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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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• Thousands flee on third day of siege in Zamboanga
• Riau farmers sue Susilo over haze
• First underground reservoir planned

Thousands flee on third day of siege in Zamboanga Posted: ZAMBOANGA: Muslim rebels took potshots at Philippine troops as they hid behind hostages who were roped together pleading for mercy, on the third day of a deadly siege in a key southern city. As the fighting intensified in Zam­boanga city with soldiers backed by armoured troop carriers hunting down snipers and rebels, thousands more residents fled, many of them taking refuge in a sports stadium. In the nearby Santa Catalina district, troops confronted Moro Natio­nal Liberation Front (MNLF) guerrillas hiding behind about 30 men who had been roped together and made to stand on the side of a street. "Stop firing! Stop firing!" shouted the men while waving white blankets as the gunmen behind them took potshots at the soldiers. About 180 rebels poured into six coastal neighbourhoods, home to 160,000 mainly Muslim residents, before dawn on Monday in a bid to derail peace talks. Three days of fighting has left 12 people dead, including two civilians, a police officer, a soldier and eight rebels, according to the latest official tally. Another 36 people have been wounded, including three policemen and 12 soldiers. Police also arrested two male MNLF suspects in Santa Catalina, wounding one of them. Officers said the men were carrying bags of rice which they had scattered on the floor to reveal two hidden pistols. In the Santa Barbara neighbourhood black smoke rose into the sky as a government building burned, but sniper fire held back a convoy of firetrucks sent to put out the blaze. Behind the burning building two rebel snipers fell from the upper sections of a mosque after taking fire from an armoured car. Soldiers later poured into the building. Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isa­belle Climaco said the rebels were demanding international mediation. She said a former governor from the rebels' stronghold of Sulu province tried to talk to the gunmen on Tuesday, but "they refuse to listen to anybody locally." "They say that it's an international problem, and no less than the international community, the United Nation, should come in," she told television network ABS-CBN. The fighting continued as a rival Muslim guerrilla group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), held talks with the government aimed at ending a rebellion that has claimed 150,000 lives in the south. The two sides issued a joint statement at the venue of the talks in Malaysia denouncing the MNLF attack. "Their actions intend to derail the (peace) process using violence and disinformation to spread fear and chaos," the statement said, calling for the perpetrators to be "stopped and held accountable". The talks are fleshing out a draft power-sharing arrangement be­t­ween the national government and a Muslim self-rule area in the south that is expected to be led by the MILF, as well as the post-conflict de­­mo­­bilisation of the group. About 3km away from the fighting, 13,000 people were taking refuge in the Zamboanga stadium. Interior Secretary Mar Roxas said police and the military had the six besieged neighbourhoods surrounded but ruled out a full-fledged military assault for fear of heavy civilian casualties. "We continue to look for ways to solve this problem peacefully," he told a news conference. Officials said their efforts were made more difficult because the rebels were hiding among the civilian residents, and because they had failed so far to reach MNLF founder Nur Misuari. A similar deadly siege on Zam­boanga in 2001 led to his imprisonment until 2008, when all charges against him were dropped. — AFP

Riau farmers sue Susilo over haze Posted: JAKARTA: Indonesian farmers in a province at the centre of South-East Asia's worst smog outbreak for years have filed a lawsuit against the president in response to the haze crisis. Environmental groups on Tuesday filed the class-action lawsuit at the Jakarta High Court on behalf of farmers from five villages in Riau province on Sumatra island. They argue that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has not done enough to curb activities, such as slash-and-burn land clearance and logging, that lead to climate change, and their lives are being deeply affected. In June, raging fires set to clear land in Riau cloaked the province, Malaysia and Singapore in smog, with the haze hitting the worst levels for more than a decade. Riau is at the centre of Indonesia's booming palm oil industry, and illegal slash-and-burn clearance is common, as it is the quickest and cheapest method for land to be converted for use as plantations. A coalition of green groups filed the lawsuit, including forest protection group Jikalahari, which said the severe haze this year had prompted the action and had "deeply affected the communities". "This haze affects all activities – work, school, and even leads to flights being cancelled," Muslim Rasyid, head of the Riau-based group, said yesterday. The forestry and environment ministers and the Riau governor are also accused in the lawsuit. "The president and his ministers have done little to protect communities from the effects of climate change," said Riko Kurniawan, director of Friends of the Earth in Riau. Susilo vowed in 2009 to reduce Indonesia's carbon emissions by at least 26% by 2020. To achieve this goal, the government has suspended the issuance of new land-clearing permits. But activists say the moves have been ineffective with land clearance, both legal and illegal, still rampant, and fires often the method of choice. Indonesia, home to around 10% of the world's tropical forest, has rapidly lost masses of its biodiverse jungle in recent decades to make way for paper and oil palm estates. The country is the world's biggest supplier of palm oil, the most commonly used vegetable oil found in everyday grocery items, like biscuits and shampoo. — AFP

First underground reservoir planned Posted: THE future Bidadari estate will lay claim to a unique feature – Singapore's first underground service reservoir built on low, instead of high ground. Holding enough water to fill three Olympic-size pools, the tank will be built beneath the town's planned park to save on surface space and keep the surroundings unmarred. The land above it will be "integrated with the surrounding park amenities, hence optimising land", PUB said, adding that high ground available for service reservoirs is "limited". The Bidadari reservoir could pave the way for more such underground tanks on low ground. "Where possible, PUB will work with other agencies to explore a similar concept in other new areas," said the national water agency's spokesman. Service reservoirs store drinking water to regulate supply to homes and boost water pressure during periods when demand is high. There are 14 such reservoirs now, but all are located on high ground such as Mount Faber and Fort Canning, letting gravity do the work in channelling the water to homes. In contrast, the Bidadari reservoir will have a pumping station on a 200sq m plot of land atop it. Experts The Straits Times spoke to said such a system is viable, given how Housing Board flats already have low-level water tanks, although on a smaller scale. A lot will depend on the pumping system. It has to be extra reliable in Bidadari, which will have 10,000 public flats. The estate's first Build-To-Order flats will be launched for sale in 2015. Work on the reservoir will likely begin in early 2017, alongside general construction work there. National Research Foundation water technology adviser Lui Pao Chuen, a former defence chief scientist, believes that building below the surface is key for Singapore, given the scarcity of land. "Instead of having reservoirs above ground, which is water you can't even swim in, you have land that you can walk on. Going underground is an obvious solution to preserve as much free space for people as possible," he said. The use of below-ground spaces was put in the spotlight by National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan earlier this month, when he blogged that the Government was considering an underground masterplan. In the wake of the revelation, experts noted that building beneath the ground is expensive, especially if rock and soil formations are unsuitable. PUB said yesterday that it was "premature to estimate the cost" of the proposed reservoir as a detailed study on its structure and construction methods has not yet been done. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

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The Star Online: World Updates

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• Satellite image suggests North Korea has restarted Yongbyon nuclear reactor - U.S. group
• Putin says U.S. strike on Syria could escalate conflict
• China should pursue 'high-quality' urbanisation - top economic planning body

Satellite image suggests North Korea has restarted Yongbyon nuclear reactor - U.S. group Posted: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Satellite imagery suggests North Korea has restarted a research reactor capable of producing plutonium for weapons at its Yongbyon nuclear complex, a U.S. research institute and a U.S. official said on Wednesday. U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies said a satellite image from August 31 shows white steam rising from a building near the hall that houses the plutonium production reactor's steam turbines and electric generators. "The white coloration and volume are consistent with steam being vented because the electrical generating system is about to come online, indicating that the reactor is in or nearing operation," said the Washington-based institute. The reactor can produce 6 kgs (13.2 lbs) of plutonium a year, the report added. There was no immediate comment on Wednesday from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear watchdog. A U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity said he believed the North Koreans had restarted the reactor, saying that the amount of steam suggested that it was being tested. The official said he did not think the North may have done so to force major powers to resume nuclear talks with Pyongyang in the hopes of extracting concessions, but rather to demonstrate that it will not abandon its nuclear programs. "It's more straightforward than that," said the official, saying that North Korea "wants to create a fait accompli and be accepted as a (nuclear) power and nuclear weapons state." "They've no interested in bargaining this away," he added, saying that the only way to counter the North's action would be to "raise the cost to them of taking this path, and increasing multilateral pressure, with China an active participant." AGED REACTOR A spokesman for the State Department's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs declined to respond the report, citing a policy of not commenting on intelligence matters, but said Pyongyang's "nuclear program remains a matter of serious concern." The spokesman repeated Washington's longstanding call for North Korea to comply with a 2005 aid-for-disarmament agreement signed by North Korea, its neighbours and the United States. Under that pact, Pyongyang would have dismantled its nuclear program in exchange for economic and energy aid. North Korea has conducted three nuclear tests since 2006. "Acknowledging that we are not completely certain yet, this is very disappointing but not at all unexpected," James Acton, an analyst for the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank. "It's not unexpected because we've been able to see for months through satellite imagery that North Korea has been working on repairing the five-megawatt electric reactor," he said in a telephone interview. Pyongyang announced in April that it would revive the aged Yongbyon research reactor that yields bomb-grade plutonium but stressed it was seeking a deterrent capacity. "ANOTHER SLAP IN THE FACE" Nuclear experts said at the time it would probably take about half a year to get the reactor up and running if it had not suffered significant damage from neglect. The Yongbyon reactor has been technically out of operation for years. In 2008 the North destroyed its cooling tower as a confidence-building step in the six-nation talks. "Restarting it is another slap in the face to the international community, indicating that North Korea has no intention whatsoever of abandoning its nuclear weapons," Acton said. North Korea said in July it would not give up its nuclear deterrent until Washington ends its "hostile policy" towards Pyongyang, although it was ready to revive nuclear talks. The country tested a nuclear weapon in February and spent the first three months of 2013 issuing bellicose threats including a warning that it would launch a nuclear attack against the United States and South Korea. Recently, however, Pyongyang has been on what analysts describe as one of its periodic charm offensives, agreeing with Seoul on Wednesday to re-open a shuttered industrial park on a trial basis. The Kaesong industrial zone lies inside North Korea and was closed when Pyongyang pulled its 53,000 workers out in April amid rising tensions. The Johns Hopkins report was released as U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy Glyn Davies was on the Tokyo leg of a September 8-13 tour of South Korea, China and Japan for consultations on policy toward Pyongyang. (Reporting by Paul Eckert, Arshad Mohammed and Frederick Dahl in VIENNA; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

Putin says U.S. strike on Syria could escalate conflict Posted: WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Wednesday against a U.S. strike on Syria, saying such action risked escalating the conflict beyond that country and unleashing terrorist attacks. Writing in the New York Times, Putin said there were "few champions of democracy" in the 2-1/2-year-old civil war in Syria, "but there are more than enough Qaeda fighters and extremists of all types battling the government." He repeated assertions by his government and Damascus that an August chemical weapons attack that the United States blames on President Bashar al-Assad's government was likely the work of opposition forces seeking to provoke foreign intervention. President Barack Obama wants to hold Assad accountable for the suspected attack in a Damascus neighbourhood on August 21 that U.S. officials say killed about 1,400 people, including 400 children. Obama said in a speech on Tuesday that he had asked Congress to put off a vote on his request to authorize military action in Syria to let diplomacy play out around a Russian proposal to put Syrian chemical weapons under international control, although he said the threat was still needed to ensure Syria complies. Putin cautioned against taking military action without U.N. Security Council authorization, saying, "We must stop using the language of force." "The potential strike by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict far beyond Syria's borders," Putin wrote. "A strike would increase violence and unleash a new wave of terrorism," he added. "It could undermine multilateral efforts to resolve the Iranian nuclear problem and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and further destabilize the Middle East and North Africa. It could throw the entire system of international law and order out of balance." Putin said it was alarming that intervening militarily in foreign countries' internal conflicts had become "commonplace" for the United States. "Is it in America's long-term interest? I doubt it. Millions around the world increasingly see America not as a model of democracy, but as relying solely on brute force, cobbling coalitions together under the slogan 'you're either with us or against us.'" Putin also rejected Obama's assertions of "American exceptionalism," saying: "It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional." Russia has been Assad's most powerful backer during the civil war, which has killed more than 100,000 people since 2011, delivering arms and - with China - blocking three U.N. resolutions meant to pressure Assad. On Tuesday, Syria accepted the Russian proposal to surrender its chemical weapons to international control to try to win a possible reprieve from a U.S. military strike. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone on Wednesday, the State Department said, one day before they are due to meet in Geneva to try to agree on a strategy to eliminate Syria's chemical weapons arsenal. Saying his "working and personal relationship with President Obama is marked by growing trust," the Russian leader said, "I welcome the president's interest in continuing the dialogue with Russia on Syria. "We must work together to keep this hope alive, as we agreed to at the Group of 8 meeting in Lough Erne in Northern Ireland in June, and steer the discussion back toward negotiations." (Reporting by Peter Cooney; Editing by Mohammad Zargham)

China should pursue 'high-quality' urbanisation - top economic planning body Posted: BEIJING (Reuters) - China must plan scientifically for "high-quality" urbanisation that is human-oriented and energy-saving, a senior official at the country's top economic planning agency said in remarks published on Thursday. China's leaders have an ambitious plan to boost the urban population by 400 million over the next decade, a key plank in a reform effort to restructure the economy away from credit and export growth to one where consumers provide the main impetus. Zhang Xiaoqiang, vice head of the National Development and Reform Commission, also said China's urbanisation level, at about 52 percent of the population, still has a long way to catch up with that of developed economies and even some Asian countries. "Our urbanisation should embody the concepts of green, intensive, intelligent and low-carbon and it does not mean simply building things or enclosing land," he said in an interview at the World Economic Forum in the northeastern port city of Dalian that was posted on the NDRC's website. His remarks echo those of Premier Li Keqiang, who told a recent meeting of experts on the subject that urbanisation should focus on quality of life and the environment and should be driven by job creation. The NDRC has said it will unveil an urbanisation plan in the second half of this year. Zhang added that China has the necessary means to maintain a relatively high growth rate in the future, considering the domestic demand potential to be released from urbanisation. He also reiterated that Beijing would speed up efforts to deepen reforms in energy prices, the financial sector and fiscal and tax systems to better allocate resources and narrow the wealth gap in the country. (Reporting by Aileen Wang and Jonathan Standing; Editing by Michael Perry)

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Internship: Forging ahead in the tech world Posted: Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson take a leap of faith in The Internship. ACTOR Vince Vaughn was watching a 60 Minutes piece on the working environment created at the Google's Northern California headquarters when he came up with the concept for the film The Internship. Vaughn, who co-wrote the film with Jared Stern, wanted to combine the fun work place of Google with two characters who are outdated not only as far as their occupation is concerned, but also in the way they go about their daily lives. Billy McMahon (Vaughn) and Nick Campbell (Owen Wilson) are two very good salesmen who hawk watches. Unfortunately, they discover too late that the world doesn't really need people like them anymore, since people prefer shopping online. After they are fired, Billy and Nick decide to take a leap of faith and put their career trajectory on a totally different (and relevant) path. And that is how these two unemployed guys end up as interns at Google, a company which is the last place you'd think they would apply to. In an interview transcript, provided by Twentieth Century Fox, Vaughn confessed he knows people like Billy and Nick, who feel the need to reinvent themselves so they can stay pertinent in the workforce. He said: "It felt like their skill sets didn't travel quite like they used to, and (it became) the starting point for a movie that's ultimately about friendships, navigating your life, and asking whether you landed where you wanted to or not, looking at it from a younger generation's point of view." And who better to accompany Vaughn on this misadventure than his Wedding Crashers' co-star Wilson. Wilson, who is a close friend of Vaughn, shared how the latter pitched the idea to him. "It was really just him saying, 'I've got an idea that I think could be fun for us to work on', and then we went to Google together and once there, it felt like this could be a good idea ... Then as Vince worked on the script and figured out a story and how he was going to tell it, it all just came together." When Google was approached about The Internship – which showcases their "Googliness" (an actual term used by the company to describe qualities like innovative thinking, dilligence, to be opened to inspiration and most importantly, the desire to keep searching) to the world – the organisation wanted the filmmaker to keep the Google spirit alive in the film. Hence, director Shawn Levy and designer Tom Meyer visited the company to get the feel of the organisation and came away with the conclusion that it is quirky, idyllic, strange and very specific. To replicate all that on a film set, Meyer went to Atlanta and found a tech company located in the city that had a whimsical style which gave the production team a shell to work with. Meyer said in the production notes: "When you go to Google, the most important thing that you take away from it is its non-traditional aspect and out of the box thinking. I tried to capture that feeling that you take away when you're an employee or visitor there. There's a huge sense of playfulness. And the idea of a healthy body and mind is central to Google." Vaughn's own first impression of Google was similar. "Google is a kind of chocolate factory where there's lots of opportunity and creativity; there's cool stuff going on. Financially, there's a big upside to it as well." Although the film does take some creative licenses in how it represents the internship programme at Google, Vaughn explained a lot of it is based on the truth. "Google is trying to get (top students) to want to work there, so they have an intern programme that's different to, say, how it would be in the entertainment industry. "You're not bringing them coffee, which I originally thought it was, they have them jump in and work on projects right off the bat ... And the hats that we wear when we first get there, that's something the interns wear for the first couple of weeks." Speaking of similarities, what do Vaughn and Wilson share with their characters when it comes to their relationship with technology? Vaughn said: "Technology can be a harsh mistress but she's my lady. We've had our ups and downs but I've found, ultimately, when we get through the rough patches, my life gets a little better." Wilson added: "I would say I struggle a little bit with technology. I'm not on Twitter and Facebook and those things ... I just haven't done it. I wouldn't know what to say – I don't quite understand what I would be doing on it."  The Internship opens in cinemas nationwide on Sept 12.

Chapman To comes into his own as leading man Posted: Hong Kong star stays humble despite succcess. This year has been Hong Kong comedic actor Chapman To's busiest year for film promotions. The 41-year-old has already taken on six films this year, including the raunchy action-comedy flick Sex Duties Unit, released in July, and The Midas Touch (playing in cinemas now). If his time has indeed come, To, who had been best known for his supporting roles in the Infernal Affairs film trilogy (2002-2003), is being humble about it, constantly taking the mickey out of himself in a recent telephone interview. "I'm such a fat pig, which is what my wife has been calling me lately, so I feel like it's kind of unfair for audiences to have to see me like this, especially when I keep taking off my clothes in films," he says almost matter-of-factly. In The Midas Touch, he plays a debt collector-turned-novice artiste manager, who is determined to turn a motley group of seven girls into big-name pop stars in the vein of South Korean girl group Girls' Generation. While his character is ultimately a nice guy who holds the girls' best interests at heart, situations abound in the film when he becomes tempted to take advantage of the casting couch situation and accept sexual propositions from the girls. Asked about whether he has experienced the same kind of indecent proposals in real life since he is now a leading man in the movies, he laughs and wryly says that he is "nowhere as lucky as that", jokingly blaming the dearth of offers on his lack of charisma. He also reveals he has been hitting the gym recently, though it is not a move spurred on by vanity or the pressure to match the efforts of Nick Cheung, a fellow supporting player-turned-leading man. The rock-hard, sculpted body Cheung, 45, achieved for the boxing-themed drama Unbeatable was the talk of the town recently. To is working out to play the lead role of an adult video star in Naked Ambition 2, a sequel to the 2003 comedy which takes an inside look at Hong Kong's sex industry. He is currently filming the comedy in addition to two other movies, Love Gamble and Mr And Mrs Player. According to him, his wife, Hong Kong actress Kristal Tin, 35, has no qualms about him acting alongside Japanese adult-video actresses such as Sola Aoi and Maiko Yuki. "She just told me to go ahead and enjoy my work," he quips. Tin probably could be sure her husband would behave himself. In The Midas Touch, the only on-screen kiss that he has in the film is not shared with one of the actresses, but with Hong Kong actor Wong Cho Lam, 33, whom his character smooches by mistake. "His height was just right for me for the kissing scene. And the kiss felt good, actually." – The Straits Times, Singapore/Asia News Network

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Master's Sun is dead funny! Posted: Spine-chilling, side-splitting and starry-eyed — The Master's Sun is all that and more. SO Ji-sub muses that acting appeals to him because he likes to live vicariously through his characters. "I would like to live various lives through acting no matter what roles or genres. Discovering new sides to me is, in my opinion, is a privilege that actors have, and I am always thankful to all my fans who support me for doing so," he said in a recent e-mail interview from South Korea. A jeans model-turned-drama actor, the South Korean heart-throb had his work cut out for him in his latest drama The Master's Sun. "I think the combination of romance, comedy and horror is a novel approach to drama. I have a feeling that The Master's Sun will be a whole new type of drama," added So, 35, who found the other-worldly element to be a good balance for what he considers to be a light-hearted role. But of course, the deciding factor was when he learnt that Gong Hyo-jin was taking the female lead role. "I have always wanted to act with her and it didn't take long for me to find out that she is a great partner." It was So's first acting gig with Gong, 33, and he feels she is one of the best actresses in romantic-comedy genre. "She makes it easy for the others to act since she can handle everything," added So, piling on the praise. "Hyo-jin is a very cheerful person and she laughs a lot. Once she starts, she just can't stop. The show is very energetic, thanks to her," said So, who appreciated the lively disposition of his vivacious co-star, as he is a man of few words. In The Master's Sun, Gong plays Tae Gong-sil, a timid secretary who tears easily. Funnily, she is nicknamed "Tae Yang" which means "Sun" in Korean. Following an accident, she becomes cursed with the unfortunate ability to see ghosts. This causes her much distress, leading her to lead a reclusive life filled with many sleepless nights. So, on the other hand, portrays an ambitious and conceited CEO named Joo Joong-won. Joo, president of the Kingdom chain of malls, believes money is everything and only hears what he wants to hear. As the dashing yet miserly CEO, Joo does not get along with others. In a twist of fate, he meets Tae, a gloomy woman who helps put things right for the spirits that she sees and meets wherever she goes. Commenting on his role in this unusual series, So jested, "The characters that I have played up till now needed me to run around on my own two feet, but for Joo Joong-won, I just have to lift a finger and everything is done. I felt very awkward at the beginning, but it's fun now. I am wondering why I haven't done this before." When asked how The Master's Sun compares with his previous dramas like Cain And Abel (2009), What Happened In Bali (2004), and I'm Sorry I Love You (2004), So replied, "All the drama series I have acted in have involved broken hearts, but there is a big difference in how that is expressed in each show. In Joo Joong-won's case, he hurts other people so as to protect himself. Since The Master's Sun is a romantic comedy, it is different from my previous dramas, considering that it makes the audience laugh." Some have commented that trailers for the series make it appear quite creepy, but So begs to differ. "Many think of The Master's Sun as a creepy drama series because there's a horror element in it. However, every single spirit has its own life story, so this creepiness will not last for too long." Filming for the 16-episode series wraps this month and So says that he has enjoyed the shoot despite being occasionally bothered by the sweltering heat. The Master's Sun airs every Wednesday and Thursday at 8.55pm on ONE HD (Astro B.yond Ch 393).

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The Internship: Forging ahead in the tech world Posted: Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson take a leap of faith in The Internship. ACTOR Vince Vaughn was watching a 60 Minutes piece on the working environment created at the Google's Northern California headquarters when he came up with the concept for the film The Internship. Vaughn, who co-wrote the film with Jared Stern, wanted to combine the fun work place of Google with two characters who are outdated not only as far as their occupation is concerned, but also in the way they go about their daily lives. Billy McMahon (Vaughn) and Nick Campbell (Owen Wilson) are two very good salesmen who hawk watches. Unfortunately, they discover too late that the world doesn't really need people like them anymore, since people prefer shopping online. After they are fired, Billy and Nick decide to take a leap of faith and put their career trajectory on a totally different (and relevant) path. And that is how these two unemployed guys end up as interns at Google, a company which is the last place you'd think they would apply to. In an interview transcript, provided by Twentieth Century Fox, Vaughn confessed he knows people like Billy and Nick, who feel the need to reinvent themselves so they can stay pertinent in the workforce. He said: "It felt like their skill sets didn't travel quite like they used to, and (it became) the starting point for a movie that's ultimately about friendships, navigating your life, and asking whether you landed where you wanted to or not, looking at it from a younger generation's point of view." And who better to accompany Vaughn on this misadventure than his Wedding Crashers' co-star Wilson. Wilson, who is a close friend of Vaughn, shared how the latter pitched the idea to him. "It was really just him saying, 'I've got an idea that I think could be fun for us to work on', and then we went to Google together and once there, it felt like this could be a good idea ... Then as Vince worked on the script and figured out a story and how he was going to tell it, it all just came together." When Google was approached about The Internship – which showcases their "Googliness" (an actual term used by the company to describe qualities like innovative thinking, dilligence, to be opened to inspiration and most importantly, the desire to keep searching) to the world – the organisation wanted the filmmaker to keep the Google spirit alive in the film. Hence, director Shawn Levy and designer Tom Meyer visited the company to get the feel of the organisation and came away with the conclusion that it is quirky, idyllic, strange and very specific. To replicate all that on a film set, Meyer went to Atlanta and found a tech company located in the city that had a whimsical style which gave the production team a shell to work with. Meyer said in the production notes: "When you go to Google, the most important thing that you take away from it is its non-traditional aspect and out of the box thinking. I tried to capture that feeling that you take away when you're an employee or visitor there. There's a huge sense of playfulness. And the idea of a healthy body and mind is central to Google." Vaughn's own first impression of Google was similar. "Google is a kind of chocolate factory where there's lots of opportunity and creativity; there's cool stuff going on. Financially, there's a big upside to it as well." Although the film does take some creative licenses in how it represents the internship programme at Google, Vaughn explained a lot of it is based on the truth. "Google is trying to get (top students) to want to work there, so they have an intern programme that's different to, say, how it would be in the entertainment industry. "You're not bringing them coffee, which I originally thought it was, they have them jump in and work on projects right off the bat ... And the hats that we wear when we first get there, that's something the interns wear for the first couple of weeks." Speaking of similarities, what do Vaughn and Wilson share with their characters when it comes to their relationship with technology? Vaughn said: "Technology can be a harsh mistress but she's my lady. We've had our ups and downs but I've found, ultimately, when we get through the rough patches, my life gets a little better." Wilson added: "I would say I struggle a little bit with technology. I'm not on Twitter and Facebook and those things ... I just haven't done it. I wouldn't know what to say – I don't quite understand what I would be doing on it."  The Internship opens in cinemas nationwide on Sept 12.

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The Star Online: Business

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• LFE Corp surges after posting strong earnings
• Hong Leong Industries selling Hume stake, ICPS to Narra for RM348m (Update)
• Solid Automotive opens at 60 sen on Bursa Malaysia

LFE Corp surges after posting strong earnings Posted: KUALA LUMPUR: Shares of LFE Corporation Bhd surged in early Thursday trade after it posted a strong set of financial results in the fourth quarter ended July 31, 2013 while it had until Sept 30 to announce its regularisation plan. At 9.53am, LFE was up 16 sen to 29 sen. Trading volume was 15.69 million shares. The FBM KLCI rose 6.46 points to 1,774.94. Turnover was 440.64 million shares valued at RM235.37mil. There were 275 gainers, 109 losers and 201 counters unchanged. In the fourth quarter, it posted net profit of RM25.35mil compared with a net loss of RM27.60mil a year ago. On Sept 2, LFE said it was still evaluating various options to undertake and formulate a self-regularisation plan to regularise its financial condition. However,  there has been no material development subsequent to the announcement on Aug 1, 2013. LFE also said it did not foresee that the regularisation plan would result in a significant change in the business direction or policy of the Company. "Premised on the first announcement on Oct 1, 2012, the last day for submission of the regularisation plan by the company to Bursa Securities and obtain Bursa Securities' approval to implement the said regularisation plan would be by Sept 30, 2013," it said.

Hong Leong Industries selling Hume stake, ICPS to Narra for RM348m (Update) Posted: KUALA LUMPUR: Hong Leong Industries Bhd (HLI) is selling its 100% stake in Hume Industries (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd for RM48mil and preference shares in Hume Cement Sdn Bhd for RM300mil to Narra Industries Bhd. The corporate exercise of both companies, which are under the Hong Leong group, would see the disposals of the 300 million Hume Industries shares and entire 175,000,000 six-year 2% non-cumulative irredeemable convertible preference shares of RM1 each in Hume Cement, in exchange for new Narra Industries shares. "The proposed disposals will allow HLI to realise its investments in the Hume Cement ICPS and the concrete business division in a manner favourable to the shareholders of Hong Leong Industries," said HLI on Thursday. HLI said the Hume Cement ICPS currently held by HLI is only convertible into new ordinary shares in HCement after March 2017. "The proposed disposal of Hume Cement ICPS will accelerate the participation of HLI's shareholders in Hume Cement," it said. Under the corporate exercise, HLI is selling the 30 million Hume Industries shares for RM48 million which will be satisfied by the issuance of 48 million new Narra shares at an issue price of RM1 per share. As for the ICPS, the sale of the  175 million ICPS in Hume Cement for RM300 million would be satisfied by the issuance of 300 million new Narra shares at RM1 per share. HLI said upon completion of the proposed disposals, HLI would implement  a capital distribution comprising of a proposed reduction of the capital of HLI  involving a reduction of share premium reserve. It would also undertake a capital repayment exercise involving the distribution of 345.03 million Narra shares on the basis of 1,080 Narra shares for every 1,000 ordinary shares of 50 sen each held in HLI. These shares representing substantially all the consideration shares to be received by HLI pursuant to the proposed disposals. HLI said through the proposed capital distribution, HLI shareholders will be able to participate directly in two listed companies, that is in HLI via the existing equity held by them and in Narra which will focus on concrete and cement business.

Solid Automotive opens at 60 sen on Bursa Malaysia Posted: KUALA LUMPUR: Solid Automotive Bhd opened at 60 sen, which was four sen above its offer price of 56 sen, when it was listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia on Thursday. At 9am, the FBM KLCI was up 9.28 points to 1,777.76. Turnover was 21.14 million shares valued at RM13.44mil. There were 100 gainers, nine losers and 53 counters unchanged. Solid Automotive raised about RM19.81mil from its listing exercise which involved the public issue of 35.38 million new shares at 56 sen each. The shares available for the Malaysian public subscription were oversubscribed by 9.8 times. The company said a total of 4,100 applications for 81.224m shares with a value of RM45.4m were received from the Malaysian public. Solid Automotive's subsidiaries Solid Corporation, Twinco, Auto Empire, JBS and Uni Point are involved in the trading and distribution of automotive parts and components as well as remanufacturing of automotive alternators and starters for the passenger and commercial vehicle segments in the automotive aftermarket in Malaysia and overseas.

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• RM160bil to be spent on rail projects
• UPSR candidate with vision woes can use larger papers
• Young employees: Don't restrict social media

RM160bil to be spent on rail projects Posted: KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is expected to spend an estimated RM160bil more on rail-related projects until 2020, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The Prime Minister said the railroad industry had seen "massive expansion" in Asia and become an increasingly significant mode in Malaysia's efforts to improve public transportation. "Along with the rapid development of rail networks comes the challenge of the application of rail and rail-related technology. The application of intelligent infrastructure in rail can be a game changer, by lowering costs and improving safety and reliability at the same time," he said in his address before launching the inaugural Rail Business Asia 2013 here yesterday. Adding that the Government had invested over RM50bil since 1990, he stressed the need to train skilled and specialised manpower to fill hundreds of thousands of jobs generated from rail projects. "Thousands of vacancies will have to be filled. The Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) project alone is estimated to create about 130,000 jobs," he noted, adding that trained workers were needed for tasks such as construction of tracks, facilities as well as for research and development. Najib said another 800 jobs would be created from the first phase of the RM400mil Asean Rail Centre in Batu Gajah, Perak, which is expected to be completed by mid-2014. "Eventually, the centre will cover an all-in-one scope of work for production, assembly, testing, overhaul and refurbishment of trains for the Asean region," he said. Najib urged skill training institutes, including those under the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), to speed up the pace in producing the required number of skilled manpower. He welcomed the Land Public Transport Commission's (SPAD) skill-training academy for rail industry workers, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd's training programmes and the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology's memorandum of understanding with French multinational Thales Group to train locals. Once fully operational, he said the MRT would cover 156km and see up to two million trips per day, a huge jump from the 500,000 daily trips on the current urban rail system. Najib added that another project in the pipeline was the 330km-long Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high speed rail link, estimated to be completed by 2020 which would cut land travelling time bet­ween the two countries to just 90 minutes. At another function earlier, Najib said the Government was actively trying to strike a balance between environmental conservation and economic development. He added that this was not an easy path for developing countries which were often more expo­sed and vulnerable to environmental threats. "Integrating economic, health and environmental policies is easier said than done. "It takes strong leadership to instil change, ensure a common vision and enhance cross-sectoral cooperation at the national, regional and global levels," he said in his address before launching the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Regional Forum on Environment and Health in South-East and East Asian Countries yesterday.

UPSR candidate with vision woes can use larger papers Posted: ALOR SETAR: A 12-year-old who is sitting for his UPSR exam has been given permission to use "ultra large" papers due to failing vision. Kedah Education Department director Mansor Lat said the Malaysia Examinations Board had allowed K. Rigneshak to use 109cm x 79cm paper sheets for written answers and 55cm x 75cm papers for objective tests. "All the questions will be read to him by the examination supervisor and he will answer the questions using a black marker pen on paper that is commonly used in mahjong," he said after meeting Rigneshak yesterday. K. Kaneshan said he was proud that his son still wanted to study and sit for the exams despite his poor vision. "I helped by preparing notes in large fonts so that it would be easier for him to read," he said. Rigneshak was first diagnosed with vision problems at age eight, and his condition worsened over the years. Kaneshan said doctors confirmed in May that Rigneshak was suffering from Accommodative Spasm. Rigneshak was among 109 special needs candidates sitting for the UPSR. Fourteen are taking the three-day exam in hospitals. Overall, 36,689 pupils are taking the exam in 573 centres in the state.

Young employees: Don't restrict social media Posted: KUALA LUMPUR: Young civil servants have debunked a warning by the public services department (PSD) that stern action will be taken against employees who make online criticisms against the Government. PSD director-general Tan Sri Mohamad Zabidi Zainal had reportedly said civil servants were giving negative views on government programmes through the social media and the Internet, not realising it was an offence. This was echoed by Malaysian Employers Federation executive director Shamsuddin Bardan, who warned employees might face strict disciplinary action if they put up workplace discussions and internal matters on cyberspace. Syawal (not his real name) shot down the warnings, saying: "At work, I do my work. "But after working hours, whatever I do is personal and they (the bosses) don't have the right to stop me," added the 30-year-old civil servant, who admitted he had contravened the Akujanji (pledge) he took with the Government. Michael, 24, an account executive at an advertising firm, admitted he trashed his employers but felt there should be freedom of speech, albeit in general terms rather than direct criticisms towards employers. Jenn Golliwogg, 31, said while the use of the social media shouldn't be restricted, employees should use some discretion. "Even in free speech, one shouldn't bite the hand that feeds him," she said. Kevin Teh, 28, said: "People are obviously going to turn to alternate sources to vent their anger or frustration." Communications executive Daniel (not his real name), 24, said: "Employees should realise that while social media is a private tool, it exists in a digital public sphere. It's currently a cowboy town where laws are blurry. Employees think they have the right and authority, but the higher authority can exercise their 'right' too," he added. Jonathan Lim, 23, said there was a thin line between critical judgment and downright condemnation.

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Indonesian policeman shot dead in central Jakarta Posted: JAKARTA (AFP) - Motorcycle gunmen have shot dead a policeman as he escorted a convoy in downtown Jakarta, an official said Wednesday, the latest brazen assault on an officer in the capital. It was the fourth fatal shooting of a policeman in or around the city in recent weeks and the most high-profile yet, as it was in central Jakarta and right by the headquarters of a powerful law enforcement agency. Police said the shooting late Tuesday followed the pattern of previous attacks, and they suspected the same terror group was behind the killings. In the latest attack, the policeman was on a motorcycle escorting six trucks carrying elevator parts on a busy main road when four gunmen riding motorbikes opened fire on him, police said. The officer, identified as Sukardi, was passing the offices of the Corruption Eradication Commission when the attack happened at 10:15 pm (1515 GMT). "The policeman died instantly after being shot three times in his chest and stomach," said Jakarta police spokesman Rikwanto, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. Police launched a massive manhunt after the killing, setting up road blocks and questioning motorists. The attack came after three policemen were shot dead in two separate attacks in Tangerang district on Jakarta's western outskirts in August. While Indonesian security forces have been targeted by terror groups in recent years, the upsurge of attacks in the capital is a new development. Most previous attacks had taken place in the district of Poso on Sulawesi island in central Indonesia, where terror groups hide out in the jungles. Indonesia launched a crackdown on Islamist militant networks a decade ago after attacks on Western targets, which has successfully dismantled some of the deadliest groups.

Soaring land prices push Myanmar's poor into streets Posted: YANGON: Soaring rents in Myanmar's commercial capital Yangon have seen hundreds of poor families shunted from their homes, forcing them to turn to charity as their last buffer from life on the streets. Political transformation, which has swept the country since the quasi-civilian government took power in 2011, has seen sanctions lifted from the former pariah state and stoked rising investment interest in the perceived frontier market. But the changes have also fuelled rampant speculation in the commercial hub Yangon, squeezing the poor into homelessness. "Whole families came saying they had no place to live, nothing to eat, begging for help," said 61-year-old Khin San Oo, manager at a makeshift centre for the displaced in a Buddhist monastery in a scruffy suburb of the former capital. Abbott Ottamasara offered free plots on 30 acres of land at the Thabarwa – or "nature" – compound 16 months ago and word has spread fast, drawing penniless families from Yangon and surrounding districts. More than 2,400 families have now built small shanties in the grounds an hour's drive from downtown Yangon. Hundreds of others, who cannot afford construction costs, are sheltering in a communal bamboo dormitory at the site, which is home to a meditation centre. Surging demand for property as Myanmar undergoes rapid change since shedding the isolation of junta rule has threatened to push more people from their homes, with rent hikes compounding low wages in and around the country's most populous city. Figures from estate agents show rents have risen by 25% this year for a small Yangon apartment, while sales prices have doubled or even trebled over the past two years in some neighbourhoods. Tin Tin Win, 57, says she was forced to move to the compound with her daughter, son, two grandchildren and husband, after the family was asked to pay six months in advance to renew the lease on their property. "Our rent went up several times... we couldn't afford to stay in our house. That's why we had to move here," she said, adding that she was secure, but uncomfortable, in the cramped new lodgings. President Thein Sein has made slashing poverty rates a pillar of reforms in Myanmar, where the former military rulers neglected to build a state safety net during their corrupt, decades-long rule. But that goal appears far off. "The whole world now knows that the land price here (in Yangon) is very expensive," said Than Oo, 64, managing director of Mandaing real estate company. Families have been forced out to satellite towns because of the high rents, he said, urging the "stabilisation of the real estate market". Monks at the monastery have been unable to turn away the cascade of new arrivals. But staff say the land is now full, leaving the abbot scratching around for donors with space to spare for the needy. Myint Nwe, who lives in the monastery's stable-like dormitory with her nine-strong family, is grateful for the lifeline offered by the abbot. "My husband had a stroke two years ago. After that we had nothing to eat," said the mother of five, explaining how they came to the monastery, as her husband sat expressionless next to her. While she is able to sell fruit to buy occasional snacks for her children or medicine for her husband, Myint Nwe, like many others in the monastery housing, can see no way back to independence. — AFP

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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health

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Change your routine to help kids shed weight Posted: One way to crack down on childhood obesity? Switch up the family routine, cut down on television, and dine together, a new study suggests. TO help kids fight the battle of the bulge, a new study suggests changing up household routines with a few simple strategies. In a new study published online Sept 9 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, US and Canadian researchers implemented a home-based intervention to help young kids lose weight, by curbing TV time, increasing sleep time, and encouraging families to dine together. While childhood obesity is looming large around the globe, the US is especially struggling: some 17% of US children are obese, with the problem particularly acute among minority groups and low-income families, the report added. One solution: a holistic lifestyle change, Aaron Carroll, a paediatric obesity expert who penned an editorial to the study, suggested. "Rather than drill down to a specific eating or exercise change, creating a healthier household may be a better way not only to improve weight, but overall physical and mental health as well," he wrote in the editorial. In the study, researchers from Harvard Medical School and Ontario's University of Guelph enlisted 121 families with overweight kids in a six-month study, with 59 families assigned to a control group. Prior to the study, all of the children slept in a room with a television. In the intervention group, families received in-home counselling about healthy habits, and children increased their sleep by a half hour per day, cut down their television time by one hour per day, and in turn reduced their body mass index (BMI) by 20%. Children in the control group increased their BMI by 20%. In a separate 2012 study from Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana, researchers found that televisions in bedrooms can put kids at greater risk of obesity. A separate 2011 study in the journal Pediatric Obesity also found that electronic devices – TVs, computers, and mobile phones – in kids' bedrooms are linked with both poor sleep and obesity. – AFP Relaxnews

Yearly mammograms can save lives Posted: A new study finds evidence that regular mammograms can help save lives through early detection. FOR women 40 and over, a new study finds that regular mammography screening is still the best way to go. A new analysis published online in the journal Cancer finds that along with new therapeutics and protocols for treating breast cancer, regular mammography screening for women 40 and older can significantly reduce breast cancer deaths through early detection. The Harvard Medical School study, which involved 7,301 patients, found that 71% of confirmed breast cancer deaths occurred in the 20% of the study population that did not receive regular mammograms. The majority of those who died from breast cancer had never had a mammogram prior to diagnosis. Moreover, 50% of the breast cancer deaths occurred in women under the age of 50, while only 13% were in women ages 70 or older. "These findings should quiet those who argue that women age 40-49 do not need regular mammography screening. In fact, these women need annual screening – as do all women 40 and older. This is the message physicians should be promoting," said Dr Barbara S. Monsees, chair of the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Commission. "Breast cancer treatment has come a long way, but, as this study demonstrates, these advances have not negated the value of, or the need for early detection," she added. "This study should effectively end confusion over when, and particularly if, women need to begin screening," said Dr Murray Rebner, president of the Society of Breast Imaging. With more prevalent screening, especially in younger women, the researchers said that their study suggests that breast cancer mortality could decrease to less than 10% overall in the next 10 years, and perhaps to as low as 5% overall by 2030. – AFP Relaxnews

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Music

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MTV World Stage: Life's a riot! Posted: MTV World Stage proved it knew how to party safe with sexy and style. IT'S interesting that this year's MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia concert was held on a Sunday evening. Logistically speaking, the arrangement seemed greatly inconvenient, what with the next day being a school/ work day and all. Besides, there's only so much partying one could do after Saturday trails off. But here's my hypothesis regarding the situation: The fifth instalment of the concert series featured Robin Thicke. Yes, we're talking about that white male singer who has had more controversies and headlines this year alone than other celebrities (notwithstanding gender) put together. There's that original-cut Blurred Lines music video which caused an uproar among women's rights activists (with its lewd portrayal of the fairer sex) and a lawsuit scandal involving the late Marvin Gaye's family. And who could possibly forget the image of Hannah Montana, err sorry I mean Miley Cyrus, "twerking" with Thicke at the recent MTV Video Music Awards in New York? Earlier in the day at a press conference in a local hotel, Thicke revealed that he revels in controversies as that kind of attention gives him a chance for people to be acquainted with his music. You can't blame the man. He only wants to make popular music and sex has always been the tried-and-tested formula to mainstream success. But that's probably not the kind of attention that MTV would have wanted to expose to its tween concert demographic whom it had satiated last year with Justin Bieber. Hence, the reason why the event was held on an evening before the school week. Should that be the situation, the music television network had certainly underestimated the power of the youthful K-pop crowd. If anything, it was the fans of Korean boyband EXO that dominated this year's World Stage concert at Surf Beach @ Sunway Lagoon in Selangor. The mostly female fans camped out as early as Friday evening at the entrance of the venue, carrying banners declaring their adulation for the group. The wait was certainly worth it as the exports from South Korea didn't disappoint when they took to the stage later that night. Despite the torrential drizzle, the preppy-looking boys glided, danced and howled (no kidding!) their way through a 30-minute set on stage. EXO managed to rile up its fans into a wild frenzy with slick performances of songs such as Wolf, History and 365. On several occasions, the screams from fans were so loud that it drowned out the music. After the end of Growl – the last performance from the group – it was obvious that the majority of the 15,000 crowd had only made their way to the concert to catch the 12-member boyband. "Okay EXO fans, let's go home!" a female concertgoer was overheard cheekily saying as she followed the large mass of people leaving the concert grounds. With the infectious amount of boyish charm on stage, it's easy for the live audience to forget all about the performance from the previous act Joe Flizzow. However, one should not discount the opening set by the homegrown hip hop star. The local singer/ rapper did a great job warming up the crowd. The man "nailed it" with SonaOne and Altimet on a raucous performance of Havoc. Later on, Far East Movement escalated the party mood with a frenetic set. Hands were constantly up in the air as the group belted out hits such as Like a G6, Live My Life, Illest, Jello, Rocketeer and Turn Up the Love. The crowd favourite moment was definitely the group's unique rendition of Rocketeer which was remixed with Alicia Keys' No One. It was finally time for the man of the moment, Robin Thicke, to take the stage after Far East Movement. Unfortunately, his spotlight was slightly dampened when his show was plagued by a slight technical glitch. Thicke handled the situation in a suave manner though, belting out an a capella version of Blurred Lines before leaving the stage for a good 10 minutes. The man returned with the bass-heavy Give It 2 U and interspersed his show with some upbeat numbers (Take It Easy on Me, Shaking It for Daddy) and smooth R&B offerings (Feel Good, Lost Without U) before closing the show with the no-brainer Blurred Lines. All the bad press aside, there's no denying that Thicke is a great live performer. Coupled with a piano, he hit every single high notes on the heartfelt Lost Without U. MTV had better whip up something awesome for next year's event as this year's instalment had set a pretty high bar in the World Stage series.   MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia 2013's full show premieres on MTV (Astro Ch 713) on Sept 21 at 12.30pm.

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