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Orchard Road Prowler shot ’85 UPSKIRT Videos in ONE Day' By Ewen Boey | What’s buzzing? – Sat, Mar 19, 2011 2:13 PM SGT A production engineer prowled Orchard Road and took "85 upskirt videos in one day" last September. 47-year-old Tham Nam Sang pled guilty to five charges while the remaining 80 will be taken into consideration while sentencing. The videos, all taken without the women's knowledge, were all recorded on 6 September 2008 in Ngee Ann City and other shopping malls in Singapore along Orchard Road. The culprit used two digital cameras to capture "upskirt" videos of women in skirts. The court understood that after having dinner in Orchard Road, Tham placed one camera in a paper bag and turned it on to record a video, with his lens facing upwards. He proceeded to walk behind his victims while holding the paper bag under their skirts. After that, he would use his second camera to take a pictures of the victims' faces to match the videos. He captured a total of 120 minutes of video clips. According to lawyer Jacob Lim, his client was suffering from major depressive disorder when he committed the offences. District Judge Soh Tze Bian has postponed the sentencing until April 28, and has called for a probation report. Tham faces a maximum penalty of one year in jail and a fine for each offence.

WHO WILL COME OUT VICTORIOUS ??? United set for Chelsea clash in Champions League AFP News – Sat, Mar 19, 2011 12:26 AM SGT English giants Manchester United and Chelsea are set to clash in the Champions League quarter-finals after being drawn in a rematch of their 2008 European final here on Friday. Holders Inter Milan will meet Schalke 04, tournament favourites Barcelona play Shakhtar Donetsk and Tottenham face Real Madrid. Premier League leaders United will travel to reigning English champions Chelsea for the first leg and will have the home advantage at Old Trafford for the return leg. United beat Chelsea on penalties in the final in Moscow three years ago. Chelsea have never won the Champions League and are desperate to do well in Europe as they sit nine points behind three-time European winners United in the Premier League. Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez admitted his side face a tough task at Stamford Bridge where they have not won since 2002, and lost earlier this month in a clash which resulted in Sir Alex Ferguson picking up a five-match touchline ban. "We play in the same league and it is going to be tough," said Hernandez, who scored both goals against Marseille on Tuesday to put United through to the quarter-finals. "Stamford Bridge is a nice stadium and it makes it a little bit like a league game. "But if there is an advantage it is that we are at home in the second game." Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said: "I'm neither happy nor disappointed, I'm realistic. It will be difficult of course but it's very exciting. "It's a good thing for English football. At least, unlike last year, there will be at least one English club in the semi-final." Chelsea or United will go through to face either Inter Milan or Schalke, while Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona could be set for a semi-final showdown should they advance. Barcelona are drawn to meet Ukrainian newcomers Shakhtar Donetsk as Real Madrid take on surprise English side Tottenham, who dumped seven-time winners AC Milan out of the tournament in the last 16. Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is expecting a tough trip to the Ukraine. "We know Shakhtar and they know us. We've played very tight matches against them. It's a very strong team physically and with experienced players. We had problems beating them in the SuperCup (2009). "Playing the second leg in the Ukraine will be a handicap but that's how it is," said Guardiola. Tottenham, who reached the European Cup semi-finals in 1962, look to have a tough task against the record nine-time winners but can take heart from the fact Real have not won any of their last five meetings with English teams. Spurs manager Harry Redknapp insisted his side have nothing to fear from Real Madrid. "It's a great draw, of course you'd have loved to play Schalke, but it's Real Madrid," Redknapp told Sky Sports News. "Madrid are not in the same league as Barcelona, in my opinion, and this is a genuine opportunity for Tottenham. And no no-one wants to play against Gareth Bale; they fear him. He has become a monster and can destroy anybody. Whoever Real Madrid pick at right-back will have his hands full." Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid have not won the competition since 2002, and the Portuguese coach will be bidding to not only guide them back to the top in Europe but to become the first man to win the Champions League with three different clubs. Mourinho led Porto to the title 2004 and guided Inter to victory last season before moving to Spain where he has managed to get Real through to the last eight for the first time since since 2004. Should the Spanish clubs advance they could meet four times in less than a month. They are also due to play in the Spanish league on April 17 and in the King's Cup final on April 20. Inter Milan, meanwhile, are on paper favourites against Schalke 04, after eliminating Bayern Munich in the last round. And the Italian club's general manager Ernesto Paolillo admitted he was relieved. "Let's say we're a little relieved, some bigger dangers, on paper, like Real Madrid and Barcelona were avoided," he said. "But we mustn't slacken and we must remain wary, these matches which seem less fascinating can be deceptive. The eight teams who got to this stage are very strong." Schalke captain Manuel Neuer said: "Meeting the titleholders is a big challenge but maybe also a good omen because Schalke 04 already achieved a good result at the San Siro in the UEFA Cup final in 1997. "Starting with the match away is an advantage but at the same time you have to remember what happened in the last 16. Inter lost at home against Bayern Munich which didn't stop them from qualifying by winning 3-2 in Munich." The quarter-final first legs will be played on April 5 and 6 and the return matches the following week on April 12 and 13. The semi-finals are on April 26-27 and May 3-4 with the final set for Wembley on May 28.

SWEE MAK-MAK !!! Transsexual wows in Thai Talent Contest By Liyana Low | Whats buzzing? Fri, Mar 18, 2011 11:02 AM SGT She is pretty, she sings well, and she stunned everyone on Thailand's Got Talent when she started singing in a man's voice. Bell Nuntita, 27, is a transsexual contestant who wowed the judges and the audience when halfway through her audition piece, she changed her feminine singing voice to a very masculine bass. Her appearance in the show is not unusual in a country where it is accepted for men to undergo sex change to become a woman when he feels out of place in his body. "Katoeys (the Thai name for men who undergo sex change) are common in Thailand, so no one really criticizes her or makes a big deal out of it," said Thai student Bay Wallapa. She added, "But even though I'm used to seeing katoeys in Thailand, I was still so shocked when she suddenly switched voices. She's very good." Her Youtube clip without English subtitles alone has garnered half a million views; the one with subtitles also has another half a million. Famous celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was so amazed at her talent, calling her "truly a wonderous talent to behold." When her friend posted the link on Facebook, Singaporean Shahida Hassim commented, "I keep watching this over and over again. She is so pretty. Her voice is beautiful. His voice is so manly." Said Anjali Ragu, Singaporean student currently on exchange in a Thai university, "It was creepy and cool at the same time, I couldn't even tell that she was transsexual."

Police Car hits TAXI but doesn’t Stop: Driver By Faris Mokhtar | SingaporeScene – Fri, Mar 18, 2011 12:03 PM SGT A taxi driver has lodged a complaint against a police officer who bumped into his taxi and failed to stop after the incident. Ng Wen Sheng, 44, the taxi driver who made the complaint, said that the incident happened on 27 Jan at about 8am on the Airport Boulevard towards Terminal 1. Both his taxi and the police car were driving in the same direction when the front of the police car swiped the rear of his taxi. This left the cab, a silver Kia Magentis, with scratches on the bumper and the right side of its bodywork, he claimed. The cabby said that the police car went left before disappearing into a side road. He wanted to follow it but had to take his passengers to the departure hall as they were running late. At that time, Ng was on the way to the airport to drop off his two passengers who were due to catch a flight to Europe. Both he and his passengers were unhurt in the minor accident. "I was shocked that the police car didn't stop. It didn't seem like it was in a rush to go to a crime scene," he told The Straits Times. Last week, the police told him that action was being started against the driver of the police car for careless driving, failing to stop after an accident and failing to render assistance. ST understands that the driver was a staff sergeant who was alone at the time and on official duty. His account was corroborated by one of the passengers, a 26-year-old account design manager, who was in the taxi with her mother. Ng went to the Airport Police headquarters after his passengers got out. He wanted the particulars of the driver and photographs of the police car so he could submit an insurance claim. "In response to media queries, police confirm that a police report was lodged by the officer who was involved in the accident with the taxi on the same day upon her return to base," said a police spokesman. "Another officer had also contacted the taxi driver to assess the damage and cost of repair. Police investigations into the case are still ongoing." It is not known whether the officer's duties have changed pending the outcome of the investigation. Ng, who recently gave up driving a cab to take a job as a construction site supervisor, said, "What if it was a more serious accident, yet the other party didn't stop to check if anyone was hurt?" Former policeman P.T. Roger, 57, said that although officers often have to attend to emergency calls, they should still stop when an accident happens, however minor it looks. "They should stop to check if anyone is injured and exchange particulars. They can always call back for reinforcements if they were on the way to respond to an emergency," he said.

Get more SLEEP, Singapore By Alicia Wong | What’s buzzing? – Thu, Mar 17, 2011 7:33 PM SGT When you surf the web into the wee hours of the night or constantly burn the midnight oil to rush your work, you could be putting yourself at a greater risk of developing medical conditions such as heart disease or diabetes. This is because prolonged sleep deprivation, which means less than four or five hours of sleep each night for years, puts the body in a stressful condition, explained Dr Lim Li Ling, Medical Director of the Singapore Neurology & Sleep and president of the Singapore Sleep Society. Noting Singapore's fast-paced environment, Dr Lim said, "The biggest problem in sleep in Singapore is one of voluntary sleep deprivation." "Most people like to sleep but they don't feel it's as important as working on a project or being on the Internet," she said. "My sense is that over all, awareness (on the importance of good sleep) is not very high." The Singapore Sleep Society surveyed nearly 400 junior college students and found that 97 per cent feel drowsy during class and three in 10 drink caffeinated beverages to stay awake during the day. The recently published Philips Index for Health and Well-being report, a research conducted across 23 countries including Singapore, found that 35 per cent of people feel they are not getting enough sleep, impacting their physical and mental health. For World Sleep Day on Friday, the Singapore Sleep Society and Philips, in partnership with the World Association of Sleep Medicine, are separately running campaigns to encourage people to sleep more and raise awareness on sleep disorders. Common sleep disorders in Singapore are insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), where a person stops breathing multiple times while asleep because the upper airways are blocked and it is hard for air to enter the lungs. Doctors estimate 10 to 30 per cent of the population here have insomnia, while up to 25 per cent of the population here have OSA. Global studies show 4 per cent of middle aged men and 2 per cent of women have OSA. The figures vary as there are no recent local studies on sleep disorders because of funding and manpower issues, doctors said. But while the numbers differ, doctors do agree that more people could be suffering from OSA as obesity rates rise. Weight has a direct effect on OSA as the additional fat around the neck could make the airway narrower and obstruct breathing. Signs of OSA include snoring, waking up in the middle of the night breathless and feeling tired in the day. Dr Lee Yeow Hian, a consultant in respiratory medicine in Tan Tock Seng Hospital said the "vast majority" of people with OSA go undiagnosed as they are either not aware of the condition, or they are not aware of their symptoms are they are asleep. Yet in the long term, people with OSA are at a higher risk of getting cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack and diabetes. Said Dr Ong Thun How, the director of the Singapore General Hospital's sleep disorders unit, people with OSA have a 47 per cent more chance of getting and dying from a heart attack. She said, OSA can be treated via surgery for some or through the use of a mask that blows air into the throat and lungs to prevent the airway from being blocked. Patients suffering from insomnia should also be screened for underlying causes such as medical disorders or psychiatric conditions such as depression and anxiety, she said.

The Street where Homes cost £6.4m If you want to buy a home on Victoria Road, it will cost you an absolute fortune! John Fitzsimons, 14:53, Wednesday 16 March 2011 When I bought my home, I was very much in the bargain basement area of the market. As a first-time buyer, with only a journalist's salary, the options were not exactly plentiful. I had to make sure my money went a long way. Yet I retain a weird fascination with the other end of the housing market, where the great and the good spend a not-so-small fortune on a home. And according to a new survey, the cost of buying in these mega-expensive streets is on the rise. Living next door to Dustin Hoffman This year's survey of the most expensive streets in England and Wales from Mouseprice.co.uk has found that Victoria Road in Kensington, London, is officially the dearest place to nab a home, with an average house price of a whopping £6.42 million. And interestingly this represents a pretty significant jump in the value of homes on the road in the past 12 months. In the last survey, Victoria Road was in 10th position, with an average value of a little over £5 million. So how on Earth has the street jumped to the top of the tree, and by £1.42 million in value? It's all down to the methodology Mouseprice uses, a big part of which comes down to data on prices paid most recently for properties on each street, taken from the Land Registry. And last year one property on Victoria Road was sold for an incredible price of more than £11 million. The street clearly has its charms Dustin Hoffman lives there and its proximity to the Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Palace and Hyde Park all help its attractiveness. But don't bet against it topping the table again next year an eight-bedroom property is currently for sale on the street with Knight Frank, and with an asking price of an eye-watering £13 million! The domination of Kensington Here are the top 20 most expensive streets in England and Wales. Street name Postcode Average value Victoria Road W8 £6,426,000 Ingram Avenue NW11 £6,419,400 Chester Square SW1W £6,312,400 Egerton Crescent SW3 £5,971,200 Carlyle Square SW3 £5,746,000 Mulberry Walk SW3 £5,741,900 Winnington Road N2 £5,730,100 Manresa Road SW3 £5,728,400 Eldon Road W8 £5, 701,000 Essex Villas W8 £5, 689,400 Gilston Road SW10 £5,682,500 Campden Hill Square W8 £5,676,500 Eden Close NW3 £5,593,600 Elm Walk NW3 £5,582,900 Alexander Square SW3 £5,481,500 Upper Phillimore Gardens W8 £5,405,900 Highbury Road SW19 £5,315,400 Douro Place W8 £5,206,700 Phillimore Gardens W8 £4,897, 000 Chelsea Park Gardens SW3 £4,892,000 Ingram Avenue retains second spot, and has now been there for the last three surveys. Its average value has also risen by the best part of £400,000 since last year. There is currently a property on the market on Ingram Avenue with a guide price of just shy of £6 million. The street is very close to Hampstead Heath and Primrose Hill. Chester Square, in third place, finished top last year. Its fall can be partly attributed to 'bargain' sales in the past 12 months of £3.5 million and £3.8 million. However, the street clearly has some appeal back in December, a property on the street sold for £10 million! Residents of Chester Square have included Margaret Thatcher, Roman Abramovich and Mary Shelley. Of the top 20 streets, 14 of them are found within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, up from 12 last year. Barnet is the second most popular borough, with four streets making the list. The regions Of course, there's nothing that shocking about Kensington being one of the most expensive places to live. Let's take a look at how the various regions of England and Wales have performed compared to last year. Region Average of top 10 streets Last year's figure Change London £5,946,580 £5,545,900 7.2% South East £3,578,060 £3,368,060 6.2% East £1,953,040 £1,768,880 10.4% North West £1,629,240 £1,674,130 -2.7% South West £1,506,490 £1,347,080 11.8% West Midlands £1,154,390 £1,058,040 9.1% Yorkshire & the Humber £1,011,290 £1,003,170 0.8% East Midlands £917,570 £856,050 7.2% North East £866,490 £820,200 5.6% Wales £648,410 £676,320 -4.1% Just two regions have seen the average price of their high-end property fall in the last year, while Yorkshire & Humber has seen marginal movement. For the rest of England and Wales, the most expensive properties have enjoyed a buoyant 12 months. Clearly, while the majority of the UK housing market saw a fairly mediocre 2010, the top end had a far better time of things. This is likely because the factors that have held back most of the property market - poor accessibility to mortgages, fears over job stability, immobile housing chains - are not so significant at the very top of the market. The secret ingredients So what makes these addresses so special? Why are people willing to shell out such frankly ridiculous sums for them? I've gone through some of the top streets from each region to put together the list below of features that make them stand out from the bog-standard streets. Astons Road, the most expensive street in the East region, is nicknamed 'Millionaire's Row for Indians', such is its popularity among the Indian community. So try to spot an area that is particularly enticing for a certain section of the populace! What have the Romans ever done for us? The Ridgeway is the East Midlands' most expensive street, and has been for the last five years. It's built on what used to be a Roman villa, and includes four listed buildings. Commuting matters. The most expensive streets all tend to enjoy excellent access links to major motorways and cities. Celebrity is expensive. Victoria Road boasts one of the great actors of the past 30 years, and Virginia Waters, an area which dominates the South East's top 10, has featured in the Harry Potter films. If you can find a home within walking distance of the first tee, it can only help the top streets in Wales, the West Midlands, the South East, London and Yorkshire & the Humber are all found within short distances of quality golf clubs.

Health Impact of Radiation Exposure Nuclear accident in Japan raises spectre of Chernobyl Wed 16 Mar, 2011 01:00 pm GMT The nuclear crisis in Japan following last week's earthquake and tsunami continues, raising the spectre of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, when a large plume of radioactive fallout drifted across Europe. On Tuesday, the Japanese government said radiation from the stricken Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was at levels harmful to human health. Radiation levels in parts of the plant briefly reached 400 millisieverts per hour, though they later fell. An average chest X-ray usually gives a dose of about 0.1 millisieverts of radiation. The rise in radiation prompted the plant operator to briefly evacuate the emergency staff working on the stricken reactors. At the radiation levels recorded, 75 minutes exposure would lead to acute radiation sickness. Several explosions have damaged the outer structures housing the nuclear reactors, and fires have broken out in the plant's fuel storage tanks. There are also fears that the containment vessels of two plant reactors have been damaged. The function of the steel vessel is to protect the nuclear reactor and fuel and prevent the spread of radioactivity into the atmosphere. In the worst case scenario, the nuclear fuel melts inside the reactor and damage to the containment vessel allows large amounts of radiation to be released into the atmosphere through the breach. In Tokyo, 170 miles south of the stricken plant, radiation levels on Tuesday briefly rose to 20 times normal levels, though this is not thought to pose an immediate health threat. While the Japanese government has evacuated people living within 12 miles of the plant, the health impact of the radioactive emissions will depend on the type of radioactive isotope released, how long it remains radioactive and the degree of environmental contamination. So far, radioactive iodine-131 and caesium-137 have been detected around the nuclear plant. Although radioactive iodine has a half-life of only eight days, it is readily taken up by the thyroid gland and can lead to cancer. Radioactive caesium, with a half life of 30 years, can cause long term environmental contamination. Consequences of radiation exposure The immediate consequence of significant exposure is radiation sickness, which can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and fatigue. Later these symptoms may be followed by headaches, mouth and throat inflammation, hair loss, chest pain, skin darkening and bleeding spots under the skin, haemorrhage and anaemia. In the case of extreme radiation exposure - suffered by those in the immediate vicinity of a radioactive release, such as plant workers - death can occur in weeks. Immediate measures Those residing near the plant have been told to remove and dispose of clothes and to wash with soap and water to minimise additional contamination. The Japanese government has also distributed 230,000 doses of iodine tablets to those living near the plant. The iodine saturates the thyroid gland, preventing the gland from storing radioactive iodine, which can later develop into thyroid cancer. A range of other treatments, from drugs that counter bone marrow damage to those minimising the impact on internal organs, could also be used. Long term impact The long term impact of radiation may not reveal itself until years after the accident. In Chernobyl, those most affected were emergency workers, with 47 dying from acute radiation. About 4,000 children from the area developed thyroid cancer, and 9 died. A 2005 consensus report of eight United Nations agencies and the governments of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia predicted that 4,000 emergency workers and residents of the most contaminated areas may die from radiation-induced cancer in the long term. The authorities in Japan are aware of the risks and have reduced the size of the emergency team working at the damaged nuclear plant to a minimum. Those living within 12 miles of the plant have been evacuated, while those between 12 and 18 miles from the plant were told to stay inside their homes, with windows closed and ventilators off.

Singapore, how will you react? By Jeffrey Oon | Yahoo Newsroom – Wed, Mar 16, 2011 4:21 PM SGT COMMENT As I watch the dramatic events unfold in Japan and marvel at the way its people -- bruised, beaten but undefeated -- struggle to comprehend their new reality, I wonder how Singapore would react if a similar disaster were to engulf our island. By now, you must have read about how hundreds of thousands of Japanese face a dire struggle for survival with quiet dignity and gaman (stoicism). Of how, despite the desperate conditions they face, the Japanese still wait in orderly queues to cross the road, of how they patiently wait in line for food and water rations to be distributed. It is a marvel to behold, and so unlike the stories of looting and violence that emerged from the aftermaths of the Haiti earthquake and Hurricane Katrina. But what about us, how would we react as a nation and as a people? Will qualities such as dignity and pride and a quiet determination that we can overcome adversity shine through or will our famously kiasu (scared-to-lose) attitude rise to the fore in times of panic and self-preservation? Because when we have lost everything that in Singapore is deemed important -- the cars we drive, the watches we wear or the balances in our bank accounts -- then we become indistinguishable from our fellow Singaporeans, save for our individual character and qualities. Where you stay, whether Sentosa Cove or Sembawang, Bukit Timah or Balestier, won't make one bit of difference. Condo or bungalow or not, what will matter, foremost, is if your husband or wife, mother, father and siblings, or your friends and other relatives are still alive and accounted for, and that you are lucky enough to still be able to feel the warmth of their touch and hear their voices. But beyond that, when the realisation of all that is important takes on a new meaning, will you still extend a helping hand to your fellow man? When food and water are in short supply -- be it a half bowl of rice, a left-over packet of instant noodles or a cup of muddy water -- will you still happily give it to those in greater need? Will our leaders come out of their million-dollar homes, roll up their sleeves, pick up a shovel or pail and lead by example, or will they shirk responsibilty and hide behind a curtain of finger-pointing and blame? Will they come out looking like Japan's chief cabinet secretary Yukio Edano, who has been the tireless face of the Japanese government's response to the crisis, or will they come out looking like the unpopular Prime Minister Naoto Kan, criticised for his slow response to the nuclear emergency? What about the foreigners in Singapore? Will they in the thousands who have been lured, given citizenship and PR status join their adopted nation and its people and stay to fight the good fight -- or will they, in the face of impending disaster, radiation or worse, take the first flight out of the country, back to the welcoming arms of their home nation. Only then will we know if the government's relentless preaching about the need to integrate and embed with the rest of Singapore society has paid off -- but by then, it may be too late. How will our big businesses -- the SIAs, SingTels and SMRTs react? Will they follow in the footsteps of Japanese noodle maker Nissin, who contributed a million cups of instant noodles to relief efforts, or will they seek to profit from the disaster like the recent example of a local media broadcaster? And what about our overseas Singaporeans, who represent the best and brightest the nation has to offer -- will they return from far and wide to help or will they view the crisis unfold from a distance with ready chequebook in hand? What about our highly trained 3G Singapore Armed Forces? Will we even respond to the call to report for duty in the first place or will our first instinct be to protect and preserve our loved ones and possessions first? Will our training, untested as it has been, have come to nought at the first sign of danger or, like the 50 Japanese emergency workers toiling heroically at the Fukushima nuclear plant, will we be ready to lay down our lives for our fellow Singaporean? Singapore's similarities with Japan are remarkable. Both our societies are highly modernised, efficient and advanced. But it is only in time of crisis that true character is revealed. Only then will we discover if the common ties that bind us are strengthened or if they come loose in the face of desperation and panic. Let us hope we react like how our Asian neighbours have, with quiet dignity, pride and respect for one another. In the words of Yuta Saga, a survivor from the tiny Japanese fishing town of Yuriage that was wiped out by the tsunami, said, "I saw the ugly side of people, and then I saw the good side. Some people only thought of themselves. Others stopped to help." Singapore, which side will we see?

How you can help Japan By Alicia Wong – March 14th, 2011 Japan was hit by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded on Friday, 11 March. The 8.9-magnitude quake triggered a massive 10-metre tsunami that swept away entire towns, ships and even fighter planes. Hundreds of people are dead, many more are missing or injured. Officials have predicted the death toll could top 10,000. Millions of survivors are left without drinking water, food and electricity. They are taking shelter in schools and stadiums to escape near-freezing temperatures. Major aftershocks are expected in the coming days. Japan has often donated when other countries have experienced disasters. Here’s how you can help them now. Mercy Relief: The organisation is accepting donations to procure relief supplies. It has deployed a two-man preliminary disaster response team to Japan to ascertain ground needs and procure relief supplies. The MR team will help distribute supplies with UN agencies. It will also collaborate with local non-governmental organisations to support their relief efforts. With an initial tranche of USD $20,000 provided by SAP Asia Pacific Japan, the team will help address the pressing needs for food, water and quilts. For cheque donations, please make the cheque payable to Mercy Relief Limited and send it to the Mercy Relief office at Blk 160 Lorong 1 Toa Payoh #01-1568 Singapore 310160. On the back of the cheque, indicate ‘Japan Quake and Tsunami Relief’’. Cash donations can also be made at the Mercy Relief office. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 9am - 7pm. For ATM transfers/internet banking, Mercy Relief’s DBS Current Account is 054-900493-6 Credit card donations can be made via eNets at www.mercyrelief.org Singapore Red Cross: The organisation has started a hotline (6334-9152 / 6334-9153 / 6334-9154) to help those in Singapore get in touch with relatives in Japan. The SRC will take down details of the missing person and forward the information on to its sister national society, the Japanese Red Cross Society and the International Committee of Red Cross. It is also working with the Japanese Association to raise funds. For cheque donations, please make the cheque payable to Singapore Red Cross and mail to the SRC office at Red Cross House, 15 Penang Lane Singapore 238486. On the back of the cheque, indicate ‘Japan disaster 2011′. Cash donations can also be made at the SRC office during office hours. The public can also SMS “Red Cross” to 75772. Each message will cost $50. The SRC is also working with banks like DBS, OCBC and UOB, to allow donations through ATMs and the Internet. World Vision Singapore: A World Vision assessment team has arrived in the quake zone to assess the needs of the survivors and prepare supplies and programmes for the homeless. The team brought baby supplies, warm clothing, food and daily necessities for distribution. World Vision also plans to establish child-friendly spaces so children affected by the disasters can resume normal childhood activities and experience structure and security. For cheque donations, please make the cheque payable to World Vision International and mail to the World Vision office at 750B Chai Chee Road, #03-02, Technopark @ Chai Chee, Singapore 469002. On the back of the cheque, indicate ‘Japan disaster’. Cash donations can also be made at the World Vision office. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 9am – 5pm. You can donate online at http://www.worldvision.org.sg/japandisaster/

S’porean donates S$1 million for Japan Relief Efforts By Angela Lim | 1 hour 46 minutes ago Touched by the news about Japan's earthquake and tsunami disaster, one Singaporean decided she wanted to do more. 24-year-old Elaine Low presented her contribution to Japanese Ambassador to Singapore Yoichi Suzuki on Wednesday -- a cheque for S$1 million. Ms Low is the daughter of Datuk Low Tuck Kwong, 63, founder of Bayan Resources, an Indonesia-based coal-mining company. She is in charge of business development at the company. Ambassador Suzuki said Low's donation was the largest the embassy had received so far for the tsunami victims, and it would boost the morale of those affected by the disaster. Low, who is leaving it to the Japanese to decide how best to use her donation to help victims, said, "My family and I feel that it's an unfortunate disaster and wanted to offer our help." The cheque presentation was held at the Japanese Embassy in Nassim Road. Low's father, who was present at the ceremony, was clearly proud of his daughter's generosity -- the S$1 million comes out of her own pocket. He said the family has friends in Japan and the company also has business ties there. It imports equipment from Japan and supplies coal to Japanese power plants. The family had previously donated to disaster victims in China and Indonesia, he added. Low, who lives in Singapore, did not want to answer more questions about herself or her gift, saying her family preferred to keep a low profile. According to The Straits Times, all she would say was: "We sincerely just want to help the people affected by this unfortunate event." Ambassador Suzuki revealed that the money would probably go to the Japanese Red Cross Society to decide how to use it for disaster victims. Kazuo Shibata, president of The Japanese Association, Singapore, who also attended the cheque presentation ceremony, said he was surprised an individual had given so much. "I was really glad to know that a Singaporean would pay so much attention to what's happening in Japan. I do not know of any Japanese who has donated such a huge amount so far," he said. In the meantime, Singapore Red Cross Society has collected S$235,000, excluding the S$500,000 pledged so far by the Singapore Government. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said it will be collecting donations at all mosques starting tomorrow. Humanitarian group World Vision Singapore has received more than S$190,000 in donations, while Mercy Relief has collected S$43,282. Swissotel the Stamford and Fairmont Singapore aim to raise S$25,000 through a charity dinner on Sunday. All revenue will go to disaster victims.

Thousands flee Tokyo as Radiation Fears mount By ANI | ANI – Wed, Mar 16, 2011 4:47 PM SGT Tokyo, Mar.16 (ANI): Thousands of tourists and residents left Tokyo and fled to safer areas on wednesday, despite official reassurances that radiation levels in the capital were negligible and posed no threat to health, after an explosion in reactor no 2 of the Fukushima nuclear plant, threatened to send radiation levels soaring. The explosion is believed to have caused a crack in the chamber of reactor no 2 and steam and radioactive substances are reportedly pouring out through it, raising the contamination levels. Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yukio Edano, said that the levels quickly fell again, but refused to rule out further leaks. Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan has warned that the risk of further contamination from the Fukushima complex was 'still high'. Experts and government ministers have warned that contamination in the areas around the plant, about 300 km north east of Tokyo, was dangerous to human health, and told the people living there to evacuate or stay indoors. Several airlines, including Air China and Lufthansa, have also stopped services into the city's airports, The Independent reports. However, experts have tried to dampen down fears of a catastrophe. Masako Sawai, an expert from the Citizens' Nuclear Information Centre said: "We don't believe it is necessary to evacuate Tokyo, even though the radioactivity is certainly out there. However, there is a possibility that our view may change depending on how the reactor activity progresses." Ryousuke Sanada, who works for a food distribution company said: "We're being sent west by our company, to Osaka. They say it's just a normal transfer, but they're worried about the radiation." Experts have repeatedly cautioned against over- reaction, saying that a Chernobyl-style catastrophe is unlikely. They said modern nuclear plants are built better, and the Fukushima complex has been shut down since last Friday. But such reassurances have not been able to calm the people who fear that the worst is yet to come. The shops in the area have started running out of water, toilet rolls and rice as people are stocking up on necessities in case things got worse. Candles, facemasks and umbrellas have sold out, after government officials advised using them for protection against the radiation. (ANI)

When SNORING means more than just Noise By TTSH – March 8th, 2011 By Dr. Chong Yaw Khian You notice your partner snores heavily soon after falling asleep and the sound gets louder throughout the night. Occasionally, he might even startle you awake with a loud snort or gasp, as if there is a difficulty in breathing. In the day, your partner might also complain that he’s feeling tired and sleepy. You may also notice your partner is more irritable and forgetful. After a period of time, you too, feel tired and frustrated from being woken up from your partner’s snoring. The effect in the long run can, nonetheless, be detrimental to your relationship not forgetting the health of your partner. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Chances are your partner is suffering from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). This is a condition in which pauses in breathing (apnea) occur during sleep because the airway has become narrowed or blocked. This can result in a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. In healthy individuals, the airway remains open during sleep to let air pass through. However, people with OSA have a narrower airway and when the muscles in their upper throat relax during sleep, the airway collapses and hence breathing can pause. Other factors that could compromise the airway include large tonsils and adenoids in children, large neck or collar size (17 inches or more in men and 16 inches or more in women) and large tongue or certain shapes of the palate or airway which can cause the airway to collapse easily. Not aware Most people with OSA are not aware they have such a condition. Often, family members witness these periods of apnea. People with OSA suffer from restless sleep. They wake up with a sense of un-refreshing sleep and can feel tired throughout the day. This is also called Excessive Daytime Sleepiness (EDS). Other symptoms an OSA patient can experience include — falling asleep while working, reading, or watching TV; feeling irritable, grumpy or impatient; morning headaches; being forgetful and increased urination at night. Because of EDS, people with sleep apnea have also increased risk of motor accidents on the road and industrial accidents. Untreated sleep apnea may lead to or worsen cardiovascular diseases such as heart arrhythmias, heart failure, high blood pressure, sexual dysfunction and stroke. The good news is that there is help for OSA sufferers. The treatment goal is to keep the throat airway open so that breathing will not stop during sleep. Treatment Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is now regarded as the first-line treatment for obstructive sleep apnea in most people. It is a system of delivering positive pressure to the airway thereby keeping them open throughout the sleep. CPAP is delivered by a machine with a tight-fitting facemask. However, many patients cannot tolerate CPAP therapy. Good follow-up and support from a sleep center can often help overcome any problems in using CPAP. Surgery is another option to treat OSA. This is an alternative solution to patient who are unable to tolerate CPAP. Numerous surgical options are available and the appropriate surgery depends on the patient’s profile as well as the severity of the OSA. Patients are also recommended to adopt certain lifestyle changes such as weight control and avoiding alcohol/sedatives during bedtime. Avoiding sleeping on the back may also relieve symptoms of sleep apnea in some people. Individuals who snore habitually should see their doctor, as the doctor can help them find solutions to this noisy problem. In the long run, they will be healthier and the entire family will thank them for the peace and quiet they get throughout the night. The writer is a Consultant at Department of Othorhinolaryngology at Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

French court bans Condoms from CONDOM 10 hours 46 mins ago A French court has banned a company set up by a descendant of King Louis XIV from selling luxury condoms described as from the southwestern town of Condom, the town's lawyer said on Wednesday. The court in the nearby city of Bordeaux banned "the continued sale of condoms under the brand 'The Original Condom from Condom, France,'" said Caroline Lampre, lawyer for the picturesque town of 7,500. "It is clear that the use of the name, the image and the renown of the town of Condom, without its knowledge, for entirely commercial ends (is) manifestly illicit," said the judge's ruling, seen by AFP. French royal descendant Charles-Emmanuel de Bourbon Parme and count Gil de Bizemont have been selling their "luxury eco-friendly" prophylactics mainly in the United States since 2009. The company is headquartered in the medieval town although the contraceptives themselves are manufactured in rubber-rich Malaysia. Condoms sell on the company's website for $2 (around 1.50 euros) a piece, although the site says they are not available in Condom itself or anywhere else in France. The site says the two aristocrats "decided to introduce a new kind of 'sophisticated' condom that holds a 'je ne sais quoi'." "Condoms protect everyone from disease, ours protect from tackiness," Bizemont says on the site. The town brought the case after Condom Mayor Bernard Gallado learned about the condoms from media reports. The river Baise (French slang for SEX) runs through the popular tourist town which feared the opening of a condom boutique in Condom itself. Condom is now going to bring a case to get The Original Condom brand banned, lawyer Lampre said.

Premier League - Bruce turned down £4.5m Carroll Wed, 16 Mar 10:04:00 2011 Sunderland boss Steve Bruce has admitted he once had the chance to sign striker Andy Carroll for just £4.5million when he was manager of Wigan. Carroll could make his first start for Liverpool at the Stadium of Light on Sunday after finally shaking off the thigh injury with which he arrived at Anfield after his £35m switch from Newcastle in January. But Bruce has revealed the England international might have made his name in very different colours after playing an impressive cameo role as a substitute for the Magpies at Wigan in December 2008. He told the Journal: "When I was Wigan manager, he came on against us and played well, really well. We were hammering Newcastle and Andy came on and won them a penalty with two minutes to go. "On the Monday morning, I rang up (then manager) Joe Kinnear and I said to him, 'Would you sell me Andy?', and they quoted me £4.5m. "To be honest, I seriously thought about it - however, in the end, we could only go to £2.5m. I had (Emile) Heskey at the time and I did wonder if Heskey and Carroll would work, so Andy Carroll could quite easily have ended up being my player."

Champions League - Mourinho keen to avoid Chelsea Thu, 17 Mar 00:40:00 2011 Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has said he was keen to avoid former clubs Chelsea and Internazionale in the Champions League quarter-final draw. The flamboyant Portuguese helped Real end six years of Champions League failure when they beat Lyon 3-0 for a 4-1 aggregate success to claim a berth in the last eight for the first time since 2004. That was the year Mourinho won the Champions League with Porto before moving to Chelsea and then to Inter, whom he led to a treble of Italian league and cup and Champions League last season. "I prefer to avoid Chelsea and Inter because emotionally it's difficult playing against your people and your friends," Mourinho said. "If we have to play them then we will play them as we are all professionals but I'll have to forget they are my people. "Emotionally I will have to better prepare myself to play Inter or Chelsea." Real could also be drawn against great Spanish rivals and 2009 winners Barcelona. They are five points behind Barca in La Liga with 10 games left and are due to play them in the Copa del Rey final on April 20. Real Director General Jorge Valdano said it would be better for Spanish football if the pair met later in the competition, adding that he would not like to draw Schalke 04, as the return of former Real striker Raul would be too much of a distraction. "We wouldn't like it if Raul visited us," Valdano said. "There would be too much emotion in the atmosphere and it wouldn't be advisable." Reuters

Champions League - Ancelotti: We lacked Precision Thu, 17 Mar 00:34:00 2011 Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted his side "lacked precision" up front against Copenhagen at Stamford Bridge but remains confident about his side's Champions League chances. The Blues were held to a goalless draw by the Danish side, but progressed to the last eight thanks to the 2-0 lead they held from the first leg of the last 16 tie in Copenhagen. Such was Chelsea's confidence that the lead secured by Nicolas Anelka's brace three weeks ago would prove a safe enough cushion, Ancelotti started with Fernando Torres, Michael Essien and Florent Malouda on the bench. Torres came on for the last 23 minutes but after sending one shot fizzing past a post and another into the second tier of the stand, the Spaniard remained in search of his first goal after six matches for his new club. It was all of little concern to Ancelotti, however, as his side stayed on course for the semi-finals for the sixth time in eight years after joining fellow Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in Friday's draw. Chelsea lacked intensity but always looked capable of upping the pace if they needed to and they almost had to when Dame N'Doye cracked a free kick against a post in the visitors' only worthwhile goal attempt. "I think the performance was good," Ancelotti said. "We didn't want to take a risk for this game and prepared well. We had good defensive control of the game, we worked hard, and we had a lot of opportunities to score. "We obviously need to be more precise in front of goal, but these are little details. The general performance was good. "Obviously we have to improve. We had so many chances to score, and we'll have to score. Obviously. "But I see the team fresh and it's a good moment for us. We can improve, really, in the next games of the Champions League. "I think we have a squad that's strong enough to win it. All the players are fit. The team is strong enough. "If we play at 100 per cent we have a possibility to get to the final stages of the Champions League." Copenhagen, 20 points clear at the top of their domestic league and the first Danish side to make the knockout stage of the Champions League, were happy with their night's work. "Chelsea were the best team over two games. We were good in seven of the eight games but let ourselves down at Parken after the winter break," Copenhagen coach Stale Solbakken said. "We didn't really have the quality to hurt them tonight, the few times we were through our finishing was poor so we've probably reached the extent of our level. "Maybe if N'Doye's free kick had gone in we'd have had a look at Chelsea's nerves but all in all I'm really proud of what we've done in this campaign." Ancelotti's attention was on Sunday's game against City and he said Torres, Essien and Malouda would all start. "I'd already decided the team to play against Manchester City and I wanted those players to be fresh," said the Italian. "The feeling is good, all the players are fit and fresh and we are in a good moment." Eurosport / Reuters

Champions League - Chelsea march on to Quarter-Finals Wed, 16 Mar 21:48:00 2011 Chelsea sealed their safe passage through to the Champions League quarter-finals with a goalless draw at home to Copenhagen. The Premier League champions took a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Denmark to Stamford Bridge knowing a draw would be more than enough against their underdog opponents. Although the Blues' march forward in this season’s competition was not put under serious threat at any point, the Danish champions put in a solid performance to earn a draw and a clean sheet. Yuri Zhirkov, Nicolas Anelka and Didier Drogba could all have easily put Chelsea in front, but Dame N’Doye threatened to make it an uncomfortable night with a woodwork-rattling free-kick in the first half. John Obi Mikel headed onto the crossbar early in the second half and substitute Fernando Torres came close on a couple of occasions to grabbing his first goal for his new club, but Stale Solbakken’s men were good value for the 0-0 result as they exited the tournament. Despite not needing to score on the night to advance, Carlo Ancelotti’s side clearly aimed to send their supporters home happy and marked their intent to build on their 2-0 advantage as early as the 10th minute. Drogba showed some good skills to find space for a shot, but from a fair distance he failed to trouble Johan Wiland in the Copenhagen goal. Drogba was involved again on 18 minutes as the hosts turned on the style. After being fed by Zhirkov, the Ivorian backheeled Ashley Cole though and though Cole could not get a shot off himself, he returned possession to Zhirkov to shoot off target. Zhirkov continued to torment the away side and minutes later the Russian cut the defence wide open with a pass through to Anelka, whose shot was weak and parried by Wiland. Just as it looked like a matter of time before Chelsea extended their lead over the two legs, John Terry fouled N’Doye just outside the Blues’ penalty area and the forward spectacularly curled the resulting free-kick against the upright with Petr Cech stranded. It served as a warning to the English side that they were not necessarily home and dry yet, though Zhrikov had another good chance thanks to a lovely ball from Drogba on 33 minutes. Drogba should have put the tie out of Copenhagen’s reach within minutes of the restart when he tamely connected with a low volley from Jose Bosingwa’s cross. And with 51 played, a Chelsea corner sparked a game of head tennis amidst the blue shirts packing the box, finishing with Mikel’s close range nodded effort against the bar. Fifty million pound man Torres replaced Anelka halfway through the second period, and although he almost provoked an own goal with a speculative shot deflected wide of Wiland’s post, it was not the night for his eagerly-anticipated first goal in a blue shirt. And although Chelsea saw out the remainder of the game to ensure their participation in the last eight of this year’s tournament, Copenhagen more than deserved their clean sheet. And as the first Danish side to make the knockout stages of the Champions League, FC Copenhagen exit Europe with their heads held high. Liam Happe / Eurosport

Premier League - Bryan Robson battling Cancer Wed, 16 Mar 11:11:00 2011 Manchester United and England legend Bryan Robson is battling throat cancer. The current Thailand manager, 54, had an operation to remove a tumour from his throat on March 3 in a Bangkok hospital. A Manchester United spokesperson said: "At this moment, Bryan is fine to continue with his role as Thailand coach and his role as ambassador of Manchester United. "Bryan and family have requested that he can continue with his treatment in private and ask that their privacy is respected. "The oncologist is confident that the condition is treatable." Robson captained both Manchester United and England during a distinguished career. He won 90 caps for England, scoring 25 goals and made 461 appearances for United scoring 99 goals between 1981-1994. Nicknamed 'Captain Marvel', the combative midfielder helped the Old Trafford club win two Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the European Cup Winners' Cup. As a manager he has taken charge of Middlesbrough, Bradford City, West Bromwich Albion and Sheffield United, as well as Thailand. Eurosport

Premier League - Furious Nani slams Carragher Wed, 16 Mar 15:23:00 2011 Manchester United winger Nani has launched a furious attack on Jamie Carragher over the tackle which left him with an ugly gash on his leg. Carragher sent an apology into the United dressing room immediately after Liverpool's 3-1 win at Anfield on March 6 and then waited to offer his personal remorse for a challenge that forced Nani to be stretchered off. But the Portugal star was having none of it. He had not forgotten it was a previous Carragher challenge on him that sparked an injury that eventually forced him to miss two months of last term. And even now, in the wake of a quicker-than-expected comeback against Marseille in the Champions League, Nani is livid. "I don't know what Carragher was thinking but I do know what he did was not football," said Nani, speaking for the first time about the challenge. "He came to apologise after the game. But I was not happy. It is the second time he injured me. Before he put me out of the game for two months. He always tackles like that. "I don't want protection. I just want the referees to be fair. If it is a red card, they have to give it. If they give the card, the next time the player doesn't make the tackle."

Premier League - Ferguson handed FIVE-Match BAN Wed, 16 Mar 15:25:00 2011 Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson has been handed a five-match touchline ban after the FA found him guilty of improper conduct over his comments about referee Martin Atkinson after the 2-1 Premier League defeat to Chelsea. He will watch the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley from the stands, as well as much of United's Premier League title run-in. And Independent Regulatory Commission fined the Scot £30,000 and, in addition to the clash with City, he will be banned from the dugout for games against West Ham, Fulham, Newcastle and Everton. The sanction starts on March 22, meaning he will be able to coach from the dugout during the home game with Bolton this weekend. Ferguson, who contested the improper conduct charge, was given a three-match ban for the comments about Atkinson, but the FA also invoked a two-game suspended ban carried over from last season, when he accused Alan Wiley of being unfit to referee at the highest level. The heavy punishment stems from Ferguson's apparent allegation of bias, when he said "a fair referee" should have been appointed for the Chelsea game on March 1. He said: "You want a fair referee - or a strong referee, anyway - and we didn't get that. When I saw who the referee was I did fear it. I feared the worst." He insisted that Atkinson missed two fouls by David Luiz that should have resulted in sending-off, and he also disputed the incident which saw Yuri Zhirkov win a penalty after a challenge from Chris Smalling.

Champions League - United through to Quarters despite scare Tue, 15 Mar 21:36:00 2011 Manchester United ensured their name will be in the hat for Friday's Champions League quarter-final draw after a nervy 2-1 win over Marseille at Old Trafford. Javier Hernandez put United ahead early on and despite several scares at the back the Mexican netted a second with 15 minutes remaining to put the home side firmly in the box seat. But a Wes Brown own-goal on 82 minutes meant stress levels inside the ground remained high with the tie still on a knife edge during an anxious finale. Yet the French champions were unable to seriously test their hosts again and United held out to progress to their fifth successive last-eight appearance in the competition. Hernandez broke the deadlock with a simple fifth-minute tap-in after Wayne Rooney had started the move and then delivered the killer pass across the face of goal. The strike followed a bright opening by United, who knew that victory on the night would see them progress to the quarter-finals after the first leg at the Stade Velodrrome had ended goalless. But even a goal to the good, the tie was delicately balanced and an away Marseille goal would have turned the tie completely on its head. That knowledge appeared to play on the minds of United's back line, which was missing the influential Nemanja Vidic after the Serb failed a fitness test on the calf strain he picked up at the weekend. As such, Alex Ferguson was forced into fielding Brown and Chris Smalling in the centre of defence - the same pairing that played in the 3-1 defeat at Liverpool in the Premier League a week and a half previously. And during the opening period, the makeshift back line did little to suggest United were going to maintain their excellent defensive record in this competition, which had seen them concede just once in seven previous games heading into this one. Soon after Nani had opened the scoring, Smalling nearly got caught out as an innovative flick-on from Andre Ayew looped over the defender's head and into the path of Andre-Pierre Gignac. Only an abject finish from the France international kept United's clean sheet intact. Souleymane Diawara was then allowed to meet a corner unchallenged but, again, United were saved by another atrocious finish, this time as Diawara conspired to head wide. And on 42 minutes, Smalling's attempted clearance only found Loic Remy, who blazed a vicious first-time effort over the bar. Yet United survived those scares and were actually the better side during the opening period, bossing possession and only lacking the nous to unlock the visitors' defence for a second time. The second half was a different story as Marseille, forced to attack more and with United sitting back a little, began to enjoy more of the ball. Benoit Cheyrou brought Edwin van der Sar into action on 74 minutes as the pressure on United's goal mounted but the hosts relieved the pressure as Hernandez hit on the break in virtually a carbon copy of his first goal. This time Antonio Valencia, a second half replacement for Nani, was the architect, slipping the ball through for Ryan Giggs to square to Hernandez, who had another simple finish from close range. The goal should have put the tie to bed, but Marseille extended their interest in the match when Gabriel Heinze - booed on his return to Old Trafford - attacked a corner and Brown bundled the ball into his own net. Yet Didier Deschamps's side failed to take inspiration from the goal and what should have been a grandstand finish saw the French side fail to fashion any more chances. The result sees United maintain their impeccable record against French opposition at Old Trafford - they have never lost to a side from across the Channel at home - and means they join Internazionale, Tottenham, Barcelona, Schalke and Shakhtar Donetsk in Friday's draw. Chelsea's fate will be decided on Wednesday when they meet FC Copenhagen, while Real Madrid play Lyon. Mike Hytner / Eurosport

Abortions give rise to Asia's 'Lost Boy' Generation On Tuesday 15 March 2011, 1:35 SGT Abortions of female fetuses have led to a massive surplus of young unmarried men in India and China, raising fears of an outcast group that could threaten the social fabric, a study said Monday. The trend took root in the 1980s when ultrasound technologies made it easier for families to detect fetal sex early and to abort if it was not what the parents desired, said the analysis in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. Sons have traditionally been preferred over daughters in many parts of China, India and South Korea due to social, cultural and financial motivations. Sex-selective abortion is outlawed but can be difficult to enforce. The phenomenon was first spotted in South Korea in the early 1990s, when the sex ratio at birth (SRB) -- typically 105 male births to every 100 female births -- rose to 125 in some cities. Similar rises in male births were seen in China, "complicated by the one-child policy, which has undoubtedly contributed to the steady increase in the reported SRB from 106 in 1979, to 111 in 1990, 117 in 2001 and 121 in 2005," said the study. India has seen "sex ratios as high as 125 in Punjab, Delhi and Gujarat in the north but normal sex ratios of 105 in the southern and eastern states of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh," it added. In parts of China where a second child is allowed, after a daughter is the first born, the SRB for the second is 143, suggesting that many choose to abort a second girl fetus in favor of trying again for a boy. Estimates of China's actual population difference in 2005 pointed to 1.1 million excess males, with men under 20 exceeding the number of females by around 32 million, said the study led by Therese Hesketh, University College London Centre for International Health and Development. "These men will be unable to marry, in societies where marriage is regarded as virtually universal, and where social status and acceptance depend, in large part, on being married and creating a new family," said the authors. Referred to in China as "guang gun," meaning "bare branches," these men are presumed to be unable to bear fruit by coupling and raising a family. "In China and parts of India the sheer numbers of unmated men are a further cause for concern," said the study. "Because they may lack a stake in the existing social order, it is feared that they will become bound together in an outcast culture, turning to antisocial behavior and organized crime, thereby threatening societal stability and security." Other concerns include the possibility that the surge of unmarried men will boost the sex industry, which has already expanded in India and China over the past 10 years. However, "the part played by a high sex ratio in this expansion is impossible to isolate; there is no evidence that numbers of sex workers are greater in areas with high sex ratios," said the study. Ninety-four percent of unmarried people aged 28-49 in China are male, and 97 percent of them have not completed high school, it said. "Despite the grim outlook for the generation of males entering their reproductive years over the next two decades, there are encouraging signs," said the study. A crackdown on sex-selective abortion in South Korea has resulted in a more normalized male-to-female birth rate in recent years, and China and India are both down from their peak SRBs due in part to public awareness campaigns and relaxed one-child policies. But it will likely be several more decades before the sex ratios return to normal, the authors said. The article was co-authored by Zhu Wei Xing of Zhejiang Normal University in China.

Sombre Japan Emperor makes unprecedented address to Nation By Shinichi Saoshiro | Reuters – 1 hour 15 minutes ago TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Emperor Akihito made an unprecedented televised address to his disaster-stricken nation on Wednesday, expressing deep worry about the crisis at damaged nuclear reactors and urging people to lend each other a helping hand in difficult times. Looking sombre and stoic, the 77-year-old Akihito said the problems at Japan's nuclear-power reactors, where authorities are battling to prevent a catastrophe, were unpredictable after an earthquake he described as "unprecedented in scale". TV stations interrupted coverage to carry the emperor's first public appearance since last week's massive earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands of people. "I am deeply hurt by the grievous situation in the affected areas. The number of deceased and missing increases by the day and we cannot know how many victims there will be. My hope is that as many people possible are found safe," Akihito said. "I hope from the bottom of my heart that the people will, hand in hand, treat each other with compassion and overcome these difficult times," he said, urging survivors not to "abandon hope". Japan is reeling from what Prime Minister Naoto Kan has called its worst crisis since the end of World War Two, when the country had to rebuild from its devastating defeat. For elderly Japanese at least, the sudden message from the emperor doubtless called to mind the Aug. 15, 1945, radio broadcast by his father, Emperor Hirohito, announcing the country's surrender in World War Two. That was the first time the emperor's voice had been heard on radio and his use of formal court language meant most of those listening could not understand what he was saying. CONSOLING THE PUBLIC "This earthquake was worse than the Great Kanto Earthquake (in 1923) ... It's never been experienced before," said Miiko Kodama, an expert in media studies. "This is a symbol of that." She added: "Of course, nothing changes as a result of his message, but for those who believe in the emperor, they will be encouraged." Conservative Japanese revere the emperor, others feel a fond affection, and still others find the royal family irrelevant. The plight of hundreds of thousands left homeless by the quake and tsunami that followed worsened overnight after a cold snap brought snow to some of the worst-stricken areas. The death toll stands at 4,000, but more than 7,000 are listed as missing and the figure is expected to rise. Akihito said he was "deeply worried" about the situation at the Daiichi nuclear plant in Fukushima, 240 km (150 miles) north of Tokyo, where workers were trying to contain the world's worst nuclear crisis since the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine in 1986. The emperor and Empress Michiko have long played a role comforting the public in tough times, visiting the survivors of the massive quake that killed 6,400 people in the western port of Kobe in 1995. Akihito, who ascended the throne after the death of his father in 1989, has striven to draw the imperial family closer to the people in image, if not in fact. In a sharp break with tradition, he was the first heir to marry a commoner. Akihito gives pre-recorded news conferences on set occasions such as his birthday and before overseas trips, but the suddenness of the message, its simultaneous airing on nationwide TV and its content were unprecedented. The Imperial Household Agency, which manages the royals' affairs, said in a statement on Monday that the royal couple wanted to visit the quake-hit sites but felt that efforts should focus on rescue for now. (Additional reporting by Chisa Fujioka, Writing by Linda Sieg; Editing by Nick Macfie)