US, Australian filmmakers killed in copter crash

LOS ANGELES: Cinematographer Mike deGruy and Australian television writer-producer Andrew Wight have died in a helicopter crash in eastern Australia, their employer National Geographic said Sunday.

Police said two people — an Australian pilot and an American passenger — died Saturday when their helicopter crashed soon after takeoff from an airstrip near Nowra, 97 miles north of Sydney, but they did not immediately release the victims’ identities.

National Geographic and “Titanic” director James Cameron confirmed the victims’ identities in a joint statement that said “the deep-sea community lost two of its finest” with the deaths of the two underwater documentary specialists.

David Bennett, president of Australia’s South Coast Recreational Flying Club, said the pair had set off to film a documentary when they crashed.

DeGruy, 60, of Santa Barbara, California, won multiple Emmy and British Academy of Film and Television Arts, or BAFTA, awards for cinematography.

Wight, 52, of Melbourne, was the writer-producer of the 3D movie “Sanctum,” which took in $100 million and was Australian cinema’s biggest box office hit of 2010.

The joint statement said deGruy spent 30 years producing and directing documentary films about the ocean. An accomplished diver and submersible pilot who spent many hours filming deep beneath the sea, he was the director of undersea photography for Cameron’s 2005 “Last Mysteries of the Titanic,” the statement said.

“Mike and Andrew were like family to me,” Cameron said. “They were my deep-sea brothers and both were true explorers who did extraordinary things and went places no human being has been.”

After spending three years at the University of Hawaii in a Marine Biology Ph.D. program, DeGruy moved to the Marshall Islands, according to his website. He spent three years there, working as the manager of the Mid-Pacific Marine Lab, with his knowledge of and fascination with the ocean growing rapidly.

DeGruy spent much of his early film career traveling the world, shooting films for clients including the BBC, PBS and National Geographic, his website says. He later began producing and hosting the films.

RIM CEO eyes significant plans for BlackBerry

 

Research in Motion s Thorsten Heins plans to waste no time in his new job. The BlackBerry maker s chief executive said he will present the board with his plan for company s future in just a matter of weeks.

 

The German-born executive, who took over from two longstanding co-CEOs on Saturday, said his plans for RIM would be “significant” though he did not divulge details in an interview with Reuters.

 

“I will have time with the board in two weeks to present my ideas and changes,” Heins said.

 

But the executive, who was promoted from the role of chief operating officer, said he has already done groundwork to tackle his company s most pressing problem – persuading the U.S. market to covet the BlackBerry again.

 

While RIM is growing in other countries, Heins conceded that its U.S. business is in need of a major revival after losing out to rivals like Apple Inc s iPhone at U.S. service providers and corporations, where it once had a clear advantage among employees heavily dependent on its email service.

 

“In general I wouldn t consider RIM as a turnaround candidate. It is a turnaround candidate in the U.S.,” he said. “We lost market share in this market quite substantially. That is something that we have to address.”

 

While U.S. operators such as Verizon Wireless and AT&T Inc have helped BlackBerry with heavy advertising and promotions in the past, these operators have been much more focused in the last few years on devices like iPhone and smartphones based on the Google Inc operating system.

 

Heins  quest to regain ground with these operators has been complicated by the fact that RIM had to announce in December that it is delaying the launch of phones based on BlackBerry 10 – its next-generation software – until the later part of 2012 as it is awaiting the availability of a high-powered chip.

 

The executive would not say when exactly these phones would hit the market but implied that they would arrive in time for the year-end holiday-shopping season in the fourth quarter.

 

So in the meantime, Heins will concentrate on getting the most current BlackBerrys into more consumers hands. He noted that only 20 percent of U.S. BlackBerry users have the company s latest phones, which he says are competitive with rival smartphones.

 

The rest of RIM s U.S. customers have devices with older RIM software, some of which are “two generations behind,” he said.

 

To overcome this, RIM has devised a new upgrade plan with U.S. operators to promote phones with the BlackBerry 7 system, which was launched in August last year.

 

“All the plans are ready. The carrier agreements are all ready. Now we have to get off the starting grid. Now we need to execute that upgrade program,” Heins said.

 

While he did not want to disclose specifics about the new agreements, Heins said RIM could look at new ways of bundling different devices together or offering carriers smartphones with a package of pre-loaded applications.

 

He is also betting on the company s PlayBook tablet to compete with the Apple iPad tablet. This spring, Heins said that RIM will launch a version of the Playbook, with a high-speed wireless connection based on LTE – a technology that the top three U.S. operators are building into their networks.

 

Verizon Wireless and AT&T are already promoting LTE devices including smartphones and tablets from RIM s rivals. RIM s first smartphones with LTE connections will be in the company s BlackBerry 10 line-up, Heins said.

 

MOMENT OF SURPRISE

 

In his first presentation to Wall Street as CEO earlier this week, Heins said he did not think the company needed drastic change, causing some analysts to worry that the executive would not do enough to reverse the company s fortunes.

 

But the executive said on Friday that he was merely telling Wall Street that he does not want to change the core of RIM.

 

“Is RIM up for sale, is RIM up for a split-up?” He rejected those possibilities as “a drastic, seismic change because it would tear the company apart.”

 

Heins, who has been with RIM for four years after spending over two decades at German engineering group Siemens, was became COO responsible for software and products seven months ago.

 

He explained that RIM had succession plans for co-CEOs Mike Lazaridis and Jim Balsillie in place for some time and that he had an inkling that he was being groomed to follow in their footsteps when he was named COO.

 

“The moment they tell you it s still a surprise,” Heins said, smiling broadly and adding that he immediately said yes.

 

Lazaridis and Balsillie, who turned the BlackBerry maker into a global company and a household name, stepped down last week but will remain on the board.

 

Some analysts have worried whether these executives would have too much of a say in the future strategy of the company because of their position on the board.

 

Heins said, it would be an advantage to be able to tap into the experience and company knowledge of RIM founder Lazaridis, but he made it clear that he would be the one calling the shots.

 

“What I do with the company is my decision. The CEO runs the company.” 

Javed Miandad Might Come As Batting Coach

Pakistan former middle order batsmen Javed Miandad has hinted to come as batting coach for the Pakistan team. Javed said that he is also looking to contribute his knowledge with batsmen. He added that after the request of Shahid Afridi and Ijaz Butt he is making his making to come as batting coach with Pakistan team.

Javed Miandad said that he is not able to travel with Pakistan team to West Indies. He added that the tour is not much tough for Pakistan and they could easily handle it. Javed Miandad added that after the tour he will consider about the assignment of batting coach.

Javed Miandad will help Pakistani batsmen in making their techniques right. He also added that the batsmen came to national team has already stick to their technique and it is difficult to change the technique.

Javed Miandad Training

Pakistan had a bad batting world cup and no batsmen from Pakistan side was able to score a century. There were half centuries but no century that became the main reason for defeat. Usman Salahuddin, allrounder Hammad Azam, fast bowlers Junaid Khan and Sadaf Hussain are the few young players included in the side and it is hoped that they will perform for Pakistan. Javed Miandad will be helpful in their training.

Pooja Bhatt to take UTV to court owing to title row over Thank You

Even before its release this Friday (April 8), UTV Motion Pictures’ multi-starrer Thank You, directed by Anees Bazmee, finds itself in the midst of a controversy over its title. Actress and filmmaker Pooja Bhatt has been crying foul over the last few days claiming that the title Thank You belongs to her and was taken by UTV without her knowledge.

The actress has been fuming with rage and has even sent many mails to the Indian Motion Pictures’ Producers Association (IMPPA) and the Association of Motion Picture and TV Programme Producers (AMPTPP) in a bid to retain her title but her plea seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

Fed up with the loopholes in the system, Pooja now plans to take the matter to court.

Meanwhile producers UTV are confident that they have done no wrong and have all the documents in place which suggests that the title Thank You rightfully belongs to them.

One will have to wait and watch what turn this case takes in the days to come.

Wikileaks — Theft or fabrication?

I am beginning to think that the entire Wiki-leaks premise is a fabrication. It seems that this venue can be used for airing ideas that promote the agenda of the various powerful political powers.

Wikileaks could not be able to leak out such information without prior knowledge or consent of USA. The verbal fight between USA and Wikileaks seems to be cosmetic and artistically deceiving the countries affected by these leaks. It is worth seeing that the prime beneficiary of these leaks is United States because one thing is clearly established in the minds of the people of the nations under discussion that how penetrating and how dangerous the US Intelligence system is and how naked the actions and conversation of the Governments ruling in those countries have become in the present situation. The timing of the release of these documents may be intended to capture news cycle headlines in the most spectacular possible manner, while embarrassing U.S. and, Afghanistan and Pakistani officials as well. Every effected nation of these revelations must understand that US has adopted the policy of hurting itself first to deceive others from its own attempt to inflict compound diplomatic and political losses to the other countries. Publishing secret information by the US is decided only after weighing the risks and and its own interest. It’s very strange such a huge cache of information can be leaked to the media so conveniently

Time-frame of the these leaks was between 2004-2009 before the whole Pak Afghan Policy was laid down by the new administration in the White House and prior to the US-PAK Strategic dialogues in which Gen. Ashfaq Parvaiz Keyani himself gave out a long presentation winning many admirers within the US administration. I wonder exactly what we might find from the leaked documents that would really ‘surprise’ any Pakistani leader, or Pakistani journalist, or any Pakistani for that matter? How can this be a fresh and news story in Pakistan1s perspective- based on a ‘leak’? Things are the same which are already in the knowledge of everyone. It’s well known that the USA supported Pakistan in setting up Taliban to fight the Soviet Union. Pakistan had already, and still have, great interests in meddling in Afghani affairs. In spite of clearly reflecting “mistrust” it is written on wall that without each other both the “allies” US and Pakistan can not win this war and where the Pakistani Military needs the United States has to realize Pakistan has legitimate concerns in Afghanistan and should not have allowed such embarrassing leaks, although there is nothing new in that. Anyhow these are no more than pressure tactics. The Soviet Union during cold war managed to infiltrate the US government many times by adopting such tactics.

Wikileaks first published those “pentagon papers” on the Iraq and Afghanistan war, the reactions from mainstream media and governments were enormous in volumes and indignation. Then another leak was released by Wikileaks; Iran supplying new forms of suicide vests for al-Qaida. Another big revelation was “Pakistan’s spy agency collaborated with the Taliban” What is this trash? These facts reported by Wikileaks sound like those typical daily field intelligence reports produced in the order of the thousands. There are surely entities within US government that are allowing Wikileaks to continue and still we should expect for the same.

Corruption in Afghanistan, dealings with Iran and pressure from Saudi Arabia for military action and much more damaging details are coming out. The creation of deep mistrust between Iran and Saudi Arabia would also see its peak when Wikileaks revealed the dangerous intentions of Saudi King towards Iran. The leaks though interesting but would soon turn into an instrument that can trigger the Third World War suddenly or may be very soon! The remarks or intentions of Saudi King towards Iran can also be seen as a surgical attempt to shift the blame of any future attack on Iran from the shoulders of Israel. This is a very well planned move from the part of America and the Wikileaks that will pay them a long and valuable benefit in playing the game of diplomacy in the Gulf Region. The collapse of relationship between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Iran would be fast and painful if the reports or leaks provided by Wikileaks would be taken negatively and motive behind these leaks are not anticipated properly.

One thing is quite clear that after these leaks, the relationship between many Muslim countries would face a worst period of roll back. Another very important thing to note is that these leaks have very mild and less disturbing revelations against Israel. It is beyond understanding that why the leaks have less igniting revelations or leaks against the problem state of the Middle East? It can be sensed very easily that these leaks are released or orchestrated keeping in view to the fact that sentiments of Israel or the Zionists may not be hurt. Fact remains there that US game of death Muslim vs. Muslims is running and going on as a policy.

Everybody knows it is not a fight of any nation it is the fight started against Muslims by the pronouncement of crusade by Bush and his accomplices engulfing all religions on the advice of the only self proclaimed terrorist nation of the world. Now the fact must be faced and said boldly. It is fault of our leaders that we allowed these criminals like Bush to do what he did. The present move through Wikileaks is a continuation of Bush policies. The release of these documents for Pakistan will do nothing other than to further undermine our already declining standing in the eyes of international community. It is just an attempt to create gross misunderstandings and diplomatic crisis between the Islamic countries; the dangerous dent inflicted to the relations between Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan being the worst part. We must accept, the popularity of our President is extremely worse at home, but recent developments including the embezzlement and peaked corruption with Hajj Pilgrims by Pakistani authorities further fueled and outraged the Saudi high ups. Since President Zardari took Control, things have taken for the worse in Pakistan. Pakistan has to change positively. With so many foreign influences in Pakistan, it has to be strong enough to handle all the foreign and internal influences and it easily can with determined will. Other wise there is no Future for Pakistan. The King may have rightly said about President Zardari, but the question is, after this leak shall the sitting ruling party would be able to rely on this tested friend? Our President has a slippery skin and nothing hurts him or creates any spark in his heart that will motivate him of improving his image, but the impact of the horrendous remarks of the Saudi King can dissipate the existing warm relationship between these most important countries of the Muslim world.

To achieve their personal objectives the Pakistani leaders have really given free hand to the Americans who have never supported our cause or the Kashmir issue. Instead, they have always betrayed us. What is the use of Embassy extension in a country like Pakistan? Apparently they envisage taking Pakistan as a mini colony or American state where they are allowed to move and act freely. What are we doing? Now, after Afghanistan, they would create situation like Iraq or Afghanistan in our country to settle old scores. We, the Pakistanis, should wake up, stop the construction of this new Embassy and grab back the land extended to the Americans which otherwise is against the constitution and the sovereignty of the country. Our leaders are if doing wrongful acts while in power then they should have to admit and confess their demerits and committed mistakes before the nation and should have to create the atmosphere of self-accountability first by showing sincerity and honesty with the nation and especially with beloved Pakistan instead of condemning and refusing or denying the true facts about them. And as far as Wikileaks’ reports about Pakistani leaders are concerned then all the reports are not wrong and false about Pakistani leaders and it may be possible that some reports are wrongful and false. If our leaders are doing wrongful and definitely all the leaders are not doing much the best with the nation and especially with beloved Pakistan they should have to learn the lesson from these reports and remove their committed mistakes themselves by removing and uprooting corruption from all the departments of Pakistan so that no one could target them or any departments of Pakistan in the future in negative sense or in regard of corruption. They should realize that they have put the future of the country at stake. There are no two opinions that US in fact is trying to commandeer the Pakistan’s nuclear deterrent, which they see as its only real defense against India. Pakistan knows the Americans and the Zionists designs to dismantle Pakistan’s nuclear capabilities which are completely unjust because the Indians and Israel’s nuclear arsenal are acknowledged as legitimate but Pakistan’s not. Pakistan needs less foreign interference, not more. But on current trends the opposite is happening. The clear danger, highlighted by the leaked cables, is that the USA’s unwindable war in Afghanistan is spilling over into its weak, ill-led and much put-upon neighbor – and that Pakistan, too, could become a war zone if our leaders remained senseless as ever.

Octopus Paul dies in his sleep

BERLIN: Paul the octopus, who shot to fame predicting the results of World Cup football matches in South Africa, has passed away.

He is said to have died peacefully in his tank at the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre in Germany.

The eight-armed Octopus correctly predicted the winners of all Germany’s World Cup clashes, and then the final.

He did it by selecting one of two boxes, each loaded with a mussel food treat and marked on the outside with one of the teams.

Sea life centre manager Stefan Porwoll said: “His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself.”

Staff said there was nothing fishy about Paul’s death as common octopuses generally only live a couple of years.

“He appears to have passed away peacefully during the night of natural causes,” said Mr Porwoll.

He added: “We are consoled by the knowledge

NASA confirms presence of water on moon

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on Thursday confirmed the presence of water ice on the Earth’s moon as well as its water cycle after nearly a year since the discovery of water molecules on the natural satellite.
NASA has convincingly confirmed the presence of water ice and characterized its patchy distribution in permanently shadowed regions of the moon, said chief lunar scientist at NASA. Now new results from the Hollywood-esque moonshot reveal lots of water in a crater where the sun never shines, 41 gallons of ice and vapor. The two missions found evidence that the lunar soil within shadowy craters is rich in useful materials, and that the moon has a water cycle and is chemically active. Scientists discovered that water was present in the form of mostly pure ice crystals in some places. After the twin impacts, grains of mostly pure water ice were in the plume meaning that water ice was somehow delivered to the moon in the past or a chemical process caused ice to accumulate in large quantities. With this knowledge of the moon’s water cycle and processes, future mission planners could better determine locations with easily-accessible water. The existence of mostly pure water ice could mean future human explorers won’t have to retrieve the water out of the soil. In addition, an abundant presence of hydrogen gas, ammonia and methane could be exploited to produce fuel.

Israel hopes U.N. panel will improve Turkish ties

JERUSALEM: Israel hopes its decision to cooperate with a U.N. investigation into a deadly raid on a Gaza aid flotilla will improve relations with its once close ally Turkey, Deputy Prime Minister Dan Meridor said on Tuesday.

The choice to cooperate with the U.N. investigation, which was announced on Monday, is “primarily meant, to my knowledge, for Turkey and Israel to find a way to bring relations back to a better place,” Meridor told Israel Army Radio.

Stern security clamped on eve of Shab-e-Mairaj

KARACHI: Shab-e-Mairaj-un-Nabo (P.B.U.H.) or the Night of Ascent will be celebrated all across Pakistan on Friday with religious reverence and respect.

Meanwhile, Sindh Home Minister Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza said on Thursday that stringent security measures for Shab-e-Mairaj should be enforced all over Sindh, including Karachi.

In a statement issued by the Sindh Home Department on Shab-e-Mairaj and Friday, he said that special security measures must be taken at mosques, imambargahs and graveyards late at night.

He stated that the police and rangers should leave no stone unturned in protecting the life and property of the citizens all over the province.

He underlined the need that security of sensitive spots is carried out by making a comprehensive list of all sensitive spots.

He advised the police and rangers to continue checking and patrolling at all sensitive points in particular mosques, which should be on high security and suspected people should be checked during late night.

Mirza advised the police and rangers to keep a close coordination with the administration of the mosques and imambargahs.

The minister advised to check the acts of terrorism. The police, rangers and intelligence agencies should keep a vigil so that timely action is taken to avert any untoward incident.

Shab-e-Miraj-un-Nabi (SAW) to be observed today

ISLAMABAD: The Shab-e-Mairaj-un-Nabi (Peace Be Upon Him) or the Night of Ascent would be observed across the country on Friday night with great respect and religious fervour.

The Muslims every year on 27th of Rajab (Lunar calendar) observe the Shab-e-Miraj in which the Holy Prophet (PBUH) went on a special journey to meet Allah Almighty, crossing seven skies on the heavenly animal named ‘al-Buraq’.

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) continued his heavenly tour until he reached very close to the Throne of Allah Almighty and attained the utmost nearness to Him. After having drunk fully at the Divine fountain of spiritual knowledge, He came down to impart the knowledge to mankind.

On that Night of Ascent, Allah Almighty also gave the order of the five daily Salat (Prayers) as being mandatory upon the Muslims.

Faithful would gather at mosques after Isha to offer special prayers that would continue till Fajr prayers, while different gatherings and Mahafil-e-Naat are being arranged to mark the holy night.

Ulema and religious scholars in their sermons would highlight the teachings and various aspects of the life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

The houses, streets and specially mosques are decorated with colorful pennants and buntings whereas at night these are well illuminated by means of electric lights, candles or even oil lamps.

Besides, people visit graves of their near and dear ones, seeking Allah Almighty’s blessings for the departed souls.

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