Temporary blackout hits Venezuela, including parts of capital

Temporary blackout hits Venezuela, including parts of capital
World Cup: Brazil nervous, Uruguay without Suarez as knockout stage begins
Muslims in Sultanate to begin fast come Sunday
Mati terjun
Wanita hamil, anak nyaris maut
Regata Mini Pesta Belawai 2014 tarik minat lebih 2,000 pengunjung

Posted: 27 Jun 2014 06:37 PM PDT

CARACAS: A power outage hit a wide area of eastern Caracas and several cities in the interior of Venezuela for at least two hours on Friday.

The outage started at 3:00 pm (1900 GMT) and service began being restored about two hours later.

Electricity Minister Jesse Chacon said the blackout affected Aragua state, which includes the east of the capital, as well as Miranda, Carabobo and Falcon states, and the Andean region.

"In an hour, we hope to start re-establishing service," the minister said.

According to Globovision, the outage was affecting at least five states.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was in the middle of a televised national meeting when the power went out — though the broadcast, which was being taped in an unaffected area of the capital, was not interrupted.

"We are going to investigate," he said.

In eastern Caracas, people were trapped in skyscraper elevators, and in the underground train service's trains and tunnels.

On December 3, 2013, a major blackout in Venezuela affected 70 percent of the country for around four hours.

The problems are often sparked when the power transmission lines are overloaded.

- AFP

We encourage commenting on our stories to give readers a chance to express their opinions; please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. While the comments here reflect the views of the readers, they are not necessarily that of Borneo Post Online. Borneo Post Online reserves the right not to publish or to remove comments that are offensive or volatile. Please read the Commenting Rules.

World Cup: Brazil nervous, Uruguay without Suarez as knockout stage begins

Posted: 27 Jun 2014 06:36 PM PDT

RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil are nervously heading into their World Cup last 16 clash with Chile on Saturday, while Uruguay must learn to live without Luis Suarez as they tackle the knockout stage.

The 16 remaining World Cup teams have still not recovered from their group battles, but the second round quickly gets underway with the Brazil-Chile game in Belo Horizonte at 1600 GMT and Colombia-Uruguay in Rio de Janeiro at 2000 GMT.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari acknowledged the mounting pressure to perform on home territory.

"It is understandable that one should feel uncomfortable and anxious, especially when you get to the knockout stage. We can't afford to make a mistake," Scolari said.

"There is a bit more anxiety, more nerves. But that is normal in any competition, not just because we are in Brazil. When I am on my own and I start to think, I do get a bit nervous."

Brazil captain Thiago Silva, 29, said the pressure started in their opening 3-1 victory against Croatia in particular.

"We have to control our anxiety as much as possible. In the first game, I wasn't myself. I wondered if I had forgotten how to play," said Silva.

Brazil have beaten Chile in all three of their World Cup meetings, including 3-0 in the last 16 of the 2010 tournament. They have probably never played such a strong Chilean team though.

Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal have given the Andes nation added class as they showed in their win over Spain in Group B. And coach Jorge Sampaoli is continually pressing his team to attack.

Sanchez says he believes his side will win "We came here to make history," he insisted.

Brazil have a doubt about centre-back David Luiz and Bayern Munich's Dante could be drafted in.

Juventus midfielder Vidal, who is not 100 per cent fit, should return for Chile after being rested for the 2-0 defeat to Netherlands. Sampaoli is worried about defender Gary Medel, who picked up an ankle knock in training.

The winners will play Colombia or Uruguay in the quarter-final.

– Uruguay without Suarez –

And the world will find out in Rio just how badly the four-month ban imposed on Suarez for biting an Italian opponent this week has affected Uruguay.

"We know the ability that Uruguay have and in each match they give every last drop of sweat. It will be a highly emotional match, where Uruguay will want to do things correctly," said Colombia's goalkeeper David Ospina, who is based in France.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez made light of Suarez's absence.

"We've already played lots of matches without Suarez," he said.

"We've won some, and we've lost some, and he wasn't there against Costa Rica either."

With Colombia also missing the injured Radamel Falcao, the Rio match could turn into a duel between stand-ins Edinson Cavani for Uruguay and James Rodriguez for Colombia who was rested for his side's 4-1 demolition of Japan on Tuesday.

Saturday's game will be the first time that Uruguay have played a World Cup match at the Maracana since stunning Brazil 2-1 in the deciding fixture of the 1950 tournament.

It is also a chance for Colombia to make history as they have never reached the World Cup quarter finals.

Muslims in Sultanate to begin fast come Sunday

Posted: 27 Jun 2014 06:35 PM PDT

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: By the consent of His Majesty the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and the Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Sultanate will begin fasting this Sunday, Brudirect reported.

The announcement of the moon-sighting result was aired on Radio and Television Brunei last night.

The delegation assigned to sight the new moon of Ramadhan comprising Syari'e Court Judges, officers from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, State Mufti Department and the Survey Department, Ministry of Development, failed to sight the new moon of Ramadan.

They were stationed at Bukit Agok and DST Tower in the Brunei-Muara District and Bukit Ambok in the Tutong District, as well as at Bukit Lumut in the Belait District.

Nightly Sunat Terawih Prayers and Bertedarus ceremonies during Ramadan will be held at all mosques and suraus in the country.

Meanwhile, working hours at Ministries and Government Departments throughout the month of Ramadan for the year 1435 Hijrah/2014, Monday to Thursday and Saturday will be from 8am to 2pm.

For ministries and government departments working on Friday, office hours will be from 8 until 11.30 in the morning.

Meanwhile, working hours for daily-paid staff should be reduced by one hour from the normal time.

Mati terjun

Posted: 27 Jun 2014 06:17 PM PDT

Oleh Jeremy Lanson//

KUCHING: Seorang jurujual sebuah syarikat perdagangan tempatan maut selepas dipercayai melompat keluar melalui tingkap pejabatnya di tingkat dua sebuah bangunan kedai di Jalan Kwong Lee Bank di sini, semalam.

Mangsa, Poi Jin Teck, 39, yang menetap di rumah pangsa KMC di Jalan Ban Hock ditemui oleh orang awam dalam keadaan tidak sedarkan diri di atas jalan raya sekitar jam 2.30 petang.

Mangsa yang parah di kepala dan mengalami patah tulang kedua-dua kakinya dikejarkan ke Hospital Umum Sarawak (HUS) oleh pihak ambulans untuk mendapatkan rawatan lanjut sebelum disahkan meninggal dunia sekitar jam 7 malam.

Beberapa rakan sekerja mangsa yang ditemui di tempat kejadian memberitahu, mangsa sebelum kejadian bekerja seperti biasa dan tidak menunjukkan sebarang tingkah laku yang pelik.

"Selain itu, mereka juga menjumpai kasut mangsa di tepi tingkap dipercayai tempat mangsa melompat keluar," kata sumber.

Bagaimanapun, sehingga berita ini ditulis semalam motif kejadian masih belum dapat dipastikan.

Wanita hamil, anak nyaris maut

Posted: 27 Jun 2014 06:16 PM PDT

MIRI: Seorang wanita mengandung enam bulan dan anak lelakinya yang berusia dua tahun nyaris maut setelah kenderaan jenis Toyota Alphard yang dinaiki oleh mereka terbabit dalam kemalangan jalan raya di Jalan Taman Tunku di sini, awal pagi semalam.

Dua beranak terbabit yang hanya mengalami kecederaan ringan telah dihantar ke Hospital Miri oleh ahli keluarga dan diberikan rawatan sebagai pesakit luar.

Terdahulu menurut sumber, sebelum kejadian yang berlaku sekitar jam 7.

30 pagi itu, ibu terbabit sedang dalam perjalanan menuju ke pusat bandar untuk menghantar anaknya ke sebuah tadika.

Setibanya di tempat kejadian, kenderaan yang dipandu mangsa dipercayai hilang kawalan sebelum terbabas dan melanggar konkrit pembahagi jalan lalu terbalik.

Difahamkan, mangsa hilang kawalan ke atas kenderaannya selepas cuba mengelak sebuah kenderaan lain yang tiba-tiba memintas lalu memasuki laluannya.

Regata Mini Pesta Belawai 2014 tarik minat lebih 2,000 pengunjung

Posted: 27 Jun 2014 06:13 PM PDT

PENGANJURAN Regata Mini sempena Pesta Belawai 2014 berjaya menarik minat lebih 2,000 pengunjung terutama peminat kejohanan perlumbaan bot pam.

Penyertaan lebih 10 bot laju pada temasya kali ini ternyata mendapat sambutan luar biasa di samping berjaya menyediakan landasan terbaik kepada peminat-peminat bot laju mempamerkan aksi mengemudi bot di Muara Belawai.

Memandangkan sukan berkenaan meraih populariti di kalangan penduduk tempatan dan beberapa perlumbaan sebelum ini, ia meletakkan Belawai destinasi berpotensi sebagai sebahagian 'litar perlumbaan' bot laju di wilayah tengah Sarawak.

Perlepasan perlumbaan peringkat saringan disempurnakan oleh Pegawai Daerah Daro Abang Mohamed Abang Turkey, sementara pusingan akhir disempurnakan oleh Ahli Parlimen Tanjung Manis Datuk Norah Tun Abdul Rahman.

Perlumbaan kali ini menyaksikan beberapa kategori seperti 'power boat' (4 pusingan), jetski (4 pusingan), jetski (2 pusingan) dan power boat (2 pusingan).

Pemenang bagi kategori power boat (4 dan 2 pusingan) dimenangi Khairudin Sehari dengan catatan masa 2 minit 45 saat, naib juara disandang Nasir Ibrahim dengan catatan masa 3 minit 13 saat dan tempat ketiga, Nurazila Naser (3 minit 25 saat).

Bagi kategori jetski (2 pusingan), juara dimenangi Mohamad Azman Haili dengan catatan masa 2 minit 10 saat, naib juara Norkersani Haili dengan 2 minit 30 saat dan ketiga Rusdi Anggi (2 minit 50 saat).

Sementara itu, bagi kategori jetski (4 pusingan), juara dimenangi Mulyadi Abdul Razak mencatat masa 4 minit 15 saat, naib jura Mohamad Azman Haili dengan masa 4 minit 35 saat dan diekori rapat pemenang tempat ketiga, Norkersani Haili (4 minit 40 saat).

Selain perlumbaan bot laju, Pesta Belawai turut diwarnai dengan beberapa acara lain seperti pertunjukan layang-layang oleh Kelab Gudi Sarikei (KEGUSA), pertandingan masakan, kilauan emas, futsal belia, kugiran, memancing pantai, pameran dan gerai jualan selain pentas hiburan yang menampilkan artis-artis tempatan.