Askar AS gigit daging mentah ular tedung

SEORANG askar marin Amerika Syarikat menggigit daging mentah seekor ular tedung manakala kepalanya dililit dengan kulit haiwan itu.

SATTAHIP, Thailand - Seorang askar Amerika Syarikat (AS) merasai daging mentah seekor ular tedung di sebuah pangkalan tentera laut di sini semalam.

Askar itu menggigit daging mentah ular tersebut manakala kulit haiwan tersebut dililitkan pada kepalanya.

Kira-kira 13,000 anggota tentera daripada tujuh buah negara menyertai latihan ikhtiar hidup itu.

Anggota-anggota tentera Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea Selatan, Thailand, AS, Singapura dan Jepun menyertai latihan tersebut.

Dalam latihan itu, askar-askar minum darah ular dan menggunakan tangan untuk memisahkan kepala ayam jantan daripada badan. Mereka turut memakan serangga. - Agensi

Mantis preys on luckless lizard

Preying ... mantis devours gecko

THIS poor lizard didn't have a prayer of hope once it was in the clutches of an insect with a monster appetite.

The unlucky gecko was taken on by a praying mantis — which normally sticks to eating insects.

But larger mantises are known to prey on scorpions, lizards and frogs, and this one clearly had no trouble finishing off the gecko.

The wildlife scene was captured on camera by Dutch photographer Jim Hoffman.

Luckless lizard ... praying mantis devours the reptile

The 51-year-old came across this struggle in his back garden in Spain.

He said: "Both creatures are very common in Spain but a praying mantis will usually go for something much smaller than itself.

"It was clear the gecko was very unlucky.

"As a nature photographer I felt quite lucky to stumble across the scene because it's so rare but I did feel very sorry for the gecko.

Iron grip ... the mantis holds the gecko in its clutches

"I've always been interested in smaller animals but I'm not sure why, I think it's something I've felt since childhood. It's in my genes.

"Photographing animals in free nature demands a lot of patience and perseverance.

"It's very important to know their behaviour and where and when you can find them."

Mazda MX-5 Miata Special Edition

Mazda is to launch a limited-edition model of its popular MX-5 sportscar at the Chicago Auto Show next week.

The Japanese brand said that only 450 Special Edition variants of the MX-5 will be produced, boasting an upgraded roof and new interior.

Since its launch in 1989, the MX-5 Miata has become the world’s best-selling two-seat roadster and is a popular — and much cheaper — alternative to high-end models from the likes of Porsche and BMW.

The new Special Edition will feature two new exterior colors and a powered retractable hard top in black, Mazda said, marking the first time a non-body-colored hardtop (a trademark style of models such as the Mini Cooper) has been offered.

Inside, the model will offer black heated leather seats, black interior accents and gloss finishes — the whole thing will ride on 17-inch black gunmetal alloy wheels.

As the Chicago Auto Show is known for focusing on the everyday buyer, it’s no surprise that plenty of more affordable models will be on display alongside the supercars which normally grace the isles of the world’s premier auto shows.

Pawang minum darah ayam jantan

AFP
RUSDI JAM TONI menghirup darah daripada seekor ayam jantan pada perarakan festival Cap Goh Meh di Jakarta kelmarin.

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JAKARTA - Seorang pawang tempatan bernama Rusdi Jam Toni dari Sambas menghirup darah seekor ayam jantan semasa festival Cap Goh Meh di sini kelmarin.

Seorang lagi pawang yang dikenali sebagai Fasidami menyemburkan darah ayam jantan selepas dia menghirupnya daripada haiwan itu.

Cap Goh Meh merupakan hari penutup sambutan Tahun Baru Cina. - AFP

Ikan Araipaima diternak secara komersial di Peru

LIMA - Sejenis ikan gergasi yang hidup di Sungai Amazon, Paiche diternak secara komersial di Peru bagi memenuhi permintaan tinggi di pasaran tempatan dan luar negara.

Isi Paiche yang rendah lemak dan tanpa pencemaran raksa menjadikan ia popular dalam kalangan penggemar ikan dari Amerika Syarikat (AS) hingga ke Eropah.

Paiche yang boleh membesar sehingga mencapai berat 100 kilogram dengan panjang lebih 2.5 meter sekali gus menjadi antara ikan terbesar di dunia dan makanan utama penduduk pribumi sejak zaman dahulu.

Kini, ikan itu diternak oleh sebuah syarikat di Peru, Amazone untuk tujuan komersial selain memulihara spesies berkenaan daripada pupus.

"Ia bagus untuk dimakan, rasa ikan ini enak hampir seperti rasa ikan siakap putih tetapi dengan tekstur yang lebih lembut," kata Jose Duarte yang bekerja sebagai cef restoran Itali, Taranta di Boston, AS.

Lebih popular dengan nama ikan Arapaima, Paiche adalah sejenis ikan maging.

Menurut beberapa orang cef, isi paiche mudah dilapah dan tidak mudah hangit apabila dimasak kerana kandungan kalogen ikan ini yang tinggi. - Reuters

Jose: I’ll manage Chelsea

SECOND COMING ... Jose Mourinho

JOSE MOURINHO is ready to make a spectacular return as Chelsea manager.

The Special One is quitting Spanish giants Real Madrid in the summer to come back to England.

And the two-time Champions League winner, who bagged six trophies in just three years at Stamford Bridge, is keen on resuming his old job in SW6.

A top source close to Mourinho revealed last night: "Jose would go back to Chelsea."

The only stumbling block is that this time Mourinho will insist Blues' billionaire owner Roman Abramovich gives him TOTAL control of team affairs, free from any interference.

That way he guarantees to bring the glory days back to the Fulham Road club.

The source added: "He knows things are a mess there right now. He also knows it would be difficult to go back and make the same impact as before.

"Winning the Premier League title back to back in his first two years at a club that had not been champions for 50 years was incredible. That's why he's still loved by the fans and why he still loves the club. They were special days.

"But before agreeing, he would want things very clear between him and Roman Abramovich.

"He would say 'Roman, you are the owner and I am the boss here. Let's work together and the power is in our hands'.

"For Jose that would be the perfect partnership."

Abramovich might well be tempted. The Londoners have tried a succession of managers since Mourinho's shock departure in 2007 — Avram Grant, Phil Scolari, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti and now Mourinho's ex- scout Andre Villas-Boas.

But all have failed to match Mourinho's heroics.

Hiddink won the FA Cup and Ancelotti did the Double, while current boss Villas-Boas has Chelsea only fourth after a string of disappointing displays and results.

Villas-Boas was brought in at a cost of almost £25million — including a £12m three-year contract, £5m compensation to his former club Porto and severance pay for Ancelotti.

But Mourinho believes he has unfinished business.

He won all four domestic trophies — Premier League, FA and Carling Cups and Community Shield — but never captured the Champions League crown.

Adding Chelsea to his previous successes with Porto and Inter Milan would be his top aim — an ambition shared by Abramovich.

Facebook painter is 'in line for £126m'

Rich ... David Choe

By STAFF REPORTER

A GRAFFITI artist who covered Facebook's offices with murals in return for shares in the social network is getting ready for a reported £126million payday.

David Choe's once meagre share would be worth the colossal sum once the networking giant floats on the stock exchange.

He swapped a pay packet of just a few thousand dollars for his stake in the firm seven years ago — despite thinking the idea was "ridiculous and pointless" at the time.

But Facebook could be valued at up to £63billion ($100billion) this spring when it goes public on Wall St.

And Choe, 35, will be one of at least 1,000 Facebook employees who will become millionaires overnight.

Web brains ... (from left) Mark Zuckerberg, Dustin Moskovitz and Sean Parker at Facebook headquarters in Palo Alto, California, in May 2005

Choe painted the Facebook HQ in Palo Alto, California, in 2005 and was offered the choice of cash or shares by then-president Sean Parker.

He and founder Mark Zuckerberg later posed for pictures in front of the colourful murals.

Little did Choe know Facebook would eventually boast 845million users across the globe and is still growing. Its membership has swelled by 39 per cent in the past year alone.

Zuckerberg owns 28 per cent of the company and will control 57 per cent of votes.

He currently takes a salary of £316,000 ($500,000) — but will be paid just a DOLLAR a year from 2013.

The site raked in £632million ($1billion) profits last year and hopes to crack China, where it is currently banned, to grow even more.

Facebook will raise an estimated £3.1billion ($5billion) by selling shares in the business.

It is unclear whether Choe has sold any of his stake in private as he refuses to discuss his holding to protect his privacy.

He also reportedly claims to have looted during the LA riots in 1992 and spent time in prison.

8 selebriti gila yoga

LARA DUTA menjadikan yoga sebagai ritual hariannya.

SENAMAN yoga kini nampaknya semakin popular di kalangan selebriti Bollywood. Sudah semakin ramai yang mengamalkan senaman tersebut, termasuklah lapan orang selebriti terkenal yang antaranya mempunyai cakera padat (CD) khas senaman tersebut. Mereka terdiri daripada:

Neha Dhupia

Aktres ini kini dikatakan sedang semakin giat melakukan senaman yoga dan menjadikan senaman tersebut sebagai senaman utamanya kini. Dia juga selalu dilihat melakukan yoga di salah sebuah kawasan terkenal di Karnataka.

Sameera Reddy

Sameera Reddy juga dikatakan sedang jatuh cinta dengan senaman yoga. Dia giat melakukan senaman tersebut untuk mengekalkan tubuh badan langsing selain minda yang sihat.

Kangana Ranaut

Kemunculan Kangana dalam bikini baru-baru mengejutkan ramai peminat apabila melihat tubuh badannya yang semakin cantik. Ujar Kangana, rahsianya adalah senaman yoga dari jenis Pranayam yang sentiasa membuat dia rasa bertenaga.

Shilpa Shetty

Shilpa Shetty memang selalu dianggap sebagai pemilik badan terbaik selebriti Bollywood. Dia harus berterima kasih kepada senaman yoga yang menjadi amalannya. Shilpa kini muncul dengan DVD yoga yang diberi nama Shilpa's Yoga untuk dikongsi bersama peminat.

BIPASHA BASU

Geeta Basra

Semakin mendapat perhatian, Geeta Basra tahu cara bagaimana untuk membuat khalayak 'tidak lari' daripada terus memerhatikannya. Dia kini giat dengan rejim yoga untuk mendapatkan bentuk badan ideal sebelum muncul di dalam filem terkininya, Zila Ghaziabad.

Lara Dutta

Baru sahaja melahirkan anak, Lara Dutta tidak berselindung tentang rahsia kekal cantiknya. Dia memberitahu, senaman yoga yang diamalkannya banyak membantu dan sebab itu dia kini muncul dengan DVD Yoga Recovery and Rejuvenation.

Bipasha Basu

Seorang lagi selebriti yang dianggap sebagai penggila kesihatan, Bipasha Basu, baru sahaja dilantik menjadi duta bagi Sugar Free Natura. Dia sangat obses dengan senaman yoga jenis Suryanamaskar dan baru sahaja melancarkan CD Bipasha Basu Love Yourself.

Kareena Kapoor

Kareena Kapoor adalah seorang pengamal yoga yang setia. Dia menjalani rejim yoga yang berlainan untuk tubuh badannya. Untuk bahagian belakang badan, dia mengamalkan yoga jenis Bhujangasana, untuk kaki dia mengamalkan yoga Virabhadra dan Surya Namaskar untuk badan.

Tiga wanita separuh bogel ditangkap

DUA wanita separuh bogel cuba memanjat pagar manakala seorang rakan mereka memegang kad menuntut keadilan ekonomi dekat lokasi Forum Ekonomi Dunia di Davos kelmarin.

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DAVOS, Switzerland - Tiga wanita dari pertubuhan pembela hak asasi wanita, FEMEN ditangkap polis kerana mendedahkan payudara semasa menunjuk perasaan di lokasi Forum Ekonomi Dunia yang disertai beberapa pemimpin dunia di sini pada Sabtu lalu.

Dua daripada mereka ditangkap polis semasa cuba memanjat pagar ke sebuah resort yang menjadi lokasi forum tersebut berlangsung.

Mereka yang menuntut keadilan ekonomi dunia hanya memakai seluar panjang tanpa baju walaupun cuaca amat sejuk. - Agensi/AFP

Ekspo tatu di Colombia

GAMBAR menunjukkan cangkuk pada dada seorang lelaki yang digunakan untuk
menggantung dirinya pada pameran Ekspo Tatu di Caracas kelmarin.

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CARACAS - Lebih 200 artis tatu dari beberapa buah negara seperti Venezuela, Argentina dan Mexico mengambil bahagian dalam Ekspo Tatu di sini kelmarin.

Pertunjukan menggantung diri dengan menggunakan cangkuk pada bahu juga diadakan semasa ekspo itu berlangsung, lapor agensi berita AFP semalam.

Antara peserta terkenal yang memiliki tatu unik pada muka mereka yang mengambil bahagian dalam ekspo itu ialah Mary Jose Cristerna yang lebih dikenali sebagai wanita puntianak dari Mexico.

VICTOR PERALTA

Peserta lain yang mengambil bahagian ialah Victor Peralta dan Gabriela Peralta dari Argentina, Emilio Gonzalez, Constantino Quintero serta Juaquin De Lima dari Venezuela - Agensi