Chinese salemen learn Arabic to receive Muslim tourists during Olympics
About 400 salespersons from 56 shops in Beijing’s largest Muslim neighborhood received training on simple conversation in Arabic, as the city prepares for a surge of Muslim visitors during the Olympics.

BURSA MALAYSIA UPDATE: 9.30 AM
At 9.30 a.m. today, there were 115 gainers, 54 losers and 96 counters traded unchanged on the Bursa Malaysia. The KLCI was at 1,122.38 up 2.96 points, the FBM2BRD was at 5,311.39 up 8.52 points, and the FBMEmas was at 7,464.76 up 22.83 points. Turnover was at 37.197 million shares valued at RM71.541 million.

PM's former Press secretary dies of cancer
FORMER Press secretary to the Prime Minister Azhar Osman, 48, has passed this morning at Pantai Medical Centre of cancer.

BURSA MALAYSIA UPDATE: 10.30 AM
At 10.30 a.m. today, there were 148 gainers, 116 losers and 148 counters traded unchanged on the Bursa Malaysia. The KLCI was at 1,122.03 up 2.61 points, the FBM2BRD was at 5,304.87 up 2.00 points, and the FBMEmas was at 7,454.35 up 12.42 points. Turnover was at 67.304 million shares valued at RM131.547 million.

High fuel costs - Qantas to layoff 2,000 jobs worldwide
Qantas is set to axe up to 2,000 jobs worldwide as the record price of oil hits world airlines hard, media reports say.

Tropical storm heading for China's southeast coast
Tropical storm Kalmaegi is approaching China’s southeast coast, and is expected to bring heavy rains in the next two days to Fujian Province, the provincial observatory said on Thursday.

BURSA MALAYSIA UPDATE: 11.30 AM
At 11.30 a.m. today, there were 157 gainers, 192 losers and 175 counters traded unchanged on the Bursa Malaysia. The KLCI was at 1,118.19 down 1.23 points, the FBM2BRD was at 5,294.19 down 8.68 points, and the FBMEmas was at 7,438.60 down 3.33 points. Turnover was at 111.495 million shares valued at RM212.698 million.

Anwar refused to give DNA sample, says lawyer
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim did not allow the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) to take his DNA sample for fear that the result would be manipulated by the authorities, his lawyer Sankara Nair said today.

Shahrir agrees to Umno members contesting any post
Umno supreme council member Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad agrees with Youth head Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein that party members are free to contest any post, including those of president and deputy president, in the upcoming party elections in December.

Dr Tan Yee Kiew quits MCA
FORMER Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Dr Tan Yee Kew today announced her leaving the party saying that the MCA is no longer effective in championing the rights of the Chinese and the country.

Tanjong to pay RM70 million per year in windfall tax
Tanjong plc, one of the leading independent power producers (IPPs) in the country, expects to pay RM70 million per year in windfall tax based on its current earnings.

GUAN ENG: E-tender system to ensure fair allocation of Penang's projects
Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today launched the “E-Perolehan”, an initiative to ensure fair allocation and distribution of state government projects to contractors and suppliers.

Ministry to review diesel subsidy distribution system
The domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry will review the distribution of diesel subsidies to target groups to prevent fraud or leakages.

Man claiming to be separatist chief announces ceasefire in South Thailand
A group claiming to be the Thailand United Southern Underground movement today announced ceasefire in the restive south and ordered all its armed units to stop separatist violence in the south.

DR WAN AZIZAH: Anwar required to report to city police HQ on Aug 18
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, detained yesterday and released on police bail today, is required to report to the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters on Aug 18, his wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail said today.

NAZRI: Special scholarship top SPM students of all races
The government will set up a specific scholarship programme under the Public Service Department (JPA) for students who achieve exceptional results in their SPM examination.

MAT SABU: No question of Pas leaving Pakatan Rakyat
Pas will remain in Pakatan Rakyat despite holding discussions with Umno on political cooperation, especially in the spreading of Islamic teachings and values.

Selangor police chief deputy commissioner Datuk Abdul Khalid Abu Bakar today apologised for the inconvenience caused by its road blocks.

LIOW: Anwar should have cooperated with police, undergo DNA test
Health Minister Datuk Liow Tiong Lai said Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim should have co-operated with the police to undergo the DNA test.

Video : DPM on Anwar's arrest

Anwar expected to give speech at ceramah in Kuantan on Saturday
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is expected to make his first public appearance in Kuantan on Saturday after his release today.

Nazri defends PSD scholarship quota for foreign universities
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz today defended the Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship quota for foreign universities in Parliament.

Heavy rain causes MAS to reroute Penang flight to Langkawi
Heavy rain at the Penang International Airport this morning forced a Malaysia Airlines flight to be rerouted to the Langkawi Airport.

Air Force ready to fly out Thais in Cambodia if tension flares up
The Royal Thai Air Force aircraft are ready and standby to fly out Thai nationals living in Cambodia if tensions flare over the disputed Thai-Cambodian border at the ancient Preah Vihear temple, Thai Air Chief Chalit Phukbhasuk said Thursday.

Scrap metal dealer stabbed to death outside nightclub
A 23-year-old man was killed following an argument with another man outside a nightclub in Jalan Abdullah Tahir at about 3.05am today.