Honolulu

Shark attack victim sells film rights

The story of shark attack survivor Bethany Hamilton is headed to the big screen.

Romano/Shane Productions has bought the film rights for the Hawaii teen’s upcoming biography, “Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family and Fighting to Get Back on the Board,” which is scheduled for release this fall.

The 14-year-old was thrust into the national spotlight after losing her left arm in a shark attack Oct. 31, 2003.

Romano/Shane Productions paid Hamilton an undisclosed amount for the film rights. Director Michael Shane hopes to start production early next year in Hawaii.

Tokyo

Princess not likely to return to work

Palace doctors believe Japan’s Crown Princess Masako, who has spent the past eight months in seclusion fighting a stress-induced illness, will not likely resume her royal duties until sometime next year, officials said Monday.

The pronouncement by palace doctors treating the princess comes as her husband and Japan’s royal heir, Crown Prince Naruhito, prepares to head Wednesday for Brunei, where he is to attend the gala wedding of the tiny sultanate’s Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah.

The palace announced last week that Masako will not accompany him to the Brunei wedding, and on Monday an official said Masako’s doctors believed she still needed more time to recover.

“It is the opinion of the royal doctors that it would be difficult for her to return to her duties this year,” he said, demanding anonymity.

Jerusalem

Israeli spy satellite fails to reach orbit

An Israeli spy satellite plunged into the Mediterranean Sea shortly after launch Monday, dealing a severe blow to Israel’s attempts to closely monitor potential enemies, particularly Iran.

The mishap occurred when boosters for the Ofek-6 satellite failed, the Defense Ministry said after the top-secret launch from the seaside Palmachim air force base in southern Israel. The satellite fell into the sea near the port city of Ashdod.

“An unsuccessful attempt was made to launch into orbit a remote sensing satellite,” the ministry said in a terse statement.

Israel, a world leader in satellite technology, relies heavily on space-based cameras to monitor activities in Arab countries. The Ofek-5 satellite, launched in 2002, overflies Iran, Iraq and Syria.

Lebanon

Ministers resign to protest leader’s term

Four Cabinet ministers resigned Monday to protest the extension of President Emile Lahoud’s term, part of a bruising political battle that divided allies and drew the attention of the U.N. Security Council.

The ministers’ resignations were not expected to bring down the 30-member government of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. However, they prompted Lahoud to convene a meeting with Hariri and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri at the presidential palace to discuss the fate of the Cabinet.

Last week, Parliament amended the Lebanese constitution to permit Lahoud, who is backed by Syria, to stay in office another three years, despite domestic and international objections.

The constitutional amendment came despite a U.N. resolution urging Lebanon to elect a new president and Syria to loosen its control over Lebanon’s politics.