Be very careful: 7 mil Malaysian smartphone users exposed to cyber hacks

Seven million users! That's a lot of smartphone users exposed to cyber hacking.

Next thing you know, people steal money from your handphone and not your wallet. Scary, isn't it? Check out the statistics below.

Between January - September 2012, losses incurred from cyber crime is as follow (according to Bukit Aman director of Commercial Crime Investigation Department):-

Illegally intercepted online purchases   - 1,298 cases
Text messaging service or phone calls - 412 cases
Hacking                                                     - 24 cases
Internet and phone banking                  - 74 cases

Total : RM21.8 million

The case of illegally intercepted online purchases recorede the highest in lost money, i.e. RM14.5 million.


Seven Million Smartphone Users Exposed To Threat From Cyber Hackers

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 2,2012): About seven million smartphone users nationwide are exposed to threats from cyber hackers who use smartphones as mediums through which to carry out fraudulent activities like stealing money.

Bukit Aman director of Commercial Crime Investigation Department, Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan said a lack of awareness about smartphone security made smartphone users easy victims.

"The hackers' modus operandi is to send a malicious Trojan application disguised as a text message to consumers.

"They are unknowingly charged when they reply to the fake message. "Consumers only realise this after receiving costly phone bills although they did not subscribe to the phony services," he said.

The hackers' activities were executed via downloaded applications such as "type on" that caused the victims to bear the hidden expenses even when they had uninstalled the application.

Lookout Mobile Security was quoted as saying that worldwide users lost millions of dollars last year via malware and toll fraud that attacked smartphone users who had accessed applications from suspicious sources rather than trusted ones such as Apple and Google.

Ismail said police statistics records showed that from January to September this year, losses incurred from cyber crime via text or phone call totalled RM21.8 million. The cyber hackers targeted users of Internet and phone banking services, hacking into and abusing these networks.

Cases of illegally intercepted online purchases recorded the highest losses at RM14.5 million (1,298 cases) followed by text messaging service or phone calls at RM3.4 million (412 cases), hacking at RM3.3 million (24 cases) and Internet and phone banking at RM590,000 (74 cases).


Source

Beautiful tree that can charge your Handphone: The Electree+

Yes, it is a tree with solar photovoltaic leaves. No wonder is can harness the sun energy and channel it to yur mobile phones and other gadgets.

A bit pricey for a start, but nevertheless this is interesting. You can bring it to your remote hut.

Nice and neat?

Put alongside with your other plants

Inside the vase of the Electree+

It is perfect for a year-end gift. But mind you it cost an equivalent of RM1,387.00. Wow, so expensive I may just buy a different kind of solar powered charger.

Source: Electree - the Eco-friendly solar powered charger

ASB pays unitholders 8.9 sen dividend and bonus in 2012

ASB (Amanah Saham Bumiputera) is very generous when giving out dividend and bonus. No doubt it is always above the average payout by other Unit Trust funds. Let's see past performance of the fund:

2007 - 8.00 + 1.00 = 9.00
2008 - 7.00 + 1.75 = 8.75
2009 - 7.30 + 1.25 = 8.55
2010 - 7.50 + 1.25 = 8.75
2011 - 7.65 + 1.15 = 8.80
2012 - 7.75 + 1.15 = 8.90

Maybe it will touch 9.00 in 2013, let's hope (it's not wrong to dream sometimes).


Press clipping from Bernama:

KUALA LUMPUR: Amanah Saham Nasional Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB), has announced an income distribution of 7.75 sen per unit and a bonus of 1.15 sen per unit for the Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) scheme this year.

The 7.75 sen dividend is its highest since 2008 and is 0.1 sen more than last year's 7.65 sen.

The income distribution will involve a total payout of RM8.13 billion, 17.5 per cent higher than the RM6.92 billion paid out last year. The bonus payout is RM712.2 million compared with RM600.4 million last year.

PNB chairman Tun Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid said the payment would benefit 7.82 million unit holders, who hold 110.2 billion units.

"Considering the market conditions, which have not been up to expectations, PNB did a fairly good job," he said yesterday.

PNB president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hamad Kama Piah Che Othman said the country's biggest fund manager expected next year to be challenging.

Up to Dec 19, ASB recorded a gross income of RM8.54 billion. Income from companies contributed RM4.80 billion, or 56.21 per cent of the gross income. Profit from the sale of shares contributed RM2.68 billion, or 31.38 per cent, and the balance of RM1.06 billion was derived from other incomes.

The dividend and bonus will be credited into unit holders' accounts and they will be able to update their books from Jan 2.

Source
 

Freak accident: UUM student dies when hundreds of planks fall on his car!

This is freak.

More than 500 planks fell from a trailer and crush the Perodua Kancil the student were travelling in. Sometime being careful can not guarantee our safety on the road.


Pic: New Straits Times


BUKIT KAYU HITAM (Dec 25): A Universiti Utara Malaysia student was killed when the car he was travelling in with his three friends was smashed by ply wood that fell off a lorry last night.

The victim succumbed to his injuries and died on the spot in the horrific incident at Km0.5 of the North-South Expressway, in front of a Duty Free Zone Complex here at 9pm.

A police spokesman said the driver of the lorry bearing a Thailand vehicle registration number and laden with ply woods lost control of the vehicle before it skidded and landed on a road divider.

This caused the lorry to become unstable before all the ply wood fell off the lorry and smashed the Perodua Kancil.

The victim, in his 20s, was sitting on the rear passenger seat. One of his friends was severely injured and is being treated at a hospital here.

The two other passengers inside the car escaped the incident with minor injuries.

It was learnt that the driver of the lorry fled the scene after the accident. Police were making efforts to track him down to assist in the investigation under Section 41(1) of the Road Transport Act 1987.


Source

Pahang royal couple cook for flood victims

KUANTAN (Dec 26): Puan Tengku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Sultan Iskandar helped to cook meals when visiting flood victims sheltered at Sekolah Kebangsaan Galing here yesterday evening.

Her husband, Tengku Mahkota Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and several volunteers including chef Mat Musa Mansor, 36, helped out. Tengku Azizah said she was moved to help after seeing the plight of the flood victims, who we evacuated to the relief centre on Monday.

"I saw they (victims) appeared to be overwhelmed by the situation and decided to help out. I am glad I was able to do my bit," she told reporters.

Tengku Azizah helped cook chicken curry, "gulai sardin", fried chicken and fish and a cabbage dish which were served as dinner to some 200 victims sheltered there.

One of the victims, Azizul Ghazali, 25, said the royal couple's visit brought much relief to the victims and that Tengku Puan's cooking was very good. - Bernama


Source: D.Express, Dec 26, 2012.

Horrifying: 3-year old boy dragged 10km to death

What a gruesome and horrifying car accident this family must have gone through.
All because of a stray dog!

I just hate stray dogs!



Boy flung out from car and dragged by vehicle for 10km

A three-year-old boy was dragged almost 10km to his death underneath a passing vehicle after he was flung out of a crashed car driven by his father.

Muhammad Aslam Maricar’s body scraped along the road before it came free from the vehicle near the Sungai Bakap rest area along the North-South Highway.

His body was beyond recognition and police found a bloody trail and tattered clothing stretching along the road. Passing motorists alerted police to the macabre discovery, three hours after the incident. Muhammad Aslam’s family called the police after they searched for him in vain in the vicinity of the crash.

Police have launched a search for the driver who may have been oblivious to the boy being stuck under his vehicle.

The horrific accident took place at 8.45pm on Tuesday when the family of seven was returning home to Penang after a holiday in Bukit Merah, Taiping, at KM168 of the North South Highway near Bandar Baru.

The victim’s father, Said Ibnu Aslam G.M. Ismail, 40, said he had avoided hitting a dog that had dashed across the highway.


Toddler thrown head-first through windscreen

Said Ibnu said he then lost control of his Ford Laser before crashing into the divider. The car spun twice before coming to a halt near a ditch.

Muhammad Aslam’s and his siblings, Zulqarnain Aslam, 14, Sharol Ramadhan Aslam, 12, and Nur Aisyah Aslam, two, were flung out of the vehicle.

The boy, who was seated in the rear seat, was thrown head-first through the windscreen and landed on the right side of the road.

He was then snared by a passing vehicle.

Nur Aisyah is still being treated at Seberang Jaya Hospital for injuries to her hands, face and legs while her brothers, mother Nuris Berutu, 40, and her sister Nurjadi Berutu, 28, received outpatient treatment.

Said Ibnu said the loss of his son in such tragic consequences was heart-wrenching and painful.

"We can’t bear to think how he suffered being dragged along the road like that."

Source

Orang kata jangan, Janganlah!

Sudah tentu orang yang tidak merokok suka kalau papan tanda ini diletakkan di tempat awam. Atau sekurang-kurangnya di tempat tumpuan ramai:

Apa kata mereka yang merokok pula?

 

They know it's wrong but Malaysians prefer to pay bribe!

Read what Transperency-International Malaysia thinks about bribing practice in this country:


TI-M president: Malaysians have no conviction to fight corruption
Dec 10, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians rather pay their way out of trouble despite knowing corruption is wrong. Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) president Datuk Paul Low said Malaysians were aware of corruption but had no conviction to fight it.

“I believe as much as they are aware (of corruption), when faced with a situation, they will probably pay their way out of trouble because to a certain extent, corruption has become a way of life,” he said after launching a walk against corruption at Taman Tasik Perdana yesterday.

In citing a 2010 Global Corruption Barometer survey conducted by TI-M, Low said that it found one in 10 Malaysians had paid a bribe. However, he believed the actual number could be higher at two or three to 10.

He said another survey conducted with businessmen found one out of two have lost contracts or sales due to non-payment of bribes.

“We are afraid if nothing is done to tackle corruption, it can be endemic and institutionalised,” he said.

He said Malaysians should change their attitude by being firm and say no when someone solicited bribes. He said all stakeholders had to fight against corruption and uphold integrity, with society playing the role of a watchdog.

“We don't pay, we don't bribe. If someone ask for a bribe or extort from us, we have to inform the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission),” he said.

He paid tribute to the Government's seriousness in tackling graft, saying that Malaysia was likely the only country in the world to use the transparency index as part of its Key Performance Index (KPI). He said the Government had also passed the Whistleblowing Protection Act, uploaded names of those charged with corruption on MACC's website and set up a whistleblowing hotline.

“Additionally, 14 courts to handle corruption cases are being established as well as getting companies to sign the Corporate Integrity Pledge to uphold anti-corruption principles.

“It shows we are prepared to tackle corruption head-on,” he said.

Marina Bay Singapore to usher New Year in style

Let's visit Singapore this year end!


SINGAPORE, Dec 16 (NNN-Bernama) -- The eighth edition of Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2013 promises to usher in the New Year in style. A kaleidoscope of fireworks will illuminate the scenic skyline around the Bay at the stroke of midnight.

The event is jointly presented by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA).

But the fun begins way earlier. Expect to be enthralled by concerts, film screenings and other fun-filled activities along the waterfront around Marina Bay, the Esplanade Concourse, and The Promontory @ Marina Bay.

All these activities will lead to a climax comprising a choreographed eight-minute fireworks display, themed 'Dari Tanah Ini' which means “From This Earth”.

The choreography serves to inspire Singaporeans to reflect upon Singapore's past as a nation and pay homage to its humble beginnings.


Most anticipated event in Singapore

URA chief executive officer, Ng Lang said: “The Marina Bay Singapore Countdown is one of the most anticipated events not just for Singaporeans, but also for visitors from all over the world." He said the Bay has become a space for the community, with a wide array of programmes and activities held all year round, culminating in the year-end Countdown.

Benson Puah, CEO, The Esplanade Co Ltd, meanwhile said: “As we give thanks and look back with gratitude on an eventful year that has passed, we look to the new year with hope that the shared spirit of our humanity will bind us more resolutely as a people and as a nation.

He said 2012 has also been a significant year for Esplanade as we commemorated our 10th anniversary.

The fireworks display will be accompanied by a musical score written by Cultural Medallion winner, musician and composer Iskandar Ismail.

The piece showcases strong South-east Asian influences, including traditional musical instruments, such as erhu (Chinese stringed instrument performed by Sununy Wong), suona (Chinese wind instrument by Liu Jiang), Malay percussion instruments (by Riduan Zalani) and Indian flute (by Rajandra Vadivale). -- NNN-Bernama


Source

Teluk Bako-Buntal set to become tourism spot with migratory birds

This should be good news for Sarawak tourism:

Kuching: The Teluk Bako-Buntal area in Sarawak is set to become an ecotourism spot due to the lure of the presence of migratory birds.

Sarawak Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment permanent secretary Datuk Sudarsono Osman said the inclusion of Teluk Bako-Buntal in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Network’ would further help promote the area in ecotourism.


Great potential for Sarawak ecotourism

“Participation in the network will benefit the economic, social and environment sectors and foster relations with member countries and boost Sarawak’s profile in ecotourism based on migratory birds.

“The network provides a channel for exchange of ideas and information, transfer of expertise and technology, developing human capital, and research and development in ecotourism.”

He said this in his speech at the closing of an awareness workshop on the nomination of Teluk Bako-Buntal as a site for the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Network.


Put Malaysia on the World Map

Sudarsono said the inclusion of Teluk Bako-Buntal in this network as a site for migratory birds, would place Sarawak and Malaysia on the world map in ecotourism and research on migratory birds.

Also present was Sarawak Forestry Corporation managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Ali Yusof, who said that Teluk Bako-Buntal was a stopover site for 32 species of beach birds during the winter.

“It is estimated that 20,000 to 25,000 birds stop at Teluk Bako-Buntal during a stopover period. The nomination of Teluk Bako-Buntal as a ‘Flyway Site Network’ can contribute to the preservation of the beach bird species which are increasingly threatened,” he said.

The East Asian-Australasian Flyway is one of nine major routes of migratory birds in the world. The route starts from the Artic Circle in Russia and Alaska, then south to East and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand. – Bernama

Private higher learning institutions to pay Student Protection fees starting 2013

This should be good news to those who fail to secure places in Public Higher learning institutions. Although not common, it is known that there are some unscrupulous private universities and colleges that 'close shop' leaving students with no alternative to continue their studies, not to mention money wasted for enrolling in such institutions.

Good move, but this has been long due.


Private Higher Institutions Of Learning To Pay Student Protection Fees Next Year
Source: Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 (Bernama) -- Beginning next year, private universities, university colleges and foreign university branch campuses will have to pay RM100,000 while private colleges have to fork out RM10,000 as student protection fee.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the fee was a student protection guarantee if the private higher learning institutions faced the risk of closing down and jeorpadizing the completion of its students' study programme.

"As such, these students need some form of protection against such discontinuity. We have decided to collect a certain amount of money as protection fees from the private higher learning institutions in the form of surety bond, insurance and deposit," he said when launching the Star Education Fair 2012, here Saturday.

He said these private higher learning institutions were expected to pay an amount as determined by the regulator to the pool which would be managed by the regulator in order to ensure that affected students would be reimbursed if the institutions closed abruptly to enable them to continue their studies elsewhere apart from safeguarding these students from unscrupulous institutions.

"All private higher learning institutions will have to pay the protection fees every five years, every time they want to renew their licences. The details of the implementation will be announced later," he said.

Mohamed Khaled said this year, a total of 33 private higher learning institutions were under consideration to be closed down for various cases.

Rosmah lancar kapal `Gagah Samudera'

Isteri Perdana Menteri, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor hari ini menamakan dan melancarkan kapal latihan baharu 'Gagah Samudera' milik Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) di limbungan milik syarikat pembinaan kapal tempatan, NGV Tech Sdn Bhd di Kampung Sijangkang di Kuala Langat.

Megah berdiri!

Sumber foto: klpost

Turut hadir menyaksikan upacara itu ialah bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan isteri Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Panglima Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar dan Pengerusi Eksekutif NGV Tech Datuk Zulkifli Shariff.

KD Gagah Samudera adalah satu daripada dua buah kapal latihan yang panjangnya 75.9 meter.

Ia direka bentuk dengan kerjasama NGV Tech dan Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering dari Korea Selatan. - Bernama


Sumber: BH
 

Condom Fashion in Melaka!

This was last year's event but it's good to refresh.

The Condom Fashion was held in Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall in 2011. We have seen such fashion show in China before but this one is at our own backyard. It was said to be for the purpose of HIV/AIDS awareness campaign.

Wow, maju Malaysia!

Photo credit: WS429 Photography and utarian.com:

This must be the virus.

Well, what do you think?

Sweden's Ice Hotel: Truely a work of art (8 pictures)

In a small town called Jukkasjaervi in Sweden, a construction crew bundled up in heavy parkas is bustling around a building site unlike any other: a massive ice hotel is taking shape.

The builders assemble 2-tonne blocks of ice as if they were a large set of Lego blocks, with the end result a giant igloo with several domes, vaulted ceilings and archways.

Let's see:

Construction site of the new Ice Hotel

Looks like giant Lego blocks.

Chapel at the new Ice Hotel

Bed lined with fur

Source

Sorry, No Incentive for buying electric and hybrid cars

Malaysia Government does not plan on cash rebates as an incentive to buy energy-efficient vehicles (EEV) - such as electric and hybrid cars - similar to that implemented in the United States or other European countries.

Hybrid car: Honda Insight for RM97,000

According to International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, currently, to attract consumers, the Government has lifted the import duties for EEV while major car companies were given incentives to draw them to set up their manufacturing operations locally.


Why no incentive?

Reason according to Datuk Mustapa:

1. "We believe that the vehicle ownership cost is still considered cheap compared with other Asean countries if we take consideration of other factors such as oil and gas subsidies, maintenance costs, insurance and others."
   
2. "We must also look into the impact on used car dealers, public transportation as well as congestion problems before we consider reducing the import duty."

Read further: Source

Kiwi accident: Get well soon Datuk K

As widely publicised in the internet media and blogs, Datuk K, the husband of songstress Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, was involved in a high-powered motorbike accident in New Zealand.

This forced Datuk Siti to cancel the last stage of her concert "Expresi Karya Gemilang" in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Snapshot of a report in one of the local tabloids.

Two days ago, mynewshub carried an article stating that Datuk K may have to be hospitalised for 10 days at the Southland Hospital, Invercargill, New Zealand.

This is wishing Datuk K the speediest recovery and back to his normal daily activities.

Get well soon!

Beza lelaki dan wanita ketika keluar makam (Lunch)

Betulkah sampai begini sekali?

FAKTA PERBANDINGAN ANTARA LELAKI DAN WANITA KETIKA LUNCH HOUR

Lelaki

Waktu lunch, jalan ke tempat makan

Sampai kedai makan, masuk

Ambik Pinggan

Letak nasi

Letak Lauk

Ke kaunter, Bayar nasi dan Air Sekali

Makan

Habis

Balik Opis or

pergi surau bagi Islam

WANITA

Waktu lunch, jalan ke kedai makan

Perhatikan orang waktu jalan

Sempat mengumpat dulu

Sambil jalan betulkan tudung, tgk baju sendiri, tgk kaki

Tengok baju orang lain, especially yang cantik dr baju sendiri.

Sampai kedai makan, jenguk-jenguk dulu

Ramai orang,cari kedai lain.

Jalan lagi

Dah puas ati..masuk..

Survey lauk dulu 2, 3 minit.

Carik2 pinggan, ambik pinggan

Belek-belek pinggan, bersih ke?? tak bersih?..eeeeiiii. .

Dah puas ati, ambik nasi

Ambik nasi ceduk sikit-sikit

Tak sah kalau tak ceduk 2/3 kali

Buang balik nasi.banyak. .

Tak puas ati, banyak lagi..buang lagi..(tinggal sejemput)

Godek2 sikit nasi dalam pinggan 2minit

Carik lauk. Survey dulu keliling meja. Tenguk sana, tenguk sini

Jengok dlm bekas lauk, ambik kuah sikit

Jengok bekas lauk lain, ceduk kuah sikit lagi

Jengok lagi? sambil tu tengok2 orang, jeling-jeling

Ambil lauk

Pusing lagi

Carik sayur pulak!

Ambik sayur selepas survey dan keliling 2 minit

Ke kaunter bayaran

Tgk2 nasi dlm pinggan

Berbisik ngan kawan “alaamak byk la aku ambik”

Sampai depan kaunter “berapa?”

Bukak dompet..belek2 celah kad2 bank, celah kad2 nama, celah gambar2..

Keluarkan duit

Buat isyarat mata ngan member (sbb nasi mahal)

Tutup dompet. Ambik nasi

Tinjau-tinjau tempat duduk.

Jumpa tempat duduk..alamak kotorlah!!!

Cari tempat duduk lain

Jumpa. Duduk..

Alamak. Air tak order lagi

Tinjau2, carik org order air..sambil tangan betulkan tudung

Order air

Bangun

Ambik sudu

Duduk

Bangun

Ambik Tisu

Duduk

Air sampai

Belek dompet (Step tadi)

Bayar

Tutup

Minum air

Start makan

Tengok-tengok orang sambil makan

Makan separuh..kenyang

Sebab dah minum air

Letak sudu, letak garpu

Pinggan tolak tepi

Borak2 kater makanan tak sedap

Ngumpat2..tg korang

Pukul 2, naik opis..

Kredit kepada BLOG MAZEER

Yikes! It's an expensive bicycle - the YikeBike

Move over, electric motorbike! Here comes the yikes - the electric-powered bicycle.

The YikeBike, marketed by Mysikal in Malaysia

YikeBike mini-farthing is claimed to give people freedom in congested cities. A radical Kiwi electric bicycle is set to change the lives of commuters worldwide. And it is available now in Malaysia with price starting at over RM7,249.

The YikeBike mini-farthing is the smallest and lightest electric folding bicycle available in the world.

Weighing less than 12kg (Malaysia version, carbon), it is expected to transform the way urban commuters navigate congested cities by enabling people to take it on buses, trains, cars and it can be stored easily under a desk or in a cupboard.


How much?

Perhaps the price is the single biggest stumbling block to the wider adoption of his bicycle. There are two variants:

1) YikeBike Fusion (Aluminium Composite) 14.7kg   - RM7,249.00 + tax
2) YikeBike Carbon (Carbon Fibre) 11.5kg                  - RM13,149.00 + tax

Such an expensive stuff!

NASA photo error puts Mt. Everest in India!

So, the next time you make a mistake in explaining earth, fret not. Even NASA make that silly mistake

AND, it's not about the outer-space; it's JUST about some well known surface on earth. With all the technology that we have, we still make 'easy' mistakes. Or should I say 'silly'? LOL

This photo shows the Karakoram Range in northern India – not Mount Everest, as U.S. space agency NASA mistakenly reported. Credit: Yuri Malenchenko / Russian Federal Space Agency



The world's highest mountain should not be hard to spot but American space agency NASA has admitted it mistook a summit in India for Mount Everest, which straddles the border of Nepal and China.

The agency said on its website that Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko's snap from the International Space Station, 370 kilometres above Earth, showed Everest lightly dusted with snow.

The picture spread rapidly via Twitter and was picked up by media around the world, including the US-based magazine The Atlantic, astronomy website Space.com and US cable news channel MSNBC.


“Sorry guys, that’s not Everest”

But Nepalis smelt a rat and voiced their suspicions on social media. Journalist Kunda Dixit, an authority on the Himalayas, tweeted: "Sorry guys, but the tall peak with the shadow in the middle is not Mt Everest."

NASA confirmed on Thursday that it had made a mistake and removed the picture from its website.

"It is not Everest. It is Saser Muztagh, in the Karakoram Range of the Kashmir region of India," a spokesman admitted in an email to AFP.

"The view is in mid-afternoon light looking northeastward."

He did not explain how the picture from the space station, a joint project of the US, Russia, Japan, Canada and Europe, had been wrongly identified.

Source

iPhone 5 now available in Malaysia: RM2,199

If you have been looking for the iPhone 5, your wait is now over.

Malaysia official Apple store now offers the latest iteration of iPhone starting at RM2,199 and the higher end at RM2,799.

Head over to Apple-store for details

iPhone 5 prices in Malaysia:

16GB   -   RM2,199
32GB   -   RM2,499
64GB   -   RM2,799

Sabahan suspected serial rapist and killer charged

A suspected serial rapist from Sabah is believed to have gone 'hunting' elsewhere for the past few year.

While your normal relatives would come back home after saving some money from their West Malaysia venture, this Tambunan man brings in another story:

The suspect: Rabidin Satir. Photo by The Star Online

Published December 13.

BENTONG: Suspected serial rapist and killer Rabidin Satir (pic) was charged on Thursday in courts in Bentong and Raub for murder, four counts of rape and a rape-to-death charge as well as one for unnatural sex.

The 42-year-old unemployed Dusun man from Tambunan, Sabah, was charged with murdering a 17-year-old girl at Kampung Ketari here between 11.30am on March 7, 2009 and 1.50pm the next day.

He was also charged at the Bentong magistrate court Thursday with raping-to-death the same victim. No plea was recorded and magistrate Nurliana Ismail fixed Jan 17 next year for mention.

Later at the Raub Sessions Court, the heavily-guarded Rabidin pleaded guilty to a charge of raping a nine-year-old girl at Taman Sri Marong, Bentong between 2am and 3am on July 9, 2009.

He claimed trial to another three counts of rape and one count of committing unnatural sex.

He allegedly raped a 17-year-old girl at a house at Jalan Kuala Lumpur-Bentong between 1am and 3am on June 21, 2010.

Rabidin was also accused of raping a eight-year-old girl at a riverside behind a house in Ketari, Bentong between 12.30am and 1.30am on April 29, 2011.

Two other charges were for raping and sodomising a 16-year-old girl at a house in Ketari, Bentong between 1am and 2.30am on Oct 12, 2011.

Deputy public prosecutor Atiqah Liyana Shahrir offered bail at RM20,000 for each of the charges. Rabidin told the court he agreed with the amount offered.

Judge Murtazadi Amran then reduced bail to RM15,000 for four of the charges but refused bail for the one Rabidin had pleaded guilty to.

He then fixed Jan 31, 2013 for mention.


Source

Birds and fish replace queen on Fiji currency

I wonder why, after so many years of independence, a nation - a sovereign republic - would still use the image of its former coloniser.

Read for yourself:

The new Fiji 10 dollar and an old 10 dollar note (bottom) featuring the queen.

Fiji dropped the image of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II from a new range of bank notes and coins unveiled on Wednesday, replacing her with plants and animals native to the Pacific island State.

Fiji President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau said the new currency was a milestone for the former British colony, which became independent in 1970 and declared itself a republic in 1987 following a military coup.

Nailatikau said the royal family had featured on Fiji's currency since 1934 but it was time for the country to move on and introduce new coins and notes, which will enter circulation in January.

Images on the polymer bank notes include the rare kulawai lorikeet, the beli fish and the tagimoucia flower, while the coins depict flying foxes, parrots and the banded iguana. - AFP


Source.

Woman busted with cocain in breasts implants!

The following story may change the way you think the next time you see a woman with big boobs. No wonder many want to 'enlarge' theirs.



Picture released by the Spanish Police shows two bags of breast implants filled with cocaine, removed from a woman stopped at a Barcelona airport after a flight from Colombia.


Woman with cocaine implants arrested at Barcelona airport

Spanish authorities say they have arrested a Panamanian woman arriving at Barcelona airport with 1.38 kilograms of cocaine concealed in breast implants.

The Interior Ministry said that border police noticed fresh scars and blood-stained gauze on her chest as well as pale patches beneath her skin.

The woman said she had recently had breast implant surgery. The statement said police were suspicious and sent her to a local hospital where the implants were removed and found to contain cocaine.

The woman arrived in Spain from Bogota, Colombia.

European authorities routinely submit passengers arriving from Latin America to stringent checks to combat drug smuggling.

Source

Crocodile appears in busy city of Hong Kong

Fancy getting yourself a reptile pet? Then adopt this abandoned crocodile in Hong Kong's urban jungle.


Here, this is a true story:

A live crocodile has been found dumped in a fish tank at a Hong Kong garbage site, the second time in nine years that a croc has surfaced in the densely populated urban jungle.

Media reports Monday said the 1.2-meter (four foot), five-kilogram (11 pound) croc was thought to have been dumped by a pet owner who found it too hard to handle. It appeared unharmed and was being cared for at a government animal center, according to The Standard newspaper.

Conservation officials were trying to decide where to relocate the reptile, including whether it would join its predecessor Pui Pui at a wetland park. Pui Pui, a saltwater crocodile, made headlines after it was spotted in a Hong Kong river in 2003. It eluded hunters including Australian experts for months before it was eventually captured.

Pet shop owners say some residents in the space-starved Chinese city of seven million keep reptiles like snakes or lizard as pets, it is extremely rare for someone to have a pet crocodile.

“People think it is amusing to keep a crocodile at first,” reptile pet shop owner Dio Chan told The Standard.

“But as it grows, they need to buy a larger tank and more food and other equipment and eventually they give up ownership.”

Source

Migraine Symptoms and Stages

There are 4 general symptom stages of a migraine attack. It is good to know so that you know what to expect and it could perhaps help you to cope better:

Stage 1: Preheadache, or prodrome

Preheadache symptoms often begin hours or days before migraine headache pain. These symptoms may include the following:

• Fatigue or other changes in behavior
• Mood changes
• Food cravings
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Sensitivity to light or sound

Stage 2: Migraine Aura

Aura typically begins 20 to 60 minutes before the headache phase (stage 3) and usually fades before the headache begins. Sufferers may experience visual symptoms, such as seeing:

• Flashing lights
• Zigzag lines
• Blank spots before their eyes

Stage 3: Migraine Headache

This stage involves intense head pain that may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, sensitivity to light (also called photophobia), and sensitivity to sound (also called phonophobia).

• The pain can last anywhere from several hours to as long as several days
• The pain may be on one or both sides of the head

Stage 4: Postheadache, or Postdrome

The period following the headache. Some sufferers may experience 1 or more of the following symptoms.

• Tiredness
• Head pain
• Cognitive (mental) difficulties
• Hungover/hangover feeling
• Gastrointestinal symptoms

Learn more about how and what you can do to reduce the impact of the attack.
Source

12-12-12 What? It's just another number!

I heard over the radio that people are lining up to register their marriage on 12-12-2012 which is today because it is supposed to be an auspicious  date. I even hear the DJ asking listeners call and share their special encounter today.

They say this number will only repeat itself in 100 year's time.

But what's in a number? It is just another number, for number's sake. It doesn't control your destiny. You and your Creator alone are shaping your fate.

So, stop queueing up at the National Registration Department today, and come back tomorrow. LOL

For this scrap metal dealer, RM960,000 lost to casino is NOT A BIG DEAL

Who said only metal that glitters deliver you money? Selling scrap metal could make you rich, too!


S$400,000 lost? Small matter.

A scrap metal dealer from South Korea lost S$400,000 (RM960,000) in 20 seconds at the Marina Bay Sands Casino in Singapore, reported China Press.

However, the man, known only as Han, 40, is unperturbed, as he wanted to earn a Diamond membership to the casino.

The man claimed that as a member, he could enjoy free concert tickets, hotel room upgrades, meals at exclusive outlets and discounts for various types of merchandise.

He said winning and losing were part of the game as he had won S$13mil (RM31.2mil) and lost S$10mil (RM24mil) in the past two years.

He said losses through gambling can be easily earned via his business.

Bill Gates buys Lamborgini in few seconds!

That's true, Bill Gates can buy a Lamborghini in just few seconds.

Watch this:

 

 

See, it's done!

 

LOL

Google programmers earn $128,336 averagely in 2012

Google doesn't seem to be a bad place to work. So, if you are programmer, you are one of the lucky ones.

Mashable wrote that Google had the highest average base salary for software engineers at $128,336. Facebook came in second with a base salary of $123,626.

According to Glassdoor, a career website, Google's base salary jumped $13,740 over 2011, while Facebook's rose $15,882, showing Facebook is eager to close the gap with Google.

By comparison, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the average salary for software developers at $90,530. Glassdoor's own figure is a comparable $92,648. The followings is the list of salaries at 15 hot firms, in alphabetical order:

In addition to salary, Google offers the following financial benefits to its employees:

• Google pays $8,000 per year to any employee who will continue their education. The only condition: they must get at least a B Grade in their classes.
• If you refer another employee to Google and they stay for more than 60 days, Google pays you $2,000 as bonus.
• If you adopt a kid while working in Google, they pay you $5,000 toward legal and adoption fees.
• Based on your work experience, Google will offer you up to 25 days paid vacation a year.

Wow!!

Source

Woman strips in protest

Poor soul. She's a victim of unfairness?


In October 2012, a 39-year-old local woman ran around the old township in Keningau naked for 200 metres before she was stopped by police and taken to hospital.

According to a relative, the woman who has three children but divorced from her West Malaysia husband had returned to the State to claim her father's land of about 30 acres, which had been developed by Felcra and had started yielding fruits.

It was learnt that certain irresponsible quarters had reaped the land's yield of about RM33,000. The woman had filed a complaint at the Nabawan district office and also obtained the service of a lawyer to help her case but until now to no avail.

On Monday at about 9.00am, the woman took off her clothes near Keningau Mall and ran around the old township before returning to the Kedai Telekom. She was arrested by police and sent to the hospital for treatment.

Read more: Source

Why can't Nuclear waste be sent into outer Space?

Simple - it's too risky and expensive.

The world's nuclear reactors have generated tens of thousands of tonnes of high-level nuclear waste, and the current solution is to simply store the stuff.

This is not without its dangers: an explosion at the Mayak nuclear waste facility near Kyshtym, Russia in 1957 remains the third worst nuclear disaster in history, after Chernobyl and Fukushima.

In the search for alternatives, the possibility of firing the waste out of the Solar System or into the Sun has been investigated many times, but the use of rockets raises the threat of an accidental release of the waste into the atmosphere if there was an explosion.

Some studies have looked at the possibility of using high-powered lasers to blast capsules into space, but economic, reliability and safety issues – plus likely legal challenges – have so far ruled out this option.

How to Tell if an egg is fresh

By putting them into a water-filled container or glass, it is possible to determine if the eggs are fresh or otherwise: 

Very fresh: A very fresh egg will sink to the bottom and lay on its side.

Week old: One week old eggs will rest on the bottom but the fat end will rise up slightly.

3 week old: Three week old eggs will be balanced on pointy end with the fat end sticking up.

Bad Eggs: Old eggs will be floating bobbing along the surface of the water. These floaters should be tossed as they aren't any good to eat.


Hope that helps.

Honour killing: Aussie killed wife's Malaysian lover

Can someone tell me what is 'honour killing'?


Man Who Killed His Wife's Malaysian Lover Jailed 23 Years
via Bernama, Dec 8.
MELBOURNE -- A man who murdered his wife's Malaysian lover in a brutal honour killing has been sentenced to a maximum of 23 years' jail by a Sydney judge.

Justice David Davies of the Supreme Court in Sydney on Friday passed the sentence on Hazairin Iskandar, 58, for the murder of Melaka-born Mohd Shah Saemin, the Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported. Hazairin Iskandar was ordered to serve a minimum of 17 years in prison.

Mohd Shah died after he was attacked by Hazairin and his son, Andrew, outside Mohd Shah's Leichhardt flat in Sydney's inner west on the night of Feb 21, 2010.

Indonesian-born Hazairin stabbed Mohd Shah at least four times in the upper body with a knife, while his son struck him repeatedly with a hammer.

The court heard that Mohd Shah, a driver at the Malaysian consulate in Sydney, had been having an affair with Hazairin's wife, Nita, who also worked at the consulate.

Hazairin felt the affair had "brought shame on the family".

The crown alleged that he set out to kill Mohd Shah to protect the honour of his family in a "pre-planned, premeditated and executed killing".

"This was a vicious, prolonged, brutal attack where some of the worst acts of violence were perpetrated while the defendant lay on the ground, unable to defend himself," Justice Davies was quoted by AAP as saying.

Andrew was jailed for at least 18 years in March this year for the murder, while Nita was placed on a two-year good-behaviour bond for being an accessory after murder. Nita, who was in court for the sentencing on Friday, wept after the sentence was handed down.

Justice Davies noted that Hazairin had shown genuine remorse for his actions and would be of an "advanced age" by the time he was eligible for parole.

The judge also said: "This was a brutal and, for the deceased, a terrifying slaying where he no doubt suffered considerably before he died."

Taking into account time already served, Hazairin will be eligible for parole in February 2027. Andrew Iskandar will be eligible for parole in May 2028.

(Gambar) Burger paling pedas di dunia!

Setakat yang diketahui, Guinness World Records tidak mempunyai rekod kemasukan untuk burger terpedas tetapi sekiranya ada, 'Atomic Burger' yang dihidangkan di sebuah restoran di Bristol, United Kingdom pasti menjadi salah satu daripada calon pemenang.

Berikut adalah gambar-gambar penyediaan Dan hidangan burger tersebut:

Nampak macam sedap!



Kena pakai sarung tangan.






Arghhh! Pedasnyaaaa!






Tewas juga akhirnya! Tak tahan pedas.

Source

Prostitute twins have slept with 355,000 men!

355,000 are they sure??

Identical twins Louise and Martine Fokkens. Photo: dailymail-uk

70-year-old identical twins Louise and Martine Fokkens shot to fame earlier this year as stars of a documentary charting their 50 year careers as prostitutes in Amsterdam.

Louise revealed that her bad arthritis meant that she had retired from prostitution two years ago. Louise, who became a prostitute aged twenty after a brief spell making lampshades explained how she got in to the business.

“We didn’t have enough money,” the Daily Mail quoted her as saying on ‘This Morning.’

“My husband’s friends said it was the best way to make money so we decided to find out. I was 20/21 the first time.

“At first it was a problem for our mother and father but later we all lived normally with it,” she said.

Mother-of-three, Martine still works as a prostitute two to three times a week.

“My family told me about my sister while I was in the hospital having my first baby.

“I didn’t believe it but we talked about it and I loved her, that’s life,” Martine added.

Martine then started working at the brothel as a cleaner but two years later decided to join her sister as a prostitute after so many clients mistook her for her identical twin. 


Source

Body of teen girl found in drain

Sharanjeit Singh and his men at the scene where the teenager’s body was found. - New Sabah Times


SANDAKAN: The body of a teenage Filipina with multiple stab wounds was found in a drain beside a vehicle repair workshop.

Members of the public stumbled upon the body of 19-year-old Arwidah Binte Misran at about 6.30am at the Sedco Light Industrial Estate yesterday and immediately alerted the cops.

A police team led by ASP Sharanjeit Singh went to the scene, off Mile 3 Jalan Utara, on receiving information of the incident.

They found the victim’s body inside the drain and her belongings including money and IMM 13 card still intact. The body with six to seven wounds is believed to have been inflicted with a sharp object.

And, it was still warm when it was discovered.

The cops later sent the teenager’s remains to the Duchess of Kent Hospital for a postmortem. Deputy district police chief, Supt Fadzil Mohd Ali, when contacted said police have classified the case as murder.

It is being probed under Section 302 of the Penal Code which carries the mandatory death penalty in the event of conviction.

“We are also investigating the motive,” Fadzil said.

Police are now appealing to those who may have witnessed or have information on the incident to come forward and assist us in the investigation.


Source

MCMC: Minimum fee for Wireless Village Broadband

MCMC says the fee is very small - could just be RM5 to RM10/month.


Cyberjaya, Dec 7  -- A minimum fee will be charged for Wireless Village broadband by the end of next year or early 2014.

Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission, Industry Development and Resource Planning chief officer, Datuk Mohd Ali Hanafiah Mohd Yunus said the Commission was still deciding on a suitable rate to be charged, which may be between RM5 and RM10 per month.

"At present the service is free. So the charge will be very minimal and used for maintenance cost," he said at a press conference, here today.

The Wireless Village government initiative was started in 2010 to provide collective internet access to villages which had low coverage.

It costs RM40,000 to RM50,000 to set up such a service in each village with broadband tower construction estimated at RM400,000 to RM500,000.

He said between 2010 and 2011, 1,850 Wireless Villages had been set up nationwide, and 1,400 were in progress for this and next year.

Apart from this facility, MCMC also provided other initiatives to enhance the use of broadband in the country, such as Community Broadband Centres, Mini Community Broadband Centres, Tower (Time 3) and 1Malaysia Computers.

He added that MCMC constantly worked with the Telcos to provide affordable broadband packages as low as RM25 per month. - Bernama

iPad Mini is here Malaysia - price starts RM999

It's here in Malaysia! Surprisingly it starts at RM999, perhaps trying to outdo Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (7.0). But it failed to undercut the rivals back home, the Goggle's Nexus 7 at $199 (RM699).

Malaysia prices:

Wi-Fi only

16GB -    RM999
32GB - RM1,299
64GB - RM1,599

Wi-Fi + Cellular

16GB - RM1,399
32GB - RM1,699
64GB - RM1,999

It's more expensive in Singapore, starting at S$448 (RM1,122) for basic model and S$878 (RM2,199) for the upper model, the 64GB + Cellular.

Who says Apple products are always a lot more expensive!

World's tallest woman dies in China

BEIJING — A Chinese woman who was certified as the tallest in the world has died, an official from her hometown said.

Yao Defen, of eastern China's Anhui province, was listed as the world's tallest woman by Guinness World Records in 2010, when she stood 2.33 metres (seven foot eight inches) high, according to the record compiler's website.

"Yao Defen died in the middle of last month," a spokesman for the government of Shucha township, where Yao lived, told AFP by telephone.

The official, who refused to give his name, said that he was not certain of the cause of her death.

Yao, recorded as the third tallest woman who ever lived, was 40 when she died. Her gigantism was reportedly due to a tumour in her pituitary gland.

An Anhui newspaper reported that she died on November 13, having reached a height of 2.36 metres, adding that she was already more than two metres tall when she was 15. - AFP

 

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Source: AFP, pix1, pix2, pix3

Turn your iPhone into a Remote Controller

Lost your Pioneer, Sony, Apple, Panasonic remote controllers? Fret not, you can replace them all with a single device - your phone.

Now you can go anywhere and change people's TV channel using your iPhone. Okay, don't abuse it.

The owners of an iPhone probably are able to list many positive aspects of owning the smartphone from Apple, but did they expect that with their iPhone they can now change TV channels? One company has enabled the owners of any Apple's product to turn them into a universal remote controller.

The connectors called ST-URB1 need to be placed on the headphone jack and it works with the help of RemoteBean.

This application gives the user instructions on how to synchronize mechanism with TV, Stereo and DVD player. RemoteBean can be purchased in iTunes, but it does not work without the appropriate port.

The universal remote can be purchased on the site Satechi site at a price of $25. The firm already has devices that can convert any iOS into a laser, holders, speakers, etc.

Earlier this week, General Motors announced that the Chevrolet Spark in 2013. will have Siri, a hands-free version of the iPhone personal assistant that responds to voice commands, making communication while driving easier.

Also, Apple has developed "Eyes Free" function in Siri, with which driver can get in touch with the iPhone, only with the help of his voice.

Source

Cannibalism mystery as Russians found in wilderness

Do you believe that human will resort to eating his own kind when pushed to the limit? This is what Russian investigators fear in the 'wilderness survival story' :-

The four men disappeared whilst on a river-fishing expedition to the vast Yakutia region.

Cannibalism mystery?

MOSCOW — Russian investigators have opened a murder case after two fishermen were rescued following three months lost in a remote Far East forest amid fears the pair could have eaten a companion to stay alive, officials said on Wednesday.

Four men disappeared in August on a river-fishing expedition to the vast Yakutia region in the Russian Far East, one of the most remote and inhospitable places in the world.

Rescuers finally found two of the men this month by the Sutam River some 250 kilometres (155 miles) from the nearest town of Neryungri in the south of Yakutia but without two companions.

The men claimed their group had split up and said the others were likely still alive, as they were used to living in the open.

But a murder probe was opened after a team of top investigators from the regional capital Yakutsk found fragments of a human corpse close to the place where the pair was found.

"Investigators carried out an examination of two areas. Fragments of a human corpse with signs of a violent death were discovered and removed," the Yakutia branch of Russia's Investigative Committee said in a statement.

The pair, aged 37 and 35, have denied any wrongdoing and said they had managed to survive as the winter set in a wooden hut by foraging for wild foods. -AFP

Source

Woman arrested over 160 dogs living in own waste

Amazing! How can you possibly live on your dogs' waste!?


TOKYO — A woman who kept 160 starving dogs in her house among tonnes of their own waste has been arrested by Japanese police, an official said on Wednesday.

Ten tonnes of animal waste and other rubbish were removed from Noriko Ishii's house after the dogs were taken away, he said.

One Bernese Mountain dog kept by Ishii, 43, weighed just seven kilograms (15 pounds) -- a sixth of what it should have, said the official in Osaka, adding all the animals were "very scrawny".

Jobless Ishii could face a fine of up to 500,000 yen ($6,000) if convicted under Japan's animal protection laws. - AFP

Source

Hello World!

Hello world!

This is just to time-mark the begining of existence of this blog. I hope to share with you all the exciting news, info and everything possible under the sun.

Yours,
B&W Newswire