日本7月开始将更换纸币数码颜色
日本新闻网26日消息，日本财务省和日本银行今天表示，日元的一万纸币和一千元纸币的记号和数码的颜色将会从黑色变为褐色。
这项计划将从7月19日开始实施。由于目前的字母和数字的130亿种组合已经全部用完，所以准备改变颜色用同样的数字和字母重新印刷。以前新纸币数字和字母组合用完时，也用同样的方法更换新纸币。
～以上新闻转载自OMY～
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Defer non-essential travel to Syria
MFA advises S'poreans to defer non-essential travel to Syria
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised that Singaporeans defer all non-essential travel to Syria for the time being in view of the recent developments in that country.
In a media release, it said Singaporeans in Syria who have no pressing need to be in the country are strongly urged to consider leaving as soon as they can.
It said that should Singaporeans require any assistance, they can contact the Singapore Embassy in Cairo.
They can also contact the MFA Duty Officer (24-hours) at:
Tel: 6379 8800 / 8855
Fax: 6476 7302
Email: mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg
Singaporeans who remain in Syria are strongly advised to avoid areas where demonstrations have been occurring and take all necessary precautions for their personal safety.
The MFA said they should be on high alert, monitor the news closely and eRegister immediately if they have not already done so at http://eregister.mfa.gov.sg/ so that officials can contact them and render the necessary consular assistance.
It said it is closely monitoring the situation and keeping in close touch with students and other Singaporeans remaining in Syria.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised that Singaporeans defer all non-essential travel to Syria for the time being in view of the recent developments in that country.
In a media release, it said Singaporeans in Syria who have no pressing need to be in the country are strongly urged to consider leaving as soon as they can.
It said that should Singaporeans require any assistance, they can contact the Singapore Embassy in Cairo.
They can also contact the MFA Duty Officer (24-hours) at:
Tel: 6379 8800 / 8855
Fax: 6476 7302
Email: mfa_duty_officer@mfa.gov.sg
Singaporeans who remain in Syria are strongly advised to avoid areas where demonstrations have been occurring and take all necessary precautions for their personal safety.
The MFA said they should be on high alert, monitor the news closely and eRegister immediately if they have not already done so at http://eregister.mfa.gov.sg/ so that officials can contact them and render the necessary consular assistance.
It said it is closely monitoring the situation and keeping in close touch with students and other Singaporeans remaining in Syria.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
龙卷风袭美国中部 圣路易斯机场无限期关闭
龙卷风袭美国中部 圣路易斯机场无限期关闭
（华盛顿综合电）数股龙卷风前天深夜横扫密苏里州(Missouri)圣路易斯市(St Louis)，当地的兰伯特－圣路易斯国际机场玻璃被砸碎，散落在机场内的搭客身上，至少有4人受伤。当局已下令无限期关闭机场，以评估龙卷风所带来的破坏。
据美国有线电视新闻网旗下的KSDK电视台报道，强风导致机场部分建筑的屋顶被掀开，机场官员被迫紧急疏散一架客机的搭客，整个机场陷入一片混乱。
其中一名搭客纽维茨说：“飞机当时摇晃得很厉害。”他披露，机场官员原本不愿意让被疏散的搭客回到机场大厦内，因为当局担心大厦屋顶会坍塌。纽维茨回到大厦后，看到了一名工作人员受了伤，伤口血流如注。
《联合早报》
（华盛顿综合电）数股龙卷风前天深夜横扫密苏里州(Missouri)圣路易斯市(St Louis)，当地的兰伯特－圣路易斯国际机场玻璃被砸碎，散落在机场内的搭客身上，至少有4人受伤。当局已下令无限期关闭机场，以评估龙卷风所带来的破坏。
据美国有线电视新闻网旗下的KSDK电视台报道，强风导致机场部分建筑的屋顶被掀开，机场官员被迫紧急疏散一架客机的搭客，整个机场陷入一片混乱。
其中一名搭客纽维茨说：“飞机当时摇晃得很厉害。”他披露，机场官员原本不愿意让被疏散的搭客回到机场大厦内，因为当局担心大厦屋顶会坍塌。纽维茨回到大厦后，看到了一名工作人员受了伤，伤口血流如注。
《联合早报》
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Six dead in Thai-Cambodia border clash
Six dead in Thai-Cambodia border clash
Thai and Cambodian troops traded gunfire and artillery shells on Friday, leaving six dead in a new clash that shattered a two-month lull in tensions along their disputed border.
It was the first serious outbreak of hostilities since fighting in February near the 900-year-old Hindu temple Preah Vihear left at least 10 dead and prompted a UN appeal for a lasting ceasefire.
Three Cambodian and three Thai soldiers were killed in Friday's fighting near a different group of temples over 100 kilometres away. More than a dozen others were wounded, including three Thai troops who were said to be in critical condition.
Indonesia, current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), called for an immediate end to the violence.
The two sides blamed each other for the clash which broke out in the early morning and lasted for several hours, while thousands of villagers were evacuated on the Thai side.
"Cambodian soldiers fired with assault rifles at Thailand first and now they started to shell us with artillery and we took appropriate retaliation," Thai Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon told AFP.
"I think Cambodia wanted to take over temples on the border," he said.
Cambodia accused Thai troops of entering 0.4 kilometres (0.25 miles) into its territory.
"The Thai troops marched directly towards Cambodian troop positions stationed at Cambodia's Ta Krabei temple and launched unprovoked attacks," said government spokesman Phay Siphan.
"This is yet another invasion by Thailand on Cambodia. We cannot accept this."
The Thai-Cambodia border has never been fully demarcated, partly because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.
Ties between the neighbours have been strained since Preah Vihear -- the most celebrated example of ancient Khmer architecture outside of Cambodia's Angkor Wat -- was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008.
The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but both countries claim ownership of a 4.6 square kilometre (1.8 square mile) adjacent area.
Observers say the temple dispute has been used as a rallying point to stir nationalist sentiment in Thailand and Cambodia.
The two countries agreed in late February to allow Indonesian observers in the area near Preah Vihear, but the Thai military has since said they are not welcome and they have yet to be deployed.
In February, UN Security Council members called for "maximum restraint" by the two countries and a permanent ceasefire -- a demand echoed by the chair of the ASEAN regional bloc on Friday.
"Indonesia, as current chair of ASEAN, strongly calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said in a statement.
He said he was in contact with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts, urging the two countries to "resolve their differences through peaceful means".
Cambodia has called for outside mediation to help end the standoff, but Thailand insists the dispute should be resolved through bilateral talks.
Thailand recently admitted using controversial Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions during the February fighting but insisted it did not classify them as cluster munitions.
The arms are defined as cluster munitions by the global campaign group Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), which condemned Thailand's use of the weapons.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Thai and Cambodian troops traded gunfire and artillery shells on Friday, leaving six dead in a new clash that shattered a two-month lull in tensions along their disputed border.
It was the first serious outbreak of hostilities since fighting in February near the 900-year-old Hindu temple Preah Vihear left at least 10 dead and prompted a UN appeal for a lasting ceasefire.
Three Cambodian and three Thai soldiers were killed in Friday's fighting near a different group of temples over 100 kilometres away. More than a dozen others were wounded, including three Thai troops who were said to be in critical condition.
Indonesia, current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), called for an immediate end to the violence.
The two sides blamed each other for the clash which broke out in the early morning and lasted for several hours, while thousands of villagers were evacuated on the Thai side.
"Cambodian soldiers fired with assault rifles at Thailand first and now they started to shell us with artillery and we took appropriate retaliation," Thai Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwon told AFP.
"I think Cambodia wanted to take over temples on the border," he said.
Cambodia accused Thai troops of entering 0.4 kilometres (0.25 miles) into its territory.
"The Thai troops marched directly towards Cambodian troop positions stationed at Cambodia's Ta Krabei temple and launched unprovoked attacks," said government spokesman Phay Siphan.
"This is yet another invasion by Thailand on Cambodia. We cannot accept this."
The Thai-Cambodia border has never been fully demarcated, partly because it is littered with landmines left over from decades of war in Cambodia.
Ties between the neighbours have been strained since Preah Vihear -- the most celebrated example of ancient Khmer architecture outside of Cambodia's Angkor Wat -- was granted UN World Heritage status in July 2008.
The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia, but both countries claim ownership of a 4.6 square kilometre (1.8 square mile) adjacent area.
Observers say the temple dispute has been used as a rallying point to stir nationalist sentiment in Thailand and Cambodia.
The two countries agreed in late February to allow Indonesian observers in the area near Preah Vihear, but the Thai military has since said they are not welcome and they have yet to be deployed.
In February, UN Security Council members called for "maximum restraint" by the two countries and a permanent ceasefire -- a demand echoed by the chair of the ASEAN regional bloc on Friday.
"Indonesia, as current chair of ASEAN, strongly calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities between Cambodia and Thailand," Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said in a statement.
He said he was in contact with his Thai and Cambodian counterparts, urging the two countries to "resolve their differences through peaceful means".
Cambodia has called for outside mediation to help end the standoff, but Thailand insists the dispute should be resolved through bilateral talks.
Thailand recently admitted using controversial Dual Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions during the February fighting but insisted it did not classify them as cluster munitions.
The arms are defined as cluster munitions by the global campaign group Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), which condemned Thailand's use of the weapons.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Friday, April 22, 2011
北京“无星级”酒店受欢迎
北京“无星级”酒店受欢迎
北京市旅游发展委员会最新数据显示，北京共有59家五星级酒店。但当地媒体调查发现，市内还有不少“未挂星”的高档精品酒店。
尽管属于“无星级”，精品酒店设施丝毫不逊于五星级酒店，房价可达6位数人民币。
据报道，北京独有的胡同文化，造就了一些极具“京味儿”的四合院精品酒店。如南锣鼓巷里的杜革酒店前身，是18世纪落成的清朝三代大臣府邸——索家花园一部分；故宫旁的皇家驿站则主打“帝王”概念。
深具中国味的精品酒店深受游客喜爱，越来越多国内高端商务游客也选择在精品酒店举行小型会议。
精品酒店门市报价基本在RMB1000（S$191）以上，位于鸟巢西侧的盘古七星酒店的总统套间更要价RMB120,888（S$23,126）。该酒店曾接待西班牙王子、美国明星团、全球富豪团等名流。
酒店发言人表示，旅游部门评定的最高饭店星级仅为五星，而酒店在软硬件方面都努力“做到五星以上”，因此决定不挂星，让客人在心中给酒店评星。
～以上新闻转载自OMY～
北京市旅游发展委员会最新数据显示，北京共有59家五星级酒店。但当地媒体调查发现，市内还有不少“未挂星”的高档精品酒店。
尽管属于“无星级”，精品酒店设施丝毫不逊于五星级酒店，房价可达6位数人民币。
据报道，北京独有的胡同文化，造就了一些极具“京味儿”的四合院精品酒店。如南锣鼓巷里的杜革酒店前身，是18世纪落成的清朝三代大臣府邸——索家花园一部分；故宫旁的皇家驿站则主打“帝王”概念。
深具中国味的精品酒店深受游客喜爱，越来越多国内高端商务游客也选择在精品酒店举行小型会议。
精品酒店门市报价基本在RMB1000（S$191）以上，位于鸟巢西侧的盘古七星酒店的总统套间更要价RMB120,888（S$23,126）。该酒店曾接待西班牙王子、美国明星团、全球富豪团等名流。
酒店发言人表示，旅游部门评定的最高饭店星级仅为五星，而酒店在软硬件方面都努力“做到五星以上”，因此决定不挂星，让客人在心中给酒店评星。
～以上新闻转载自OMY～
Japan hopes for tourists' return
Japan hopes for tourists' return
FOREIGN tourists remain a rare sight more than a month after Japan suffered the most powerful earthquake in its history.
April should be peak tourist season for Tokyo, famous for the brief but spectacular blossoming of its cherry trees, which signals the start of spring.
But in Asakusa, one of the capital's oldest districts and a major tourist draw, there are no foreign faces to be seen.
"Before the earthquake, Asakusa was quite touristy and very well-known to foreigners," rickshaw driver Yoshiaki Suzuki told AFP.
Japan suffered its largest decline in foreign visitors last month in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami, which left around 28,000 people dead or missing and tens of thousands homeless.
Around 560,000 hotel reservations have been cancelled nationwide, according to government figures, which do not include the worst-hit Iwate and Chiba prefectures.
But as travel warnings issued in the chaotic days that followed the March 11 disaster are eased, many people in Japan say that they hope the tourists will return soon as a show of support for the disaster-stricken country.
"Foreigners think it is dangerous here, with the earthquake and the nuclear accident. Japan is safe. Tokyo is safe," said Mr Uko Komatsuzaki, head of public relations for Tokyo's renowned Imperial Hotel.
~News courtesy of The Star~
FOREIGN tourists remain a rare sight more than a month after Japan suffered the most powerful earthquake in its history.
April should be peak tourist season for Tokyo, famous for the brief but spectacular blossoming of its cherry trees, which signals the start of spring.
But in Asakusa, one of the capital's oldest districts and a major tourist draw, there are no foreign faces to be seen.
"Before the earthquake, Asakusa was quite touristy and very well-known to foreigners," rickshaw driver Yoshiaki Suzuki told AFP.
Japan suffered its largest decline in foreign visitors last month in the wake of the devastating earthquake and tsunami, which left around 28,000 people dead or missing and tens of thousands homeless.
Around 560,000 hotel reservations have been cancelled nationwide, according to government figures, which do not include the worst-hit Iwate and Chiba prefectures.
But as travel warnings issued in the chaotic days that followed the March 11 disaster are eased, many people in Japan say that they hope the tourists will return soon as a show of support for the disaster-stricken country.
"Foreigners think it is dangerous here, with the earthquake and the nuclear accident. Japan is safe. Tokyo is safe," said Mr Uko Komatsuzaki, head of public relations for Tokyo's renowned Imperial Hotel.
~News courtesy of The Star~
禁区：福岛核站20公里以内
禁区：福岛核站20公里以内
日本昨天宣布把福岛第一核电站20公里以内的地区设定为禁区，以确保灾民的安全；灾民如违反禁令，可能判罚款或监禁。
禁令从周五凌晨零时（新加坡时间周四晚上11点）起实施。当局是在警方发现有60多户居民仍住在核电站周边地区后，决定实施禁令。
日本政府在3月11日的地震和海啸引发核危机之后，下令核电站方圆20公里范围的居民撤离；当局也要求20至30公里居民留室内，但随后鼓励这一地区的居民疏散。
官员说，把核电站20公里范围划为禁区，是为了确保灾民没有接触过多幅射，以及防止这片近乎无人地带发生盗窃案。
根据当局颁布的核危机特别紧急法令，任何人违反禁令进入该地区，可罚款多达10万日元（约1500新元）和监禁长达30天。
1万4000人仍下落不明，总死亡人数约2万7000人。
《联合早报》
日本昨天宣布把福岛第一核电站20公里以内的地区设定为禁区，以确保灾民的安全；灾民如违反禁令，可能判罚款或监禁。
禁令从周五凌晨零时（新加坡时间周四晚上11点）起实施。当局是在警方发现有60多户居民仍住在核电站周边地区后，决定实施禁令。
日本政府在3月11日的地震和海啸引发核危机之后，下令核电站方圆20公里范围的居民撤离；当局也要求20至30公里居民留室内，但随后鼓励这一地区的居民疏散。
官员说，把核电站20公里范围划为禁区，是为了确保灾民没有接触过多幅射，以及防止这片近乎无人地带发生盗窃案。
根据当局颁布的核危机特别紧急法令，任何人违反禁令进入该地区，可罚款多达10万日元（约1500新元）和监禁长达30天。
1万4000人仍下落不明，总死亡人数约2万7000人。
《联合早报》
May 7 Polling Day, is a public holiday
MOM: May 7 Polling Day, is a public holiday
In accordance with Section 35 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Polling day on 7 May (Saturday) is a public holiday.
The Ministry of Manpower would like to inform companies that Polling Day, as a public holiday, should be treated in the same manner as any other public holiday.
All employees covered by the Employment Act are entitled to paid public holidays, including the public holiday on Polling Day.
If an employee is required to work on Polling Day, he is entitled to an extra day’s salary for the day’s work, or be given another day off. Employees not required to work on that day are also entitled to one day off in lieu, or be given one day’s pay, as per other public holidays falling on a Saturday.
~News courtesy of Omy~
In accordance with Section 35 of the Parliamentary Elections Act, Polling day on 7 May (Saturday) is a public holiday.
The Ministry of Manpower would like to inform companies that Polling Day, as a public holiday, should be treated in the same manner as any other public holiday.
All employees covered by the Employment Act are entitled to paid public holidays, including the public holiday on Polling Day.
If an employee is required to work on Polling Day, he is entitled to an extra day’s salary for the day’s work, or be given another day off. Employees not required to work on that day are also entitled to one day off in lieu, or be given one day’s pay, as per other public holidays falling on a Saturday.
~News courtesy of Omy~
Sunday, April 17, 2011
North South Highway Road closure
Road closure (Malaysian North South Highway)
Kulaijaya Lay-by (southbound) at Km33.2 on the North-South Expressway will be temporarily closed until mid-August for upgrading work. Motorists are advised to use the Simpang Renggam Lay-by (southbound) at Km54.3, Senai Utara Toll Plaza at Km19.2 or Skudai Toll Plaza at Km15.1.
~Info courtesy of The Star~
Kulaijaya Lay-by (southbound) at Km33.2 on the North-South Expressway will be temporarily closed until mid-August for upgrading work. Motorists are advised to use the Simpang Renggam Lay-by (southbound) at Km54.3, Senai Utara Toll Plaza at Km19.2 or Skudai Toll Plaza at Km15.1.
~Info courtesy of The Star~
45 dead as tornadoes rip across US
45 dead as tornadoes rip across US
At least 45 people were dead after a powerful storm whipped up tornadoes in seven southern US states, media reported on Sunday.
The tornadoes left a trail of destruction in North Carolina on Saturday, levelling homes and businesses and knocking out power, the NBC television network reported.
The fast-moving storm toppled trees and power lines, tore roofs off houses and scattered tractor-trailers across highways.
Some two dozen tornadoes were reported in the southern states of Mississippi and Alabama on Friday, a day after 15 twisters struck in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, the National Weather Service said.
Violent weather also hit Arkansas and Georgia on Friday, US news reports said.
Particularly hard-hit was the North Carolina capital city of Raleigh, where dozens of homes destroyed. Officials also reported multiple fatalities and widespread power outages throughout much of the state.
The violent weather system began late Thursday in Oklahoma, and left a trail of death and destruction as it travelled on Friday and Saturday through several states.
Among seven people killed in Alabama were mother and her two children, who were taking shelter inside their double-wide trailer when it was ripped from its foundation and thrown about 500 feet, landing on its roof, disaster officials
said.
The potent storm had made its way into the Atlantic Ocean by early Sunday, meteorologists with the National Storm Prediction Center said.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
At least 45 people were dead after a powerful storm whipped up tornadoes in seven southern US states, media reported on Sunday.
The tornadoes left a trail of destruction in North Carolina on Saturday, levelling homes and businesses and knocking out power, the NBC television network reported.
The fast-moving storm toppled trees and power lines, tore roofs off houses and scattered tractor-trailers across highways.
Some two dozen tornadoes were reported in the southern states of Mississippi and Alabama on Friday, a day after 15 twisters struck in Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, the National Weather Service said.
Violent weather also hit Arkansas and Georgia on Friday, US news reports said.
Particularly hard-hit was the North Carolina capital city of Raleigh, where dozens of homes destroyed. Officials also reported multiple fatalities and widespread power outages throughout much of the state.
The violent weather system began late Thursday in Oklahoma, and left a trail of death and destruction as it travelled on Friday and Saturday through several states.
Among seven people killed in Alabama were mother and her two children, who were taking shelter inside their double-wide trailer when it was ripped from its foundation and thrown about 500 feet, landing on its roof, disaster officials
said.
The potent storm had made its way into the Atlantic Ocean by early Sunday, meteorologists with the National Storm Prediction Center said.
~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Japan nuke evacuation zone widened
Japan nuke evacuation zone widened
JAPAN yesterday widened the evacuation zone around a stricken nuclear plant exactly a month after a huge natural disaster, as another 7.1-magnitude quake and a tsunami alert strained nerves anew.
The tremor shook buildings in Tokyo and a wide swathe of eastern Japan, knocking out power to 220,000 households and halting water being pumped to cool three damaged reactors at Fukushima.
The epicentre of the latest quake was 88 km east of the plant and it stopped the power supply behind the pumping of water to cool reactors No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3. The aftershock also forced engineers to postpone plans to remove highly contaminated water from reactor No. 2.
It struck at 5.16pm (4.16pm, Singapore time), not long after the nation observed a minute's silence to remember the 13,000 people killed in the March 11 disaster and the 15,000 who are officially still missing.
The government announced earlier that because of accumulated radiation contamination, it would encourage people to leave certain areas beyond its 20km exclusion zone around the plant.
Officials in Iitate had insisted as recently as last week that the village of 6,200 was safe, even as they advised pregnant women and children under three years of age to move farther from the plant.
The decision to widen the evacuation band around the Fukushima plant was "based on data analysis of accumulated radiation-exposure information", Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said at a news conference.
"These new evacuation plans are meant to ensure safety against the risks of living there for half a year or one year," he said, adding that there was no need to evacuate immediately.
-News courtesy of Omy-
JAPAN yesterday widened the evacuation zone around a stricken nuclear plant exactly a month after a huge natural disaster, as another 7.1-magnitude quake and a tsunami alert strained nerves anew.
The tremor shook buildings in Tokyo and a wide swathe of eastern Japan, knocking out power to 220,000 households and halting water being pumped to cool three damaged reactors at Fukushima.
The epicentre of the latest quake was 88 km east of the plant and it stopped the power supply behind the pumping of water to cool reactors No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3. The aftershock also forced engineers to postpone plans to remove highly contaminated water from reactor No. 2.
It struck at 5.16pm (4.16pm, Singapore time), not long after the nation observed a minute's silence to remember the 13,000 people killed in the March 11 disaster and the 15,000 who are officially still missing.
The government announced earlier that because of accumulated radiation contamination, it would encourage people to leave certain areas beyond its 20km exclusion zone around the plant.
Officials in Iitate had insisted as recently as last week that the village of 6,200 was safe, even as they advised pregnant women and children under three years of age to move farther from the plant.
The decision to widen the evacuation band around the Fukushima plant was "based on data analysis of accumulated radiation-exposure information", Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said at a news conference.
"These new evacuation plans are meant to ensure safety against the risks of living there for half a year or one year," he said, adding that there was no need to evacuate immediately.
-News courtesy of Omy-
福岛核电站 周围疏散区扩大
福岛核电站 周围疏散区扩大
日本宣布扩大福岛县核电站周围的疏散区，在现有20公里疏散区外五个村镇的居民必须在一个月内疏散。不过，日本政府强调，这并非紧急事故。
内阁秘书长枝野幸男说：“政府已将辐射照射水平预计将达到每年20毫西弗的地区，划为疏散区。”
他宣布，有鉴于核辐射可能对健康造成长期影响，疏散区外五个村镇的居民，必须在一个月内离开。此外，孩童、孕妇和留医病人也应该避开在福岛核电站20至30公里内的某些地区。
他指出，福岛核电站的情况没有恶化，扩大疏散区只是反映当局担忧，长期暴露在核辐射中可能对健康造成影响。他说：“如果你继续长期住在那些地区，例如半年或一年，累积辐射水平可能会更高。”
《联合早报》
日本宣布扩大福岛县核电站周围的疏散区，在现有20公里疏散区外五个村镇的居民必须在一个月内疏散。不过，日本政府强调，这并非紧急事故。
内阁秘书长枝野幸男说：“政府已将辐射照射水平预计将达到每年20毫西弗的地区，划为疏散区。”
他宣布，有鉴于核辐射可能对健康造成长期影响，疏散区外五个村镇的居民，必须在一个月内离开。此外，孩童、孕妇和留医病人也应该避开在福岛核电站20至30公里内的某些地区。
他指出，福岛核电站的情况没有恶化，扩大疏散区只是反映当局担忧，长期暴露在核辐射中可能对健康造成影响。他说：“如果你继续长期住在那些地区，例如半年或一年，累积辐射水平可能会更高。”
《联合早报》
Monday, April 11, 2011
台湾拟扩大禁烟范围
台湾拟扩大禁烟范围
台湾将出新招打击吸烟，未来公共场所可能实施全面禁烟。
据台湾媒体报道，台湾立法院近日完成“烟害防制法修正草案”。除了室内空间，这项草案也将公园、海水浴场等露天公共场所列入禁烟范围；未来商店也不能展示任何香烟产品。
草案也对烟盒的设计做出更严格规定。烟盒上强调“吸烟有害健康”的警示语和图案，将从目前占烟盒面积的35%增加到90%。
此外，草案拟将当前的香烟税从每包NT11.8（S$0.51），提高到NT31.8（S$1.38）。草案也规定，未来香烟中不能添加气味、颜色、维生素、草药等物品，以免吸引民众目光，甚至误导民众认为添加物对人体有益。
更严格的禁烟法令让许多吸烟者感到不满。台湾吸烟者组织“台湾相思草人权促进协会”认为，当局应该尊重吸烟者参与相关法令拟定的权利，并表示将发起反法令的连署，并到台湾卫生署门口抽烟抗议。
据报道，这项修正草案是由国民党的丁守中、罗淑蕾和民进党的田秋堇等19名立法委员参与连署提出。
在台湾积极反烟的董氏基金会认为，立委将面临选举压力，但基金会希望立委能稳住阵脚，通过这项修正案。
～以上新闻转载自omy～
台湾将出新招打击吸烟，未来公共场所可能实施全面禁烟。
据台湾媒体报道，台湾立法院近日完成“烟害防制法修正草案”。除了室内空间，这项草案也将公园、海水浴场等露天公共场所列入禁烟范围；未来商店也不能展示任何香烟产品。
草案也对烟盒的设计做出更严格规定。烟盒上强调“吸烟有害健康”的警示语和图案，将从目前占烟盒面积的35%增加到90%。
此外，草案拟将当前的香烟税从每包NT11.8（S$0.51），提高到NT31.8（S$1.38）。草案也规定，未来香烟中不能添加气味、颜色、维生素、草药等物品，以免吸引民众目光，甚至误导民众认为添加物对人体有益。
更严格的禁烟法令让许多吸烟者感到不满。台湾吸烟者组织“台湾相思草人权促进协会”认为，当局应该尊重吸烟者参与相关法令拟定的权利，并表示将发起反法令的连署，并到台湾卫生署门口抽烟抗议。
据报道，这项修正草案是由国民党的丁守中、罗淑蕾和民进党的田秋堇等19名立法委员参与连署提出。
在台湾积极反烟的董氏基金会认为，立委将面临选举压力，但基金会希望立委能稳住阵脚，通过这项修正案。
～以上新闻转载自omy～
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Seized eggs are genuine
Seized eggs are genuine
A test conducted by the state Veterinary Department on 270 eggs seized from the Pulau Tikus market has found them to be genuine.
State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said, however, he was still waiting for a second opinion from the Health Ministry.
“The ministry, which seized another 108 eggs from the market, is expected to reveal its findings.
“Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai is expected to hold a press conference on Monday,” he said here yesterday.
The eggs, which were carted away by the authorities on Thursday, were sent for analysis at the state Veterinary Department and the ministry’s Chemistry Department in Petaling Jaya.
The eggs were seized following complaints by a housewife and the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) that fake eggs were being sold at the market.
Thanking CAP for highlighting the issue, Phee said the Penang Consumer Watch Group in all the 40 state constituencies were also on the lookout for fake eggs.
“They will alert us if they come across anything suspicious. The public can also lodge an official complaint with us so that we can take action,” he said.
In Ipoh, Deputy Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Tan Lian Hoe said those who suspected that they had bought fake eggs should immediately notify the ministry for it to investigate.
“There are millions of eggs in the market and it is impossible for us to seize them all,” she told reporters after a dialogue with the Perak Sundry Shops Guild.
She said ministry enforcement officers had been directed to monitor all those selling eggs.
In Kota Kinabalu, state Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun said the state was keeping a close watch on the possibility of fake eggs surfacing in the local market.
~News courtesy of The Star~
A test conducted by the state Veterinary Department on 270 eggs seized from the Pulau Tikus market has found them to be genuine.
State Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said, however, he was still waiting for a second opinion from the Health Ministry.
“The ministry, which seized another 108 eggs from the market, is expected to reveal its findings.
“Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai is expected to hold a press conference on Monday,” he said here yesterday.
The eggs, which were carted away by the authorities on Thursday, were sent for analysis at the state Veterinary Department and the ministry’s Chemistry Department in Petaling Jaya.
The eggs were seized following complaints by a housewife and the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) that fake eggs were being sold at the market.
Thanking CAP for highlighting the issue, Phee said the Penang Consumer Watch Group in all the 40 state constituencies were also on the lookout for fake eggs.
“They will alert us if they come across anything suspicious. The public can also lodge an official complaint with us so that we can take action,” he said.
In Ipoh, Deputy Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Tan Lian Hoe said those who suspected that they had bought fake eggs should immediately notify the ministry for it to investigate.
“There are millions of eggs in the market and it is impossible for us to seize them all,” she told reporters after a dialogue with the Perak Sundry Shops Guild.
She said ministry enforcement officers had been directed to monitor all those selling eggs.
In Kota Kinabalu, state Community Development and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Azizah Mohd Dun said the state was keeping a close watch on the possibility of fake eggs surfacing in the local market.
~News courtesy of The Star~
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Philippine volcano alert level raised
Philippine volcano alert level raised
Magma rising to the surface of a volcano on a popular island close to the Philippine capital prompted the government Saturday to push up its alert level and urge visitors to stay away.
The second stage of a five-step alert system has been imposed around Taal Volcano, a visitor spot located 65 kilometres (40 miles) south of Manila, after increased signs of activity were detected.
While this does not mean an eruption is imminent, government volcano monitoring officer Julio Sabit said tourists and residents were warned to steer clear of Taal's crater and from thermal vents on its northern side.
"It is still a grey area. We still cannot say if it will culminate in an eruption," Sabit told AFP.
The volcano could suffer intensified activity but could also slowly subside as it did last year, after showing increasing activity in June, Sabit said.
Taal is one of the most unstable of the country's 22 known active volcanoes with 33 recorded eruptions, the last one in 1977.
A lake surrounding the crater prevented deaths in 1977 and during other eruptions, as the body of water protected outlying areas from the lava.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Magma rising to the surface of a volcano on a popular island close to the Philippine capital prompted the government Saturday to push up its alert level and urge visitors to stay away.
The second stage of a five-step alert system has been imposed around Taal Volcano, a visitor spot located 65 kilometres (40 miles) south of Manila, after increased signs of activity were detected.
While this does not mean an eruption is imminent, government volcano monitoring officer Julio Sabit said tourists and residents were warned to steer clear of Taal's crater and from thermal vents on its northern side.
"It is still a grey area. We still cannot say if it will culminate in an eruption," Sabit told AFP.
The volcano could suffer intensified activity but could also slowly subside as it did last year, after showing increasing activity in June, Sabit said.
Taal is one of the most unstable of the country's 22 known active volcanoes with 33 recorded eruptions, the last one in 1977.
A lake surrounding the crater prevented deaths in 1977 and during other eruptions, as the body of water protected outlying areas from the lava.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Egg-streme deception
Egg-streme deception
FAKE eggs, which are allegedly full of chemicals, have been found in Penang.
A housewife who bought a tray of 30 eggs for RM11 in a market has complained to the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) that they were fake.
CAP president S.M. Mohamed Idris said the housewife brought the eggs to the association’s office on Jalan Mesjid Negeri yesterday morning after finding something fishy about them when she tried to cook them.
“She said the eggs did not smell like real eggs and were tasteless.
“They had unusual shapes and were larger than real eggs. The fake egg also had a rougher surface than the genuine one.
“When broken, there were no signs of the chalazae which is the opaque ropes of egg white that hold the egg yolk in the centre of the egg. The fake egg white and egg yolk quickly mixed together unlike those of genuine eggs,” Idris told a press conference yesterday.
The fake egg yolk is of a darker yellowish hue.
He said they found that the yolk of the fake egg was more yellowish than the real one when they cooked one of the fake eggs to find out the difference.
Idris said an e-mail circulated in the Internet had stated that fake eggs were common in China and were full of chemicals.
“According to the e-mail, the shell is made of calcium carbonate while the yolk and egg white are made of sodium alginate, alum, gelatin, benzoic acid and calcium chloride besides water and food colouring.
“Calcium chloride may cause liver diseases while benzoic acid can be harmful to the brain and nerve cells,” he said.
Asked how consumers can differentiate fake eggs from genuine ones, Idris said it would be very hard to do so as they looked almost the same.
“Try to look out for the weird shapes,” he said, adding that CAP staff went to buy eggs from the shop where the woman had bought the fake ones and the staff found the eggs were indeed fake.
He said CAP would write complaint letters to the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry and the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority to urge them to carry out investigations.
The ministry’s Penang enforcement division head M. Guna Selan said his office had not received any complaints of fake eggs so far.
“I will check with CAP first on the details of the complaint before deciding on the next course of action,” he said.
The content of the circulated e-mail was found through a Google search.
It stated that various ingredients, including an unknown powder and alum, are mixed together to make the egg white.
For egg yolk, some lemon- yellow colouring powder is mixed to a liquid and stirred.
The liquid is then poured into a round-shaped plastic mould and mixed with so-called ‘magic water’, which contains calcium chloride.
Hardy shells are formed by pouring paraffin wax and a liquid onto the concoction which are then left to dry.
-News courtesy of The Star-
FAKE eggs, which are allegedly full of chemicals, have been found in Penang.
A housewife who bought a tray of 30 eggs for RM11 in a market has complained to the Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) that they were fake.
CAP president S.M. Mohamed Idris said the housewife brought the eggs to the association’s office on Jalan Mesjid Negeri yesterday morning after finding something fishy about them when she tried to cook them.
“She said the eggs did not smell like real eggs and were tasteless.
“They had unusual shapes and were larger than real eggs. The fake egg also had a rougher surface than the genuine one.
“When broken, there were no signs of the chalazae which is the opaque ropes of egg white that hold the egg yolk in the centre of the egg. The fake egg white and egg yolk quickly mixed together unlike those of genuine eggs,” Idris told a press conference yesterday.
The fake egg yolk is of a darker yellowish hue.
He said they found that the yolk of the fake egg was more yellowish than the real one when they cooked one of the fake eggs to find out the difference.
Idris said an e-mail circulated in the Internet had stated that fake eggs were common in China and were full of chemicals.
“According to the e-mail, the shell is made of calcium carbonate while the yolk and egg white are made of sodium alginate, alum, gelatin, benzoic acid and calcium chloride besides water and food colouring.
“Calcium chloride may cause liver diseases while benzoic acid can be harmful to the brain and nerve cells,” he said.
Asked how consumers can differentiate fake eggs from genuine ones, Idris said it would be very hard to do so as they looked almost the same.
“Try to look out for the weird shapes,” he said, adding that CAP staff went to buy eggs from the shop where the woman had bought the fake ones and the staff found the eggs were indeed fake.
He said CAP would write complaint letters to the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry and the Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority to urge them to carry out investigations.
The ministry’s Penang enforcement division head M. Guna Selan said his office had not received any complaints of fake eggs so far.
“I will check with CAP first on the details of the complaint before deciding on the next course of action,” he said.
The content of the circulated e-mail was found through a Google search.
It stated that various ingredients, including an unknown powder and alum, are mixed together to make the egg white.
For egg yolk, some lemon- yellow colouring powder is mixed to a liquid and stirred.
The liquid is then poured into a round-shaped plastic mould and mixed with so-called ‘magic water’, which contains calcium chloride.
Hardy shells are formed by pouring paraffin wax and a liquid onto the concoction which are then left to dry.
-News courtesy of The Star-
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Utama Expess Bus (Malaysia)
Counter Phone No.
Kuantan 09 - 515 6002
Pekan 09 - 422 8694
Kuala Lumpur 03 - 2070 3940
Putra 03 - 4045 2122
Kajang 03 - 8739 4464
Klang 03 - 3342 1946
Ipoh 05 - 312 7788
Taiping 05 - 891 6884
Lumut 05 - 683 4358
Manjung 05 - 688 1219
Butterworth 04 - 331 1761
Sungai Petani 04 - 421 5331
Alor Setar 04 - 735 3258
Kuala Perlis 04 - 985 3340
Kangar 04 - 978 1517
Changlun 04 - 924 6050
Kota Bahru 09 - 743 4817
Pengkalan Kubor 09 - 721 4858
Rantau Panjang 09 - 795 1770
Kuala Terengganu 09 - 622 4209
Dungun 09 - 845 6870
Kemaman (Geliga) 09 - 868 6659
Mersing 019 - 721 6259
Kuantan 09 - 515 6002
Pekan 09 - 422 8694
Kuala Lumpur 03 - 2070 3940
Putra 03 - 4045 2122
Kajang 03 - 8739 4464
Klang 03 - 3342 1946
Ipoh 05 - 312 7788
Taiping 05 - 891 6884
Lumut 05 - 683 4358
Manjung 05 - 688 1219
Butterworth 04 - 331 1761
Sungai Petani 04 - 421 5331
Alor Setar 04 - 735 3258
Kuala Perlis 04 - 985 3340
Kangar 04 - 978 1517
Changlun 04 - 924 6050
Kota Bahru 09 - 743 4817
Pengkalan Kubor 09 - 721 4858
Rantau Panjang 09 - 795 1770
Kuala Terengganu 09 - 622 4209
Dungun 09 - 845 6870
Kemaman (Geliga) 09 - 868 6659
Mersing 019 - 721 6259
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Pray for Thai 为泰祈求
_||_ 让我们为泰南水灾灾民跟泰北地震灾民祈求平安。
Let us pray for the victims of Southern floods and Northern earthquake.
นะโม ตัสสะ ภะคะวะโต อะระหะโต สัมมาสัมพุทธัสสะ
นะโม ตัสสะ ภะคะวะโต อะระหะโต สัมมาสัมพุทธัสสะ
นะโม ตัสสะ ภะคะวะโต อะระหะโต สัมมาสัมพุทธัสสะ
สาธุ สาธุ สาธุ _||_
Let us pray for the victims of Southern floods and Northern earthquake.
นะโม ตัสสะ ภะคะวะโต อะระหะโต สัมมาสัมพุทธัสสะ
นะโม ตัสสะ ภะคะวะโต อะระหะโต สัมมาสัมพุทธัสสะ
นะโม ตัสสะ ภะคะวะโต อะระหะโต สัมมาสัมพุทธัสสะ
สาธุ สาธุ สาธุ _||_
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Thai flood death toll reaches 35
Thai flood death toll reaches 35
Flooding across southern Thailand has killed at least 35 people, officials said Saturday, as unseasonably wet weather deluged the homes and businesses of around two million people.
Victims were either swept into the rising waters or buried in mudslides as the heavy rains inundated homes and washed roads and bridges away in what should be one of the hottest months of the year.
Flood waters, more than two metres deep in some places, have continued to spread despite easing rainfall in recent days, while waterlogged soil has heightened the risk of landslides.
Thousands of people have been forced to move into temporary shelters as the military continued to help evacuate those most at risk on Saturday.
Authorities said the toll had reached 15 in the hardest-hit province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, eight along the coast in Surat Thani, six in Krabi, and two in each of Phatthalung, Chumphon, and Trang provinces.
Mudslides have swamped at least one whole village in Khao Phanom district, Krabi province, and officials said five people are still missing in the area.
Bad weather also caused thousands of tourists to be stranded on islands in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea earlier in the week, but ferry and air links have now resumed to most holiday areas.
Ten provinces are now affected by the flooding, after waters reached Satun and Narathiwat, near the Malaysian border, according to Thailand's department of disaster prevention and mitigation.
More than 100 districts in the ten provinces have now been declared disaster zones and nearly 6,000 people are in temporary shelters after 11 days of floods following evacuation by the government.
Rail access to the region was still halted on Saturday, while the airport at Nakhon Si Thammarat remained closed.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
Flooding across southern Thailand has killed at least 35 people, officials said Saturday, as unseasonably wet weather deluged the homes and businesses of around two million people.
Victims were either swept into the rising waters or buried in mudslides as the heavy rains inundated homes and washed roads and bridges away in what should be one of the hottest months of the year.
Flood waters, more than two metres deep in some places, have continued to spread despite easing rainfall in recent days, while waterlogged soil has heightened the risk of landslides.
Thousands of people have been forced to move into temporary shelters as the military continued to help evacuate those most at risk on Saturday.
Authorities said the toll had reached 15 in the hardest-hit province of Nakhon Si Thammarat, eight along the coast in Surat Thani, six in Krabi, and two in each of Phatthalung, Chumphon, and Trang provinces.
Mudslides have swamped at least one whole village in Khao Phanom district, Krabi province, and officials said five people are still missing in the area.
Bad weather also caused thousands of tourists to be stranded on islands in the Gulf of Thailand and Andaman Sea earlier in the week, but ferry and air links have now resumed to most holiday areas.
Ten provinces are now affected by the flooding, after waters reached Satun and Narathiwat, near the Malaysian border, according to Thailand's department of disaster prevention and mitigation.
More than 100 districts in the ten provinces have now been declared disaster zones and nearly 6,000 people are in temporary shelters after 11 days of floods following evacuation by the government.
Rail access to the region was still halted on Saturday, while the airport at Nakhon Si Thammarat remained closed.
-News courtesy of Channel Newsasia-
泰南水灾恶化 已有25人丧命
泰南水灾恶化 已有25人丧命
泰国官员昨天警告，泰国南部四府的水灾形势可能恶化。水灾发生至今，已经夺走25条人命，当地的养虾业也受到重创，业者担心冷冻食品的产量和出口恐将受到沉重打击。
养虾业受重创
泰国养殖虾出口量每年大约是60万公吨，南部的产量就占了大约70%，主要输出到美国、日本和欧盟，总金额达33亿1000万美元。泰国冷冻食品协会主席帕尼川告诉路透社，大水冲走了大约5万到6万公吨的鲜虾，并冲毁了道路，使得养殖场的鲜虾运输工作受阻。
泰 国海鲜食品和罐头出口商泰万盛食品因受水灾影响，股价在3月29日下挫了5.3%。曼谷的亚洲证券指出，未来几个月鲜虾的价格会攀升，出口将减少，该公司 盈利料会下跌。泰国南部是最大的养虾基地，水灾发生时正值当地的旅游旺季。4月中旬将是泰国的泼水节，南部的旅游业和运输业受到冲击料会很大。
官 员透露南部多个村子已被大水吞噬，10天的水灾至今已造成25人丧命。另外八府也受到水灾的影响，灾民人数将近100万人，被毁的农田超过11万 2000公顷。泰国是世界最大橡胶生产国，水灾也延误了橡胶的出口。一些橡胶工厂被迫暂时关闭，交通受阻也影响橡胶的运输。至少有5万公吨的橡胶无法及时 交货。
-以上新闻转载自omy-
泰国官员昨天警告，泰国南部四府的水灾形势可能恶化。水灾发生至今，已经夺走25条人命，当地的养虾业也受到重创，业者担心冷冻食品的产量和出口恐将受到沉重打击。
养虾业受重创
泰国养殖虾出口量每年大约是60万公吨，南部的产量就占了大约70%，主要输出到美国、日本和欧盟，总金额达33亿1000万美元。泰国冷冻食品协会主席帕尼川告诉路透社，大水冲走了大约5万到6万公吨的鲜虾，并冲毁了道路，使得养殖场的鲜虾运输工作受阻。
泰 国海鲜食品和罐头出口商泰万盛食品因受水灾影响，股价在3月29日下挫了5.3%。曼谷的亚洲证券指出，未来几个月鲜虾的价格会攀升，出口将减少，该公司 盈利料会下跌。泰国南部是最大的养虾基地，水灾发生时正值当地的旅游旺季。4月中旬将是泰国的泼水节，南部的旅游业和运输业受到冲击料会很大。
官 员透露南部多个村子已被大水吞噬，10天的水灾至今已造成25人丧命。另外八府也受到水灾的影响，灾民人数将近100万人，被毁的农田超过11万 2000公顷。泰国是世界最大橡胶生产国，水灾也延误了橡胶的出口。一些橡胶工厂被迫暂时关闭，交通受阻也影响橡胶的运输。至少有5万公吨的橡胶无法及时 交货。
-以上新闻转载自omy-
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