Review: ‘Wall-E’ is a classic
June 30, 2008
(CNN) — The most consistent production unit in Hollywood just hit another home run.
Wall-E ponders a Rubik’s Cube in the Pixar film “Wall-E.”
Written and directed by Andrew Stanton (”Finding Nemo”), it’s Pixar’s most ambitious movie and an instant classic.
Wall-E is a solar-powered garbage drone, the last one still operating on an abandoned toxic planet that looks an awful lot like — well, is — Earth. A rusty box sitting on caterpillar tracks, with a retractable binocular-shaped head, he compresses junk into building blocks and then piles them up into towers that are shadow-skyscrapers of waste in the ruins of an unidentified city.
Electronic billboards still plug defunct products and bring us up to speed handily: Having polluted the planet with more waste than it could handle, globo-corporation Buy N Large evacuated its customers on a five-year space cruise (”The final fun-tier,” promises the president, played by Fred Willard), leaving the robots to clean up the mess. Only their calculations were a little off. It’s been 700 years, and Wall-E is still at work.
The opening half-hour is a delectable demonstration of visual storytelling. Although his vocabulary is limited to a bare handful of words, Wall-E, we gather, has developed more than a trace of consciousness. He’s a hoarder, curious enough to collect unusual bric-a-brac: a whisk, an electric light bulb, bubble wrap. His most treasured item is a VHS tape of “Hello, Dolly.”
At any rate, Eve is the apple of Wall-E’s eye. He’s so smitten, he’d follow her anywhere — even outer space.
There’s something special about Wall-E and his pursuit. Robots have been routinely humanized in sci-fi movies: in “Blade Runner,” “A.I.” and “Metropolis,” for example. And “Wall-E” also isn’t alone in implying that human beings are becoming more mechanistic ourselves, though the obese overgrown babies Stanton imagines reclining in hover chairs — pampered and cocooned from birth — is a more scathing caricature of consumer over-dependency than we’d expect to find in a Hollywood family film.
Indeed, Stanton’s most obvious touchstones are Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 film “2001: A Space Odyssey” (at one point he treats us to a parodic blast of “Also Sprach Zarathustra” to signal a small baby step for man that’s also a huge leap for mankind) and Douglas Trumbull’s 1972 eco-parable “Silent Running”: philosophical sci-fi films made only four years apart at another point of environmental sensitivity.
But the animating spirit here goes back much further, to the sentimental reveries and delightful improvisatory dexterity of Charlie Chaplin. In “Modern Times,” made more than 70 years ago, Chaplin made play with the degrading effects of industrialized society. In “Wall-E,” Stanton pitches us between a post-industrial wasteland embalmed in smog and the sterile, artificial atmosphere of a giant floating life-support system.
These aren’t attractive prospects, but they are transformed by the little lovelorn robot, a lonely soul who seeks companionship anywhere he can get it … in a cockroach, an old movie and a trigger-happy search robot.
“Wall-E” isn’t a perfect movie; some business involving a team of rogue robots is unduly scrappy. But, mostly, this is a film filled with remarkable moments: a pas de deux in front of the Milky Way (with Wall-E propelled by a fire extinguisher), Eve’s maternal glow as she carries out her primary directive, the fleeting moment when first-time space traveler Wall-E turns back, sees the Earth and tries to share his joy in the discovery.
Verve take swipe at festival boss
June 30, 2008
The Verve have closed this year’s Glastonbury Festival, but took a swipe at organiser Michael Eavis, who they suggested opposed their headline slot.
Singer Richard Ashcroft said Mr Eavis’ daughter Emily booked them and her father was “worried we weren’t going to be as good as Keane or something”.
Veteran Canadian singer Leonard Cohen and crooner Neil Diamond also played on the Pyramid Stage on the final day.
Lily Allen joined Mark Ronson on stage, as the sun shone for much of the day.
This year’s festival will go down as a success after fine weather made up for earlier rain, while controversy over the line-up also dried up.
Hip-hop headliner
The Verve closed their set with three of their biggest hits, The Drugs Don’t Work, Lucky Man and Bittersweet Symphony.
“I want to thank Emily Eavis for inviting us to play Glastonbury,” Ashcroft told the crowd. “And I hope her dad realises why she booked us now.”
Mr Eavis founded the festival on his Somerset dairy farm 38 years ago.
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 I’ve brought my wellies but they’re not going to be needed 
Neil Diamond
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This year’s line-up came in for criticism because of the choice of Jay-Z to play on Saturday night, the first hip-hop headliner in the event’s history.
“A shout out to Jay-Z for putting in a big performance last night,” Ashcroft said.
“But tonight it’s rock ‘n’ roll.”
The reformed rock band provided a more conventional headline slot, with their hits providing some anthemic moments.
Oldies’ afternoon
Leonard Cohen preceded them on the main stage, performing favourites like Suzanne, So Long Marianne and Who By Fire.
The crowd sing-along to Hallelujah, and the prolonged ovation that followed, will go down as a memorable moment in Glastonbury history.
“It’s a great honour to play for these angels born of the mud,” he said to a huge cheer.
Wearing a grey suit, shirt and hat, Cohen and his deep voice cast a spell over large parts of the audience.
Despite the melancholy songs, he regularly took off his hat and gave a big smile to the crowd in response to their reaction to his songs.
Neil Diamond was among the other stars of Sunday, singing a number of hits in what is traditionally the oldies’ afternoon slot.
He played classics like Sweet Caroline, Cherry Cherry and Forever in Blue Jeans.
The 67-year-old said he was “real happy” to be at the festival, adding: “I’ve brought my wellies but they’re not going to be needed.”
The sun was out for much of Sunday, meaning mud created by rain on Thursday and Friday had almost all dried out by the end of the festival.
Chilled atmosphere
To the relief of fans, it was the first Glastonbury since 2004 that had not been a mudbath.
The fine weather also contributed to a warm and laid-back atmosphere, with people able to sit and relax without the fear of getting caked in mud.
“I was here last year so that’s the worst it’s going to get,” said 32-year-old Nick Haigh from Birmingham.
“It changes the atmosphere – if it’s wet, you walk around more and see more stuff.
“This year we sat around a bit more and it was a bit more chilled.”
Away from the main stage, Groove Armada, King Solomon Burke, Spiritualized and Joan Baez were also on the bill.
On Saturday, Jay-Z was widely praised for his performance and won over many festival goers who were not convinced he was suitable for the top slot.
But the headlines were stolen by Amy Winehouse, who appeared to punch a fan during her set.
Source: BBC News (Internet)
Rhapsody embraces MP3 music files
June 30, 2008
US digitial music service Rhapsody is the latest company to embrace MP3 downloads without copy restrictions.
Songs from all the four leading record labels - Universal, EMI, Sony and Warner - will be available in the digital format.
Rhapsody joins Napster, iTunes and Amazon, who have all started offering MP3 files in recent months.
“We’re no longer competing with the iPod. We’re embracing it,” said Neil Smith, vice president at the firm.
Until recently, Rhapsody, which is owned by Real and MTV, had focused on a subscription service, which allowed users to stream an unlimited number of songs for between $13 (£6.50) and $15 (£7.50) a month.
Streamed songs
Rhapsody’s streamed songs do not play on Apple’s iPod, the world’s most popular MP3 player.
The subscription service will continue to run alongside the MP3 download store.
The majority of MP3 tracks will cost 99 cents (50p), while albums will sell for $9.99 (£5).
The shift comes as the British record industry announced that digital sales were going “from strength to strength”.
The BPI reported that digital formats now account for about 85% of all UK Top 20 singles sales.
More than 200 million downloads have now been sold in the UK since the launch of the first mainstream stores in early 2004. In total, digital formats now account for 8.6% of all UK record company sales income.
Source: BBC News (Internet)
Turtles return home after UK stay
June 30, 2008
Two loggerhead turtles, which were washed up on the south-west UK coast this winter, have been flown to Gran Canaria and released back into the sea.
Twenty-three loggerheads have been stranded on UK and Irish coasts this year, an unprecedented number. “Dink” and “James” were the only survivors.
Having tenderly nursed the turtles back to health, Blue Reef Aquarium curator Matt Slater said he was “delighted”.
Loggerheads (Caretta caretta) are categorised as endangered.
“Hopefully, we won’t be seeing you again. Have many, many years of swimming in the ocean,” Mr Slater called out to Dink and James as they disappeared into the clear water.
After six months of rehabilitation at Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay, the two loggerheads have been returned to the sea off a beach in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria.
“It was absolutely beautiful. Let’s hope no more turtles get stranded, but if they do we know we can look after them,” Mr Slater said.
Both turtles have been microchipped. If they are ever spotted again, by fishermen or on the beach, a tag in their flipper can be used for identification. Otherwise, their adventures in the vast Atlantic Ocean will be unknown.
“I hope they will be OK,” Mr Slater mused. “In their lifetime, things will change a lot. The future for turtles in general is not great.”
Future dangers
After arriving in Gran Canaria, Dink and James were checked over and given the all-clear at the Wildlife Recovery Centre of Tafira. Some 150 injured turtles from around the Canary Islands are taken here each year.
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“Seventy-five percent of the sea turtles that we receive have been hurt because of man’s activities,” said Pascual Calabuig, the centre’s director.
He added: “We see turtles damaged by hooks, nets, pollution, oil and plastic bags. Turtles damaged by boats are the worst to recover. We try to patch up their shells with fibreglass, but survival rates are low.
“Through diagnosis, treatment, operations, protein-rich food, fluid and antibiotics, we help save 80% of the turtles that we receive,” said Mr Calabuig.
Along with industrial fisheries, habitat loss and climate change are the main threats facing turtles.
It was Mr Calabuig’s excellent reputation and his centre’s track record that helped Blue Reef decide to choose Gran Canaria as the release site.
“We could also get cheap flights and the Canary Islands are the nearest land point to the loggerheads’ migration route around the Atlantic,” explained Mr Slater.
Drifting on the current
Loggerheads breed on the beaches of the Mediterranean, West Africa, Brazil and along the south-east coasts of the US. Florida has the largest loggerhead population.
“Within 24 hours hatchlings swim into the open water of the Atlantic Ocean,” explained Peter Richardson, biodiversity programme manager at the Marine Conservation Society.
Source: BBC News (Internet)
New low for UK mortgage approvals
June 30, 2008
The number of new mortgages being approved for house purchase in Britain has dropped heavily for another month.
The Bank of England said 42,000 homes were approved in May, a 28% fall compared with the previous month and 64% down on a year ago.
This is the lowest since the Bank began reporting the figures in 1993 and lower than many analysts’ predictions.
Mortgage lending has slumped owing to the credit crunch with institutions reducing their willingness to lend.
Source: BBC News (Internet)
Pakistan militant house destroyed
June 30, 2008
An explosion has destroyed the house of a militant leader in the Khyber region of north-west Pakistan, killing at least seven people, officials say.
It is not clear whether explosives stored in the building detonated or if it was hit by missiles.
Security forces began a drive against militants in the area at the weekend.
Separately, Islamabad and Rawalpindi were shaken by loud bangs, but these are thought to have been an aircraft breaking the sound barrier - not bombs.
Officials said all “sensitive installations” were safe and there had been no bomb at any military installation in Rawalpindi, where the army is headquartered.
“It could have been a sonic boom but we are still investigating,” a senior police official told Reuters news agency.
‘Hit by missiles’
Officials in Khyber told the BBC the house of Haji Namdar, leader of one of the three militant groups active in the area, was blown up at about 0330 local time (2230 GMT).
A major military offensive against Khyber militants began on Saturday
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“Some witnesses say the house was hit by missiles, but it is also possible that explosives stored in the house blew up,” a local official said.
Security forces launched a major operation against militants near the main north-western city of Peshawar on Saturday.
Militants have become more active in and around Peshawar in recent months, say correspondents.
Troops have also recovered eight bodies from another district in the same region, officials said.
They said the men had apparently been killed by militants, in Kurram tribal district to the south of Khyber.
“All of them had bullet wounds in the head and chest, but none of them was beheaded,” an official from Kurram, Ataur Rahman, told the BBC.
The BBC’s M Ilyas Khan says this would be the first instance of Taleban justice in Kurram, where frequent sectarian attacks have claimed scores of lives during the last eight months.
“These killings are not related to sectarian violence,” Mr Rehman said.
‘No resistance’
The operation by paramilitary troops has destroyed offices and houses of militant leaders in the eastern parts of Khyber district, officials say.
Our correspondent says security forces have not faced any resistance from the militants, who are reported to have moved to the remote western mountains near the border with Afghanistan.
The local Taleban have responded by suspending peace talks with the government.
“Talks cannot continue when the government continues to violate its promises and commitments,” Maulvi Omar, spokesman for a network of pro-Taleban groups, said on Sunday.
Pakistan’s new government launched negotiations with the militants in the spring, in an attempt to end a wave of attacks and suicide bombings.
Source: BBC News (Internet)
‘Israel spy’ sentenced in Iran
June 30, 2008
An Iranian man has been sentenced to death for spying for Israel, according to reports from Tehran.
Ali Ashtari was found guilty of sending “sensitive information on military, defence and research centres” to Iran’s arch foe in the region, reports say.
Israeli officials have been quoted as saying that Israel was not familiar with the case.
Iranian media say he was put on trial on Saturday. He confessed to charges against him and asked for clemency.
Mr Ashtari has 20 days to appeal against the verdict handed down by a revolutionary court.
Iranian state TV said Mr Ashtari was a 45-year-old tradesman in electronic merchandise who supplied electronic devices to military bases and research centres.
The material he reported to have sent to Israel included information about his country’s Atomic Energy Organisation.
An official is quoted saying that Mr Ashtari was trying to set up links between Iranian experts and members of the Israeli foreign intelligence service Mossad .
The text of his alleged confession is reported by Fars news agency, which says Mossad gave him $50,000 to supply internet cables and satellite phones to “special customers” in the hope of enabling Israel to spy on their communications.
“I am not sure what they intended to do as before I sold these to my customers I was arrested,” he added.
Correspondents say the verdict comes amid an intensifying war of words between Iran and Israel, which has threatened military action to halt Iran’s controversial nuclear programme.
Source: BBC News (Internet)
Spain ecstatic at Euro 2008 win
June 30, 2008
Thousands of euphoric Spanish fans are celebrating in Madrid after their football team won Euro 2008, beating Germany 1-0 in the final.
Fernando Torres’ goal gave Spain its first major trophy in 44 years.
The capital is awash with the red and gold national colours, as fans draped in flags dance and sing in the streets.
The BBC’s Steve Kingstone in Madrid describes noisy scenes of jubilation in the Plaza Colon, where thousands of people have gathered.
All-night party
Our correspondent adds that the victory is seen as a major triumph for the young Spanish team, and the championship has in many ways been a unifying event, in a country that is politically and regionally divided.
In the past autonomous regions such as Catalonia and the Basque Country have traditionally been reluctant to support the national team.
The enduring image of the tournament, he says, will be King Juan Carlos embracing Spain’s goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas as he accepted the trophy in Vienna.
In Madrid hundreds of police struggled to keep traffic moving as fans spilled out of the city’s main square into restaurants and bars for a night of partying.
“It’s so many years since we even got past the quarter-finals, and now we’ve won. I can’t believe it,” Dani, 19, a student from Madrid told AFP news agency.
“We are the best, and now we’re ready to win the World Cup,” Joaquin, 48, said. He and his family travelled to the capital from the western city of Salamanca.
The excitement had been growing throughout the day as fans gathered in the Plaza Colon amid soaring temperatures, to watch the match broadcast live from Vienna on giant television screens.
Spain last won the European championship in 1964 with victory over the former USSR - its only previous triumph at a major tournament.
Source: BBC News (Internet)
US rivals clash over immigration
June 30, 2008
US presidential rivals Barack Obama and John McCain have clashed over their commitment to immigration reform.
Addressing a conference of Hispanic officials in Washington, Mr McCain, the Republican candidate, said the US must secure its borders.
Mr Obama, the Democratic Party candidate, said he admired Mr McCain’s attempt last year to get an immigration reform bill approved by Congress.
But he said that Mr McCain had since walked away from that commitment.
Mr McCain was one of the few Republican senators to back President Bush’s comprehensive immigration plan which contained an amnesty for some illegal immigrants.
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If we are going to solve the challenges we face - we can’t vacillate - we can’t shift depending on our politics
Barack Obama
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Speaking before some 700 Hispanics attending the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials conference Mr McCain paid his respects to Hispanic-Americans.
“I know this country… would be the poorer were we deprived of the patriotism, industry and decency of those millions of Americans whose families came here from Mexico, Central and South America,” he said.
He added that his primary focus regarding immigration reform was to secure the United States border with Mexico.
“We will not succeed in the Congress of the United States until we convince a majority of the American people that we have border security,” he said.
“But that does not have to be done in an inhumane or cruel fashion,” he added.
Mr McCain’s speech was disrupted several times by hecklers from an anti-war group.
‘Nation of immigrants’
Appearing later before the same audience, Mr Obama accused Mr McCain of walking away from comprehensive immigration reform.
“When he was running for his party’s nomination, he walked away from that commitment. He said he wouldn’t even support his own legislation if it came up for a vote,” Mr Obama said.
“If we are going to solve the challenges we face, we can’t vacillate, we can’t shift depending on our politics.”
“We must assert our values and reconcile our principles as a nation of immigrants and a nation of laws. That is a priority I will pursue from my very first day,” he added.
Mr McCain’s campaign team later issued a statement saying Mr Obama had worked to defeat last year’s reform attempt by voting for amendments that the bill’s Democratic sponsors opposed.
Hispanic votes are concentrated in several key states, including Florida, Arizona, Nevada and Colorado.
In 2004, President Bush won about 40% of the Hispanic vote, a Republican record. But recent elections have shown that the Hispanic vote has returned to its Democratic leanings.
Source: BBC News (Internet)
Zimbabwe looms over Africa summit
June 30, 2008
African Union (AU) leaders have begun a summit in Egypt that looks set to be overshadowed by the crisis in Zimbabwe.
President Robert Mugabe entered the hall in Sharm el-Sheikh with the Egyptian and Tanzanian leaders.
Mr Mugabe, 84, was sworn in on Sunday after his election victory but observers said pre-poll violence had undermined the vote’s credibility.
There have been calls for the AU not to recognise Mr Mugabe, but it may urge talks with the opposition instead.
Mr Mugabe claimed a landslide victory as the sole candidate after the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, withdrew.
Draft resolution
The two-day AU meeting was declared open by the current chairman, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, who introduced host President Hosni Mubarak for the first speech.
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After other opening speeches, the 53-nation bloc will begin closed-door talks, with Zimbabwe expected to be high on the agenda.
The AU has a rule not to accept leaders who have not been democratically elected - but observers say it is unlikely to take such strong action against Mr Mugabe so quickly.
“It will be none of this summit’s business to choose the titles for leaders, it is the business of this summit to see what we are going to do for the suffering people and masses in Africa,” Tanzanian Foreign Minister Bernard Membe said at a media briefing, when asked if he would address Mr Mugabe as president.
A draft resolution written by African foreign ministers during talks ahead of the summit did not criticise the elections or Mr Mugabe, but condemned violence in general terms and called for dialogue.
ZIMBABWE AND ITS NEIGHBOURS
Zimbabwe’s opposition wants neighbouring countries to persuade Robert Mugabe to step down. So how are relations changing?
Independent observers have criticised the poll.
The head of a 400-person observer mission from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), Angolan Sports Minister Jose Marcos Barrica, was quoted as saying: “The pre-election phase was characterised by politically-motivated violence, intimidation and displacements.”
Another observer team, from the Pan-African Parliament, has called for fresh elections to be held, saying the vote was not free or fair.
African leaders are expected to urge Mr Mugabe to enter into talks with Mr Tsvangirai, and engage in some sort of power-sharing agreement.
South African President Thabo Mbeki, the regionally-appointed mediator for Zimbabwe, has called for a negotiated solution.
On Monday, the MDC called for an additional mediator to be appointed to work alongside Mr Mbeki.
On the eve of the summit, Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa was rushed to hospital in Sharm el-Sheikh suffering chest pains.
Mr Mwanawasa, who is said to be in a stable condition, has taken a tough line against Mr Mugabe’s regime, calling the election undemocratic.
Spoilt ballots
Mr Mugabe was sworn in during a quickly convened ceremony on Sunday, about an hour after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission announced the results of the presidential election run-off.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from Zimbabwe’s election
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The commission said Mr Mugabe won 85.5% of the vote, but many ballots were spoiled.
In a speech that followed the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Mugabe said he was committed to talks with the opposition to find a solution to the political crisis.
However, BBC Southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says the opposition may reject any notion of a government of national unity in which Mr Mugabe is still in a key position.
The MDC said some 86 of its supporters were killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF party in the weeks preceding the run-off.
The government has blamed the MDC for the violence.
Mr Mugabe has been in power since Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain in 1980.
Source: BBC News (Internet)