Compiled by LIEW JIA XIAN, C. ARUNO and R. ARAVINTHAN

       SIX Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) researchers – Emeritus Prof Dr Boo Nem Yun, Prof Dr Ong Kok Seng, Dr Pang Yean Ling, Dr Bernard Saw, Prof Dr Sumathi Sethupathi and Hew Jun Jie – are in a list released by US-based Stanford University recently of the top 2% of scientists in the world, reported China Press.

       The list by Stanford University was created by analysing a group of over 100,000 scientists classified into 22 scientific fields and 176 subfields.

       It used a publicly available database on scientists, which contained information on citations, and a composite indicator, among others.

       In a statement, UTAR said it was proud of the recognition given to members of its academic faculty, adding that it will continue to strive to be at the forefront of quality research and development.

       > A syndicate in China made more than 100,000 yuan (RM65,916) over just four months by forging disability certificates and organising tours to Shanghai Disneyland, allowing guests to bypass the normal queue to enjoy the attractions, reported China Press.

       The syndicate would use the certificates to purchase the theme park’s Disability Access Service pass that would allow the “disabled guest” to bring four others to accompany him or her to the theme park and enjoy shorter waiting times for the various attractions.

       Police nabbed eight people after receiving a complaint from one customer over a price dispute with the syndicate.

       A raid at one of the suspects’ houses revealed a number of fake ID cards, forged disability certificates, as well as Disability Access Service cards.

       Police believe the syndicate had brought over 800 guests into Disneyland using forged disability certificates.

       Seven suspects are expected to be charged soon with forgery, which has a maximum jail time of 10 years upon conviction.

       > A weatherman in China’s Guangdong province became famous overnight after a video of him reporting on the weather while pretending to have been kidnapped went viral, reported China Press.

       The video showed the weatherman, Zhou Yu, tied to a chair and attempting to provide the weather forecast with a rag stuffed into his mouth.

       His dramatic re-enactment of a kidnapping tickled many who shared the video online.

       “This is just so cute!” one netizen wrote.

       According to local reports, Zhou started reporting on the weather in 2004.

       “Weather reporting is a special kind of job. Whenever there is a cold spell, typhoon, drought or any natural disaster, I would always think of a creative way to report it.

       “As long as we can ensure the safety of just one more person, then my job continues to have meaning,” he said.

       The above articles are compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with a >, it denotes a separate news item.