Hantar jambangan bunga, pengantin beragama Islam terima tepukan

Suasana menyentuh perasaan menyelubungi Martin Place ketika pasangan pengantin baru hadir meletakkan jambangan bunga - Sumber Instagram Dina Kheir

Sepasang pengantin beragama Islam yang hadir untuk memberi penghormatan pada mangsa tragedi Sydney Siege yang berlaku Martin Place minggu lepas, menerima tepukan daripada pengunjung yang berada di sana.

Pasangan pengantin baru itu singgah ketika dalam perjalanan ke majlis perkahwinan mereka.

Manal Kassem yang anggun dalam busana pengantin serba putih bersama hijab, meletakkan jambangan bunga ros putihnya, sambil ditemani suami, Mahmod Homaisi.

Peristiwa ini meraih pujian dan perhatian di media sosial dengan perkongsian gambar dan video di pelbagai platform.

"Dia melakukannya atas rasa hormat pada negaranya, yang akan jadi negara kepada anak-anaknya dan cucu-cucunya,” memetik kata perancang perkahwinan pasangan itu, Dina Kheir.

Pasangan itu pada mulanya bercadang untuk menjalankan sesi bergambar di bandar terbabit namun menangguhkannya bagi menghormati tragedi berkenaan.

Dua terkorban dalam krisis tebusan selama 16 jam di kafe coklat Lindt, Sydney, Australia melibatkan pengurus kafe tersebut, Tori Johnson, 34 tahun dan peguam, Katrina Dawson, 38 tahun. 

- Sumber: Astro Awani 

Eksekutif kanan BMW M sertai Hyundai

Hyundai Motor Group baharu sahaja mengumumkan pelantikan Albert Biermann sebagai ketua kenderaan berprestasi tinggi & ujian kereta. Ini satu lagi langkah yang penting untuk pengeluar kereta Korea ini lanjutan daripada pembukaan pusat ujian Eropah yang berpusat di Nurburgring, Jerman, pada awal tahun 2014.

Albert Biermann juga adalah satu nama besar di dalam skop pembuatan kereta berprestasi tinggi oleh kerana pengalamannya sebagai timbalan presiden kejuruteraan BMW divisyen M yang dipegang sejak 2008. Beliau juga sudah bersama-sama BMW lebih daripada 30 tahun.

Hasil kerjanya di divisyen M termasuk membangunkan jentera lumba Grup A E30 M3 (gambar di bawah), sehinggalah ke model-model zaman moden; bahkan beliau antara yang bertanggunjawab membawa M ke era turbo.

Albert Biermann, 57 tahun, akan memulakan kerja baharu beliau secara rasminya pada 1 April 2015 nanti. Selain daripada bertanggungjawab untuk menghasilkan kenderaan berprestasi tinggi untuk Hyundai dan Kia (serta teknologi-teknologi berkaitannya), beliau juga akan menyelia projek berkaitan pengendalian, keselamatan, di samping NVH (noise, vibration & harsness). Untuk ini, beliau akan beroperasi di pusat R&D Hyundai-Kia di Namyang, Korea Selatan.

Skop kerjanya pasti juga akan meliputi pembabitan Hyundai di dalam Kejohanan Rali Dunia (WRC) yang buat masa sekarang menggunakan model i20.

Albert Biermann sekarang adalah pekerja ‘import’ kedua paling kanan selepas Peter Schreyer, selaku ketua rekaan kumpulan syarikat berkenaan. 

- Sumber: Astro Publication 

'Ini momen paling diingati dalam karier saya'

Kegembiraan Nicol terpancar sewaktu mendakap Piala Kejohanan Dunia bersama gelaran juara dunia kelapan buatnya. - Sumber: Facebook Nicol David

KUALA LUMPUR: Ratu skuasy negara, Datuk Nicol David menyifatkan kejayaannya melakar gelaran kejuaraan dunia kelapan di Kaherah, Mesir semalam suatu momen paling istimewa buatnya.

Nicol mengungkapkan kegembiraannya melalui media sosial: “Saya tidak percaya mampu meraih gelaran kejuaraan ini. Hari ini merupakan perlawanan skuasy yang paling saya ingati sepanjang karier saya, menentang Raneem (El Weleily) dalam perlawanan akhir Kejuaraan Dunia. Terima kasih semua atas ucapan! Tidak sabar untuk pulang ke tanah air."

Dalam set pembukaan, Nicol tewas 5-11 tetapi berjaya menyamakan kedudukan pada set berikutnya dengan mata 11-8.

Pada set ketiga, Nicol yang seperti kehilangan fokus memudahkan Raneem menang 7-11.

Set keempat menyaksikan Raneem berjaya menguasai gelanggang lalu mudah mengatasi Nicol pada kedudukan 10-6.

Kebangkitan luar biasa Nicol dilihat pada set seterusnya apabila beliau menyamakan kedudukan apabila menewaskan Raneem 14-12 dan mara ke set penentuan.

Pada set kelima, Nicol berjuang dengan saki-baki tenaga dan semangat hingga menundukkan lawannya 11-5.

Anak kelahiran Pulau Pinang itu dilihat terbaring di atas gelanggang sambil menitiskan air mata selepas mengetahui jerih-payahnya membuahkan hasil.

Dalam pada itu, Menteri Belia dan Sukan, Khairy Jamaluddin turut melahirkan rasa gembiranya atas kejayaan bintang skuasy negara itu dengan mengucapkan syabas kepada ikon skuasy negara itu melalui akaun Twitternya.

'GOAT' yang dimaksudkan Khairy itu merujuk kepada singkatan Greatest Of All Time (Yang terhebat sepanjang zaman) manakala 'Amsterdam' pula dipercayai merujuk kepada urusan Nicol di ibu negara Belanda itu bagi mengasah bakatnya di akademi jurulatih peribadinya, Liz Irving.

Nicol yang ditemui wartawan selepas perlawanan semalam menyatakan bahawa kemenangannya itu bukan suatu perkara mudah.

“Ada beberapa detik yang membuat saya berasa bahawa ini akan berakhir, tapi saya tidak mahu ia menjadi begitu. Saya berusaha dengan sehabis upaya kerana saya sangat mahukannya (kejuaraan).

“Raneem sangat bertenaga, dan saya sedar jika saya tidak berbuat apa-apa, dia akan membawa pulang kejuaraan itu. Maka saya akui ada perubahan dalam cara saya memainkannya,” ujar Nicol kepada AFP sejurus tamat perlawanan.

Kemenangan Nicol itu bermakna beliau merupakan pemain pertama yang pernah terlepas gelaran juara dunia dan kembali merampasnya dalam setahun kalendar kejohanan.

Nicol menjulang kejuaraan dunia buat kali pertama pada 2005, sebelum mengulanginya pada 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 dan 2012.

- Sumber: Astro Awani 

The RM1,599 Galaxy Tab Active: A tough Tab to crack

The Galaxy Tab Active is a ruggedised tablet for fieldworkers who need a device that can survive harsh working conditions.

This is not the first time Samsung has made a ruggedised product. In the past, the South Korean giant has made hardy versions of the Galaxy S smartphones, namely the S4 Active and S5 Active. 

The Tab Active meets the IP67 standard for dust- and water-resistance. It can be ­submerged underwater for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1m. 

It also comes with a cover that protects the tablet from shock. With the cover on, the ­tablet is able to withstand drops from a height of 1.2m. However, the case makes the Tab chunkier but it has another use — it has a slot for storing the C Pen stylus that comes with the device.

We dropped the Tab Active several times from a height of 1m and it survived without a dent. We also dunked it in water and the ­tablet continued working without a problem. 

Back to the stylus — the C Pen is not as sensitive as the Note 4’s S Pen stylus but it’s still handy, especially if you have to use safety gloves while operating the tablet. 

The body of the Tab Active is mostly plastic and the textured back can be removed to reveal the Micro SD card slot and 4,450mAh battery.

The Tab Active is one of the few tablets to have a built-in Pogo charging connector running along the left side. The connector provides an alternate way for companies to charge multiple tablets at one go instead of using the standard Micro USB port. 

The 8in screen has a 1,280 x 800-pixel ­resolution and although it’s not as stunning as Samsung’s Super Amoled displays found on its high-end phones and tablets, it’s still very bright and clear. In fact, it’s bright enough to be used outdoors.

Under the hood

The tablet, which is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core processor and has 1.5GB RAM, runs on Android 4.4.4 KitKat with Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface. Samsung has not announced if and when it will release an update for Lollipop. 

Stay safe: You can use Knox to secure the Tab Active.

The device has a number of features that will appeal to businesses. It has all the standard TouchWiz features such as Multi Window which allows two apps to run side by side. It also comes with Hancom Office productivity suite but the Knox security software will only be pre-installed for businesses which purchase the tablet. 

Consumers can visit the Galaxy App Store to install Knox, which keeps business and personal information separate, for free.

Although it’s essentially a work tablet, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a bit of fun with it. We installed a few games like Asphalt: Overdrive and Temple Run 2 to see how it handled graphics and both played smoothly. 

The Tab Active features 4G LTE ­connectivity, as fieldworkers will not always be within reach of a WiFi hotspot. It also has GPS should you need to use it for navigation. 

It only comes with 16GB of storage which isn’t much but you can invest in a Micro SD memory card (up to 64GB) should you run out of space. 

As this is a business tablet, there is only a 3.1-megapixel rear camera and, as you can already guess, it’s not really great for taking photos. 

As the resolution is very low, the image quality is average at best when we tried shooting outdoors under bright sunlight. Video recording didn’t fare much better — although it has a 720p mode, the videos had too much noise to be usable. 

The same goes for the front-facing 1.2-megapixel camera.

Moving on, the Tab Active has a ­rather large battery that can power the tablet for an entire day. We used it mainly for ­browsing the Web, listening to music, editing ­documents on Hancom Office and taking a picture or two. 

Also, the battery is removable which is great, as most devices today come with a fixed one. 

Conclusion

As a tablet designed for work, the Tab Active doesn’t disappoint. This is a tablet that you can take on a tumble with you, as it can withstand dust, water and shock. Plus, the 8in screen is bright enough to be visible under strong sunlight. 

It also has 4G LTE connectivity which is great as you don’t have to rely on just WiFi hotspots to surf. 

We didn’t have any issues with ­performance and TouchWiz boasts a number of features that are handy for multitasking. Also, there is a stylus which is great for sketching. 

The Tab Active’s weakest feature is the camera which is let down by a low-­resolution sensor but you may not need it if you are using the device for mostly work. 

At RM1,599, the Tab Active is ideal for those who want a tough tablet without ­having to bust their budget. 

Pros: Tough and rugged design; good ­performance; impressive battery life.

Cons: Sub-par camera.

- Source: The Star Online 

Killer weed found at foot of Mt Kinabalu

KOTA KINABALU: The invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus has made its way to the foothill of Mount Kinabalu, underscoring the pervasiveness of the plant throughout Malaysia. 

A small patch of the weed was detected in Kampung Lasing Ranau, said Sabah Agriculture Department director Idrus Shafie.

Idrus said it was the first discovery here after the presence of the plant, also known locally as rumpai miang Mexico, came to light in Peninsular Malaysia earlier this month.

Agronomists in Sabah are now taking immediate steps to destroy the weed to prevent it from spreading to other areas in the valley.

“We have been on alert since the weed was discovered in the peninsula,” said Idrus, adding that his department had yet to determine the severity of the infestation in Sabah.

“We are working with all district personnel to create awareness. 

“We are also liaising with the Health Ministry to identify the health hazards posed by this weed,” said Idrus, who added that flyers were being distributed to farmers here to educate them on the dangers posed by the weed.

- Source: The Star Online 

Impian Sharifah Zarina tinggal mimpi

Minggu bertemakan Berdua Lebih Baik menyaksikan Sharifah Zarina berduet bersama penyanyi Rem menyampaikan lagu popular gandingan Hafiz dan Datuk Siti Nurhaliza berjudul Muara Hati. 

KUALA LUMPUR: Penyanyi yang popular dengan lagu ‘Langit Ketujuh’, Sharifah Zarina terpaksa akur dengan keputusan juri apabila tersingkir di minggu keenam Gegar Vaganza.

Minggu bertemakan ‘Berdua Lebih Baik’ menyaksikan Sharifah Zarina berduet bersama penyanyi Rem menyampaikan lagu popular gandingan Hafiz dan Datuk Siti Nurhaliza berjudul ‘Muara Hati’.

Ternyata pertaruhan Sharifah Zarina tidak tepat apabila juri kurang bersetuju dengan pilihan lagunya pada minggu tersebut.

Minggu keenam Gegar Vaganza turut menyaksikan pasangan duet seperti Rahmad Mega & Mawi, Wan Khatijah & Awi Rafael, Ifa Raziah & Black, Shima & Sam Innuendo, Ayai & Indah Ruhaila, Mamat & Ikka Razman.

Kini, tinggal tujuh peserta yang bakal meneruskan perjuangan di pentas Gegar Vaganza untuk merebut hadiah wang tunai sebanyak RM100,000.

Peserta mana yang akan kecundang pada Konsert Separuh Akhir Gegar Vaganza minggu hadapan? Siapa pula bakal menggegarkan malam bertemakan ‘Carta Hits’ tersebut?

Jangan lupa untuk terus menonton Gegar Vaganza setiap Ahad, 9 malam di Astro Ria (saluran 104), Astro Prima (105) dan Astro Maya HD (saluran 135).

- Sumber: AstroGempak

Mayat wanita bogel ditemui berhampiran Pasar Borong Selayang

KUALA LUMPUR: Polis sedang memburu warga tempatan yang dipercayai terlibat dengan pembunuhan seorang wanita Vietnam yang ditemui di sebuah bilik hotel dalam keadaan berbogel dengan tangan dan kakinya terikat malam tadi berhampiran Pasar Borong Selayang.

Berdasar siasatan awal polis, lelaki yang dikenali Tan Kok Keong yang berusia 38 tahun dari Temerloh yang berdaftar di bilik hotel terbabit pada malam Sabtu lalu dan mangsa disyaki datang menemui suspek di bilik berkenaan 3 jam selepas mendaftar.

Mayat mangsa ditemui dalam keadaan bogel di dalam bilik air oleh pekerja hotel kira-kira jam 7 malam.

Pemeriksaan forensik mendapati mangsa mati lebih 12 jam ketika ditemui.

Bagaimanapun punca kematian dan motif pembunuhan masih dalam siasatan.

Mangsa dikenali sebagai Tran Thi Thuy berusia 30 tahun juga dikatakan pernah mendaftar di hotel berkenaan 3 hari lepas.

Mayat dibawa ke hospital Kuala Lumpur untuk dibedah siasat.

Ketua Polis Daerah Sentul, ACP R. Munusamy mengesahkan kejadian tersebut dan meminta orang ramai yang mengenali suspek tampil menghubungi polis bagi membantu siasatan. 

- Sumber: Astro Awani 

Alleged Australia child killer 'coping as best she can'

An Australian mother charged with killing 8 children will have her case heard January as she struggles to come to terms with what happened. -Filepix

CAIRNS: An Australian mother charged with killing eight children will have her case heard in January, a court said Monday, as she struggles to come to terms with what happened.

Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday, 37, also known as Mersane Warria, is accused of eight counts of murder after the bodies of the children were found in a house in the northern city of Cairns on Friday morning.

Seven of them were hers and she was an aunt to the eighth. The children -- four girls and four boys -- were aged between two and 14.

The Cairns Magistrates Court refused an application by the women's lawyer Steven MacFarlane for the next hearing on January 30 to be in a mental health court.

This is procedural as MacFarlane said she was currently on an involuntary treatment order and would be assessed, "so once she gets assessed, then it may go to a mental health court at that stage".

MacFarlane said Thaiday, who did not attend the hearing as she remained in a Cairns hospital under police guard with non life-threatening injuries, was still coming to terms with what happened.

"I've spoken to her, she's coping as best she can at the moment," he told reporters outside the court.

"I'm not a doctor, I think she probably knows what's happened but doesn't realise it, it hasn't sunk in, is my personal opinion only."

The hearing came as the local member of the Queensland state parliament, Gavin King, said the public housing home in the suburb of Manoora where the bodies were found could be demolished and a permanent memorial instead built on the site.

"I started that conversation on Saturday morning down at the site with various family representatives and local residents and various agencies," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Police said Sunday that crime scene investigators were still working in the house, describing it as a "long process".

"We still have experts there. It will be a long, hard road from here on in," detective inspector Bruno Asnicar said.

Officers have not revealed the cause of death of the children but said they were looking into various scenarios, including suffocation. They also said knives were found at the house. 

 - Source: AFP 

Kuala Lumpur milik siapa?

Perkara atau polemik pemilikan ini sudah disuarakan beberapa pertubuhan bukan kerajaan, NGO yang melihat wujudnya ketidaksamarataan dalam isu itu.

KUALA LUMPUR: Komposisi antara kaum di Kuala Lumpur mencatatkan kesenjangan tinggi bila hanya 21.9 peratus tanah komersial dan kediaman di ibu negara dimiliki bumiputera.

Ia dipercayai antara lain berpunca daripada perancangan pembangunan yang tidak mengendahkan kepentingan hak bumiputera seperti yang terkandung dalam perlembagaan negara.

Perkara atau polemik pemilikan ini sudah disuarakan beberapa pertubuhan bukan kerajaan, NGO yang melihat wujudnya ketidaksamarataan dalam isu itu.

Menyedari perkara ini, Majlis Perundingan Melayu (MPM) dan Pertubuhan Pemikir Agenda Watan Malaysia (PEMIKIR) menggesa agar kerajaan menukar status kesemua tanah milik kerajaan di Kuala Lumpur seperti kuarters kerajaan yang belum dibangunkan kepada status tanah rizab Melayu.

Ahli Majlis Tertinggi PEMIKIR, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman memohon pihak berwajib agar dapat melihat kembali perihal yang terkandung Perlembagaan Persekutuan Perkara 89 tanah rizab orang Melayu.

Hal itu dirujuk beliau bila kesenjangan ekonomi bumiputera khususnya Melayu berada pada tahap yang begitu rendah dan tidak mampu bersaing dalam corak pembangunan ketika ini.

Setiausaha Agung MPM, Datuk Dr Hasan Mad pula berkata tanah rizab Melayu ataupun tanah yang digazetkan sebagai tanah rizab Melayu adalah perlu selari dengan perkara perlembagaan terbabit.

Bagaimanapun, beliau melihat ia seakan tidak dilaksanakan.

Dalam sidang media yang diadakan, kedua-dua NGO terbabit memaklumkan bahawa polemik ini sudah berlarutan sekian lama, menyulitkan lagi untuk orang Melayu bersaing di ibu negara, dan nasib mereka semakin tidak terbela.

Merujuk kepada peratusan terkini pemilikan komersial dan pemilikan persendirian, daripada 21.9 peratus pemilikan, hanya 1 peratus pemilikan persendirian.

Ikuti wawancara penuh bersama Abdul Aziz dalam membicarakan lebih lanjut berhubung kemerosotan peratusan pemilikan Bumiputera terhadap tanah komersial dan kediaman di kawasan bandar.

- Sumber: Astro Awani 

Cannabis on a high in 2014

Juan Manuel, owner of the first shop dedicated to cannabis merchandising in Montevideo, smokes a joint on April 24, 2014. - AFP Photo/Miguel Rojo

WASHINGTON: It's been something of a breakthrough year for marijuana, the once shunned intoxicant that is steadily gaining ground as a legal high in parts of the world.

In 2014, Uruguay may have been the only country to fully legalize pot, but growing number of US states followed parts of Europe in moving in a similar direction.

And news that the family of the late reggae great Bob Marley has approved the marketing of "Marley Natural," an upmarket marijuana brand, reinforced the upbeat mood among cannabis campaigners.

In May, Uruguay became the first -- and so far only -- country in the world to allow citizens to grow, buy and consume marijuana.

It embraced legalization despite criticism from a United Nations drug control body and opposition from a majority of public opinion within the South American nation.

The "experiment," as policy is described by Uruguay's outgoing leader President Jose Mujica, is moving slowly.

The policy won't come fully into effect until early next year, when entrepreneurs will be authorized to produce cannabis and some pharmacies will be registered to sell it.

Decrees covering its application stipulate that consumers who are residents of Uruguay aged 18 and over can buy up to 40 grams of cannabis a day in certified pharmacies.

Grow your own

Those who prefer to grow their own can register up to six plants a year on a national database, or join a club of 15 to 45 members that can grow a maximum of 99 plants a year.

The law, voted a year ago, was promulgated six months ago with the objective of fighting illicit trafficking.

Slow to put into place, Uruguay's legalization also has to pass muster with newly-elected president Tabare Vasquez, who takes office on March 1.

A cancer specialist who is fervently anti-tobacco, Vasquez has said that he will respect the law, but proceed with a strict evaluation of its impact.

In the United States, campaigners hailed what the Marijuana Policy Project called "yet another historic election year for the movement to end marijuana prohibition."

Voters in Alaska and Oregon opted to follow Colorado and Washington state in legalizing the consumption, sale and taxation of marijuana for recreational and medical purposes.

And by a two to one margin, voters in the District of Columbia approved in November an initiative to legalize the possession and cultivation of marijuana in small amounts for personal use.

Risks stumbling block

But it remains to be seen how far the capital's reform will go, after opponents in Congress slipped language into an omnibus federal spending bill that attempts to impede its implementation.

Twenty-three states plus the US capital already allow cannabis for medical use. Measures to ease pot laws have also been set out in 40-odd states.

It's hard to put a number of the size of the "pot business" -- estimates range from 10 billion to 40 billion dollars. But everyone agrees it's a booming industry.

In Colorado, a specialized bank dedicated to marijuana entrepreneurs who so far have been limited to doing business in cash, is to open in January.

Traditional banks have been reluctant to work with marijuana businesses, fearing prosecution from federal authorities.

Paradoxically, under federal law, marijuana remains illegal, and classified on the same level as heroin and LSD. Critics consider it a "gateway drug" to harder substances.

President Barack Obama's administration has told states legalizing marijuana to guard against the sale of pot to minors or its use to camouflage trafficking in other drugs.

Most favor legalization

Since 2013, however, opinion polls have indicated that a majority of Americans favor legalization.

"The stage is now set for 2016, when measures to regulate marijuana like alcohol are expected to appear on ballots in at least five states," said Mason Tvert, director of communications at the Marijuana Policy Project.

"It's probably only a matter of time before legalization sweeps the nation," the left-leaning Mother Jones current affairs magazine has written in an editorial.

Opponents concerned about the risks for children or those behind the wheel of a motor vehicle -- studies on the latter point are contradictory -- remain active.

A proposal to allow medical cannabis in Florida failed at the ballot box, but not before coming within just two percentage points of the 60 percent required to pass.

The International Narcotics Control Board, tasked by the United Nations to oversee drug laws, expressed its alarm last March.

- Source: AFP 

Priyanka Chopra kagumi Kajol

Priyanka Chopra

AKTRES berbakat besar Priyanka Chopra berkata, dia sangat kagum dengan filem Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ).

Jelasnya, meskipun tidak pernah berlakon bersama Kajol, tetapi DDLJ adalah filem yang membuatkan dia ingin menjadi seperti bintang hebat itu.

"Ketika itu saya baru sahaja berusia 13 tahun, bayangkan selepas menontonnya, saya terus menggunting rambut saya seperti Kajol.

"Malah, sehingga hari ini filem tersebut masih menjadi filem paling hebat pernah saya tonton dan terus menjadi kegemaran saya sehingga hari ini," katanya.

- Sumber: Sinar Harian 

Helikopter tentera Thai terhempas, 4 cedera

YALA - THAILAND. Sebuah helikopter tentera yang meninjau keadaan banjir di Yala, selatan Thailand, terhempas menyebabkan empat orang cedera. 

Helikopter, model Bell 206, dari Task Force Yala yang membawa empat anggota tentera terhempas dalam kebun getah di kampong Poyak, Mukim Lamai, daerah Muang Yala pada jam 1.30 petang tadi ketika dalam perjalanan pulang dari meninjau suasana banjir di wilayah tersebut. 

Menurut juruterbang yang cedera (enggan nama didedahkan), helikopter tersebut terbang dari Kem Sirinthon di daerah Yarang, Pattani, pada jam 1 petang dan terhempas setengah jam kemudian ditiup angin kencang. 

Seorang saksi yang enggan disebut nama berkata, helikopter itu terbang rendah dan hampir melanggar pokok getah sebelum merempuh pokok kelapa.

Juga di wilayah Yala, mayat seorang guru lelaki yang dikenali sebagai Cikgu Abdullah Yakub, 33 tahun, yang dilapor hilang pada 18 Disember lalu ditemui di pintu Empangan Pattani pagi tadi.

Beliau dipercayai jatuh ke dalam sungai Pattani semasa menunggang motosikal. Motosikalnya dijumpai di tepi Sungai Pattani.

Sejak berlaku banjir buruk 15 Disember lepas, sudah enam orang maut termasuk dua kanak-kanak. Tiga lagi cedera akibat tanah runtuh.

Di wilayah Pattani sudah masuk hari ketiga penduduk di tujuh daerah menjadi mangsa banjir yang melibatkan 18,824 orang di 35 mukim dan 130 buah kampung.

Pejabat Pencegahan Bencana dan Penyelamat Wilayah Pattani berkata, hujan lebat dan jumlah air dari bahagian utara Sungai Pattani dan Sungai Saiburi yang melalui tujuh daerah tersebut untuk mengalir ke laut menyebabkan kawasan terbabit ditenggelami air.

Sementara itu, di Narathiwat mayat seorang tentera laut, Sarjan Channarong Malichuen yang hilang di pukul arus deras tiga hari lepas ketika naik perahu membantu penduduk di Sungai Golok ditemui mati lemas sejauh enam kilometer dari tempat kejadian pada kira-kira jam 4 petang semalam.

Ketua Polis Daerah Sungai Golok Kol. Weasamae Saleh berkata, mayat mangsa dijumpa oleh penduduk Kampong Muba, Mukim Pasir Mas, Daerah Sungai Golok tersangkut di sebatang pokok.

- Sumber: Bernama

Duet Display membolehkan anda menggunakan iPad sebagai skrin kedua Macbook anda

Terdapat sejumlah aplikasi dan perisian yang membolehkan anda menggunakan iPad sebagai skrin kedua untuk komputer Mac anda. Terkini, satu lagi aplikasi dengan fungsi yang lebih kurang sama adalah Duet Display.

Duet Display menggunakan sambungan melalui wayar, sekaligus mengelakkan sebarang lengah-masa dalam penggunaan skrin kedua. Ia turut membolehkan anda menggunakan fungsi paparan resolusi tinggi ke iPad anda melalui Mac dengan menggunakannya.

Untuk menggunakan Duet Display ini, pengguna perlu memasang aplikasi khusus pada iPad yang berharga $9.99, dan turut memasang perisian Duet Display pada Mac yang ditawarkan secara percuma.

Bagi anda yang banyak membuat pembangunan, ataupun inginkan sebuah skrin kedua untuk Macbook anda, mungkin boleh mencuba Duet Display ini, dan menggunakan iPad anda sebagai skrin kedua untuk Macbook.

- Sumber: Amanz 

Google+ can automatically 'enhance' your mobile video recordings

Google's no stranger to tweaking your photos automagically, and now it's extending that expertise to video. By using Google+ and its auto-backup system for your media, Mountain View says it can adjust the lighting, color, stability and, soon enough, speech in any video you shoot. 

Just be sure to have Auto Enhance activated on your device and, well, that's the only thing you have to worry about actually. It's a bit different than what the search giant did with Auto Awesome videos, actually, and if you want to see an admittedly low quality sample, pop beyond the break.

The differences aren't jaw-dropping by any means, but the 240p video clip's color does look more saturated on the side-by-side comparison's right half. Of course, we'd like to see a better looking clip before making a judgment one way or another, however, the results are noticeable if a bit compressed and fugly. But hey -- at least it was shot in landscape view.

- Source: Engadget 

Police detain suspect involved in assault case on woman and daughter

NASHIR: Investigations revealed that rape was likely to be the motive of the incident. - Source Photo FB Nashir Ya

ALOR SETAR: Police have detained a suspect in relation to the assault of a mother and daughter who were seriously injured in Taman Harapan, Kuala Kedah last Thursday.

Kedah Criminal Investigation Department head ACP Nashir Ya said the man in his 20s, was arrested at 1.30am today at Kampung Telok Kechai, Kuala Kedah.

"Investigations revealed that rape was likely to be the motive of the incident, but a scuffle broke out after the victims fought back.

"We have also seized a knife from the suspect," he said in a statement here today.

He said the suspect would be in remand until Saturday under Section 459 of the Penal Code.

In the incident, Adriana Ahmad Kamil, 45, and her daughter Amira Asshari, 22, sustained multiple stab and slash wounds on their hands and body after they were attacked by a man who broke into their home.

- Source: Bernama 

Acer's trio of new tablets includes a $150 Windows slate

Acer's taken more than a passing fancy to Chrome OS of late, but at this year's IFA, the company's showing a rekindled love for its affordable tablet range. 

Its first new slates since the beginning of the year come in two sizes, with the more portable 8-inch form factor also offering a choice of platform. The Iconia One Tab 8 runs Android 4.4 KitKat on a quad-core Intel Atom processor (the Z3735G, if you're interested), with an 8-inch, 1,280 x 800 IPS display up front. Otherwise, it's got most of the standard features you'd expect on a tablet, like a pair of cameras and microSD slot for storage expansion. 

Now picture essentially the same hardware configuration, but instead running Windows 8.1 with Bing, and you've got the Iconia Tab 8 W. Successor to the Iconia W4, the Tab 8 W also boasts up to eight hours of battery life and one free year of Office 365. Whether you prefer Google's or Microsoft's OS, both 8-inch slates are available now in Europe for €150, and in the US for $150.

- Source: Engadget 

The future of Google Glass

Some ideas are ahead of their time.

There is no question that the wearables market is taking off with the proliferation of health monitors, pedometers and activity trackers like Fitbit, Jawbone, Nike Fuelband, etc. And next year the Apple Watch will likely make the wearable watch the next big thing. Gartner boldly predicted that companies using Glass and similar wearable gadgets could save up to $1 billion a year within the next three to five years.

However, the consumer electronics space can be a funny thing. Consumers tend to buy in herds. They will buy the next best gadget, only when they actually see others with the gadget. One of the problems with products like Google Glass is that it was released in limited fashion as part of the “Explorers” beta program, (meaning you needed a private invite), which limited distribution. With a price tag of $1,500 very few consumers could afford to try out Google Glass. It takes a much lower price tag to drive consumer interest.

Then you have the whole social acceptance problem. For most people, the use of Glass falls under the creepy umbrella. People get spooked when they don’t know exactly what a device is capturing or monitoring. The potential to do real-time facial recognition video at the blink of an eye can scare even the most tech-savvy users. Everyone has certain boundaries around privacy intrusions.

It’s not hard to conceive how a wearable personal assistant like Google Glass could absolutely disrupt the medical, security, sports and many other industries. For instance, CrowdOptic, which created technology to support the live streaming of information through wearables, has put Glass to work in several industries, such as Healthcare, and now have over 19 hospitals using the platform to improve teaching, collaboration and emergency response. They expect that number to grow to well over a hundred by next year.

Companies like Apx Labs, which created Skylight, an enterprise software platform for Glass, and Augmate, are targeting workforce apps that provide meaningful benefits for the desk-less workers. According to Google, 80 percent of the global workforce does physical or desk-less work every day. The workplace may turn out to be the big opportunity for Glass in the future.

Over 60 highly publicized brands have explored using Glass. Virgin Atlantic ran a six-week trial, where agents at London’s Heathrow Airport, used the technology to welcome customers and check them in for their flights. Sherwin-Williams tried boosting its paint sales, by creating an app called ColorSnap that allows a user to take a photo, while the app analyzes the primary colors and provides matching colors form the Sherwin-Williams lineup.

Real-estate site Trulia created a demo called TruliaForGlass that allows users to review listings that match their criteria directly from the Glass app. And the Sacramento Kings were the first NBA team to offer fans an in-game Glass experience, where players wore Glass during their pre-game warm-ups and would do live streams to video screens inside the arena.

The development community has created over a 100 apps for Glass ranging from highly innovative to somewhat frivolous. For those looking for some amusement, there’s even a Battleship game for Glass called GlassBattle.

For certain professions or industries Glass could be downright disruptive. And at this point, the average consumer really doesn’t have a clue as to how exactly to use the device.

In technology, timing is everything. Most major technology disrupters go through similar cycles of evolution. The first generation of the devices tend to be for hobbyists or toys for the well off, and don’t typically provide much real value; they introduce a new paradigm. The more disruptive it is, the longer it tends to take to get accepted.

Over time however, devices get better and technology matures, which in turn drives more widespread adoption. Remember the first cellular phone — or should I say brick? Most people laughed at the idea of carrying this obtrusive device around with them all the time. It’s hard to imagine how these devices evolved to be the smartphones of today that we can barely spare a second without.

So, wearable technologies like Google Glass are in a similar class as virtual-reality applications like Oculus Rift. They are like the cell phones of the ’80s — waiting to be refined, waiting for technology to be more streamlined, and waiting for more fashionable form factors. They also require more thought around security. It will take some time for these to develop, but when they do, they could become the next big thing.

In the near term, the real opportunity for Glass may be in the workplace. With a little more refinement and some more consideration around privacy concerns, the device may be ready to go.

If Google wants Glass to take off in the consumer market, it might be best served selling it to Apple, which has consistently proven its ability to shape technology for mass consumer adoption.

- Source: TechCrunch

These are the 10 Malaysian films directed by female filmmakers

The gender disparity women directors face in the film industry is pretty obvious not only in Hollywood, but in our local film scene as well.

We all know that filmmaking is a male-dominated industry. When one speaks of filmmaking, one would have the impression of it as a very masculine career and admit it, you would do a double take if you saw woman to carrying a huge camera on her shoulders.

According to a study of women directors last year by Sundance Institute titled, “Exploring the Barriers and Opportunities for Independent Women Filmmakers”, there are 15.24 male directors for each 1 female director. Which means that many men make multiple films and few women make any films.

The gender disparity women directors’ face in the film industry is pretty obvious not only in Hollywood, but in our local film scene as well.

Therefore, to celebrate our very own women filmmakers, this list gathers some of Malaysia’s prominent female filmmakers and their films (that I am aware of) so feel free to suggest any local films that I have missed out.

Ceritaku Ceritamu (Saadiah, 1979)

This colour film is about a village girl, Hasnah and her ambitious dreams in the field of fashion. She wishes to move to Kuala Lumpur to find a better job for a brighter future but a boy who has feelings for her is not pleased with her departure.

As soon as she arrives to the city, she becomes acquainted with a married man. They form a relationship to the point he neglects his responsibility as a father.

Soon after, Hasnah returns to her village with hopes of having her former lover accepting her back.

Back in the 1950s and 1960s, Saadiah was one of the famous film stars, mostly the prima donna in Malay films and often paired with P. Ramlee.

With this film, Saadiah became the first Malay female director. However, “Ceritaku Ceritamu” was her one and only directorial effort as she found more interest in acting.

Mawar Merah (Rosnani Jamil, 1987)

"Mawar Merah" tells of the forbidden love between teenage schoolgirl and her uncle.

The story begins with a lonely Ati at home in Jakarta who is driven to mix with rather unsavoury characters. Then an accident kills her boyfriend and cripples another schoolmate and Ati repents.

To keep her in check, her parents send her to live with her grandmother and uncle in Kuala Lumpur. Thus begins the ill-fated love affair (The New Straits Times, Jun 15, 1987).

This film was a commendable effort by the first-time director who also co-produced it with husband, veteran director Jamil Sulong.

Layar Lara (Shuhaimi Baba, 1997)

Shuhaimi Baba landed her first award as the Best Director in the 13th Malaysian Film Festival (FFM13). In fact, she had broken the conformity by being the first female director to win the award.

She has also won the Best Director in the foreign language category at the 19th Brussels International Independent Film Festival 1997, Belgium.

The story follows Ena Manjalara, a spoiled young actress, who tries to enchant all the men around her, including Shak, an egoistic singer, Daud, a film extra, and Malik, her film director.

Losing her grip on reality, she is sacked by Malik, and her life became one of desperation.

Ena meets Daud's aunt, Zai, a former movie idol of the 1950s who is now also destitute. As a result of the meeting, Ena learns the true meaning of friendship, respect, and artistic devotion.

Perempuan Melayu Terakhir (Erma Fatima, 1999)

A directorial debut by Erma Fatima, “Perempuan Melayu Terakhir” is about Haikal, who produces western drama and travels to Malaysia’s east coast in search for his identity as a Malay.

There, his destiny arranges a meeting with a girl who still upholds the tradition of Malay. Although she is engaged to someone else, Haikal finds himself strongly attracted to her.

Erma Fatima received the Best Director Award at the 7th Pyongyang International Film Festival 2000, North Korea. The film has also won Best Story (Syed Azidi), Best Cinematography (Teoh Gay Hian), Best Art Direction (Hamir Soib & Zuraini Anuar), Most Promising Actor (Eizlan Yusof), and the Special Jury Award at the 14th Malaysian Film Festival.

Embun (Erma Fatima, 2002)

Erma returned with her sophomore effort but lost the Best Director Award to her husband, Badaruddin Azmi who directed “KL Menjerit” which also won the Best Film Award at the 16th Malaysian Film Festival.

Set in Malaya during the Japanese occupation in the 1940s, this film tells the story of a girl, Embun, who is thrown into the forefront of the struggle against the Japanese when her freedom-fighter brother, Bayu and father are detained by the Japanese.

In the midst of it all, she is attracted to the Japanese army public relations man, Koishi, who is assigned to explain the Japanese propaganda to the Malays and win their support.

Sepet (Yasmin Ahmad, 2004)

No lists about Malaysian filmmakers are complete without the mention of Yasmin Ahmad who has touched the lives of many Malaysians with her films.

“Sepet” it tells a tale of a love that blooms between a Chinese boy and a Malay girl and probes the sensitive issue of interracial relationships.

The sequel to “Sepet”, called “Gubra” was released in 2006 and followed by a prequel to both Sepet and Gubra, titled Mukhsin. The three films are known as Orked Trilogy.

The film won the Best Film Awards at the 18th Tokyo International Film Festival 2005, the 27th Créteil International Women's Film Festival in France, the 18th Malaysian Film Festival and the Global Chinese Golden Arts Awards.

Love Conquers All (Tan Chui Mui, 2006)

Revolving around the life of a girl from Penang who has come to Kuala Lumpur to work with her aunt, Ping meets John, a young man who keeps trying to approach her. Ping has come from Penang in the north to Kuala Lumpur to work with her aunt.

There she meets John, and although she has a boyfriend in Penang she is drawn more and more into his world. Ping loses herself in her love and does all she can to keep John.

Graduated from Multimedia University with a Bachelor Degree of Multimedia in Animation & Film in 2002, her debut feature film had won several awards such as The Swiss Oikocredit award at Fribourg, the Tiger Award at 36th International Film Festival and the New Currents Awards and Fipresci Award at the 11th Pusan International Film Festival in 2006.

Since then, Tan has been recognised as being at the forefront of a new wave of Malaysian filmmakers who deal with social issues.

Talentime (Yasmin Ahmad, 2009)

A talent search competition has matched two hearts - that of Melur, a Malay-mixed girl and an Indian male student, Mahesh. Melur, with her melodious voice, singing whilst playing the piano is one of the seven finalists of the Talentime competition of her school organised by Cikgu Adibah.

Likewise Hafiz, enthralling with his vocalist talent while playing the guitar, divides his time between school and mother, who is hospitalised for brain tumour.

This film marks Yasmin's last feature film prior to her death on July 25, 2009 which had awarded her with the Best Director at the 22nd Malaysian Film Festival.

Year Without A Summer (Tan Chui Mui, 2010)

Director Tan Chui Mui returned to her birthplace, a quiet and remote Malaysian fishing village, to film Year Without a Summer, a story of boyhood friends who reunite after a long separation. The first part of film is set largely in the moonlight.

On the evening when the singer Azam returns to the village he was so eager to flee as a little boy, he goes fishing in a boat with his friend Ali and his friend’s wife, Minah.

The three embark on a lengthy nighttime fishing expedition and tiptoe around the reasons for Azam’s long absence. The film is a poetic reflection on memories, friendship and dreams in a world related to the sea.

The film has received the Special Mention Awards (Cinema of the Future) at the 13th Buenos Aires International Festival of Independent Cinema in 2011.

Penanggal: The Curse of the Malayan Vampire (Ellie Suriaty, 2013)

Set in the 1930s, Murni unknowingly inherits ghostly powers from Mak Ajeng, which terrifies the village folk in Kampung Jawa, forcing her to flee. Abused by the villagers for her unwanted powers, Murni is saved by Syed Yusof while making her escape.

Born in 1971, Ellie began her acting career in 1999 and is well-known for an actress. “Penanggal” is her first foray into directing a feature film.

Ellie, who was four months pregnant, suffered a miscarriage during filming. However, her hard work and dedication were in no vain as the film had won her the Most Promising Director at the 26th Malaysian Film Festival this year. 

- Source: The Daily Seni

Proton ready to collaborate on Asean car project

It should be easier for Proton to expand as it is already an Asean car and has its own manufacturing facilities producing locally branded cars, unlike auto makers in other Asean countries.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd says it is ready to collaborate in the Asean car project.

Proton CEO Datuk Abdul Harith Abdullah said Asean is the next largest growing market in the world after China, and Asean countries should protect their own market territory by producing their own homegrown products.

"We would be very happy to extend our market deeper into other Asean countries with their collaboration, in expanding our brand further," he said when asked to comment on the Asean car project, which was discussed by Malaysian and Indonesian leaders in October.

On Oct 20, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the project would be a dream come true as newly-elected Indonesian President Joko Widodo or Jokowi had expressed interest in pursuing the idea mooted by Malaysia.

After meeting Jokowi in Jakarta following his inauguration as the Indonesian President, Najib said Proton is expected to be involved in the project.

Abdul Harith said as a Malaysian company and a household brand in the local industry, Proton would continue to channel its energy into realising the government’s strategic objectives.

The CEO said Proton is already an Asean car, as it has its own manufacturing facilities producing locally branded cars, unlike auto makers in other Asean countries.

"Proton is ever willing to assist any country that is willing to grow together with us, with the blessings of the Malaysian government," he told Bernama.

Meanwhile, Abdul Harith said 2015 would be another milestone for Proton as the year marks 30 years of the inauguration of Malaysia’s first national car.

"Obviously, Proton has been a part of Malaysians over all these years, and we wish to return all accolades to every Malaysian who has been instrumental in making Proton a household name in the country, as well as in the region," he added. 

- Source: Bernama 

Briton dies in SMART Tunnel car crash

The car in which both the victims were travelling lost control and skidded before hitting the tunnel's wall. - Source: civilcommunity.netau.net/filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: A British man died and a female teacher was badly injured when the car they were travelling in crashed in the Smart Tunnel here Sunday.

Kuala Lumpur Traffic Investigation and Legal staff officer, DSP S. Markandan said when the incident occurred at 4.50am, the two were believed to be on their way to the federal capital.

"The car in which both the victims were travelling went out of control and skidded before hitting the tunnel's wall.

"The British national, Thomas George, 22, was severely injured and died on the spot while the 25-year-old driver (female teacher) was badly hurt and was brought to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment," he said in a statement.

Markandan said the case was being investigated under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987 for causing death by reckless or dangerous driving.

Meanwhile, two men died in an accident involving a three-tonne lorry and a car at KM47 of the Kuala Lumpur-Ipoh road near Batang Kali, Hulu Selangor at around 2.20 this morning.

A Hulu Selangor District Police spokesman said that during the incident, the lorry driver was said to have suddenly come out of a junction and caused the driver of a Proton Wira Aeroback to lose control of his car.

"The driver of the car who was carrying five passengers failed to control the vehicle and hit the back of the lorry before both vehicles skidded and overturned on the road shoulder.

"The driver and one of the passengers, aged 20 and 15 respectively, died on the spot whereas the four other passengers were injured and are currently being treated at the Selayang Hospital," he said when contacted.

He said the case was being investigated under Section 41 of the Road Transport Act 1987.

Hulu Selangor District Police acting chief DSP Zulkepli Bedin when contacted by Bernama, confirmed the incident. 

- Source: Bernama 

Wanita Australia didakwa bunuh tujuh anak kandung

Polis dalam satu kenyataan mengatakan dia dituduh di hadapan seorang majistret di Hospital Cairns Base, Queensland tempat dia ditahan. - Gambar Fail

CAIRNS: Ibu kepada tujuh daripada lapan kanak-kanak yang ditemui mayatnya di sebuah rumah di Cairns, Australia pada Jumaat lalu didakwa hari ini, kata polis.

Wanita berusia 37 tahun yang tidak dinamakan dan kini berada di bawah pengawasan di hospital, dituduh dengan lapan dakwaan membunuh.

Polis dalam satu kenyataan mengatakan dia dituduh di hadapan seorang majistret di Hospital Cairns Base, Queensland tempat dia ditahan.

Polis bagaimanapun tidak mendedahkan bagaimana kanak-kanak malang terbabit yang berusia di antara dua dan 14 tahun itu dibunuh. Empat daripadanya kanak-kanak perempuan dan empat lagi lelaki.

Polis sebelum ini berkata mereka menemui pisau di sisi mayat ditemui namun masih melihat kemungkinan pelbagai senario termasuk lemas.

Siasatan dan autopsi polis akan diteruskan menurut pegawai penyiasat Bruno Asnicar dan paling awal dijangka siap hari ini.

Tertuduh adalah ibu kepada tujuh kanak-kanak terbabit dan ibu saudara kepada salah seorang mangsa perempuan.

Polis Queensland tidak mendedahkan nama anggota keluarga terbabit atas alasan budaya.

Sesetengah budaya pribumi negara itu tidak membenarkan nama mangsa disebut kerana dianggap tidak menghormati mereka yang meninggal dunia.

Insiden penemuan mayat terbabit menggemparkan negara itu yang baru sahaja dikejutkan dengan insiden tebusan di sebuah kafe di Sydney yang meragut tiga nyawa minggu lalu. 

- Sumber: AFP