Ahad, 29 September 2013

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro


Xi to witness signing of pacts during KL visit

Posted:

BEIJING: China will sign documents to boost cooperation in the fields of outer-space, trade, technology and fishery with Malaysia and Indonesia during Chinese President Xi Jinping's official visit to the two countries this week.

In a press conference yesterday, Chinese deputy foreign minister Liu Zhenmin said this would be Xi's first official visit to South East Asia.

"Besides bolstering ties with our neighbours, Xi's visit from Oct 2 to Oct 5 is also aimed at enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation.

"It not only deepens bilateral relations between China and the two countries, but will also further develop the relations between China and Asean," said Liu.

Following his visit to the two countries, Xi will be attending the 21st Apec Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bali, Indonesia.

During his stay in Malaysia, Xi will pay courtesy call on the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah and attend a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"Both Chinese and Malaysian leaders will exchange views on a wide range of topics, including bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues.

"Should the territorial disputes in the South China Sea be brought up during the meeting, the discussion will be based upon a mutual goal to maintain peace, stability and freedom of navigation on the marginal sea," said Liu, adding that Xi would not be visiting Sabah.

Last year, the bilateral trade volume between China and Malaysia reached US$94.8bil (RM305.97bil).This makes Malaysia China's top trading partner among the Asean coun­­­­­­­­tries for the fifth consecutive year.

'Long live the Queen' arch raises eyebrows

Posted:

An archway in Queenstown proclaiming "Long live the Queen" has left some scratching their heads, even as residents gathered for a concert to mark the estate's 60th anniversary.

The arch was put up as part of the celebrations at the estate, which was named after Queen Elizabeth II.

Nine of 15 Singaporeans described the arch as odd, calling it a "colonial hangover".

"It's not appropriate as we are an independent country and no longer under British rule," said polytechnic course manager Tia Boon Sim, 57, who lived in Queenstown for the first 16 years of her life.

Since Sept 13, the estate has been marking its anniversary with a two-week-long arts and heritage festiva.

Over 22,700 residents attended these events. An anniversary concert was held at Tanglin Halt Community Plaza last night.

"It's actually just good fun," said Minister for Social and Family Deve­lopment Chan Chun Sing on the arch, on the sidelines of the concert.

"It's just part of our heritage... and to recognise how Queenstown started 60 years ago."

In his speech, he also conveyed the well-wishes of Queen Elizabeth II in a letter from her private secretary Chris­to­pher Geidt.

The festival, organised by civic group My Community and supported by the Queenstown Citizens Consul­tative Committee, was to showcase the area's history.

My Community founder Kwek Li Yong, 24, said the arch – featuring a photo of the Queen and decorated with the Union Jack – is a re-creation of a larger one that was erected in 1953 in North Bridge Road to celebrate the Queen's coronation.

"History teaches us to look back at events. So, we are tracing the estate's roots back to when the British started it, as Singapore's first satellite town," he said.

Residents said the arch, which had been up at the entrance of Tanglin Halt's community plaza near Block 46-2 since Sept 15 and would be taken down today – could have come with a sign explaining why it was there.

"Otherwise, the proclamation seems out of place in the Singaporean heartland," said secretary Aileen See, 53.

But others, some of whom posed for photos under the lit-up arch, said it "need not be taken too seriously".

Older residents, such as L.H. Khoo, 74, said it was a fitting tribute because the British had a role in building Singapore's first modern town. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Cost of N-Day giant vase draws ire

Posted:

BEIJING: A giant vase installed in Beijing's Tiananmen Square ahead of a national holiday has met with scathing criticism from Chinese Internet users after a newspaper revealed its cost.

An enormous psychedelic-looking red pot topped with huge fake flowers and imitation peaches was installed this week on the square, the symbolic centre of the Chinese state.

But it came at a cost of more than 570,000 yuan (RM300,605) up 8,000 yuan (RM4,219) from the previous two years, according to the state-run Beijing Youth Daily.

The cost prompted critical comments among Chinese Internet users – even though the report said that the overall number of flowers used around Beijing for China's National Day had halved.

"Who permitted spending taxpayer's money in this way?" one user of Sina Weibo, a Chinese equivalent of Twitter, wrote.

Another user wrote: "570,000! That money could be put to much better use."

The report said that some money-saving measures including the use of 800,000 small flower pots in the square itself, compared to 1,000,000 last year, had been introduced.

China's new President Xi Jinping has touted a campaign to reduce government waste, introducing a ban on new government buildings and guidelines for banquets, after reports of corrupt officials enjoying wasteful lunches and unnecessary building projects.

A county in eastern China built a giant copper sculpture of a puffer fish at a cost of around 70 million yuan (RM36.9mil), reports said this week, bringing about angry comments about government extravagance.

Tiananmen Square usually gets a makeover ahead of China's National Day which falls on Oct 1 and is a platform for the ruling Communist party to showcase its achievements and drum up nationalist sentiment. — AFP

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The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz


Solving the mystery with Detective Dee

Posted:

YOUNG Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon is the prequel to the Detective Dee franchise and is directed by Tsui Hark.

The young Dee Renjie (Mark Chao) arrives in the Eastern Capital Luoyang amidst chaos. Several navy warships have been destroyed by what is suspected to be a "sea dragon". The fearful citizens hope to appease the dragon by sacrificing a young maiden, Courtesan Yin (Angelababy).

She was chosen as a victim because she has angered many officials by refusing their advances.

Carina Lau reprises her role as Empress Wu Zetian, who orders Chief Commissioner of the Supreme Court, Yuchi Zhenjin (William Feng) to investigate the attack against the ships and solve the case in 10 days or lose his head.

He teams up with Dee, aided by a young doctor Shatuo (Lin Gengxin) to solve the mystery.

With Yuchi's martial arts prowess, Shatuo's medical skills, the trioraces against time to crack the case.

This is the first feature film by Huayi Brothers Media that is shot in stereoscopic 3D; its previous films like Painted Skin: The Resurrection and Taichi series were converted to 3D in post-production. (Unfortunately, the 3D version of Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon is not screened in Malaysia.) – Oh Ing Yeen

Related story:

Angelababy and Mark Chao make a Dee-lightful couple

Angelababy and Mark Chao make a Dee-lightful couple

Posted:

Third time's the charm for Angelababy and Mark Chao as the actors reunite in the prequel to the popular Detective Dee film.

TAIWANESE-BORN actor Mark Chao was stumped when researching for his character Detective Dee in Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon.

"I tried to look up Detective Dee in history books to find out more about the character. However most of the books are about Empress Wu Zetian; there was not much about Detective Dee," the handsome actor tells Star2 in an interview in Hong Kong.

"It was only written in novels about how he cracks cases, hence I have to come up with my own way of portraying the character."

Dee Renjie or Detective Dee is China's answer to Sherlock Holmes, as director Tsui Hark puts it. Dee has a remarkable memory and uses his deduction skills to solve cases.

But aside from these set of skills, Chao feels that Dee has a strong sense of justice and is a brave, honest person.

Although Chao is a fast rising male star in the Chinese movie industry, did he feel the pressure of assuming the role of the younger Detective Dee, a role which beloved veteran star Andy Lau played in the first movie?

"I have much respect for Andy Lau. The stress actually comes from whether I can fulfil the director's expectations," Chao explains.

This is the third collaboration between Chao and Hong Kong starlet Angelababy. They first acted alongside each other in Han Yan's, aptly titled, First Time where Chao played Angelababy's love interest. From their banter during Star2's interview, which was held before the film's gala premiere in Hong Kong last Tuesday, it was evident that these two stars, who describe their relationship as "brothers", share a common understanding that has enabled them to work well together in the movie.

"While waiting on the set, she would fidget and start bugging me. I would be waiting patiently with a book but she would start poking me," Chao reveals.

Angelababy quickly interjects: "We are all young; how could you be reading when everyone is having fun and talking while waiting on the set."

He is very mature and one could see it from the way he carries himself."

In Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon, Angela Yeung, or Angelababy as she is known in the industry, plays the most beautiful woman in the Eastern Capital, a courtesan desired by many.

Angelababy seems born to play this role as the actress is just as popular in real life.

In 2007, the Shanghai-born beauty entered the entertainment industry in Hong Kong first as a model and then made her acting debut in Pang Ho-cheung's Trivial Matters. It was her role in 2010's Hot Summer Days that got her noticed and ever since then, Angelababy has become hot property.

It is no secret that many beautiful actresses in Hong Kong are cast in movies as eye candy. Despite her previous roles in romantic films, Angelababy is not afraid of being typecast as the pretty face or the damsel in distress.

"In First Time (where she plays someone who suffers from neuromuscular disease), I played a strong willed character. I even tried my hand as a martial artist in Stephen Fung's Taichi movies (Taichi 0 and Taichi Hero)," she reasons.

Angelababy for Star2 cover

Angelababy is not afraid of being typecast as the pretty face or the damsel in distress.

Angelababy has been modelling since 14 and is regarded as an Asian fashion icon. As someone who is also active in the fashion scene, the actress has a lot to say about the period pieces she wore for her role as Courtesan Yin in Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon.

"The Tang Dynasty had an extensive cultural exchange so that explains why the costumes are sexy. Plus, my character is a foreigner," she says To prepare for the role, the actress learned about tea ceremonies and began dance training three months before the shoot.

"I have also looked online about Tang Dynasty paintings and learned how to pose like a courtesan."

She reveals that director Tsui Hark would also give her tips on how to act like an enchanting courtesan.

"To attract men, he said, it's all in the eyes; you must show that you care for no one (but him)."

Co-star Chao says: "I was surprised to see Angelababy when she first appeared on set as Courtesan Yin. I thought to myself, 'What happened to my brother?'

"This is the first time I see extras not needing any cue; they were dumbfounded the moment she appeared (yet) they could act without any further instructions."

Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon is currently playing in cinemas nationwide.

Related story:

Solving the mystery with Detective Dee

Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf and gang went camping

Posted:

The actors shared some male-bonding time at an English countryside.

FURY co-stars Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Jon Bernthal and Kevin Vance more or less had no choice but to rough it out together when director David Ayer dropped them off in the wilderness without the cellphones, according to entertainment magazine Us Weekly.

According to a source cited by the magazine, the actors spent three nights at a forest in England's Buckinghamshire county.

"They play soldiers in the same World War II troop, and the director wanted to make sure they bonded," the source was quoted as saying.

Fury revolves around a group of American soldiers posted in Germany during World War II who embark on a brave mission. It is set to be released in late 2014.

The source goes on to explain that the actors spent their days foraging for food in the forest, and that they huddled up together in their tents to keep warm (the temperature was about 10°C).

Meanwhile, Scott Eastwood, who also stars in the movie, did not join his castmates but seemed to love being on set, judging from his selfies on Instagram. The up-and-coming actor, model and son of Clint Eastwood posted pictures of himself shirtless and flexing his muscles in front of a military tank. His caption: "Trying to outflex the tank. Not working."

Eastwood recently became one of the most-searched celebrities on the Internet, thanks to a feature in Town & Country magazine's October issue, in which he replicated a few of his formerly estranged father's iconic poses.

The actor has been busy of late, working in movies like The Perfect Wave, Mercury Plains, Dawn Patrol and Boulevard H, as well as appearing in TV shows like Chicago Fire and its spin-off, Chicago PD. — Melody L. Goh

One of the Scott Eastwood pictures featured in Town & Country magazine.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio


Visit the Dark Ages with 'Vikings'

Posted:

The History channel's Vikings are kinder and gentler than what we're used to seeing. And that's okay.

HAVE the Vikings gotten a bum rap?

At least, according to popular imagination, they were fearsome barbarians in horned helmets who pillaged their way across Northern Europe during the Dark Ages. And while it's true these seafaring Norsemen were hardly a bunch of peaceniks, the new History channel scripted series Vikings will attempt to bring some nuance to the caricature of the bearded brutes.

"The great thesis is, 'You think you know the Vikings, but you don't'," said series creator Michael Hirst.

The series represents uncharted territory in more ways than one: At 10 episodes, it will be History's first full-length, scripted programme, arriving on the heels of the massively successful miniseries Hatfields & McCoys and accompanying the debut of the channel's new miniseries The Bible.

Vikings marks the latest step in History's dramatic makeover in recent years from a stodgy and largely irrelevant channel that played a seemingly infinite loop of WWII documentaries to a top-five cable network and industry trendsetter.

As the screenwriter of the film Elizabeth and all 38 episodes of the cable series The Tudors, Hirst has a knack for bringing epic historical tales vividly to life. His latest series, set in the late 8th-century Scandinavia, will join a rather short list of sympathetic pop cultural depictions of the Viking people.

"They're always 'the other'. They're the guys who smash down your door and ravish and kill you and take your possessions – perpetual bad guys," Hirst said by telephone from his home in Britain.

Travis Fimmel and Katheryn Winnick star in History channel's Vikings.

Fimmel and Katheryn Winnick, who plays Lothbrok's wife Lagertha in Vikings.

Of course, a brave and hunky protagonist can make any number of sins more palatable to the contemporary viewer. Vikings has Ragnar Lothbrok, a legendary Norse hero who led raids on France and England. Played by Australian actor and former Calvin Klein model Travis Fimmel, Ragnar is a visionary family man who clashes with ruthless tribal leader Earl Haraldson (Gabriel Byrne) over his plan to explore the uncharted waters to the west.

"It's like any other drama: the first rule is to get you involved in the characters. They don't have to be nice, they have to be powerful and they have to be compulsively watchable," Hirst said.

Hirst took pains to emphasise the Vikings' positive contributions to Western civilisation; their rich mythology and surprisingly progressive gender politics – who knew? – all figure prominently in the series, which was filmed over five months at the brand-new Ashford Studios in County Wicklow, Ireland.

For Nancy Dubuc, president of entertainment and media for A&E Networks, scripted content has been a dream since she took over the reins at History in 2007.

"We can't be the well-rounded and powerful brand that we are without bringing this form of storytelling to our network," she said. "But I also believed very firmly that if we were going to do it, we were going to do it to win, not just to play," she said.

History was attracted to Vikings – initially developed by MGM Television and the Irish producer Morgan O'Sullivan – largely because of its self-explanatory premise.

"Something we think about when we're looking at all of our scripted projects is 'Can you put up a billboard and get it right away?'," said Dick Hoogstra, senior vice president of development and production at History. "We like it when the marketing doesn't have to explain too much."

With its wintry climes and characters decked out in leather tunics and shaggy fur capes, Vikings has perhaps inevitably invited comparisons to HBO's fantasy series Game Of Thrones. The projects share a preoccupation with medieval hygiene and bloody decapitations, but there are some notable differences – namely, the constraints of basic cable.

"When I was writing The Tudors, there was a certain amount of gratuitous stuff which has now gone bonkers in a lot of cable shows. Every scene starts with semi-naked women. With History, of course, the rules are different," Hirst said.

Vikings is also limited, if only slightly, by historical reality. Hirst can humanise the Vikings all he wants, but he can't entirely whitewash their more unflattering qualities, such as their overt hostility to Christianity (an early episode features a brutal raid on a Nothrumbrian monastery). — Los Angeles Times/McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

> Vikings – a new nine-part scripted series premiering today at 10pm on the History channel (Astro Ch 555) – portrays the world of these Dark Age raiders, traders, explorers through the eyes of the Viking society.

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The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


Death toll from Pakistan market attack rises to 42

Posted:

PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - The death toll from a car bomb explosion in an ancient market in Pakistan's north-western city of Peshawar rose to at least 42 on Monday, after the third attack in the area in a week.

The blast ripped through the busy centuries-old market known as Quiswakhani, or the storytellers' bazaar, in Peshawar's old city on Sunday, exactly a week after more than 80 Christians were killed in a twin suicide bomb attack on a nearby church.

A spokesman for the main city hospital said at least 107 people were wounded.

The dead included at least 15 members of a family who had come to the city from a nearby village to make wedding arrangements.

Islamist violence has been on the rise in Pakistan in recent months, undermining Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's efforts to tame the insurgency by launching peace talks with the Taliban.

Pakistan's main Taliban group, which has expressed willingness to talk peace on its conditions, denied responsibility for the latest attack.

(Reporting by Hameed Ullah Khan; Writing by Maria Golovnina; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

China to crack down on false terrorist threats to airlines

Posted:

SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China will impose tough penalties on people making false terrorist threats against airlines and airports, after a stream of bogus calls grounded flights and piled pressure on an already strained air traffic control system, state media reported.

Flights and domestic airports have been disrupted by 80 fake threats this year, the official Xinhua news service said. Between May 15 and 18 alone, six bomb threats were reported, forcing 22 flights to turn back, land elsewhere or be delayed, a separate China Daily report noted.

The media reports come a day before China embarks on a week-long national holiday which will see transportation channels jammed with tourists and people returning home.

China's top court is planning to make false calls a criminal offence and offenders could be jailed for more than five years if there is economic damage of more than 500,000 yuan (50,528.79 pounds), or even longer if the damage is more severe.

Fake threats were sometimes made out of curiosity or for a joke, or even by irate boyfriends trying to prevent girlfriends leaving town, media reports have said.

Chinese airlines are already struggling to handle increasing traffic in a timely manner given heavy restrictions on the usage of civilian airspace.

Only 18.3 percent of flights departing from Beijing left on time in June, and only 28.7 percent of flights leaving Shanghai made it on time, making them the two poorest performing major airports in the world, according to FlightStats.com.

The new laws will also apply to threats made against trains, ferries as well as other public facilities like shopping malls, the China Daily said. It also warned people from disseminating rumours about such threats via text messages or social media, saying they could be criminally charged.

(Reporting by Pete Sweeney; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Alitalia aircraft makes emergency landing, no injuries

Posted:

ROME (Reuters) - An Alitalia aircraft went off the runway while landing at Rome's Fiumicino airport on Sunday, but there were no injuries among the 151 passengers or crew, authorities said.

The airport said the pilot reported problems opening the undercarriage and made an emergency landing.

(Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Patrick Graham and Stacey Joyce)

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews


Solving the mystery with Detective Dee

Posted:

YOUNG Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon is the prequel to the Detective Dee franchise and is directed by Tsui Hark.

The young Dee Renjie (Mark Chao) arrives in the Eastern Capital Luoyang amidst chaos. Several navy warships have been destroyed by what is suspected to be a "sea dragon". The fearful citizens hope to appease the dragon by sacrificing a young maiden, Courtesan Yin (Angelababy).

She was chosen as a victim because she has angered many officials by refusing their advances.

Carina Lau reprises her role as Empress Wu Zetian, who orders Chief Commissioner of the Supreme Court, Yuchi Zhenjin (William Feng) to investigate the attack against the ships and solve the case in 10 days or lose his head.

He teams up with Dee, aided by a young doctor Shatuo (Lin Gengxin) to solve the mystery.

With Yuchi's martial arts prowess, Shatuo's medical skills, the trioraces against time to crack the case.

This is the first feature film by Huayi Brothers Media that is shot in stereoscopic 3D; its previous films like Painted Skin: The Resurrection and Taichi series were converted to 3D in post-production. (Unfortunately, the 3D version of Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon is not screened in Malaysia.) – Oh Ing Yeen

Related story:

Angelababy and Mark Chao make a Dee-lightful couple

Angelababy and Mark Chao make a Dee-lightful couple

Posted:

Third time's the charm for Angelababy and Mark Chao as the actors reunite in the prequel to the popular Detective Dee film.

TAIWANESE-BORN actor Mark Chao was stumped when researching for his character Detective Dee in Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon.

"I tried to look up Detective Dee in history books to find out more about the character. However most of the books are about Empress Wu Zetian; there was not much about Detective Dee," the handsome actor tells Star2 in an interview in Hong Kong.

"It was only written in novels about how he cracks cases, hence I have to come up with my own way of portraying the character."

Dee Renjie or Detective Dee is China's answer to Sherlock Holmes, as director Tsui Hark puts it. Dee has a remarkable memory and uses his deduction skills to solve cases.

But aside from these set of skills, Chao feels that Dee has a strong sense of justice and is a brave, honest person.

Although Chao is a fast rising male star in the Chinese movie industry, did he feel the pressure of assuming the role of the younger Detective Dee, a role which beloved veteran star Andy Lau played in the first movie?

"I have much respect for Andy Lau. The stress actually comes from whether I can fulfil the director's expectations," Chao explains.

This is the third collaboration between Chao and Hong Kong starlet Angelababy. They first acted alongside each other in Han Yan's, aptly titled, First Time where Chao played Angelababy's love interest. From their banter during Star2's interview, which was held before the film's gala premiere in Hong Kong last Tuesday, it was evident that these two stars, who describe their relationship as "brothers", share a common understanding that has enabled them to work well together in the movie.

"While waiting on the set, she would fidget and start bugging me. I would be waiting patiently with a book but she would start poking me," Chao reveals.

Angelababy quickly interjects: "We are all young; how could you be reading when everyone is having fun and talking while waiting on the set."

He is very mature and one could see it from the way he carries himself."

In Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon, Angela Yeung, or Angelababy as she is known in the industry, plays the most beautiful woman in the Eastern Capital, a courtesan desired by many.

Angelababy seems born to play this role as the actress is just as popular in real life.

In 2007, the Shanghai-born beauty entered the entertainment industry in Hong Kong first as a model and then made her acting debut in Pang Ho-cheung's Trivial Matters. It was her role in 2010's Hot Summer Days that got her noticed and ever since then, Angelababy has become hot property.

It is no secret that many beautiful actresses in Hong Kong are cast in movies as eye candy. Despite her previous roles in romantic films, Angelababy is not afraid of being typecast as the pretty face or the damsel in distress.

"In First Time (where she plays someone who suffers from neuromuscular disease), I played a strong willed character. I even tried my hand as a martial artist in Stephen Fung's Taichi movies (Taichi 0 and Taichi Hero)," she reasons.

Angelababy for Star2 cover

Angelababy is not afraid of being typecast as the pretty face or the damsel in distress.

Angelababy has been modelling since 14 and is regarded as an Asian fashion icon. As someone who is also active in the fashion scene, the actress has a lot to say about the period pieces she wore for her role as Courtesan Yin in Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon.

"The Tang Dynasty had an extensive cultural exchange so that explains why the costumes are sexy. Plus, my character is a foreigner," she says To prepare for the role, the actress learned about tea ceremonies and began dance training three months before the shoot.

"I have also looked online about Tang Dynasty paintings and learned how to pose like a courtesan."

She reveals that director Tsui Hark would also give her tips on how to act like an enchanting courtesan.

"To attract men, he said, it's all in the eyes; you must show that you care for no one (but him)."

Co-star Chao says: "I was surprised to see Angelababy when she first appeared on set as Courtesan Yin. I thought to myself, 'What happened to my brother?'

"This is the first time I see extras not needing any cue; they were dumbfounded the moment she appeared (yet) they could act without any further instructions."

Young Detective Dee: Rise Of The Sea Dragon is currently playing in cinemas nationwide.

Related story:

Solving the mystery with Detective Dee

Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf and gang went camping

Posted:

The actors shared some male-bonding time at an English countryside.

FURY co-stars Brad Pitt, Shia LaBeouf, Logan Lerman, Jon Bernthal and Kevin Vance more or less had no choice but to rough it out together when director David Ayer dropped them off in the wilderness without the cellphones, according to entertainment magazine Us Weekly.

According to a source cited by the magazine, the actors spent three nights at a forest in England's Buckinghamshire county.

"They play soldiers in the same World War II troop, and the director wanted to make sure they bonded," the source was quoted as saying.

Fury revolves around a group of American soldiers posted in Germany during World War II who embark on a brave mission. It is set to be released in late 2014.

The source goes on to explain that the actors spent their days foraging for food in the forest, and that they huddled up together in their tents to keep warm (the temperature was about 10°C).

Meanwhile, Scott Eastwood, who also stars in the movie, did not join his castmates but seemed to love being on set, judging from his selfies on Instagram. The up-and-coming actor, model and son of Clint Eastwood posted pictures of himself shirtless and flexing his muscles in front of a military tank. His caption: "Trying to outflex the tank. Not working."

Eastwood recently became one of the most-searched celebrities on the Internet, thanks to a feature in Town & Country magazine's October issue, in which he replicated a few of his formerly estranged father's iconic poses.

The actor has been busy of late, working in movies like The Perfect Wave, Mercury Plains, Dawn Patrol and Boulevard H, as well as appearing in TV shows like Chicago Fire and its spin-off, Chicago PD. — Melody L. Goh

One of the Scott Eastwood pictures featured in Town & Country magazine.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Nation

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The Star Online: Nation


Special forces veterans will always hate communist rebels

Posted:

MERSING: The special forces who fought against the communist guerillas led by Chin Peng will never forgive or forget the atrocities against them by the rebels.

Malaysian commando veterans club president Kpt (R) Datuk Mohd Ali Shamsudin said many special forces men, being the frontliners during military operations against the terrorists, sacrificed their lives defending the country.

"I lost at least five good friends in ambushes and booby traps set by the insurgents.

"I hope the Government honours those who were killed or maimed at the hands of the terrorists and never allow Chin Peng's ashes to be brought into the country," he said at the Special Forces Day celebrations at Kem Iskandar here yesterday.

Some 250 veterans from around the country took part in the event, which was launched by the Johor Ruler, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar.

Chin Peng died at the age of 88 in Bangkok on Sept 16 and was cremated at a temple in the Thai capital after a four-day wake. The Malaysian Government has disallowed his ashes to be brought back to the country.

Mohd Ali hoped the Government would look into the welfare of more than 4,000 special forces veterans who had left the service.

"Many of them are now security guards, taxi drivers, odd-job workers and labourers. This is sad as many are highly skilled and suitable as bodyguards and divers for the oil and gas sector," he said, adding that they were also expert parachutists.

He said most special forces men retired at 40 after 21 years in the service, adding that they were fit for work in the private sector.

Meanwhile, the Sultan of Johor, in his royal address at the event, reminded the special forces to be always prepared for challenges, such as the unexpected intrusion of militants in Lahad Datu, Sabah, earlier this year.

The Ruler hoped to see the Defence Ministry and the country's leadership equipping the special forces with advanced weaponry besides looking at the human capital and organisational requirements.

"Every life of a member of the special forces is valuable and it is pointless to get killed due to defective weaponry or other weaknesses," said Sultan Ibrahim.

Related story:

Remembering heroes and villains

Lawyer: Irresponsible people may come forward as false witnesses

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: A lawyer has warned of a risk of false witnesses taking advantage of the witness identity protection under the proposed Section 265A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC).

Datuk N. Sivananthan, 47, said although the basis of the proposed amendment was to encourage witnesses to come forward to give evidence, their anonymity must be used in the rarest of situation.

"It must not be used all the time. The danger is when irresponsible people take advantage of the situation and come forward as false witnesses because their names and faces are protected," he said.

On Wednesday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of law Datuk Nancy Shukri tabled the proposed amendments to the CPC in Parliament.

Among the proposed amendments was for the protection of witness identity under the new Section 265A where the public prosecutor may issue an identity protection certificate for a witness to give evidence in camera.

It was also proposed under Section 265A(5) that if a witness fears his voice may be recognised, the court may allow his voice to be distorted when giving evidence.

Meanwhile, under Section 265B, it was proposed for a protected witness to give evidence in camera to carry out identification of an accused or any other person via an interpreter or a court officer.

Those who compromise the protected identity of a witness may be punished with a RM10,000 fine and jail term not exceeding five years.

Sivananthan said some provision must be provided for a judge to see the protected witness despite the amendment pushing for the witness to be concealed from the public eye.

"The judge must be able to see the witness to observe his or her demeanour. This is one of the factors for the judge to decide whether the witness is believable or otherwise," he said.

Sivananthan also welcomed the proposed amendment under the new Section 7A of the Prevention of Crime Act where the public prosecutor may apply to the courts for an electronic monitoring device to be attached to an accused to be released on bail.

"However my concern is that such technology needs professional supervision by competent personnel.

"This is a good thing as the current system puts a lot of people under remand. Some of them spend a long time in remand and end up being acquitted of the crime, and all that time in remand was because they could not afford bail," he said, adding that such a device was common in the United States.

Frenzied debate over slew of Bills

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MOST of the Yang Berhormat (YBs) buried themselves deep in work last week, poring over the slew of proposed amendments to laws meant to address issues related to security and crime prevention.

Eleven Bills were tabled for the first reading but one which came under greater scrutiny was the Prevention of Crime (Amendment and Extension) Bill.

Initially, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar complained that the legislators were caught off guard over the Bills, claiming that they knew about these only at the eleventh hour.

But MPs, being the politicians they are, lost no time in giving their views about the proposed changes to the laws.

One matter that was highlighted was a provision that allowed for a two-year detention of suspected gang members without trial or judicial review.

Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) voiced his concerns over the move, saying it would allow for prolonged detention of an accused without trial.

Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers, notably Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelu­gor), hit out at the amendment.

They felt that it was a regressive move that echoed the days of the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, during a press conference at Parliament lobby, said he would provide a detailed explanation on the reasons for the amendments in coming debates.

He denied that the new laws were a signal that Acts similar to those such as the ISA were making a "comeback".

Besides tackling organised crime, the proposed new laws were also targeted at crimes such as gang rape and criminal force against a spouse.

There are also plans to increase jail time for sexual offenders and repeat offenders.

For those who show disrespect to the Jalur Gemilang, there is a possibility of a jail sentence of between five and 15 years.

And there will be no "honour" in accepting titles from self-proclaimed heads of state not recognised by Malaysia. Those who do so could find themselves behind bars for at least five years.

Earlier in the week, the Dewan passed amendments to the Legal Profession Act to liberalise the legal profession while curbing "fly in, fly out" foreign lawyers.

The move will allow foreign lawyers to participate in arbitration matters while restricting them to a limited role in local legal matters and proceedings.

Also drawing attention was the tabling of the Supplementary Supply Bill for RM14bil in additional expenditure for 10 ministries and six other government institutions.

On another matter, N. Surendran (PKR-Padang Serai) was sent out of the House by Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia when he was adamant in raising a petition about a custodial death despite Pandikar's explanation that the move was against the order of proceedings.

There was also another heated moment when Deputy Science, Technology and Innovations Minister Datuk Abu Bakar Mohamad Diah defended the Lynas rare earth plant, saying that it was as safe as a kicap (soya sauce) factory.

His remark angered a group of anti-Lynas campaigners who had earlier handed him a memorandum.

There was a brief shoving and pushing between him and some group members.

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Bicycle-cam all the rage now

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You have heard of dashboard cameras in cars. Now, it is the turn of the bicycle-cam.

Bikes fitted with video-recording devices are becoming an increasingly common sight on Singapore's roads.

Riders use them to gather evidence if they get into an accident – amid an apparent rise in the number of bicycle-related insurance claims.

Research fellow Dennis Cheong commutes by bike every day from his Toa Payoh home to his office in Buona Vista. 

He started using an old smartphone to record his journeys about six months ago. 

The 44-year-old fixes it to the rear of his bicycle and plans to put another handset on the front.

"This is to collect evidence, in case I need to show proof," he said. 

"If a car honks at me, I can play back the recording to find out why."

However, he said the most important thing was for cyclists to ride defensively, anticipate potential dangers and avoid them.

First Principal Financial chief executive Mohamed Salim has also mounted a portable camera on his bicycle. 

He said he started doing so for "security, in case something happens". 

Several of his cyclist friends have bought cameras for their bikes as well.

Mohamed – who manages BikInsurance, an insurance scheme for cyclists – started using a camera after his son was sideswiped by a car while riding on Nicoll Highway.

The 18-year-old suffered bruises, but the culprit was arrested after a bus driver who saw the accident offered to provide video footage from his vehicle.

Over the past few years, cycling has grown in popularity as a sport and a mode of transport.

At the same time, the number of accident claims involving bicycles appears to be rising. 

Insurer AIG handled 156 cases last year, more than double the 77 it dealt with in 2010.

Fatalities are also up slightly. Sixteen cyclists were killed on the road last year, compared with 15 in 2011.

Simon Wong, director of international sales for GoPro distributor Streamcast Asia, said the number of cameras sold had risen by 300% a year since 2011.

GoPro cameras are used by riders and these can be mounted on the helmet, body or bicycle.

Retiree George Wong, 58, who uses a GoPro occasionally, said: "It's a bit like a black box. 

"If you get out of an accident alive, it corroborates what you say." — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

NIE studying impact of private tution

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The National Institute of Education (NIE) has launched three studies to answer key questions about the impact of private tuition here.

At the top of the list is whether tuition really improves students' grades or if it creates an unhealthy reliance which may make them worse.

The studies, which are expected to be completed by the end of next year, will also question if tutors help students understand content or if they merely drill children to be exam-smart.

Dr Shaljan Areepattamannil, who is heading the project, said he and his team will try to measure whether tuition does indeed raise scores in maths and English through the course of a year.

They will also look at tuition's effect on a pupil's motivation and interest in maths and English.

"Even if the study shows that tuition doesn't result in significant gains, parents and students may not be dissuaded. But for policymakers and educators, it may still be good to understand the impact and trends," he said.

At the same time, Dr Woo Huay Lit is heading a study on who the tutors are, and the types and quality of teaching in tuition centres.

Dr Trivina Kang's study, meanwhile, is looking at what parents expect from tuition, and the experiences of students here.

Research dean Lee Wing On said NIE embarked on the studies due to the high prevalence of tuition in Singapore.

He pointed to a study showing that between 1998 and 2008, tuition spending here doubled from S$410mil (RM1.05bil) to more than S$800mil (RM2.05bil).

"Besides the huge amount of money spent by parents, the tuition phenomenon is worth studying because it has repercussions at both the individual and national levels," he said.

"At the individual level, students can develop a strong reliance on their tutors and may pay less attention in class, knowing that their tutors will help them afterwards.

"At the national level, it has a bearing on our attempts to move away from the focus on exams towards a more holistic education.

"Extensive tuition also exacerbates social inequalities, which has become a pressing concern."

Lee, however, noted that tuition is hard to examine. There are many factors affecting academic achievement, and tutors vary in their methods and quality.

"From a research perspective, populations of students who do and do not receive tutoring cannot easily be compared because they are rarely uniform in other characteristics." 

The debate on tuition gained national prominence recently after Senior Minister of State for Education Indranee Rajah said in Parliament that "our education system is run on the basis that tuition is not necessary".

Many parents and students, however, insist that tuition is needed to maintain an edge. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

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Thrilling obstacle courses

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Obstacle races are huge in the United States, where mud and risk are par for the course.

WITH macho-sounding names like Tough Mudder, Warrior Dash and the Spartan Race, obstacle course races in the US have turned mud, sweat and tears into a flood of revenue.

Over the last year, obstacle races have surpassed marathons in popularity, with an estimated 1.6 million participants paying hefty fees to slosh through mud pits, crawl under barbed wire, scale 10-foot walls and plunge into troughs of ice water.

Course organisers are raking in millions of dollars in the process.

But race organisers and participants say the adrenaline-pumping races may have reached a crucial point, with course designers now forced to dream up new obstacles and themes, or risk losing the novelty that has driven the hugely profitable sport.

"We are going to have to continue to be creative," said Dave Iannone, chief executive and co-founder of the Hero Rush, a race with obstacles designed to mimic the physical challenges of being a firefighter. "Everyone is trying to find something of a niche."

It's a crucial challenge because obstacle course races draw as many as 13,000 participants per event, with entry fees of US$65 to US$180 (RM214 to RM594), plus parking charges. The race distances range from three to 12 miles. But the obstacles are often very similar at many of the races.

In the last year or so, a wave of new race organisers have entered the fray, hosting disorganised events with unchallenging obstacles. Among the obstacles at the Mud-a-Palooza race in Camarillo, California, last year were plastic hula hoops and Styrofoam cubes.

"We have started to reach a saturation," said Matt Robinson, race director at Red Frog Events, a Chicago organiser of obstacle races, including the Warrior Dash and the Great Urban Race. "That is why it is important to continue to reinvent the Warrior Dash."

To keep adrenaline junkies happy, a few races push the danger level to an extreme. The popular Tough Mudder races direct competitors to run or crawl under live wires, charged with up to 10,000 volts of electricity, enough to make you cringe and scream, but not enough to kill you.

Race organisers declined to disclose their profits, but revenues for many of the events have surged in the last few years to include entrance fees, sponsorships and merchandise sales. Advil recently became the official pain reliever of the Tough Mudder.

Red Frog Events started with one obstacle race and 2,000 runners in 2009, and plans to expand to 50 races in places around the globe, such as Queensland, Australia, and Torino, Italy, with more than 600,000 participants by the end of this year. The company reported about US$1mil (RM3.3mil) in revenue in 2009, and approximately US$50mil (RM165mil) in 2012.

"I don't think you could have ever imagined that it would grow as fast as it did," Robinson said. "People are willing to pay for such experiences to escape from reality."

Another hugely successful race organiser, Tough Mudder, began with three events and 20,000 participants in 2010. Last year, 35 Tough Mudder races drew more than 460,000 participants. Organisers plan 52 events in 2013, with as many as 700,000 competitors.

The organisers of Tough Mudder say they are on track to collect US$100mil (RM330mil) in revenue in 2013.

"It's definitely a great return on investment," said Tough Mudder Chief Culture Officer Alex Patterson.

Tough Mudder runners use teamwork to cross a rope wall in the hills near Temecula, California, February 25, 2012. The Tough Mudder run is billed as

Tough Mudder runners use team work to cross a rope well. The Tough Mudder run is billed as 'the toughest event on the planet'. It's a more extreme example of a bunch of muddy assault courses that are very trendy.

The races appeal to athletes and thrill seekers looking for bragging rights or a new challenge that surpasses the once-popular five- or 10-kilometer races.

"They're challenging and I love to compete," said Aracely Rodriguez, 25, a Cal State San Luis Obispo graduate student who has competed in about 15 obstacle races in the last 18 months.

Attendance numbers continue to climb, but race organisers say they must continue to push the thrills to new levels by increasing the distance on some races and adding more difficult obstacles on others.

The organisers of the Spartan Race now host a three-mile Spartan Sprint, an eight-mile Super Spartan and a 12-mile Spartan Beast. In some races, competitors who can't complete an obstacle must endure a penalty, such as a plunge into an ice bath.

The organiser of the Rugged Maniac races is pushing the risk factor even higher by replicating Pamplona's running of the bulls in the US. The race series, known as the Great Bull Run, drew 12,000 participants who sprinted alongside angry bulls at the first event in Virginia in August. The bull run will swing through Southern California in March.

"I think it's going to be an arms race," said Rob Dickens, the chief operating officer of Rugged Races, who also founded the Great Bull Run. "I think people will try to differentiate the obstacles."

When the obstacle race trend began a few years ago, organisers said they couldn't find insurance companies willing to cover such events.

There are no national safety regulations for obstacle races, but race organisers have appeased the insurance industry by staffing the races with emergency medical teams. They also require runners to sign long liability waivers.

New obstacles with increased risks are now what drive many competitors to keep returning to the races.

"If it's new and not the same old, same old, I like that," said Justin Henderson, a systems technician from Chino, who has completed four obstacle races in the last few months.

But organisers must walk a fine line in designing such obstacles.

In April, Avishek Sengupta, 28, drowned at a Tough Mudder race in West Virginia after jumping from a 15-foot-high Walk the Plank obstacle to a muddy pit of water below. No one was charged in the death, which authorities ruled was an accident.

"As organisers, we take our responsibility to provide a safe event to our participants very seriously," Will Dean, CEO of Tough Mudder, said in a statement after the death.

It is believed to be the fourth death in an obstacle course race since 2011.

Some race directors are moving in another direction by reducing the risk factor to appeal to families.

Red Frog Events, for example, recently expanded its offerings to include a beer festival and Illuminite Runs, three-mile nighttime races with participants who wield neon glow-sticks and dance to the music from live DJs after the run.

Said Robinson, events director at Red Frog: "Who knows how long the mud run fad will go on." – Los Angeles Times/McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

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