Wii news for gamers

, Washington (AP) -- Rabid video gamers could get some help keeping in touch with the outside world this weekend as Nintendo Co. launches an online news service through its popular Wii console.

The Wii News Channel, scheduled to debut Saturday, will primarily feature top news stories and photographs from The Associated Press.

Consoles with a broadband Internet connection and the Opera Web browser will be able to access the free news channel, which will offer AP news in multiple languages. Japanese-language news will come from a separate agency.

There were no immediate plans to sell advertising space, said Perrin Kaplan, vice president for marketing at Nintendo's U.S. headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

News will be displayed through an interactive map, which users can navigate with the Wii's wireless controller, Kaplan said.

"The beauty of it is it zooms in and out of areas of the world," she said. "So if you really want to focus on regional news or national news versus international, you just blow up the map of the U.S."

The AP has a two-year contract to provide news and photos to Nintendo, and would like to provide multimedia in the future, said Jane Seagrave, vice president of new media markets for the New York-based news cooperative.

visit me @ Datco.com.my....

Jumpers leave workers sleepless in Seattle

, Washington (AP) -- A bridge over Seattle is becoming hazardous to the mental health of the dot-com employees and other office workers below, who keep seeing people jump to their deaths from the span.

Thirty-nine people over the past decade have committed suicide off the 155-foot-high Aurora Bridge -- eight in 2006 alone -- and counselors are regularly brought in to help office workers deal with the shock of seeing the leap or the bloody aftermath.

At least one woman, Sarah Edwards, drives on the left side of the street near her office ever since a body landed on the hood of a co-worker's car.

City and state officials, meanwhile, are adding suicide-prevention signs and telephones in hopes of reducing the death toll.

The "suicide bridge," as the half-mile span has been occasionally called since it was built in 1931, carries as many as 45,000 vehicles a day on one of the main north-south highways through Seattle, passing over a narrow channel connecting Lake Washington and Lake Union.

Some jumpers hit the water; others land on the pavement or other solid ground. Either way, they almost always die.

visit me @ Jeffayn.com ....

New Baghdad attacks kills 13

Iraq -- Bomb and mortar attacks throughout Baghdad Saturday left 13 dead and 51 wounded, Baghdad police officials told CNN.

In a busy market located in the capital's southeastern section two car bombs exploded minutes apart, killing at least 13 people and wounding 42 others, a police official said.

The first explosions was from a suicide car bomb and the second, which exploded minutes later, was from a bomb stashed in a car.

In the northwestern Baghdad neighborhood of Hurriya, nine people were wounded when two mortar rounds landed on a residential area Saturday, a Baghdad police official said.

Meanwhile, south of Baquba -- a city about 37 miles north of Baghdad -- coalition forces killed 14 suspected terrorists in an airstrike and arrested two more during a morning raid targeting foreign fighter safehouses, the U.S. military said.

Baghdad police also told CNN gunmen dressed as Iraqi national police stormed a computer company in eastern Baghdad Friday afternoon and kidnapped seven people before speeding off in three separate vehicles.

Meanwhile, the Bush administration has authorized the U.S. military to capture or kill Iranian agents in Iraq who are plotting attacks against U.S. and coalition forces, a U.S. national security official said Friday.

The policy, approved by President Bush in the last couple of months, is aimed at Iranian agents planning attacks with Iraqi militiamen, the official said

Rape charge for Israeli president

POSTED: 12:44 p.m. EST, January 23, 2007

JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Israel's attorney general has determined that there is enough evidence to charge Israeli President Moshe Katsav with sex crimes, including rape, which stem from allegations from four of his former female employees, the justice ministry said Tuesday.

Katsav will have a chance to refute the charges in a hearing with Attorney General Menachem Mazuz before Mazuz can proceed with the indictments.

According to a statement from the ministry, Katsav is charged with raping a woman who worked for him in the tourism ministry in 1998 and 1999, as well as indecent acts with use of force.

He is also charged with unlawful intercourse and indecent acts against another woman who worked with him while he was president in 2003-04. Katsav also faces charges of indecent acts with abuse of power against two women who worked for him as president.

He is also being charged with obstruction of justice and harassing a witness.

Katsav has denied any wrongdoing and his lawyer has said that he is the victim of blackmail.

Three months ago, Mazuz recommended Katsav temporarily step down as president -- a mostly ceremonial position in Israel's government -- as he considered the charges.

visit my site @Datco.com.my .....

European drive against iTunes builds support

POSTED: 10:44 a.m. EST, January 23, 2007

OSLO, Norway -- German and French consumer groups have joined a Nordic-led drive to force Apple Inc. to make its iTunes online store compatible with digital music players made by rival companies, a Norwegian official said Monday.

Currently, songs purchased and downloaded through iTunes are designed to work with Apple's market-leading iPod players but not competitors' models, including those using Microsoft Corp.'s Windows Media system. Likewise, iPods generally can't play copy-protected music sold through non-Apple stores.

Last June, consumer agencies in Norway, Denmark and Sweden claimed that Apple was violating contract and copyright laws in their countries.

Norwegian Consumer Ombudsman Bjoern Erik Thon said French consumer lobby UFC-Que Choisir and its German counterpart, Ferbraucherzentralen, joined the effort late last year, and other European countries are considering it. Finland's Kuluttajavirasto consumer group is also part of the effort.

"This is important because Germany and France are European giants," Thon said. "Germany, in particular, is a big market for digital music."

The Nordic regulators have met Apple officials at least twice on the complaints.

"Apple is aware of the concerns we've heard from several agencies in Europe and we're looking forward to resolving these issues as quickly as possible," Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr said Monday.

"Apple hopes that European governments will encourage a competitive environment that lets innovation thrive, protects intellectual property and allows consumers to decide which products are successful."

Thon said Norway gave Apple until September to change its polices, or face possible legal action and fines in the country.

"It cannot be good for the music industry for them to lock music into one system," he said.

A French law that allows regulators to force Apple to make its iPod player and iTunes store compatible with rival offerings went into effect in August.

Apple has been working to expand its iPod sales in Europe and said during its quarterly report last week its advertising and sales efforts were paying off.

Company officials say the iPod gained market share in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Sweden, Austria and Denmark during the holiday period.

visit our autoparts store ... . gpd.com.my ...

Sixty-eight pupils stung by bees

Wednesday January 24, 2007

KLANG, MALAYSIA: Children screamed in the posh, quite side of Taman Sri Andalas in Klang as swarms of bees stung them while the pupils were on a familiarisation run for the upcoming Cross Country Sweet Run 2007 next week.

Sixty-eight pupils of SK Taman Sri Andalas at Jalan Sri Damak 57, were stung.

Four were warded while the others received outpatient treatment at the Tengku Ampuan Rahimah (TAR) Hospital.

All four, Siti Aminah Natahan, D. Thibanraaj, Muhammad Hasif Ishak and Nur Fatin Atherah have been warded for observation as each one had complained of nausea while Thibanraaj had fainted in the school 25 minutes after being stung.

Bubbly lad, D. Thibanraaj who was admitted at Ward 6B said the incident occurred at about 8.15am when his fellow school mates were running along Jalan Sri Siantan 47.

“As soon as I turned into the road from Jalan Sri Siantan 50, I could see black dots hovering over the other pupils in front of me.

“Within seconds as I ran forward, I felt a sharp needle-like pain on my head, only then I realised that bees had stung me and others who were screaming,” he said.

Thibanraaj who was stung three times added: “All of us waved our hands frantically in a bid to ward off the swarm of bees hovering and crashing onto our face.

"Others ran helter-skelter down the road away from the hive that was within some garden refuse in a vacant piece of land between two bungalows.”

visit me @ Jeffayn.com...

Ex-beautician gets 15 years in cooking-oil death

Ex-beautician gets 15 years in cooking-oil death

Calif. woman sentenced for death caused by cosmetic injection of corn oil

Updated: 6:21 p.m. ET Jan. 18, 2007

SALINAS, Calif. - A former beautician who injected cooking oil into a woman’s buttocks as an anti-aging treatment, killing the client, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Martha Mata Vasquez, 39, who pleaded no contest in October to involuntary manslaughter, practicing medicine without a license and fraud, apologized during Wednesday’s sentencing hearing.

“I’m very sorry to my family, and I’m sorry to them (the victims and their families),” the married mother of two said.

Vasquez had charged clients up to $1,400 for each injection of Mazola corn oil, claiming the “French polymer” treatment would reduce wrinkles, prosecutors said.

Maria Olivia Castillo, 46, of Castroville died in November 2005 of multiple organ failure caused by a fat blockage brought about by a cooking oil injection, prosecutors said. Similar injections caused medical complications for others and put one patient into a coma, prosecutors said.

Defense attorneys said Vasquez didn’t know of the dangers of the injections.

“That couldn’t be farther from the truth,” said Deputy District Attorney Steve Somers, noting Vasquez continued to perform the procedure after clients became ill.

Sisters’ deaths linked to vice

Tuesday January 16, 2007

Sisters’ deaths linked to vice

IPOH: Police have reclassified the death of two sisters, who were found hanged side-by-side from the ceiling of their home as murder or abetment to suicide.

The reclassification came just hours after their mother told reporters that the girls were being forced into prostitution.

Chong Kwai Chin, who is in her 50s, said yesterday she came to this conclusion from a note found on her elder daughter Tan Sook Mun, who was a credit card promoter.

Sad memories: Chong showing a picture album of her daughter Sook Mun. With her is Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Tony Khoo.

Chong said she was informed that the note read: “They are forcing us to be prostitutes. We refuse to do so. This is the only way.”

The message was one of two pieces of paper found in the pocket of 21-year-old Sook Mun, who was found hanged beside her sister Sook Yin, 17, at Taman Klebang Jaya.

“I saw the first note, which only had a mobile phone number. I was later told that the number belonged to an Ah Long,” Chong said at her house in Kanthan, 25km from here.

Chong insists that someone had killed her daughters and that it was not suicide as believed by the police.

“My daughters have never been prostitutes. I cannot believe they committed suicide. They have always been outgoing and happy,” she said.

On an anonymous tip-off at 6.30pm on Saturday, police rushed to the girls’ house at Taman Klebang Jaya and found them hanged from a ceiling beam.

OCPD Asst Comm Jalaludin Ibrahim said the police had reclassified the case from the initial classification of sudden death.

He confirmed that a note written in Chinese was found in Sook Mun’s pocket.

“We are processing the note to determine if it was written by the deceased,” he said.

Crime reports worry PM

Monday January 15, 2007

Crime reports worry PM

CEBU CITY: The Prime Minister has ordered the Inspector General of Police to despatch more personnel to Johor to provide security and to assist the people.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he was concerned over reports of criminal incidents during floods.

He said there were complaints that homes abandoned by occupants fleeing rising waters had been broken into by irresponsible and “heartless” people who stole their belongings.

“I have asked Musa (IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan) to send his men not only to help in relief, aid distribution and evacuation process, but also to ensure there would not be any break-ins and stealing,” he told reporters here last night.

The Prime Minister also had reminded the health authorities to monitor the after-effects of the flood to avoid any outbreak of disease.

In Johor Baru yesterday, Musa said another 1,500 policemen would be deployed to assist the 2,000 personnel already involved in flood hit areas.

They would primarily be involved in search and rescue operations, crime prevention and also provide assistance at relief centres.

“My men from the Federal Reserve Unit and General Operations Force have already been dispatched,” Musa said, adding that 29 marine police boats were also dispatched to the areas. Two police air wing helicopters are also being used in rescue operation.

Musa appealed to those in the affected areas not to wait until the last minute to evacuate but to move out once they had been advised to.

He also advised the public not to listen to rumours as the state government had not declared a curfew or a state of emergency.

“So far, my state police chief is able to handle the situation caused by floods in the state.,” he said.

visit my site @GPD.com.my ....

Floods: Almost 110,000 evacuated

Monday January 15, 2007

Floods: Almost 110,000 evacuated

JOHOR BARU: The number of flood victims in Johor Baru and Pontian has dipped slightly, but the figures in other districts continued to climb as more people left their homes and moved into relief centres across the state.

As of 10am, some 109,831 people have been evacuated to 344 flood evacuation centres statewide.

visit me @Jeffayn.com ...

Easier entry into Britain with an MBA

Sunday January 14, 2007

Easier entry into Britain with an MBA

LONDON: Malaysian professionals who hold an MBA from any of 50 British-approved institutions will stand a better chance of working in Britain.

They will automatically get 75 points – the minimum qualifying mark under the point-based system in the Highly-Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP), which came into force on Dec 5.

The move affects mostly doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers and entrepreneurs, who must score at least 75 points to cross the HSMP hurdle.

Westminster City Council Chinese liaison officer David Tan said the Home Office had set the new rules and guidelines for the scheme, with the HSMP category designed to attract people with very special skills and who were highly trained and qualified to work in Britain.

Those with an MBA would be given preference above all others.

visit my site @Datco.com.my ....

Flood situation worsens in Johor

Sunday January 14, 2007

Flood situation worsens in Johor

JOHOR BARU: The number of victims affected by the flood continue to climb as more people are being moved to relief centres across the state.

As of 10am on Sunday, some 92,650 people have been evacuated to 333 flood relief centres statewide.

Most of the victims are from Batu Pahat with 28,660 people, Kluang (16,252), Kota Tinggi (11,066), Johor Baru (10,880), Segamat (6,214), Mersing (5992), Muar (3,770) and Pontian (3,130). Access to Kota Tinggi, Bandar Tenggara, Paloh in Muar remains cut off. Access to Mersing is only through Rompin, Pahang as the road from Johor Baru is still impassable due to floods and landslides.

More than a dozen major roads statewide have been closed. Among them are:

1) KM25 Kota Tinggi - Mersing road
2) Batu 7,13, 15, 18, 20 of Johor Baru - Mersing
3) KM 24 Kota Tinggi - Kulai
4) Labis - Yong Peng
5) KM 3 Yong Peng - Parit Sulong
6) Batu 18 Ayer Hitam - Parit Sulong
7) Batu 28, Batu 70 Muar - Labis

Cargo jet crash-lands at Kuching airport

Saturday January 13, 2007

Cargo jet crash-lands at Kuching airport

KUCHING: A cargo aircraft from Kuala Lumpur crash-landed at Kuching International Airport here early Saturday, causing the airport runway to be closed for six hours.

The Boeing 737-200 aircraft belonging to Gading Sari Aviation Services Sdn Bhd was landing at 5.52am when it skidded and spun 180 degrees before coming to rest on a grass area off the runway.

Its wheels and right engine came off during the crash landing while the fuselage was badly damaged. Several taxiway and runway lights were also damaged.

The four crew members on board the plane were unharmed in the incident.

visit my site @Jeffayn.com ....

Power supply cut

Saturday January 13, 2007

Power supply cut

JOHOR BARU: Power supply to parts of Johor Baru, Kota Tinggi, Kluang, Muar and Segamat has been cut after 248 substations were shut down.

Three water plants in Kluang have also been closed.

visit me @ GPD autoparts....

MALAYSIA NoT blaming Thai military over blasts

Friday January 12, 2007

MALAYSIA NoT blaming Thai military over blasts

IPOH: Malaysia does not harbour any preconception towards Thailand's military over the explosions that injured four Malaysian soldiers in Sik, Kedah, on Tuesday, said Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin.

“The relations between Malaysia and Thailand, between our soldiers and Thai soldiers, are good.

“Therefore, we do not harbour any preconception that the incident was the work of Thai soldiers. It must have been committed by an individual or a group,” he said at the state operations room at Bangunan Darul Ridwan here.

Zainal Abidin said a platoon of soldiers had been despatched to scour the area and trace the source of the explosions.

“As far as I know, we are getting the cooperation of the Thai government and military,” he said, adding that a stricter and comprehensive monitoring and action strategy had been drawn up.

Three injured soldiers – Sjn Mat Nazir Ishak, 34, and Prebet Yuzaizi Yusof, 26, and Prebet Abdul Razak Abdul Wahab, 23 – have been discharged from hospital.

Defence Ministry public relations deputy director L/Kol Fadzlette Marican told Bernama that L/Kpl Azmi Rashid, 31, would be discharged soon.

The soldiers, from the Army's Second Division based at the Sungai Ara Camp in Penang, were on routine patrol at the border near Pos Ban Din Samoe when two explosions went off, believed to been caused by hand grenades.

The location of the Malaysian army control post is about 100m from that of the Thai army at Ban Din Samoe, which separates Malaysia and Thailand.

Sources said the authorities had ruled out militant involvement.

visit me @ Jeffayn .com ....

Internet love affair turns into nightmare for woman

Thursday January 11, 2007

Internet love affair turns into nightmare for woman

KUALA LUMPUR: The 22-year-old student found her love affair with a man she met on the Internet turned into a nightmare.

He had taken pictures of their love-making and threatened to send them to her friends if she broke off with him.

The girl, identified as Ong, said she had befriended the Middle-Eastern man who claimed to be a business consultant through the Internet early last year.

They were involved in an intimate relationship.

In July, at his home in Kajang, the man threatened to beat her up unless she agreed to have her pictures taken while they were having sex.

He later warned her that he would circulate the pictures on the Internet if she stopped having sex with him.

visit me @ Datco.com.my ....

Car number plates to be controlled items

Wednesday January 10, 2007

Car number plates to be controlled items

PUTRAJAYA: Car number plates will become a controlled item and will be distributed and sold only by authorised dealers appointed by the Road Transport Department (JPJ) once the e-plate system comes into effect.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy said once implemented, the e-plate, which uses a microchip with Radio Frequency Identification, would become available to everyone buying new cars.

“The number plates will contain a microchip with the car chassis and engine numbers and the design will be standardised,” he told reporters after an hour dialogue with representatives from the Association of Allied Advertisers. “This feature is an enhanced security measure for car owners.

“Use of the e-plate is expected to significantly reduce the number of stolen cars being smuggled across our border points into neighbouring countries as well as help the Government to better enforce road rules under our camera surveillance system.

“The Government has decided that the system will be implemented only for new cars at present and this will happen gradually over three to five years.”

Chan said in many advanced countries like Australia and Europe, car number plates were already a controlled item.

visit me @ GPD.....

Flood @ Southern States of Malaysia

Wednesday December 20, 2006

Worst flood experience yet

35cm of rain in just a day


JOHOR BARU: Continuous rain over the past 24 hours caused rivers to burst their banks, spilling water into streets and villages, and bringing the state to a virtual standstill.

An estimated 9,000 people were forced to leave their homes following what has been regarded as the state’s highest rainfall in 100 years.

Sungai Segamat in Segamat, Sungai Skudai in Johor Baru and Sungai Mengkibol in Kluang were among five rivers whose waters overflowed.

At press time, 26 main roads were closed to traffic and nine cases of landslide had occurred.

So far, there has been no fatality because rescue teams managed to get the people to higher ground.

Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman warned Johoreans to prepare for the worst as heavy rain was expected to continue until Friday.

NOT GOING ANYWHERE: A car is stuck in the middle of a flooded road in Segamat yesterday. — Bernamapic



A group of young men perching on top of payphone booths to stay out of the flood, even as the water level continues to rise in Kota Tinggi.



visit me @ Datco.com.my ....