‘Breakaway’ to be NYC’s largest cruise ship

New York is to be the home to Norwegian Cruise Line‘s new 4,000-passenger ship when she launches, city officials confirmed October 7.

The Norwegian Breakaway is set to be the largest ship ever to home port in NYC and will enter service in 2013, departing on a planned 88 cruises in less than two years.

Breakaway will boast new rooms designed to invoke a boutique hotel and a luxury private area called ‘The Haven’, complete with 24-hour butler service, a poolside valet and white-tablecloth in-room dining.

Breakaway will initially sail a series of seven-day cruises from New York to Bermuda, Norwegian confirmed.

New York is an easy embarkation point for international visitors — the Manhattan Cruise Terminal is also home to lines such as Carnival, Cunard, Holland America, Princess Cruises and Crystal Cruises.

The arrival of Breakaway will be a significant coup for the Big Apple’s tourist authorities and is expected to being an additional 140,000 visitors to the city over two years, who will spend some $35 million.

It is also a vote of confidence in the city’s booming cruise trade, which saw spending in 2010 jump by 54 percent compared to 2009.

Source: AFPrelaxnews

Ikan jerung dalam tasik padang golf

KELIBAT seekor ikan jerung terdapat dalam tasik di Padang Golf Carbrook, Australia. - YouTube

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SYDNEY, Australia - Orang ramai yang bermain golf di Padang Golf Carbrook di bandar Brisbane tidak perlu mencari bola jika ia memasuki sebuah tasik kerana ia mengandungi ikan jerung.

"Pastinya, jika anda kehilangan bola, anda tentu tidak akan mengejarnya," kata seorang pemain golf, Graham Casemore.

Padang golf itu dilanda banjir pada lewat 1990-an apabila Sungai Logan melimpah tebing.

Apabila banjir tersebut surut, tasik yang terletak di antara lubang ke-12 dan 15 itu didapati mengandungi ikan jerung.

Terdapat papan tanda amaran yang meminta orang ramai tidak berenang di tasik itu. - Reuters

Work, play, music all rolled into one with #CelcomSamsungGalaxy !

Work, play, music all rolled into one with #CelcomSamsungGalaxy !

If u've got RM10000 worth of Cadbury surprise execution funds, what would u do? Smthin like this http://bit.ly/nzPjZ2?

If u've got RM10000 worth of Cadbury surprise execution funds, what would u do? Smthin like this http://bit.ly/nzPjZ2?

10 hari derita didera bapa tiri

MANGSA BAPA TIRI...polis mengangkat mayat mangsa untuk dibedah siasat, semalam.

ALOR GAJAH: Keji dan tidak berperikemanusiaan! Itulah perkataan layak dihamburkan kepada seorang bapa tiri yang dipercayai mendera anak tirinya menggunakan besi panas dan seterika sepanjang 10 hari ibu kanak-kanak itu dirawat di hospital selepas melahirkan anak.

Selain kedua-dua tapak kaki kanak-kanak itu berlubang, dipercayai terkena besi panas atau seterika, ada juga kesan lebam kehitaman pada seluruh tubuh mangsa.

Mohd Firdaus Mat Dan, 6, dikatakan sudah nyawa-nyawa ikan ketika dibawa suspek ke Hospital Alor Gajah (HAG), di sini, jam 4.30 petang semalam dan riak wajahnya ketika itu seolah-olah menahan kesakitan sebelum menghembuskan nafas terakhir.

Bapa tiri berusia 37 tahun itu menghantar kanak-kanak terbabit ke hospital selepas membawa isterinya berusia 41 tahun pulang ke rumah mereka di Kampung Padang Sebang, dekat sini, sebaik wanita itu dibenarkan keluar dari hospital.

Menurut sumber, mangsa yang bertubuh kurus diberikan bantuan kecemasan hampir satu jam oleh pegawai perubatan sebaik dibawa ke HAG, tetapi kanak-kanak itu gagal diselamatkan.

China’s richest village opens skyscraper hotel

One of China’s tallest buildings has opened for business in the nation’s ‘wealthiest village’ of Huaxi, a symbol of the country’s breakneck economic growth.

The Longxi International Hotel is 328 metres (1,082-feet) high and cost $470 million to build, an official in Huaxi told AFP.

There are around 10 taller buildings in China — including the Shanghai World Financial Center, the third highest in the world — but all of these are in major cities.

Huaxi, however, is still classed as a village in east China’s Jiangsu province despite having expanded significantly over the years, engulfing nearby villages and its population growing to 50,000 from 1,600 in the 1960s.

Once a poor farming community, it has boomed during the past 30 years of China’s economic reform.

Dubbed a “model socialist village”, Huaxi’s wealth is based on the collective funds of households who have amassed money in industries such as steel and textiles.

Most household revenues are reinvested into further projects on a mandatory basis, keeping the cycle going.

200 village households are shareholders in the 74-storey, five-star hotel, each providing 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) in capital for the project.

“The building is a symbol of collectivism,” the paper quoted Zhou Li, Huaxi’s deputy Communist Party secretary, as saying.

But some critics dispute the village’s “socialist” labelling, saying it has instead become a symbol of capitalism in the communist state.

Huaxi Group, the corporation that manages the village’s business, has 2,000 shareholders — all registered residents.

Non-residents are not allowed to be shareholders, even if they work there.

The village’s success has become a focal point for a long-standing nationwide government campaign to “study the Huaxi experience”.

The hotel is expected to accommodate businessmen engaging in the village’s vast industries, officials coming to study the Huaxi model, as well as flocks of tourists visiting the region.

The building also includes a revolving restaurant, a rooftop swimming pool, mall, theatre, spa and an ox made of a ton of gold on the 60th floor.

Pertandingan dukung isteri

ROCCO ANDREOZZI mendukung Kim Wasko semasa dia berlari dalam Kejohanan Mendukung Isteri di Resort River Ski Sunday, Maine kelmarin.

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RESORT RIVER SKI SUNDAY, Maine - Pasangan Rocco Andreozzi dan Kim Wasko menang dalam Kejohanan Mendukung Isteri di sini, Amerika Syarikat kelmarin.

Mereka menamatkan larian terakhir dengan masa 49.64 saat manakala tempat kedua dirangkul oleh David dan Lacey Castro dengan masa 52.39 saat.

Seramai 47 peserta menyertai pertandingan itu dengan pemenang akan bertanding dalam Kejohanan Mendukung Isteri Peringkat Dunia.

Antara acara yang perlu para peserta lakukan ialah berlari mendaki bukit dan merempuh halangan kawasan yang berlumpur semasa mendukung pasangan mereka.

Pemenang pertandingan menerima cek bernilai AS$620 (RM1,956). - Agensi

Mercedes to Launch Baby SLS AMG in 2014

Mercedes-AMG is planning a smaller and cheaper version of the SLS supercar, which will take on cars like the Porsche 911 and the Jaguar C-X16.

In an interview with Auto Express the development director of performance division AMG, Cristoph Jung, said there is room for an AMG model below the SLS.

Jung also said that the success of the SLS Gullwing – which has now sold 5,000 models since 2009 – had paved the way for a second AMG model.

“It is important to work on our brand and grow it. Look at the Porsche 911 – it is a huge success. They have done a very good job in evolving it over the years.

The car will come as a coupé, and a roadster is also under consideration. the new SLS will be a two-seater, powered by a V8 engine mounted in the front of the car.

This engine will most likely be the 5.5 liter twin-turbo which develops up to 500 horsepower. Expect 0-60mph in four seconds and a top speed of 185mph.

The baby SLS is expected to arrive in 2014, with a price tag of around 80,000 Euros.

Finger monkeys Tiny primates are world's smallest

Pocket primate ... pygmy marmosets are the smallest monkeys in the world

WE'RE not monkeying about — this little critter really is as tiny as a FINGER.

Dwarf monkeys, or pygmy marmosets, are officially the smallest monkeys in the world.

The teeny primates measure just 5-6ins and on average weigh in at a measly 130g — lighter than an apple.

The cute creatures, which are normally found in rainforests in Brazil, are affectionately known as "pocket monkeys", "finger monkeys" and "little lions".

And it's easy to see why with their fluffy mane of fur and miniature size.

The animals have become a web hit on cult site Slightly Warped.

And looking at these adorable images it's not surprising they've been getting the lion's share of online attention.

Good things come in small packages ... two tranquil mini monkeys

Twisted around his little finger ... butter wouldn't melt for this 'little lion'

Peace ... two dwarf monkeys get 40 winks

Hasilkan baju dengan gentian susu

ENAM liter susu diperlukan untuk menghasilkan sehelai baju.

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HANOVER, Jerman - Seorang pereka fesyen yang juga merupakan pakar mikrobiologi, Anke Domaske mengejutkan dunia fesyen apabila berjaya mencipta baju daripada gentian susu. Domaske, 28, menemui cara menggabungkan susu tepung dengan bahan lain untuk menghasilkan sejenis fabrik istimewa. Rekaan pakaiannya diberi nama Qmilch.

ANKE DOMASKE bergambar bersama model dan pakaian yang dihasilkan daripada gentian susu.

"Fabrik susu ini mengandungi protein yang berperanan memastikan kulit anda berada dalam keadaan sihat. Pakaian bio merupakan satu trend baharu yang akan bermula dalam industri fesyen dan kami kini berada di hadapan," kata Domaske yang membangunkan gentian susu tersebut dalam tempoh hanya dua tahun.

Dia juga percaya teknik yang dibangunkan dengan kerjasama Institut Fiber Bremen itu boleh diaplikasikan ke dalam industri lain termasuklah ubat-ubatan.

Sebelum ini, beberapa buah syarikat Eropah seperti H&M dan C&A telah menghasilkan pakaian yang diperbuat daripada kain kapas organik. Tetapi kebanyakan material organik adalah mahal untuk dipasarkan ke pasaran antarabangsa.

Gentian susu tersebut mengandungi 18 asid amino yang memberi faedah kepada kesihatan. Untuk menghasilkan sehelai baju, Domaske memerlukan sehingga enam liter susu. - Agensi