News in brief

4/2 U.N. says cluster bombs hit last functioning hospital in Sri Lanka northern war zone; President Mahinda says Tamil tigers nearly crushed.

4/2 Nymex spot crude oil prices up 27c to US¿41.05 in Asian electronic trading at 11.45am as nationwide strike at US energy facilities averted.

4/2 Britain, US urge temporary ceasefire in Sri Lanka to evacuate casualties and allow relief into conflict zone as the army battles Tamil tigers.

3/2 Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi has quit PKR, says he will remain an independent.

3/2 BCHB chief executive Datuk Seri Nazir Razak said loan growth to moderate to 7% this year compared to the mid-teens level achieved last year.

3/2 No byelections in Perak as the 2 assemblymen had written to the Speaker, copied to the EC, saying their resignation was not valid: EC chairman.

3/2 ISA detainee P. Uthayakumar sedition trial postponed to April 28 after he got a court order to refer him to hospital for diabetes.

3/2 PM Abdullah Badawi wants fast renewal and extension of govt contracts so that development projects are not delayed.

2/2 Selangor CPO Khalid Abu Bakar to be questioned over Kapar MP Manickavasagam report on Kugan mortuary incident: Sepang OCPD Zahidi.

2/2 Artillery hits children and womens wings of Sri Lankan hospital killing at least 9, military and Tamil Tiger rebels both deny responsibility.

2/2 Perak MB Mohammad Nizar was at Istana Kinta at 10am for an audience with the Sultan, left at 10:25am without speaking to the media

2/2 Perak reps Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Osman Mohd Jailu to hold press conferences in KL and Shah Alam this evening to announce their stand.

2/2 Schoolbus plunges into river near Penang state mosque at Ayer Hitam; driver killed, 23 Chung Hwa Confucian students get outpatient treatment.

2/2 Changkat Jering rep Mohd Osman does not turn up for his press conference either; his agent also reads a statement saying he has not quit PKR.



2/2 AirAsia's Datuk Tony Fernandes says the budget airline will add 6 new China destinations bringing total to 13.


2/2 Behrang rep Jamaluddin Mat Radzi does not turn up for his own press conference; representative reads out statement saying he has not quit PKR.

1/2 Aussie Open Tennis: Rafael Nadal beats Roger Federer in 5-set marathon to stop him from equalling Pete Sampras record of 14 Grand Slam wins.

1/2 Behrang rep Jamaluddin Mat Radzi denies resigning; said quit letter given to speaker was undated one he was made to sign last March.

1/2 Jamaluddin Mat Radzi and Mohd Osman Jailu of PKR have quit as assemblymen, by-election within 60 days: Perak speaker Sivakumar.

1/2 If any Perak DAP assemblyman cannot be contacted for 24hrs, party will take it he intends to quit his post: DAP sec-gen Lim Guan Eng.

1/2 At least 7 people killed and 100 hurt when man lobs grenade into busy Buddhist temple compound in northeast Thailand.

1/2 Perak MB confirms state and family members unable to locate two PKR exco members missing last five days; to lodge missing persons report.

20/1 Actor Norman Hakim and starlet Memey plead not guilty at KL Syariah Lower Court to committing khalwat last year.

20/1 Cabinet has agreed that there is no need for a Race Relations Act: Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Shafie Apdal

20/1 Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission to charge a Perak Umno division deputy chief and 2 members on Thurs for bribing during division election.

20/1 Smart Highway to be closed to traffic from 11pm Wednesday until 6am Thursday to facilitate monthly testing of motorway tunnel systems.

21/1 Israel says all its troops have withdrawn from Gaza but remain at the border prepared to act if Hamas renews rocket attacks.

21/1 KL International Motorshow, scheduled for May 29 to June 7, postponed to later date due to global economic crisis, says trade body.

21/1 Ex Semenyih assemblyman Ahamad Kuris Mohd Nor pleaded not guilty to 3 corruption charges totaling RM195,000 in Sessions court; posted bail

22/1 Cops to record statement of 2 deputy ministers over morgue incident where body of detainee A. Kugan was tampered with: DCP Khalid.

22/1 Post-mortem of suspected car thief A. Kugan who died in police custody shows he had liquid in his lungs: Selangor police chief DCP Khalid.

22/1 Govt exempts textile, electronics and electrical sector employers from paying human resources development levy for 6mths effective Feb 1.

22/1 Beruas Umno vice-chief Azman Noh and Alor Gajah member Johari Ibrahim claim trial separately to giving bribes in division polls last year.

22/1 One of the 21 men charged in China over the melamine-contaminated milk scandal has been sentenced to death, according to state media reports.

23/1 S&P lowers corporate rating on Titan Chemicals to BB- from BB due to weakening operating performance, remains on Creditwatch Negative.

23/1 Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail: Death of police detainee A. Kugan has been classified as murder.

23/1 21 people, including MP, 2 state reps and priest, among 21 charged in court with participating in illegal assembly and failing to disperse.

23/1 Federal Court reaffirms Ding Kuong Hiing (BN) as Sarikei MP, throws out appeal by Wong Hua Seh (DAP) against earlier Election Court decision.

23/1 Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard hearing: Denies assault charges in nightclub brawl, to plead not guilty when case goes to trial March 20.

24/1 Five NS camps in 5 states have been closed indefinitely for health and safety reasons: NS Training Dept D-G Abdul Hadi

4/1 Investigation reveals that fire in Santika nightclub in Bangkok on New Years Day that killed 65 revellers was caused by fireworks: Thai police.

24/1 Former MIC vice-president Muthupalaniappan has been expelled from party, he can appeal within 2wks: Discipline committee chairman Vadiveloo.

24/1 All US-made peanut butter placed on Level 5 alert following salmonella threat in America which has killed several people: Health Minister Liow.

24/1 Candidates under investigation for corruption can still contest in Umno polls under party rules, only ineligible when they are charged: Najib.

25/1 Bota assemblyman Nasarudin Hashim quits Umno to join PKR; Pakatan now has 32 state seats in Perak versus 27 for BN.

25/1 UM Medical Centre began second autopsy on A. Kugan, who died in police custody, at noon; procedure expected to take up to 11hrs

25/1 National laureate Muhammad Dahlan Abdul Baing, aka Arena Wati, died today of lung cancer and was buried at 3pm; he was 84.

25/1 Sri Lankan troops fight their way into Mullaittivu, the last stronghold held by Tamil Tiger rebels, say reports quoting military sources.
26/1 Two-seater aircraft with at least 2 people on board missing since taking off from Senai airport in Johor this morning, search and rescue on.

26/1 Sri Lankan troops take last Tamil Tiger base, govt says decades-long insurgency almost over, but rebel leader Prabhakaran still free.

26/1 DPM Najib and BN leaders join thousands of Malaysians at MCA Chinese New Year Open House at Wisma MCA in KL.

26/1 Found: Crashed Cessna plane that went missing in Johor this morning, rescuers trying to save trapped pilot, confirm he was only one on board.

26/1 Police will submit investigation papers on death of A. Kugan to Attorney-Generals Chambers on Wednesday: Selangor police chief DCP Khalid.

27/1 Israel closes its borders to humanitarian aid traffic into Gaza, promises response to attack that killed a soldier but does not elaborate.

27/1 Unidentified Palestinian militants kill an Israeli soldier in bomb attack, endangering Gaza truce; Israel has yet to respond.

27/1 Iceland govt toppled amid financial mess after banks collapsed under debts amassed during years of rapid expansion, says AP report.

27/1 Shareholders file suit against Spider-Man creator Stan Lee and his company, seeking USD750mil in profits from films based on Marvel characters.

7/1 The pilot on board a Cessna aircraft that crashed in Gunung Pulai in Johor on Monday morning has been rescued and is recovering in hospital.

28/1 Five men arrested at UMMC mortuary before Kugan funeral procession finally leaves at about 1:45pm.

28/1 Pulitzer Prize-winning US novelist John Updike, who chronicled sex, love and religion in small-town America, died Tuesday at age 76.

28/1 Cops detain two men who tried to breach barricade at UMMC mortuary as family prepares for Kugan funeral procession.

28/1 Umno discipline committee chairman Tengku Rithauddeen suggests Youth, Wanita, Puteri and Putera wings be abolished to help curb money politics.

28/1 Police arrested a murder suspect at Kugan funeral procession, says IGP Musa Hassan; unsure if he is one of the five nabbed earlier.

29/1 MIC's CWC has nullified the party disciplinary committee's decision to expel former vice-president M. Muthuppalaniappan.


29/1 MAS slashes fuel surcharges on international flights by as much as 73pc effective tomorrow.


29/1 MAS cuts fuel surcharges on international flights by as much as 73%. From Friday, will remove fuel surcharge on Singapore, Brunei flights.


29/1 Proposal to scrap Umno Putera and Puteri wings too drastic a measure, strengthening enforcement better way to curb money politics: Najib.


29/1 Malaysian Archaeological Research Centre at USM says has found artefacts that suggest human existence in Bkt Bunuh in Perak 1.8mil years ago.

30/1 From Jan 18-25, 1,310 dengue cases with five deaths and 136 chikungunya cases reported nationwide: Health D-G Ismail Merican.


30/1 Amy of rock band Search manages to strike out neglience suit filed by 3yr-old boy after he was scalded by soup at a restaurant owned by Amy.
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30/1 Illinois Governor Blagojevich, who tried to sell Senate seat of President Obama, sacked by state legislators on criminal corruption charges.


31/1 Thousands of supporters of ousted Thai PM Thaksin take to Bangkok streets to call for Parliament to dissolve and hold snap elections.

31/1 US govt opens criminal investigation into peanut-processing plant at centre of salmonella outbreak, Justice Dept and FDA to lead probe.