Rabu, 6 November 2013

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro


Fukushima plant readies for dangerous fuel rod removal

Posted:

FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR POWER PLANT, Japan, Nov 07, 2013 (AFP) - Nuclear engineers in Japan are readying to move uranium and plutonium fuel rods at Fukushima in their most difficult and dangerous task since the plant's runaway reactors were brought under control two years ago.

Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) will this month begin taking out fuel rods from a pool inside a reactor building at the tsunami-hit plant, in a technically challenging operation that will test the utility's abilities after months of setbacks and glitches.

Experts say the operation is a tricky but essential step in the decades-long decommissioning process after the worst atomic accident in a generation.

More than 1,500 nuclear fuel assemblies, the bulk of them used, but including 200 new ones, need to be pulled out of the pool where they were being stored when the tsunami smashed into Fukushima in March 2011.

Reactor No. 4 was not in operation at the time but hydrogen from Reactor No. 3 escaped into the building and exploded, tearing the roof off and leaving it at the mercy of natural hazards like earthquakes, storms or another tsunami.

TEPCO says it has not yet found any damage to the assemblies at No. 4, which contain an mixture of uranium and plutonium, but will be monitoring for abnormalities.

The removal of fuel is part of regular work at any nuclear power plant, but "conditions are different from normal because of the disaster," said company spokeswoman Mayumi Yoshida.

"It is crucial. It is a first big step towards decommissioning the reactors," she said. "Being fully aware of risks, we are determined to go ahead with operations cautiously and securely."

Chunks of debris that were sent flying into the pool as reactor buildings exploded have largely been removed and a crane has been installed. A protective hood has been erected over the building's skeleton in a bid to prevent radioactive leaks.

A remotely-controlled grabber will sink into the pool and hook onto a fuel assembly, which it will pull up and place inside a fully immersed cask.

The 4.5-metre (15-foot) bundles weighing 300 kilogramme (660 pounds) have to be kept in water throughout the operation to keep them cool, the spokeswoman said.

The 91-tonne cask will then be hauled from the pool - containing as many as 22 fuel assemblies and a lot of water - to be loaded onto a trailer and taken to a different storage pool where the operation will be reversed.

Experts warn that any slip-ups could quickly snowball and even minor mishaps will create considerable delays to the already long and complicated decommissioning.

"This is the first practical milestone for the project," said Hiroshi Miyano, a nuclear systems expert and visiting professor at Hosei University in Tokyo.

"Any trouble in this operation will considerably affect the timetable for the entire project," he said. "This is an operation TEPCO cannot afford to bungle."

Miyano's comments reflect an increasingly widespread view that the giant utility is not capable of dealing with the mess its nuclear plant has created.

Months of setbacks have included multiple leaks from tanks storing the water used to keep reactors cool, and a power outage caused when a rat electrocuted itself on a circuit board.

TEPCO's management of the problems has been criticised as haphazard and uncoordinated, with one government minister saying it was like watching someone playing "whack-a-mole".

The full decommissioning of Fukushima is likely to take decades and include tasks that have never been attempted anywhere in the world, such as the removal of reactor cores that have probably melted beyond recognition.

Meanwhile, villages and towns nearby remain largely empty, their residents unable or unwilling to return to live in the shadow of the leaking plant because of the fear of radiation.

Stem cell fountain of youth

Posted:

MANILA: Cynthia Carrion-Norton flits high-heeled around the Philippine capital with energy levels belying her years, thankful for a controversial treatment she highly recommends to fellow sixty-somethings.

Carrion-Norton, 66, a member of the Philippine Olympic Committee and a former undersecretary for medical tourism, credits her vitality to adult stem cell therapy.

"The day I got the therapy I went to a dinner party and everyone told me: 'Cynthia, you're blooming!'," Carrion-Norton said.

The procedure involves harvesting the patient's stem cells from their own fat and injecting them into their blood, which she likened to being injected with intravenous fluid in the arm.

In a country where many elite are obsessed with anti-ageing, wealthy Filipinos are shelling out between US$12,500 (RM39,600) and US$18,000 (RM57,000) per session of stem cell therapy in the belief it will improve their overall health and make them look younger.

Rich businessmen and public officials – mostly male – are the most eager customers, according to Florencio Lucero, a doctor in Manila who said he started performing adult stem cell therapy in 2006.

"They do it because they want to work longer," Lucero said.

"And then they tell their wives or girlfriends."

Lucero said Filipinos had been receiving anti-ageing stem cell treatment since the 1970s, often flying abroad to do so.

Thai medical entrepreneur Bobby Kittichaiwong says he has a lucrative business catering to the Filipino elite, who pay US$20,000 (RM63,400) to visit his Villa Medica clinic in Germany for a more controversial form of stem cell therapy.

The clinic harvests cells from unborn sheep to be injected into a patient's muscles, known as fresh cell therapy, and Kittichaiwong said 400 Filipinos visited last year.

"After 14 days, the patient's skin will glow and their digestive and immune systems will improve," he said.

Among Villa Medica's high-profile clients is former president Joseph Estrada, 76, who has staged a remarkable political comeback in recent years after being forced to stand down from the nation's top job in 2001 because of corruption.

"Now I sleep better, my knees are no longer a problem, my skin has been radiant like this ever since," reads a testimonial from Estrada in a Villa Medica brochure.

A spokesman for Estrada, who was this year elected mayor of the nation's capital, confirmed he had stem cell therapy at Villa Medica.

Another remarkable, elderly politician who has cited stem cell therapy as one reason for his enduring career is 89-year-old Senator Juan Ponce Enrile, who was defence minister during the reign of dictator Ferdinand Marcos a generation ago.

Villa Medica also cites Enrile as one of its patients.

However the use of stem cells from sheep has attracted much criticism, with Samuel Bernal, a professor of medicine at the University of California, among the many Filipino doctors to warn of its dangers.

"When animal cells are transmitted to humans, it could be fatal," Bernal said at a recent forum on stem cell therapy in Manila.

Kittichaiwong insists fresh cell therapy is perfectly safe.

"What you eat every day is foreign material, but you don't get rejection," he said, adding that Villa Me­­dica planned to open a clinic in the Philippines soon. — AFP

First tidal energy generator launched

Posted:

Singapore has taken its first steps toward potentially another viable source of renewable energy, with its first tidal turbine system sited just off Sentosa.

The 1kW testbed, the first such light, low-flow system in the tropics, was designed and constructed by Nanyang Technological University's Energy Research Institute.

Tidal energy has conventionally only been generated in temperate regions such as Britain and the United States, where tidal flows are more powerful. It is generally considered a more predictable energy source than solar or wind.

The research institute has plans to test more tidal turbines in Singapore's southern waters within the coming three to five years. — The Straits Times/ Asia News Network

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz


The Desolation Of Smaug has a song

Posted:

Peter Jackson reveals a track from his upcoming film, written and sung by Ed Sheeran.

OVER the past few weeks, New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson has been pretty busy releasing posters, trailers, exclusive behind-the-scenes clips and pictures of his upcoming movie, The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug.

Some days ago, he introduced seven character posters of Bilbo, Thranduil, Thorin, Gandalf, Legolas, Tauriel and Bard.

Early yesterday, Jackson and a few cast members – namely Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans and Andy Serkis – held a live online presentation that took place simultaneously in London, New York, Los Angeles and Wellington (New Zealand), where he resides.

A few hours after that, he put up this new poster (pic) on his Facebook and Twitter pages, which sees all the seven characters in one frame.

And then, early this morning, Jackson gave fans a chance to listen to a brand new track By Ed Sheeran that will be played as the end credits roll in the movie. There's no official word yet whether the song, I See Fire, will be deemed the movie's theme song, but in his Facebook post, Jackson says this: "We have a tradition in our Tolkien films of having a song over the closing credits. 

"It's very important that the song feels right for the world of the movie – and also carries the emotional resonance of the end of that particular film. The Desolation Of Smaug is no different. The ending of this film requires a voice and sensibility that will allow an viewer to process what they have just experienced."

Jackson also talks about how his daughter Katie introduced him to the music of talented young British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran earlier in the year. 

Then, a few weeks ago, while trying to figure out who best to commission for the end credit track, Katie suggested Sheeran, to which Jackson and his wife/producing partner Fran Walsh agreed.

"Ed watched the movie at Park Road Post, immediately went into a room, and started writing and singing. Much of what you will hear on this song was recorded that same day, with a few overdubs and tweaks the following day," shares Jackson of the rough-cut video.

He adds that Sheeran also played the violin in the video, "despite having never played the violin in his life," says the director. The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug music engineer Pete Cobbin coincidentally was around to finish up on Howard Shore's musical scores, so he lent a hand in mixing Sheeran's song.

"It was a great experience, and what you will see in this video are moments captured by our behind the scenes team during the creation of the song. But the images are only supporting Ed's wonderful song. This is his direct emotional response to seeing The Desolation Of Smaug, written and performed on the same day he saw the movie," Jackson concludes.

I See Fire is now available for pre-order on iTunes 

Related story: 

New 'Desolation Of Smaug' posters

War is child’s play

Posted:

A boy with a brilliant mind learns to lead an army in Ender's Game. 

WRITTEN almost three decades ago, Ender's Game remains ever relevant today to both adults and children. Author Orson Scott Card uses science fiction and fantasy as a platform to write about issues on two ends of the spectrum (bullying and leadership), while never letting his readers forget the ultimate issue, the consequences of war. 

Now, the book – which has captured the hearts and imagination of millions of readers around the world – has been made into a movie starring Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld and Viola Davis. In the film, the story is told from the point of view of 12-year-old Ender Wiggins (Asa) who was conceived to serve in an impending war with an alien nation that tried to conquer Earth before. (In the book he is much younger; in the film Asa looks older than 12.)

Once Ender is recognised as possessing the qualities the military requires – a brilliant tactical mind and an extraordinary gift for calculating winning outcomes – he must attend Battle School, which is located in space. 

There, he must hone his skills so he can become Earth's ultimate leader and warrior. Since he and his fellow soldiers are all children, the training mostly has them playing different kinds of games, including one in a giant zero-gravity space.

Ender soon learns that his lesson never stops even for a moment as he often finds himself in a corner, no thanks to his colleagues or his superiors; and even in the games he must constantly persevere and find a way out. 

What makes this character so enduring is perhaps how he reacts to these tough situations. What also puts him above his peers is his preternatural understanding of his enemies. 

With so many levels of psychological and physical elements in the book – not to mention the sci-fi – the material is definitely ripe for film.

In the production notes of the film, provided by GSC Movies, Linda McDonough – one of the producers – said that she was struck by the intelligence and perceptiveness of a story about a gifted boy thrust into the single-minded world of military training. "It's a compelling story that inspires important discussions about leadership, conflict, resolution and empathy." 

For director Gavin Hood, the story of Ender's Game provided him with a chance to transport audiences to a future world that asks questions our present selves are grappling with. Hood elaborated on one of the questions: "Is real leadership the exercise of brutal authority in order to get people to do what you want, or is it more about drawing them in to get the best out of them? Ender is struggling with these questions throughout the film." 

Since the core of the film revolves around an extraordinary young boy, it was crucial to find an actor who could convey the weight that Ender is carrying and all the inner conflict he is feeling. Producer Lynn Hendee noted: "The book's millions of fans have been projecting themselves into the character for years. People who love the book see themselves in him and it was crucial for the story that we allow them to continue to do that." 

A worldwide search found Asa, who has appeared in films like Hugo, The Boy In The Striped Pajamas and Son Of Rainbow. Hood said of Asa: "When we found Asa, it was like a light bulb went on. Asa is mature beyond his years, genuinely kind, compassionate, intelligent and everything else we needed for Ender. 

"The character is amazingly complicated in terms of both intellect and empathy. The biggest challenge was how to preserve his spirit. Asa does that superbly." 

Asa Butterfield in Ender's Game.

According to Asa, Ender's Game was his favourite script among the scripts he received. The now 16-year-old actor said: "Kid saves the world and fights in zero-gravity – what more could you want? I knew it would be an exciting and fun shoot." 

Another plus to Ender's Game is that it has put Harrison Ford back in outer space. He plays Colonel Hyrum Graff, the commander of the Battle School, the man who recruited Ender into the programme. Ford was intrigued by the complexity of the character and the responsibilities he bears. 

"His job is to win this war for humanity. Failure is not an option. Graff uses extremely young people to fight the war because their minds operate at a higher speed and deal with a tremendous amount of technology and input without getting frazzled." 

Despite all the heavy themes, Hood said Ender's Game has a good balance between the entertainment value and moral issues of the story. The director concluded: "One of the great things about Ender's Game is its amazing ability to feed you both visually and emotionally."

Ender's Game opens in cinemas nationwide tomorrow.

People's Choice Awards nominees

Posted:

Glee, Sandra Bullock and Katy Perry among those with most nominations.

Television musical series Glee led the nominees for the annual fan-voted People's Choice Awards, while actress Sandra Bullock and pop singers Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake each scored five nominations.

Fox's Glee picked up eight nominations for the only Hollywood awards show covering film, music and television that is voted solely by the public. The People's Choice Awards ceremony, set for Jan 8 in Los Angeles, kicks off the Hollywood awards season, which culminates with the coveted Academy Awards – or Oscars – on March 2 next year.

The People's Choice winners are chosen by fans, who can vote online across 58 categories spanning film, TV and music starting this Thursday through Dec 5.

Glee scored nominations for best network TV comedy, while its stars Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Jane Lynch and Lea Michele each won nominations in the comedy acting categories.

Fan recognition for Glee comes four months after series star Cory Monteith died from a heroin and alcohol overdose in Vancouver, Canada, causing a delay in production. Glee bid farewell to Monteith and his character in a sombre episode last month.

The series also picked up nominations for the awards show's more off-beat accolades, including favourite TV "bromance", favourite TV "gal pals" and favourite on-screen chemistry.

Bullock won nominations for best movie actress, best dramatic actress, best comedic actress as well as two nominations for top movie duo for her roles in outer-space drama Gravity with George Clooney and buddy-cop comedy The Heat with Melissa McCarthy.

Justin Timberlake (right) with Ben Affleck in Runner, Runner. Timberlake has five nominations in the People's Choice Awards. 

Perry picked up her nods for best female music artiste, pop artiste, and favourite music fan following. Her song Roar was nominated for best song and music video. Pop singer Justin Timberlake, who released his album The 20/20 Experience in two instalments this year after a five-year music hiatus, also earned five nods including top male music artiste, pop artiste, R&B artiste, best album and best song for Mirrors.

Action films Fast & Furious 6, Iron Man 3 and Star Trek Into Darkness along with animated features Despicable Me 2 and Monsters University were nominated for favourite movie. Jennifer Aniston, Robert Downey Jr, Hugh Jackman, Melissa McCarthy and Channing Tatum each picked up three nods in the acting categories.

The awards show will be broadcast on CBS in the United States and hosted by Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings, stars of the CBS comedy series 2 Broke Girls. Organisers said more than 160 million votes were cast to select this year's nominees for the awards, which is in its 40th year. — Reuters

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Desolation Of Smaug has a song

Posted:

Peter Jackson reveals a track from his upcoming film, written and sung by Ed Sheeran.

OVER the past few weeks, New Zealand filmmaker Peter Jackson has been pretty busy releasing posters, trailers, exclusive behind-the-scenes clips and pictures of his upcoming movie, The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug.

Some days ago, he introduced seven character posters of Bilbo, Thranduil, Thorin, Gandalf, Legolas, Tauriel and Bard.

Early yesterday, Jackson and a few cast members – namely Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans and Andy Serkis – held a live online presentation that took place simultaneously in London, New York, Los Angeles and Wellington (New Zealand), where he resides.

A few hours after that, he put up this new poster (pic) on his Facebook and Twitter pages, which sees all the seven characters in one frame.

And then, early this morning, Jackson gave fans a chance to listen to a brand new track By Ed Sheeran that will be played as the end credits roll in the movie. There's no official word yet whether the song, I See Fire, will be deemed the movie's theme song, but in his Facebook post, Jackson says this: "We have a tradition in our Tolkien films of having a song over the closing credits. 

"It's very important that the song feels right for the world of the movie – and also carries the emotional resonance of the end of that particular film. The Desolation Of Smaug is no different. The ending of this film requires a voice and sensibility that will allow an viewer to process what they have just experienced."

Jackson also talks about how his daughter Katie introduced him to the music of talented young British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran earlier in the year. 

Then, a few weeks ago, while trying to figure out who best to commission for the end credit track, Katie suggested Sheeran, to which Jackson and his wife/producing partner Fran Walsh agreed.

"Ed watched the movie at Park Road Post, immediately went into a room, and started writing and singing. Much of what you will hear on this song was recorded that same day, with a few overdubs and tweaks the following day," shares Jackson of the rough-cut video.

He adds that Sheeran also played the violin in the video, "despite having never played the violin in his life," says the director. The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug music engineer Pete Cobbin coincidentally was around to finish up on Howard Shore's musical scores, so he lent a hand in mixing Sheeran's song.

"It was a great experience, and what you will see in this video are moments captured by our behind the scenes team during the creation of the song. But the images are only supporting Ed's wonderful song. This is his direct emotional response to seeing The Desolation Of Smaug, written and performed on the same day he saw the movie," Jackson concludes.

I See Fire is now available for pre-order on iTunes 

Related story: 

New 'Desolation Of Smaug' posters

War is child’s play

Posted:

A boy with a brilliant mind learns to lead an army in Ender's Game. 

WRITTEN almost three decades ago, Ender's Game remains ever relevant today to both adults and children. Author Orson Scott Card uses science fiction and fantasy as a platform to write about issues on two ends of the spectrum (bullying and leadership), while never letting his readers forget the ultimate issue, the consequences of war. 

Now, the book – which has captured the hearts and imagination of millions of readers around the world – has been made into a movie starring Asa Butterfield, Harrison Ford, Hailee Steinfeld and Viola Davis. In the film, the story is told from the point of view of 12-year-old Ender Wiggins (Asa) who was conceived to serve in an impending war with an alien nation that tried to conquer Earth before. (In the book he is much younger; in the film Asa looks older than 12.)

Once Ender is recognised as possessing the qualities the military requires – a brilliant tactical mind and an extraordinary gift for calculating winning outcomes – he must attend Battle School, which is located in space. 

There, he must hone his skills so he can become Earth's ultimate leader and warrior. Since he and his fellow soldiers are all children, the training mostly has them playing different kinds of games, including one in a giant zero-gravity space.

Ender soon learns that his lesson never stops even for a moment as he often finds himself in a corner, no thanks to his colleagues or his superiors; and even in the games he must constantly persevere and find a way out. 

What makes this character so enduring is perhaps how he reacts to these tough situations. What also puts him above his peers is his preternatural understanding of his enemies. 

With so many levels of psychological and physical elements in the book – not to mention the sci-fi – the material is definitely ripe for film.

In the production notes of the film, provided by GSC Movies, Linda McDonough – one of the producers – said that she was struck by the intelligence and perceptiveness of a story about a gifted boy thrust into the single-minded world of military training. "It's a compelling story that inspires important discussions about leadership, conflict, resolution and empathy." 

For director Gavin Hood, the story of Ender's Game provided him with a chance to transport audiences to a future world that asks questions our present selves are grappling with. Hood elaborated on one of the questions: "Is real leadership the exercise of brutal authority in order to get people to do what you want, or is it more about drawing them in to get the best out of them? Ender is struggling with these questions throughout the film." 

Since the core of the film revolves around an extraordinary young boy, it was crucial to find an actor who could convey the weight that Ender is carrying and all the inner conflict he is feeling. Producer Lynn Hendee noted: "The book's millions of fans have been projecting themselves into the character for years. People who love the book see themselves in him and it was crucial for the story that we allow them to continue to do that." 

A worldwide search found Asa, who has appeared in films like Hugo, The Boy In The Striped Pajamas and Son Of Rainbow. Hood said of Asa: "When we found Asa, it was like a light bulb went on. Asa is mature beyond his years, genuinely kind, compassionate, intelligent and everything else we needed for Ender. 

"The character is amazingly complicated in terms of both intellect and empathy. The biggest challenge was how to preserve his spirit. Asa does that superbly." 

Asa Butterfield in Ender's Game.

According to Asa, Ender's Game was his favourite script among the scripts he received. The now 16-year-old actor said: "Kid saves the world and fights in zero-gravity – what more could you want? I knew it would be an exciting and fun shoot." 

Another plus to Ender's Game is that it has put Harrison Ford back in outer space. He plays Colonel Hyrum Graff, the commander of the Battle School, the man who recruited Ender into the programme. Ford was intrigued by the complexity of the character and the responsibilities he bears. 

"His job is to win this war for humanity. Failure is not an option. Graff uses extremely young people to fight the war because their minds operate at a higher speed and deal with a tremendous amount of technology and input without getting frazzled." 

Despite all the heavy themes, Hood said Ender's Game has a good balance between the entertainment value and moral issues of the story. The director concluded: "One of the great things about Ender's Game is its amazing ability to feed you both visually and emotionally."

Ender's Game opens in cinemas nationwide tomorrow.

People's Choice Awards nominees

Posted:

Glee, Sandra Bullock and Katy Perry among those with most nominations.

Television musical series Glee led the nominees for the annual fan-voted People's Choice Awards, while actress Sandra Bullock and pop singers Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake each scored five nominations.

Fox's Glee picked up eight nominations for the only Hollywood awards show covering film, music and television that is voted solely by the public. The People's Choice Awards ceremony, set for Jan 8 in Los Angeles, kicks off the Hollywood awards season, which culminates with the coveted Academy Awards – or Oscars – on March 2 next year.

The People's Choice winners are chosen by fans, who can vote online across 58 categories spanning film, TV and music starting this Thursday through Dec 5.

Glee scored nominations for best network TV comedy, while its stars Chris Colfer, Darren Criss, Jane Lynch and Lea Michele each won nominations in the comedy acting categories.

Fan recognition for Glee comes four months after series star Cory Monteith died from a heroin and alcohol overdose in Vancouver, Canada, causing a delay in production. Glee bid farewell to Monteith and his character in a sombre episode last month.

The series also picked up nominations for the awards show's more off-beat accolades, including favourite TV "bromance", favourite TV "gal pals" and favourite on-screen chemistry.

Bullock won nominations for best movie actress, best dramatic actress, best comedic actress as well as two nominations for top movie duo for her roles in outer-space drama Gravity with George Clooney and buddy-cop comedy The Heat with Melissa McCarthy.

Justin Timberlake (right) with Ben Affleck in Runner, Runner. Timberlake has five nominations in the People's Choice Awards. 

Perry picked up her nods for best female music artiste, pop artiste, and favourite music fan following. Her song Roar was nominated for best song and music video. Pop singer Justin Timberlake, who released his album The 20/20 Experience in two instalments this year after a five-year music hiatus, also earned five nods including top male music artiste, pop artiste, R&B artiste, best album and best song for Mirrors.

Action films Fast & Furious 6, Iron Man 3 and Star Trek Into Darkness along with animated features Despicable Me 2 and Monsters University were nominated for favourite movie. Jennifer Aniston, Robert Downey Jr, Hugh Jackman, Melissa McCarthy and Channing Tatum each picked up three nods in the acting categories.

The awards show will be broadcast on CBS in the United States and hosted by Beth Behrs and Kat Dennings, stars of the CBS comedy series 2 Broke Girls. Organisers said more than 160 million votes were cast to select this year's nominees for the awards, which is in its 40th year. — Reuters

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


Home where Oswald slept night before Kennedy assassination now museum

Posted:

DALLAS (Reuters) - The suburban Dallas home where Lee Harvey Oswald spent the night before he assassinated U.S. President John F. Kennedy opened as a museum on Wednesday ahead of the 50th anniversary of the shooting later in November.

Oswald stored the rifle he used to kill Kennedy in the garage at the modest tract house owned by Michael and Ruth Paine in a middle-class neighbourhood of Irving, Texas.

Its notoriety has continued to draw curiosity seekers ever since, so the city of Irving bought the house in 2009 and restored it to its 1963 appearance, down to the single-pane windows typical of that era.

"We're trying to tell the human side of this story," said Kevin Kendro, Irving's archives coordinator. "The story of the assassination is filled with huge characters but here were two housewives doing ordinary things and taking care of their children but got caught up in it."

Oswald's wife, Marina, had met Ruth Paine at a party for Russian immigrants earlier in 1963 and the two became good friends. Marina lived with Paine while Oswald looked for work in New Orleans. Marina joined Oswald that summer in New Orleans, but they moved back to Texas when he lost his job.

Ruth Paine offered Marina a place to stay while awaiting the birth of her second child. Meanwhile, Oswald moved into a rooming house along a bus route to his job at the Texas Book Depository in downtown Dallas.

Oswald typically spent weekends with Marina at the Paine house. But he arrived unexpected on Thursday, November 21, the evening before the assassination.

Ruth Paine, 81, who moved from the home in 1966 and now lives in California, said nothing seemed out of the ordinary that evening or the next morning.

"Lee went to work and we watched the news about the president's visit in Fort Worth," Paine told Reuters. "I went to the dentist with the kids and watched the coverage of the motorcade afterwards."

Paine and Marina learned of the assassination from television news coverage.

"We had no clue that Lee was involved until the police showed up that afternoon," she said.

Paine also said she didn't know that Oswald's rifle was in the garage until she translated the officer's question for Marina, who pointed to a blanket where he concealed it. The gun was missing, she said.

The museum interprets the discovery and other details of the women's lives through re-enactments projected on glass screens.

"They really did an excellent job," Paine said. "At first, I couldn't understand why anyone cared about all this but now I'm convinced they do."

Powers seek "first-step" nuclear deal with Iran in Geneva talks

Posted:

GENEVA (Reuters) - World powers will seek to hammer out a breakthrough deal with Iran to start resolving a decade-old dispute over its nuclear programme in two-day talks that begin on Thursday, although both sides say an agreement is far from certain.

The United States and its allies say they are encouraged by Tehran's shift to friendlier rhetoric after years of hostility since the June election of President Hassan Rouhani, who has pledged to repair ties with the West and win sanctions relief.

But they stress Iran needs to back its words with action and take concrete steps to scale back its atomic work, which they suspect has covert military aims, a charge Tehran denies.

"What we're looking for is a first phase, a first step, an initial understanding that stops Iran's nuclear programme from moving forward and rolls it back for the first time in decades," a senior U.S. official told reporters on the eve of the talks.

That would help buy time needed for Iran and the six powers - the United States, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany - to reach a broader diplomatic settlement in a dispute that could otherwise plunge the Middle East into a new war.

The six nations want Iran to suspend its most sensitive uranium enrichment efforts, reduce its stockpile of such material and diminish its capacity to produce it in the future.

In return for any concessions, Iran wants the powers to lift painful economic sanctions that have slashed its daily oil sales revenues by 60 percent in the past two years and devalued its rial currency by more than half.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told French daily Le Monde a deal was "not that far off," although it might not be struck at the talks in Thursday and Friday in Geneva.

"We can conclude (a deal) this week in Geneva, and if that's not the case, it's not a disaster, as long as things are moving forward," he was quoted as saying.

TALKS ENTER 'SERIOUS PHASE'

The exact contours of a potential first step in the elusive deal were unclear, but the six nations are unlikely to agree on anything less than a suspension of enrichment of uranium to 20 percent fissile purity, a level that constitutes a major advance on the way to making weapons.

"The nuclear talks are complex and have entered a serious phase," said Michael Mann, spokesman for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who oversees the talks with Iran on behalf of the powers. "We have to make concrete progress."

The U.S. official said that Iran at this stage must address key aspects of its nuclear programme, including sufficient international monitoring. Iran's construction of a research reactor near the town of Arak is also a growing concern for the West because it could yield plutonium for bombs.

"We're looking for ways to put additional time on the clock," the administration official added.

A senior aide to a U.S. senator briefed by the White House and State Department said Washington would offer to work with Iran in a six-month confidence-building period. During that time, Washington would offer Tehran relaxed restrictions on Iran's funds held in overseas accounts. The Obama administration could also ease sanctions on trade in gold and petrochemicals.

In exchange, Iran would stop enriching uranium to 20 percent and convert its existing stockpile of 20 percent uranium to an oxide form suitable for processing into reactor fuel and take other measures to slow the programme.

The aide said the concessions being sought would "neither freeze nor set back" Iran's nuclear programme and that the Senate would have to act immediately to impose further sanctions on Iran.

The House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a new sanctions bill in July that seeks to reduce Iran's oil exports to a trickle in a year. The Senate's banking panel had been expected to introduce its version of the bill in September, but the Obama administration has pushed it to delay the new legislation in order to give the Geneva talks a chance.

Another diplomat from the six nations said any agreement reached in Geneva could address some of the international concerns, but not all, leaving other issues to be discussed in future rounds of talks.

"What could be possible is a concrete agreement on a concrete step. But I cannot judge the scope of the step. It is difficult to judge it," the diplomat said.

Western diplomats are hesitant to divulge specifics about the negotiations due to sensitivities involved - both in Tehran, where conservative hardliners are sceptical about striking deals that could curtail the nuclear programme, and in Washington, where hawks oppose a precipitate easing of sanctions.

ISRAEL SEES 'BAD DEAL'

An Israeli official said on Wednesday that the six powers and Iran were expected to discuss in Geneva a deal that would fall far short of Israeli expectations.

"We have learned in the last few hours that tomorrow at the ... talks in Geneva, a proposal will be examined under which Iran will cease enrichment at 20 percent and they will slow down the activity at the heavy water reactor at Arak, in exchange for which they will get sanctions relief," the official said.

"From Israel's point of view, this is a very bad deal, and we will strongly oppose these proposals."

Widely assumed to be the Middle East's only nuclear power, Israel views Iran as an existential threat and has warned it could launch pre-emptive strikes against Iranian nuclear sites if diplomacy fails to stop the programme.

Tehran says it needs nuclear energy for electricity generation and medical purposes.

In a sign of potential progress, a Vienna-based envoy said U.N. nuclear chief Yukiya Amano was likely to travel to Tehran on Monday for a possible agreement with Iran on some "first steps" towards greater transparency, including regarding design information about nuclear facilities.

The International Atomic Energy Agency, which is pursuing separate negotiations with Iran, confirmed on Monday that Amano had been invited and that the issue was "being considered".

Diplomats say he would probably only go if he was confident that a deal would be struck.

(Reporting by Justyna Pawlak; Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle and Timothy Gardner in Washington; Editing by Will Waterman and Peter Cooney)

Colombia, FARC agree on rebels' future if peace signed

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BOGOTA/HAVANA (Reuters) - Colombia's government and Marxist FARC rebels reached a "fundamental agreement" on the guerrillas' future in politics, one of the thorniest issues addressed in peace talks in Cuba, according to a joint statement on Wednesday.

The FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, has been fighting the government in a jungle and urban conflict that has killed more than 200,000 people in the five decades since it began as a peasant movement seeking land reform.

The partial accord may clear the way for FARC to enter Colombian politics, which chief government negotiator Humberto de la Calle said would provide a "new democratic opening" and cement peace after an end of conflict.

"Never again politics and weapons together," he said.

Like other Latin American guerrilla groups, the FARC aspires to become a political party if a peace deal is signed.

"We are completely satisfied with what we have agreed on the point of political participation," FARC leader Ivan Marquez told Reuters. "We are doing well. In no other peace process have we advanced as much as we have here in Havana. We have taken an important step in the right direction to end the conflict and to achieve a real democracy in Colombia."

President Juan Manuel Santos, criticized heavily by the opposition for negotiating with the rebels, has been eager to show progress after a year of talks that had until now yielded only incomplete agreement on the first of a five-point agenda.

"These are real, positive advances toward a final agreement ... through which we will break once and for all the link between politics and weapons," he said in a televised address.

"Today I am much more convinced that peace is possible," Santos said.

He dismissed the idea of a pause in peace talks before congressional and presidential elections next year, insisting they instead "accelerate" after making new progress.

Wednesday's development will likely lift Santos' popularity and provide momentum should he decide by the November 25 deadline to seek a second presidential term in elections next May. Many believe a second term hinges on progress in the peace talks.

The centre-right Santos has seen his approval ratings slump in the last few months, partly due to the perception that he has offered too many concessions to the rebels in return for little.

Partial accord has been reached on land reform from an agenda that also includes reparation to the FARC's victims, tackling Colombia's drug trade, and an end to fighting.

Santos said Wednesday's agreement foresaw extra transitional political representation in Congress for areas that have suffered the most violence and a special security regime for the exercise of political power, without saying what that entailed.

PAST TALKS FAILED

The slow pace of talks left many believing the latest effort would fail as had previous attempts to end the bloodshed.

Recent photos of FARC leaders smoking cigars and relaxing on a boat in Cuba drew anger from Colombians upset that the rebels have continued to bomb and kill while apparently enjoying their time in Havana.

Such sensitivity comes from experience. The last peace effort ended in shambles and yielded a stronger FARC.

In 1999 former President Andres Pastrana ceded the rebels a safe haven the size of Switzerland to promote talks. But they took advantage of the breathing space to train fighters, build more than 25 airstrips to fly drug shipments, and set up prison camps to hold hostages.

The two sides are unlikely to reveal many details of the agreement, but Colombians will be looking for clues on how much government negotiators have offered the rebels and how they will pay for their crimes.

Many will be unwilling to accept FARC leaders being given seats in congress - as the rebels have demanded - without first receiving jail terms and then passing through the electoral process.

While most Colombians are desperate to see an end to the war, initial euphoria over negotiations has worn off as many doubt talks will soon reach a successful end.

"Even though the agreement is partial, what was announced today is a defeat to those who have sought to darken or end the peace process and constitutes a strong basis to believe we could reach a definitive peace," Ivan Cepeda, a leftist congressman, said.

Opposition leaders like former President Alvaro Uribe are furious that the FARC has tried to dictate government policy while it continues to bomb economic infrastructure and kill civilians and military personnel.

(Reporting by Helen Murphy and Luis Jaime Acosta in Bogota, Marc Frank, Nelson Acosta and Rosa Tania Valdes in Havana. Additional reporting by Peter Murphy; Editing by Vicki Allen, Jackie Frank and Bill Trott)

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Ho-Ho-Holiday viewing

Posted:

Still in holiday mode, The Spudniks share what their idea of perfect holiday viewing is.  

Not only was the house full of family and friends but the whole gin gang would be glued to the TV set as well. Well, at least the kids were. 

TV was fantastic then. Even though we only had two or at best three channels to choose from, there was always something great to watch. There would always be a fantastic movie, a variety programme, maybe an awards show, great cartoons – one would have no reason to complain. 

These days, there is very little thought about how shows can benefit the viewer's festive/holiday spirit.

For Deepavali, for instance, perhaps a Hindi classic? Take Haathi Mere Sathi for example. The 1971 film starred Rajesh Khanna and Tanuja, and a bunch of elephants. It is a tearjerker if I ever knew one, and features some unforgettable tunes (like Chal Chal Chal Mere Saathi). There's heaps of great old Tamil and Hindi movies like that to choose from.

My memories are mostly of the Hindi films (must be the handsome Northerners that made an impression, ahem) – Bobby, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Khabi, Khabi, Seeta au Geeta, Chalte Chalte, Sholay, Aaradhna ... and one of my all-time favourites – Hare Rama Hare Krishna.

Now since Christmas is just around the corner, here my heads up for what might appeal to you folks.

The all-time classic is of course, James Stewart in It's A Wonderful Life. But there's a whole slew of all-time favourites to choose from really: Tim Burton's twisted The Nightmare Before Christmas, Elf (Will Ferrell), Love Actually (Hugh Grant), Bridget Jones's Diary (Renee Zellweger), Home Alone (Macaulay Culkin), How The Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey).

There's others that aren't really Christmas-related but seem appropriate for the season nonetheless, like Gremlins, Edward Scissorhands, While You Were Sleeping and Die Hard

And for the kids? Well there's A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Muppet Family Christmas, A Christmas Carol, The Santa Clause ... I assure you there's a snow covered mountain full of great films to choose from. 

And if you know you want a classic that's not related to any particular festivity – there's a greater treasure trove to pick from – vintage favourites such as Casablanca, North By Northwest; Some Like It Hot, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, Eat Drink Man Woman, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Do Re Mi and Bujang Lapok to modern day wonders like Mission: Impossible, The Bourne Trilogy, Star Trek, Iron Man and The Avengers.

And let's not forget Indiana Jones and Star Wars. If all else fails, Harrison Ford will get the job done. 

It would be great if TV stations do marathon sessions of great TV series – reruns of The X-Files throughout the month of December, for example, ditto Fringe, Supernatural, Battlestar Galactica and Firefly.

And I haven't even come to cartoons yet. A Disney classic marathon? To die for. From 1937's Snow White to this year's Planes, there's just a gabazillion choices. Then throw in some memorable others like An American Tail and Watership Down, a Simpsons or Futurama special .... hey, if all of that is on the list, I'd start planning my leave right now. – AMC

Burn: Tom Cruise is shown little mercy by the gang on Southpark.

Burn: Tom Cruise is shown little mercy by the gang on South Park.

CARTOONS! Exactly what I liked to watch during the holidays as a kid. The Flintstones, Tom And Jerry, the endless Looney Tunes classics, The Jetsons and Scooby-Doo were early favorites.

In my teen years, I found great entertainment in Jem And The Holograms, He-Man And The Masters Of The Universe (who knew a cartoon dude could be so … err.. macho) and Thundercats (I used to be able to play the theme song on the piano!).

And then I graduated to cartoons with slightly more adult undertones (even though they can still be enjoyed by children) like The Simpsons, Adventure Time, The Regular Show, Family Guy and SpongeBob SquarePants

Cartoons are the best stress relievers. In fact, during this year's Deepavali break, I was entertained by Stan, Kyle, Cartman and Kenny from the popular satirical cartoon South Park (which is currently in its 17th season).

I'd forgotten how funny (and shocking) the show can be – virtually no topic is off limits – God, politicians, parents, celebrities … everything and everyone is fodder for some really crude and often merciless humour that's completely politically and socially incorrect.

From Kyle taunting Cartman about his weight ("Cartman, you're such a fat a** that when you walk down the street people go, 'Goddammit that's a big fat a**!'"), cruel jibes about poor people (Cartman: Why do poor people always smell like sour milk?") to just plain gross jokes about … err.. farts.

As unsophisticated and puerile as it sounds, seriously, what better way to unwind (no pun intended) than to listen to completely unlikeable characters spew cringe-worthy jokes about unspeakable topics like passing gas?!

These are the jokes you wish you could repeat but can't because you'd be seen as completely juvenile, gross and rude (unless you're under 10 or Russell Brand). The show has come under fire from various groups – religious, political, environmentalists, etc – because of its seeming irreverence to topics commonly regarded as sacrosanct.

Like the episode in Season Nine involving (the cartoon version of) Tom Cruise. The episode goes like this: Stan tells Cruise that Leonardo DiCaprio is a better actor than he is. Devastated, Cruise locks himself in Stan's closet and refuses to come out. Do you see the joke coming?

Yeah, Stan yells to his father that, "Tom Cruise won't come out of the closet". Geddit? Oh gosh, I can't go on. I'm laughing uncontrollably just thinking about that joke! – SI

Nothing charming about this reboot

Posted:

If orange is the new black, then witch is the new vampire as the spell-casting, broomstick-riding, cat-loving ladies are suddenly TV's supernatural archetype du jour.

With American Horror Story: Coven and Witches Of East End already on the air in the United States, it's no surprise CBS wants in on the action, but its proposed reboot of the not-too-distant-past witch series Charmed is getting the evil eye from two of that show's stars, Alyssa Milano and Rose McGowan. 

Charmed aired on the WB network from 1998 to 2006 and starred Milano, McGowan, Holly Marie Combs and Shannen Doherty (for three seasons) as witchy sisters who work to protect humanity from various nasty magical threats, including demons.

The eight-season run was one of the WB's longest-lived TV shows and notable for being the rare network series with an all-female lead cast.  With the show's continued popularity even after its ending, it's no surprise that someone would aim to bring it back to the air. 

But a reboot means younger (cheaper) talent, with no starring place for the show's original witches. Something that hasn't sat well with the first set of Halliwell sisters.

A fortnight ago, Milano, who currently appears on the series Mistresses and the reality series Project Runway: All Stars, tweeted her frustrations to her fans, writing, "The thing about them doing a #charmed reboot is... it just... it feels like yesterday. It feels too close." 

McGowan, who recently appeared on the ABC series Once Upon A Time, also wasn't thrilled about the prospect of someone else filing her shoes, even if those shoes didn't show up on the original series until Season Four (she replaced Doherty as a Halliwell half-sister).

"They really are running out of ideas in Hollywood," she wrote. She followed it up with "lame lame lame lamertons," which sounds like some kind of spell incantation. 

The Charmed reboot in development at CBS joins another high-profile reboot in development at NBC: Murder, She Wrote, with Octavia Spencer replacing the original star, Angela Lansbury. However, Lansbury has reserved comment on the matter. – Los Angeles Times/McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Ali G is coming back

Posted:

Sacha Baron Cohen's popular 'gangsta' character will make its way to the US.

Recently launched Fox network FXX will bring the hugely popular gangsta interview prodigy Ali G to the United States in early 2014. British actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen is set to wear his baggy pants and bling jewellery once again in Ali G: Rezurection.

Like Borat and Bruno, Cohen's Ali G first appeared on British television in The Eleven O'Clock Show. The fictional West Staines Massiv gang member was given his own Ali G Show two years later on Channel 4 before switching to HBO in 2003.

The programme gave way to the movie Ali G Indahouse in 2002.

FXX will air the entire Ali G Show series, as well as previously unreleased episodes and bits that never aired on US television.

Through his characters, Cohen unveiled the scale of his acting talents. Recently seen as Thenardier in Les Miserables, he will star in comedy sequel Anchorman: The Legend Continues next year. — AFP Relaxnews

Sacha Baron Cohen will bring back beloved gangsta character in Ali G: Rezurection.

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Wall St bonuses to rise 5%-10%

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NEW YORK: Wall Street's biggest risk-takers – its bond traders – will probably see their bonuses drop this year, while people in safer roles, such as money managers, will likely get a boost, according to a forecast by compensation consulting firm Johnson Associates.

Overall, it said, individual Wall Street bonuses may rise 5%-10%, on average, compared with last year, as the industry continues its halting recovery from the 2007-2009 financial crisis.

Top executives of Wall Street firms will see bonuses rise by as much as 5%, Johnson Associates said.

But Alan Johnson, who heads the firm, said there is a wide disparity in payouts among business lines. The bonus spectrum reflects new priorities for Wall Street as much as market conditions, he said.

Employees in low-risk, fee-heavy businesses such as asset management and retail brokerages will probably see bonuses rise by 15% or more, while those in the volatile and risk-heavy business of fixed-income trading are expected to see bonuses decline by the same amount, according to the forecasts.

The declining fortunes of bond traders, once dubbed "Masters of the Universe" at investment banks, and the rising fortunes of wealth managers show how Wall Street is changing after the financial crisis, Johnson noted.

Banks are also emphasising businesses that put little money at risk and deliver steady profits, while exiting areas of trading that require a lot of capital and can lead to big swings in the firms' profits and losses, he added.

"From a regulator's perspective, that's what you want," said Johnson. "You want the banks to be in client businesses that use other people's money so that they're not too dependent on trading."

Rising stock markets and weakening fixed-income markets have also been a factor in helping retail brokers and hurting bond traders, Johnson said.

Banks including Goldman Sachs Group Inc, Morgan Stanley, Citigroup Inc, Bank of America Corp and JPMorgan Chase & Co reported weak fixed-income trading results last quarter. Some also said they set aside much less cash for compensation in their Wall Street businesses, indicating that fewer dollars of revenue will be spent on employees this year.

Banks have cut thousands of jobs over the past three years, with a particular focus on high-earners, Johnson said. That has allowed them to boost bonuses to mid-level employees without increasing overall compensation costs dramatically.

"When the number of people who make a lot goes down, it really moves the needle," he said.

UNDERWRITERS DOING BETTER, M&A BANKERS WORSE

Employees in investment banking underwriting roles will likely see bonuses rise by 10%-15%, according to Johnson's forecasts. Those in prime brokerage and private equity will likely see bonuses rise by 5% to 10%, while equities traders and hedge fund employees will likely see bonuses rise by 5% to 15%.

Commercial and retail bankers will get bonuses in a range between flat and 5%.

The only employees apart from fixed-income traders who are likely to face bonus cuts are investment bankers who work on merger deals, Johnson Associates said. Those bankers will probably see bonuses drop by 5% to 10%.

Johnson's forecasts are based on a survey of eight of the largest banks and 10 of the largest asset-management firms in the US.

While 2014 forecasts are preliminary, Johnson expects gradual improvement across many business lines, with strategic hiring in the US and aggressive hiring abroad where companies are expanding or shifting operations – Reuters. 

Toyota bounty shows Abenomics snags

Posted:

TOKYO: Toyota's sparkling earnings show how Abenomics may be good for Japanese companies now, but perhaps a bust for investing in Japan over the long term.

Toyota, the world's biggest carmaker, reported a 70% jump in profits last quarter, as it got a boost from this year's 12% drop in the yen against the dollar.

A look under the hood, however, shows that Toyota's gains may not translate into the sustained expansion Japan hopes Abenomics will spark. Named after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Abenomics is an attempt to use government spending, radical monetary policy and competitive reform to finally rescue Japan from a 20-year-plus slump.

The first step was to hammer the yen lower, making Japanese exporters more globally competitive. A weaker yen has helped Toyota, but not perhaps in the way policymakers want.

Two things have to happen for Abenomics to succeed. First, external demand prompted by a weaker yen needs to drive a self-sustaining consumer expansion. That requires wage gains.

Second, companies need to invest and expand, using a new pricing advantage from the yen to build volume, not simply to make more money on every car sold.

On the evidence thus far, neither of the two needed things is happening or is likely to happen.

Consider Toyota. While profits are up 70%, most of the focus is on increasing margins, with capital expenditure forecast to rise just 2%, and R&D forecast to stay the same.

That's hardly the massive expansion Japan needs.

And while Toyota, and others, have indicated a willingness to boost wages in the future if profits continue to roll in, thus far they've been far more likely to hand out bonuses rather than make permanent increases in their fixed costs.

It looks very much, in other words, as if Toyota, likely many other companies, is happy to increase profit margins but not take on the risks of paying more and expanding rapidly. Given the history of the auto industry and Japan itself, it is hard to blame them.

Japanese workers, having lived through the past 20 years, are understandably wary about increasing spending permanently based on a one-off bonus.

And while Abe said in October that higher wages were "vital" and has used various forums to pressure companies, even corporate tax cuts haven't had much of an effect. A recent Reuters corporate survey found that only 5% of respondents would use additional savings to raise wages.

WAGES AND INFLATION

This leaves Japanese workers in a difficult bind. Prices are rising at last, at least a bit, but wages not so much.

Core consumer prices, which include oil products but not fresh food, rose 0.7% in the year to September. Even so-called "core-core" prices, which excludes both food and energy, were flat – the first time since 2008 that they have not fallen.

While that might seem like cause for rejoicing, wages have been stagnant. Salaries are in their longest slide since 2010, with regular wages excluding overtime and bonuses down 0.3% in September. Total cash earnings rose 0.1%.

Minutes of the Bank of Japan's October meeting, recently released, showed some disquiet over the pace of wage gains, with one member noting that sustained gains might not appear before the annual wage negotiation round next April. Except then a consumption tax will increase by 3 percentage points, almost certainly more than swamping any wage increases.

The fear, of course, is that consumers won't consume, and when next April's consumption tax comes along, Japan will drift back into deflation and recession. And remember, Japan, as a country with very large debts and a demographic downward path, needs inflation.

Only inflation, and genuine growth, will allow it to manage its debts over the longer term.

Here again we have a great example of how extraordinary monetary policy creates risks for everyone while handing out what may be short-term benefits disproportionately to the wealthy.

The Nikkei 225 stock index is up by a third this year, and by 50% over the past year. Profits among exporters are, by and large, growing quite well.

Even those gains may prove to be short-lived, and taking a five-year view, investors would be wise to be very cautious about the future of Abenomics and Japanese assets – Reuters. 

Daibochi climbs on strong earnings, CIMB Research upgrade

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: Shares of Daibochi Plastic & Packaging rose to a high of RM3.77 in late Thursday morning trade, spurred by its strong earnings and upgrade by CIMB Equities Research.

At 11.02am, it was up 12 sen to RM3.77 in thin trade with 23,100 shares done.

The FBM KLCI fell 2.22 points to 1,800.83. Turnover was 686.38 million shares valued at RM500mil. There were 252 gainers, 288 losers and 279 counters unchanged.

The flexible packaging solutions provider posted a net profit of RM7.4mil for the third quarter ended Sept 30, up 7% from RM6.9mil a year ago. Revenue for the quarter increased 33% to RM87mil from RM65.7mil.

CIMB Research has raised the target price for of Daibochi Plastic & Packaging from RM3.68 to RM4.19.

It maintained its FY14-16 EPS forecasts but raised its target price as it rolled forward to end-2015, applying 13 times CY15 P/E, which is its sector P/E target.

"We upgrade Daibochi from a Neutral to Outperform in view of likely lower raw material price risks after the recent sharp fall in crude oil prices. Securing major export orders and further declines in oil prices could catalyse the stock. Daibochi is our top pick in the packaging sector," said the research house.

CIMB Research said at an annualised 98% of its FY13 forecast, Daibochi's 9MFY13 EPS was in line with market and its expectations as it expects a stronger 4Q.
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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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New Wolverine film in the works

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Director James Mangold is in talks to write the sequel to this year's Wolverine feature.

Hugh Jackman better shine up his claws: A new Wolverine film is in the works, with James Mangold in negotiations to write the treatment.

No storyline details were released for the 20th Century Fox film, which Lauren Shuler Donner will produce. The sequel, which will be the third solo Wolverine film, may have seemed like a given since Mangold's The Wolverine was the second-highest grossing X-Men film. So far it has earned US$413mil worldwide.

The fast-healing mutant will rejoin his X-Men teammates in next summer's X-Men: Days Of Future Past, which brings director Bryan Singer back to the franchise.

Mangold's other writing credits include Cop Land and Walk The Line. He directed both films, as well as The Wolverine. — Reuters

Michelle Pfeiffer was in a cult

Posted:

The actress talks about the early days of her career, in a magazine.

Little-known fact about Michelle Pfeiffer: She was in a cult, once.

The three-time Oscar nominee, who was most recently seen alongside Robert De Niro in Luc Besson's mob comedy The Family, told The Sunday Telegraph's Stella magazine that she was manipulated by a "very controlling" couple of "kind of personal trainers" during her early days in Hollywood.

"They worked with weights and put people on diets. Their thing was vegetarianism," Pfeiffer said.

"They were very controlling. I wasn't living with them but I was there a lot and they were always telling me I needed to come more. I had to pay for all the time I was there, so it was financially very draining."

The actress said they were pushing her toward practicing "Breatharianism", which is a lifestyle based on the belief that absorbing energy from the sun trumps nourishment from food – a diet Pfeiffer said "nobody can adhere to".

Pfeiffer didn't realise she was in a cult until she was introduced to her first husband, Peter Horton, who had been cast in a film about Reverend Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church. Describing the religious group as a "cult", she said it was an ex-member – once commonly called a Moonie – that made her realise she too "was in one".

"We were talking with an ex-Moonie and he was describing the psychological manipulation and I just clicked," Pfeiffer said. — Reuters

Like father, like son

Posted:

Father-and-son team Rakesh and Hrithik Roshan strike again with another blockbuster.

The latest instalment of the hit Indian science-fiction film franchise Krrish opened last week. But Krrish 3, in which Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan plays the titular superhero, has already been buzzing on YouTube way before the release date.

The actor, who is known for his slick dance moves, has had nearly four million views for a song from the movie, Raghupati Raghav. It is a classic Hrithik Roshan song-and-dance deal, complete with rippling biceps and nifty feet grooving to the beat of the catchy number.

In fact, he is so in control of the moves that Bollywood's It-girl Priyanka Chopra, his co-star in the movie, hardly matters in the song.

But making Krrish 3, one of India's most successful superhero series of films, has been hard work for him for the better part of three years. Most of the time was devoted to the scripting, pre-production and planning of the film, which was directed by Hrithik's father Rakesh.

Taking the risk: Hrithik Roshan, a commerce graduate, turned down a master¿s degree scholarship to the United States so that he could pursue his dream to be an actor.

Taking the risk: Hrithik Roshan, a commerce graduate, turned down a master's degree scholarship to the United States so that he could pursue his dream to be an actor.

Both father and son say they believe in "meticulous planning", so they do not lose a single day during their shoot.

Roshan senior conceptualised the lead character played by Hrithik as a "superhero with human powers". Krrish took off from his earlier film Koi... Mil Gaya (I Found Someone, 2003) – the first of the Krrish series – whose E.T.-like character called Jadoo turned out to be a huge hit among children.

When asked why the two earlier Krrish films have been so popular when other Indian science-fiction superhero films such as Ra.One (2011), starring Shah Rukh Khan, have had limited success, Rakesh Roshan says it was due to the franchise's slow build-up.

What helped, too, was the lack of any obvious reference point to make the film. "We did not have to fall back on comic books, so we were in a sense free to create our superhero the way we wanted to," says the senior Roshan, who directed all three Krrish films.

For Hrithik, the challenge was playing different roles in the film. "They have brought the best out of me as a person and as an actor. I play Rohit, who is mentally challenged, and then I am allowed to become a superhero. As an actor, you don't often get to be different people in the same film. It is so magical."

Director Rakesh says it is "uncanny" how alike their thoughts are. Whatever differences they had about approaching their films – they have worked on several films together and he launched his son's acting career with Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai (Tell Me, You Love Him, 2000) – were during the scripting stage, never on set.

"When we discuss the script, we thrash out all our differences. On the set, there is no discussion. We are both on the same wavelength and that is very uncanny and surprising sometimes."

They are also candid when talking about Hrithik's acting career.

Rakesh, who was an actor, had reservations about his son entering the movie business and wanted him to finish his studies first.

But Hrithik, a commerce graduate, turned down a master's degree scholarship that could have taken him to the United States because he says he always "knew he wanted to be an actor".

"My father was very afraid. He knew the struggle an actor has to go through. He had struggled for 20 years. Our house had been mortgaged. I told him: If this is my destiny, I can and will do it."

And he did. He made his debut as a six-year-old in the 1980 film Asha (Hope). After finishing college, he worked as an assistant helping out his father on his films before moving in front of the camera as an adult.

This was "good training", he says. The on-the-job training clearly worked and he saw success in several blockbusters including Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai, family drama Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham (Sometimes Happiness, Sometimes Sadness, 2001), thriller Dhoom 2 (2006), action thriller Agneepath (Path Of Fire, 2012) and the Krrish franchise.

Now, Rakesh is the all-proud father as he says of Hrithik's career: "You have just seen the beginning. I say this not because he is my son. I say this as a director. He has a lot of potential."

On his part, the actor is "extremely proud" of his father. "I was his assistant for five years and all my knowledge of cinema has come from him. We work without any ego. That is something which should be a template for anybody who is in the creative field. You have to always think of the final outcome. That is what makes us click on and off set."

Working with his dad on the Krrish series, he adds, has been a great journey.

"All special effects are done in India. I feel very happy we have taken on the challenge. Because if we don't, who will?"

Is Krrish 3 the end of the franchise? The quick-thinking actor is swift with his response: "It depends on what you have to say. If you tell us to do one more, we will."

These days, the actor – who has two children with wife Suzanne, daughter of actor Sanjay Khan – wears Krrish's symbol around his neck on a chain because it is a reminder to keep pressing on, with a "spirit to conquer". He says: "It does not matter what breaks me, what puts me down – I will keep rising back."

Hrithik as the hero in Krrish 3

He knows a thing or two about rising back. Through his acting career, he has had to deal with several injuries, including a slipped disc. Months before the Krrish 3 promotions, he underwent brain surgery in a Mumbai hospital. He had suffered a head injury while performing a stunt during the Krrish 3 shoot and did not attend to it immediately.

Four weeks after the surgery, he got back to his fitness routine.

But the poster boy for fitness and health harbours a secret: As a child, he hated drinking milk and poured it down the kitchen sink till he was caught by his mother – a fact buried in a newspaper story from sometime ago that showed up in a Google search.

When asked about it, he laughs out loud before saying: "How did you know that? I know being a symbol for healthy living and fitness, this may sound strange, but as a child, I could not stand the smell of milk. I had to run away. I can say now, every child must have his milk."

The buff actor is often called Adonis, the Greek god of beauty and desire, for his striking good looks, his light eyes and his chiselled features. But he ends all the parallels with this: "You know, I went to Greece. Nobody recognised me. I am not a Greek god at all." – The Straits Times/Singapore, Asia News Network

>Krrish 3 is now showing in cinemas nationwide.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my
 

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