Asia Pacific News

PrivateX Hackers Inflicted Philippines Vice President Website

2012-01-02T23:46:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
January 02, 2011

Website of Philippines Vice President Jejomar Binay was inflicted by hackers on Sunday, said a spokesman Joey Salgado today. The site was down for more than fifteen hours, but no serious damage has been reported. At least five other websites have been hacked by the hackers who have also warned of hacking more government sites.

Website of Office of Vice President was also hit by hackers last year to show the vulnerability of it. The site contains information on OVP's programs, projects and services.

At about 4 p.m. (local time) yesterday the OVP website was hacked by PrivateX group. The website is hosted by Advanced Science and Technology Institute (Asti).

Facebook page of PrivateX group made fun of the Department of Health in their latest post. It also mentioned names of other websites to be hacked by them soon that includes websites of Optical Media Board, Senate Eletoral Tribunal and Philippine National Radiation Institute.

Samoa Celebrates New Year A Day Ahead, No Friday This Week

2011-12-31T15:28:00.000+05:30

By SAMOAN Citizen Journalist
December 31, 2011

SAMOA NEW YEAR - Today is New Year in Samoa. The Pacific island nation lost Friday off this week's calendar in a historic leap across the dateline. For years its trading partners New Zealand and Australia were a day ahead. Now the nation is in line with midnight switch from December 29 (Thursday) to December 31 (Saturday).

Samoans celebrated the New Year at Thursday midnight in the streets with songs, prayers and ringing of bells. People crowded to be photographed near the town clock in the capital Apia on the stroke of midnight. People clapped, cheered and car horns blared as the bells chimed midnight to mark this historic event.

Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said this alignment with trade partners New Zealand and Australia could only benefit Samoa to have five days a week trade with the regional powerhouses.

The date line dance was implemented in this tiny South Pacific island nation 119 years ago in 1892 when the U.S. traders persuaded local Samoans of aligning the time with nearby U.S.-controlled American Samoa.

Samoa, along with neighboring Tokelau lie near to the date line crossing through the Pacific Ocean.

In 2009 Tuilaepa introduced changes enacting a law that meant cars switched to left-hand side of the road driving bringing the nation in line with New Zealand and Australia.

Cambodia, Thailand To Form Power Plant Working Group

2011-12-30T19:20:00.001+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 30, 2011

Cambodia and Thailand is paving way in forming a working group for the Stung Num hydropower plant and coal-fired power plant on Koh Kong after the two nations agreed on electricity sharing.

Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Surapong Tovichakchaikul and Minister of Energy Pichai were officially visiting on Thursday Cambodian Prime Minister when the issue was raised by the Cambodian leader.

Pichai said due to political problems between Cambodia and Thailand the matter has been put on hold. He added further that Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) was assigned for discussing the matter in detail with Cambodia as it will be purchasing the power according to the existing agreement.

EGAT International, the subsidiary of EGAT was assigned for further study of the projects.

Pichai said that the two nations agreed that Stung Num power plant to be in Thailand but the reservoir and dam should be in Cambodia.

Malaysia Introduces Free Education Policy In 2012 Budget

2011-12-29T02:06:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 29, 2011

MALAYSIA FREE EDUCATION POLICY - Year One students to enroll in schools next year in Malaysia without having to pay the school fees. This arrangement is made for the first time in the country. About 5.3 million primary and secondary students will be benefiting across the country through this free education policy recently announced. The students will also enjoy RM100 more as assistant in preparing themselves for the coming school session.

Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made the announcement of free education for the first time when 2012 Budget was tabled last October in the Dewan Rakyat. The policy was lauded by all in the nation.

PM said that the Malaysian children to have access to affordable and quality education irrespective of socio-economic backgrounds of each.

Before this policy, the school fees for primary and secondary students were RM 24.50 and RM33.50 respectively. The fees included co-curriculum activities, Malaysian Schools Sports Council fees, internal test papers and insurance premium.

RM50.2 billion is allocated by 2012 Budget for the education sector along with RM1.9 billion additional for development expenditure.

Islamists Bombed Nigerian Churches On Christmas killing Dozens

2011-12-26T01:19:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 26, 2011

NIGERIA BOMBING - At least five coordinated bombing struck three Churches and a state security building across Nigeria during the Christmas services Sunday killing about two dozen people. A packed Catholic church outside capital Abuja was the worst affected where sixteen people were killed.

Boko Haram, the militant sect in the country, claimed responsibility of the bombings. He wants imposing of Islamic law across Nigeria.

The first explosion took place at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla filled for the Christmas service. It is about 25 miles northwest of capital Abuja.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency the total number of people killed in Sunday’s bombings was 16, but witness say the number could be in dozens.

Second bomb exploded hours after the first near the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Church in Jos, which is the border of Muslim north and Christian south.

Two more bombs were reported to have exploded in the city of Damaturu, and one at a church in Gadaka.

About half the population of Nigeria is Muslim and 40 percent is Christian.

In last week's several gun battles more than sixty people were killed and at least 100 were killed in the month of November in wave of such attacks.

Last year on Christmas Eve Boko Haram carried out series bombings.

Indian Rail & Union Budget Session Could Delay Due To Assembly Polls

2011-12-25T17:42:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 25, 2011

INDIAN UNION BUDGET - Assembly polls of five states in India may delay the scheduled Union and Rail Budget of 2012-13 by few days.

Five Indian states would go to polls on January 28, 2012 and will run till March 3, and the vote counting would be on March 4. This may force the Indian government to delay the Railway Budget presentation as well as that of Union Budget of year 2012-13 till March 9.

Usually the two budget presentations take place by February-end, after the Budget Session in the Indian Parliament or either the third week or last of week of February.

SY Quairashi, Chief Election Commissioner, said when asked about the possibility of budget being postponed that many factors are taken into account by the Commission while fixing the poll dates. He added that in 1976-77 due to election the budget presentation was delayed.

R.I.P.; North Korea Leader Kim Jong-il Dies Aged 69 [Video]

2011-12-21T01:15:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 21, 2011

Eva Ekvall: Former Miss Venezuela Dies of Breast Cancer at Age 28

2011-12-20T21:43:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 20, 2011

MISS VENEZUELA NEWS- Battling against breast cancer, former Miss Venezuela Eva Ekvall died Saturday (December 17) in a Houston, Texas hospital. She was 28.

At the age of 17 in year 2000 Eva Ekvall was crowned Miss Venezuela. In 2001 she was third runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico.

Eva Ekvall was a model, TV anchor and actress. She authored "Fuera de Foco" ("Out of Focus") book about her cancer struggles. The cover of the book had her make-up pic with shaved head.

The late beauty queen was born to an American father of Swedish and Hungarian descent and a Jamaican mother. She said in an interview in 2007 that she feel more Venezuelan than anybody.

She was married and leaves behind her husband John Fabio Bermudez, a radio producer, and a two-year-old daughter Miranda.

Her family said on Sunday in a statement her body would be cremated on Monday in Houston and a service will be held in Venezuela after her remains are returned.

13 Controlled Items For Christmas Celebration In Malaysia

2011-12-19T22:03:00.000+05:30

By CITIZEN Journalist
December 19, 2011

Malaysian government has placed thirteen items under the price control scheme in X'mas celebrations, which includes imported turkey.

The items are chicken, imported mutton, local mutton, imported turkey, tomatoes, eggs and green capsicum.

Traders in 146 areas have been directed to display the prices of the items on pink price tags, and selling above the controlled price would be penalized under Price Control And Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

According to Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, the sellers who violates the controlled pricing could be fined up to RM100,000 or three years of jail. The two could also be compounded with a fine up to RM50,000. For companies the fine amount is up to RM500,000 or compounded up to RM250,000.

13 controlled items in X'mas price control list in Malaysia

Editor's Note: If you are in Malaysia and find violation of the price ceiling by traders or companies, you can lodge complaints by calling on 1-800-886-800 (toll free) or any ministry office. You can also email to e-aduan@kpdnkk.gov.my.

Have any story from your area? Send it to us here.

BlackBerry Not In Motion In U.S. Smartphone Market

2011-12-17T23:50:00.005+05:30

By BOB Goswami
December 17, 2011

PERSPECTIVE - Seems BlackBerry maker Research in Motion (RIM) has bad news in the U.S. market. If not, simply ask Joh Donahoe, Chief Executive of eBay, world's biggest online auction site.

A few months ago there were hundred engineers at eBay to develop new iterations of its shopping app for iPhone of Apple Inc. About another hundred are working in developing apps for Android mobile platform of Google. More to this, about other fifty engineers were busy developing Microsoft's Windows phones apps.

What about RIM's BalckBerry?

According to Mr Donahoe, there are only "one or two" its people developing apps for BlackBerry.

At an event this year in June at Stanford University when RIM's subject came up, he told to a group of chief technology officers, "I still use the BlackBerry, but it's not the most developer-friendly platform."

In early November it was seen that he wasn't using BB much any more. Meeting press people then to talk about the holiday shopping season plans he whipped out his iPhone and showed eBay's apps running on it.

More similar stories are common these days among the once-loyal corporate customers of RIM.

On Thursday RIM posted quarterly profit sharply lower than before. The holiday season's BlackBerry shipments were offered a dismal forecast, and also the arrival of new phones has been delayed.

Isn't it frustrating that all the BlackBerry customers haven't also heard anything good from RIM in a long time? If the company doesn’t come up with something new soon then would they become the next palm?

On Friday the price of RIM stock fell on Nasdaq by 11 percent. It was lowest in about eight years.

According to the forecast of Strategy Analytics, the shares of RIM in U.S. smartphone market to go down to 12 percent this year, which is a sharp drop from 2007. Apple is expected to take a 24 percent share this year in the U.S. smartphone market.

RIM had 44 percent share in U.S. smartphone market in 2007. Then Apple had just started selling smartphones.

100 Dies In Indian State Of West Bengal For Drinking Toxic Liquor

2011-12-15T15:13:00.002+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 15, 2011

Illegal alcohol killed over hundred people in the Indian state of West Bengal. Late Tuesday poor manual workers, hawkers, rickshaw pullers and laborers began falling ill after drinking adulterated batch of bootleg liquor in Mongrahat town of Diamond Harbour, 31 miles south of Kolkata city.

All the 100 dead drank "country liquor" at different makeshift bars which sold the same brand from illicit distillery of Diamond Harbour. Many more are hospitalised for treatment, but the death toll may rise further.

Alcoholism is a significant problem in the country in urban as well as rural India. Liquor poisoning is frequent in the country. At least 130 people died in 2009 in state of Gujarat in similar incident.

Police have arrested four people so far and ten illegal liquor shops have been demolished, said official. It is also reported that angry locals have destroyed the blamed distillery.

In the town one litre of such liquor costs just 10 rupees (about $20) and is often sold door-to-door. A manual laborer in the country earns around 150 rupees (about $3) each day.

West Bengal is one of the poorest state in India. A week ago a hospital fire in its capital Kolkata killed around ninety people. It is believed that the fire started from a carpark area in the basement that was used as a store breaching local regulations.

BioShock Infinite Screenshots

2011-12-12T21:38:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 12, 2011

BioShock Infinite is to hit the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC next year by publisher 2K Games, the creators of original BioShock.

BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter being developed by Irrational Games, introducing completely new narrative experience that will surely lift players out of familiar confines of Rapture.

The original BioShock has been sold more than four million unites across the world.

BioShock Infinite Screenshot

25,000 Russians Protested In Moscow To Denounce Elections, Putin

2011-12-10T23:55:00.009+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 10, 2011

RUSSIA PROTEST NEWS - About fifty thousands people came to street on Saturday in Moscow in protest against the rule of prime minister Vladimir Putin.

Protesters in thousands stood shoulder-to-shoulder in one of biggest demonstrations since the demise of the Soviet Union in early 1990s, shouting "Freedom!" and "Russia without Putin!"

Interior troops and police were deployed around Bolotnaya Square, across river from Kremlin, but the protesters were allowed to gather by officials.

Over fifty cities were reported to have marched by protesters. Seven thousands gathered in St Petersburg and 4,000 in Siberian city of Novosibirsk braving the cold and snow of temperature -20C.

Despite fraud accusations, United Russia party of Putin gained almost 50% vote in a disputed parliamentary election.

If the Kremlin refused the cancel of election results, a protest again would be held on Christmas eve, said Opposition leader Vladimir Ryzhkov.

Over fifty cities were reported to have marched by protesters. Seven thousands gathered in St Petersburg and 4,000 in Siberian city of Novosibirsk braving the cold and snow of temperature -20C.

Protesters mainly included growing middle class and educated professionals.

Vladimir Putin accused Hillary Clinton, United States secretary, of prompting unrest in the country and also cracked down on the NGOs that work with foreign funding in Russia.

Soccer Live: Juventus vs Bologna 2-1 [4 Videos]

2011-12-10T01:10:00.000+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
December 9, 2011

Match Between - Juventus and Bologna
Competition - Coppa Italia
Match Date - 08.12.11
Match Time - 3:00pm (US/Eastern)
Match Venue - Juventus Arena (Torino)
Match Score - Juventus 2 goals; Bologna 1 goal

Juventus vs Bologna 2-1 Goal Videos

Highlights:

1-0 Giaccherini E. 90':

1-1 Raggi A. 90':

2-1 Marchisio C. 102':

88 Died In India's Hospital Fire, Owners Arrested

2011-12-09T23:58:00.001+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 09, 2011

AMRI HOSPITAL FIRE NEWS - Six owners of India's Kolkata city AMRI Hospital were arrested Friday evening following massive fire in the hospital that killed at least 88 people out of suffocation.

The arrested owners are SK Todi, Ravi Todi, RS Goenka, Manish Goenka, Dayananda Agarwal and Prasanta Goenka. The licence of AMRI has also been cancelled.

The private air-conditioned six-storeys hospital was issued a warning back in July this year about inadequate fire safety mechanism.

The fire in the building spread from basement, engulfing one after other wards trapping people in hundreds. Most of the patients died out of suffocation caused by carbon monoxide accumulation and some due to burns.

The worst affected patients were in the ICU ward who died due to asphyxiation.

Deaths could have been prevented if the accumulated gas could get a way to escape. The entire building is surrounded by glass facade.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reached the spot but resulted in stoking the rage of people and leading to near-stampede.

AMRI has announced Rs 5 lakh as compensation to families of the deceased. Separate packages of compensation have also been announced by the centre and state government.

Deaths could have been prevented if the accumulated gas could get a way to escape. The entire building is surrounded by glass facade.

Rescued patients have been shifted to different hospitals. About 42 of them to Mukundpur AMRI Hospital, 9 at Saltlake AMRI, 5 at Belle Vue Clinic, 2 at SSKM Hospital and 1 at Calcutta Medical College.

The cause of the fire is still not known. The National Disaster Rescue Force team has checked the basement of the hospital for radiation leak said chief minister. Ms Banerjee also added that forensic experts would be inquiring into it too.

Batman: Arkham City Lockdown Logo & iPhone/iPad Screenshots

2011-12-08T23:55:00.020+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 08, 2011

BATMAN ARKHAM CITY NEWS - Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment announced on Thursday the availability of Batman: Arkham City Lockdown app on App Store for iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Batman: Arkham City game is the best-selling videogame releases of the year and for the first time it has hit the App Store. It has original gameplay and original combat exclusively for the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.

Creator of Mortal Kombat, NetherRealm Studios, developed Batman: Arkham City Lockdown. It features many dangerous criminals of Gotham City such as The Joker, Solomon Grundy and Two-Face.

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Also Read: Batman: Arkham City Preview and Release Date
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Batman: Arkham City Lockdown logo

Batman: Arkham City Lockdown iPhone/iPad screenshot

Thai Born American Sentenced Prison For Insulting King

2011-12-08T23:26:00.001+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 08, 2011

A Thailand court sentenced a United States citizen Joe Gordon on Thursday for two and a half years in prison for defaming the royal family of the country by translating excerpts from locally banned biography "The King Never Smiles" of the Thai king and posting it online. The book was published by Yale University.

Born in Thailand, Joe Gordon lived in the U.S. for past three decades. He uploaded the translated excerpts from U.S. soil. The Thai government sees the online publishing of banned book as crime of lese-majeste.

Initially Gordon denied the charges. He pleaded guilty in October. According to his lawyer Arnon Nampa, the 54-year-old Lerpong Wichaicommart (Gordon's Thai name) will request a royal pardon.

Information Minister of Thailand, Arundith Nakornthap, asked for the removal of 86,000 Facebook pages between August and November.

"The King Never Smiles" was written by Paul M. Handley, former journalist. He detailed in the book a biography of King Bhumibol and argues that the Thai king led a restoration of royal power in the country which has impeded democracy development.

On Monday the king marked his 48th birthday being in hospitalized with various ailments for over two years. He had been on the throne for more than 6 decades and citizens have unquestioning loyalty towards him.

In November the Information Minister of Thailand, Arundith Nakornthap, asked for the removal of 86,000 Facebook pages between August and November. The minister said further that users of the social media who "like" or "share" content that insults the Thai monarchy are committing a crime.

Soccer Live: Galatasaray vs Fenerbahçe 3-1 [Video]

2011-12-08T15:26:00.001+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
December 8, 2011

Match Between - Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe
Competition - Super Lig
Match Date - 07.12.11
Match Time - 12:30pm (US/Eastern)
Match Venue - Türk Telekom Arena (Istanbul)
Match Score - Galatasaray 3 goals; Fenerbahçe 1 goal

Galatasaray vs Fenerbahçe 3-1 Goal Video

Match Highlights:

Galatasaray vs Fenerbahçe 3-1

Car In Exchange For Being Sterilized; India's Own Way To Control Population [Video]

2011-12-07T14:46:00.001+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 07, 2011

There is no doubt India's one of biggest challenges is controlling population growth. Health officials in the Indian state of Rajasthan have found a queer way to curb the whooping population growth by presenting cars in exchange of sterilization. A new video on it.

India Demographics*

Population - 1,210,193,422 (2011 est.)
Growth rate - 1.41% (2009 est.)
Birth rate - 22.22 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Death rate - 6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Life expectancy - 69.89 years (2009 est.)
Fertility rate - 2.68 children born/woman (2010 est.)
Infant mortality rate - 30.15 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)

*Wikipedia

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Also Read:
‘Cars For Sterilization’ Drive Tries To Reduce Population In Rajasthan
Global Population Expected 9bn By 2050, India To Topple China
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Population map of India - 2001

Grand Theft Auto III Releasing On iOS, Android Devices Celebrating 10th Anniversary

2011-12-07T13:43:00.002+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 07, 2011

GTA III NEWS - Open world action computer and video game Grand Theft Auto III steps into its 10th year, and publisher Rockstar Games is now taking another giant leap in releasing it on iOS and Android devices.

Grand Theft Auto III is coming on iPhone, iPad, LG Optimus 2X, Motorola Photon 4G, Asus Eee Pad Transformer, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and many more devices on December 15th.

First released in October 2001 for PlayStation 2, Grand Theft Auto III became the first 3D title in the GTA series. It hit the Microsoft Windows in May 2002, and Xbox in November 2003. Last year in November the game was made available for Mac OS X. This year on August 8 the game was put on the Mac App Store shelves.

Grand Theft Auto III was top selling video game of 2010 and was called the landmark in video games.

Grand Theft Auto III for iOS Devices

iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S
iPad 1 and iPad 2
iPod touch 4th Generation.

Grand Theft Auto III for Android Phones

LG Optimus 2x
HTC Rezound
Motorola Atrix 4G
Motorola Droid X2
Motorola Photon 4G
T-Mobile G2x
Samsung Galaxy R

Grand Theft Auto III for Android Tablets

Asus Eee Pad Transformer
Acer Iconia
Dell Streak 7
Motorola Xoom
LG Optimus Pad
Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.9 and 10.1
Toshiba Thrive
Sony Tablet S

GTA III screenshot

Vietnam's Hanoi Airport Getting Second Terminal By 2014

2011-12-06T22:22:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 06, 2011

HANOI AIRPORT T2 NEWS - Construction for the second terminal begins today at Hanoi's Noi Bai International Airport (Vietnam) after work order issued by Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai.

Talking to the media yesterday the Vietnamese Deputy PM said the T2 terminal project is the joint effort of Ministry of Transport, Hanoi city and also Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). He also proposed Civil Aviation Authority and Ministry of Transport to make good collaboration in the management to ensure completion of the terminal in the set time frame.

The terminal will be four-storey with a total floor area of 139,200 sq. mts. It is scheduled to be completed by year 2014 and estimated to receive about 10 million passengers a year. The capacity will be increased to 15 million passengers after 2020.

The current T1 terminal of the Hanoi airport has the capacity to accommodate 5 million travelers a year and since 2007 it has been overloaded. It is presently handling about eleven million travelers a year.

After 2020, new terminals - T3 and T4 - has also been planned at the Noi Bai Airport.

The Vietnam Airlines hopes Hanoi and Ho chi Minh City airports to become the gateways to the Southeast Asian region.

To compete with major aviation hubs in the region like Singapore and Bangkok, the country needs to spend more, said analysts.

Japan is funding 75 billion yen ($961 million) as aid for the T2 terminal construction. The country is also funding for an expressway and bridge link to the terminal.

Ho Chi Minh City airport

Hanoi airport

India Asks Facebook, Google, Others To Pre-Screen Users' Content

2011-12-06T12:54:00.000+05:30

By CITIZEN Journalist
December 06, 2011

SOCIAL MEDIA NEWS - Tension brews once again between the Indian government and social media and Internet companies in the country. The telecom ministry demands to Google, Yahoo, Facebook, Microsoft and others to screen users content in human and remove offensive material before it is being uploaded.

Over last three months the Indian government is in talks with the Internet giant India office to put a monitoring mechanism on what is being uploaded by users.

IT & telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said the government does not believe in censorship, but believes in self-regulation.

According to the executives of these giants, the materials uploaded in their social platforms are in line with US laws and community standards.

Indian national daily Hindustan Times reported Internet companies saying broad action to the large number of users are impossible.

Facebook has 25 million users in India and more than 10 million users are with the Google products.

No doubt there are a lot of social media and internet users in India. To suggest pre-screening all the users’ content by human beings is a job of impossible. If other Asian countries follow India asking the same question to internet companies, it is like asking social media to shut down. It is the time for site's administrators to balance between individual against defamation with the right to freedom of expression.

Indian Telecom & IT Minister Kapil Sibal

Soccer Live: Olympique Lyon vs Toulouse 3-2 [5 Videos]

2011-12-05T23:44:00.000+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
December 4, 2011

Match Between - Olympique Lyon vs Toulouse
Competition - France Ligue 1
Match Date - 04.12.11
Match Time - 3:00pm (US/Eastern)
Match Venue - Stade de Gerland (Lyon)
Match Score - Olympique Lyon 3 goals; Toulouse 2 goals

Olympique Lyon vs Toulouse 3-2 Goal Videos

Olympique Lyon's first goal: 1-0 Kone B. 39'

Olympique Lyon's second goal: 2-0 Ederson 52'

Olympique Lyon's third goal: 3-0 Lopez (Penalty) 66'

Toulouse's first goal: 3-1 Bulut U. 68'

Toulouse's second goal: 3-2 (Penalty) Sissoko M. 75'

Japan's Asahi firm to acquire Australian Mountain H2O

2011-12-05T20:22:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 05, 2011

After the recent successful capture of Independent Liquor of New Zealand, Japan's Asahi Group Holdings now eyes Mountain H2O, the Australian mineral water supplier.

It is reported that the two companies have reached a basic deal and are expected to approach regulators soon for the clearance in finalising the acquisition.

Mountain H2O is located at the border between NSW and Victoria in Australia. It bottles Coles Private label bottled spring water as well as its own brand mineral water. It has an annual sales of approximately $A31.4 million.

Asahi seeks to buy Mountain H2O to capitalise on the growing demand of bottled water. The company is the maker of top-selling "Super Dry" beer in Japan and had earlier bought New Zealand's beverage group for $1.3 billion.

It is learned the Japanese firm is also seeking for Malaysian bottler for PepsiCo, Permanis, for about $275 million. The company announced earlier about a deal worth $200 million for buying P&N Beverages of Australia.

Asahi signed in July two separate M&A soft-drinks deals in New Zealand and Australia worth $309 million in total for a key portion of New Zealand's Charlie's Group Ltd. and P&N Beverages Australia Pty Ltd.

Shares of Asahi closed today up by 0.4% against a 0.5% drop in the Nikkei average.

Mountain H2O mineral water

Air New Zealand launches cheaper domestic fares

2011-12-05T17:28:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 05, 2011

Air New Zealand launches low-cost seats slashing domestic arifares by up to $10. The newly introduced low-cost seats are only for carry-on luggage for travellers.

The airlines said the low-cost seats suit style fares and it would be less by 6 percent in average.

The flexible fare structure was earlier introduced by the national carrier on Tasman and Pacific Island flights about fourteen months ago. The outstanding success of it is the result of new low-cost seats for the domestic destinations.

Air New Zealand also announced today the launching of $59 stand-by fares nationwide until June 30, 2011. These stand-by fares are applicable on many of the domestic destinations out of 27 or in any non-stop off peak flights.

The longest distances are Aucland-Queenstown and Auckland-Dunedin. The fare of this route one way is $79.

Just for $10 extra per person in one way journey the standby fares are made available, including a bag.

Air New Zealand group general manager Australasia airline Bruce Parton said there will be thousands of last minute bargain seats option for travellers every week on regional and main trunk routes.

Jetstar is to launch flights on December 22 from capital to Queenstown at $79 one way, and this would give tough competition to Air New Zealand.

Presently Air New Zealand has a monopoly on the route and its direct flight to Queensland was $266.

Air New Zealand

Ecuador Beauty Crowned Miss Earth 2011

2011-12-05T10:44:00.002+05:30

By STAFF Reporter
December 05, 2011

MISS EARTH 2011 NEWS - Miss Ecuador Olga Alva took center stage at Miss Earth 2011 coronation night at the University of Philippines Theater in Diliman, Quezon City.

The 23-year-old fashion model was declared the winner of beauty pageant. Miss Earth 2010 Nicole Faria passed the crown to Alva, taking her farewell walk.

Miss Brazil Drielly Bennettone got the first runner-up Miss Earth-Air 2011 title while Miss Philippines Athena Imperial was crowned as Miss Earth Water, the second runner-up.

Miss South Africa Dominique Mann won the talent round and Miss Chinese Taipei Cherry Liu dominated the online voting in the contest. The Best Long Gown award was given to Miss Mexico Cassandra Becerra and Miss Czech Republic won the title of swimsuit competition.

The top 16 contestants included beauties from Paraguay, Ukraine, Portugal, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Sweden, Venezuela, Crimea, Thaialnd, Mexico, Zimbabwe, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The environmental advocacy of Miss Ecuador is preserving forests and engaging people more on tree planting.

Next year the Miss Earth beauty pageant will be held at Ninh Thuan in Vietnam in December 2012. It will be the 12th edition of the contest.

The top 8 emerged to be from Crimea, Mexico, Ecuador, Philippines, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Venezuela, Brazil and Zimbabwe.

Eighty-three contestants, "Earth warriors", participated in the environmentthemed Miss Earth contest this year.

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Miss World 2011 - Miss Venezuela Ivian Sarcos, Wanted To Become Nun
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Miss Earth Water 2011 - Miss Philippines

Taiwanese beauty wins Miss Photogenic in Miss Earth 2011

Soccer Live: Barcelona vs Levante 5-0 [6 Videos]

2011-12-04T20:35:00.000+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
December 4, 2011

Match Between - Barcelona and Levante
Competition - Spain La Liga
Match Date - 03.12.11
Match Time - 2:00am (US/Eastern)
Match Venue - Camp Nou, Barcelona (Barcelona)
Match Score - Barcelona 5 goals; Levante 0 goal

Barcelona vs Levante 5-0 Live Goal Videos

Hightlights:

1-0 Fabregas 4':

2-0 Fabregas 33':

3-0 Cuenca 37':

4-0 Messi 55':

5-0 A. Sanchez 61':

R.I.P.; Dev Anand's Cremation Next Week

2011-12-04T15:36:00.001+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 04, 2011

DEV ANAND NEWS - Bollywood iconic star Dev Anand died in London after a cardiac arrest. He was 88 and survived by wife Kalpana Karthik, son Sunil and a daughter.

Dev Anand's manager Mohan Churiwala confirmed to media about the death of the evergreen romantic star of Hindi cinema in a London hotel. He died at 10pm to which doctor said the actor had a heart attack.

Churiwala said Dev Anand's cremation is scheduled to be held next week, after Tuesday when his daughter reaches, in London.

Dev Anand started his career in 1946 with the black and white film "Hum Ek Hain". He spent 65 years in Bollywood as an actor and filmmaker.

He last film as an actor and director was "Chargesheet", released this year, became his swan song.

The news of Dev Anand's death was a shock Sunday morning for colleagues and fans.

Bollywood actress Preity Zinta wrote on Twitter today morning, "Woke up to the sad News of Dev Saheb's demise ! May God give peace to his soul ! He inspired us all by living his life 2 the fullest. R.I.P".

Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan tweeted, "Never believed I would ever wake up to this news. Very sad!"

Dev Anand's driver, Prem Dube, tweeted since morning he had not been able to stop tears.

Dev Anand was a versatile actor as it is proved from some of his hit movies like "Tere Ghar Ke Samne", "Guide" and "Jewel Thief". As a director he had made great movies like "Hare Rama Hare Krishna" that gave first anglicised glamour icon to Bollywood - Zeenat Aman.

Dev Anand at young age

Dev Anand at old age

Battlefield 3 iPhone Wallpapers

2011-12-04T04:44:00.001+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 04, 2011

Battlefield 3 iPhone Wallpapers

More on Battlefield 3:
Battlefield 3 Screenshots
Battlefield 3 Blows Up 5M Sales Record First Week

Amazon.com Widgets

Mission Impossible Star Tom Cruise On India Tour Promoting MI4

2011-12-03T23:40:00.002+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 03, 2011

TOM CRUISE NEWS - "Mission Impossible" franchise Tom Cruise landed in the Mumbai city of India on Saturday evening to promote the fourth instalment of the movie.

Hollywodd superstar Tom Cruise, 49, was amidst tight security and accompanied by Bollywood star Anil Kapoor. He was dressed in blue jeans and blue and white checkered shirt. At about 5p.m. (local time) Cruise landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. He is staying till Monday at Taj Mahal Palace presidential suite which costs Rs. 5 lakh per night, as mentioned by sources.

Earlier, guests like Hollywood couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, French President Nicolas Sarkozy and US President Barack Obama stayed in this 5,000 square feet presidential suite of Taj Mahal Palace and Towers in Colaba.

Fourteen other rooms have been also booked by Tom Cruise for his management people and entourage.

Cruise was to arrive with wife Katie Homes and daughter Suri, but he came alone.

A private party has been thrown later in the evening by Anil Kapoor at the Taj Rooftop in Colaba, and is supposed to be attended by top Tinsel world celebrities in a 150-guest affair.

Cruise will be part of main event on Sunday hosted by Anil Kapoor and Viacom 18 that will screen the movie for 1,500 fans ahead of the release of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. The movie is releasing on December 21. Anil Kapoor has played a key role in the movie, Indian business tycoon Brij Nath.

Cruise will be meeting fans and interacting with them in the event, said organiser.

If time permits, Cruise will be visiting Anil Kapoor's home and meet his family, said sources.

Ahead of Mumbai visit, Cruise visited Taj Mahal in Agra. He spent an hour there.

Cruise was in Tokyo (Japan) as a part of the MI4 promotion before landing in India.

Tom Cruise at Taj Mahal, India

Tom Cruise in Tokyo, Japan

Soccer Live: Etar vs Levski 0-3 [Video]

2011-12-03T20:44:00.000+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
December 3, 2011

Match Between - Etar and Levski
Competition - Bulgaria A PFG
Match Date - 03.12.11
Match Time - 5:30am (US/Eastern)
Match Score - Etar 0 goal; Levski 3 goals

Etar vs Levski 0-3 Video

Etar vs Levski 0-3

Google Unveils YouTube New Look

2011-12-02T21:34:00.001+05:30

By MALILA Harris
December 02, 2011

The Google empire undergoes another redesign. Now it is with YouTube, the video social network, to bring more identity to the Mountain View products.

The YouTube redesign was made public for every user across the world at 4:30 p.m. ET Thursday.

What's the change to this globally most popular online video service?

The first change to be noticed is the "add channels" button at left-hand top corner under which top ten favorite channels of users can be seen.

A soft gray background has been added to the videos and the logo of it is also been tweaked.

Integration to Google+ social network has got natural look and posting videos on Twitter and Facebook is now easier.

Google wants users to sign-up with their existing Gmail account or else by creating a new YouTube login. This is because Google wants to lock all its users to its huge online empire with just one account.

YouTube is currently the most popular video site on Internet and second most popular site.

YouTube new look

Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion Screenshots

2011-12-02T17:51:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 02, 2011

New screenshots of action and adventure 3D game, Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion, was released today by California developer Papaya Studio and Deep Silver. The game is scheduled to be launched next year in Q1.

Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion age rating is USK 12 and PEGI 12 and it is playable by up to four players together. It is releasing on Nintendo 3DS.

Below are five newly released Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion screenshots:

Cartoon Network Punch Time Explosion

Tokyo Motor Show Opens Amid Strong Yen

2011-12-02T15:12:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Reporter
December 02, 2011

TOKYO MOTOR SHOW NEWS - Tokyo Motor Show to begin the public showing tomorrow, December 3rd, at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center in the capital of Japan. The event will showcase premiere debut of concept vehicles, electric vehicles, beautiful cars, fast cars and more in the list of 52, including sixteen motorcycles and 3 commercial vehicles.

The 42nd Tokyo Motor Show will be held until December 11, Sunday, marking return to Tokyo after twenty-four years.

The Japanese car industry is undergoing a hard year after tsunami and earthquake in the country in March this year and the recent floods in Thailand that resulted in production shortfalls.

This year's theme of the show is "Mobility can change the world". Twelve countries are participating with 176 brands. The Tokyo Big Sight, as the ground is popularly known, covers an exhibition space of 35,100 sqm.

In 2009 there were 129 exhibitors to the show from ten countries. It was held at Makihari Messe, Nippon Convention Center in Chiba (Japan) between October 23 and November 08.

According to analysts, the Tokyo Motor Show stages future dream concept vehicles, but the global economy downturn and shift of auto market interests to neighboring country China resulted in diminished corporate interest in it.

Honda Micro Commuter Concept Car

BMWi i8 concept hybrid car

Australia Extends Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 Ban For Another Week

2011-12-02T12:19:00.001+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 02, 2011

GALAXY TAB 10.1 BAN NEWS - Samsung tablet ban in Australia extended for another week by Australia's High Court despite an earlier ban lifted by a lower court and allowing it to be sold in the country and compete with iPad of Apple.

The extension of ban on Samsung Galaxy 10.1 tablet was made today in a patent tussles between the company and Apple, which dominates the US$100 billion market of smartphones and tablets.

On Wednesday, though pending full hearing whether the tablet copied iPad, Sydney's Federal Court lifted the ban temporarily allowing the sale of Galaxy Tab 10.1.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 has not been sold a single unit in Australia after Apple won a stay of orders and further filed an application request to the Australian High Court to prolong the injunction claiming Galaxy Tab 10.1 infringes thirteen of its patents.

In October Apple won temporary injunction appeal on a finding that iPad had a prima facia case and Tab breached 2 patents in relation to the touchscreen technology.

Over tablets and smartphones the two companies are engaged in an ongoing battle in the US, South Korea and Japan. Recently, Apple won a ban over the Tab in Germany related to breaching of copyright.

The date of full hearing has not yet been set.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Soccer Live: Manchester United vs Crystal Palace 1-2 [2 Videos]

2011-12-01T20:54:00.001+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
November 30, 2011

Match Between - Manchester United and Crystal Palace
Competition - England Carling Cup
Match Date - 30.01.11
Match Time - 2:45pm (US/Eastern)
Played At - Old Trafford (Manchester)
Match Score - Manchester United 1 goal; Crystal Palace 2 goals

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace 1-2 Video

Highlights:

Goals:

Manchester United vs Crystal Palace 1-2

LinkedIn Launched In Korean, Indonesian and Malaysian Languages

2011-12-01T16:48:00.000+05:30

By BOB Goswami
December 01, 2011

World's largest professional network LinkedIn launched three local languages in Asia to boost usage of the social network. It introduced Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia and Korean languages in its continued expansion plans in the continent.

LinkedIn Managing Director and Vice President of APAC and Japan Arvind Rajan announced this today in a blog post.

He said the new three local languages will support better the growing number of professionals in the social network site. It will also precipitate a whole new generation of members locally in LinkedIn, enhancing experience of the community, added Rajan.

Currently there are more than 20 million members in LinkedIn from Asia-Pacific and Japan and the company aims of adding large numbers of members of the 55 million plus Facebook users in the three countries.

According to LinkedIn, there are more than 800,000 professionals in LinkedIn from Indonesia, about 300,000 from Korea and nearly 700,000 from Malaysia.

The three newly launched website for local languages are my.linkedin.com, in.linkedin.com and kr.linkedin.com. Members who are now using the website in English can switch to their own language settings from linkd.in/changelanguage.

Apart from English, LinkedIn is also available in French, Italian, German, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian, Swedish, Turkish, Spanish and Russian.

LinkedIn for mobiles

LinkedIn head Arvind Rajan

FIFA Street Lionel Messi Gameplay Screenshots

2011-12-01T14:42:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer

December 01, 2011

World's best footballer, Leo Messi, joins videogame franchise. In March 2012 Messi will make his first appearance on the cover of FIFA Street.

Publisher Electronic Arts (EA) signed Argentina and Barcelona superstar Messi a week ago to a multi-year endorsement contract. Under the agreement Messi is to become global face, Ambassador, of the SPORTS FIFA franchise of EA. He will be utilized in social media activities, features on packaging and in all advertising and marketing campaigns for EA.

EA SPORTS FIFA series is in its 19th year and FIFA 12 have sold record-breaking 3.2 million copies in first five days after launching.

FIFA Street Leo Messi Screenshot

Somali Pirates Releases Singaporean Hijacked Ship

2011-12-01T13:50:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
December 01, 2011

GLORY HIJACKED NEWS - Somali pirates released yesterday, November 30, Singaporean Glory ship hijacked 215 days ago off east African coast. 29,871-tonne chemical tanker MT Gmini had 23 crew on board but only 21 of them have been freed. The pirates kept 4 South Korean seaman captive, including the captain, even after a promise was made earlier to release all. The released crew non-Korean.

The Singaporean ship, owned by Glory Ship Management, was on tshe way from Indonesia through east African coast to Kenya carrying 28,000 tonnes of crude palm oil when it was hijacked on April 30 and diverted to Somalia.

Thirteen Indonesian, 3 Myanmar nationals, 4 South Koreans and five Chinese crew members were on board. Soon after the undisclosed sum in ransom was dropped from a helicopter, the Somali pirates left Glory at port of Hobyo in Somalia.

The pirates have called for freeing their mates who were captured in January this year in a South Korean naval operation and were sentenced to prisons ranging from 13 years to life. In the operation the navy commandos raided the hijacked ship and rescued all 21 crew members. Five Somali pirates were captured and eight others were killed.

Somali Pirates (file photo)

Soccer Live: Chelsea vs Liverpool 0-2 [3 Videos]

2011-11-30T17:26:00.001+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
November 30, 2011

Match Between - Chelsea and Liverpool
Competition - England Carling Cup
Match Date - 29.11.11
Match Time - 2:45pm (US/Eastern)
Played At - Stamford Bridge (London)
Match Score - Chelsea 0 goal; Liverpool 2 goals

Chelsea vs Liverpool 0-2 Video

Highlights:

Goal - 0-1 Rodriguez 58':

Goal - 0-2 Kelly 63':

Chelsea vs Liverpool 0-2

Hillary Clinton's Historic Visit To Burma

2011-11-30T16:49:00.000+05:30

By ETHAN Markoff
Novembr 30, 2011

State Hillary Clinton visits Myanman on Wednesday marking the first visit by U.S. Secretary of State in last fifty years. She landed in Burmese administrative capital Naypyidaw with a mission to accelerate the nascent reforms introduced by the newly formed government and to balance growing influence of China with the country.

According to analysts the trip of Mrs Clinton is the latest diplomatic effort by United States to balance growing political and economic influence of China in south-east Asia. She is also expected to voice for the need of releasing political prisoners and make an end to the brutal ethnic conflicts.

Mrs Clinton is expected to meet Burmese president Thein Sein along with other government ministers. Later she will be flying to Rangoon to meet with opposition leader Suu Kyi and non-government organisations.

Burma was once a good supplier of food across Asia. The country also enjoyed highest standards in health and literacy in the continent until World War II.

Burma now exports gas and some other lucrative products to the neighboring countries, but common people have seen little benefit in it. Over years the country remained under tight European and US sanctions.

Last time US secretary of state visited Burma was John Foster Dulles in 1955.

Burma President Thein Sein

Aung San Suu Kyi

UK Pulls Diplomat Staff From Iran After Embassy Attack

2011-11-30T14:21:00.001+05:30

By STAFF Writer
November 30, 2011

UK EMBASSY ATTACKED NEWS - After yesterdays storming and ransacking of UK embassy and residential compound in Iran by protesters, Britain has evacuated diplomatic staff from the country.

According to Foreign Office, the evacuations were done to ensure safety of staff along with their families. First group of staff are to fly out to Dubai today. It has not been confirmed whether all the UK diplomats are being evacuated out of Iran.

The Iranian protesters smashed windows of two British diplomatic compounds in capital Tehran and torched car and British flag protesting against the newly introduced sanctions on Iran over the nuclear programme imposed by London.

Iran is the fifth biggest oil exporter in the world and it says the need of nuclear plants is for generation of electricity only.

UN Security Council, European Union and United States condemned the attack. UK Prime Minister David Cameron warned of "serious consequences". He added the failure of Iran government in defending the diplomat staff and British property was a disgrace.

In 1979 US embassy in Tehran was attacked and 52 Americans were taken hostage for 444 days. After the incidence US had cut diplomatic ties with Iran.

Iranian Parliament

UK embassy in Tehran (Iran) attacked

EA's Battlefield 3 Banned In Iran

2011-11-29T23:53:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
November 29, 2011

BATTLEFIELD 3 NEWS - Iran bans Electronic Art's Battlefield 3 video game in the country with cops allegedly raiding retail gaming shops and stocking the game, and also arresting if anyone found re-trying selling it.

Battlefield 3 does depict the United State led army invading into Iran and gunfights are seen in realistically rendered version of several landmarks such as Grand Bazaar of Tehran.

Iranian police spokesman said to media that all the computer shops are prohibited from selling it, quoting the game as "illegal".

Owner of games store said police raided shops and arrested its owners who tried selling the game secretly even before the ban was implemented.

An Iranian news agency writes in its Editorial that the game is "conditioning American youth for another war for Israel."

Battlefield 3 is one of the biggest hits of 2011 in which players defuse terrorism situations in either online or offline play.

Battlefield 3 screenshot

Soccer Live: CSKA Sofia vs Ludogorets 2-2 [Video]

2011-11-29T22:52:00.001+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
November 29, 2011

Match Between - CSKA Sofia and Ludogorets
Competition - Bulgaria A PFG
Match Date - 28.11.11
Match Time - 11am (US/Eastern)
Match Score - CSKA Sofia 2 goals; Ludogorets 2 goals

CSKA Sofia vs Ludogorets 2-2 Video

CSKA Sofia vs Ludogorets 2-2

Somalia Militants Banned Aid Agencies, Disaster Warned

2011-11-29T21:02:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Writer
November 29, 2011

SOMALIA NEWS - Al-Shabab militants closed down aid offices in southern Somalian towns of Beledweyne and Baidoa accusing those to be a political bias.

The southern areas of the country are controlled by al-Shabab, who has restricted for long the international aid groups' work, and on Monday he banned sixteen groups outright. The banned groups included Unicef, United Nations children's agency, few UN bodies, British Charity Concern and some groups from France, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Sweden and Norway.

East African country Somalia is hit worst in sixty years by drought after years of conflict. Lack of rain in the country is been blamed.

Jaya Murthy, spokesman of Unicef, said group of men occupied the offices in Baidoa and said the staff to leave. The men were suspected to be from the al-Shabab group.

A Baidoa resident said gunmen in three armoured vehicles surrounded the aid agency offices and took control of it forcing the staff and people to leave.

Al-Shabab senior official told to media that these closed down offices had not been carrying out several activities and the closing of these would not increase ordinary people suffering.

The official however said that Red Cross International Committee, Italy's Copi and medical aid charity MSF would still carry on their operation.

According to data about 160,000 children in Somalia are severely malnourished and are at risk of death if the aid does not continue.

Somalia Militants

Somalia

NZ To Experience Full Lunar Eclipse On Dec. 11

2011-11-28T23:58:00.006+05:30

By STAFF Writer
November 28, 2011

LUNAR ECLIPSE NEWS - A rare total lunar eclipse to be seen on December 11th in New Zealand. The eclipse will be visible just after 12:30am.

Stardome Astronomy Educator David Britten said the lunar eclipse can be seen from all the places of New Zealand if the skies are clear.

The full eclipse will not even last for one hour, added Britten. It will be between 3am and 4am.

The Moon will appear copper colored during the eclipse due to the scattering of sunlight which will then pass through thin ring of Earth's atmosphere. This phenomenon will remove the blue light and mainly pass the red light which will weakly illuminate the Moon.

Last total lunar eclipse was in June in the country but it was cut short due to setting moon. In 2012 there will be no full lunar eclipse in New Zealand, but on November 14 there will be a solar eclipse. On June 6 transit of Venus can also be seen across the face of the Sun.

The December 11 full lunar eclipse can be seen with naked eye. It will start from 12:33am and will end at 5:18am (local time). At 12:33am part shadow can be seen that starts creeping across the Moon. The full shadow will begin at 1:46am and total eclipse can be experienced at 3:06am. At 3:32 it will be mid-eclise and the total eclipse will end at 3:57am. At 5:18am the full light will begin to cross Moon once again.

Full Lunar Eclipse

Partial Lunar Eclipse

Soccer Live: Milan vs Chievo 4-0 [Video]

2011-11-28T22:01:00.001+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
November 28, 2011

Match Between - Milan and Chievo
Competition - Italia Serie A
Match Date - 27.11.11
Match Time - 2:45pm (US/Eastern)
Match Score - Milan 4 goals; Chievo 0 goal

Milan vs Chievo 4-0 Highlights Video

Milan vs Chievo 4-0 Goals Video

Milan vs Chievo 4-0

Vote In Congo Amid Violence Fear

2011-11-28T15:10:00.001+05:30

By STAFF Writer
November 26, 2011

CONGO ELECTION NEWS - Congo goes on ballot today, Monday, after weekend clashes between rival parties supporters and security forces in the run-up to parliamentary and presidential election. This is the second post war vote in which the entire Congolese are able to vote.

President Joseph Kabila, in power since 2001, is fighting against ten rivals. More than 18,500 candidates are competing in the five hundred parliament seats.

The poll started late in Goma's eastern lakeside town which experienced some worst pre-election violence. Ballot boxex arrived late at one polling station in Lubumbashi's southern city. Thousands of people were seen in the early hours lined up at polling station to cast their ballots.

In last 15 years the mineral-rich state has seen two wars and experienced decades of misrule. Though officially the last conflict ended in 2003 but the nation in the heart of Africa always remained plagued by instability. The eastern part of Congo is still ruled by plethora of foreign and local rebel groups.

In 1996 Congo plunged into war after neighbors and rebel fighters teamed up to overthrow Mobutu Sese Seko, corrupt men and former dictator who ran the country three decades of kleptocratic rule.

The first election after the end of wars was held in 2006 and was seen as free and fair election but after the voting gunbattles erupted.

On the Human Development Index the United Nations ranked Congo in dead last of 187 countries.

Congo Polls

Think Global Echoed In Malaysia-Indonesia Business Seminar

2011-11-28T11:16:00.000+05:30

By STAFF Reporter
November 28, 2011

Malaysia-Indonesia Business Seminar 2011 was attended by about 100 businessmen and representatives from both countries yesterday at the Indonesian Embassy building in Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

The main areas of discussion in the seminar were challenges faced by the entrepreneurs and about franchise businesses in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The panel of the seminar was joined by Datuk Suhaimi Shahadan, chairman of Young Malaysian Malay Businessmen and Industrialists Association (Perdasama), and Afkhar Razi Mohamed, Ministry of Domestic Trade.

Datuk said the market in Malaysia is small as the population of the country is just 28 million. He added if any business wants to think big, it need to go out of Malaysia, and in Indonesian 245 million population more than 10 percent are super rich. Further Datuk mentioned that Sri Lanka is presently a good market and the economy of Philippines is also booming.

The Malaysia-Indonesia Business Seminar 2011 was organised by Indonesian Embassy, Indonesian Community Assembly (Permai), Vivadot Network and Media Services. The main aim of the seminar is to strengthen the relationship along with enhancing cooperation and understanding through trade relations.

Tengku Rizal Gading, chief adviser of Permai opened the seminar tagged as 'The Future of Indonesian-Malaysia Trade Relations and Challenges'.

Hotel Indonesia Square view

Johor-Singapore Causeway

SMEs To Have Major Role In Malaysian Economy: Report

2011-11-27T17:00:00.001+05:30

By STAFF Writer
November 27, 2011

MALAYSIA ECONOMY NEWS - Economic Transformation Programme in Malaysia recognises the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the key driver of economic growth.

SMECorp Malaysia said today in a statement that the new role is poised to assume bringing new challenges that includes service sector liberalisation measures. It added that a new approach is required to SME development in accelerating the growth of SMEs.

Earlier research has shown that SMEs are able to stand by being innovative in stiff competition.

The statement further mentioned that SMECorp Malaysia would, under the SME Masterplan of the government, chart out policy direction through 2020 for the SMEs with the creation of conducive ecosystem for them and also by transforming the domestic SMEs into global competitor.

On November 23, at the National SME Development Council 12th meeting, the SMECorp released Small and Medium Enterprises Annual Report 2010/11. The report was released by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

SME Corp said the annual report is a significant initiative aiming to provide recent assessment on the SMEs performance during the year.

The report showed growth in the SMEs performance and gains in productivity as well. The growth was higher for the seventh year that Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth with a contribution of 28.1% in 2003 to 31.9% in 2010.

Malaysian currency Ringgit

Malaysia transport infrastructure

Soccer Live: Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid 4-1 [Video]

2011-11-27T14:00:00.000+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
November 27, 2011

Match Between - Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid
Competition - Spain La Liga
Match Date - 26.11.11
Match Time - 2:00pm (US/Eastern)
Match Score - Real Madrid 4 goals; Atlético Madrid 1 goal

Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid Videos

Highlights

All Goals

Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid 4-1

Adult Star Sunny Leone Googled Most In Indian Orissa, Haryana States

2011-11-27T12:28:00.003+05:30

By STAFF Writer
November 27, 2011

BIGG BOSS 5 NEWS - Adult Star Sunny Leone is trending in Indian Google search after her entry in the reality TV show Bigg Boss 5, a show in which participants from different walks in life stay together in a house for up to three months.

In a recent search data collected from Google, it is learned the Indo-Canadian star is popular in Orissa and Haryana over last fifteen days. Sunny Leone is also being highly searched in small Indian towns and metro suburbs.

Google Data reveals that in last thirty days Noida city in India searched the maximum for Sunny Leone, followed by Bhubaneswar, Ludhiana and then Bhopal.

Born to Punjabi parents in Canada, Sunny Leone was one of the least searched star in India prior her Bigg Boss 5 entry announcement. However, post November 16, searches for Sunny Leone saw an explosive increase. Google describes this explosion as a "breakout".

Indian state Orissa searched most for Sunny Leone, followed by Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The second most search in India over past 15 days was "sunny leone wallpaper", a great surprise as despite being her a adult star people want her pics as wallpapers.

Many people also wanted to see her action as the third, fourth and fifth search results suggest. People searched for "sunny leone HD", "sunny leone videos" and also for "sunny leone video".

It is learned that the adult star born as Karen Malhotra may be roped in to star in Bollywood movie 'Murder 3'.

On the day of her entry in Bigg Boss 5 house, the 30-year-old star tweeted - Good Morning Everyone!! Today is the DAY I enter the Bigg Boss House!! Jumping in the shower and time to get ready! XOXO.

Her tweet went retweeting crazily by Indian Twitter users and in just two days she got 8,000 followers.

In 2003 Sunny was named Penthouse Pet of the Year.

She was a contract star for Vivid Entertainment and she also played few roles in television shows and independent mainstream films.

National Party To Govern New Zealand Another Term After Record Result

2011-11-27T06:00:00.001+05:30

By STAFF Writer
November 27, 2011

NEW ZEALAND ELECTION NEWS - After overwhelming results in the New Zealand polls, Prime Minister John Key and the National Party is set to run the country for another term.

After the final counting of votes rolled out last night, the Natioanl Party holds sixty seats in 121-seat Parliament. Under MMP system of the country, 60 seats for one party is unprecedented.

Labour Party only won 34 seats, The Green Party got its best-ever twelve seats, NZ First won from 8 place, three went for Maori Party, and one seat each for Mana, ACT and UnitedFuture.

In his victory speech John Key revealed he already had started talks with leaders of ACT, UnitedFuture and Maori Party last night about forming the next Government. He mentioned would meet the leaders again in next few days.

Key told to reporters of not in need to keep Maori Party on board, but it would enable his government to reach wider range of New Zealanders while serving his term once again.

Meanwhile, the bleak result for the Labour Party was a shock and Goff vowed the fight of the party would continue.

Poll Result

PARTY VOTES% SEATS CHANGE

ACT New Zealand 1.1 1 -4

Green Party 10.6 13 4

Labour Party 27.1 34 -9

Mana 1 1 0

Maori Party 1.4 3 -

National Party 48 60 2

New Zealand First 6.8 8 8

United Future 0.6 1 0

Alliance 0.1 0 -

Aotearoa Legalise 0.5 0 -

Libertarlanz 0.1 0 -

Democrats for Social 0.1 0 -

Conservative Party 2.8 0 -

Eurozone Crisis Prepared To Bite Australian Banks

2011-11-26T23:43:00.001+05:30

By ETHAN Markoff
November 26, 2011

EURO CRISIS NEWS - The eurozone crisis is now paving its way in biting hard the local banks in Australia. It will be a headache soon for the Gillard government while the major Australian banks have already escalated warnings.

In recent weeks the banks have experienced increasing difficulties in borrowing money from the international markets, and are offering higher rates to investors to get funding and then lend it to mortgage-holders.

The National Australia Bank earlier agreed the government, citing increase in funding costs, when it passed 20 points of the Reserve Bank's 25-point cut in the official rates.

Warning has also been given by former bank executives and industry analysts that the future rate cuts is being further undermined by Europe conditions. They cited that Germany, AAA-rated, faced problems this week in raising funds from bonds investors.

Mike Smith, ANZ chief executive said that the country is in the middle of serious crisis presently.

Meanwhile, the Australian stockmarket slipped down yesterday for sixth consecutive day. S&P/ASX 200 is down 1.5% and closed at 3984.30.

ANZ Chief Executive Mike Smith

Australia Stock Market

Soccer Live: Academica de Coimbra vs Beira-Mar 0-1 [Video]

2011-11-26T12:06:00.001+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
November 26, 2011

Match Between - Academica de Coimbra and Beira-Mar
Competition - Portugal Primeira Liga
Match Date - 25.11.11
Match Time - 3:15pm (US/Eastern)
Match Score - Academica de Coimbra 0 goals; Beira-Mar 1 goal

Academica de Coimbra vs Beira-Mar Videos

Highlights

Academica de Coimbra vs Beira-Mar 0-1

Black Friday & Solar Eclipse Conjoined

2011-11-26T06:00:00.003+05:30

By STAFF Writer
November 26, 2011

SOLAR ECLIPSE NEWS - People in U.S. didn't see the Moon taking a bite of the Sun yesterday on November 25th. When they were passing through the busiest shopping day of the year, Sun was quietly passing through the south of Africa, Tasmania, southernmost New Zealand and most of the Antarctica. Penguins may have had a reason to rejoice on this Black Friday.

At 6:10 UT the mid-eclipse occurred and Antarctica experienced about 40 to 90 percent sun covered by moon event from 75 percent areas of the South Pole. Southernmost New Zealand and Tasmania got just a peek before the sunset.

The weather at the McMurdo Antarctica Station wasn't cooperative wrote astronomer Chris Walker. He said the temperature was around 15°F and it was windy and snowy. South Pole is having summer now.

Wellington resident got a very brief glimpse of the eclipse. It was visible over some areas of the South Islands and also at the lower half of the North Island.

This eclipse was the fourth and last of the year. The previous three eclipses occurred on January 4th, June 1st and July 1st. Some years also do have five solar eclipses. The next solar eclipse will occur on May 20, 2012 and to be visible from Japan, China and also parts of United States.

Solar eclipse is one of the most dramatic celestial event of nature and occurs when the Moon comes in between the Sun and Earth on the same plane.

Solar eclipse seen from Owhiro Bay, Wellington (Nov. 25, 2011)

Solar eclipse seen from Invercargill, New Zealand (Nov. 25, 2011)

McAllister Re-elected Labor Party President, Says Yes To Same-Sex Marriage

2011-11-25T23:50:00.004+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
November 25, 2011

Australian re-elected Labor Party president is opposed to uranium exports expansion.

Jenny McAllister was declared winner yesterday in the election for the figurehead role. Tony Sheldon, key combatants in the Qantas dispute, had fallen short of votes in becoming ALP president. Over 12,000 members voted in this month-long ballot.

After being declared winner, Ms McAllister told to a Australia newspaper yesterday that it was a "real honour" getting re-elected as national president and represent the party members.

Ms McAllister mentioned she will be supporting same-sex marriage in the next month's national conference in Sydney.

According to earlier report by ALP stalwarts John Faulkner, Steve Bracks and Bob Carr, Ms McAllister is a strong backer of reform and plans to fiery debates in the conference such as uranium, industrial relations and same-sex marriage.

She said of giving ways for more voice to grassroots members in the party's policy formation.

Soccer Live: Atletico CP vs Moreirense 2 - 3 [Video]

2011-11-25T13:37:00.002+05:30

By ONE Liners Agency
November 25, 2011

Match Between - Atletico CP vs Moreirens
Competition - Portugal Primeira Liga
Match Date - 24.11.11
Match Time - 3:15pm (US/Eastern)
Match Score - Atletico CP 2 goals; Moreirense 3 goals

Atletico CP vs Moreirense Videos

Moreirense player

Moreirense players