(MY023) Japanese unemployment hits five-year high

TOKYO (AFP) – Japan's unemployment rate rose to its highest level in more than five years as companies slashed jobs to cope with the worst post-war recession in the world's second largest economy, data has shown.
On a brighter note, consumer spending rose for the first time in 16 months, supported by the government's economic stimulus efforts.
The jobless rate climbed to 5.2 percent in May -- a level last seen in September 2003 -- up from 5.0 in April, the internal affairs ministry said.
While hopes are mounting that Japan's economy has come through the worst of its export and production slump, there are concerns that unemployment may rise further as companies seek to recover from heavy financial losses.
The jobless rate, which was slightly worse than expected, is close to a post-World War II high of 5.5 percent, which was last seen in April 2003.
The number of people in unemployment rose by 770,000, or 28.5 percent, from a year earlier to 3.47 million.

(MY022) Oregon man's wallet returns after 63 years

BAKER CITY, Ore. – Bill Fulton doesn't remember losing his wallet, but its return helped him remember the past. The leather stayed smooth and the cowboy design unblemished. The zipper moved with ease. And when he looked inside, the contents brought back memories from 1946, when he apparently dropped the wallet behind the balcony bleachers in the Baker Middle School gym.
Fulton's Social Security card and bicycle license, bearing the address where he lived during his teenage years, were positioned in their respective compartments, apparently untouched since the year after World War II ended.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090630/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_lost_wallet

a new world record???

(MY021) Pesawat Yaman terhempas di Lautan India

SAN'A (Yemen): Sebuah pesawat Yaman terhempas di Lautan India, di Comoros dengan berita awal menyebut lebih 100 penumpangnya dipercayai maut, awal hari ini. Pesawat Airbus 310 milik Yemenia Air itu dipercayai membawa warga Comoris dari Paris.
Setakat ini tiada butiran mengenai jumlah sebenar penumpang dan anak kapal serta punca nahas itu. - AFP


another plane crashed..

(MY020) The ‘Beast’ who cheated thousands of their savings

Disgraced financier Bernard Madoff stands during his sentencing hearing in New York in this court artist's sketch completed yesterday. - Reuters picNEW YORK, June 30 — Victims of Bernard Madoff’s billion-dollar Ponzi scheme branded him at his sentencing hearing as a “beast” who had ruined their lives, forcing one to scavenge for food in dumpsters.
Madoff “discarded me like road kill,” said Ms Miriam Siegman, of Stamford, Connecticut, today at the hearing in Manhattan. She now relies on food stamps, collecting recyclable bottles and digging through dumpsters.
Nine victims told their stories to US District Judge Denny Chin before he sentenced Madoff to a maximum 150 years in prison.
Madoff’s lawyer Ira Sorkin had recommended a sentence of not more than 20 years, while prosecutors urged 150. The federal probation service recommended 50 years.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/business/30931-the-beast-who-cheated-thousands-of-their-savings-

(MY019) World Bank says Malaysia’s governance worsened in last five years

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — A study by the World Bank suggests that Malaysia’s governance has deteriorated since 2003. The country fared worse in four out of six good governance categories in the World Bank study and improved in only two as of 2008.The nation also lags well behind the scores of high income countries such as Australia, Japan and Switzerland. It scored better than Indonesia but remained far behind Singapore. Indonesia, however, saw its governance scores improve across the board since 2003.

Malaysia saw its performance drop in four categories — voice and accountability (level of democracy), political stability, regulatory quality and control of corruption.In terms of its relative position to other countries, Malaysia also fell further behind countries in the same categories. It recorded an improvement in performance and relative position in only two categories — government effectiveness and rule of law.

The World Bank study uses a percentile method to show the relative ranking of a country. For example, a country with a ranking of 60 means that its score is higher than 60 per cent of countries in the study.Malaysia has a rank of 32 (2003 ranking — 38) for voice and accountability, 50 (57) for political stability, 84 (80) for government effectiveness, 60 (70) regulatory quality, 65 (63) for rule of law and 63 (65) for control of corruption.

continue reading http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/30914-world-bank-says-malaysias-governance-worsened-in-last-five-years

(MY018) 20 lagi kes H1N1 dilaporkan hari ini

PUTRAJAYA: Jumlah kes Influenza A (H1N1) terus meningkat dengan setakat jam 8 pagi tadi, 20 kes terbaru dilaporkan menjadikan semua 144 kes di seluruh negara.

Dalam kenyataan Kementerian Kesihatan petang ini, 20 kes itu membabitkan 16 kes import manakala empat lagi kes jangkitan tempatan.


the number keep increasing...

(MY017) ASTRONAUT'S FATHER'S CASE FOR CHILDREN'S CUSTODY

SHAH ALAM, June 29 (Bernama) -- The Syariah High Court here today fixed Aug 12 for mention of the case application of the parents of the country's first astronaut, Datuk Dr. Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Mustapha, to get custody of two of their grandchildren after the death of the children's father, Sheikh Mustapha Shukor Al Masrie, 32, two years ago. Judge Mohamad Khalid Shaee set the date to enable the plaintiffs and defendants to resolve the matter amicably.

Zuraida Sheikh Ahmad and Sheikh Mustapha Sheikh Abdul Shukor filed the application on Dec 23 last year to get custody of their grandchildren, Sheikh Aiman Shukor Al-Masrie, 4, and Siti Balkish Aisha Al-Masrie, 2, under Section 87 (1) of the Selangor Islamic Family Law Enactment 2003. Zuraida, 64, and Sheikh Mustapha, 74, as the plaintiffs named Haryati Mohd Redza, 31, and Haryati's mother, Kamar Aziah Abdullah, 61, as defendants.

The parents of the nation's first astronaut were represented by syarie lawyer, Zulqarnain Lukman, while Haryati and Kamar Aziah were represented by syarie lawyer Suriati Abdul Ghani.

Both the plaintiffs and the defendants were not present in court.

http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/bnm/20090629/tts-court-astronaut-bm-993ba14.html

(MY016) RM10K could be yours....

r u love to sing??
let take part this contest
click here

(MY015) 13 Things Your Waiter Won't Tell You

1. Avoid eating out on holidays and Saturday nights. The sheer volume of customers guarantees that most kitchens will be pushed beyond their ability to produce a high-quality dish.

2. There are almost never any sick days in the restaurant business. A busboy with a kid to support isn't going to stay home and miss out on $100 because he's got strep throat. And these are the people handling your food.

3. When customers' dissatisfaction devolves into personal attacks, adulterating food or drink is a convenient way for servers to exact covert vengeance. Some waiters can and do spit in people's food.

4. Never say "I'm friends with the owner." Restaurant owners don't have friends. This marks you as a clueless poseur the moment you walk in the door.

5. Treat others as you want to be treated. (Yes, people need to be reminded of this.)

6. Don't snap your fingers to get our attention. Remember, we have shears that cut through bone in the kitchen.

7. Don't order meals that aren't on the menu. You're forcing the chef to cook something he doesn't make on a regular basis. If he makes the same entrée 10,000 times a month, the odds are good that the dish will be a home run every time.

8. Splitting entrées is okay, but don't ask for water, lemon, and sugar so you can make your own lemonade. What's next, grapes so you can press your own wine?

9. If you find a waiter you like, always ask to be seated in his or her section. Tell all your friends so they'll start asking for that server as well. You've just made that waiter look indispensable to the owner. The server will be grateful and take good care of you.

10. If you can't afford to leave a tip, you can't afford to eat in the restaurant. Servers could be giving 20 to 40 percent to the busboys, bartenders, maître d', or hostess.

11. Always examine the check. Sometimes large parties are unaware that a gratuity has been added to the bill, so they tip on top of it. Waiters "facilitate" this error. It's dishonest, it's wrong-and I did it all the time.

12. If you want to hang out, that's fine. But increase the tip to make up for money the server would have made if he or she had had another seating at that table.

13. Never, ever come in 15 minutes before closing time. The cooks are tired and will cook your dinner right away. So while you're chitchatting over salads, your entrées will be languishing under the heat lamp while the dishwasher is spraying industrial-strength, carcinogenic cleaning solvents in their immediate vicinity.

From Waiter Rant: Thanks for the Tip-Confessions of a Cynical Waiter by The Waiter (Ecco/HarperCollins)

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/food/user-post-13-things-your-waiter-wont-tell-you-479179/

(MY014) watch out : u can get windows7 8% cheaper than vista

z4ecx82gj9

SEATTLE, June 26 — Microsoft Corp will sell the standard home-user version of its new Windows 7 operating system for 8 per cent less than the comparable version of its Vista system, as the global downturn hits spending on technology.

The world’s largest software company, whose recent ads champion low-priced PCs against more expensive Apple Inc computers, said the new system will be available at even lower prices for a short time, as it looks to tempt buyers ahead of the holiday shopping season.

The new operating system, which Microsoft hopes will be a bigger hit than the poorly received Vista, will be generally released on October 22. It will be available on pre-order from US stores such as Best Buy Co Inc (BBY.N), online retailer Amazon.com Inc and the company’s own website from today.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/business/30605-microsoft-to-cut-prices-on-windows-7-system

(MY013) Nizar to finally get written grounds from Court of Appeal today

By Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — The Court of Appeal in Putrajaya will finally be releasing their grounds of judgment in the highly disputed legal battle over who is the real mentri besar (MB) of Perak at 3pm today.

The release comes exactly a week after toppled Pakatan Rakyat (PR) mentri besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin filed an appeal to the Federal Court, the highest court in the country.

Nizar wants the top court to reverse the Court of Appeal's decision declaring his political rival from the Barisan Nasional (BN) camp Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir the lawful MB.

Lawyers for Nizar told The Malaysian Insider they are expecting to get three separate written judgments today – one from each of the three judges who sat on the panel to hear the Perak MB vs MB case.

The Court of Appeal on May 22 overturned a High Court ruling on May 11 declaring Nizar to be the rightful mentri besar of Perak.

The three-man panel of judges , made up of Justices Datuk Md Raus Sharif, Datuk Zainun Ali and Datuk Ahmad Maarop, had promised to provide the grounds for dismissing his appeal within a week of their oral verdict – but failed to do so.

The much-talked about written judgments, while not a must for Nizar’s case to be forwarded to the Federal Court, will provide the key reasons for dismissing Nizar's appeal against Zambry.

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/30611-nizar-to-finally-get-written-grounds-from-court-of-appeal-today-


finally the written judgement is release

(MY012) A(H1N1): 19-month-old toddler among 11 new cases

PUTRAJAYA: A 19-month-old baby is among 11 new cases of influenza A (H1N1), Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said.

The toddler, the 84th case, was among those placed under home quarantine after being found to have had contact with the 72nd confirmed case in the country, an 11-year-old Indonesian boy who arrived at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal on board Flight AK702 on Monday at 1.55pm.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/6/26/nation/4198996&sec=nation




anyoneo board Flight AK702 on Monday at 1.55pm please check urself

(MY011) MiG-29 jets to be sold off, replaced with interceptors

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 – The air force's MiG-29N jetfighters will be sold off and replaced with new aircraft, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Several companies abroad had expressed interest to buy the aircraft, he said, adding that the ministry would discuss the matter with the Finance Ministry.

“There are still matters to be considered, such as the price,” he told reporters after attending an event here to announce the Defence Services Asia (DSA) 2010 exhibition.

Malaysia received the delivery of the Russian-made MiG-29N in April 1995. Malaysia had signed the purchase of 18 units the aircraft in June 1994 at the cost of US$380 million, with training and spare parts taking the overall package to US$1.6 billion.

Ahmad Zahid said the MiG-29N would be replaced with interceptors with the latest technologies to strengthen the air force's capabilities.

He also said that the government was taking steps to replace the armed forces' ageing assets in stages.

On foreign newswire reports that a North Korean vessel, suspected of carrying weapons and banned cargoes, was heading towards the Strait of Malacca, Ahmad Zahid said the Malaysian authorities were gathering intelligence on the matter.

Reports said that the cargo ship, Kang Nam, carrying the North Korean flag, was chugging towards the strait, reportedly heading for Thilawa port in Myanmar. It was said to be carrying low-technology weapons but which were still dangerous compared to other conventional arms. – Bernama
http://www.malaysiainsider.com/index.php/malaysia/30557-mig-29-jets-to-be-sold-off-replaced-with-interceptors-


anyone interested to bid the jet???

(MY010) Saudi women train to sell lingerie

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Using colorful bras donated by employees at Victoria's Secret, a group of 26 mostly Saudi women completed the first course of its kind to be offered in the kingdom — how to fit, stock and sell underwear — a training organizers hope will help boost a campaign to lift the ban on women selling underwear in the kingdom.

The graduates held a small ceremony at a college in the western seaport of Jiddah on Tuesday, capping 40 hours of instruction during which they learned to overcome their embarrassment at doing bra fittings, deal with customer complaints and display the stock in an appealing manner.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090624/ap_on_re_mi_ea/ml_saudi_selling_lingerie

(MY009) US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,316

As of Thursday, June 26, 2009, at least 4,316 members of the U.S. military had died in the Iraq war since it began in March 2003, according to an Associated Press count.

The figure includes nine military civilians killed in action. At least 3,455 military personnel died as a result of hostile action, according to the military's numbers.

The AP count is two fewer than the Defense Department's tally, last updated Thursday at 10 a.m. EDT.

The British military has reported 179 deaths; Italy, 33; Ukraine, 18; Poland, 21; Bulgaria, 13; Spain, 11; Denmark, seven; El Salvador, five; Slovakia, four; Latvia and Georgia, three each; Estonia, Netherlands, Thailand and Romania, two each; and Australia, Hungary, Kazakhstan and South Korea, one death each.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090625/ap_on_re_mi_ea/us_iraq_us_deaths

(MY008) 'Charlie's Angel' Farrah Fawcett dies at 62

LOS ANGELES – A winsome smile, tousled hair and unfettered sensuality were Farrah Fawcett's trademarks as a sex symbol and 1970s TV star in "Charlie's Angels." But as her life drew to a close, she captivated the public in a far different way: as a cancer patient who fought for, then surrendered, her treasured privacy to document her struggle with the disease and inspire others.

Fawcett, 62, died Thursday morning at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, nearly three years after being diagnosed with anal cancer. Ryan O'Neal, the longtime companion who returned to her side when she became ill, was with her.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090625/ap_on_en_tv/us_obit_fawcett

(MY007) 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson dies at age 50 in LA

LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson, the sensationally gifted child star who rose to become the "King of Pop" and the biggest celebrity in the world only to fall from his throne in a freakish series of scandals, died Thursday. He was 50. Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Ed Winter, the assistant chief coroner for Los Angeles County, confirmed his office had been notified of the death and would handle the investigation.

(MYOO6) H1N1: 3 kes tempatan, jumlah 91

Jun 25, 09 12:10pm
kemaskini 1.31pm

Tiga lagi kes penularan tempatan jangkitan selesema A (H1N1) disahkan hari ini daripada 11 kes baru menjadikan semuanya 91 kes, kata menteri kesihatan

http://malaysiakini.com/news/107195




the number keep increasing

(MY005) Petronas profit falls

By Lee Wei Lian
KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — National oil company Petronas’s net profit declined by 13.9 per cent due to low oil prices and high production costs.

The group reported RM52.5 billion in net profit compared with RM61 billion the previous year.

Petronas CEO and president Tan Sri Mohd Hassan Marican does not expect oil prices, currently around US$50 a barrel compared with a high of over US$140 last year, to improve any time soon.

"Fundamentals do not justify the prospect of high prices," he told the media during a briefing on the group's financial results.

"Demand is down and spare capacity has increased. My own opinion is that the current prices are due to speculative trading and the depreciation of the US dollar. We are still in a low price and high-cost environment till the global economy improves."

The Petronas group's revenue increased by 18.4 per cent to RM264.2 billion compared with RM223.1 billion the previous year.

http://themalaysianinsider.com


still making profit billion2 of RM..such a strong company

(MY004) Our brain...

(MY003) ooopocot...

(MY002) US send Spain packing in stunning upset

BLOEMFONTEIN, June 25 — The United States’ 2-0 victory over European champions Spain in the Confederations Cup semi-finals yesterday earned a place on the list of great international upsets.

“We all know about the US beating England back in the World Cup in 1950 but this result, in the semi-finals of a major FIFA competition watched by millions around the world, has to rank right up there among the greatest upsets of all time,” US goalkeeper Tim Howard told reporters.

“On Sunday we thought we were going home, now we are heading into the final. No-one gave us a chance on Sunday, no-one thought we could turn it around, but you have to believe.”

FIFA’s own website (www.fifa.com) posed the question: “Is this the greatest upset ever in a FIFA competition?”

It left the answer open, but the result ranks alongside North Korea’s 1-0 win over Italy in the 1966 World Cup finals, Cameroon’s 1-0 win over then-world champions Argentina in the opening match of the 1990 World Cup and Senegal’s 1-0 victory over then-world champions France in the 2002 World Cup finals.

Denmark’s astonishing success in the 1992 European championship, when they won the tournament in Sweden a few weeks after reassembling from their holidays and being given a place in the finals when Yugoslavia were disqualified, also takes its place as does Greece’s win in Euro 2004 when they started the tournament as rank outsiders.

Two successive World Cup finals also produced huge shocks. In 1950 Brazil were odds-on favourites to beat Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro to become world champions for the first time but lost 2-1.

Four years later Hungary’s “mighty Magyars”, who had not lost for more than four years, met West Germany in the final, a few weeks after beating them 8-3 in the group stage. Hungary, one of the greatest sides ever assembled in world football, led 2-0 early in the game but ended up being beaten 3-2.

It is not the first time Spain have been the victims of an upset: they surprisingly lost 3-2 to Nigeria in the 1998 World Cup finals in Nantes after Nigeria scored two late goals.

This upset surpasses that though as Spain are currently number one in FIFA’s world rankings, had been unbeaten for nearly three years and 35 matches and had won their previous 15 games.

“It might not be the last upset here either,” said Howard. “If we can beat the world-ranked number one side, what can we do against Brazil or South Africa ?”

Brazil play the hosts today to decide who will meet the US in Sunday’s final. — Reuters

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/


what a shock...should be no poblem spain beat US..

(MY001) Tevez timbang 3 tawaran

BUENOS AIRES: Carlos Tevez yang menolak tawaran untuk kekal di Manchester United, sedang menimbang tawaran daripada tiga kelab, iaitu Manchester City, Chelsea dan satu lagi yang enggan dinyatakan penasihatnya.

“Pada masa ini kami sedang menimbang tawaran daripada City, Chelsea dan satu lagi pasukan,” kata penasihat beliau, Kia Joorabchian, dalam satu temubual bersama Radio Del Plata.

Joorabchian berkata, keputusan akan dibuat dalam tempoh 10 hari akan datang selepas perbincangan dengan Tevez dan ejen beliau, Adrian Ruocco.



tevez such a best player MU hav...luv to see him play..but sad he is not in MU squad next season..