[RE-WIND 2011][#18] New King's Palace

 KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 15, 2011): The Yang Di Pertuan Agong now has a new official residence after the Istana Negara in Jalan Istana shifted to the RM800 million palace in Jalan Duta. The King's private flag was raised at the new Istana Negara for the first time in a ceremony filled with pomp and pageantry at 10.25am today. Istana Negara Grand Chamberlain Datuk Tengku Farok Husin Tengku Abdul Jalil had earlier handed over the flag to a team of flag bearers to signify the commencement of duty of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) at the Jalan Duta Istana Negara square. The new palace, in tune with technology today, uses an automated flag raiser unlike the manual approach at the old palace. Istana Negara began shifting its operations to the new complex in Jalan Duta in stages since Oct 19 while the assignment of guards from ATM began yesterday. The new Istana Negara, built with Islamic and traditional Malay features, is located on a 96.52 hectare site. It will witness the installation of the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah of Kedah in December.

The old palace had served as the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong for 54 years. At 9am today, a ceremony was held to officially decommission the old Istana Negara. It began with the marching in of the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD) comprising two officers and 58 men of various ranks accompanied by the RAMD central band. The ceremony continued with a team of flag bearers comprising 10 members of the RAMD who lowered the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's private flag as the last post was being played, signifying the shifting of the official residence of the King to its new home in Jalan Duta. Later, the ceremony continued with the procession of the flag bearers with the ceremonial horse squadron to the palace main entrance to present the flag to the Grand Chamberlain, who later directed Istana Negara officer Rosli Asri to lock the main entrance of the palace.

Among those present to witness the flag lowering ceremony were Senior Deputy Secretary-General of the Prime Minister's Department who is also the chairman of National Official Ceremony, Datuk Othman Mahmood; Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt Gen Datuk Raja Afandi Raja Mohd Nor and Deputy Chief of Staff Maj Gen Datuk Abdul Aziz Ibrahim. The 11.34 hectare old palace which was the official residence of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was originally a double storey bungalow built in 1928 by a local Chinese millionaire, Chan Wing. The building which was later made a palace of the Selangor Sultan was acquired by the federal government as the official residence of the first Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Rahman Tuanku Muhammad, a few weeks before the declaration of independence. –Bernama

[http://www.thesundaily.my/news/209368] 

[http://cisdel.com/2011/11/15/informasi-menarik-tentang-istana-negara-yang-baru-di-jalan-duta/]

[RE-WIND 2011][#17] Stump

 India has won the 2011 Cricket World Cup by 6 wickets over Sri Lanka. MS Dhoni crushed a six on the final ball to complete the chase for the Indians, who overcame a 274-run inning by their opponent, despite losing their first two batsmen (including "the master" Sachin Tendulkar) in the opening overs. The partnership between Dhoni and Gautam Gambhir led the comeback, as both came just shy of 188 runs between them. It's India's first World Cup championship in 28 years.

[http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-04-02/sports/30031507_1_sachin-tendulkar-cricket-world-cup-india#ixzz1hk3F5w2E]

The 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup was the tenth Cricket World Cup. It was played in India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. It was Bangladesh's first time co-hosting a World Cup. The World Cup was also due to be co-hosted by Pakistan, but in the wake of the 2009 attack on the Sri Lanka national cricket team in Lahore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to remove Pakistan from the hosting countries. The headquarters of the organising committee were originally situated in Lahore, but have now been shifted to Mumbai. Pakistan was supposed to hold 14 matches, including one semi-final. Eight of Pakistan's matches (including the semi-final) were awarded to India, four to Sri Lanka and two to Bangladesh.


All matches in the World Cup were accorded One Day International status, with all matches being played over 50 overs. Fourteen national cricket teams competed in the tournament, including ten full members and four associate members. The World Cup took place between 19 February and 2 April 2011, with the first match played on 19 February 2011 with co-hosts India and Bangladesh facing off at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, Dhaka. The opening ceremony was held on 17 February 2011 at Bangabandhu National Stadium, Dhaka, two days before the start of the tournament, with the final on 2 April 2011 between India and Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

India won the tournament defeating Sri Lanka by 6 wickets in the final in Mumbai. India became the first nation to win a World Cup final on home soil. India's Yuvraj Singh was declared the man of the tournament.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Cricket_World_Cup]

[RE-WIND 2011][#16] Motorsport Horror

Though there are maybe others, perhaps the biggest tragedy relating to deaths in motorsport racing in 2011 are the death of Indy 500 driver Dan Wheldon and the MotoGP rider Marco Simoncelli.

Daniel Clive "Dan" Wheldon (22 June 1978 – 16 October 2011) was a British racing driver from England. He was the 2005 Indy Racing League IndyCar Series champion, and winner of the Indianapolis 500 in both 2005 and 2011. Wheldon died from injuries shortly after a collision at the 2011 IZOD IndyCar World Championship at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on 16 October 2011, at the age of 33.

 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Wheldon]

 [http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/16/indycar-driver-dan-wheldon-dies-in-15-car-wreck/]

Marco Simoncelli (20 January 1987 – 23 October 2011) was an Italian motorcycle racer. He competed in the Road Racing World Championship for 10 years from 2002 to 2011. He started in the 125cc class before moving up to the 250cc class in 2006. He won the 250cc World Championship with Gilera in 2008. After four years in the intermediate class, he stepped up to the MotoGP class with the Honda Gresini Team. Simoncelli died after an accident during the 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang on 23 October 2011.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Simoncelli]

[RE-WIND 2011][#15] Farewell Oprah Winfrey

There was only one guest on the final episode of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" -- Oprah Winfrey. Winfrey walked out on a stage for the last time to a standing ovation from an audience filled with friends and family, including her longtime boyfriend Stedman Graham, filmmaker Tyler Perry, her fourth-grade teacher Mrs. Duncan and her former Baltimore talk show co-host Richard Sher. "There are no words to match this moment," began Winfrey, clad in a pink dress with ruffles cascading down the front. 

But somehow Winfrey, striking a more reverent tone than the preceding days when a parade of surprise celebrity guests saluted the media mogul, found the words over the next hour to express her gratitude to her audience, her staff and even God for allowing her to fulfill her calling. "It's no coincidence that a lonely little girl who felt not a lot of love...it's no coincidence that I grew up to feel the genuine trust, validation and love from you," she said toward the end of the show, addressing her audience in the studio and the one watching her from television sets in 150 countries. "You and this show have been the greatest love of my life," she said, choking back tears.

With only a single pink chair on stage, Winfrey held court, telling the audience that today she would not be giving away cars nor were there any trinkets hidden beneath their seats. Instead, Winfrey used her final show, the 4,561st, to thank the audience that made hers the No. 1 talk show for its entire 25-year run. 

[For more story: http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/oprah-winfreys-show-tears-pride/story?id=13683861#.Tvm8YlLTPz8]

[RE-WIND 2011][#14] MCMC Blocks File Sharing Websites

In a bid to combat piracy, the Government has declared war on filesharing websites with 10 such websites now blocked by the telecommunications industry watchdog. The websites were among the most visited sites by Malaysians to illegally download movies. On May 30, Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had written a letter to all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) ordering the block. The letter was signed by Digital Security Services division acting senior director Eneng Faridah Iskandar. The letter, which was leaked online, also stated that the websites were being blocked for breaching Section 41 of the Copyright Act 1987, which deals with pirated content.

An MCMC spokesperson confirmed the ban and said it was done on the request of the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry. The ministry's enforcement division director-general Mohd Roslan Mahayudin confirmed that the request was made. “It is standard procedure for the ministry to request MCMC to block sites that violate the Copyright Act 1987,” he told The Star. Roslan said the ministry had requested that 19 websites, including the 10 listed in the letter, be blocked for violating the Act but added that it was up to MCMC to decide on which ones to block. When asked about the fate of surfers who legally use the websites such as for storing non-pirated content, Mohd Roslan said they could always write to the ministry. “Anyone who feels the ban is wrong can write to us and we will look into it,” he said.

Film maker Norman Abd Halim of KRU Studios said the move was long overdue. “The unauthorised use of copyright work is destroying the industry. If everyone feels that works should be shared, then there is no value in these works,” he said. Norman equated the move to South Korea's three-strikes law, where a person guilty of copyright infringement can have their Internet access suspended for six months. However, irate users have vented their frustration by creating a Facebook page to protest. By 8.30pm yesterday, there were 410 supporters who “liked” the page that was named “1M Malaysians Don't Want Block File Sharing Websites.” FilesTube Media Search Engine, one of the sites ordered blocked, also commented on the page. “We have posted information about this on our wall. We are with you.” Before the page was put up, some Malaysians were already protesting via Twitter. “You can't create a walled-up Internet garden,” read one tweet. Some also made reference to the MSC Malaysia Bill of Guarantees which states that the Government will not censor the Internet.

MSC Malaysia is a national initiative that kicked off in 1996 and is aimed at transforming the nation into a knowledge-based economy.

[http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/11/nation/8879884&sec=nation]

[RE-WIND 2011][#13] Death of Steve Jobs

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, who revolutionized technology through his design, marketing and creation of personal computers and mobile devices, has died at 56, the company announced Wednesday (5 Oct). The man who forged Apple into a powerhouse and shaped how people listen to music and how they use computers died peacefully surrounded by his family. "We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today," Apple said in a brief statement. "Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve." Noticeably fragile, he had stepped down from Apple in late August to deal with the effects of an unspecified illness. Jobs had been treated earlier for pancreatic cancer after first being diagnosed in 2004.

His storied career followed a remarkable series of twists and turns — from a meteoric rise in the late 1970s and 1980s to a bleak nadir in the 1990s followed by his ascent to the status of tech guru. Described by some as arrogant, temperamental and brutally honest about employee performance, Jobs was known and respected for his business acumen and an almost mystical ability to predict where tech trends were headed and what people wanted. Tributes poured in from around the world, when news of Jobs's death was revealed. "Steve was among the greatest of American innovators — brave enough to think differently, bold enough to believe he could change the world, and talented enough to do it," said U.S. President Barack Obama. Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder, said he had known Jobs for more than 30 years, as a friend and as a competitor. "The world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come. For those of us lucky enough to get to work with him, it's been an insanely great honour," said Gates. Marc Andreessen, founder of Netscape, said: "Steve was the best of the best. Like Mozart and Picasso, he may never be equalled."

Early life

Jobs was born on Feb. 24, 1955, to Joanne Simpson and Abdulfattah Jandali, an unwed couple who put their first-born son up for adoption. Raised by Paul and Clara Jobs, Steven Paul Jobs grew up in California and displayed a keen interest in electronics from an early age. In high school, he met a kindred spirit in Steve Wozniak, a man who shared his passion for technology as well as practical jokes. The friendship would play a key role in the development of Apple and the career trajectory of Jobs. The two got their start in the tech world by selling so-called "Blue Boxes," devices that gave users the ability to make free long-distance calls. After graduating from Homestead High School in Cupertino, Calif., Jobs enrolled at Reed College in Oregon in 1972. He dropped out after one semester, but remained in the area for another 18 months auditing classes such as calligraphy. In 1974, he returned to California and began working at Atari, an early video game company. He also went on a spiritual journey to India with a friend, marking the start of his interest in Eastern philosophy and religion, including Buddhism.

Beginning of Apple

In 1976, Wozniak and Jobs opened Apple Computer Company. The tech giant's spectacular rise, fall and resurgence would mirror Jobs's own life. The company's first model, Apple I, was a simple circuit board, which was sold to computer enthusiasts. Its followup, however, turned out to be a huge success, vaulting the company from a relative unknown into a household name. Created in 1977, the Apple II was the first-ever complete home computer, which came fully functional right out of the box. It revolutionized the emerging industry. Many credit Apple, and also Jobs, with changing the perception of what a computer can be — from a high-tech tool used only by the business or science world to a commonplace device used by ordinary people. Apple and the economic fortune of its co-founder continued to grow. After the company's initial public offering in 1980, Jobs was worth over $200 million US. "We've lost something we won't get back," Wozniak said in an interview with The Associated Press following Jobs's death. "The way I see it, though, the way people love products he put so much into creating means he brought a lot of life to the world."

[For more story: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/10/05/apple-jobs-death.html]

[RE-WIND 2011][#12] Hulu Langat Landslide

The 2011 Hulu Langat landslide was a landslide that occurred on 21 May 2011, in Hulu Langat, Selangor, Malaysia. 16 people mostly 15 children and a caretaker of an orphanage were killed in a landslide caused by heavy rains at the Children's Hidayah Madrasah Al-Taqwa orphanage in Kampung Sosrowijayan (FELCRA Semungkis), Hulu Langat, Selangor, southeast of Kuala Lumpur. The landslide occurred at about 2:30 pm MST.

The back portion of the Rumah Anak Yatim Hidayah in Hulu Langat where the landslide occured - 21 May, 2011

The Children's Hidayah Madrasah Al-Taqwa orphanage is located at Jalan Sungai Semungkis, Kampung Sosrowijayan (FELCRA Semungkis), Hulu Langat, Selangor, a hilly rural area vulnerable to landslides. According to the Minister of Women, Family and Community when asked about this incident, Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, the orphanage was not registered under any agency under the Ministry or any other ministry. The landslide occurred at at 2:20 pm MST, and so far reported only orphanage is an important building that was buried by a landslide.

The search and rescue efforts commence at 2.45 pm, 25 minutes after the landslide occurred. During this operation, found a total of 16 orphans and guardians who died and nine survived with injuries. The rescue operation ended after the last victim removed from the scene at 5:30 am the following day. follow-up operation started at 8 am, 22 May, to explore locations around the ruins of tragedy and cleaning of waste to ensure that no more victims are trapped. The search and rescue operations conducted by 754 members of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, Malaysian Civil Defence Department, the Malaysian Search and Rescue Team (SMART), Fourth Division of Malaysian Army, General Operations Force (GOF) (Pasukan Gerakan Am (PGA)) and St. John Ambulance. The work is relatively easy to find because the location of the victim close to each other.

Geotechnical and Transportation Engineering Lecturer, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Assoc. Prof. Ir. Azman Kassim said the cause landslides caused by large quantities of rain in 24 hours. Land slope and soil types also accelerate landslide cloudy.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Hulu_Langat_landslide]

[http://gallery.thestar.com.my/default.asp?id=1929]

[http://savebukitgasing.wordpress.com/2011/05/22/hulu-langat-landslide-disaster-16-killed/]

[RE-WIND 2011][#11] Malaysia Boleh!

Amid tight security, the Malaysian football squad returned home triumphantly via a chartered plane right after clinching the gold medal at the SEA Games.

Malaysia beat Indonesia 4-3 on penalties to take the gold in a hotly-anticipated U-23 football final at the SEA Games in Jakarta on Monday night (21 Nov).

Malaysia's captain Baddrol Bakhtiar converted the winning penalty, while Indonesia missed two of their spot-kicks after the match had finished 1-1 after extra time. In a game lacking quality, but packed with incident, the hosts took a deserved lead after five minutes when centre-back Gunawan Dwi Cahyo popped up unmarked at the back post to head in a corner. However, Malaysia regrouped, despite the deafening roar of the home fans, to equalise in the 33rd minute with a diving header by Omar Muhammad Asraruddin after some suspect defending by the hosts.

The game saw chances for both sides throughout the second-half, with Malaysia spurning two gilt-edged chances after sloppy defending from Indonesia's erratic backline, while the hosts had a goal disallowed. Malaysia's defence, having conceded three goals in six matches, nullified the threat of Papuan forwards Titus Bonai and Patrich Wanggai who menaced but created little in the way of direct chances.

Indonesia, chasing their first Southeast Asian Games title for two decades, had a second goal ruled out in the first period of extra time to the disbelief of their passionate home support. It was all Indonesia for the second period of extra time, though, as the Malaysians began to tire but dogged defending by the visitors took the game to penalties. After two misses by Indonesia, Bakhtiar coolly slotted the ball into the corner of the net. Despondent fans streamed out of the stadium, aware they have two years to wait before they will have another shot at winning the coveted football gold.

[http://210.5.43.238/sports/5-sports/15261-malaysia-wins-sea-games-football-gold]

[RE-WIND 2011][#10] New Zealand Earthquake

The February 2011 Christchurch earthquake was a magnitude 6.3 (M_L) earthquake that struck the Canterbury region in New Zealand's South Island at 12:51 pm on Tuesday, 22 February 2011 local time (23:51 21 February UTC). The earthquake was centred 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) west of the town of Lyttelton, and 10 kilometres (6 mi) south-east of the centre of Christchurch, New Zealand's second-most populous city. It followed nearly six months after the magnitude 7.1 4 September 2010 Canterbury earthquake, which caused significant damage to Christchurch and the central Canterbury region, but no direct fatalities.

The earthquake caused widespread damage across Christchurch, especially in the central city and eastern suburbs, with damage exacerbated by buildings and infrastructure already being weakened by the 4 September 2010 earthquake and its aftershocks. Significant liquefaction affected the eastern suburbs, producing around 400,000 tonnes of silt. The earthquake was reported to be felt across the South Island and the lower and central North Island.

In total, 181 people were killed in the earthquake, making the earthquake the second-deadliest natural disaster recorded in New Zealand (after the 1931 Hawke's Bay earthquake), and fourth-deadliest disaster of any kind recorded in New Zealand, with nationals from more than 20 countries among the victims. Over half of the deaths occurred in the six-storey Canterbury Television (CTV) Building, which collapsed and caught fire in the quake. The government declared a state of national emergency, which stayed in force until 30 April 2011.

It has been estimated that the total cost of rebuilding to insurers to be around NZ$20–30 billion, making it by far New Zealand's costliest natural disaster, and the third-costliest earthquake (nominally) worldwide. The earthquake would ultimately be one of three major earthquakes in a year-long earthquake swarm affecting the Christchurch area, and was followed by a large aftershock on 13 June (which caused considerable additional damage) and a series of large shocks on 23 December 2011.

 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Christchurch_earthquake]

A landslip crushes buildings in Sumner, Christchurch. Photo by Hannah Johnston/Getty Images

Badly damaged buildings surrounded by rubble. Photo by Marty Melville/AFP

A destroyed building in Christchurch. Photo by Don Scott/The Press.

[http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/christchurch-earthquake/]

The June 2011 Christchurch earthquake was a shallow magnitude 6.3 M_L earthquake that occurred on 13 June 2011 at 14:20 NZST (02:20 UTC). It was centred at a depth of 6.0 km (4 mi), about 13 km (8 mi) from Christchurch, which had previously been devastated by the February 2011 magnitude 6.3 M_L earthquake. The June quake was preceded by a magnitude 5.6 M_L tremor that struck the region at a slightly deeper 10 km (6.2 mi). It was separately reported by the USGS as a magnitude 6.0 M_w event, focused at about 9 km (5.6 mi) below the surface.

Subsequent severe shaking in the city registered at VIII on the Mercalli scale, destroying some buildings and causing additional damage to many structures affected by previous earthquakes. The damaged tower of the historic Lyttelton Timeball Station collapsed before dismantling work could be completed. The earthquake also downed phone lines and triggered widespread power outages, leaving around 54,000 households without power. Rebuilding costs were estimated to increase by NZ$6 billion (US$4.83 billion) due to additional damage from the quake. Forty-six people suffered injuries from the quake, and one elderly man passed away after being knocked unconscious.

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_2011_Christchurch_earthquake]

A car sinks into a hole caused by an earthquake in the southern New Zealand city of Christchurch June 13 2011

 [http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/13/us-newzealand-quake-idUSTRE75C08S20110613]

A series of earthquakes has shaken the New Zealand city of Christchurch, sending residents rushing from buildings and causing minor damage. The first 5.8 magnitude quake struck at 1358 local time (0058 GMT), the US Geological Survey said. Another of similar magnitude hit 80 minutes later. Dozens of people suffered minor injuries but only 19 were admitted to hospital. It comes 10 months after swathes of the city were destroyed by another quake. 

Friday's first earthquake struck 26km (16 miles) north-east of the city at a depth of 4.7km. The second large event, with a magnitude estimated at 5.9, was in almost exactly the same place, the USGS said. Aftershocks rolled on throughout the afternoon, several of them with a magnitude greater than 5, according to New Zealand's GeoNet.

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-16312041]

[http://gapcache.lingospot.com/2011/12/24/New_Zealand_Earthquake_NZL802.large.jpg]

[RE-WIND 2011][#9] U.S Troops Withdrawal from Iraq

The last vehicles in a convoy of the U.S. Army's 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division crosses the border from Iraq into Kuwait, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011.

The withdrawal of American military forces from Iraq has been a contentious issue within the United States since the beginning of the Iraq War. As the war has progressed from its initial 2003 invasion phase to a multi-year occupation, U.S. public opinion has turned in favor of troop withdrawal. As of May 2007, 55 percent of Americans believed that the Iraq war was a mistake, and 51 percent of registered voters favored troop withdrawal. In late April 2007, the U.S. Congress passed a supplementary spending bill for Iraq that sets a deadline for troop withdrawal, but President Bush vetoed this bill soon afterwards. All US Forces are mandated to withdraw from Iraqi territory by December 31, 2011 under the terms of a bilateral agreement signed in 2008. The U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq was completed on December 18, 2011 at a early Sunday morning.

^{[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withdrawal_of_U.S._troops_from_Iraq]}

The last convoy of US troops to leave Iraq has entered Kuwait, nearly nine years after the invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

The final column of about 100 armored vehicles carrying 500 soldiers crossed the southern Iraqi desert overnight.

At the peak of the operation there were 170,000 US troops and more than 500 bases in Iraq. Nearly 4,500 US soldiers and tens of thousands of Iraqis have died since the US-led campaign began in 2003. The operation has cost Washington nearly $1 trillion (£643bn). US forces ended combat missions in Iraq in 2010 and had already handed over much of their security role.

"(It's) a good feeling... knowing this is going to be the last mission out of here," said Private First Class Martin Lamb, part of the final "tactical road march" out of Iraq.

"Part of history, you know - we're the last ones out."

As the last of the armored vehicles crossed the border, a gate was closed behind them and US and Kuwaiti soldiers gathered there to shake hands and pose for pictures. The only US military presence left in Iraq now is 157 soldiers responsible for training at the US embassy, as well as a small contingent of marines protecting the diplomatic mission.
The low-key US exit was in stark contact to the blaze of aerial bombardment Washington unleashed against Saddam Hussein in 2003. Tribute US President Barack Obama marked the end of the war earlier in the week, meeting Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. He announced in October that all US troops would leave Iraq by the end of 2011, a date previously agreed by former President George W Bush in 2008.

In a recent speech at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, President Obama paid tribute to the soldiers who had served in Iraq. He acknowledged that the war had been controversial, but told returning troops they were leaving behind "a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq".

However, correspondents say there are concerns in Washington that Iraq lacks robust political structures or an ability to defend its borders. There are also fears that Iraq could be plunged back into sectarian bloodletting, or be unduly influenced by Iran. Washington had wanted to keep a small training and counter-terrorism presence in Iraq, but US officials were unable to strike a deal with Baghdad on legal issues including immunity for troops.

[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16234723]

[http://www.komonews.com/news/national/Images-The-last-US-troops-to-leave-Iraq-135830998.html]

[RE-WIND 2011][#8] Abolishment of METRAMAC Toll

The government has abolished toll collection at the toll plazas in the direction of Cheras and Petaling Jaya on the Metramac Highway with immediate effect (16 May).

Works Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the toll collection was being abolished seven years before the concession period for the highway was due to end, which is May 31, 2018. He said the move would benefit some 100,000 users of the highway, especially residents of Bandar Permaisuri, Bandar Tun Razak and the surrounding areas.

"With the abolition of this toll, it is estimated that RM180mil in toll collection will have to be foregone while the government also will not need to pay any compensation as per the agreement to close this toll collection early," he said at a ceremony to mark the toll abolition at the Cheras toll plaza of the highway Monday night.

The toll rates at the highway (both directions) were RM0.50 (Class 1 vehicles), RM1 (Class 2 and 3), RM0.30 (Class 4) and RM0.50 (Class 5). On Jan 28, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had announced that toll collection on the highway would be discontinued before the concession period ended in 2018. The 13km-long highway was built in 1992 and completed in 1994.

[http://www.kkr.gov.my/en/node/27827]

[http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/5/16/nation/20110516215742&sec=nation]

[http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/cheras-pj-toll-abolished-tonight/]