CAIRNS (Australia): Police turned desperate people away from overcrowded shelters in northeastern Australia on Wednesday, Feb 2 as one the most powerful cyclones in the country's history bore down on a string of popular tourist cities lining the coast.

KUALA LUMPUR: Gema Padu Sdn Bhd — the developer of Kota Warisan in Sepang, Selangor — is targeting to launch a new development in the township with a gross development value of RM1.5 billion in the next four years.

The new development spanning 138 acres would be an "exciting" development consisting of both residential and commercial properties, said Gema Padu director Lee Kuan Yong.

NEW YORK: Jones Lang LaSalle Inc, one of the world's largest real estate services companies, said earnings rose nearly 62 percent, boosted by a rebound in commercial property sales and leasing, easily beating Wall Street's forecast.

TAWAU (Sabah): The residents of Kampung Titingan, whose houses were razed by fire on Jan 31 are not allowed to build new houses in the area. Sabah Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan said this was because the area was included in a development plan for Kampung Titingan.

KOTA BARU (Kelantan):The contractor and consultant involved in the construction of the Kelantan Customs Department's office, which is delayed, has been given two more months to complete the project.

SANDAKAN (Sabah): It is necessary to re-map the geological structure of Sandakan district in Sabah to identify high risk landslide prone areas, said Zamri Ramli, a geologist with the Sabah Mineral and Geosciences department.

PUTRAJAYA : The Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry will table the Kampung Baru Development Corporation Bill for the second and third reading in Parliament this year, its minister, Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said.

WASHINGTON: The percentage of empty privately owned US homes rose in the fourth quarter, while rental vacancies fell sharply, a government report showed on Monday, Jan 31.

PUTRAJAYA: Applauding the Federal Territories as a dynamic and modern region, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin today called for continuous improvement to the quality of life in the area and in the provision of economic opportunities to the people.

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration's main housing rescue program showed further signs of stabilization in December as those receiving permanent mortgage modifications during the month outnumbered those dropped from the program.