Mariah Carey to perform in Kuala Lumpur

American singer, Mariah Carey

KUALA LUMPUR:  Famous American pop diva Mariah Carey will be performing in Kuala Lumpur first before performing in Singapore and the Philippines.

A local concert promoter won a price-bidding war to get Carey to perform here first, ahead of her world tour series.

The promoter had secured a mega deal amid stiff competitions to have Carey kick off the Southeast Asian leg of her world tour in Kuala Lumpur on October 22 in Stadium Merdeka, reported The Star who quoted an industry source who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter.

"KL will be her first stop even though Singapore is unhappy with her management's decision to have her show in the island republic two days after KL," the source said.

The Grammy award winner will hold a show in China before heading to our shores.

It is understood that Carey's price to hold a concert is not less than RM3.2mil, which was what she was paid when she performed here in 2004.

Details of her eagerly awaited concert will be announced soon.

Among Carey's famous hits are Hero, Dream Lover, One Sweet Day, Emotions, Vision of Love, Fantasy and Bye Bye.

MH17: Beberapa jasad rakyat Malaysia dikenal pasti

MH17: Beberapa jasad rakyat Malaysia dikenal pasti

AMSTERDAM: Pasukan Siasatan Antarabangsa telah mengenal pasti beberapa mayat daripada 43 rakyat Malaysia dalam pesawat Malaysia Airlines (MAS) Penerbangan MH17 yang ditembak jatuh di Ukraine, dan pengesahan pengenalan lanjut diperlukan dalam tempoh dua minggu lagi.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak berkata beliau mendapat maklumat itu semasa lawatannya ke sebuah fasiliti tentera di Hilversum, Khamis di mana 226 keranda sesetengahnya mengandungi mayat mangsa dan bahagian anggota, sedang menjalani proses forensik dan pengecaman mangsa bencana (DVI).

Katanya selepas proses dua minggu, kerajaan akan tahu bila mayat rakyat Malaysia akan dihantar balik ke tanah air.

"Bila (mayat) dibawa balik kita akan adakan hari berkabung.

"Butirannya akan dimaklumkan bila sampai masanya," katanya kepada wartawan Malaysia di sini Jumaat sebelum berlepas ke Kuala Lumpur selepas lawatan dua hari ke Netherlands dengan isterinya Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. - Bernama

Pemandu bas mogok, Tambak Johor sesak teruk

Pada jam 9:40 pagi, LTA melaporkan bahawa bas 160, 170, 170X telah memulakan separuh perjalanan manakala bas 950 telah mula beroperasi sepenuhnya

KUALA LUMPUR: Pemandu bas Malaysia yang membawa pekerja kilang serta kanak-kanak sekolah dari Johor Bahru ke Singapura telah melancarkan mogok pagi ini yang menyebabkan kesesakan lalu lintas teruk di Tambak Johor.

Dalam laporan Channel News Asia, mogok tersebut dilancarkan disebabkan kenaikan caj Permit Masuk Kenderaan (VEP) berkuatkuasa hari ini, 1 Ogos yang akan memberi kesan ke atas kemasukan kenderaan dari kedua-dua arah.

Sementara itu, Penguasa Pengangkutan Darat Singapura (LTA) pada 8 pagi memaklumkan bahawa perkhidmatan bas 160, 170, 170X dan 950 ke Johor Bahru telah dihentikan.

Kata penasihat LTA, penggantungan tersebut adalah disebabkan protes yang diadakan terhadap kenaikan kadar tol oleh pengusaha bas Malaysia yang menghalang aliran trafik bas melalui Tambak Johor.

Namun begitu, pada jam 9:40 pagi, LTA melaporkan bahawa bas 160, 170, 170X telah memulakan separuh perjalanan manakala bas 950 telah mula beroperasi sepenuhnya.

Update: Bus services 160, 170 & 170X have resumed partial service. Svc 950 has resumed full service operations into JB.

— LTA (@LTAsg) August 1, 2014

Malaysian bus drivers stage protest at JB: Situation at Woodlands Causeway as of 8.35am http://t.co/VN17vSLWlwpic.twitter.com/guVi0qLwsN
— Channel NewsAsia (@ChannelNewsAsia) August 1, 2014

Agensi media di Singapura, MediaCorp Hotline dilaporkan telah menerima sekurang-kurangnya lima panggilan mengenai perkara tersebut pagi ini.

Salah seorang pemanggil memberitahu bahawa banyak bas bernombor pendaftaran Malaysia yang membawa pekerja kilang enggan meneruskan perjalanan ke Singapura di Woodlands.

Pekerja kilang terpaksa turun di Kompleks CIQ Malaysia dan berjalan kaki memasuki Singapura untuk menaiki bas ke tempat kerja mereka.

Satu lagi pemanggil berkata kesesakan di Kompleks CIQ telah menjejaskan perjalanan pelajar-pelajar ke sekolah mereka di Singapura.

Katanya lagi,  kebanyakan mereka tiba lewat ke sekolah pagi ini.

Singapura telah mengumumkan kenaikan caj VEP daripada S$20 (RM51.40) kepada S$35 (RM90) sehari.

Manakala kadar tol baharu arah masuk Malaysia bagi kenderaan Kelas 1 hingga Kelas 5 masing-masing ialah RM9.70, RM14.70, RM19.70, RM4.80 dan RM7.80 manakala kadar tol arah keluar pula adalah RM6.80; RM10.20, RM13.60, RM3.40 dan RM5.50.

Situasi protes yang dikatakan bermula seawal jam 5 pagi itu dikatakan beransur pulih selepas jam 8 pagi. - ASTRO Awani 

Dua empangan di Selangor masih belum capai paras minimum

Enam empangan lain telah melepasi paras minimum dengan Empangan Batu mencatatkan jumlah takungan tertinggi iaitu 82.99%

Paras air di dua daripada lapan empangan di Selangor masih di bawah paras minimum 55 peratus walaupun pelan catuan bekalan air ditamatkan pada April lepas.

Menurut statistik laman web Lembaga Urus Air Selangor (LUAS) www.iwrims.luas.gov.my setakat 8 pagi ini paras air di dua empangan yang masih di bawah paras minimum ialah Sungai Selangor (33.46 peratus) dan Sungai Tinggi (47.39 peratus).

Enam empangan lain telah melepasi paras minimum dengan Empangan Batu mencatatkan jumlah takungan tertinggi iaitu 82.99 peratus, diikuti Semenyih (77.87 peratus), Klang Gates (70.66 peratus), Tasik Subang (67.14 peratus) Langat (63.26 peratus) dan Kolam Takungan Sungai Labu (59.57 peratus).

Pada Februari lepas kerajaan negeri Selangor melaksanakan program catuan air secara bergilir di seluruh negeri bagi mengimbangi bekalan air di beberapa buah kawasan ekoran musim kering melampau. - Bernama

Penganggur didakwa bunuh jiran berumur 71 tahun

Mahkamah menetapkan 30 Sept ini untuk sebutan semula kes sementara menunggu laporan bedah siasat dan laporan kimia.

KUALA LUMPUR: Seorang penganggur dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Majistret di sini hari ini atas dakwaan membunuh jirannya yang berumur 71 tahun dengan menggunakan sebilah pisau pada minggu lepas.

Rasid Oasis, 34, didakwa membunuh Swa Kim Chia@ Chua Ah May, di sebuah rumah di alamat 95 A, Jalan Union Off Jalan Sentul, di sini, pada pukul 6.30 petang, 23 Julai lepas.

Tiada pengakuan direkodkan selepas pertuduhan dibacakan di hadapan Majistret Zuraini Abdul Razak.

Rasid yang berasal dari Sabah, didakwa mengikut Seksyen 302 Kanun Keseksaan yang membawa hukuman mati jika sabit kesalahan.

Mahkamah menetapkan 30 Sept ini untuk sebutan semula kes sementara menunggu laporan bedah siasat dan laporan kimia.

Pendakwaan dilakukan Pegawai Pendakwa Cif Inspektor Nom Phot Prakdit manakala tertuduh tidak diwakili peguam. - Bernama

Commonwealth Games: Tze Liang contributes unexpected gold medal from men's diving

Gold Medalist Ooi Tze Liang of Malaysia poses with with medal after the Men's 3m springboard final at the Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh, Scotland on day eight of the 2014 Commonwealth Games,on July 31, 2014. - AFP PHOTO/ ANDY BUCHANAN

EDINBURGH: National diver Ooi Tze Liang contributed an unexpected gold medal in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games after winning the men's 3m Springboard final at the Royal Commonwealth Swimming Complex here today.

The 20-year-old diver from Penang collected 457.60 points to beat 1m Springboard gold medal winner Jack Laugher from England by 7.90 points since the Englishman managed only 449.70 points while the bronze medal went to Oliver Dingley with 425.20 points.

"I am both happy and satisfied with my performance and the gold medal feat. I must admit that I was very tense at the start but I managed to maintain my focus at the later stages.

"I am glad that I was able to prove to everyone that all my hard work and efforts has resulted in a gold medal for the country at the Commonwealth Games," he said.

Tze Liang said after having completed the morning preliminary round in second place, he was confident of winning a medal.

"From that moment I had a positive thought to do well in the final round," said Tze Liang who was introduced to the sport by his father at the age of eight.

Tze Liang, the winner of a silver medal in the 3m Springboard Synchronized diving at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China four years ago will next partner Ahmad Amsyar Azman in the men's 3m Springboard Synchronized diving which starts tomorrow. - Bernama

Russia has case to answer in Litvinenko death

POISONED: Alexander Litvinenko was a Russian FSB spy who was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210. - File Photo

LONDON: A British judge said Thursday that the Russian state has a case to answer in the radioactive poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko as he formally opened a public inquiry into the death of the former spy.

Judge Robert Owen said he would be able to hear secret evidence behind closed doors about the 2006 murder of Litvinenko, who accused President Vladimir Putin from his deathbed of being linked to his killing.

The British government finally agreed last week to open a full public inquiry into the death of Kremlin critic Litvinenko, in a move that threatens to increase tensions with Moscow amid the crisis in Ukraine.

Litvinenko, 43, an ex-agent in Russia's FSB intelligence agency who turned against his former masters, was poisoned with radioactive polonium-210 while drinking tea at a London hotel.

"The HM (Her Majesty's) government material taken alone, and in so far as it was relevant, established a prima facie case as to the culpability of the Russian state in Mr Litvinenko's death," Owen said as he opened the inquiry.

"The most important feature of the inquiry... is that it will permit me to consider closed evidence and hold closed hearings."

Secret evidence would not have been admissable under an inquest.

He said there would be a procedural hearing on September 5, but the hearing of evidence would not begin until January.

The inquiry is expected to last until the end of 2015.

'No link to MH17' 

The judge began on Thursday by formally suspending an earlier inquest -- an inquest is a hearing under English law which examines how someone dies but does not apportion blame -- and opening the public inquiry.

The British government's decision to launch the inquiry was a major turnaround, as it had previously resisted all attempts to do so on the grounds of protecting sensitive information about Russian and British intelligence.

British Home Secretary Theresa May had originally wanted to wait for the results of the inquest. But three High Court judges ruled in February that May must reconsider that decision, following a challenge by Litvinenko's widow Marina.

Russia's ambassador to London, Alexander Yakovenko, last week said that Moscow would not accept the judgement of the inquiry if any of the evidence was given in secret.

Britain has strenuously denied any link between its decision to launch the probe and the ratcheting up of international pressure on Russia over the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 over Ukraine.

The Litvinenko murder outraged London at the time and plunged relations with Moscow into the deep freeze.

In a deathbed letter, Litvinenko said he believed Russia's president was involved in his killing after he publicly criticised the leader, himself an ex-Soviet KGB agent.

British police have identified Russian spy-turned-lawmaker Andrei Lugovoi as the chief suspect and have issued an arrest warrant for his fellow former agent Dmitri Kovtun, but Moscow has refused to hand them over. - AFP 

CIMB sponsors 2 of Singapore's top youth football talents

CIMB inks a sponsorship deal with two of Singapore's top youth football talents Irfan Fandi Ahmad, 17 and Ikhsan Fandi Ahmad, 15. This also marked CIMB's first foray into cultivating sports talents in the worlds most popular sport.

Following in the footsteps of their father, Fandi Ahmad undeniably Singapore's most recognisable football legend, Irfan and Ikhsan are no strangers to the spotlight as they have rightfully sealed their position amongst the top young footballers in Singapore.

Both boys have represented the country in various international football tournaments including the Canon Lion City Cup and the Asian Youth Games in Nanjing, China. Irfan and Ikhsan were also the youngest of the 20-man Under-23 squad that went for a 16-day training trip to Salzburg, Austria in preparation for the Suzuki Cup defense and next year's Southeast Asian Games.

They are currently studying in Chile and training with Universidad Catolica, a First Division club in Santiago.

At the signing ceremony, Mak Lye Mun, Country Head of CIMB Group Singapore and CEO of CIMB Bank Singapore said, "We believe the nurturing of the regions talents is one of the best ways in giving back to the communities we live and operate in. We are very proud of what Irfan and Ikhsan have achieved at such a young age and we hope that this sponsorship will propel these two Singapore homegrown talents to excel on the local and regional stages, and to flourish in the international arena as well."

With this sponsorship, Irfan and Ikhsan will be expected complete their studies and training during their stay in Chile.

"There are no short-cuts to making champions and this is truly a breakthrough in Irfan and Ikhsan's development as footballers. Our family is extremely thrilled to have the support of an ASEAN player like CIMB and we look forward to a successful partnership," said Fandi Ahmad, Irfan and Ikhsans father.

"CIMB is no stranger to such sponsorships. Sports and education are key pillars we support as we recognise the huge role both play in our society. We are sure that this sponsorship not only cements our commitment to growing in Singapore, it also provides us the opportunity to connect with Singaporeans, especially the ardent sports fans," Mak added.

CIMB is best known for its sponsorship of six-time World Squash Champion, Datuk Nicol David. Through its philanthropic arm, CIMB Foundation, it has also invested in sports development programmes for budding young squash players and golfers.

In partnership with the National Sports Council (NSC) and the Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia (SRAM), CIMB supports the development of squash in Malaysia through a junior development programme covering six age groups from under-9 to under-19 through the CIMB National Junior Circuit and the CIMB Rising Stars National Junior Circuit.

Its junior golf development programme now involves more than 80 top juniors from four countries namely Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia and the programme has seen some of these juniors claiming international titles - Danthai Boonma clinched the Men's individual gold medal at the 2013 SEA Games and Puwit Anupansuebsai and Paphangkorn Tavatanakit excelled at the World Masters of Junior

Golf tournament by winning the Boys 13-14 and Girls 13-14 categories respectively.  - Bernama

Keluarga redha walau bagaimanapun keadaan mayat

MH17: Keluarga reda walau bagaimanapun keadaan mayat

KUCHING: Keluarga Tambi Jiee tetap redha walau bagaimanapun rupa bentuk keadaan mayat Allahyarham dan anggota keluarganya yang bakal mereka terima kelak.

"Kami berdoa agar walau sekecil dan sebesar mana pun (mayat), dapat dijumpai. Kalau dapat semua Alhamdulillah," kata Drahman, abang sulung kepada Tambi, antara mangsa nahas pesawat Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH17 yang terhempas di Ukraine pada 17 Julai.

Turut terkorban ialah isteri Tambi, Ariza Ghazalee, 46, dan empat orang anak mereka Muhammad Afif, 19, Muhammad Afzal, 17, Marsha Azmeena, 15, dan Muhammad Afruz, 13,

"Saya telah mendapatkan maklumat dari Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia yang menurut mereka, kalau mayat dijumpai walau sekecil mana pun, perlu dimandikan. Kalau tidak boleh dimandi, ditayammum dan dikapan," katanya kepada pemberita pada majlis Rumah Terbuka Jalinan Kasih Aidilfitri anjuran Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat (KPWKM) di sini hari ini.

Majlis sambutan turut dihadiri Ketua Menteri Sarawak Tan Sri Adenan Satem dan isteri Puan Sri Jamilah Anu.

Turut hadir Menteri KPWKM, Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.

Majlis bertujuan mengukuhkan jalinan kasih antara warga kementerian, jabatan dan agensi dengan kumpulan sasar terutamanya golongan remaja yang bermasalah dari segi sosial dan akhlak.

Pada majlis itu, Adenan dan isteri turut meluangkan masa bertanya khabar dengan waris keluarga Ariza dan Tambi.

Drahman turut mengucapkan penghargaan kepada seluruh rakyat Malaysia yang turut memberi perhatian dan sokongan kepada mereka sekeluarga berikutan nahas itu.

Dalam sidang media selepas majlis berkenaan, Rohani memaklumkan, waris pasangan suami isteri Tambi Jiee dan Ariza Ghazalee, serta empat anak mereka yang terkorban dalam nahas pesawat Malaysia Airlines (MAS) MH17 mahu mereka dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Islam Semariang, dekat sini.

Katanya, perkara tersebut disampaikan kepada beliau, selepas menemui waris keluarga pasangan tersebut.

"Waris keluarga pasangan itu juga ada membuat beberapa permohonan lain seperti meminta keranda jenazah tidak di 'seal', serta waris dibawa ke Amsterdam, Belanda untuk membantu proses pengecaman.

"Dan paling utama waris keluarga meminta jika sudah ditemui walau sedikit pun mayat bersesuaian dengan sampel DNA keluarga pasangan itu, mereka memohon supaya segera dimaklumkan," katanya.

Sementara itu, Rohani berkata, sebuah lagi keluarga mangsa nahas MH17, Meling Mula, 48, belum memutuskan dimana mayat mendiang akan dikebumikan.

Meling seorang pemasang perancah sebuah syarikat minyak dan gas yang berpangkalan di Kuala Lumpur, bertugas di Venezuela. - Bernama

Samsung launches world's first flexible TV

If you want an ultra-high-definition TV but can't decide on a flat or curved screen, the Samsung UN78S9B might be just the thing.

And that's because its 78-inch screen goes from flat to concave curve, on command. Demonstrated for the first time at the 2014 International CES in January, the TV has gone from prototype party piece to actual product and will be going on sale in the company's native South Korea on August 1.

The logic goes that curved-display TV screens, especially ones that boast four times the resolution of High Definition, offer a more immersive, cinematic experience -- so great for watching movies and for gaming. However, some things, like using smart TV apps or checking the weather or watching the news might be better on a flat screen.

The past several weeks have been very busy for Samsung's TV business. At the end of June it launched three new ranges of flat UHDTVs, including its first sub-$1000 model -- the 40-inch HU6950, then followed that up with the frankly gigantic 105-inch curved screen UN105S9 UHD TV with its equally colossal $120,000 price tag.

And while the new bendable TV is the first to market, it won't be the last. Samsung's closet direct rival LG has been equally busy launching new TVs. Earlier this week it launched its own 105-inch curved screen UHDTV and just like Samsung, demonstrated a flat screen TV that converts to a curved screen on command at CES this year.

There is currently no word as to how much Samsung's bendable television will cost, or when it will be offered for sale beyond South Korea. However, there is little doubt that momentum is beginning to build in the 4K UHD TV market and that consumers are getting ready to take a chance on what is still, technically speaking, an emerging technology.

The latest consumer confidence report from the Consumer Electronics Association (published on July 22) shows that in the US, optimism, and therefore desire to spend big on tech devices, is back at levels not seen since 2012 and that companies that make UHDTVs could be beneficiaries of this newly rediscovered optimism.

UHD TVs are not expected to become mainstream consumer devices until the end of the decade, however shipment data and polls reveal that adoption rate is growing and at a faster rate than uptake of HDTV sets when the technology was new and exciting. - AFP RELAXNEWS