Which smartphone system is right for you?

A dizzying number of smartphones is now available in the United States. Picking one is a big commitment, especially when you're signing up for a two-year wireless contract.

There are multiple factors to consider when picking a new phone, such as the carrier, your budget, hardware and the operating system.

Apple, Google and Microsoft each has its own mobile operating systems and ecosystems -- iOS, Android and Windows Phone, respectively -- and they've all been updated in the last year. The three rivals will be going head to head on shiny new handsets this holiday season.

We spent a week or so playing with new phones running these systems to see how they stack up. (For now, we're skipping other struggling smartphone platforms, BlackBerry and Symbian, even though they are more popular globally than Windows Phone. Both are quickly losing market share, although BlackBerry could bounce back when it releases its new smartphone OS, Blackberry 10, in 2013.)

Israel plans new homes in East Jerusalem, West Bank

Israel has announced plans to build hundreds of new homes in the disputed regions of East Jerusalem and the West Bank, a move that has drawn sharp criticism.

The country's Land Administration on Monday published notices for bids to erect 609 units in Pisgat Zeev and 606 units in Ramot in East Jerusalem. It also reoffered bids for 72 homes in Ariel in the West Bank.

Israel's building of settlements in the West Bank and housing construction in East Jerusalem have been major stumbling blocks in forging peace efforts and a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

Read more: Israel to build housing in West Bank

Palestinian government spokeswoman Nour Odeh said the Palestinians "don't recognize the legitimacy of any settlement construction in the occupied Palestinian territories, especially in East Jerusalem."

"We regard this announcement as a new expression for Israeli defiance of will of the international community. Israel is creating realities on the ground that contradicts the spirit and letter of signed agreements and relevant resolutions, and it is the responsibility of all responsible international actions to put an end to this assault on the prospects of peace and Palestinian rights to freedom and independence," she said.

Mohammed Shtayyeh, a leader in the Palestinian movement Fatah, criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, saying, "This is all Netanyahu and Lieberman have to offer: the destruction of the two-state solution and the imposition of an apartheid regime."

Ariel Rosenberg, the spokesman for Israel's Ministry of Housing and Construction, said the government made the announcement last year of its intention to build in Pisgat Zeev and Ramot. Rosenberg said it has taken a year for the tender to be announced because of an argument over infrastructure development.

But Israeli group Peace Now, a critic of settlement policies, called the announcement the "true answer" from Netanyahu to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his "strong commitment" to a two-state solution.

"It seems that Netanyahu is afraid of the new administration that is being elected today in the U.S. and he has chosen the day of election to publish the tenders so that there will be the least public attention to his action," Peace Now said on its website.

Read more: Evacuation of 150 West Bank settlers begins

Peace Now notes that the Ariel tender is a remarketing of prospective units not sold in previous bidding last December.

"This is another indication to the fact that the settlement of Ariel is not so attractive for Israelis, and that the government's efforts to expand it, comes mainly from political reasons, and not due to the housing needs," Peace Now said.

Israel captured Jerusalem and the West Bank during the Six Day War in 1967.

Israel has annexed all of Jerusalem and considers the city its capital. It has occupied the West Bank and allowed Jewish settlements to take root there.

But Palestinians supporting the two-state solution maintain the eastern part of Jerusalem should serve as the future capital of a Palestinian state and regard the West Bank as the future territory of an independent state.

On election day, nor'easter to bring chill to Sandy survivors

One week after Superstorm Sandy beat up the Northeast, tearing apart homes and lives in New Jersey, New York and other areas, there's another worry on the horizon: A nor'easter is coming.

Rain is forecast to move in early Wednesday and will gradually become heavier, according to CNN meteorologists. As the day goes on, the weather will get worse, with daytime temperatures hovering in the 40s. At night it could get down to the 20s -- bad news for the 127,000 customers who are still without power, according to Con Edison. Working round the clock, the company said Tuesday that more than 846,000 customers who lost power -- 87% -- have it again.

A nor'easter is a strong low pressure system with powerful northeasterly winds coming from the ocean ahead of a storm. Predicted 60-mph gusts could hurt the already ravaged Jersey Shore. Coastal flooding and beach erosion are possible.

Of course there's a strong concern for everyone's safety, too. Sandy left 110 people dead in the United States, and on its way to the country, it took the lives of 69 people.

"When it rains, it pours. When it storms, you get more storms, I guess," said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Under normal conditions, the nor'easter wouldn't be problematic, he said, but because many areas are still picking up the pieces from last week, it could cause fresh havoc.

On Monday, authorities in Brick, New Jersey, ordered residents in the low-lying waterfront areas of town to leave.

The storm is not another Sandy, and its path and severity could change, according to CNN meteorologists.

History about Selangor FA

 

 

Performances in the regional tournaments

Asian Club Championship

• 1967: Runners-up (lost to Hapoel Tel Aviv 1-2 in Final)
• 1970: Group Stage (Group A)
• 1986-87: Group Stage - 2nd Round (Group D)
• 1997-98: 1st Round (East Asia - lost to South China AA 0-2 on aggregate)
• 1998-99: 2nd Round (East Asia - lost to Pohang Steelers 1-10 on aggregate)
• 2001-02: 1st Round (East Asia - lost to Dalian Shide 0-7 on aggregate)

AFC Cup

• 2006: Quarter-final (lost to Al-Nejmeh 0-1 on aggregate)
• 2010: Group Stage (Group F)
• 2013: TBA

 The most successful team in Malaysian football.

While AFF Suzuki Cup starts - A Gang of "Ultras Malaya"

Singapore off to Japan for training tour

Singapore’s national team left for Japan on Monday afternoon to begin the final phase of their preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup with a week-long training camp in Shizuoka Prefecture.

Coach Raddy Avramovic has brought a squad of 24 players to Japan, which should give a good indication of the make-up of his final team for the upcoming regional tournament, which kicks off on November 24.

While the squad includes a number of familiar names including skipper Shahril Ishak, tough-tackling midfielder Hariss Harun, veteran defender Daniel Benett and evergreen striker Aleksandar Duric, there are also a few up-and-coming players including defender Raihan Rahman and midfielder Yasir Hanapi.

Raihan and Yasir are just two of the 15 players selected from Lions XII, Singapore’s representative side in the Malaysian Super League.

The squad will be in Shimizu in Shizuoka Prefecture for a week-long training camp which will include a friendly match against J.League side Shimizu S-Pulse on Saturday, November 10.

“To play against opponents of such quality is good for us as it will be a good learning experience,” said captain Shahril.

“Although we will be playing against a club side, the level of intensity will be very high.”

After their Japanese training camp, the Lions will travel on to Cebu for an international friendly against the Philippines at the Cebu City Sports Complex on November 15 before they return to Singapore for their final warm-up match against Pakistan at Jurong West Stadium on November 19.

In addition to the 24 players named for the training camp in Japan, another 10 back-up players including goalkeeper Hassan Sunny, defender Ismail Yunos and forward Agu Casmir will continue to train in Singapore under assistant coach Aide Iskandar.

They could feature in the match against Pakistan, which will take place just six days before the Lions’ opening match at the AFF Suzuki Cup against defending champions Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on November 25.

Singapore are in Group B and will also meet Indonesia at the Bukit Jalil Stadium on November 28 and Laos at the Shah Alam Stadium on December 1.

Guiza sah milik Johor

Guiza menandatangani autograf pada sesi bertemu peminat di Hotel Thisle, kelmarin

PEMAIN antarabangsa Sepanyol, Daniel Gonzales Guiza kini sah menjadi milik pasukan Johor selepas menandatangani kontrak selama setahun, semalam.

Majlis menandatangani kontrak itu berlangsung secara tertutup di Hotel Thistle, di sini, pada jam 1 petang dan disaksikan Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Negeri Johor (PBNJ) Tunku Mahkota Johor (TMJ), Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim serta Pengurus Pasukan, Fandi Ahmad.

Bagaimanapun, nilai sebenar kontrak dan gaji yang bakal diterima pemain Getafe berusia 32 tahun itu tidak didedahkan.

Setiausaha Kehormat PBNJ, Suhairi Hashim berkata, penyerang import baru bagi pasukan Johor itu dijangka memulakan sesi latihan bersama skuad Johor selepas sambutan Krismas.

“Berdasarkan kepada syarat yang ada dalam kontrak, Guiza sepatutnya memulakan latihan dalam masa terdekat bersama pasukannya, tetapi Tunku Ismail memberikan pelepasan kepadanya untuk pulang ke Sepanyol bagi sambutan Krismas.

“Tetapi, pasukan Johor akan tetap memulakan sesi latihan pertama di Padang Seri Gelam, Johor Bahru, bermula 12 November ini,” katanya kepada Sinar Harian, semalam.

Suhairi berkata, sesi latihan pertama pasukan Johor akan dikendalikan oleh Pengurus merangkap Ketua Jurulatihnya, Fandi tanpa kelibat beberapa pemain yang terikat dengan perlawanan antarabangsa bersama skuad kebangsaan.

Manakala, katanya, pasukan Johor United di bawah kendalian Ketua Jurulatihnya, Azmi Mohamad telah memulakan sesi latihan mulai petang semalam.

Terdahulu, akhbar ini melaporkan tekad Guiza yang mahu membantu Johor memenangi setiap piala utama dalam kempen bola sepak tempatan pada musim depan.

Pemain yang pernah mewakili Real Mallorca itu pernah memegang rekod penjaring terbanyak dengan 27 gol dalam 37 bagi saingan kancah La Liga dan membantu pasukan kebangsaan Sepanyol menjuarai kejohanan Euro 2008.

Pada sidang akhbar kelmarin, Guiza menyatakan keyakinan mampu menyesuaikan diri dalam saingan elit domestik turut melaungkan amaran awal untuk muncul penjaring terbanyak bagi memburu Kasut Emas serta menjaga status sebagai pemain import termahal dalam Liga Malaysia.

Pemain yang pernah beraksi bersama Mallorca dan Getafe, juga pernah beraksi dengan kelab Turki, Fenerbahçe dan turut membuat penampilan dalam saingan Liga Juara-Juara Eropah bersama kelab berkenaan.

Abdul Rahim: AES beri impak positif

Sistem AES

KUALA LUMPUR - Kerajaan cukup yakin penggunaan kamera Sistem Penguatkuasaan Automatik (AES) mampu mengurangkan risiko kemalangan ekoran meningkatnya jumlah kenderaan di jalan raya di negara ini, kata Timbalan Menteri Pengangkutan Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri.

Beliau berkata teknologi tersebut yang diguna pakai di 90 buah negara termasuk Singapura dan Thailand, telah menunjukkan keberkesanan dan menampakkan kesan positif.

"Risiko akan bertambah apabila bilangan kenderaan meningkat. Jadi kita perlu mekanisme ini untuk menangani masalah kemalangan kerana untuk meletakkan tanggungjawab kepada polis semata-mata adalah sukar," katanya ketika ditemui Bernama.

Katanya dengan pertambahan sejuta kenderaan setiap tahun, sistem itu sesuai untuk membentuk sikap berhemah dan berdisiplin di kalangan pengguna jalan raya.

"Pada tahun lepas jumlah kemalangan dicatat sebanyak 450,000 yang mana melibatkan kematian seramai 6,871 orang atau 19 kematian sehari," jelasnya.
 
Abdul Rahim berkata keputusan kerajaan melaksanakan sistem tersebut bukan dilakukan secara terburu-buru sebaliknya melalui beberapa proses termasuk kajian pada tahun 2003 sebelum Kabinet bersetuju mengenai pelaksanaannya pada tahun 2006.

Bagaimanapun, katanya setakat ini kerajaan belum membuat sebarang keputusan untuk menangguh pelaksanaannya biarpun didesak oleh pelbagai pihak termasuk Anggota Parlimen dan parti politik.

"Saya percaya Perdana Menteri (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) juga mahu melihat perkara ini berkesan untuk melindungi rakyat. Apa saja keputusan kerajaan adalah untuk mensejahterakan rakyat.

"Kalau kita tidak buat salah, tidak perlu takut. Apa yang penting kita pandu saja ikut had laju dan jangan membahayakan orang lain di jalan raya," katanya.

Menurut Abdul Rahim, berdasarkan penurunan jumlah saman atau kesalahan yang dilakukan, ia menunjukkan lebih ramai yang telah sedar berhubung keselamatan di jalan raya.

Pemasangan kamera AES dilakukan secara berperingkat yang mana untuk fasa pertama, kamera tersebut dipasang di 14 daripada 831 lokasi yang dikenal pasti sebagai lokasi sering berlaku kemalangan maut.

Antara kawasannya ialah Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur dan Putrajaya.

Obama atau Romney: Rakyat AS mula undi

Pemilihan Presiden Amerika Syarikat Barrack - Mitt

NEW YORK - Selepas kempen yang "begitu panas" sejak awal tahun ini, rakyat Amerika Syarikat (AS) mula keluar mengundi untuk memilih sama ada Barack Obama ataupun Mitt Romney.
Obama bertanding untuk mempertahankan jawatannya yang dimenangi pada 2008, dalam pemilihan bersejarah, sebagai Presiden AS ke-56.

Jika Romney, bekas Gabenor Massachusetts, menang, beliau akan muncul sebagai Presiden AS ke-57.

Pemilihan hari ini akan menjawab soalan sama ada Obama atau Romney akan mengetuai White House mulai Januari 2013.

Bagaimanapun menurut laporan nbcnews.com, pemenang akan berhadapan dengan ketidaktentuan dalam mengepalai AS - khususnya dalam soal ekonomi.
Pemenang pemilihan perlu memperoleh 270 undi untuk menjawat jawatan presiden selama empat tahun.

Keputusan rasmi dijangka diketuai mulai awal pagi esok (waktu Malaysia).

NGO 'pro-M'sia' gesa k'jaan Perancis siasat Suaram

Kedutaan Perancis di Jalan Ampang petang tadi menerima kunjungan sekumpulan NGO yang menyerahkan memorandum mendesak Perancis menyiasat status NGO hak asasi manusia, Suaram.

NGO tersebut terdiri daripada Kelab Wartawan Muda Malaysia (KWMM), Persatuan Pengguna Islam Malaysia. (PPIM), Majis Perundingan Melayu, PERKASA Malaysia, Lembaga Kesedaran Pencegahan Jenayah, dan Lembaga Perlindungan Kepenggunaan Malaysia.

Presiden KWMM, Dzulkarnain Taib berkata kumpulan mereka yang 'pro-Malaysia' itu menyerahkan memorandum setebal empat halaman untuk mendesak Perancis meneliti status Suaram yang bertindak sebagai plaintif dalam siasatan pembelian kapal selam Scorpene di Perancis.

Beliau berkata, pihaknya mendesak kerajaan Perancis supaya menyiasat latar belakang Suaram yang didakwanya sebuah pertubuhan tidak sah serta sebab-sebab yang membawa kepada Suaram yang didakwanya memanipulasi sistem kehakiman Perancis sehingga berpeluang mendapat status plaintif dalam kes tersebut.Menurut Dzulkarnain, mereka percaya Suaram tiada locus standi apabila bertindak sebagai plaintif dan mendakwa bahawa tindakan mahkamah Perancis memberikan mereka akses kepada dokumen sulit setebal 153 halaman juga mengancam keselamatan negara.

Hujung Mei lalu, peguam Joseph Breham yang mewakili Suaram dalam sidang akhbar di Bangkok, mendakwa syarikat pertahan Perancis membeli dokumen sulit peringkat tertinggi yang memperincikan penilaian kapal selam Scorpene daripada Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia.

"Kami mahu kerajaan Perancis siasat sama ada Suaram menipu mahkamah Perancis seterusnya menghalang mana-mana individu bergerak atas nama Suaram daripada memasuki Perancis," kata Dzulkarnain.

Berbeza dengan Suaram, kata Dzulkarnain, KWMM serta enam NGO lain yang menyerahkan memorandum itu adalah pertubuhan berdaftar yang cakna dengan pentadbiran kerajaan Malaysia.

"Kami pro-Malaysia, menyokong usaha kerajaan dan menegur secara konstruktif (pentadbiran kerajaan) untuk kepentingan dan manfaat rakyat Malaysia," katanya.

Setiausaha pertama kedutaan Perancis, Damien Syed sewaktu dihubungi mengesahkan menerima memo dari sekumpulan individu petang tadi.

Memo itu katanya akan dipanjangkan kepada duta Perancis untuk tindakan lanjut.

Beliau bagaimana pun tidak memberi sebarang perincian lain kerana tidak diberi kuasa untuk berbuat demikian.

Jarvis buoyed by City draw

West Ham winger Matt Jarvis believes Saturday's draw against Manchester City has lifted the squad.
The Hammers have flown out of the traps on their return to the top flight and currently sit eighth in the table with over a quarter of the season already played.



Sam Allardyce's side face a tough run of fixtures between now and the new year, meeting Newcastle, Manchester United, Chelsea, Everton and Arsenal before January.



But following the performance in the 0-0 draw against City, Jarvis reckons West Ham can look forward to a number of difficult tests.



"We have a tough run coming up but this will give us a fantastic boost," he said.



"I think it shows we can hold our own against sides like this and, at the same time, try to get something out of the game for ourselves.



"We defended well and like to think we stopped them playing how they can, rather than it being a poor display from City.



"We go to Newcastle now with the same appetite to get something from that game as well, to keep our good start to the season on track."

Anwar cabar Najib tanding di Marang

Ketua Pembangkang Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hari ini mencabar Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak untuk bertanding di kawasan Parlimen Marang di Terengganu dalam pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Menurut Anwar, perdana menteri seharusnya bertanding di kawasan Parlimen Marang yang kini disandang Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang setelah presiden PAS itu menawarkan diri untuk bertanding di kawasan Parlimen Pekan di Pahang yang disandang Najib.
  
Ditanya sama ada Abdul Hadi pasti bertanding di Pekan, Anwar yang ditemui di lobi Parlimen, berkata: "Kami belum membincangkan perkara itu, beliau (Abdul Hadi) kata akan tunduk kepada keputusan PAS, jadi tunggu keputusan parti."
  
Sebelum ini Abdul Hadi dilaporkan berkata beliau akan bertanding di
mana-mana kawasan yang diminta parti termasuk untuk kerusi Parlimen Pekan.
  
Najib semalam berkata beliau tidak fikir Abdul Hadi akan bertanding di
kawasan Parlimen Pekan.

Vertonghen: Spurs are strong

Jan Vertonghen believes the Tottenham squad have enough about them to bounce back from the loss to Wigan on Saturday.
A 1-0 defeat coupled with an abject performance saw the Spurs players jeered from the field at White Hart Lane as Wigan became the latest team to test Andre Villas-Boas' side on home turf.



Belgium international Vertonghen now expects a response from the players in a week where they face Maribor in the Europa League before travelling to face Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday.



"The team is strong enough to come back from this defeat," he told the club's official website.



"We have a lot of important games ahead, important games in Europe and difficult away games.



"We have to stick together. We know we're strong in away games and we can win at any away ground."

Hadi: Bertanding di Pekan mesej 'saya bukan diktator'

Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang berkata kenyataan beliau untuk bertanding di parlimen Pekan jika diarahkan oleh parti sebagai "mesej kepada seluruh ahli yang menyokong parti" bahawa beliau bukan diktator dalam parti.

"Kenyataan itu adalah mesej kepada seluruh ahli-ahli parti yang menyokong parti supaya yang pertama, saya bukan diktator dalam parti.

"Kita tidak boleh membuat keputusan sendiri, kita terima calon, kita bincang bersama dan patuh kepada keputusan parti.

"Kalau parti kata tidak bertanding, tak bertandinglah. Kalau bertanding, maka bertandinglah.

"Dan di mana sahaja bertanding sekalipun, kalau bertanding di Pekan, (maka) Pekan lah. Kalau bertanding di Sabah, Sarawak, maka di Sabah Sarawaklah," katanya dalam sidang media selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat bulanan AJK PAS Pusat.

Abdul Hadi berkata demikian bagi mengulas lanjut berhubung kesediaannya bertanding di Pekan seperti yang dilapor media.

1. Najib tidak fikir Hadi akan tanding di Pekan
2. Kerusi Pekan: Bagi PM lagi ramai lagi meriah, kata TPM

Chamakh pondering Arsenal exit

Arsenal striker Marouane Chamakh has revealed he is weighing up his future at the Emirates Stadium.
The Moroccan has admitted he is unhappy with his lack of regular action at Arsenal, feeling he may have played more following the departure of Robin van Persie.



Bordeaux have been strongly linked with a move to bring Chamakh back to the club, but the 28-year-old admits his preference is to stay in England if he does decide to leave Arsenal.



"I am still asking the question of a departure or not, weighing up the pros and cons," Chamakh told RMC.



"Bordeaux? In the summer, I didn't have any contact. During last winter, I had some. It could be a solution to come back.

Nurul ambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap Utusan, BH

Naib Presiden PKR, Nurul Izzah Anwar akan mengambil tindakan undang-undang terhadap Utusan Malaysia dan Berita Harian berhubung isu kebebasan beragama.

Katanya, beliau telah mengarahkan peguamnya mengambil tindakan terhadap akhbar-akhbar tersebut dan kemungkinan beberapa blog yang didakwa memutar belit kenyataannya berhubung isu tersebut.

Menurutnya, peguam Hanipa Maidin dan Sulaiman Abdullah akan mewakili beliau dalam hal itu.

"Saya tidak rela fitnah akidah begini diteruskan dan tidak teragak-agak untuk mengambil tindakan undang-undang demi menegakkan kebenaran dan keadilan," kata Izzah dalam satu kenyataan hari ini.

Izzah sebelum ini, dalam satu forum, dilapor sebagai berkata bahawa tiada paksaan wajar dikenakan dalam beragama.

Kenyataan itu menyebabkan beberapa harian berbahasa Melayu melaporkan beliau menyokong amalan murtad di kalangan orang Islam.

Susulan kenyataan itu, pengarah Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS), Marzuki Husin dilapor bercadang mengambil tindakan terhadap Nurul Izzah jika ada maklumat cukup tentang perkara itu.

Izzah dalam kenyataan balasnya menggesa JAIS turut sama menyiasat Utusan Malaysia jika JAIS bercadang menyiasatnya.

Ketua pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dalam ulasannya menyifatkan kesungguhan JAIS menyiasat Nurul Izzah sebagai bersifat politik.

Menurut Anwar, ia juga menggambarkan "tahap ketaksuban beragama" daripada serangan yang diterima Nurul Izzah akibat laporan berita terhadap kenyataan anaknya itu.

Ferguson/Mata claim awards

Sir Alex Ferguson and Juan Mata have been named Premier League manager and player of the month for October.
Manchester United scored 10 goals in victories over Newcastle, Stoke and Chelsea - earning Ferguson the award on the 26th anniversary of his appointment.



The Scot has now won 27 monthly honours since the Premier League was inaugurated, and he told Sky Sports News: "I'm pleased with our attacking play, that's been a feature of our game.



"We've had an issue about defending, but in Saturday's win against Arsenal we were back to what I expect of Manchester United defenders."



Chelsea's attacking midfielder Mata, meanwhile, took a first individual award in England after scoring three league goals during October.



The Spaniard is thriving alongside Oscar and Eden Hazard, and he said: "I'm really enjoying it, they're players who like to play with the ball, to assist and who have good movement - more or less like me."