Sunday, 20 December 2015
Suspected Russian warplanes kill scores in Syrian city - rescue workers
A rescue worker holds an injured boy after what activists said were airstrikes carried out by the Russian air force in Idlib city, Syria December 20, 2015. REUTERS/Ammar Abdullah
BEIRUT: Air strikes believed to have been carried out by Russian warplanes killed scores of people in the centre of the rebel-held city of Idlib in northwest Syria on Sunday, rescue workers and residents said.
They said at least six strikes had hit a busy market place in the heart of the city, several government buildings and residential areas. Rescue workers said they had confirmed 43 dead but that at least 30 more bodies had been retrieved that had still to be identified. Over 150 people were wounded with some of the serious cases sent to hospitals in Turkey.
They said at least six strikes had hit a busy market place in the heart of the city, several government buildings and residential areas. Rescue workers said they had confirmed 43 dead but that at least 30 more bodies had been retrieved that had still to be identified. Over 150 people were wounded with some of the serious cases sent to hospitals in Turkey.
"There are a lot of corpses under the rubble," Yasser Hammo, a civil defence worker, said via an Internet messaging system, adding that volunteers and civil defence workers were still pulling bodies out.
Footage on social media and the pro-opposition Orient TV station showed makeshift ambulances rushing with injured civilians through an area where people were searching for survivors among the debris of collapsed buildings.
One local resident, Sameh al-Muazin, said he had seen mangled bodies in the main Jalaa street of the city, adding that people feared a further round of intensive bombing.
"Everyone is afraid that this is just the beginning," he said.
Idlib, the capital of a northwestern province of the same name, became an important centre for rebel-controlled northwest Syria after it was captured earlier this year by a coalition of Islamist insurgent groups known as Jaish al Fateh which includes al Qaeda's Syrian wing Nusra Front.SIGNS OF CEASEFIRE COLLAPSE
Russia began a major aerial campaign on Sept. 30 in support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, its ally, who earlier in the year suffered a series of setbacks including the loss of Idlib province and other areas of crucial strategic importance.
Moscow says its air strikes target Islamic State militants but rebels and residents say they are causing hundreds of civilian casualties through indiscriminate bombing well away from the frontlines.
Residents say they distinguish Russian planes that fly at high altitudes in sorties from Syrian helicopters that mainly drop indiscriminate barrel bombs at much lower heights.Idlib city been largely spared the intensified aerial bombing campaign witnessed in rural areas after a United Nations-brokered ceasefire deal was reached in September.
The deal allowed for the withdrawal of rebel fighters holed up in a border village near Lebanon in return for the evacuation of civilians from two Shi'ite towns of Kefraya and al-Foua under rebel siege in Idlib province.
In a sign the ceasefire had broken, one rebel source said rebels had begun to shell the two towns again. Residents reported tens of families fleeing with some of their belongings to the safety of makeshift camps erected along the Turkish border.Separately, the Syrian army with the backing of Russian air power said on Sunday it had seized the rebel held town of Khan Touman in southern Aleppo, a major gain that opened the way for advances further to the west in Idlib province.
The advances brought the army only a few kilometres from the major rebel-controlled Aleppo-Damascus highway, whose capture would be a big boost to the Syrian army. REUTERS
Star Wars: The Force Awakens -- nostalgic and unexpected
Star Wars:The Force Awakens - You need not be a fan to love it
KUALA LUMPUR: I can’t say that I am a fan of Star Wars (to super fans, no death threats please) neither can I say that I loathe Star Wars just the same.
Hey, I did watch the trilogy with my dad when I was a little girl and believe it or not, I even endured the ‘other’ trilogy - episode one, two and three, for which I just don’t get it. And so, I am pretty sure I am neutral when it comes to the Star Wars saga.
However, the hype created about this seventh installment was just so overwhelming that I felt it’d be a waste if I don’t join in the hype-wagon and take the lead and milk on this excitement just so it creates some buzz on both of our TV and digital platform. And a whole lot of ‘buzz’ it was indeed when we achieved our aim one week prior to its release.
Hey, I did watch the trilogy with my dad when I was a little girl and believe it or not, I even endured the ‘other’ trilogy - episode one, two and three, for which I just don’t get it. And so, I am pretty sure I am neutral when it comes to the Star Wars saga.
However, the hype created about this seventh installment was just so overwhelming that I felt it’d be a waste if I don’t join in the hype-wagon and take the lead and milk on this excitement just so it creates some buzz on both of our TV and digital platform. And a whole lot of ‘buzz’ it was indeed when we achieved our aim one week prior to its release.
After watching Star Wars:The Force Awakens, I must say it takes a true fan of ‘the galaxy far,far away’ like J.J. Abrams to be able to deliver this poignant continuation of episode seven with injection of pop culture, intertwined with consistent humour.
Keylo ren
Everything was so crystal clear – the story telling, the plot, the character build up, the technology; everything about this latest episode is just so simple yet moving.
Every big and small character I missed many years ago arrived the way I expect them to be. So much so, that it turned my hard and sceptic heart for this movie into a whimper of one little spec of tear in both eyes when the Millenium Falcon made an appearance again.
Mr. Abrams is indeed a genius. He meets all expectations by going back to basics with this one. Mainly removing a lot of clutter which is definitely a big thing in a complicated movie universe in which the series sequence are jumbled up.
See, if you don’t already know, the original 1977 film, is the fourth in the series now known as “Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope.” “The Force Awakens” is the seventh chapter but also the first film in what’s being called a sequel trilogy.
This sounds migraine-inducing, but it just means that “Force” picked up years after “Return of the Jedi” (1983), the third release, left off, after Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) prevailed over villainy with his sister, Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and their pal Han Solo (Mr. Ford).In a nutshell, I really enjoyed the movie. I watched it once and everything came back to me. The joy and the thrill which I felt 30 years aga was nicely presented minus the hard core marketing stunt, unlike most other sagas have.
Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan and the whole 'Force Awakens' gang did a really good job on this one I must say. 'Star Wars:The Force Awakens' is magical does justice to the franchise.
Yes, undoubtedly, it is all about the hype, and I don’t see anything wrong with that, at least not this time.Cast: Harrison Ford, Carrie Fischer, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac
Release date: 17 December 2015 ASTRO AWANI
To think of winning a Pulitzer as a Malaysian girl, I might as well fly to the moon - Mei Fong
Fong did not mince her words when saying she would not have made it big as a Malaysian girl staying in Kuala Lumpur.
KUALA LUMPUR: The only Malaysian-born journalist who had won the prestigious Pulitzer Prize, may be flying high in her career that brings her all over the world, but she certainly could not picture herself working in the journalism and writing industry in Malaysia.
Fong Foong Mei who goes with the byline Mei Fong, said in Malaysia, the idea of writing for a living or making a living from writing is still not very popula“I think most Asean parents want their children to be doctors, lawyers or something more solid than that.
Fong Foong Mei who goes with the byline Mei Fong, said in Malaysia, the idea of writing for a living or making a living from writing is still not very popula“I think most Asean parents want their children to be doctors, lawyers or something more solid than that.
“If I can inspire some of these people who might consider a different career, I hope it helps,” she said in an interview with Astro AWANI.
When asked if the writer, who has recently gotten her American citizenship, would like to come back to Malaysia to pursue a career as she is considered as a lost talent to the country, she said that she doesn’t think Malaysia wants her back.“It has been a long time. I still have a lot of ties here.
“But the situation with the press here is not such that I would consider myself able to really operate in the way that I was given a chance overseas,” she answered bluntly.
Fong did not mince her words when saying she would not have made it big as a Malaysian girl staying in Kuala Lumpur.
“I won the Pulitzer in 2007 as part of a group in Wall Street Journal and we won it for reporting the economic effects in China.
“I hope that people in Malaysia who are interested in Journalism would feel inspired and would want to find that there are ways that they can achieve something as important as the Pulitzer.
“I guess the Pulitzer is like the Oscars and it’s nice to feel that maybe that there is an inspiration.
“Certainly when I was growing up, I didn’t feel that I had any kind role models in that way. I felt very much out of reach as a Malaysian girl in Kuala Lumpur, to think of the Pulitzer, I might be flying to the moon,” she said.
The former Bukit Bintang Girls School student is in town to promote her forthcoming book, “One Child: The Past and Future of China’s Most Radical Experiment.”
Speaking about her book, which will be released as a hard cover book on Jan 5, 2016, she spoke about how it encompasses stories from people of all walks of life, some who benefited from China’s 35-year-old policy of limiting many couples to having just one child, while other who found that they have much to lose with its implementation.
Fong argued that despite the Chinese government’s announcement to revise the controversial policy and introduce a two child policy, her book is still relevant.
“The two child policy was part of what I have been saying. That this thing has to end because of the problems it caused.
“This thing has to end and when they made the announcement, I got a lot of calls from China media and the first question that they asked was ‘so how did you know they are going to make this announcement?’
“I welcome the fact that they are loosening up because it makes people in China happier, but at the same time, the rules are still there,” she said.The Malaysian is among seven members of a Wall Street Journal team that won the 2007 Pulitzer international award for a series of reports on capitalism in China.
She is the youngest of five daughters of the late Fong Chee Yew, a deputy auditor-general in the Malaysian public service.
Married to an American-born Chinese, she returns several times a year to Malaysia to visit her family here. ASTRO AWANI
Sabah feels tremors of Kalimantan quake
The portal of the Malaysian Meteorological Department reported that the epicentre of the quake was 33km north of Tarakan, Kalimantan, and 96km southwest of Tawau.
TAWAU: Firemen took to the streets of this city early today after residents reported tremors which were later verified to be from an earthquake that had struck Kalimantan in Indonesia.
The tremors of the 6.2-magnitude earthquake, which occurred at 2.47am, were also felt in several other east coast districts, such as Kunak, Semporna and Lahad Datu, said Tawau Fire and Rescue Department chief Mohd Razali Ag Ahmad.
The portal of the Malaysian Meteorological Department reported that the epicentre of the quake was 33km north of Tarakan, Kalimantan, and 96km southwest of Tawau.
The tremors of the 6.2-magnitude earthquake, which occurred at 2.47am, were also felt in several other east coast districts, such as Kunak, Semporna and Lahad Datu, said Tawau Fire and Rescue Department chief Mohd Razali Ag Ahmad.
The portal of the Malaysian Meteorological Department reported that the epicentre of the quake was 33km north of Tarakan, Kalimantan, and 96km southwest of Tawau.
Mohd Razali said the department deployed firemen to check on buildings in the city.
Residents of the Sri Apas People's Housing Scheme in Batu 8, Jalan Apas, reported a crack which on inspection was found to be just the cement plaster peeling off, he said.
“Strong tremors were felt at the firemen's quarters. We sounded the siren and advised all residents to vacate their units," he said.A housewife who declined to be identified said she was just falling asleep when the tremors struck.
"We felt like being in a boat lashed by the waves. Things in the bedroom, such as the cupboard and clothes hung up, began to shake," she said.
Sabah Islamic Affairs Department officer in Semporna, Nurdin Ajirul, said he was rudely awakened from sleep by the shaking of his house.
“I thought one of my children had knocked onto the bedroom door. I was shocked to hear the rattling of the cups and saucers in the cupboard. My children became afraid," he said.Mukhtar Alwi, who was visiting his family members in Sungai Pancang (Pulau Sebatik) Indonesia, said the people in the village also felt the tremors.
"We felt like being in a boat hit by waves. However, none of our houses were damaged," he said. BERNAMA
Pentas Miss Universe kecoh kerana salah umum pemenang
Ratu cantik Filipina, Pia Alonzo dinobatkan sebagai pemenang Pertandingan Miss Universe 2015, dalam pusingan akhir yang berlangsung sebentar tadi di Planet Hollywood, Las Vegas. - Foto AP Photo/John Locher
Pusingan akhir pertandingan 'Miss Universe 2015' menjadi topik hangat di media sosial apabila pengacara majlis, Steve Harvey membuat kesilapan besar ketika mengumumkan nama pemenang pertandingan ratu cantik itu.
Steve telah tersilap mengumumkan nama peserta Colombia, Ariadna Guttierez sebagai pemenang Miss Universe 2015, yang mana gelaran itu sepatutnya diberikan kepada peserta Filipina, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.Lebih menyedihkan, pengumuman itu diikuti dengan upacara memakaikan mahkota kepada pemenang yang salah itu.
Steve telah tersilap mengumumkan nama peserta Colombia, Ariadna Guttierez sebagai pemenang Miss Universe 2015, yang mana gelaran itu sepatutnya diberikan kepada peserta Filipina, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach.Lebih menyedihkan, pengumuman itu diikuti dengan upacara memakaikan mahkota kepada pemenang yang salah itu.
Namun, Ariadna hanya mampu menikmati detik kegembiraan itu buat sementara waktu sahaja selepas Steve segera tampil memohon maaf sambil memaklumkan kesilapan beliau mengumumkan pemenang.
"Ia adalah kesilapan saya," kata Steve sambil menunjukkan kad pemenang kepada media untuk membuktikan Ratu Filipina merupakan pemenangnya yang sebenar.
Perkara ini nyata mengelirukan serta mengejutkan penonton-penonton yang hadir.
Susulan itu, Hashtag #MissUniverse2015 mula viral di media sosial.
Menerusi hashtag tersebut, rata-rata netizen menyampaikan rasa simpati kepada Ariadna kerana terpaksa berhadapan dengan situasi yang sebegini.
Menurut mereka, perkara seperti ini tidak sepatutnya berlaku. ASTRO AWANI
Najib, Mahathir, Hadi ada jumpa saya, cari titik pertemuan UMNO dan PAS - Harussani
KUALA LUMPUR: Mufti Perak Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria mengakui dijemput untuk berbincang dan mencari kerjasama terbaik yang boleh dilakukan UMNO dan PAS.Jelas Harussani, antara pemimpin yang pernah berbincang berkenaan perkara tersebut termasuk Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang dan bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.Sekarang ini saya lihat, apa yang diucapkan Perdana Menteri (Najib Razak), Abdul Hadi kepada saya bahawa kedua-duanya menuju ke arah untuk bersatu.
"Walaupun mereka tidak mungkin bersatu dari segi parti, tapi bersatu dengan satu tujuan, bersatu dalam arah mencari perpaduan ummah. Mudah-mudahan ini akan berjaya.
"Saya juga telah diminta dulu oleh Dr Mahathir...minta saya supaya cari jalan, supaya dapat kita satukan (UMNO dan PAS).
"Alhamdulillah, saya telah temui orang-orang ini dan semuanya telah setuju untuk dapat kita bersatu padu," kata Harussani selepas menyampaikan ucapan selaku panelis Multaqa Serantau Alumni Al-Azhar Malaysia 2015 di sini hari ini.Malah, Harussani berpandangan jika parti-parti politik yang memperjuangkan Melayu dan Islam berpecah, maka ketuanan Melayu dan Islam akan kecundang pada pilihan raya akan datang.
"Kita ada dalam dua tahun sahaja lagi, kalau kita berpecah, kita akan kecundang. Kalau kita bersatu balik, InsyaAllah kita dapat mempertahankan ketuanan orang Melayu di Malaysia ini.
"...kerana di situ juga duduknya kekuatan Islam. Kalau kecundang Melayu, kecundanglah Islam di negara kita ini, jadi habislah perjuangan kita," katanya.
Justeru, beliau mahu semua pihak berfikiran waras, bukan tujuan berpolitik sahaja, sebaliknya untuk kepentingan negara.
"Umpamanya, boleh berlaku kerjasama dalam perkara yang menjadi polisi...yang menjadi faedah, (jadi) kita sokong. Saya ambil contoh, kerajaan Barisan Nasional (BN)..kalau perkara ada kepentingan walaupun parti satu lagi tidak bersatu (sebagai sebuah parti politik), tapi menyokong.
"Jadi kekuatan kita masih ada. Kalau dia sebagai pembangkang terus membangkang, itu akan merosakkan," jelas Harussani.Harussani juga berharap supaya pemimpin politik tidak bercakaran di mana kesan pertengkaran itu bakal memberi impak kepada rakyat. ASTRO AWANI
Pelik di media sosial: Apabila netizen percaya manusia 'menghamilkan' orang utan
Persenyawaan antara dua spesis berbeza genetik disifatkan sebagai tidak mungkin berlaku.- Gambar Fail
KECOH di media sosial beberapa hari lalu tentang kisah seorang kakitangan lelaki sebuah zoo di Indonesia didakwa melakukan serangan seksual terhadap seekor orang utan.
Malah, beberapa pihak turut mendakwa orang utan berkenaan hamil akibat perbuatan lelaki tersebut.
Walaupun berita itu kedengaran pelik, namun apa yang menjadi perhatian adalah bagaimana ramai yang memilih untuk mempercayai cerita yang disebarkan itu.Kuasa yang dimiliki di laman sosial membuatkan manusia bebas bercerita, malah menokok tambah versi sendiri.
Malah, beberapa pihak turut mendakwa orang utan berkenaan hamil akibat perbuatan lelaki tersebut.
Walaupun berita itu kedengaran pelik, namun apa yang menjadi perhatian adalah bagaimana ramai yang memilih untuk mempercayai cerita yang disebarkan itu.Kuasa yang dimiliki di laman sosial membuatkan manusia bebas bercerita, malah menokok tambah versi sendiri.
Hakikatnya, berita itu telah disahkan palsu oleh pengurusan zoo yang terletak di Jakarta itu.Ya Tuhan, Terekam CCTV, Petugas Kebun Binatang SURABAYA Hamili Orang Utan!
Benarkah? Ini Penelusuran Kami :http://goo.gl/jOCHP4
Gambar lelaki yang didakwa itu pula adalah seorang pendatang Indonesia yang ditahan di Singapura atas masalah imigresen.Dalam kenyataannya seperti yang dipetik laman tribunnews.com, zoo berkenaan tidak memiliki orang utan seperti yang dilaporkan, malah kakitangan lelaki yang dikatakan telah menghamilkan orang utan tersebut, juga tidak wujud.
Dari segi perubatan, secara semulajadinya, adalah mustahil untuk sperma manusia disenyawakan dengan haiwan.
Persenyawaan antara dua spesis berbeza genetik disifatkan sebagai tidak mungkin berlaku, melainkan jika melalui proses biologi di makmal dengan bantuan teknologi terkini.
Dari segi perubatan, secara semulajadinya, adalah mustahil untuk sperma manusia disenyawakan dengan haiwan.
Persenyawaan antara dua spesis berbeza genetik disifatkan sebagai tidak mungkin berlaku, melainkan jika melalui proses biologi di makmal dengan bantuan teknologi terkini.
ASTRO AWANI
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