Chinese herbal tea, a time-honored healthy drink

The Chinese herbal tea or cold tea is a drink concocted from medicinal herbals to ease the summer heat in human’s body or sore throat caused by the dry winter.

Drinking herbal tea is an age-old custom in Guangdong, Guangxi provinces, Hongkong and Macau special administrative regions, where the climates are damp and hot result in people living there easily suffer from excessive internal heat. In order to repel internal humidity and heat, people collect herbs which can clear away heat and dampness from mountains and valleys to concoct into herb tea.

With many years of practice, different herbal teas have been evolved for relieving different symptoms.

Herbal tea is drinkable in four seasons, which has the functions of relieving summer-heat and body’s internal dampness.

Herbal teas’ functions can be classified as inducing sweat, relieving the syndrome of cold, moisturizing dry-heat and clearing away dampness. Herbal tea for inducing sweat and relieving internal heat is suitable for the people who suffer from excessive internal heat. Medicinal herbs of honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, scutellaria are the main ingredients of this herbal tea, which is appropriate for drinking in Spring, Summer and Autumn.

Herbal tea for relieving the syndrome of cold is mainly made up by radix isatidis, suitable for drinking in four seasons.

Concocted by medicinal herbs of root of straight ladybell, fragrant colomonseal rhizome, tuber of dwarf lilyturf and white fungus, herbal tea for moisturizing dry-heat is effective in relieving cough and easing people’s parched mouth and the scorched tongue in Fall.

Herbal tea for clearing away internal heat and dampness is good for the people who have bad breath and red and sallow complexions. Its ingredients include honeysuckle, chrysanthemum and wild Tuckahoe, appropriate for summer drinking.

Generally, herbal tea should be drunk before it is getting cold. Since most of herbs are cold in drug property, drinking too much will harm to the spleen and stomach, especially for people who lack of vital energy and are easily to feel cold. Therefore, women in the menstrual period, children and the old people are unsuitable to drinking herbal teas.

If you have no idea about your physical condition, it is better to see the doctor of traditional Chinese Medicine to choose a right herbal tea for you.

Herbal tea stores once could be found everywhere in Lingnan region (which mainly covers Guangdong and Guangxi provinces). At first, the stores classified herbs and packed them into small packages to meet customers’ different needs, and then concocted herbal tea was sold at stores with very low price. Since herbal tea tastes bitter, some herbal stores offer preserved orange peel to customers for free to ease the bitter flavor. Besides herbal tea, fruit juice, dessert and soup are also the staples of some stores.

The earliest brand of Guangdong herbal tea is Wang Laoji, which was originated by Wang Zeban in 1828 and now it has become a household name in China. In July 2004, Wang Laoji herbal tea was even on the list of KFC’s drinks.

Nowadays, herbal teas packed in fashionable cans and bottles have become popular on both the domestic and international markets. With the annual output of 2 million tons, herbal teas are exported to about twenty countries including the USA, Canada, Australia, Japan and France.

Herbal tea together with Guangdong opera, Guangdong cuisine and Cantonese is the representative of Lingnan culture.

When people who are from other provinces come to Guangzhou, the first thing he or she learns in there may not be speaking Cantonese but drinking herbal tea. Herbal tea culture is an embodiment of Lingnan culture, just like Guangzhou this big city which is magnanimous to many alien things at the same time gradually changes them unawares. When you are gradually accustomed to live in a Cantonese way, you will find that drinking herbal tea has become part of your daily life just like the Lingnan culture influences you unconsciously. Even many people who leave Guangdong for a long time still cherish the memory of different herbal teas.

Australians have world's highest rate of skin cancer

Australia's sun worshipping culture means the country's 22 million people are 13 times more likely to develop skin cancer than the global average, according to a new study released on Thursday.

The "Cancer in Australia 2010" report compiled by a government agency revealed that the sun-drenched and beach-loving nation has the globe's highest rate of deadly melanoma and one of the highest overall rates of cancer.

Melanoma - the most virulent form of skin cancer - is caused by harmful ultraviolet light from the sun.

Australia's proximity to Antarctica, where there is a hole in the ozone layer that filters out UV rays, also increases the risk.

However, higher rates of detection and tracking also explain the number of cases of cancer diagnosed each year, according to lead researcher Christine Sturrock from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

"The fact we are very good at tracking cancers goes some way to explaining this, as most other countries are not as good," Sturrock told AFP. "But we have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world."

The overall number of Australians being diagnosed with cancer increased by 27 percent between 1982 and 2007, even taking population growth into account, due in part to the country's ageing population.

However, death rates from the disease have fallen by 16 percent in the same period, which Sturrock said was the one of the most pleasing findings from the report, which analysed cancer data from across the country.

"One of the most positive findings to emerge was the dramatic decrease in deaths from cancers," she said.

The report also identified an increased incidence of lymphoid cancers, prostate cancer and breast cancer among people living in higher socio-economic areas. However, Sturrock said the reasons for this remained unclear.

HAINAN ISLAND

List Of Top Ten Nations With Largest Foreign Exchange Reserves

Foreign exchange reserves also known as forex is foreign currency deposits and bonds which are held by central bank of the country.

High foreign reserves helps governments to manipulate exchange rates which in turn does assist in maintaining good economic environment.

Great reserves are one of important barometer for country's ability to pay foreign debts and credit ratings of nations are defined using forex reserves as one of important parameter.

Here is list of top ten countries :

1) China :

China , the most populous country is the world , the fastest growing economy in the world , the second largest economy in the world and emerging super power of the world is ranked first in list of countries with largest foreign exchange reserves.

What is the amount?. Well hold your breath. It is $2.65 trillion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2) Japan :

If china is placed at number one , japan the another asian country is placed at second rank. The third largest economy has reserves of $1.11 trillions.

3) Russia :

It may not be super power anymore with fall of USSR but Russia still remains one of powerful countries in the world. It comes third in rank of largest foreign reserves with $498.7 billion.

4) Saudi Arabia :

The petro king Saudi comes fourth in the list . It has foreign reserves of $410.3 billion.

5) Taiwan :

Well if main land china is first in the rank , taiwan is fifth in the list. With foreign reserves of $383.84 billion Taiwan sits comfortably among top 5 nations.

6) India :

The Asia's third largest economy and second fastest growing economy in the world , India is placed at 6th with $300 billion as foreign exchange reserves.

7) South Korea :

Asia dominates the list with another asian country , south korea places at 7th. It has reserve of $293.35 billions.

8) Brazil :

One of most upcoming countries brazil is placed at 8th in the list. Brazil's foreign exchange reserves hit all time high with $271.472 billions

9)Hong Kong :

Hong Kong is placed at 9th with foreign reserves of $266 billion.Hong Kong is special administrative region of china along with macau. It was British colony till china regained its control in 1997.

10) Switzerland :

Placed 10th , Switzerland has foreign exchange reserves of $249.5 billion. One of most investment friendly countries Switzerland ranks in top 10 among number of parameters.


Largest economy ,USA is placed at 17th with foreign exchange reserves of $136+ billions while Germany ranks 12th with forex of $205+ billions.

Nations with highest per capita income

1. Monaco; per capita GDP: $203,900

Monaco, a major tourist resort in the Mediterranean, has the highest per capita income in the world at a breathtaking $203,900. That's more than 175 times the per capita income in India.

The Principality of Monaco has booming high value-add industries and a strong services sector. Monaco has no income tax, but it makes most of its

2. Liechtenstein: $113,210

Natives of Liechtenstein, a small country bordering Switzerland and Austria, are the second richest in the world in terms of annual per capita income.

The principality has an industrialised economy, with banking and financial services being the mainstay. Tourism too is a major revenue earner for the nation.

The personal income tax rates in Liechtenstein too are exceedingly low: basic income tax rate is 1.2 per cent on income up to 200,000 Swiss Francs, and maximum is 5 per cent on income over 2 million Swiss Francs a year.

3. Norway: $86,440

Norway's per capita income stands at $86,440, which is the third highest in the world.

Norway has a mixed economy consisting of state-owned businesses and a robust free market. It's a highly developed and an industrialised state. Fishing, petroleum, hydel power, minerals contribute heavily to the nation's GDP.

4. Luxembourg: $74,430

Luxembourg's per capita income is at $74,430. That makes it the world's fourth highest PCI.

Luxembourg is located in Europe and is bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany.

The nation has highly developed industrial and financial sectors.

Luxembourg, one of the world's richest cities, also offers higher salaries. On an average, workers in Western European cities receive more than three times the pay of their colleagues in Eastern Europe.

5. Channel Islands: $68,610

The per capita income in Channel Islands is a whopping $68,610. That makes it the fifth highest per capita income in the world.

Tourism is the major revenue generator for the Channel Islands. The islands of Jersey and Guernsey also provide financial services and are tax havens.

The Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. Jersey's major agricultural products are potatoes and dairy produce.

The source of milk is Jersey cattle, a small breed of cow that has also been acknowledged (though not widely so) for the quality of its meat.

Small-scale organic beef production has been reintroduced in an effort to diversify the industry.

6. Qatar: $66,100

The per capita income of Qataris is $66,100, the sixth highest in the world.

Qatar is an Arab emirate located in the Persian Gulf.

The nation's economy mainly depends on its huge oil and natural gas reserves. There is no income tax in Qatar.

Qatar is an oil- and gas-rich nation with world's third largest gas reserves.

Qatar has experienced rapid economic growth over the last several years on the back of high oil prices.

7. Bermuda: $60,000

Bermuda, a tourist's delight, is located in the North Atlantic Ocean.

Bermuda's per capita income is almost 30 per cent more than that of the United States. The tiny island nation's per capita income stands at just above $60,000. It has the seventh highest per capita income in the world.

Bermuda is a major financial centre and is particularly attractive because of its low taxation rates. Financial services is the nation's largest industry, followed by tourism.

Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Its capital is Hamilton. It is the oldest and most populous remaining British overseas territory. Bermuda has a very affluent economy with finance as its largest sector followed by tourism.

As the offshore domicile of many foreign companies, Bermuda has a highly-developed international business economy; it is an exporter of financial services, primarily insurance, reinsurance, investment funds and special purpose vehicles.

8. Denmark: $58,930

Denmark's per capita income is at $58,930. According to World Bank rankings, it is the world's eighth highest PCI.

Denmark has a highly industrialised economy, with robust agricultural and corporate sectors.

Despite being one of the most competitive nations, it has a very weak financial regulatory system. Also, its labour laws are very lax and tilted heavily in favour of the employers.

9. Switzerland: $56,370

The Swiss enjoy a financially comfortable life, with a per capita income of $56,370. Switzerland ranks ninth in the World Bank's per capita income rankings.

Switzerland, a truly capitalist economy, has many giant banks and multinational corporations.

It also has highly developed industries in sectors like pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machine parts, electronics, precision instruments, banking, tourism, etc. Dairy farming too is an age old industry in Switzerland. It has very low tax rates.

10. Kuwait: $53,930

Kuwaitis have the tenth highest per capita income in the world.

The country has the world's fifth largest oil reserves. The Kuwait Stock Exchange, which has about 200 firms listed, is the second-largest stock exchange in the Arab world.

Petroleum and petroleum products now account for nearly 95 per cent of Kuwait's export revenues, and 80 per cent of government income.

Kuwait is regarded as one of the most economically developed countries in the Arab League.

20 nations with largest foreign exchange reserves

China (Rank 1)

The world's fastest growing economy, China saw its foreign-exchange reserves rise to a record $2.65 trillion by the end of September 2010.

According to People's Bank of China, currency holdings rose about $194 billion.

China's trade surplus and inflows of cash from foreign direct investment also drive up the reserves, which rose 16.5 percent by the end of September from a year earlier.

Japan (Rank 2)

Japan's foreign-exchange reserves shot to a new record high of $1.110 trillion at the end of September 2010.

Reserves grew by $39.44 billion, up for a fourth straight month.

The previous all-time high was below $1.074 trillion, during November 2009.

Russia (Rank 3)

Russia holds the world's third-largest reserves.

Russia's gold and foreign exchange reserves fell to $495.6 billion in the week to October 29 from $498.7 billion.

Saudi Arabia (Rank 4)

The oil rich Saudi Arabian economy has forex reserves to the tune of $410.3 billion as of December 2009.

Saudi Arabia possesses 25 per cent of the world's proven petroleum reserves, ranks as the largest exporter of petroleum.

Taiwan (Rank 5)

Taiwan's foreign exchange reserves rose for the 24th consecutive month in October to reach a record high of $383.84 billion.

The nation's foreign exchange reserves were up $3.33 billion at the end of October from a month earlier, according to the Central Bank of the Republic of China.

Taiwan's rapid economic growth in the decades after World War II has transformed one of the Four Asian Tigers.

India (Rank 6)

The country's foreign exchange reserves breached the $300-billion mark for the first time since 2008 with an addition of $2.2-billion on the back of a healthy rise in foreign currency.

The rise to $300.21-billion puts India, which has attracted $35-billion of foreign fund flows in capital markets alone this fiscal, in a select group of countries.

India's foreign exchange reserves had earlier touched $300-billion in March 2008, before the setting-in of the global slowdown in September that year.

South Korea (Rank 7)

South Korea's foreign reserves amounted to $293.35 billion, as of October 2010 scoring a new record high.

According to the Bank of Korea (BOK), the October reserves rose $3.57 billion from the $289.78 billion at the end of September.

Brazil (Rank 8)

Brazilian foreign exchange reserves hit a high of $271.472 billion.

It is the highest figure ever recorded in the country.

Hong Kong (Rank 9)

Hong Kong's forex reserves increased in October from the previous month.

The total official foreign currency reserve assets amounted to $267 billion in October, up from $266.1 billion in the previous month.

A year earlier, forex reserves totaled $240.1 billion.

Switzerland (Rank 10)

Switzerland, one of the world's richest and most investment-friendly destinations has forex reserves to the tune of $249.5 billion as of August 2010.

Openness to global trade and investment has enabled Switzerland to become one of the world's most competitive and flexible economies.

Singapore (Rank 11)

Singapore economy remains on track to achieve the overall growth forecast of 13 to 15 per cent for the whole of 2010.

As of October 2010, the island-nation's forex reserves stand at $221.39 billion.

Germany (Rank 12)

Germany 's forex reserves stood at $205.75 billion as of September 2010.

The country is the largest national economy in Europe and the fourth-largest by nominal GDP in the world.

Germany is the world's second largest exporter with $1.120 trillion exported in 2009.

France (Rank 13)

France's foreign exchange reserves have declined by 4.37 per cent to $177.3 billion by the end of September 2010.

France has $102.3 billion in gold reserves, $54.6 billion in foreign currency and accounts receivable in the International Monetary Fund worth $20 billion.

Thailand (Rank 14)

Thailand's foreign-exchange reserves rose 1.5 per cent to $157 billion in the week ended September 3, 2010.

Algeria (Rank 15)

Algeria's foreign exchange reserves reached $146 billion at the end of September, slightly higher than at the half-year stage.

Reserves stood at $144.3 billion at the end of June, up from $143.1 billion in December 2008.

Oil and gas sales abroad account for 97 per cent of Algeria's total exports.

Italy (Rank 16)

The world's 8th largest exporter has foreign exchange reserves of $144.84 billion as of August 2010.

United States (Rank 17)

The US economy is the world's largest economy with forex reserves at $136.53 billion.

It is also the world's largest producer of manufactured goods and fourth-largest producer of agricultural products.

Mexico (Rank 18)

The economy of Mexico is the 13th largest in the world in nominal terms; and the 11th by purchasing power parity, according to the World Bank.

Mexico's forex reserves stand at $110.65 billion.

MALAYSIA ( Rank 19)

Malaysia's gross international reserves reached $104.6 billion as on October 15, up from $100.7 billion as on September 30.

The foreign currency reserves increased to $94.1 billion from $90.3 billion in the previous period.

The gold reserves remained unchanged at 1.5 billion.

Iran (Rank 20)

Iran's foreign exchange reserves stand at $100 billion.

In February 2008, the forex reserves stood at $76.1 billion.

Rest In Peace.

My aunt has just passed away a couple of weeks ago.I managed to meet her during my 1st trip to Hainan last June.Will be going there again next March but she won't be around this time.May her soul rest in peace.

PTPTN loans repayment.

Penuntut institusi pengajian tinggi awam (IPTA) atau swasta (IPTS) yang membuat pinjaman dengan Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) wajib memulakan pembayaran hutang tersebut selepas enam bulan mereka menamatkan pengajian.

Pegawai Perhubungan Awam PTPTN, Rina Rahman berkata, jika mereka tidak mampu membuat bayaran mengikut jadual yang ditetapkan, rayuan penangguhan hendaklah dikemukakan kepada PTPTN.

Menurutnya, jika peminjam gagal berbuat demikian, PTPTN akan menghantar notis peringatan pertama disusuli yang kedua selepas sebulan notis peringatan pertama dikeluarkan.

''Penghantaran notis peringatan ketiga dilakukan selepas enam hingga 12 bulan notis peringatan kedua dikeluarkan. Seterusnya, panel peguam PTPTN akan menghantar notis tuntutan (LOD) dalam tempoh dua bulan selepas notis peringatan ketiga.

''Tindakan saman dalam tempoh tiga hingga 12 bulan selepas LOD dan penghakiman oleh mahkamah iaitu kos pentadbiran atas amaun tuntutan kebiasaannya ditetapkan oleh mahkamah tidak melebihi lapan peratus setahun,'' katanya dalam kenyataan akhbar di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian bagi mengulas rungutan seorang pembaca dalam ruangan Forum akhbar ini pada 12 November lalu bahawa isterinya yang menerima pinjaman PTPTN sebanyak RM21,000 disenaraihitamkan kerana tidak membayar pinjaman sejak tamat pengajian pada 2005.

Tambah Rina, oleh kerana maklumat yang kurang lengkap berkaitan kes itu, PTPTN mengandaikan kesemua proses penguatkuasaan telah diuruskan dan isteri pengadu telah dikenakan kos pentadbiran lapan peratus setahun.

''Mengikut prosedur tahun lepas, mereka yang terlibat dikehendaki membayar keseluruhan amaun tunggakan dengan kos pentadbiran sebanyak lapan peratus setahun,'' jelasnya.

Bagaimanapun menurutnya, mulai tahun ini PTPTN bersedia mengadakan rundingan bagi kes-kes seumpama itu dan peminjam yang mempunyai masalah dinasihatkan berkunjung ke pejabat PTPTN bagi mengadakan rundingan lanjut mengenai kaedah bayaran balik yang bersesuaian.

Orang ramai juga boleh menghubungi talian 03-20982317/2318 bagi mendapatkan maklumat lanjut.

Stomach Cancer

Stomach cancer is the number seven most common cancer among males in Malaysia, and the tenth for women. Dr Gurunathan says yet many Malaysians are still unaware of its symptoms.

This is because they often dismiss them as a normal stomach ache caused by irregular eating hours or poor eating habits.

He says those at Stage 1 or Stage 2 of stomach cancer may experience the following symptoms, which are not too different from normal stomach pain:

- Indigestion or stomach discomfort
- A bloated sensation, particularly after eating
- Early satiety, where a person feels full after eating only a small amount of food
- Heartburn
- Mild nausea

However, he says, many experience very few of these symptoms in the early stages. The symptoms in the later stages of the cancer are more obvious, such as blackish stool, which indicate bleeding in the stomach, weight loss, appetite loss, lethargy, frequent vomiting or vomiting blood.

“Sadly, these extreme symptoms are the ones that finally forces patients to go to the hospital to seek treatment,” says Dr Ragunathan. “By then, it may be too late.”

H. Pylori infection

The exact cause of stomach cancer is unknown, but some factors can increase the risk of getting the cancer.

Studies have found the presence of the bacteria Helicobacter Pylori, or H. Pylori, in 70-90 per cent of the patients with stomach cancer.

These bacteria can act as a carcinogen that can eventually lead to stomach cancer, says Dr Ragunathan. However, not everyone infected will end up with cancer.

He notes an interesting finding of a research in Malaysia which shows more Indians infected with H. Pylori compared with the Chinese, yet more Chinese suffer from stomach cancer.

Dr Ragunathan says the early symptoms of H. Pylori infection are almost similar to that of stomach cancer, and sometimes patients are treated using over-the-counter medication.

“But if you have recurrent attacks of symptoms despite being on medication, you need to go to a hospital and get yourself checked,” he says.

A routine blood test can determine if one is infected by H. Pylori. Treatment can be as simple as a week’s dosage of antibiotics, he says.

Will there be recurrent infections? Probably, says the doctor, but chances are very slim.

Genetics

Studies show ethnicity and genetics also seem to play quite a significant part in determining who is more pre-disposed to getting the cancer.

Statistics by the National Cancer Institute in 2006 reveal that the Chinese make up 61.7 per cent of stomach cancer patients, followed by the Malays (25.9 per cent) and Indians (12.4 per cent).

“We have tried to find a correlation between the types of diet exclusive to an ethnic group and other possible factors, but due to the melting pot that is Malaysia, the results were rather inconclusive,” he says.

Lay off raw food

Interestingly, prolonged ingestion of raw foods can increase the risk of getting the cancer. This finding disputes the belief of some health advocates, which advocates raw food as the healthier alternative to cooked foods.

“Raw foods have been cited as one of the reasons why Japan has higher incidences of stomach cancer,” says Dr Ragunathan.

“I’m not saying you can’t eat sushi at all, but perhaps it can be limited to once a month.”

Besides that, a diet of salt-cured, smoked, pickled or preserved foods, which are very common in countries like China, Korea and Japan, have also been associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer.

Obesity, aging and bad habits such as cigarette smoking and regular alcohol consumption are also cited as contributing factors for stomach cancer.

In Japan, where the incidence of stomach cancer is very high, mass screening is carried out for anyone above 40.

“However, it is not feasible in Malaysia because incidences aren’t as high as Japan’s and will not be as cost-effective,” says Dr Ragunathan.

Diagnosing and Treatment

He says detecting stomach cancer can be done through an endoscopy. This is where a tube with a video lense at its tip is inserted into the stomach cavity via the mouth.

The endoscopist can examine the entire stomach wall visually and take tissue samples of suspicious areas to determine the presence of cancer cells, if any.

He says in government hospitals, endoscopies can be done at the heavily-subsidised price of RM20.

However, he says, sometimes doctors are keen to treat with just medication alone.

Therefore, he says, if a patient is over 45, has family history of stomach cancer and has been suffering of the symptoms for some time, they should relay this to the doctor and ask: “Should I have an endoscopy done?”

If stomach cancer is detected while it is still at stage 1, surgery may not even be required to remove the tumour, says Dr Ragunathan.

“It can be removed through endoscopy, and for stage 2, a surgery called gastractomy may be required,” he says.

The procedure involves removing from half to the entire stomach, depending on the location of the tumour. This may be followed by chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Can a person live without his stomach? Surprisingly, the doctor says yes.

“They can still enjoy a reasonably good life. The only problem is that they may have to eat six or seven small meals instead of two or three large meals as there is no place - or for those who have their stomachs partially removed - limited space to hold the food,” he says.

However, stage 3 and 4 may be more difficult to treat, he says.

“Treatment would be more to palliative care, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

So do your screening early if you suspect something amiss. It can be treated if detected early enough.”

Dr Gurunathan is the organising chairman for the two day Congress begining Nov 10 organised by The Malaysian Upper Gastrointestinal Surgical Club and the College of Surgeons.

Well known foreign and local specialists attended and spoke at the Congress, which discussed topics pertaining to upper gastro intestinal surgery, a fairly new and rapidly progressing subspeciality in Malaysia

No new fuels before oil runs out

THE world will run out of oil around 100 years before replacement energy sources are available, if oil use and development of new fuels continue at the current pace, a US study warns.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis (UC-Davis) used the current share prices of oil companies and alternative energy companies to predict when replacement fuels will be ready to fill the gap left when oil runs dry. And the study's findings weren't very good for the oil-hungry world.

If the world's oil reserves were the 1.332 trillion barrels estimated in 2008 and oil consumption stood at 85.22 million barrels a day and growing yearly at 1.3 per cent, oil would be depleted by 2041, says the study published online last week by Environmental Science and Technology.

But by plugging current stock market prices into a complex equation, UC-Davis engineering professor Debbie Niemeier and postdoctoral researcher Nataliya Malyshkina calculated that a viable alternative fuel to oil will not be available before the middle of next century.

The researchers analysed the share prices of 25 oil companies quoted on US, European and Australian stock exchanges, and of 44 alternative energy companies that produce fuels such as ethanol or bio-diesel, or are developing fuel cells, batteries and propulsion systems aimed at replacing gasoline and diesel in vehicles of the future.

What they found is that the market capitalisation, or total value of all stock shares, of traditional oil companies far outstripped that of the alternative energy companies. That indicated to them that investors believe oil is going to do well in the near future and occupy a larger share of the energy market than alternative energy, said Dr Malyshkina

Walk may help to preserve memory.

Walks not only help older people stay physically fit, they may also be good for their brains, a new US study has shown.

The study, by a team of University of Pittsburgh researchers led by neurologist Kirk Erickson, suggested that walking at least 10 kilometres a week protected against age-related memory loss.

The results were published in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"Brain size shrinks in late adulthood, which can cause memory problems," said Erickson, who proposed further studies to determine whether, and what kind of, fitness training could help prevent dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

A total of 299 seniors, all initially dementia-free, recorded how far they walked weekly. After nine years, researchers measured their
brain sizes and found that seniors who walked 10 to 16 kilometres a week had preserved more grey matter than those who walked less.

Four years later, participants were tested for cognitive impairment and dementia. By then, 116 (40 per cent) had developed one
or the other. Participants who walked the most cut their risk of memory loss in half.

"If regular exercise in midlife could improve brain health and improve thinking and memory in later life, it would be one more
reason to make regular exercise in people of all ages a public health imperative,

Eat to beat cholesterol

Some years back, a friend of mine was shocked to learn during an annual body check-up that her cholesterol levels were way above the recommended levels for an average adult. She was in her late 20s then.

On hindsight, her shockingly high blood cholesterol wasn't surprising. Despite her svelte figure, her lifestyle - a daily pint of high-fat ice-cream coupled with a non-existent exercise routine - was hardly cholesterol-friendly.

We all know that certain foods such as ice-cream, organ meats such as liver and intestines, egg yolks and shellfish can raise our cholesterol levels. The good news is, a few tweaks to your diet may be able to do the reverse.

According to Dr Chin Chee Tang, a consultant at the department of cardiology at the National Heart Centre Singapore (NHCS), some cholesterol is required for life - it is an essential building block of cell membranes in the body. In most people, the liver is able to make most of the cholesterol the body needs.

Overindulging in fried chicken wings and cakes, however, can be devastating for your cholesterol levels.

"When we eat foods rich in saturated fats, the normal digestive process leads to the absorption of cholesterol in the blood stream," said Dr Chin.

The good and the bad

In particular, Dr Chin said high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, commonly known as bad cholesterol, is strongly associated with early or more rapid development of atherosclerosis, the narrowing of blood vessels in the body.

"Atherosclerosis in turn leads to other conditions such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure or poor circulation," he explained.

On the association of high cholesterol with heart conditions, Dr Chin cited recent data from the National Registry of Diseases Office: It was reported that among Singaporeans who had a heart attack from 2007 to 2008, high cholesterol was present in 56 per cent of these patients.

To keep your blood cholesterol levels healthy, it is important to keep your saturated fat and trans fat intake low, according to Benjamin Lee, a nutritionist at Health Promotion Board's adult health division.

"Both types of fat are able to increase LDL cholesterol levels. Trans fat also reduces the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol - also known as good cholesterol - and has more impact on blood cholesterol levels than cholesterol from food," said Lee.

In Singapore, Lee noted that most of our intake of saturated fat come from dishes prepared using coconut milk or cream, as well as from palm oil, which is usually labelled as "vegetable oil".

Trans fat is typically found in pastries and cakes made with vegetable shortening, commercially-prepared deep fried food and processed products containing partially-hydrogenated oil, he added.

"To be safe, limit your cholesterol intake to less than 300mg per day. Avoid consuming organ meat and shellfish more than twice a week, and have no more than four egg yolks per week," he advised.

But relying on diet isn't enough. Dr Chin urged smokers to also stub out and recommended at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity at least four times a week.

Eat your way to a healthier cholesterol level

Not all foods are equal. Studies have found that certain foods - such as salmon, walnuts, oatmeal and some veggies - can help control your cholesterol. Nehal Kamdar, senior dietitian at Raffles Hospital, suggests including these four heart-friendly foods into your diet.

1. Fatty fish

Oily fish such as salmon, mackerel and sardines are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help to lower blood fats linked to heart disease. According to Kamdar, omega-3 fatty acid prevent blood clots by making platelets less likely to clump together and stick to artery walls. It also makes blood vessels less likely to constrict. She suggested eating at least two servings of such fish twice a week. Just be sure to cook your fish using healthier methods such as steaming and baking to avoid unhealthy fats.

2. Go nuts

Nuts such as walnuts and almonds are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, which keep blood vessels healthy. In particular, walnuts are one of the best plant sources of protein as they are packed with vitamins, fibre and antioxidants, said Kamdar. But be sure to stick to just 30g (a fistful) each day, and avoid nuts that are salted or coated with sugar. Besides nuts, Kamdar recommended including one to two tablespoonfuls of ground flax seed into your food each day to help lower bad cholesterol. However, Dr Chin Chee Tang of NHCS added that while some studies have shown that flax seed and peanuts may help lower cholesterol levels, further research is required to confirm their cholesterol-lowering benefits.

3. Soy good

Soy protein such as soy beans, tofu, soya milk and tempeh (fermented soybeans) may be able to keep cholesterol levels in check. "Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, vitamin and minerals, soy protein is a good alternative to red meat as it is lower in fat and higher in fibre," said Kamdar. She added that those with high cholesterol may be able to lower their cholesterol levels when soy protein is eaten as part of a healthy low-fat diet.

4. A bowl of oatmeal a day keeps high cholesterol away

Eating oats not only keeps your bowel movements regular, it may even help lower cholesterol levels, and reduce risks of heart disease and diabetes, said Kamdar. Diabetes is another risk factor for heart disease. She added that oatmeal also fills a person up for a longer time, so he or she will not tempted by unhealthy snacks that may raise cholesterol levels.

What is considered a healthy level of cholesterol?

In general, the lower the total and LDL cholesterol levels, the lower your risk of getting medical problems associated with atherosclerosis, said Dr Chin Chee Tang of National Heart Centre Singapore.

What is considered a 'healthy' cholesterol level depends also on the presence of other medical conditions, he said.

"For an otherwise healthy individual with no other significant medical problems, a total cholesterol level greater than 6.2mmol/L (or 240mg/dL) is considered high and undesirable. Similarly, people with no significant medical problems should aim to have a LDL cholesterol level of no greater than 3.4mmol/L (130mg/dL)."

For patients who have medical problems such as a previous heart attack or stroke, the recommended levels are even lower.

Be fit, have fewer colds

Couch potatoes are nearly twice as likely to catch a cold, and a third likelier to suffer bad symptoms of a cold, compared with counterparts who keep fit, American researchers reported on Tuesday.

They tracked 1,002 adults in Wisconsin aged 18-85 for 12 weeks in the autumn and winter of 2008, monitoring them for respiratory illness and weight and quizzing them about diet, lifestyle and aerobic exercise.

People who described themself as fit or who exercised up to five days a week or more, had between 4.4 and 4.9 "cold" days on average.

For those who fell in the middle category of fitness, and exercised between one and four days a week, this was 4.9-5.5 days.

But among counterparts who said they were of low fitness and who exercised only one day a week or less, the tally was between 8.2 and 8.6 days.

Good fitness also caused the severity of cold symptoms to fall by between 31 and 41 per cent lower compared with the most sedentary lifestyle.

Bouts of exercise unleash a temporary rise in immune defences, helping to boost preparedness against viral intruders, the study suggested.

It cited figures that the average adult in the US can expect to have a cold two to four times a year, and children between half a dozen and 10 colds a year. The cost to the US economy is put at around 40 billion dollars annually.

RM14000 on each Malaysian head.

Auditor-General Ambrin Buang's report that last year's debts stood at an all-time high of RM362.39 billion, simply meant that each Malaysian had a domestic debt of RM14,000.

"The A-G revealed that Malaysia had the highest debt of RM362.39 billion in five years.

"This debt – RM362.39 billion – means that all 26 million Malaysians carry the burden of owing RM14,000 each... and it's all because of the government's corrupt practices," Idris said.

He said the domestic debt last year was RM348.60 billion.

Idris said the chief secretary to the government had reportedly blamed the nation's losses, which stood at RM10 billion each year, on corruption.

"Is this the work of an effective government?" he asked, adding that Umno-BN was always proclaiming itself as the “best and wisest administrator”.

"But the A-G's report reflects otherwise... it's not surpising that Pakatan Rakyat states have to carry the burden of the national debts.

"The Pakatan governments have inherited these debts from the previous BN administration and have to settle them. Why? Because we took over a state and not a party," Idris said.

Citing Kelantan and Kedah, he said during the 12 years of BN rule in Kelantan it had accumulated RM740 million in debts. Since taking over the state, Kelantan has been clearing this debt.

"It's worse in Kedah. BN ruled Kedah for 51 years. When Pakatan took over in 2008, we inherited RM2.3 billion worth of debts," he said, adding that majority of voters didn't know the truth about the (financial health) of BN-ruled states.

Idris also said federal officers dealing with the Pakatan states are awed by how Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor and Penang have managed their finances and settled their debts to the federal government.

S'pore least corrupt nation

SINGAPORE, Denmark and New Zealand were seen as the nations least blighted by corruption, according to a survey published on Tuesday by watchdog Transparency International (TI).

The three tied for top spot, scoring 9.3 points. They were followed by Finland, Sweden, Canada and the Netherlands.

Afghanistan and Myanmar shared second last place with a score of 1.4, with Somalia coming in last with a score of 1.1.

Nearly three-quarters of the 178 countries in TI's annual survey scored worse than average on the scale, which ranges from zero (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 10 (perceived to have low levels of corruption).

'The results indicate a serious corruption problem,' the Berlin-based anti-sleaze body said. 'Allowing corruption to continue is unacceptable; too many poor and vulnerable people continue to suffer its consequences around the world,' said TI's president Huguette Labelle.

The United States was 22nd on the list, while Greece and Italy came in at 78th and 67th respectively. China was level with Greece. TI said corruption was hampering efforts to combat 'the world's most pressing problems' such as the financial crisis and climate change.

Penang food entrepreneur

VEN Chin has turned his dream of bringing Penang food to Singapore a reality. The entrepreneur, an MBA student of Manchester Business School, has opened a Penang food restaurant by the name of Gurney Drive across the causeway, and he now has bigger goals in sight.

Ask Chin about his Gurney Drive venture and he begins to talk enthusias-tically about how the MBA programme he is pursuing has positioned him well to launch his business.

"Manchester Global MBA gave me the competitive advantage in the F&B industry. From industry analysis, brand concept, positioning, key success factors, business proposal, funding, pre-opening preparations, business launch till business fine-tuning, we applied lots of practical concepts learnt from the MBA course," he says, adding that the programme has sharpened his business acumen and practical skills.

Yes, he is forced to juggle full-time work with the demands of a business venture, family and a rigorous MBA programme but he is taking it all in his stride. "Time management is crucial. I remember the moment when my wife was about to give birth to my daughter and yet I was still in the MBA workshop while my mind was on the restaurant business!"

Chin, who’s into his second last semester with MBS, says flexibility was an important factor for him when deciding on the MBA course to take. The fact that Manchester Business School offers a part-time Global MBA programme suits his busy work schedule, he says. "As I have a family to support and could not afford to study full time, MBS offers the flexibility, and it has a good reputation and ranking."

Chin’s entrepreneurial spirit began at a tender age. He recalls dreaming about starting his own business, having been strongly influenced by his parents who own a small retail shop in a small town in Kedah.

"The book Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki further inspired me to set a target. I wanted to have my own business and be financially free one day."

In 2008, while still holding a full-time job, Chin started pursuing his Master’s in Business Administration. It was only last April that he set up Gurney Drive with his business partners.

"It took us about half a year of planning and another half year to find a retail location. Our first outlet is located at Jubilee Entertainment Complex in Ang Mo Kio, Singapore."

Gurney Drive, named after Sir Henry Gurney, is a famous food paradise by a seaside promenade in George Town. Chin’s Gurney Drive restaurant serves authentic and delectable Penang dishes prepared by renowned chefs. He describes the concept as "unpretentious hearty meals, cosy ambience and impeccable service in order to present customers a memorable dining experience to bring home".

And how has the response to his restaurant been so far? "During our first week of opening, the response of the crowd was overwhelming," he says, adding that "expansion plans are definitely in progress".

"We aim to open three company-owned outlets in two years’ time before starting to franchise the business locally and overseas. Our next outlet is targeted to open at the end of the year at Suntec City."

Chin says his decision to take up Manchester Global MBA was important for him as he felt he needed to learn practical skills that could be applied in the F&B business.

"Manchester Business School has enabled me to look at the F&B industry with a different perspective. During the course, the modules that I find extremely useful in starting up a business are Strategic Management, Supply Chain Management, and Management Accounting. These practical modules are essential to any business and although they are mostly designed for managing large corporations, with a little twist, the concepts can be adapted to new startups like mine."

The journey of an entrepreneur is never an easy one. Chin reflects on the continuous challenges he faces: "It has never been easy to study part time, work full time and start a business at the same time. An entrepreneur has to be a generalist rather than a specialist. Unlike an MNC where you can easily get help from your colleagues to settle issues relating to their department, for entrepreneurs every problem is their problem."

Article 8

Article 8 by clause (1) provides that all persons are equal before the law and entitled to its equal protection.

Clause 2 states: “Except as expressly authorised by this Constitution, there shall be no discrimination against citizens on the ground only of religion, race, descent, gender or place of birth in any law or in the appointment to any office or employment under a public authority or in the administration of any law relating to the acquisition, holding or disposition of property or the establishing or carrying on of any trade, business, profession, vocation or employment.”

The exception in clause 2 is used to justify the reservations and special provisions for the Malays and the Bumiputras of Sabah and Sarawak under Article 153.

Article 153.

Article 153 grants the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, or King of Malaysia, responsibility for safeguarding the special position of the Malay and other indigenous peoples of Malaysia, collectively referred to as Bumiputra and the legitimate interests of all the other communities. The article specifies how the King may protect the interest of these groups by establishing quotas for entry into the civil service, public scholarships and public education.

Originally there was no reference made to other indigenous peoples of Malaysia (then Malaya) such as the Orang Asli, but with the union of Malaya with Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak in 1963, the Constitution was amended so as to provide similar privileges for the indigenous peoples of East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), grouping them with the Malays as Bumiputra.

The scope of Article 153 is limited by Article 136, which requires that civil servants be treated impartially regardless of race. Clause 5 of article 153 specifically reaffirms article 136 of the constitution which states: All persons of whatever race in the same grade in the service of the Federation shall, subject to the terms and conditions of their employment, be treated impartially.

Clause 9 of article 153 states Nothing in this Article shall empower Parliament to restrict business or trade solely for the purpose of reservations for Malays.

The Reid Commission suggested that these provisions would be temporary in nature and be revisited in 15 years, and that a report should be presented to the appropriate legislature (currently the Parliament of Malaysia) and that the "legislature should then determine either to retain or to reduce any quota or to discontinue it entirely."

Under Article 153, and due to the 13th May 1969 riots, the New Economic Policy was introduced. The NEP aimed to eradicate poverty irrespective of race by expanding the economic pie so that the Chinese share of the economy would not be reduced in absolute terms but only relatively. The aim was for the Malays to have a 30% equity share of the economy, as opposed to the 4% they held in 1970. Foreigners and Chinese held much of the rest.^[7]

The NEP appeared to be derived from Article 153 and could be viewed as being in line with its wording. Although Article 153 would have been up for review in 1972, fifteen years after Malaysia's independence in 1957, due to the May 13 Incident it remained unreviewed. A new expiration date of 1991 for the NEP was set, twenty years after its implementation.^[8]

However, the NEP was said to have failed to have met its targets and was continued under a new policy called the National Development Policy.

A permanently warmer Arctic

THE signs of climate change were all over the Arctic this year - warmer air, less sea ice, melting glaciers - which probably means this weather-making region will not return to its former, colder state, scientists reported on Thursday.

In an international assessment of the Arctic, scientists from the United States, Canada, Russia, Denmark and other countries said, 'Return to previous Arctic conditions is unlikely.' Conditions in the Arctic are important because of their powerful impact on weather in the heavily populated middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere.

The heavy snows in the United States, northern Europe and western Asia last winter are linked to higher air temperatures over the Arctic, the scientists found.

'Winter 2009-2010 showed a new connectivity between mid-latitude extreme cold and snowy weather events and changes in the wind patterns of the Arctic, the so-called Warm Arctic-Cold Continents pattern,' said the report, issued by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The scientists found evidence of widespread Arctic warming, with surface air temperatures rising above global averages twice as quickly as the rate for lower latitudes, Jackie Richter-Menge of the US Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory.

Part of the reason for this is a process called polar amplification. Warming air melts the sun-reflecting white snow and ice of the Arctic, revealing darker, heat-absorbing water or land, spurring the effects of warming. This is further amplified by the action of the round-the-clock sunlight of Arctic summers, Richter-Menge said in a telephone briefing.

Plants clean air pollution better

PLANTS, especially some trees under stress, are even better than expected at scrubbing certain chemical pollutants out of the air, researchers reported on Thursday.

'Plants clean our air to a greater extent than we had realized,' Thomas Karl of the US National Center for Atmospheric Research, a federally funded research center based in Boulder, Colorado, said in a statement.

'They actively consume certain types of air pollution.' Scientists have long known that plants take in carbon dioxide, a naturally occurring gas that can build up in the atmosphere and trap heat beneath it. But they did not know that some plants excel at sucking up a class of chemicals known as oxygenated volatile organic compounds, or oVOCs.

These compounds, which can have long-term health and environmental impacts, form in the atmosphere from hydrocarbons and other chemicals from natural and human-made sources, including plants, vehicles and construction materials.

Because oVOCs can combine with nitrogen oxides to form ozone, they can contribute to lung inflammation and swelling and asthma attacks, according to the American Lung Association.

Mr Karl, lead author of the study published in the journal Science, worked with other scientists to determine that deciduous plants - those that seasonally shed their leaves - appear to take in these compounds as much as four times more quickly than was previously thought.

Beijing's population surges near 20 million

Beijing municipal people's congress revealed this week that the Chinese capital now has 19.72 million inhabitants, growing by over 3% in the past 2 years.

Previous estimates had predicted that the city's population would swell to that level a decade later than it has. According to the guidelines regarding Beijing's development between 2004 and 2020 set by the State Council, the number of permanent residents living in capital should have been capped below 18 million until the end of 2020.

However, a recently released report from the population investigation and research team within the people's congress shows that by the end of 2009, approximately 12.46 million people in the capital held a Beijing "hukou" (permanent residence). An additional 7.26 million inhabitants were migrant workers who had been living in the city for more than half a year and who are therefore also classified as permanent residents.

After analyzing the change in population between 2006 and 2009, the team found that Beijing's population had undergone rapid growth during the first four years of the 11th Five-Year Development Plan, mainly as a result of an explosion in the floating population.

Natural birth contributed 482,000 extra people during the past four years while the jump in the floating population accounted for 1.52 million additional inhabitants.

The report points out that now the total size of the floating population in the capital could have exceeded 10 million people, if members of the army deployed in Beijing, unregistered migrant workers and people on short visits are also added to the mix.

The massive growth in Beijing's population, which is mainly comprised of young adults, plays an important role in the booming development of the city. Unfortunately, say critics, it unavoidably brings more pressure on the city's natural resources.

Wang Jian, a water specialist with Green SOS, an NGO based in Beijing, told METRO that the current water reserves in Beijing can only support about half of its residents, and not the nearly 20 million people who now live in the city.

The population explosion not only burdens the environment but also the whole infrastructure, public service system and the management of society, say experts.

Wu Shoulun, a retired professor from Beihang University who is also a member of the congress's research team, said in a media report that every aspect of people's daily life can be influenced by the huge population, as it leads to high-priced-apartments, chaos on public transportation and challenges for the education system. Maya Reid, a 25-year-old woman from Canada, has noticed the sharp rise in the capital's population since she arrived in Beijing four years ago.

"My home country has a population of 30 million. It's not like we can find a seat in subway every time but it has never been so packed and you can always find a place to breathe," said Reid who, commutes to work each day on Beijing's subway.

Figures show that around 32.3 percent of commercial apartments were sold to people who did not have Beijing permanent residency papers between 2005 and 2009. In 2008, 40 percent of students in compulsory education in Beijing were from the floating population. Both facts suggest the floating population is growing massively.

"It is time for the government to take into consideration proper population control," Wu told the Beijing Daily on Wednesday.

His team suggested that the government changes the current industry structure in Beijing, opening more hi-tech companies and attracting more high-end people to Beijing instead of laborers.

However, Mu Guangzong, a professor from the Institute of Population Research with Peking University, had a different point of view.

"I believe the market can help with the adjustment of population. High-end people will also need someone to help them with housekeeping and other stuff," Mu told METRO on Thursday.

"People who are useful for society will stay and those who are not may leave gradually."

Mu said the reason why Beijing attracts more people than any other cities is because the capital is a better place to live than many other cities.

"The root lies in the huge different living standards between big cities and small villages. And the difference is still increasing," he said.

World population will exceed 9 billion in 2050

The world's population is expected to exceed 9 billion in 2050. The countries with over 100 million people will be increased to 17. India will replace China to become the world's largest country with a population of 1.6 billion, according to the report titled "State of World Population 2010," which was issued by World Population Fund on Oct. 20.

The world's population is expected to reach to 9.15 billion in 2050, 2.241 billion higher than at present, according to the report. Africa's population will nearly double from 1 billion to almost 2 billion. The population in Asia, which will also have more substantial growth, will grow from 4.2 billion to 5.2 billion. The population in Europe will fall to 691 million from the current 733 million, it will be the only the continent with population decline.

The report also shows that the populations of 11 countries in the world have exceeded 100 million recently. Of these, China has the most, with a population of 1.4 billion, and the next is India with 1.2 billion. Other countries that have a population of more than 100 million are the United States, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Russia, Japan and Mexico.

Drinking coffee or tea may lower brain cancer risk?

Daily consumption of coffee or tea may reduce chances of developing brain cancer, said a new study published in the November issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The conclusion is based on analysis of data concerning the dietary habits of more than 410,000 men and women between the ages of 25 and 70, according to the study conducted by an international team of researchers.

The study involved participants from France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Britain, Greece, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Germany.

Participants were recruited between 1991 and 2000, and were tracked over the course of about 8.5 years. During that time, food surveys were completed to gauge, among other things, the amount of tea and coffee each participant consumed.

During the study, 343 new cases of glioma were diagnosed, as were 245 new cases of meningioma, another cancer that affects tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

The findings show that coffee and tea may protect against brain cancer, specifically in the form of glioma, a cancer of the central nervous system that originates in the brain and/or spinal cord.

By stacking drinking patterns against brain cancer incidence, the research team found that drinking 100 mL (or 0.4 cups) per day and above lowered the risk of gliomas by 34 percent.

The protective effect appears to be slightly stronger among men, the team observed, and seems to apply solely to gliomas.

Dr. John S. Yu, director of the Brain Tumor Center of Excellence at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, said the finding was "striking."

"If we had a drug for any disease that could demonstrate a risk reduction of 34 percent, that would be considered a great drug. That degree of risk reduction is very strong," he said.

But he said "it has not yet been established whether or not this is directly causative -- (in other words, whether) drinking caffeine directly reduces disease risk -- or whether this is actually about an association between other factors concerning the type of people who drink a certain amount of coffee and risk reduction. More research is needed to figure that out." -

Global study finds China and Middle East leading digital age

China and the Middle East are racing ahead of the West in embracing the Internet according to "the largest ever" global study of online habits.

The Digital Life study by global research firm TNS also found Malaysians are the most sociable online with an average of 233 friends on social media websites, while the Japanese are the least friendly with just 29.

TNS said the study was the "largest ever global research project into people's online activities and behaviour", surveying almost 90 per cent of the world’s online population through 50,000 interviews in 46 countries.

"This study covers more than twice as many markets as any other research," said TNS Chief Development Officer Matthew Froggatt. "It is the first truly global research into online activities."

Online consumers in rapid growth markets have overtaken mature markets in terms of engaging with digital activities, despite the benefit of more advanced Internet infrastructure, the study found.

Egypt and China have much higher levels of digital engagement than mature markets such as Japan, Denmark or Finland, while blogging and social networking are gaining momentum at huge speed in rapid growth markets.

James Fergusson, TNS's global director for rapid growth and emerging markets, said in Asia the Internet was "far more transformational when compared to developed Western markets which are far more functional."

"This is because the Internet reduces cultural, social and political barriers to self expression," he told AFP on Monday.

The research shows four out of five online users in China (88 percent) and over half of those in Brazil (51 percent) have written their own blog or forum entry, compared to only 32 percent in the United States.

And online consumers are spending more time on social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn than on email.

In rapid growth markets such as Latin America, the Middle East and China, the average time spent per week on social networking sites is 5.2 hours compared to four hours on email.

Malaysia tops the list of countries with the most friends at an average of 233 friends in their social network, closely followed by Brazilians with 231.

"Malaysians are very open to establishing friendships online," Fergusson said. "Whereas in Japan people tend to be more selective in choosing their online friends."

The study also reveals a marked global shift away from traditional media, with 61 percent of online users using the Internet daily against 54 percent for television, 36 percent for radio and 32 percent for newspapers.

Men with prostate cancer at higher colon cancer risk

Men who have prostate cancer have a higher risk of developing colon cancer than men who do not have prostate cancer, US researchers said on Tuesday.

Researchers at the University at Buffalo (UB) in New York state found in a study of more than 2,000 men that patients diagnosed with prostate cancer had significantly more abnormal colon polyps, known as adenomas, and advanced adenomas than men without prostate cancer.

Most colon cancers begin as adenomas, the researchers said as they presented the findings of their study at the annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in San Antonio, Texas.

"Our study is the first to show that men with prostate cancer are at increased risk of developing colon cancer," said report author Ognian Pomakov, an assistant professor at UB's department of medicine.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, only behind lung cancer. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in men and women in the United States.

The researchers reviewed the patient records, colonoscopy reports and pathology reports, as well as data on the prevalence of adenomas, advanced adenomas, cancerous adenomas and their location within the colon, in 2,011 men who had colonoscopies at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Buffalo.

When the researchers compared the colonoscopy results from 188 men diagnosed with prostate cancer with the rest of the patients, they found that the prostate cancer patients had significantly higher prevalence of abnormal polyps and advanced adenomas compared to the rest of the study sample.

Forty-eight per cent of prostate cancer patients had adenomas, compared to 30.8 per cent of the men without prostate cancer. More than 15 per cent of
prostate cancer patients had advanced adenomas compared to 10 per cent of the men without prostate cancer.

Pomakov stressed the importance of men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer having routine screening for colon cancer and called for larger studies to be done to determine if screening for colorectal cancer should begin earlier for prostate cancer patients than the currently recommended age of 50.

Danger food for diabetics

NO matter what type of diabetes you have, a proper balanced meal plan is vital.

Poor food choices will work against your efforts to stay healthy. Although having diabetes does not mean you should be deprived of any food item, some are best left out of your meal plan. These include foods high in saturated and trans-fat. Foods high in added sugar are just an empty source of calories, as confirmed by a website.

1. Restaurant french fries

French fries are loaded with saturated fat, sodium and calories. Although many fast-food restaurants offer trans-fat-free fries, that doesn’t make them healthy.

2. Hamburgers and chicken and fish sandwiches

Big, cheesy hamburgers, fried chicken and fish sandwiches are high in saturated fat, the leading factor in high cholesterol levels. However, there is no need to cut out saturated fat completely. The American Heart Association recommends limiting saturated fat to seven per cent of your total daily calories.

3. Fried Chicken

This is another restaurant staple that shouldn’t be part of your diabetic meal plan. Frying chicken adds significant carbs, calories and fat, turning a good protein choice into a meal deal-breaker. Extra crispy fried chicken has more calories than grilled chicken.

4. Doughnuts and baked items
Commercially-made muffins, pastries and doughnuts are on the list of foods to avoid because of their high saturated fat content. If you must have some, be sure to check food labels and look for fat-free, sugar-free and reduced-sugar varieties. However, the best way to control what you eat is to make these yourself.

5. Cakes and pies

Cake mixes can also have trans-fat. If there’s one cake to avoid completely, it’s pound cake. Garnering its name for a reason (it’s named such as it’s traditionally made with 1lb or 453g butter, eggs, sugar, and flour), the US Food and Drug Administration lists one slice of pound cake as having 3.5g of saturated fat and 4.5g of trans-fat. There is no recommendation for any percentage of trans-fat as part of your daily calories. Avoiding all trans-fats can help lower cholesterol.

6. Frozen meals
Convenient but the high sodium and fat content of frozen meals make them unhealthy choices. One of the biggest culprits is the ultimate comfort food — potpie. Whether you pick up a frozen variety or order one at a restaurant, the potpie is a mega violator.

7. Flavoured water
Flavoured water is so convenient but the sugar hidden within isn’t worth the price. Often high in sugar and carbs, flavoured water is surprisingly bad for you.

8. Purchased smoothies
Filled with fruit and sold at colourful, fresh-looking hot spots, smoothies seem like great snacks or lunch choices. Unfortunately, there is a lot of hidden sugar. You can easily make smoothies at home that are just as refreshing but lower in carbs and calories.

9. Milkshakes
Rich, thick milkshakes from sit-down restaurants or fast-food joints are hiding places for bad-for-your-heart trans-fat. They also are loaded with calories and sugar. For example, a small chocolate milkshake has about 700 calories, one gramme of trans-fat (with 29g total fat), and 60g of sugar. Topping it with whipped cream adds more calories and sugar.

10. Frozen pizza
Pizza is delicious, convenient and it’s a must-have at football games, birthday parties and movie nights. The downside is that many commercially-made pizzas are full of calories that can blow a meal plan with just one slice as they are high in calories, sodium, carbs and fat.

11. Bought cookies
Sugar, butter, high-fructose corn syrup, shortening, margarine and partially hydrogenated or hydrogenated oils are the biggest saturated fat and trans-fat contributors that can also pile on calories and carbohydrates. So instead of buying, bake your own cookies.

Budget 2011 highlights

Following are the highlights of 2011 Budget tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Finance Minister, at the Dewan Rakyat today:

* A mixed development project including affordable houses to be developed at a cost of RM10 billion in Sungai Buloh and is expected to be completed by 2025.

* Another landmark project "Warisan Merdeka" which includes a 100-storey tower, the tallest in Malaysia, at a cost of RM5 billion to be completed by 2015.

* Development of large-scale integrated Aquaculture Zones in Pitas, Sungai Telaga and Sungai Padas in Sabah as well as Batang Ai and Tanjung Manis in Sarawak with an allocation of RM252 million.

* Allocation of RM135 million for basic infrastructure to encourage farmers participation in high value agriculture activities including swiftlet nests.

* Extension of income tax deduction incentive for investors and income tax exemption for companies undertaking food production activities until 2015.

* RM85 million to provide infrastructure facilities to facilitate construction of hotels and resorts in remote areas with the potential to attract tourists.

* RM50 million to construct several shaded walkways in the KLCC-Bukit Bintang vicinity.

* Development of world's first integrated eco-nature resort at a cost of RM3 billion by Nexus Karambunai in Sabah to commence next year.

* Abolishing of import duty on 300 goods preferred by tourists and locals, at 5 to 30 per cent, to promote Malaysia as a shopping heaven in Asia.

* RM119 million for the development of local content creation, hosting local content and unlocking new channels for content.

* Exemption of sales tax on all types of mobile phones.

* RM850 million for infrastructure support to accelerate corridor and regional development.

* RM411 million for research, development and commercialisation activity to be the platform for enhancing value-added activities across economic sectors.

* Establishment of a Special Innovation Unit (UNIK) under the Prime Minister's Department with an allocation of RM71 million for next year to commercialise R&D findings by universities and research institutions.

* RM200 million for the purchase of creative products such as high quality, locally-produced films, dramas and documentaries.

* Rate of service tax to be increased from five to six per cent.

* Service tax to be imposed on paid television broadcasting services.

* Strengthening the revenue collection system by increasing enforcement and audit as well as coverage on all parties that should be paying taxes.

* Restructuring and strengthening of education and training with the sum of RM29.3 billion allocated for Education Ministry, RM10.2 billion (Higher Education Ministry) and RM627 million (Human Resource Ministry).

* Establishment of Talent Corporation under the Prime Minister''s Office in early 2011 to develop an expert workforce database as well as collaborate closely with talent networks globally.

* For the Ministry of Education, a sum of RM6.4 billion is allocated for Development Expenditure to build and upgrade schools, hostels, facilities and equipment as well as uphold the status of the teaching profession.

* RM213 million is allocated to reward high performance schools as well as for the remuneration of Principals, Head Teachers and Excellent Teachers.

* The Government will increase pre-school enrolment rate to a targeted 72 per cent by end 2011 through additional 1,700 classes, strengthen the curriculum as well as appoint 800 pre-school graduate teachers.

* The Government also allocates RM111 million for PERMATA programme including the construction of the second phase of Sekolah PERMATA Pintar school complex, 32 PERMATA Children Centres (PAPN) and financing operations of 52 completed PAPNs.

* RM250 million allocated for Development Expenditure for religious schools, Chinese-type schools, Tamil national schools, missionary schools and Government-assisted schools nationwide.

* Recognising the importance of Islamic education, the Government will provide assistance per capita for primary and secondary rakyat religious schools with an allocation of RM95 million.

* To provide competent and quality teachers and instructors to better guide and educate students, the Government allocates RM576 million in the form of scholarships for those wishing to further their studies.

* RM213 million is allocated to enhance proficiency in Bahasa Malaysia, strengthen the English language as well as streamline the standard curriculum for primary schools.

* The Government will recruit 375 native-speaking teachers including from the United Kingdom and Australia to further enhance teaching of English.

* The number of PhD qualified academic staff will be increased to 75 per cent in research universities and to 60 per cent in other public institutions of higher learning with an allocation of RM20 million.

* Excise duty exemption be increased from 50 per cent to 100 per cent on national vehicles purchased by the disable.

* Existing tax relief of up to a maximum of RM5,000 be extended to cover other expenses such as day care centre, cost incurred to employ caretakers for parents and other daily needs such as diapers.

* Stamp duty exemption of 50 per cent be given on loan agreement instruments to finance first-time purchase of houses.

* Full import duty and 50 per cent excise duty exemption was granted to franchise holders of hybrid cars.

* Implementation of 1Malaysia Training Programme by Community Colleges, National Youth Training Institutes, Giat Mara and Industrial Training Institutes to commence in January 2011 with an allocation of RM500 million.

* The establishment of National Wage Consultation Council as the main platform for wage determination.

* The establishment of 1Malaysia Youth Fund with an allocation of RM20 million.

* Monthly allowance for KAFA teachers will be increased to RM800 compared with RM500 currently.

* Increase in monthly allowance for the Chairman of JKKK and JKKP, Tok Batin, Chairman of JKKK Orang Asli and Chairman of Kampung Baru to RM800 compared with RM450 currently.

* Increase in meeting attending allowance to all comittee members from RM30 to RM50.

* Special Financial Assistance amounting to RM500 to be provided to all civil servants from Grade 54 and below, including contract officers and retirees.

* The abolishment of the Competency Level Assessment or PTK to be replaced with a more suitable evaluation system by June 2011.

* Extension of services of Pegawai Khidmat Singkat for an additional period of one year from December 2010.

* Raising the amount of loan from RM10,000 to RM20,000 for additional works on low-cost houses for Support Group Two.

* Raising the maximum loan eligibility to RM450,000 compared with RM360,000 currently, effective January 1, 2011.

* Increasing the rate for Funeral Arrangement Assistance to RM3,000.

* Allowing flexibility to self-determine fully-paid maternity leave not exceeding 90 days from the current 60 days subject to a total of 300 days of maternity leave throughout the tenure of service.

* Introduction of "Skim Rumah Pertamaku" which will provide a guarantee on down payment of 10 per cent for houses below RM220,000 for first-time house buyers.

* To assist estate workers to own low-cost houses through a scheme managed by BSN.

* Construction and repair of 12,000 houses nationwide particularly in Sabah and Sarawak with an allocation of RM300 million.


* Establishment of a "1Malaysia Smart Consumer" portal.

* Introduction of the Distribution of Essential Goods programme to standardise prices across areas.

* Introduction of the Retail Shop Transformation Programme, Automotive Workshop and Community Market projects.

* The launch of a Private Pension Fund in 2011.

* The launch of Bumiputera Property Trust Foundation with the size of RM1 billion and syariah-compliant.

* To assist children particularly those from the low-income group to excel academically, the 1MDB will provide multi-vitamins for primary school students.

* Rebate of electricity bill payment for monthly consumption of below RM20 will be continued.

* The toll rates in four highways owned by PLUS Expressway Berhad will not be raised for the next five years effective immediately.

* A review of the current minimum bankruptcy limit of RM30,000.

* The application for Permanent Resident status may be submitted after five years of residence.

* Providing four buses for Mobile Clinic.

* Formulating a new development model for Orang Asli.

* JHEOA will be restructured and strengthened as Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli.

NUS Business School top 300 business schools worldwide

National University of Singapore's Business School has been named one of the top 300 business schools worldwide.

The Princeton Review's latest edition of "The Best 300 Business Schools" also named NUS Business School among the top three outside North America.

Princeton Review's senior vice president of Publishing Robert Franek said the schools were not ranked hierarchically or academically, but judged according to the academic programmes they offered, as well as an internal review of the schools' institutional data.

NUS Business School was the only business school in Singapore to make the list.

Mr Franek said surveys based on opinions and experiences of some 19,000 students attending these schools were carried out.

NUS Business School dean Bernard Yeung said he was happy students surveyed spoke well of the "very strong faculty" and the graduate business programme that offers a global perspective with an Asian outlook.

Tycoon's US$1b house

IT WILL be a house-warming party like no other when India's richest man Mukesh Ambani finally throws the doors open to his new house: a 27-storey building priced at a staggering US$1 billion (S$1.3 billion).

At the party on Oct 28, guests of Mr Ambani, 53, will get a close-up look of the steel, glass and tile asymmetrical structure, which towers over other buildings in the uber-cool Altamount Road in Mumbai.

Three helipads with its own air traffic control area, a four-storey carpark for 160 cars, a 50-seater cinema, a ballroom and a yoga studio are just some of the standout features of the Lego block-like building, which has become a Mumbai landmark.

The house is said to be inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, with an open four-storey garden in its belly, and has been christened Antilia after a mythical island in the Atlantic known for its wealth.

The 173m-tall monolith has a floor space of 400,000 sq ft for just six people: the industrialist, his wife Nita, three children - daughter Isha and sons Akash and Anant - and mother Kokilaben.

Around 600 servants will take care of the family, whose living quarters on the top five floors will have an uninterrupted view of the Arabian Sea, but also a glimpse of the slums that dot Mumbai.

Ho Ching slips to No. 30

TEMASEK Holdings CEO Ho Ching has dropped 25 places from No. 5 in last year's Forbes Magazine's World's Most Powerful Women list to 30th place this year.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who topped the list last year, also fell to 4th spot this year, while US first lady Michelle Obama, who ranked No. 40, is now the Most Powerful Woman.

This is likely due to Forbes changing the way it ranks women, basing this year's list less on wealth and power and more on creative input and entrepreneurship. It also grouped women into various categories, such as politics, business, and lifestyle.

In Forbes' 2010 ranking of the world's 100 most influential women, Ms Ho, wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, came in 10th in the Business category.

Forbes said on its website that 'speculation remained as to whether Ho would remain CEO', after Temasek Holdings 'hired and promoted several high-level executives to support her.'

It also implied that the departure of Charles Goodyear, who had initially been brought in to succeed Ms Ho in 2009, had an effect on this year's ranking.

Kraft Foods Chief Executive Irene Rosenfeld, who led a hostile US$18 billion takeover of Britain's Cadbury, came in second, followed by talk show host and media mogul Oprah Winfrey, who is ending 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' next year after 25 years to launch her cable network OWN.

S'poreans 2nd richest in Asia

SINGAPORE ranks fourth globally and second in Asia Pacific in terms of average personal wealth, according to the inaugural global wealth report by Credit Suisse Research.

Average wealth per adult in Singapore has grown strongly in the last decade, rising from US$105,000 (S$137,100) per adult to over US$250,000 in 2010, supported by a period of strong domestic economic growth and asset price increases.

Singapore's two-fold increase in average wealth per adult has also been accompanied by a 7 per cent slide in average debt.

From a macro perspective, the report finds that the global wealth currently held by 4.4 billion adults has increased 72 per cent since 2000 to reach US$195 trillion.

100 People: A World Portrait

If the World were 100 PEOPLE:

50 would be female
50 would be male

20 would be children
There would be 80 adults,
14 of whom would be 65 and older

There would be:
61 Asians
12 Europeans
13 Africans
14 people from the Western Hemisphere

There would be:
31 Christians
21 Muslims
14 Hindus
6 Buddhists
12 people who practice other religions
16 people who would not be aligned with a religion

17 would speak a Chinese dialect
8 would speak Hindustani
8 would speak English
7 would speak Spanish
4 would speak Arabic
4 would speak Russian
52 would speak other languages

82 would be able to read and write; 18 would not

1 would have a college education
1 would own a computer

75 people would have some supply of food and a place to
shelter them from the wind and the rain, but 25 would not

1 would be dying of starvation
17 would be undernourished
15 would be overweight

83 would have access to safe drinking water
17 people would have no clean, safe water to drink