Mexico City explosion

Just saw on TV news of the Mexico City explosion which occurred at approximately five minutes to 4pm in the afternoon, Mexico time. More info as follows:

CNN
Blast rocks Mexican state-run oil company offices
Mexico City (CNN) -- Workers were injured in an explosion at the administrative offices of Mexico's state-run Pemex oil company in the country's capital Thursday, state media reported.

At least 30 people were trapped in the building after the blast, CNN affiliate Foro TV reported.

Citing local authorities, Foro TV said five people were killed, and 75 people were injured. CNN has not independently confirmed details about casualties from the explosion.


BBC
Mexico City explosion at Pemex, state oil giant
An explosion has rocked the headquarters of state oil company Pemex in Mexico City, leaving at least 22 people wounded, reports say.

"An explosion took place in the B2 building of the administrative centre," Pemex said in a message on Twitter.

"There are injuries and damage on the ground floor and mezzanine," it said. The cause of the blast is not known.

Emergency services are digging for survivors and the injured
Last September, 30 people died in an explosion at a Pemex gas plant in northern Mexico.

Television pictures showed rubble from the blast spread out on to the street in front of the building, and Red Cross ambulances on the scene attending to the injured, the BBC's Will Grant reports from Mexico City.
File photo of the Pemex Executive Tower in Mexico City The 54-floor Pemex building is 214 metres (702 feet) tall

At this stage there is no official explanation for the explosion, our correspondent adds.


Reuters
Explosion rocks Mexican oil giant Pemex offices, injures 20
(Reuters) - An explosion rocked the Mexico City headquarters of state oil giant Pemex on Thursday, killing one person, injuring more than 20 others and causing extensive damage to the building.

A local emergency official said one person had died in the blast and 22 others were injured. Another four people were trapped inside the skyscraper, the official said.

The blast, which media reports said was caused by machinery exploding, occurred in the basement, emergency officials said.

Pemex initially said the building had been evacuated because of a problem with its electricity supply. It then said there had been an explosion, but did not say what had caused it.

What's in store in the Sixth Lunar Month

Today is the first day of the sixth lunar month and according to a prediction I read about this lunar month, (from 19th Jul to 16th Aug), this is going to be an intense month and which it’s intensity will build up very quickly.

The report went on to say there will be displays of aggressive behaviour with people fighting to lead and having a strong desire for independence and freedom. This will be caused by people’s willingness to do what it takes to achieve their objectives that will include doing the right thing as well as adopting any underhanded means. Spreading rumours, engaging in gossip, partaking in corruption or scandals might be considered and adopted.

However, there will be rewards, job opportunities, good news and even money making opportunities in the midst of such misery. However such positive outcomes will not come about easily and be without conditions. A great deal of diligence, self-discipline, an eye for details, patience and perseverance will be required to work through the odds. Even though it will be necessary to work hard, it will also be vital to maintain good healthy habits and avoid being a workaholic. You might want to prioritize your tasks to handle important matters and plan your schedule properly. Failure to do so might result in a high likelihood of losing control and end up in a cycle of a cat catching its tail.

Incidents recorded in The Star in the past week or so include..

UK border staff vote for strike during Olympics
Passengers arriving for the London Olympic Games could face long queues at airports after a union representing passport officials said its members had voted to back a strike in a dispute over pay and job cuts.

Protesters stand under red umbrellas during a Day of Action for the 2014 Health Accord in Vancouver, British Columbia July 18, 2012. The red umbrella has been adopted by health care advocates and medical practitioners concerned about the federal government's announced cuts to provincial health transfers in coming years. The protest was held in several cities across the country. -Reuters - 19 July, 2012

Mapuches take part in a protest against the government by placing their hands through a barrier into a jar of cement, which hardened around them, in a public square in Valparaiso city, about 121km (75 miles) northwest of Santiago (Chile) July 18, 2012. -Reuters - 19 July, 2012

Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest in front of the ruling government party Popular Party headquarters in Madrid July 13, 2012. Spain created an emergency fund to protect its regional governments from defaulting and warned pensions will also be overhauled as public anger mounted on Friday over the deep spending cuts needed to dodge an international bailout. REUTERS/Juan Medina - 14 July, 2012

Firefighter Fabian Corona, 36, remains tied with strings and chains to a lighting post at Zocalo square in Mexico City July 11, 2012. Corona, a firefighter for 16 years, along with seven other colleagues, began on Tuesday a hunger strike as they claimed that they were unfairly dismissed. - REUTERS/Edgard Garrido - 12 July, 2012

An Occupy Wall Street activist takes part in a march in downtown Manhattan in New York July 11, 2012. - REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz - 12 July, 2012

A protester wearing a mask takes a photo with a cellphone at the entrance to Congress in Guatemala City, July 10, 2012. A group which calls itself Anonymous Guatemala, is protesting outside Congress against the high salaries of politicians and unnecessary expenses when the people in Guatemala are still poor, according to the protesters. REUTERS/Jorge Dan Lopez - 11 July, 2012

...and something pretty for a change..

A young woman picks sunflowers as the sun sets near the small Bavarian village Puchheim on July 18, 2012. Meteorologists forecast nice sunny weather during next two days for southern Germany. -AFP - 19 July, 2012


Sources:
- www.jmine.com.sg
- The Star

Bird flu 'emergency' declared in Mexico

Today is a lovely day out there. No complaint. We have to thank our lucky stars that we are just battling the haze here in our country, and that too is only intermittently. Out there, people are fighting wildfires in Colorado, unrest in many parts of the world including in Timbuktu where there are tomb attacks, or in Syria where patients at a military hospital in Syria were killed by "custom injections". What about the Eurozone crisis that is causing unemployment rises to record high 11.1%. And more..

The Star reported today that

The Mexican government declared a national animal health emergency on Monday in the face of an aggressive bird flu epidemic that has infected nearly 1.7 million poultry.

The article added that more than half the infected birds have died or been culled, the agriculture ministry said of an epidemic that was confirmed on Friday by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The outbreak was first detected on June 20. On Friday, 1.7 million birds had been contaminated and 870,000 had died at 10 breeding farms in the western state of Jalisco as reported by the FAO.

The emergency was declared on Monday and include provisions for quarantine, slaughter, vaccination, and the destruction of infected products.

Poultry farming contributes up to 40 percent of the total volume of the country's livestock production.

Wherever you are reading this, I pray you are safe and well.


Source: The Star..Mexico declares bird flu 'emergency'

7.4-magnitude earthquake in Mexico

The Star reported that a major earthquake struck Mexico on Tuesday, unleashing panic as it damaged hundreds of buildings and caused homes in the capital to bounce like "trampolines".

Bridge falls on minibus in Mexico quakeSource: By the CNN Wire Staff
The 7.4-magnitude quake that shook Mexico City for more than a minute sent office workers fleeing into the streets. Cell phone lines went down, building were evacuated, traffic snarled and the stock exchange had to suspend trading early.

The good news is no deaths were reported and the quake caused no major disruptions to air travel or to oil installations, but it scared many residents.

A map from CNN showing the location of the earthquake..

The White House says President Barack Obama's oldest daughter, Malia, is safe and never was in danger during a strong earthquake Tuesday in Mexico.

Malia, 13, accompanied by Secret Service agents, has been in Oaxaca in southwestern Mexico for a school-sponsored service project. The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was felt strongly in Oaxaca.

The quake was followed by an aftershock that shook southern Mexico, swayed buildings in Mexico City and sent frightened workers and residents into the streets. (The Associated Press)

A video indicating how far the earthquake was felt..

Romantic Cancun Vacation

Every year, The Star would feature on its frontpage someone's romantic gesture for Valentine's Day. Last year was a romantic boyfriend sending 99 roses to his lady-love and this year's feature is a fiance proposing marriage by way of a billboard ad which he forked out RM40K to have it up for a day along a busy stretch of highway.

I think I'd prefer a romantic cancun vacation. Cancun is half a world away in Mexico in the part that is referred to as Riviera Maya, a world of sensuality and seclusion on white sandy beaches.



At Karisma Resort, holiday-makers will get to experience an elite level of service that makes a vacation truly relaxing. Beach beds with retractable curtains for impromptu moments of ocean-view intimacy, beachside bar swings, dedicated Beach Butlers and design-conscious details all bespeak a private haven of privilege. Hot tubs and hammocks, swim-up rooms with ocean views, white gauze curtains floating over four poster beds, sunset margaritas served by a Beach Butler on a private stretch of sand, exquisitely presented food prepared by expert chefs...…it’s all part of Karisma’s way of continuous pampering. These are what memories of a romantic holiday are made of.

Karisma offers five signature resorts:

1. El Dorado Royale Spa Resort (adults only)
2. El Dorado Seaside Suites (adults only)
3. Azul Beach (family-friendly)
4. Azul Blue (family-friendly
5. Hidden Beach Resort (naturalist) - caters to nudists who desire luxury and comfort.

Something uniquely extraordinary about Karisma is its Gourmet-Inclusive concept which provides exceptional quality and personal dining experiences. They only use the finest authentic ingredients and produce most of their foods inhouse. Each property bakes its own bread and pastry on a daily basis. They make their own pasta. All of their sauces are made from scratch as they do not believe in pre-made or canned foods.

For the diet-conscious, there are low-carb menus, lobster-only menus, South Beach diet options and other specials are available at Azul Beach’s eclectic Blue Restaurant.


A Cancun vacation at Karisma Resort would certainly be the most romantic vacation anyone could ever experience, with luxurious accommodations and invigorating entertainment that would meet the satisfaction of any discerning traveler.