kueytoc

SKorea's defense chief resigns over NKorea attack By Hyung-jin Kim And Kwang-tae Kim, Associated Press – 1 hr 34 mins ago YEONPYEONG ISLAND, South Korea – South Korea's defense minister resigned Thursday amid intense criticism two days after a North Korean artillery attack killed four people on a small island near the Koreas' disputed frontier. The move came as President Lee Myung-bak vowed to send more troops to the front-line South Korean island and as residents tried to salvage belongings from the blackened wreckage of their homes. Pyongyang warned of additional attacks if provoked. Hours before Defense Minister Kim Tae-young's resignation, lawmakers had lashed out at the government, claiming officials were unprepared for Tuesday's attack and that the military response to the North's barrage was too slow. Even those in Lee's ruling party demanded Kim's dismissal as well as those of military leaders and some presidential aides. Lee accepted Kim's resignation and a new defense chief will be announced Friday, presidential chief of staff Yim Tae-hee said. Skirmishes between the Korean militaries are not uncommon, but North Korea's heavy bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island was the first on a civilian area, raising fears of an escalation that could lead to a new war on the Korean peninsula. South Korean troops had returned fire and scrambled fighter jets in response. Seoul and Washington ratcheted up pressure on China to rein in its ally North Korea, and China on Thursday urged both sides to show restraint. Reporters allowed for the first time onto the island found streets strewn with broken glass and charred debris. Blackened beer bottles lay beside what was left of a supermarket as coast guard officers patrolled in pairs past deserted offices and schools used by relief workers for meetings and meals. Many residents fled as quickly as they could, but restaurant owner Lee In-ku, 46, joined a handful of villagers trying to salvage belongings from half-destroyed homes. "It was a sea of fire," Lee said of Tuesday's attack. "Many houses were burning and many people were just running around in confusion. It was real chaos." At an emergency meeting in Seoul on Thursday, President Lee ordered top-level weapons for troops manning the tense Yellow Sea, a presidential aide said. "We should not ease our sense of crisis in preparation for the possibility of another provocation by North Korea," presidential spokesman Hong Sang-pyo quoted Lee as saying. "A provocation like this can recur any time." Hong said South Korea will sharply raise the number of ground troops on Yeonpyeong and four other islands, reversing a 2006 decision to draw down forces. He declined to discuss specifics but said troops there currently are about 4,000. He also said the military would change its rules of engagement to better counter North Korean provocations. The defense minister's resignation came hours after he visited Yeonpyeong, home to military bases as well as a fishing community of 1,300 residents. It lies about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from South Korea's western port of Incheon, and just 7 miles (11 kilometers) from North Korean shores Two marines and two civilians were killed in Tuesday's exchange, and at least 18 people — most of them troops — were wounded. Marine Lt. Col. Joo Jong-wha acknowledged that the island is acutely short of artillery, saying it has only six pieces, the howitzers used in Tuesday's skirmish. "In artillery, you're supposed to move on after firing to mask your location so that they don't strike right back at you. But we have too few artillery," he said on Yeonpyeong. Military officials analyzing debris have not ruled out North Korea's use of thermobaric bombs, which burn more violently and increase casualties and property destruction, a Joint Chiefs of Staff official said. He asked not to be identified, saying he was not authorized to speak to reporters. The two Koreas are required to abide by an armistice signed at the close of their three-year war, but the North does not recognize the maritime line drawn by U.N. forces in 1953 and considers South Korean maneuvers near Yeonpyeong island a violation of its territory. South Korea was conducting firing drills, though not in North Korea's direction, when the North Korean artillery barrage came Tuesday. The attack added to animosity from the March sinking of a South Korean warship in nearby waters that killed 46 sailors in the worst military attack on the nation since the Korean War. The defense minister also offered to resign following that incident, but the president refused. The shelling occurred as North Korea is undergoing a delicate transition of power from leader Kim Jong Il to his young son Kim Jong Un. The son, who is in late 20s, was made a four-star general and nominated to high-ranking Workers' Party posts in the first steps toward eventually succeeding his father. North Korea's state news agency reported Monday, a day before the attack, that the elder Kim and the son and other key political and military figures visited duck and fish farms in an area about 60 miles (100 kilometers) from the base where the artillery barrage was launched. The attack alarmed world leaders, including President Barack Obama, who reaffirmed plans for joint maneuvers with Seoul involving a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in the Yellow Sea starting Sunday. North Korea made no specific mention of those exercises but warned Thursday of "strong physical retaliations without hesitation if South Korean warmongers carry out reckless military provocations." Pyongyang also said Washington was partly to blame for letting South Korea hold artillery drills that it said prompted the artillery barrage. Washington "should thoroughly control South Korea," it said. The warning was issued by North Korea's military mission at the truce village of Panmunjom and carried by the official Korean Central News Agency. Meanwhile, the Obama administration urged China to rein in ally North Korea. "We really think it's important for the international community to lead, but in particular China," said Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Washington. South Korea said it will increase diplomatic efforts to get China, which supplied North Korea with troops during the Korean War and remains its main ally and biggest benefactor, to put pressure on Pyongyang. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao called on all sides to show "maximum restraint" and called again for renewed six-nation talks aimed at persuading North Korea to dismantle its nuclear programs. Wen said those talks, involving the two Koreas, China, Russia, Japan and the United States, are the best way to ensure stability on the peninsula and its denuclearization. In Seongnam just outside Seoul, military officers, family members and dignitaries mourned the two marines killed in the attack, laying flowers and burning incense at an altar. Funerals are to take place Saturday. Former President Kim Young-sam used the occasion to criticize North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, saying he is "not a human," and said that a China that defends North Korea "can never be trusted," Yonhap said. Kwang-tae Kim reported from Seoul. Kelly Olsen and Foster Klug in Seoul, and Matthew Lee in Washington, also contributed to this report.

Bruce Lee biopic tracks action hero's early life Reuters - Thursday, November 25 HONG KONG - Authenticity is the heart and soul of the new biopic "Bruce Lee, My Brother," the early life story of the man who put Hong Kong action films on the map, its director told The Hollywood Reporter. As its title declares, the film pieces together the superstar's childhood - Lee would have turned 70 on Sunday - and young adulthood from the memories of his four surviving siblings, Phoebe, Agnes, Peter and Robert. "The Lee family supplied us with all the details and the tidbits of their family life," director Raymond Yip said. "So we took great care to be loyal to the truth and avoid anything that felt fake, which made it rather difficult for us in terms of creating the structure of the script. But the Lee family was very pleased with the result, especially with how close it was to what actually happened." The biopic took years to put on the screen, not least because of the difficult task of finding a young actor to play the role of the iconic megastar. "We've been on the lookout for a possible candidate all over China since 2008, but no one could capture the Hong Kong spirit of the young Bruce Lee," Yip explained. But when writer-director team of Alex Law and Mabel Cheung, invited the film's producer, Manfred Wong, to a screening of their opus "Echoes of the Rainbow," the search was over. Aarif Rahman, a 23-year-old singer-songwriter who made his acting debut in "Echoes," was locked in as the young Bruce Lee. "Including Lee's brother Robert, we were quite amazed by how much Aarif resembles Bruce. No one can say for sure whether an actor really embodies Bruce's spirit except for his family. So it was a go from then on," Yip recalled. The film began pre-production in March to push for a November 25 release in Hong Kong. The HK$36 million project has been snapped up by distributors in over 10 territories. The Hong Kong-born Rahman, of Malay-Arab-Chinese ancestry, will have to shoulder any potential sequels for the Bruce Lee life story, said Yip. "We certainly hope to continue telling Bruce Lee's story, but it depends on how this one is received, especially on the public reception of Aarif as Bruce Lee. Lee was a legendary figure. Who plays him in the film is the biggest issue for us as filmmakers. But I have faith in Aarif," Yip said. Although the biopic tracks the early life of the kungfu master from his birth in San Francisco, old Hong Kong plays a key role. The film shows Lee and his friends as fixtures in the mid-century Hong Kong film industry, allowing the filmmakers to reenact scenes from famous movies of the age. "Bruce Lee grew up on soundstages. But the films-within-a-film were also a way for us to recapture the collective memories of the Hong Kong people," Yip said.

Did I hear Thiellei Clownie ???

Any BLACKIE or ACHILLES ???

What’s causing recent spate of teen violence? By yahoosingapore – November 24th, 2010 By Seah Chiang Nee For many middle class families and party-loving youths, Downtown East — with its tree-lined holiday chalets, restaurants and theme parks — is an ideal weekend retreat. The sprawling entertainment zone situated on the eastern seafront not far from Changi Airport has become a favourite haunt for hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans since it opened 22 years ago. Recently, however, its picturesque image suffered a setback as the result of an intrusive scourge that Singaporeans thought had long been eradicated from their lives. For years, even as the fun hub was attracting hordes of merrymaking teens, it was apparently also pulling in teenage gangs to mark out spheres of influence. Recently, the gang activity erupted into open violence and death, raising suspicions that behind the rising affluence, not everything is going well for a segment of Singapore’s young generation. These are bored, disconnected teenagers, some as young as 13, who failed to make good in school, family life or work. “And they seemed to have declared open war on the police and on society” is a general public reaction to recent violent rampages by groups of parang-carrying teenagers bent on hurting bystanders or suspected rivals. This was what happened. Oct 30: As people celebrated Halloween, polytechnic student Darren Ng, 19, and three friends were chased by chopper-wielding men at Downtown East and he was hacked to death. Five men have been charged with his murder, including one who suffered head injuries while trying to jump from a three-storey building. Nov 8: Two separate attacks were reported in another part of Singa­pore. Some 20 youths (aged 14-20) were surrounded by a parang-carrying group shouting Hokkien expletives. A 20-year-old assistant technician, an Indian, was slashed in the back and legs, along with six other victims. Nov 10: Outside the court in which 16-year-old Louis Tong Qing Yao was being charged with Ng’s murder, 19 suspected gang members turned out to support him and ended up being arrested. Old timers who are familiar with the bad old triad days are shaking their heads in disbelief at such meaningless blood-letting. “Fifty years ago people joined gangs to earn a living. Today these kids do it for pride and thrill, not because of poverty,” said an old hawker. Then, a pugnacious Lee Kuan Yew had to deal with some 33,000 triad members who had as much real power as the police. His weapon was a mixture of logic and legislation, which often meant heavy punishment. As a result, their strength has been vastly reduced — until the current resurgence by a growing minority of juvenile delinquents. One reason for the triads’ decline was a better living standard. Another was the island’s small size where wanted criminals had few places to run or hide. Besides, a criminal record could mean one could kiss goodbye to a government job. Recently, however, teenage gangs seemed to have started to flex their muscles in various neighbourhoods; that could be blamed partly on the widening gap between rich and poor. Their numbers are anybody’s guess, ranging from several hundred to one or two thousand. “In much of Asia, teenage gangs are mainly a result of poverty. Here the chief factors are poor family environment and resentment against society,” said a student councillor. (Last year, 468 youths were arrested for rioting and this year it could be worse. In the first six months alone, 278 were caught.) For an old newshound like me, who had reported Singapore for more than 40 years, it was deja vu but under a different setting. As a boy, I once watched in horror as a few old Gang 369 killers cut off someone’s head in a coffee shop. After decades of controlled, peaceful living, many of us have grown unfamiliar with severe violence, teen or otherwise, and are ill-prepared for what has just happened. Most parents, cocooned in stability for a whole generation, still think their children are incapable of creating mayhem. They grew up in a strict law-and-order setting, having to go to school wearing their hair short and their skirts long, and with jukeboxes banned. With teenagers’ values constantly shaped and reshaped by films, violent video games and the Internet, many modern parents are finding it hard to communicate with, let alone influence, their children. And the public is reacting to it in shocked disbelief, many asking “Where were the police? Why were they caught unawares?” One Straits Times online writer said: “The recent killing and brutal attacks on a group of youngsters in a playground (have) exposed the inadequacy of police presence in public areas.” Another observed that with the coming year-end school vacation, more students would be going out to have fun. It was, he said, imperative that police increase street patrols. “If they are short-handed, please ask the army to help.” A worried parent wrote: “I have more reason to panic now. I told my seven-year-old boy no more football, basketball on open fields. He can only take part under the supervision of teachers … in the school, with camera. No means no! I told him.” Another lady, Abideh, posted this brief note: “I’m beginning to feel scared for my family and my safety.” However, some calming voices cautioned against paranoia, saying they believed that given their record, the authorities would very soon have the upper hand and these horror stories would become a passing cloud. “These gangs will be crushed soon. The political price is too huge for the government to pay if it does nothing,” said another. A former Reuters correspondent and newpaper editor, the writer is now a freelance columnist writing on general trends in Singapore. This post first appeared on his blog, www.littlespeck.com, on October 16, 2010.

Alamak !...Papal dun Preach...CONFUSION, CONFUSION, CONFUSION ! ... Pope's remarks on condoms sow widespread confusion By Tom Breen And Rachel Zoll, Associated Press – 59 mins ago RALEIGH, N.C. – Some Roman Catholics are confused. Some are angry. Others just don't believe the pope meant what it seems he said. Days after the release of Pope Benedict XVI's comments that condoms can be justified to prevent the spread of HIV, there is widespread confusion about exactly what he was trying to say. The remarks have put some of the strictest defenders of church teachings in the awkward position of potentially disagreeing with the pontiff. Many church officials worldwide have been conspicuously silent. Some bishops are even seeking clarification from the Vatican. "It's a mess," said John Haas, president of the National Catholic Bioethics Center in Philadelphia, which advises church leaders, hospitals and Vatican offices. "I'm not ready to say that the pope said what (papal spokesman Rev. Frederico) Lombardi said." On a practical level, most Catholic-affiliated charities that minister to people at high risk of contracting AIDS are unlikely to make changes anytime soon. Haas, also a moral theologian, said he fielded calls all day Tuesday from confused bishops. Benedict's comments come at a time when American bishops are focused on upholding Catholic orthodoxy on marriage and sexuality. "It's important to recognize this is not some blanket opening of the door for married people to use artificial birth control," said Mark Silk, director of the Leonard Greenberg Center for the Study of Religion in Public Life at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. In some heavily Catholic nations, church leaders have avoided discussing the matter. In Spain, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela made no mention of the pope's statements during a meeting of the Spanish Bishops' Conference. When pressed by reporters, only Cardinal Carlos Amigo responded. Church leaders, he said, would have to read the book carefully first. In the Andes region of South America, there appeared to be few mentions of the pope in news media, and his remarks were not mentioned in services at several Masses attended by Associated Press reporters. The National Conference of Brazilian Bishops said it would not comment. Brazil has one of the world's most advanced anti-AIDS programs, and the government distributes more than 200 million free condoms each year, especially during Carnival. The Brazilian church has officially opposed the distribution of condoms, but historically has done little to stop it. The U.S. Conference on Catholic Bishops has not issued a statement and referred questions to the Vatican. The uproar is over comments Benedict made in a new book titled "Light of the World: The Pope, the Church and the Signs of the Times." In an exchange with the author about AIDS in Africa, Benedict said that for some people, such as male prostitutes, using condoms could be a step in assuming moral responsibility because the intent is to "reduce the risk of infection." At a news conference Tuesday in Rome, Lombardi said Benedict knew his comments would provoke intense debate, and that the pope meant for his remarks to apply not just to male prostitutes, but also "if you're a man, a woman, or a transsexual." The pope did not suggest using condoms as birth control, which is banned by the Roman Catholic Church, and he said condoms were not a "real or moral solution" to the AIDS crisis. Catholic teaching has never totally barred condom use for protection against HIV, and the Vatican has no official policy on the issue. Larry Barkowski, a lifelong Catholic and married father of three from the Pittsburgh suburb of Natrona Heights, doesn't believe the comments constitute anything new. "The popes have always promulgated responsible parenthood and responsible sexuality, and this is just a continuation of that. This is really nothing new other than the fact that he addressed the actual use of the condom, which has been something of a taboo," Barkowski said. Catholic groups who minister to AIDS sufferers and those at high risk of contracting HIV agreed that the pope's remarks — and the rival interpretations of them — leave long-standing practices in place. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles began what is likely the first U.S. Catholic AIDS ministry in 1986. The Rev. Chris Ponnet, who directs HIV and AIDS outreach efforts, said the pope's comments do not mean a change in doctrine or in practice. Catholic outreach groups are not going to start distributing condoms, he said, adding that a singular focus on condoms ignores the roots of the problem. "Consistently, the church has called for faithfulness in marriage and for people not to use intravenous drugs, and that's proven wise counsel," he said. Ponnet sees Benedict's remarks as directly addressing parts of the world where HIV and AIDS infection rates are far higher than in the United States. "I see this as not breaking any new ground, necessarily," he said. "I hear the holy father responding to that pastoral concern that's come from the grass roots as well as bodies of bishops in sub-Sahara Africa." Catholic Relief Services, a global humanitarian agency headquartered in the U.S., has also been providing HIV and AIDS care and education for more than two decades. The group has AIDS-related programs in 62 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, spending more than $170 million on the projects in 2009. As long as official Catholic teaching condemns the use of condoms, the relief agency will follow that guidance, spokesman Michael Hill said. "Catholic Relief Services follows the teaching of the Catholic Church," he said. "Our current policy holds that we do not purchase, distribute or promote the use of condoms." The pope's comments in a book interview do not amount to an official teaching, a point conservative Catholics have made repeatedly. They argued that the pope was only noting that by using a condom, a person with HIV is displaying some moral sense about the consequences of his behavior. "I maintain that nothing new has happened, that the church's teaching hasn't changed," said the Rev. Joseph Fessio of Ignatius Press, the English publisher of the book, in a phone interview from Rome. "We're in for a long period of confusion," said Russell Shaw, a writer for the Catholic publication Our Sunday Visitor and a former spokesman for the U.S. bishops' conference. "The bishops — and clergy especially — will have to go home now to their own dioceses and, whether they like it or not, start speaking very clearly about what just happened." Associated Press writers Ciaran Giles in Madrid, Tales Azzoni in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Joe Mandak in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.

'Stars & Crescent' in all the wrong places...! Design of trunks not appropriate: MICA By yahoosingapore – November 25th, 2010 Singapore’s national water polo team competing at the Asian Games in Guangzhou is in hot water. This after the team sported a brand new design of swimming trunks that incorporated the design of the national flag’s crescent moon and five stars near the groin area. The Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts released a statement, saying the new design is inappropriate, as elements of the flag must be treated with dignity. It added the water polo team did not seek its advice when they decided on the new design. MICA says the team should have sought permission to wear the new trunks. The team’s bright red, self-designed swimming trunks have raised eyebrows for its daring design. Previously, the water polo team would wear plain black trunks to competitions but it thought of a new custom-made design for the Asian Games. Mr Ivan Tan, vice-president (water polo), Singapore Swimming Association, told The Straits Times the team is apologetic and did not intend to show disrespect. “The crescent moon and the stars were meant to be placed more towards the side. We will work with the designers to change the design immediately upon our return,” he said. Competition rules state that a team can only wear one colour of trunks throughout the competition so the Singapore team will not be able to change their trunks for their final match against Kuwait on Thursday.

Rooney marks return in winning Champions League style AFP - Thursday, November 25 GLASGOW (AFP) - – Manchester United clinched a place in the last 16 of the Champions League after a Wayne Rooney penalty three minutes from time on his return to the starting line-up for the first time since October sealed a 1-0 win over Rangers at Ibrox here on Wednesday. The English international had rattled the crossbar with a header and Allan McGregor saved well from Michael Carrick and Dimitar Berbatov as the home side, whose squad was ravaged by injuries, looked to hold on for a point. However, they will have to settle for the Europa League as Valencia ensured they finished in the top two with victory over Bursaspor. However Steven Naismith's foul on Fabio late on presented Rooney with a spot-kick which he smashed past the keeper as the Old Trafford side claimed their fourth win in a row and fifth clean sheet of Group C. Before the match Walter Smith had promised Rangers would adopt a more attacking approach but a host of injuries to first team stars resulted in a return of the more familiar 5-4-1 formation. Youngster Kyle Hutton was handed his Champions League debut in a Rangers side that could only field six substitutes. Rooney returned to partner Berbatov up front as Sir Alex Ferguson made eight changes to the side which drew with Rangers in the first game of the group. Steven Davis, in an unfamiliar role at right-back, was involved in an early scare for the home side when he appeared to clatter into the back of Berbatov in the box but referee Massimo Busacca waved away his protests. Minutes later Berbatov was presented with another chance but the Bulgarian's header from a Fabio cross was straight to McGregor. Opportunities at the other end were few and far between but Kenny Miller should have done better when David Weir's knock-on found him at the back post but the Scotland striker headed wide. A neat passing move saw Carrick play in Nani but the Portuguese international's shot was high and wide before Rooney silenced the home crowd when his header from a Fabio cross rattled the bar. Miller blew a golden chance to fire Rangers ahead in the 42nd minute. Naismith sent him clear down the right channel but with Vladimir Weiss lurking at the far post Miller opted to shot from a tight angle which Edwin van der Sar blocked with his legs. Rooney sent a curling free-kick from 25 yards wide and Berbatov sliced a volley straight to McGregor from a Ryan Giggs cross as the Old Trafford stars began the second-half with an attacking onslaught. A clever flick from Rooney made room for Carrick but the Englishman's low drive was well saved by the keeper. The game became to open up and chances fell at both ends. United failed to deal with Richard Foster's ball into the box allowing Naismith to poke a shot goal wards but van der Sar made an instinctive fingertip save. Seconds later Berbatov found room in the box but his shot was smartly saved by McGregor. The Bulgarian then saw a fierce strike blocked by Davis and as Giggs put the ball back into the box Rooney sent a diving header wide from six yards out. It looked like it wasn't going to be the Englishman's night until he put them ahead from the spot in the 87th minute. Naismith was penalised for a high kick on Fabio and Rooney, plagued with off-field problems this season, stepped up to smash a kick low to the left to send McGregor the wrong way.

Niece who harboured Mas Selamat likely to lose teaching job By Ion Danker – November 22nd, 2010 The niece of Mas Selamat Kastari, who harboured the terrorist after his escape two years ago, will likely be dismissed from her post as a Malay language teacher, according to the Ministry of Education (MOE). A spokesman told The Straits Times (ST) on Tuesday, “‘MOE takes disciplinary action, including dismissal, against teachers who have been charged and convicted in court for a criminal offence.” “We will proceed to initiate disciplinary proceedings against Nur Aini Asmom, with a view to dismiss her from service, as she has been found guilty by the Subordinate Courts for harbouring a prisoner of State.” Nur Aini was sentenced to 18 months’ jail for her role in harbouring Mas Selamat. Mas Selamat, who escaped the massive island-wide manhunt for two days after his escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre (WRDC), hid in his brother’s home in Tampines for a night on Feb 29, 2008, before escaping to Malaysia. It was a move that puzzled many, since standard procedure for season militants from Jemaah Islamiah (JI) would be to approach other JI members and not family members. Terror experts said it could be because the authorities were focusing on other JI members, or that the JI network in Singapore had been dismantled. Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said in a Ministerial statement in Parliament on Monday, “Mas Selamat believed that it would be safe for him at Asmom’s house as only Nur Aini would be there and that she would render assistance to him.” He wanted to get help from his niece, Nur Aini, whom he thought was home alone. He had thought that his brother and his wife were staying in their Johor house, while Asmom’s son, Mahadir, was overseas. Asmom, his wife Aisah and daughter Nui Aini were jailed between three and 18 months for harbouring the terrorist after his escape. His brother, Asmom was given 12 months while his sister-in-law Aisah, three months’ jail. They were arrested and charged last Wednesday, on November 10. Mas Selamat’s nephew, Mahadir, who had a lesser role in the matter, has been served a stern warning in lieu of prosecution. Mr Shanmugam added that Nur Aini had persuaded her mother to allow Mas Selamat to enter the flat. Her mother had reservations about allowing Mas Selamat into the flat because his fugitive status had gone public and she knew that it was wrong to help him. Nur Aini allowed him to use her bedroom, provided him food and water, and also helped him to destroy the clothes he wore to the flat, which included his WRDC-issued attire. On 1 Mar 2008, before Mas Selamat left the flat, Nur Aini applied make-up on Mas Selamat and secured a tudung (headscarf) over his head so that he could disguise himself as a woman to evade detection and recapture. She also handed to him a map of Singapore that showed part of Malaysia. Asmom gave him S$100 and RM100 to facilitate his escape from Singapore to Malaysia. He also gave Mas Selamat some traditional medicine which the latter kept in his backpack while Aisah gave him an EZ-link card and hair-net which he wore as part of his disguise, and some paracetamol. Mr Shanmugam said the three had knowingly harboured Mas Selamat, an escaped prisoner of the State, whom they knew was the subject of a massive manhunt. They deliberately withheld information when they were interviewed by the authorities on March 3, 2008. It was only in October this year, after being confronted with the facts, that they admitted to what had happened. Mr Shanmugam added that Asmom and his family’s decision to harbour Mas Selamat and provide him with material support that enabled him to escape to Malaysia was very wrong, illegal, and had grave security implications. As to how Mas Selamat made his way to Asmom’s flat and how he subsequently made his way to Malaysia, Mr Shanmugam said the account given by Mas Selamat is still subject to verification. Minister-in-Charge of Muslim Affairs, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, said he was very disappointed that Mas Selamat was aided by his family members after he escaped from WRDC. In a statement, Dr Yaacob, who is Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, said harbouring criminals is a very serious offence — more so when it involved a wanted fugitive who was a threat to the whole country — at a time when everyone was deeply concerned and actively looking out for him. “I am disappointed because we know that Singaporeans from all backgrounds have come together since 2002 — the Malay/Muslim community very prominently — to keep the lid on the danger of terrorism.” He added that the good work must continue at all levels to build understanding and confidence, and enhance safety and security for Singapore to emerge stronger from this episode as a society. Mas Selamat is a hardened and dangerous terrorist, who has been involved in various plots by the JI to mount terrorist attacks in Singapore since the 1990s. He is operationally trained and has undergone training twice in Al-Qaeda camps in Afghanistan. Mas Selamat was caught in Johor on April 1, 2009 and held in a Malaysian prison until he was handed over to Singapore on Sept 24, 2010. Yahoo! Fit-to-Post user Stella Jane commented, “The police should have first searched the relatives’ houses. Now, they are just playing the blame-game, which is rather childish. Though prominently the Malay-Muslim society has a bigger part to play… it’s a little bit hard to turn away family.”

Lapses in procedures, human error behind IVF mistake By Alicia Wong November 24th, 2010 The in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) error at Thomson Medical Centre (TMC) was due to lapses in procedures and human error, said Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Tuesday. Reporting the completed investigations findings to Parliament, he said investigators found the centre had deviated from some of the procedures that are in accordance with international best practices. It resulted in the botched IVF, where another mans sperm was given to a couple, and the mistake was discovered only after the baby was born. Mr Khaw said, the National Medical Ethics Committee was consulted on the matter, and concluded that TMC would have the duty to inform the sperm donor he was the father, should he ask. But it should not volunteer the information, taking into account the impact it may have on the baby, he said, pointing out while TMC had a duty to all parties involved, the rights of the baby the most vulnerable party should take priority. Outlining how the mistake occured, Mr Khaw described, At the time of the incident, the embryologist was processing semen specimens of two individuals at the same workstation at the same time. The pipette used for transferring the specimen was reused, instead of being discarded after each step, he said, pointing out that even though it was reused for handling specimens from the same person, it unnecessarily raised the risk of human error. This was particularly risky as there was no second person to counter-check that the specimens were transferred to the correct receptacles at every critical stage, he said. The health minister concluded, the lapses contributed to the human error, and both led to the IVF mix-up. He added, the ethics committee recommendation to protect the child was that information on the error, and other sources of identification of the child, should not be conveyed to the unintended genetic father without consent from the biological mother and her husband. Mr Khaw stressed, The incident has no doubt impacted the reputation of the TMC IVF Centre and indirectly affected Singapores reputation as a regional medical hub. He urged, the key to regaining patients trust is full disclosure of facts and immediate correction of any systemic inadequacies. Other than TMCs fertility centre, another two assisted reproduction centres did not comply with all the procedures, revealed the Health Minister, without naming them. Both failed to have a second person to double-check that semen was transferred properly from one receptacle to another in the laboratory, but have since rectified the lapse. The Ministry of Health has directed all assisted reproduction centres to strictly follow correct procedures and suspended the operations of TMC IVF Centre. The procedure in accordance with international best practices: 1. The embryologist works on the specimens of only one individual or one couple, at a workstation at a time 2. He carefully labels all receptacles and instruments with the couples or the individuals name. 3. He discards the disposable instruments such as pipettes, after each use to avoid any contamination. 4. At every critical step, a second operator will counter-check that the specimens are transferred to the correct receptacles. According to their lawyers, the couple at the heart of the IVF mix-up are seeking a copy of MOHs investigation report, said The Straits Times. This would allow them to better decide on an appropriate future course of action.

Where are the Job Application form ??? Citigroup to expand Singapore presence, to hire hundreds Tuesday 23 November 2010, 18:21 SGT SINGAPORE, Nov 23 (Reuters) - Citigroup said on Tuesday it planned to expand its Singapore presence by hiring a few hundred people in each of the next two to three years, further cementing its position as the city-state's largest financial sector employer. Citi currently employs about 8,800 in Singapore, more than the 7,000-plus staffers on the payroll of DBS Group , the Southeast Asian country's largest homegrown lender by assets. Singapore has the largest employee base for Citi in the Asia-Pacific region, exceeding the number employed in both Hong Kong and Tokyo, a Citi spokeswoman said. Citi also said on Tuesday it will relocate its corporate office in Singapore to Asia Square, a new development by property investor MGPA in the city-state's new downtown. "Asia Square will also be home to Citi's largest trading floor by headcount in Asia Pacific, given Singapore's role as the regional hub for Citi's global markets business," the U.S. bank said in a statement. (Reporting by Kevin Lim)

Bigger year-end bonus for civil servants By Alicia Wong – November 24th, 2010 Civil servants will be getting a fatter bonus this year, to the tune of a two-month year-end payment, thanks to Singapore’s strong economic recovery. In a media statement on Wednesday, the Public Service Division (PSD) said civil servants will get a year-end bonus of two months, with one month being the annual variable component and the other, the 13th month Annual Wage Supplement (AWS). In March 2011, good performers will further get a Special Variable Payment, also known as the Growth Bonus, of one month, while better performers will receive up to 1.6 months. Poor performers will not receive any, said the PSD. This brings the total variable payment for 2010 to 2.5 months and $300, said the PSD. In July, civil servants were given a mid-year AVC of half a month and a one-off $300. If the Growth Bonus is included, better performers could get paid up to 4.1 months and $300 for the year of 2010. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the Civil Service Teo Chee Hean said, ”Civil servants accepted a wage reduction during the difficult economic times and worked hard to help turn the economy around quickly.” The Growth Bonus recognises their contribution in helping Singapore “recover from one of its worst recessions”, he said. The Ministry of Trade and Industry‘s GDP forecast for 2010 is around 15 per cent. The Singapore economy expanded by17.9 per cent in the first half of this year. Last year, civil servants received one of the smallest bonus packages in recent history. They went without a mid-year bonus, and received their 13th month wage supplement and a one-off payment of a quarter month’s pay, up to a cap of $750, at the year-end. DPM Teo added, “To ensure that Singapore can continue to grow, we will have to work even harder to raise productivity and find new ways of expanding the economy.” The total bonus for this year is slightly more than that of 2007, when total bonus was 2.5 months and $220, excluding the Growth Bonus. If included, better performers could have gotten up to 3.3 months. In 2006, before the Growth Bonus was introduced, civil servants received one of the highest bonuses in recent years of 2.7 months and $200. Civil servant Stephanie Lim told Yahoo! Singapore she is glad to hear the news, saying, “I will be very happy if I can get two months’ bonus”. But another civil servant, who declined to be named, said, while “satisfied”, he had expected half a month more in bonus, considering the Republic’s strong growth. In its statement, the PSD said, salary adjustments for Administrative Officers, Political, Judicial and Statutory Appointment Holders will continue to be deferred. It explained, “This is in view of the reduction in the private sector benchmarks this year. There is currently adequate flexibility in the salary structure to allow salaries to rise and fall in line with economic growth.” The Government will monitor the economic growth and movement of the benchmarks before deciding when to implement the salary adjustment. The first two phases of adjustment were made in 2007 and 2008, but the last phase, which was due in 2009, has been deferred twice since.

Feeling HUNGRY...???

For 'EXPERT' only leh.

WAH !...got LOBANG...must share leh.

Excellent Setup !...besides the lovely flowering Sunnies...seems like U are also diggin' into meaty stuffs...Pratas/Wesos/Trachys.

Now where are the videos ??? Indonesia rock star on trial over web sex videos AFP - Monday, November 22 BANDUNG, Indonesia (AFP) - An Indonesian rock star went on trial Monday charged with distributing two homemade sex videos on the Internet, in a case that has shocked and fascinated the country in equal measure. Nazril Ariel, 29, appeared at the closed-door trial in Bandung district court, West Java province, facing criminal charges including those filed under a 2008 anti-pornography law, prosecutor Rusmanto told reporters. More than 500 police were on hand to ensure security, while adoring Ariel fans -- mostly young women -- mixed with radical Islamists outside the court, illustrating the yawning cultural divide the case has opened in Indonesia. "There are so many cases like this, why are they freed and not Ariel? Is it because he's famous? We want justice," 22-year-old waitress Ruri Astari told AFP, as around 20 fans sang Ariel's hits and carried "Free Ariel" banners. Islamic hardliner Hirman Firdaus said the hard-living rock'n'roll singer was a threat to society and deserved the maximum punishment. "I want him to be severely punished. This is immoral," he said. If convicted Ariel could face 12 years in jail and fines of up to six billion rupiah (672,000 dollars) for offences including distributing pornography on the Internet. "Ariel helped to provide facilities to distribute the pornographic videos," Rusmanto said. The singer looked relaxed in a grey shirt and black trousers as he spoke to reporters from behind bars in the court lockup. "I've read the charges. I'm ready to face anything," he said. He has been behind bars since he surrendered to police on June 22 amid a media circus over the explicit videos, which showed him having sex separately with two television celebrities, Luna Maya, 27, and Cut Tari, 33. Maya remains his girlfriend and was at the court on Monday. Neither Maya nor Tari has been charged with any offence, although Islamist hardliners have called for Tari -- who is married -- to be stoned to death for adultery. Both women have lost lucrative marketing deals as a result of the scandal. The clips have been viewed by hundreds of thousands of people online and sparked fears about a wave of licentiousness and immorality spreading among the mainly Muslim country's youths through the Internet. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, an ex-general aged 61, was moved to warn that the nation of 240 million people was at risk of being "crushed by the information-technology frenzy". Dubbed "Peterporn" after Ariel's band Peterpan, the scandal also fuelled efforts to purge the Internet of pornography. Web usage has taken off among Indonesia's upwardly mobile urban youth, who have come from nowhere to rank among the world's biggest users of social media sites over the past five years. The trial is taking place in closed hearings to protect the public from the "inappropriate" sexual nature of the subject matter, according to the judge.

Where is the Job Application Form...??? Barclays to ramp up private banking business; sets up HK centre Reuters - 53 minutes ago SINGAPORE, Nov 24 - Barclays Wealth, a unit of Barclays , outlined an ambitious expansion plan to double the number of private bankers in Asia and quadruple its assets under management in the region over the next four years. Many private banks including regional players such as Standard Chartered and DBS Group are furiously expanding in Asia, with more wealth likely to be generated in the region powered by the economies of China, India and Indonesia. Singapore is the main base for private banks seeking to gain market share in Asia, but Hong Kong is fast emerging as a second regional centre as banks expand their regional presence. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Barclays Wealth said it had set up a booking centre in Hong Kong -- its second in Asia after Singapore -- as part of a plan to quadruple Asian assets. "This is an important milestone for us in Hong Kong... Our North Asian clients now have the additional option of having their assets managed in a location closer to them," said Joanna Chu, head of North Asia for Barclays Wealth. She described Greater China as the fastest and most attractive region for the firm. She said the Hong Kong booking centre will facilitate the introduction of new yuan-denominated products that the UK lender hopes to roll out next year. Barclay's declined to say how many relationship managers it had in Asia and did not provide details of Asian assets it manages, but sources familiar with the bank said it had more than 100 relationship managers across the region. On a global basis, Barclays' private banking unit has 153.5 billion pounds in assets under management and about 1,600 client-facing advisers, a Barclays spokesman said. This month, Swiss private bank Julius Baer , which already had a centre in Singapore, said it had obtained a banking license in Hong Kong. Private banks are increasingly poaching relationship managers, bankers who take their clients and their money wherever they go, from rivals. Singapore, and to a lesser extent Hong Kong, are drawing boutique funds, advisory firms and brokerages with their light-touch regulation, even as Switzerland gets tougher on bank secrecy.

PHEW ! New AIDS cases fall by one fifth in a decade: UN AFP - Wednesday, November 24 GENEVA (AFP) - – The number of new cases of HIV/AIDS has dropped by about one-fifth over the past decade but millions of people are still missing out on major progress in prevention and treatment, the UN said on Tuesday. In 2009, 2.6 million people contracted the HIV virus that causes AIDS, down 19 percent from the 3.1 million recorded in 2001, said UNAIDS, the UN agency spearheading the international campaign against the disease. "Fifty-six nations around the world have stabilised or significantly reduced infections," UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe told journalists. But about half of the 60 million people who caught HIV/AIDS since the start of the pandemic 30 years ago have died, according to the agency. Sidibe urged caution over the growing impact of prevention measures and medical treatment highlighted in the 2010 global report on the AIDS epidemic and warned about a slowdown in finance. "We have halted and begun to reverse the epidemic. Fewer people are becoming infected with HIV and fewer people are dying from AIDS," he said. "However we are not yet in a position to say 'mission accomplished'," he added in the report. About 33.3 million people worldwide were living with the HIV virus that causes AIDS at the end of last year -- about 100,000 less than in 2008. The UNAIDS chief heralded a "prevention revolution" in the pipeline, including a gel that could help women protect themselves, and a breakthrough on drugs treatment. The report showed that treatment has made huge inroads in the past five years. Global estimates of the HIV/AIDS epidemic Some 5.2 million people in poor countries had access to costly lifesaving anti-retroviral medicine in poor countries last year, compared to 700,000 in 2004. However, overall "demand is outstripping supply," Sidibe warned, while investment against HIV/AIDS stopped growing for the first time last year. "If we stop financing, the five million people who are under treatment will start to die," he warned. An estimated 10 million people who need anti-retrovirals do not have them, while "stigma, discrimination, and bad laws continue to place roadblocks for people living with HIV and people on the margins" of society, he added. The report found that epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa, the worst hit continent, were declining or stable. AIDS-related deaths there fell by 20 percent over the past five years, while the number of people living with the HIV declined from an estimated 2.2 million to 1.8 million. In Asia, HIV stabilised at a caseload of about 4.9 million, with "significant" progress on tackling mother-to-child transmission, UNAIDS said. In India, Nepal and Thailand the rate of new infections fell by more than a quarter. However, the annual death toll has grown by about 50,000 to 300,000 in Asia over a decade. The pattern of disease within highly populated countries such as China and Indonesia can vary significantly. The biggest inroads were found in North America and west and central Europe, with a 30 percent decline in the caseload over a decade. But new infections rose there slightly last year and UNAIDS signalled a resurgence of the epidemic among male homosexuals due to unprotected sex. In eastern Europe and central Asia, the number of people with the virus has almost tripled over the past decade to reach about 1.4 million, while deaths grew fourfold. Russia and Ukraine account for nearly 90 percent of new infections in the region.

Cannot CALL...then use EMAIL lah ! India district bans cell phones for unmarried women AFP - 1 hour 51 minutes ago NEW DELHI (AFP) A local council in northern India has banned unmarried women from carrying mobile telephones to halt a series of illicit romances between partners from different castes, media reports said Wednesday. The Baliyan council in Uttar Pradesh state decided to act after at least 23 young couples ran away and got married over the last year against their parents' wishes. "The panchayat (assembly) was convinced that the couples planned their elopement over their cell phones," village elder Jatin Raghuvanshi told the Calcutta Telegraph. The rules of inter-caste marriages are complicated and extremely rigid in many rural communities in India, with some lovers even murdered in "honour killings" by relatives trying to protect their family's reputation. "All parents were told to ensure their unmarried daughters do not use cell phones. The boys can do so, but only under their parents' monitoring," said Satish Tyagi, a spokesman for the village assembly. Caste discrimination is banned in India but still pervades many aspects of daily life, especially outside the cities. Traditional Hindu society breaks down into brahmins (priests and scholars), kshatriya (soldiers), vaishya (merchants) and shudra (labourers). Below the caste system are the Dalits, formerly known as "Untouchables". Caste categories often determine Indians' life prospects, and conservative families will only marry within their own caste sub-division.

U.S. aircraft carrier heads for Korean waters Reuters - 2 hours 43 minutes ago By Jack Kim and Lee Jae-won INCHEON, South Korea - A U.S. aircraft carrier headed towards the Korean peninsula on Wednesday, a day after North Korea launched dozens of artillery shells on a South Korean island. The nuclear-powered USS George Washington, which carries 75 warplanes and has a crew of over 6,000, left a naval base south of Tokyo on Wednesday morning and would join exercises with South Korea from Sunday to the following Wednesday, U.S. officials in Seoul said. "This exercise is defensive in nature," U.S. Forces Korea said in a statement. "While planned well before yesterday's unprovoked artillery attack, it demonstrates the strength of the ROK -U.S. alliance and our commitment to regional stability through deterrence." China came under heavy pressure to rein in North Korea after its reclusive ally fired dozens of artillery shells at the South Korean island, killing two South Korean soldiers and setting houses ablaze in the heaviest attack on its neighbour since the Korean War ended in 1953. U.S. President Barack Obama, woken up in the early hours to be told of the artillery strike, said he was outraged but declined to speculate on possible U.S. military action. However, in a telephone call with South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, Obama pressed the North to stop its provocative actions. The U.S.-led U.N. Command said it had asked North Korea for talks to try to reduce tension on the divided peninsula. "We're in a semi state of war," South Korean coastguard Kim Dong-jin told Reuters in the port city of Incheon where many residents of Yeonpyeong island fled in panic as the bombardment triggered a fire storm. The bombardment nagged at global markets, already unsettled by worries over Ireland's debt problem and looking to invest in less risky markets. But South Korea's markets, after sharp falls, later started to rebound. "If you look back at the last five years when we've had scares, they were all seen as buying opportunities. The rule among hedge funds and long-only funds is that you let the market sell off and watch for your entry point to get involved," Todd Martin, Asia equity strategist with Societe Generale in Hong Kong, said. Despite the rhetoric, regional powers made clear they were looking for a diplomatic way to calm things down. South Korea, its armed forces technically superior though about half the size of the North's one-million-plus army, warned of "massive retaliation" if its neighbour attacked again. But it was careful to avoid any immediate threat of retaliation which might spark an escalation of fighting across the Cold War's last frontier. "My house was burnt to the ground," said Cho Soon-ae, 47, who was among 170 or so evacuated from the island of Yeonpyeong on Thursday. "We've lost everything. I don't even have extra underwear," she said weeping, holding on to her sixth-grade daughter, as she landed at the port of Incheon. South Korea was conducting military drills in the area at the time but said it had not been firing at the North. It later said it would resume those drills once the situation stabilised. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan called on China, the impoverished North's only powerful ally, to help rein in the hermit state. China has long propped up the Pyongyang leadership, worried that a collapse of the North could bring instability to its own borders and also wary of a unified Korea that would be dominated by the United States, the key ally of the South. In a clear prod to Beijing during a visit to the Chinese capital, U.S. North Korea envoy Stephen Bosworth said: "We call on all members of the international community to condemn the DPRK's acts and to make clear that they expect the DPRK to cease all provocations and implement its denuclearisation commitments." On Tuesday, Obama said he would urge China to tell Pyongyang "there are a set of international rules they must abide by." Beijing said it had agreed with the United States to try to restart talks among regional powers over North Korea's nuclear weapons programme. A number of analysts suspect that Tuesday's attack may have been an attempt by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il to raise his bargaining position ahead of disarmament talks which he has used in the past to win concessions and aid from the outside world, in particular the United States. "It's Mr Kim's old game to get some attention and some economic goodies," said Lin Chong-pin, strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taipei. Several analysts believe the attacks may also have been driven by domestic politics, with the ailing Kim desperate to give a lift to his youngest son, named as heir apparent to the family dynasty in September but who has little clear support in the military.

Tighter screening for teaching scholarships: MOE By Faris – November 24th, 2010 The Ministry of Education (MOE) has revoked the scholarship given to undergraduate Jonathan Wong, 23, after he was caught in possession of hardcore child pornography videos in his computer in March this year. The Straits Times (ST) reported that the decision to evoke the scholarship comes after the student had “committed serious criminal offences, and pleaded guilty to the charges against him”. Wong, a third-year history undergraduate in the University of York pleaded guilty last Tuesday to 17 charges of downloading child pornography videos between July 15, 2008 and March 19, 2009 featuring girls as young as 6-years-old. The Ministry will also tighten its processes which require schools to provide information on specific “behavioural problems” of potential scholarship holders which may impinge on their selection as future teachers. In the case of Wong who was awarded the Teaching Scholarship (Overseas) in 2006, MOE said it reviewed the required documents and testimonials written by teachers from his secondary school and junior college. However, it was not mentioned in those documents that he had been publicly caned when he was a Secondary 3 student at Chinese High School, which is now part of Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), after he was caught peeping in a women’s toilet. MOE said the teachers had excluded this incident from his testimonials “as they thought that he had overcome this errant behaviour after professional help”. According to a HCI spokesman, after Wong was punished, “he received counseling and responded well to the professional help”. He subsequently did well and did not behave inappropriately the following year or while in junior college. The spokesman added, “His teachers thus thought he had learnt from his mistake.” Since his scholarship has been revoked, Wong will have to pay liquidated damages in accordance with his scholarship agreement. This amount includes tuition fees at the University of York range from £11,300 (S$23,500) to £14,850 a year for those enrolled this year, and living expenses. Based on the current MOE guidelines, applicants for teaching scholarships have to submit their academic and co-curricular activity record, school testimonials, and a written statement giving insights into their character, abilities and suitability for teaching. Applicants will also be screened for criminal records while those shortlisted will then undergo further evaluation including psychometric assessments and interviews. After Wong was arrested, police discovered graphic images and videos, some of which had audio and lasted over an hour long, on his computer. About 50 videos were found in which 25 were rated in some of the highest categories of hardcore pornography. Wong is currently out on bail but his sentencing is scheduled for Dec 13. Wong can be jailed for up to five years. Principals and teachers shared mixed reviews on the Ministry’s decision to tighten its selection and screening process for teaching scholarship holders. Victoria Junior College principal, Chan Poh Meng, told ST that when teachers write testimonials for students, they are making a judgment call. “They have to decide what is important to include, so good or not-so-good behaviour should be included. That has always been the expectation,” he said. But JC teachers who have written testimonials for students say that the issue is not so clear-cut. 31-year-old teacher, Mr I. See said, “It’s good MOE is tightening procedures but can these be effectively executed? After all, teachers don’t want to jeopardize the chances of their students getting scholarships.”

Two Sporeans charged for million-dollar heist By Angela Lim November 24th, 2010 It took just four hours for a Singaporean to allegedly stage a daring million-dollar heist in what is called the first of its kind in Fiji. According to a Straits Times report, 38-year-old Abdul Quadir Katu Miah robbed the Reserve Bank of Fiji on August 19 without even leaving Singapore. He and an unknown number of accomplices climbed aboard a ship at anchor at Jurong Port and allegedly looted 1 million Fiji dollars (S$709,000) from a container filled with freshly-printed banknotes. The banknotes, all of which were FJD$20 bills, were en route to Fiji from England, where they had been printed. The notes were meant to replenish the supply of FJD$20 bills in Suva, the capital of Fiji. Curiously enough, some of this stolen money was already circulating in Fiji, prior to the ships arrival at Suva Wharf. A spokesman for the Fiji Police Force, Mr Fred Elbourne, said it was most likely brought in by tourists from Australia. The theft itself, however, was only discovered two weeks later, after the shipment reached the Fijian capital. Abdul Quadir was arrested last Thursday, and charged with theft in a subordinate court on Friday. Another man, Azlee Abd Shukor, 37 was charged with receiving and retaining FJD$480,000 of the stolen money. It is unclear if the men involved worked on the shipyard. Both Singaporeans have been remanded and will appear in court on Friday. According to court documents, more than one accomplice was likely to have been involved in the heist. Police declined to comment further as investigations were still in progress. Mr Elbourne declined to disclose the total amount the shipment contained, but said the shipment was in transit in Singapore for about two weeks. Abdul Quadir allegedly boarded the Pacific Voyager between 7pm and 11pm on August 19 to commit the theft. Two days later, Azlee reportedly received part of the stolen money. While it remains unknown as to whether Azlee took part in the heist, he was reportedly aware that it had been stolen, court documents revealed. The theft was only discovered when a truck driver at the Suva wharf noticed the broken seal on the container when the ship docked on September 4 and alerted the authorities. The Fiji Police Force followed up by launching investigations, working with authorities in Singapore, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Australia. Two senior Fijian police officers spent about three weeks in Singapore, Hong Kong, and Australia assisting in investigations that ended more than a week ago. Mr Elbourne said that this was the first case of its kind in Fiji where banknotes were stolen from a cargo ship in transit. If found guilty of theft, Abdul Quadir could be looking at a fine and up to three years in jail. For dishonestly receiving or retaining stolen property, Azlee could face a fine and a five-year jail term.

Champions League - Sporting Braga stun Arsenal Tue, 23 Nov 21:49:00 2010 Sporting Braga inflicted a shock 2-0 defeat on Arsenal with late goals from Matheus after the Gunners were denied a penalty at the Estádio Municipal in Champions League Group H. Arsene Wenger was fuming when substitute Carlos Vela was denied a clear spot kick and it proved costly as Matheus broke to beat Lukasz Fabianski before clinching victory in stoppage time with the visitors down to 10 men after Emmanuel Eboue was taken off on a stretcher. With skipper Cesc Fabregas aggravating his hamstring problem in the second half, this was a terrible night for the Gunners as they sought the point that would clinch their place in the last 16 of the Champions League. The Gunners started positively and looked keen to erase the memory of Saturday's second-half collapse against Tottenham in the North London derby. With Fabregas attempting to direct the play, the stage looked set for the visitors to take control but Braga eventually gained in confidence and managed the first real attempt on goal when Lima's shot deflected off Sebastien Squillaci and squirted through to Lukasz Fabianski. Moises failed to get any direction on a header as he stretched to meet Luis Aguiar's free-kick and it took 19 minutes before Arsenal managed a noteworthy attempt as Fabregas flashed a shot well off target. Seconds later, Fabianski was called into action to deal with a cross-######-shot by Lima as the Polish keeper spectacularly pushed the ball away to safety. A free-kick in a dangerous area allowed Fabregas to float in a shot that was comfortably flipped over by Felipe but the keeper had to react much quicker when the Gunners captain created the half's best opening on 35 minutes. A superb through ball by the Spaniard released Theo Walcott but Felipe was out swiftly to block and avoid conceding a penalty as the England international raced towards him. With Walcott still down inside their box, Braga countered and Lima flashed a decent attempt just wide of Fabianski's right-hand post. Nicklas Bendtner had to be alert to head behind a cheeky near-post free-kick by Uruguayan Aguiar and the Dane was also involved when producing an inventive lofted pass to feed Walcott, but the wide man's first-time finish drifted harmlessly wide. Fabregas's poorly-struck free-kick was screwed well off target to sum up a disappointing opening 45 minutes. Another free-kick, from Walcott, provided the first effort of the second half but his shot was too high and Fabregas got a curler all wrong to fire well off target. With an hour gone, Braga wasted a glorious chance when Squillaci produced a terrible header from an Alan cross and Aguiar looked nailed on to score, only to drag his shot narrowly wide. Seven minutes later, things started to unravel for Arsenal as Fabregas hurt himself stretching to try and collect a Jack Wilshere pass and was substituted for Samir Nasri. With Vela thrown on as Wenger's third change of the night, it looked an inspired move when the Mexican immediately latched onto a knock-down by fellow sub Marouane Chamakh inside the box. Rodriguez's despairing challenge was clearly a foul but, instead, Vela was ridiculously booked for diving. Four minutes later, Eboue was taken off on a stretcher and the 10 men fell behind when a long ball forward by Elton caught out the defence and Matheus set himself up for a left-footed finish wide of Fabianski and into the far corner of the net. For all their possession, Arsenal were unable to carve out a genuine opening in their bid for an equaliser and, instead, another Braga breakaway saw referee Viktor Kassai play a good advantage and Matheus finished emphatically to double the lead, via the underside of the bar. All in all, this was a nightmare for the Gunners who only needed a point to progress. It all goes down to their group finale with whipping boys Partizan Belgrade but the injuries to Fabregas and Eboue will also be worrying Wenger. This was the last thing the Frenchman will have wanted after the trauma of the derby defeat on Saturday. Adam Marshall / Eurosport