What is Halal
Halal is an Arabic word that means "lawful" or "permitted". It refers to food or other items that are allowed under Islamic law.
What is halal food?
- Halal food is food that complies with Islamic dietary laws
- Halal food is free from haram (forbidden) substances like pork and alcohol
- Halal food is made using equipment and utensils that have been cleaned according to Islamic law
- Halal meat is slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines, known as dhabihah or zabiha
What is not halal?
- Haram substances like pork and alcohol
- Animals that were dead before slaughter
- Animals that were not slaughtered properly
- Blood and blood by-products
- Carnivorous animals
- Birds of prey
How to identify halal food?
Check for Halal certification, Read food labels, and Look for products that are free from haram substances.
UK's Brownfield
The Brabazon project is a brownfield development in Bristol, UK, by YTL Corporation. The project is transforming the former Filton Airfield, a 380-acre disused airfield and the largest brownfield site in the South West of England.
What's being built?
- Homes: 6,500 homes, including a retirement village
- Schools: Three schools and an education district
- Hotels: Three hotels
- Student beds: 2,000 student beds
- Commercial space: 60 acres of commercial space, including high tech, aerospace, and university facilities
- Entertainment complex: A 19,500 capacity carbon neutral arena, conferencing and exhibition space, and a family entertainment attraction
- Parkland: Acres of parkland
- Train station: A new railway station
Why is it important?
- The Brabazon project is YTL's first major mixed-use scheme in the UK.
- The project is intended to create a new urban community with sustainable homes and public transport connections.
- The project is intended to transform the historic site into a vibrant new neighborhood.
- The project is expected to take more than 10 years to complete.
TESSA 16 January 2025
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Yoon
Stray Cats
Malaysia has a growing population of stray cats. There are many animal shelters and organizations that help these cats, including cat sanctuaries, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and local authorities.
What to do about stray cats
- Contact authorities
You can contact the local authorities or animal shelters in your area.
- Take the cat to a vet
If the cat is injured, you can take it to the nearest vet for emergency care.
- Take the cat to an animal shelter
You can take the cat to an animal shelter or rescue organization to be scanned for a microchip.
- Report the cat
You can report the cat to the local authorities or animal shelters in your area.
- Look for lost cat posters
If the cat runs away, you can look for lost cat posters or posts on social media.
Organizations that help stray cats
- PAWS Animal Welfare Society: An animal shelter that helps stray cats
- Cat Beach Sanctuary: A no-kill, non-profit cat sanctuary in Penang that welcomes visitors and offers adoption
- Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia: An organization that works to educate the community about animal welfare and protection
Stray Dogs
Malaysia has many stray dogs, and the issue is complex. Some say that the number of stray dogs in Malaysia is in the millions.
Stray dog issues
- Stray dog management
Some say that stray dogs are managed in an inhumane way, with some being poisoned, shot, or killed by private hunters.
- Stray dog culling
Some local councils cull stray dogs, even though there are humane alternatives.
- Fear and ignorance
Some people are afraid of stray dogs, which can lead to improper management.
- Stray dog benefits
- Bio-bins: Stray dogs can help clean up the environment by eating trash that could otherwise contaminate humans.
- Keep other scavengers away: Stray dogs can keep other harmful scavengers, like rats and mice, away.
What to do about stray dogs
- Stay calm
If you encounter a stray dog, try to stay calm and don't react aggressively.
- Report to authorities
If you find a stray dog, you can contact the local animal shelter, police department, or animal control officer.
- Support organizations
You can support organizations that work to manage stray dogs, such as Persatuan Haiwan Terbiar Malaysia (SAFM) or Malaysian Dogs Deserve Better (MDDB).
TESSA 14 January 2025
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Animals
Natural Disasters
Natural disasters are harmful events that occur in nature and can impact communities and societies. Some examples of natural disasters include:
Floods
Can be caused by heavy rainfall, snowmelt, or storm surges, and can lead to loss of life and property damage.
Earthquakes
Caused by the release of energy in the Earth's crust, which can cause shaking, vibration, and ground displacement.
Volcanic eruptions
Can be explosive or subtle, and can produce lava flows, ash, poisonous gases, and flying rocks. Volcanic eruptions can also trigger other natural disasters, such as earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis.
Tsunamis
Can be triggered by underwater volcanic eruptions or landslides, and can travel thousands of miles across oceans.
Droughts
Can be just as deadly as other natural disasters, and have affected more people in the last 40 years than any other natural disaster.
Landslides
Can be caused by rainfall, snowmelt, changes in water level, earthquakes, volcanic activity, or human activities.
Tropical cyclones
A natural hazard that cannot be prevented, but its destructive power can be reduced through planning.
Other natural disasters include avalanches, heat waves, and wildfires.
Internet usage is the number of people who use the internet worldwide. Here are some statistics about internet usage:
- Number of users
As of 2024, there are 5.35 billion internet users, which is 66.2% of the world's population. This is an increase of 1.8% from the previous year, with 97 million new users coming online.
- Growth rate
The global internet user base is growing at an annual rate of 2.8%. However, growth rates in developing economies are higher.
- Average usage
The average global internet user spends 6 hours and 36 minutes online each day.
- Regional usage
Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East account for about 80% of global internet users. However, internet usage in these regions is more concentrated in urban areas and among younger and higher-earning demographics.
- Gender usage
As of April 2024, 70% of men worldwide use the internet, compared to 64.4% of women.
- Age usage
In all regions worldwide, the online usage rate is higher among people between 15 and 24 years than among older generations.
High Cost Of Living
A high cost of living is when the cost of basic expenses like food, housing, transportation, and healthcare is high relative to people's income. In Malaysia, the cost of living is high due to a number of factors, including:
- Inflation: A major contributor to the high cost of living in Malaysia
- Housing costs: The cost of city property rentals is high, which has led some Malaysians to move to suburban areas
- Taxes: Taxes on products and services are high
- Reduced subsidies: Subsidies have been reduced
- Healthcare and education: Healthcare and education expenditures are high
- Imports: Malaysia relies heavily on imports
- Imbalance between income and expenses: The gap between income and expenses is growing.
TESSA 3 January 2025
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UMMC
