Selasa, 19 November 2013

The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro

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The Star Online: Metro: Sunday Metro


Unlicensed dentists bite back after ban

Posted:

JAKARTA: For more than 30 years, Indonesian dentist Edi Herman has been fixing the teeth of Jakartans in the rusty chair of his tiny shop, advertising his services with a huge poster of sparkling pearly whites on blood-red gums.

He is one of thousands of low-cost, unlicensed dentists, whose small stores with their lurid signs can be found nestling in grimy alleys and wedged between red-tiled houses across the capital.

But after years of horror stories about people suffering terrible damage at the hands of unscrupulous practitioners with neither clean tools nor training, the government moved to ban them from all dental work in 2011.

The unlicensed dentists are fighting back, however. They have managed to get the ban overturned after challenging it in the constitutional court – and are now demanding the right to practice.

"We demand to be granted a licence so we can operate legally. We will never give up our fight," said Dwi Waris Supriyono, chairman of the Informal Dentists' Association.

For Herman, 56, a ban would have destroyed his livelihood and stopped him from practising a trade passed down to him and his brothers by their father.

"The government wants to put us out of business," said Herman, dressed in a faded T-shirt and sarong, as he puffed on a clove cigarette waiting for his next patient at his central Jakarta shop.

Wanting to protect their livelihoods, the informal dentists – who can be found all across Indonesia – argue that they are the only realistic option for many in a country where millions live in abject poverty.

Herman charges only 50,000 rupiah (RM14) for a simple scaling job, and 1,500,000 rupiah (RM446) to fit a brace – four to five times lower than prices at professional, licensed dentists.

It is also much easier to find an informal dentist. The health ministry estimates there are 75,000 of them in Indonesia, compared to 35,000 licensed practitioners.

The government insists that numerous tales of dental disaster at the hands of unlicensed practitioners vindicates its drive to impose a ban.

One such case is that of cleaner Fitri Hayati, whose attempts to get her teeth straightened at two illegal dentists in Jakarta were far from successful.

The 24-year-old was fitted with braces but one tooth has been pushed down so it now looks longer than the others and she said she suffers from "unbearable pain".

"I can't eat or sleep as my whole mouth is in pain since I started wearing these braces," she said.

Senior health ministry official Untung Suseno Sutarjo accused unlicensed dentists of "putting our people at risk for their own gain".

"These practitioners have no qualifications. They use tools which have not been cleaned or sterilised properly."

Informal dentists, known as "Tukang Gigi" in Indonesian – which translates as "Tooth Workers" – have been plying their trade for generations.

In the late 1980s, authorities sought to crack down on them by ordering that they limit their work to making only dentures.

But the new law was largely ignored and they continued to perform many other procedures regardless.

So, in 2011 the government sought to ban them from doing all dental work, a move the informal dentists countered by seeking a judicial review of the new legislation.

Earlier this year the constitutional court sided with them and declared the law against the constitution, which states that every Indonesian has the right to work.

Supriyono, of the Informal Dentists' Association, argues that despite a lack of formal training, unlicensed practitioners often have years of experience and skills passed down from generation to generation.

"Informal dentists have been around a lot longer than the professionals," he said. — AFP

Online bullies' shameful tactic

Posted:

The most common act of Singapore cyber bullies is to alter a person's picture to make it look humiliating or obscene, and then circulate the image online via social media or the WhatsApp messaging platform, according to a local study.

More than one-third of students aged 13 and 14 have been the target of such actions.

Next in line is spreading rumours about a person on social networks, with one-quarter of students having fallen victim to it, said cyberwellness research firm Kingmaker Consul­tancy.

Other ways these bullies torment include intentionally excluding a person from an online group, like an online gaming group, and trolling by hurling vicious remarks, said the Singapore-based Kingmaker.

It polled about 1,800 students aged 13 and 14 between January and October.

Yesterday, Law Minister K. Shan­mugam said the Government plan­ned to put a stop to such behaviour, with new laws to be tabled next year against harassment.

Citing a Microsoft survey from last year, he said Singapore had the second-highest rate of online bullying out of 25 countries among youths aged eight to 17.

China holds the top spot.

In explaining the main bullying tactic, counsellors blame the abundance of free picture-altering apps and the ease of Web access on smartphones. These apps allow users to make a person look ugly, old or bald, or add facial blemishes.

Some also let users superimpose someone's face on a naked body.

One big draw of these apps is that bullies can be cruel while staying anonymous, said Dr Carol Balhetchet, director of youth services at the Singapore Children's Society.

"Humiliating pictures are also potentially more damaging for victims with low self-esteem and who lack emotional support from friends and family," she said. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Indian camel breeders count losses at livestock fair

Posted:

PUSHKAR: As dusk falls on the desert town of Pushkar in northern India, turbaned herdsmen huddle around fires and lament the downfall of one of the world's largest livestock fairs.

Like many traders, Jojawa trekked hundreds of kilometres to reach the decades-old cattle and camel fair, a journey that took him seven days from his village in the desert state of Rajasthan.

But the way things are going, he expects to go home with his pockets half-empty and some of the 25 camels that he hoped to sell still in tow.

"This year there are fewer buyers and fewer camels," says Jojawa who has been coming to the annual fair for 35 years.

"If it goes on like this, in another four to five years, I'll be finished," adds Jojawa who uses one name.

Official figures for the five-day fair, which finishes this week and has long been a major tourist attraction, show the number of camels on sale has fallen to 4,739, a sharp drop from the 8,000 recorded in 2011, and a fraction of those from previous decades.

"I see more cameras than camels these days," says Ilse Koehler-Rollefson, a German academic turned activist with the non-profit organisation Lokhit Pashu Palak Sansthan (LPPS), which works to support Rajasthan's traditional Raika pastoralists.

She says the Pushkar fair is the only time of year when camel breeders earn a cash income. Camels are normally sold for around 15,000 rupees (RM733) and used on farms or as transport.

But as sales decline, breeding is becoming a less viable way to earn a living, and as a result she sees the traditional values that underpin the market "rapidly disintegrating".

Among the region's most prominent camel herders, the Raika believe the Hindu god Lord Shiva handed them the responsibility to rear camels.

The semi-nomadic herdsmen consider their relationship with the animals as sacred and they are unique among camel herders worldwide for not slaughtering the camels they rear. But all that is changing.

"In the past 10 to 15 years, this taboo against the slaughter of camels has totally disintegrated and now we're at a stage here where in Pushkar most of the camels are actually sold for meat," Koehler-Rollefson says.

"Traditionally it was also taboo to sell female camels, considered the life-blood of a herd, but these days even they are sold for slaughter.

"It's a sell-out. Once the females are gone that's pretty much the end, you're out of the business, you're not going to be back next year," she adds.

As modernisation has swept across India, thanks to an economic boom, the country's camel population has plummeted by 50% over the last three decades.

In 1982, there were more than one million camels nationwide, but numbers dropped to just over 500,000 by 2007, according to the most recent survey by the ministry of agriculture.

Of these, more than 80% live in Rajasthan, where camels have traditionally been used as work animals on farms or as transport for carrying freight. — AFP

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: World Updates

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The Star Online: World Updates


Measure to limit abortions appears headed for defeat in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Posted:

SANTA FE, New Mexico (Reuters) - A municipal ballot measure that would outlaw most late-term abortions in New Mexico's largest city appeared headed for defeat in a special election by Albuquerque voters, early returns showed on Tuesday.

The measure, were it approved, would bar doctors within city limits from performing abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, allowing for few of the exemptions permitted in most late-term abortion bans enacted in other states in recent years.

No exceptions are made for victims of rape or incest. The ban could be waived only to save a mother's life or if continuing her pregnancy risked "substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function" for the mother.

A record number of city voters were reported to have cast early ballots in the special election. And an unusually high overall turnout was expected due to the controversial nature of the measure, which is believed to be the first proposed abortion restriction to be placed on a municipal ballot in the United States.

With results from more than half of the city's voting centres tabulated, voters appeared on their way toward rejecting the measure, 55 percent to 45 percent, according to figures posted online by the city about 90 minutes after the polls closed.

Public opinion polls suggested sentiment had swung against the Albuquerque initiative since early September, when 54 percent of city voters said they backed the proposal.

Abortion rights advocates had vowed to challenge the measure in court should it pass.

The U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide in 1973, but ruled that unless the mother's health were at risk, states could place restrictions on abortion at the point when a foetus could potentially survive outside the womb, generally seen as starting at 22 to 24 weeks of gestation.

A full-term pregnancy typically is about 40 weeks, and abortions after 20 weeks are rare.

Still, abortion opponents have pushed the boundaries of the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in recent years by seeking to curtail abortions at earlier stages of pregnancy.

The Albuquerque measure was patterned after restrictions enacted by a dozen states based on hotly debated medical research suggesting a foetus feels pain starting at 20 weeks of gestation.

Two of those states, North Dakota and Arkansas, went further by also recently banning abortion as early as six and 12 weeks, respectively. Those more restrictive bans have been put on hold by courts. Courts have likewise blocked 20-week abortion bans in Arizona, Georgia and Idaho.

Albuquerque is home to two of the few facilities in the region that perform late-term abortions - the Southwestern Women's Options clinic and the University of New Mexico Center for Reproductive Health.

Their existence has led abortion foes to refer to Albuquerque as the "late-term abortion capital of the country" and to target the city for the municipal ban, said Elisa Martinez, executive director of the group Protect ABQ Women and Children, which supports the measure.

Julianna Koob, legislative advocate for Planned Parenthood of New Mexico, agreed that the two clinics had drawn patients from around the region because "access has been so severely impacted in other cities."

The state attorney general, Gary King, has called the proposed measure "unconstitutional and unenforceable."

Antoinette Sedillo Lopez, a law professor at the University of New Mexico, said abortion regulations as allowed under Roe v. Wade were regarded as a matter for the states, not local governments, to decide.

Patrick Davis, a spokesman for ProgressNow New Mexico, a non-profit group that supports abortion rights, said approval of the measure in Albuquerque could lead to similar proposals showing up on local ballots in municipalities across the country.

"Using cities to further the culture wars is definitely something we can expect to see in the future," agreed Lonna Atkeson, director of the Center for the Study of Voting, Elections and Democracy at the University of New Mexico. "This is the first test case."

(Additional reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Steve Gorman, Peter Cooney, Andrew Hay and Lisa Shumaker)

Learjet crashes off Florida coast, two bodies found

Posted:

(Reuters) - A private jet with perhaps four people aboard crashed into the Atlantic Ocean shortly after takeoff from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Tuesday, and two bodies have been recovered, a U.S. Coast Guard spokesman said.

The plane, a Learjet headed for the Mexican resort city of Cozumel, went down several miles east of Fort Lauderdale shortly after 8 p.m. (0100 GMT Wednesday), Lieutenant Commander Gabe Somma said.

"We have recovered two bodies along with the debris field," he said, adding that there was no immediate word on whether anyone had survived.

Mexico's Communications and Transport Ministry said in a statement that there were four people on board the plane - two pilots and two passengers.

Somma said the Coast Guard had received reports that four people were aboard the aircraft, but that he could not confirm the number.

"At this hour we are continuing to search with a number of local and state and federal search and rescue assets," Somma said.

Coast Guard aircraft and surface craft have been deployed to the scene, and the cause of the crash is under investigation, he said.

The Mexican ministry named the pilots as Jose Galvan de la O. and Josue Buendia and the two passengers as Fernando Senties and Mariana Gonzalez.

(Reporting by Ian Simpson, Eric M. Johnson, and Elinor Comlay; Editing by Steve Gorman and Mohammad Zargham)

First batch of Chinese aid arrives in typhoon-struck Philippines

Posted:

MANILA (Reuters) - The first batch of Chinese relief supplies has arrived in the Philippines, Chinese state television said, days after Beijing drew criticism for not doing more to help victims of one of the world's biggest typhoons.

The Philippines and international armed forces and aid agencies are struggling to get help to devastated areas due to the extent of the destruction from Typhoon Haiyan, which has left more than 4,000 dead and 4 million people displaced.

A cargo plane carrying tents and blankets landed in the central Philippine city of Cebu on Tuesday, CCTV said.

"The Philippine Department of Social Welfare and Development head has said the Chinese relief goods are very useful," Chinese embassy official Wu Zhenping told the station.

"They will distribute some goods to evacuated victims in Cebu and the rest to victims in the worst-hit area Tacloban."

Tension between China and the Philippines has risen in recent months over disputed claims in the South China Sea and Beijing's response to the disaster raised eyebrows.

China, with the world's second-largest economy, initially announced it was giving $200,000 and then raised that by $1.64 million. On Sunday, it said it was ready to send rescue and medical teams.

In contrast, the United States has mobilised about 50 ships and aircraft in the disaster zone with helicopters delivering supplies from an aircraft carrier. It has announced more than $37 million in humanitarian aid.

(Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Matt Driskill)

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz

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The Star eCentral: Movie Buzz


Sawadee, Hollywood

Posted:

Princess of Thailand courts big movie studios.

THE coming of age of horror cinema in Thailand might seem like an odd subject for the Princess of Thailand to address.

But it was Halloween night, after all, and Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya had good reason to single out the South-East Asian nation's growing reputation as a hub for slasher, horror and monster films.

The princess was leading a delegation of Thai officials, including the country's deputy prime minister and minister of commerce, in their first Los Angeles "road show" to promote the country's resources, talent and desirability as a film location.

The two-day event included a symposium in Century City as well as "business matching meetings" with US companies. It culminated in a "Thai Night Halloween Special" in Santa Monica presided over by the princess, who sounded more like a film commissioner than a member of Thailand's royal family.

Part of The Man With The Golden Gun, starring Roger Moore (right) was filmed on the island of Khao Phing Kan on Thailand's west coast, where villain Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) has his hideout. The island is popularly know as James Bond Island.

Part of The Man With The Golden Gun, starring Roger Moore (right) was filmed on the island of Khao Phing Kan on Thailand's west coast, where villain Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) has his hideout. The island is popularly known as James Bond Island.

"Through training, technological investments and exposure to foreign productions, the Thai film industry is now firmly established as one of the most dynamic and reliable production platforms in Asia," Princess Ubolratana said at the reception at JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot.

"Already famous for its stunning locations and the friendliness of its people, Thailand is now offering highly skilled crews and state-of-the-art production, post and special effects services, at very competitive prices," added the princess, who wore a black cocktail dress and a large, festive bow in her hair.

Thailand is the latest Asian country to roll out the red carpet for Hollywood. But it is playing catch-up.

Companies in India and China have already formed partnerships with a number of studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Walt Disney Studios and 20th Century Fox. They've also become key sources of low-cost labour for the outsourcing of animation and visual effects work.

Still, Thailand has a well-established film industry with state-of-the-art animation studios and production facilities. The nation's film and TV industry directly contributes US$2.22bil (RM7.13bil) to the local economy, supports 86,600 jobs and generates US$81mil (RM260mil) in tax revenue, according to a recent study prepared by Oxford Economics. Homegrown movies, such as the 2004 horror film Shutter, have been adapted in many countries.

This year alone, about 550 foreign productions were filmed in Thailand, according to the country's film office. Its exotic geography has served as a location for such well-known movies as the Oscar-winning The Deer Hunter (1978), Good Morning Vietnam (1987) and the 1974 James Bond film The Man With the Golden Gun.

More recent Western films that have shot in Thailand include The Hangover Part II; the crime drama Only God Forgives, starring Ryan Gosling; and The Impossible, in which Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor play tourists caught in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami.

My Best Bodyguard stars Princess Ubolratana.

My Best Bodyguard stars Thailand's Princess Ubolratana.

"They have superb resources, they're enthusiastic and they're hard-working," said Lawrence Sher, director of photography for The Hangover Part II, which filmed for three months in Thailand, mainly in the capital of Bangkok. "We really had a great experience with the Thai crew."

Encouraged by such testimonials, Thai film industry officials who visited LA recently are eager to drum up more business in advance of the annual American Film Market.

The visiting Thai delegation included representatives from some 20 Thai film, animation and visual effects companies eager to build relationships with producers and studios to distribute their films, establish co-production deals and serve as a source of outsourcing talent. They held a series of meetings with executives at Sony and other studios as part of a programme coordinated by entertainment attorney and producer Don Barton, owner of Los Angeles-based Artistry Media Group.

Thailand faces some stiff competition, however. In the animation field, studios already have long-standing relationships with companies in South Korea, India, Canada and New Zealand.

"They can be a very important market for animation production, but they're not there yet," said Cort Lane, vice president of animation development and production for Marvel Television, a participant in a panel at the symposium.

"The capacity and the talent is there, but they are going to have to do a lot of work to build a reputation and build relationships," Lane added. "I think this event and more events like it will set the groundwork for those relationships."

Thailand does not offer a film tax credit programme, though it does waive income taxes on salaries paid to actors and is weighing further financial inducements.

"We might have to consider a more attractive incentive package, but we are just getting started," said Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, deputy prime minister and minister of commerce for Thailand. "We have good locations, beaches, the forests, culture and we also have skilled crew people at low cost."

After her speech, Princess Ubolratana wished the crowd a happy Halloween and sat down to watch a performance of traditional Thai dancers. When the dance was over, the room went silent as the princess left the crowd and walked down a red carpet as her subjects bowed, curtsied and clasped their hands in respect. – Los Angeles Times/McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star eCentral: Movie Reviews

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Sawadee, Hollywood

Posted:

Princess of Thailand courts big movie studios.

THE coming of age of horror cinema in Thailand might seem like an odd subject for the Princess of Thailand to address.

But it was Halloween night, after all, and Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya had good reason to single out the South-East Asian nation's growing reputation as a hub for slasher, horror and monster films.

The princess was leading a delegation of Thai officials, including the country's deputy prime minister and minister of commerce, in their first Los Angeles "road show" to promote the country's resources, talent and desirability as a film location.

The two-day event included a symposium in Century City as well as "business matching meetings" with US companies. It culminated in a "Thai Night Halloween Special" in Santa Monica presided over by the princess, who sounded more like a film commissioner than a member of Thailand's royal family.

Part of The Man With The Golden Gun, starring Roger Moore (right) was filmed on the island of Khao Phing Kan on Thailand's west coast, where villain Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) has his hideout. The island is popularly know as James Bond Island.

Part of The Man With The Golden Gun, starring Roger Moore (right) was filmed on the island of Khao Phing Kan on Thailand's west coast, where villain Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) has his hideout. The island is popularly known as James Bond Island.

"Through training, technological investments and exposure to foreign productions, the Thai film industry is now firmly established as one of the most dynamic and reliable production platforms in Asia," Princess Ubolratana said at the reception at JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot.

"Already famous for its stunning locations and the friendliness of its people, Thailand is now offering highly skilled crews and state-of-the-art production, post and special effects services, at very competitive prices," added the princess, who wore a black cocktail dress and a large, festive bow in her hair.

Thailand is the latest Asian country to roll out the red carpet for Hollywood. But it is playing catch-up.

Companies in India and China have already formed partnerships with a number of studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Walt Disney Studios and 20th Century Fox. They've also become key sources of low-cost labour for the outsourcing of animation and visual effects work.

Still, Thailand has a well-established film industry with state-of-the-art animation studios and production facilities. The nation's film and TV industry directly contributes US$2.22bil (RM7.13bil) to the local economy, supports 86,600 jobs and generates US$81mil (RM260mil) in tax revenue, according to a recent study prepared by Oxford Economics. Homegrown movies, such as the 2004 horror film Shutter, have been adapted in many countries.

This year alone, about 550 foreign productions were filmed in Thailand, according to the country's film office. Its exotic geography has served as a location for such well-known movies as the Oscar-winning The Deer Hunter (1978), Good Morning Vietnam (1987) and the 1974 James Bond film The Man With the Golden Gun.

More recent Western films that have shot in Thailand include The Hangover Part II; the crime drama Only God Forgives, starring Ryan Gosling; and The Impossible, in which Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor play tourists caught in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami.

My Best Bodyguard stars Princess Ubolratana.

My Best Bodyguard stars Thailand's Princess Ubolratana.

"They have superb resources, they're enthusiastic and they're hard-working," said Lawrence Sher, director of photography for The Hangover Part II, which filmed for three months in Thailand, mainly in the capital of Bangkok. "We really had a great experience with the Thai crew."

Encouraged by such testimonials, Thai film industry officials who visited LA recently are eager to drum up more business in advance of the annual American Film Market.

The visiting Thai delegation included representatives from some 20 Thai film, animation and visual effects companies eager to build relationships with producers and studios to distribute their films, establish co-production deals and serve as a source of outsourcing talent. They held a series of meetings with executives at Sony and other studios as part of a programme coordinated by entertainment attorney and producer Don Barton, owner of Los Angeles-based Artistry Media Group.

Thailand faces some stiff competition, however. In the animation field, studios already have long-standing relationships with companies in South Korea, India, Canada and New Zealand.

"They can be a very important market for animation production, but they're not there yet," said Cort Lane, vice president of animation development and production for Marvel Television, a participant in a panel at the symposium.

"The capacity and the talent is there, but they are going to have to do a lot of work to build a reputation and build relationships," Lane added. "I think this event and more events like it will set the groundwork for those relationships."

Thailand does not offer a film tax credit programme, though it does waive income taxes on salaries paid to actors and is weighing further financial inducements.

"We might have to consider a more attractive incentive package, but we are just getting started," said Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, deputy prime minister and minister of commerce for Thailand. "We have good locations, beaches, the forests, culture and we also have skilled crew people at low cost."

After her speech, Princess Ubolratana wished the crowd a happy Halloween and sat down to watch a performance of traditional Thai dancers. When the dance was over, the room went silent as the princess left the crowd and walked down a red carpet as her subjects bowed, curtsied and clasped their hands in respect. – Los Angeles Times/McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Business

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The Star Online: Business


Bill Gates highlights tough requirements for new CEO

Posted:

BELLEVUE: Chairman Bill Gates said on Tuesday he was pleased with Microsoft Corp's progress in finding a new chief executive but outlined the difficulties in picking the next leader of the world's largest software company as it seeks to reinvent itself as a mobile computing power.

Gates is part of the four-man committee that gave itself a year to find a successor to CEO Steve Ballmer after he announced his plan to retire in August.

Sources close to the process have said the search is down to a handful of candidates, but the company itself has been largely silent.

"We've been doing a lot of meetings with both internal and external candidates, and we're pleased with the progress," said Gates at Microsoft's annual shareholder meeting in Bellevue, Washington.

"We're looking at a number of candidates, and I'm not going to give a timeline today."

Ballmer said in August he planned to retire within 12 months, and the CEO search committee – headed by lead independent director and former IBM executive John Thompson – tasked itself with finding a replacement by the end of that period.

Sources close to the company expect an appointment no later than January.

Gates, who in previous years did not address the shareholders' meeting with prepared remarks, went on to describe the challenges of finding the right person to lead Microsoft.

"It's a complex role to fill – a lot of different skills, experience and capabilities that we need," he said.

"It's a complex global business the new CEO will have to lead. The person has to have a lot of comfort in leading a highly technical organisation and have an ability to work with our top technical talent to seize the opportunities."

Gates paused briefly and choked up with emotion after he thanked Ballmer for his work at the company, saying both he and Ballmer have a commitment "to make sure the next CEO is the right person, for the right time, for the company we both love."

Gates and Ballmer are the only two CEOs in Microsoft's 38-year history.

Gates, who co-founded Microsoft with Paul Allen in 1975, then left the stage and sat in the front row of an audience of around 400 people, alongside other members of the board. That was a departure from previous years when he remained onstage and occasionally answered questions.

Microsoft has not shed much light on its CEO search, but sources close to the process have told Reuters the company has narrowed its shortlist of candidates to just a handful, including Ford Motor Co chief Alan Mulally and former Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, as well as former Skype CEO and internal candidate Tony Bates, now responsible for Microsoft's business development.

Microsoft remains highly profitable and last month beat Wall Street's quarterly profit and revenue forecasts.

But the company has come under criticism for missing some of the largest technology shifts in the past few years from Internet search to social networking, and Apple Inc and Google Inc are now at the vanguard of a mobile computing revolution that is eroding its core PC-based business.

Microsoft's shares closed down 0.5% at US$36.74 on Nasdaq – Reuters.

Patimas, Octagon tumble as delisting imminent

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: Shares of Patimas Computers Bhd and Octagon Consolidated Bhd plunged on Wednesday as their delisting loomed after they failed to submit a regularisation plan to Bursa Malaysia Securities.

At 11.02am, Patimas tumbled 2.5 sen to 1 sen with 71.78 million shares done.

Octagon fell 11 sen to 5.5 sen with 8.12 million units transacted.

The FBM KLCI fell 1.34 points to 1,805.82. Turnover was 713.64 million shares valued at RM468.43mil. The broader market weakened with 326 losers to 234 gainers and 325 counters unchanged.

On Tuesday, Patimas announced it had failed to submit a regularisation plan to Bursa Securities for approval on or before Oct 31, 2013. Patimas' application for an extension of time to submit the regularisation plan was rejected.

Trading in the securities of the Company will be suspended from Nov 27 and be de-listed on Nov 29 unless an appeal against the de-listing is submitted to Bursa Securities on or before Nov 26.

As for Octagon, it failed to submit a regularisation plan to Bursa Securities for approval by June 7. It was also given an extension until Oct 18 but it also failed to submit a plan. Bursa Securities had rejected its application for more time.

Trading in Octagon will be suspended from Nov 27 and de-listed on Nov 29 unless an appeal against the de-listing is submitted to Bursa Securities on or before Nov 26.

Datasonic’s winning streak hits speed bump

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: Datasonic Bhd fell to a low of RM8.30 on Wednesday on profit taking after its share price streaked to consecutive record highs in recent weeks.

At 10.27am, it was down 29 sen to RM8.30 with 660,800 shares done.

The FBM KLCI fell 1.1 points to 1,806.06. Turnover was 551.04 million shares valued at RM315.47mil. There were 229 gainers, 256 losers and 305 counters unchanged.

Datasonic's share price had surged from RM1.46 since end-May on investors' expectations of it securing more contracts and strong earnings outlook.

RHB Research maintained its Buy call on Datasonic with a fair value of RM11.56 in view of the potential improvements in trading sentiment ahead.

It said Datasonic's share price had run up by more than 30% since it initiated coverage on the group on Nov 12.

"With the company's proposed share split set to improve trading liquidity, as well as the stock's still attractive market valuation – at a 20%-25% discount to its peers - we believe the current positive share price momentum may persist in the near term," it said.

It added Datasonic's proposed one-to-five share split exercise would be completed by Dec 27.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Nation

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The Star Online: Nation


Only a handful of trees bear fruit at city orchard

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM17.25mil has been spent on the City Orchard Park at Kampung Delima in Jalan Bellamy, here, but the project has literally yet to bear much fruit.

Work started on the project in 2006 as part of Visit Malaysia Year 2007, but a visit by The Star revealed an orchard full of trees but only a handful were bearing fruit.

According to one of the workers, there had not been any fruit growing on the trees there for the past three years.

New trees were planted this year but fruit yield remained low.

The 7.68ha park also has a playground and other amenities like toilets, a showcase room, a cafeteria and retail spaces.

According to the Auditor-General's Report 2012, the playground should have had six components but only one was built.

Meanwhile, PAS wants Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) and the Federal Territories Ministry to provide an explanation for the long delay in getting the park ready.

Its Federal Territory Youth chief Kamaruzaman Mohamad said according to the A-G's Report 2012, the contract for the project was given to a private company.

Kamaruzaman, who went to the park for a closer look, was told by the sub-contractor that the launch would be held this week.

According to a DBKL official, the launch of the park would take place this Sunday and KL Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib would be there.

Remove all paper cut-outs in one week, council warns tenants

Posted:

JOHOR BARU: Tenants and landowners have one week to remove the paper cut-outs pasted on the walls outside their buildings or risk being slapped with a compound fine of RM500 by the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB).

Mayor Ismail Karim said notices were issued to tenants in Taman Molek a few days ago where the cut-outs were seen on the walls replacing the original so-called offensive graffiti by Lithuanian-born artist Ernest Zacharevic.

He said the notices would also be issued to owners of premises where similar cut-outs have appeared, such as on the walls outside the Chinese cultural museum on Jalan Tan Hiok Nee and in an alley on Jalan Maju.

"If the tenants or shopowners fail to remove the cut-outs within one week, they will be fined a compound of RM500 and if they refuse to pay, they will be brought to court," he told The Star here yesterday.

The original wall art, which featured a young woman carrying a Chanel handbag and a hooded, knife-wielding man around the corner supposedly waiting to pounce on her, created an uproar among Johoreans, foreigners and Netizens in the past week.

To make matters worse, a local artist added a painting of a policeman with a pair of handcuffs ready to catch the crooked character, which angered the council further.

According to the council, the art painted a negative image of the city.

Council workers whitewashed the graf­fiti and hours later, paper cut-outs of the graffiti characters appeared at the original spot.

The council moved in again to tear down the stickers, but more cut-outs have since appeared.

Meanwhile, Ismail added that the council has started engaging youths to discuss plans to convert Taman Linear Park near Desa Tebrau here into a youth park next year.

He said a wide wall would be built at the park to provide a proper place for graffiti artists to express their creativity.

"We are also planning to add skating facilities and include other activities to make it a place for youths to enjoy," he said.

MyKad ring identified and busted

Posted:

MIRI: Sarawak police has busted the biggest syndicate in the state falsifying MyKad and birth certificates.

Dozens, including a National Registration Department staff from Putrajaya, Sabahans and Filipinos were picked up on Nov 16 after a week of surveillance at a residential estate in Desa Pujut in the Kuala Baram district.

Police seized 30 copies of "birth certificates", 69 copies of photocopied certificates, an "official receipt" and three Sabah "birth certificates", apart from RM3,100 in cash, four pen-drives, three stamp-pads, 10 rubber stamps of various government departments in Sabah, a laptop, a desktop computer and speakers.

Sarawak police commissioner Datuk Wira Mohammad Sabtu Osman told a press conference yesterday that police received a tip about suspicious activities at the housing estate.

"This is believed to be the biggest syndicate of its kind uncovered in Sarawak that is believed to be falsifying personal documents for sale to illegal migrants.

"We found 34 people there and after checking their backgrounds and documents, 23 were detained.

"Two are Bajaus from Sabah, seven men and three women are from the Philippines and 11 others include local Kayans," he said.

Six of them were from peninsula Malaysia, including the NRD officer.

Comm Mohammad said police believed that the mastermind was also in the group.

"Initial investigations showed the NRD officer is with the NRD in Putrajaya as an assistant officer. We suspect he is one of the key players.

"The arrest of the Sabahans and foreigners shows that the syndicate had spread its wings to Miri from Sabah."

Comm Mohammad said Sarawak, with its 1,600km long border, had many "rat-holes" that were being used for illegal entry.

Noting this case could be the first of its kind in Sarawak, he added police would investigate whether there were other cases elsewhere.

Comm Mohammad said police had also received reports of 48 documents being stolen from the NRD office in Beluru and would investigate for any connection.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies


Sawadee, Hollywood

Posted:

Princess of Thailand courts big movie studios.

THE coming of age of horror cinema in Thailand might seem like an odd subject for the Princess of Thailand to address.

But it was Halloween night, after all, and Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya had good reason to single out the South-East Asian nation's growing reputation as a hub for slasher, horror and monster films.

The princess was leading a delegation of Thai officials, including the country's deputy prime minister and minister of commerce, in their first Los Angeles "road show" to promote the country's resources, talent and desirability as a film location.

The two-day event included a symposium in Century City as well as "business matching meetings" with US companies. It culminated in a "Thai Night Halloween Special" in Santa Monica presided over by the princess, who sounded more like a film commissioner than a member of Thailand's royal family.

Part of The Man With The Golden Gun, starring Roger Moore (right) was filmed on the island of Khao Phing Kan on Thailand's west coast, where villain Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) has his hideout. The island is popularly know as James Bond Island.

Part of The Man With The Golden Gun, starring Roger Moore (right) was filmed on the island of Khao Phing Kan on Thailand's west coast, where villain Scaramanga (Christopher Lee) has his hideout. The island is popularly known as James Bond Island.

"Through training, technological investments and exposure to foreign productions, the Thai film industry is now firmly established as one of the most dynamic and reliable production platforms in Asia," Princess Ubolratana said at the reception at JW Marriott Santa Monica Le Merigot.

"Already famous for its stunning locations and the friendliness of its people, Thailand is now offering highly skilled crews and state-of-the-art production, post and special effects services, at very competitive prices," added the princess, who wore a black cocktail dress and a large, festive bow in her hair.

Thailand is the latest Asian country to roll out the red carpet for Hollywood. But it is playing catch-up.

Companies in India and China have already formed partnerships with a number of studios such as DreamWorks Animation, Walt Disney Studios and 20th Century Fox. They've also become key sources of low-cost labour for the outsourcing of animation and visual effects work.

Still, Thailand has a well-established film industry with state-of-the-art animation studios and production facilities. The nation's film and TV industry directly contributes US$2.22bil (RM7.13bil) to the local economy, supports 86,600 jobs and generates US$81mil (RM260mil) in tax revenue, according to a recent study prepared by Oxford Economics. Homegrown movies, such as the 2004 horror film Shutter, have been adapted in many countries.

This year alone, about 550 foreign productions were filmed in Thailand, according to the country's film office. Its exotic geography has served as a location for such well-known movies as the Oscar-winning The Deer Hunter (1978), Good Morning Vietnam (1987) and the 1974 James Bond film The Man With the Golden Gun.

More recent Western films that have shot in Thailand include The Hangover Part II; the crime drama Only God Forgives, starring Ryan Gosling; and The Impossible, in which Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor play tourists caught in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian ocean tsunami.

My Best Bodyguard stars Princess Ubolratana.

My Best Bodyguard stars Thailand's Princess Ubolratana.

"They have superb resources, they're enthusiastic and they're hard-working," said Lawrence Sher, director of photography for The Hangover Part II, which filmed for three months in Thailand, mainly in the capital of Bangkok. "We really had a great experience with the Thai crew."

Encouraged by such testimonials, Thai film industry officials who visited LA recently are eager to drum up more business in advance of the annual American Film Market.

The visiting Thai delegation included representatives from some 20 Thai film, animation and visual effects companies eager to build relationships with producers and studios to distribute their films, establish co-production deals and serve as a source of outsourcing talent. They held a series of meetings with executives at Sony and other studios as part of a programme coordinated by entertainment attorney and producer Don Barton, owner of Los Angeles-based Artistry Media Group.

Thailand faces some stiff competition, however. In the animation field, studios already have long-standing relationships with companies in South Korea, India, Canada and New Zealand.

"They can be a very important market for animation production, but they're not there yet," said Cort Lane, vice president of animation development and production for Marvel Television, a participant in a panel at the symposium.

"The capacity and the talent is there, but they are going to have to do a lot of work to build a reputation and build relationships," Lane added. "I think this event and more events like it will set the groundwork for those relationships."

Thailand does not offer a film tax credit programme, though it does waive income taxes on salaries paid to actors and is weighing further financial inducements.

"We might have to consider a more attractive incentive package, but we are just getting started," said Niwatthamrong Boonsongpaisan, deputy prime minister and minister of commerce for Thailand. "We have good locations, beaches, the forests, culture and we also have skilled crew people at low cost."

After her speech, Princess Ubolratana wished the crowd a happy Halloween and sat down to watch a performance of traditional Thai dancers. When the dance was over, the room went silent as the princess left the crowd and walked down a red carpet as her subjects bowed, curtsied and clasped their hands in respect. – Los Angeles Times/McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Metro: Central

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Siblings overcome odds in kidney transplant

Posted:

WHEN his elder sister's kidneys both failed in 2009, operations manager Yow Kok Kheong wanted to give her one of his.

Then antibody tests showed they were not a match.

But early this year, against all odds, 38-year-old teacher Yow Sok Fun successfully received a kidney from her brother, 35.

This was after Singapore General Hospital (SGH) had devised a way to condition the patient's body to accept an incompatible transplant.

The public hospital now joins two others in offering kidney transplants from patients who have incompatible antibodies, though their methods may differ slightly.

National University Hospital has performed 14 such procedures since 2009, while Mount Elizabeth Hospital has had at least seven in the past five years.

For SGH, Yow was their first.

The latest development offers yet another avenue for patients who have trouble finding a suitable donor, said surgeon Terence Kee, who heads SGH's renal transplantation programme.

"We can re-open the transplant option to patients who are on the waiting list for a kidney," he said.

Kidneys from deceased donors are getting harder to come by.

Figures from the National Organ Transplant Unit showed that the number of deceased donors hit a five-year low last year at only 23. This is down from 36 in the preceding year.

But the waiting list for kidneys is many times longer, with more than 400 requiring one each year.

The average wait is about nine years.

"Chances are bleak for these patients," said Dr Kee, who operated on the siblings in January. "Still, we always try to find a compatible donor first. The new protocol is the last resort."

About two years ago, the Yow siblings had failed the "T-cell cross match" test that determines if there are antibodies that will cause rejection.

Yow, who is married with two school-going children, had very high levels of problematic antibodies due to previous pregnancies and blood transfusions.

In such situations, doctors normally will not proceed with the transplant due to the high risk of rejection – more than 80%.

But the hospital, for the first time, tried an approach in which she received regular infusions of a blood product in the months leading up to the surgery, to reduce the amount of "bad antibodies".

The blood product, called intravenous immunoglobulin, is extracted from donated blood. One of its functions is to help "switch off" the production of the bad antibodies. After this, Yow's blood was filtered through a machine to remove the antibodies.

Dr Kee said not everyone is suitable for the latest approach. For instance, they have to be healthy enough for the blood filtering procedure, which may cause low blood pressure. This can in turn trigger a heart attack or stroke in vulnerable patients.

Since the surgery, Yow has recovered without complications. Initially, she had hesitated due to the higher risks involved.

"With surgery, there is always the chance that you will die during surgery," she said.

"But there was also a very high risk that the transplant will fail – which meant my brother's kidney would be wasted."

But they decided to go ahead, said her brother, partly because dialysis had not been easy on his sister.

The thrice-weekly sessions tired her out, plus there were strict dietary limits - only four cups of water were allowed a day.

The constant use of needles meant her veins got blocked, so regular ballooning procedures were needed to re-open the vessels. "It was worth taking the risk, a no-brainer," he said. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Online harassment law to be tabled next year

Posted:

THE Ministry of Law is preparing legislation to better protect against online harrassment that will be tabled by early next year, said Law Minister K. Shanmugam.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines at a conference on harassment, Shanmugam said that the Law Ministry had been looking at the issue for about a year and a half and has been studying legislation in other countries and conducting internal discussions.

Shanmugam cited a recent Reach survey which showed that the public found the the law inadequate in dealing with online harassment. Over 80% of the more than 1,000 Singaporean residents surveyed felt that online harassment is a serious issue, and a similar number indicated they wanted tougher measures in place to deal with harassment, both online and off-line.

He also cited a 2012 Microsoft survey that found that Singapore had the second highest rate of online bullying worldwide out of 25 countries surveyed among youths aged eight to 17.

Together with China, which had the worst online bullying rates, Singapore was the only other country surveyed where online bullying was more pervasive than in the real world.

"I am concerned that our children seem to be the victims," he said.

"If so many children are impacted, I think later on it will have a deep impact on society as they become adults. It is for us to try and step in and try and help them," he said.

Shanmugam stressed that he preferred to have the law step in only as a last resort, but that they were necessary to deal with the most egregious of cases, such as when the victim feels threatened or abused.

"In the end there will be, I don't know, 5%, 8% of society for whom these norms don't matter if they can get away with it.

"And that's really what the law is looking at," he said. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health

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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Health


Fit to kick ass

Posted:

As leading stars for the action flick Kick Ass Girls, newcomers Hidy Yu and Dada Lo had to physically and mentally steel themselves for their gruelling roles – stunt-wire work and all.

AN effortless high kick, followed by an elbow-over-knee strike. Within minutes, a grown man is sent sprawling on the floor, with his arms twisted beneath him. The perpetrator, it seems, is none other than Hong Kong model-turned-actress Hidy Yu. The scene, one of many kung fu-laced standoffs, can be spotted in the trailer for upcoming action flick Kick Ass Girls.

Tucking a lock of ebony-black hair behind her ear, the soft-spoken Yu seems unfazed by the feat accomplished. In person, the lady-like 25-year-old doesn't appear at all like someone who would take to fist-fighting with a vengeance. Paired up with the equally stunning Dada Lo, the duo were in town recently with co-star and A-lister Chrissie Chau and director Vincci Cheuk to launch the film's music video.

Lo, who has never really been active in sports, had a hard time matching the fitness levels of her co-stars. – GSC

Sporting a predominantly female cast, Kick Ass Girls may sound uncannily like an Asian Charlie's Angels. Peppered with hints of friendship, rivalry and romance, the storyline revolves around the lives of Chau, Yu and Lo, who have no qualms over beating their adversaries to a pulp whenever necessary.

Relative newcomers to the field, Yu and Lo were thrown into a gruelling six-month training regime to prepare for their designated roles.

For a few hours each day, the girls were given a taste of real person-to-person combat, which kept them on edge for days on end.

While Yu, who has an athletic background, took to the training with ease, Lo was less prepared for the intensive hours involving mere basics like muscle-stretching and toning.

"I had a hard time catching up as I've never really been very active in sports. At times, I would be so frustrated that I'd be gritting my teeth throughout the session, especially when I had to just lie there and the trainers would forcefully stretch my muscles to make me flexible enough to master the moves," recalls Lo, who plays a rather animated character in the movie.

Apparently, the 23-year-old was ready to call it quits, if not for her co-star Yu's constant encouragement.

"I kept asking myself: 'Is this all worth it?' I was really under a lot of pressure and my health was failing me; I wasn't eating well or sleeping well. I also felt really lousy that I wasn't breezing through the choreography, as well as my other co-stars.

"Hidy would partner me for sit-ups, and she would keep encouraging me and telling me that I was already doing a great job. It was then that I realised that she too must've gone through the same pain to get to where she is today, and that there can be no accomplishments without sacrifice."

Doubling as a part-time diving instructor, Yu (right) values the rewards that come with regular exercising – first and foremost as a natural destressing remedy at the end of a tough day at work. – GSC

For Yu, engaging in wire stunt work proved to be the biggest challenge. "The very first time I tried hanging from a wire, I got the side of my arm badly injured – the wires had accidentally scraped off a layer of my skin. It was all very new to me.

"You can do the same stunt on-ground and it's easy, but when you have to do it in mid-air and leave all the support to the wires, wow, that's something else altogether. I had to use a lot of strength to master those scenes, even though it looks effortless on-screen."

Nevertheless, once you pass the initial few attempts, wire stunts can be a fun experience, she adds.

"We could've easily gotten an extra to become our stunt doubles, but we chose to do it ourselves. The director really approved of that, as she felt that it helped us understand our roles better. Now, after seeing the final cut, I must say it does make a difference."

Keeping up appearances

Diet-wise, the girls were given free reign to eat anything they wanted, provided it was in moderation, as with all things.

"Even on a normal basis, I don't usually limit myself to a particular diet. Being able to have a good meal at the end of a hard day's work is really food for the soul," Lo opines.

The girls have since shifted back to the daily grind, though the active lifestyle that they've grown used to for the movie shoot hasn't taken a backseat just yet.

Yu, who comes from a school for athletes, reveals that she is, in fact, an exercise addict.

"I've always been very fitness-oriented. As a child, I participated in a lot of marathons and I won many medals in the process. For a marathon runner, giving up isn't ever a part of the equation – that's what my family ingrained in me."

Doubling as a part-time diving instructor, Yu values the rewards that come with regular exercising – first and foremost as a natural de-stressing remedy at the end of a tough day at work.

"I'm always amazed at how good I feel after a simple workout session. Staying active isn't something that I actively pursue; it just comes naturally, and it's really a part of my life now.

"Of course, it takes an extreme amount of willpower to keep at it day after day. It can be hard, especially when you come home dead-tired from work. But I always tell myself that laziness begets laziness. So far, I've been able to inspire some friends to go down the same route, so it's been that much more meaningful for me to press on."

As for Lo, the occasional swim and a stroll in the park with her pet puppy are just about all that she has enough patience for, ever since filming wrapped up several months ago (Kick Ass Girls opens on Nov 21 in cinemas nationwide). Even then, she is blessed with alabaster skin and a trim figure (which seems to come more from genetics than anything else).

"I don't think I'm cut out for physical activities. I've given exercise regimes a go before, but I just don't have the passion for them. Just keeping myself busy and having a positive outlook in life works for me."

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

The Star Online: Metro: South & East

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Siblings overcome odds in kidney transplant

Posted:

WHEN his elder sister's kidneys both failed in 2009, operations manager Yow Kok Kheong wanted to give her one of his.

Then antibody tests showed they were not a match.

But early this year, against all odds, 38-year-old teacher Yow Sok Fun successfully received a kidney from her brother, 35.

This was after Singapore General Hospital (SGH) had devised a way to condition the patient's body to accept an incompatible transplant.

The public hospital now joins two others in offering kidney transplants from patients who have incompatible antibodies, though their methods may differ slightly.

National University Hospital has performed 14 such procedures since 2009, while Mount Elizabeth Hospital has had at least seven in the past five years.

For SGH, Yow was their first.

The latest development offers yet another avenue for patients who have trouble finding a suitable donor, said surgeon Terence Kee, who heads SGH's renal transplantation programme.

"We can re-open the transplant option to patients who are on the waiting list for a kidney," he said.

Kidneys from deceased donors are getting harder to come by.

Figures from the National Organ Transplant Unit showed that the number of deceased donors hit a five-year low last year at only 23. This is down from 36 in the preceding year.

But the waiting list for kidneys is many times longer, with more than 400 requiring one each year.

The average wait is about nine years.

"Chances are bleak for these patients," said Dr Kee, who operated on the siblings in January. "Still, we always try to find a compatible donor first. The new protocol is the last resort."

About two years ago, the Yow siblings had failed the "T-cell cross match" test that determines if there are antibodies that will cause rejection.

Yow, who is married with two school-going children, had very high levels of problematic antibodies due to previous pregnancies and blood transfusions.

In such situations, doctors normally will not proceed with the transplant due to the high risk of rejection – more than 80%.

But the hospital, for the first time, tried an approach in which she received regular infusions of a blood product in the months leading up to the surgery, to reduce the amount of "bad antibodies".

The blood product, called intravenous immunoglobulin, is extracted from donated blood. One of its functions is to help "switch off" the production of the bad antibodies. After this, Yow's blood was filtered through a machine to remove the antibodies.

Dr Kee said not everyone is suitable for the latest approach. For instance, they have to be healthy enough for the blood filtering procedure, which may cause low blood pressure. This can in turn trigger a heart attack or stroke in vulnerable patients.

Since the surgery, Yow has recovered without complications. Initially, she had hesitated due to the higher risks involved.

"With surgery, there is always the chance that you will die during surgery," she said.

"But there was also a very high risk that the transplant will fail – which meant my brother's kidney would be wasted."

But they decided to go ahead, said her brother, partly because dialysis had not been easy on his sister.

The thrice-weekly sessions tired her out, plus there were strict dietary limits - only four cups of water were allowed a day.

The constant use of needles meant her veins got blocked, so regular ballooning procedures were needed to re-open the vessels. "It was worth taking the risk, a no-brainer," he said. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Online harassment law to be tabled next year

Posted:

THE Ministry of Law is preparing legislation to better protect against online harrassment that will be tabled by early next year, said Law Minister K. Shanmugam.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines at a conference on harassment, Shanmugam said that the Law Ministry had been looking at the issue for about a year and a half and has been studying legislation in other countries and conducting internal discussions.

Shanmugam cited a recent Reach survey which showed that the public found the the law inadequate in dealing with online harassment. Over 80% of the more than 1,000 Singaporean residents surveyed felt that online harassment is a serious issue, and a similar number indicated they wanted tougher measures in place to deal with harassment, both online and off-line.

He also cited a 2012 Microsoft survey that found that Singapore had the second highest rate of online bullying worldwide out of 25 countries surveyed among youths aged eight to 17.

Together with China, which had the worst online bullying rates, Singapore was the only other country surveyed where online bullying was more pervasive than in the real world.

"I am concerned that our children seem to be the victims," he said.

"If so many children are impacted, I think later on it will have a deep impact on society as they become adults. It is for us to try and step in and try and help them," he said.

Shanmugam stressed that he preferred to have the law step in only as a last resort, but that they were necessary to deal with the most egregious of cases, such as when the victim feels threatened or abused.

"In the end there will be, I don't know, 5%, 8% of society for whom these norms don't matter if they can get away with it.

"And that's really what the law is looking at," he said. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my
 

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