Winter Sonata star dies in apparent suicide

SEOUL: A popular South Korean actor and singer was found dead Wednesday in an apparent suicide, police and a news report said.

Park Yong-ha, 33, apparently hanged himself in his home in Seoul, Yonhap news agency reported, citing police.

An official with Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency told The Associated Press that Park was found hanging by the electric cord of his mobile phone battery charger. However, police were still trying to determine the exact cause of death, the official said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

Park debuted in the late 1990s and starred in the 2002 television drama “Winter Sonata,” which drummed up a following in Japan and Southeast Asia. He held several concerts in Japan and one of his fans was said to be its former first lady Akie Abe.

Yonhap reported no suicide note was found but that Park told his family “I’m sorry. I’m sorry” while massaging his father, who is terminally ill with stomach cancer, early Wednesday.

South Korea has the highest suicide rate among the 30 nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and a number of high-profile people have killed themselves in recent years.

Choi Jin-sil, one of South Korea’s most famous actresses, committed suicide two years ago. In March, her younger brother, Choi Jin-young, also an actor, killed himself in Seoul.

Former President Roh Moo-hyun jumped to his death last May while embroiled in a widening corruption scandal, and the ex-chairman of South Korea’s oldest conglomerate, Park Yong-oh of the Doosan Group, killed himself in November.

Brazil, Netherlands qualify for WCup quarterfinals

JOHANNESBURG (AP): Brazil and the Netherlands advanced comfortably into the World Cup quarterfinals Monday, while anger simmered over refereeing blunders and FIFA's refusal to adopt video technology to eliminate them.

Brazil comfortably brushed aside Chile 3-0 at Ellis Park as the team pushes for a sixth title, while the Netherlands eased into the last eight with a 2-1 win against Slovakia. For Brazil, Juan and Luis Fabiano scored in the first half and Robinho finished off the scoring in the 59th minute.

"Chile played exceptionally well, they had a lot of possession of the ball," Brazil coach Dunga said. "But Brazil was able to have balance and control."

For the Netherlands, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder scored in each half.

Slovakia's Robert Vittek scored with a penalty with the last kick of the match.

Brazil and The Netherlands will meet in the last eight in Port Elizabeth on Friday.

The other remaining round of 16 matches - Paraguay-Japan and Spain-Portugal - take place Tuesday.

Uruguay and Ghana were the first teams to qualify for the quarterfinals and they also meet on Friday.

Argentina and Germany qualified Sunday, but only after refereeing mistakes that FIFA is refusing to comment on.

FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot faced hostile questioning from reporters, but said it was "obviously not the place" to debate refereeing errors or the merits of video technology.

TV replays showed that England was denied a goal against Germany on Sunday when Frank Lampard's shot bounced down from the crossbar and over the goal line. Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda waved away the 38th-minute non-goal, which would have leveled the game at 2-2. Germany went on to win 4-1.

Later Sunday, Argentina's first goal in a 3-1 win against Mexico was scored by Carlos Tevez from an offside position, but was allowed by Italian referee Roberto Rosetti after he consulted his assistant. Mexico players protested to the match officials after seeing replays on a stadium giant screen, which showed the infringement.

Guus Hiddink called on FIFA president Sepp Blatter to step down if he doesn't introduce video technology.

"Sepp Blatter should announce tomorrow that video replay will be implemented or he needs to resign," said Hiddink, one of the world's most respected coaches.

Brazil wins Group G after 0-0 draw with Portugal

DURBAN, South Africa (AP)—Two of soccer’s most powerful offenses didn’t score Friday and Brazil won Group G after a listless 0-0 draw with Portugal, which also advanced to the second round.

Both teams had good chances to score, but failed to capitalize at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Brazil striker Nilmar had a shot tipped against the goalpost by Portugal keeper Eduardo in the 30th minute, and Luis Fabiano’s close-range header just missed wide in the 39th.

Portugal had a goal denied by keeper Julio Cesar in the 60th when he barely tipped wide a shot by Raul Meireles after a dangerous run by Cristiano Ronaldo.

Brazil finished with seven points, two more than Portugal. The five-time champion Brazilians play the Group H runner-up on Monday in Johannesburg. Portugal faces the Group H winner Tuesday in Cape Town.

Ivory Coast beat North Korea 3-0 but bow out

NELSPRUIT, June 25 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast bowed out of the World Cup on Friday with a 3-0 victory over North Korea which was too little, too late for their chances of making it into the last 16.

The African team, needing a huge win to give themselves any hope of reaching the second round, grabbed two early goals in the Group G game.

Yaya Toure scored the first in the 14th minute, side-footing neatly home from the edge of the box, and Ndri Romaric notched the second six minutes later after a Didier Drogba shot bounced back off the bar.

Salomon Kalou added a third in the 82nd minute but the Koreans did not cave in as they did in losing 7-0 to Portugal and the result was not enough for Ivory Coast to prevent Brazil and Portugal going through as top teams in the group.

Baptista, Alves to start for Brazil vs. Portugal

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Julio Baptista and Daniel Alves have replaced Kaka and Elano for Brazil's final Group G match against Portugal on Friday at the World Cup.

Coach Dunga also brought in Nilmar for Robinho with Brazil already through to the round of 16.

Kaka is not playing after receiving a red card against Ivory Coast while Elano has failed to recover from a right ankle injury.

Portugal will be without Brazil-born playmaker Deco for the second match in a row because of a right hip injury, but Cristiano Ronaldo is set to start at Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz made four changes to the team that routed North Korea 7-0 in the previous match, including Duda, Danny, Pepe and Ricardo Costa in the starting on Friday.

Portugal has a comfortable goal difference to reach the second round even with a loss. The winner of the match will win the group.
___
Portugal: Eduardo, Bruno Alves, Duda, Ricardo Carvalho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Danny, Pepe, Raul Meireles, Tiago, Ricardo Costa, Fabio Coentrao.

Brazil: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Juan, Michel Bastos, Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo, Daniel Alves, Julio Baptista, Nilmar and Luis Fabiano.

Portugal beats North Korea 7-0

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) - Portugal revived its World Cup campaign with a dominating 7-0 win over North Korea in Group G on Monday, eliminating the Asian team from the competition.

Simao Sabrosa, Hugo Almeida and Tiago scored over an eight-minute span in the second half, after Raul Meireles' 29th-minute goal gave Portugal the lead.

Substitute Liedson added another in the 81st, Cristiano Ronaldo put in the sixth in the 87th and Tiago scored his second of the match in the 89th.

The win moves Portugal into second place in Group G with four points, two behind Brazil. The Ivory Coast has one point, and North Korea is out of the tournament after two straight losses.

Mexico Beats France 2-0 At World Cup

Substitutes Javier Hernandez and Cuauhtemoc Blanco scored a goal each Thursday in Mexico's 2-0 win over France at the World Cup, leaving the French on the verge of elimination from Group A.


Mexico went ahead in the 64th minute when Hernandez ran onto Rafael Marquez's pass and rounded goalkeeper Hugo Lloris before guiding the ball home. Hernandez's grandfather, Tomas Balcazar, scored for Mexico against France in the 1954 World Cup, although that was a consolation goal.

Blanco converted a penalty in the 79th after Eric Abidal fouled Pablo Barrera, who came on for the injured Carlos Vela in the first half.

"We have to enjoy this win," Marquez said. "We have to go step-by-step and be calm."
Mexico is now level on points with Uruguay, both with four. They play each other in the final group game knowing a draw will be enough for both to advance. France and South Africa both have one point, leaving both needing a win in their match Tuesday while hoping for a result in the other game.

"We're not going to go out of this tournament without winning a match," France winger Florent Malouda said. "It's shameful to lose like that. It's a question of saving our honor."

 -- Source : thestaronline.

Argentina Beats South Korea 4-1 At World Cup

Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat trick in Argentina's 4-1 win over South Korea at the World Cup on Thursday, a result that put the South Americans on the brink of qualifying for the next round from Group B.

Higuain scored his first goal in the 33rd minute, making it 2-0 following an own goal from Park Chu-young, after Nicolas Burdisso flicked on a cross from Maxi Rodriguez.

Lee Chung-yong pulled one back for South Korea by pouncing on a defensive mistake in first-half injury time, but Higuain added two second-half goals - in the 76th and 80th minutes - put the result beyond doubt.

With Lionel Messi playing in a slightly deeper role, Argentina lacked a cutting edge in the opening stages, its main threat coming down the left wing where Carlos Tevez was drifting into space and linking well with Gabriel Heinze and Angel Di Maria.

Higuain, who missed a string of chances in the opening match against Nigeria, shot high over the bar in the eighth minute and Messi only showed occasional flashes of brilliance as the South Korean midfield closed him down.

South Korea came close in the 26th when Ki Sung-yong sent in a swerving shot from outside the box that just cleared the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Messi backheeled a free kick to Tevez, who sent a powerful shot over the bar.

-- Source : thestaronline.

Brunei Sultan Divorces Azrinaz After Five Years

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Sultan of Brunei has divorced his Malaysian wife after five years of marriage.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world’s wealthiest men, married Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, a former Malaysian TV news journalist, in 2005.

Azrinaz gave birth to the Sultan’s 11th child, a baby boy, less than a year later and a daughter in 2008.

Brunei’s palace announced on state television and radio late yesterday that the Sultan had divorced Azrinaz and revoked all her royal titles.

-- Source : thestaronline.

STOP SNORING

Has a family member told you that your snoring reverberates throughout your home?  

A number of factors may be causing your snoring, including the narrowing of upper airway passages, obesity and aging, according to the University of Iowa. 

If you snore loudly and frequently, you should have a physical examination of your nose and throat and undergo a sleep study. Treatment options include :

• Adopting Regular sleep habits
• Discontinuing pre - sleep alcohol and over the counter sleep aids
• Quitting smoking
• Elevating the head of the bed
• Using certain dental devices and nasal appliances.

SEX DURING PREGNANCY

WILL SEX HARM YOUR BABY?  

A 1999 study conducted by researchers at Memorial University of Newfoundland found that more than half of mother - to - be believe that making love during pregnancy poses some sort of threat to the developing baby.

On the contrary, there have been theories that climax can prepare the uterus for birth by strengthening muscular reponses. Besides that, the baby is fully protected by the amniotic sac ( a thin - walled bag that holds the fetus and surrounding fluid ) and the strong muscles of the uterus. 

The pregnant women with additional sex hormone during pregnancy also feel sexier with great skin complexion and will be even more attractive to her partners.

CAFFEINE LINK TO MISCARRIAGE

Pregnant women who consumed 2 or more mugs of coffee a day were twice more likely to miscarry than those who abstained from caffeine. It is suggested that pregnant women may wish to reduce or stop drinking containing caffeine, including coffee and tea.

The study involved 1063 pregnant women in San Francisco. The study found that women who drank more than 200mg or more of caffeine a day - the amount contained in 2 or more regular cups of coffee or 5, 12oz (330ml) cans of caffeinated drinks - double their risk of miscarriage compared with women who drank no caffeine.

However, this study has some limitations, including difficulty in making sure that the results are not affected by other factors that are known to increase the risk of a miscarriage.

RADIASI HP JEJAS OTAK KANAK-KANAK

• Telefon bimbit tdk memancar radiasi infra merah pada saat menerima. Frekuensinya adalah pd band 800 Mhz, 1800 Mhz atau 1900 Mhz, sedangkan gelombang infra merah memiliki frekuensi 300 Ghz- 400 Ghz yg jelas jauh berbeza.

• Ketika anda mengirim atau menerima SMS atau panggilan, hp memancarkan gelombang elektromagnet utk dpt berinteraksi dgn pemancar terdekat. Hakikatnya, kanak2 mudah terjejas apabila terdedah kpd radiasi drp hp, wi-fi, etc. Ini krn otak dan sistem saraf mereka masih berkembang dan kepala mereka masih kecil malahan tempurung kepala yg masih nipis memudahkan kemasukan radiasi jauh ke dalam otak mereka.

• Dalam kajian oleh Professor Sir William Stewart selaku Pengerusi Lembaga Perlindungan Radiologi Kebangsaan (NRPB) bertajuk Mobile Phones and Health, beliau berkata terdpt 6 kajian yg menimbulkan kebimbangan.

• Di Sweden, dlm kajian selama 10 tahun, pengguna hp yg kerap lbh cenderung menghidap tumor bukan maglinan dlm telinga. Di Belanda pula perubahan dlm fungsi kognitif ditunjukkan. Jerman telah menunjukkan peningkatan dlm kes2 kanser di sekitar stesen pemancar.

• KEPUTUSAN KAJIAN DARI SELURUH DUNIA :

1. Membakar otak dan kulit
2. Meningkatkan risiko kanser
3. Kerosakan sistem imun dan DNA
4. Kecacatan ketika lahir
5. Menaikkan tekanan darah
6. Penyakit Alzheimer, Parkinson dan Sklerosis multiple
7. Penyakit jantung dan batu karang
8. Penurunan nafsu seks, kepanasan dan kelesuan
9. Sakit kepala, pening dan hilang tumpuan.

• Saranan Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang:

1. Amaran kpd ibu-bapa supaya melarang kanak2 bwh 12thn menggunakan hp
2. Mengadakan kempen utk mendidik dan memberi amaran mengenai bahaya pendedahan kpd radiasi hp
3. Jika perlu menggunakannya, pakailah 'speakerphone' dlm jarak 20cm dr kepala. 

EATING NUTS WHILE PREGNANT MAY INCREASE KID'S ASTHMA RISK

Daily consumption of nut products during pregnancy increases the risk of childhood symptoms of asthma. 

The diet of a pregnant women "has the potential to affect airway development" of the developing foetus in a manner that might increase the risk of developing childhood asthma or allergy. 

A Ducth study found that children of mothers who ate nut products daily also had a 47% increased odds of having asthma symptoms and a 62% increased odds of using inhaled steroids. These associations were independent of the child's diet. 

--  Credit to Reader Digest n Her World 2008 magazine.

WAYS TO MOTIVATE YOUR CHILD

• CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT at home that encourages a child's curiosity. Ensure that your attitude as a parent towards learning is one excitement and reinforce this in your child.

• THE OLDER THE CHILD, the more important the peer group is in the development of the child's motivation, so you should try to encourage your child's contact with peers who are motivated to do well at school and are intrinsically motivated to learn.

• IF POSSIBLE, REWARD YOUR CHILD for having done a good job, for a competent performance, rather than for simply having completed a task moderately well.

• CREATE EXCITING AND INTERESTING opportunities for your child to learn, to use his imagination and in which he can be creative and where he is able to see the results of his creativity and work.

• THE MORE YOUR CHILD IS ABLE TO SEE the connection between his actions and an outcome, the more he will be in a position to take responsibility for his actions.

• ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILD'S INVOLVEMENT in as much decision-making as possible, at home and at school.

BUNGA KANTAN

Originating from Indonesia, locally referred to as Bunga Kantan, the Torch Ginger or Wax Flower is one of the bigger plant species of the ginger family. 

This plant is known to grow in large clumps reaching a height of seven meters. Its long and broad leaves grow along the pseudostum - a "false stem, " may look like a stem but in actual fact, the are tightly packed leafbases. 

The cone - shaped inflorescence at the top of the stem has deep pink bracts carrying fragrant crimson flowers with white or yellow margins. The plant is harvested when the bud is about to open to reveal the ripe fruits that are reddish in colour.

The plant is easily cultivated by rhizome cuttings, although it can also be sown from seeds. The crop grows well on damp sandy loam or minerals soils with high organic matter content but not if water logged. The plant only flowers a year after planting. 

It is believed that this herb is good for : 

- Locally the flower is used to flavour the famous laksa Kedah, or eaten raw as ulam ( raw vegetables with dip ) or kerabu ( mixed raw vegetables ) with rice.

- Malays believe that taking the raw inflorescence could cure diabetes and ease high blood pressure.

- Shredded inflorescence with betel leaf is said to expel 'winds' from gastro - intestinal system.

- The leaves are boiled for herbal baths to eliminate body odour.

BEAUTY TRICK

RESPECT YOUR HANDS. 

Try these quick fixes to prevent dry, wrinkled hands. Our hands take more abuse than any other body part and this usually shows. 

No matter how careful are you with your skincare routine, your hands will 
reveal your true age if not cared for. Treat your hands with respect and you'll see results almost immediately. 

Slip on a pair of gloves when doing homework to prevent over exposure to water and harsh chemicals. Better yet, apply a thick layer of mosturiser before wearing the gloves.

Once a week, slough off dead skin cells with a solution of coarse sea salt and lemon juice. Pat dry, then coat hands in a mixture of honey and olive oil and stick them into sandwich bags for half an hour. 

Or you could plunge your hands into a bowl of warm milk whenever you're lazing in front of the TV. Your hands will love you for it.

HIGH HEEL SHOES

Barefoot is best for arthritic knees. Flexible shoes are kinder to arthritic knees, but nothing beats going barefoot, according to a study from Rush University Medical College in Chicago. 

'Stability (firm support) shoes are popular and many people with osteoarthritic of the knee end's up wearing them." says study leader Dr Najia Shakoor."But these shoes are associated with significantly higher knee loads compared to more flexible shoes."

Although Shakoor does not recommend thongs, which can lead to other foot problems and a higher risk of falls, she suggests people with arthritic knees stick with flat, flexible shoes." 

When there is less surface to the shoe, the foot has better proprioceptive sense - meaning it knows when it touches the ground compared to an insulated foot. This allows normal neuromuscular reflexes to come in to play and protect the rest of the legs from the impact of hitting the ground.

Hopefully, this info will make you more alert about health. Unfortunately, women with high heel shoes are twins as like as men with the cigarettes. Do you agree with me, girls?

BLOOD CLOT RISKS AT THE OFFICE

 
Sitting at your desk for hours at a time could double your risk of dangerous blood clots, according to new research from New Zealand. 

Researchers looked at work-place inactivity as a risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). They found that people who sat eight hours a day, including at least three hours at a time without getting up, had twice the risk of VTE as more active workers. 

To put that in perspective, prolonged travel is associated with a five-fold increase of VTE. It can be hard to keep active if you have an office job, but little changes can make a big difference. 

Study author Professor Richard Beasley from the Medical Research Institute of New Zealand recommends workers get up from their desks at least every hour and move their feet from time to time while seated. 
 
KEEP MOVING

• Stand up from your desk at least once an hour - walk to the kitchen, pop out for a coffee or take the stairs to the floor above you and back.
• Walk over to a colleague rather than send an e-mail. Better still, go for a quick walk with your colleague while you talk.
• While seated, regularly circle your feet in both directions and stretch your hands, arms and torso.