Kidnapped traveler saved in Philippines

The China Post news staff
December 21, 2013, 12:07 am TWN

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- A Taiwanese tourist has reportedly been rescued from kidnappers who abducted her and killed her husband on a small Malaysian island last month, Taiwanese police said yesterday.

Chang An-wei (張安薇) was sent to a Filipino hospital to undergo a medical checkup after being rescued, said Lin Teh-hua (林德華), commissioner of Taiwan's Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB).

Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA) cited “reliable” sources from the Filipino military who confirmed that Chang, 58, was freed from her armed kidnappers in Maimbung, a small town on the southern Filipino island of Sulu, after 35 days in captivity.

Chang received a medical checkup at a Filipino medical facility, CNA said, adding that the Southeast Asian country's police also confirmed the news.

CNA did not release further details about the rescue mission or her health before press time.
Chang was vacationing with her husband, Hsu Li-min (許立民), 57, on Pom Pom Island, located off Sabah in the Malaysian region of Borneo, in the early hours of Nov. 15 when an unknown number of gunmen raided their beach resort hotel room. They shot the husband dead and kidnapped her. It is believed that she was then transported to the Philippines.

Legislator Alex Tsai (蔡正元) of the ruling Kuomintang, who had been helping the family after the kidnapping, told reporters that he received confirmation about the rescue at about 5 p.m. yesterday.

Tsai, who posted a message on his Facebook page breaking the news, said it is hoped that Chang can return to Taiwan before Christmas.

Officials with Taiwan's representative office in Malaysia also disclosed that the Malaysian government confirmed the news.

The officials were cited as saying that Taiwan's foreign ministry will discuss with the Filipino and Malaysian governments regarding further arrangements for her.

The officials also extended their gratitude to Malaysia and the Philippines for their help in ending the hostage's ordeal.

The Filipino police also indicated that the hostage's brother Chang Ta-kong recently went to Manila for the second time to discuss the rescue mission.

The brother had previously traveled to Manila to try and negotiate a ransom with the captors.
But whether or not a negotiation took place has not yet been confirmed. It is also still unknown if the kidnappers received any ransom money.

There were also unconfirmed reports claiming that the hostage was released by the captors, rather than rescued by military troops.

Reports from Singapore said Chang is currently staying at Merin Hospital in Sulu, Philippines, and is expected to be moved to Zamboanga city within three days.

(Credit to http://www.chinapost.com.tw)

Philippine military frees tourist from gunmen

By Farik Zolkepli, The Star/Asia News Network
December 21, 2013, 12:07 am TWN

PETALING JAYA -- A Taiwanese tourist who was kidnapped from Pom Pom island off Sabah on Nov. 15 has been rescued by Philippines security forces, said IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar. 

In his Tweet, Khalid congratulated the Philippines for successfully rescuing Chang An-wei.

“The victim was rescued in Sulu and transported to Merin Hospital there.

“She will be flown to Zamboanga City tomorrow,” Khalid said, adding that the Philippines authorities will divulge more details and further development in the matter.

In the incident on Nov. 15, gunmen shot dead Chang's husband and took her away in a raid on the resort of Pulau Pom Pom off Semporna in the east coast of Sabah.

They had arrived in a pump boat about 1 a.m.

Initial reports indicate that gunmen landed on the water villas of Pom Pom Island Resort and Spa and ransacked three of six villas including the one occupied by the victim Lim Min-hsu, 57, and Chang, 58.

At the time of the raid, there were 48 tourists and staff on the island, but it could not be ascertained if all of them have been accounted for.

There were no details of who the gunmen were and if they were linked to any Filipino groups from the neighboring southern Philippines.

The resort is about 1 kilometer away from the General Operation Force (GOF) and tight security has been maintained on the waters stretching from Semporna to Lahad Datu in the Celebes and Sulu seas since the Sulu armed group attack on Lahad Datu in February.

According to initial accounts of the shooting in Pulau Pom Pom, a 45-minute boat ride from Semporna, a supervisor at the resort heard gunshots at about 1am on Friday and immediately informed the GOF post.

Immediately, about a dozen GOF personnel rushed to the resort where they found the body of Lim with two gunshot wounds along the corridor.

His wife however was missing and she was believed to have been kidnapped by the gunmen who were last heard heading toward Pulau Mataking near the Philippines waters.

In late August, nine fishermen from Semporna reported being abducted by Filipino gunmen who wanted directions to the Pulau Mabul diving haven.

They were later abandoned at sea when the gunmen spotted a GOF post near the resort and fled. 

(Credit to http://www.chinapost.com.tw)

Dubai plays host to World Expo 2020

Futuristic: Dubai, the economic and transport hub of the United Arab Emirates, won an overwhelming majority of the votes to become host of World Expo 2020. – AFP

For the first time in the history of the prestigious World Expo, an Arab city will play host.
DUBAI has beat off opposition from Brazil, Russia and Turkey to win the right to host the 2020 World Expo.

The Gulf city beat Russia’s Ekaterinberg in the final round of voting to clinch a prestigious event that is credited with delivering a huge boost to tourism and business in the host city.

Dubai, the economic and transport hub of The United Arab Emirates, won 116 votes in the third round, comfortably beating Ekaterinberg with 47. There was one abstention.

The four candidate cities, which also included Brazil’s Sao Paulo and Turkey’s Izmir, had pulled out all the stops during 20-minute presentations before voting by the 168 member states of the International Exhibitions Bureau (BIE), which oversees the organisation of the events.

The Emirates kicked off the presentations by pitching Dubai as a futuristic, glitzy city.

Emirates minister Reem Al Hashimi told the meeting that Dubai was a city “capable of hosting the world” and promised visitors an “unforgettable experience” if it won the bid.

The victory for Dubai – home to the world’s tallest tower, largest man-made island and one of the world’s busiest airports – means the World Expo will be hosted by an Arab country for the first time.

According to UAE officials, 40% of the estimated 227,000 new jobs expected to be created as a result of Expo will be in the tourism and travel sectors.

The site chosen for the event is spread over 438ha and located between the international airports of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the capital of the Emirates.

Brazil, which is already gearing up to welcome the World Cup next year and the Olympic Games in 2016, had roped in famed Brazilian composer and musician Gilberto Gil to garner votes for its candidate city, Sao Paulo.

Gil played his versions of Bob Marley’s reggae hit No Woman No Cry and John Lennon’s Imagine in a short performance during the presentation.

But it was in vain as Sao Paulo failed to get past the first round.

The World Expo, a modern-day successor to the Great Exhibitions of the 19th and early 20th centuries, showcases technology, architecture and culture.

Shanghai was the last host city and Milan is next in line in 2015. The Chinese city set a record by attracting a record 73 million visitors to the event.

Izmir, a city on Turkey’s western coast, was eliminated in the second round of voting. It had already bid for a chance to host the 2015 Expo, but lost out to Milan.

In Wednesday’s bid, Turkey showcased Izmir’s long association with medicine and healthcare, highlighting that it housed the first psychiatric hospital in ancient times.

Turkish Health Minister Mehmet Muezzinoglu described Izmir, known as Smyrna for much of its history, as “the cradle of modern medicine”.

Izmir emerged as a flourishing international trading post as a crossroads between Europe and Asia.
The city of about four million is a major tourist attraction with a palm-lined renovated waterfront, archaeological treasures and ancient ruins and nearby golden beaches.

Ekaterinberg’s pitch included a video appeal by Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev to “give Russia a chance”.

Russia was trying to promote the industrial city as part of a bid to develop the Ural region into a hub for technology and innovation, and attract more tourists to this lesser-visited part of the country.

With a population of 1.4 million, Ekaterinburg is Russia’s fourth largest city and had hoped to capitalise on its recent endorsement by Forbes magazine as Russia’s best place to do business. – AFP Relaxnews

Credit to The Star

Google公布2013年最佳Android应用和游戏名单

Google Play应用商店（香港）昨日公布了2013年最佳Apps名单，共有11款App入选与10款游戏入选，使用者只要进入 Google Play 的页面就可以看得到名单，不过里面并没有排名顺序，以下是名单列表。

　　2013 年 Google Play 最佳应用名单（香港）

 

      App 名称：WhosCall 来电辨识与简讯封锁

App 类别：通讯
　　App Developer: Gogolook
　　Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gogolook.callgogolook2
　　
      App 名称：ColorNote – 便签 彩色便笺 记事本 便条 笔记
　   App 类别：生产应用
　　App Developer：Social & Mobile, Inc.
　　Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.socialnmobile.dictapps.notepad.color.note
　　
      App 名称：TuneIn Radio
　　App 类别：音乐与音效
　　App Developer：TuneIn Inc.
　　Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=tunein.player

　　App 名称：Magisto Video Editor & Maker
　　App 类别：摄影
　　App Developer: SightEra Technologies Ltd.
　　Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.magisto

　　App 名称：Timely – 焕彩闹钟
　　App 类别：生活品味
　　App Developer: Bitspin
　　Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ch.bitspin.timely

　　App 名称：Runtastic
　　App 类别：健康塑身
　　App Developer: runtastic GmbH
　　Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.runtastic.android

　　App 名称：Expedia 智游天下网 – 饭店及机票预订
　　App 类别：旅游与地方资讯
　　App Developer: Expedia, Inc.
　　Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.expedia.bookings

　　App 名称：Duolingo: Learn Languages Free
　　App 类别：教育
　　App Developer: Duolingo
　　Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duolingo

　　App 名称：Allthecooks Recipes
　　App 类别：健康塑身
　　App Developer: Allthecooks, LLC.
　　Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mufumbo.android.recipe.search

　　App 名称：We Heart It
　　App 类别：社交
　　App Developer: We Heart It
　　Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.weheartit

　　App 名称：Toca Hair Salon 2
　　App 类别：教育
　　App Developer: Toca Boca
　　Download: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tocaboca.hairsalon2


　　2013 年 Google Play 最佳游戏名单（香港）

　　FIFA 14 by EA SPORTS（免费）：足球游戏
　　Clash of Clans（免费）：战争策略游戏
　　Candy Crush Saga（免费）：糖果粉碎传奇。
　　Despicable Me（免费）：以《神偷奶爸》电影小小兵为主角的跑酷游戏。
　　狩猎达人 2014（免费）：狩猎模拟游戏
　　Cytus（免费）：音乐节奏游戏
　　神女控（免费）：美少女卡牌游戏
　　Asphalt 8: Airborne（免费）：赛车游戏
　　Into the Dead（免费）：殭尸射击游戏
　　FINAL FANTASY V（收费）：最终幻想5。

Credit to http://www.williamlong.info/archives/3684.html

Bus crash in Manila, Philippines 'kills 21'

<The bus fell off an elevated highway onto a van below>

At least 21 people have been killed and several others injured after a bus fell off an elevated motorway onto a van in the Philippine capital, Manila, officials say. 

Police said the bus veered off the road and plunged onto a van below early on Monday in a suburb, Paranaque city.

Local media said most of those who died were on the bus.

It was not clear what caused the crash but local reports cited rain, heavy traffic and speed as possible causes.

"We saw the bus fall from there and it flew, and then it hit the van," said shop owner Edith Voluntate. "When we got close, we just saw a lot of people pinned under it."

A traffic investigator told the AFP news agency that the death toll could rise, because some of those injured were in a serious condition.

The bus company involved had been suspended for 30 days pending investigations, local reports said.

Credit to http://www.bbc.co.uk

雅虎公布2013年度搜索排行榜

雅虎公司推出了2013年年度热词排行榜，该榜单列举了过去12个月里发布、宣传、分享的故事和趋势，2013年的热门搜索排行榜，美国流行音 乐女歌手麦莉·赛勒斯（Miley Cyrus）位居第1，Kim Kardashian（金·卡戴珊）和“全美超模”的Kate Upton紧随其后，iPhone 5位居第9。

　　在科技领域，苹果再次夺冠。“iPhone”成为2013年搜索次数最多的科技产品，iPad排名第四，领先索尼PS4 和微软XBox One，iPod排名第八，超过诺基亚Lumia，落后于黑莓。

　　以下是榜单列表。

2013年雅虎热词排行榜（Top searches on Yahoo in 2013）:

　　1.Miley Cyrus（著名女歌手）
　　2.Kim Kardashian（时尚名媛）
　　3.Kate Upton（时尚名模）
　　4.Minecraft（游戏）
　　5.Selena Gomez（女歌手，贾斯汀·比伯前女友）
　　6.Obamacare (Affordable Care Act)（奥巴马医保计划）
　　7.Amanda Bynes（好莱坞女影星）
　　8.Jodi Arias（冷血女杀手）
　　9.iPhone 5
　　10.Justin Beiber（贾斯汀·比伯）

　　2013雅虎科技领域热词排行（Top tech searches on Yahoo in 2013）:

　　1.iPhone (including 4, 5, 5s, 5c, and 6)
　　2.Samsung (including Galaxy, S4, S3, Note)
　　3.Siri
　　4.iPad Cases
　　5.Snapchat
　　6.Google Glass
　　7.Apple iPad
　　8.BlackBerry Z10
　　9.Cloud Computing
　　10.iPad 5

credit to  http://www.williamlong.info/archives/3682.html

Check tyres to the right air pressure

The main function of a tyre is to carry the load of the car. Therefore, it is vital that correct air pressure is maintained. Over-inflation will cause rapid and irregular wear. Under-inflation will damage the tyre structure leading to possible accidents. Improper air pressure will not allow the tyre to function within its design. Drivers should follow the recommended air pressure from the vehicle manufacturer as listed on a sticker located on the vehicle's door jamb, glove box door or in the owner's manual.

A correctly inflated tyre An under-inflated tyre An over-inflated tyre

Ensure tyre tread depth

Most new tyres have about 8-9mm of tread pattern when manufactured but when the tread wears down to less than 1.6mm, the tyre may be unsafe to use in wet conditions and should be replaced as soon as possible. Tyres have indicators in their tread pattern which show as lines across the tread when reduced to 1.6mm.

Inspect tires monthly

Knowing what to look for is only useful if you actually take the time to look. Get in the habit of frequently inspecting tires for proper inflation, damage or wear. If something doesn't look right, take your car to a tire dealer for closer inspection.

Replace tires properly

If you only replace two tires at a time, mount them on the rear axle. Otherwise, your car could lose rear traction in the rain and spin out.

Avoid "mixing" tyres

It is advisable to avoid mixing different brand tyres on the same axle due to varying construction styles. It can also be dangerous to mix tyres of different sizes or aspect ratios. You should consult a qualified tyre technician for advice.

Avoid hard braking and sudden acceleration

Tyres may wear quickly if consistently subjected to hard braking or rapid acceleration. Proper alignment is important

Have your car's suspension re-aligned when you buy new tires, if you notice uneven wear or if it has been a while since your last alignment. A suspension that is not aligned properly can wear out new tires after only a few thousand miles and adversely affect gas mileage.

Wear reduces a tyre's drainage capacity. When the wear has reached the indicators, it is time to replace a tyre.