Rabu, 30 April 2014

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

One dead in bomb blasts at Indian train station
Baby wallaby rescued from Facebook sale
UNESCO condemns dredge waste dumping in Barrier Reef waters

One dead in bomb blasts at Indian train station

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 10:15 PM PDT

CHENNAI, India, May 01, 2014 (AFP) - Twin bombs planted on a train killed at least one person and wounded nine others in the main southern Indian city of Chennai on Thursday, a railway official said.

The explosion, which comes as India holds mammoth general elections, went off in a carriage of an overnight train from Bangalore as it pulled into Chennai central station shortly after 7:00 am (0130 GMT), official Rakesh Misra said.

A 22-year-old woman was killed when one of the devices which had been placed underneath her seat exploded, said Misra, general manager of the southern region for Indian Railways.

"At least two people have suffered grievous injuries and seven have minor injuries," he told reporters in comments aired on Indian television.

"Civil police... are investigating what kind of bomb it was and why anyone could have placed the bomb."

Security has been tightened across India as the country holds a six-week general election which has been marred by deadly violence in other parts of the country, including attacks by Maoist rebels.

Voting has already taken place in most major cities, including Chennai which went to the polls last week.

Baby wallaby rescued from Facebook sale

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 09:02 PM PDT

SYDNEY, May 01, 2014 (AFP) - A man is facing charges after he allegedly attempted to sell a baby wallaby on Facebook, attracting bids as high as Aus$10,000 (US$9,291) before he was caught, officials said Thursday.

The marsupial was rescued by Western Australia's Department of Parks and Wildlife after an officer posing as a potential buyer met the man in a car park in Broome, in the state's north.

The 26-year-old, who faces five offences under the Wildlife Conservation Act, had allegedly advertised the joey for sale for Aus$3,500, wildlife officer Peter Carstairs said.

"We understand there was an offer of up to Aus$10,000 from a buyer visiting from overseas," Carstairs said of the wallaby, a native animal which ressembles a smaller version of the kangaroo.

The man faces penalties of up to Aus$4,000 for some of the charges he faces, which include possession of and selling of protected fauna.

Carstairs said the department became aware of the situation after local residents complained.

"The community outrage generated by this incident shows that people really care about protecting our native wildlife," he told national broadcaster ABC.

"It is illegal to sell or possess any part of a native animal in Western Australia unless you have a wildlife licence. There is a black market trade in Australian wildlife and it is a practice that must be stopped."

The joey, which had been brought into Western Australia from neighbouring Northern Territory, is being cared for by wildlife experts.

It will eventually be returned to the Northern Territory and released into the wild.

UNESCO condemns dredge waste dumping in Barrier Reef waters

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 07:15 PM PDT

SYDNEY, May 01, 2014 (AFP) - UNESCO on Thursday condemned a decision to allow the dumping of dredge waste in Great Barrier Reef waters and recommended the Australian marine park be considered for inclusion on the World Heritage in Danger list.

The decision in January to allow three million cubic metres of dredge waste to be disposed of in park waters followed a decision by the government to give the green light to a major coal port expansion for India's Adani Group on the reef coast in December.

Conservationists warn it could hasten the demise of the reef, which is already considered to be in "poor" health, with dredging smothering corals and seagrasses and exposing them to poisons and elevated levels of nutrients.

In its first comments on the issue, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization "noted with concern" and "regrets" the move, which it said "was approved despite an indication that less-impacting disposal alternatives may exist".

It asked the government to provide a new report to the World Heritage Committee proving that dumping was the least damaging option and would not hurt the reef's value.

More generally, UNESCO expressed concern "regarding serious decline in the condition of the Great Barrier Reef, including in coral recruitment and reef-building across extensive parts of the property".

The body said "a business-as-usual approach to managing the property is not an option".

Given the reef's long-term deterioration, it recommended the World Heritage Commitee consider putting it on its in danger list in 2015 "in the absence of substantial progress on key issues".

WWF Australia spokesman Richard Leck said the government needed to act quickly to prevent the embarrassment of the reef being listed as in danger.

"UNESCO'S concern is shared by thousands of Australians and hundreds of leading scientists and we call on the federal government to ban dumping of dredge spoil in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area prior to the World Heritage Committee meeting in June," he said.

The government in February insisted it had made "substantial" progress on UNESCO benchmarks for protection of the reef in a report aimed at staving off a world heritage downgrade.

Environment Minister Greg Hunt said it "demonstrates unequivocally the government's commitment to better managing and protecting this natural wonder".

According to the report, Australia was taking steps to bolster the reef's resilience to the major threats of extreme weather events and climate change, which it said "cannot be managed directly".

Working to reduce outbreaks of the coral-feeding crown-of-thorns starfish was a priority, as was tackling nutrient and sediment run-off from land-clearing and agriculture, the report said.

On port development, it said no projects "have been approved outside the existing and long-established major port areas within or adjoining" the reef.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates

IMF approves $17 billion bailout for Ukraine amid big risks
U.S. resists pressure to give India worst offender rating in IP review
Brazil's Rousseff lowers taxes for workers as popularity drops

IMF approves $17 billion bailout for Ukraine amid big risks

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 07:00 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund's board signed off on a $17 billion (10.07 billion pounds) two-year aid program for Ukraine on Wednesday to help the former Soviet republic's economy recover after months of upheaval as it continues to face geopolitical uncertainty.

The IMF aid will allow the immediate disbursement of $3.2 billion to Kiev and unlock further credits from other donors of about $15 billion, intended to help Ukraine stabilize its economy in the middle of its worst civil turmoil since independence in 1991.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde admitted the program faced risks, including from the government's ability to carry out the politically unpopular measures necessary to get its finances in order.

"In particular, further escalation of tensions with Russia and unrest in the east of the country pose a substantial risk to the economic outlook," she said in a statement.

Pro-Moscow separatists seized government offices in more Ukrainian towns on Wednesday, a further sign authorities in Kiev are losing control of the country's eastern industrial heartland bordering Russia. The unrest in the east follows months of anti-government protests and Russia's annexation of the Crimea region, which had already pushed Ukraine's economy to the brink of bankruptcy and a likely economic contraction this year.

Kiev is also in a dispute with Moscow over the price it will pay for natural gas exports in the future, and over about $2.2 billion Russia says it is owed for prior gas purchases.Ukraine's economy may further suffer if sanctions intensify on Russia, a key export market. Western nations have placed visa bans and asset freezes on Russian individuals and companies over what they see as meddling in Ukraine. "Anything that undermines the economic situation of (Ukraine) will jeopardize the implementation of the program, which is why we very strongly encourage the parties to negotiate, to come to terms," Lagarde told reporters after the board's decision.

The IMF on Wednesday slashed its already modest growth forecast for Russia, warning that sanctions were scaring off investors and pushing the economy towards recession.

SHRINKING ECONOMY

The IMF said it also expects Ukraine's economy to contract by about 5 percent this year; government forecasts are for a 3 percent contraction. The economy should rebound to 2 percent next year, and 4 to 4.5 percent after that, according to the fund.

External debt should rise to just below 100 percent of GDP this year as the government borrows money to finance itself and devalues its currency, even as revenues fall because of the economic contraction and political unrest.

The decision from the IMF's 24-member board, which includes representatives from Russia and the United States, allows Ukraine to meet looming obligations and avoid a potential debt default. Of the first tranche, $2 billion is intended to support the budget.

But political instability makes it even more difficult for Ukraine to get its economy back into shape, even though the new government has pledged to pursue reforms as a condition for receiving IMF aid.The IMF's board decided to meet every two months for the next couple reviews of Ukraine's program, rather than follow the typical three-month schedule, in order to closely track the government's commitment to reforms such as floating the currency and cutting fiscal deficits. Ukraine's previous two IMF programs were suspended after the government failed to do what it had promised.The IMF expects Ukraine to implement major reforms in its energy and financial sectors, including raising the price of gas for domestic consumers.

The ultimate goal is to fully eliminate the deficit of Naftogaz, the state oil and gas company, by 2018.

Naftogaz imports a vast amount of gas and oil from Russia for distribution to home consumers, selling it for lower prices than what it paid and constantly running a deficit.

The Ukrainian government, in power until elections on May 25, has already said it would raise gas prices by more than 50 percent from this Thursday."(Ukraine) has demonstrated in the last few weeks that it can undertake comprehensive reforms and has actually addressed some of the issues that have been outstanding for a long time," Lagarde said. "We believe that Ukraine has an opportunity to seize the moment, to break away from previous practices, both from the fiscal, from the monetary, and from the governance point of view."

(Reporting by Anna Yukhananov; Editing by Meredith Mazzilli, Gunna Dickson and Prudence Crowther)

U.S. resists pressure to give India worst offender rating in IP review

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 06:10 PM PDT

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has resisted lobbying by U.S. businesses to take tougher trade action against India for its intellectual property policies, deciding against risking ties with a likely new government in New Delhi.

The U.S. Trade Representative avoided labelling India with the worst offender tag in its annual scorecard on protecting U.S. patents, copyrights and other intellectual property (IP) rights.

Instead, the United States kept India, which is in the midst of elections, on its Priority Watch List along with China and eight other countries. It would start a special review of India in the fall and "redouble" efforts to address concerns with the new government, the U.S. Trade Representative said.

A USTR official said the purpose of the review was to assess the new government's level of engagement and the USTR was not contemplating a change in India's status in 2014. A new process would start in 2015, he added, and stakeholders could give their input.

"Labelling India as a Priority Foreign Country just as a new government comes to power would have meant that relations would start off on the wrong foot, but the potential penalty which would be levied against India will now hang over bilateral relations," said Center for Strategic and International Studies adjunct fellow Persis Khambatta.

Some were disappointed that the USTR failed to name India as a "priority foreign country" - a label that can eventually lead to trade sanctions or the loss of trade benefits - although others stressed it was not off the hook yet.

Orrin Hatch, the top Republican on the Senate Finance Committee and one of four top lawmakers who ordered an investigation into Indian trade policies last year, said the country was a "textbook example" of poor practices regarding intellectual property.

"A stronger response is required to dissuade other countries from adopting similar policies," he said in a statement.

Even so, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Of America (PhRMA), which had both wanted India named as a top offender, welcomed the special review.

"Such a review provides a needed avenue for constructive engagement with the incoming Indian government on how to resolve the deteriorating IP environment in India," PhRMA President John Castellani said.

Intellectual property lawyer Steven Tepp, the president of consultancy Sentinel Worldwide, said the planned special review allowed the USTR to change India's ranking and should tell the Indian government the issue needed "urgent attention".

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WORRIES

The USTR said India's limits on the approval of pharmaceutical patents, a convoluted process for patent challenges and the fact that the government was considering opening a series of patented drugs to generic manufacturers created "serious challenges" for some innovators.

The spread of pirated goods in India, a stalwart of the U.S. IP black list, was also worrying. The report noted estimates that counterfeiting and smuggling lost copyright holders almost $12 billion (7.1 billion pounds) in 2012.

Shops in Nehru Place market in India's capital New Delhi primarily deal in computer peripherals, but it has also been classified as one of the most notorious markets for piracy in the world.

Pirated versions of copied software programs of companies such as Adobe and Oracle and various operating systems of Microsoft are on sale. The compact disc of Windows 7 operating system costs 100 rupees (98p), compared with about $100 for an original copy.

Alok, who sells pirated games in the market, said he does not know about the losses incurred by companies because of piracy. "I only care about my daily wage of 130 rupees," he said.

China, with the world's largest Internet user base, had low revenue from digital sales of movies and music, suggesting widespread piracy, the USTR said, while counterfeit goods were readily available online. Promises that government offices would only use legal software had not led to a jump in sales, it said.

The USTR said it had "significant concerns" about the theft of trade secrets and urged the government to take steps to stop Chinese companies taking advantage of overseas competitors.

Despite ongoing concerns about copyright, no action would be taken against last year's "priority foreign country," Ukraine, due to the current political situation, the USTR said.

The USTR also removed Italy from the intellectual property black list altogether after it took new steps to combat copyright piracy over the Internet.

(Reporting by Krista Hughes; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington and Manoj Kumar and Aditya Kalra in New Delhi; Editing by James Dalgleish and Ken Wills)

Brazil's Rousseff lowers taxes for workers as popularity drops

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 05:45 PM PDT

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff on Wednesday announced lower taxes for workers and a hike in stipends for the poor as her popularity ebbs five months before elections. In a speech broadcast on the eve of Labour Day, Rousseff said she signed a decree to lower the income tax burden on workers and a 10 percent increase in the value of the Bolsa Familia family stipend program for millions of Brazilians. "This will be an important indirect salary gain and more money in the pockets of workers," Rousseff said. "I also vow to continue with policies that increase the minimum wage, which has brought so many benefits for millions of workers." Concerns about high inflation and a scandal surrounding Brazil's oil company have hurt support for Rousseff, increasing the chances her rivals can force a runoff in the Oct. 5 elections. Although Rousseff remains the clear favourite, a poll this week showed that the election race may be tougher than initially thought for the left-leaning leader. According to the poll, 37 percent of those surveyed said they intend to vote for Rousseff, compared to 43.7 percent in February. Poorer voters, millions of whom benefited from rapid economic growth and expanded social safety net programs under former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, are the main electoral base for Rousseff's centre-left Workers' Party.It was not immediately clear what impact the measures could have on Brazil's weakening fiscal accounts. The decree increases by 4.5 percent the income bands used to tax workers, meaning most workers will end up paying less income tax.

(Reporting by Alonso Soto; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

Award-winning British star Bob Hoskins dies at 71
Original Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in new 'Star Wars'
Ding-dong: Will Sandra Bullock be selling Tupperware?

Award-winning British star Bob Hoskins dies at 71

Posted: 30 Apr 2014 07:45 PM PDT

The character actor was known for his roles in gangster movies like The Long Good Friday, and was the star in the popular film Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

British actor Bob Hoskins, known for his roles in films like Who Framed Roger Rabbit, has died at the age of 71 following a bout of pneumonia, his family said.

The gruff Londoner, who rose to fame in British gangster films in the 1980s and went on to have a long career as a Hollywood character actor, died in hospital on Tuesday night, they said in a statement.

Hoskins, who was nominated for an Oscar and won a Golden Globe for his role in Mona Lisa in 1986, retired from acting in 2012 after being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Bob Hoskins in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Hoskins as Mr Smee in Hook.

"We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Bob," said a statement from his wife Linda and the couple's two children Rosa and Jack, and Hoskins' two children from his first marriage, Alex and Sarah.

"Bob died peacefully at hospital last night surrounded by family, following a bout of pneumonia," said the statement issued by acting agent Clair Dobbs. "We ask that you respect our privacy during this time and thank you for your messages of love and support."

Hoskins left school at the age of 15 and claimed he only got his break in acting by accident, after being mistakenly called for a theatre audition. He began as a television actor and broke through into film with his portrayal of a doomed London gangster in The Long Good Friday in 1980, which won him a Bafta nomination.

One of his best known roles was as the detective trying to work out Who Framed Roger Rabbit, the eponymous cartoon hero, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1989.

More recent success came with a Golden Globe nomination for Mrs Henderson Presents with Judi Dench, while his last role was one of the seven dwarves in the film Snow White And The Huntsman. — AFP Relaxnews

Original Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in new 'Star Wars'

Posted: 29 Apr 2014 08:20 PM PDT

The actors may be 37 years older, but Star Wars fans will be more than happy to welcome them back.

The original Star Wars movie blasted its way onto screens a long time ago, in a cinema galaxy seemingly far, far away – but Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia will be back soon.

Disney has just announced the cast of the film entering production under the name Star Wars: Episode VII, after months of frenzied speculation among the sci-fi saga's passionate fans.

Harrison Ford may no longer quite have space smuggler Han Solo's roguish good looks, and co-star Mark Hamill will fill out Luke Skywalker's flowing Jedi knight robes a little more thoroughly than once he did.

But fans of the saga – many of them bitterly disappointed by a series of prequels to the three-decade-old original trilogy – will welcome their return and that of Carrie Fisher's bold Princess Leia.

Star Wars Episode VII writer, director and producer J.J Abrams (top centre, right) at the cast read-through of Star Wars: Episode VII at Pinewood Studios in England with (clockwise, from right) Harrison Ford, Daisy Ridley, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, Producer Bryan Burk, Lucasfilm president and producer Kathleen Kennedy, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill, Andy Serkis, Oscar Isaac, John Boyega, Adam Driver and writer Lawrence Kasdan. – David James/www.starwars.com

Disney, the new owner of pioneering director George Lucas' record-breaking franchise, has recruited blockbuster director J.J. Abrams to bring these fan favourites back to the screen.

His trio of stars may have aged, but he will have access to a much more powerful array of computerised special effects than Lucas had when he launched the series in 1977.

And the original cast, including Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker as androids C3PO and R2-D2 and Peter Mayhew as the alien "Wookie" warrior Chewbacca, will be joined by new, mainly younger talent.

John Boyega, Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Domhnall Gleeson and Hollywood veteran Max von Sydow join the team, and some appeared in a photo released to mark the start of script readings.

Actors joining the original cast for Star Wars: Episode VII include (clockwise from top left) Andy Serkis, Adam Driver, Max von Sydow, Domhnall Gleeson and John Boyega. – AFP

"It is both thrilling and surreal to watch the beloved original cast and these brilliant new performers come together to bring this world to life, once again," Abrams said.

"We start shooting in a couple of weeks, and everyone is doing their best to make the fans proud," he promised.

Abrams is a respected mainstream director who has already won plaudits for reviving a beloved space opera franchise, taking the captain's chair on the successful 2009 Star Trek re-boot. But Star Wars is, if anything, an even bigger challenge.

The two previous trilogies were released between 1977-2005 and inspired spin-off books, comics, toys, videogames and cartoons – earning US$4.4bil (RM14.08bil).

But, while the stories still have a massive popular audience, many purists were disappointed by the prequel trilogy, which they felt failed to capture the mythic feel of the originals. — AFP Relaxnews

C3PO and R2-D2, originally played by Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker, will also be in the new film. But of course.

Ding-dong: Will Sandra Bullock be selling Tupperware?

Posted: 29 Apr 2014 05:35 PM PDT

Actress may be calling at your door as sales exec in new drama.

Sandra Bullock is circling a movie on the history of Tupperware, the plastic containers, and the revolutionary marketing scheme behind their success, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Help director Tate Taylor has been tapped to helm the feature.

Brownie Wise. - Photo WIKIPEDIA

The history of Tupperware began in the US during the 1940s, just as refrigerators started making their way into American homes. Invented by the chemist Earl Tupper, the flexible, unbreakable and airtight containers encountered only modest success at first. But things quickly turned around when Tupper received a call from Brownie Wise.

A door-to-door sales representative for a home goods retailer, Wise developed a particularly effective sales strategy for Tupperware, relying on a network of saleswomen and the organisation of "Tupperware Parties". Tupper soon hired Wise and made her a vice president at the company, sealing her reputation as one of the first female power-executives in the US. In 1954, she became the first woman to appear on the cover of Business Week. Wise died in 1992 at age 72.

There is no official indication yet on whether Bullock is attached to the project. For the time being, the actress has merely expressed interest in the role.

Following on the success of his previous film The Help, Tate Taylor will present Get On Up this September. The biopic will explore James Brown's journey from extreme poverty to legendary fame. – AFP Relaxnews

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

Award-winning British star Bob Hoskins dies at 71
Original Han Solo, Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia in new 'Star Wars'
Ding-dong: Will Sandra Bullock be selling Tupperware?