Azarenka rangkul gelaran kedua

AZARENKA menewaskan Maria Sharapova untuk merangkul gelaran kedua Kejohanan Tenis Terbuka Sony Ericsson kelmarin.

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MIAMI - Pemain Belarus, Victoria Azarenka menewaskan Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-4 untuk merangkul gelaran kedua pada Kejohanan Tenis Terbuka Sony Ericsson kelmarin.

Azarenka, 21, tidak mempersia- siakan peluang yang terhidang hasil kesilapan yang dilakukan Sharapova yang juga bekas pemain No. 1 dunia dari Rusia itu.

"Saya bermain dengan sangat baik pada set pertama," kata Azarenka yang juga pemain pilihan kelapan itu.

"Maria (Sharapova) adalah seorang pemain yang hebat dan saya tahu yang dia akan berjuang sehingga ke akhir. Dia akhirnya berjaya menampilkan corak permainan tenis yang menarik dan saya terpaksa bertahan. Tetapi ia sangat berbaloi."

Azarenka yang memenangi kesemua sembilan permainan untuk menguasai saingan itu apabila Sharapova tiba-tiba mendapat rentak, akhirnya memperoleh servis dan mematahkan servis Azarenka sebanyak dua kali untuk keputusan 4-3 pada set kedua.

Begitupun, Sharapova sekali lagi melakukan kesilapan, sekali gus memberikan Azarenka peluang untuk mendahului 5-3 selepas dia melakukan kesilapan berganda ketujuh dalam perlawanan itu.

Pada aksi seterusnya, Sharapova menyelamatkan dua mata akhir sebelum Azarenka memenangi permainan itu.

"Saya tidak merasakan yang saya telah melakukan kesilapan," kata Azarenka.

"Dia (Sharapova) bermain dengan baik, jadi saya terpaksa lebih banyak bertahan."

Sharapova terpaksa akur dengan kehebatan Azarenka, sekali gus membolehkan lawannya itu melakar sejarah untuk memenangi gelaran kedua di Miami selepas menewaskan pemain Amerika Syarikat, Serena Williams pada final 2009.

"Adalah terlalu lambat untuk saya bangkit semula apabila saya ketinggalan satu set dan terikat 4-4 pada set kedua," kata Shara- pova.

"Sudah tentu saya berharap untuk bangkit lebih awal. Saya melakukan lebih banyak perkara menarik berbanding apa yang saya lakukan hari ini (kelmarin)." - AFP

Facebook disaman lebih RM3 bilion

WASHINGTON, Amerika Syarikat (AS) - Pengasas dan juga Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif (CEO) Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg dan laman web berkenaan disaman lebih AS$1 billion (RM 3.3 bilion) kerana menyiarkan artikel anti-Yahudi, lapor sebuah akhbar semalam.

Saman terbabit difailkan oleh peguam yang juga seorang aktivis, Larry Klayman di sebuah mahkamah tinggi di sini pada Khamis lalu.

Dalam samannya, Klayman menuduh Facebook lewat menarik semula satu muka suratnya yang bertajuk 'Intifada Palestin Ketiga' bagi menentang Israel.

Menurutnya, Facebook sengaja membiarkan halaman tersebut kerana faktor komersial.

Halaman Facebook itu yang mengajak orang ramai bangkit menentang Israel, menyaksikan lebih 300,000 pengguna mengklik tanda 'suka' terhadap cadangan tersebut.

Intifada atau kebangkitan menentang Yahudi tersebut dirancang diadakan pada 15 Mei depan.

Muka surat itu cuma dipadam oleh Facebook pada 29 Mac lalu, beberapa hari selepas beberapa orang membuat aduan termasuk Menteri Diplomatik Awam Israel, Yuli Edelstein dan sebuah pertubuhan pro-Israel, Liga Anti-Defamasi.

Mengulas mengenai kes tersebut, seorang jurucakap Facebook berkata, dakwaan Klayman sama sekali tidak berasas.

"Kami akan menentang habis-habisan untuk membuktikan kami tidak bersalah," katanya.

Menurutnya, muka surat itu dikekalkan kerana ia bermula sebagai gesaan ke arah bantahan aman sebelum komen-komen di muka surat itu bertukar menjadi lebih ganas.

- Agensi

Selepas 6 bulan nikah, baru tahu isteri ialah lelaki

JAKARTA - Setelah bernikah selama enam bulan, seorang lelaki, Umar baru mengetahui bahawa isterinya itu ialah seorang lelaki tulen, lapor akhbar Sumut Pos semalam.

Umar berkenalan dengan isterinya itu, Fransiska Anatasya Octaviany menerusi Facebook setelah tertarik dengan kecantikan wajahnya.

"Semasa mereka bertemu, lelaki yang mengaku wanita itu memakai tudung," kata seorang pegawai polis di Jatiasih, Bekasi, Darmawan Karosekali kelmarin.

Namun, setelah enam bulan bernikah, Umar melihat terdapat sesuatu yang mencurigakan pada tubuh isterinya itu kerana dia kelihatan tegap.

"Selepas diperiksa (oleh Umar), ternyata dia (Fransiska) memang laki-laki," kata Darmawan.

Umar yang berasa tertipu kemudian membuat laporan polis. "Buat masa ini, kita sudah tahan (lelaki yang menyamar wanita itu) dan kesnya sedang disiasat," kata Darmawan.

Pasangan itu berkahwin seminggu selepas Hari Raya Aidilfitri setelah jiran-jiran Umar mengadu dia tinggal bersama Fransiska selama seminggu. Perbuatan tersebut tidak elok dipandang masyarakat dan agama.

Jiran-jirannya itu meminta mereka berkahwin dan pasangan itu bersetuju.

Jelas Darmawan, Fransiska memalsukan kad pengenalan dirinya, manakala dua orang rakannya menyamar menjadi ibu bapanya semasa akad nikah.

Jika didapati bersalah, Fransiska akan dihukum penjara tujuh tahun kerana menyamar menjadi lelaki. - Agensi

Katy Perry is still feeling blue

Out of this world ... Katy Perry in E.T. video

COLOURFUL KATY PERRY gets the blues in her latest video.

The elaborate space-age promo to single E.T. sees the dark colour dominate.

Perhaps the chart-topper has a taste for the shade - after voicing a character in the forthcoming Smurfs movie.

Flirting ... Smurfette admires the view in movie

She plays Smurfette in the animated adventure.

In shots from the elaborate clip that accompanies her new single the singer is seen gazing into the distance and then screaming, while wearing an elaborate headdress.

Open wide ... Katy's shouts into the camera

Further stills show her in a red painted mask and braids, and dressed up as a warrior with long hair extensions and war paint.

The promo ends with Katy's character morphing into a Narnia-style animal as she hooks up with a naked man.

The edgy images are a far cry from the fluffy and brightly coloured frocks and candy canes that are the signatures of her live shows.

Warrior queen ... Katy Perry

Hip-hop nob KANYE WEST features on the track, which she has been performing at UK gigs over the past week.

Costume change ... Katy Perry's heavy make-up looks freaky

Katy released a teaser clip of the video yesterday, writing on Twitter: "EXTRATRESSTRIALS ARE COMING."

Shame they can't take Kanye with them when they head back into deep space and a galaxy far, far, away.

Happy ending ... Katy' character holds hands with naked man

Kapal angkasa Messenger rakam gambar planet Utarid

Imej planet Utarid atau Mercury yang dirakam pertama kali oleh kapal angkasa Messenger yang sedang mengorbit planet tersebut. – AP

WASHINGTON 31 Mac - Saintis Pentadbiran Aeronautik dan Angkasa Lepas Kebangsaan (NASA) semalam meneliti beratus-ratus gambar planet Utarid yang dirakam oleh kapal angkasa Messenger ketika ia memulakan misi setahun ke orbit dan pemetaan sistem solar planet misteri itu.

Selepas mengharungi perjalanan sejauh 7.9 bilion kilometer selama enam tahun setengah, kapal angkasa itu akhirnya memasuki orbit planet berkenaan pada 17 Mac lalu.

Kelmarin, Messenger mula mendedahkan rahsia Utarid yang mempunyai suhu mencecah 427 darjah Celcius pada waktu siang dan jatuh mendadak ke 100 darjah Celcius di bawah paras beku pada waktu malam.

“Awal pagi ini kira-kira pukul 5.20 pagi waktu tempatan, Messenger berjaya merakam gambar bersejarah pertama planet Utarid.

“Imej ini merupakan yang pertama dirakam oleh sebuah kapal angkasa di orbit planet sistem solar yang paling jauh,” lapor NASA.

Imej awal yang dirakam menunjukkan permukaan kawah luar biasa berwarna gelap digelar Debussy, sementara beberapa imej lain memaparkan bahagian lain Utarid berhampiran kutub selatannya yang sebelum ini tidak pernah disaksikan oleh pesawat angkasa lepas, menurut NASA.

Kapal angkasa itu merakam 363 keping imej dalam tempoh enam jam dan mendedahkannya semalam semasa satu persidangan pakar untuk membincangkan penemuan tersebut.

“Imej pertama dari orbit yang dirakam Messenger ini merupakan maklumat awal sebelum lebih banyak maklumat dikumpul selepas ini. Penjelajahan orbit di planet yang paling jauh dalam sistem solar, baru bermula,” kata NASA. - AFP

Firma pengurusan saman Britney Spears AS$10 juta

Britney Spears

LOS ANGELES 31 Mac - Sebuah syarikat pemasaran jenama yang menguruskan perjanjian untuk produk wangian Britney Spears bertindak menyaman penyanyi itu dan bapanya lebih AS$10 juta (RM30.2 juta).

Brand Sense Partners LLC dalam tuntutan mahkamah mendakwa anak-beranak itu telah membuat rundingan semula dengan syarikat kosmetik Elizabeth Arden pada tahun lalu berhubung bayaran royalti yang menyebabkan komisyen mereka sebanyak 35 peratus dipotong bagi pemasaran produk wangian itu.

Syarikat pemasaran tersebut mula bekerjasama dengan penyanyi itu pada 2003 dan mengadakan perjanjian produk wangian Spears pada 2004.

Mereka mendakwa Spears dan bapanya, Jamie membuat satu perjanjian baru pada tahun lalu untuk produk wangian baru penyanyi itu, Radiance.

Perjanjian itu dilakukan secara langsung antara Spears dan syarikat kosmetik itu dan ia didakwa melanggar perjanjian asal dengan Brand Sense.

Syarikat pemasaran itu mengemukakan saman ganti rugi dan kerosakan lain lebih AS$10 juta (RM30.2 juta) serta meminta hakim mengisytiharkan mereka layak menerima 35 peratus komisen ke atas semua produk wangian Spears yang dicipta oleh Elizabeth Arden.

Tindakan saman itu pertama kali dilaporkan semalam oleh laman web selebriti RadarOnline.com.- AGENSI

Helang botak sambar burung kuang

SEEKOR burung helang menyambar burung kuang di Dakota Selatan, Amerika Syarikat.

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DAKOTA SELATAN, Amerika Syarikat (AS) - Seorang jurugambar kelahiran Britain, Chris Bailey berjaya merakam beberapa gambar seekor helang botak besar yang kelaparan menyambar burung kuang di kawasan salji di sini untuk dijadikan makanan, lapor sebuah akhbar semalam.

Salah satu gambar tersebut merakam aksi dramatik helang botak menyambar burung kuang itu dengan menggunakan kedua-dua belah kakinya sebelum terbang tinggi.

Bailey, 54, yang terkejut pada masa itu cuba menjejaki helang botak yang membawa burung kuang tersebut ke kawasan berdekatan sebelum menjadikannya sebagai makanan.

Menurut Bailey yang bekerja sebagai pengarah servis Ford, dia sedang merakam gambar salji yang menutupi keseluruhan sebuah padang di sini.

"Tidak lama kemudian, saya menyaksikan helang botak yang cuba menyambar burung kuang berada di sana. Kejadian ini berlaku pada masa dan tempat yang tepat di depan mata saya," jelasnya.

Helang botak yang memiliki sayap berukuran 2.44 meter boleh terbang dengan kelajuan 72 kilometer sejam dan boleh hidup sehingga 30 tahun. - Agensi

Scars and stripes

King hit ... zebra lets lion have it

A LION'S pride takes a battering - when the zebra he picked for lunch gives him a kick in the teeth.

The plucky prey had no intention of being a mane course as the king of the jungle leapt on its back in Tanzania.

Hoofing it ... zebra leaves lion in mud

It gave him both barrels in the bonce, leaving the lion in a muddy pool as wildlife fan Thomas Whetten, 63, filmed them in Ngorongoro conservation area.

Guess the big cat learned a lesson - things aren't always black and white if you're crossing a zebra.

Katy Perry is going for gold

Golden girl ... Katy Perry shines in video

KATY PERRY's gold bust will come in handy when she and RUSSELL BRAND have their next Gladiator-themed night in the bedroom.

The singer wears the metal clobber in the video for new single E.T. featuring KANYE WEST.

Out of this world ... another Katy get-up in the E.T. video

She'd need some industrial packs of make-up wipes to remove all the slap used in the video.

Go sign a star in Neymar

David Luiz has urged Chelsea to break the bank again and add Neymar to the growing Brazilian contingent at Stamford Bridge.

The £39million-rated Santos forward enhanced his reputation by scoring both goals as the South Americans beat Scotland 2-0 at the Emirates on Sunday.

Neymar, 19, already earns the equivalent of £3million net from Santos, his home-town club, but they realise they have a valuable commodity on their hands.

Superstar: Brazil's Neymar announced himself to the world with two goals against Scotland

Neymar remained in London with his agent Wagner Ribeiro on Monday and spent time with Pini Zahavi, who played a key role in Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea takeover and has the mandate to sell the young Brazilian in England.

Abramovich spent more than £70m in the January transfer window on Fernando Torres and Luiz, who admits he would welcome another Brazilian joining him, Alex and Ramires at the club.

‘I would love it if Neymar came to Chelsea,’ said Luiz, who has enjoyed an excellent start to his career in England. ‘He is going to be one of the best players in the world.’

Cultured: Neymar's exquisite first goal showed a class and composure way beyond his years

The new King of Brazil

Full name: Neymar da Silva Santos Junior

Born: February 5, 1992, in Mogi das Cruzes (near Santos).

Position: Forward.

Height: 5ft 8½in.

Weight: 10st 1lb.

Santos record
Debut v Haldane (Mar 7, 2009)
116 appearances, 59 goals
32 yellow cards, 1 red card

Team honours: Paulista (Sao Paulo State Championship); Copa do Brasil 2010.

Individual honours: Paulista Player of the Year 2010; Paulista Newcomer of the Year 2009; Paulista Team of the Year 2010; Copa do Brasil top scorer 2010.

Brazil record: debut v USA (Aug 10, 2010) - scored in a 2-0 win. Three caps, three goals.

Did you know? On April 15, 2010, Neymar scored five goals in the 8-1 drubbing of Guarani in the Copa do Brasil.

Neymar turned down the chance to join the Barclays Premier League champions last summer and instead trebled his money by agreeing a new five-year deal at Santos.

The £40,000-a-week deal included promises by the club to raise his profile across Europe and increased the buy-out clause in his contract to ¤45m (about £39m). Chelsea are thought to be sticking at £30m.

The diminutive forward has averaged a goal every other game for Santos since making his debut as a 17-year-old and one a game in three appearances for Brazil since winning his first cap against the United States in August. It was during Brazil’s stay in America that Sportsmail revealed Santos’s plans to report Chelsea to FIFA over their pursuit of the wonder kid - a claim denied by the English club.

Ownership issues raised doubts about the ease of a transfer, with Santos having a 55 per cent share in the player and private investors a 45 per cent share.

However, despite the complexity of the deal, Chelsea have continued to monitor the situation, and Abramovich sent his personal talent spotter Piet de Visser to the South American Under 20 Championship last month to watch Neymar in action. He was not disappointed as Brazil won the tournament and Neymar was the top scorer with nine goals.

Inevitable comparisons with Pele have followed him from an early age, with the Brazilian media labelling him O Novo Rei (The New King).

Prize asset: Santos worked tirelessly to tie Neymar to a new deal in order to push his price up

Real Madrid, Manchester United and both Milan clubs have made approaches at different stages of his career. West Ham also made a £12m bid last summer, £5m less than Chelsea offered several days later.

Neymar’s pace and footwork is reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil team-mate Robinho. Like both, he can operate wide in an attacking three or up front. However, there are doubts over whether he has the physical or mental toughness for the Premier League.

Neymar is conscious that Robinho failed to deliver on his talent - and sizeable transfer fee - at Manchester City and doubts linger in his mind. Speaking after the win over Scotland, he said: ‘The (Emirates) stadium is great; the pitch is, too. The (English) weather I don’t like all that much, but I could get used to it.’

That was after a match played on a beautiful March afternoon, a million miles away from a trip to Stoke in December.

Tumbling down: Neymar frustrated at times on Sunday, falling under little pressure from the Scots

He would come with baggage, too. Last April he apologised to Santos, along with Robinho and team-mate Paulo Henrique Ganso, for refusing to take part in an Easter event at a charity care home for cerebral palsy sufferers. The players refused to get off the bus, citing religious conflicts of conscience.

Neymar was also fined and suspended following a clash with then manager Dorival Junior over who should take a penalty in a league game last September - an episode which ultimately cost the boss his job.

In October, Neymar almost came to blows on the training ground with senior Santos player Marcel having taken exception to a practical joke directed at team-mate Ze Eduardo and, after Sunday’s game, Neymar alleged he had been racially abused by sections of the crowd, claims he later admitted he would not follow up with an official complaint.

Yet Chelsea remain committed to signing one of the brightest prospects in world football.

Silky shoes: Several of the Scotland players, including Charlie Adam, admitted they couldn't handle the talented teenager

Neymar showed both sides of his game on Sunday, with some delightfully deft touches and dazzling footwork but also a propensity to go to ground at the slightest sign of physical contact.

Zahavi said: ‘We were all very happy with his performance at the Emirates.’

Blackpool’s Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam is in no doubt what the Brazilian could bring to English football.

‘You can’t judge the player just now because he’s not even played in the Premier League,’ said Adam. ‘But the quality he’s got, he would light up the Premier League.’