Ahad, 14 Ogos 2011

NST Online: Topnews

0 ulasan 11:27 PTG Dicatat oleh blog2

Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

NST Online: Topnews

Twin central Iraq blasts kill 33

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 11:15 PM PDT

Twin central Iraq blasts kill 33

KUT, Iraq: A car bomb and a roadside blast in the central Iraqi city of Kut killed at least 33 people and wounded 52 others, a doctor said, updating an earlier toll.

"We have so far received 33 dead bodies and are now treating 52 injured," said Ali Hussein, a doctor at Kut's Al-Zahra hospital. He said there were women and children among the casualties.

A security official earlier said the 8:00 am (0500 GMT) explosions occurred in a crowded area in the centre of the city, 160 kilometres (100 miles) south of Baghdad.

The attacks come less than two weeks after Iraqi leaders said they would hold talks with the US over a security training mission to last beyond 2011, when all 47,000 American soldiers must withdraw under the terms of a bilateral security pact.

Violence in Iraq has declined from its peak in 2006 and 2007, but attacks remain common. A total of 259 Iraqis were killed in attacks in July, the second-highest figure for 2011. -- AFP

Air your comment on this issue:

Twin central Iraq blasts kill 33

Log in with your Facebook account or use the form below to comment.

New Straits Times reserves the right not to publish offensive or abusive comments and those of hate speech, harassment, commercial promos and invasion of privacy. Your IP will be logged and may be used to prevent further submission.The views expressed here are that of the members of the public and unless specifically stated are not those of NST.

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

China may have examined US stealth chopper

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 08:03 PM PDT

China may have examined US stealth chopper

WASHINGTON: Pakistan's intelligence service probably let Chinese military engineers examine the wreckage of a supersecret US stealth helicopter that crashed during the May raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Abbottabad, The New York Times reported late Sunday.

Citing unnamed officials familiar with the matter, the newspaper said that US intelligence agencies had concluded that it was likely that Chinese engineers — at the invitation of Pakistani intelligence operatives — had taken detailed photographs of the severed tail of the Black Hawk helicopter equipped with classified technology designed to elude radar.

Relations between the United States and Pakistan have been under strain following the raid that killed bin Laden, who was found living near Pakistan's main military academy.

President Barack Obama's administration recently suspended about one-third of its $2.7 billion annual defense aid to Pakistan, but assured Islamabad it was committed to a $7.5 billion civilian assistance package approved in 2009.

US Navy Seals that conducted the raid tried to destroy the helicopter after it crashed at bin Laden's compound, but the tail section of the aircraft remained largely intact, the report said.

The US officials cautioned that they did not have definitive proof that the Chinese visited Abbottabad, and they said that Pakistani officials denied showing the advanced helicopter technology to any other foreign government.

The US case is based mostly on intercepted conversations, in which Pakistani officials discussed inviting the Chinese to the crash site, The Times noted.

One official told the newspaper that intelligence officials were "certain" that Chinese engineers had been able to photograph the helicopter and even walk away with samples of the wreckage.

Reaction from China was skeptical. "We express deep doubts about this. Such a thing would never happen," a Chinese defence ministry spokesman, who did not give his name, told AFP Monday.

Foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu in May dismissed the notion that China had asked to see the wreckage of the US helicopter as "ridiculous." -- AFP

Air your comment on this issue:

China may have examined US stealth chopper

Log in with your Facebook account or use the form below to comment.

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

NST Online: Latest

0 ulasan 11:04 PTG Dicatat oleh blog2

Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

NST Online: Latest

Imported rice sufficient to meet Aidilfitri demand in Sabah

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 09:05 PM PDT

SANDAKAN: The supply of imported rice in Sabah is sufficient to meet the demand for the coming Aidilfitri, Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) board member Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said.

He said Sabah has 101,803 tonnes of imported rice which will be able to meet the demand for up to six months.

"There is no need to worry about rice supply because Bernas continuously monitors the situation to ensure supply is sufficient particularly in facing the festive season," he said at the breaking of fast with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman at the Al-Fajr Mosque, here yesterday.

Abdul Rahman said Bernas will also ensure imported rice is of high quality and sold at a reasonable price.

He also said that Bernas consistently implemented numerous corporate social responsibility programmes to help farmers and those from challenging economic background.

This includes giving out assistance to 150 orphanages nationwide.

In Sabah, nine orphanages benefited from the programme.

At the event, Bernas handed over RM10,000 in financial assistance to five orphanages namely the Al-Aman Orphanage in Tawau, Ar-Raudhoh Orphanage in Beaufort, Putera Harapan Orphanage in Ranau, Suria Orphanage in Tuaran and Darul Bakti Orphanage in Kota Belud. -- BERNAMA

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Video of Asyraf assault watched by nearly 3 million

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 09:01 PM PDT

LONDON: According to British monitoring sources, the YouTube video clip of the brutal assault on and subsequent robbery of 20-year-old Malaysian student Mohd Asyraf Haziq Rosli in Barking, East London, has been watched nearly three million times.

This is the highest watched single clip of the recent rioting and looting in London and other cities of Britain, according to British sources.

"Word of mouth about the brutal attack on the Malaysian student has got around so fast that almost everybody I know wants to see the clip on YouTube. People have been moved by the student's plight and the courageous front he has put up," said Percy Higgins, a London based chemist in a telephone conversation with Bernama.

Asyraf, who was discharged from the hospital after surgery, spoke to journalists, and said that he had no grudge or ill-feeling against Britons.

He said that he would pursue his higher studies in accounting in London, the reason why he had come to Britain. Asyraf's parents had urged their son to return to Malaysia and continue his studies there.

Prime Minister David Cameron, who has also apparently seen the film, described the attack on the Malaysian student as a "defining moment", condemning it as "sick" and "disgusting".

Describing the rioting as "criminality, pure and simple", Cameron announced a series of measures aimed at bringing to justice all those who were behind the attack, and said the perpetrators would be punished according to the law.

The first arrest in connection with the attack on and robbery of Asyraf has already been made.

Reese Donovan, who appears to be in his early 20s and lives near East London, was charged with robbing Asyraf of his Nokia mobile phone and a Sony PSP console.

Donovan is allegedly one of the gang members who, posing as good Samaritans, helped the Malaysian student get up from the ground where he lay bleeding after his jaw was broken by street marauders in an earlier attack on him.

The footage of the clip showed that Donovan, instead of helping him, allegedly rummaged through Asyraf's rucksack and removed the items as other members distracted him. The items removed from Asyraf's rucksack were said to be worth 300 pounds.

Asyraf was riding a bicycle on his way to meet a friend when he was attacked by a gang of boys. His bicycle was stolen by a boy who, Asyraf estimated, was not older than 12.

In an outpouring seldom witnessed in Britain for a foreigner, Britons criticized the cowardly act and the even "more sickening robbery of the poor victim".

A website has been set up called "Let's Do Something Nice For Asyraf Haziq" to raise money for him.

A message on the website announced that almost 4,000 pounds had been donated by Wednesday night.

Doctors have put a metal plate in his jaw which, Asyraf said, "so far is
good". -- BERNAMA

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

NST Online: Exclusive

0 ulasan 9:06 PTG Dicatat oleh blog2

Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

NST Online: Exclusive

RM1.1m for clean water in Kelantan

Posted: 15 Mar 2011 01:24 AM PDT

RM1.1m for clean water in Kelantan

2010/11/01
By NST team in Gua Musang, Kelantan
news@nst.com.my

GUA MUSANG: The health ministry has allocated RM1.1 million to the Kelantan state government to implement rural water development projects to ensure people living in rural areas receive clean and adequate water supply.

Deputy health minister Datuk Rosnah Abd Shirlin said the projects consist of
controlled wells, feed gravity system as well as piped connection from Syarikat
Air Kelantan Sdn Bhd (AKSB).

"The allocation is channelled to state health department to implement the projects," she said after attending the handing-over of the projects to Sungai

Terah residents here.

She said to date, Kelantan received 84.7 per cent of clean water supply
encompassing 223,115 households.

Only 40,212 households have yet to have clean water supplied by the ministry or
by AKSB. She expressed hopes that Gua Musang will receive 100 per cent water supply as soon as possible. To ensure the water is safe for consumption, she adviced residents to follow a few simple rules, namely:

Boil water before drinking;
The wells and feed gravity system need to be chlorinated periodically to kill off bacteria and reduce contamination risk; and
Trees or plants near water catchment areas should not be cut down to prevent the water source from drying up.

She also said this year, Kelantan has recorded six cholera, 28 typhoid and 2,168

food poisoning cases to date.

"These diseases still pose a risk to rural folk," she said.

Air your comment on this issue:

RM1.1m for clean water in Kelantan

Log in with your Facebook account or use the form below to comment.

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

MCA praises PM

Posted: 10 Mar 2011 02:44 PM PST

MCA praises PM

2010/11/15
By Chong Chee Seong

MUAR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's achievements since taking over the mantle of the country last April had received praise from MCA.

In commending Najib for his hard work, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said Barisan Nasional's victories in the Nov 4 Galas and Batu Sapi by-elections were due to the people's acceptance of Najib's 1Malaysia concept.

Dr Chua said the Chinese were pragmatic people who will support the Prime Minister for doing what is good for the country.

"MCA is confident the results (of two by-elections) will serve as momentum to regain support of the community for the next general election," he said after opening a RM500,000 building and a hall in the SJKC Chung Hwa 3 last Thursday.

The speech was made on Dr Chua's behalf by Johor MCA secretary Tay Puay Chuan, who is also MCA Muar division chief.

Dr Chua said Najib's assurance that BN pledges in Galas and Batu Sapi would be fulfilled was a positive step to win the trust and confidence of the people.

He said by making continuous changes, BN would become a party that will received strong support.

"The victory of the two by-elections is an indication that BN's is ready and will do well in the next general election."

Dr Chua also said the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) was a clear-cut strategy and a roadmap towards making Malaysia a high-income economy.

Earlier, deputy youth and sports minister Datuk Razali Ibrahim, who is also the Muar MP, said investment in education was not measured by ringgit and sen but by quality.

Air your comment on this issue:

MCA praises PM

Log in with your Facebook account or use the form below to comment.

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

NST Online Business Times : latest

0 ulasan 7:52 PTG Dicatat oleh blog2

Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

NST Online Business Times : latest

AirAsia Philippine to take delivery of 4 planes

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 07:51 PM PDT

AirAsia Bhd's Philippine unit will take delivery of four aircraft from this year until 2012, including an Airbus A320 that's arriving at the Clark freeport zone today, the company said in a statement today.

The company is awaiting regulatory approval to offer flights from the Philippines to Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Bangkok and Incheon as well as in two local destinations, it said. -- Bloomberg

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

IJM climbs on possible RM9b orderbook

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 07:29 PM PDT

IJM Corp rose the most in three weeks in Kuala Lumpur trading after UOB-Kay Hian Holdings Ltd said the Malaysian builder's orderbook may reach RM9 billion this year.

The stock climbed 1.9 per cent to RM5.92 at 10:08 a.m. local time, set for its biggest gain since July 21. -- Bloomberg

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

NST Online: Sports

0 ulasan 7:12 PTG Dicatat oleh blog2

Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

NST Online: Sports

Badminton / World Championships: Chong Wei bows to Lin Dan again

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 05:41 PM PDT

2011/08/15
Vijesh Rai
rai@nst.com.my

HIS apology to Malaysia was from the heart but Lee Chong Wei vowed to not only go for gold in the London Olympics next year but also make one more assault on the World Championships in 2013 before hanging up his racquet.

The disappointment that he must have been nursing was well masked but there were times during the press conference that Chong Wei looked like he would break down -- as he did during the medal presentation -- but there was also a steely resolve visible.

Having settled for second place for a third time after also losing to Lin Dan in the 2008 Olympics and last year's Asian Games, Chong Wei could have been forgiven for thinking that he is just not destined to win a major.

But yesterday's result, which saw him coming within a point of claiming the World Championships title at London's Wembley Arena before losing 22-20, 14-21, 23-21, has made the shuttler even more determined.

"I apologise to Malaysia for I know that the whole country was behind me. I tried my best but it was not to be and I hope that they will forgive me," said Chong Wei, who needed medical treatment for cramps and nausea after the 86-minute final.

It was a final that had everything as momentum swung from end to end but when it came to the crucial moments, it was Lin Dan who was the better.

"His quality is such that he refuses to give up. He came back when I led 16-14 in the rubber game and even when I held matchpoint at 20-19 and 21-20.

"He was willing to take risks and that was the difference as I tried to play safe. He is a great player but what makes me happy, despite the defeat, is that I have narrowed the gap with him and this can only mean good for me," said the World No 1.

The ranking, though, would stand for nothing if Chong Wei doesn't land a major before retiring and the 29-year-old said this is exactly what he plans to do.

"I have a good chance in next year's Olympics and I am going to try for the world title one more time. I have unfinished business in the World Championships and both these tournaments will be what I will focus on from now on."

The World Championships will not be contested next year but Chong Wei said he will immediately start preparing for the Olympics, which are in less than a year's time.

"I will need help from all quarters, especially as we can be sure that China will unleash all their players from now on. I don't only have to worry about Lin Dan but also Chen Jin, Chen Long and Du Pengyu. There are also the rest of the nations to worry about and my programme must cater for all these."

On current form, it does seem like Lin Dan is the only player capable of stopping Chong Wei from winning Olympic gold but the Malaysian said he had been boosted by his performance yesterday.

"Lin Dan won the title and was the better player during the crucial moments but I was not too far behind. Nothing much separates us and victory is always going to go to the player who performs better on matchday.

"I had my chances but didn't take them while he did but this is not the end for I will continue trying to deliver what Malaysia wants."

RESULTS

All FINALS :—

Men's singles: Lin Dan (Chn) bt Lee Chong Wei (Mas) 20-22, 21-14, 23-21.

Doubles: Cai Yun-Fu Haifeng (Chn) bt Ko Sung Hyun-Yoo Yeon Seong (Kor) 24-22 21-16.

Women's singles: Wang Yihan (Chn) bt Cheng Shao Chieh (Tai) 21-15, 21-10.

Doubles: Wang Xiaoli-Yu Yang (Chn) bt Tian Qing-Zhao Yunlei (Chn) 22-20, 21-11.

Mixed doubles: Zhang Nan-Zhao Yunlei (Chi) bt Chris Adcock (Eng)-Imogen Bankier (Sco) 21-15, 21-7

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Badminton: The narrow line that separates them

Posted: 14 Aug 2011 05:30 PM PDT

2011/08/15
Datuk Dr Ramlan Aziz

Taufik Hidayat suffered a defeat at the hands of Singaporean Derek Wong.

AS I sat comfortably in the upper tier in the middle section to watch the first two days' proceedings with the gentle patter of polite applause wafting through the air at Wembley Arena, it feels like as if I am in a parallel universe, with the maelstrom of mindless violence, arson and looting elsewhere in London and in the UK.

The nearest hotspot of youthful thuggery was in Enfield and the only sign of potential trouble yesterday was when the shops closed early at 3pm and the local Curry's electronics outlet proactively boarded up its front entrance. I found it quite amusing to read of Beijing's castigation of London's authorities, casting aspersions towards security for next year's Olympics.

Perhaps Beijing would like to offer its expertise and experience in dealing with the masses at such a supreme sports event?

Lee Chong Wei has always been in top shape in terms of his conditioning, thanks to the dedicated work of ISN's Roesdi Ghani, who has been taking care of his conditioning work even before Li Mao started coaching him.

What makes a difference this year is that Chong Wei is finally injury-free after such a long time with a run of three injuries in succession that took an inordinately long-time to clear up, with such a busy schedule affording inadequate time for complete recovery.

Credit must go to BAM for complying with our request to curtail the number of matches in his competition schedule since last year.

As luck would have it for Chong Wei, China's fifth-seeded Chen Long was defeated by Kevin Cordon, a total unknown from Guatemala. As an expected opponent in the quarter-finals, a tough encounter with Chen Long was on the cards.

Taufik Hidayat had also just suffered a defeat at the hands of Singaporean Derek Wong, and so did Marc Zwiebler of Germany against Spaniard Pablo Abian.

What this underscores, though, is how narrow the line is that separates the top players from the rest; a line that grows even thinner if one is troubled by an injury that, whilst not severe enough to exclude one's participation, it would still wreak havoc on one's well-laid plans.

An athlete simply needs to be in top shape, injury-free, stable of mind and spirit; all of these are not mutually exclusive, with each one having an influence on the others. Imagine how supremely confident an athlete would feel - with finely-honed physical condition, with no injuries to cause any anxiety, no personal problems or busy social schedule that would be unwelcome distraction.

As one cannot really be too forthcoming about an injury niggle for obvious reasons, outwardly when a defeat comes the picture is one of "mental weakness".

It's never as simple as that. Many armchair critics would be quick to make such a diagnosis, not really aware of a whole-host of factors that contribute to defeat, which also includes not understanding and playing to one's strengths.

The one-week training stint at the University of Bath in Somerset, UK was planned to bring out the best of the players involved, with none of the sort of distractions that may hamper preparations. It is not merely an exercise in environmental acclimatisation.

The main reasons are several folds; firstly to address the seven-hour time difference that requires being in the UK one day for each hour of time difference.

Thus being at the Sports Training Village (STV) at Bath University affords a physical and physiological opportunity to get properly settled in and sorted out. Time and again, athletes would fly in just days before such a big event and suffer an unexpected defeat in the early rounds.

Other countries from far-off shores are doing the same; we'd heard that four Indonesian players were preparing in Belfast for a similar duration and the Singaporean players were training with their English counterparts in Milton Keynes.

The STV's superb training halls and conditioning centre provide continuity in the conditioning work, which necessarily tails down but there's still some quality work to be done.

The pre-competition phase would see our players having a longer duration to work on maintaining their fine skills and work on technical concerns with two sessions a day lasting two to three hours each.

This gives our coaches ample time to glean the sort of stability and accuracy, and forge tactics and strategies, especially using the video technology that ISN provides.

Previously, moving to the competition site straight away doesn't afford too much time to do this and court time would be very limited, especially at the competition venue.

Being far away from the hurly-burly would also give athletes a sense of peace and stability and freedom from so many distractions.

Last year, our top men's pair of Koo and Tan benefited and went all the way to the final and this year, Chong Wei, who had missed the stint last year, voiced his delight with the place and seeks to spend a longer period ahead of the Olympics next year.

This concept of a forward training base will not only benefit our athletes ahead of the London Olympics 2012 and Scotland Commonwealth Games in 2014 but can also be a cost-effective way for athletes, especially our young up and coming ones. They can be exposed overseas for a longer period, as very often they spend a couple of weeks and often end up feeling like sports tourists.

It takes at least four to five weeks for a place to feel like home and they can periodically take advantage of cheap rail travel within that period to play against challenging opponents in Europe.

In the process, they will master travelling skills, develop self-dependence and confidence. "Jaguh Kampung" no more...

Full Feed Generated by Get Full RSS, sponsored by Used Car Search.

Kredit: www.nst.com.my

Ahad, 14 Ogos 2011