China :: Asia

One man in India devotes his life to helping those ignored by society, the poor and mentally ill, one meal at a time. India has one of the fastest growing economies in the world. It also has a growing gulf between the country's burgeoning rich and poor. While the wealthy face issues like obesity and diabetes, the majority of the population struggles each day to find enough food to eat. The tens of millions of Indians suffering from mental illness face even greater hardship, often abandoned by their families and surviving on the streets without care or treatment. This uplifting and confronting film followsKrishnan Narayanan.Once destined for a high-end culinary career, Krishnan's life changed when he met an old man living in depraved and squalid conditions. Rejecting a lucrative European job and ignoring strict caste conventions, Krishnan now devotes his life to helping those unable to fend for themselves, cooking meals for the dispossessed, dumped and neglected in his home cit...

Despite widely held grievances against corruption, a growing culture of violence and rising intolerance, the vast majority of Indonesians are proud of who they are, according to the results of a survey released on Monday. The poll by the Developing Country Study Center Indonesia showed that 83 percent of respondents polled said they were proud to be Indonesian. Only 6 percent of respondents said they were not proud to be Indonesian, while 11 percent said they were unsure. The survey was conducted by DCSC Indonesia to gauge public perception regarding nationalism in conjunction with the anniversary of the Youth Pledge on Oct. 28 and National Heroes Day, on Nov. 10. Zaenal A. Budiyono, the executive director of the study center, said the majority of respondents claiming to be proud Indonesians were proud because the country was their motherland, while others reveled in the fact that the country was rich in natural resources. Some 12 percent reported being proud of the nations diversity. ...

BANGKOK, Nov 1 -- Floodwaters at Kasetsart University in Bang Khen has overflowed to flood Kaset intersection, causing a heavy traffic jam in the area, while the peak Chao Phraya River water level is forecast at 2.48 metres above mean sea level at 12.30pm. Water at Kaset intersection has inundated Ngamwongwan Road from Bang Khen intersection to Kaset intersection 30-40 centimetres deep. The police recommend that avoid attempting to drive through the area. On Vibhavadi Road inbound, from the Yakult factory to Vibhavadi Hospital, flooding is 50cm deep and passenger vehicles cannot pass. Chaeng Wattana Road, inbound and outbound, from Pak Kret to Klong Prapa is still dry but the high level of flood water near the Bang Khen roundabout means that passenger vehicles and pickup trucks cannot pass. The road in front of Thailands Government Centre on Chaeng Wattana Road is under 60cm of water and government officials must brave the high water to work. Water has flooded the office of the Departm...

picture source: Arsenal.com Beberapa waktu lalu Indonesia sempat mengirimkan pemain mudanya untuk melawat ke salah satu tim junior dari klub besar asal Liga Inggris, Arsenal. Dipelopori oleh Tunas Garuda, akhirnya para pemuda itu pun melawat ke London, meski sempat kalah 2-1 oleh para pemain Arsenal U-17, Tunas Garuda berhasil menang 1-3 saat berhadapan dengan Arsenal U-15. Kemenangan dan permainan apik garuda muda itu tidak sampai disitu. Kiper Rangga Pratama, gelandang Dani Raharjanto dan striker Nazarul Fahmi terpilih untuk bergabung dengan tim Arsenal School Development untuk melawan Wycombe Wanderers dan Brigton & Hove Albion, Jumat (28/10) di The Grove Stadium, London. Ketiga pemain itu tak aya terkejut ketika mereka terpilih untuk bergabung dengan Arsenal School Development. Ternyata selama ujicoba yang dijalani Tunas Garuda para pelatih Arsenal melakukan pemantauan dan meminta pendapat dari tim pelatih Tunas Garuda mengenai siapa saja yang pantas masuk dalam tim Arsenal. Se...

Nambikei is a word now frequently used by Prime Minister Datuk Sri najib Tun Razak. Najib first used nambikei at the 65th MIC General Assembly in August. Literally, nambikei means believe, trust, confidence and hope. After 54 years under Barisan Nasional UMNO hegemony, Najib wants Indians to continue to place their nambikei in Najib and Barisan Nasional. Nambikei as the the rallying call of Najib has become important because in the 2008 General Election, Indians for once had the gumption and the cojonnes to abandon Barisan Nasional. For once, Indians braved and cut their umbilical cord with MIC. With almost 850,000 Indian voters, 70 % of them living and voting in 50 parliamentary constituencies where Indians form as much as 20% of the voters, nambikei takes a greater importance not only for Najib but importantly for the survival of Barisan Nasional. From the regular stage managed appearances at Indian events, to the cheerful announcement by Najib that he loves thosai and murrukus, ...

A group of Malaysian citizens overseas has filed a lawsuit against the Election Commission (EC) asking the High Court to compel the EC to register them as absent voters. The group of six Malaysians, who all work in the UK, applied to be registered as absent voters in order to be able to vote in the coming general election, but were instead registered by the EC as ordinary voters, who must return to Malaysia to vote in person. At present, the EC only allows government servants, members of any armed forces and full-time students to register as absent voters, so as to be entitled to vote by post at the next election. The bulk of Malaysian citizens living overseas, who are working in the private sector, and those who are retired or unemployed, are required to return to Malaysia to vote in person. In addition, although the existing regulations allow all Malaysian students over the age of 21 to register as absent voters, Malaysian students overseas who have attempted to register have had to ...

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 31 The Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) today admitted holding the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) to ransom over the use of English to teach science and mathematics in schools. Yesterday, PAGE chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim had bluntly said BN risks losing votes in the upcoming general election if it continues to bar students from learning science and maths in English in schools. Noor Azimah (left) with the letter of appeal the lobby group presented to the PM, outside the PMs office in Putrajaya on October 31, 2011. Picture by Choo Choy May Today, the parents lobby group denied any political affiliation, saying it was only doing what was best for their children. Because it is real. If we dont get this and Im going to vote and Im a believer. And unfortunately, if I dont get this for my children that is what I will do, Noor Azimah told reporters today after sending a letter of appeal to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on the matter. She said Deputy Pr...

BANGKOK, Oct 31 The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), the capitals municipal government, has declared six districts to be areas requiring evacuation as the northern run-off is crawling towards the inner city and areas along the Chao Phraya River is experiencing high tide Monday. The six districts warned to evacuate are Don Mueang, Laksi, Bang Phlat, Saimai, Thawi Watthana, and Taling Chan. Moreover, residents in 13 districts bordering the Chao Phraya River are on alert Monday, for another day of high tide. Residents in seven additional districts -- Bang Khen, Lat Phrao, Wang Thonglang, Khan Na Yao, Nong Chok, Min Buri and Lat Krabang -- must be vigilant to monitor the incoming northern run-off. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra remains confident that the floodwater will not reach the inner part of the city, saying some parts of the capital sees more water than others due to some breached dykes, which are being repaired. In latest reports, northern run-off is flowing toward t...

By KERRY MCQUEENEY Tiny and innocent, little Danica May Camacho peers out at the world just moments after her birth at a hospital in the Philippines. Wearing a hat to keep the heat from escaping through her head, she nestles against her mothers skin as her proud parents look on. However, Danicas birth is not only significant to mother Camille and father Florante. She is one of the worlds symbolic seven billionth occupants. Room for one more? Tiny Danica Camacho the worlds 7 billionth resident is cuddled by her mother Camille as they are wheeled out of the delivery room Something to celebrate: Proud father Florante Galura holds a cake marking the significance of his daughters birth The Philippines, ranked 12th as the most populated country in the world, joined the rest of the world as it welcomed its symbolic seven billionth baby in a simple ceremony at the hospital. Danica was born two minutes before midnight and arrived to a celebratory cheer at the packed Government-run Jose Fabe...

(The Jakarta Globe): Last Friday in Jakarta was particularly ugly. There was rain, lightning, thunder and traffic, lots of traffic. But that didnt stop fans from leaving the comfort of offices, homes, schools and malls and descending on the Tennis Indoor Stadium in Senayan for a concert by Owl City, an electronica act visiting all the way from Minnesota in the United States. The acts determined fans were rewarded with a warm welcome from frontman Adam Young as he came on stage: I never imagined that I could be somewhere so far away from home, but feel just as comfortable as at home, being greeted so warmly by you all. Im crazy about you, Jakarta. Owl City released its third full-length studio album earlier this year and is currently promoting the album with the All Things Bright

By Amelia H.C. Ylagan The celebration of Hallow Een on October 31 first started in English 16th century. It is the evening (een in Olde English) before All Hallows or Hallowmas (All Saints Day), November 1, the day to honor those souls who have attained beatific vision, as defined by Western Christian theology. Halloween is the symbolic witching hour when supernatural creatures such as witches, demons, and ghosts are thought to appear in jealous rivalry with the good souls. That explains the ghosts and demons costumes for Halloween. Children usually wear scary masks and black capes or mimic gothic characters like witches and vampires. For their efforts, these tots carry pumpkin lanterns and pails to collect treats of candy and food from adults openly blackmailed in lieu of a naughty prank. That is the childhood trick or treat ritual at Halloween, universalized since about a decade ago by the American Hallmark culture of thinking up a commemorative occasion to justify celebrations and...

BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- China's police arrested 12,125 suspects during a recent nationwide campaign against Internet-based drug addiction and sale, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) announced Sunday. Police across the country busted 144 rings involved in drug production and trafficking and 22 secret drug-producing sites, and confiscated 308.3 kg of illicit drugs. The battle was conducted after some criminal suspects were found to be using online video platform to conduct sales and gather drug addicts, said Liu Yujing, a senior narcotics control official with the MPS. In March, police in the cities of Lanzhou and Xi'an in west China found some people were getting and selling drugs through chatting in online chatting room, which were usually inaccessible to outsiders. New comers could only be allowed to enter the online chatting room after being introduced by "acquaintances" and performing drug-addiction through the online video, Liu said. The MPS soon launched...

Malaysia boasts one of south-east Asia's most vibrant economies, the fruit of decades of industrial growth and political stability. Its multi-ethnic, multi-religious society encompasses a majority Muslim population in most of its states and an economically-powerful Chinese community. Consisting of two regions separated by some 640 miles of the South China Sea, Malaysia is a federation of 13 states and three federal territories. It is one of the region's key tourist destinations, offering excellent beaches and brilliant scenery. Dense rainforests in the eastern states of Sarawak and Sabah, on the island of Borneo, are a refuge for wildlife and tribal traditions. Malaysia made the transformation from a farm-based economy Ethnic Malays comprise some 60% of the population. Chinese constitute around 26%; Indians and indigenous peoples make up the rest. The communities coexist in relative harmony, although there is little racial interaction - and the overturning of a ban on the use o...

Horas! On day 2 Mad flies to East Sumatras Karo regency to check out Sipiso Piso Fall . This highest waterfall in Indonesia is located around Lake Tobas caldera. Few things you can do here. Snapping photos for your Facebook profile picture is definitely a must once you get here. Then if you like to try your luck in catching fish with your fishing rod, there are few nice fishing pounds around in Tongging. But suggestion, youd better get ready to camp in the beautiful open air. Comfortable hotels and inns are available in Parapat and Berastagi, the two nearest cities that are also popular tourist destinations. Sipiso Piso might not be a very special waterfall on its own. But being attached to Lake Toba with its other natural attractions makes it a great combo for outdoor adventure. Start the day with breakfast (you dont have to but its my routine), take few pictures with Sipiso Piso fall as the background, then go down the hills via the available stairs or off the grass and ground, and w...

All right, lets go! Mad takes us to our first destination, Derawan Islands . Located at East Kalimantans offshore, this islands cluster is home to one of the best secluded resorts in Indonesia, the Nabucco Island Resort , in addition to being one of Indonesias best underseas and hosting various amazing sea creatures, making this spot a very stunning diving site. Having said that, youd better be prepared to get wet during your visit. But if youre not that keen of water, you can still enjoy this beautiful vacation spot from your floating resort deck or a boat. How to get there? Few options. You can fly from Jakarta, Surabaya or Denpasar to Balikpapan or Tarakan by Garuda Indonesia or other domestic airlines. Then you have to go to Tanjung Redeb , which is about 50 miles away from Derawan. It will take you an hour or two by car, but if you cant wait to escape to your ultimate destination, KALStar and Deraya Airlines are ready to take you there. From Tanjung Redeb you must cross a little...

SRINAGAR: Mufti Bashir-ud-din - J&K's official " mufti azam", or head Muslim clergyman - issued fresh summons to a leading Christian priest, CM Khanna, on Friday, asking him to appear before his court to explain his activities of reported conversions of young local boys and girls at his church in Srinagar. Khanna said the mufti was annoyed with him because he had expressed his inability to help the mufti in the admission of a boy to a Christian missionary school. Talking to TOI, Mufti Azaam Bashir-ud-din said: "Our shariat court had summoned the Christian priest, CM Khanna, to appear personally today at 11am but he failed to appear. Now we have issued fresh summons to him for personal appearance on November 12." A shariat court has existed in J&K since the early 1960s; Mufti Bashir-ud-din is the judge of the court and the appeal against this court lies in the civil court. Mufti Bashir said that the court was recognized by the state government because of ...

(The Jakarta Post): Bali will host a workshop and contest for 250 young ASEAN entrepreneurs from Nov. 11 to 14. By the end of the workshop, each participant is expected to have made a business plan that will be reviewed by major companies such as Research In Motion and Google, an official says. According to kompas.com, deputy coordinating economic minister for trade and industry Edy Putra Irawadi said on Friday that that the participants would be divided into 25 groups. Edy said that they should prepare strategic plans that could help ASEAN develop its economy. The proposals should be concrete, he said. Edy added that 175 of the participants would come from Indonesia.

Hi everybody, wed like to welcome you to our newest virtual journey in Indonesia on 365Indonesia ! Our very own dedicated-traveler team member will explore all kinds of different places in Indonesia thru out the year. Yes, right, for 365 days non-stop! Thats why we call it Mad Traveling on 365Indonesia , because beside hes nick name is Mad , this travel plan is unbelievably crazy. But no worries, hell do everything happily and wholeheartedly for your pleasure, so you know that this country offers much more beyond your already famous Jakarta-Bali-Lombok. And we know how challenging it can be to actually visit those exciting places one by one. Therefore, well take you there virtually. And pssst once you know that we have those beautiful places in our country, youll love them even more and will do do everything you can to protect and preserve them ^_* So, stay connected and ready to roll! By the way, did we mention that well give away merchandises with fun games?

India's rapidly expanding economy has created a growing demand for building materials. The stone mining industry has become a large and lucrative business, but corruption and a lack of transparency have had a damaging effect on the environment. Al Jazeera's Nilanjan Chowdry reports from the western state of Rajasthan.

Umno began digging its grave when it allowed Mahathir to refashion it as Umno Baru. COMMENT Umno, from time to time, beats the drums of war on political unity, one of the sacred cows in things Malay. Witness the call for PAS-Umno unity talks and a myriad other stage-managed events since 2008, including, at one time, stomping on a cows head to rile the Hindus. Nowadays, these drumbeats are more a ventilation of the Umno activists ignorance of their partys history, which began with the anti-Malayan Union movement in 1946, although the spiritual roots go further back in the concept of Malay nationalism first espoused by the Jawi Peranakan. The Jawi Peranakan were the Singapore-born offspring of immigrant Muslims, many of whom came from Kerala, India (see William Roffs Origins of Malay Nationalism). All nationalisms are defined by what they oppose. Indian nationalism, for example, opposed the idea of the British continuing to rule over large parts of the sub-continent. Ma...

New video posted on the internet by Global post .com shows that ", one of the rebels committed sexual abuse against Gaddafi before being killed, the footage shows one of the rebels put a stick in Gaddafi's rear Later, a spokesman for Human Rights at the United Nations call for an investigation into the circumstances of Libyan leader ousted Muammar Gaddafi. These video show the violent torture Colonel Gaddafi has suffered before dying from his injuries On Sunday, the doctor who examined the body of Gaddafi Dr. Othman El-Zentani,said that The former deposed dictator Muammar Gaddafi has been killed by shot to head

Jihadi Bashir could be out in nine years or sooner An Indonesian court has quietly cut the jail term from 15 years to nine of Abu Bakar Bashir, the murderous cleric who was convicted in June of running a jihadi terrorist camp from which his acolytes were said to be preparing a Mumbai-style massacre of westerners in Jakarta. The reduced sentence is being regarded as a blow to Indonesias anti-terrorism efforts, which in recent years have rolled up a string of jihadi bombers and their accomplices. One terrorism expert told local media the news of the decision could cause other jihadis behind bars to cease cooperating with police because they arent being given the same kind of judicial breaks that Bashir has received. The decision appears to have been handed down a week ago by a high court without explanation. Indonesian prosecutors say they are still in the dark over the ruling. Bashirs lawyers said they would seek a full acquittal from the Indonesian S...

Eyptian activists are expected to descend on Tahrir Square tomorrow in a show of solidarity with Occupy Wall Street protesters. Egyptian activists have already sent messages of solidarity to the Occupy Wall Street protesters. Over in Oakland, tweets report that protesters chanted, We are Tahrir Square! The links between the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street are real, as Amy Goodman observes in The Guardian . In Oakland, a chain-link fence at the plaza where the activists are gathered has come down as the crowd has re-occupied the Frank Ogawa Plaza ( sfappeal.com website ). A general assembly of some 3000 activists is calling for a a city-wide strike on 2 November. The assembly also discussed the case of activist Scott Olsen, a former Marine who served two tours in Iraq, who suffered a fractured skull after being struck by a police projectile during a demonstration on Tuesday night. Police used tear and flash-bang canisters but denied they used rubber bullets, as claimed by som...

Indonesia meraih lagi penghargaan internasional dalam bidang sains dan teknologi dari Perancis. Kadarusman dan Hananto Prakoso yang masing-masing tengah menyelesaikan studi di Universitas Paul Sabatier Toulouse dan Universitas Paris Est-Creteil. Mereka menerima menerima Mahar Schutzenberger Award 2011 dari AFIDES Foundation. Penghargaan ini diberikan sejak 20 tahun lalu kepada mahasiswa doktoral di Perancis dan tercatat sudah 48 mahasiswa yang menerima penghargaan ini. Penghargaan ini diberikan kepada mereka yang sudah menempuh doktoral di Perancis yang penelitiannya dinilai memiliki kontribusi besar bagi sains dan teknologi. Pemberian penghargaan berlangsung Kamis (20/10/2011) di Kantor Kedutaan Besar Republik Indonesia di Paris yang dihadiri Helen Schutzenberger sebagai Presiden AFIDES, Duta Besar RI untuk Perancis Reslan Ishar Jenise, dan profesor Perancis yang tergabung dalam Komite Sains. Menurut Helen, disertasi kedua mahasiswa tersebut memiliki kualitas dan inovasi tinggi serta ...

BEIJING, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government on Thursday issued a white paper on the Socialist System of Laws with Chinese Characteristics. The laws have been categorized as a milestone in the development of China's socialist democratic legal system. The white paper, released by the State Council Information Office, introduces the establishment, components and features of the socialist system of laws. By the end of August 2011, the Chinese legislature had enacted 240 effective laws, including the current Constitution, 706 administrative regulations and over 8,600 local regulations, the white paper says. Governing China by law and building a socialist country under the rule of law is a fundamental principle for the Communist Party of China, says the white paper. According to the white paper, the system is an organic integration of the related laws of the Constitution, civil and commercial laws, administrative laws, economic laws, social laws, criminal laws, litigation and non...

BANGKOK, Oct 27 - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday pledged to continue fighting the country's worst flooding in decades as Bangkok is now entering a critical point. Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra urged immediate evacuation of residents of Sai Mai district in northern Bangkok as the flood crisis worsens. Floodwaters are spreading to larger areas of the capital with residents of Don Mueang, Bang Phlad and Thawi Wattana districts already urged to evacuate to safer places of refuge, higher ground or temporary shelters provided by City Hall. The governor declared Wang Thong Lang and Lat Phrao districts close-watch zones. As a massive volume of deluge from the North is looming to flood all the capital's 50 districts in combination with high tide from Oct 28-31, large numbers of Bangkokians flocked to bus terminals and crowed Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country's main airport, to abandon the capital for upcountry and abroad. Don Mueang Airport, the city...

EXCLUSIVE After a long hiatus, the father of slain Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu has appealed to the Malaysian courts to hasten the hearing of the RM100 million civil suit he has filed against the government. Setev Shaariibuu ( left ), who filed the suit on June 4, 2007, is suing the Malaysian government and those responsible for the gruesome murder of Altantuya in a jungle clearing in Shah Alam on Oct 19, 2006. In a letter translated into English by his lawyer Mukhsaruul Mijiddorj, Shaariibuu said he has paid a substantial amount of money to the Malaysian court last year. The money, amounting to RM60,000 as security bond, was paid by the Mongolian government, on behalf of Shariibuu. However, a year has passed but he has yet to receive any news of the commencement of the court case, Shariibuu lamented. The fact that your government does not make positive steps towards the issue raised by Mongolia (may) perhaps adversely impact the interest of hundreds of Mongolians who are st...

GEORGE TOWN, Oct 27 (Bernama) -- The Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail has called on the staff of Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) to be bold in challenging the status quo in efforts to empower the university. Tuanku Syed Faizuddin, who is also the UniMAP Chancellor, said they should have the courage to take risk and should not fear to make mistakes which should instead be treated as a major challenge to improve the situation. In his speech at the pre-launch of the "Sedekad UniMAP" programme on board the cruise ship, Superstar Libra, in Penang waters last night, he said the university staff should always be open minded and competent in their respective disciplines. He wanted the UniMAP to create three new programmes namely the sports technology, marine and exotics to widen its programme size as it entered its tenth year. The Raja Muda said the initiative was in line with the government's aspiration to develop the country's higher edu...

Tanpa kita sadari, air merupakan elemen utama kehidupan yang telah memberikan manfaat tidak ternilai bagi kelangsungan hidup umat manusia. Air adalah salah satu sumberdaya yang mendukung keberlangsungan hidup manusia dan juga mahluk hidup lainnya. Air merupakan kebutuhan pokok sehari-hari, sehingga harus dilestarikan sebagai bentuk rasa syukur manusia terhadap anugerah Tuhan. Cuma sayangnya kita seperti ga sadar kalo air itu penting banget, mungkin karena di rumahnya sering kebanjiran, jadi berpikir ngapain sih kita melestarikan air, toh gak dilestarikan aja udah tumpah-tumpah. Coba deh kita sedikit mempelajari pentingnya air buat kehidupan kita. Kalo kita jalan-jalan ke negara tetangga nih, kita bakal tau kalo air itu diirit-irit banget, sampe-sampe toiletnya aja gak pake semprotan air, cuma tisu! Belum lagi mereka nadahin air hujan biar bisa dipake buat nyiram tanaman, nyiram toilet, dan keperluan lain diluar sumber air minum. Berdasarkan ilustrasi diatas, maka kita harusnya mensyuku...

Author: Martin van Bruinessen, Utrecht University The idea of Indonesia leading the third world was not only thinkable half a century ago, it even appeared as reality briefly. Since that time there has been some attempt at raising Indonesias international profile as a leading Muslim nation, and its visibility and global import have increased. But it is not yet a country that other Muslims look to for leadership. Even in its heyday, there was a direct relationship between the respect accorded to Indonesian Muslims by fellow believers of other nationalities and Indonesias political significance on the global stage. Interest in, and appreciation of, Indonesian Muslim culture hardly seemed to follow as a result. Indonesias apparent lack of impact on Muslim thought and action is remarkable, as it is the worlds largest Muslim nation, currently numbering 211 million devotees more than there are Muslim Arabs. South Asian Muslims jointly number 480 million, twice the number of those in South ...

BANGKOK, Oct 26 The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is ready to evacuate about 1,600 flood victims currently sheltering in Bangkok to new temporary shelters in nearby provinces, SRT Governor Yuthana Thapcharoen said on Wednesday. Being ordered by the governments Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) to provide rail service transferring flood evacuees to other provinces, Mr Yuthana said the railroad would move 500 evacuees to Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan, 400 to Saraburi and 700 others to Lop Buri. The service is set to begin this afternoon by evacuating 400 flood victims from Bangkoks Hua Mak rail station to the central province of Lop Buri. To provide necessities for the evacuees, 442 railway stations nationwide will serve as temporary centres for food and relief supply donation, the governor said. Following shortage of necessities during flooding, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday said the government now seeks to open more consumer product distribution centres i...

Wife asks for death penalty after husband helped friend to rape her An Arab man in Ajman returned home from a booze night, jolted his wife out of bed and let his friend rape her for two hours while he sat smoking and enjoying the scene. The husband was jailed for life but his wife is pleading for his death. The unnamed woman was in her bed with her 12-year-old daughter from a former husband when the present husband returned late night and shoved her out of the room while ordering the girl to stay in bed. In the sitting room, the woman came face to face with another man, who was also drunk and who stared lustily at her light night gown. I tried to back off but he jumped on meI tried to run away and clutched to my husband but he pushed me away and said I have invited my friend for you, the woman, with tears in her eyes, told court in Ajman. It was a horrible nightmareI collapsed on the floor and the man was on me while my husband sat on the chair smoking and enjoying the scene with a big...

Ambiga (left) speaks during a public lecture at University of Melbourne, October 25, 2011. Pictures by KC Boey MELBOURNE, Oct 26 Bersih 2.0 will hold Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to the civic movements eight demands on elections and governance should the opposition pact come into government, chairman Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said at a public forum here yesterday. Not only Pakatan, Ambiga said of her movement that transcends party politics. We will hold all parties accountable. Thats the way it should be. The power is with us (the people), not with them (political parties). Its only when power is in the hands of the citizenry that we have a working democracy. Ambiga was responding to a question at a public lecture at the Asian Law Centre, University of Melbourne, to kick off a speaking tour of four of the most renowned law schools in Australia. On Friday she shares Bersih 2.0 stories with Malaysians at a solidarity evening organised by Bersih 2.0 Australia and the Melbourne chapter of Saya Ana...