Sabtu, 12 April 2014

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro


China’s tech gap exposed in MH370 search mission

Posted: 12 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

BEIJING: China has the ability to detect signals sent from deep in the sea, but the month-long hunt for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 has exposed technological drawbacks in China's maritime search and rescue outfit, experts said.

Chinese patrol ship Haixun 01 picked up electronic pulsing signals in the Indian Ocean on April 4 and again on April 5. But some foreign experts are sceptical about whether China's equipment is advanced enough to obtain signals from as deep as 4,500m under the sea.

The ship is equipped with maritime detection equipment, including one black box sonar detector and two underwater robots, said Wang Liangyu, head of maritime survey at the Donghai Navigation Safety Administration under the Transport Ministry.

"All of them were imported," he said. "The black box detector, which was made by the same company that produces black boxes, has a maximum detection range of 5,000m."

The adoption of such advanced technologies has enabled China to catch "ping" signals from the black boxes, he told Shanghai newspaper Jiefang Daily.

However, searchers need more time to analyse and verify the signals to see whether they are consistent with the black boxes – the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder.

Many Chinese applauded Haixun 01's findings, but say China still lags behind other nations when it comes to maritime search and rescue equipment.

"I'm proud that it was our ship that first detected the (suspected) signals," said an Internet user who goes under the name biedong1925, "but it is a pity that none of the equipment used was made in China".

Some experts said more resources and investment should be allocated to China's maritime search and rescue outfit development.

"There are a lot of things that China should do to upgrade its equipment used in maritime search and rescue operations," said Cui Yiliang, an expert on ships and naval armament in Beijing.

"We must speed up the research and development of autonomous underwater vehicles, or AUVs," he said.

"High-tech underwater vehicles such as the Bluefin-21 play an irreplaceable role in deep-sea detection and retrieval operations, but I haven't read any reports about similar equipment developed in China."

The Australian navy vessel Ocean Shield is carrying a Bluefin-21 in its current search and will use the sub to scan for wreckage once the black box is located.

AUV played a critical role in locating a lost Air France jet in 2011, two years after it crashed in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. A team from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in the United States used an AUV equipped with side-scan sonar to locate the aircraft about 3,900m underwater.

In China, the AUV is still in its infancy and far from being operational, Cui said.

In November, the Qianlong-1 unmanned autonomous underwater vehicle completed its first application test in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Co-developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Harbin Engineering University, it can travel to a depth of 6,000m, and is tasked to explore the seabed and collect hydrological data. The vehicle is on a trial run and marks the first time a Chinese AUV has been used for a scientific expedition, according to the academy.

Meanwhile, a military observer said the Chinese navy should improve its use of sea-based air platforms in maritime search and rescue operations.

The PLA navy's missile destroyer Haikou, replenishment ship Qiandaohu, and amphibian landing craft Kunlunshan and Jinggangshan are taking part in the search mission led by Australia in a remote part of the Indian Ocean.

However, the fleet "apparently failed to bring enough helicopters", said the observer in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, who declined to be named.

The two Arleigh Burke-class destroyers of the US Navy that had participated in the early search for MH370, the USS Pinckney and USS Kidd, each carried two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters, which flew sorties from dawn to dusk.

"Each Arleigh Burke-class destroyer can carry up to four helicopters, which means it has a strong capability to search on the sea," the observer said, adding Chinese destroyers and frigates can carry only one helicopter.

The amphibian landing craft Kunlunshan and Jinggangshan can each embark up to four helicopters, he said.

"But judging from news reports, they didn't bring that number of helicopters. The only guess I can make is that our navy still needs to learn from the US Navy in the use of sea-based air platforms."

Experts: Do more for servicemen with mental health issues

Posted: 12 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

MORE can be done to monitor and support national servicemen with mental health issues, according to two experts who used to work with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

These include fighting the stigma attached to such illnesses, raising awareness about mental health and having more in-camp psychiatrists.

Earlier this week, State Coroner Imran Abdul Hamid delivered his findings on the death of Private Ganesh Pillay Magindren, who was found at the foot of his Sengkang condominium last July.

The 23-year-old had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, which distorts a person's thoughts and emotions, causing him to lose touch with reality.

The coroner pointed out several lapses such as how the medical officer at the unit where Pte Ganesh was posted had not been informed of his condition.

In response to queries, Mindef pointed to a previous report on how it screens all servicemen before enlistment and assigns them a Physical Employment Status grade. Those with medical conditions, including mental health ones, may be assigned a lower grade.

The grades range from A – fit for all combat vocations – to F, exemption from national service.

Pte Ganesh, who enlisted in October 2012, was given the E9L9 grade, the second lowest because of his illness. He became an administrative assistant in the army.

Mindef highlighted how it has a comprehensive system to track its soldiers' well-being.

Interviews are conducted by commanders every few months to find out how full-time national servicemen are adjusting. Some commanders are taught counselling skills.

Soldiers with issues may then be referred to medical officers, counsellors, psychologists or psychiatrists in the SAF.

Dr Christopher Cheok, a former head of psychiatry at SAF, pointed out a "weak" link in the chain.

"There is a lack of awareness about mental health issues among junior commanders," said the senior consultant, calling for more training workshops to be held.

He urged the SAF to take a more "rehabilitative, rather than punitive" approach to discipline.

Dr Ang Yong Guan, SAF's head of psychiatry from 1986 to 2003, believes it should consider expanding its pool of psychiatrists.

He added that whether a person with mental illness should be exempted from serving should depend on how mild or severe their condition is, the likelihood of relapse if they were subjected to stress, their attitude towards National Service and their parents' attitudes. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

William fuels speculation of second royal baby

Posted: 12 Apr 2014 11:13 PM PDT

Dunedin (New Zealand) (AFP) - Royal watchers were scrutinising the duchess of Cambridge on her New Zealand tour Sunday, after husband Prince William appeared to hint a second baby is on the way.

Kate, however, looked to dampen the speculation by drinking wine and going on a jet boat ride, neither of which are recommended for pregnant women.

The royals' eight-month-old son Prince George, third in line to the British throne, has been the star of their New Zealand tour so far.

But William suggested during a walkabout in the North Island town of Cambridge there may soon be another royal baby to share the spotlight.

During a meeting with Cynthia Read, who knitted the merino wool shawl which was New Zealand's official gift when George was born, William said according to several reports: "You might have to make another one soon!"

Read, who emigrated to New Zealand from England eight years ago, was convinced the prince was serious.

"The way William said it was like he was dropping a hint, letting me in on a secret," she told reporters, adding the duchess said they were delighted with the first shawl "and George wore it a lot".

Kate was also seen to be sipping water during an evening state reception for the couple on Thursday, fuelling media speculation of a second pregnancy.

During a visit to a vineyard in the acclaimed wine-producing area of Queenstown on Sunday there was intense interest in whether Kate would indulge in a drop or two.

Central Otago Pinot Noir Ltd chairwoman Lucie Lawrence, who escorted the duchess at Amisfield Winery, said she had "six or seven" tastes.

"She was drinking it. She really enjoyed drinking the Pinot Noir," Lawrence said.

William did not hold back and after a brief tour of the winery he remarked to co-owner John Darby: "We should probably stop the talking and start the drinking".

There was also no keeping Kate from accompanying William on a wild jetboat ride on the Shotover River, racing through shallow water at speeds of up to 85 kilometres per hour (53mph).

The couple flew to Queenstown from the southern city of Dunedin where they attended a Palm Sunday service at St Paul's Anglican Cathedral and a junior rugby match with All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.

William, who lost to his wife in a yacht race on Auckland harbour on Friday, exacted a measure of revenge on the rugby field when the team of eight-year-olds he helped coach beat Kate's side 30-20.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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Battling bulimia to become singer and actor

Posted: 10 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

South Korean actor Seo In-guk stars in the TV series, The Master's Sun

South Korean actor-singer Seo In-guk never made the cut at the many auditions he attended in his pursuit of his show business dreams when he first moved from his hometown Ulsan, to the South Korea capital Seoul in 2006.

Slightly pudgy at the time, he encountered major obstacles thrown his way by an industry dominated by possibly surgically-enhanced idols. He had previously shared on a TV show his ordeal of turning bulimic after heeding the advice to shed some weight after an audition for JYP Entertainment, the agency behind boy band 2PM and girl group Miss A.

He lost the weight and went back for another round of auditions, only to be told that his singing did not improve. In hindsight, Seo reportedly said that all the vomiting he endured had probably damaged his vocals.

After three years, he finally got his big break when he emerged the winner of the first season of reality TV show Superstar K (2009).

In an e-mail interview, the 26-year-old Seo says: "I've taken part in many auditions. With all the challenges and eliminations, the determination to reach my goal grew stronger. I had dreamt of becoming a singer since childhood. I had this ambition after watching rocker Kim Jung Min perform the song Sad Promise in the 1990s."

(From left) Seo with his co-stars from The Master's Sun Kong Hyo-jin, So Ji-sub and Kim Yoo-ri.

(From left) Seo with his co-stars from The Master's Sun Kong Hyo-jin, So Ji-sub and Kim Yoo-ri.

 

He went on to score a recording deal under Jellyfish Entertainment and release albums, from his debut Korean mini album Calling You (2009) to his recent Japanese album, Everlasting (2014). A day after Everlasting was released, it reportedly made it to the Top 10 of the daily sales of the Oricon chart on Jan 16.

Acting was his next frontier. He made his debut as an actor playing a bumbling sidekick in romance drama Love Rain (2012) and subsequently leapt to the big screen in a big way, as the lead in his first movie, No Breathing (2013).

Despite his earlier struggle with bulimia, the hardworking entertainer had no qualms gaining 9kg, reportedly to better portray a carefree and laidback law student in Love Rain. He later underwent a stringent diet and exercise regimen to shape up for his role as a competitive swimmer in No Breathing.

Indeed, acting is no sideline for Seo: He intends to pursue it with as much gusto as when he first chased his singing dreams.

"I want to be a diversified artiste – an actor with many different 'colours' and a singer who performs great songs at the same time. I want to be an artiste doing both fields together for a long time," says Seo, who is currently seen playing a bodyguard on the supernatural romantic comedy The Master's Sun.

"I want to be an actor who is faithful to the role assigned to me. If the character requires me to put on a lot of weight and look ugly, I would do the background work in order to immerse myself in that role."

Now Seo can take pride in his growing international fanbase. There are Facebook fanpages created for global fans, and country-specific pages created by fans as far as Turkey.

On his rising popularity beyond the borders of his home country, Seo says: "I'm very happy about it. I want to produce even better work and songs in return for their support.

"Besides that, I would like to hold an event soon to interact with all my fans." — The Straits Times, Singapore/Asia News Network

> The Master's Sun airs every Sunday at 8.45pm on One HD (Astro Ch 393).

Freddie Highmore goes psycho in 'Bates Motel'

Posted: 09 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

The British actor plays Norman Bates in the TV series.

While most college students often use their year abroad to embrace the culture and nightlife of new countries, British actor Freddie Highmore opted to play one of the most notorious fictional serial killers, Norman Bates.

Highmore, 22, plays a teenage version of Norman Bates who helps his erratic mother run a hotel in modern-day Oregon in Bates Motel.

Bates Motel is the first television series for Highmore, who is currently finishing up his final year at Cambridge University, where he studies Spanish and Arabic. The actor started out his career playing wide-eyed young boys in films such as 2004's Finding Neverland and 2005's Charlie And The Chocolate Factory.

But playing Norman Bates has presented a new direction in Highmore's career, playing an innocent, sensitive teenager who begins to transition into a psychologically disturbed young man with an abnormally intimate relationship with his mother, played by Vera Farmiga.

"I always did want to get to play a killer, so I guess that one's ticked off," the young actor said with a laugh.

"What's fun about Bates Motel is that the characters change so much. The Norman that we see at the start of Season One is markedly different to the end of Season Two," he said.

After a dramatic finale in Season One that culminated with the suspicious death of Norman's attractive young female teacher, the second season opens with Norman trying to cope with her demise by embracing taxidermy. The hobby of stuffing dead animals may be an eerie foreshadowing of his future path.

"The biggest journey he'll go on is this growing sense of self-awareness about who he is or who he might become," Highmore said.

At the centre of Bates Motel is the complex and at times, almost inappropriate relationship between Norman and his high-strung single mother Norma, which earned Farmiga an Emmy nod.

In the first season, the two are dependent on each other for support and comfort as they try to start afresh with the purchase of the motel in a new hometown, but in the second season, Highmore said their bond will be more fraught with tension.

"Vera and I disagree, but I think our disagreements fall in line with our characters and she sees the relationship as more platonic," Highmore said. "For me, I think Norman does read a little more into it and has feelings for his mother that go beyond what most boys would have."

The close relationship and fascination that Norman has with his mother was made famous in Robert Bloch's 1959 novel Psycho that was adapted by director Alfred Hitchcock into a film of the same name in 1960, becoming one of his most famous films.

Norman Bates is based on real-life serial killer Ed Gein, who was notoriously discovered with mutilated body parts in his house after police suspected him in the disappearance of a store owner in 1957.

Working in television has allowed the character of Norman Bates to be explored indepth, developing the original story that leads him on the journey to murder over a gradual arc.

Highmore said that he went back to Bloch's original source material for season two in order to understand Norman's psychological unravelling as he becomes more engrossed in taxidermy. But he often found a challenge in reigning himself in to play out Norman's journey.

"It's always a sense of being tempted to do more than is best to do at this stage of the series, and you have these fantastic characters and there are so many places you can take them," he said.

"For the series to develop well, it's much more fun and delicious to have this tension playing out over time." — Reuters

>> Bates Motel airs every Thursday at 9pm on Universal Channel (HyppTV Ch 612).

Mike Judge, creator of TV's 'Silicon Valley', is wired right

Posted: 09 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

The creator of Beavis And Butt-head tackles life in Silicon Valley.

It seems a little odd that director-writer Mike Judge is doing a comedy series about citizens of Silicon Valley in California, which is home to many technology corporations as well as smaller start-ups.

Undeniably, Judge has influenced a generation (or two) with his biggest shows – he created and voiced MTV's Beavis And Butt-head, wrote and directed the 1999 cult movie Office Space, and wrote and produced the animated series King Of The Hill.

So, creating, producing and writing a 30-minute show called Silicon Valley seems a little off for Judge.

Well, until you learn that Judge has a degree in physics and has lived in Silicon Valley for a little over a year working as a software engineer before venturing into showbusiness.

"I worked for a company that did automatic test systems for the F-18 that went on the carriers. And then my second job in Silicon Valley was with a company that made interfaces for the very first high-def screens. Then I worked for a company that made bass and guitar amps," the 51-year-old American shared with reporters gathered at the sunny state of California earlier this year.

He had the idea to explore the occupants of the digital world as early as 1999 when he met with some of them to talk about an animation project.

Silicon Valley stars (from left) Kumail Nanjiani, Martin Starr, Thomas Middleditch, Zach Woods and T.J. Miller.

Silicon Valley stars (from left) Kumail Nanjiani, Martin Starr, Thomas Middleditch, Zach Woods and T.J. Miller.

Seated in a big meeting room at the HBO office in Santa Monica, which makes his already soft-spoken voice inaudible, Judge said: "It occurred to me that a lot of people like Paul Allen and Bill Gates, if they were born 200 years ago, they probably would have not been the richest people in the world. They would probably be navigational engineers or something.

"I knew so many of these programmers, having done it myself, seeing these types of personalities who in school were not the alpha males, and now they are the richest people in the world, but, who are still socially awkward. It's such a good area for comedy. So I have been wanting to do that for awhile."

Silicon Valley focuses on a group of computer programmers – played by Thomas Middleditch, Josh Brener, Martin Starr and Kumail Nanjiani – who found a start-up company called Pied Piper. They live in a house owned by a dotcom millionaire, Erlich (TJ Miller), for free, as long as he gets 10% stake in their projects.

In today's Internet world, when you design the right programme or app, your earnings can shoot up to billions within weeks – Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook) and Biz Stone (Twitter) can attest to this fact.

In the pilot episode, we see that one of the guys has written a compression programme which is able to deliver massive amounts of information without quality loss. Suddenly every big company wants a piece of his subroutine. What will these socially awkward nerds do? The first season answers that exact question.

To make sure that the series holds up to scrutiny, Judge and his team did a lot research and even got a tech consultant for the show. "We met with Stanford graduates who are experts on compression. I wanted to get this right because it just feels better writing if you are on solid footing. Either it has happened or it could happen, they're based on real things. Everything on the background is accurate. We worked hard to make it accurate."

While doing the research too, Alec Berg – who is also the executive producer, director and writer for the series, discovered something interesting.

Berg explained: "I think, when you're doing something like this, the craziest stuff that you can think of is not half as crazy as the real stuff you're finding, just in terms of the absurdities and the eccentricities."

The satirical series is fast paced as it only has eight episodes for its first season. Judge was able to write the first season's story arc in completion before shooting started.

"It's kind of like writing one big movie, in a way. What was really great was we could plant something in one episode and have a payoff in another. It seems like this is the way TV is going, with fewer episodes.

If Beavis And Butt-head had just been 13 episodes a year, quality could've been (chuckles) ... the third of the series is really good, the rest of it is (shrugs). So it's nice to keep a low episode count. It's a luxury. But will he ever go back to these two teenagers who sit and watch TV all day sometime in the future.

"We did new episodes and it fared well. But I guess, MTV's demographics is like 12-year-old girls. It got good ratings ... but I'm kind of trying to sell it to another network, and I haven't.

"I'm just happy doing this one right now," he said only to continue with a smile, "But I love doing (Beavis And Butt-head), if it came around again, I would."

>> Silicon Valley premieres April 13 at 10pm on HBO Signature HD (Astro Ch 437).

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


Fire engulfs parts of Chile's Valparaiso port, 100 houses destroyed

Posted: 12 Apr 2014 08:35 PM PDT

VALPARAISO, Chile (Reuters) - A fire pushed by strong Pacific coast winds ripped through parts of the Chilean port city Valparaiso on Saturday, destroying at least 100 houses and causing the evacuation of thousands of residents as authorities battled the blaze.

People with minor injuries were seen near the fire but no deaths were reported and exports from the world's top copper producer, were unaffected.

The La Cruz and Las Canas neighbourhoods were among the most affected by the blaze. Ambulance crews treated residents for smoke inhalation as the fire engulfed block after block.

"The weather is complicating the situation," emergency official Guillermo de la Mazza told reporters. "The wind is not doing us any favours. The evacuation is our top priority, along with controlling the fire itself."

(Reporting by Anthony Esposito and Antonio de la Jara; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Australia says progress towards G20 growth target 'unacceptable'

Posted: 12 Apr 2014 08:05 PM PDT

PERTH, Australia, April 13 - Slow progress towards meeting economic growth targets set by the Group of 20 bloc of advanced and developing nations this year is "unacceptable", Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey said on Sunday.

G20 finance ministers had pledged to have "real and effective plans to lift the global economy by a further 2 percent" before they meet in Australia in September but were only one-tenth of the way there, he said.

"The proposals put forward by nations so far have been unacceptable and they only meet 10 percent of our goal," Hockey told Australian Broadcasting Corp. TV after talks in Washington.

Hockey coordinated the talks, with Australia holding the G20 presidency.

The agreement by the G20 nations at a meeting in Sydney in February to lift their collective GDP by more than 2 percent above what current economic policies would achieve over the next five years was reiterated in a statement on Friday.

The statement acknowledged the political difficulties in making changes to reach that goal.

"There was a very frank discussion about the fact that they need to be real and new commitments," Hockey said.

"It's not good enough for some countries just to reheat previous announcements. You need to actually really do the heavy lifting," he said.

G20 members represent around 85 per cent of global gross domestic product, more than over 75 percent of global trade, and two-thirds of the world's population.

Finance ministers from the bloc will meet in the tropical Australian city of Cairns in September before a summit of G20 leaders in Brisbane in November.

During the talks in Washington, Hockey was also deeply critical of delays in implementing changes agreed by the G20 bloc in 2010 for reform of the International Monetary Fund.

The reforms would give more power to emerging markets such as Brazil and China and increase the IMF's resources.

Hockey blamed an impasse in the U.S. Congress for the delay, saying it "diminishes America's global standing instead of enhancing it".

(Reporting by Morag MacKinnon; Editing by Paul Tait)

Ukraine prepares armed response as city seized by pro-Russia forces

Posted: 12 Apr 2014 07:00 PM PDT

KIEV/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Armed separatists took control of a city in eastern Ukraine on Saturday and Kiev prepared troops to tackle what it called an "act of aggression by Russia", pushing the conflict between the neighbours into a dangerous new phase.

Pro-Russian activists carrying automatic weapons seized government buildings in Slaviansk, a town about 150 km (90 miles) from the Russian border, and set up barricades on the outskirts of the city.

In Kramatorsk, some 80 km (50 miles) to the north, gunmen seized the police station after a shootout with police, a Reuters witness said.

Government buildings in several other towns in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions were attacked in what Washington said were moves reminiscent of the events that preceded Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.

"We are very concerned by the concerted campaign we see under way in eastern Ukraine today by pro-Russian separatists, apparently with support from Russia, who are inciting violence and sabotage and seeking to undermine and destabilize the Ukrainian state," said Laura Lucas Magnuson, spokeswoman for the White House National Security Council.

"We saw similar so-called protest activities in Crimea before Russia's purported annexation," she said in a statement, adding: "We call on President (Vladimir) Putin and his government to cease all efforts to destabilize Ukraine, and we caution against further military intervention."

Vice President Joe Biden will travel to Kiev on April 22 to show support for Ukraine's government, the White House said on Saturday. He will be the most senior U.S. official to visit the country since the crisis began there.

The West accuses Russia of destabilising the region as a pretext to potentially sending in troops to protect the local Russian-speaking population, as it did in Crimea. NATO says Russian armed forces are massing on Ukraine's eastern border, while Moscow says they are on normal manoeuvres.

Any escalation would increase the risk of a "gas war" that could disrupt energy supplies across Europe.

'DISPLAY OF AGGRESSION'

Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov called the attacks in the east "a display of external aggression from Russia."

"Units of the interior and defence ministries are implementing an operational response plan," he added.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine was "demonstrating its inability to take responsibility for the fate of the country" and warned that any use of force against Russian speakers "would undermine the potential for cooperation" including talks due to be held on Thursday among Russia, Ukraine, the United States and the European Union.

In a phone call with Lavrov, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry "made clear that if Russia did not take steps to de-escalate in eastern Ukraine and move its troops back from Ukraine's border, there would be additional consequences," a senior State Department official said.

The official did not state what the consequences would be.

The United States and EU have slapped sanctions on Russian officials and leading business figures in response to Moscow's annexation of Crimea. The Canadian government said on Saturday it imposed sanctions on two more individuals and a Crimean oil and gas company in response to the crisis.

Moscow has scoffed at the Western measures.

In Slaviansk, at least 20 men with pistols and automatic weapons took over the police station and a security service headquarters before spreading out through the city.

Officials said the militants, wearing mismatched combat fatigues, balaclavas and bulletproof vests, seized hundreds of pistols from weapons stores in the buildings.

The city's mayor said she supported the protesters, and more than a thousand people gathered in front of the police station, chanting: "Moscow, Crimea, Russia!".

They cheered as the Ukrainian flag was replaced with the blue, black and red of the self-declared Donetsk Republic.

"We want to join Russia. We would be very grateful if Russia helps us," said a gunman who gave his name as Alexander, wearing camouflage fatigues and a black balaclava mask.

"We will stand until victory. Honestly, it's not scary for me to die for freedom."

On a road into Slaviansk, men with automatic rifles set up a roadblock and checked vehicles entering the city.

It was unclear if local law enforcement agencies were taking orders from Kiev any more after the regional police chief quit.

Kostyantyn Pozhydayev came out to speak to pro-Russian protesters at his offices in the regional capital, Donetsk, and told them he was stepping down "to avoid bloodshed".

Ukrainian commentator Sergei Leshchenko said the burst of activity by pro-Russian groups was an attempt by the Kremlin to secure a strong negotiating position before the international talks about Ukraine in Geneva next week.

Russia is expected to argue at the talks for a revamp of Ukraine's constitution to give a large degree of autonomy to eastern Ukraine, something Kiev and its Western backers reject.

"Russia will come to the talks with the position that 'Donetsk and several neighbouring regions are already ours - now let's talk about federalisation'," said Leshchenko, a commentator with the Ukrainska Pravda newspaper.

'GAS WAR'

With the crisis in Ukraine still unresolved, the gas dispute threatens to affect millions of people across Europe.

A large proportion of the natural gas that EU states buy from Russia is pumped via Ukrainian territory, so if Russia makes good on a threat to cut off Ukraine for non-payment of its bills, customers farther west will have supplies disrupted.

Russia is demanding Kiev pay a much higher price for its gas, and settle unpaid bills. Russian state-owned gas giant Gazprom and its Ukrainian counterpart, Naftogaz, are in talks, but the chances of an agreement are slim.

"I would say we are coming nearer to a solution of the situation, but one in the direction that is bad for Ukraine," Ukrainian Energy Minister Yuri Prodan said in an interview with the German newspaper Boersenzeitung.

"We are probably steering towards Russia turning off its gas provision," he was quoted as saying.

That raised the spectre of a repeat of past "gas wars", when Ukraine's gas was cut off with a knock-on effect on supplies to EU states.

The scope for compromise narrowed after the Naftogaz chief executive told a Ukrainian newspaper that Kiev was suspending payments to Gazprom pending a conclusion of talks on a new deal.

Ukraine has de facto stopped payments already because it failed to make an instalment of over $500 million due this month to Gazprom.

Moscow says it does not want to turn off Ukraine's gas if it can be avoided, and that it will honour all commitments to supply its EU customers.

(Additional reporting by Conor Humphries in Kiev, Alexei Anishchuk, Alessandra Prentice and Vladimir Soldatkin in Moscow, William Schomberg in London, Annika Breidthardt in Berlin, Lina Kushch in Donetsk, Ukraine and Gleb Garanich in Slaviansk, Ukraine, Maxim Dondyuk in Kramatorsk, Ukraine, Roberta Rampton and Will Dunham in Washington, and Jeffrey Hodgson in Toronto; Writing by Christian Lowe and Conor Humphries; Editing by Robin Pomeroy and Peter Cooney)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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'Star Wars VII' will be shot in Abu Dhabi next month

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 07:45 PM PDT

The highly-anticipated movie will be released in December 2015.

Abu Dhabi has been chosen as one of the shooting locations for Star Wars: Episode VII, the upcoming film in the series created by George Lucas, said Hollywood Reporter.

The cast and crew of Star Wars: Episode VII will head to the desert in May to film scenes set on Tatooine. The desert planet is home to Anakin and Luke Skywalker, the protagonists of the 1977 and 2005 films respectively.

Disney reportedly chose Abu Dhabi for security reasons, preferring to steer clear of possible political unrest in North Africa. In the past, scenes on the Skywalkers' home planet were filmed in Tunisia, specifically in the village of Tataouine, known for its distinctive underground dwellings.

The cast and crew are expected to spend four weeks in Abu Dhabi. The feature's primary shooting location is outside of London, on the premises of the famous Pinewood Studio.

Production is already underway on Star Wars: Episode VII, which will take place around 30 years after The Return Of The Jedi (1983). Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew will return in the roles of Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca. Adam Driver (Girls) is slated to play a villain. The rest of the cast remains a closely guarded secret.

Star Wars: Episode VII will arrive in theatres worldwide in December 2015. The release of the film will mark the first in a new series of projects based on the Star Wars franchise, which Disney acquired in fall 2012. — AFP Relaxnews

Penelope Cruz is now a Bond girl frontrunner

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 07:55 PM PDT

The Spanish actress' name is included in the latest James Bond film update.

The star of Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Volver, Penelope Cruz, could be in line for a prominent role in the 24th Bond film, due 2015, according to a schedule update issued by Sony Picture.

Named alongside Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris, Cruz was the surprise fourth headline star named as part of Sony's release calendar update, as spotted by French magazine Premiere.

With her husband Javier Bardem having taken part in Skyfall, there's already a family connection to the Bond franchise. Cruz also demonstrated that mainstream blockbuster success wasn't off her list, co-starring with Johnny Depp in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in 2011; earlier, she had appeared alongside Ralph Fiennes in 2006 drama Chromophobia. — AFP Relaxnews

'Star Trek' concert tour pairs films with orchestra

Posted: 10 Apr 2014 07:55 PM PDT

Fans can watch J.J. Abrams' reboot of the films on the big screen accompanied by live music.

Fans of Star Trek will soon be able to follow the adventures of the crew of the USS Enterprise in their favourite films as the popular franchise goes where it has never gone before, with       screenings accompanied by a symphony orchestra.

Director J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot of Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness will be shown on the big screen in high definition accompanied by live music.

"The events will celebrate the extraordinary collaboration between film and music as Michael Giacchino's scores are brought to life on stage," organisers said in a statement.

The Star Trek: Live In Concert tour will begin with two performances in Lucerne, Switzerland next month followed by three more in London before moving to Houston, San Diego and Philadelphia in the United States in July, and Toronto, Canada in March next year. No word on whether it will come to Asia yet.

Viacom's Paramount Pictures, CBS Consumer Products , 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and others are launching the tour. — Reuters

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'Star Wars VII' will be shot in Abu Dhabi next month

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 07:45 PM PDT

The highly-anticipated movie will be released in December 2015.

Abu Dhabi has been chosen as one of the shooting locations for Star Wars: Episode VII, the upcoming film in the series created by George Lucas, said Hollywood Reporter.

The cast and crew of Star Wars: Episode VII will head to the desert in May to film scenes set on Tatooine. The desert planet is home to Anakin and Luke Skywalker, the protagonists of the 1977 and 2005 films respectively.

Disney reportedly chose Abu Dhabi for security reasons, preferring to steer clear of possible political unrest in North Africa. In the past, scenes on the Skywalkers' home planet were filmed in Tunisia, specifically in the village of Tataouine, known for its distinctive underground dwellings.

The cast and crew are expected to spend four weeks in Abu Dhabi. The feature's primary shooting location is outside of London, on the premises of the famous Pinewood Studio.

Production is already underway on Star Wars: Episode VII, which will take place around 30 years after The Return Of The Jedi (1983). Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Peter Mayhew will return in the roles of Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Chewbacca. Adam Driver (Girls) is slated to play a villain. The rest of the cast remains a closely guarded secret.

Star Wars: Episode VII will arrive in theatres worldwide in December 2015. The release of the film will mark the first in a new series of projects based on the Star Wars franchise, which Disney acquired in fall 2012. — AFP Relaxnews

Penelope Cruz is now a Bond girl frontrunner

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 07:55 PM PDT

The Spanish actress' name is included in the latest James Bond film update.

The star of Vicky Cristina Barcelona and Volver, Penelope Cruz, could be in line for a prominent role in the 24th Bond film, due 2015, according to a schedule update issued by Sony Picture.

Named alongside Daniel Craig, Ralph Fiennes and Naomie Harris, Cruz was the surprise fourth headline star named as part of Sony's release calendar update, as spotted by French magazine Premiere.

With her husband Javier Bardem having taken part in Skyfall, there's already a family connection to the Bond franchise. Cruz also demonstrated that mainstream blockbuster success wasn't off her list, co-starring with Johnny Depp in Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides in 2011; earlier, she had appeared alongside Ralph Fiennes in 2006 drama Chromophobia. — AFP Relaxnews

'Star Trek' concert tour pairs films with orchestra

Posted: 10 Apr 2014 07:55 PM PDT

Fans can watch J.J. Abrams' reboot of the films on the big screen accompanied by live music.

Fans of Star Trek will soon be able to follow the adventures of the crew of the USS Enterprise in their favourite films as the popular franchise goes where it has never gone before, with       screenings accompanied by a symphony orchestra.

Director J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot of Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness will be shown on the big screen in high definition accompanied by live music.

"The events will celebrate the extraordinary collaboration between film and music as Michael Giacchino's scores are brought to life on stage," organisers said in a statement.

The Star Trek: Live In Concert tour will begin with two performances in Lucerne, Switzerland next month followed by three more in London before moving to Houston, San Diego and Philadelphia in the United States in July, and Toronto, Canada in March next year. No word on whether it will come to Asia yet.

Viacom's Paramount Pictures, CBS Consumer Products , 21st Century Symphony Orchestra and others are launching the tour. — Reuters

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‘Isolated’ cases of shortage

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

PETALING JAYA: Cases of water shortage among the orang asli are isolated, said the Department of Orang Asli Development (Jakoa).

Its director-general Datuk Mohd Sani Mistam said almost all orang asli villages had implemented the Water Supply and Environment Safety programme under the Health Ministry.

"Nevertheless, the department is still monitoring the water shortage crisis by communicating closely with orang asli village chiefs as well as Village Security and Development Committees," he said in an e-mail to The Star.

He was responding to the crisis affecting orang asli communities in Tanjong Keruing in Pekan, Pahang, and Kampung Keliat in the Lojing district of Kelantan.

Mohd Sani said Jakoa was also getting the Pahang Water Supply Department to help the communities in Tanjung Keruing.

It had also informed the Rural and Regional Development Ministry of the status in Kampung Keliat as the matter was under the ministry's purview, he added.

"If the water shortage crisis prolongs, Jakoa will request for help from the states to provide water supply trucks to the communities," he said.

Centre for Orang Asli Concerns coordinator Dr Colin Nicholas said the cases of orang asli suffering from drought might be isolated.

However he added that they were likely to affect around 100 villages – between 10% and 15% of orang asli in Peninsular Malaysia.

An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 orang asli live in low-lying areas and they rely on water from swamps and wells, he said.

Dr Nicholas said the orang asli had been suffering from water access problems for many years.

This happened when their sources of water were polluted by mining and logging and the use of pesticides and fertilisers in plantations.

"The water sources in Kampung Keliat in Kelantan, for instance, were polluted by iron-ore mining.

"The drought has made it worse," he said.

Related stories:

Syabas working to fine-tune rationing plan

Zahid: BOC holders in for a long wait to be Malaysians again

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysians who have allegedly become stateless after failing to get British citizenship may have to wait at least 17 years before they can regain their Malaysian citizenship.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this in reference to hundreds who had renounced their Malaysian citizenship allegedly in order to receive British citizenship through the British Overseas Citizenship (BOC).

The approval of Malaysian citizenship for these former citizens would also be subjected to their show of loyalty to the country and passing a Bahasa Malaysia proficiency test, he added.

"The Malaysian Government will not automatically grant citizenship to anyone who has already let go of their Malaysian citizenship.

"Anyone who wishes to re-apply for citizenship will have their application reviewed carefully while they are given only a residence pass, not citizenship or permanent residence.

"This is because there were those among them who had torn up their (Malaysian) passports with feelings of hatred towards the country and an intention to no longer return to this country – there was no more loyalty in them," Dr Ahmad Zahid said at a press conference here yesterday.

He said 673 individuals – and not 1,000 as previously reported – had renounced their Malaysian citizenship allegedly to obtain the BOC between 2005 and 2013, ending up in this predicament of being stateless.

The British government had on July 4, 2002, decided that it would no longer consider citizenship applications involving BOC holders from Malaysia.

The BOC is a travel document that is not equivalent to British citizenship, even though BOC holders could be considered for British citizenship before the British Nationality Act 1981 was amended in 2002.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said a residence pass would permit those re-applying for Malaysian citizenship to reside in the country for up to five years, after which the pass will be up for renewal.

"These individuals should apply for the residence pass while in the United Kingdom through the Malaysian High Commission in London.

"They can only take off for Malaysia after their application (for a residence pass) has been approved by the Malaysian Immigration Department.

"A special counter will be opened at the KL International Airport on their arrival day, where the BOC document-holder will be issued with the residence pass and briefed on the rules pertaining to the pass," he said.

Deepa’s remedy going to involve more face time with legal system

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

MUCH as the public is stumped over police inaction in the case of a Muslim convert who is said to have taken his son from his ex-wife's house, the police might just be right in this case.

Unlike a kidnapping, which is an offence under the Penal Code, this is a father who has taken custody of his child.

The dispute between S. Deepa and Izwan Abdullah, who was N. Viran before his conversion to Islam, is a civil one.

There are two competing civil court orders in play here – one issued by the Syariah High Court on Aug 26 and one by the civil High Court in Seremban on Monday.

Under Article 121 (1A) of the Federal Constitution, both the civil and Syariah courts have equal but separate powers.

Section 20(3)(f) of the Police Act states that a police officer is duty-bound to take lawful measures to execute summonses, subpoenas, warrants, commitments and other process lawfully issued by any "competent authority".

In this case, both courts are competent authorities, leaving the cops in a fix.

The only things they can act upon and have said that they are investigating are in regard to Deepa's police reports against Izwan for:

(i) BREACHING the interim protection order awarded by a magistrate's court under the Domestic Violence Act when he went to her house on Wednesday and allegedly abducted their six-year-old son; and

(ii) ALLEGEDLY assaulting her at a salon last year, which is an offence under the Penal Code.

As for Deepa, her remedy is unfortunately going to involve more face time with the legal system as she will have to file an application to institute contempt proceedings against Izwan for breaching the custody order.

But she will first have to serve it on him because he has to be made aware of it as a finding of contempt will mean punishment for Izwan.

If he cannot be found, the law allows Deepa to substitute service on his lawyer; and if he still cannot be found after he is convicted of contempt, the court will issue a warrant of arrest for Izwan.

But it cannot be fair that while Izwan can go to the High Court to challenge the custody order in favour of Deepa, she is unable to challenge the custody order he was given by the Syariah court because she has no standing as a non-Muslim.

The Government must find a solution or their meaningless fluttering about will only result in an increasing number of torn families as one parent and the children go into hiding here or overseas and add to religious tension.

All Malaysian leaders, regardless of their political leanings, must be prepared to make decisions that will propagate social cohesion.

Surely the time has come for the 133 Barisan Nasional MPs and 89 Pakatan Rakyat MPs to demand a law requiring a spouse to first settle his or her responsibilities in a civil marriage before embracing Islam?

The matter of a child's religion is not just a problem where one parent is a Muslim.

Fierce arguments even occur in many civil mixed marriages between spouses of different faiths.

Faith is a personal thing and no one should be coerced into a religion, especially children.

They should receive instruction in both their parents' faiths and be free to choose later.

This is the best solution because unlike embracing Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism or Sikhism, when one becomes a Muslim in Malaysia, the parallel Syariah legal system makes it nigh impossible for a convert to change his or her faith.

There have been other conversion cases where cross-jurisdictional issues worsened the situation like the ones involving R. Subashini, S. Syamala and M. Indira Gandhi.

A Muslim lawyer who practises in both the civil and Syariah courts probably said it best: "Encouraging conversion is good but if it encourages injustice, it is a disservice to the faith."

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Studying panda poo part of 'Rediscover' city activity

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

A chance to analyse panda droppings at the River Safari, a tour of Singapore Cable Car's back-of-house and a guided tour of the Singapore Sports Museum by sports personalities.

These are some of the activities the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has lined up from April to October for the second phase of its Tourism50 celebrations.

The STB was set up in 1964 as the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board and is marking 50 years of tourism development and promotion.

The new string of activities, called Rediscover, was launched yesterday.

It offers a glimpse into how tourist attractions in Singapore are run behind the scenes.

STB hopes it will help Singapo-reans rediscover their country's tourism offerings and appreciate the people behind them.

"It's not always about discovering the new," said Melissa Ow, assistant chief executive of STB's experience development group.

"It's also important to help people revisit, reconnect and understand that there's so much we offer as a city and destination."

Rediscover will kick off over the Easter weekend, from April 18 to 20, with a family carnival at the 43-year-old Jurong Bird Park.

More than 20 events from the arts, attractions, cruise and sports industries will be held during the seven-month celebrations.

Other highlights will include free guided tours of the artworks displayed at MRT stations on the North-East and Circle lines next month, and a "Be a Panda Researcher" programme with experts at River Safari in June.

Every Sunday in September, sports personalities such as marathon runner Mok Ying Ren and national sprint legend C. Kunalan will lead guided tours of the new National Stadium and Singapore Sports Museum at the Singapore Sports Hub.

These will cost S$25 (RM65) per person.

Attractions such as the Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay will also be offering promotions such as free admission and discounts for locals.

The first Tourism50 event, offering free tours of Haw Par Villa, attracted more than 13,000 visitors over two weekends last month.

More information on Tourism50 can be found at www.xinmsn.com/rediscoversg. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Indian national jailed for molest

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

On Jan 16 this year, a woman said goodbye to a worker who had completed upgrading work in her HDB flat in Tampines, and turned away.

From behind, he suddenly slid his hand under her armpit and reached for her breast. It was only after she bit his palm that he released her.

Vadla Kandappachari was sentenced to nine months in prison yesterday, after pleading guilty to molesting the 43-year-old woman.

The construction worker from India also admitted to one other charge of outraging his victim's modesty by kissing the back of her right palm. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

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Studying panda poo part of 'Rediscover' city activity

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

A chance to analyse panda droppings at the River Safari, a tour of Singapore Cable Car's back-of-house and a guided tour of the Singapore Sports Museum by sports personalities.

These are some of the activities the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has lined up from April to October for the second phase of its Tourism50 celebrations.

The STB was set up in 1964 as the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board and is marking 50 years of tourism development and promotion.

The new string of activities, called Rediscover, was launched yesterday.

It offers a glimpse into how tourist attractions in Singapore are run behind the scenes.

STB hopes it will help Singapo-reans rediscover their country's tourism offerings and appreciate the people behind them.

"It's not always about discovering the new," said Melissa Ow, assistant chief executive of STB's experience development group.

"It's also important to help people revisit, reconnect and understand that there's so much we offer as a city and destination."

Rediscover will kick off over the Easter weekend, from April 18 to 20, with a family carnival at the 43-year-old Jurong Bird Park.

More than 20 events from the arts, attractions, cruise and sports industries will be held during the seven-month celebrations.

Other highlights will include free guided tours of the artworks displayed at MRT stations on the North-East and Circle lines next month, and a "Be a Panda Researcher" programme with experts at River Safari in June.

Every Sunday in September, sports personalities such as marathon runner Mok Ying Ren and national sprint legend C. Kunalan will lead guided tours of the new National Stadium and Singapore Sports Museum at the Singapore Sports Hub.

These will cost S$25 (RM65) per person.

Attractions such as the Singapore Flyer and Gardens by the Bay will also be offering promotions such as free admission and discounts for locals.

The first Tourism50 event, offering free tours of Haw Par Villa, attracted more than 13,000 visitors over two weekends last month.

More information on Tourism50 can be found at www.xinmsn.com/rediscoversg. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Indian national jailed for molest

Posted: 11 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

On Jan 16 this year, a woman said goodbye to a worker who had completed upgrading work in her HDB flat in Tampines, and turned away.

From behind, he suddenly slid his hand under her armpit and reached for her breast. It was only after she bit his palm that he released her.

Vadla Kandappachari was sentenced to nine months in prison yesterday, after pleading guilty to molesting the 43-year-old woman.

The construction worker from India also admitted to one other charge of outraging his victim's modesty by kissing the back of her right palm. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Maoists kill 12 in India poll-related violence

Posted: 12 Apr 2014 05:37 AM PDT

RAIPUR, India: Maoist rebels killed 12 people in two poll-related blasts Saturday in an insurgency-hit region of central India, police said, highlighting security worries in the nation's marathon election.

The attacks came as Indians cast ballots in the southern resort state of Goa and in the far-flung northeast in another round of the multi-phase polls that wind up May 12 with results due May 16.

Six polling team officials were killed when Maoists blew up their bus in the state of Chhattisgarh, senior police officer Gurjinder Pal Singh told AFP.

"The Maoists triggered the landmine blasts," Singh, a key official in ensuring election security in the state, told AFP.

Five security men engaged in an election safety operation and another victim were killed in a separate landmine blast that created a huge crater in the road.

The men were blown up near Darbha, where Maoists massacred the top leadership of the Congress party of Chhattisgarh last May.

The blasts, just an hour apart, came just days after Maoist rebels killed three soldiers guarding polling officials in Chhattisgarh in a gunbattle.

The deaths underscored the security challenges facing election organisers in India.

Separatist and Maoist insurgencies afflict large swathes of India's northeast, northwest and central regions.

The elections, which the opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party are tipped to win, ousting the ruling Congress party after a decade, kicked off earlier in the week.

The vote is held in stages to allow security forces to be moved around the country to protect voters.

In part of Chhattisgarh, polls began on April 10. Two more rounds of voting are scheduled in the state on April 17 and April 24.

Maoist rebels killed 16 people in a massive attack on security forces in central India in March in the deadliest attack so far this year, heightening fears of more unrest in their stronghold.

The Maoists, who have been described by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as the country's most serious internal security threat, have been fighting since 1967 for a communist society by toppling what they call India's "semi-colonial, semi-feudal" form of rule.

The insurgency is believed to have cost tens of thousands of lives, with much action focused around the insurgent-dominated, so-called "Red Corridor" stretching through central and eastern India.

The rebels are believed to be present in at least 20 states but are most active in Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and Maharashtra, occupying thousands of square kilometres (miles) of land. -AFP

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