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Japan raises Nuclear Crisis to same level as Chernobyl By Shinichi Saoshiro and Mayumi Negishi | Reuters – 28 minutes ago TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan put its nuclear calamity on par with the world's worst nuclear disaster, Chernobyl, on Tuesday after new data showed that more radiation had leaked from its earthquake-crippled power plant in the early days of the crisis than first thought. Officials said it had taken time to measure radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi facility after it was smashed by March 11's massive quake and tsunami, and the upgrade in its severity rating to the highest level on a globally recognised scale did not mean the situation had suddenly become more critical. "Our preparations for how to measure (the radiation leakage) when such a tsunami and earthquake occurred were insufficient and, as a result, we were late in disseminating information internationally," said a senior official in Prime Minister Naoto Kan's office. Hidehiko Nishiyama, a deputy director-general of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), said the decision to raise the severity of the incident from level 5 to 7 -- the same as the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine in 1986 -- was based on cumulative quantities of radiation released. "Even before this, we had considered this a very serious incident so, in that sense, there will be no big change in the way we deal with it just because it has been designated level 7," an agency official said. As another major aftershock rattled the earthquake-ravaged east of the country, a fire broke out at the plant, but engineers later extinguished the blaze. However, the operator of the stricken facility appears to be no closer to restoring cooling systems at the reactors, critical to lowering the temperature of overheated nuclear fuel rods. The official in Kan's official said that, at a news conference expected later on Tuesday, the prime minister would instruct plant operator Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) to set target dates for when it would halt the radiation leakage as well as restore the cooling systems. No radiation-linked deaths have been reported since the earthquake struck, and only 21 plant workers have been affected by minor radiation sickness, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano. "NOWHERE NEAR CHERNOBYL" A level 7 incident means a major release of radiation with a widespread health and environmental impact, while a 5 level is a limited release of radioactive material, with several deaths, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Several experts said the new rating exaggerated the severity of the crisis, and that the Chernobyl disaster was far worse. "It's nowhere near that level. Chernobyl was terrible -- it blew and they had no containment, and they were stuck," said nuclear industry specialist Murray Jennex, an associate professor at San Diego State University in California. "Their (Japan's) containment has been holding, the only thing that hasn't is the fuel pool that caught fire." The blast at Chernobyl blew the roof off a reactor and sent large amounts of radiation wafting across Europe. The accident contaminated vast areas, particularly in Ukraine and neighbouring Belarus, led to the evacuation of well over 100,000 and affected livestock as far away as Scandinavia and Britain. Nevertheless, the increase in the severity level heightens the risk of diplomatic tension with Japan's neighbours over radioactive fallout. China and South Korea have already been critical of the operator's decision to pump radioactive water into the sea, a process it has now stopped. "Raising the level to a 7 has serious diplomatic implications. It is telling people that the accident has the potential to cause trouble to our neighbours," said Kenji Sumita, a nuclear expert at Osaka University. HUGE ECONOMIC DAMAGE The March earthquake and tsunami killed up to 28,000 lives and the estimated cost stands at $300 billion, making it the world's most expensive disaster. Japan's economics minister warned the economic damage was likely to be worse than first thought as power shortages will cut factory output and disrupt supply chains. The Bank of Japan governor said the economy was in a "severe state", while central bankers were uncertain when efforts to rebuild the northeast would boost growth, according to minutes from a meeting held three days after the earthquake struck. NISA said the amount of radiation released into the atmosphere from the plant, 240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo, was around 10 percent that of Chernobyl. "Radiation released into the atmosphere peaked from March 15 to 16. Radiation is still being released, but the amount now has fallen considerably," said NISA's Nishiyama. (Additional reporting by Risa Maeda, Yoko Nishikawa, Linda Sieg and Nathan Layne in Tokyo, Scott DiSavino in New York and Ron Popeski in Singapore;; Writing by Michael Perry and Daniel Magnowski; Editing by John Chalmers)

Indonesian Lawmaker caught watching P.O.R.N resigns By NINIEK KARMINI - Associated Press | AP Mon, Apr 11, 2011 9:46 PM SGT An Indonesian lawmaker who helped pass a tough anti-pornography law resigned Monday after he got caught watching sexually explicit videos on his computer during a parliamentary debate. The scandal has transfixed this predominantly Muslim nation since a local photojournalist filmed Arifinto, a member of the staunchly Islamic Prosperous Justice Party, gazing at the downloaded P.O.R.N sites Friday. The blurred images have been published on the front pages of newspapers almost daily, and reaction has set alight social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Some commenters said Arifinto should be prosecuted under the anti-pornography law that took effect in 2008 despite opposition from the public and some members of the government. Fifty-year-old Arifinto, who like many Indonesians goes by only one name, apologized to his constituents Monday and told reporters during a hastily arranged news conference he was stepping down from Parliament immediately. "It's my decision," said the father of five, insisting he was not acting on the orders of his party. "Nobody tried to coerce me." Indonesia, a secular country of 237 million people, has more Muslims than any other country in the world. Though most are moderate, a small extremist fringe has become more vocal in recent years. They have pushed through several controversial laws including the pornography law. Supporters say the law is needed to keep the country from sliding into moral decline, while critics say it's vaguely worded and the penalties too harsh. The law calls for prison terms of up to 15 years and fines for everything from kissing in public and exposure of a woman's "sensual" body parts to displaying "erotic" artworks. Broadcasting, possessing and storing pornographic material also is prohibited. Arifinto, who oversees a parliamentary commission dealing with transportation, telecommunications and rural development, was an outspoken supporter of the law. He was caught watching the video clip for several minutes as fellow legislators debated plans to build a new parliament building. National Police spokesman, Boy Rafli Amar, said Monday authorities were still trying to determine if Arifinto broke the anti-pornography law and what steps to take next. "We need to be cautious," he said. "We need to make sure we're not violating any privacy laws." The anti-P.O.R.N law was used in January to sentence Nazril "Ariel" Irham, lead singer of the country's most popular band Peterpan, to 3 1/2 years in jail after two homemade sex tapes found their way to the Internet. Last year, the editor in chief of Playboy Indonesia was given two years behind bars.

Chelsea head to Manchester needing to breach the Fortress By Sonia Oxley | Reuters – Tue, Apr 12, 2011 10:22 AM SGT MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Chelsea need to do what no team has done this season and beat Manchester United at Old Trafford on Tuesday if they are to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. The all-English tie is the most delicately balanced of the four quarter-finals after United won 1-0 in London last week thanks to a Wayne Rooney strike. But a raft of statistics and the valuable away goal tip the tie in the home side's favour. By contrast, Tuesday's other match looks a mere formality with Barcelona holding a 5-1 advantage over Shakhtar Donetsk ahead of their second leg in Ukraine. Chelsea can take comfort from the fact they were the last team to win at Old Trafford, a 2-1 victory last April playing a big part in their triumphant Premier League title surge. "We have a good memory of that but this is a different story," manager Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference. "They (the players) have to truly believe we can win there. I don't know if they will be able to do this." Only two sides have recovered from a first-leg home defeat to win a Champions League knockout tie and if Chelsea become the third they would find it particularly sweet after losing the 2008 final to United on penalties. (Editing by Tony Jimenez. To comment on this story: sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

PROFILE-Soccer-'Silent Stan' is Arsenal's Man Mon, 11 Apr 12:36:00 2011 Stan Kroenke, the American who is poised to add English soccer club Arsenal to his bulging portfolio of sports clubs, is a property billionaire who pumps his money into his childhood passion. Nicknamed 'Silent Stan' because of his low profile, Kroenke made a big noise on Monday with news he had agreed to take over Arsenal in a deal which would value the Premier League club at 731 million pounds ($1.2 billion). Something of a collector of sports teams, Kroenke already owns the NBA's Denver Nuggets, the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, NFL team St Louis Rams and Major League Soccer team Colorado Rapids. The 63-year-old has talked about a love of sport stemming from listening to baseball on the radio with his grandfather and even his name is sports related. His full name Enos Stanley Kroenke was given in tribute to baseball players Enos Slaughter and Stan Musial who were part of the St Louis Cardinals team that won the World Series three times in the 1940s. Born in Missouri, Kroenke also owns a regional sports TV network, a sports arena and soccer park and a real estate portfolio that includes shopping centres, office and apartment buildings, vineyards and ranches throughout North America. Forbes magazine listed him last year as worth $2.9 billion, while his wife Ann Walton Kroenke of the Walmart Walton family has a net worth of a similar amount. "He is just a brilliant man, a legendary businessman, who has done things in his life that 99.9 per cent of the world didn't have the amount of drive and success to do," Paul Andrews, executive vice-president of Kroenke Sports Enterprises, was quoted as saying in British daily The Telegraph last year. "He has built something from when he was a kid until now and he is just a very genuine individual that likes to play basketball, loves to talk sports, loves to watch sports. If he was sitting with you and me now, he would be just a normal guy." Kroenke has pledged to take Arsenal "to new success" and although there is no information about how much money there might be for transfers, fans will hope he can repeat some of the success he has had with his other teams. Colorado Avalanche won the 2001 Stanley Cup in the first season under his ownership and if he could bring similar joy to Arsenal fans in the shape of the Premier League title which they have not won since 2004, he will have done well. Chairman Peter Hill-Wood, who will stay in his post, believes the club is passing into good hands. "The Board of Directors and I consider it a key responsibility to protect the ethos and spirit of the club," he said on the club's website (www.arsenal.com). "Mr Kroenke, although relatively new to Arsenal, has shown himself to be a man who values and respects the history and traditions of this very special club that we cherish. We are confident that he will be a safe custodian of its future."

Premier League - Kroenke launches Arsenal takeover Mon, 11 Apr 06:33:00 2011 Arsenal are poised to become the fifth Premier League club to have an American owner after sports tycoon Stan Kroenke agreed a deal for a takeover that values the club at £731 million. Billionaire Kroenke, who already owns close to 30 per cent of the London club, said on Monday he had offered shareholders £11,750 per share and had already secured the backing of 16.1 per cent shareholder Danny Fiszman and 15.9 per cent shareholder Nina Bracewell-Smith. He now controls 63 per cent of Arsenal and under Takeover Panel rules is compelled to make an offer for the remaining shares. Russian steel magnate Alisher Usmanov is the other major shareholder, holding a 27 per cent stake through his Red and White vehicle which declined to comment on what his plans were. The 63-year-old Kroenke, worth $2.9 billion in 2010 according to Forbes, already owns several US sports teams, including the NBA's Denver Nuggets, the NHL's Colorado Avalanche, NFL team the St Louis Rams, and Major League Soccer team the Colorado Rapids. "Arsenal is a fantastic club with a special history and tradition and a wonderful manager in Arsene Wenger," Kroenke, who first made his fortune developing commercial and retail properties, said in a statement. "We intend to build on this rich heritage and take the club to new success." Arsenal, who are second in the Premier League behind Manchester United, have gone six years without a trophy since their FA Cup success in 2005. The Gunners have 62 points from 31 league games and are seven points behind United with a game in hand and they are also still to host their rivals on May 1. Fans have been frustrated as the 13-times English champions' spending on players has lagged behind rivals such as Chelsea and Manchester City and while it remains to be seen how much money would be in the transfer pot, Wenger welcomed the takeover. "I have worked with Stan Kroenke at board meetings over the past couple of years and I believe he has the best interests of Arsenal at heart," the Frenchman, who has managed the club since 1996, said in a statement on the club website. "He understands the club's heritage and traditions and our ambition to run the club in a way which protects our long term future." Chairman Peter Hill-Wood will remain in his position. Bracewell-Smith, whose family had been involved in the club for more than 70 years, issued a statement in support of Kroenke. "I am confident of Arsenal's continued success both on and off the pitch and believe that Stan Kroenke will continue to develop the club in a manner true to its heritage for the players and the fans," she said. "We wish the club, the directors and the supporters every success in the future. At the end of the day, our family will always be Gooners." Four other Premier League clubs are owned by Americans - Manchester United, Liverpool, Aston Villa and Sunderland, while Chelsea, Manchester City, Fulham, Birmingham City and Blackburn Rovers also have foreign owners. Reuters

Fergie warns Chelsea to beware of returning Rooney By Graham Chase | AFP News – Mon, Apr 11, 2011 11:16 PM SGT Sir Alex Ferguson believes Wayne Rooney will be raring to go against Chelsea as he returns from his domestic ban in the Champions League on Tuesday. United take a 1-0 lead into the quarter-final home leg after Rooney scored the only goal in the first game at Stamford Bridge last week. Rooney was given a two-match suspension for swearing into a television camera after scoring a hat-trick in the 4-2 Premier League win at West Ham. He was absent from the 2-0 victory over Fulham at the weekend and will miss the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Saturday. Rooney has scored seven goals in his last eight matches and Ferguson feels he will be desperate to make an impression against Carlo Ancelotti's team. Ferguson said: "He will definitely be fresher that's for sure. Missing the game on Saturday means he will have six days good preparation and that should make a difference. "In the first leg he adapted to the role we asked him to play very, very well and it wasn't an easy role because he's got to combine a defensive duty with an attacking thrust. "Tactically he did really well in the match and his performance level was good." Defender Rio Ferdinand, who returned from a calf problem in the first leg, believes that United can count on Rooney to put in a big performance against the Premier League champions. Ferdinand said: "Regardless of what's happened, he's always pumped up and wants to do well because he's a professional footballer and wants to do well. "He thrives on big occasions as we've seen in the past and he's a talented footballer and like the other players out there, under the lights on a European night, it's a special occasion." Midfielder Darren Fletcher is a major doubt with a virus and Brazilian defender Rafael will have a fitness test on Tuesday morning to decide whether he has overcome a knee injury. Ferguson believes that Chelsea have been obsessed with winning the Champions League since Roman Abramovich took over at Stamford Bridge in 2003. The Blues have missed out on several occasions, including a defeat in the final to United, on penalties in Moscow three years ago. Ferguson feels that Chelsea's desperation to win the Champions League for the first time was the reason why they spent £50 million to sign Fernando Torres from Liverpool in January. From taking over at Old Trafford in 1986, it took Ferguson 13 years to win the Champions League and he did not win it again until that victory over Chelsea in 2008. Ferguson added: "It seems to be an obsession for them to win the European Cup and there's no question in my mind that's why they signed Fernando Torres. "That's an obvious reason for signing the lad and the owner Abramovich has nailed his colours to the mast in that respect, I've felt that for quite a while about them," Ferguson said. "It's a very difficult competition to win. All of the best teams are there and you see the form of Barcelona at the moment is fantastic. "To have an obsession with winning the European Cup is stretching yourself a little bit. I had the obsession myself for quite a long time, losing semi-finals and you're saying to yourself I'm never going to do it'. "And when we did it in Barcelona it was the greatest feeling of all time and took the monkey off my back a bit. "I can understand it but it doesn't make Chelsea any more desperate to win it than we are. We're desperate to win it." Ferguson insists that United will not sit on their lead and feels their best chance of reaching a semi-final against Schalke or Inter Milan is winning the second leg. He continued: "There's no question that Manchester United are at their best when they're trying to win matches."

Carroll double hits City Champions League hopes By Neil Johnston | AFP News Tue, Apr 12, 2011 5:15 AM SGT Record signing Andy Carroll delivered a blow to Manchester City's Champions League ambitions as Liverpool cruised to a 3-0 victory over Roberto Mancini's side at Anfield on Monday. Carroll helped himself to his first two goals in a Liverpool shirt since joining from Newcastle for £35 million in the January transfer window. Dirk Kuyt also netted on a torrid night for City, who lost captain Carlos Tevez to a suspected hamstring injury ahead of Saturday's FA Cup semi-final with neighbours Manchester United at Wembley. Mancini's expensively-assembled side has now failed to win any of their last six Premier League away games and remain fourth in the table. The Italian is under pressure to qualify for next season's Champions League. But City are only three points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham, who they entertain on May 10, while their London rivals also have a game in hand as the season reaches a thrilling climax. It was hard to believe judging by their first half performance, but City had arrived at Anfield boasting more clean sheets than any other team in the Premier League. Yet hopes of a 15th were undone by a shambolic first half defensive display as Liverpool laid the foundations for a seventh win in 12 league matches under Kenny Dalglish with a dominant first half display. Five-nil winners over Sunderland in their previous game, City were given a taste of their own medicine as they found themselves 3-0 down by half time. City had already been handed a seventh minute warning of Liverpool's rampant mood by Luis Suarez, the Uruguay forward's powerful low shot striking the post after the faintest of touches by keeper Joe Hart. But Hart was unable to keep out England team-mate Carroll's majestic finish six minutes later. It came after Tevez had originally lost possession, Raul Meireles' ambitious long-range effort cannoning off Vincent Kompany straight to Carroll, whose left-foot 25-yard finish flew past Hart into the net. The joy on Carroll's face told its own story. Having arrived at Liverpool injured, the expensive signing has endured a long and frustrating battle to get fit. But this was pay back time. A City victory would have taken them above Chelsea into third place and left confidence sky high ahead of next weekend's FA Cup semi-final. But their evening went from bad to worse. No sooner had they fallen behind than Tevez threw off the captain's armband after damaging his hamstring before disappearing down the tunnel. Then Mancini saw his players capitulate as City went from one goal down to trail 3-0 in the space of 60 seconds. Soon after Fabio Aurelio had been fortunate to escape a red card after an ugly two-footed challenge on Adam Johnson, Liverpool doubled their lead in the 34th minute through Kuyt's well-executed low finish just inside the area. The inquest was still going on in the City defence when Carroll got the better of Aleksandar Kolarov to head Meireles' cross beyond Hart. The only positive for the lacklustre visitors in the second half was that they did not concede any more. In fact, Yaya Toure forced a fine 82nd minute save from Pepe Reina but City's dismal game was summed up when substitute Mario Balotelli, a replacement for Tevez, was subbed himself in the closing minutes. This was an impressive performance by Liverpool, who gave a debut to 18-year-old right-back John Flanagan. The win lifts them to within five points of fifth-placed Tottenham and keeps alive their hopes of qualifying for next season's Europa League.

S'pore MUM tries to kill THREE filial Daughters By News Desk in Kuala Lumpur/The Star | ANN – Mon, Apr 11, 2011 12:00 PM Kuala Lumpur (The Star/ANN) - Three filial daughters in Singapore had secretly given all their savings and ang pow money to their mother, who tried to kill them all on Dec 27 last year, reported Malaysia's Chinese newspaper, China Press. The three, aged between 11 and 14, are now staying with their grandmother. Previously, they lived with their mother who had divorced their father. The girls had given money to their mother several times without the knowledge of their father and grandmother. The 33-year-old mother had tried to kill the girls and commit suicide on Dec 27 because she was in financial difficulty. Luckily, the eldest daughter managed to escape and seek help. The mother, who has been working in a nightclub since she was 15 until her marriage, is currently homeless. "I regret what I had done. I have decided to start afresh and will not give up on life as I have three caring daughters," she said, adding that she hoped to be able to live with her children again. The daughters said they missed their mother but would not cry in front of her as they did not want her to worry about them. "I have no more money to help my mother but I will start saving again," said her second daughter.

Surprise Celeb nabs SEXIEST WOMAN ALIVE Title Posted By Yahoo Lifestyle, Monday, 11 April 2011 13:27 BST You may never have heard of her, but according to Esquire, she's the sexiest woman on the planet. Katrina Bowden who stars on US TV show '30 Rock' topped the magazine's annual poll and was crowned Sexiest Woman Alive 2011 by Esquire readers. Bowden plays 'Cerie' in the breakout comedy starring Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin. The blonde starlet beat out some stiff competition for the title, surpassing 2010 winner Brooklyn Decker, Megan Fox and Kim Kardashian to claim the spot. Receiving an unexpected two million online votes, Katrina told Esquire: "I voted for myself!" The newly crowned beauty also created an acceptance speech video which was posted online, and shows the scantily clad actress posing in various seductive shots and offering some words of wisdom about her big win. "I was up against Kim Kardashian. And then - let's put it this way, if you say my name and then say Megan Fox's name, most people know who she is but, well, a small per cent will know who I am. I think a lot of the fans of '30 Rock' kind of went crazy with it." Before becoming '30 Rock's favourite airhead, Bowden appeared in music videos for pop-punk bands Fall Out Boy and We Are Scientists. The 22-year-old star started her acting career with a guest spot on 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' in 2006 and a reoccurring role on daytime US drama 'One Life to Live'. Shortly after joining the cast, she was offered the role in ‘30 Rock' as clueless assistant to Tina Fey's character Liz Lemon. The reason for her unpredicted win could be that her physical attractiveness is a running gag on the show. Cerie is the skimpily dressed intern whose racy outfits cause a stir with her male co-workers. Since her win, online searches for Katrina Bowden surged 500%. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlYXbpd0j7Y

SAFES, CASH wash up on Japan shores after Tsunami In a country that keeps cash at home, safes swept away in tsunami wash up on Japan's shores Tomoko A. Hosaka, Associated Press, On Monday 11 April 2011, 11:29 SGT OFUNATO, Japan (AP) -- There are no cars inside the parking garage at Ofunato police headquarters. Instead, hundreds of dented metal safes, swept out of homes and businesses by last month's tsunami, crowd the long rectangular building. Any one could hold someone's life savings. Safes are washing up along the tsunami-battered coast, and police are trying to find their owners -- a unique problem in a country where many people, especially the elderly, still stash their cash at home. By one estimate, some $350 billion worth of yen doesn't circulate. There's even a term for this hidden money in Japanese: "tansu yokin." Or literally, "wardrobe savings." So the massive post-tsunami cleanup under way along hundreds of miles (kilometers) of Japan's ravaged northeastern coast involves the delicate business of separating junk from valuables. As workers and residents pick through the wreckage, they are increasingly stumbling upon cash and locked safes. One month after the March 11 tsunami devastated Ofunato and other nearby cities, police departments already stretched thin now face the growing task of managing lost wealth. "At first we put all the safes in the station," said Noriyoshi Goto, head of the Ofunato Police Department's financial affairs department, which is in charge of lost-and-found items. "But then there were too many, so we had to move them." Goto couldn't specify how many safes his department has collected so far, saying only that there were "several hundreds" with more coming in every day. Identifying the owners of lost safes is hard enough. But it's nearly impossible when it comes to wads of cash being found in envelopes, unmarked bags, boxes and furniture. Yasuo Kimura, 67, considers himself one of the lucky ones. The tsunami swallowed and gutted his home in Onagawa, about 50 miles (75 kilometers) south of Ofunato. He escaped with his 90-year-old father and the clothes on his back. But he still has money in the bank. That's not the case for many of his longtime friends and acquaintances, said Kimura, a former bank employee. "I spent my career trying to convince them to deposit their money in a bank," he said, staring out at his flattened city. "They always thought it was safer to keep it at home." The number of safes that have turned up in Ofunato alone is a reflection of the area's population: In Iwate prefecture, where this Pacific fishing town is located, nearly 30 percent of the population is over 65. Many of them keep money at home out of habit and convenience, said Koetsu Saiki of the Miyagi Prefectural Police's financial affairs department. This practice is likely compounded by persistently low interest rates, leaving little financial incentive for depositing money in a bank. As in Iwate, local police stations in Miyagi are reporting "very high numbers" of safes and cash being turned in. "It's just how people have operated their entire lives," he said. "When they need money, they'd rather have their money close by. It's not necessarily that they don't trust banks. But there are a lot of people who don't feel comfortable using ATMs, especially the elderly." A 2008 report by Japan's central bank estimated that more than a third of 10,000-yen ($118) bank notes issued don't actually circulate. That amounts to some 30 trillion yen, or $354 billion at current exchange rates, ferreted away. The government has estimated that the cost of the earthquake and tsunami could reach $309 billion, making it the world's most expensive natural disaster on record. The figure includes direct losses from damaged houses, roads and utilities. But it doesn't take into account individual losses from home-held cash washed away by the powerful waves. With more than 25,000 people believed to have died in the tsunami, many safes could to go unclaimed. Under Japanese law, authorities must store found items for three months. If the owner does not appear within that time, the finder is entitled to the item, unless it contains personal identification such as an address book. If neither owner nor finder claims it, the government takes possession. But all those who survived and are seeking to retrieve savings will need to offer proof. That proof could include opening the safe and providing identification that matches any documents inside, said Akihiro Ito, a spokesman for the disaster response unit in Kesennuma, among the worst-hit cities in Miyagi prefecture. Cold, hard cash is more complicated. "Even if we receive 50,000 yen ($589) in cash, and someone comes in saying they've lost 50,000 yen, it's nearly impossible to prove exactly whose money we actually have," Saiki of Miyagi's police force said. Only 10 to 15 percent of valuables found in the tsunami rubble have been returned so far, officials in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures said last week. Instead of waiting, police in Iwate are considering a more proactive measure. Individual stations will likely start opening safes to try to identify their owners, said Kiyoto Fujii, a spokesman for the prefectural police. And the safes are likely to keep on coming. "There's probably a lot of valuables still left in the rubble, including safes," Fujii said. "We are expecting and preparing for that."

‘No casino? I’ll kill myself’ By ewenboey | SingaporeScene – Mon, Apr 11, 2011 4:13 PM SGT Her children tried to stop her from gambling, but she threatened to kill herself. After a two-hour stand-off on the third day of last Chinese New Year, the children's 51-year-old mother got her way and went back to the casino. When she returned 24 hours later, she had lost S$7,000. It was then the children gave up trying to get their mother to quit gambling. She had already racked up debts of more than S$300,000. Speaking to The New Paper from their four-room HDB flat in Simei, accountant Jayden Liu, 24, said, "Now, we can only pray that a miracle happens before we lose her or the roof over our heads." He recounted that his mother cried, pleaded and lashed out at her children during that confrontation. She put a stool to the kitchen window and threatened to jump after Jayden's younger sister, Jessie, 16, angrily said that they were considering applying for a family exclusion order to the casinos. Jayden said, "We weren't sure if she'd really do it, but we couldn't take the risk. We had lost our father (to cancer) six years ago, we didn't want to lose our mother." Taking up a job at a convenience store last December, Jessie now works Saturdays in order to pay for her math tuition and ease her brother's burden. She also refuses to take money from him. "He should be dating and not taking on another job after office hours and over the weekends." Jayden now works part time in a karaoke chain, and more than half his S$3,900 take-home pay goes towards paying relatives from whom he borrowed money to clear his mother's debts. When asked by the same paper about her children's struggle, the hawker mum said, "I really don't think it's any of their business what I do, even if the creditors come hounding. If they are so unhappy, they can always move out." On her suicide threat, she added that it was only a threat, and she never really intended to jump. Charles Lee, a senior counsellor at Tanjong Pagar Family Service Centre, was not surprised. "Normally, when a gambler is in a desperate situation, he will resort to emotional blackmail," he said. Lee, who is in charge of the problem gambling counselling programme at Tanjong Pagar FSC, said that only trained and experienced counsellors can tell if a threat is real. "While no one should take it lightly, most times, the threat could be just a threat," he said. Lee, who has handled such cases before, advised the Liu siblings to seek professional help.

Philippine TV Host sorry for 6-yr-old's SEXY DANCE By TERESA CEROJANO - Associated Press | AP – Tue, Mar 29, 2011 10:43 PM SGT A popular Philippine television game show host and his network apologized Tuesday after an uproar over a segment showing a 6-year-old boy crying while gyrating and mimicking a striptease dancer. The boy was a contestant on an episode of "Willing Willie," a variety and game show that features mostly poor Filipinos who earn cash prizes for singing, dancing, telling their stories or playing games. Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman condemned "the emotional abuse and humiliation" suffered by the boy. She said in a statement Monday that host Willie Revillame and the audience showed no concern for him and that the March 12 program violated a law against child abuse. It was not clear if Revillame and TV5 will face charges. The government's Commission on Human Rights and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board said they will investigate. TV5 apologized Tuesday on behalf of Revillame and the station, saying there was no intention to humiliate the boy who was accompanied by his aunt and who approved his performance. It said the boy appeared to be in tears not because he was forced to dance but because he was playing a role and got scared of a towering former basketball player who also was on the set. The boy earned a prize of 10,000 pesos ($230) for his dance. Women's group Gabriela said that the dance was punctuated by the live audience's loud cheers and guffaws and was an atrocious act of child abuse. Meanwhile on social networking site Facebook, critics who earlier launched an anti-Willie Revillame movement posted several calls for his removal from TV and a boycott of his show's sponsors. "Putting pressure on children to do acts such as mimicking adult sexy dances, in exchange for a certain amount of money, and at the expense of being laughed at and ridiculed by hundreds of people, clearly traumatizes the child," Soliman said in the statement. "This is a clear form of child abuse and will not be tolerated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development," she said. Revillame, the Philippines' highest paid TV host, has ruffled feathers in the past for his often brash language and lewd jokes. In 2006, a stampede in a waiting line at a Manila stadium where Revillame's show was to be broadcast killed 74 people. Criminal charges of negligence against Revillame and executives at ABS-CBN TV station, where he worked at the time, were later dropped. Last year, Revillame left ABS-CBN after he was suspended for threatening to resign on the air if the management did not fire another talent at the same station he was quarreling with. In 2009, while the nation was mourning the death of former President Corazon Aquino, Revillame provoked angry comments from viewers and commentators by objecting to sharing on the TV screen live video of Aquino's funeral procession with his show, which was ongoing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRsg-458bUI&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYMOcr3sd6w&feature=related

Filipino TV show goes off air over crying Child By TERESA CEROJANO - Associated Press | AP Mon, Apr 11, 2011 3:59 PM SGT The Philippines' most popular TV game show was pulled off the air Monday amid a public uproar over the host letting a crying 6-year-old boy mimic a striptease dancer. "Willing Willie" host Willie Revillame said he was taking two weeks of leave after which he will announce if he'll return to television. Angry viewers and commentators have launched a campaign on social-networking sites to remove Revillame from the show, which offers cash prizes for singing, dancing, storytelling and playing games. They say Revillame showed poor taste and mocked his mostly impoverished viewers by allowing the crying boy to gyrate as a striptease dancer. The boy was a contestant and earned 10,000 pesos ($230) for his dance. The outcry led major sponsors to pull out, including Procter & Gamble Co., Del Monte Pacific Ltd., Unilever and Philippine fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp. The March 12 episode also has prompted soul-searching discussions about the quality of TV entertainment in the Philippines. TV5 network said it wants to improve the program and work with television and advertising industry stakeholders on guidelines for the participation of children in all game and reality TV shows. Philippine-born theater actress Monique Wilson, in a widely circulated email carried by local media, argued that such TV shows "dumb down audiences (and) disempower them by creating a mendicant society with game shows that promise 'quick money.'" Benjamin Pimentel, a U.S.-based columnist for Inquirer.net, the online edition of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, criticized Revillame for "shining a harsh, cruel spotlight" on poverty "for cheap laughs and for ratings." Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman last month condemned "the emotional abuse and humiliation" the boy suffered and said the program violated a law against child abuse. It was not clear if Revillame and TV5 will face charges. The government's Commission on Human Rights and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board said they were investigating. Revillame has apologized but said his detractors had mounted a campaign "until they bury me alive." He blamed his former network and competitor ABS-CBN television for trying to destroy his career and threatened to sue colleagues who criticized him. The Philippines' highest paid TV host has ruffled feathers in the past for his often brash language and lewd jokes. In 2006, a stampede in a waiting line at a Manila stadium where Revillame's show was to be broadcast killed 74 people. Criminal charges of negligence against Revillame and executives at ABS-CBN, where he worked at the time, were later dropped. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-dgEkIxogE&feature=player_embedded

City deserve top FOUR spot says Mancini By Graham Chase | AFP News – 19 minutes ago Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini insists his side have proved they deserve a Champions League place as they prepare to face Liverpool at Anfield on Monday. Mancini's men have seven games remaining as they look to hold on to a top-four spot in the Premier League table. And they also take on bitter rivals Manchester United in an FA Cup semi-final on Saturday at the end of a week that could define their season. Big spending City have failed to launch a challenge for the Premier League title and were also frustrated to be knocked out of the last 16 of the Europa League by Dynamo Kiev. City supporters are desperate to end their long wait for a trophy, which stretches back to their League Cup win in 1976. But former Inter manager Mancini, who has faced constant speculation about his future, feels that taking their place in the Champions League for the first time will be key to developing the club. "This year our target at the start of the season was to finish in the top four and be in the Champions League," he said. "I think we deserve to achieve this because we have been at the top most of the season with United and Arsenal, always being between first and fourth position. "We now have seven games until the end of the season and we will do everything to be in the Champions League next season. "I am very happy to manage here at Manchester City as it is a big challenge. "I think we can become a top team in two or three years. We have improved a lot and this for me is a good squad and I am very proud to be here. "In football the situation can change every five weeks but in my opinion Manchester City will be one of the top clubs in Europe in the next five years." Mancini will be without defenders Micah Richards and Jerome Boateng with respective hamstring and knee problems, while Liverpool are also missing a host of players for the game. England midfielder Steven Gerrard will not play again this season due to a groin problem and Danish defender Daniel Agger is also ruled out for the rest of the campaign with a knee injury. Full-backs Glen Johnson and Martin Kelly are also both out with hamstring injuries to leave manager Kenny Dalglish short of options at the back. With a lengthy injury list, Dalglish is considering throwing in youngsters Jack Robinson and John Flanagan against City. Dalglish admits the current situation, with European football looking well beyond them, is not good enough for a club of Liverpool's pedigree. He said: "We're obviously happier being sixth than seventh, but we'd also be happier being fifth than sixth. "The football club has greater ambition than to settle for sixth spot and we'll be looking to improve on that as best we possibly can. "The football club is better than sixth but we've got to prove that on the pitch. "We don't know what team City will put out, we don't know if they'll be focused on the semi-final or not. "I'm sure they place equal importance on their position in the league but when you see a trophy at the end of it sometimes your concentration wanes a little bit. We hope that can be the case. "I'm sure they'll have half an eye on the cup tie because it's a massive game for them and a chance for them to get a bit of silverware."

Mysterious Light spotted during Japan Earthquake Friday, April 8 05:59 pm A mysterious flashing light was captured on video over Japan as yet another earthquake hit the beleaguered country on Thursday, but what was it? Skip related content The footage clearly shows a ball of light pulsing for around eight seconds on the horizon in Tokyo during the aftershock. It registered 7.1 on the Richter scale and struck 40 miles east of Sendai along the same fault line as last month's quake. We take a look at several theories as to what could have caused the bizarre phenomenon, from the plausible to the wacky, and get some insight from an expert seismologist. Earthquake light The most widely circulating explanation is that this was an 'earthquake light' - literally a light that appears in the sky during times of seismic activity. There have been a number of recorded instances of these - at Kalapana in 1975, L'Aquilla in 2009 and Chile in 2010 - but the phenomenon is not universally accepted in the scientific community. Dr David Robinson, an earthquake researcher at Oxford University, told Yahoo! News one reason why these might happen. "The idea is that just before an earthquake, you might get some build up of stress just prior to the event. "People have invented all kinds of mechanisms whereby this stress gets released as an electromagnetic excitation of the upper atmosphere, which can cause things like lights appearing, similar to the Northern Lights." The problem with this theory, said Dr Robinson, was that no-one has yet come up with a plausible reason for why this actually happens. "Anything which is caused by an unknown mechanism is dubious," he said. A second issue is that while there have been several recorded instances of 'earthquake lights', they don't happen during every earthquake. "There are satellites up there that record every thunderstorm that happens on earth. If you're getting something similar to a flash of lightning during an earthquake then they're going to measure it, but that's not happening." There are a couple of other explanations that could explain this though. The first concerns quartz. When tectonic plates containing the mineral rub against each other, they create intense electric fields (called piezoelectricity). This could manifest itself as flashes of light. A second, tantalizing possibility is these lights could actually predict upcoming quakes. This theory suggests that before a quake, the ground 'exhales' radon, which results in light emissions in the atmosphere. Dr Robinson says this is "clutching at straws" though. He doesn't rule out earthquake lights, but feels the subject needs more study. "Just because they can't be explained doesn't necessarily make them not true. But until anyone comes up with a plausible mechanism it will be on the fringes of earthquake study." Electrical explosion Another possible theory for the burst of light is that it was some kind of electrical explosion. It's been speculated that the flash was an electrical transformer exploding after being struck by the quake. During Thursday'squake 3.6million homes in North East Japan area lost power, traffic signals and road lights also stopped working. 900,000 houses were still affected on Friday afternoon. A spokesman for the Tohuku Electric Power Company said six power plants in the area went down after the tremor and power lines throughout the area were damaged, making this explanation a possibility. A US 'superweapon' We're into the outlandish territory now. Many commentators, including oddball conspiracy theorist David Icke, have said the footage was evidence of 'Haarp' (High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program). Based in Alaska, this weather program was set up by the US Air Force, Navy and University of Alaska to research the upper atmosphere (the ionosphere) with a view to improving satellite communication. Some have speculated that Haarp can physically change weather conditions, and the project's been blamed for triggering floods, hurricanes, droughts, the earthquakes in Haiti and Pakistan and even Gulf War Syndrome. Mind control is another one of its supposed capabilities. Suffice to say the events in Japan have also been attributed to this 'superweapon' - with former governor of Minnesota and pro-wrestler Jesse Ventura telling Piers Morgan recently: "The US's HAARP weapon system can cause natural disasters, including earthquakes and tsunamis like the one that happened in Japan." UFOs Whenever grainy handheld footage of a glowing light in the sky surfaces, it's only a matter of time before it's held up as evidence of UFOs. This video is no exception. A quick YouTube search reveals a spate of alien sightings in the build up to the Japan earthquake, with little green men spotted above Kyoto and the Sakurajima Volcano. Even Chinese news agency Xinyua reported UFOs flying over Mount Fuji in February. An alien spacecraft was also spotted during recent Japanese news coverage of the Earthquake, but this was later confirmed to be a helicopter. Written by Orlando Parfitt

Japan says Economy in "SEVERE" condition after disaster By Chizu Nomiyama and Yoko Nishikawa | Reuters – Fri, Apr 8, 2011 5:08 PM SGT TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's economy is in a "severe condition" with no quick recovery in sight following a triple disaster triggered by the March 11 earthquake that has sent service-sector sentiment plummeting the most on record, the government said on Friday. While Japan confronts the economic impact of the disaster, it also faces increasing alarm from its neighbours with China expressing concern at the pumping of radioactive water into the sea from a crippled nuclear plant. China's Foreign Ministry said it would "closely" monitor Japan's actions to end the crisis at the plant, where engineers are battling to contain radiation leaks. It demanded accurate information from Tokyo. "As Japan's neighbour, we naturally express our concern about this," ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement. China is the first nation to publicly express its concern over a crisis that has lasted close to a month. Other countries have banned or restricted food imports from Japan over radiation fears. "We ask that Japan reports the relevant information to the Chinese side in a swift, comprehensive and accurate way." Power blackouts and restrictions, factory shutdowns, and a sharp drop in the number of tourists have left the world's third largest economy reeling. Many economists expect it to slip into recession this year as factory output and exports suffer. The crippled Fukushima Daiicho nuclear power plant north of Tokyo means power shortages and supply disruptions that will leave the economy weak for some time, Japan's central bank said on Friday. The Cabinet Office's assessment was equally bleak. "Japan's economy is suddenly in a severe condition due to the effects of the earthquake," it said after releasing a monthly survey of hotel workers, restaurant staff and taxi drivers that showed a record fall in confidence to levels last seen during the depths of the global financial crisis. In an obvious sign of the downturn; taxis park in long lines in central Tokyo each night, their drivers staying warm by idling the motor as they wait forlornly for a fare. Japan is facing its worst crisis since World War Two after a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and a huge tsunami battered its northeast coast, leaving nearly 28,000 dead or missing and damaging six nuclear reactors north of Tokyo. The Tokyo area and regions further north make up half of Japan's economy, Nomura research shows. A strong 7.1 magnitude aftershock on Thursday night -- one of the biggest of more than 400 aftershocks above magnitude 5.0 -- shook the already ravaged northeast. It forced two companies, including electronics giant Sony Corp, to stop production due to power cuts. At least two people were killed after the tremor. There was a brief scare when water leaks were found on Friday at a second nuclear plant, Onagawa, in the northeast, but Japan's nuclear safety agency said it had not detected any change in radiation levels. NO CHANGE IN RADIATION A relieved Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO), which operates Fukushima, said Thursday's quake had not caused any more damage. It briefly evacuated workers because of a tsunami alert, although that was later withdrawn. The U.N.'s nuclear watchdog sounded an encouraging note when one of its officials said there were signs of progress in stabilising the Fukushima plant, though the situation remained very serious. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it had not detected any change in radiation levels following Thursday night's quake. "The situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant remains very serious ... (but) there are early signs of recovery in some functions such as electrical power and instrumentation," the IAEA's head of nuclear safety, Denis Flory, said. The agency said radiation in the region around the plant, as measured by gamma dose rates, had peaked in the early days of the crisis, and aside from a rise on March 22, had since fallen to "a level very close to background". DISRUPTS BUSINESS Japan's neighbours have grown increasingly anxious at the risk of contamination from radiation, with some schools in South Korea closing because of fears of toxic rain. Officials there said the radiation levels in the atmosphere were harmless. China's health ministry said this week traces of radioactivity had been found in spinach in three provinces and the state news agency Xinhua reported trace levels of radioactivity detected in 22 provinces. To cope with power shortages, Japan's government has asked major companies to cut electricity use in the peak summer months by up to a quarter and the Tokyo Stock Exchange said the power cuts meant it would have to delay plans to extend trading hours. The impact of the quake meant both output and exports, major pillars of the economy, would remain weak, the central bank said. "Output will hover at a low level for the time being but then start to increase as supply constraints are mitigated," the Bank of Japan said in its monthly report for April. Companies and households will need to cut back significantly on power usage this summer when demand is at its peak, Trade Minister Banri Kaieda said after a cabinet meeting. He urged major companies to cut electricity consumption by 25 percent. But some ministers at Friday's cabinet meeting called for an end to a campaign of "self restraint" by ordinary people that was adopted immediately after March 11 to cut fuel or electricity use and discourage stockpiling of necessities. "Some cabinet ministers said excessive self-restraint could worsen the economy, weakening economic power for reconstruction," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano told reporters. PREVENTING MORE EXPLOSIONS Utility TEPCO said it was continuing to inject nitrogen into one of its Fukushima reactors to prevent a repeat of last month's hydrogen explosions. The plant is far from under control and engineers have been forced to pump in tonnes of water to cool down reactors, in the process making it radioactive. The water then has to be stored, though some has been released into the sea. Officials say it could take months to bring the reactors under control and years to clear up the toxic mess left behind. The government has set up a 20-km (12-mile) exclusion zone around the plant, banned fishing along much of the northeast coast and set up evacuation centres for the tens of thousands forced to leave their homes following the crisis. (Additional reporting by Mayumi Negishi, Chisa Fujioka, Yoko Nishikawa and Kiyoshi Takenaka in Tokyo, Ben Blanchard and Sui-lee Wee in Beijing, Jack Kim in Seoul; Writing by Jonathan Thatcher and Michael Perry; Editing by Neil Fullick)

Mavis Pan claims she was cheated into taking RACY LINGERIE Photos Posted: 08 April 2011 1959 hrs HONG KONG: Chinese model Mavis Pan broke her silence on a series of racy lingerie photos that have surfaced recently, during a Hong Kong television interview on Wednesday, reported Hong Kong media. Pan, who is currently embroiled in a 'bedroom photo' scandal with popular Hong Kong actor Raymond Lam, claimed that she was cheated into taking these revealing photos, some of which even exposed her private regions, when she was still a teenager. "Those photos were taken when I first arrived in Beijing and at the time, I didn’t know anything but just felt I liked this line (modelling). I didn't have my parent's blessings so I went to Beijing alone. "I went to audition for this advertisement and naively thought any opportunity is still an opportunity," said Pan. "At first, they said I just had to model pyjamas and there weren't any problems with them when I tried them on." "But after I signed the contract and went for the photo shoot, the clothes were completely different." "I was very timid at the time, I was in my teens, I got scared and cried but they threatened me and asked me to pay damages. I came to Beijing against my family's wishes. I had no money so I took the photos," said Pan sombrely. "I kept thinking that after the shoot, the photos will slowly disappear." Pan declared that if the photos continue to be circulated, she will take legal action against the parties responsible. The series of provocative photos have brought Pan, who had previously graced the pages of numerous men's magazines, to the attention of Hong Kong director Stephen Siu Ding Yat. who expressed interest in casting Pan in his upcoming adult film "The Carnal Prayer Mat". However, the model, who is known for her voluptuous figure, said she would not take him up on his offer. "If it purely involves just nudity and explicit scenes, then I don't think I am suitable for it. "I may give people the impression (that she suits this kind of films) but those who truly know me understand that I am actually a very reserved person," said Pan. -CNA/ha

Mavis Pan: NO ROUGH STUFF !!! By Rheus Wai Soh See | Yahoo!Branded Cinema Online – Fri, Apr 8, 2011 11:39 AM SGT 8 Apr – Newly-minted Internet sensation and sex goddess Mavis Pan Shuang Shuang says scandal-mate Raymond Lam is a gentleman, as their first time in bed had none of the rough stuff, reported Apple Daily. Dubbed by Chinese media as "Little Shu Qi" (after her similar bee-stung lips to the established Taiwan star) and also "Edison Chen #2", she shot to fame only in recent weeks due to a sex scandal with the Hong Kong actor-singer, in which photos were published with them in bed. Instead of the rumpy-bumpy, they just laid next together and chatted all night, before falling asleep in each other's arms, she told the popular Hong Kong media. The 24-year-old Zhejiang-born model said they did not make love every time they met. "Sometimes when he was tired from working, I'd give him a massage. I don't like doing things deliberately. I prefer a process. With him, quite often we just cuddled and snuggled." As well as telling all about her relationship with Raymond, Mavis addressed criticism that her breasts are implants. The sweet Raymond was quoted as comforting her by saying, "As long as I know [they're real]." She said she often bought Raymond sexy underwear and they got on well, but Raymond's father was against the relationship. She also had to follow his rule that they could only talk for up to 15 minutes on the phone and meet once every three months, to keep their affair in the dark for the sake of Raymond's clean image. After their bedroom photos were revealed, Raymond has not contacted her, but she insisted they had not broken up as "he never said those words to me." "But he told the media we're finished. That really hurts." Mavis recently arrived in Hong Kong for the first time to shoot a sexy photo album. Recently, "3D Sex And Zen: Extreme Ecstasy" executive producer Stephen Shiu Jr. wants her for the sequel, according to Chinese reports. Although the film has yet to open (14 April in Hong Kong), Shiu was quoted as saying "These days, many people have praised the well-endowed and smoking hot Pan. People want to see her in a film."

Thousands of Thai 'RED SHIRTS' commemorate Bangkok By Ambika Ahuja and Jason Szep | Reuters – Mon, Apr 11, 2011 12:12 AM SGT BANGKOK (Reuters) - About 40,000 red-shirted, anti-government protesters gathered on Sunday in Bangkok's old quarter to mark the first anniversary of clashes with the military in which 26 people were killed and over 800 wounded. "We are mourning the loss of innocent lives a year ago. We are remembering the violence against Thai people last year. We are asking for justice," said protest leader Nattawut Saikua. No one has been declared responsible for the unrest on April 10, when soldiers fought thousands of protesters in the narrow streets around Democracy Monument in Thailand's worst political violence in 18 years. The red-shirted supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, a populist billionaire ousted in a 2006 coup and convicted of graft, said they would continue to hold protests until the government took responsibility for the violence. "They won't give up until Thailand has justice," Thaksin said of the families of the dead and wounded, in an address by video link from abroad, where he is living to avoid jail. Five soldiers and 21 civilians were killed, including Reuters television cameraman Hiro Muramoto, a 43-year-old Japanese national, on April 10 last year. Witnesses reported seeing flashes of gunfire from troops but the government blamed civilian deaths on shadowy, unidentified black-clad gunmen who were filmed in the area. "Today we pay tribute to Hiro's life but remain discouraged that the circumstances of his death are still unknown a year later. Hiro's family and Reuters colleagues deserve to know how this tragedy occurred and who was behind it," said Stephen Adler, Reuters editor-in-chief. Police concluded on March 24 they had no evidence to indicate troops killed Muramoto, a reversal of preliminary findings by Thailand's Department of Special Investigation (DSI) that a soldier may have fired the fatal bullet. SEEKING JUSTICE The turnout was among the largest by the red shirts since their 10-week occupation of parts of Bangkok last year sparked violent clashes in April and May that killed 91 people, wounded more than 1,800 and led to widespread arson. "I was here last year. I never thought I would see this kind of cruelty in Thailand. I came back today because no one has been put in jail for it," said one protester, 38-year-old electrician Samart Ngamwongyai. Streets were festooned with red-and-white banners bearing red-shirt slogans such as "fight for democracy" and "truth today". One read: "You can't kill us all." Another said: "If Democracy wins in Tunisia and Egypt, we can win here." "We are here to pay tribute to our heroes in heaven. Rest in peace. You helped us move one step closer to democracy. We will carry on your fight. Please clap until heaven can hear us," Payap Panket, a red shirt leader, said on stage to loud cheers. One person wore a t-shirt emblazoned with the red dot of the Japanese flag, his face painted white with the name "Hiroyuki" written across his forehead in black. He held a placard reading "Who killed Hiroyuki?", one of several references and tributes to the slain Reuters cameraman. About 2,100 police were deployed to the area. The mostly rural and urban poor United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship, or the red shirts, took to the streets on March 12 last year demanding elections in festive rallies that descended into violence on April 10. On that night, soldiers failed in repeated attempts to dislodge the protesters from the area, firing tear gas and rubber bullets before coming under attack with grenades and responding with live ammunition. The government said they used live fire only in self-defence and denied soldiers were responsible for any deaths or injuries. Relatives of some of the dead and wounded have filed civil lawsuits against three state agencies. The government has also faced intense diplomatic pressure from Japan to identify who fired the bullet that killed Muramoto. The red shirts accuse Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva of lacking a popular mandate and coming to power illegitimately, heading a coalition the military cobbled together after courts dissolved a pro-Thaksin party that led the previous government. Abhisit, backed by the royalist establishment, says he was voted into office by the same parliament that picked his Thaksin-allied predecessors. His party plans to hold an election around the middle of this year. The poll is expected to be a close contest between Abhisit's ruling Democrats and the red shirts' parliamentary allies, the Puea Thai Party, and the outcome may be rejected by supporters of either party, fuelling instability. (Editing by Miral Fahmy and Tim Pearce)

Beijing Police halt HOUSE CHURCH Service By ALEXA OLESEN - Associated Press | AP – Sun, Apr 10, 2011 2:03 PM SGT Beijing police on Sunday detained dozens of worshippers from a Christian house church who were trying to hold services in a public space after they were evicted from their usual place of worship, a parishioner said. Leaders of the unregistered Shouwang house church had told members to gather at an open-air venue in Beijing for Sunday morning services, but police, apparently alerted to their plans, taped off the area and took away people who showed up to take part. Christians in China are required to worship in state-run churches, but house churches are becoming increasingly popular, despite being technically illegal and subject to police harassment. A church member who went to the gathering spot for services but managed to evade police told The Associated Press that around 200 people were taken away and were being held at a local school. Their mobile phones were confiscated, said the man, who would give only his English name, Kane, for fear of police reprisals. An AP videographer saw about a dozen people escorted by police onto an empty city bus and driven away. Shouwang pastor Yuan Ling said by telephone that he was unable to go to the venue because police had put him under house arrest Saturday night. Yuan, who joined the church in 1998, said he knew of at least six other church members who were also under house arrest. Yuan said fellow parishioners also told him that many worshippers were being held at a school in Beijing's Haidian district, though he wasn't sure of the exact number of people involved. Shouwang had been holding services at a Beijing restaurant until last week, when they were evicted from that venue. Chinese authorities have been on high alert for large public gatherings in the wake of anonymous online calls for anti-government protests modeled on demonstrations in the Middle East and North Africa. No major protests have occurred in China following the calls, but the security crackdown they sparked has resulted in the arrest or detention of dozens of public interest lawyers, writers, intellectuals and activists. Ai Weiwei, an internationally famed avant-garde artist who is also an outspoken government critic, became the highest-profile person targeted in the sweep so far when he was apparently detained at a Beijing airport a week ago. The Foreign Ministry says he is being investigated for alleged economic crimes, though Beijing police have yet to confirm he is in custody. Ai was last seen being led away by police at a Beijing airport April 3 after he was barred from boarding a flight to Hong Kong. The official Xinhua News Agency on Saturday published a critique of Ai that catalogued criticisms and accusations against the artist that were allegedly found online. Xinhua said Ai was accused of plagiarism and tax evasion but noted that the claims hadn't been independently investigated. Xinhua also quoted unnamed "participants in Chinese artistic circles" as saying Ai's art was "amateur" and "third rate." The article appeared to be part of official Chinese efforts to portray the case against Ai as being nonpolitical. Ai has become increasingly critical of the government in recent years, but according to Xinhua, Chinese authorities haven't said that his "radical comments" violated the law. However, the Chinese government has used economic crimes to silence dissidents in the past. Meanwhile, about 50 pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong on Sunday demanded Ai's release, peacefully chanting "no to political persecution" outside the central Chinese government's liaison office. Opposition legislator Lee Cheuk-yan tossed a piece of cardboard bearing Ai's portrait into the grounds of the compound. Former British colony Hong Kong enjoys Western-style civil liberties as part of its special semiautonomous status under Chinese rule. On Friday, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton called for Ai's release and criticized China for what she said was a deteriorating human rights situation in the first part of 2011. Clinton's remarks were made while announcing the release of the U.S. State Department's annual assessment of human rights around the world. The report said China stepped up restrictions on its critics and tightened control of civil society in 2010 by limiting freedom of speech and Internet access. China blasted back at Washington on Saturday with a statement on the Foreign Ministry website that said the U.S. was a "preacher of human rights" that should reflect more on its own domestic rights abuses. "The U.S. should stop interfering in other country's internal affairs with this human rights report," ministry spokesman Hong Lei was quoted as saying. Associated Press videographer David Wivell and AP writer Min Lee in Hong Kong contributed to this report.

I am my own person: Lina Chiam By Alicia Wong | SingaporeScene – Thu, Mar 31, 2011 1:02 PM SGT Her husband may be an icon for opposition politics, having helmed the Potong Pasir single-seat ward since 1984, and she may have worked alongside him all these years, but to some residents, she is still a 'new face' who will have to prove herself to win their vote in the coming General Election (GE). Lina Chiam, 62, who will contest in Potong Pasir under the Singapore People's Party (SPP), recognises this. Her husband, five-term Member of Parliament (MP) Chiam See Tong, 76, has expressed interest in contesting in the Bishan-Toa Payoh group representation constituency (GRC). "It does help that you're Chiam See Tong's wife," she admits in an interview with Yahoo! Singapore. "But in the end, you still have to prove yourself, your brand of politics." Chiam, who is the SPP's second vice-chairwoman, tries to do house visits up to four times each week: "(The) walkabout is important for me, because I need to let them see my face and who I am." Contesting in Potong Pasir is not an act of "nepotism", she stresses. "I'm willing to serve, take care of the residents. It's not because of money or power or prestige." She cites a multi-story carpark, fitness centres for seniors, a polyclinic and children's library as some amenities she will lobby for as an MP. Chiam's brand of politics To Chiam, "Politics is serving people, the interest of the country — economically, socially. I'm in opposition politics and I want to ensure (there is) democracy. It's very important and it must survive." "I'm a woman so my working style might be more gentle, more motherly, more understanding," said the former nurse, comparing her working style to that of her husband. Yet she also describes herself as a "very forthright" and "very strong-willed" person. Drawing from her nursing experience, Chiam said,"Even my husband, when I'm taking care of him when he's sick, I have to be very strict with him, if not, they are being mollycoddled. They don't get well." Addressing the news reports of disputes between the SPP and Singapore Democratic Alliance, Chiam reflected, "It's just one part of political life." "It's just like a family, you have quarrels then you get back. We learn to be forgiving and compassionate and have graciousness." However, she declined to comment on the relationship between the Chiams and Mr Chiam's former protegee Desmond Lim, who recently quit the party after a much publicised disagreement with the couple. "I want to focus on the elections now and how to win the hearts and minds of my residents. I think that is past already," she said. "I believe all of us are able to have our own objectives and agenda, and move forward from there." Why not retire? In moving forward, some residents and observers have wondered if Mr Chiam should retire as the long-reigning MP for Potong Pasir, rather than contest in a GRC and possibly lose. "If Singapore, by chance, had a lot of opposition members, I think my husband would have retired. As it is, he is already not that well," responded Chiam, referring to the mild stroke Mr Chiam suffered in 2008. "But as you can see there is still two. ... So somebody has to take the sacrifice, who better to do (it) than my husband, who is a veteran," she said, adding that he is "mentally prepared" for the challenge. She knows this will be "one of the toughest" elections the couple will face, since both are contesting, but she believes their years of election experience will help. "Whether we win or not, we don't know," she said. But the risk is "worth it". "At least my husband can say 'I've tried'.'"

Ooops !!!

PAP should stop ‘belittling’ Opposition: CHIAM By Faris Mokhtar | SingaporeScene – 1 hour 43 minutes ago Veteran opposition Member of Parliament Chiam See Tong has called on Singapore's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) to stop "belittling" the opposition. Speaking at his Meet-the-People Session (MPS) at Potong Pasir on Thursday, the 76-year-old said, "Ever since the PAP got into power, they have always been belittling the opposition." “I think we have about enough men in the opposition to field two A-teams. They (PAP) always think that they have the monopoly of talent, but I think it's incorrect.” Chiam who is the secretary-general of the Singapore's People Party (SPP) was referring to recent statements made by PM Lee Hsien Loong that a two-party system is "not workable" because there is simply not enough talent to have two top "A-teams" govern Singapore. "In case something happens to the so-called PAP 'A-team', what will Singapore be left with? We will be left in a lurch and sometimes it is too late to assemble another 'A-team'," Chiam added. Turning to the General Election, which is expected to be held soon, Chiam shot down suggestions that his party, the Singapore People's Party, tie up with the National Solidarity Party (NSP). Chiam, who will be contesting the Bishan-Toa Payoh group representation constituency (GRC) said, "We have our own team." The MP also said the SPP is set to unveil a "big surprise" this coming Sunday, when it is expected to reveal its line-up of candidates that will challenge the PAP team led by Ministers Wong Kang Seng and Ng Eng Hen. Yahoo! Singapore understands that the "big surprise" refers to the introduction of two potential candidates who are currently based overseas. A party source said that the two men had been courted by the PAP before but turned the ruling party down. Other potential candidates who may be fielded include 38-year-old Juliana Juwahir, a member of the party's woman wing committee, as well as SPP's first assistant secretary-general, Wilfred Leung. 'Positive feedback on Lina' While Chiam will be running in Bishan-Toa Payoh, his wife, Lina Chiam, 62, will be going up against PAP's likely candidate Seetoh Yi-Pin in Potong Pasir. While the latter has lost in the last two elections, the margin won by MP Chiam hovered around the "just pass" mark of 55 percent, perhaps a sign of his diminishing influence. When asked whether the statistics bothered him, Chiam simply said, "To me a win is a win. The main thing in an election is a win, whether it's by 2 per cent or 3 percent or whatever. As long as you win, it's good enough. I am not worried about the percentages." On the other hand, the opposition stalwart said that he is encouraged by the positive feedback given by the residents about his wife standing in as a candidate. "The feedback has been very good and I am very encouraged by the feedback. The feedback has been very consistent, up till today. Everywhere we go we are welcomed with open arms," said Chiam, who has been the MP of the single-member ward since 1984. His wife, who was also at the MPS session, told Yahoo! Singapore, "I wouldn't want to rate my chances. I'm just trying my very best to campaign for this election. This is up to the people of Potong Pasir, it's up to them who they want to vote (for) and I respect their wishes." "Having said that, I will try my very best to win their hearts and minds, that they should vote for me because I will be able to carry on the work of my husband," she said. When asked on her thoughts of going up against Seetoh, Lina said that each of them have a different brand of politics but said that they shared a cordial relationship. "Mr Seetoh and I are sociably very good friends, we have no quarrels, I wish him the best. Each one of us have our own brand of politicking and we will congratulate each other whoever wins".

Huge Uproar over PM LEE's Comments By Faris Mokhtar | SingaporeScene Wed, Apr 6, 2011 2:19 PM SGT Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's open admission that PAP wards are favoured for HDB upgrading exercises has touched a raw nerve among netizens. His admission came as a reply to a university student living in the Hougang Single-Member Constituency (SMC) ward who asked if he could pay less tax since the opposition-held ward does not enjoy upgrading programmes. Since this story was first posted, reaction has been swift with over 1,500 Facebook shares and 150 comments. The majority were highly critical of PM Lee's stand. The highest-rated comment came from Yahoo! user Chia, who posted, "Upgrading is not delivered solely based on policies. It is driven by money from the reserves. The money comes from the people and not from PAP." He added that, "It (upgrading) is a national building programme. A nation does not belong to any party but the people." Another Yahoo! user, Davido, said, "I can't believe the PM said that, my only respect left for him is that he is candid enough to admit not all wards are treated equally." User VKH was also appalled at the PM's comments. He wrote, "I thought that as PM, he was there to represent ALL the people, without favour or preference. He is not the PM of just those he voted for, but for each and every Singapore citizen, including those who did not vote for him or his party... How can the PM say that if you vote for PAP, you get nice chocolate cake and coffee, but if you vote for other party you only get water and biscuit?" The furious reaction comes a day after fourth-year engineering student Seah Yin Hwa asked PM Lee why residents living in Hougang SMC are penalised for picking "a 'Teochew nang' (dialect for Teochew person) who doesn't wear a white uniform" When asked by PM Lee on how he was penalised, the 25-year-old Seah said, "When it comes to upgrading, what is being told to us is that we don't have the funds to actually go ahead with lift upgrading, as well as shelters to the bus stops. When I look across the road to Aljunied GRC, they have everything, " reported The Straits Times. Paraphrasing the question posed, PM Lee said that what Mr Seah meant is why opposition wards are not treated at least as good, or maybe even better than the PAP wards. PM Lee's reply was, "The answer is that there has to be a distinction. Because the PAP wards supported the Government and the policies which delivered these good things." He said that while basic goods such roads, transportation, housing, healthcare and defence apply to Singaporeans, the extras which come down to the upgrading programmes is a national programme. "Between the people who voted and supported the programme and the government, and the people who didn't, I think if we went and put yours before the PAP constituencies, it would be an injustice," PM Lee told the 1,200 students who were attending a Ministerial Forum organised by the National University of Singapore (NUS) Students' Political Association. . In response to PM Lee, Seah cheekily asked if he could pay less tax and maybe "take one or two years off my NS?", which drew laughter and applause from the audience. But PM Lee said that this is not possible because the SAF, defence, taxes and all the facilities which have been provided, are enjoyed by every Singaporean. Rounding off his reply, PM Lee said, "But you can do something about it, you know. You don't have to keep voting for people not in white-on-white." PM Lee explains ministerial salaries The contentious issue of ministerial salaries was also discussed at the forum after a Nanyang Technological University (NTU) accountancy student brought it up, comparing the salaries of leaders from Singapore and the United States. "The US president is actually paid less than a Cabinet minister in Singapore. I'm sure we agree his job is a lot tougher than our Cabinet ministers," said the student. In his response, PM Lee said that US President Barack Obama may be earning less than a Singaporean minister, but the American system is not without its flaws. For example, he highlighted that the US had different ways of rewarding its presidents and that the low salary of the president had suppressed salaries down the line. Explaining his first point, PM Lee said that former US presidents are involved in money-spinning book and lecture tours after they step down. "Retired US presidents go on book tours, they write books, they are paid US$10 million (S$13 million) advance, they get somebody to help them write a tome and they make a lecture tour…Every lecture (by former president) Bill Clinton: US$100,000 to US$200,000 for half an hour. "That's the system. I think that's not a good system for us. We don't want ministers to retire and go on lecture tours." Touching on his second point, PM Lee said the low salary of US presidents adversely impacted the rest of the civil service down the line. "Because the president's pay being set at a level which is not quite right, all the rest of the civil service and government pay in the US system has to take dressing from there and come down…and come down," he said. PM Lee stressed that Singapore's ministerial pay structure was one that works. But when asked if salaries should still be pegged to the private sector given the many candidates taken from the civil service and unions, he replied, "The reason I can get good people from the Government and the unions is that I have a pay system which is working properly. "People do not enter politics to get rich but neither will they enter politics and as a result, they and their family will become poor." He added, "It is something which is not easy to accept emotionally but is the right thing for Singapore. If you want the system to work for the long term, you must be honest about it. What do I pay for? I pay for the importance of the job and how difficult it is to do."

How come the colors not the same as the one U bought last weekend ?