Jumaat, 4 April 2014

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Minister proposes command centre at Changi naval base

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

HONOLULU: Singapore has proposed hosting a regional crisis command centre that would help co-ordinate governments' efforts after major natural disasters, the city-state's defence minister said.

"We were obviously struck over the last decade by how many disasters there were" in the region, said Ng Eng Hen.

He cited the earthquakes, tsunamis and typhoons that have cut a swathe of destruction from the Philippines to Japan.

"We recognised in the first critical 24/48 hours, it is actually very difficult for the affected country to be able to set up a C2 (command and control) centre, for the very reason they're the ones hit," said the minister, in Hawaii for an Asean meeting on Thursday.

With communications knocked out, governments at the centre of a natural disaster often are "overwhelmed" and don't have the ability to manage international offers of help, he said.

"In the discussion we realised what was really needed was a crisis centre that was already set up and operational.

"It could also be scaled up (as needed)," he said.

At the Asean gathering in Honolulu, defence ministers welcomed Singapore's proposal to host the crisis centre at Changi naval base, Ng said.

The agenda for this week's Asean meeting – focused on improving co-operation for humanitarian assistance – has taken on new importance in the wake of missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.

Pentagon chief Chuck Hagel praised Singapore's proposal for the crisis centre to handle future natural disasters, which are expected to increase in frequency and scale due to climate change.

"This could be an important venue for nations in the region to co-ordinate military responses to disasters and it's an idea that we're going to pursue," Hagel said.

The idea is to "make a coherent picture for everyone to see", said Ng.

"We evolved a concept, we call it 'plug and play'," he added.

"We set up terminals, you bring in your systems, you give the information you feel comfortable with.

"We take all that information, fuse it and then pump it out. It's worked quite well." — AFP

German AP photographer shot dead in Afghanistan

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 07:48 PM PDT

Khost (Afghanistan) (AFP) - An Afghan police commander on Friday shot dead a female German photographer working for the Associated Press on the eve of presidential elections, in an attack that left a Canadian colleague wounded, the news agency said.

The journalists were shot in their car in the Tanai district of Khost province, in the country's east, as they reported on distribution of ballot papers for the election to choose a successor to President Hamid Karzai.

The incident comes as Afghanistan undertakes a massive security operation to protect voters and polling officials, after the Taliban pledged to disrupt Saturday's ballot with violence.

Anja Niedringhaus is the third journalist working for international media to be killed in Afghanistan during the election campaign, after Swedish journalist Nils Horner and Sardar Ahmad of Agence France-Presse.

"Anja Niedringhaus, 48, an internationally acclaimed German photographer, was killed instantly," AP said in a report from Kabul.

"Kathy Gannon, the reporter, was wounded twice and is receiving medical attention. She was described as being in stable condition and talking to medical personnel."

AP said the police commander opened fire while the two journalists were in their car, travelling with election workers delivering ballots in Khost city.

"As they were sitting in the car waiting for the convoy to move, a unit commander named Naqibullah walked up to the car, yelled 'Allahu Akbar' — God is Great — and opened fire on them in the back seat," the news agency said.

"He then surrendered to the other police and was arrested."

Khost provincial governor Abdul Jabbar Naeemi and other officials confirmed that the attacker was a police commander who was detained immediately after the incident.

"Anja and Kathy together have spent years in Afghanistan covering the conflict and the people there," said AP Executive Editor Kathleen Carroll in the AP report.

A file picture taken on April 5, 2003 shows AP Photographer Anja Niedringhaus.

"Anja was a vibrant, dynamic journalist well-loved for her insightful photographs, her warm heart and joy for life. We are heartbroken at her loss."

President Hamid Karzai issued a statement expressing his condolences, and ordered an investigation.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) described the attack as "abhorrent", while the US ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham condemned "the senseless act of violence" that took Niedringhaus's life.

- Series of attacks -

Khost borders Pakistan's restive North Waziristan tribal area, a stronghold of the Haqqani militant network blamed for numerous high-profile attacks in Afghanistan, many targeting foreigners.

Kabul has been rocked by its own string of attacks in the run-up to Saturday's election, which will be the first democratic handover of power in Afghanistan's turbulent history.

Ahmad, AFP's senior Afghan reporter, was killed along with his wife and two of his three children on March 20 when gunmen smuggled pistols into Kabul's high-security Serena hotel and shot dead nine people including four foreigners.

Horner, 51, a veteran of Swedish national radio, was shot dead in March in a Kabul street while researching a story about a January attack on a nearby restaurant which killed 21 people, including 13 foreigners.

In addition to Horner's murder and the Serena assault, a charity's guesthouse has come under attack, along with offices of the Independent Election Commission (IEC).

Most recently, six police officers were killed in a suicide bombing at the interior ministry in Kabul on Wednesday.

Security was tight across Afghanistan ahead of the vote to elect a president to take over from Karzai, who is constitutionally barred from standing again.

Interior Minister Omar Daudzai said all 400,000 of the country's police, army and intelligence services have been deployed to ensure security around the country.

There was a heavy police presence on the largely deserted streets of Kabul on Friday morning, with officers carrying out stringent checks on vehicles.

The Taliban have pledged to attack the poll, urging their fighters to target election staff, voters and security forces.

Former World Bank economist Ashraf Ghani, runner-up in 2009 Abdullah Abdullah, and former foreign minister Zalmai Rassoul are the leading contenders in the eight-man race.

A repeat of the bloodshed and fraud that marred the 2009 election would damage claims by international donors that the multi-billion-dollar, 13-year intervention in Afghanistan has made progress in establishing a functioning state system.

Whoever wins the race to succeed Karzai faces a testing time maintaining stability as Afghan forces take on the fight against the resilient Taliban insurgency without the aid of NATO forces.

The US-led coalition is due to withdraw its 51,000 combat troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year. - AFP

Pakistani baby accused of attempted murder

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 07:58 PM PDT

Lahore (Pakistan) (AFP) - While many children his age are still learning how to crawl, a nine-month-old boy in Pakistan has been accused of attempted murder in a case observers say highlights endemic flaws in the country's legal system.

Baby Mohammad Musa along with his father and other family members was booked for throwing rocks at gas company officials in the working-class Ahata Thanedaran neighbourhood on February 1, the family's lawyer Chaudhry Irfan Sadiq told AFP Friday.

Inspector Kashif Muhammad, who attended the alleged crime scene and has since been suspended, wrote in his report that it was a case of attempted murder.

Appearing in a packed court room with others accused in the case on Thursday, Musa was seen crying as his grandfather Muhammad Yasin held him on his shoulder.

Yasin later fed him milk from a bottle while fielding questions from reporters.

"Everyone in the court was saying 'How can such a small child be implicated in any case'? What kind of police do we have?" the 50-year-old labourer said.

The charge is in direct contradiction with Pakistan's minimum age of criminal responsibility, which was raised from seven to 12 years in 2013 except in terrorism cases.

Yasin accused the police of fabricating the charges because they were colluding with a rival party who wanted to see the accused evicted from their land and had obtained an order to remove their gas connections.

"The police and gas company officials came without any notice and started removing gas meters from houses. Residents started protesting and blocked the road but ended the protest when senior police officers arrived in the area and assured them that no injustice would be done.

"But later we found out that cases have been filed against us," he added.

Judge Rafaqat Ali Qamar ordered the inspector to be suspended and granted the child bail, though he will have to appear at the next hearing on April 12.

But Sadiq, the lawyer, said the charges against the child should have been dropped.

"The court should have simply referred the minor's case to the High Court to drop the charges against the innocent child and acquit him from the case," Sadiq told AFP.

"This case also exposes the incompetence of our police force and the way they are operating," he added.

- Inherent flaws -

Feisal Naqvi, a supreme court lawyer told AFP the naming of family members in police reports was a common tactic employed by complainants in order to exert pressure on parties with whom they were involved in a dispute.

He said: "It's not common for babies to be accused but it is common for other family members to be accused," he said.

"What happens then is that vendettas are going on so everyone gets picked up and gets chucked in jail," he added.

Shoaib Suddle, a retired police chief, added that the system operates via 'first information reports' that date back to British colonial times, which give too much weight to allegations made by accusers.

"The moment they are able to file a complaint, accusers expect that without any evidence people should be locked up and the investigation should follow, whereas the world over it is the other way around," Suddle said.

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Chinese artist Ai Weiwei to star in sci-fi film

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:55 PM PDT

The crowd-funded short film called The Sand Storm sees the artist playing a smuggler.

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is the subject of a short sci-fi film, The Sand Storm, directed by TED Talks co-founder Jason Wishnow with cinematography from Christopher Doyle (In The Mood For Love, Hero).

Filmed in secret on location in Beijing, China, which jived with Wishnow's own vision of the future more than gleaming counterpart Shanghai, the film features Ai Weiwei playing a smuggler in a world without water.

And in freezing conditions with pollution levels breaking records, Wishnow, Doyle and Weiwei shot their film.

With the short safely in the can, Wishnow is now pitching to the public for a US$33,000 post-production fund, necessary to give the film its required visual, audio and subtitling treatments, as well as to pay festival fees and so on.

Having raised a combined pledge of over US$20,000 in a few days, the film's future appears relatively assured. Backers can look forward to behind-the-scenes material, early access, advance screenings and even a limited edition action figure, in accordance with the size of each pledge.

Finance raised in excess of the film's initial target will therefore go towards paying off other costs already incurred, which would otherwise be shouldered by its crew, and then form the foundation for a planned planet-spanning feature film that's yet to come. — AFP Relaxnews

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Chinese artist Ai Weiwei to star in sci-fi film

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 11:55 PM PDT

The crowd-funded short film called The Sand Storm sees the artist playing a smuggler.

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is the subject of a short sci-fi film, The Sand Storm, directed by TED Talks co-founder Jason Wishnow with cinematography from Christopher Doyle (In The Mood For Love, Hero).

Filmed in secret on location in Beijing, China, which jived with Wishnow's own vision of the future more than gleaming counterpart Shanghai, the film features Ai Weiwei playing a smuggler in a world without water.

And in freezing conditions with pollution levels breaking records, Wishnow, Doyle and Weiwei shot their film.

With the short safely in the can, Wishnow is now pitching to the public for a US$33,000 post-production fund, necessary to give the film its required visual, audio and subtitling treatments, as well as to pay festival fees and so on.

Having raised a combined pledge of over US$20,000 in a few days, the film's future appears relatively assured. Backers can look forward to behind-the-scenes material, early access, advance screenings and even a limited edition action figure, in accordance with the size of each pledge.

Finance raised in excess of the film's initial target will therefore go towards paying off other costs already incurred, which would otherwise be shouldered by its crew, and then form the foundation for a planned planet-spanning feature film that's yet to come. — AFP Relaxnews

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MH370 search: Drones with sonar may be used

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

PERTH: Sonar technology may be used to help search for the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 aircraft once its black box battery power runs out, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said the equipment used for the search might include robotic drones equipped with sonar and underwater cameras, adding that he had discussed with the Australian government about conducting deep sea recovery.

"Let's take it one step at a time. We still got a little time left and, hopefully, there will be some development.

"Let us be certain where the plane is first. Then there is technology available to do deep water retrieval of aircraft parts or aircraft," he said here yesterday.

A black box's battery usually lasts for about 30 days and there are fears that time may run out before the plane is found.

Najib also said Malaysia could send more ships and planes to help in the search.

"We are looking at additional assets. We are reviewing the operation on a daily basis," he added.

Najib denied a foreign news report that both United States and Britain were seeking to take over the investigations.

He said under international law, the ultimate responsibility in the search for MH370 lies with Malaysia.

"But because the area of search is closer to Australia, we have credited them to coordinate the effort," he added.

Earlier, Najib and Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott visited Pearce Air Force base to meet crewmen taking part in search operation.

"I came here to express the gratitude of the Government and all Malaysians to those taking part in finding the plane," he added.

Najib felt that it would be more meaningful to come here personally.

"The search must continue for the sake of the families, whose loved one were on board. Malaysia will not give up as long as there are no conclusive answers to what had happened to MH370," he added.

Najib said initial information about where the plane could be was based on data provided by experts, before it was refined and narrowed down.

"There was no mistake on the part of the Government. The results were based on methodology which had never been used before."

However, he said the search area in the southern Indian Ocean was vast.

No fear, the tourists are still coming

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

SEMPORNA: Visitors continued to pour into the Singamata Reef Resort even as police personnel combed through the area where a Chinese tourist and a Filipina worker were abducted.

The new arrivals said they were undeterred by the incident, adding that the presence of large number of Malaysian security personnel at the resort was reassuring.

A visitor who wanted to be identified only as Zhang said he arrived at the resort with a female companion yesterday despite being informed earlier by the staff there about the abduction.

"The resort worker asked if we wanted to proceed with our stay. We decided to go ahead since we have paid for it," he said.

Another resort guest who wanted to be identified as Mia said she intended to stay for another three days.

"I think everything is okay now," she added.

Toby Kwok of Guangzhou, who arrived at the resort on March 30, said he was confident of the security there.

"I never expected something like this to happen here. I can only hope those abducted are safe," said.

Kwok said he intended to stay until Sunday.

"I came here to take part in a diving course and I will proceed as planned.

"I feel safe. I don't think the kidnappers will dare come back," he said, looking at the several dozen policemen at the resort.

He said he did not even know about the incident until a resort worker knocked on his door and asked him and other guests to gather at the restaurant where they were told what had happened.

Meanwhile, tour agents in Johor Baru believe the Sabah incident will hamper tourist arrivals from China.

Top One Travel Services Corp (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Ricky Hon said his firm was experiencing a 50% drop in bookings from China following the MH370 incident on March 8.

He said it was unfortunate that a second incident happened in such a short span of time involving a Chinese citizen.

Hon said operators of local tour agencies believe that there might be a backlash from Chinese tourists.

"We used to have an average of 40 people in a group tour to China every few days. But it has now dropped to about 15 to 20 people per group," he said.

B & T Holidays Tours Sdn Bhd managing director Chuah Boon Seong said at least four groups from Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai have cancelled their trips to Malaysia since the MH370 incident.

"I foresee that more (Chinese tourists) will cancel their trips to the country," he said.

Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents (MATTA) president Hamzah Rahmat reassured Malay­sians that it was still safe for them to travel to China despite the incidents.

"There is nothing to fear and we have not seen any adverse reports of Malaysian tourists being treated badly in China.

"So there is nothing to be worried about," he said.

Related stories:

Cook: They were screaming for help

Police: Perpetrators may have had inside help

KL and Manila in hunt for gunmen

Gao's mum gets sms just before attack

RM11.5mil the usual price for non-Filipino hostages

Websites show Singamata still popular with tourists

PM: Abduction may be a deliberate act to complicate things with China

Malaysia-China relationship will remain strong, says Liow

'Gold thread procedure safe'

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

KUALA LUMPUR: A man accused of being a bogus doctor for injecting strands of gold thread into patients has defended himself, saying the procedure was safe.

Speaking at a private clinic in Bangsar South yesterday, Dr Lim Yee Peen claimed that he had treated almost 4,000 patients in Malaysia since 2008.

"Due to the accusations, I have suffered a huge loss of income over the past month," he said, flanked by several patients who attested to undergoing the procedure with successful results.

Asked to present his academic certificates, Dr Lim, who is better known as Dr Helios Y.P Lim, said he had been advised by his lawyer against doing so as he was taking the matter to court.

According to a profile of Dr Lim distributed to the media yesterday, he had graduated from the University of Glasgow, majoring in Biomedical Sciences and obtained a PhD in Bio-electro Stimulation from Germany's Heidelberg University. It also states that Dr Lim is a certified acupuncturist.

MICHEAL CHONG (MCA) TANPA USUL PERIKSA TELAH MENUDUH  LIM YANG BERTAULIAH DAN BERPOTENSI TINGGI SEBAGAI DR PALSU. AKIBAT DARI TUDUHAN, REPUTASI DAN PERNIAGAAN DR TERJEJAS TERUK. JUSTERU, BELIAU BERSAMA BEBERAPA PESAKIT YANG DIRAWATI AKAN HADIR UNTUK MEMBUKTIKAN DAKWAAN MICHEAL CHONG ADALAH PALSU. JUGA DOKUMEN2 RELEVAN AKAN DIKEMUKAKAN PADA SIDANG MEDIA

Clearing the air: (From left) Loh, Dr Lim and former aide to Teresa Kok, Tony Tan, during a press conference at a private clinic in Bangsar South.

Last month, MCA Public Services and Complaints Department head Datuk Seri Michael Chong highlighted the case of an allegedly bogus doctor having cheated 11 people on the pretext of curing their ailments and beauty problems though the procedure.

The report stated that as many as 200 people in Kuching had undergone this procedure. Some of the victims have lodged police reports against Dr Lim.

Y.L Loh, who claimed to be a representative of Dr Lim, maintained that the procedure was safe and followed the Health Ministry's review set in 2006.

He said only one of the 11 complainants who had appeared during the MCA press conference was a former patient of Dr Lim.

In his response, Chong said his team and the complainants were ready to handle the coming legal matter.

"We are ready for him. More victims are approaching us and we will be meeting the police soon," he said.

Chong said Dr Lim had failed to turn up on four occasions to explain the matter to him.

A gold thread implantation is described as a minimally-invasive cosmetic surgery that improves facial wrinkles, sagging skin and other health related matters.

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The Star Online: Entertainment: Movies

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Emma Watson takes on demanding role in Noah

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

Film is first big-budget post-Potter role for the Hogwarts-trained actress.

After a decade at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the Harry Potter film franchise, actress Emma Watson put her magical training to use for her first big-budget post-Potter role in biblical action blockbuster Noah.

In director Darren Aronofsky's movie, she plays Ila, the wife of Noah's eldest son, Shem (played by Douglas Booth).

The film distributed by Paramount Pictures stars Russell Crowe as the ark-building Noah and Jennifer Connelly as his wife, Naameh, in a dark reimagining of the Old Testament flood story.

Noah is banned in Indonesia, Pakistan and a number of Middle Eastern countries.

Watson, 23, talks about how the Harry Potter films prepared her for her role in Noah.

Noah marks your return to large-scale spectacle films. Did you approach your role any differently than you did while making the Harry Potter series?

I remember being on set and Darren said: "Okay, the water is going to be cold, we're probably going to be here for a full day, conserve your energy between takes, keep warm and make sure you eat properly. This is going to be physically very demanding."

For a minute, I felt intimidated and then there's something about having done those Harry Potter films and they were very physical. We did a lot of stuff in Scotland. It was freezing cold, filming at 4am, working crazy hours. It was a very good school in a way and it set me up very well for this kind of environment and this kind of pressure.

Did you do any reading on your character of Ila outside of the script?

I didn't do a lot of reading, but I did a lot a research because I become a mother in the story and, obviously, have never given birth. Darren and I agreed that in so many films, women give birth and it looks like they're barely breaking a sweat. We wanted it to feel very raw and real, so I took it seriously.

Any pregnant woman anywhere, I'd be like, "Can I talk to you? Can I talk to you about your experience?" I spoke to my mother a lot, obviously, and I watched a lot of YouTube videos on natural births, lots of documentaries, spoke to midwives, just any information I could get my hands on.

What attracted you to the role in the first place?

I was a huge fan of Darren's films. I loved Requiem For A Dream (2000). The Fountain (2006) is one of my favourite movies . So, even before I read the script, I was intrigued because his work speaks for itself, really. And then having read the script, I loved my role. And then I hear about the cast, it's Russell Crowe and Sir Anthony Hopkins and Jennifer Connelly and Ray Winstone. And I realise that it's the opportunity to work with people who are at the top of their game. — Reuters

Chris Evans: I would have regretted not playing Captain America

Posted: 02 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

Working on the movie franchise was the right decision to make for actor.

Being asked to play Captain America in a potentially huge movie franchise is something many actors fantasise about, but when Chris Evans received the offer in 2011, he hesitated.

It meant signing on to do six movies as the superhero, which he feared would take over his career and his life. If the films did well, he would lose his privacy and anonymity, as well as be locked into a commitment for six to eight years.

Looking back today on his eventual decision to say "yes", the 32-year-old tells reporters: "Had I not done the movies, it would've been the biggest mistake of my life. It really would've been the biggest regret to date – and there are plenty."

The success of the first film and the positive buzz surrounding the second, which analysts believe will likely continue the winning streak of Marvel franchises such as Iron Man and The Avengers, have "changed everything for me", the actor says.

Firstly, he says, the success of the movies has allowed him to do things outside the franchise. These include pursuing passion projects such as his upcoming directorial debut, 1:30 Train, an indie romantic comedy that will see him and actress Alice Eve (Star Trek Into Darkness) play a couple who meet and connect on a train.

Secondly, he says it is "comforting knowing that you're making good movies" with the Marvel brand – perhaps conveniently forgetting the other Marvel superhero franchise on his resume, the critically eviscerated Fantastic Four movies of 2005 and 2007, in which he played Johnny Storm, the Human Torch.

"It would be a nightmare to be trapped in this contract and be making films that you're not proud of, but Marvel has the Midas touch, so every time you suit up, you know that you're making something of quality."

Working on this franchise has thus been "rewarding on every level. So thank God I had the right people in my life pushing me to make the right decision."

It was also fun for him to get to work with old friends such as Anthony Mackie, who plays Captain America's high-flying sidekick Falcon, as well as with acting legends Robert Redford and Samuel L. Jackson.

Says Evans: "I've known Anthony for a while now. This is our third movie together and when I first met Anthony, it actually wasn't on a movie set and we got along very well. So it was very easy having just kind of a repartee with him off-set and I think that translates on-set."

He adds that Redford, who plays right-wing bureaucrat Alexander Pierce, was "amazing".

He says: "It was pretty intimidating because he is a living legend, but it's always such a treat when someone you look up to that much lives up to expectation. I mean, he very easily could've come on the set and hijacked the film, not just as an actor, but also given his past as a director and his experience, he very easily could've taken over.

"But he showed up with the utmost professionalism. I think the first day we filmed, we shot until one in the morning and he stuck around for my off-camera stuff. I mean, it was like it was his first movie. So he really is such an example of what it is to be great." – The Straits Times, Singapore/Asia News Network

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is currently playing in cinemas.

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India court orders first death sentences for multiple rapes

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 05:14 AM PDT

MUMBAI: An Indian judge on Friday ordered three men to hang after they were convicted of two gang-rapes, the first death sentences to be handed down for multiple sex attacks since the law was toughened last year.

The sentences were announced at a court in Mumbai for the two attacks in July and August last year at the same abandoned mill compound in the city, including an attack on a photographer that made global headlines.

Mohammed Salim Ansari, 28, Vijay Mohan Jadhav, 19, and Mohammed Kasim Hafeez Shaikh, 21 were convicted last month after a fast-track trial.

Double gang-rape convict Mohammed Kasim Hafeez Shaikh prepares to spit at photographers from inside a police van as he is taken to court in Mumbai. -AFP

They were subsequently handed life sentences for one of those assaults, the gang-rape of an 18-year-old phone operator.

But they were also convicted this week under a new section of the law for being repeat rape offenders, which carries the death penalty.

"There needs to be zero tolerance for such incidents," Judge Shalini Phansalkar Joshi said as she announced the sentences.

Double gang-rape convict Vijay Mohan Jadhav is pictured in a police van before taken to court in Mumbai. -AFP

"A loud and clear message needs to be sent to society."

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam confirmed to AFP that this was the first such conviction under the modified law. -AFP

Two dead as cargo boat with N. Korea crew sinks off S. Korea

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 04:17 AM PDT

SEOUL: South Korean coastguard units searched Friday for survivors of a cargo ship with 16 North Korean crew that sank with the loss of at least two lives off the South's southern coast.

A coastguard spokesman told AFP that the bodies of two North Korean sailors had been recovered and three other crew had been rescued, with 11 still missing.

The 4,300-tonne Mongolian-flagged ship sent out a distress call shortly after 1:00 am (1400 GMT Thursday) from international waters off South Korea.

The boat, with a cargo of iron ore and copper powder, was sailing from North Korea to China on a sea route regularly used by North Korean cargo ships.

A dozen coastguard vessels, backed by helicopters and civilian cargo ships, were taking part in the search for survivors, the coastguard spokesman said.

The three rescued sailors were taken to a hospital on the southern resort island of Jeju.

"Our operation has been hampered by strong winds and high waves," Kim Sang-Bae, the coastguard chief in Yeosu, told a televised news conference.

A coastguard helicopter found one sailor drifting alive in the sea about three hours after the distress call came. Two crew members were rescued later.

According to the South's Yonhap news agency, the surviving crew told their rescuers that the ship had suddenly listed sharply to one side.

"The cargo shifted right over," said one who abandoned the ship when it became clear it was going to sink.

Yonhap quoted an unnamed government official as saying discussions were under way on repatriating the three and any other survivors. -AFP

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Rise early and get some sun - it'll make you slimmer

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 11:05 PM PDT

Study finds that morning light could be secret to healthy weight.

Being slimmer could be as simple as waking up early for some morning sunshine, US researchers suggested on April 2.

A small study of 54 volunteers showed that the leanest ones did not necessarily eat better or exercise more than the rest. They simply were exposed to more bright daylight earlier in the day.

The findings by Northwestern University researchers are published in the journal PLOS ONE.

"The earlier this light exposure occurred during the day, the lower individuals' body mass index," said co-lead author Kathryn Reid, research associate professor of neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

"The later the hour of moderately bright light exposure, the higher a person's BMI."

Participants' average age was 30. They wore wrist monitors to measure their light exposure and sleep cycles, and kept food logs for the duration of the seven-day study.

Morning light was found to have an influence on body mass, regardless of a person's physical activity level, caloric intake, sleep timing, age or the season.

The study found morning light accounted for about 20% of a person's body mass index (BMI).

"Light is the most potent agent to synchronize your internal body clock that regulates circadian rhythms, which in turn also regulate energy balance," said study senior author Phyllis Zee.

"The message is that you should get more bright light between 8am and noon," she added.

As little as 20 to 30 minutes could be enough to affect BMI, the study said. – AFP

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India court orders first death sentences for multiple rapes

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 05:14 AM PDT

MUMBAI: An Indian judge on Friday ordered three men to hang after they were convicted of two gang-rapes, the first death sentences to be handed down for multiple sex attacks since the law was toughened last year.

The sentences were announced at a court in Mumbai for the two attacks in July and August last year at the same abandoned mill compound in the city, including an attack on a photographer that made global headlines.

Mohammed Salim Ansari, 28, Vijay Mohan Jadhav, 19, and Mohammed Kasim Hafeez Shaikh, 21 were convicted last month after a fast-track trial.

Double gang-rape convict Mohammed Kasim Hafeez Shaikh prepares to spit at photographers from inside a police van as he is taken to court in Mumbai. -AFP

They were subsequently handed life sentences for one of those assaults, the gang-rape of an 18-year-old phone operator.

But they were also convicted this week under a new section of the law for being repeat rape offenders, which carries the death penalty.

"There needs to be zero tolerance for such incidents," Judge Shalini Phansalkar Joshi said as she announced the sentences.

Double gang-rape convict Vijay Mohan Jadhav is pictured in a police van before taken to court in Mumbai. -AFP

"A loud and clear message needs to be sent to society."

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam confirmed to AFP that this was the first such conviction under the modified law. -AFP

Two dead as cargo boat with N. Korea crew sinks off S. Korea

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 04:17 AM PDT

SEOUL: South Korean coastguard units searched Friday for survivors of a cargo ship with 16 North Korean crew that sank with the loss of at least two lives off the South's southern coast.

A coastguard spokesman told AFP that the bodies of two North Korean sailors had been recovered and three other crew had been rescued, with 11 still missing.

The 4,300-tonne Mongolian-flagged ship sent out a distress call shortly after 1:00 am (1400 GMT Thursday) from international waters off South Korea.

The boat, with a cargo of iron ore and copper powder, was sailing from North Korea to China on a sea route regularly used by North Korean cargo ships.

A dozen coastguard vessels, backed by helicopters and civilian cargo ships, were taking part in the search for survivors, the coastguard spokesman said.

The three rescued sailors were taken to a hospital on the southern resort island of Jeju.

"Our operation has been hampered by strong winds and high waves," Kim Sang-Bae, the coastguard chief in Yeosu, told a televised news conference.

A coastguard helicopter found one sailor drifting alive in the sea about three hours after the distress call came. Two crew members were rescued later.

According to the South's Yonhap news agency, the surviving crew told their rescuers that the ship had suddenly listed sharply to one side.

"The cargo shifted right over," said one who abandoned the ship when it became clear it was going to sink.

Yonhap quoted an unnamed government official as saying discussions were under way on repatriating the three and any other survivors. -AFP

Philippine coastguards charged with Taiwan fisherman murder

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 04:22 AM PDT

MANILA: Eight Filipino coastguards have been charged with the murder of a Taiwanese fisherman who was shot dead last year sparking economic sanctions against the Philippines, authorities said Friday.

Coastguard patrol officers opened fire last May at a Taiwanese boat sailing close to the northern Philippine coast but in waters also claimed by Taiwan, killing 65-year-old fisherman Hung Shih-cheng.

The killing sparked angry protests in Taiwan and Taipei responded with sanctions, but lifted them after the Philippine government issued an official apology.

Homicide charges were formally filed in a northern Philippine court last week, the court's legal officer Jurgents Calling told AFP.

"The judge is still studying the information filed, but if he finds probable cause, he will issue warrants of arrest," Calling said.

Homicide is punishable by up to 20 years in jail in the Philippines.

Andrew Lin, director of the political division of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manila, welcomed the charges.

"We recognise that adequate action has been taken by the Philippine government with this development," Lin told AFP.

The coastguard officers had said the Taiwanese vessel was fishing illegally and they were forced to fire in self-defence as it tried to ram their patrol craft.

But prosecutor-general Claro Arellano told reporters the Filipinos' own rules of engagement did not automatically authorise the use of deadly force against a vessel deemed hostile.

During the investigation prosecutors viewed a Filipino coastguard video footage showing officers firing M-14 rifles and a mounted machine gun at the fleeing fishing boat. -AFP

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The Star Online: Lifestyle: Parenting

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The six stages of emotion

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

STUDIES have shown that children with autism can be diagnosed as early as two years old, but it is often difficult for families to come to terms with the diagnosis. These are the stages most people go through, and some ways to deal with the emotions.

Denial

During the initial stages, being in denial is perfectly understandable, but don't let it get in the way of taking action. Don't deny your child the help he needs to overcome any symptom he's expressing.

Guilt

An overwhelming guilt is what most parents feel when they first discover their child is autistic. You may always wonder if there was anything that you could've done to prevent the situation. Channel your energy into getting help for your child instead.

Blame

There will always be risks involved in having a child. Passing around blame serves no useful function and can strain the marriage.

Anger

Feeling angry isn't always a bad thing.

Channeling your anger towards appropriate and useful action can sometimes help in conquering a challenge.

But if your kind of anger makes you sullen and resentful towards people who are trying to help, then get help.

Isolation

Many parents with autistic children prefer to stay away from social situations for fear that their child will act out in public. This starts a bad cycle: the effect of social isolation is that your child won't learn how to behave in social situations. And as his behaviour in social situations deteriorates, the parents will feel even more compelled to stay home.

It's a slow climb, but learn to get control over the problem behaviours. Try to create as many positive social opportunities as you can so your child can learn and grow.

Get external help if you must, so you and your spouse can also have alone time together.

Depression

Feeling depressed is to be expected, though most parents find that their initial feelings of hopelessness lift once they plunge into actively seeking interventions for their child.

Uncertainty and inactivity can be very depressing but when you start taking the necessary steps to improve your child's symptoms, you might just pull through and feel optimistic again.

> Source: Familyeducation.com.

Related story:

Breaking down the walls 

When relatives tease your child

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 09:00 AM PDT

WHAT would you do if your relatives teased your child or talked with others about his or her "bad behaviour"?

Let's say your child, like mine, has learning disabilities and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. One relative condescendingly asked me why I was unable to control my hyperactive son while someone else in my family was able to.

That relative believes my child "must have behavioural problems at school" even though he has never had one issue in all his years in school. The list goes on and on.

So how did I handle this? I started by following some suggestions from the National Center for Learning Disabilities: What to Do If Your Child Is Being Teased by Relatives (http://bit.ly/1cqzzrn).

I asked my son questions, as the website suggests. "Teasing can be good-natured or it can be hurtful," it says. "This is true whether a relative is doing the teasing or a classmate.

Ask your child what was happening when he was being teased. Was it meant as something hurtful? If so, why would that person want to hurt him? Was the teasing playful? Did the teasing bother your child? Why? Asking your child these kinds of questions will help him learn how to analyse situations on his own in the future."

I also "played some tennis" with my son, as the article suggests, and taught him how to quickly respond to good-natured teasing. I explained the difference between that and mean-spirited teasing.

We had a discussion with the relatives, but discussing the matter didn't change their behaviour. Ultimately, my husband and I had to make a difficult choice to stay away from these people for our son's protection.

It is hard enough to build up a child with ADHD and learning disabilities, work with teachers on an almost daily basis and with doctors to get your child all the tools they need to make sure they succeed. In my never-humble opinion, people working against your child and your family don't get to be part of their lives.

If you have a relative or friend behaving this way around your child or disparaging your child to others, I strongly suggest trying work it out with them first. Use honest, open communication, if possible. Try to inform them.

Suggest they do some research on learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders and the autism spectrum, so they can better understand your child. But, also tell the individual it's never OK to tease your child, talk to him or her in a condescending or mean-spirited way or about him to others.

If that doesn't work, keep in mind that this is your child. It's your job as a parent to keep your child safe, sometimes even from relatives. – The Orlando Sentinel/McClatchy Tribune Information Services.

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The Star eCentral: TV Tracks

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Lady Gaga performs on 'Letterman' for the first time ever

Posted: 03 Apr 2014 07:02 AM PDT

The singer marched 'Late Show' audiences across the street to see her performance at New York's iconic Roseland Ballroom.

Dermot Mulroney lives through Crisis

Posted: 02 Apr 2014 04:52 PM PDT

Dermot Mulroney takes on a regular role in a TV series for the first time, as a man whose daughter is abducted.

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David Letterman to say goodbye in 2015

Posted: 04 Apr 2014 05:42 AM PDT

The legendary host of Late Show With David Letterman is retiring to spend more time with his family.

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Shila Amzah is singing through the storm

Posted: 02 Apr 2014 04:52 PM PDT

Malaysian songstress will perform on the finals of I Am A Singer 2 tomorrow despite backlash from China's netizens over MH370.

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I Am A Singer 2: Rest of the best

Posted: 02 Apr 2014 04:52 PM PDT

Here's a look at the rest of the finalists of 'I Am A Singer 2'.

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