Rabu, 16 April 2014

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

Harrison Ford talks 'Blade Runner' sequel

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 10:05 PM PDT

The actor also shares stories on his Star Wars and Indiana Jones days.

Star Wars and Blade Runner actor Harrisson Ford conducted an "Ask Me Anything" session on Reddit over the weekend and answered a few choice questions about his past career and future aspirations.

Blade Runner

"The set for Blade Runner was maybe the hardest set I've ever worked on because I think we worked 50 nights in a row, and it was always raining," he recalled.

That said, Ford still retains interest in a rumoured sequel. "I'm quite curious and excited about seeing a new script for Blade Runner if in fact the opportunity would exist to do another," he revealed.

"If it's a good script I would be very anxious to work with Ridley Scott again, he's a very talented and passionate filmmaker. And I think it would be very interesting to revisit the character."

A young Harrison Ford in Blade Runner.

Star Wars

Speaking of collaborations, Ford confirmed that his famous Star Wars ad lib, saying "I know" in response to Princess Leia's "I love you", was what he preferred to think of as a suggestion.

"Movie making's a real collaborative process at its best. You don't ad lib it, you suggest it and then you try something in rehearsal and then you agree," he said.

"So it was my suggestion, because I thought it was more of a character line than what was written, but the director and Carrie and I all thought it was a good idea at the time so we did it."

Indiana Jones

That willingness to work new angles helped him out of a tough spot on ths set of Raiders Of The Lost Ark, when Ford was suffering from dysentery on the first of a three day fight scene – a face-off against an accomplished swordsman.

"When I got to set I proposed to Steven that we just shoot (him)," Ford related.

"The poor guy was a wonderful British stuntman who had practiced his sword skills for months in order to do this job, and was quite surprised by the idea that we would dispatch him in five minutes. But he flourished his sword, I pulled out my gun and shot him, and then we went back to England." — AFP Relaxnews

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates

China releases blogger on bail, jails another amid rumour crackdown
Dengue outbreak at Australian detention centre sparks fresh concerns
Hundreds still missing in deadly Korea ferry sinking

China releases blogger on bail, jails another amid rumour crackdown

Posted: 16 Apr 2014 08:35 PM PDT

BEIJING (Reuters) - A Chinese-American venture capitalist known for his controversial blogs has been released on bail after nearly eight months in detention because of a "serious illness", Beijing police said amid a crackdown on online dissent.

Charles Xue, also known as Xue Manzi, was detained in August on a charge of visiting prostitutes, an accusation that activists said stemmed from China's efforts to rein in social media.

China's crackdown on online "rumour-mongering" is widely seen as a tool to halt criticism of the ruling Communist Party and has chilled political discourse, with high-profile bloggers saying they have reined in sensitive posts for fear of detention.

The government says the crackdown is necessary to preserve social stability.

Xue was released on bail because he was sick, Beijing police said on its official microblog. State television showed Xue on television on Wednesday night confessing to his crime, saying he was extremely sorry to his wife and children.

"(I) have committed a crime, have confessed and have repented," Xue said on state television.

Xue's lawyer, Qi Xiaohong, declined to comment, telling Reuters "it was not convenient for her to speak". Xue could not be reached for comment.

In September, Xue, who had 12 million followers on Weibo, appeared on state TV in handcuffs to apologise, saying that "freedom of speech cannot override the law".

China adopted tough measures to crack down on online rumours last year. People will be charged with defamation if posts that contain rumours are visited by 5,000 internet users or reposted more than 500 times, according to a judicial interpretation issued by China's top court and prosecutor. That rule could lead to three years in jail.

Online rumours are particularly pervasive in China, where traditional media is heavily regulated by the government and public trust in the media is low.

In a separate case, a court jailed popular microblogger Qin Zhihui for three years on Thursday on charges of defamation and affray after he confessed to spreading rumours about the Chinese government, Xinhua state news agency said.

Qin had invented a story that the Chinese government gave 200 million yuan (19.3 million pounds) in compensation to the family of a foreign passenger killed in a high-speed train crash in 2011, Xinhua said. He also told false stories about a popular television starlet and other celebrities, according to Xinhua.

(Reporting by Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Dengue outbreak at Australian detention centre sparks fresh concerns

Posted: 16 Apr 2014 07:00 PM PDT

SYDNEY (Reuters) - An outbreak of dengue fever at an Australian refugee detention centre in the tiny Pacific island nation of Nauru sparked calls on Thursday for greater oversight at the facility, which has been criticised by rights groups and the United Nations.

Australian Immigration Minister Scott Morrison's office said that medical officers at the centre had confirmed three cases of the potentially fatal tropical disease, which is transmitted by mosquitoes.

Two of those affected by the sickness are potential refugees awaiting processing, while the other was a member of staff working at the centre, they said.

"All three people have been isolated and are receiving appropriate treatment and are expected to make a full recovery," a spokeswoman for Morrison said in a statement.

But Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, immigration spokeswoman from the opposition Greens Party, said that outbreaks are inevitable in crowded camps like the one on Nauru and called for greater independent oversight of the overseas refugee detention system.

"The government can't control these types of outbreaks in the harsh detention camp environment. With seven families to a tent, it's impossible to keep children safe from the disease,"

she said in a statement.

Australia uses detention centres in Nauru and on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea to process would-be refugees sent there after trying to get to Australia, often in unsafe boats after paying people smugglers in Indonesia.

Canberra's tough stance on asylum seekers, including offshore processing and a blanket ban on people arriving by boat ever settling in Australia, has been criticised by the United Nations and other groups as illegal and inhumane.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees in a November report said neither centre had a "fair and efficient system for assessing refugee claims" nor provided "safe and humane conditions of treatment in detention".

Nauru in particular has come under fire after President Baron Waqa earlier this year unilaterally sacked the nation's entire judiciary, one aspect of what critics have called a creeping authoritarianism there.

Critics say that Australia has been unusually silent about developments in Nauru in order to ensure that the camp, which is vital to its immigration policy, stays open.

In February, a riot at the detention centre on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea left at least one asylum seeker dead and 77 more injured.

Hundreds still missing in deadly Korea ferry sinking

Posted: 16 Apr 2014 06:10 PM PDT

JINDO, South Korea (Reuters) - South Korean coastguard and navy divers resumed searching on Thursday for about 290 people still missing, many of them students from the same high school, after a ferry capsized in sight of land.

Grieving family members gathered on the quay of the coastal city of Jindo, huddled in blankets against the spring cold as efforts to locate the missing went into a second day.

One parent, Park Yung-suk, told Reuters she had seen the body of her teenage daughter's teacher brought ashore earlier in the morning.

"If I could teach myself to dive, I would jump in the water and try to find my daughter," Park said as light rain fell.

Of some 450 passengers on board the ferry when it set sail from the port of Incheon late on Tuesday, nearly 340 were teenagers and teachers from the Danwon school near the capital Seoul on a field trip to Jeju island, about 100 km (60 miles) south of the Korean peninsula.

So far 179 people have been rescued and six confirmed dead in what could be the country's worst maritime accident in 20 years.

As coastguard officials arrived at Jindo on Thursday, waiting relatives jeered at them, shouting: "The weather's nice, why aren't you starting the rescue."

It is not known why the 6,586 tonne vessel, built in Japan 20 years ago, sank.

As frustration grew with the lack of information, some parents of missing school children hired their own boat on Wednesday night. They appeared to blame the government of President Park Geun-hye and rescue officials for not making a big enough effort.

"Since the government refused to take us to the scene 11 parents chipped in 61,000 won (35 pounds) each to hire a boat and took a reporter and a diver. But there was no rescue operation going on," said one father who declined to give his name.

"I am extremely angry. Media is saying the rescue op is still going on. It's all a lie," he said.

CLUES SOUGHT

It was not immediately clear why the Sewol ferry had listed heavily on to its side in apparently calm waters off South Korea's southwest coast, but some survivors spoke of a loud noise prior to the disaster.

A member of the crew of a local government ship involved in the rescue, who said he had spoken to members of the sunken ferry's crew, described the area as free of reefs or rocks and said the cause was likely to be some sort of malfunction on the vessel.

There were reports of the ferry having veered off course, but coordinates of the site of the accident provided by port authorities indicated it was not far off the regular shipping lane.

The ferry sent a distress signal early on Wednesday, the coastguard said, triggering a rescue operation that involved almost 100 coastguard and navy vessels and fishing boats, as well as 18 helicopters.

According to a coastguard official in Jindo, the waters where the ferry capsized have some of the strongest tides off South Korea's coast, meaning divers were prevented from entering the mostly submerged ship for several hours.

The ship has a capacity of about 900 people and an overall length of 146 metres (480 feet). Shipping records show it was built in Japan in 1994.

According to public shipping databases, the registered owner of the ship is Chonghaejin Marine Co Ltd, based in Incheon. Reuters was unable to reach the company by phone.

Earlier, company officials offered an apology over the accident but declined to comment further.

The databases showed that Chonghaejin Marine Co Ltd became the owner of the vessel in October, 2012.

(Additional reporting by Jack Kim, Ju-Min Park, Choonsik Yoo, Meeyoung Cho and James Pearson in SEOUL and Jonathan Saul in LONDON; Writing by Mike Collett-White; Editing by Dean Yates)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

Clone wars: Our review of TV series 'Orphan Black'

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

Life gets complicated when a woman discovers multiple copies of herself in the city.

Ever wondered if there was someone else in the world that looked just like you? Or, maybe you wished you had a secret twin somewhere.

Be careful with what you wish for.

As fun and fascinating as it might be to live out the prince and the pauper fantasy, it could also go horribly wrong – like in the case of Sarah Manning (Tatiana Maslany) in Orphan Black.

Tatiana Maslany was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama category at the Golden Globes early this year.

Street-smart punk-rock chick Sarah discovers she has a doppelganger one day and her life instantly becomes so much more complicated.

OK, so she may not be completely innocent here as she did assume the identity of her lookalike after she witnessed said lookalike jumping in front of an oncoming train.

In her defence, Sarah wanted a fresh start, one where she could live peacefully with her young daughter and didn't have to deal with her lowlife ex-boyfriend, Vic (Michael Mando).

She had no idea the dead woman was a cop, a detective no less. And, that the woman who goes by the name Elizabeth "Beth" Childs was facing a disciplinary hearing for shooting a civilian.

Not a great start to this new life it seems, although on the upside, Beth's minimalist digs looks nice if a bit sterile.

A far cry from Sarah's messy loft, which she shared with foster brother, Felix (Jordan Gavaris who makes this character a delight to watch – he's such a hoot).

Beth's life also comes complete with a tall, handsome beau named Paul Dierden (Dylan Bruce) and a healthy bank account. A pretty sweet life, if Sarah can somehow work it to her advantage.

But all this barely scratches the surface of the whole story.

You see, Sarah discovers yet another individual who looks just like her, but she's German and has bright pink hair. The German, aka Katja Obinger, dies after being shot by a sniper.

Sarah eventually comes across even more women out there who are dead ringers for her. Clones, to be precise and not all clones play nice.

If you're thinking, this has got to be incredibly confusing and impossible to keep track of, you would be wrong. What sets each clone apart is the way they speak, sense of dressing and hairstyle. And it's actually fun to see how many variations of the same person can be produced.

But more importantly, the intricate storyline of this Canadian series moves quickly, answering significant questions at a decent pace as more questions are posed in its wake.

Oh, and it's action-packed, too, with its fair share of conspiracy theories, mysterious characters and heart-stopping suspense.

How many clones are there? Who is behind the cloning of these women and for what purpose have they been created? Why are they so different from one another personality-wise when they are all clones? And, which of them is the original, if any?

Another big plus point for Orphan Black is the talented Maslany. Playing what could be an infinite number of characters must be mind-boggling, but Maslany does it effortlessly, earning her critical praise and accolades for her work in the show's first season.

"I love it," Maslany told Star2 sans any trace of a British accent (which Sarah has) in January at the Golden Globes where she was nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series – Drama.

"I think the challenge is really exciting to me and what I love about being an actor. I just feel very lucky."

Orphan Black is also a show that has massive online support and a loyal following.

"We would not have a second season if we did not have the fans that we did," Maslany said.

"They championed us so strongly and fought to get us out there."

And with good reason, it's a smart and thrilling series that gets people talking about very real issues that are relevant today like the ethics of human cloning and the debate on nature versus nurture.

The first season began here on April 7, but Season Two is about to premiere in United States on April 19.

So, now is as good a time as any to check out Orphan Black. It's one of the few sci-fi series currently airing that's thought provoking, fast moving and compelling.

In fact, it's a series that's on the cusp of going down in history as a modern classic along the lines of The X-Files and Lost.

>> Orphan Black airs every Monday at 9pm on Lifetime (Astro Ch 709).

Halle Berry stars in sci-fi series, 'Extant'

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

In her first TV role, Halle Berry will headline the sci-fi series Extant.

In her first TV role, Halle Berry will headline the sci-fi series Extant, premiering on CBS this summer in the United States.

The first footage released from the network features the actress in the role of Molly, an astronaut.

Extant will focus on an astronaut's troubled period of readjustment upon returning to Earth.

Berry will play the title character, who struggles to reconnect with her loved ones after spending an entire year in outer space.

In addition, Molly is seen coping with mysterious events related to her latest mission that threaten to change the course of history.

According to the new 30-second teaser, Molly finds upon her return from space that she is pregnant, although she was previously told she could not bear children.

Goran Visnjic (ER) and Grace Gummer (American Horror Story) also appear in this science-fiction series produced by Steven Spielberg. – AFP Relaxnews

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business

Alibaba steals Yahoo's thunder ahead of IPO
KLCI stages mild rebound
Bursa fines, reprimands ex-remisier

Alibaba steals Yahoo's thunder ahead of IPO

Posted: 16 Apr 2014 06:56 PM PDT

NEW YORK:If Yahoo appears back in favour, it can thank Alibaba, the Chinese web giant in which it holds a big stake and which is set for a public stock offering.

Yahoo shares soared 6.26% to close at US$36.35 on Wednesday on the heels of a better-than-expected quarterly report, but it was in part because some were more focused on the Alibaba financial results buried in the document.

"The salient point of Yahoo's first quarter results was the very strong December quarter results from Alibaba," said Jordan Rohan, analyst at the brokerage Stifel.

"Alibaba's results paint a favourable picture for a favourable IPO despite the recent period of weakness in the Internet sector."

The Chinese firm has not yet released details on its finances, but Yahoo's figures showed Alibaba with a 2013 fourth quarter profit of US$1.35bil on some US$3bil in revenues.

That indicates 66% growth, up from 51% in the past quarter.

The data from Alibaba "gives us decent conviction that the valuation will ultimately be higher than US$200bil," Rohan said, dwarfing Yahoo's market value of around US$36bil.

Other analysts say a more realistic value for Alibaba could be in the range of US$130-150bil.

FRESH LIFE FOR YAHOO

Yahoo holds a 24% stake in Alibaba andm under the latest plansm is expected to sell about 10% of the capital in the Chinese group in the initial public offering.

The US firm bought 40% of Alibaba in 2005 for US$1bil and now stands to reap a handsome profit from that. Yahoo sold part of its stake in 2012, getting a gain of US$7.6bil.

Collin Gillis, analyst at BCG, said the agreement could make Yahoo the majority seller on the IPO "and potentially reduce Alibaba's incentive to aggressively price the offering."

Gillis said the IPO would give Yahoo a fresh cash infusion, adding: "We expect the cash proceeds to primarily be used to repurchase shares and to pursue acquisitions."

Alibaba is preparing what is expected to be the biggest tech sector IPO since Facebook's in 2012. It comes amid intense activity in the Web sector, but also concerns about excessive valuations.

But the transaction could give new momentum to Yahoo, which has struggled since losing its position as the leading Web search engine but is refocusing under chief executive Marissa Mayer.

Mayer, a former Google executive, said her efforts are showing signs of turning things around.

"If you look at our core businesses, which we define as search and display, you see an important shift," Mayer said in an earnings call. "Our search revenue grew 9% year over year, marking our ninth consecutive quarter of growth."

Mayer said Yahoo's mobile service was attracting more than 430 million monthly users. "More than half of Yahoo's total monthly audience joins us on a mobile device," she said.

COMPELLING VALUE

Analyst Brian Pitz at Jefferies suggested the stars are lining up for Mayer and Yahoo, and said the firm is a "compelling" stock to buy.

"The core business is showing slow signs of an inflection, cash flow is being used to buy stock, and the Asian investments are showing strong performance, so we think the stock has compelling risk/reward," Pitz said in a note to clients.

Yahoo's future remains clouded by an uncertain outlook for growth, and it is unclear whether Mayer will be aggressive in areas like video programming or simply conserve capital and buy back shares.

Some say the company has yet to show it has turned a corner, and data this week from comScore showed a new low point in its search engine market share of 10.1%.

"Yahoo management emphasised a focus on responsible stewardship of capital, which likely includes buybacks and asset acquisitions going forward," says a note from Brian Wieser at Pivotal Research.

Wieser noted that Yahoo has lost ground in advertising to social media and that "with most all of the company's current market value wrapped up in the value of Yahoo's minority stakes in Yahoo Japan as well as Alibaba Group, it is important to consider that Yahoo may be unsuccessful in unlocking full value." – AFP

KLCI stages mild rebound

Posted: 16 Apr 2014 06:22 PM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: The FBM KLCI staged a mild rebound early Thursday, supported by some buying of selected blue chips including Genting Bhd, although the initial mood was still lacklustre following the weaker closing the previous day.

However, market sentiment could improve following the firmer key Asian markets and the overnight close on Wall Street.

At 9.01am, the KLCI was up 2.63 points to 1,848. Turnover was 89.30 million shares valued at RM34.37mil. There were 144 gainers, 53 losers and 145 counters unchanged.

Reuters reported Asian share markets were trying to rally on Thursday as dovish comments from the head of the US. Federal Reserve coupled with an upbeat economic assessment from the central bank lifted Wall Street for a third straight session.

BIMB Securities Research said despite the firmer overnight close on Wall Street, Malaysian equities could remain volatile.

On Wednesday, the KLCI closed down 8.51 points or 0.46% to 1,845.37 weighed by losses in plantation and banking counters.

"We believe the local market to remain volatile for the time being and investors shall remain cautious as our market remains trading at a premium over

other regional indices. Expect to see immediate support at 1,840/35 while resistance at 1,850/55," said BIMB Research.

Aeon Credit rose 70 sen to RM14.90 after reporting a strong set of financial results for the financial year ended February 2014.

Petronas Dagangan rose 16 sen to Rm30.30 with just 100 shares done. Hong Leong Bank added 12 sen to RM14.08 with 100 shares also.

Among the plantations, PPB Group rose 10 sen to RM16.24 and United Plantations eight sen higher at RM25.

MISC added eight sen to RM6.83 and Genting Bhd six sen to RM9.58.

Malaysia Airlines rose 1.5 sen to 23 sen with 40 million shares done on expectations that the current low price could make it attractive to be privatised.

BAT fell the most, down 36 sen to RM61.20 in thin trade.

Hong Leong Capital fell 18 sen to RM12 and HLFG 12 sen to RM15.12.

Infrastructure-property based Gamuda was down nine sen to RM4.50.

Zhulian lost nine sen to RM2.76 after its earnings fell 42.2% to RM17.17mil in the first quarter ended Feb 28, 2014 from RM29.74mil a year ago as it was impacted by weaker demand from the Thai market.

Bursa fines, reprimands ex-remisier

Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:50 PM PDT

PETALING JAYA: Bursa Malaysia Securities Bhd has publicly reprimanded and imposed a fine of RM100,000 on former remisier Goh Hong Lim for manipulating the share price of Tomei Consolidated Bhd.

"Bursa places a strong emphasis on the need to maintain a fair and orderly market and will not tolerate any acts or practices which could lead to false trading, manipulative activities and compromising the integrity of the market," said the exchange.

At the time of the breach, Goh was a commissioned dealer's representative of HwangDBS Investment Bank Bhd at its Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur branch.

The exchange has ordered to strike off Goh for his offences.

He had contravened and triggered the provisions of Rules 401.1(3), 404.3(1) and 1302.1(1)(a) & (g) of Bursa's pre-revamped rules.

Bursa said Goh had engaged in numerous manipulative and false dealing activities over a period of time in several client accounts.

These dealings included activities which involved bidding down, bidding up, front-running and coordinated trading activities which had the effect of creating a misleading appearance of active trading in Tomei.

"Goh had influenced Tomei's share price by pushing the price down during the period of price fixing for its placement shares," said Bursa.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Nation

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The Star Online: Nation

Karpal dies: Highly emotional family members arrive at Kampar hospital mortuary
Shocked Malaysians pay Twitter tribute to Karpal Singh
Karpal Singh dies in car accident

Karpal dies: Highly emotional family members arrive at Kampar hospital mortuary

Posted: 16 Apr 2014 03:12 PM PDT

KAMPAR: It was a highly emotional scene at the Kampar Hospital mortuary as family members of the late Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh arrived.

His wife Gurmit Kaur was inconsolable, as she wailed, "Why why", while his son, Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, who was holding his mother all the way to the mortuary, also broke down.

They arrived at the hospital at about 5.15am.

Karpal's daughter Sangeet Kaur Deo was also sobbing away.

His eldest son Jagdeep Singh Deo also arrived at the mortuary.

The bodies of Karpal and his driver C. Selvam will be sent to the Raja Permaisuri Bainun Hospital in Ipoh for a post mortem.

Both were killed when the Toyota Alphard they were travelling in went out of control after hitting a lorry, near Gua Tempurung, early Thursday.

His son Ramakarpal and assistant were injured in the accident.

Shocked Malaysians pay Twitter tribute to Karpal Singh

Posted: 16 Apr 2014 01:57 PM PDT

PETALING JAYA: Shocked and heartbroken - these words summed up netizens' feelings after news broke out that DAP leader Karpal Singh was killed in an accident, when the vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a crash near Gopeng, Perak on the North-South highway at 1.30am.

Politicians, activist and people tweeted their condolences to Karpal's family and also expressed their shock over the incident.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak got the news after he landed in Turkey and expressed his condolences to the family.

"I have just landed at Ankara when I heard the news that YB Karpal Singh died in a road accident. My condolences to the family," he tweeted.

MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai also tweeted his condolences on his official Twitter account.

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that they had lost a colleague and an indefatigable fighter for justice.

"We've lost a friend. We spoke for quite a while on telephone at 6.30pm yesterday. My condolences for the family," he said in one of his tweets.

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim tweeted that it was a sad news for the nation.

"The country has lost a noted political figure and a competent lawyer. My condolences to the family of the late Karpal Singh," he said.

PKR's vice-president Tian Chua tweeted about the tragic news and he said that he was sad and speechless upon hearing the news.

Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin tweeted that he got a "sad" wake up call from Kepala Batas MP Reezal Merican Naina.

"I immediately called @GobindSinghDeo and Jagdeep. These are truly sad calls in life.

"There is a void, a huge void to be filled in parliament as well as in court rooms. Farewell, Tiger of Jelutong," Sim tweeted.

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo also tweeted about his father's death.

After the news broke out, pictures of the vehicle wreckage were widely circulated on the Internet and one twitterer, @klubkidd urged netizens to stop spreading the photos.

"Condolences to the family and loved ones of a great man. To those spreading photos of the accident, don't. Honestly, it's heart breaking," said klubkidd.

It was believed that the 74-year-old Bukit Gelugor MP was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang to attend a court hearing later in the morning when the accident occurred.

The Toyota Alphard, he was along with three passengers including his son Ramkarpal Singh, was believed to have collided with a lorry before losing control.

Karpal Singh dies in car accident

Posted: 16 Apr 2014 12:36 PM PDT

KAMPAR: Bukit Gelugor MP and DAP leader Karpal Singh died in an accident near Gua Tempurung near here early Thursday.

The prominent lawyer and his assistant C. Selvam died on the spot, while two other passengers were seriously injured.

The incident occurred at 1am.

This bodies have been brought to Kampar Hospital.

The Toyota Alphard in which Karpal and the three others were in had hit the left side of a lorry that was moving slowly.

Due to the crash impact, both victims died on the spot.

Earlier report:

DAP leader Karpal Singh died after the vehicle he was travelling in was involved in a crash near Gopeng, Perak on the North-South highway at 1.30am.

It was believed that 74-year-old Bukit Gelugor MP was travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang to attend a court hearing later in the morning when the accident occurred.

The Toyota Alphard, he was in along with three passengers including his son Ramkarpal, was believed to have collided with a lorry before going out of control.

His son Gobind Singh Deo, when contacted, confirmed that Karpal had died on the spot in the accident.

"His assistant Michael (Selvam) was also killed in the accident while the driver is critically injured.

"My brother Ram is slightly injured but we are trying to get through to him," he said when contacted at 3.30am.

Gobind, who is Puchong MP, added that he was in Kuala Lumpur at the time of incident and will be heading to the accident site.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

Pierce Brosnan gets a 'horrible feeling' watching himself as James Bond

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 10:15 PM PDT

The former Agent 007 star is currently promoting his new film, A Long Way Down.

Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan recognises the role as a "gift that keeps on giving", but he doesn't particularly enjoy watching himself order martinis shaken, not stirred.

"I have no desire to watch myself as James Bond, because it's just never good enough – it's a horrible feeling," Brosnan told The Telegraph.

Brosnan played Agent 007 in four films released between 1995 and 2002: Goldeneye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day. "I felt I was caught in a time warp between Roger and Sean. It was a very hard one to grasp the meaning of, for me," the 60-year-old actor said.

"The violence was never real, the brute force of the man was never palpable. It was quite tame, and the characterisation didn't have a follow-through of reality, it was surface. But then that might have had to do with my own insecurities in playing him as well."

As insecure as Brosnan may be about his Bond legacy, he recognises that the opportunity to play Ian Fleming's creation secured him the means to make passion projects like 2005's The Matador or his upcoming comedy How To Make Love Like An Englishman.

"It's the gift that keeps on giving, that allowed me to create my own production company and make my own movies," Brosnan said.

Brosnan is currently promoting his film A Long Way Down with actress Toni Collette and will soon be seen opposite Emma Thompson in The Love Punch,"a comedy about a happily divorced couple who scheme to recover the retirement money that was stolen from them. — Reuters

Actress Emma Stone makes smart wardrobe choices

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 08:25 PM PDT

The star of The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and her wonderful red carpet looks.

Emma Stone, who will grace the big screens again later this month with co-star and real-life boyfriend Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, has been busy promoting the movie across the globe.

In the past few days, 25-year-old Stone has been walking the red carpet in Britain, France and Italy in eye-catching outfits by major fashion designers.

On April 11 in London, Stone wore a gorgeous canary yellow dress by Atelier Versace. Later that same day, the actress showed up in a black PVC Lanvin dress at the Paris premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

Emma Stone in a gorgeous Atelier Versace at the London premiere of her movie. -- AFP

Yesterday in Rome, Stone wore a two-piece ivory lace number by Dolce & Gabbana. It wasn't, perhaps, her best look but since she wore the outfit for press interviews and not for a premiere, we forgive her.

That same night, also in Rome, Stone attended the movie's Italy premiere in a two-piece Valentino creation.

Directed by Marc Webb, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 opens in Malaysia on May 1. Stone plays Gwen Stacy to Garfield's Peter Parker/Spider-Man. Others in the movie include Jamie Foxx (Electro), Dane DeHaan (Green Goblin) and Paul Giamatti (The Rhino).

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Lifestyle: Arts & Fashion

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Partying all night long with Lionel Richie

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

It was one mega sing-along party at Lionel Richie's All The Hits All Night Long concert on Sunday night.

As promised, it was one mega sing-along party at Lionel Richie's All The Hits All Night Long concert at the Arena of Stars in Genting, Pahang on Sunday night.

Backed by his five-piece band, the Grammy award-winning singer-composer showed us once again why he continues to pack out arenas worldwide.

"Hello, is it me you're looking for?" he asked as the lights came on and the audience screamed in delight at the concert venue. Despite having concerts in Kuala Lumpur in 2006 and 2010, Richie is still the man to thrill the masses – young and old.

With his wit, humour and passion, the singer was on form as he churned out hit after hit, pacing the night with ballads and dance numbers. Richie began the show with Just For You, a tune from his 2004 album of the same name.

Of course, he didn't wait too long to hit the 1970s and 1980s classics. Out came the crowd favourites Penny Lover (1983), Easy (1977, Commodores), Ballerina Girl (1985), You Are (1982) and Truly (1982).

Once Richie warmed up, he picked up momentum and got the 5,000 fans on their feet with Running With The Night. That was a blast from the past from his classic Can't Slow Down (1983) album. Remember Richie in that wedding party dance scene in the Running With The Night music video? He was in that sort of party mood last Sunday in Genting.

He didn't miss a beat and at 64, sounded better than he ever.

Richie, looking dapper in black, was a true entertainer. He told plenty of little stories, and how people would always turn to his songs when there was a disaster or devastation, heartbreak or were in love.

Those were stories he shared before carrying on with the romantic push of ballads like Still, Oh No and Stuck On You.

No Richie concert is complete without him singing some early hits from the Commodores. There were fans in the crowd who wanted the funk/soul side of this artiste.

Much to the delight of the older fans, he brought out the funk with Brick House, before rolling back the years with the 1970s Motown-era treats like Three Times A Lady (which he wrote for his mother after his father made a toast to a wonderful woman), Sail On, Fancy Dancer and Sweet Love.

He then tried to trick the audience into believing that Diana Ross would appear to do a duet. Some unsuspecting fans actually expected her to walk in as Richie pointed to the stage wings.

"I asked her but she said ... no!" he said, trying to keep a straight face. "I told her this was going to be the best concert in Malaysia and she still said no. But we don't need Diana Ross. There are 5,000 of you here who can be Diana Ross!"

With that, he launched into the ballad Endless Love, which was originally released in 1981. It was used in the movie Endless Love that same year. A time when actress Brooke Shields was the hottest thing on the planet.

With the help of the Arena of Stars audience and lyrics flashing in the background, Richie made it a karaoke fest to remember.

Just when you thought he couldn't raise the temperature further, he did. Dancing On The Ceiling had everyone grooving, and throwing "shapes" in the aisles.

Richie performed 21 songs without a break before wrapping up with Hello, All Night Long and the encore, We Are The World, which he co-wrote with Michael Jackson.

"I didn't invent this saying but, I'll be back," he promised as the audience cheered wildly.

One night with UB40: Reggae in the air

Posted: 14 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

The Ali Campbell-led version of UB40 came good with a night of nostalgia.

The reggae legacy of 35 years and counting of British band UB40 certainly stretches far and wide, and well across the generations.

That was the picture at KL Live in Kuala Lumpur last Wednesday when a Malaysian crowd (plus a significant expatriate showing) were treated to the return, of sorts, of this iconic Birmingham-raised band.

There were those who very likely remembered or were at the full group's first Malaysian concert at Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur nearly 20 years ago (May 7, 1994). Arguably there were those in the KL Live audience who were barely out of their diapers back then.

In recent years, the line-up changes in UB40 have been drastic. It must be noted that there are two versions of UB40 on tour these days.

Band feuds can be messy affairs. There is an ongoing version of UB40 led by Robin Campbell and band regulars on the touring circuit, while a new version of UB40 emerged recently with Robin's brother Ali Campbell leading the line-up with some old boys.

So I hope I can be forgiven if there was a tinge sadness in me, when I stepped into the KL Live concert hall realising that this Ali Campbell-led splinter group was far from the original posse. However, when the voice of original vocalist Ali, 55, came into play on the first tune, most of my fears were wiped away.

So it didn't matter too much in the end that this was Ali's group, informally known as UB40 Reunited, and formed in January along with co-original vocalist/trumpeteer Astro Wilson, 56, who left the original group just last November, and original keyboardist Mickey Virtue, 57 (who left along with Ali in 2008).

This version of UB40 brought along a new group of musicians, expanding the line-up to an 11-piece, complete with brass section!

Both Ali and Astro's presence made it a special night in Kuala Lumpur concert. For over 90 minutes, there was a singalong collection lifted from the group's back catalogue.

UB40 can boast over 40 British Top 40 hits spanning 16 studio albums.

At KL Live, you had the group's hardcore fans (the ones with the Signing Off and Present Arms albums) right to those who swear by the more commercial Labour Of Love and Rat In The Kitchen records. Everybody came to experience the best of UB40.

The show kicked off with an instrumental from the band (with Virtue on keyboards) before the vocalists came on stage. The audience clearly lapped it up when the hits arrived.

Right from So Here I Am and Homely Girl to Stick By Me and One In Ten, this was a skanking night of Midlands reggae-inspired nostalgia. Real working class dreamers here. Then it was time to stomp the work boots as the group unleashed Cherry Oh Baby, Rat In Mi Kitchen, before simmering it down with a little pop number called Can't Help Falling In Love.

If ever there were encores to leave the fans with broad smiles, then you had to rate UB40's hits Kingston Town and Red Red Wine as top-drawer send-offs.

Despite some glaring ommissions (King, Food For Thought and The Earth Dies Screaming), there was still a lot of entertainment value to take home. A handy reggae cover of Prince's Purple Rain, and a new track called Sillhouette certainly got the crowd interested in the group's future material.

From front to back of this KL outing, it was still Ali Campbell's vocals that stole the hearts. Let's hope, as this "splinter" group heads back to Britain for more live appearances this summer, that there will be some family patching up (with the other UB40). All said, we walked away from KL Live sated for the time being.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

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Singapore accepts Indonesia apology over warship row

Posted: 16 Apr 2014 04:45 AM PDT

SINGAPORE, April 16, 2014 (AFP) - Singapore on Wednesday welcomed an apology from Indonesia's military chief over the naming of a warship after two marines who staged a deadly bombing in the city-state in 1965.

Singapore reacted furiously in February when the refurbished frigate was named "KRI Usman Harun", lodging a diplomatic complaint with Jakarta and banning the vessel from its ports and naval bases.

Tensions escalated last month after the Indonesian navy dressed two marines as the executed bombers at a defence exhibition in Jakarta.

"Once again I apologise. We have no ill intent whatsoever to stir emotions. Not at all," military chief General Moeldoko, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, said in an interview with Singapore broadcaster Channel NewsAsia that was aired on Tuesday.

Moeldoko, however, said that the ship will not be renamed.

Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen welcomed the apology on Wednesday, saying it was a "constructive gesture to improve bilateral defence ties".

This will "strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship that has been built up over many decades," he said in a statement.

Usman Haji Mohamed Ali and Harun Said were executed in Singapore for their roles in the March 1965 blast at a downtown office complex which killed three people and injured 33.

Indonesia considers the two men to be national heroes. Their attack was part of an effort by then Indonesian president Sukarno to stage an armed confrontation against the newly formed federation of Malaysia, which included Singapore.

In his Channel NewsAsia interview, Moeldoko said: "Indonesia didn't think that 'Usman Harun' would eventually turn into a polemic such as this."

"It is my responsibility as the commander-in-chief of the (Indonesian armed forces) to offer a clarification and to take steps to ensure that the situation does not escalate," he added.

Indonesia is Singapore's third largest trading partner, with total trade between the Southeast Asian neighbours reaching Sg$79.4 billion ($62.6 billion) in 2012.

Relations hit a low point in the late 1990s after the fall of former dictator Suharto, and his successor B.J. Habibie famously referred to the tiny city-state as a "little red dot" on the map.

Bilateral ties have improved considerably in recent years. - AFP

William, Kate and baby George kick off Australia tour

Posted: 15 Apr 2014 10:30 PM PDT

Sydney (AFP) - Prince William and his wife Kate flew into Sydney on Wednesday with their baby son George to kick off the Australian leg of their tour Down Under.

The royals disembarked from an Australian air force 737 under sunny skies after arriving from New Zealand, an AFP photographer said.

Eight-month-old Prince George was in his mother's arms as Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove -- who represents William's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II in Australia -- greeted the couple at Kingsford Smith airport.

A grand reception by the state of New South Wales awaited in the afternoon at the harbourside Opera House, where several thousand onlookers had gathered.

A new poll published Wednesday showed support for a republic in Australia, where the British queen remains head of state, has dropped to a more than two-decade low.

Some 51 percent oppose switching from a constitutional monarchy to a republic, compared to 42 percent who support it, according to the Fairfax-Nielsen survey of 1,400 people carried out from Thursday to Saturday.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were greeted by crowds in the tens of thousands during their 10-day tour of New Zealand, even in small regional towns such as Blenheim and Cambridge.

The royals visit the Blue Mountains on Thursday, Brisbane on April 19 and Uluru (Ayers Rock) on April 22.

They head to Adelaide on April 23 and the capital Canberra on April 24 and 25, before flying home.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Metro: South & East

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Singapore accepts Indonesia apology over warship row
William, Kate and baby George kick off Australia tour
Rescue efforts underway after S. Korea ferry capsizes