1 Million Brazilians take to streets in protest for a better lifestyle

              

In the wake of what is known as the biggest protests in the last two decades seems to have intensified. Hundreds of thousands of protesters, mainly locals marched for the reversal of hikes in transportation prices, but also in hope that they will recieve better public services.

While the protest was peaceful, the growing number of participants let to small outbursts of violence and vandalism in certain cities.

 

In central Rio alone, more than 300,000 protesters took to the streets, marching towards iconic football stadiums. With the upcoming 2014  World Cup and the 2016 Olympics to be hosted in the beautiful country, protestors are denouncing the $26 Billion be spent on improving the quality of lives in Brazil.

Brazilians are also resorting to social media, to vent their frustrations and to warn the world that things are not alright.

A note that was recently circulated on all social media avenues recently

(Source)

Indonesia: “Singapore & Malaysia Are To Blame For Haze Too”

              

The illegal clearing of forests by burning is a recurrent problem in Indonesia, particularly during the annual dry season that stretches from around June to September. This year, the haze came from forest and peat land fires in Bengkalis and Rokan Hilir Regencies.

The Bengkalis Disaster Mitigation Agency has said nearly 600 hectares of oil palm plantation and rubber plantation areas in three areas (Sepahat, Tanjung Leban, Bukit Kerikil) are currently burning. Firefighters from a number of plantation companies, including local residents, are making efforts to extinguish the fires. However, they are facing difficulties in controlling it because of water shortages and strong winds.



At least 138 hot spots are currently being monitored in Jambi, Riau, and South Sumatra – that is significantly up compared to less than 100 spots the week before.

However, an Indonesian official said Singapore and Malaysia share some of blame for the haze that has raised air pollution to “unhealthy” levels. The accusation was levelled at Singapore and Malaysian palm oil companies which he said also use the “slash and burn” method of clearing land.
Hadi Daryanto, who is the secretary-general of Indonesia’s Forestry Ministry, has been quoted in a newspaper as saying that the “slash and burn” technique being used is the cheapest land clearing method but it is not only used by local farmers.


He said that employees of palm oil investors, including those from Singapore and Malaysian companies, also use this method. Thus, he is asking also the Singapore and Malaysian companies to pay more attention to what is being done on the ground – their farmers using this illegal “slash and burn” technique.

(Source)

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan IS in Malaysia!!

 

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So, the rumours WERE true! Bollywood superstar Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is in Malayia. We saw a posting on Facebook, that she is attending a Longines showcase. Make’s sense, since she is the Brand Ambassador for Longines Watches.

 

 

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This 39 year-old superstar is married to Bollywood heartthrob, Abhishek Bachchand. They also have a daughter, Aaradhya Bachchan who is a year old.

 

Isn’t she just gorgeous!

Family Of Penang Bridge Ramp Collapse Victim To Sue

              

The family of the Second Penang Bridge ramp collapse victim Tajudin Zainal Abidin plans to take legal action against project developer Jambatan Kedua Sdn Bhd (JKSB) and contractor Cergas Murni Sdn Bhd.

Following an article in a local daily, where Sukarelawan Peguam (SukaGuam) chairman Datuk Khairul Anwar Rahmat urged the deceased’s family to act against JKSB and Cergas Murni for alleged negligence, the victim’s brother-in-law Saiful Ramli said, “We will file a suit against the project developer and the contractor as soon as possible. Our task now is to identify a suitable lawyer to represent us”.

When contacted yesterday, he said the victim’s family would consider filing the suit either in Penang or Kuala Lumpur, as JKSB’s headquarters was in Kuala Lumpur. Khairul Anwar said the RM10,000 initial compensation from JKSB was not justified to cover the loss of a life.



He added that the family members would be able to sue both parties for purported negligence after the interchange section collapsed on Thursday, which crushed Tajudin to death while he was driving below the 30m structure in a Perodua Kelisa.

Three others were also injured in the incident at Batu Maung.

The family is expected to take JKSB and Cergas Murni to court for being negligent at its Batu Maung Interchange project, which formed Package 3A of the 24km bridge.

Meanwhile, JKSB deputy manager (public relations and communications) Azizi Azizan, when contacted, declined to comment on the matter, except to say that the family had the right to seek legal redress. “Until such time as the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) completes its investigations, we are in no position to comment”, he told the New Straits Times.

When asked if any precautionary measures were being taken at the site of the incident, he said JKSB may consider requesting a road closure when it carried out future concrete-pouring works.

“Other safety measures will hinge on recommendations made by DOSH”, he said, adding that six remaining casting packages (3B-3G) at Batu Kawan on the mainland were yet to be completed.

(Source)

Bloody Pics From Oscar Pistorius’ Home Leaked

              

Photographs purportedly showing the blood-spattered bathroom where Olympian Oscar Pistorius fatally shot girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp have emerged, apparently showing the scene of the killing for the first time.

The photos surfaced just days before the double amputee track star is due to appear in court, charged with murdering Steenkamp in his Pretoria home in the early hours of February 14. The images published by Sky News show a trail of blood leading from a bathroom; blood on the walls, stairs and a couch inside the house, and a Valentine’s Day card with “Ozzy” written on it – Steenkamp’s nickname for her sprinter boyfriend.



The photo of the bathroom shows a toilet covered in blood, a door with a missing panel and what appear to be two police-marked bullet holes below the level of the door’s handle. CNN has not been able to independently confirm the authenticity of the photos, and police spokesman Brigadiere Phuti Setati declined to comment on how Sky News obtained the pictures.

The runner says he thought there was an intruder in the house and, fearful of being attacked, ran on his stumps to the bathroom, where he shot through the door from a relatively low angle four times. It was only upon returning to his bedroom, Pistorius says, that he realized Steenkamp was not in bed and that she had been the one in the bathroom.



The state says it was premeditated murder — that Pistorius had an argument with Steenkamp then put on his prosthetic legs, walked to the bathroom, and shot through the door from a relatively higher angle, intentionally killing his girlfriend.

(Source)

Police Arrest 7 Over Pastor Murder

              

Malaysian police have arrested seven men over the murder of a US pastor who was found strangled with a mobile phone cord at his home in Kuala Lumpur, police said Thursday.

American pastor David James Ginter was found dead in his house on the outskirts of the Malaysian capital on 4th May by a neighbour. His hands and feet were bound, and the phone charger cable was wrapped around his neck.

Seven members of Ginter’s congregation, aged 20 to 30, have been taken into custody as part of the investigation into the murder, district police chief Amiruddin Jamaluddin said, adding police had yet to establish a motive. “We are still investigating”, Amiruddin told AFP.

The New Straits Times reported Ginter had several broken ribs and bruises and scratches on his body. His car was reported missing, but there were no signs of a struggle or forced entry into the house.

Ginter, 62, was a senior pastor at the Bridge International Church in Kuala Lumpur for three years.

(Source)

More Bubble Tea Pearls Brands Recalled

              

Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) has recalled 11 food products from sale after traces of maleic acid were found to be present.

In a press statement on Sunday, AVA stated that they had conducted further tests on 66 food products from Taiwan after maleic acid was found in tapioca balls that are used in bubble tea drinks. Of the 66 food products AVA has tested thus far, maleic acid was found to be present in 11 products. Most of the affected products were tapioca starch balls used in the preparation of bubble tea beverages.
On 20th May, Taiwan Food and Drug Administration detected presence of maleic acid, an unapproved food additive in some food products, leading to the recall of Sunright brand tapioca balls in Singapore.



AVA stated in their statement that they have informed the importers of the affected products to withdraw them from sale immediately, and that withdrawal has been completed. Consumers who have bought these products should either return them to the retailer or discard them and not consume them.

AVA is monitoring the situation closely and continues to survey products from Taiwan to ensure that they do not contain maleic acid.

Maleic acid is not an approved additive. It is also not an additive that is usually used in manufacturing food products. Long term consumption of high levels of maleic acid can cause kidney damage. However, occasional consumption at the levels detected does not pose any significant health risk.

The affected products are:

1. “Hong” brand tapioca Starch, manufactured by Kai. & Co. Hong Foods Taiwan
2. “Redman” brand black tapioca pearl, manufactured by Possmei International Co Ltd
3. “Sunright” brand indica rice powder, manufactured by Sunright Foods Corporation
4. “Top 1″ brand tapioca pearls, manufactured by Shang Wang
5. “Tea World” brand tapioca starch balls, manufactured by Grand Chainly Enterprises Co. Ltd.
6. “Ting Long” brand tapioca pearls, manufactured by Ting Long
7. “Sun Chi” brand noodles, manufactured by Sun Chi Zhi Mian Chang
8. “T&M Resources Corp” brand tapioca pearls, manufactured by An Li Si
9. “Pure Tea” brand white tapioca pearls, manufactured by M/s Taiwan Tapioca Foods Company Ltd

(Source)