First AirAsia bodies arrive as bad weather hampers recovery

Indonesian Air Force officers load the coffin of a victim of AirAsia flight QZ8501 to an aircraft in Pangkalan Bun, the town with the nearest airstrip to the crash site of AirAsia flight QZ8501. - AFP PHOTO / YANUAR

SURABAYA: Soldiers acting as pall bearers Wednesday carried coffins containing the first two bodies from AirAsia Flight QZ8501 into Surabaya airport from where the ill-fated plane departed, as sombre relatives gave their DNA to help identify loved ones.

The bodies were taken from an air force plane to a military ambulance to be transported to a hospital for examination and identification -- but many exhausted families were left waiting for news as bad weather hampered search efforts.

Officials had hoped to recover most of the bodies but rough conditions made it difficult for helicopters to fly over the area in the Java Sea where several corpses and debris from the ill-fated Airbus A320-200 were found a day earlier.

In Indonesia's second-biggest city Surabaya, where the plane had departed for Singapore early on Sunday, drained and emotional relatives of the 162 people on board gathered at a crisis centre to hand over documents and medical records.

Among them was Hadi Widjaja, 60, who was preparing a Muslim funeral for his son Andreas and daughter-in-law Enny Wahyuni.

"I am anxious to know if the rescuers have found their bodies. The president has said that they will do the best they can to find them," Widjaja told AFP.

"But if they really cannot find them, I will scatter flowers in the sea here as a way to say goodbye."

Police in Surabaya said they had taken DNA from 30 immediate family members to assist with the identification of bodies, which is set to take place at a hospital in Surabaya. Two of the recovered bodies were being flown there on Wednesday afternoon.

Storms delayed the start of operations on Wednesday and helicopters were later forced to return to the base in Pangkalan Bun, the town with the nearest airstrip to the crash site.

- 'We turned back' -

"For the safety reasons, we turned back," helicopter pilot Tatang Onne Setiawan told AFP.

"Besides the evacuation of the bodies, we also planned to search for bigger parts of the plane."

Boat-based teams were still trying to make progress around the crash site.

A search and rescue official at Pangkalan Bun, Sunarbowo Sandi, told reporters they had recovered a total of seven bodies.

According to search and rescue officials AFP spoke with, none of the victims found so far was wearing a lifejacket.

Debris found so far from the aircraft, which crashed into the Java Sea southwest of the island of Borneo during a storm, included an exit door and several suitcases.

"There were snacks, instant porridge, and three umbrellas," commander of the Bung Tomo warship, Colonel Yayan, told a local news channel, referring to the 28 items that had been retrieved.

National Search and Rescue Agency chief Bambang Soelistyo told reporters the fuselage had not been found, denying reports that sonar imagery showed the aircraft on the seabed.

During Tuesday's searches, an air force plane had seen a "shadow" on the seabed believed to be the missing plane, where all search efforts were now being concentrated, he said earlier.

The hunt is now on for the plane's black boxes, which are key to determining the cause of the crash.

"We have concerns to secure the flight recorders, believed to be with parts of the plane we haven't found," said Soelistyo.

Britain's Air Accidents Investigation Branch has sent an investigator carrying "specialist technical equipment" that can help to locate flight recorders.

Accompanying Singaporean experts, the investigator is travelling to the site on an Indonesian naval vessel, according to the British embassy in Jakarta.

Before take-off the pilot of QZ8501 had asked for permission to fly at a higher altitude to avoid the storm, but his request was not approved due to other planes above him on the popular route, according to AirNav, Indonesia's air traffic control.

In his last communication, the pilot said he wanted to change course to avoid the menacing storm system. Then all contact was lost, about 40 minutes after the plane had taken off.

- 'Unique weather conditions' -

"There were some very unique weather conditions and let's wait for the investigation to be concluded," AirAsia's boss Tony Fernandes told reporters on Tuesday in Surabaya, after meeting with relatives.

"This is a scar with me for the rest of my life," he said.

The missing plane was operated by AirAsia Indonesia, a unit of Malaysia-based AirAsia, which had previously earned a solid safety record.

Of the 162 passengers and crew on board Flight QZ8501, 155 were Indonesian.

President Joko Widodo also met the victims' families in Surabaya on Tuesday and promised "a massive search" effort, with priority given to recovering bodies of the passengers and crew.

The United States, Australia, Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia are among the countries helping in the search effort, which comes at the end of an awful year for Malaysian air travel.

After the disappearance of Flight MH370 in March, en route from from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew, another Malaysia Airlines flight -- MH17 -- was shot down over Ukraine in July, killing all 298 on board. 

- Source: AFP 

Kadar tarif elektrik Singapura turun 8% suku tahun pertama 2015

Kadar baru ini akan menjadikan isi rumah Singapura akan mengalami penurunan tarif elektrik 25.28 23.29 sen per kWj dari 1 Januari hingga 31 Mac tahun hadapan.

KUALA LUMPUR: Kos bahan api yang rendah akan menyaksikan tarif elektrik di Singapura dikurangkan secara purata sebanyak 8 peratus atau 1.99 sen bagi setiap kilowatt jam (kWj) pada suku pertama tahun hadapan (2015).

Pengurangan ini didorong oleh penurunan bahan api sebanyak 16.4 peratus berbanding tahun sebelumnya.

Menurut firma tenaga Singapura, SP Services dalam akhbar The Straits Timespada Selasa, kadar baru ini akan menjadikan isi rumah akan mengalami penurunan tarif elektrik 25.28 – 23.29 sen per kWj dari 1 Januari hingga 31 Mac tahun hadapan.

"Oleh kerana kos bahan api menurun kira-kira 50 peratus daripada tarif, ini menjadikan pengurangan berkadar 8 peratus dalam tarif elektrik Q1 2015" kata SP Services.

Kajian suku tahunan tarif elektrik ini dibuat berdasarkan garis panduan yang ditetapkan oleh pengawal selia industri elektrik (Pihak Berkuasa Pasaran Tenaga). 

- Sumber: Agensi 

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Nota kaki: Malaysia pulak macamana? Naik ke turun?

Ekin: Keluarga, bisnes seiring!

PERNAH bergelar pelakon suatu ketika dahulu bukan bererti empunya nama Nora Asikin Rahmat ini terus dilupakan dalam bidang seni.

Walaupun sudah lama wajahnya tidak dilihat di layar-layar skrin namun masih ramai yang ingin mengambil tahu perjalanan hidup wanita yang lebih dikenali sebagai Ekin ini.

Siapa sangka, keputusannya meninggalkan bidang seni bukanlah langkah yang merugikan dirinya, malah kerana keputusan itulah dia kini antara selebriti yang semakin berjaya dalam bidang perniagaan.

Berkongsi kisah hidupnya kini, ibu kepada Cahaya Malaika ini memberitahu, meskipun perniagaan yang dijalankan sangat memberangsangkan, ia bukan bererti dia mengabaikan keluarga terutama puteri sulungnya itu.

"Biasanya saya akan membawa anak ke mana-mana saya pergi. Sama ada urusan itu di butik atau di luar Kuala Lumpur, saya tidak pernah meninggalkan," katanya kepada Zass.

Akui wanita berusia 33 tahun ini, masa bersama anak adalah paling berharga berbanding perkara lain.

"Anak adalah keutamaan saya, saya memang tidak boleh jauh dengannya. Saya tidak mahu dia kekurangan kasih saya kerana saya leka dan terlalu memberikan fokus kepada karier semata," jelasnya.

Tambah Ekin, walaupun di awal kelahiran Cahaya, dia sering menerima tawaran komersial bersama anaknya itu, tetapi dia nekad untuk tidak terlalu mendedahkan Cahaya kepada bidang seni.

"Cahaya masih kecil, rasanya dalam usianya sekarang pun, saya kurang selesa melihat dia melakukan kerja-kerja sedemikian.

"Tetapi jika apa yang ditawarkan menarik, saya sedia pertimbangkannya," katanya yang turut memaklumkan Cahaya kini menginjak usia 2 tahun 10 bulan.

Ditanya adakah dia sedang merancang menambah bilangan ahli keluarga, jelas Ekin, dia dan suami, Mawi AF, sudah bersyukur mempunyai Cahaya.

"Kerana masalah rahim saya, doktor nasihatkan supaya banyak berehat jika mengandung lagi. Kami tidak pernah merancang dan apa yang dianugerahkan Allah SWT kami terima dengan terbuka.

"Alhamdulillah, sekarang pun kami cukup gembira dan berseri dengan adanya seorang anak," katanya.

Ujar Ekin, adakala kesibukannya juga membuatkan dia hanya berkesempatan meluangkan masa bersama suami selepas habis bekerja.

"Lagi-lagi pada waktu hujung minggu, memang banyak kerja, kerana saya akan ikut mana-mana 'event' perniagaan.

"Mawi pula banyak mendapat undangan pada waktu itu, jadi kami perlu bijak mencari masa bersama," katanya akan makan malam bersama, tengok wayang dan membawa Cahaya ke tempat permainan jika ada masa terluang.

Dapat sokongan suami

Mengakui semakin sibuk dengan urusan perniagaan dan keluarga, Ekin memberitahu, dia gembira kerana masanya dipenuhi dengan perkara yang lebih bermanfaat kini.

"Selepas meninggalkan dunia lakonan dan berkahwin, saya memang tidak terikat dengan sebarang komitmen.

"Alhamdulillah, bidang perniagaan yang diceburi telah memberi warna baru dalam kehidupan saya.

"Selepas setahun lebih mengusahakan produk kesihatan dan kecantikan Unequein, saya kini mampu berbangga dengan diri sendiri," katanya kepada Zass.

Tambah Ekin, dia juga bersyukur kerana suaminya itu sentiasa memberi sokongan dengan jalan yang dipilihnya.

"Walaupun masing-masing terikat dengan karier dan komitmen, tetapi dia tidak pernah merungut kerana apa yang diusahakan saya berhasil," katanya 21 Disember lalu genap enam tahun usia perkahwinan mereka.

Dalam pada itu, Ekin mengakui sebagai kehidupan berumah tangga tidak lengkap jika tidak pernah bertikam lidah.

"Adatlah menjadi suami isteri pasti ada bertikam lidah, tetapi tidak pernah pula kami bergaduh besar.

"Biasanya kami hanya tidak sependapat mengenai perkara-perkara yang melibatkan perniagaan. Contohnya bila hendak mengeluarkan rekaan terbaru, ada sahaja percanggahan idea," katanya.

Mengenai perkembangan perniagaannya pula, katanya, dia kini sedang merancang membuka sebuah butik di sekitar Kuala Lumpur.

"Butik yang ada lokasinya di Bangi, walaupun sambutan memberangsang, tetapi sebagai peniaga saya perlu cari lokasi yang lebih strategik dan mudah dijumpai pelanggan.

"Insya-Allah, itu perancangan saya untuk tahun hadapan," ujarnya lagi.

Selain itu, bagi produk Unequein, selain tudung, Ekin turut menghasilkan pelbagai jenis selendang yang semakin menjadi kegilaan wanita bertudung.

"Wanita bertudung kini semakin bijak bergaya, pun begitu mereka masih kelihatan sopan," katanya.

 - Sumber: Sinar Harian 

Keluarga mangsa MH370 irihati QZ8501 ditemui dalam tiga hari

Philip Wood, 50 merupakan salah satu penumpang MH370 yang hilang sejak Mac 8.

Penemuan serpihan pesawat and mangsa nahas QZ8501 sejak semalam membuatkan salah seorang keluarga mangsa MH370 berasa iri hati.

Menurut Sarah Bajc, teman wanita kepada seorang warganegara Amerika Syarikat, Philip Wood, 50 yang merupakan salah satu penumpang MH370 yang hilang sejak 8 Mac lalu, dia berasa sedikit iri hati kerana masih belum ada sebarang jawapan tentang kehilangan pesawat MH370.

Dalam satu temuramah dengan CNN, Bajc berkata apa yang berlaku sejak kehilangan pesawat AirAsia dilaporkan Ahad lepas amat berbeza dengan situasi yang dilalui keluarga mangsa MH370.

Pesawat MH370 dari Kuala Lumpur ke Beijing dengan 239 penumpang hilang Mac lalu sehingga ke hari ini, ianya masih belum ditemui.

“Boleh dikatakan saya agak cemburu dengan apa yang berlaku. Sekurang-kurangnya, mereka mampu mengetahui apa yang berlaku dan meneruskan kehidupan mereka,” katanya.

Bajc berkata pihak berkuasa juga telah bertindak dengan serta-merta dan memberi informasi terkini kepada semua ahli keluarga.

“Ianya berlainan dengan apa yang kami keluarga mangsa MH370 lalui,” katanya lagi.

Menurut Bajc, keluarga MH370 masih menghadapi cabaran emosi, kewangan dan dari segi perundangan memandangkan tiada sijil kematian dikeluarkan untuk mangsa pesawat MH370.

Bajc pada masa yang sama turut menyampaikan perasaan simpatinya terhadap keluarga mangsa QZ8501.

Pesawat AirAsia QZ8501 dari Surabaya ke Singapura dilaporkan hilang pada hari Ahad lepas. Misi pencarian pada hari ke empat telah menemui tujuh mayat nahas pesawat itu di Teluk Kumai, setakat ini. 

- Sumber: Astro Awani 

53 dead in Philippines flooding and landslides

Jangmi affected 121,737 people, of which 80,186 are in evacuation centres, according to the national disaster monitoring agency, which said that 53 people were killed overall.

MANILA: The death toll from flooding and landslides in the Philippines wrought by tropical storm Jangmi rose to 53 Wednesday, officials said, with some regions saying they were caught off guard by the deluge.

In Catbalogan town in Samar province 19 people died in a landslide that left homes and vehicles buried under rocks and mud, local Mayor Stephany Uy-Tan said, adding that the town had been surprised by the landslide.

"We did not expect a deluge. We thought the hill where the landslide hit was tough as rocks," she told AFP.

"There was no evacuation, people were just advised to prepare for possible landslides," she said. "We need to check communication systems to find out what went wrong."

Jangmi affected 121,737 people, of which 80,186 are in evacuation centres, according to the national disaster monitoring agency, which said that 53 people were killed overall.

The storm's death toll was nearly triple that of the last major storm to hit the country, Super Typhoon Hagupit, earlier this month.

Hagupit, with winds of 210 kilometres (130 miles) per hour, sparked a massive evacuation effort as it brought back memories of the strongest storm ever to hit the country, Super Typhoon Haiyan, whose 230-kilometre per hour winds left 7,350 dead or missing in 2013.

In Misamis Oriental province, floods flattened rice and corn fields resulting in an estimated 400 million pesos ($9 million) in damages, Governor Yevgeny Emano told DZMM radio.

"We were caught by surprise, we didn't expect that we would be hit by the eye of the storm," Emano said, although he noted he had received some warnings.

In Leyte -- the province worst-hit by Haiyan -- the rains brought landslides and floods that closed off major roads, Governor Leopoldo Domenico Petilla said on DZMM.

Mina Marasigan, the national disaster monitoring agency's spokeswoman, defended the government's handling of the storm saying weather warnings were sent out even as Jangmi was still forming over the Pacific Ocean.

"Maybe people underestimated the situation because it's a tropical depression, not a super typhoon. They dismissed it as weak," she said.

"We need to study what happened in this storm closely and find ways for the public to better understand storm warnings," Marasigan added. 

- Sumber: AFP

QZ8501: Mayat ke tujuh mangsa nahas ditemui

Menurut portal berita Kompas TV, mayat ketujuh yang ditemui itu belum dapat dipastikan jantinanya.

KUALA LUMPUR: Satu lagi mayat mangsa nahas pesawat Air Asia QZ8501 telah berjaya ditemui Pasukan Mencari dan Menyelamat (SAR) Indonesia pada hari ini, menjadikan jumlah mayat mangsa nahas kepada tujuh orang setakat ini.

Menurut portal berita Kompas TV, mayat ketujuh yang ditemui itu belum dapat dipastikan jantinanya.

Pada masa sekarang, empat mangsa yang ditemui hari ini masih berada di kapal SAR KRI Bung Tomo, dan akan dibawa ke Pangkalan Bun, Kalimantan Tengah bila cuaca kembali baik.

Pada Selasa, tiga mayat telah ditemui dan dipindahkan ke Hospital Bhayangkara di Surabaya untuk proses pengecaman.

- Sumber: Astro Awani 

Sistem sonar kesan bangkai pesawat di dasar Laut Jawa

PETA ZON PENCARIAN: Namun belum ada maklumat sama ada pesawat berkenaan masih berada dalam keadaan asal atau pecah.

Masuk hari ke empat, Pasukan Mencari dan Menyelamat Indonesia (SAR) berjaya mengesan bangkai pesawat AirAsia QZ8501 menggunakan sistem sonar.

Bangkai tersebut dikesan berada di dasar Laut Jawa, iaitu sehari selepas penemuan serpihan pesawat yang pertama.

Namun belum ada maklumat sama ada pesawat berkenaan masih berada dalam keadaan asal atau sebaliknya.

Terdahulu, Ketua SAR, Bambang Soelistyo mengumumkan setakat ini pasukan menyelamat telah menemui enam jasad daripada pesawat berkenaan.

Kapal Perang Indonesia, KRI Bung Tomo turut menemui sejumlah besar barangan peribadi milik mangsa selain beberapa objek keras daripada bahagian pesawat QZ8501.

Antara objek yang ditemui termasuk peralatan kecemasan, satu unit tingkap kecemasan, beg berisi makanan, kasut kanak-kanak dan sebuah kamera.

Gerakan mencari bagaimanapun dilaporkan berdepan kesukaran kerana ombak besar dan hujan lebat.

- Sumber: Astro Awani 

What happens next in AirAsia search

In past accidents, recovering large pieces of the plane wreckage has helped investigators understand what went wrong by determining at what impact and angle the plane hit the water, experts say. - File pic

After an agonizing three-day search, Indonesian authorities spotted bodies and debris they have confirmed came from the missing AirAsia plane. The Tuesday announcement ends one phase of the investigation and mystery even as it begins another. So now that they've found the disappeared plane's debris, what happens next?

The first priority, aviation experts say, will be the recovery of bodies; then the recovery of the flight recorders. Third may be recovering the plane itself, which would take specialized equipment, such as salvage ships.

In past accidents, recovering large pieces of the plane wreckage has helped investigators understand what went wrong by determining at what impact and angle the plane hit the water, experts say.

Indonesia authorities said divers and sonar-equipped ships are headed to the site. The depth of waters where the debris was found appears relatively shallow — between 80 and 100 feet, which will make finding the main wreckage much easier, experts say.

By comparison, searchers for the Air France Flight 447 were dealing with depths of 12,500 feet -- roughly the same as the Titanic. For that reason, it took them two years to find the wreckage, even though they found bodies and floating debris within days.

Q: When can we expect the black box?

A: Given the shallow depth, experts say authorities will find the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder within two or three days. At those depths, divers can be used along with receivers to listen for the recorders' acoustic transmitter that sends out a unique clicking sound.

It will likely take another two or three days to have the recordings analyzed. Only a handful of countries have the technology to do it, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Britain and France, said former accident investigator John Cox.

"In those boxes will be story of what brought down the AirAsia flight," said Cox, a former captain for US Airways and now chief executive of the Washington-based consulting firm Safety Operating Systems.

Another advantage investigators hold is that the Karimata Straits where the AirAsia jet crashed are very well studied by oceanographers, said David Gallo, who co-led the expedition that found Air France 447. "It's an important shipping lane and important for water circulation, which means experts will be very familiar with its currents and tides flow," he said. "My guess is we'll know what happened within a week."

Q: What can we tell from what's been found so far?

A: One major question to be answered in coming days is whether the plane broke up in flight or hit the water first and broke up on impact.

"It's important to know because that tells you whether it was a force like a storm that destroyed the airplane in air or if it was a matter of the pilots losing control and never able to recover from it," said Australia-based aviation security expert Desmond Ross.

The fact that some of the bodies recovered so far were partially nude argues for the plane breaking mid-air, Ross said. "That's fairly typical of a long fall through the air, where the clothes are pulled away in the slipstream."

On the other hand, the fact that search crews have seen what looks like a shadow in the shape of a plane could point to the wreckage being largely intact when it hit the water. 

- Source: The Washington Post

Bekas Menteri di JPM meninggal dunia

SHAH ALAM - Bekas Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Zainal Abidin meninggal dunia di Institut Jantung Negara jam 9 malam tadi.

Arwah pernah menerima anugerah Tokoh Maal Hijrah 1435H Kebangsaan 2013 dan dilantik Pengerusi Majlis Amanah Rakyat.

Sebelum itu, beliau menjawat jawatan Pengarah, Kor Agama Angkatan Tentera dan Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim).

Jenazah akan dibawa ke rumahnya di No 8 Jalan Suasana 5/3A Bandar Tun Hussein Onn 43200 Cheras Selangor.

- Sumber: Sinar Harian 

RON95 to go down to RM1.90 per litre starting 1 January 2015?

KUALA LUMPUR: The price of RON 95 and diesel will go down to between RM1.90 and RM1.95 per litre from Jan 1.

Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan in his twitter posting last night said the announcement would be made by the Domestic Trade, Co-Operatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK).

“It is expected RON 95 and diesel will be between RM1.90 and RM1.95 per litre starting Jan 1, 2015.

“The announcement will be made by the KPDNKK,” he said in a Twitter posting last night.

However, he did not mention anything on RON 97 which is retailing at RM2.46 per litre this month.

Ahmad also hoped traders would reduce the price of goods following the reduction in fuel prices. KPDNKK minister Datuk Seri Hassan Malek when contacted said the official announcement would be made as soon as possible.

“When the time comes, I will announce it before the end of this month,” he said.

The retail price for RON95 is RM2.26 per litre while diesel is RM2.23 per litre for December. On Nov 21, the government had decided that fuel subsidies for RON95 and diesel would be removed on Dec 1 following the implementation of a managed float system.

Under the system, the monthly average of the world crude oil price would determine the retail fuel prices of the following month.

Earlier this month, the price of RON 95 and RON 97 were reduced by four sen and nine sen, bringing the price to RM2.26 per litre and RM2.46 per litre respectively.

However, the price of diesel was increased by three-sen from RM2.20 per litre.

- Source: New Strait Times, http://www.nst.com.my/node/67641

Scientists show how you can restore lost memories

It's scary to lose memories, especially in the early phases of diseases like Alzheimer's -- you're really losing part of yourself. Thankfully, researchers at UCLA may have found a way to get those memories back. 

They've conducted experiments suggesting that memories aren't stored in synapses, as established theory dictates. Instead, you only need to make sure that neurons are intact and that the brain can synthesize the proteins needed to form new synaptic links. 

In a snail, memories came rushing back after scientists stopped using a protein synthesis inhibitor that curbed synaptic growth. Those memories would have been gone forever if the synapses themselves were really the key.

These are early findings, but they should correlate to similar processes in human brains. That, in turn, has big implications for medicine. 

If you can restore memories by creating synaptic connections, it should be possible to bring back those precious moments if you're suffering from early stage Alzheimer's or other memory-related conditions where the neurons remain intact. 

It wouldn't help in situations where the neurons are gone (such as late stage Alzheimer's), but it could improve your quality of life for years, if not decades.

- Source: Engadget 

FBI maintains that North Korea hacked Sony as detractors mount

Did North Korea's government hack Sony Pictures? Though the United States government and FBI say yes, a growing chorus of detractors is pushing back on that claim. And the FBI is apparently listening: one firm, Norse, met with the FBI this past Monday to present its own claim that a group of six people were responsible. Moreover, at least one of those six is said to be an ex-Sony employee, reports Politico.

Norse says its been looking into the attack on Sony Pictures since before Thanksgiving, and it presented the results of that research to the FBI yesterday. For its part, the FBI is sticking to its story -- at least for now. "The FBI has concluded the Government of North Korea is responsible for the theft and destruction of data on the network of Sony Pictures Entertainment. Attribution to North Korea is based on intelligence from the FBI, the U.S. intelligence community, DHS [Department of Homeland Security], foreign partners and the private sector," an FBI statement provided to media reads.

Norse senior VP Kurt Stammberger says that his company traced at least part of the attack to a single former employee, known as "Lena", who apparently had direct knowledge of the network infrastructure at Sony Pictures. The video above, from CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley, goes into more detail about the alleged former employee.

In a related report, Reuters spoke with an unidentified US official who's close to the government's investigation of the Sony Pictures attack. The source said the US government now believes that North Korea "likely" worked with outside parties to launch the attack. It's not clear if the source is referencing an outside government or other party, just that the act may have been "contracted" out.

Taia Global, another security firm, analyzed 20 messages internal to the alleged hacking group (the "Guardians of Peace") responsible for the attack on Sony Pictures. The firm determined, through "Native Language identification and L1 Interference analysis," that the primary language of the hackers was likely Russian. Here's Taia Global's statement:

"We tested for Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and German using an analysis of L1 interference. Our preliminary results show that Sony's attackers were most likely Russian, possibly but not likely Korean and definitely not Mandarin Chinese or German."

So, who hacked Sony Pictures?

- Source: engadget 

Pengecas bateri meletup, budak putus jari

Kesan darah kelihatan di lantai kediaman mangsa dipercayai akibat cedera di tangan. 

SERI ISKANDAR - Seorang murid tahun tiga Sekolah Kebangsaan Iskandar Perdana putus jari kelengkeng apabila pengecas bateri helikopter mainannya meletup, di rumahnya di Bandar Universiti, di sini, pagi tadi.

Mangsa, Indra Adam Mohd Azlim, 9, dikatakan bersama dua adiknya masing-masing berusia 5 tahun dan 18 bulan dalam bilik tempat bateri berkenaan dicas, sementara ibu mereka memasak di dapur.

Datuk mangsa, Ishak Dollah, 62, berkata, ketika kejadian terdengar letupan dari bilik berkenaan dan menyebabkan tangan mangsa berdarah.

Bagaimanapun, menurutnya, dua lagi cucunya tidak mengalami sebarang kecederaan dan bersyukur kerana tiada kejadian lebih buruk berlaku.

"Saya yakin letupan disebabkan caj elektrik sebab hanya ada barang mainan itu dalam bilik. Dia memang suka main helikopter yang dibelikan ayahnya.

"Lagipun, mereka baru pindah ke Seri Iskandar dua minggu lalu dan sekarang ayahnya di Sarawak bekerja," katanya.

Difahamkan, mangsa yang parah dikejarkan ke Hospital Changkat Melintang sebelum dirujuk ke Hospital manjung untuk rawatan lanjut.

Sementara itu, Ketua Polis Daerah Perak Tengah, Superintendan Mohamad Fakri Che Sulaiman mengesahkan menerima laporan kejadian itu dan siasatan mengenainya dijalankan.

- Sumber: Sinar Harian 

Vespa LT 150 3V IE launched in Malaysia – RM9,888

Naza Premira, the official importer and distributor of the Vespa brand, has launched the new (deep breath) Vespa LT 150 3V IE in Malaysia. Assembled in Vietnam, the new LT 150 comes with an air-cooled, 154.8 cc single-cylinder four-stroke engine with electronic fuel injection. 

Total power output is rated at 12 hp at 7,500 rpm and 12 Nm of torque at 5,000 rpm. Transmission is of the CVT variety. Stopping power comes courtesy of 140 mm rear drum brake while the up front, a 200 mm disc brake is featured. 

A single arm with helical spring and double-acting hydraulic shock absorber makes up the front suspension setup while the rear comprises of a single shock absorber with adjustable preload feature for four individual settings. 

“Vespa Malaysia has seen a vast growth and is gaining tremendous popularity in Malaysia market, with more people recognizing the brand as a lifestyle product rather than just a means of mobility,” said Datuk Wira Haji SM Faisal Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin, Naza Group CEO. 

In keeping with the distinct Vespa styling, the new LT 150 retains the trademark aesthetic appeal while electronic fuel injection improves efficiency by up to 30% when compared to its predecessor. It features a dual-toned saddle with embossed Vespa badging, Italian flags on both sides and signature round headlamp. 

The Vespa LT 150 3V IE is available in two colours – red and orange. Basic selling price is quoted at RM9,888.

- Source: paultan.org

Honda City Hybrid to launch soon in Malaysia?

The Honda City Hybrid has been spotted near Jaya One, PJ – we thank reader Kenny Loh for the photo. Yup, the JDM Honda Grace‘s LED tail lamps are a giveaway, and the Melaka trade plate leaves little doubt as to the unit’s origin – Honda Malaysia’s Pegoh plant.

The Honda City Hybrid was confirmed for Malaysia early this year. It’s set to be locally-assembled (CKD) at the new No 2 Line in Pegoh, alongside the Jazz petrol, previous-gen Jazz Hybrid and City petrol, and very probably in the future, the second-gen Jazz Hybrid, HR-V petrol and HR-V Hybrid.

The car was supposed to launch this year, but issues with the Sport Hybrid Intelligent Dual Clutch Drive (i-DCD) one-motor hybrid system and the ECU – both shared with the second-gen Jazz Hybrid and HR-V Hybrid – had to be ironed out first. With its sighting in Malaysia, are we one step closer to its launch?

Perhaps more importantly, since tax exemptions for CKD hybrids will go on until 2015 ends, is it too much to hope for the Honda City Hybrid to undercut the top-spec RM90,800 City V petrol?

- Source: paultan.org

Ribut Jangmi: Elakkan kawasan pantai dan laut di Sabah

Ribut Jangmi dijangka menyebabkan keadaan laut bergelora di perairan Sabah dalam tempoh 31 Dis hingga 2 Jan.

KUALA LUMPUR: Penduduk di kawasan perairan Sabah (Kudat, Pantai Barat, Sandakan dan Pedalaman) dinasihatkan mengelak daripada sebarang aktiviti marin terutamanya pada 1 Jan, 2015, berikutan ribut tropika 'Jangmi' yang dijangka akan menyebabkan cuaca buruk.

Ribut Jangmi dijangka menyebabkan keadaan laut bergelora di perairan Sabah dalam tempoh 31 Dis hingga 2 Jan.

Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia, Datuk Che Gayah Ismail berkata ramalan dari Joint Typhoon Warning Centre (JTWC) menyebut bahawa ribut itu kini berada 665km dari Timur Laut Sandakan dan sedang bergerak ke arah Barat dengan kelajuan 15km sejam (kmsj).

"Ribut itu boleh menyebabkan angin kencang selaju 50 hingga 60kmsj yang berbahaya kepada semua aktiviti perkapalan dan pantai termasuk menangkap ikan dan perkhidmatan feri," katanya kepada Bernama ketika dihubungi, hari ini.

Che Gayah berkata selain perairan Sabah, Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan dan Sarawak (Miri dan Bintulu) turut akan mengalaminya.

Tambah beliau ribut tropika Jangmi ini boleh mengakibatkan ombak mencapai ketinggian 4.5 meter serta hujan lebat di kawasan berkenaan. 

- Sumber: Bernama

AirAsia disaster taints Indonesia's air safety progress

A  view from Indonesian air force aircraft CN295 is seen during the SAR operations for Flight QZ8501 in Pangkalan Bun, Central Kalimantan on Dec 30. - AFP Photo/Bay Ismoyo

JAKARTA: The crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 has raised concerns over Indonesia's safety record, but aviation analysts say the country has made huge advances since the days when all of its airlines were banned from flying to Europe.

The air travel industry in the sprawling archipelago is booming, with domestic passengers growing nearly five-fold over the past decade and airlines scoring billion-dollar deals with foreign plane makers.

Until the Airbus A320-200 plunged into the sea on Sunday carrying 162 people, Indonesia appeared to be shedding its reputation for plane crashes, which had led the European Union in 2007 to ban all 51 Indonesian airlines from flying to the bloc.

"Now we can count accidents with our hands, a stark contrast to the accidents we had in 2007 and the years prior to that," said Dudi Sudibyo, a senior editor of aviation magazine Angkasa.

The AirAsia flight, which was travelling from the Indonesian city Surabaya to Singapore when it lost contact during stormy weather, looks set to be country's only deadly one in 2014, Sudibyo told AFP.

Gerry Soejatman, an independent aviation analyst, said Indonesia had 0.18 fatal accidents per one million passengers in 2007, which had dropped to less than half that in 2011.

"The EU ban slapped Indonesia on the face, but because of that Indonesia then improved the safety standards," he said.

Accidents in 2007 included an Adam Air plane plunging into the sea off Sulawesi island on New Year's Day, killing all 102 people on board. That airline was later banned from flying.

In March 2007, a jet with flag carrier Garuda Indonesia burst into flames on landing in the province of Central Java, killing 21 people.

In more recent incidents, a Lion Air plane missed the runway as it came in to land in Bali in April last year, slamming into the sea and splitting in two. Dozens of the 108 people on board were injured, but there were no fatalities.

Later in 2013, a Lion Air jet crashed into a cow and skidded off the runway as it came into land on Sulawesi island.

Chappy Hakim, a former air force chief, said the room for improvement in safety standards was still huge.

"In 2007 we were audited and we did not comply on a hundred things and I (still) don't think we have complied to the international standards," he said, adding that the country was still short of inspectors.

Since the EU ban, only a handful of Indonesian airlines have been reallowed in Europe, including Garuda and AirAsia Indonesia, which operated Flight QZ8501.

AirAsia Indonesia is a unit of Malaysian-based AirAsia, which dominates Southeast Asia's booming low-cost airline market and had previously earned a solid safety record.

Indonesia's director general of civil aviation said Tuesday that debris spotted during an aerial search of the Java Sea was from the missing plane. Rescuers also began to retrieve bodies -- with the latest toll at more than 40.

"This serves as a reminder we cannot stop improving," said Soejatman.

"If they don't improve safety with this kind of growth, you will have more crashes and at the end it could backfire and growth is going to decline."

- Source: AFP 

Only three bodies recovered in AirAsia hunt, not 40: Indonesia search chief

BAMBANG: Of the three bodies recovered on Tuesday, two were females.

JAKARTA: Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency chief said Tuesday that just three bodies had been recovered so far in the search for the AirAsia plane which crashed in the Java Sea, after another official said 40 had been found.

"Today we evacuated three bodies and they are now in the warship Bung Tomo," Bambang Soelistyo told a news conference in Jakarta, adding that they were two females and one male.

Navy spokesman Manahan Simorangkir told AFP earlier that according to naval radio a warship had recovered more than 40 bodies from the sea. But he later said that report was a miscommunication by his staff.

The Airbus A320-200 carrying 162 people crashed Sunday en route from Indonesia's second largest city Surabaya to Singapore, with wreckage recovered near its last known location. 

- Sumber: AFP 

Ahli keluarga mangsa nahas pengsan tonton laporan terkini televisyen

Reaksi ahli keluarga mangsa nahas pesawat AirAsia QZ8501 yang tidak dapat menahan kesedihan setelah mendengar khabar terkini. - Foto AFP / MANAN VATSYAYAN

KUALA LUMPUR: Beberapa anggota keluarga penumpang pesawat AirAsia QZ8501 tidak dapat menahan pilu lalu jatuh pengsan di Pusat Krisis Lapangan Terbang Juanda kerana terkejut mendengar khabar terbaru tentang penemuan dan pemindahan mayat mangsa nahas pesawat tersebut, lapor Kompas.com hari ini.

Empat individu tersebut tidak dapat menahan sedih mereka setelah rakaman langsung usaha pemindahan mayat penumpang disiarkan oleh sebuah televisyen swasta republik itu.

Salah seroang daripada mereka, Nasarudin, yang turut meratapi nasib ahli keluarganya sebagai penumpang pesawat malang itu, mengakui bahawa tidak semua waris dan ahli keluarga mangsa nahas sanggup menonton siaran tersebut.

“Ada sebahagiannya tabah menonton, namun sebahagian lagi terus jatuh pengsan,” ujarnya.

Suasana panik di ruang berkenaan sudah dirasakan sejak khabar pertama mengenai penemuan serpihan objek berdekatan Pangkalan Bun, Kalimantan Tengah petang tadi.

Serpihan itu, menurut Ketua Penyelaras Badan SAR Nasional (Basarnas) Indonesia, F. Henry Bambang Sulistyo disahkan daripada pesawat QZ8501.

Setakat ini, seluruh jentera dan tenaga SAR ditumpukan ke arah usaha mencari mangsa nahas dan kerja-kerja pemindahan mayat ke Pangkalan Bun. Lebih 40 mayat mangsa nahas pesawat berkenaan telah dipindahkan oleh pasukan SAR.

Sementara itu, susur masa di media sosial mula dipenuhi pelbagai ucapan takziah, laporan pendek dan juga lampiran gambar daripada orang awam serta petugas media di lokasi sidang media.

- Sumber: Astro Awani 

Lebih 40 mayat dibawa keluar dari laut : Tentera Laut Indonesia

Sebuah kapal perang Indonesia telah mengeluarkan lebih 40 mayat dari laut pada Selasa, didalam usaha mencari pesawat AirAsia QZ 8501.

JAKARTA: Sebuah kapal perang Indonesia telah mengeluarkan lebih 40 mayat dari laut pada Selasa, dalam usaha mencari pesawat AirAsia QZ 8501.

Jurucakap tentera laut, Manahan Simorangkir berkata angka ini sedang meningkat.

"Berdasarkan kepada radio tentera laut , dilaporkan bahawa kapal perang Bung Tomo telah membawa keluar 40 mayat dan jumlah itu semakin meningkat . Mereka sangat sibuk sekarang, " kata Simorangkir .

BERITA LANJUT MENYUSUL 

- Sumber: AFP melalui Astro Awani 

Pengesahan serpihan bermula dengan laporan pembantu juruterbang

Penemuan objek-objek yang terapung di permukaan laut adalah disahkan dari pesawat AirAsia QZ8501.

KUALA LUMPUR: Seluruh jentera dan komponen dalam misi mencari dan menyelamat (SAR) kini dikejarkan ke titik penemuan objek-objek yang sudah disahkan sebagai serpihan pesawat AirAsia QZ9501 yang hilang dalam penerbangan dari Surabaya ke Singapura Ahad lalu.

Setakat ini, pihak SAR Indonesia sedang mempersiapkan pasukan penyelam saat 11 orang dari pejabat penyelam TNI, dan 10 orang penyelamat Pasukan Khas Basarnas.

Pengesahan penemuan lokasi nahas itu diumumkan oleh Ketua Penyelaras SAR Indonesia, F. Henry Bambang Sulistyo.

Antara lain pengumuman tersebut bertitik-tolak daripada laporan awal seorang pembantu juruterbang Hercules C130 dari Pangkalan Udara Halim Perdanakusuma, Leftenan Tri Wibowo.

Berdasarkan laporan Kompas.com, Tri ketika dalam misi SAR, ada menyebut tentang penemuan objek-objek yang terapung di Selat Karimata sewaktu dia memantau kawasan perairan di sekitar Ketapang, Kalimantan Barat.

Objek-objek itu menyerupai jasad manusia, bagasi, pelampung, dan serpihan pesawat.

Berhubung jasad manusia itu, Tri mengakui pada awalnya dia menyangka bahawa objek tersebut seolah-olah manusia yang sedang melambai-lambai ke arah pesawat. Namun, setelah didekati, ia sebenarnya mayat yang teroleng-oleng dipukul ombak dan keadaannya sudah membengkak. 

- Sumber: Agensi | 30 Dis 2014

QZ8501: Serpihan disahkan 'daripada pesawat AirAsia'

Serpihan yang dikesan ketika carian udara hari ini adalah daripada pesawat yang hilang, kata ketua pengarah penerbangan awam Indonesia.

JAKARTA: Kementerian Perhubungan (Kemenhub) Indonesia hari ini mengesahkan bahawa serpihan pesawat berwarna putih dan merah yang ditemui di perairan Pangkalan Bun Kalimantan Tengah adalah daripada pesawat AirAsia QZ8501.

Maklumat tersebut adalah dapatan daripada pasukan mencari dan menyelamat (SAR) yang melihat serpihan tersebut secara langsung.

"Pasukan SAR kami, iaitu pesawat Kalibrasi Kementerian Perhubungan melihat adanya serpihan pesawat berwarna putih dan merah di perairan Pangkalan Bun," ujar Ketua Pengarah Penerbangan Awam Indonesia, Djoko Murjatmodjo di Jakarta hari ini.

Beliau menjelaskan, penemuan serpihan pesawat tersebut berada di koordinat 03.52,50 Selatan dan 110.30,53 Timur.

Serpihan kedua, 03.52,73 Selatan dan 110.30,18 Timur.

Ketiga, 03.53,62 Selatan dan 110.29,39 Timur di perairan Pangkalan Bun.

“Kedudukannya di sekitar 100 batu dari pelabuhan Pengkalan Bun iaitu radius 225 darjah. Maklumat ini sudah diselaras pihak Badan SAR Nasional (Basarnas) dan Tentera Nasional Indonesia (TNI)," katanya.

Menurutnya, buat masa ini, boleh disahkan bahawa serpihan itu adalah daripada pesawat AirAsia yang hilang dan ketika ini Menteri Pengangkutan telah berangkat ke Pangkalan Bun,” kata Djoko.

Pengumuman tersebut telah disampaikan oleh Ketua Penyelaras Basarnas, F. Henry Bambang Sulistyo, dalam sidang media terkini.

"Penemuan semua objek tersebut boleh kami simpulkan sebagai 95 peratus dari pesawat yang kita sedang cari. Sekarang ini semua komponen SAR sudah kami beri arahan untuk bergerak ke titik lokasi tersebut," ujarnya.

F. Henry juga memberitahu bahawa langkah evakuasi sedang dikejarkan ke Pangkalan Bun sementara puluhan pasukan penyelam juga telah dikerahkan.

LAPORAN LANJUT MENYUSUL 

- Sumber: Agensi | 30 Dis 2014

Search plane spots 'shadow' on seabed believed to be AirAsia jet

Debris spotted during an aerial search for AirAsia flight QZ8501 - AFP pic

JAKARTA: An air force plane Tuesday spotted a "shadow" on the seabed believed to be the missing AirAsia jet, Indonesia's National Search and Rescue Agency chief said.

"God blessed us today," Bambang Soelistyo told a press conference.

"At 12:50 the air force Hercules found an object described as a shadow at the bottom of the sea in the form of a plane," he said.

Soelistyo said the search was now being concentrated on the location where the "shadow" and debris had been found, around 160 kilometres (100 miles) southwest of the town of Pangkalan Bun in Central Kalimantan on Borneo island.

"All elements in the areas and search and rescue personnel will be moved to the location," he said.

"Their job is to find and evacuate all objects or passengers' bodies," he said.

"I will make sure that all of them will be brought to Pangkalan Bun, the closest airstrip from the object's location," he said.

- Source: AFP 

Infografik: Apa yang kita tahu mengenai QZ8501 setakat ini

Berikut ialah beberapa fakta dan garis masa insiden kehilangan pesawat AirAsia QZ8501 pada 28 Disember 2014. Pesawat AirAsia penerbangan QZ8501 dari Surabaya ke Singapura terputus hubungan dengan menara kawalan (ATC) pada Ahad.

Pesawat kemudiannya gagal dikesan pada radar dan operasi menjejakinya terus dilakukan dengan kerjasama beberapa negara yang menghantar aset mereka ke Laut Jawa sekitar Kepulauan Bangka-Belitung di mana titik akhir pesawat berkenaan dikesan.

Berikut ialah beberapa fakta dan garis masa insiden kehilangan pesawat AirAsia QZ8501 pada 28 Dis.

- Sumber: Astro Awani

Pregnant mom and baby die in Cameron Highland landslide

The mudslides on Nov 5 claimed five lives - filepic

KUALA LUMPUR: A pregnant woman and her year-old child died in a landslide at Tringkap, Cameron Highlands at 5.29am incident today, the New Straits Times reported.

M. Nithiahwaty, 24, was eight-month pregnant and her child has been identified as R. Rubeniswaran.

An official with the Fire and Rescue Department said her husband V. Raja, 41 who survived the incident, was pulled out at 7.13am.

The official said the couple’s child was pulled from under the rubble at 8am, followed by her mother.

On Nov 5, mud flood and landslides in Cameron Highlands claimed five lives – teenager R. Tunesh together with Indonesia and Nepali farm workers.

Following the incident, 203 people from 47 families in Kampung Baru and Bertam Valley had to be evacuated. 

- Source: Astro Awani | December 30, 2014

Giliran Shima tersingkir

Shima

AKIBAT tersalah memilih lagu, penyanyi era 90-an, Shima, terpaksa mengikut langkah pelantun lagu Langit Ketujuh, Sharifah Zarina apabila tersingkir dalam konsert separuh akhir Gegar Vaganza, kelmarin.

Dalam konsert yang bertemakan ‘Carta Hits’ itu, Shima menyanyikan lagu popular Alyah iaitu Kisah Hati yang sekali gus merupakan lagu kegemarannya.

“Sebenarnya, saya memang suka dengan lagu itu dan sering kali lagu Kisah Hati menjadi pilihan saya setiap kali saya berkaraoke.

“Saya sudah mencuba yang terbaik tetapi tidak sangka pula juri kurang berpuas hati dengan lagu pilihan saya itu,” katanya ketika dihubungi Zass.

Ekoran tersingkirnya dalam konsert tersebut, Shima tidak dapat meneruskan perjuangannya ke peringkat akhir program realiti berkenaan.

Bagaimanapun, pelantun lagu Setelah Aku Kau Miliki ini tidak menyesal dengan pilihan lagunya itu, sebaliknya reda akan keputusan juri.

“Adat dalam pertandingan, ada yang kalah dan ada yang menang. Perjuangan saya hanyalah setakat ini dan saya mendoakan kejayaan semua peserta,” katanya.

Dalam perkembangan lain, Shima kini sibuk menjalankan aktiviti perniagaan berteraskan kecantikan dan kesihatan selain merancang untuk kembali aktif dalam industri seni.

“Setelah berehat hampir setahun, saya bersedia untuk aktif semula menyanyi di kelab. Saya juga sedang mengumpulkan material-material bermutu untuk menghasilkan album terbaharu, tidak lama lagi,” katanya.

Malam itu turut memperlihatkan kehebatan peserta lain iaitu Fazli Zainal yang menyanyikan lagu Mewangi dendangan Akim & The Magistrate, Haleeda (Lagu Untukmu), Mamat Exist (Dealova), Rahmad Mega (Alasan Untuk Bahagia), Ifa Raziah (Aku Wanita Biasa) dan Ayai Ilusi (Hanya Aku).

Tersingkirnya pelantun lagu Teringin itu sekali gus melayakkan enam peserta lain melangkah ke peringkat akhir konsert yang dijadualkan akan bersiaran langsung pada 4 Januari depan.

Siapa peserta yang bakal bergelar juara? Saksikan Gegar Vaganza setiap Ahad, 9 malam di Astro Ria (saluran 104), Astro Prima (saluran 105) dan Astro Mustika HD (saluran 134).

- Sumber: Sinar Harian 

Indonesia asks for US help in missing jet search

Dozens of planes and ships were searching for the missing plane, which lost contact en route from Surabaya in Indonesia's east Java to Singapore.

WASHINGTON: Indonesia has requested help from the United States to search for a missing AirAsia jetliner, US officials said Monday, amid fears the aircraft crashed into the sea.

The State Department also confirmed that no Americans were on Flight QZ8501, which disappeared on Sunday over the Java Sea with 162 people on board.

"Our embassy in Jakarta is in close contact with Indonesian officials, and today, we received a request for assistance locating the airplane," said Jeffrey Rathke, a State Department spokesman.

"We are reviewing that request to find out how best we can meet Indonesia's request for assistance."

He noted it would take "a little bit of time" to evaluate the request, without detailing what kind of aid -- military or otherwise -- the United States might provide.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby said the aid could include "some air, surface and sub-surface detection capabilities."

"We stand ready to assist in any way possible," he added.

Dozens of planes and ships were searching for the missing plane, which lost contact en route from Surabaya in Indonesia's east Java to Singapore after the crew requested a change of flight plan due to stormy weather, in the third crisis for a Malaysian carrier this year.

Australia, Malaysia and Singapore have joined the Indonesia-led search as anguished relatives awaited news of their loved ones. 

- Source: AFP

Balik Pulau dilanda ribut, 10 rumah hampir musnah

Sekurang-kurangnya 10 buah rumah di sini hampir musnah setelah dilanda ribut dan angin kencang hari ini. -Gambar fail

BALIK PULAU: Sekurang-kurangnya 10 buah rumah di sini hampir musnah setelah dilanda ribut dan angin kencang hari ini.

Anggota Dewan Undangan Negeri Pulau Betong Muhammad Farid Saad berkata beliau mendapat laporan terdapat lebih 10 buah rumah di sini termasuk di Kampung Sungai Rusa, hampir musnah apabila bumbung rumah ditiup angin kencang.

Beliau berkata angin kencang yang berlaku lebih kurang 8.30 malam mengakibatkan banyak pokok tumbang menghalang jalan.

"Saya telah turun ke Jalan Sungai Pinang untuk membantu anggota Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat yang mengambil masa lebih 45 minit untuk memotong pokok besar bagi membuka balik jalan kepada orang ramai," katanya kepada Bernama ketika dihubungi di sini.

Sementara itu, menurut seorang jurucakap polis, terdapat lebih sembilan kejadian pokok tumbang di kawasan Balik Pulau dan satu kejadian kabel elektrik terputus dilaporkan.

Katanya seorang pemandu dikejarkan ke Hospital Balik Pulau selepas keretanya dihempap pokok yang tumbang di Jalan Tun Sardon.

Beliau berkata kecederaan lelaki masih belum dapat dipastikan tetapi keretanya rosak teruk.

"Antara lokasi kejadian pokok tumbang termasuk Jalan Tun Sardon, Jalan Sungai Pinang, Jalan Pondok Upeh, Jalan Titi Teras, Lintang Pokok Upeh dan Jalan Sungai Pinang," katanya.

- Sumber: Bernama 

Leez Rosli akhiri zaman bujang

SETELAH hampir tiga tahun menyulam cinta, pelakon yang juga bekas peserta Akademi Fantasia musim keempat, Leez Rosli, selamat disatukan dengan cinta hatinya, vokalis kumpulan Drama Band, Aepul atau nama sebenarnya Noorsyaiful Md Zalaludin, Sabtu lalu.

Pasangan ini selamat dinikahkan oleh bapa Leez, Rosli Awang dengan tiga kali lafaz, disaksikan Penolong Pendaftar Nikah Cerai dan Rujuk, Muhamad Jalani Ahmad, di Masjid Salahuddin Al Ayubi, Taman Melati.

Dalam majlis serba ringkas itu, Leez menerima mas kahwin berjumlah RM80 bersama sembilan dulang hantaran dan di balas sebelas dulang daripada pihak perempuan.

Bagaimanapun jumlah wang hantaran dirahsiakan.

Mengakui terasa segalanya yang berlaku bagaikan mimpi, Leez atau nama sebenarnya Rosliza Rosli, 27, berkata, dia lega apabila majlis pernikahannya itu berjalan dengan lancar.

“Alhamdulillah segalanya sudah selesai biarpun bapa saya gugup sampai tiga kali baru sah lafaz, tapi semuanya sudah selamat. Saya sendiri kena tepuk pipi kerana terasa semua yang berlaku tadi bagai sebuah mimpi.

“Memang agak sebak lebih-lebih lagi tanggungjawab abah terhadap saya sudah selesai dan kini terserah kepada Aepul untuk menjaga saya,” katanya yang ditemui usai majlis pernikahan tersebut.

Ditebak keistimewaan Aepul di matanya, Leez berkata, sikap Aepul yang tegas dan pandai menjaga hati dan perasaannya membuatkan dia senang bersama dengan lelaki berusia 26 tahun itu.

“Kami kenal ketika berada di Johor pada awal 2012, ketika itu Aepul bersama Drama Band menjalani penggambaran Ekspedesi Kembara. Dari berkawan, dari situ hubungan kami semakin rapat.

“Sebelum ini saya banyak kenal lelaki yang tidak serius dalam berkawan, tapi dengan Aepul, dia cukup serius dan paling penting dia pandai menjaga perasaan saya. Itulah yang menyebabkan saya yakin dia sesuai untuk saya,” katanya.

Merancang untuk berbulan madu ke Pulau Redang selepas selesai majlis resepsi Februari depan, Leez berkata, dia tidak merancang soal cahaya mata, dan menerima andai dikurniakan rezeki awal.

Akui bimbang

Leez yang kini masih sibuk menjalani penggambaran drama untuk slot Azalea TV3 berjudul Padamu Aku Bersujud, di samping Syazwan Zulkifli berkata, dia akan terus aktif di dalam bidang seni selepas ini biarpun sudah bergelar isteri.

Bagaimanapun ujar Leez, dia akan lebih selektif dari segi watak dan mengutamakan suaminya selepas ini.

“Ada orang kata, artis bila kahwin kariernya akan jatuh tapi ada yang kata bila kahwin rezeki makin murah. Walaupun risau dengan karier saya, saya yakin dengan rezeki dari ALLAH SWT. Cuma dari segi watak saya akan lebih selektif dan akan berbincang dengan Aepul,” katanya.

Biarpun mengakui jarang mendapat peluang muncul di media massa, Leez berkata, dia tidak menjadikan segala itu sebagai satu alasan untuk terus aktif di dalam bidang seni.

“Kalau saya jumpa media, memang mereka selalu tanya adakah saya masih aktif dan saya tahu saya kurang menonjol di kalangan media. Tapi saya masih menerima tawaran berlakon drama-drama RTM.

“Cuma rezeki untuk menonjol belum ada dan saya sendiri sedar duduk, bangun saya di dalam industri. Namun saya tetap bersyukur kerana masih ada peminat dan media yang menyokong kerjaya saya dan perasan kehadiran saya dalam industri sejak tujuh tahun lalu,” ujarnya.

Berazam untuk terus mencari peluang di dalam bidang seni, Leez berkata, dia mengimpikan mendapat sebuah naskhah yang akan melonjakkan namanya selepas ini.

- Sumber: Sinar Harian | December 29, 2014

Kesilapan juruterbang punca nahas

Insiden nahas pesawat Beechcraft King Air 200 turut mengorbankan Trajkovski (gambar kecil) bersama enam penasihat beliau.

SKOPJE - MACEDONIA . Insiden nahas pesawat yang telah meragut nyawa Presiden Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski bersama lapan penumpang lain di Bosnia pada 26 Februari 2004 didakwa berpunca daripada kesilapan juruterbang, menurut laporan siasatan antarabangsa, kelmarin.

Ketua Suruhanjaya Siasatan Antarabangsa, Omer Kulic mengesahkan beberapa kesilapan sistematik juruterbang didapati menjadi punca utama pesawat itu terhempas ketika ia cuba mendarat di lapangan terbang Mostar di selatan Bosnia.

"Juruterbang terbabit sepatutnya menghala ke Dubrovnik di pantai Adriatik selatan atau Sarajevo kerana radar di lapangan terbang Mostar tidak berfungsi ketika itu," jelasnya.

Sementara itu, seorang lagi pegawai penyiasat mendedahkan agensi pengangkutan udara awam Macedonia telah memberikan kebenaran terbang kepada pesawat itu walaupun ia belum menjalani proses penyelenggaraan rutin. 

- Sumber: AFP , December 29, 2014

Sudahlah banjir, kedai dan rumah dipecah masuk, luah penduduk

Kedai  dan rumah dipecah masuk, luah penduduk

KOTA BHARU: Berikutan banjir buruk yang melanda negeri Kelantan hingga menyebabkan terputus bekalan makanan di kebanyakan tempat, ada beberapa penduduk bertindak memecahkan kedai untuk mendapatkan makanan.

Tinjauan Astro AWANI di beberapa buah kedai termasuk pasaraya di Wakaf Che Yeh dipecah masuk beberapa hari lalu ketika air banjir melimpahi kawasan tersebut.

Menurut Penyelia Pasaraya Ceria, Ti Boon Mai, premisnya dipercayai mula dipecah masuk sekitar Sabtu lalu dan kebanyakan barangan keperluan dan makanan habis dicuri.

“Keadaan dalam kedai tersebut habis barang diambil orang. Banyak barang yang tiada antaranya Milo, susu dan lampin pakai buang. Memang ada orang pecah masuk melalui pintu depan dan belakang yang pecah pada Sabtu sewaktu air masih belum surut.” luah Ti Boon Mai.

Katanya kerugian masih belum dapat dipastikan, namun beliau percaya ianya melebihi RM80,000.

Turut menerima nasib sama, sebuah kedai barangan kesihatan yang berdekatan.

Menurut pemiliknya, Sofian Mohamed kedainya dipercayai mula dipecah masuk ketika air meliputi kawasan Wakaf Che Yeh yang tidak boleh dimasuki oleh kenderaan.

Habis kesemua barangan jualannya termasuk barangan elektrik dicuri.

“Mungkin dipecah masuk oleh orang kerana hampir 90 peratus barangan makanan dan elektrik tiada yang dianggarkan lebih RM90,000.” luah Sofian Mohamed.

Beliau yang tidak menyangka barangan elektrik dan barangan kesihatan turut dicuri menanggung kerugian lebih RM90,000 selain kemusnahan akibat banjir.

Selain kecurian di kedai runcit, pasaraya dan kedai 24 jam, kereta milik mangsa banjir yang dipakir di jalan turut dirosakkan selain berlaku kecurian kenderaan.

Mangsa banjir yang ditemui di kawasan ini menjelaskan, beberapa buah kenderaan milik penduduk turut dicuri.

Banjir yang melanda Kota Bharu hari ini mulai surut dengan hampir kesemua jalan dalam bandar tersebut boleh dilalui.

Namun kesan lumpur serta sampah sarap kelihatan di sepanjang jalan selain kemusnahan harta benda.

Banjir yang membawa lumpur memusnahkan barangan perabot, sofa, dan sebagainya selain kerosakan lain yang berlaku.

Hampir kesemua kawasan dalam bandar yang dinaiki air disaluti lumpur.

Sementara itu, Kerajaan Negeri Kelantan dalam satu kenyataan memaklumkan kerajaan negeri menubuhkan satu Jawatankuasa Task Force Pasca Banjir peringkat negeri yang dipengerusikan oleh Menteri Besar Kelantan, Datuk Ahmad Yakob.

Jawatankuasa ini akan mendaftarkan mangsa banjir dan membuat penilaian awal kerosakan harta benda yang dialami oleh mangsa banjir.

Selain itu katanya kerajaan negeri juga melancarkan tabung bencana banjir yang dikenali sebagai Tabung Amanah Bencana Banjir Kelantan. 

- Sumber: Astro Awani