PAPA

Matt Damon and Wife Expecting Another Baby
April 28, 2010 (Wednesday)

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin

Matt Damon and his wife Luciana are set to welcome a fourth child to the family.

Luciana, 34, is due in the fall. "Everybody's really happy," a rep for Damon, 39, tells PEOPLE.

The couple already have three daughters: Alexia, 11, who is Luciana's child from a previous marriage, Isabella, who will be 4 in June, and Gia, 20 months.

Damon is a "phenomenal" father, his close friend George Clooney told PEOPLE in 2007. "He absolutely adores those kids. He's doing it really well."

Damon and his wife were married in 2005. After Isabella was born, PEOPLE's 2007 Sexiest Man Alive told a British newspaper that having a family had transformed his life.

"I really used to have no life outside movies. I'd work all day, go to the gym and go to sleep," he said. But once Isabella arrived, "that was it for me and working out because I wanted to get home to see my daughter before she went to sleep." Source

Maid saves baby before being hit by bus
April 27, 2010 (Tuesday)

A MAID in Singapore managed to toss her employer’s baby to safety before she was crushed to death by a bus in an accident.

Both Nanyang Siang Pau and Sin Chew Daily reported that 28-year-old Puji, whose nationality was not mentioned, and her employer were crossing the road at a junction when the accident occurred on Sunday evening.

It was reported that a bus which was about to make a turn hit Puji, who was holding the baby girl.

Her employer and another child, who were walking behind them, escaped unhurt.

The dailies reported that Puji managed to toss the baby before she was crushed underneath the bus.

The baby had landed on the road and only sustained minor injuries.

It was also reported that the bus driver was suspended by the bus company pending an investigation. Source

Alicia Silverstone: 'I Can't Wait to Be Pregnant'
April 26, 2010 (Monday)

Dr. Billy Ingram/WireImage

While starring – and earning great reviews – as the young lover in the hit Broadway play Time Stands Still this spring, Alicia Silverstone tapped into her maternal side with a little help from her wardrobe for the play.

"Wearing a pregnancy suit was so much fun," the actress, 33, tells PEOPLE. "I loved the feeling of pretending to be pregnant and having little arms and legs and this big belly."

But it wasn't just the suit that got her thinking about motherhood. "I've been wanting to have a baby since I was 2 years old – I'm destined to be a mother," says Silverstone, who will celebrate her fifth wedding anniversary with musician-husband Christopher Jarecki on June 11. "I can't wait to be pregnant."

She'll hold off for now, though, since she's busy filming the upcoming comedy Butter with Jennifer Garner in Shreveport, La. "It's an interesting place, but you're working so much, so it's not like you're on vacation," she says.

Silverstone, whose vegan cookbook The Kind Life recently topped The New York Times bestseller list, will soon put her own personal eating habits aside to play a vampire in the upcoming comedy Vamps, directed by her Clueless writer-director Amy Heckerling.

"Amy came to see me in the play because we're friendly," says Silverstone, who starred as Cher in the iconic 1995 comedy. "But afterwards, we hung out and she introduced me to her producing partner … a few weeks later they called me and said I got the movie."

In addition to looking forward to playing a vampire ("It'll be so much fun," she declares), Silverstone is psyched to reunite with her former director.

"I was a baby when we met," she says. "It's crazy how long ago that was. Now it'll be great to be a grownup and work with her."

And yes, Silverstone says she still gets recognized "every single day." for Clueless Not that she minds. "It's never been a bother," she says. "I have nothing but joy when somebody says they love that movie." Source

Malaysians take too much salt
April 21, 2010 (Wednesday)

The salt intake by Malaysians is 25% higher than that set by the World Health Organisation, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

He said the Malaysian Dietary Guidelines 2010 stated that the salt intake should not exceed one teaspoon or 5gm a day, which is equivalent to 2,000mg of natrium a day.

“However, the Food Intake Among Malay­sian Adults Research 2002/2003 study stated that the natrium intake for adults is 2,575mg a day,” he said at a campaign on reducing sugar intake here yesterday.

Liow said Malaysians should make amends as high salt consumption was closely related to high blood pressure.

“The National Health and Morbidity Survey III (2006) found that the prevalence of hypertension among Malaysian adults is 43%,” he said.

Liow added that in Malaysia, labelling was not required for nitrate as the focus of nutritional labelling catered only to four key nutrients – energy, protein, carbohydrate and fats.

“However, we do monitor the contents in processed food and encourage manufacturers to produce low-salt food,” he said, adding that canned luncheon meat and sardines had high salt content.

“We urge the public to take more fresh food instead,” he added.

On sugar intake, Liow said obese adults increased from 4.4% in 1996 to 14% in 2006.

“Studies also showed that the prevalence of diabetes among those above 30 years old has increased from 8.3% in 1996 to 14.9% in 2006,” he added. Source

Four-year-old girl from Sibu is latest victim of A(H1N1)
April 20, 2010 (Tuesday)

A four-year-old girl from Sibu died on Sunday after catching the Influenza A(H1N1) vi­­rus.

Her death was classified under Ca­­te­­gory 2 — described as deaths indirectly caused by the virus.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the girl died from pneu­monia and blood poisoning with an underlying H1N1 infection.

There were 31 new H1N1 cases de­­tected as of yesterday, bringing the number of people admitted into hospitals with influenza-like illnesses to 550.

To date, 13,158 patients have been diagnosed with H1N1.

“Out of this number, 66 have tested positive for H1N1 and 13 are in intensive care. Ten of those in ICU are patients in the high-risk group,” Liow told reporters at a press conference after visiting the 12th Defence Ser—vices Asia (DSA) exhibition at PWTC here yesterday.

Liow reiterated this was not the second A(H1N1) wave.

“We are also monitoring if the virus has mutated to a more deadly form.

“So far, it has not, although the transmission rate is still high because we have not built up immunity to the virus yet,” he said.

Liow urged those in the high-risk group to get vaccinated as other complications could arise if they caught the virus.

He added that anti-viral medication did not kill the virus but only slowed down its reproduction rate while human antibodies killed the virus.

In Putrajaya, Health Ministry director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said only one cluster case – involving two students from SMK Bukit Sentosa 2 in Rawang – was alerted to health authorities between Sunday and yesterday morning.

He said one of the students was admitted to the hospital while another received outpatient treatment, adding that both were given anti-viral medication.

The ministry was waiting for the results of their laboratory tests.

“Parents and teachers should keep a close eye on the health status of students,” he said. Source

H1N1 survivor baby to grow up in large family
April 18, 2010 (Sunday)

The baby girl who was delivered by Caesarean section even as her mother lay dying of Influenza A(H1N1) earlier this month is doing fine.

Baby Noralia Qalisyia Mustazah, who is 17 days old, is being looked after by her father Mustazah Sarmat’s family in Kampung Teluk Rimba near here.

Mustazah, 29, said his mother, Jamilah Lebar, asked him to bring the baby and his other three-year-old daughter, Noraina Batlisyia, from Malacca where he was living.

“My parents’ house has seven bedrooms. Several of my sisters and a sister-in-law are living in the house.

“There will always be people to look after my children.

“My first daughter also likes living here as there are many people in the house,” he said yesterday.

Mustazah, a lorry driver, said that although his wife Sumarni Mah Nor died, God gave him a beautiful daughter and he thanked the doctors at the Malacca Hospital for saving the baby.

Jamilah, 56, has 10 children and several of them are living with her along with their families.

She said Noralia Qalisyia would not be neglected.

She added that it was very tragic for Mustazah to have lost both his wife and his mother-in-law within three days.

However, Jamilah said life had to go on.

“We all will share our responsibility in looking after his children from now,” she said. Source

Couple held over toddler’s death
April 15, 2010 (Thursday)

A three-year-old girl believed to have been abused for over a month by her stepfather has died, prompting police to arrest the man and the mother.

The stepfather, 27, and mother, 24, were arrested by police soon after the girl was taken to Poliklinik Komuniti Seri Kembangan. The stepfather had taken the child, identified as Jasmine Lee, to the clinic after he found her unconscious at their apartment unit in Bukit Serdang at 7.45am yesterday.

A doctor who examined the child found more than 30 bruises on her body, arms, legs, back and head. She was pronounced dead during a medical examination at the clinic.

Sources said the girl was beaten on several occasions by the stepfather and the injury marks on her body pointed to constant abuse.

The doctor, who suspected something amiss when the stepfather could not explain how the girl had suffered such injuries, then alerted the police.

Selangor deputy CID chief Asst Comm Khaw Kok Chin said the stepfather was detained at the clinic while police picked up the mother at their home at 12.45pm.

“Jasmine was not sexually abused and there were no cuts on her,” he said.

A post-mortem was conducted at the Serdang Hospital. ACP Khaw said the stepfather, a mechanic, lost his job at a workshop last month and claimed that he married the woman about a year ago after she separated from her husband.

“After being jobless, he spent most of his time at the apartment with the woman who is a housewife,” he said, adding that the couple were being detained at the Subang Jaya police headquarters.

ACP Khaw urged those with information to assist police in their investigations by calling (Selangor Rakan COP hotline at 03-2052 9999, SMS to 32728 or the Subang Jaya police headquarters at 03-8948 48220).

A nearby resident, who only wanted to be known as Sham, said he had heard the girl crying constantly and screaming for several weeks. Source

Public urged to take precautions as H1N1 claims another victim
April 14, 2010 (Wednesday)

A 42-year-old lawyer died of Influenza A(H1N1) on Monday, barely two weeks after two women died from complications from influenza-like illness.

Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican said the man died at a private hospital in Johor Baru where he was admitted on April 4, after showing symptoms for nine days.

Laboratory test showed that the victim, who was in the high-risk category, was infected with A(H1N1) and suffered from several complications such as acute kidney failure and sepsis.

“He was treated at the Intensive Care Unit but his condition took a turn for the worse and he died on April 12. The cause of death was H1N1 pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome,” Dr Ismail told a press conference yesterday.

Dr Ismail said the two earlier deaths reported were not “part of the statistics as their deaths were not directly related to H1N1”.

Early this month, it was reported that a 29-year-old pregnant woman and her elderly mother from Malacca had died of Influenza A(H1N1).

According to the Health Ministry, 678 cases of influenza-like illness were treated at hospitals nation­wide as of Monday, with 66 people confirmed to have been infected with A(H1N1). Five were warded in the ICU.

Dr Ismail stressed that the country was not experiencing a second wave of A(H1N1), adding that if that was to happen, it would be different with a more virulent virus.

“Even though we are not facing a second wave, the ministry has already prepared for it since the A(H1N1) pandemic broke last year.

“The public, however, can reduce the possibility of getting infected by taking the necessary precautions, including taking care of their health and personal hygiene,” he said.

Meanwhile, family members of the lawyer tried their best to save him and, as a last resort, transferred him to a hospital in Singapore.

A close family member, who declined to be named, said the victim, Harith Fansuri Abdul Rahman, 42, was first admitted to a private medical centre in Johor Baru but transferred to the island republic when his health deteriorated.

She said Harith initially only showed flu-like symptoms but later complained that he could not stand the pain and wanted to be admitted to a hospital.

“He was coughing blood when he was admitted to the hospital,” she said, adding that the doctor had initially told the family there was nothing to worry about.

“He died at the hospital in Singapore even before they had a chance to treat him,” she said after attending Harith’s funeral at the Kebun Teh Muslim cemetery yesterday evening. Source

H1N1 meeting to ensure agencies ready for the worse
April 13, 2010 (Tuesday)

“They are also to keep the public informed so that the public understand the situation clearly,” Liow said after launching the Healthcare Tourism Congress 2010 at the KLCC Convention centre here yesterday.

Liow said the growing number of A(H1N1) cases had yet to reach the stage of the first wave which occurred last year. “According to surveillance, clinics received only 1.14% of outpatients that had influenza-like illness (ILI).

“Compared to last year, it shows a 10% increase of outpatient ILI. This number shows that we will (have to) continue to increase surveillance and treatment in hospitals and awareness programmes for the public.

“The technical committee is called so that all relevant government agencies are active and ready for any outbreak,” he said. Source

Many children die in road accidents
April 10, 2010 (Saturday)

The highest number of fatalities involved children between the ages of 11 and 15, with a total of 213 fatalities nationwide, it said in a statement Friday.

Forty-three percent of these road fatalities occurred on motorcycles where the children were either directly responsible for riding or fell victim as pillion riders.

Another 24% were involved in car collisions while 18% of the fatalities were made up of pedestrians.

iven the high rate of accidents involving children in Malaysia, Miros hopes to promote greater understanding and appreciation for good road safety awareness at the Smart Kids Education Fair at the Putra World Trade Centre from Friday until Sunday.

Miros has lined up a number of activities and games designed to teach children the positive values of road safety and how they can better protect themselves on the road.

Miros also hopes that parents and adults will play a more active role in inculcating basic and good road safety values in their children.

"It is imperative that children, especially those who are schooling, have a good basic foundation and understanding of what is road safety. This is also precisely why road safety is currently being actively pursued and taught in schools," said Miros Director-General Prof Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah.

He said one could not expect children to absorb and remember everything about road safety.

Dr Ahmad Farhan said much of their behaviour as road users was more often than not the result of emulating their parents and the conduct of other adults.

"This is something that is both potentially advantageous and dangerous. What this essentially means is that parents and adults must lead by example, from displaying the correct attitude on the road to abiding by the traffic regulations.

“Over time, it is these values that are more effectively absorbed."

He also cautioned parents against permitting children, particularly unlicensed teenagers, from taking to the roads on motorcycles and, at times, cars as these acts are potentially dangerous.

He added that while these children or underage teenagers might possess the desired skills to commandeer these vehicles, they were most likely to be unaware of traffic regulations and the proper road etiquette which ultimately exposed them to a higher risk of being involved in an accident.

These acts also endangered other road users, he said.

Similar to inculcating other values in children, Dr Ahmad Farhan stressed that a good understanding and appreciation of road safety awareness from a young age would help to shape a more responsible society of motorists in the future. -  Bernama

Give citizenship for babies born overseas
April 10, 2010 (Saturday)

Children born overseas to Malaysian women married to foreign spouses should be granted citizenship.

This is one of the pressing issues the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is pushing the relevant ministries and Govern-ment agencies to address.

“It is time for this issue to be resolved to achieve gender equality.

“The initiative will overcome the difficulties faced by Malay-

sian women married to foreign spouses,” said Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil in a press statement yesterday.

She added that Malaysian women, who faced problems in securing citizenship for their children, might leave the country to seek a more secure future for their children.

“The ministry has requested the Home Affair Ministry to consider the amendments to the existing legislation,” said Shahrizat.

In the meantime, she suggested the Government introduce administrative measures to facilitate the application of citizenship for children born overseas by Malaysian women married to foreign spouses. Source

The Alves-McConaugheys Party On
April 07, 2010 (Wednesday)

Pregnant woman dies but docs save baby
April 04, 2010 (Sunday)

A 29-year-old pregnant woman with Influenza A(H1N1) has died but doctors have been able to save her baby.

The baby, confirmed to be H1N1 negative, is now in the intensive care unit.

“She is in a stable condition,” said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

The woman, who was in her 36th week of pregnancy, died two days after her 54-year-old mother died of H1N1 complications.

They were admitted last Tuesday.

Liow said in a statement yesterday that the woman had earlier shown signs of foetal distress syndrome. She died of “adult respiratory distress syndrome” on Friday.

Her mother faced uncontrolled diabetes which led to severe metabolic acidosis caused by infections (sepsis) and kidney failure.

“A lung x-ray did not show signs of pneumonia which was related to H1N1. The elder woman’s death on Wednesday was caused by complications from diabetes,” he said.

At a press conference after a function as the Kuala Kubu Baru Hospital, Liow stressed that the two cases were due to H1N1 complications and not direct H1N1 deaths.

The two deaths, he said, showed how crucial it was for people with chronic diseases such as asthma, diabetes and lung illnesses to seek immediate treatment if they were suffering from symptoms of influenza like illness such as high fever (more than 38˚C), coughing and headaches.

He urged the public not to panic following the two new H1N1 related cases.

“This is not a second outbreak of H1N1 but just a sign of increasing cases in influenza like illness or H1N1 related cases,” he said.

The ministry, he said, would issue a statement or call for a press conference every Wednesday to provide an update on the situation in the country.

He also reminded hospitals and medical officers to put more attention to any H1N1 suspected cases.

“The first three to four days are crucial. I want all hospital officers to take note and take immediate action on any such cases,” he said, adding that as of 5pm on Friday, there are 351 patients with influenza like illness being treated in hospitals nationwide.

Out of the number, 28 cases were confirmed H1NI, added Liow. Source

Victoria Beckham on baby diet
April 03, 2010 (Saturday)

Victoria Beckham is on a waistline-expanding diet in a bid to get pregnant.

The former Spice Girl - who already has three sons, Brooklyn, 11, Romeo, seven, and five-year-old Cruz, with her soccer superstar husband David - wants to add a daughter to her family and has taken up a new eating plan loaded with carbohydrates to achieve her dream.

The 35-year-old star - who is known to predominantly eat fresh fruit and vegetables and steamed fish to maintain her slender figure - has been munching on pasta dishes, brown bread, rice and meals which include potatoes.

A source told The Sun newspaper: 'It's no secret Victoria and David want a little girl. She's been told by docs her diet, though healthy, would not give her the best chance of conceiving, particularly in her 30s.

'Instead she has been advised to eat a lot more carbs and fatten up. She has agreed and David is over the moon.'

Although Victoria has agreed to overhaul her diet to conceive again, she won't be gorging on any foods which are too calorie laden.

The source added: 'She draws the line at junk food.'

In February, it was reported Victoria had become broody for a baby girl after her younger sister Louise announced she was expecting her fourth child.

A source close to the family said at the time: 'Louise has just told everyone she is expecting and Vic has immediately become broody. She and David have always wanted a girl. He'd love more kids.' Source