TUN DR MAHATHIR QUITS UMNO

It is truly unbelievable that former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today announced that he was temporarily resign from Umno as a sign of no confidence in his successor's leadership with immediate effect and urged other members to follow him.

He indicated that he would only rejoin the party when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi steps down as Umno president.

"I will only come back to the party when there is a change in leadership," the ex-premier told a 1,200-strong crowd at a forum in his home state of Kedah this morning.

He also called on all Umno ministers, deputy ministers and all levels of party leaders to join him in leaving the party.

However, he asked these members not to join other political parties.

One notable Umno leader who has apparently took on Tun Dr Mahathir's call to resign is Sanusi, who said he would release an official statement later.

Abdullah, in an immediate reaction, expressed shock at Tun Dr Mahathir's resignation, saying, " I didn't expect him to leave but I will continue to fight for the party."

Oil painting at auction house

A painting by Lucian Freud, entitled "Benefits Supervisor Sleeping", is displayed at Christie's auctioneers in London April 11, 2008. The woman who posed naked for Freud revealed Saturday she was paid 20 pounds -- and the resulting painting is expected to become the most expensive work by a living artist. [Agencies]

Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen arrives for the Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute Gala, "Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy" in New York, May 5, 2008. The superhero mania that is invading American cinemas this summer has taken hold at one of the country's most distinguished art museums with an exhibit on how their colorful costumes have influenced fashion. [Agencies]