Thursday, April 28, 2011

US housewife in 'milkshake murder' doesn't appeal (AP)

HONG KONG – Lawyers for an American woman convicted in Hong Kong of drugging her banker husband and bashing him to death say she has decided not to appeal. They say she will seek a transfer to a U.S. prison.

Nancy Kissel, 47, was convicted last month for a second time and sentenced to life in prison for the 2003 murder. Her first conviction in 2005 was overturned by Hong Kong's top court last year.

Lawyer Colin Cohen said Thursday that Kissel didn't appeal by a Tuesday deadline and will seek a transfer to a U.S. federal prison.

Another lawyer said the process usually takes a year and Kissel will likely seek a transfer to California because her mother lives in the Californian city Sebastopol. The second lawyer said the Kissel family requested he not give his name.



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Unity among North Waziristan groups crumbles (AP)

PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Crumbling unity among militants could provide the Pakistan army an opening to conduct a limited offensive against a particularly vicious Taliban group in a strategic tribal region, according to analysts and a senior military official.

The target of such an operation in North Waziristan would be the most violent factions within the so-called Pakistani Taliban. Their leader, Hakimullah Mehsud, is believed to be increasingly isolated after executing a prominent former Pakistani official over the objections of senior militant leaders.

Although Mehsud has been linked to attacks in neighboring Afghanistan, his main focus appears to be in plotting carnage elsewhere in Pakistan. And that makes him a prime target for the army.

Washington has long urged the Pakistanis to launch an operation in North Waziristan, a region overrun by an assortment of militant groups including al-Qaida. Most U.S. drone strikes in Pakistan take place in North Waziristan.

Already there are more than 30,000 soldiers in North Waziristan, and some analysts say the Pakistani army could quickly redeploy to the area. The army has 140,000 soldiers in the tribal regions that border Afghanistan

The Pakistanis, however, are unlikely to target the Haqqani group, which the U.S. considers its greatest enemy in Afghanistan. U.S. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, complained last week that Pakistan's secret service maintains links to the Haqqani network. The Haqqanis are Afghan Taliban who control parts of eastern Afghanistan and have bases in North Waziristan.

If the Haqqanis and other militant groups in North Waziristan cooperate with a military assault against the Pakistani Taliban, that would give the army more options.

The fissures among the militants were laid bare in February, when Mehsud released a gruesome video that confirmed the shooting death of former Pakistani spy Sultan Amir Tarar, better known as Col. Imam, according to a senior Pakistan army officer who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

As Pakistan's consul general in Afghanistan's Kandahar province during the Taliban's rule, Imam was the conduit for money and weapons to the religious movement. A former Pakistani intelligence officer, Imam met regularly with Afghan Taliban's reclusive leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar. Imam was known to have kept contact with leading Taliban in hiding in Pakistan since the U.S.-led coalition ousted them from power in Afghanistan in 2001.

Mehsud's group had held Imam for 10 months. The killing confounded Pakistani military officials. They had long believed the Haqqanis held sway over the myriad of groups — including militants from Uzbekistan, Chechnya and the Middle East — operating in North Waziristan.

"We always thought that the Afghan Taliban had a sway over these groups, but Col. Imam's killing shows that no one is in control of anyone there," he said. "His death was a shock for us."

Taliban members who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they feared being arrested said Mullah Omar made a personal plea for Imam's life. Also requesting that Imam's life be spared was Sirajuddin Haqqani, a key leader of the Haqqani group.

The senior military official said Mehsud defied Mullah Omar and Sirajuddin Haqqani and went ahead with the execution after the government and army refused his demands to free several of his imprisoned men.

Not only that, Mehsud boasted on a jihadi website about the killing, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. The same website carried an Urdu language condemnation of Mehsud's organization, calling those behind the execution "beasts" and "ignoble killers," SITE said.

The divisions that Imam's death revealed among the militant groups could provide an opportunity for the army to hit hard at insurgents in the North Waziristan town of Mir Ali, where Mehsud set up bases after fleeing last year's military assault on his headquarters in neighboring South Waziristan, according to Mahmood Shah, a retired army brigadier and former security point-man for the government in the tribal regions.

Mir Ali is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the town of Miram Shah, where the Haqqanis are based.

Tribal elders from North Waziristan, all of whom were too afraid to talk on the record, fearing retribution from militants, said the landscape in their home region has undergone massive upheavals since the army operation in South Waziristan.

They said Mehsud and his men were among the most troublesome of the militants, largely because of their affiliation with criminal gangs.

Mehsud and his followers are also among the richest, having accumulated wealth through kidnappings for ransom, thefts and extortion, said a tribal elder from Shawal district of North Waziristan.

Mehsud's close affiliation with Lashkar-e-Janghvi, a Punjabi-based Sunni Muslim militant group blamed for dozens of attacks against minority Shiite Muslims, has also provided him with a reservoir of suicide bombers. They have carried out dozens of attacks throughout Pakistan and in Afghanistan.

U.S. officials who did not want to be identified because of the sensitivity of the subject said the Jordanian suicide bomber who killed six CIA operatives in Afghanistan's Khost province in December 2009 was trained by Lashkar-e-Janghvi's Qari Hussain, who was also a member of Mehsud's group. Hussain was killed in a drone attack but was quickly replaced by a cousin and fellow tribesman of Mehsud's.

Mehsud has overseen the Pakistani Taliban ever since his predecessor, Baitullah Mehsud, was killed in a CIA missile strike on Aug. 5, 2009. Hakimullah Mehsud is affiliated with the Taliban's most violent factions and has survived U.S. and Pakistani attempts on his life.

In recent years the United States has identified Mir Ali as the site of a reconstituted al-Qaida. Also on the run in Mir Ali is Ilyas Kashmiri, a confidante of Mehsud's. The United States this month put a $5 million bounty on Kashmiri's head.

___

Gannon is The Associated Press special regional correspondent for Pakistan and Afghanistan.



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N.Korean leader ready for talks on any issue: Carter (Reuters)

SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is ready to hold direct talks with South Korea but the isolated state will not apologize for two deadly attacks on the divided peninsula last year, former President Jimmy Carter said on Thursday.

Carter returned from a three-day trip to Pyongyang having failed to meet Kim, but he and three other former state leaders -- known as the Elders -- received a last-minute message from the leader saying he was willing to talk with anyone at anytime without preconditions.

"He specifically told us he is prepared to meet directly with (South Korean) President Lee Myung-bak any time," Carter told a press conference in Seoul.

If Kim was willing to discuss nuclear and other military issues with South Korea, it would mark a change in policy -- the North has previously said it would only discuss them with the United States.

"Chairman and General Secretary Kim Jong-il said he is willing and the people of North Korea are willing to negotiate with South Korea or with the United States or with the six powers on any subject any time and without any preconditions."

Earlier however, Carter on his group's website (www.theelders.org) appeared to suggest that there were preconditions for six-party talks aimed at disarmament.

"The sticking point -- and it's a big one -- is that they won't give up their nuclear program without some kind of security guarantee from the U.S." he said.

The North has repeatedly stated it wants an assurance the United States will not attack it, as well as a peace treaty.

Some 30,000 American troops are based in South Korea, which is technically at war with its neighbor, having only signed a truce to end the 1950-53 Korean War.

REGRET BUT NO APOLOGY

Carter, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, also said senior North Korean officials had "expressed deep regret ... for the loss of life of those on the Cheonan (warship) and of the civilians who were killed on the Yeonpyeong island," but did not apologize for last year's incidents.

The South has insisted that the North apologize for its actions, although the North denies it sank the naval vessel. Seoul demands the North take responsibility for the attacks if inter-Korean talks are to make progress.

Carter added that the North would probably never admit responsibility for the incidents, which spiked tensions on the peninsula to their highest level in years.

Seoul and Washington say stalled regional nuclear talks can only proceed once the two Koreas hold successful bilateral talks.

The North has said it wants to rejoin six-party talks, which it walked out of over two years ago in anger over a new round of U.N. sanctions for its second nuclear test and a long-range missile test.

Carter's visit comes as momentum builds toward a resumption of the aid-for-disarmament talks involving the two Koreas, the United States, China, Japan and Russia.

Shuttle diplomacy between the six-party envoys has increased in recent weeks, and China's nuclear envoy and his South Korean counterpart agreed in Seoul this week on a stage-by-stage process for restarting the talks.

But both Seoul and Washington are skeptical about the North's sincerity about denuclearizing, citing its revelations last year of major advances in a uranium enrichment program which could open a second route to make an atomic bomb.

Experts say the North already has enough fissile material from its plutonium program to make about eight nuclear bombs.

Few people believe the secretive North will ever give up its pursuit of nuclear weapons, saying they serve as a deterrent against attack as well as being the ultimate bargaining chip.

Uprisings in the Middle East and north Africa, in particular the events in one-time nuclear weapons aspirant Libya, have only served to strengthen the North's belief in a nuclear capability.

North Korea said last month Western air strikes against Libya showed how it had become more vulnerable after scrapping its nuclear weapons program in 2003.

But at the same time, the North's leadership will also be acutely aware of the West's resolve to pursue regime change in authoritarian states such as Libya, and it will be anxious not to invoke an Asian repeat.

Carter's team also called on the international community to provide food aid to the impoverished North saying it "was a matter of life and death urgency."

(Editing by Yoko Nishikawa)



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Indonesian leader warns Islamic radicalism rising (AFP)

JAKARTA (AFP) – Indonesian's president on Thursday warned that the world's most populous Muslim-majority country was confronting a rising tide of Islamic radicalism, after a spate of hate crimes and bombings.

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the sprawling archipelago's cherished reputation for tolerance and pluralism was under attack by extremists bent on turning the nation of 240 million people into a strict Islamic state.

The country -- praised by US President Barack Obama in November as a "model" of tolerance for the world -- has been shaken by bloody assaults on religious minorities and persistent attacks by homegrown terror groups.

"I have witnessed that there has been a radicalisation movement in this nation with religious and ideological motives," Yudhoyono said in a speech at a national development conference in Jakarta.

"If we continue to let this happen, it will threaten the character of our nation and our people."

Yudhoyono has allied his party with conservative Muslims in the ruling coalition and rarely speaks out against extremist violence, which often goes unpunished.

But on Thursday he said Islamic extremists, who make up a small but very vocal section of Indonesia's 200 million Muslims, were encouraging young Indonesians to "love violence" and reject the law of the diverse country.

"In the long term... if it continues, it will change the character of our communities which are tolerant and love harmony and peace.

"It must not happen, we should not be passive... We have to take responsibility to save this nation and save its people and its future."

Thirty people were wounded when a suicide bomber blew himself up inside a mosque at a police compound during Friday prayers in Cirebon, West Java, earlier this month.

Police also foiled a plot to blow up a church in Jakarta over Easter, after a detainee told them the whereabouts of five bombs.

A suspicious package was found Thursday near the British consulate and an office building hosting international media organisations in central Jakarta, police said. Bomb experts were called to the scene but it was a false alarm.

Last month a series of parcel bombs were sent to liberal Muslims, a popular rock singer and a counter-terrorism official, but no one was killed.

Indonesia has won praise for rounding up hundreds of Islamist militants since it became a key battlefield in the "war on terror" in 2002 when local radicals detonated bombs on Bali island, killing 202 people, mainly Westerners.

But analysts say religious intolerance has grown under Yudhoyono's rule and blame the authorities for failing to crack down on violent vigilante groups that advocate Taliban-style Islamic laws.

Extremists convicted of serious crimes under anti-terror legislation frequently receive lenient sentences and are allowed to preach jihad or "holy war" to other inmates in prison, turning jails into recruiting grounds.

Analysts say a de-radicalisation programme trumpeted by the government in the wake of the Bali bombings has been a total failure, with recidivism common among convicted terrorists who are released after a few years in jail.

They also say that while prominent terror networks like Jemaah Islamiyah, blamed for the Bali attacks, have been contained, new threats are emerging from an array of loosely affiliated or independent militant cells.

Yudhoyono urged civil servants in his audience to take such threats seriously. But he offered no new policy initiatives and made no mention of how he intended to tackle the problem.

"Everybody must take responsibility. We have to take precautionary steps as early as possible," he said, without elaborating.



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Honda quarterly profit drops 38 percent (AP)

TOKYO – Honda Motor Co. said Thursday its quarterly profit dropped 38 percent due to a slump in car production following last month's earthquake and withheld earnings projections amid a chronic shortage of auto parts.

The company said it would let go all 600 contract workers at one of its two auto factories in Japan. Honda has been struggling to maintain limited vehicle manufacturing because of parts shortages following the March 11 quake and tsunami.

Honda's net profit for the January-March quarter shrank to 44.5 billion yen ($545 million). Revenue fell 2.9 percent to 2.21 trillion yen.

"The March quake was the biggest reason for declining profit. We simply could not produce cars due to parts shortages after the quake," said Honda spokesman Tomohiro Okada.

The magnitutue-9.0 earthquake and tsunami destroyed many factories in northeastern Japan, causing severe auto parts shortages for Honda and other automakers.

The twin disasters forced Honda to shut down its entire production in Japan from March 14 to April 10, resulting in a production loss of 58,500 cars.

Faced with a parts supply crunch, Honda's auto plants in Japan will operate at half capacity until the end of June. Honda said it doesn't expect to return to full production in Japan until the end of the year.

Apart from production losses, Honda's sales in Japan took a beating during the January-March quarter.

Honda sold 142,000 cars in Japan during the quarter, down 21 percent from the same period a year earlier. But the company's auto sales abroad rose 3.8 percent to 718,000 cars thanks to brisk demand in North America and China.

Honda did not provide earnings projections for the current fiscal year to March 2012 due to uncertainty over parts supplies.

Honda said it would cut all 600 contract workers at its plant in Saitama, north of Tokyo, by not renewing their three-month contracts. The workers will lose their jobs by the end of September.

Meanwhile, Mazda Motor Corp. reported Thursday a net loss of 62.8 billion yen in the January-March quarter, reversing from a net profit of 9.9 billion yen a year earlier. Mazda blamed the March disasters for the quarterly loss.

Shares in Honda rose 2.9 percent to close at 3,190 yen on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Thursday. Mazda's stock price slipped 0.5 percent to 185 yen.



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Disasters challenge plans to reinvent Japan Inc. (AP)

TOKYO – Before disaster struck, Japan's leaders were vowing to counter the prospect of long-term economic decline with a new spirit of engagement with the rest of the world.

Freer trade and deeper economic ties could help re-energize an economy stifled by deflation and eclipsed in size by rising rival China and in vision by smaller, more dynamic countries such as neighboring South Korea.

Now, as Japan deals with the aftermath of triple calamities — earthquake, tsunami and nuclear reactor leaks — the considerable challenges of remaking the world's third-largest economy have become even bigger and may take a backseat to reconstruction.

"Those who want to return to a more Keynesian, pump-priming and heavy government control of the economy will argue that this is the time to rebuild Japan and to use the government's leadership," said Michael Green, an analyst and Japan expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "The other side of the debate will say no, now is the time to build more market fundamentals and really put some dynamism and growth" into the economy.

Japan faces a massive recovery bill, already estimated as high as 25 trillion yen ($305 billion), equivalent to the size of Greece's entire economy and that may get bigger. The tab could strain already overloaded government finances against the backdrop of one of the world's most rapidly aging societies.

Things weren't looking bright for Japan even before March 11, the day its northeast coast was struck by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and devastating tsunami, which crippled a nuclear power plant and led to the world's worst nuclear crisis in 25 years.

Faced with a bleak future marked by slow decline as national wealth faded away with a shrinking population, the country was widely described as having fallen into a psychological funk.

China, where economic growth rates sometimes exceed 10 percent a year, overtook Japan last year as the world's No. 2 economy, a position held for decades behind close ally, the U.S.

Beijing also appeared to be flexing its growing economic muscle at Tokyo's expense. A tense encounter near disputed islands last year ended with Japan seen as giving in to Chinese threats and punitive action, such as halting exports of rare earth metals needed to make high-tech products.

Japan is also facing the demographic challenge of a fast aging society, with 40 percent of citizens expected to be 65 or over by 2050. The country's population fell by a record amount last year and declined for the fourth straight year. Adding to the overall pessimism has been a public debt of more than twice its gross domestic product.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan, whose political stature was wobbly even before the disasters, has been a vocal advocate of his country looking outward for opportunity and revitalization. His government has called for slashing trade barriers, cutting red tape and encouraging investment.

Japan is studying participation in the U.S.-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed free trade zone that would link several economies lining the Pacific Rim, but which is opposed by Japanese farmers. It has also been studying a possible three-way free trade deal with China and South Korea.

Tokyo has looked on anxiously in recent years as dynamic smaller neighbor South Korea has carried out a national strategy of forging free trade agreements with the United States, European Union and other economies including India.

Talk of the need for Japan to further open its economy has been a call heard for decades without much progress.

"Japan has been and is in many respects a fortress," said Jean-Pierre Lehmann, professor of international political economy at the IMD business school in Lausanne, Switzerland, citing low levels of imports, inward investment and foreign workers.

And despite its economic heft in the global economy in terms of overall size, it has lagged far behind in terms of leadership and setting the global trade agenda.

"Japan's been irrelevant, really," Lehmann said, referring to the country's stance in the current round of stalled World Trade Organization talks. "It's far less important than a country like Brazil, for example, in determining trade policy."

Angel Gurria, secretary-general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, said that the tragedies may have the effect of forcing Japan to move faster to confront its burdensome fiscal problems.

"Right now, there is the opportunity to plant the seeds of a better tomorrow," he told reporters last week in Tokyo. The OECD also called for Japan to increase participation in regional free trade agreements and hike its sales tax.

To be sure, Japan has remade itself before in the wake of disasters, which have fostered national unity and given a shot in the arm to new levels of development.

The country's previous worst natural disaster came in 1923 when a magnitude 8.3 earthquake and ensuing fires destroyed Tokyo and nearby Yokohama, killing more than 140,000 people.

Japan rebuilt and pushed on to expand its nascent empire that already included the Korean peninsula by invading China and Southeast Asia — and gambling that it could defeat the United States.

That wager ended in destruction, defeat and a temporary loss of independence under a U.S.-led occupation. But Japan remade itself, renouncing war under the sway of American Gen. Douglas MacArthur and transforming itself into an export juggernaut that turned the expression "Made in Japan" into a worldwide badge of quality and pride.

Experts say that if Japan is to truly embrace and achieve openness following the disasters, it will need bold leadership from more outward-looking politicians.

"I think this is an opportunity if the younger generation play their cards right and if they are courageous enough to stand up to the status quo," said Noriko Hama, a professor at Doshisha University's graduate school of business in Kyoto. "The general public are very willing to support them."

___

Associated Press writer Jacob Adelman in Tokyo contributed to this report.



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Niki Chow accompanies a baby with birth defect surgery



As the 'Operations Smile China' ambassador, Niki Chow visited the process of a birth defect (harehip) sugery in Zhengzhou. Niki personally carried a 3 month year old baby to the surgery bed and expressed her mixed feelings. "It's really difficult to describe this type of feeling, just I feel that I am very blessed. In the future, when I have my own children, I will no longer be caught up with the baby is a girl or boy, the most important is good health and safety." Niki urges fans to donate and together and support there babies.


Source: Oriental Daily

Translator: aZnangel@AEU


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Fala Chen forgets money at ATM, HK$3000 lesson learned



The day before, Fala Chen groaned over her stupidity on Weibo. She exposed that when she was withdrawing money from the ATM, she forgot to take the money with her, Koni Lui and Natalie Tong comforted her and felt pity that she lost the money. Yesterday Fala reveals though her manager that it aches losing HK$3000. She learned a lesson from this experience.


Recently, Fala is busy shooting a new series with Michael Tse. She also often attending events on the side and is so busy she can't even take a breath. Fala is currently working hard in making money, but she hasn't been careful in protecting her hard earned money.


She groaned on Weibo of her stupidity: "Someone lost her soul while at the ATM. She only remembered to take the card and not the money. Now, it's already 10 minutes later, so stupid I even ran back to see if the money was still there? Why am I like this?"


Koni felt pity for her: "Heart breaking, all that difficult work to earn the money." Natalie expressed that she often forgets to get her money too and hopes the ATM can make a sound for a reminder. She comforted Fala saying that money lost can block the bad luck.


Yesterday reporters contacted Fala to ask about the situation. She revealed through her manager: "At the time, I wasn't focused. Forgot to take money after withdrawing it from the machine. I lost 3000 dollars, so heart aching! The money disappeared immediately and I called the bank later, unfortunately I wasn't able to get the money I lost back. However, the time there was a line behind me, so don't know who took it."


Source: Oriental Daily

Translator: aZnangel@AEU


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Sammi Cheng is in a hurry to return to Hong Kong and support Andy Hui


Johnnie To Kei Fung, Wai Ka Fai, Zhang Guoli produced new film HIGH ALTITUDE ROMANCE 2 (GO HOI BUT JI LUEN II) earlier shot in the 320 feet above sea level Shangri-La. They planned to shoot for two months, in several days the team will complete its Shangri-La shoot and head to Kunming. Actors Louis Koo Tin Lok, Sammi Cheng Sau Man, Li Guangjie, Yang Yi and Sun Jiayi have all adjusted to the high altitude environment, and the shoot has been very smooth and pleasant.

After staying in the high mountains for awhile, Sammi showed no sign of high altitude illness. Instead she grew stronger as the crew gave her the nickname "Female Bull Wa". Although she did not have any high altitude illness, Sammi lost about eight pounds. Now she is only 98 pounds. She also said that she missed home cooking the most, after she returned home she definitely would gain weight. Was she missing the Ox tongue rice? She laughed and said no comment, only that everyone was homesick. She joked that she was so thin that even her chest shrunk into her large intestine. However, Sammi was only thin to be on camera.

Although this was a romantic comedy, Sammi said that the character had a lot of potential. Working with Goo Jai again was very pleasant. Everyone had chemistry. A hot spring set was built at the location. Did she have any bathing scene? She joked that she was too thin, the director thought she was too bony so she was not permitted to. They only shot a scene in which she went into the water to save her husband. At the time she wore diving gear, but due to rain it still felt very cold. However she saw how pretty the shot was she thought it was worth the effort. In the film she was very feminine and had many costumes that required wigs. Yesterday she wore a wig that cost 20,000, at the same time she had to put away "mi Gor" (her tomboy side). Did she have any kiss scene? She joked, "The director was afraid that we would die from panting too hard if we kiss too much, so no. It's no big deal, Goo Jai and I had one before. With previous rumors with Goo Jai, was she afraid of Andy Hui Chi On getting jealous? "I don't think about that......actually I am not worried. (Any electricity between you?) Hahaha, working this well with an actor is rare.......actually (Andy) Lau Tak Wa and I work this well too. (Has On Jai visited you on the set?) Secret, I am not talking about personal stuff. (Did you bring salted ox tongue?) It's too cold, it would have become tough ox tongue, no......ordinary couple would call everyday, work is work!" She would like to complete her work soon to return to Hong Kong and enjoy her boyfriend's concert.

Goo Jai was asked whether he and Sammi have any electricity between them. He humorously said, "Does Shangri-La have an electricity leakage?" Later he said that he and Sammi trusted each other and were co-stars with a lot of chemistry. They worked with confidence and ease. He felt bad for her over these two months. Because in the film she often had to cry, her emotions fluctuated a lot. Director To Kei Fung said that this shoot was very smooth, only half the people had high altitude illness. They also had a medicine shortage as workers had fever, nausea and required hospitalization for oxygen. He also joked that Sammi only had one meal every two weeks. He guessed that she lost more than 8 pounds, but she would get fat after a few meals in Hong Kong. On Jai did not need to ache for her. Why did he have no kiss scene? He said that if they panted, lacked oxygen and had to be hospitalized then it would have problems. After completing this film, Ah To will head to Cannes to be on its jury.

In addition, Koo Tin Lok in A CHINESE GHOST STORY (SIN NUI YAU WON) played Yin Chet Ha from his youth to maturation. His costumes also had to coordinate. As the mature Yin Chet Ha he had to wear a fake beard. Goo Jai said, "The glue irritated the skin; since we shot in the summer, the sweat and the glue made the face very itchy. It was very hard to take." Anyone who thought this was the toughest part would be sadly mistaken. Goo Jai helplessly added, "One scene truly was a 'shower in blood' as bloody red liquid was thrown at my face. I have no idea what the so-called dog blood was, it sting the eyes but I had to force them open. I thought that I could finish the shot in one take. Who knew that due to the heat the make up melted and I had to shoot it again."

Source: Takungpao
Translated by: hktopten


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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

China, US begin human rights talks amid crackdown (AP)

BEIJING – China and the U.S. opened what is likely to be a bruising meeting on human rights Wednesday amid a Chinese crackdown on dissent that has left dispirited activists questioning the value of such diplomatic exchanges.

The two-day U.S.-China Human Rights Dialogue will focus on the ongoing campaign against dissent, as well as the rule of law, freedom of religion and expression, and labor and minority rights, the State Department said.

Dozens of well-known lawyers and activists across China have vanished, been interrogated or detained for alleged subversion in recent weeks as China's government, apparently unnerved by events in the Middle East and North Africa, has moved to squelch dissent.

No Middle East-inspired protests are known to have occurred in China, despite anonymous appeals circulating on the Internet for gatherings each Sunday.

Human rights is one of the most consistently contentious aspects of U.S.-China relations, along with trade imbalances and Washington's support for Taiwan.

China's leaders deeply resent what they consider Washington's condescending and hypocritical attitude, and routinely lash back at American accusations, even publishing an annual review of U.S. human rights that includes accusations of deep-seated racism and the killing of civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Rights advocates say Beijing's attitude has hardened in recent years, bolstered by its powerhouse economy and growing global influence. They say China no longer responds to requests for information about specific cases and appears to be using such forums as a way to marginalize the rights issue and isolate it from overall relations.

"It has gotten to the point where you have to ask the question: By having these affairs do we in effect provide cover?" said John Kamm, a human rights campaigner who is frequently consulted by the U.S. and other governments.

Beijing denies being a serial rights abuser, pointing to constitutional protections for freedom of speech and religion. Its definition of human rights focuses on economic development and improvements in quality of life.

China hopes the meeting will help deepen mutual understanding but doesn't want human rights used as a pretext for meddling in its own affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told reporters Tuesday.

"We oppose any country that uses human rights to interfere in China's internal affairs," Hong said.



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Singapore opposition to contest 82 of 87 seats (AP)

SINGAPORE – Singapore opposition parties will contest the most parliamentary seats since independence in 1965 in general elections next week, officials said Wednesday.

Opposition candidates will take on the ruling People's Action Party for 82 of 87 seats in 26 of 27 districts, the Singapore Elections Department said. The announcement marked the beginning of the official campaign period before the May 7 vote.

Only a slate of five PAP candidates led by former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew in the Tanjong Pagar district will run unopposed.

The PAP has dominated Singapore politics for more than five decades, but opposition leaders hope to exploit voter discontent over soaring housing prices, a surge in foreign workers, and rising income inequality.

The PAP first came to power in 1959 under limited self-rule as a British colony. Singapore joined a federation with Malaysia in 1963 before breaking away for full independence in 1965.

Opposition candidates contested 47 of 84 seats in the previous elections in 2006 and the PAP won 82 of those seats. In some earlier elections, the PAP won a majority before the vote even took place because the opposition didn't contest most of the seats.

"Singaporeans, especially the younger ones, find the one-party dominant political system not only an anomaly, but some sort of a freakish state of affairs," said Eugene Tan, an assistant professor of law at Singapore Management University. "There's also the perception that the PAP is less responsive to the concerns of the average Singaporean."

However, analysts expect the opposition will win no more than a handful of seats and probably around 40 percent of the overall vote, an increase from 33 percent in the 2006 elections.

"The PAP has delivered on its promises. In short, it has performance legitimacy," Tan said. "They have remained corruption-free and raised the standard of living of Singaporeans by leaps and bounds. None of these pillars of support are really under threat."

Lee, who was prime minister from 1959 to 1990 and is the father of current Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has said this election will be his last as a candidate. Lee, 87, has represented Tanjong Pagar since 1955.

"I will look after you for the next five years," Lee told a crowd of supporters Wednesday.



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Thousands gather in India for Hindu guru's funeral (AP)

PUTTAPARTI, India – Throngs of tearful devotees gathered Wednesday for the funeral of Sathya Sai Baba, one of India's best-known Hindu ascetics who was revered by millions as a divine incarnation with miraculous healing powers.

The 84-year-old was buried in an auditorium in his spiritual center in southern India where his body had been lying in state for the last three days. As Sai Baba's nephew performed the last rites, Hindu priests chanting verses from sacred texts instructed him to anoint the body with oil, herbs and flowers.

Tens of thousands of devotees, many weeping and sobbing quietly, filled the auditorium and the streets outside, where they watched the funeral on a large screen. Several Indian television channels broadcast the funeral live.

At one point a Western devotee in the auditorium stood up and shouted "Swami we need you back" several times before calming himself.

The actual burial was a private moment, with a heavy maroon curtain lifted to surround the body and just immediate family and close associates allowed to view.

Hindus usually cremate their dead, but infants and people considered pure and saintly are buried. Hindu holy men are usually buried in a cross-legged sitting posture called the lotus position in the ancient Indian practice of Yoga.

Sai Baba, whose massive popularity was sometimes marred by controversies including allegations of sexual abuse, died Sunday of heart and lung failure after about a month in a hospital. His passing triggered an outpouring of grief from followers in India and abroad.

"I feel helpless. I feel like a guiding force has now left," Aruna Doraiswamy, a 50-year-old housewife from New Delhi, who traveled to Puttaparti, said amid sobs.

For three days, his body was on display in a glass casket in his ashram, or spiritual center, in the town of Puttaparti.

Among the multitude who came to pay their last respects were Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, governing Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi, cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, movie stars, athletes, industrialists and thousands of ordinary people.

Most remembered Sai Baba as a pious, selfless person who worked to help others with the billions of dollars donated to his charitable trust. However, he had also been dismissed by some in the past as a charlatan who passed off magic tricks as miracles.

Religious leaders from different faiths, including a Christian priest and a Muslim imam, addressed the crowd prior to the funeral. Several enormous portraits of the guru — with his halo of dark, frizzy hair and in his trademark orange robes — decorated the hall.

The funeral was a state event and as the ceremony started, government troops fired a 21-gun salute. Sai Baba's casket was draped in an Indian flag.

Born Nov. 23, 1926, as Sathyanarayana Raju, as a child Sai Baba was said to display a tendency toward spirituality and unusual intelligence, which he expressed through music, dance and writing poetry and plays.

In 1940, he declared himself an "avatar," or reincarnation, of another Hindu holy man called the Sai Baba of Shirdi, a town in western Maharashtra state, who died in 1918.

Since then he began to gather a huge following and his home of Puttaparti grew from a sleepy village into a vibrant town, with the sprawling "Prasanthi Nilayam" ashram built in 1950, as well as a large hospital, a university and schools run by his Sathya Sai Central Trust, set up in 1972 with donations from devotees.

Within India, Sai Baba was a well-known face, with his photograph adorning millions of homes, car dashboards and lockets worn by believers. People came to his ashram from all over India to seek his blessings, or just to get a glimpse of him.

Sai Baba also had ashrams in more than 126 countries. Health problems forced Sai Baba to cut back on public appearances in recent years.

The trust that manages the guru's religious empire is estimated to be worth at least $8.9 billion and possibly much more. So far no one has been named successor.

He was not married and had no children.

___

Associated Press writer Rafiq Maqbool in Puttaparti contributed to this report.



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Thai-Cambodia clashes continue for 6th day (AP)

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – Cambodia's leader has accused Thailand of loving war and says he wants to talk peace with his Thai counterpart at an upcoming regional meeting.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said in his first remarks since border fighting began last Friday that he welcomes talks with Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva at the meeting in Indonesia early next month.

Hun Sen accused Abhisit's government of loving war in a manner that he had never seen with previous Thai governments. Both countries accuse the other of starting the fighting.

The two countries traded fire for a sixth day Wednesday. The death of a Thai civilian Tuesday brought the total number of dead to 14.



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China seizes melamine-tainted milk powder (AP)

BEIJING – Authorities seized 26 tons of melamine-tainted milk powder from an ice cream maker in southern China three years after widespread use of the chemical in infant formula killed six babies, state media said Wednesday.

The discovery underscores China's stubborn problem with illegal food additives used to turn a quick profit regardless of the health risks.

Caches of toxic milk powder repeatedly have been discovered since a crackdown in 2008 that saw dozens arrested and a dairy farmer and a milk salesman executed.

The Global Times newspaper quoted police in the southern city of Chongqing as saying Tuesday that the Jixida Food Co. bought the milk powder a year ago to make pastries and ice cream.

The report said the tainted powder was stored in a warehouse and had not yet been used. Five suspects were detained and three could face criminal charges, the paper said, but did not identify their suspected roles in the contamination.

The report said the milk was traced to a company in Inner Mongolia but didn't say when it had been made. Other seized batches have been described as old stocks that were hidden when they should have been destroyed.

Adding melamine and water to milk and milk products makes the tainted, weaker products appear to have the correct protein content. Health problems from the industrial chemical include kidney stones and kidney damage.

At least six children died and nearly 300,000 children fell ill after consuming tainted infant formula in 2008.

That scandal prompted China to pass tougher food safety regulations and step up inspections.

A recent spate of new problems prompted the State Council, China's Cabinet, to last week order a renewed crackdown on the illegal food additives. So far this year, authorities have uncovered sales of drug-tainted pork, bean sprouts treated with a carcinogenic chemical compound, and old bread treated with sweeteners and dye to make it seem fresh.



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Japan's royal couple visits disaster-stricken town (AP)

MINAMI-SANRIKU, Japan – Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko visited Japan's tsunami-battered northeastern coast on Wednesday, offering encouragement to residents who lost homes and loved ones in last month's disaster.

The deeply respected royal couple visited a school gymnasium where 200 people live in the town of Minami-Sanriku, 250 miles (400 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo. Excited crowds began gathering almost two hours before their arrival.

"I'm thankful he has come so far. It makes me so happy," said Mitsuko Oikawa, 73, who has been living at the shelter since the tsunami. Her house was washed away by the powerful waves, she said, shaking her head.

"I saw it happen right before my eyes," she said. "It hurts just to think about it."

But the emperor's visit gives her strength, she said.

The royal couple spent about 30 minutes at the gymnasium, speaking to evacuees sitting between stacks of blankets and futons.

They also surveyed the destruction in the seaside town, bowing toward the wreckage to pay their respects to victims.

Last week, they visited Kita-Ibaraki, a port that was ruined by the tsunami, which left about 27,000 people dead and missing and is thought to have caused $305 billion in damage.

Nearly seven weeks after the magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami struck northeastern Japan, some 130,000 people are still living in about 2,500 shelters. The government has promised to build 30,000 temporary homes for them by the end of May and another 70,000 after that.

But volunteer Shin Kageyama, a Yokohama resident who came to Minami-Sanriku to help, said the government seems to be preoccupied with the nuclear accident in Fukushima prefecture and has neglected the humanitarian needs of the region.

While the emperor brought hope and joy to the evacuees, "if the prime minister came, we'd all just feel like punching him," Kageyama said.

"Maybe it's taboo to say this, but the emperor is truly like a god," he added.

Akihito's father Hirohito publicly renounced the idea he was divine after World War II, but the imperial family continues to be widely respected and treated with great deference. Interaction between the royal family and ordinary people is rare.

One teenager who spoke with the emperor on Wednesday was 15-year-old Kazuna Abe. The gym was off-limits to anyone other than evacuees, but she said a friend sneaked her in. Her house was damaged but is still livable, she said.

Akihito, 77, asked about tsunami damage at her high school and told her to stay strong, she said.

"All I could say was 'thank you.' My heart was racing," she said.

"I still can't believe it," she said. "I wonder if it was OK that I took pictures with my cellphone."



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Lesbians in Thailand push boundaries, become chic (AP)

BANGKOK – When she initially pitched the idea for Thailand's first lesbian movie, it was quickly shot down. Producers called the premise distasteful and said movie viewers would find the story line disgusting.

After scrounging together funds for five years, director Saratsawadee Wongsomphet released "Yes or No" on an independent label to considerable acclaim.

The film's recent success in outwardly tolerant but traditional-minded Thailand is part of a growing acceptance of lesbians under the influence of the Internet and fashion trends. These emboldened lesbians are not using Western-style activism. They are quietly pushing boundaries to find space for their lifestyle, harnassing pop culture and introducing a Thai variation of Lesbian Chic.

"It would have been risky to make this movie five years ago," Saratsawadee said about her directorial debut. "Now people are daring to express themselves."

Women in this Southeast Asian country are expected to be gentle, polite, even demure, and gay women in Thailand traditionally have been more discreet than gay men, but that is visibly changing.

Thai newsstands now carry "Tom Act," the country's first lesbian lifestyles magazine. A popular new clothing store in Bangkok touts itself as the first for "Tomboys," the Thai term for the more conspicuous members of the lesbian community who act and dress like men.

Pop charts include hit singles from Thailand's first openly gay female singer, a waifish, androgynously coifed 22-year-old known as Zee who is typically described as "handsome."

Thailand's freewheeling, anything-goes reputation has served its tourism industry well, but Thai society is far more conservative than its tourist sex shows and transgender beauty pageants suggest.

Movies are censored for morality, women are often too modest to wear bathing suits on the beach, abortion is illegal and the government regularly censors websites deemed immoral. When it comes to homosexuality, Thailand is ambivalent but tolerant: Bangkok is known as gay-friendly but politicians and high-profile public figures stick to an unstated "don't ask, don't tell" policy of keeping their homosexuality hidden.

Concerns about offending Thai society prompted Saratsawadee to delicately depict the sole love scene between her leading ladies, a pair of college roommates, with a brief, fully clothed kiss.

"I was afraid nobody would want to see it," said the 38-year-old, who is gay and has worked in the film industry for years, always wanting to do a film showing that lesbians are not "weirdoes" but regular people.

"I was afraid it would be censored, or would never be shown. I was afraid people would say it sends a bad message," she said.

Saratsawadee never anticipated a nationwide release for her film, which hit screens in December to considerable media hype and modest but profitable box office returns. Then came the 40,000-member Facebook fan club, the viewers who thanked her for telling their life story. Last month, she was honored with a "Best Director" nomination at the Thai equivalent of the Oscars.

"The bubble is bursting," says Anjana Suvarnananda, 53, who co-founded Thailand's first and most outspoken lesbian activist group in the 1980s. "These young people are just doing their own thing and living their lives oblivious to discrimination — so that means they are not facing very much. It's a very different picture from when I grew up."

Another emblem of changing times is the glossy, 200-page Tom Act, a lesbian fashion and lifestyles magazine that creates "a space for us to express ourselves," says editor-in-chief Khemanut Ronarut. She credits international fashion trends that make it cool to look androgynous with easing public acceptance of gay women in Thailand.

"Normally, we choose to be quiet. But by doing this magazine, I'm taking a risk," she said. The first issue in December 2007 sold about 1,000 copies. It now prints 50,000 copies per issue. "What makes a difference is people like me, trying to open people's minds. Acceptance will exist when people try to introduce new ideas."

Petite, spiky-haired designer Supamas Sirimoungkalavanit got the idea of making man-tailored clothes for "Tomboys" after getting fed up with shopping in the men's department.

She launched her Tom Chic brand online in 2008 and opened a Bangkok boutique in January. Her best-selling item is the breast-binding "Tom Tank," designed to flatten female curves. She sells about 10,000 a month with the help of two dozen distributors nationwide.

"When we first opened, some men would walk past and make snide comments," said Supamas, 30, who was featured recently on a popular TV talk show about successful small businesses. "Now there are copycat brands online."

The Internet has nurtured virtual communities in online forums that build confidence and camaraderie and are now spilling over into the real world, said the activist Anjana, who co-founded the lesbian group Anjaree in 1986 with three other women who kept their identities hidden. She says her Western-style approach to activism ruffled Thai society, which values non-confrontational behavior, and never sparked a civil rights-like movement for gay rights.

"These young people are not making a political statement," she said. "They are not rocking the boat, not directly challenging heterosexual norms, but they are making gentle changes that might one day lead to more."

On a recent evening at Zeta, one of Bangkok's few lesbian bars, a patron marveled at the surge of lesbian icons in mainstream pop culture.

"A decade ago, you would never have seen a movie about lesbians in Thailand. I would never have imagined a Tomboy singer," said 24-year-old Sarunkorn Choksiripureenont, a drummer in an all-lesbian band. "It's becoming fashionable now. You see lesbians everywhere."

___

Associated Press writer Thanyarat Doksone contributed to this report.



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After suffering pain from miscarriage, Kelly Chen reappears with smiles

(Left: Kelly's Son)

("Little Sister Man Ling")



Since Kelly Chen's miscarriage in March, she remained at home resting for 2 months. Finally Kelly has recovered emotionally and is ready to step out the door for a comeback. She agreed to attend 3D-GOLD Jewelry's new store opening ceremony this Friday and will cut the ribbon with good friend Eric Tsang. Meanwhile, she explained her current situation with the fans, media and friends that are concerned about her. So yesterday she uploaded 4 new photos of her and her son "Shrimp Dumpling Boy" (Lau Sing) at the beach on her own blog. She wrote "Thank You" to expressed her gratefulness to all the concern given to her during this period.

Kelly wrote: "In the past few months, I received a lot of comforting messages. I want to thank each one of my family, friends, fans, media and everyone else that is concerned about me. All the blessings and concern you all gave me, I received them all! My health has been getting better lately, no need to worry about me. Recently, Lau Sing has grown a lot! He has more and more expressions. He's so silly, what did you call me? In the next few days, I will start working again. When the time comes, I will see you all! See you then!"

Lau Sing's haircut is just like a girl's. Is it because Kelly wants a girl? The spokesperson at her management expressed Kelly has trimmed his hair, but she felt her son's thick hair resembles herself and wanted her son to have his own style. Her son's long hair was said to look like 'Little Sister Man Ling' Winky. Kelly felt that they really do look similar, and said both of them are very cute.


Source: Mingpao
Translated by: aZnangel @ AsianEU

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Moses Chan Has Favorable Impression on Aimee Chan



After he broke up with Bernice Liu, Moses Chan quickly finds himself rumored with fellow TVB artist Aimee Chan. It's said they got together while filming a drama together. Ex Bernice even hinted Aimee is the third party in her relationship with Moses. However, Moses denied and apologized for the inconvenience.

"I feel there is a need to clear it up. It's never her problem. I feel very bad for her to take those unpleasant names."

The TVB actor just returned Hong Kong and he once again stressed he and the Miss Hong Kong 2006 are not dating; however, he does have a favorable impression on her.

"I do have a favorable impression on her," he said. "The chance of developing a relationship with her? I will try!"

The 40-year-old said he hopes to find his Mrs. Right soon and it will let fate decide. He again praised Aimee for being a good, hard-working, smart, and sweet girl.


Source: Mingpao
Translated By: KAY @ Kay's Entertainment

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Mavis Pan to Star in Custom-Tailored Role in Mainland Series


Raymond Lam Fung’s ex-girlfriend, Mavis Pan Shuangshuang, has returned to Beijing. Although Mavis’ departure may allow Raymond to take a temporary deep breath and relax, additional turbulences may lie ahead. To complement the July release of her pictorial book and generate publicity, Mavis may release additional intimate photos of Raymond with other women!

Aside from Siu Ding Yat expressing interest to cast Mavis in the sequel to Sex and Zen 3D < 3D肉蒲團> and Golden Lotus 3D < 3D金瓶梅>, Mavis was invited to try a screen test for a mainland series. Mavis will portray the role of a woman dejected in love, a role which appears to be custom-tailored for her.   At the screen test, Mavis took photos of herself for memories. Currently working in Guiyang, Mavis noted, “I will place priority in my work first. The director explained the role to me and I liked it a lot! I hope the audience will support me.”

Source: Applydaily
Translated by: Jayne @ Jaynestars

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Raymond Lam to Win TVB Best Actor and Best Male Singer Awards?

Since Mavis Pan Shuangshuang revealed bed photos with Raymond Lam Fung, the TVB star went through an emotional rollercoaster. Allegedly, Mavis may possess additional intimate photos which could potentially hurt Raymond. Fortunately, he was protected by TVB. Next month, Raymond will make strong advances in the television, film, and music industries. Raymond’s series, Return to the Three Kingdoms "回到三國" will be broadcast as an Anniversary series in the November timeframe.

On May 16th, TVB will be airing My Sister of Eternal Flower "花花世界花家姐" in Hong Kong, replacing the time slot for Relics of an Emissary "洪武三十二". In the series, Raymond will co-star with Charmaine Sheh Si Man, who portrays a mentally-challenged girl. The attraction in this series is quite high and may rebuild Raymond’s positive image in the eyes of the audience.

Paving Path for Best Actor Award

Raymond will complete the filming of Return to the Three Kingdoms by June. Allegedly, TVB was interested in marketing this series as an Anniversary series and will air it in November. Since the TVB Anniversary will be held in December, TVB was paving the path for Raymond to win the Best Actor Award!

Appledaily contacted Lau Ka Ho, the producer of Return to the Three Kingdoms. Will Return to the Three Kingdoms be designated as an Anniversary series and inviting Japanese composer, Kitaro to compose the theme song? Mr. Lau said, “I have not received notice yet. I really don’t know!” Will Raymond Lam sing the theme song? “Yes, without any unforeseen factors.” Will Return of the Three Kingdoms pave the path for Raymond to win the Best Actor Award? “Our production team did not think of that. It is the media that always circulate these rumors!”

A TVB Public Relations representative said, “The airing date of My Sister of Eternal Flower was decided after Relics of an Emissary a long time ago. Since Raymond is a singer, then it is normal to have him sing the theme song of Return to the Three Kingdoms. I do not know whether Return to the Three Kingdoms will be an Anniversary series or not yet. They are still filming the series and there will be need for post-production work.

Taking Home the Best Male Singer Award?

Aside from the Best Actor Award, TVB also intended to give Raymond the Best Male Singer title in January 2012’s Jade Solid Gold music awards.Raymond. At the end of the end of July, Raymond will hold a mini-concert series at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Due to his upcoming concert and singing the theme song, Raymond had good chances to win the Best Male Singer Award.

Filming “The Yang Saga” With Louis Koo

Last year, when Shaw Brothers, Wong Ka Hei criticized Raymond as being unable to attract box office sales, TVB Deputy Chairman, Mona Fong, wrote a 12-word note to support Raymond: “No fear of gossip. With rave reviews, continue to achieve new heights.” In August, Raymond will filmRaymond Wong Pak Ming’s new film, The Yang Saga "楊家將". Playing the role of the fifth son in the Yang family of warriors, Raymond will star opposite Louis Koo Tin Lok, Ekin Cheng, Wu Zun, Vic Zhou, Deng Chao and other handsome actors.

In addition, Raymond’s new film opposite Jet Li, Charlene Choi and Eva Huang, The Legend of White Snake "白蛇傳說" will be released on September 23rd. Portraying the scholar Hui Sin in the film, Raymond will promote the movie in China at the time. In December, Raymond will film a mainland drama. With a packed schedule planned for the rest of the year, Raymond will likely be so busy he will be coughing in exertion!

“Indulging in your lust is equivalent to hanging a knife upon your head.” Since the exposure of Mavis Pan and Raymond Lam’s bed photos, Raymond’s former good image was destroyed. Although loyal fans supported Raymond, the onslaught of intimate photos may have impacted Raymond’s career. As a result, TVB intervened to ensure that Raymond will continue to dominate the television, film, and music industries.

Below is Raymond Lam’s schedule for the remainder of 2011:

May 16: TVB series, My Sister of Eternal Flower to air in Hong Kong

June: Complete the filming of Return to the Three Kingdoms

End of July: Concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum

August/ September: Film Raymond Wong’s The Yang Saga

September 23: Release of The Legend of White Snake, which stars Jet Li, Raymond Lam, Charlene Choi, and Eva Huang

November: TVB to air Return to the Three Kingdoms in Hong Kong

December: Raymond to film mainland series in China

Source: Appledaily
Translated by: JayneStars

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Ekin Cheng may marry on the spur of the moment

Yesterday Dior Cheng Yi Kin, Pierre Ngo Ka Nin, Hung Chung Yam and Wong Kam Po and others attended a Community Chest program taping. The team went to the Whitehead Bicycle Tracks for a charity bicycle race. Ekin did not wear the traditional bicycle pants. He joked that his leg muscles were developed so he wore a new style bicycle pants.

When asked about his bicycle abilities, he said, "I am capable, with two top notch bicyclists on hand I of course come to learn. Normally I do more mountain biking, I have very little contact with official racing bicycles." Ekin said that lately he has been caught on the bike often, so the event invited him. When asked which sport he enjoyed, he said, "I play any sport, whatever I want to play at the time I play." Reporters jokingly asked whether Ekin would suddenly get married. He said, "The more you ask me the more I won't talk about it. I am very rebellious, maybe I would do it on the spur of the moment."

Ekin said that recently he was busy with new film. Later he will work on Raymond Wong Pak Ming's new film with Raymond Lam Fung, Louis Koo Tin Lok and Wu Chun. Speaking of TVB's intention to make Lam Fung the Television Best Actor, Ekin said, "That's good, Hong Kong needs artists." In addition, when asked about Max Mok Siu Chung's drug arrest, Ekin honestly said that he was an elder. Any comment at the current stage would be inappropriate. However he thought artists had to be careful at anytime. Mok Siu Chung came in contact with drugs through business dinners. Ekin said, "Actually I rarely go to those, I rarely go out at night."

Sources: takungpao, singtao, on.cc
Translated by: hktopten

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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Additional Romantic Scenes for Bobby


For his coffee career, Moses Chan used the reason of having to go to Malaysia to attend to his shop to turn down Nelson Cheung's new series "Yue Fu's Hidden Dragon". Accordingly, this series has already made some changes in the cast. Aside from the original main cast of Bobby Au Yeung, Myolie Wu, and Linda Chung, Evergreen Mak will be a new addition. Evergreen admitted that he had received this news over a week ago. The details have not been discussed; everything will be left to the company to arrange.

However, because Moses' turned down the series, the whole series' story and characters had to be rewritten. The producer frankly said that there is a definite influence; the production will also be more rushed than originally planned. Asking whether male lead Bobby had any dissatisfaction because of this change, Nelson Cheung said, "Why would he be unhappy? Now, the romantic storyline has been strengthened. Bobby will be caught between Myolie and Linda. Both of the female characters will compete in beauty". Evergreen expressed that he has not collaborated with Bobby since "Fathers and Sons". This time, [he] is able to work with [his] own people, so [he] greatly anticipates it".

Source: The Sun
Translated by: ninja-assassin69 @ tvbanimeonline


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Aaron Kwok gives a hint at his personal life

Aaron Kwok Fu Sing, Eddie Cheung Siu Fai, Ciwi Lam Sze Man and director Oxide Pang Shun yesterday promoted their new film THE DETECTIVE 2 (B+ JING TAM). The event arranged for the live audience to make Sing Sing's poses on the posters. Sing Sing played along, brought back "Ah Tam" and chok the poster look to earn everyone's applause!

Sing Sing said that the film will first open in the Mainland on April 29, then on May 12 in Hong Kong. The film in order to enter the Mainland market removed the supernatural portion from its subject. The Mainland version would have have less bloody and violent scenes. Was he concerned about counterfeit? Sing Sing thought that the Mainland lifestyle was already very different as many people liked to go to the movies. However, Sing Sing ended up competing with himself as 'TIL DEATH DO US PART (JUI OI), his new film with Zhang Ziyi, will open as well. Since the movies' genres would be different, Sing Sing would not worry too much.

Reportedly today Sing Sing would attend a new store opening with his rumored girlfriend Lynn Xiong (Hung Doi Lam) for the first time, but Sing Sing said that he would leave Hong Kong at night to promote his Beijing concert. Thus he would have to miss the event, which he was very sorry about. The boss was his good friend and he originally thought that he would be able to make an appearance. Reporters joked that he could ask Lynn to represent him. Sing Sing thought that she could not and did not know for sure whether she would appear. Did he mind working as a couple? Sing Sing first said that they could not be called a couple. Reporters reacted and asked whether they should be called husband and wife instead? Sing Sing hinted, "In show business work is work, no one knows what will happen in the future. Even after marriage people can still work together. If my wife is in the business I don't mind. (If she is Lynn?) I don't mind." Sing Sing thought that now is different, just that he would never talk about his own personal life.

Speaking of recently Lynn was reported as having a brain tumor. Sing Sing thought that people who spread the gossip said that they were married, after clarification was made they realized that they had nothing to talk about so they switched to write about disease. Sing Sing thought that writing about other people's health was truly wrong; was he angry? Sing Sing said, "It's excessive! Some unhealthy magazines should examine their own ethics. When I came back to Hong Kong paparazzi asked me about it, when I heard I only smiled. You know how easy going I usually am, should I have reacted? (Are you aware of Lynn's health?) You see how healthy she is first! (You care very much about her?) I care about my friends."

As for Max Mok Siu Chung's arrest, Sing Sing revealed that over 20 years ago they worked together on his first series. How could he possibly not worried? However no matter what happened, anyone who made a mistake should admit it. Since he was an adult he really what he should do. Sing Sing continued, "When I knew him I was still a kid, but I already thought he had a lot of potential. I hope he will be fine soon. Whether an artist or an actor, everyone should lead a clean and honest life!"

Source: takungpao
Translated by: hktopten

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Monday, April 25, 2011

'Lives of Omission' Trailer; Bosco Wong Has More Scenes than Michael Tse?

Although Michael Tse is see as the main lead in new drama "Lives of Omission," but looking at a recent trailer of the drama, looks like Bosco Wong is having more scenes.

Upcoming drama "Lives of Omission" is supposed to be the spin-off of legendary undercover "Laughing Gor" from 2009 drama"E.U.". Michael Tse, who plays the role, returns as a police officer in the new drama and will develop a romantic relationship with boss Fala Chen.

Additional characters including Bosco Wong and Kate Tsui. From a leak trailer online, it appears Bosco's role as an undercover has a more interesting storyline which might captivate the audience. In order to support girlfriend (Kate Tsui) to study law, he becomes part of the gang to earn more money. But when his girlfriend becomes a lawyer, she looks down on him and breaks up with him, making him turn into a villain.

Disclosed by the drama crew, Michael and Bosco both see this drama as an important project. Michael wants to reach another peak of his career as "Laughing" and Bosco even hopes to win big at the anniversary awards.

Trailer:



Source: Singtao
Translated by: Kay's Entertainment

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Miriam Yeung and Leon Lai represent Hong Kong at the Beijing film festival

The State Administration of Radio, Film and Television, Beijing city government organized 1st Beijing International Film Festival two nights ago held a grand opening ceremony at the National Grand Theater. Aside from the usual stars, the event also invited over 20 famous film festival chairs to be the opening ceremony guests in Beijing. Media Asia film boss Peter Lam Kin Ngok led a Hong Kong representative group and walked the red carpet with Media Asia representatives Leon Lai Ming and Miriam Yeung Chin Wa.

Lai Ming is currently working on his new film WHITE VENGEANCE in Hengdian and made the trip for the opening ceremony before returning to continue the shoot. Lai Ming said that the rising temperature made the shoot very tough, in particular his look had a face full of hair and very heavy costume. Thus it was rather tough. When asked about the Mainland film market that was growing stronger by the day, he said that China's film market was very large. Its direction internationally did not just start today. With such a grand event this time and so many film festival chairs in attendance, artists like them would benefit.

Last year with LOVE IN A PUFF (JI MING YU CHUNG GIU) Chin Wa won many awards. Two nights ago she ran into director John Woo (Ng Yu Sum) as soon as she arrived. She immediately asked for a photo together because she has always admired Director Ng. She would like to work with him. She said, "My deepest impression the director shooting Fat Gor (Chow Yun Fat)'s heroic character with two guns. I really hope to have a chance to such a cool character." As for the progress of the LOVE IN A PUFF sequel, she said that for now it will start production in mid July. In addition she has been busy with preparation for her Macao concert Saturday. Thus she could only look at the Peking duck. "I really want to eat Peking duck, but the schedule is too rushed. With the concert on the way I can only watch myself for my voice and to be in the best condition." She also said that this time she added three songs for the Macao audience so she hoped that they would be on time.

Sources: takungpao, mingpao, singtao, on.cc
Translated by: hktopten

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Carina Lau Chooses Tony Leung Chiu Wai

The fresh out of the oven Best Actress Carina Lau Ka Ling, Han Geng, Zhao Wenzhou, Godfrey Gao, Willian Chan Wai Ting and Yumiko Cheng Hei Yi two nights ago attended a GQ Style party.

Ka Ling appeared with bunny ears. The media congratulated her on her Best Actress and made her very happy. When asked whether her perfect man was Tony Leung Chiu Wai, she said, "Men are perfect, but men's tenderness for women is a particularly chauvinistic expression. We are all flawed, but while we accept each other's positive points we also accept the other's flaw. We are very compatible." If she had to choose between the Hong Kong Film Award or having a child, how would she choose? She smartly said, "I would choose my husband Leung Chiu Wai."

Han Geng's current commercial value reportedly already exceeded Sun Honglei and Vicki Zhao Wei. Han Geng humbly said that both were elders and said that the reported numbers were somewhat false.

Super Junior M earlier performed in Shanghai and the organizers asked the media not to involved former member Han Geng during its coverage. Han Geng said that he and the group still had a very deep relationship, and he was very appreciative of his former company's nurturing. He also said that he was much happier with his solo development as he did not have as much pressure. His film MY KINGDOM will open in August. In the future he will keep making movies. He would like the most to play a character that was drastically different from his own image and personality.

Sources: takungpao, singtao, on.cc
Translated by: hktopten

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Louis Koo is not nervous about the box office

Louis Koo Tin Lok, Wai Ying Hung, Yu Shaoqun, Lin Peng, Wang Danyi and others two nights ago gathered in Wanchai to attend their new film A CHINESE GHOST STORY (SIN NUI YAU WON)'s premiere. Goo Jai revealed that this time he deliberately returned from Shangri-La, where he was working on his new film HIGH ALTITUDE ROMANCE 2 (GO HOI BUT JI LUEN II). Was he nervous about the box office? Goo Jai said, "I went to such a far and away place like Shangri-La, I believe I wouldn't get any information." Goo Jai said that the memorable part of CHINESE was breaking his leg, which still has not recovered.

Speaking of Max Mok Siu Chung's drug arrest that made Mainland artists with special interests run for cover, Goo Jai said, "I worked with him on RUN PAPA RUN (YUT GOR HO BA BA). I thought he was very healthy, just a little quieter. Hearing the news I was very surprised."

Siu Hung revealed that she and Mok Siu Chung worked at Shaw during the same period. They were too familiar but has not seen each other in seven or eight years. Was she worried about him? Siu Hung said, "Of course, but I am not too certain about this. I can't randomly comment." Siu Hung played the tree demon in the film, the performance was completely different from Lau Siu Ming's.

Playing Ning Choi Sun, Yu Shaoqun felt that viewers would definitely compare him with Leslie Cheung Kwok Wing's performance. However when viewers watched the film they would realize that it was completely different. Yu Shaoqun worked with Goo Jai for the first time and praised him for being like a big brother who rarely spoke. However in the make up room he was rather energetic. He taught him to be serious at work but relax at rest.

Sources: takungpao, mingpao, on.cc
Translated by: hktopten

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