More on the Manila Hostage Drama:

Hostage-taker was angered by brother’s arrest – Video

Police SWAT team stormed Bus with hostages in Manila – Video

‘Gunman killed’ as police storm Manila hostage bus

More about the Hostage Drama:

Police SWAT team stormed Bus with hostages in Manila – Video

‘Gunman killed’ as police storm Manila hostage bus

Philippine commandos have stormed the bus with 15 Chinese tourists held hostage by a former policeman, ending the 11-hour standoff in Manila. At least six of the hostages have been confirmed dead. The gunman has also been killed in the storming.

The operation started with police firing on the bus’ tires to immobilize it, then using hammers to smash windows, doors and windscreen. They were forced to withdraw after a series of gunshots rang out from inside the vehicle, but renewed the storming later.

6 of the Chinese tourists who were held hostage by the former PNP member got killed in the Manila bus hostage drama. Do you think this was handled well from the Philippine National Police?

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

It was a strange discovery in the 800 block of South Lake Street. If the preliminary investigation is of any indication, the remains have been there for a very long time.

Authorities said the apartment management was doing some house cleaning, and the basement in the building was used for storage by tenants for a long time. They were going through some of the old material when they came across a trunk, where the remains were found.

There was documentation in the trunks that indicates that the remains could date back decades. According to LAPD Lt. Cory Palka, there was 1932 closing ceremony ticket stubs from the Olympics.

When asked if there was anything interesting on the L.A. Times issue that the remains were wrapped in, Palka said, “I looked at it briefly. There were some issues involving a John Dillinger shooting, things that were taking place in the city of Los Angeles from that era, quite historic, quite notable.”

The coroner’s office is working to identify the remains, and then it will try to determine a cause of death.

They perform dances to popular songs, from Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and “We Are The World” to “Cha Cha Slide” and “Nobody” from the Wondergirls all the way to the Justin Bieber song “Baby”.

There are even videos of the dancing inmates from Cebu with Pinoy Big Brother and how the CPDRC crew danced for the Sinulog in Cebu.

We made a little collection of the CPDRC dancing inmates videos for you, feel free to add more videos in the comments section and let us know what you think about Cebu’s dancing inmates. Is it good or rather not recommended since those guys shouldn’t have fun in jail? After all the inmates are in jail for a reason.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Don’t forget to share these videos of the dancing inmates from Cebu with the world via these buttons down here and leave a comment please – Thank you

Feel free as always to leave a comment, share and digg with the buttons below. Enjoy the videos…

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

What do you think about it? Hit us up in the comments section below. Thanks for sharing

From the Mandella Tank to the Traffic Lights Tree.

Depending on your Internet speed you might wanna let the video load a little first

Enjoy the London video and please share, digg, tweet, like it and so on. And don’t forget to leave a comment below, Thank you.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Watch this high definition video of Los Angeles at night below, enjoy it and let us know what you think of Los Angeles at night.

The Los Angeles at Night video might have to load first since it is in high definition, depending on your internet speed. Nevertheless, it is worth the wait

Feel free to comment, like,  ping, share, digg, re-tweet and so on as usual …

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

It was the day of the inauguration of the new President of the Philippines Noynoy Aquino and the last day for outgoing President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Here is our video collection of the inauguration day of Noynoy Aquino.

Enjoy, Tweet and feel free to share and comment below…

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Wearing an traditional barong rather than his boxing outfit, Manny Pacquiao was among other local officials who took their oaths of office in the capital of the Sarangani province.

“I will be more effective in politics than in boxing,” he told the crowd of 3,000 after the ceremony.

The 31-year-old fighter said he would work on improving infrastructure, medical services and security during his three-year term in parliament.

Before the ceremony, Manny Pacquiao transferred from the Nacionalista Party (NP) to the Liberal Party. And now enjoy the video.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

]]> http://manilainformer.com/videos/3905/manny-pacquiao-now-fights-in-congress-video/feed/ 0 http://dubaiinformer.com/videos/3606/unusual-things-to-do-with-your-apple-ipad-6-stunning-videos/ http://dubaiinformer.com/videos/3606/unusual-things-to-do-with-your-apple-ipad-6-stunning-videos/#comments Tue, 29 Jun 2010 08:06:57 +0000 Dubai Informer http://9.3606 So you got yourself one of those shiny new Apple iPads. You already downloaded kazillions of iPad Apps from the App-Store. And you are excited how many cool things you can do with the iPad, right?

We are quite sure though that you did not discover all of the iPad’s secrets yet.

We found six videos to show you some things you can do with your iPad which where new to us.

If you don’t have an Apple iPad yet then head over to our Apple iPad UAE page and get yourself one quickly. And here we go with the funny Apple iPad videos for you, enjoy, share and leave your comments below please…

Apple itself calls the iPad “magical”. The Japanese magician Shinya Uchida makes shows you why the iPad is really magical with some stunning street sorcery.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Can you use an iPad in space? In this video, the Apple iPad gets the zero G treatment all in the name of science.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

With a special homemade cover, these Japanese doctors use the Apple iPad during a surgery. Be careful though – Only watch this if your tough enough.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Your better half does not yet approve of your wish to buy the Apple iPad? Take him/her out for dinner – to a restaurant where the menus are iPads. That should do the trick

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

The dinner idea didn’t work out so well? Why not try a concert instead? Classical pianist Lang Lang steps up his first encore by bashing out a version “Flight of the Bumblebee” on his iPad.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

This one is not really serious, but belongs in this funny iPad video collection nonetheless. Jake Gyllenhaal uses an iPad as an impromptu cutting board before cooking it in a frying pan. That’s a sure way to void the warranty.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

In case you just realized how much you want to buy yourself an Apple iPad now, we have a special Apple iPad deal for you. Again, feel free to share this article and please leave your comments below – Thanks.

That is the strong message sent out to the world by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Shaikh Mohammad’s comments come as Dubai opens the first phase of Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International Airport today.

PUB is responsible for the drainage system in Singapore. We take a serious view of the Orchard Road flooding on 16 June.

PUB statement:

The impact and disruption to people, traffic and business is not acceptable. We would like to assure everyone that we are doing our utmost to review what has happened and take the necessary measures to minimize the chances of a recurrence.

The flood was caused by two very intense consecutive bursts of rain within an hour. This fell mainly over the Orchard Road and central parts of Singapore which drains into Stamford Canal. About 100mm of rain or more than 60% of the average monthly rainfall for the month of June was recorded within a two hour period from 9am to 11am.

A huge amount of water, equivalent to 60 Olympic-size pools, carried vegetation and other debris which partially obstructed the culvert across Orchard Road. This resulted in rainwater overflowing into the Stamford Canal and Orchard Road.

We have invested $2b over the last 30 years to upgrade our drainage infrastructure to reduce our flood prone areas from 3200 ha in 1970s to 66 ha today. We will continue to invest $150m each year on drainage improvement works. Over the last three years, we have also doubled our maintenance expenditure to $23m.

A comprehensive system comprising litter traps, regular inspections and maintenance of drainage system is already in place to ensure that our drains remain clear and free-flowing. Contractors are also deployed daily island-wide to check and clear debris from the drains on a performance-based system, where they are required to meet specified cleanliness standards with minimum cleansing frequency.

Their work is closely monitored and audited by PUB. The contract periods have been extended from 3 to 5 years so that contractors can invest in new technology.

Although the drainage system has helped to reduce flooding despite urbanization, we continue to monitor areas where there are localized floodings. The number of hot-spots has been reduced from 90 to 53 over the last three years. After each flash flood, we systematically investigate the cause and take measures to improve the drainage in that location.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

PUB works closely with Traffic Police, Land Transport Authority, National Environment Agency and Mediacorp Radio. In the event that we receive warnings of early rain or our water level sensors detect a rise in water level, contractors will be deployed immediately to the hot-spots as was the case on 16 June. Contractors were mobilized when the rain started at 8am and the Traffic Police alerted by PUB at about 9.15am.

Although initial investigations showed that the drainage system capacity is sufficient and this flood resulted from an unusually intense storm which was aggravated by some partial blockage in the culvert, we will continue to thoroughly investigate and take the necessary measures to prevent a recurrence.

It is believed the pyramid was built as a tomb for fourth dynasty Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops in Greek) and constructed over a 20-year period concluding around 2560 BC. The Great Pyramid was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. Originally the Great Pyramid was covered by casing stones that formed a smooth outer surface; what is seen today is the underlying core structure.

Some of the casing stones that once covered the structure can still be seen around the base. There have been varying scientific and alternative theories about the Great Pyramid’s construction techniques. Most accepted construction hypotheses are based on the idea that it was built by moving huge stones from a quarry and dragging and lifting them into place.

There are three known chambers inside the Great Pyramid. The lowest chamber is cut into the bedrock upon which the pyramid was built and was unfinished. The so-called Queen’s Chamber and King’s Chamber are higher up within the pyramid structure.

The Great Pyramid of Giza is the main part of a complex setting of buildings that included two mortuary temples in honor of Khufu (one close to the pyramid and one near the Nile), three smaller pyramids for Khufu’s wives, an even smaller “satellite” pyramid, a raised causeway connecting the two temples, and small mastaba tombs surrounding the pyramid for nobles.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Residents living near the crash site said the driver took a great risk in passing through the steep highway while bringing a tour bus full of people. Initial reports said at least 50 people were on board the bus en route to a picnic when the bus lost control and fell off the 30-meter ravine. The Filipino driver and owner and 19 Iranians died, and 26 people were injured, said regional military spokesman Lt. Col. Wilson Feria. Nine of an estimated 55 passengers were unaccounted for still, but the military was double-checking because it was unclear exactly how many people were on board, Feria said.

Most of the passengers were Iranian medical students from Cebu Doctors University, University of Visayas and University of San Carlos, all in Cebu. They were identified by relatives and through their IDs, Digal said. It was not clear if the Iranians were involved in a medical mission or went for an outing at one of several resorts in and around Cebu.

Lani O’Neres, regional police director of Cebu district 7, earlier said the bus’ brakes might have malfunctioned while navigating a sharp curve on the highway, causing it to hit the railing and fall into a 100-foot (30-meter) ravine.

Villagers and police pulled bodies from the mangled wreckage at the rocky bottom of the ravine, while a backhoe sent by a nearby Japanese shipbuilding company attempted to lift the bus up, Feria said. Cables were attached but the bus was too heavy and there was a danger the backhoe might be pulled down, he added. The bus had an ominous plate number: DWZ-666, the “Number of the Beast” in the Bible’s Book of Revelation.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board imposed a 30-day suspension on Cattleya Bus Tours, which promotes the services of J&G Tours. News of the accident has reached the Iranian embassy in Manila. Poorly maintained vehicles and roads, along with inadequate safety signs, railings, training and weak traffic law enforcement, are blamed for many deadly accidents in the Philippines.

Knowing the driving habits especially in Cebu it comes as no surprise. Especially bus drivers drive like crazy, maybe this accident leads to stricter enforcement of the traffic rules? Probably not. But at least drivers could be checked regularly on the road since many of them use shabu or other drugs rather regularly. Do you want your bus driver to be stoned while he is driving you around the mountains?

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

But Bangladesh has trains to bring those people from all over the country to Dhaka and also from Dhaka back to other cities and rural areas.

If the millions of people in Dhaka prepare for some special occasion though, Ramadan or Eid Al Adha for instance, then the trains might be a bit crowded.

So try to book your seat in advance

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Here all 4 videos of Aquino’s first press conference as president-elect for you.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

But now it is official, the new Apple iPhone 4 just got released and will be available by the end of June 2010. You want to have your new Apple iPhone 4 in Dubai by the end of June 2010? More on that further down.

We also have a video of the new Apple iPhone 4 for you if you scroll down, but first some iPhone 4 details.

What is the new Apple iPhone 4 all about? What are the new iPhone features I can hear you ask. The biggest additions to the already fully packed iPhone are the brand new screen technology and you can finally do video calling on the new iPhone. And yeah, it gets the new iPhone operating system OS 4. So here you go…

The full feature list for the new iPhone 4:

iPhone 4 size and weight

Height: 4.5 inches (115.2 mm)
Width: 2.31 inches (58.6 mm)
Depth: 0.37 inch (9.3 mm)
Weight: 4.8 ounces (137 grams)

iPhone 4 capacity

16GB or 32GB flash drive

iPhone 4 camera, photos, and video

Video recording, HD (720p) up to 30 frames per second with audio
5-megapixel still camera
VGA-quality photos and video at up to 30 frames per second with the front camera
Tap to focus video or still images
LED flash
Photo and video geotagging

iPhone 4 color

White or Black

iPhone 4 display

Retina display
3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen Multi-Touch display
960-by-640-pixel resolution at 326 ppi
800:1 contrast ratio (typical)
Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating on front and back
Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously

iPhone 4 cellular and wireless

UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi (802.11n 2.4GHz only)
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR wireless technology

In the box

iPhone 4
Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic
Dock Connector to USB Cable
USB Power Adapter
Documentation

iPhone 4 power and battery

Built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery
Charging via USB to computer system or power adapter

Talk time: Up to 7 hours on 3G  – Up to 14 hours on 2G
Standby time: Up to 300 hours
Internet use: Up to 6 hours on 3G  – Up to 10 hours on Wi-Fi
Video playback: Up to 10 hours
Audio playback: Up to 40 hours

iPhone 4 audio playback

Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Audio formats supported: AAC (8 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), HE-AAC, MP3 (8 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, 4, Audible Enhanced Audio, AAX, and AAX+), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV
User-configurable maximum volume limit

iPhone 4 TV and video

Video formats supported: H.264 video up to 720p, 30 frames per second, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps per channel, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; Motion JPEG (M-JPEG) up to 35 Mbps, 1280 by 720 pixels, 30 frames per second, audio in ulaw, PCM stereo audio in .avi file format
Support for 1024 by 768 pixels with Dock Connector to VGA Adapter; 576p and 480p with Apple Component AV Cable; 576i and 480i with Apple Composite AV Cable (cables sold separately)

iPhone 4 headphones

Apple Earphones with Remote and Mic
Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
Impedance: 32 ohms

iPhone 4 location

Assisted GPS
Digital compass
Wi-Fi
Cellular

iPhone 4 sensors

Three-axis gyro
Accelerometer
Proximity sensor
Ambient light sensor

iPhone 4 mail attachment support

Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)

So, this all sounds pretty amazing and it is indeed a whole new level of iPhone. The main “blow away” features of the new iPhone 4 are the screen, which has such a high resolution that you cant see single pixels anymore. And the second is in our opinion that you can do video calling on the new iPhone 4 now. And yes, of course, you can finally multitask on the iPhone. Yeaheyyy

So, we promised to tell you how to get your hands on the new Apple iPhone 4 in Dubai on launch day. Our partners from Emirates Avenue have the order page for the Apple iPhone 4 16 GB and the Apple iPhone 4 32 GB live already. Head over there and grab your shiny new Apple iPhone 4 – they will deliver it to you free of charge by the time it launches officially, end of this month.

Feel free to share this article and don’t forget to let us know what you think of the new Apple iPhone 4 below please. And now enjoy the new Apple iPhone 4 Video …

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Toxic gas leaked from a factory owned by the Indian subsidiary of US multinational Union Carbide Corporation, killing thousands and leaving an unspecified number battered with diseases and deformity.

The convicts include Keshub Mahendra, then-Chairman of UCIL; Vijay Gokhle, then-Managing Director of UCIL; Kishore Kamdar, then-former vice-president, UCIL, Mumbai; J Mukund, then-former Works Manager, UCIL, Mumbai; SP Chouhary, then-former Production Manager, UCIL, Mumbai; K V Shetty, then-Plant Superintendent, UCIL, Mumbai; SI Qureshi, the then-Production Assistants, UCIL, Mumbai.

On the night of 2/3 Dec 1984, the residents of central Indian city Bhopal became victims of the world’s worst industrial disaster when 40 tonnes of methyl iscocyanate (MIC – a highly volatile toxic chemical) stored at the pesticide plant – owned by Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL), a subsidiary of Union Carbide Corporation (UCC), USA – was contaminated with water and other impurities.

Prohibitory orders ahead of Bhopal gas verdict

As a result, a mixture of deadly gases escaped from the factory killing several thousands of people and inflicting grievous injuries on at least 500,000 others.

Warren Anderson, former Chairman, Union Carbide Corporation, USA, who has been charged with manslaughter has been declared an absconder in the case.

In February 2001, the Dow Chemical Company took over Union Carbide Corporation-USA but said it is not responsible for the tragedy from a factory it did not operate.

The trial had dragged on for 23 long years, where the arguments of prosecution Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and defense of eight main accused were heard.

Altogether 178 prosecution witnesses were examined and 3008 documents exhibited.

The CBI counsel had contended that the defective design of the UCIL factory and poor maintenance were responsible for the tragedy.

The defense advocates, however, refuted the charges and claimed that the UCIL’s Bhopal factory adhered to the strictest safety norms.

The accused, mostly Indians, have been tried under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections including section 304 (A) (causing death by negligence, 336 (acts endangering life or personal safety of others) and 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of IPC.

Bhopal gas tragedy: ‘Prosecution has a weak case’

Four organizations of survivors of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy on Saturday said the Indian government is responsible for the “criminal negligence” in the prosecution of those accused of responsibility in the world’s worst corporate massacre.

They said that as the Minister in charge of the federal investigating agency Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) , the Prime Minister must accept blame for the prosecuting agency’s “incompetence and mishandling of the case”.

“Justice will be done in Bhopal only if the individuals and corporations responsible for the deaths of over 25, 000 and toxic exposure and damage to over half a million people are punished in an exemplary manner,” said representatives of the four organizations.

Dancing to music blasting from sound trucks Sunday, they condemned homophobia and demanded equal rights for homosexuals. They also said they would push candidates in this year Brazil’s presidential election to support their cause. As Brazil looks to elect new leaders in October, pride organizers somehow abused and themed this year’s event “Vote against homophobia.”

“We’re bringing a strong theme this year to encourage people to vote for candidates who really are doing something on behalf of LGBT people,” Alexandre Santos, president of the Association of LGBT Pride Parade in Sao Paulo, stated.

Brazil decriminalized being gay in 1830 and discrimination based on sexual orientation was outlawed in 1988. But many rights – including marriage – remain out of reach and violence against LGBT people is on the rise. Homophobic attacks left 198 people dead last year. (Brazil does recognize legal gay marriages from other countries.)

A river of gay men, lesbians, cross dressers and even heterosexual couples flowed down skyscraper-lined Avenida Paulista in what is billed as the world’s biggest gay pride parade.

Organizers expected about 3.2 million people, but will not release a tally until Monday. Police have not provided a crowd estimate. The event continues to draw thousands of tourists every year and has eclipsed Sydney’s legendary gay pride parade as the world’s largest.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

“We have to accept that even though the situation seems to be more back to normal now, the problems of terrorism and security still exist,” Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in his weekly television address. “We are reviewing the appropriate time to lift the state of emergency.”

Abhisit invoked emergency rule in the protest-hit capital on April 7, banning public gatherings of more than five people and giving broad powers to the police and military. While the mass rally by the anti-government “Red Shirts” in Bangkok ended following a deadly army crackdown on the protesters’ encampment on May 19, the strict emergency laws remain in place.

The Red Shirt protests which began in mid-March sparked outbreaks of violence that left a total 89 people dead, mostly civilians, and nearly 1,900 injured. Enraged protesters went on a rampage of arson after the military assault on their rally base.

The unrest also spread outside the capital, particularly in the Reds’ stronghold in the impoverished northeast.

The demonstrators were campaigning for elections they hoped would oust the government, which they view as undemocratic because it came to power with the backing of the army after a court ruling threw out the previous administration. Human rights campaigners have voiced concerns that the government’s use of the sweeping emergency powers lacks transparency and violates freedom of expression.

Authorities have jailed more than 300 suspects under the emergency decree, according to the justice ministry. New-York based Human Rights Watch has written to Abhisit demanding a full list of names and conditions of the detainees, who can be held for 30 days without charge under emergency rule.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Thai prime minister, has started the process of reshuffling his cabinet following a vote of no-confidence last week. It is the latest fallout from last month’s deadly military crackdown on anti-government protesters in Bangkok’s central commercial district which left dozens dead.

As the Thai capital struggles to recover from the recent violence, residents gather in the city to turn it back into the vibrant metropolis it was before the crisis. It seems not everybody likes to change things in Bangkok, most of us just want their life back and Bangkok City to return to normal. What is your opinion?

The parents of Aldi Rizal say their boy started smoking cigarettes at 18 months old when his father, Muhammad, introduced him to the habit. They say Rizal screams, slams his head against the floor and even gets sick with withdrawal if he does not get his cigarettes.

His father pays 50,000 rupiah (five U.S. dollars) every day for two packs of Marlboro cigarettes – Rizal’s favourite. Yet Muhammad, 30, a fisherman, claims his son is in healthy condition, weighing 25 kilograms.

Rizal is undergoing a rehabilitation program under the supervision of Indonesia’s National Child Protection Commission.

The commission also provides psychological treatment for the toddler. Footage of the child smoking that had been posted on the video sharing website, YouTube, drew world-wide attention to the incident.

Some cities in Indonesia, including Jakarta, have banned smoking in public places but the rules are widely flouted. The industry minister said that between 1960-2005, cigarette production jumped more than six-fold to 220 billion cigarettes.

The boy has been under the care of the National Commission on Child Protection since late last month and is receiving psychological therapy, commission chairman Arist Merdeka Sirait said.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

“We have managed to reduce cigarettes he smokes from 40 to 20,” he said. “We keep him busy with activities such as learning, playing and going on recreational trips, but it’s very hard to wean tobacco addicts of cigarettes and it takes time.” Sirait said the commission was also treating two other smoking infants.

“Many smoking parents are unaware of the danger of smoking and they just give children their cigarettes when they ask for them,” he added. He also blamed the phenomenon on blatant cigarette advertising on television.

“We confirm that a 33-year-old Swiss male national has been arrested in relation to the case,” a spokesman for the Singapore Police Force told AFP.

No further details were available pending the investigation into the incident, which took place in May.

The Swiss embassy in Singapore had no immediate comment.

Subway operator SMRT said it was helping police with the investigation, but gave no further information.

The train has been scrubbed clean but this clip from video-sharing site YouTube shows the vandalized train as it left a suburban station.

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

The Straits Times newspaper reported Friday that the suspect was believed to have cut his way into the depot, a restricted zone surrounded by fences topped with barbed wire.

Singapore, a close US ally, considers itself a prime target of Southeast Asian extremists and lists the train system among possible points of attack, along with the airport and US-linked establishments.

Vandalism is punishable in Singapore by three to eight strokes of the cane as well as jail terms of up to three years and a maximum fine of 2,000 Singapore dollars (1,424 US).

An American teenager, Michael Fay, garnered global headlines in 1994 when he was jailed and caned in Singapore after he was found guilty of vandalizing several cars. Fay was caned despite a US appeal for clemency.

What do you think about the Swiss Graffiti?

Does the train look nicer with it?

Would this be a good way of making the boring Singapore Subway a bit more funky?

Tell us your opinion and feel free to share this story as usual …

And it will open soon, exactly on the 28th of October 2010. Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is still under heavy construction right now as you can see in the videos below, many things still need to be done to make this a real “Ferrari” attraction. Most of the Ferrari rides are still being tested at the moment to make sure Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is really a world class attraction once the first visitors come.

Ferrari World Abu Dhabi will feature:

• Formula Rossa, the world’s fastest rollercoaster, reaching speeds of up to 240 km/h, emulating the feeling of being in a Ferrari F1 car
• G-force experience taking passengers on an adrenaline-pumping ride up over 62m, through the roof and back down again
• State-of-the-art racing simulators as those used by the Ferrari racing team
• Flume ride journey through the heart of a Ferrari 599 engine
• Driving and Racing school for junior drivers, with expert training
• Aerial voyage over Italy following a Ferrari

Apart from these attractions you can find many dining and shopping opportunities at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and of course a wide range of unique and exclusive hotel properties to choose from with over 2,200 rooms provided by seven hotels on Yas Island. Sounds exciting, let’s see the video now…

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

We are definitely excited to go there for some real “Ferrari” feeling, what about you?