comfort him.

“David’s injury makes us sick,” Leonardo, the Milan coach, said. “When I think of his personal history, everything I know about him, how hard he works, I feel so bad for him. “Tonight was a very important win for us, but David’s news definitely puts a downer on the evening. David knew he was injured immediately.”

Fabio Capello, the England manager, telephoned Beckham last night to offer his best wishes for a full recovery, but he must now write the 34-year-old out of his plans.

Beckham is England’s most-capped outfield player with 115 caps. He rejoined Milan in January for his second spell on loan at the club from the Los Angeles Galaxy, during their offseason from Major League Soccer, to safeguard his place in the England squad place.

However, he has not been an automatic first choice for Milan and began the Champions League round-of-16, second-leg match away to Manchester United, his former club, last week on the substitutes’ bench. Now, bearing in mind that he will be 35 in May, he has almost certainly played his last game for England.

“I was amazed by Chong Wei’s fightback despite trailing early in the final yesterday. But in the end his determination to win made all the difference in achieving victory over his young Japanese opponent,” he said when contacted by Bernama here on Monday.

He said Chong Wei’s win was also proof that Malaysians were capable of taking on the best in the world.

“The success in good for Chong Wei himself and all Malaysian badminton fans,” he added.

Chong Wei, the top ranked singles player in the world and the top seed at the championship which entered its 100th edition this year, overcame a gritty challenge from unseeded Kenichi Tago to clinch the title in straight sets of 21-19 and 21-19.

It was only the third time Malaysia had lifted the much coveted title with the first time having been in 1966 through Tan Aik Huang.

It’s understood Dr Yudhoyono also raised the fate of 173 Indonesians held in Australian jails, accused of people-smuggling.

The five sought by Jakarta include three Indonesians believed to be living in Australia.

Indonesian Sofyan Sarabin, whose whereabouts is not known, and Australian Christopher John James, 36, from Mackay, are wanted for alleged fraud offences and their names are listed on the Interpol website. The other Australian named by Indonesian authorities is Peter Dundas Walbron, who is wanted over alleged acts of violence against children.

One of the two Indonesian nationals is Andrian Kiki Ariawan, a former Bank Surya chief convicted in absentia of corruption and embezzlement and sentenced to life imprisonment. He is alleged to have fled to Australia. Accused forger Jason Tanuwijaya is also thought to be living in Australia.

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A spokesman for Home Affairs Minister Brendan O’Connor said the government did not comment on extradition requests, but did not deny the five were being sought by Jakarta.

Last week, the state-run Antara news reported Indonesia’s Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar as saying a request for extradition had been sent to Canberra.

“We have fulfilled Canberra’s request for the extradition of three of its criminals convicted in Indonesia but Australia has not done the same on our request for the extradition of five convicts now living in Australia,” Mr Patrialis said.

“I have told the Australian Attorney-General and the Immigration Minister that we have to be balanced regarding the extradition cases,” he said.

The three extradited to Australia were named as alleged pedophile Charles Alfred Barnett, 68, a former Adelaide priest; alleged people-smuggler Hadi Ahmadi; and Paul Francis Callahan, sought on child sex allegations.

It’s understood the Indonesian leader raised concerns about 173 nationals accused of people-smuggling — some currently before the courts. “SBY is concerned because he believes most of them are ordinary fishermen,” a Jakarta source said.

Graves passed away Sunday just a few days before his 84th birthday outside his home in Los Angeles, publicist Sandy Brokaw said. Graves was returning from brunch with his wife of nearly 60 years and his family when he had what Graves’ doctor believed was a heart attack, Brokaw said.

Graves first gained attention of many baby boomers with the 1950s TV series “Fury,” but remained best known for the role of Jim Phelps, leader of a gang of special agents who battled evil conspirators in TV’s “Mission: Impossible.”

Normally cast as a hero, he turned in an unforgettable performance early in his career as the treacherous Nazi spy in Billy Wilder’s 1953 prisoner-of-war drama “Stalag 17.”

He also masterfully lampooned his straight-arrow image when he portrayed bumbling airline pilot Clarence Oveur in the 1980 disaster movie spoof “Airplane!”

Graves appeared in dozens of films and a handful of television shows in a career of nearly 60 years.

The authority and trust he projected made him a favorite for commercials late in his life, and he was often encouraged to go into politics.

“He had this statesmanlike quality,” Brokaw said. “People were always encouraging him to run for office.”

Graves was preceded in stardom by his older brother James Arness, who played Marshal Matt Dillon on TV’s “Gunsmoke.”

Born Peter Aurness, Graves adopted his grandfather’s last name to avoid confusion with his older brother, who had dropped the “U” from the family name.

Graves’ career began with cheaply made exploitation films like “It Conquered the World,” in which he battled a carrot-shaped monster from Venus, and “Beginning of the World,” in which he fought a giant grasshopper.

He later took on equally formidable human villains each week on “Mission: Impossible.”

Every show began with Graves, as agent Phelps, listening to a tape of instructions outlining his team’s latest mission and explaining that if he or any of his agents were killed or captured “the secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions.”

The tape always self-destructed within seconds of being played.

The show ran on CBS from 1967 to 1973 and was revived on ABC from 1988 to 1990 with Graves back as the only original cast member.

The actor credited clever writing for the show’s success.

“It made you think a little bit and kept you on the edge of your seat because you never knew what was going to happen next,” he once said.

He also played roles in such films as John Ford’s “The Long Gray Line” and Charles Laughton’s “The Night of the Hunter,” as well as “The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell,” “Texas Across the River” and “The Ballad of Josie.”

Graves’ first television series was the children’s Saturday morning show, “Fury,” about an orphan and his untamed black stallion. Filmed in Australia, it lasted six years on NBC.

In his later years, Graves brought his white-haired eminence to PBS as host of “Discover: The World of Science” and A&E’s “Biography” series.

He noted during an interview in 2000 that he made his foray into comedy somewhat reluctantly.

Filmmakers Jim Abrahams and David and Jerry Zucker had written a satire on the airplane-in-trouble movies, and they wanted Graves and fellow handsome actors Lloyd Bridges, Leslie Nielsen and Robert Stack to spoof their serious images.

All agreed, but Graves admitted to nervousness. On the one hand, he said, he considered the role a challenge, “but it also scared me.”

“I thought I could lose a whole long acting career,” he recalled.

“Airplane!” became a box-office smash, and Graves returned for “Airplane II, The Sequel.”

Graves was a champion hurdler in high school in Minnesota, as well as a clarinet player in dance bands and a radio announcer.

After two years in the Air Force, he enrolled at the University of Minnesota as a drama major and worked in summer stock before following his brother west to Hollywood.

He found enough success there to send for his college sweetheart, Joan Endress. They were married in 1950 and had three daughters — Kelly Jean, Claudia King and Amanda Lee — and six grandchildren.

Samsung has confirmed that its range of 3D TVs will be available for retail next month.

Samsung Malaysia Electronics Sdn Bhd marketing director Jimmy Tan said there would be multiple choices available – starting from 40-inch models – but prices had yet to be determined.

“We are very excited with this new technology,” he said. “This is a new offering to the customer and will add on to his enjoyment of watching movies and sports content.
Excited: A woman watching a 3D TV using light-emitting diodes at the main office of Samsung Electronics in Seoul in this recent filepicture. — AFP

“There are limited opportunities to watching 3D movies in theatres but now customers can bring it into their homes. This is a totally new dimension in television for customers and something they can look forward to,” said Tan.

However, Panasonic Malaysia corporate communications and branding general manager Azizah Wahid said there is no news yet on the availability of Panasonic 3D TVs in Malaysia.

Last week, delegates to the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) Digital Broadcasting Symposium 2010 held here were treated to a demonstration of the 3D TV.

The exhibit was brought in by Benchmark Systems (S) Pte Ltd, which also gave a demonstration of 3D post-production, the first of its kind in the region.

Viewers have to wear specially-designed polarising glasses to perceive a stereoscopic 3D image. Without the glasses, the picture would appear blurry, with ghosted double images.

“This is the best 3D effect I have seen on television,” said Benchmark’s exhibitor Mithun Dsouza.

“The image depth is excellent, as well as the brightness and richness of the colours,” he said.

The recent success of 3D movies such as the Oscar-winning Avatar, has sparked massive increase in the technology and manufacturers have been scrambling to bring their products into the market.

Panasonic and Samsung have started selling 3D TVs in the United States while other manufacturers such as Sony and LG will be launching their models this year.

Units range from US$2,500 to US$3,300 (RM8,300 to RM11,000).

The unit demonstrated during the symposium was from Japanese manufacturers JVC, whose monitors were used extensively during the production of Avatar.

The euro weakened most against the New Zealand and Canadian dollars. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble and French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde damped speculation over the weekend that there will be a decision on aid for Greece at a two-day meeting in Brussels starting today. The pound fell against the dollar as a YouGov Plc poll published in yesterday’s Sunday Times reinforced concern Britain’s election this year will produce a government without a parliamentary majority.

“We’re seeing the euro react negatively to a story which has come around at least twice in the course of the last month,” said Simon Derrick, chief currency strategist at BNY Mellon Corp. in London. “If you need to guarantee Greece, you’re passing the problem in effect to anyone who provides bilateral loans.”

The euro declined as much as 0.3 percent to $1.3727 and was at $1.3744 as of 8:44 a.m. in London. It was little changed at 124.63 yen. Sterling fell 0.5 percent to $1.5125.

The Dollar Index gained for the first time in four days after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao rebuffed calls for the yuan to appreciate, risking a worsening of relations with the U.S.

“I don’t think the renminbi is undervalued,” Wen said yesterday, using another term for the yuan. He also said at the press conference in Beijing “we oppose countries pointing fingers at each other and even forcing a country to appreciate its currency.”

The Dollar Index, which tracks the currency against those of six major U.S. trading partners, rose 0.1 percent to 79.93.

‘Double Dip’

In its semi-annual report to Congress in October, the U.S. Treasury Department criticized China for the “lack of flexibility” of the yuan and a buildup of foreign-exchange reserves, while stopping short of branding the country a currency manipulator.

The dollar also advanced as Asian equities fell the most in more than a week. The Chinese premier said ballooning sovereign debt and high unemployment worldwide could send the global economy into a “double dip” slump.

“That’s not the rosy, upbeat picture that foreign-exchange traders have been running with and Wen’s comments have left some concern emanating through Asia,” said Robert Rennie, head of currency research at Westpac Banking Corp. in Sydney. “It has seen the U.S. dollar firmer within Asia, and that may continue in the short term.”

U.K. Debt Servicing

The British currency slipped for the first time in three days versus the euro on concern that the U.K. will have difficulty servicing its ballooning debt.

The U.K. and U.S. governments must balance bringing down their debt burdens without damaging growth by removing fiscal stimulus too quickly, Pierre Cailleteau, managing director of sovereign risk at Moody’s in London, said in a telephone interview.

Under the ratings company’s baseline scenario, the U.K. will spend more on debt service as a percentage of revenue this year than any other top-rated country, Moody’s said today in a report.

Sterling Bears

“Moody’s is sending a timely reminder that there are no cost-free options out there,” said Adrian Foster, head of financial-markets research for Asia at Rabobank Groep NV in Hong Kong. “On the one hand, you risk weakening your economy. On the other hand, you risk weakening your credit rating. You wouldn’t want to own” the pound, he said.

Futures traders are more bearish than ever on sterling amid concern that the currency’s declines will continue as the U.K.’s budget gap approaches the Greek shortfall. Greece’s deficit at 12.7 percent of gross domestic product was the European Union’s largest in 2009.

Hedge funds and large speculators had 67,549 more bets that the pound would decline against the dollar than contracts that profit from a rise as of March 2, data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission in Washington show. Futures traders haven’t been that bearish since at least January 1986, as far back as CFTC data go.

The so-called net-short position has averaged 60,548 in the five weeks to March 9, compared with about 7,200 in October 1992, the year that George Soros made $1 billion betting against the currency.

Japan’s Kenichi Tago came out with all guns blazing in the first game and ran the top seed close in the second but Chong Wei patiently withstood those tough spells to secure a 21-19, 21-19 win in 47 minutes for the first major success in his career.

A much anticipated final against Olympic champion Lin Dan didn’t materialise after the China ace faltered in the quarter-finals as Chong Wei became the third Malaysian in 44 years to win the All England men’s singles title.

Tan Aik Huang also defeated a Japanese player H. Akiyama to capture the title in 1966 while Hafiz Hashim shocked the field to win the coveted event seven years ago.

Chong Wei hadn’t even seen action when Hafiz emerged victorious but the former has grown from strength to strength and the All England victory is a testament of his perseverance over the years.

Lin Dan denied Chong Wei the title last year but the former’s exit eased the way for the Malaysian.

It has also been a perfect start for Chong Wei this year as he has now captured all three Super Series, including Korea and Malaysia Opens, this year.

Kenichi led 4-0 in the first game and 15-11 before Chong Wei finally nosed ahead at 16-15. Though Kenichi managed to save three set points, he finally yielded at 21-19.

In the second, Chong Wei led 6-1 and 11-7 but the tough Japanese levelled at 14-14. The Malaysian then stretched out to 20-17 and although Kenichi saved two match points, a final shot from Chong Wei landed just in the baseline to hand him the triumph.

The pressure was immense on Chong Wei as he was possibly the only Malaysian capable of winning and the scream of delight when he clinched the winning point said it all.

Meanwhile, Tine Rasmussen of Denmark dealt a killer blow to China when she defeated World No 1 Wang Yihan 21-14, 18-21, 21-19 in 60 minutes to secure her second All England women’s singles crown.

Young pair Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei of China denied two-time world champions Nova Widianto-Lilyana Natsir of Indonesia, playing in their last All England, with a 21-14, 18-21, 21-19 win in 90 minutes.

In the men’s doubles, former world champions Lars Paaske-Jonas Rasmussen were involved in an all-Denmark final against Mathias Boe-Carsten Mogensen late last night.

Results — (All Finals) Men’s Singles: Lee Chong Wei (Mas) bt Kenichi Tago (Jpn) 21-19, 21-19.

Women’s Singles: Tine Rasmussen (Den) bt Wang Yihan (Chn) 21-14, 18-21, 21-19.
Doubles:

Mixed Doubles: Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) bt Nova Widianto-Lilyana Natsir (Den) 21-14, 18-21, 21-19.

Berasal dari Sandakan Sabah, gadis berkerjaya sebagai perunding kecantikan itu memukau penonton dengan kemantapan vokal dan auranya sewaktu mendendangkan lagu hit, The Climb yang dipopularkan ikon remaja, Miley Cyrus.

Pemilihan lagu yang tepat dan nyanyian yang bersih (kurang masalah dari sudut teknikal), ditambah ketrampilan dari hujung rambut hingga hujung kaki, jelas menunjukkan Ain sudah bersedia untuk berada dalam dunia seni.

Pendek kata, Ain punya pesona yang memenuhi ciri-ciri seorang bintang baru dalam ciptaan AF. “Persembahan yang hebat. Kalau untuk persembahan pertama sudah macam ini saya kira sangat bagus. Cuma satu pesanan saya pada Ain, apabila pengajian bermula nanti aplikasikan setiap ilmu yang diberikan tenaga pengajar pada landasan yang betul. Anda punya bakat jangan sampai tergelincir,” kata Aznil Nawawi yang sudah beralih portfolio menjadi pengkritik tetap. Dua lagi peserta yang turut mempamerkan persembahan menarik adalah Muhammed Shahril Mohs Saleh Hussein (Shah), 26, dan Muhammad Alid Kadim (Alif), 19.

Shah berasal dari Klang, Selangor menyampaikan lagu Drama King nyanyian asal Black dan Meet Uncle Hussain (MUH).

Manakala Alif dari Kuala Lumpur memilih lagu Live Like We’re Dying dipopularkan juara American Idol 8, Kris Allen yang mengunjungi Malaysia, baru-baru ini.

Ingatan penonton juga pastinya terpahat kepada peserta bersuara serak basah, Dayang Nor Anum Arjuna Aharun (Anum), 19, yang menyanyikan ‘intro’ lagu Pelesit Kota (Search) sehingga berbaring di lantai pentas. “Kalau awak tidak selesa dengan benda bukan-bukan yang awak terpaksa buat, jangan buat. Sebabnya bila paksa awak akan hadapi banyak masalah. “Intro persembahan tadi garang macam harimau, lepas itu melelong, macam lalok pun ada…dan macam kena tuak pun iya juga,” kata Adlin Aman Ramli juga pengkritik tetap AF8 sambil disambut tawa penonton. Seorang lagi peserta yang turut memikat penonton malam itu adalah jejaka bertubuh genit berasal dari Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Ermiza Azwan Zulazrin Chew (Iwan), 20.

Keberaniannya membawakan lagu Cuba dipopularkan Faizal Tahir meskipun dalam keadaan tekak sakit, tetap wajar diberi pujian.

Bagi peminat program realiti paling popular di Malaysia ini, pastinya sedia maklum bahawa Tirai AF adalah konsert pengenalan yang memberi kebebasan kepada peserta menyampaikan lagu kesukaan mereka.

Untuk peringkat ini juga, semua peserta belum berpeluang mengikuti pengajian di dalam akademi bersama tenaga pengajar. Bagaimanapun, ada pelajar tidak menggunakan kesempatan itu sebaik mungkin dan pemuda itu adalah peserta dari Kuching Sarawak, Daus atau nama sebenarnya, Muhd Shahril Firdaus Eli, 22.

Daus seharusnya memilih lagu berlandaskan genre yang mempamerkan kehebatannya sebagai pemuzik indie. Sayangnya dia menongkah arus dengan mendendangkan lagu dance, Bye Bye Bye daripada N’Sync.

Turut tidak mengecewakan, tujuh pelajar lain Zafarina Jamhari (Farina), 28, Ema Suhaimi (Ema), 21, Siti Adira Suhaimi (Adira), 19, Muhd Firdaus Maulana Mohamed (Maulana), 22, Nadia Emilia Roselan (Nad), 22, dan Ahmad Shahir Zawawi (Shahir), 22.

Farina membawakan lagu Tiada Lagi (Mayang Sari), Ema (Tiada Lagi Tangisan), Adira (Gagap), Maulana (Tekad), Nad (Gantung) dan Shahir (Andalusia). Pengetua AF8, Norman Abdul Halim, ketika diminta komen mengenai aksi peserta mengakui berpuas hati dengan keseluruhan persembahan.

“Bagi persembahan pertama, tambahan pula peserta belum sempat mengikuti kelas bersama tenaga pengajar, jadi saya berpuas hati dengan keseluruhan persembahan mereka. “Saya percaya ia akan lebih baik lagi selepas mendapat bimbingan daripada tenaga pengajar kelak. Mereka perlukan masa untuk digilap kerana dari segi suara semua ada keunikan masing-masing.

“Bukan hendak kata, terus terang, ada tiga pelajar AF8 saya lihat hendak berinteraksi pun tidak pandai lagi, tetapi apabila diminta melakukan kejutan di atas pentas mereka berani misalnya Anum. Justeru, saya percaya kalau mereka dibimbing dengan betul segala kelemahan dapat diatasi,” katanya.