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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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• New Japan satellite to survey disasters, rain forests
• Thai cabinet barred from using crisis headquarters: official
• Thailand’s Army chief in charge

New Japan satellite to survey disasters, rain forests Posted: 20 May 2014 09:50 PM PDT TOKYO: Japan is scheduled to launch a new mapping satellite on Saturday that will be used to survey damage from natural disasters and changes affecting rain forests. The Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 (ALOS-2) will be released by the nation's H-IIA rocket, which will lift off shortly after noon (0300 GMT) Saturday, according to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). ALOS-2 will be able to monitor scars left by natural disasters as well as progress made in reconstruction, JAXA said. The service is important for Japan, which sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences 20 percent of all major earthquakes felt by humans every year. Memories are still fresh of the deadly 9.0-magnitude earthquake in March 2011, which released a killer tsunami that destroyed the northern Pacific coast and triggered the Fukushima nuclear crisis. The volcanic island nation is routinely hit by earthquakes and typhoons, with scientists expecting Mount Fuji to erupt sometime soon. The satellite is different from spy satellites that Japan already has to monitor risk states such as North Korea. The new satellite, nicknamed "Daichi-2", will "conduct a health check mainly of the Earth's land areas in detail," JAXA project manager Shinichi Suzuki said in a statement. Daichi-2 will collect data related to deformation of the Earth's crust, but also the impact of floods and landslides, he said. The satellite's predecessor was used to monitor damage caused by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Suzuki said. The device uses a special radar to observe the planet's surface even at night, during bad weather and even through vegetation, JAXA said. JAXA plans to use the new satellite to regularly study tropical rain forests, which are difficult to observe because of the thick clouds that frequently cover them. It will also be used to observe snow and ice conditions in the polar areas. - AFP

Thai cabinet barred from using crisis headquarters: official Posted: 20 May 2014 09:48 PM PDT BANGKOK: Thailand's cabinet has been barred from using its crisis headquarters and is working from a secret location, a government official said Wednesday, a day after the military imposed martial law. The office of the permanent secretary for the defence ministry told the embattled government it could no longer use the facilities where it had been meeting since opposition protesters surrounded its main headquarters months ago, said the official, who did not want to be named. "The government is now using a safe house," added the official.-AFP

Thailand’s Army chief in charge Posted: 20 May 2014 09:46 PM PDT BANGKOK: With martial law in place, Thailand's army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha intends to bring together all stakeholders in the political conflict to break the deadlock, as he says the country cannot continue in this crisis any longer. Prayuth decided to impose the strict law after senators failed to find a way to appoint a neutral Prime Minister  to end the political crisis, and the military detected the possibility of the warring parties engaging in violence, a source said. "May I beg all Thai people to take off all 'coloured' shirts. We begin from square one to take the country forward to calm, peace and order. We have to look forward to the future and how we can move on," Prayuth told a press conference on Tuesday. MEETING WITH ACTING PM The commander will meet acting Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan, red-shirt leader Jatuporn Promphan, anti-government protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban and acting Deputy Senate Speaker Surachai Liengboon-lertchai, who are all involved in the power play. The caretaker government and its red-shirt supporters want to have an early election to facilitate their return to power, while the protesters and senators are looking for an unelected "neutral" premier to form an interim government to carry out their "reform" agenda that would somehow remove the Thaksin Shinawatra camp from politics. Prayuth clarified while declaring martial law early Tuesday that it was not tantamount to a coup and people should not be concerned. Niwattumrong, meanwhile, dismissed rumours that he was planning to suspend Prayuth as Army chief, adding that he would meet the top brass this week. The military is seeking to restore order and is asking political groups to halt their protests, he said. He also urged the public to continue their lives as usual Asked if he had informed the government about the declaration of martial law, Prayuth said: "Where is the government now? I don't know. Let them do their work. They should work, if they can work. "But I don't bother the government. Now, the civil servants and the military are working for the country. I don't care about the others," he said. Prayuth said life would continue as usual. "We'll try not to impinge on rights too much," he said. "We will not create trouble for the people. Many articles (in martial law) have not been enforced yet." The caretaker government, meanwhile, called cabinet members to a meeting at SC Park Hotel in the Rama IX area to evaluate the situation after the declaration of martial law, PM's secretary-general Suranand Vejjajiva said. Reacting to the military move, Niwattumrong issued a statement saying it should be binding on all equally and peacefully under the rule of law and the Constitution. Separately, when asked if there would be an early election, Prayuth pretended he had not heard the question, but later joked: "Perhaps I need to consult an ear doctor." Prayuth called a meeting of heads of state agencies, including permanent secretaries and directors of ministries, representatives of independent organisations, professional associations and civic groups to explain his plan after announcing martial law. SECURITY OPERATIONS The military's Peace and Order Maintaining Command was set up under the martial law, replacing the government's Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order. The military took over all security operations and other agencies, mainly police who worked to keep order in the capital, returned to their posts and offices. Troops were seen guarding many key locations and media offices, while some media outlets were forced to close to stop provocative messages. Prayuth specifically told the chief of the Department of Special Investigation, Tarit Pengdith: "Stop. Enough. If you want to sue anybody, sue me instead," a source in the meeting quoted the commander as saying, referring to Tarit's role over the past months in trying to bring protest leaders to justice. Regarding the election, Prayuth said: "If the election cannot be held, we should not have the election. If we need to sacrifice the blood of the people, we should not have the election," according to Election Commission secretary-general Puchong Nutrawong. – The Nation/ANN

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The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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Films inspired by MH370 emerge at Cannes Posted: 18 May 2014 10:20 PM PDT Special previews and screenings of the films are being shown at the film festival to potential buyers. Two films inspired by the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are being touted to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival, barely two months after the plane vanished with 239 people on board. Potential buyers will get a sneak preview of A Dark Reflection by Fact Not Fiction Films at a "screening" today, according to a full page advertisement in industry trade journal The Hollywood Reporter.  What Happened On Flight 313? reads the advertisement which appeared last weekend and shows a woman silhouetted at the end of a runway. The runway lights glow behind her while overhead a passenger jet looms in the darkness lit by two harsh white lights. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8. (On the A Dark Reflection official website, the director's note states that the project began in January 2013.) Meanwhile, a half-page advertisement in the The Hollywood Reporter's Cannes edition last week publicised another similar film. The advertisement for The Vanishing Act featured a plane rising out of the clouds under the caption "The untold story of the missing Malaysian plane". A 90-second teaser trailer showing terrified passengers and a gun being brandished was shot over six days in Bombay, Variety said in a report. It is being promoted by Indian film director Rupesh Paul, the man behind erotic movie Kamasutra 3D, and was presented to buyers in Cannes on Saturday. Paul, who denied the film was insensitive so soon after the disappearance, said he began work on the project after being contacted by a Malaysian journalist who said he had a theory about what had happened. He then spent 20 days working on a screenplay using the journalist's idea for the ending, the report added. The filmmaker said he was confident he could make the movie work even if the wreckage of the plane was found. People had suggested to him that his investment would be wasted if the plane was found and the explanation put forward by his film turned out to be incorrect, he said. "That's the biggest challenge I'm facing ... Everyone in the world, they want to know what happened," he was quoted as saying. In addition to being the world's biggest film festival, Cannes is also a huge film market and each year attracts over 10,000 buyers and sellers from around the world. It was not known whether the "screening" of A Dark Reflection would be of a full or part-completed film, or another trailer. MH370 has been missing ever since it mysteriously diverted from its Kuala Lumpur-Beijing route in March. It is believed to have crashed into the sea far off Australia's west coast. Australia, which is leading the hunt in the ocean far off its west coast, has said it believes it is looking in the right area based on satellite communications from the plane. — AFP

HK filmmaker Fruit Chan's 'The Midnight After' is a hit Posted: 18 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT Hong Kong director reflects city's souring mood with new film.        The director of a post-apocalyptic thriller that has taken Hong Kong's box office by storm says the film has struck a chord in a city grappling with its identity under Chinese rule. "People are getting very angry about the government. This film is their voice," said Fruit Chan, whose The Midnight After has so far collected more than HK$20mil (RM8.3mil) at the local box office, making back more than four times its budget. The horror-comedy is a return to form for one of Hong Kong's few commercially successful independent directors, boasting typical Chan ingredients of ultra-violence and distinctly local, black humour. Adapted from an online novel, The Midnight After places a group of people in a mini-bus late at night. When the bus emerges from Hong Kong's Lion Rock Tunnel, they find the streets deserted after an unexplained calamity hits the city. The film is rich with allusions to current events in Hong Kong, and is one of a handful of recent movies tapping into a sense of collective confusion and rising anger over where the territory is headed. "After Hong Kong joined China, many things have changed in our town," said Chan. "I follow very closely what is happening, and that's why I included in my film elements that certainly have to do with politics," said the director, speaking to AFP at the 16th Far East Film Festival in the northern Italian city of Udine. Under an agreement between Britain and China before Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, the "One Country, Two Systems" maxim would see the territory retain its semi-autonomous status and enshrine civil liberties not guaranteed on the mainland. Fruit Chan The mood has soured since 1997. Protest marches are a frequent sight amid perceived erosions to Hong Kong's status, a sense of declining press freedom and fears that Beijing will row back on promises that the city – whose current chief executive is appointed by a pro-Beijing committee – will see a transition to universal suffrage by 2017. This has been coupled with a rising tide of anti-mainland Chinese sentiment as Hong Kong experiences an influx of about 40 million visitors from across the border every year, pressuring services and space in a territory of seven million. Chan references both issues in The Midnight After, which makes some subtle jibes at the leadership of unpopular Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and touches on a perceived marginalisation of Hongkongers within their own city, where a soaring property market is out of reach for many. Chan, 55, has long been one of his city's most socially aware directors, his acclaimed Hong Kong trilogy of Made In Hong Kong (1997), The Longest Summer (1998) and Little Cheung (2000) examining the effects the handover was having on the lives of everyday people. Chan said audiences in Hong Kong have become increasingly politicised since 1997, when his Made In Hong Kong did not chime as well with its audience at the box office as his current release. "We were afraid that when people understood this film had to do with politics, then it might be ignored. But there's been a great reaction to the film, many debates, many opinions raised by it. The change was not in my approach, the change was in the audience. "Other audiences might not understand everything that is going on in the film but we hope it can help inform them about our city," said Chan, who is planning a sequel. The Midnight After is one of a number of current Hong Kong productions steeped in nostalgia for a city - or even a society - film-makers feel is fading from view. Pang Ho-cheung's drama Aberdeen is another, and one that highlights through its characters a collective confusion about what the future will hold. The bawdy comedy Golden Chickensss makes constant reference to the effects "mainlandisation" is having on the city in which it is set. Chan welcomes the trend and hopes the city's next generation of movie-makers will continue to follow suit. "Young film-makers all want to be commercial straight away," he said. "But I am saying to them, make a short film and tell your stories first. Don't rush. Talk about people before you rush around and make action films." – AFP Relaxnews >The Midnight After and Aberdeen are showing in cinemas nationwide.

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The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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Films inspired by MH370 emerge at Cannes Posted: 18 May 2014 10:20 PM PDT Special previews and screenings of the films are being shown at the film festival to potential buyers. Two films inspired by the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are being touted to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival, barely two months after the plane vanished with 239 people on board. Potential buyers will get a sneak preview of A Dark Reflection by Fact Not Fiction Films at a "screening" today, according to a full page advertisement in industry trade journal The Hollywood Reporter.  What Happened On Flight 313? reads the advertisement which appeared last weekend and shows a woman silhouetted at the end of a runway. The runway lights glow behind her while overhead a passenger jet looms in the darkness lit by two harsh white lights. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8. (On the A Dark Reflection official website, the director's note states that the project began in January 2013.) Meanwhile, a half-page advertisement in the The Hollywood Reporter's Cannes edition last week publicised another similar film. The advertisement for The Vanishing Act featured a plane rising out of the clouds under the caption "The untold story of the missing Malaysian plane". A 90-second teaser trailer showing terrified passengers and a gun being brandished was shot over six days in Bombay, Variety said in a report. It is being promoted by Indian film director Rupesh Paul, the man behind erotic movie Kamasutra 3D, and was presented to buyers in Cannes on Saturday. Paul, who denied the film was insensitive so soon after the disappearance, said he began work on the project after being contacted by a Malaysian journalist who said he had a theory about what had happened. He then spent 20 days working on a screenplay using the journalist's idea for the ending, the report added. The filmmaker said he was confident he could make the movie work even if the wreckage of the plane was found. People had suggested to him that his investment would be wasted if the plane was found and the explanation put forward by his film turned out to be incorrect, he said. "That's the biggest challenge I'm facing ... Everyone in the world, they want to know what happened," he was quoted as saying. In addition to being the world's biggest film festival, Cannes is also a huge film market and each year attracts over 10,000 buyers and sellers from around the world. It was not known whether the "screening" of A Dark Reflection would be of a full or part-completed film, or another trailer. MH370 has been missing ever since it mysteriously diverted from its Kuala Lumpur-Beijing route in March. It is believed to have crashed into the sea far off Australia's west coast. Australia, which is leading the hunt in the ocean far off its west coast, has said it believes it is looking in the right area based on satellite communications from the plane. — AFP

HK filmmaker Fruit Chan's 'The Midnight After' is a hit Posted: 18 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT Hong Kong director reflects city's souring mood with new film.        The director of a post-apocalyptic thriller that has taken Hong Kong's box office by storm says the film has struck a chord in a city grappling with its identity under Chinese rule. "People are getting very angry about the government. This film is their voice," said Fruit Chan, whose The Midnight After has so far collected more than HK$20mil (RM8.3mil) at the local box office, making back more than four times its budget. The horror-comedy is a return to form for one of Hong Kong's few commercially successful independent directors, boasting typical Chan ingredients of ultra-violence and distinctly local, black humour. Adapted from an online novel, The Midnight After places a group of people in a mini-bus late at night. When the bus emerges from Hong Kong's Lion Rock Tunnel, they find the streets deserted after an unexplained calamity hits the city. The film is rich with allusions to current events in Hong Kong, and is one of a handful of recent movies tapping into a sense of collective confusion and rising anger over where the territory is headed. "After Hong Kong joined China, many things have changed in our town," said Chan. "I follow very closely what is happening, and that's why I included in my film elements that certainly have to do with politics," said the director, speaking to AFP at the 16th Far East Film Festival in the northern Italian city of Udine. Under an agreement between Britain and China before Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, the "One Country, Two Systems" maxim would see the territory retain its semi-autonomous status and enshrine civil liberties not guaranteed on the mainland. Fruit Chan The mood has soured since 1997. Protest marches are a frequent sight amid perceived erosions to Hong Kong's status, a sense of declining press freedom and fears that Beijing will row back on promises that the city – whose current chief executive is appointed by a pro-Beijing committee – will see a transition to universal suffrage by 2017. This has been coupled with a rising tide of anti-mainland Chinese sentiment as Hong Kong experiences an influx of about 40 million visitors from across the border every year, pressuring services and space in a territory of seven million. Chan references both issues in The Midnight After, which makes some subtle jibes at the leadership of unpopular Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and touches on a perceived marginalisation of Hongkongers within their own city, where a soaring property market is out of reach for many. Chan, 55, has long been one of his city's most socially aware directors, his acclaimed Hong Kong trilogy of Made In Hong Kong (1997), The Longest Summer (1998) and Little Cheung (2000) examining the effects the handover was having on the lives of everyday people. Chan said audiences in Hong Kong have become increasingly politicised since 1997, when his Made In Hong Kong did not chime as well with its audience at the box office as his current release. "We were afraid that when people understood this film had to do with politics, then it might be ignored. But there's been a great reaction to the film, many debates, many opinions raised by it. The change was not in my approach, the change was in the audience. "Other audiences might not understand everything that is going on in the film but we hope it can help inform them about our city," said Chan, who is planning a sequel. The Midnight After is one of a number of current Hong Kong productions steeped in nostalgia for a city - or even a society - film-makers feel is fading from view. Pang Ho-cheung's drama Aberdeen is another, and one that highlights through its characters a collective confusion about what the future will hold. The bawdy comedy Golden Chickensss makes constant reference to the effects "mainlandisation" is having on the city in which it is set. Chan welcomes the trend and hopes the city's next generation of movie-makers will continue to follow suit. "Young film-makers all want to be commercial straight away," he said. "But I am saying to them, make a short film and tell your stories first. Don't rush. Talk about people before you rush around and make action films." – AFP Relaxnews >The Midnight After and Aberdeen are showing in cinemas nationwide.

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The Star Online: Entertainment: TV & Radio

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• The Amazing Adventures of the Sofa Spudniks: Live long and prosper
• Hello, awesome: Family Guy meets The Simpsons
• 'Sailor Moon' remastered; fanboys rejoice

The Amazing Adventures of the Sofa Spudniks: Live long and prosper Posted: 20 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT Whether you know or not where our headline originated from, chances are you've said it once or twice before. Yes, the Spudniks are paying tribute to famous TV catchphrases. Every time we have a family sleepover, we end up doing The Waltons: Everyone wishes everyone else a good night and someone ends with "Good night, John Boy". It's a great way of lending a kind of familiarity, and suddenly we're all bonded by a catchphrase that originated back in the 1970s on a family show. I never thought about it much until Indra suggested we write about it, but famous TV catchphrases have stealthily crept into my vocabulary and thoughts and made themselves very much at home there. As a child, how often did I say "Danger, danger, Will Robinson!", a phrase made famous by The Robot in Lost in Space, every time I found myself in a tight spot? I still say my spider sense is tingling, like Spider-Man – and I don't even like spiders. Back in school, it was also cool to say "Nah-noo, nah-noo", Mork's Planet Ork greeting from Mork & Mindy, or "Sit on it" like Arthur Fonzarelli in Happy Days. When we had a faulty piece of equipment, we'd go, "Gentleman/ladies, we can rebuild it. We have the technology" (from The Six Million Dollar Man). Okay, I admit that on occasion we even ran in slowmo and made those sounds that accompanied Lee Majors' bionic capabilities. How about the times I've written something top secret in an e-mail or text message and borrowed Jim Phelps' line from Mission: Impossible, "This tape will self-destruct in five seconds",  to cement the gravity of the message? And that's exactly why TV go-to phrases are so popular. They already have all the ingredients in place, and everyone everywhere knows exactly what they mean. So, even if you end up halfway across the globe and say to someone, "To the Batmobile!", they're probably going to know that you're no billionaire and your ride is possibly a broken down jalopy. Cartoons – Looney Toons, in particular – have especially given us some great phrases to live by. For example, you could just go "Beep, beep!" like the Road Runner, or make your voice all Bugs Bunny-ish, chomp on a carrot and spout "Ehh, what's up, Doc?" every time you see someone. On a good day, you could even do the whole closing credit sequence with theme music and all, and end with the classic Porky Pig line, "Bedee, bedee, bedee, that's all, folks!" When I've inadvertently made someone mad, I like using "Don't have a cow, man!", thanks to Bart Simpson – it even makes me feel like Bart, all mischievous and unrepentant. And here's a tip for boardroom meetings: When you have to take a vote, lift a page out of Jeff Probst's book of Survivor catchphrases and say to those out of competition, "The tribe has spoken". Say it in a deadpan fashion, and you can fire up real torches for a more dramatic effect. When you're interrogating someone with a large bet at stake, look no further than to our own Datuk Jalaludin Hassan from Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and his catchphrase, "Adakah itu jawapan muktamad anda?", translated from show's original line, "Is that your final answer?".  Right now, it's time for me to head off to my Batcave and get some shut-eye – but not before someone gives me something to drink something from the fountain of memory (Da Vinci's Demons' Tom Riley will do nicely). Or maybe just a Scooby snack – yabba dabba doo! Have I confused you enough? Thanks to Sesame Street, today's column is brought to you by the letters A and I (Ann Marie and Indra lah). – Ann Marie Chandy Being a TV writer – what a gig. Imagine coming up with a phrase and watching it go viral, and having millions of people all over the world use it. How cool is that? Apart from great story arcs, we remember TV shows for their clever catchphrases and memorable lines from the characters. Sometimes we use TV catchphrases even though we've never seen the shows from which they originated. Have you ever told someone or heard them asking you to "Kiss my grits"? It's line from Alice, a comedy that aired from 1976 to 1985, about an aspiring singer who works as a waitress at a truck stop while waiting her big break. I might have watched a dozen episodes of the series, and I can't recall much of it, but I sure use this line a lot! TV catchphrases have become part of my lexicon, and much of the time it has seeped in subconsciously – like the many times I've borrowed Jerry Seinfeld's line, "Yadda, yadda, yadda", during an uninspiring office meeting (purely in my head, lest I lose my job). Or the numerous times I'd have loved to tell people to "Eat my shorts", a Bart Simpson classic, a variation of which can be "Bite my shiny a**", Bender's quote-worthy line from Futurama. Or when people ramble on and on and on, I'd like to go back to the 1970s classic detective show Dragnet and say, in a completely deadpan manner, "Just the facts, ma'am". Apparently, my ingestion and regurgitation of catchphrases may say something about the person I've become over the years – cynical (maybe), jaded (perhaps), and definitely no longer cutesy. I used to quote Fred Flintstones' "Yabba dabba doo" all the time. No more. Incidentally, the phrase was suggested by actor Alan Reed who provided Fred's voice. Reed got the phrase from his mother who, in turn, was inspired by a line from a 1960s Brylcream ad – "a little dab'll do". Once I used to quote Stephanie Tanner's "How ruuuuude" (from Full House back in the 1980s). Now I quote Battlestar Galactica's "frak" – it's a made-up but very satisfying cuss word. Try it. My new favourite character who seems to have the best lines is Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation. With a creative team led by ex-Saturday Night Live writer Amy Poehler, the sitcom has some fabulous one-liners that are funny, smart and relevant. One of the best lines from Swanson – though I doubt I'll use it – is, "Fishing relaxes me. It's like yoga, except I still get to kill something." I don't really want to kill anything – I'm vegetarian – but I understand the need to release all that aggression. Ron may be inefficient on purpose as the director of a parks and recreation department in fake town Pawnee, Indiana (so don't go looking for it), but he's wise and has things to teach us. Here's a Swasonism to live by: "Never half-a** two things. Whole-a** one thing." It's not a new precept. Actually, it's just a better way of saying, don't be a jack of all trades and a master of none. Okay, arguable, but I'm adopting it as one of my rules to live by. – S. Indramalar

Hello, awesome: Family Guy meets The Simpsons Posted: 20 May 2014 12:45 AM PDT Television's most popular animated families will finally get to meet. In a special crossover episode of the latest season of Family Guy, the Griffin family will hit the road and head to Springfield, home to TV's most famous yellow family, the Simpsons. Titled The Simpsons Guy, the episode is part of Family Guy's Season 12; Fox (Astro Ch 710) is currently showing Season 11 in Malaysia, so we may need to wait a little longer to see it. Here's the synopsis for the episode released by Fox: "Peter (voiced by Seth MacFarlane) and the Griffins get out of dodge and end up in Springfield, where they are greeted by a friendly stranger named Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta), who welcomes his new "albino" friends with open arms. The families get along famously: Stewie (MacFarlane) becomes obsessed with Bart (Nancy Cartwright) and his old-fashioned pranks; Lisa (Yeardley Smith) takes Meg (Mila Kunis) under her wing and is determined to find something – anything – at which she excels; Marge (Julie Kavner) and Lois (Alex Borstein) ditch housework for a little bonding; and Peter and Homer fight over the best beer in town – Pawtucket vs Duff." We can't wait! Homer Simpson and Peter Griffin duking it out.  Stewie gets schooled by Bart.

'Sailor Moon' remastered; fanboys rejoice Posted: 19 May 2014 10:15 PM PDT The cult anime series is currently being shown in the US, but DVD editions will be out in the next few months. Internet TV channel Hulu is airing a remaster of cult Japanese anime series Sailor Moon in the United States, beginning earlier today. Hulu and VIZ Media's Neon Alley hold the rights to stream a polished up and uncut version of Sailor Moon online, with four episodes made immediately available and then two more set for each Monday thereafter. The 46-episode original was a hit following its initial Japan broadcast in 1992 and 1993, adapted as it was from a collectible comic series, and featuring a cast of magic-wielding girls who used their powers to defeat the evil Dark Kingdom. First aired in the US in the mid 1990s, the export was subject to alteration in terms of both content and character roles in order to avoid controversy or cultural insensitivity, but the remaster promises an uncut version faithful to the original, with a Japanese voice cast supplemented by English subtitles and a voice dub coming later in the year. Fifth series Sailor Stars is to broadcast for the first time to North American audiences. Blu-ray and DVD editions are to follow this fall, with distributor VIZ Media leading up to the introduction of brand new series Sailor Moon Crystal. — AFP Relaxnews

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The Star Online: World Updates

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• In cyber spying row, Chinese media call U.S. a 'mincing rascal'
• Thais to ponder election under martial law as way out of crisis
• China's Xi says committed to peacefully resolving territorial disputes

In cyber spying row, Chinese media call U.S. a 'mincing rascal' Posted: 20 May 2014 09:30 PM PDT BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese state media labelled the United States a "mincing rascal" and "high-level hooligan" on Wednesday in response to Washington charging five Chinese military officers with hacking U.S. companies to steal trade secrets. The indictment on Monday was the first criminal hacking charge the U.S. has filed against specific foreign officials, and follows a rise in public criticism and private confrontation between the world's two biggest economies over cyber espionage. As a first response, China suspended a Sino-U.S. working group on cyber issues. In an editorial, the Global Times, an influential tabloid run by the People's Daily, the official newspaper of China's Communist Party, said this was the "right move, but we should take further actions." "We should encourage organizations and individuals whose rights have been infringed to stand up and sue Washington," the newspaper said. "Regarding the issue of network security, the U.S. is such a mincing rascal that we must stop developing any illusions about it." The Chinese-language version of the Global Times called the United States a "high-level hooligan". Washington's legal approach against China is "high-handed and hypocritical", the People's Daily said, citing media reports that the U.S. National Security Administration (NSA) spied on Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff. "Suspending the operations of a bilateral group on cyber affairs is a reasonable start, but more countermeasures should be prepared in case Washington obstinately sticks to the wrong track," state news agency Xinhua said in a commentary on Tuesday. "Otherwise, it should take full responsibility for the consequences of the farce that features itself as a robber playing cop." China summoned the U.S. ambassador on Monday, hours after the indictment, warning Washington it could take further action, the foreign ministry said. The cyber spying charges are likely to further sour ties between China and the United States, already under strain from a range of issues, including human rights, trade disputes and China's growing military assertiveness in contested seas. On Wednesday, however, Du Yuejin, a top official in charge of internet security, was making a rare address to members of the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing on "the current global deficit of trust on cybersecurity". While China is unlikely to hand over the five officers charged, the indictment would prevent them from travelling to the U.S. or any country with an extradition agreement with the United States. (Reporting by Sui-Lee Wee; Editing by Ian Geoghegan)

Thais to ponder election under martial law as way out of crisis Posted: 20 May 2014 08:30 PM PDT BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's Election Commission was due to consider on Wednesday the caretaker government's proposal for an Aug. 3 election, as doubts grew that polls could be held smoothly despite the imposition of martial law to calm street violence. Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha denied Tuesday's declaration of martial law amounted to a military coup, saying he had acted to restore order and build investor confidence. The caretaker government says it is still in charge. Both pro- and anti-government protesters remain out in force but the army has confined them to their separate protest sites and there were no reports of trouble overnight. Twenty-eight people have been killed and 700 injured since the latest chapter in a near-decade-long power struggle between former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and the royalist establishment flared up late last year. The turmoil has brought the country to the brink of recession and even raised fears of civil war. The anti-government protesters remain implacably opposed to an election for now. They want a "neutral" prime minister installed to oversee electoral reforms aimed at ending the influence of former telecommunications tycoon Thaksin. The government, on the other hand, sees a general election that it would likely win, given Thaksin's enduring support among the rural and urban poor, as the best way forward. Acting Prime Minister Niwatthamrong Boonsongphaisan, a minister in the government of Thaksin's sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who took over when she was forced to step down as prime minister by a court two weeks ago, proposed on Tuesday that an election should be held on Aug. 3. Somchai Srisutthiyakorn, a member of the Election Commission, said all sides had to consider the proposal. "The situation has changed now. We have martial law, therefore the Election Commission, the army and the government should talk first," Somchai told Reuters. "I can't say yet whether an August 3 election will happen." RED SHIRT WARNING Anti-government protesters disrupted a Feb. 2 election that Thaksin's loyalists looked set to win. It was later declared void. Thaksin's "red shirt" activists have warned of trouble if the caretaker government is ousted and replaced with a "neutral" prime minister but some analysts saw that as likely despite the threat of a backlash. "With martial law in place, we believe violence could be contained," Pimpaka Nichgaroon, head of research at Thanachart Securities, wrote in a note. Pimpaka said the main question was whether an interim government came about through a coup or through a resolution by the upper house Senate, Thailand's only functioning legislature. "Any kind of interim government would be a better scenario for Thailand than the current political deadlock with a non-functional caretaker government." The army has ordered 14 satellite TV channels, both pro- and anti-government, to stop broadcasting and it has warned against the spread of inflammatory material on social media. Human rights groups have said the declaration of martial law was akin to a coup. (Writing by Robert Birsel; Editing by Alan Raybould and Alex Richardson)

China's Xi says committed to peacefully resolving territorial disputes Posted: 20 May 2014 07:55 PM PDT SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged on Wednesday that China is committed to peacefully resolving disputes over territory, and warned other countries that strengthening military alliances against a third party will not benefit security. Xi made the remarks at a speech in Shanghai. (Reporting by John Ruwitch, Writing by Sui-Lee Wee)

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• Japan export growth remains tepid, dims outlook
• Diary Malaysia 2014 corporate earnings
• Diary Malaysia May 21 (Wednesday)

Japan export growth remains tepid, dims outlook Posted: 20 May 2014 07:06 PM PDT TOKYO: Japan's exports rose for the 14th straight month in April but shipments to the US slowed, underlining concerns that the world's third largest economy remains vulnerable to any fall in external demand. Ministry of Finance data released on Wednesday showed exports rose 5.1% in the year to April, compared with a 4.8% gain seen by economists and a 1.8% rise in March. On a seasonally adjusted basis, exports rose a meagre 0.6% in April from the previous month. With export growth below last year's levels as the effect of a weak yen wears off, policymakers are becoming less confident of a lasting export upturn that would cushion a dip in domestic spending after Japan raised its sales tax to 8% from 5% on April 1. Analysts say the Bank of Japan may act if the trade performance falls short – a side effect of many firms moving production facilities offshore to escape years of the yen's strength. "Exports picked up just a tad from March but they still lack momentum. US-bound shipments were unexpectedly poor," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute in Tokyo. Shipments to the US – a key market for Japanese products – rose 1.9% on an annual basis. That represented a slowdown from a 3.6% gain in March, with steel shipments falling in April. "I expect the US economy to drive the global economy this year but if that scenario fails, that could raise the chance of fresh BoJ stimulus, although the bank is focusing more on prices," said Minami. The Bank of Japan is expected to keep its monetary policy unchanged when it announces its decisions later in the day, likely sounding upbeat on the economy in a sign that no additional monetary stimulus is on the horizon. The central bank is expected to take heart from surprisingly strong first quarter capital investment and buoyant machinery orders for March, which some economists took as a sign companies are optimistic that overseas sales will eventually pick up. WEAK YEN EFFECTS FADE Japan's exports had grown at double-digit pace in the second half of last year, but growth has slowed to below 10% this year as effects of a weak yen wear off. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's aggressive stimulus policies weakened the yen by some 20 percent annually since he took power in late 2012, boosting exporters' profits and share prices. But the yen's slide slowed this year to about 6% year-on-year in April, limiting gains in the value of exports. More worryingly, the yen's fall failed to shore up export volumes, which peaked in 2007 and have been falling for a third straight year in 2013. Export volumes edged up 2% in April from a year before – the first gain in two months – illustrating the plight of the export sector as a weak yen has boosted import costs more than export income, the data showed. Imports have surged in part due to a spike in demand for oil and gas after nuclear power plants were shut down following 2011's Fukushima crisis. Recently imports got a further boost from Japanese shoppers' rush to beat the tax hike. Reflecting a pullback in demand after the tax hike, imports grew an annual 3.4% in the year to April, slowing sharply from a 18.1% increase in March, the MOF data showed. That brought the trade deficit to 808.9 billion yen (US$7.98bil), versus a shortfall of 646 billion yen expected, narrowing from a 1.45 trillion yen gap in March. Still, it marked a record 22nd straight month of deficits. Economists had long anticipated a so-called "J-curve" effect, where a spike in import costs would over time be more than offset by gains in exports. However, that effect has yet to emerge, partly because firms have shifted production overseas after years of yen strength. The yen's retreat failed to reverse the trend due to the desire to move facilities closer to fast-growing markets. The trend mirrors both the declining share of "Made in Japan" products, such as electronic goods, in firms' overseas sales, and their reluctance to risk trade tensions by using the yen's weakness to cut prices and boost market share, analysts say. External demand shaved 0.3 percentage points off gross domestic product in January-March, yet the economy grew the most in more than two years on the strength of private consumption and capital spending ahead of the April 1 sales tax hike. – Reuters

Diary Malaysia 2014 corporate earnings Posted: 20 May 2014 06:52 PM PDT KUALA LUMUR: Following is a list of release dates for the quarterly earnings of some top Malaysia-listed companies.        All dates are confirmed except those marked by a "T", which means it will be released around those dates.   (T): Tentative TBD: To be determined       Company                      RIC         PERIOD  DATE  AirAsia Bhd                              Q1      May 20  AMMB Holdings Bhd                        Q4      May 20  Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd              Q1      Jun 9-13  Axiata Group Bhd                         Q1      May 27  British American Tobacco                 Q1      Apr 24  (Malaysia) Bhd                                     MISC Bhd                                 Q1      May 9  CIMB Group Holdings Bhd                  Q1      May 22  DiGi.com Bhd                             Q1      Apr 25  Felda Global Ventures                    Q1      TBD  Holdings Bhd                                       Genting Malaysia Bhd                     Q1      May 27-30  Genting Bhd                              Q1      May 27-30  Hong Leong Bank Bhd                      Q3      May 27  Hong Leong Financial Group               Q3      May 27  Bhd                                                IHH Healthcare Bhd                       Q1      May 29  IOI Corporation Bhd                      Q3      May 22-23  Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd                  Q2      May 21-23  Malayan Banking Bhd                      Q1      May 29  Malaysian Airline System                 Q1      May 15  Bhd                                                Maxis Bhd                                Q1      May 7  Petronas Chemicals Group                 Q1      May 8  Bhd                                                PPB Group Bhd                            Q1      May 21-22  Petronas Dagangan Bhd                    Q1      May 6  Petronas Gas Bhd                         Q1      May 7  Public Bank Bhd                          Q1      Apr 21  RHB Capital Bhd                          Q1      May 26-30  Sime Darby Bhd                           Q3      May 29  Tenaga Nasional Bhd                      Q2      Apr 24  Telekom Malaysia Bhd                     Q1      May 28  IOI Properties Group Bhd                 Q3      May 22-23  UMW Holdings Bhd                         Q1      May 21-23  SapuraKencana Petroleum Bhd              Q4      TBD  Petroliam Nasional Bhd                   Q1      May 14  YTL Corporation Bhd                      Q3      May 20- Reuters

Diary Malaysia May 21 (Wednesday) Posted: 20 May 2014 06:49 PM PDT KUALA LUMPUR: ALL TIMES ARE PROVISIONAL AND IN LOCAL TIME FOLLOWED BY GMT IN BRACKETS WEDNESDAY, MAY 21 KUALA LUMPUR - Release of CPI Data as of Apr 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT). KUALA LUMPUR - Bank Negara Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz delivers keynote address at The Asian Banker Summit 2014, Plenary Hall 1, Level 1, Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Kuala Lumpur at 8.30 am (0030 GMT). KUALA LUMPUR - SME Corp Malaysia Branding Seminar 2014, Dewan Mahkota, SME Corp Malaysia, Blok B, KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur at 9.00 am (0100 GMT). KUALA LUMPUR - Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Deputy Minister Ahmad Badshah Md Hanipah witnesses Malaysian Franchise Association's Mock Cheque presentation, Gloria Jeans@Nexus, Bangsar South City, Jalan Kerinchi, Kuala Lumpur at 10.00 am (0200 GMT). KUALA LUMPUR - Intel Malaysia and Singapore Country Manager (Sales and Marketing), Prakash Mallya holds press conference on PC Refresh Campaign, Thirdwave, Unit 1-11, Level 1, Nexus, Bangsar South, Kuala Lumpur at 10.30 am (0230 GMT). KUALA LUMPUR - Media briefing on World Competitiveness Yearbook 2014, Majlis Room, Level 2, Blok Inovasi, Perbadanan Produktiviti Malaysia, Lorong Produktiviti Off Jalan Sultan, Petaling Jaya at 11.00 am (0300 GMT). KUALA LUMPUR - Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin launches Bayahista Bazaar 2014 at Encorp Strand Mall, Kota Damansara at 2 pm (0600 GMT). PUTRAJAYA - Natural Resources and Environment Minister G.Palanivel receives two giant Pandas from China at Animal Hotel, MASKargo Complex, KL International Airport, Sepang at 5.30am (0930 GMT). PUTRAJAYA - Press conference by the Health Ministry to present mock cheque to the Malaysian Aids Council at Bilik Gerakan, Level 4, Block E7, Health Ministry at noon (0400 GMT). THURSDAY, MAY 22 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 15 May 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) FRIDAY, MAY 30 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Money Supply Data May 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) FRIDAY, MAY 30 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Detailed Disclosure of International Reserves as at end April 2014 at 1200pm (0400 GMT) FRIDAY, JUN 06 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 30 May 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) FRIDAY, JUN 06 KUALA LUMPUR - Release of External Trade Data as at Apr 2014 at 1201pm (0401 GMT) SATURDAY, JUN 07 KUALA LUMPUR- Market and Public Holiday- His Majesty's Birthday WEDNESDAY, JUN 11 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Index of Industrial Production Data as of Apr 2014 at 1201pm (0401). WEDNESDAY, JUN 18 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of CPI Data as of May 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) FRIDAY, JUN 20 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 13 Jun 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) MONDAY, JUN 30 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Money Supply Data June 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) MONDAY, JUN 30 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Detailed Disclosure of International Reserves as at end May 2014 at 1200pm (0400 GMT) FRIDAY, JUL 04 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of External Trade Data as at May 2014 at 1201pm (0401 GMT) MONDAY, JUL 7, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 30 Jun 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) THURSDAY, JUL 10 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Index of Industrial Production Data as of May 2014 at 1201pm (0401). THRUSDAY, JUL 10 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Interest Rates Decision(Overnight Policy Rates) at 18:00pm(1000 GMT) TUESDAY, JUL 15, KUALA LUMPUR- Market and Public Holiday- Nuzul Al-Quran WEDNESDAY, JUL 16 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of CPI Data as of Jun 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) TUESDAY, JUL 22, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 15 Jul 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) MONDAY, JUL 28, KUALA LUMPUR- Market and Public Holiday-Aidil Fitri TUESDAY, JUL 29, KUALA LUMPUR- Market and Public Holiday-Aidil Fitri THURSDAY, JUL 31, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Money Supply Data July 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) THURSDAY, JUL 31, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Detailed Disclosure of International Reserves as at end June 2014 1200pm (0400 GMT) WEDNESDAY, AUG 06 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of External Trade Data as at Jun 2014 at 1201pm (0401 GMT) THURSDAY, AUG 7' KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 31 Jul 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) MONDAY, AUG 11 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Index of Industrial Production Data as of Jun 2014 at 1201pm (0401). WEDNESDAY, AUG 20 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of CPI Data as of Jul 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) FRIDAY, AUG 22, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 15 Aug 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) FRIDAY, AUG 29, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Detailed Disclosure of International Reserves as at end July 2014 at 1200pm (0400 GMT) FRIDAY, AUG 29, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of 2nd Quarter 2014 GDP (Not Later Than) at 1800pm (1000 GMT) FRIDAY, AUG 29, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Money Supply Data August 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) SUNDAY, AUG 31, KUALA LUMPUR- Market and Public Holiday- National Day FRIDAY, SEP 5 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of External Trade Data as at Jul 2014 at 1201pm (0401 GMT) MONDAY, SEP 8, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 29 Aug 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) THURSDAY, SEP 11 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Index of Industrial Production Data as of Jul 2014 at 1201pm (0401). TUESDAY, SEP 16, KUALA LUMPUR- Market and Public Holiday- Malaysia Day WEDNESDAY, SEP 17 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of CPI Data as of Aug 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) THURSDAY, SEP 18 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Interest Rates Decision(Overnight Policy Rates) at 18:00pm(1000 GMT) TUESDAY, SEP 23, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 15 Sep 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) TUESDAY, SEP 30, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Money Supply Data September 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) TUESDAY, SEP 30, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Detailed Disclosure of International Reserves as at end August 2014 at 1200pm (0400 GMT) TUESDAY, OCT 07 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of External Trade Data as at Aug 2014 at 1201pm (0401 GMT) WEDNESDAY, OCT 8, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 30 Sep 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) FRIDAY, OCT 10 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Index of Industrial Production Data as of Aug 2014 at 1201pm (0401). WEDNESDAY, OCT 22, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 15 Oct 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) WEDNESDAY, OCT 22, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of CPI Data as of Sept 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) THURSDAY, OCT 23, KUALA LUMPUR- Market and Public Holiday- Deepavali SATURDAY, OCT 25, KUALA LUMPUR- Market and Public Holiday- Islamic New Year 1436H FRIDAY, OCT 31, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Detailed Disclosure of International Reserves as at end September 2014 at 1200pm (0400 GMT) FRIDAY, OCT 31, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Money Supply Data October 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) THURSDAY, NOV 6, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Interest Rates Decision(Overnight Policy Rates) at 18:00pm(1000 GMT) FRIDAY, NOV 7, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 31 Oct 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) FRIDAY, NOV 7, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of External Trade Data as at Sept 2014 at 1201pm (0401 GMT) TUESDAY, NOV 11, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Index of Industrial Production Data as of Sept 2014 at 1201pm (0401). WEDNESDAY, NOV 19, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of CPI Data as of Oct 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) FRIDAY, NOV 21, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 14 Nov 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) FRIDAY, NOV 28, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of 3rd Quarter 2014 GDP (Not Later Than) at 1800pm (1000 GMT) FRIDAY, NOV 28, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Detailed Disclosure of International Reserves as at end October 2014 at 1200pm (0400 GMT) FRIDAY, NOV 28, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Money Supply Data November 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) FRIDAY, DEC 5, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 28 Nov 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) FRIDAY, DEC 5, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of External Trade Data as at Oct 2014 at 1201pm (0401 GMT) THURSDAY, DEC 11 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Index of Industrial Production Data as of Sept 2014 at 1201pm (0401). WEDNESDAY, DEC 17 KUALA LUMPUR- Release of CPI Data as of Nov 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) MONDAY, DEC 22, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Bank Negara's International Bank Reserves as at 15 Dec 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) THURSDAY, DEC 25, KUALA LUMPUR- Market and Public Holiday- Christmas Day WEDNESDAY, DEC 31, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Money Supply Data December 2014 at 1700pm(0900 GMT) WEDNESDAY, DEC 31, KUALA LUMPUR- Release of Detailed Disclosure of International Reserves as at end November 2014 at 1200pm (0400 GMT) NOTE: The inclusion of diary items does not necessarily mean that Reuters will file a story based on the event.- Reuters

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Films inspired by MH370 emerge at Cannes Posted: 18 May 2014 10:20 PM PDT Special previews and screenings of the films are being shown at the film festival to potential buyers. Two films inspired by the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 are being touted to buyers at the Cannes Film Festival, barely two months after the plane vanished with 239 people on board. Potential buyers will get a sneak preview of A Dark Reflection by Fact Not Fiction Films at a "screening" today, according to a full page advertisement in industry trade journal The Hollywood Reporter.  What Happened On Flight 313? reads the advertisement which appeared last weekend and shows a woman silhouetted at the end of a runway. The runway lights glow behind her while overhead a passenger jet looms in the darkness lit by two harsh white lights. Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 disappeared on March 8. (On the A Dark Reflection official website, the director's note states that the project began in January 2013.) Meanwhile, a half-page advertisement in the The Hollywood Reporter's Cannes edition last week publicised another similar film. The advertisement for The Vanishing Act featured a plane rising out of the clouds under the caption "The untold story of the missing Malaysian plane". A 90-second teaser trailer showing terrified passengers and a gun being brandished was shot over six days in Bombay, Variety said in a report. It is being promoted by Indian film director Rupesh Paul, the man behind erotic movie Kamasutra 3D, and was presented to buyers in Cannes on Saturday. Paul, who denied the film was insensitive so soon after the disappearance, said he began work on the project after being contacted by a Malaysian journalist who said he had a theory about what had happened. He then spent 20 days working on a screenplay using the journalist's idea for the ending, the report added. The filmmaker said he was confident he could make the movie work even if the wreckage of the plane was found. People had suggested to him that his investment would be wasted if the plane was found and the explanation put forward by his film turned out to be incorrect, he said. "That's the biggest challenge I'm facing ... Everyone in the world, they want to know what happened," he was quoted as saying. In addition to being the world's biggest film festival, Cannes is also a huge film market and each year attracts over 10,000 buyers and sellers from around the world. It was not known whether the "screening" of A Dark Reflection would be of a full or part-completed film, or another trailer. MH370 has been missing ever since it mysteriously diverted from its Kuala Lumpur-Beijing route in March. It is believed to have crashed into the sea far off Australia's west coast. Australia, which is leading the hunt in the ocean far off its west coast, has said it believes it is looking in the right area based on satellite communications from the plane. — AFP

HK filmmaker Fruit Chan's 'The Midnight After' is a hit Posted: 18 May 2014 09:00 AM PDT Hong Kong director reflects city's souring mood with new film.        The director of a post-apocalyptic thriller that has taken Hong Kong's box office by storm says the film has struck a chord in a city grappling with its identity under Chinese rule. "People are getting very angry about the government. This film is their voice," said Fruit Chan, whose The Midnight After has so far collected more than HK$20mil (RM8.3mil) at the local box office, making back more than four times its budget. The horror-comedy is a return to form for one of Hong Kong's few commercially successful independent directors, boasting typical Chan ingredients of ultra-violence and distinctly local, black humour. Adapted from an online novel, The Midnight After places a group of people in a mini-bus late at night. When the bus emerges from Hong Kong's Lion Rock Tunnel, they find the streets deserted after an unexplained calamity hits the city. The film is rich with allusions to current events in Hong Kong, and is one of a handful of recent movies tapping into a sense of collective confusion and rising anger over where the territory is headed. "After Hong Kong joined China, many things have changed in our town," said Chan. "I follow very closely what is happening, and that's why I included in my film elements that certainly have to do with politics," said the director, speaking to AFP at the 16th Far East Film Festival in the northern Italian city of Udine. Under an agreement between Britain and China before Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, the "One Country, Two Systems" maxim would see the territory retain its semi-autonomous status and enshrine civil liberties not guaranteed on the mainland. Fruit Chan The mood has soured since 1997. Protest marches are a frequent sight amid perceived erosions to Hong Kong's status, a sense of declining press freedom and fears that Beijing will row back on promises that the city – whose current chief executive is appointed by a pro-Beijing committee – will see a transition to universal suffrage by 2017. This has been coupled with a rising tide of anti-mainland Chinese sentiment as Hong Kong experiences an influx of about 40 million visitors from across the border every year, pressuring services and space in a territory of seven million. Chan references both issues in The Midnight After, which makes some subtle jibes at the leadership of unpopular Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and touches on a perceived marginalisation of Hongkongers within their own city, where a soaring property market is out of reach for many. Chan, 55, has long been one of his city's most socially aware directors, his acclaimed Hong Kong trilogy of Made In Hong Kong (1997), The Longest Summer (1998) and Little Cheung (2000) examining the effects the handover was having on the lives of everyday people. Chan said audiences in Hong Kong have become increasingly politicised since 1997, when his Made In Hong Kong did not chime as well with its audience at the box office as his current release. "We were afraid that when people understood this film had to do with politics, then it might be ignored. But there's been a great reaction to the film, many debates, many opinions raised by it. The change was not in my approach, the change was in the audience. "Other audiences might not understand everything that is going on in the film but we hope it can help inform them about our city," said Chan, who is planning a sequel. The Midnight After is one of a number of current Hong Kong productions steeped in nostalgia for a city - or even a society - film-makers feel is fading from view. Pang Ho-cheung's drama Aberdeen is another, and one that highlights through its characters a collective confusion about what the future will hold. The bawdy comedy Golden Chickensss makes constant reference to the effects "mainlandisation" is having on the city in which it is set. Chan welcomes the trend and hopes the city's next generation of movie-makers will continue to follow suit. "Young film-makers all want to be commercial straight away," he said. "But I am saying to them, make a short film and tell your stories first. Don't rush. Talk about people before you rush around and make action films." – AFP Relaxnews >The Midnight After and Aberdeen are showing in cinemas nationwide.

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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Bookshelf

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• Amok: An Anthology of Asia-Pacific Speculative Fiction
• Gretel and The Dark
• Cruel Beauty

Amok: An Anthology of Asia-Pacific Speculative Fiction Posted: 19 May 2014 04:00 PM PDT I APPROACHED Amok with curiosity, little anticipating the exhilarating ride that I had signed up for. It was simply amazing to dive into worlds that encompassed everything from warm childhood fairytales and an alternate yet strangely familiar present, to the distant terrifying future! I found this collection of 24 short stories set in the Asia-Pacific region to be the most satisfying anthology I have read in years, and it will stay with me for a long time. Here's a brief rundown of tales that particularly caught my attention. Three interesting stories address the unexplored power of memory, when human beings defy nature to remember, to forget, or to remember differently. Tabitha Sin's Dreams, for instance, looks into the possibility of recreating a happy memory differently. Can sorrow be buried beneath a different memory of the past? This highly emotional piece highlights a unique bond in danger of being shaken by reality. In contrast, In Memoriam by Fadzlishah Johanabas looks ahead, to a desired future where you may choose to forget. There is a stark contrast between the tale's cold white setting and the main character's burst of emotions. The non-linear narration took some getting used to, but after some flipping back and forth, it became fun. The third story involving memory is Bright Student where author Terence Toh introduces a potion that allows the main character to magnify her memory's capacity – in exchange for her shadow. Why do we need our shadows? And as someone who still has nightmares of sitting for examinations long after graduation, I can relate to the character's desperation and understand her actions, starting with her strange encounter at KL's Petaling Street. Another trio that caught my attention are three Asian fairytales that unveil multiple facets of love among captivating characters. Kitsune by K.Z. Morano portrays the strong desire to hang on to love even at the cost of compromising the chance of a normal life. This haunting piece was inspired by Japanese folklore about the spirit of the fox. Lola by Shenoa Carroll-Bradd is a heartbreaking account of a girl's last day with her grandmother during the WWII Japanese occupation of the Philippines and how an encounter with a mythical creature leads to maturity and understanding. This one kept me thinking long after I finished reading. In Moon Rabbit by Jo Wu, a character from Chinese mythology bravely leaps into modern times and attempts to fit in. It is simplicity and complexity rolled into one, and I could feel the loneliness, and then the contempt, of the moon rabbit. I also liked these four stories set in post-apocalyptic worlds and futures. When The Rice Was Gone by Dominica Malcolm is set in a bleak South Korea where a last meal of bibimbab ("mixed rice", rice topped with vegetables and proteins) brightens up the day. I was intrigued by how slowly the writer revealed the unusual relationships between the three main characters. In No Name Island by Kawika Guillermo, the habitat on a primitive island is destroyed when man plays God, and fear pushes a character to entrust a loved one to a stranger. It was uplifting to see how the native girl character matures and accepts her destiny, yet clings to her heritage also. In And Then It Rained by Rebecca Freeman, a single woman and child strive to make a life for themselves in a barren, frightening world – and then a dashing stranger walks in, bringing hope with him. The main character's courage is admirable. And Operation Toba: 2049 by Kris Williamson addresses the beauty of second chances, and making tough decisions when the clock is racing. This is a fast and intense story of love and priorities. I look forward to reading more works of fiction from all these writers, especially on a larger canvas. Amok: An Anthology Of Asia-Pacific Speculative Fiction is available as hard copy or an e-book from the Solarwyrm Press website: solarwyrm.com, or via e-mail: solarwyrm@gmail.com. Solarwyrm Press is an independent publishing company that puts out quirky and left field books.

Gretel and The Dark Posted: 19 May 2014 04:00 PM PDT FAIRYTALES were dark in origin, with macabre and gruesome details. Sleeping Beauty? Wasn't woken up with a kiss by a heroic prince, but rather when the babies she conceived after being raped while unconscious sucked out the wooden sliver that knocked her out originally. Snow White? Again, wasn't woken up by true love's kiss, but rather when the bit of apple stuck in her throat was dislodged as the prince moved her glass coffin after begging the dwarves for her. Some versions say it was after he fell in love with her at first sight, others imply a more lustful agenda. But Hansel and Gretel is one of those fairytales that have retained its fairly grisly tone, what with parents abandoning their children, cannibalism, and murder committed by children. That tone is carried over into this debut novel by Eliza Granville. Gretel And The Dark starts off with a fairytale-like prologue, which invokes the Pied Piper of Hamelin, but also has two abandoned children (along with a Shadow) a la Hansel and Gretel. But then the first chapter segues into 1899 Vienna, where we meet psychoanalyst Dr Josef Breuer (based on the real-life mentor to Dr Sigmund Freud), who has just returned from his summer home to escape his nagging wife and loveless marriage. He is currently housing and treating a Jane Doe who had been discovered unconscious and naked on the streets of Vienna by his servant Benjamin's brother. The young girl, whom he names Lilie, claims to be an automaton, but soon arouses some very human feelings within both Dr Breuer and Benjamin. Dr Breuer, who has had a questionable relationship with another female patient in the past, suspects that Lilie might be linked to a "gentleman's club" called the Thélème that is reputed to be a den of perverse sexual activity. This belief is reinforced when Lilie insists that she is on a mission to kill a "monster". But this is just one part of the novel. Dr Breuer, Lilie and Benjamin's story are intercut with another story set later in Nazi Germany during World War II. Here, we are introduced to young Krysta, who has just lost her mother. Her father, a doctor, moves her away from their home and her nurse, Greet, for a job that will help "keep her safe" – a job involving "animal people" kept in a zoo, scientific "progress", and a lot of guilt expressed in compulsive hand-washing. Naturally, Krysta is unhappy, and her spoilt brat attitude, along with her preoccupied father, doesn't make it any easier for her to adapt to her new surroundings. Greet, although not physically present, pops up very frequently in Krysta's memories, especially in her recollection of the gruesome tales Greet liked to tell. These tales, along with her doll, Lotte, help Krysta cope when her life is turned upside down in a way she could never have imagined. That the two stories are linked is obvious; the question is, how are they related? Is this a science fiction novel involving time-travel and machines, or an intergenerational story, involving unexpected links between the characters in both tales, or something else altogether? I can tell you that the answer came as a surprise to me – slightly improbable, but understandable. But the payoff in reading this book is more than the ending and resolution. Granville writes well, and the stories are fairly absorbing, with characters that draw you in. But be warned that this is a dark story, with hints of hidden desire and sexual perversions, of how inhuman man can be, and what people do just to survive. If you have a thing for macabre stories – fairy tales or otherwise – then this is the book for you. Similarly, if you wish to read a more fantastical and personalised take on the Third Reich, then this is the book for you. Not for the faint of heart.

Cruel Beauty Posted: 19 May 2014 04:00 PM PDT A STUNNING Gothic fairy tale that seamlessly blends science fiction, romance, mystery and mythology,Cruel Beauty is easily one of the best young adult fiction books of the year. Lyrical, lush, and absolutely lovely, Cruel Beauty tells the tale of Nyx Triskelion, the quietly angry dark daughter of the Hermetic scholar Leonidas who made a deal with the devil many years ago – a deal that robbed him of his wife. As a consequence of the deal, Nyx is betrothed to the ruler of her homeland, a shadowy figure known only as the "Gentle Lord" who strikes bargains that never quite turn out the way you imagine. But her father – one of the wisest men in the land – has been training Nyx since birth to kill the immortal ruler and break the 900-year-old curse placed on the land. She is, as she says, raised to marry a monster. When Nyx first meets the demon lord Ignifex, however, she can't quite resist being beguiled by his strange charm and patient ways; although her hate and resentment for a childhood lost simmer in her gut, Ignifex understands her in a way that's compelling and new. "Everyone who ever bargains with me is convinced that he is righteous.... But you know what you are and what you deserve," he tells her at one point, knowing that she is plotting his downfall and understanding that she must. Set in a mystical world where shadowy dark spirits rob men of all they hold dear, this modern-day Beauty And The Beast – which in its turn was borrowed from the Greek myth of Cupid and Pysche – is also inspired by the myth of Persephone and Hades. It draws from other myths too, like the story of Typhon (the demonic spirits in Cruel Beauty are named "children of Typhon", the Greek father of monsters). It's no surprise that Rosamund Hodge studied English literature, as the imagery is stunning, thoughtful and deliberate; and the references relevant and a pleasure to note. The book is a steampunk melange of romance, duty, and the demons without and within. Family ties are treated with care by Hodge, who takes on the trope of the Reluctant Hero with a deft touch, perfectly capturing Nyx's feelings of resentment for sister Astraia – as light as she is dark – her disgust for her Aunt Telomache who is romantically involved with her widowed father, and her respectful hatred of Leonidas himself. There's also the love triangle that flies in the face of cliche with its twist: despite her burgeoning affection for Ignifex despite all she's been taught, Nyx also develops feelings for his grey, ghostly manservant Shade – a dead ringer for Ignifex, but almost perpetually silent and harbouring a dark secret which he couldn't reveal if you begged. Faced with a choice between two men who look almost exactly the same, it's telling who she chooses at the very end. Hodge balances the richness of Ignifex's magical, maze-like castle with the drab tedium of Nyx's captivity deftly, applying a similar magnetic touch to the unlikable yet oddly compelling characters – nobody here is a hero, even the sweet Astraia has a vicious streak, while Nyx comes to terms with and owns her flaws, bearing them like a bloodied standard. The ending, too, is a glorious riot of colour and emotion – the lovely thing about Hodge is her commitment to emotional follow-through without sounding cheesy. It's refreshing and lovely to see a female lead embrace her selfishness and cast aside weepy duty in favour of her own happiness, and equally enjoyable when a victory is won anyway – when all's said and done, fairytales must end happily ever after. But in Cruel Beauty the happy ending is hard-won and bittersweet: nothing is without cost, and along the journey not a few things are lost. If there's any criticism of this novel I can deliver, it's that it's too short; it is one of the few YA books to not cheaply trick you into buying a series of "filler" novels yet it's the one that could perhaps benefit from an expansion to better tell its tale. Hodge's prose is deft and thoughtful, and thankfully she refrains from using Nyx as an author proxy. Cruel Beauty is a thoughtful, stunning love letter to Greek mythology and a host of other legends while managing to be unique and vividly drawn in its own right.

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