Ever wise Gandalf The Grey

Ian McKellen is happy to play the character, Gandalf the Grey, again.

ACTOR Ian McKellen is only too happy to resume the character Gandalf in The Hobbit films after bringing the wizard to life initially in The Lord Of The Rings (LOTR) films.

According to the 74-year-old thespian, he knows this character is well-loved as he is often approached by fans of all ages wherever he goes. He finds both the stories written by J.R.R. Tolkien equally wonderful and the location shoot in New Zealand has been an amazing experience.

In The Desolation Of Smaug, the wizard leaves Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves to go on an urgent business that could very well jeopardise the peace in Middle-earth.

While it is not revealed in the children’s book what the threat is, Peter Jackson had to look at the appendices of LOTR – as this is where Tolkien reveals what happens to Gandalf – to incorporate it into this film.

In a transcript provided by Warner Bros. Pictures, McKellen gives an insight into this.

Can you talk about Gandalf’s own journey and where it takes him?

I don’t want to give too much away, but there is something going on in Middle-earth. It has changed. Reference is made to that in the first film, and in the second, you meet the specific dangers that Gandalf was nervous about. He gets into one hell of a scrape. I don’t think I can put it in more specific terms than that.

At that moment, does he have any mixed feelings about leaving Bilbo and the Dwarves to continue on without him?

Yes, those are the sort of dilemmas that he gets in. He can’t be in two places at once, much as he’d like to be. He does, sometimes, simply have to leave people to get on with the task that they’ve been given to do. But that’s the nature of being their commander.

You lay down the law, you make your suggestions, you give your orders, you give your warnings, and you say, ‘Good luck and I’ll be back if necessary.’ Then the characters are left to discover their inner strengths.

I suppose that’s part of how these stories are told. If they have Gandalf with them the whole time, solving all their problems as they turn up, it would be less of an adventure than it is.

What does Gandalf think about Thorin and his role in leading the troop?

Thorin is a stubborn young man, and aware of his lineage, and he’s probably got too much pride for Gandalf’s tastes. Gandalf would prefer that Thorin do things his way, but that’s not up to him.

What was it like to be reunited with Orlando Bloom and his character, Legolas?

I see Orlando all the time, but I didn’t actually get to work with him much on the film.

It’s ironic because we’re almost sharing an apartment here in New York where he’s on Broadway doing Romeo And Juliet and I’m on Broadway with Beckett and Pinter, and he’s just sort of along the corridor from me. So I have been seeing a lot of him and that’s been lovely.

Tips for a long healthy life

Studies show that an active lifestyle is the most effective, non-pharmaceutical way towards healthy ageing and long life.

WHAT makes us age, and can we do anything about it? Looking at the rapidly increasing number of older adults around the world, these burning questions cause sleepless nights for many among us.

Researchers, and even governments, are interested in the formula for a long and healthy life.

So, what are the answers?

Generally, the complex ageing process boils down to our genetic code and lifestyle.

While we cannot do much when it comes to our genes, we have a strong say in how we live our lives.

Researchers have shown that despite the belief that the way we eat plays a major role in how well we age, the secret ingredients are not smoking and doing physical activity.

Further studies even conclude that an active lifestyle is the most effective, non-pharmaceutical way towards healthy ageing and long life.

Interestingly, this is not a really new concept, as the dangers of inactivity were acknowledged by the ancient Greek philosopher Plato (428-348 A.D.) when he urged his people to exercise in order to maintain their health.

Nineteenth-century British physicians concluded that beds and graves fall in the same category, highlighting the strong health impact of being physically “lazy”.

In recent years, scientists wanted to know whether this anecdotal evidence could be backed up with research results. And after many studies, it is clear that physical activity can indeed increase life expectancy.

Older adults who gradually started exercising expanded their lifespan up to 3.5 years.

Now, you could ask what is so special with being physically active, and how does physical activity help us to grow older in good shape?

Physical activity increases the strength of the heart and enhances blood flow.

This is important because older adults often suffer from deadly diseases which are related to the heart.

It has been found that older adults who are highly active enjoy up to 3.2 years longer life without any heart disease.

These promising effects do not exclusively apply to people who have been active throughout their lives. Even for those who didn’t do much physical activity when they were young, light activities like walking are beneficial for the ageing heart.

Not convinced? No problem. We are getting there!

You might have heard about telomeres. These tiny, little proteins sit at the end of the chromosomes in our DNA.

Their length is the most important marker of biological ageing because it acts as an indicator of diseases and death.

Physical activity increases or maintains the length of telomeres. Those who are active are biologically 10 years younger than their inactive contemporaries. They also respond better to vaccines and do not experience so many infections.

If that does not convince you to be more active, then the following probably will. Regular physical activity also makes you look younger and fresher.

Research from the United States tells us that the waist circumference does not increase so fast in active seniors, and fat mass can be reduced by around 4% after only three months. Hence, even when you start physical activity right now, you might see and probably feel the results after a short time.

There is more – physical activity can also make your brain grow. This is especially true in areas of the brain that are related to memory and learning.

Hence, if you are active or even if you become active, you do not need to worry about the normal 1-2% brain shrinkage per year (starting from 55 years). You will remember and learn much easier, and you might even outperform those youngsters with a couch-potato lifestyle.

Finally, physical activity improves your well-being, and it can reduce the risk of dementia and depression by about 89% and 50% respectively in people who are in their 80s.

Physical activity enhances your health, and the more you do, the more you benefit. It is never too late to start physical activity.

Older adults who are just starting physical activity should remember to start slowly and gradually increase their level.

Let us learn from Japan, which currently has the highest number of people over 100 years old.

These centenarians have been active throughout their lives, with physical activity levels higher than their peers. Their activity levels have contributed to their health and longevity.

It is easy to start by just adding some simple activities to your daily life. Every bout of 10-minute activity will boost your health and help you remain independent.

Thirty minutes of physical activity per day, at least five days per week, as recommended by the World Health Organization, will bring benefits you will see and feel. You don’t need to train to qualify for the next Olympics. You could simply take the stairs and resist the temptation of the lift; or you could walk to the grocery shop across the street; or go out for a walk and also catch some vitamin D.

At the end of the day, there is almost no excuse for not being active. You can never be too old, too busy or too inexperienced. Every step you take is pure medicine for your body and your mind.

You are your own doctor and you can decide the dose. It is not magic; it is as simple as getting out of your chair and being active. Enjoy!

- The Star

What You Will Be Drinking In 2014

TEA, handcrafted sodas, vermouth and sour beer are among some of the beverage trends forecast to make a splash in 2014 by a team of influential restaurant consultants.

According to the latest trend forecast by Baum + Whiteman out of New York, most of the trends poised to recast American drinking habits in 2014 will be spearheaded by coffee giant Starbucks for a series of beverages that is everything but java-based.

Premium teas

When the multinational chain acquired tea specialist Teavana last year, for example, the writing was on the boutique walls: premium teas would become the next big beverage.

Starbucks has made no secret of its plans to diversify its portfolio away from coffee – a commodity vulnerable to the effects of climate change and rising prices. When they bought out Teavana, the company said that it planned to “transform the tea industry”.

After water, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world representing a US$90bil (RM290bil) market.

This fall, the company opened its first new-style flagship store in Manhattan, a boutique lined with loose-leaf teas.

Juice bars

Baum + Whiteman also predict juice bars to become increasingly popular next year, another sector that hasn’t escaped Starbucks’ reach. In 2012, the chain acquired Evolution Fresh and wasted no time in opening the first new outlet in the United States, serving freshly-pressed premium juices.

Sodas

Sodas are getting artisan makeovers thanks to at-home machines like SodaStream which allow consumers to make their own flavoured, fizzy drinks and imaginative bar programmes across the United States. Using buzzwords like “handcrafted” and “artisan”, mixologists, for instance, are infusing club sodas with house-made fruit syrups.

Once again, the thirst for handcrafted sodas hasn’t escaped the clutches of Starbucks, which quietly launched a range of retro-inspired sodas like Golden Ginger Ale, Spiced Root Beer and Lemon Ale in Austin and Atlanta in the US this year.

Alcohol

In alcohol, expect to see vermouth – the latest fixation of artisan bartenders. Experience a renaissance as bartenders mix their own bespoke batches and stock premium bottles from around the world on their shelves.

And finally, intrepid beer lovers may be interested in a niche but growing trend of sour beers inoculated with wild yeasts and aged in wood barrels. With the acidity of Pinot Noir, sour beers are said to be a great pairing with barbecue. – AFP Relaxnews

Five ways to keep your brain sharp as you age

Healthy behaviours have a far more beneficial effect than any medical treatment or preventive procedure, say researchers.

TO cut your risks of developing dementia by as much as two-thirds, a new study suggests the following five healthy lifestyle rules (in order of importance):

> Regular exercise.

> No smoking.

> Maintain a low body weight.

> Eat a healthy diet.

> Don’t drink too much alcohol.

Sticking with four of the five habits could cut your risk of dementia and cognitive decline by 60%, as well as reduce your risks of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke by 70%.

Lead author Prof Peter Elwood, from Cardiff University’s School of Medicine in Wales, Britain, said switching to a healthy lifestyle had a “far more beneficial effect than any medical treatment or preventive procedure”.

“The size of reduction in the instance of disease owing to these simple healthy steps has really amazed us and is of enormous importance in an ageing population,” he said.

“What the research shows is that following a healthy lifestyle confers surprisingly large benefits to health.”

The study involved data from 2,235 men in South Wales over a 35-year period. The findings were published Dec 9 online in the journal PLoS ONE. – AFP Relaxnews

Japanese model tells of one-year fling with Jackie Chan

A JAPANESE model-cum-actress has claimed that she had a one-year relationship with Hong Kong superstar Jackie Chan (pic) in the 1980s.

Sin Chew Daily reported that Aki Mizusawa described Chan as a gentleman with a well-built physique during a variety show in Japan recently.

According to the report, Chan could have been married to Joan Lim and their son Jaycee was already one year old when he had the alleged affair.

Mizusawa, who was then a Japanese correspondent in France, had earlier said her encounter with Chan began when she was assigned to interview him in Barcelona.

Chan was said to be filming Wheel on Meals in 1984, a comedy martial art film directed by Sammo Hung then.

Both of them did not see each other after the one-year relationship until recent years when Chan visited Japan.

Asked about the affair during a promotional event on his latest film Police Story 2013 in Beijing, Chan did not deny it.

“This can be discussed privately. I can’t clear the air in just a few lines,” he was quoted as saying.

- The Star

Singapore riot: Timeline of events

SINGAPORE: The police in a press conference on Tuesday evening gave a chronological breakdown of what happened on Sunday night in Little India.

Here is a look at the timeline as told by the police:

9:23pm: Police are informed of a serious road traffic accident.

9.25pm: Singapore Civil Defence Force are alerted to the incident.

9.31pm: First ambulance arrives at the scene.

9.37pm: The first police fast response car arrives at the scene.

9.38pm: First fire engine arrives. A crowd of about 100 have congregated.

9.41pm: Police reinforcements start arriving.

9.45pm: The crowd has swelled to about 400 by this time.

9.54pm: The body of worker is extricated from under the bus. Mob starts pelting emergency officers and are holding dangerous weapons like drain covers.

10.11pm: Police shield bus driver and time keeper to ambulance. Mob behaves aggressively and hinders police efforts.

10.30pm: First group of Special Operations Command (SOC) officers arrive.

10.37pm: Police activate a major recall of patrol cars islandwide. A total of 53 police cars activated.

10.44pm: SOC officers get into formation and began to disperse mob. Police arrest suspects.

11:45pm: Mob is dispersed.

12.01am: Investigations at the scene commence.

12.39pm: Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean arrives with Deputy Commissioner of Police T. Raja Kumar.

5.03am: National Environment Agency begins clean up of site.

6.30am: Roads are passable to traffic.

- The Star

Singapore Riot: Disturbing Questions

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans who witnessed or watched videos of the wanton lawlessness in Little India on Sunday would have been deeply shaken by the spiralling contagion, intensity and seeming mindlessness of the mob.

How could the single death of an Indian national due to a tragic accident spark such a rampage when the victim could hardly have been known to many of the South Asian workers who had randomly gathered at the scene?

Barbaric rage was directed at police officers and civil defence personnel who were there to render assistance.

Yet, they were pelted with harmful objects even as they attempted to extricate the accident victim's body.

Whatever the feelings and underlying grievances of the mob, there was no call to harm others striving to do their duty, or to burn vehicles.

Whatever the street culture and attitudes towards authority in their country of origin, such madness has no place whatsoever in Singapore.

In curbing mobs, police face a dilemma in applying the classic theory of the crowd that attributes the influence of agitators and the grip of mutual excitation to why ordinary individuals lose control of their behaviour.

But an iron-fisted approach can worsen an emerging situation, as held by the contemporary theory of how the social identity of people can change (for example when indiscriminate force is used against them) and unite them in further violence.

As the anatomy of the riot is dissected by the Committee of Inquiry that is to be set up to probe its causes, a range of public views will likely form about the incident and its handling. 

Whatever one's leaning, it would be prudent for judgments to reflect a sense of proportion. First, such incidents are rare and public order is well maintained. It has been decades since the Hock Lee bus riots of 1955, remembered for the chaos caused by striking bus workers and Chinese middle-school students. 

Second, millions of migrant workers have contributed to the economy since the 1980s and the 400 who rioted in Little India represent only a fraction of the largely law-abiding transient workforce here - work permit holders in construction alone now number over 300,000. 

Though hopelessly outnumbered, there were also peacemakers in the unruly crowd, as shown by at least one video of a brave individual restraining others from violence.

Hence, it would be wrong to adversely typecast all foreign workers as the result of this incident, despite its undoubted gravity. Also important is the need to keep a finger on the pulse of migrant worker communities to better understand the issues they face. 

One way is to harness informal community leaders and mediators to educate and engage the constantly shifting pool of workers who throng not just Little India but also other spots on weekends. - The Straits Times/ANN

Good To Live In KL

Many lists have been made about the “best of Kuala Lumpur,” mostly by journalists who fly in, experience this bustling city for a few days, write a travel log and then go off.

Those are just impressions. But sometimes they are exactly right.

However, to really experience a place, one has to go beyond the one-week holiday and really breathe in what makes a place what it is.

There are barely three weeks to go before 2013 comes to an end and 2014 begins.

It’s this time of year that we become reflective, and having lived in Kuala Lumpur and writing this column for the past two-and-a-half years, I thought about what I like about this city.

Obviously, food is on top of the heap.

Let your hair down: There are endless choices of roof-top bars with stunning views of KL.

When you’re entertaining and receiving many guests from abroad, some of them repeat and long-staying guests, it can be pretty challenging to find new dining spots to take them to, places and attractions for them to visit and new things to do. I’ve finally solved this dilemma by developing a personal directory.

It’s time to share my favourites on why it’s good to be living in Kuala Lumpur.

·Endless choices of roof-top bars and sky-dining with stunning views.

·Wide selection of fine-dining restaurants for Western cuisines, wine bars and even molecular gastronomy if you’re inclined.

·Sunday lunches are sometimes destined at dim sum places and it’s great to have all these wonderful choices to be able to enjoy it. Alternatively, there are places serving fast and easy Cantonese cuisine and delicious xiao long bao (meat dumplings that contain soup within).

·There is also no lack of divine Indian cuisine if you’re craving for tandoori, masalas and curries, whether chicken, seafood or vegetables.

·For the brunch crowd, there are Australian-inspired cafés that serve a mean eggs benedict, and other trendy cafes that dish out heavenly salads.

·There is no shortage of bakeries serving dense, nutty bread reminiscent of European breads, even the organic variety if your heart so desires.

·Kuala Lumpur (and Petaling Jaya) also has the best crab places.

·Changkat Bukit Bintang because it’s always alive and vibrant. Its rows of bars and restaurants make for a no-brainer destination to bring your guests from other countries.

·There there are the neighbourhood pubs with a cool band playing cool music. They are unpretentious and packed with an eclectic mix of all kinds of wonderful and weird people. You can even forgive the place for making your hair smell like an ashtray as you leave around past midnight.

Apart from the dining and nightlife, the other reasons that makes settling into Kuala Lumpur fairly easy for me at least is finding a service that delivers seasonal organic vegetables — Asian or European depending on your preference, free-range eggs and completely dressed organic chicken.

When you’ve had enough of the bright lights and the city and want to “get away”, the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia or FRIM is located nearby. The tropical rainforest with a canopy walkway is a wonderful respite from the bustling traffic, and walking through the “jungle” atmosphere is relaxing and the fresh air calms down your senses.

World-class hospitals and a wide choice of international schools also make it easy for expatriates and foreigners alike to find the right kind of medical and educational services that match their needs.

And when you really just want to get away from it all, Kuala Lumpur has proximity to everywhere: an hour to Singapore and Phuket, one hour to Bali and three hours to Cebu in the Philippines.

KL International Airport is one of Asia’s major hubs and makes travelling really easy. Low cost or regular airfare flights going to anywhere abound, this makes for an ideal city to be based in.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Melinda is a marketing executive, entrepreneur and writer who moved from the Netherlands to KL. She loves scuba diving, good food and wine, and is happy to be back in the tropics.

-The Star

Singapore riot: Complete alcohol ban in Little India this weekend

SINGAPORE: There will be a complete ban on the sale and consumption of alcohol this weekend in the Race Course Road area where a riot broke out in Little India on Sunday night.

Second Minister for Home Affairs S Iswaran told reporters on Monday evening that details of the ban, such as exactly what time it will apply and what geographical area it will cover, will be worked out by the police.

Though it is too early to say definitively what caused the riot - which was triggered after a fatal traffic accident - it is "plausible that alcohol consumption was a contributory factor", he added.

"And that is why we have taken this step in the first instance in order to stabilise the situation."

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, who is the MP for the ward in Moulmein-Kallang GRC, said that he has wanted curbs on the sale of alcohol in the area for some time, after seeing the proliferation of liquor licences there.

"I know my residents will fully support this immediate measure," he said. He and Mr Iswaran were speaking to the media after a visit to the area, during which they spoke to shopkeepers. - The Straits Times/ANN

Singapore's First Undersea Road

Not long now: A sneak peek at Singapore’s first undersea road tunnel at the Marina Coastal Expressway. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

THE Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE) – Singapore’s first undersea road, costliest expressway and one with the widest tunnels – will open on Dec 29, four years after the S$4.3bil (RM11bil) project started.

The 5km expressway, at S$860mil (RM2.2bil) per kilometre, has a 420m section that goes under the sea-bed just south of the Marina Barrage.

Linking the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway to the Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE), it will allow swift east-west travel. Drivers currently using the East Coast Parkway (ECP) to join up with the AYE can switch to the MCE from Dec 29.

The ECP will be downgraded to an arterial road that serves the Marina downtown. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Singaporeans Stunned By Riot

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans are still in a state of disbelief that a riot by a group of foreigners at Little India actually happened in this relatively trouble-free island late Sunday night.

Bank employee Eugene Leong, 28, said that it was difficult to digest the images of about 200 foreigners attacking several police patrol cars, ambulance, a bus and setting them on fire.

"Its not something that you would think would ever happen, especially in Singapore, as we are famed for our stringent regulations.

"Watching the incident on the news was shocking and scary and now many of us want to know what action will be taken to make sure it doesn’t happen again," he said when interviewed along Race Course Road where the rioters ran rampant.

Leong said that while action should be taken against those involved, the government should immediately beef up police presence, especially in areas where there were high number of foreigners.

"Another option that could be looked into is to limit the timings for selling alcohol so that drunkards do not loiter around the shops and later cause trouble," said the 28-year-old.

Investment consultant Davian Sim,30, also said that he was shocked when news broke out about the riot.

"We have never heard of such thing happening here and the last major riot were the racial-based ones that occurred in 1969," he said.

He added that the incident was a frightening one that could repeat itself if action was not taken.

"The government should study the matter and come up with ways to deal with this.

"One way could be to adopt a policy from Australia where open drinking in public places is prohibited," he said.

Meanwhile, resident S. Ram Prakash, 14, who witnessed the whole incident from his home on the 17th floor of a nearby flat said that it was beyond frightening.

"Seeing the angry mob attack the bus with sticks and rubbish cans was something that I will not forget.

"The group could not be controlled and continued to cause havoc even after a group of about 10 policemen were deployed to the area," he said.

He added that the most frightening was when rioters set fire to several police petrol cars and overturned the vehicles.

"I believe that they were all drunk because they were dancing and shouting as the fires blazed," he said, adding that the crowd dispersed only when riot police were deployed.

Ram said that the whole fiasco ended at around 12pm and the remains of the burnt petrol cars were cleared up at around 4am on Monday morning.

- The Star

Milestones Of Nelson Mandela

Dec 5 - Here are some important dates and events in the life of former South African President and anti-apartheid fighter Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday aged 95:

July 18, 1918 - Born Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela near Qunu, in Transkei (now Eastern Cape), the youngest son of a counsellor to the chief of his Thembu clan.

1944 - Founds African National Congress (ANC) Youth League with Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu.

- Marries his first wife Evelyn. They had a daughter and two sons and were divorced in 1957.

1952 - Mandela and others arrested and charged under the Suppression of Communism Act. Given suspended prison sentence.

- Elected deputy national president of ANC.

1958 - Marries Winnie Madikizela. They separated in April 1992 and were divorced about four years later.

1960 - Sharpeville Massacre of black protesters by police.

1962 - Mandela leaves secretly for military training in Morocco and Ethiopia. Returning to South Africa, the "Black Pimpernel" is captured and sentenced to five years for incitement and illegally leaving the country.

1963 - While serving, Mandela is charged with conspiracy and sabotage.

June 12, 1964 - Mandela and seven others are sentenced to life imprisonment on Robben Island, off Cape Town.

February 2, 1990 - F.W. de Klerk, South Africa's last white president, lifts ban on ANC and other liberation movements.

February 11, 1990 - Mandela is freed from prison.

1991 - Elected president of the ANC.

October 1993 - Wins Nobel Peace Prize with de Klerk.

April 27-29, 1994 - South Africa's first all-race election.

May 10, 1994 - Inaugurated as South Africa's first black president.

December 1997 - Hands leadership of ANC to Deputy President Thabo Mbeki in first stage of phased transfer of power.

July 18, 1998 - Marks 80th birthday with marriage to Graca Machel, widow of Mozambican President Samora Machel.

June 16, 1999 - Retires, hands power to Mbeki.

January 6, 2005 - Announces that only surviving son Makgatho Mandela has died from AIDS at the age of 54.

July 18, 2007 - Launches international group of elder statesmen to tackle climate change, HIV/AIDS, poverty and other global problems.

June 26, 2008 - U.S. lawmakers erase references to Mandela as a terrorist from national databases.

May 9, 2009 - Attends Jacob Zuma's presidential inauguration ceremony.

July 11, 2010 - Attends World Cup final between Netherlands and Spain.

June 8, 2013 - Hospitalised for recurrence of lung infection.

July 18, 2013 - Six weeks after being hospitalised, on his 95th birthday, the government says Mandela is improving. Many in South Africa celebrate Mandela Day with 67 minutes of public service to honour the 67 years Mandela served humanity.

September 1, 2013 - Mandela is discharged and returns home after spending 87 days in a Pretoria hospital.

December 5, 2013 - Nelson Mandela dies peacefully at home.

(Reporting by David Cutler; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Angus MacSwan)

Singapore Got Riot?

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean (front R) and Minister in Prime Minister's Office S Iswaran (front 2nd R) look at the site of two burnt vehicles following a riot in Singapore's Little India district, December 9, 2013. REUTERS/Rob Dawson

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - A crowd set fire to vehicles and clashed with police in the Indian district of Singapore late on Sunday, in a rare outbreak of rioting in the city state.

The incident reportedly started after a private bus hit and killed a foreign worker in the Little India area. Television footage showed a crowd of people smashing the windscreen of a bus, and at least three police cars being flipped over.

Singapore Police Force said the riot started after a fatal traffic accident. "Shortly after, a riot broke out involving a crowd of about 400 subjects where the subjects damaged five police vehicles and one ambulance," it said in a statement, adding that around 10 police officers were injured.

Little India is usually packed with people on Sundays, with many construction workers from Bangladesh and India gathering there to spend their day off.

Incidents like this are rare in Singapore, which has tough laws on rioting that carry a sentence of up to seven years in prison and possible caning.

"This is a serious incident which has resulted in injuries and damage to public property," said Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs. "Police will spare no efforts to apprehend the subjects involved in the riot."

The breakout is likely to fuel concerns about discontent among low-paid foreign workers. Last year Singapore saw its biggest outbreak of labour unrest in years when around 170 bus drivers from mainland China went on strike illegally.

Footage on Channel NewsAsia showed at least two vehicles on fire and debris strewn across Racecourse Road, one of the main thoroughfares in Little India. Many other private cars were reported to have been damaged as well.

Police reported at 1 a.m. on Monday morning (1700 GMT on Sunday) that the incident was under control.

(This story has been refiled to change 'showing' to 'showed' in second paragraph)

(Reporting by Rachel Armstrong; Editing by Mark Trevelyan)

Access Twitter Without Internet On Mobile Phones

AVAILABLE SOON: U2opia Mobile will launch its Twitter service for users with entry-level mobile phones which cannot access the Internet, in the first quarter of next year. - Reuters

Twitter Inc is tying up with a Singapore-based startup to make its 140-character messaging service available to users in emerging markets who have entry-level mobile phones which cannot access the Internet.

U2opia Mobile, which has a similar tie-up with Facebook Inc, will launch its Twitter service in the first quarter of next year, Chief Executive and Co-founder Sumesh Menon told Reuters.

Users will need to dial a simple code to get a feed of the popular trending topics on Twitter, he said.

More than 11 million people use U2opia's Fonetwish service, which helps access Facebook and Google Talk on mobile without a data connection.

Twitter, which boasts of about 230 million users, held a successful initial public offering last month that valued the company at around US$25bil (RM75bil).

U2opia uses a telecom protocol named USSD, or Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, which does not allow viewing of pictures, videos or other graphics.

"USSD as a vehicle for Twitter is almost hand in glove because Twitter has by design a character limit, it's a very text-driven social network," Menon said.

Eight out of 10 people in emerging markets are still not accessing data on their phone, he said.

U2opia, which is present in 30 countries in seven international languages, will localise the Twitter feed according to the location of the user.

"So somebody in Paraguay would definitely get content that would be very very localized to that market vis a vis somebody sitting in Mumbai or Bangalore," he said.

The company, whose biggest markets are Africa and South America, partners with telecom carriers such as Telenor, Vodafone and Bharti Airtel Ltd. U2opia usually gets 30 to 40% of what users pay its telecom partners to access Fonetwish.

"For a lot of end users in the emerging markets, it's going to be their first Twitter experience," Menon said. - Reuters

Wang Lee Hom Is Married

Chinese-American singer Wang Lee Hom and Lee Jing Lei have registered their marriage - a day after he announced their romance.

Wedding vows take place a day after singer announces romance.

MANDOPOP star Wang Lee Hom is married, his agent announced on Nov 28.

Wang, 37, registered his marriage to graduate student Li Jing Lei, 27, in New York. He had introduced her to fans on Weibo just the day before.

Wang told Taiwan Apple Daily that he had known his bride for 12 years, refuting claims that it was a whirlwind romance.

He did not answer when asked if they were having a baby.

Taiwan Apple Daily, quoting old schoolmates of the bride, stated that she is a Japanese-Taiwanese named Michiko Nishimura.