Top Universities Ranking.

Top 6000 Universities

			POSITION
WORLD RANK	UNIVERSITY	COUNTRY	SIZE	VISIBILITY	RICH FILES	SCHOLAR
1	Massachusetts Institute of Technology		2	1	1	7
2	Harvard University **		7	2	12	1
3	Stanford University		4	4	2	24
4	University of California Berkeley		8	3	5	32
5	Cornell University		1	5	9	37
6	University of Wisconsin Madison		3	10	6	71
7	University of Minnesota		6	15	7	22
8	California Institute of Technology **		18	6	20	30
9	University of Illinois Urbana Champaign *		17	7	13	51
10	University of Michigan		10	8	18	55
11	University of Texas Austin		12	11	8	44
12	University of Washington		22	9	4	94
13	University of Chicago		42	16	44	2
14	Carnegie Mellon University		5	24	3	93
15	University of Pennsylvania		16	14	33	26
16	Columbia University New York		19	12	21	95
17	Texas A&M University		31	31	11	17
18	University of Maryland *		37	22	17	52
19	University of California Los Angeles		13	17	26	110
20	Purdue University		14	34	14	46
21	Johns Hopkins University **		59	27	49	3
22	University of Cambridge		26	13	70	86
23	Pennsylvania State University **		27	29	16	102
24	University of Tokyo		32	26	65	31
25	University of Arizona		20	36	19	134
26	National Taiwan University		34	33	79	18
27	University of Florida		28	40	10	130
28	University of Toronto		51	32	42	40
29	Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University		11	45	48	38
30	University of North Carolina Chapel Hill		65	23	22	192
31	Michigan State University		52	28	23	147
32	New York University		30	21	40	181
33	North Carolina State University		9	73	35	42
34	Rutgers University		23	42	15	176
35	University of California San Diego		53	30	24	142
36	Yale University		55	18	61	242
37	University of Pittsburgh		98	44	34	33
38	Universidade de São Paulo		76	54	53	20
39	Princeton University		97	25	36	158
40	University of Virginia		73	20	37	299
41	University of British Columbia		118	37	31	83
42	University of Oxford		122	19	51	157
43	Duke University		75	35	29	163
44	Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México **		61	69	56	21
45	Georgia Institute of Technology		119	79	25	16
46	Swiss Federal Institute of Technology ETH Zurich		84	49	76	43
47	University of Southern California		49	41	62	135
48	University of Colorado Boulder		89	43	27	189
49	Kyoto University		56	52	157	34
50	University of California Davis		47	56	32	204

Top Asia

Universities 1 to 100 of 100
CONTINENT RANK	UNIVERSITY	COUNTRY	WORLD RANK
1	University of Tokyo		24
2	National Taiwan University		26
3	Kyoto University		49
4	University of Hong Kong		91
5	University of Tsukuba		98
6	National Cheng Kung University		101
7	Peking University		104
8	National Sun Yat-Sen University		124
9	Chinese University of Hong Kong		127
10	National Chiao Tung University		146
11	Tsinghua University China		147
12	Nagoya University		153
13	Osaka University		156
14	National University of Singapore		162
15	Keio University		170
16	Hebrew University of Jerusalem		171
17	National Taiwan Normal University		173
18	Prince of Songkla University		175
19	Tohoku University		179
20	Seoul National University		185
21	King Saud University		197
22	National Central University		207
23	Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology		208
24	National Tsing Hua University Taiwan		209
25	Technion Israel Institute of Technology		221
26	Tel Aviv University		238
27	Tokyo Institute of Technology		263
28	Kyushu University		287
29	National Chengchi University		288
30	National Chung Cheng University		294
31	King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals		303
32	Weizmann Institute of Science		314
33	Hong Kong University of Science & Technology		315
34	Zhejiang University		317
35	Chulalongkorn University		320
36	Kobe University		333
37	Kasetsart University		346
38	Tamkang University		351
39	Kyungpook (Kyungbook) National University *		361
40	Pohang University of Science & Technology		370
41	I-Shou University		371
42	City University of Hong Kong		389
43	National Chung Hsing University		399
44	Feng Chia University		402
45	Fudan University (Shanghai Medical University) *		409
46	Mahidol University		411
47	Yonsei University *		428
48	Okayama University		430
49	Shanghai Jiao Tong University		433
50	Middle East Technical University *		435
51	Shandong University		437
52	Hong Kong Polytechnic University		439
53	Nanyang Technological University		449
54	Ritsumeikan University *		450
55	Hiroshima University		460
56	Korea University *		469
57	National Taiwan University of Science & Technology		483
58	Thammasat University		505
59	Bogazici University		510
60	Providence University		515
61	Hosei University		520
62	University of Haifa		526
63	Sungkyunkwan University *		528
64	Japan Advanced Institute of Science & Technology		529
65	Gunma University		533
66	Shih Hsin University		538
67	National Dong Hwa University		542
68	Wuhan University		546
69	Hong Kong Baptist University		552
70	Ben Gurion University of the Negev		561
71	National Yunlin University of Science & Technology		562
72	Universitas Gadjah Mada		572
73	United Nations University		579
74	Kanazawa University		580
75	Chaoyang University of Technology		581
76	Indian Institute of Science Bangalore		583
77	Indian Institute of Technology Bombay		586
78	Chiang Mai University *		587
79	Chung Yuan Christian University		593
80	Fu Jen Catholic University		596
81	Pusan National University		604
82	Nara Institute of Science & Technology		605
83	Soochow University Taiwan		609
84	Yuan Ze University		616
85	Tzu Chi University		624
86	Bilkent University		630
87	Nanjing University		631
88	Imam Muhammad bin Saud University		636
89	Universiti Teknologi Malaysia		642
90	Doshisha University		661
91	Khon Kaen University		664
92	East China Normal University		666
93	Xiamen University		672
94	Universiti Sains Malaysia		675
95	Niigata University		679
96	Kyushu Institute of Technology		686
97	Tokai University		688
98	Ming Chuan University		689
99	University of Tokushima		698
100	Meiji University		699

Top South East Asia

Universities 1 to 100 of 100
CONTINENT RANK	UNIVERSITY	COUNTRY	WORLD RANK
1	National University of Singapore		162
2	Prince of Songkla University		175
3	Chulalongkorn University		320
4	Kasetsart University		346
5	Mahidol University		411
6	Nanyang Technological University		449
7	Thammasat University		505
8	Universitas Gadjah Mada		572
9	Chiang Mai University *		587
10	Universiti Teknologi Malaysia		642
11	Khon Kaen University		664
12	Universiti Sains Malaysia		675
13	Institute of Technology Bandung		727
14	Universiti Malaysia Perlis		745
15	King Mongkut´s University of Technology Thonburi		789
16	University of Malaya		878
17	University of the Philippines Diliman *		960
18	Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia		963
19	Universiti Putra Malaysia		979
20	Suranaree University of Technology		985
21	University of Indonesia *		1,010
22	King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang		1,036
23	Naresuan University		1,042
24	Asian Institute of Technology Thailand		1,057
25	Petra Christian University		1,080
26	Walailak University		1,101
27	Srinakharinwirot University		1,124
28	Gunadarma University		1,126
29	Silpakorn University		1,182
30	Sripatum University		1,249
31	Universiti Utara Malaysia		1,329
32	Burapha University		1,367
33	Ramkhamhaeng University		1,413
34	Assumption University of Thailand		1,422
35	Mahasarakham University		1,443
36	University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce		1,592
37	International Islamic University Malaysia		1,599
38	Multimedia University		1,605
39	Universitas Sebelas Maret		1,617
40	Airlangga University		1,643
41	Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology		1,658
42	Can Tho University		1,669
43	Ho Chi Minh City University of Science (Natural Sciences)		1,676
44	Ubonratchathani University		1,751
45	Vietnam National University		1,758
46	Bangkok University		1,793
47	Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember		1,849
48	National Institute of Development Administration		1,865
49	De la Salle University Manila		1,901
50	Singapore Management University		1,970
51	King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok		2,028
52	Hanoi University of Technology		2,068
53	Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi		2,075
54	Sdusuan Dusit Rajabhat University		2,106
55	Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna		2,123
56	Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University		2,127
57	Mahanakorn University of Technology		2,189
58	Bogor Agricultural University		2,215
59	Universiti Malaysia Pahang		2,330
60	Universiti Malaysia Sabah		2,334
61	Islamic Science University of Malaysia		2,397
62	National Institute of Education		2,440
63	Rajamangala University of Technology Isan		2,456
64	Universiti Teknologi Petronas		2,515
65	Mae Fah Luang University		2,516
66	Nong Lam University		2,532
67	Maejo University		2,541
68	University of Brunei Darussalam		2,545
69	Rangsit University		2,549
70	Surindra Rajabhat University		2,559
71	Ateneo de Manila University		2,586
72	Brawijaya University		2,590
73	Universiti Teknologi Mara		2,600
74	Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics		2,659
75	Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University		2,676
76	Singapore Polytechnic		2,681
77	Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta		2,685
78	University of the Philippines Los Baños		2,708
79	Universiti Malaysia Terengganu		2,714
80	Water Resources University		2,767
81	Diponegoro University		2,779
82	Universitas Negeri Malang *		2,791
83	Indonesia University of Education *		2,839
84	Universiti Tenaga Nasional		2,877
85	Temasek Polytechnic		2,884
86	Sekolah Tinggi Teknologi Telkom		3,017
87	Rajabhat Institute Chandrakasem		3,032
88	Universitas Islam Indonesia		3,058
89	Open University Malaysia		3,112
90	Universitas Padjadjaran		3,142
91	University of the Philippines		3,179
92	University of Da Nang *		3,201
93	Payap University		3,242
94	Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia		3,260
95	Universitas Mercu Buana		3,276
96	Electronic Engineering Polytechnic Institute of Surabaya		3,303
97	Hanoi School of Public Health		3,315
98	Dhurakijpundit University		3,317
99	Rajabhat Maha Sarakham University		3,400
100	Siam University		3,435

Top South Asia

Universities 1 to 100 of 100
CONTINENT RANK	UNIVERSITY	COUNTRY	WORLD RANK
1	Indian Institute of Science Bangalore		583
2	Indian Institute of Technology Bombay		586
3	National Informatics Centre Karnataka		927
4	Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur		937
5	Tata Institute of Fundamental Research		1,185
6	Indian Institute of Technology Madras		1,235
7	International Institute of Information Technology		1,325
8	Indian Institute of Technology Delhi *		1,330
9	University of Delhi		1,377
10	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur *		1,771
11	University of Moratuwa		1,930
12	University of Colombo		2,041
13	International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad		2,165
14	Indian Statistical Institute Bangalore		2,166
15	Indian Statistical Institute Kolkata		2,197
16	Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad		2,263
17	Lahore University of Management Sciences		2,284
18	Indira Gandhi National Open University		2,464
19	National Institute of Technology Calicut		2,526
20	University of Pune		2,561
21	Indian Institute of Management Bangalore		2,677
22	Birla Institute of Technology & Science Pilani		2,723
23	Anna University		2,820
24	Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode		3,047
25	Indian Institute of Information Technology Allahabad		3,149
26	Cochin University of Science & Technology		3,472
27	Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati		3,500
28	University of Peradeniya		3,547
29	Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology		3,572
30	Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee		3,670
31	Amrita University		3,756
32	University of the Punjab		3,988
33	Indian Institute of Management Calcutta		4,133
34	University of Hyderabad		4,307
35	University of Mumbai		4,336
36	Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research		4,451
37	Aga Khan University		4,478
38	Jawaharlal Nehru University		4,485
39	Xavier Institute of Management Bhubaneswar		4,596
40	National Institute of Technology Rourkela		4,795
41	Maharshi Dayanand University Rohtak		4,814
42	Osmania University Hyderabad		4,875
43	National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli		4,881
44	Visveswaraiah Technological University		4,945
45	Pakistan Institute of Development Economics		4,977
46	Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala		5,189
47	Jamia Millia Islamia		5,220
48	Banaras Hindu University		5,234
49	Indian Statistical Institute Delhi		5,321
50	Indian Institute of Management Lucknow		5,391
51	University of Madras		5,481
52	College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan		5,489
53	University of Kerala		5,566
54	Indira Gandhi Institute of Development and Research		5,603
55	Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University		5,612
56	Allama Iqbal Open University		5,614
57	Amity University		5,658
58	Panjab University *		5,716
59	University of Asia Pacific Bangladesh		5,801
60	Annamalai University		5,827
61	Manipal Academy of Higher Education		5,913
62	Bharathiar University		6,040
63	Comsats Institute of  Information Technology Islamabad		6,046
64	Ayub Medical College		6,053
65	Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & Technology		6,200
66	Brac University *		6,230
67	University of Ruhuna		6,253
68	National Institute of Technology Karnataka		6,290
69	SRM Institute of Science and Technology *		6,322
70	Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy		6,403
71	Open University of Sri Lanka		6,608
72	Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science & Technology		6,626
73	Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences		6,724
74	All India Institute of Medical Sciences		6,740
75	University of Dhaka		6,865
76	Vellore Institute of Technology		7,019
77	Bahauddin Zakariya University		7,036
78	University of Agricultural Sciences Dharwad		7,050
79	Aligarh Muslim University		7,096
80	East West University Bangladesh		7,112
81	Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management		7,117
82	International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore		7,223
83	Tamil Nadu Agricultural University		7,228
84	The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda		7,231
85	Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University *		7,378
86	Sinhgad College of Pharmacy		7,437
87	Dhirubai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology		7,454
88	Jadavpur University		7,495
89	National Law School of India University		7,520
90	Independent University Bangladesh		7,525
91	Thiagarajar College of Engineering		7,624
92	University of Sri Jayewardenepura		7,742
93	University of Calicut		7,745
94	Indian Institute of Finance		7,750
95	Birla Institute of Technology Mesra Ranchi		7,785
96	Ned University of Engineering & Technology		7,833
97	Tata Institute of Social Sciences		7,885
98	American International University Bangladesh		7,910
99	University of Kelaniya		7,914
100	University of Peshawar		7,955

Top Arab World

Universities 1 to 100 of 100
CONTINENT RANK	UNIVERSITY	COUNTRY	WORLD RANK
1	King Saud University		197
2	King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals		303
3	Imam Muhammad bin Saud University		636
4	King Faisal University		993
5	King Abdulaziz University		1,072
6	Cairo University		1,219
7	King Khalid University		1,268
8	American University in Cairo		1,334
9	United Arab Emirates University		1,646
10	American University of Beirut		1,716
11	Umm Al-Qura University		1,968
12	Kuwait University *		1,978
13	College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences		2,255
14	Islamic University of Gaza *		2,392
15	Sultan Qaboos University		2,621
16	Ain Shams University		2,785
17	Higher Colleges of Technology		2,801
18	Al Quds University the Arab University in Jerusalem		2,831
19	An-Najah National University		2,838
20	Mansoura University		2,943
21	Université Saint Joseph de Beyrouth		2,947
22	Birzeit University		3,228
23	University of Sharjah		3,342
24	Yarmouk University		3,520
25	Al Akhawayn University Ifrane		3,653
26	University of Qatar		3,729
27	Jordan University of Science & Technology		3,732
28	Université Cadi Ayyad		3,956
29	Université Djillali Liabes		4,116
30	Université Abou Bekr Belkaid Tlemcen		4,143
31	Prince Sultan University *		4,203
32	Arab Academy for Science & Technology and Maritime Transport		4,347
33	University of Khartoum		4,371
34	American University of Sharjah		4,378
35	Lebanese American University		4,463
36	École Mohammadia d'Ingénieurs		4,618
37	Taibah University		4,663
38	Islamic University of Al Madinah		4,733
39	Faculté des Sciences Rabat		4,759
40	German University in Cairo		4,772
41	Université Abdelmalek Essaadi *		4,866
42	Helwan University		4,872
43	University of Jordan		4,874
44	Bethlehem University		4,999
45	Zayed University		5,140
46	Assiut University		5,281
47	Zagazig University		5,383
48	Hashemite University		5,413
49	Institute of Public Administration		5,476
50	Université de Batna		5,548
51	University of Ha'il		5,734
52	Philadelphia University at Jordan Amman		5,794
53	Université Virtuelle de Tunis		5,806
54	Université Mohammed Premier Oujda *		5,950
55	Naif Arab University for Security Sciences		5,972
56	King Abdullah University of Science & Technology		6,031
57	Yemeni University of Science & Technology		6,073
58	Institut Agronomique et Veterinaire Hassan II		6,268
59	Arab Open University Saudi Arabia		6,362
60	International University of Africa		6,482
61	University of Bahrain *		6,485
62	University of Balamand		6,505
63	Mutah University		6,545
64	Petroleum Institute Abu Dhabi		6,550
65	Sudan University of Science & Technology		6,556
66	Al Al-Bayt University		6,730
67	Université Mentouri de Constantine		6,766
68	University of Garyounis		6,781
69	Balqa' Applied University Salt Jordan		6,797
70	Arab American University		6,841
71	Alexandria University		7,002
72	Université des Sciences et de la Technologie Houari Boumediene		7,008
73	Université Mohammed V Souissi		7,042
74	Al Jouf University		7,046
75	Al Quds Open University		7,057
76	Université Abdelhamid Ibn Badis Mostaganem		7,205
77	Al Azhar University of Gaza		7,227
78	Université Senghor d'Alexandrie		7,279
79	Dubai School of Government		7,286
80	Arab Open University Jordan		7,413
81	Notre Dame University Lebanon		7,414
82	Princess Sumaya University for Technology		7,444
83	Palestine Polytechnic University		7,530
84	Université Ibn Zohr Agadir		7,597
85	Qassim University		7,609
86	Tishreen University		7,621
87	Damascus University		7,654
88	Université Libanaise		7,660
89	Prince Mohammad University		7,690
90	British University in Egypt		7,781
91	Université Mohammed V Agdal		7,841
92	Université d'Alger		7,849
93	Gulf University for Science & Technology		7,903
94	South Valley University		8,010
95	Faculté de Medécine & Pharmacie		8,024
96	Institut Français du Proche-Orient Damas		8,164
97	Arabian Gulf University		8,238
98	Institut National des Postes et Telecommunications Maroc		8,285
99	Université de Bejaia		8,376
100	Minufiya University		8,413

Liverpool 2 Manchester United 0

Fernando Torres and substitute David Ngog left Manchester United reeling as Liverpool brilliantly halted their four-match losing streak.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez had said prior to the match that one win would change everything, and what a result his team delivered to ease the pressure on the Spaniard.
The champions were eventually beaten after a stunning performance of defiance from the home side.

In this cracking Barclays Premier League battle, Liverpool restored their pride with a victory over, for them, the best opponents possible.
Torres forced his injured frame through the match and grabbed his ninth goal of the campaign midway through the second half to get Liverpool really firing.

Ngog hit the second in stoppage-time, with the match at boiling point. United had by that stage lost defender Nemanja Vidic to his third red card in successive matches against Liverpool.
Javier Mascherano saw red too, but it was Liverpool who inflicted the second league defeat of the season on United to restore faith among their fans.

The atmosphere was electric, the noise deafening, as Liverpool set about trying to restore their battered reputation.
Evra was booked after two trips on Torres in as many minutes, and from the free-kick Fabio Aurelio sent in a curled effort that Edwin van der Sar clawed away. It went straight to Dirk Kuyt, whose follow-up was also saved by his Dutch countryman.

Then Lucas dispossed Paul Scholes and gave Kuyt another chance, this one guided wide of the far post.
Rooney, who had seen one effort disallowed for offside, rose to met an Antonio Valencia cross, but his header was held low to his right by Jose Reina.
United had better possession and hit Liverpool with pace and slick movement, but Van der Sar was again needed to plunge to his right to keep out an Aurelio header from Yossi Benayoun's cross.

Kuyt should have scored early in the second period when he was played in by Johnson, but he chose to pass rather than blast an angled effort, and the chance was lost.
Then Benayoun's touch sent Torres away on the right, but his lack of pace following his groin problem did not see him shake off Rio Ferdinand, and again the opening went begging.

It then needed a block from Johnson on the far post to keep out Rooney's header from Giggs' free-kick.
ut Liverpool were growing in confidence and they grabbed the lead after 65 minutes. Benayoun's pass sent Torres beyond Ferdinand, onside only by inches.


The Spaniard was not going to be denied this time. He held off the England centre-back and lashed a shot into the roof of the net. The roof almost came off Anfield too.
Vidic was booked for a foul on Torres, and then after 80 minutes Torres could run no more and Ngog took his place.
Valencia saw a cross-shot clip the Liverpool bar and substitute Michael Owen was searching for any inch of space. He almost had a chance when he chased a throughball, only to be hauled down by his good friend Jamie Carragher. The Liverpool skipper was booked.
With just a minute of normal time left, Vidic pulled down Kuyt as the Dutchman raced into an empty half. Red followed a second yellow, and the Serbian was sent off for the third successive match against Liverpool.
Three minutes into added time Mascherano was also sent off for a challenge on Van der Sar, the Argentinian's second yellow-card offence.

Then came the killer blow to United. Liverpool broke from deep defence, Lucas delayed his pass to sent Ngog away on his own and the striker slid the second past Van der Sar. Anfield, and Benitez, could finally celebrate.

'Polygamy club' draws criticism in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Plans to open branches of a Malaysian "Polygamy Club" in Indonesia have upset women's groups and religious leaders in the world's most populous Muslim nation, who say the search for multiple wives should be handled privately _ not by a matchmaking service.

Under Islamic law, Muslim men are permitted four wives. The club claims a noble aim of helping single mothers, reformed prostitutes and women who feel they are past marrying age meet spouses. It also offers counseling to people facing problems in polygamous households.

The Malaysian owners say they want to "change people's perception about polygamy, so that they will see it as a beautiful rather than abhorrent practice," club chairwoman Hatijah Binti Am said as members from around 30 families attended a gathering in Bandung, west Java, for the opening of the first Indonesian branch last week.

Others will soon be added, including in the capital, Jakarta, said spokeswoman Rohaya Mohamad.
"Indonesia is a Muslim-majority country, so polygamy can be a way of life there too," Rohaya said.
Polygamous relationships are believed to be gaining in popularity in secular Indonesia, but it's impossible to say how many there are because the marriages are performed secretly at mosques and are not recorded by the state.

Indonesia's 1974 Marriage Law permits a man to have a second wife if his first is an invalid, infertile or terminally ill. However, there is no way to monitor adherence to the rules.

Polygamists point out that the Prophet Muhammad is thought to have married about a dozen women in his lifetime, including widows in need of protection. But a prominent member of the influential Indonesian Ullema Council, a board of Muslim priests, described the launching of a formal club as a "provocative campaign."
"Such a club is needless," said Ma'ruf Amin. "It will draw (negative) reactions rather than solve problems" because the practice is generally opposed by women in the country of 235 million people.

Several prominent political and religious figures in Indonesia openly married second wives in recent years, sparking widespread public debate and calls to ban civil servants from polygamy. Analysts believe the number of men with multiple wives is increasing as this emerging democracy searches to balance modern governance and Islamic identity.

Amin said that although Islam allows polygamy, popularizing the practice could encourage multiple marriages in which the husbands fail to adhere to strict guidelines, including fair treatment of all wives and children and equal financial support.

Opposition has also come from women's rights activists.
Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, director of the Institute for Indonesian Women's Association for Justice does not oppose men having several spouses, but said the club should not advertise openly.
"If they did it privately, that would be fine," she said, citing the acceptance of polygamy under Islam and by the Indonesian state according to specific requirements.
However, Yohanna, a member of the same women's rights group, said the club effectively promotes abuse.
"While we are campaigning against domestic violence, which includes polygamy, there is a group campaigning that polygamy _ which hurts other women _ is a positive thing," Yohanna told MetroTV.

Polygamy is also legal for Muslims in Malaysia but not widespread. The club was founded there in August and claims to have around 1,000 members _ 700 of them women _ many of them former members of a banned Islamic sect of Al-Arqam.

Malaysia's Home Affairs Ministry was reportedly keeping a close eye on the club.
Hatijah, the club founder, is a wife of Ashaari Muhammad, the leader of the Al-Arqam sect that was outlawed in 1994 by the Malaysian government after the group's teachings and beliefs were found to deviate from Islam. The group then claimed to have around 10,000 followers.

Ashaari was portrayed by the movement as messiah who had the authority to forgive the sins of Muslims. He has 38 children from four wives, eight of them with Hatijah. Twenty-three of the children are in polygamous marriages.

Indonesia's more than 200 million Muslims practice a moderate form of the faith, but a small hardline fringe has successfully pushed for Islamic law of Shariah in more than a hundred municipalities across the nation, and the predominantly Muslim province of Aceh.

Yahoo News

AVG Anti-Virus Free Edition 9.0.686

AVG Free provides the bare necessities when it comes to security, but that should be enough for savvy Windows users. You'll get a combined antivirus and antimalware engine, LinkScanner, and e-mail scanning. AVG Free 9 introduces a few new features, with improvements focused on performance, including claims of faster scan and boot times. One new feature is the Identity Theft Recovery Unit. Only for users in the United States, ITRU is a business partnership with Identity Guard which provides "consumer identity theft solutions," accessible only from the AVG toolbar in Firefox and Internet Explorer.

The interface is nearly unchanged from the last version, and generally it's easy to use. From the main window, though, you must double-click to get further information on any feature, whether virus scanning, LinkScanner settings, or updating. Streamlining this to one click would be helpful. A scheduling utility automates both scans and updates, while the upgrade ad at the screen's bottom can be easily hidden using the Hide Notification button. When starting a scan, a slider makes it easy to jump between Slow, Automatic, and Fast scans: the faster the scan, the less comprehensive it is, so users should take advantage of the scan optimization that is recommended during installation to speed up that first scan. A progress meter for regular scans would've been useful, though. Should a virus create serious problems, AVG creates a rescue disk to scan your computer in MS-DOS mode.

The LinkScanner feature protects you from third-party code exploits before they load in your browser and for ranking search results. Annoyingly, when you install its optional toolbar, it commandeers your new-tab page, decidedly inappropriate behavior. The program doesn't obviously tax your system when scanning or when running in the background, although CNET Labs determined that it will significantly slow down your system's boot time, and slightly delay shutting down. AVG also detected some image files as threats, when two other scans decided they weren't--we decided these were false positives. AVG might not be the fastest or the most effective free security option, but it still gets the job done and you're better off with it.

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Five Foods for Better Sleep

Five Foods for Better Sleep
By Monica Bhide, Natural Solutions


If you’re among the estimated 65 percent of Americans who have trouble sleeping at least a few nights a week, you’re probably tired of hearing about all the possible culprits for your bedtime woes, from too much caffeine and late-night TV to not enough exercise or unwind time in the evenings. 


While all of these factors certainly play a role in your quality of shut-eye, there’s one sleep saboteur that often goes unrecognized even though it can have a profound effect on how soundly you snooze–your diet.
In fact, food and sleep actually affect one another: If you don’t eat right, you lose sleep; and when you’re sleep-deprived, your eating habits suffer, says Sally Kravich, a holistic nutritionist and author of Vibrant Living: Creating Radiant Health and Longevity (SPK Publications, 2003). “It’s the ultimate catch-22,” she says. “A lack of sleep causes leptin, an appetite-regulating hormone, to crash, which causes you to eat more,” she says. “Not only does eating more eventually lead to weight gain and an increased risk of obesity–both of which can affect how well you sleep–but the foods you’re most likely to reach for when you’re tired will keep you up at night.” So what’s an insomniac to do?


For starters, get clear about which foods promote good shut-eye, and which have the potential to keep you up at night, and adjust your diet accordingly.


Sleep-enhancing foods


Whole grains. Fiber-rich foods, such as brown rice and quinoa, do more than keep you full; they contain large amounts of tryptophan, an essential amino acid that increases the levels of serotonin (a feel-good neurotransmitter that calms the nervous system) and melatonin (a sleep-inducing hormone secreted in response to darkness) in the brain. What’s more, whole grains slowly nourish the body throughout the night after you digest them, says Lauren Taylor, CTN, a naturopath in Boulder, Colorado. That makes them an especially good choice for anyone who wakes up hungry during the night. Whole-grain carbohydrates also have a soothing effect. “Certain grains, like oats, act as natural relaxants and help calm the nervous system,” says Taylor.


Legumes. The high levels of B vitamins in legumes, such as black-eyed peas and lentils, also help calm your nervous system, says Kravich. Adds Taylor: “Legumes can be a great choice for an evening meal because they often replace animal protein, which can cause sleep problems.” But legumes are not for everyone, warns Taylor. They can be hard for some to digest. To know if you fall into this category, pay close attention to how you feel after you eat them. If the legumes satisfy your hunger without making you feel overly full or gassy, they could be a good addition to your sleep-inducing arsenal. Have an upset stomach or feel sluggish after a meal of legumes? Skip them altogether or eat them only in moderation.


Herbal teas. Tempted to have a glass of vino to unwind at night? Kravich recommends reaching for a cup of tea instead, especially blends with chamomile, lavender, and mint. “Drinking caffeine-free tea, particularly gentle herbal varieties, relaxes the body, calms digestion, and soothes the stomach,” says Kravich. Taylor agrees, but also says that the environment in which we eat potentially relaxing foods can have a profound effect on our nervous system. “That calming chamomile tea isn’t necessarily going to be so calming if you drink it while you’re on the computer paying your bills at 10 o’clock at night,” says Taylor. Instead, take your tea to a cozy spot where you can relax, smell the tea, and fully enjoy drinking it. “Unwinding in the evening–emptying out–that’s what’s important,” says Taylor. “It’s a way of clearing your nervous system. If you haven’t let go of the day’s activities, where is all that energy going to go? If it remains pent up inside of you, it’s certainly going to affect your ability to sleep.”


Fruit. Especially high in sleep-inducing tryptophan, bananas, mangoes, and dates are also great substitutes for higher-calorie desserts. “It’s all about changing your habits,” says Kravich. “Instead of cutting out dessert completely, replace cake and cookies–which can keep you up at night because of their high sugar content–with fruits that will satisfy your sweet tooth and help promote sleep. While fruits do contain sugar, it’s natural–not processed–and fruit also comes packed with fiber.” Another benefit from fruits: their high antioxidant content. “Think of nighttime as clean-up time for the body,” says Taylor. “If you go into the evening having just eaten foods that are cleansing and detoxifying, you’re helping that clean-up cycle. Vegetables and fruit are the most detoxifying foods you can eat.”


Soups and stews. Adding sleep-inducing foods to your diet will certainly help you get your beauty rest, but you should also pay attention to how you prepare them. “Cooking sleep-inducing foods at low temperatures for long periods of time is ideal,” says Taylor. “Soups and stews–particularly those filled with fiber-rich veggies and legumes–and low-fat casseroles are much more calming and relaxing than seared meats and hot, spicy foods because when you cook something for a long time, the cooking process acts almost like our own digestive system,” says Taylor. Long cooking times break down the starches and sugars in foods, so your body doesn’t have to work very hard to access their nutrients.
Next: Five foods to avoid for a good night’s sleep


Sleep sappers


Fatty, high-protein foods. We all know how important it is for good heart health to ease up on saturated animal fats, but doing so can also help the state of your adrenal glands–important not only for good sleep but also for your overall health. Red meat contains high levels of the amino acid tyrosine, which causes the adrenal glands to pump cortisol through your body. This hormone is part of the fight-or-flight reaction that prepares us to face or run away from danger–and certainly puts us in a heightened state that’s hardly conducive to falling and staying asleep. “Under normal circumstances, your adrenal activity is at its highest when you wake up and then descends throughout the day so it’s at its lowest ebb before you go to sleep,” says Taylor. “To promote good sleep, you need to support this adrenal rhythm with the foods you eat.” And for most that means turning the typical American diet upside down. Because high-protein foods stimulate the body, eat them in the morning and at midday, suggests Taylor. For dinner, steer clear of meats and other high-protein foods that will spike your adrenal glands and opt for vegetables and plant-based sources of protein instead.


Caffeine. While you may think that morning cup of joe or two won’t interfere with your ability to wind down later in the day, think again. Caffeine is a powerful stimulant that affects the central nervous system. Although most doctors say it takes between four and seven cups of regular coffee a day to hinder sleep, caffeine–like red meat–revs the body up. “Caffeine can overstimulate the adrenals, which actually compounds fatigue as it wears off,” says Kravich. If you must have your morning cup, eat something nutritious with it and add milk or soy milk to dull the negative effects of the caffeine.


High-sugar, empty-calorie sweets. “Think of cakes and cookies as the other end of the spectrum from whole grains,” says Taylor. “Sweets give you quick energy followed by a crash,” she says. “Because the energy you get from sweets isn’t long and sustained, odds are you’ll wake up because you’re hungry.” Instead of typical desserts, opt for fruit or even some healthy fats and whole grains, such as a quarter of an avocado spread on whole grain toast. “Healthy fats are satisfying, and they calm the nervous system,” says Taylor.


Cold foods. Even during the hot summer months when you might be craving cold foods, such as salads, smoothies, and ice cream, do keep in mind that they’re not necessarily the best for promoting sleep, says Taylor. “When you eat cold foods, your body has to work hard to bring the food’s temperature up to your body temp,” she says. “If the food has been cooked, your body doesn’t have to spend as much energy breaking down the food, which is ideal for evening meals when the goal is to help your body unwind and work less.” Instead of a cold salad, for example, steam veggies and eat them at room temperature with a good olive oil drizzled on top.


Monica Bhide is a Dunn Loring, Virginia�based food writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Food & Wine. Her book, Modern Spice: Inspired Indian Flavors for the Contemporary Kitchen, was released this month by Simon & Schuster.

Copyright @ KLK Yahoo Group

Kanser Payudara - Bukan 'Pertarungan' Wanita Sahaja

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 Okt (Bernama) -- Sejak dulu lagi, masyarakat menganggap barah payudara atau kanser buah dada merupakan masalah yang eksklusif bagi wanita sedangkan penyakit ini boleh juga menghimpit kehidupan semua anggota keluarga.

Bila seorang wanita diserang barah payudara, kanser ini meletakkan beban yang berat bukan sahaja bagi pesakit itu tetapi akan turut dirasai suami, anak-anak dan anggota keluarga yang lain.

Oleh itu, pengesanan awal kanser ini amat penting dan seharusnya bermula dari unit asas perhubungan kemanusiaan, iaitu sebuah keluarga.

Bagi kaum lelaki, mereka seharusnya menyedari betapa pentingnya peranan mereka dalam kehidupan pasangan mereka serta juga kehidupan rakan wanita dan keluarga mereka.

Bagi mendekati isu ini, Pfizer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd dan Majlis Kebangsaan Pertubuhan Wanita (NCWO) melancarkan sebuah buku yang diberi tajuk 'His and Her Story'.

'HIS AND HER STORY'

Buku ini, boleh didapati dalam Bahasa Melayu, Cina dan Tamil.

'His and Her Story' merupakan satu pendekatan yang boleh mendorong lelaki memberi sokongan dan semangat untuk wanita kesayangan mereka menjalani pemeriksaan penyaringan bagi mengesan kanser payudara.

Buku ini ialah kumpulan beberapa testimoni peserta projek MENCARE.

Projek MENCARE merupakan usaha antara Pfizer dan NCWO bertujuan untuk mendidik dan mendapatkan sokongan daripada suami, bapa dan lelaki di dalam komuniti dalam usaha meningkatkan kesedaran tentang kanser payudara.

"Pfizer memang komited memainkan peranan dalam masyarakat bagi meningkatkan kesedaran tentang gaya hidup sihat melalui beberapa inisiatif dan program umum.

"Saya harap 'His and Her Story' akan menyedarkan mereka. Adalah menjadi harapan kami agar satu hari nanti MENCARE dapat diserapkan dalam setiap lapisan masyarakat melalui perubahan dasar dan perundangan," kata Pengarah Urusan Pfizer Ahmet Genel pada majlis pelancaran buku itu baru-baru ini.

MENCARE

Sejak pelancaran MENCARE pada tahun 2006, program itu dijalankan di enam lokasi di Malaysia dan telah melahirkan 200 fasilitator. November ini, usia program itu akan genap tiga tahun.

Sebuah manual latihan dan buku panduan yang lengkap telah disiapkan bagi kegunaan pemberi khidmat pertubuhan wanita dan penjagaan kesihatan untuk dijadikan alat program kanser yang mereka jalankan.

Semasa bengkel projek ini dijalankan, banyak kisah sebenar dirakam dan dikumpul yang boleh memberi semangat bagi kaum lelaki mengenai kesedaran kanser payudara. Dengan kompilasi itu, terbitlah 'His and Her Story' versi Bahasa Inggeris pada tahun 2000.

Menurut Timbalan Presiden NCWO, Datuk Ramani Gurusamy, MENCARE melihat kepada keperluan yang melibatkan lelaki secara langsung dalam masalah yang dihadapi pesakit wanita menderita menghadapi kanser payudara.

"Sambutan golongan lelaki bagi pemeriksaan penyaringan, pengesanan awal dan rawatan, meningkatkan lagi peluang melawan barah itu dan peluang untuk hidup. NCWO dan Pfizer berkongsi satu misi, bekerjasama ke arah mewujudkan kualiti hidup yang lebih baik bagi wanita Malaysia," katanya.

KANSER PALING KERAP MENYERANG WANITA MALAYSIA

Kanser payudara ialah kanser yang paling kerap menyerang wanita di Malaysia dan juga merupakan satu pertiga daripada jumlah kesemua sakit barah yang menyerang golongan itu.

Seorang wanita di Malaysia mempunyai risiko satu dalam 20 diserang kanser dalam kehidupan mereka tetapi tidak ramai yang faham cara mengendalikan pemeriksaan payudara sendiri.

Tidak ramai juga yang mahu menjalankan pemeriksaan secara berkala oleh pakar-pakar kesihatan.

Dengan itu tidak hairanlah kalau banyak kes itu di Malaysia dikesan pada peringkat yang agak lanjut walaupun terdapat pusat pemeriksaan penyaringan dan kempen pendidikan.

Menurut kajian yang dijalankan Kementerian Kesihatan pada tahun 1996, hanya 46.9 peratus wanita menjalani pemeriksaan payudara.

Antara sebab mengapa ramai wanita yang agak sukar menjalani pemeriksaan penyaringan kanser payudara ialah perasaan takut terhadap 'penerimaan' pasangan lelaki mereka.

Menurut satu kajian NCWO, 65 peratus lelaki bersetuju tentang faktor 'penolakan' yang menyebabkan ramai wanita enggan menjalani pemeriksaan penyaringan.

MENINGKATKAN PELUANG HIDUP

Seperti yang dibuktikan di dalam 'His and Her Story', bila kaum lelaki menunjukkan sokongan mereka, maka peluang bagi pasangan wanita mereka yang menghidapi kanser payudara untuk hidup lebih lama juga turut meningkat.

"Kenapa wanita Malaysia segan menjalani pemeriksaan penyaringan? Ada beberapa sebab, antaranya tiada kesedaran dan pengetahunan serta perasaan takut untuk mengetahui perkara yang sebenar. Ketakutan yang paling ketara ialah reaksi daripada suami, iaitu sama ada akan ditinggalkan suami atau tidak dihiraukan," kata Ahmet.

Menurut beliau, bila seorang wanita diberitahu bahawa beliau menghidapi kanser payudara, itu ialah berita buruk bukan hanya bagi wanita berkenaan, tetapi juga semua anggota keluarga beliau.

"Peranan suami untuk menjaga wanita yang mereka sayang adalah amat penting dan amat bermakna pada ketika sebegini.".

Naskah percuma 'His and Her Story' boleh didapati dengan menghubungi NCWO di 03-7943 3008 atau e-mel ncwohq@yahoo.com.

-- BERNAMA

Cuepacs mahu jumpa PM bincang bonus dua bulan

KUALA LUMPUR: Cuepacs mahu kerajaan memberikan bonus dua bulan gaji kepada 1.6 juta kakitangan awam dan pesara perkhidmatan awam di negara ini walaupun perkara itu tidak diumumkan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, pada pembentangan Bajet 2010 Jumaat lalu.

Presiden Cuepacs, Omar Osman, berkata pihaknya akan menghantar surat kepada Perdana Menteri hari ini bagi memohon mengadakan pertemuan secepat mungkin untuk membincangkan perkara terbabit.

“Ahli majlis kongres Cuepacs hari ini (semalam) membincangkan dua perkara iaitu berkaitan dengan bonus dan bantuan khas. Hasilnya Cuepacs mahu bonus dua bulan diberikan kepada kakitangan awam.

“Selaras itu majlis kongres mahu berjumpa dengan Perdana Menteri dengan kadar segera bagi membincangkan perkara ini,” katanya selepas mesyuarat tergempar kongres berkenaan di sini semalam.

Beliau berkata, tuntutan bonus oleh kakitangan awam terhadap kerajaan bukan saja keputusan ahli kongres terbabit, malah ia juga rintihan daripada kakitangan awam pada peringkat akar umbi.

Omar berkata, Cuepacs juga membuat keputusan dengan meminta kerajaan supaya bantuan khas sebanyak RM500 turut diberikan kepada pesara pilihan dan pesara pilihan penswastaan.
“Ia selaras dengan slogan Perdana Menteri, rakyat didahulukan, maka Cuepacs yang menjadi wakil kakitangan awam berhak mengadakan pertemuan dengan beliau bagi membincangkan perkara ini, selain mengadakan kunjungan hormat.

“Kita tidak menjangkakan perkara ini (bonus), sebab sebelum ini bantuan khas sebanyak RM500 diberikan kerajaan. Maka tidak ada sebab bonus tidak diberi, jika kerajaan tidak mahu bagi, baik tidak bagi langsung,” katanya.

Katanya, kali terakhir kakitangan awam di negara ini mendapat bonus ialah pada penghujung tahun lalu iaitu sebanyak RM1,000 ataupun sebulan gaji.

Beliau berkata, mutu perkhidmatan yang diberikan oleh kakitangan awam kepada rakyat kian meningkat dan tiada alasan untuk kerajaan tidak memberikan bonus.
Selain itu, katanya, pihaknya juga akan membangkitkan mengenai nasib kira-kira 50,000 kakitangan awam secara kontrak di negara ini yang berdepan dengan kemungkinan akan ditamatkan kontrak dalam pertemuan itu.

“Kita berharap kakitangan kontrak dapat diserapkan ke jawatan tetap, kerana mereka sudah lama berkhidmat ada yang lebih daripada lima tahun.

“Malah ada juga yang tidak mendapat potongan Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja dan ini perlu perhatian,” katanya.

Berita Harian - 26 Oktober 2009