"We're all with you": These were the words of Aung San Suu Kyi, a recently freed, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and an icon for Democracy in Burma. These words were in response to the growing situation in Egypt involving one of the largest displays of protest in the nation's history.
Issues involved in the protests include but are not limited to police brutality, low minimum wages, inflation, and the lack of free speech and elections. Suu Kyi supports the efforts of these protesters seeking a better Egypt and comments that people "have much better means of getting in touch with each other and arranging mass public demonstrations such as they have done in Egypt".
World views on the situation have been mixed but hopefully a peaceful solution can be found.
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630684.html
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Poh Chen Shui CAUGHT in Fiji Bank Fraud
Recently, a Singaporean businessman by the name of Poh Chen Shui was caught for engaging in a bank fraud that's worth was 50 million Euros(Equivalent to over 80 million U.S. dollars)
What happened is that Shui went to Fiji and started up a business back in January of 2009 with two Fji natives: Rajnesh Singh and Atunaisa Veitata. The trio called this company Full Creations Investments Ltd. A forged bank draft with the worth of 50 million Euros was then deposited by Veitata in an attempt at easy money but was discovered by the bank to be fake.
Reports indicate that Rajnesh Singh was using this forgery in an attempt to buy several acres of land belonging to an Anglican Church.
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_631859.html
What happened is that Shui went to Fiji and started up a business back in January of 2009 with two Fji natives: Rajnesh Singh and Atunaisa Veitata. The trio called this company Full Creations Investments Ltd. A forged bank draft with the worth of 50 million Euros was then deposited by Veitata in an attempt at easy money but was discovered by the bank to be fake.
Reports indicate that Rajnesh Singh was using this forgery in an attempt to buy several acres of land belonging to an Anglican Church.
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_631859.html
Vang Pao's Appeals for Arlington Burial Denied
Vang Pao, a general in Laos, was recently denied burial at the famous Arlington Cemetery where many heroes had been buried in the past, including the Kennedy's, other former presidents and military leaders.
Vang Pao has recently passed away at the age of 81 after having served for the Royal Lao Army from the 1940's up to 1975. Based on the pre-established conditions of burial at Arlington Cemetery as described by the Federal Code of Regulations, there is no rule specifically preventing Pao's burial there.
The committee organizing the funeral wanted to do it in a traditional Hmong style alongside burial with honors at Arlington but were unfortunately denied. Pao's dedicated supporters and followers are currently appealing to U.S. President Barack Obama to potentially overturn this decision.
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_631917.html
Picture of Vang Pao:
http://riverdaughter.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/vangpao.png
Vang Pao has recently passed away at the age of 81 after having served for the Royal Lao Army from the 1940's up to 1975. Based on the pre-established conditions of burial at Arlington Cemetery as described by the Federal Code of Regulations, there is no rule specifically preventing Pao's burial there.
The committee organizing the funeral wanted to do it in a traditional Hmong style alongside burial with honors at Arlington but were unfortunately denied. Pao's dedicated supporters and followers are currently appealing to U.S. President Barack Obama to potentially overturn this decision.
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_631917.html
Picture of Vang Pao:
http://riverdaughter.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/vangpao.png
Continued Border Disputes Between Cambodia and Thailand
Recently, a third day of fighting has broken out between the two neighboring Southeast Asian nations Cambodia and Thailand. Despite a cease fire, deployed troops continue to ravish the disputed border situated around the Preah Vihear Temple.
The temple itself was began in the 9th century as a tribute to Shiva. It is situated in the Phnom Troap mountain ranges in Northern Cambodia.
A world court ruling back in 1962 confirmed that the site belongs to Cambodia but this claim has been disputed by many Thai people. This was not the first act of violence in this border dispute, perhaps the first and most famous of these modern day confrontations began in 2008 labeled as the "Cambodian-Thai Stand-Off".
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_631864.html
Map of Cambodia-Thailand:
http://www.search-internetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/fe36d_CambodiaThailandBorder.jpg
The temple itself was began in the 9th century as a tribute to Shiva. It is situated in the Phnom Troap mountain ranges in Northern Cambodia.
A world court ruling back in 1962 confirmed that the site belongs to Cambodia but this claim has been disputed by many Thai people. This was not the first act of violence in this border dispute, perhaps the first and most famous of these modern day confrontations began in 2008 labeled as the "Cambodian-Thai Stand-Off".
Link to article:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_631864.html
Map of Cambodia-Thailand:
http://www.search-internetmarketing.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/fe36d_CambodiaThailandBorder.jpg
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Wharton Publications names CIVETS: the New BRICs
CIVETS is formed by Colombia Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa. Insert this address on your browser for the full insight: http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=2679
SEASA <3's
News Updates for Week of January 24th
Singapore – Drew USD 10.1B in Fixed Asset Investments
Singapore’s powerful economic rebound and Asia's roaring growth lured companies from around the world to invest here last year. The strong investment momentum broke a few records and is expected to continue into this year, the Economic Development Board (EDB) said on Monday. In its annual recap, the EDB said companies last year committed to pour USD 10.1 billion into fixed assets such as factories and machinery here, handily beating the board's forecast of USD 8 billion to USD 9.5 billion. All this bodes well for job seekers. When completed, the projects committed to last year will result in 21,300 new skilled jobs, the most ever.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_628001.html
image from www.livetradingnews.com
Thailand – Yellow Shirts Return to Street Politics
More than a thousand people have camped out around the government's compound since Tuesday, demonstrating against its handling of a border dispute with neighbouring Cambodia. Despite relatively small numbers compared to their arch enemies - the anti-government 'Red Shirts' whose most recent rally attracted nearly 30,000 people - the group has managed to choke off streets around Government House. Tensions centre on 4.6 sq km of land around the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which the World Court ruled in 1962 belonged to Cambodia, although the main entrance lies in Thailand. 'I came here to help my country. We have to fight to protect our land,' said a protester.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630014.html
image from www.bbc.co.uk
Philippines – Fire Killed 12
Twelve people were killed in a huge fire that razed some 100 houses in a poor residential area in the Philippine capital on Sunday, authorities said. The fire at suburban Navotas city, north of Manila, began before midnight Saturday and lasted for about five hours. Among the twelve killed, five were children.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630028.html
Philippines - Terror Alert after Bus Bomb Kills 4
A bomb on a packed bus in the Philippines' financial hub killed four people on Tuesday, sparking a warning from President Benigno Aquino that the country faced a raised terror threat. Authorities said it was too early to say who was behind the explosion as the bus travelled along one of Manila's busiest roads, but Mr Aquino ordered security forces on alert.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_628362.html
Malaysian Student Gang-Raped in London
An 18-year old Malaysian student in London was allegedly gang-raped by several Russian men, including an intelligence officer who has been charged with the offence. The Sun tabloid of London, which broke the story on Thursday, reported that the girl had attended a party at the prestigious Bellerbys College in Greenwich, South London, where she is studying. The report, quoting sources, claimed that the girl was allegedly drugged and then filmed while being assaulted by seven Russian men, including the intelligence officer identified as Oleg Vladimirvich Ivanov, 23. The seven men had claimed to be students, but it quoted well-informed sources as saying that Ivanov worked in the Intelligence Section of the Moscow Police.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630012.html
Indonesia – Anti-graft Body Detains 19 Politicians
A sign that one of Indonesia's long-awaited corruption trials will begin soon, its anti-graft commission has detained 19 current and former Members of Parliament over alleged bribery related to the appointment of a central banker.
The suspects are accused of receiving traveller's cheques worth 150 million rupiah (S$21,400) to 1.45 billion rupiah each to elect Ms Miranda Goeltom as senior deputy governor of Bank Indonesia in 2004. Current legislators said KPK, the anti-graft body, could have overstepped its legal mandate. Nevertheless, Indonesia Corruption Watch coordinator Adnan Topan Husodo said it was a 'big step by KPK, a good move to start 2011'.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630010.html
Myanmar – First Parliament in Decades
Myanmar is preparing to open its first session of parliament in more than two decades, a major step in the ruling military's self-styled transition to democracy but one being carried out with little fanfare or public enthusiasm. Delegates are gathering for Monday morning's simultaneous opening of the 440-seat lower house and 224-seat upper house in a massive new building in Naypyitaw, the remote city to which the capital was moved from Yangon in 2005. One-quarter of the seats in each chamber are given under the 2008 constitution to the military, supporting criticism that the so-called roadmap to democracy is a fig leaf for continued rule by the army.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630024.html
Thailand – Coral Crisis Part of Thai National Agenda
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is planning to make 'efforts against coralbleaching' a national agenda.
Many diving sites at famous marine national parks in the Andaman Sea have been closed to tourists since Jan 21 after coral bleaching killed a large portion of reefs. The head of the DNP, Mr. Songtham, says they are considering the use of zoning, admission fee hike and a ceiling on number of divers each day.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_629739.html
Malaysia - Politician's "No Handshake" Stirs Row
A Malaysian politician has caused a stir by declining to shake hands with men as she campaigned in a tight by-election, triggering debate across Malaysia's racial and religious divide.
Normala Sudirman, a rising star within the conservative Islamic party (PAS) which belongs to the opposition alliance, said her faith prohibits close contact between unrelated men and women. 'We (Muslim women) do not even shake hands with Muslim men,' she said this week, defending her stance against allegations that it was a sign of the rising 'Islamisation' of the multicultural state.
Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country, is ruled by a coalition of race-based parties including the Malaysian Chinese Association. Malaysia's ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities, who follow Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism among other religions, complain their rights are being trampled by the imposition of Muslim values on their way of life.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_628123.html
image from marvelousarchive.blogspot.com
Thanks for checking in this week guys!
SEASA <3's
Singapore’s powerful economic rebound and Asia's roaring growth lured companies from around the world to invest here last year. The strong investment momentum broke a few records and is expected to continue into this year, the Economic Development Board (EDB) said on Monday. In its annual recap, the EDB said companies last year committed to pour USD 10.1 billion into fixed assets such as factories and machinery here, handily beating the board's forecast of USD 8 billion to USD 9.5 billion. All this bodes well for job seekers. When completed, the projects committed to last year will result in 21,300 new skilled jobs, the most ever.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_628001.html
image from www.livetradingnews.com
Thailand – Yellow Shirts Return to Street Politics
More than a thousand people have camped out around the government's compound since Tuesday, demonstrating against its handling of a border dispute with neighbouring Cambodia. Despite relatively small numbers compared to their arch enemies - the anti-government 'Red Shirts' whose most recent rally attracted nearly 30,000 people - the group has managed to choke off streets around Government House. Tensions centre on 4.6 sq km of land around the ancient Preah Vihear temple, which the World Court ruled in 1962 belonged to Cambodia, although the main entrance lies in Thailand. 'I came here to help my country. We have to fight to protect our land,' said a protester.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630014.html
image from www.bbc.co.uk
Philippines – Fire Killed 12
Twelve people were killed in a huge fire that razed some 100 houses in a poor residential area in the Philippine capital on Sunday, authorities said. The fire at suburban Navotas city, north of Manila, began before midnight Saturday and lasted for about five hours. Among the twelve killed, five were children.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630028.html
Philippines - Terror Alert after Bus Bomb Kills 4
A bomb on a packed bus in the Philippines' financial hub killed four people on Tuesday, sparking a warning from President Benigno Aquino that the country faced a raised terror threat. Authorities said it was too early to say who was behind the explosion as the bus travelled along one of Manila's busiest roads, but Mr Aquino ordered security forces on alert.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_628362.html
Malaysian Student Gang-Raped in London
An 18-year old Malaysian student in London was allegedly gang-raped by several Russian men, including an intelligence officer who has been charged with the offence. The Sun tabloid of London, which broke the story on Thursday, reported that the girl had attended a party at the prestigious Bellerbys College in Greenwich, South London, where she is studying. The report, quoting sources, claimed that the girl was allegedly drugged and then filmed while being assaulted by seven Russian men, including the intelligence officer identified as Oleg Vladimirvich Ivanov, 23. The seven men had claimed to be students, but it quoted well-informed sources as saying that Ivanov worked in the Intelligence Section of the Moscow Police.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630012.html
Indonesia – Anti-graft Body Detains 19 Politicians
A sign that one of Indonesia's long-awaited corruption trials will begin soon, its anti-graft commission has detained 19 current and former Members of Parliament over alleged bribery related to the appointment of a central banker.
The suspects are accused of receiving traveller's cheques worth 150 million rupiah (S$21,400) to 1.45 billion rupiah each to elect Ms Miranda Goeltom as senior deputy governor of Bank Indonesia in 2004. Current legislators said KPK, the anti-graft body, could have overstepped its legal mandate. Nevertheless, Indonesia Corruption Watch coordinator Adnan Topan Husodo said it was a 'big step by KPK, a good move to start 2011'.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630010.html
Myanmar – First Parliament in Decades
Myanmar is preparing to open its first session of parliament in more than two decades, a major step in the ruling military's self-styled transition to democracy but one being carried out with little fanfare or public enthusiasm. Delegates are gathering for Monday morning's simultaneous opening of the 440-seat lower house and 224-seat upper house in a massive new building in Naypyitaw, the remote city to which the capital was moved from Yangon in 2005. One-quarter of the seats in each chamber are given under the 2008 constitution to the military, supporting criticism that the so-called roadmap to democracy is a fig leaf for continued rule by the army.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_630024.html
Thailand – Coral Crisis Part of Thai National Agenda
The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) is planning to make 'efforts against coralbleaching' a national agenda.
Many diving sites at famous marine national parks in the Andaman Sea have been closed to tourists since Jan 21 after coral bleaching killed a large portion of reefs. The head of the DNP, Mr. Songtham, says they are considering the use of zoning, admission fee hike and a ceiling on number of divers each day.
http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_629739.html
Malaysia - Politician's "No Handshake" Stirs Row
A Malaysian politician has caused a stir by declining to shake hands with men as she campaigned in a tight by-election, triggering debate across Malaysia's racial and religious divide.
Normala Sudirman, a rising star within the conservative Islamic party (PAS) which belongs to the opposition alliance, said her faith prohibits close contact between unrelated men and women. 'We (Muslim women) do not even shake hands with Muslim men,' she said this week, defending her stance against allegations that it was a sign of the rising 'Islamisation' of the multicultural state.
Malaysia, a predominantly Muslim country, is ruled by a coalition of race-based parties including the Malaysian Chinese Association. Malaysia's ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities, who follow Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism among other religions, complain their rights are being trampled by the imposition of Muslim values on their way of life.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_628123.html
image from marvelousarchive.blogspot.com
Thanks for checking in this week guys!
SEASA <3's
Sunday, January 23, 2011
News Updates for Week of January 16th
First of all, Happy New Year to all SEASAlites! Hope you will all have a terrific year ahead!
Starting off, our first news piece of the year, Suu Kyi Gets Access to Internet
Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi has finally had Internet access installed at home after her years of isolation were brought to an end two months ago, an aide said on Friday.
Her security chief Win Htein said, 'but she cannot use the Internet now as she is not feeling well and is coughing.’ It is believed that the Nobel laureate has never before surfed the web. Suu Kyi, who was locked up for seven straight years with no telephone or Internet until November, has expressed an interest in using the micro-blogging site Twitter or the social network Facebook to reach young people.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_626742.html
New Vietnam General Secretary
picture from vietnamembassy-usa.org
Vietnam’s Communist elite picked Nguyen Phu Trong, 66, current chairman of the lawmaking National Assembly, to be the next general secretary of the Communist Party. In addition, three high ranking party members were re-elected.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_625720.html
Malaysia - Increase in Alcohol Permits
The number of permits to sell liquor in Malaysian has increased since 2008 owing to the influx of foreign tourists. He added that the Malaysian Government would not prevent non-Muslims from consuming alcoholic beverages because it was their right to do so. Tourism and Culture committee chairman Mr. Takiyuddin said the money collected from such permits was not included in the municipal council accounts. 'Such monies will either be donated to temples or used to finance minor projects within the municipality,' he said.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_625866.html
Malaysia - Police Crackdown on Baby-selling Syndicate
Police rescued the babies - one aged five days and two who were seven days old - during an operation conducted by the Bukit Aman vice, gambling and secret societies unit. They expect to make more arrests soon. Initial investigations revealed that the babies were sold for between RM15,000 and RM20,000 (USD4,900and USD 6,500) each, depending on their appearance and health.
Commissioner Bakri said police had monitored the syndicate's movement since July when two raids in Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur saw the rescue of 22 babies and arrest of 30 people. http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_625758.html
Singapore - Gary Ng Arrested for Sex Offences
Gary Ng sentenced to 50 months in prison and a USD15,600 fine. Chen Guilin alias Gary Ng, 28, had admitted to having 507 obscene films, mostly of himself having sex with other women. Some of the women were willing parties for the filming while others were not. He had hidden a video camera in a plastic bag with a slit to film his acts and uploaded some on the Internet.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_626141.html
Vietnam - Cold Spell Disrupts Country
A cold spell over the past three weeks has killed at least seven people as well as more 20,000 cows and buffalos. Temperatures have plunged as low as -3.6 degrees C, whereas the norm for this period is typically around 15 degrees C. Children and the elderly also have swamped hospitals, mostly with respiratory illness. The cold spell was forecast to last at least two more weeks.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_626745.html
Thailand - Closing Dive Site due to Bleaching
Thailand is closing dozens of dive sites to tourists after unusually warm seas caused severe damage to coral reefs in the Andaman Sea, one of the world's top diving and beach resort regions, authorities said on Thursday. The coral bleaching is caused by an increase in the ocean temperatures.
Other parts of South-east Asia have also suffered. An international team of scientists studying bleaching off Indonesia's Aceh province found that 80 per cent of some species have died between May and August.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_626618.html
Indonesia - Blackberry to Stop Access to Porn
Indonesia’s Information Minister says he's happy so far with BlackBerry's efforts to filter pornography from its smartphones in the world's most populous Muslim nation. Among the websites no longer visible are Playboy and many other porn websites.
BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion Ltd agreed earlier this week to filter out porn in the nation of 237 million by Friday after the government threatened to revoke its operating license here.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_626246.html
OPINION
Indonesia - Tax Collector who Has Rp 25 Billion
For the past year, Indonesia has been shocked by the case of Gayus Tambunan, a low-ranking tax collector, who has a fortune of Rp 25 billion, or approximately USD 3 million, in his bank account. Day after day, many newspapers put the case developments on the front page. They follow the controversies related to his ability to attain such large amount of cash, for instance the possibility of existence of an international money laundering syndicate that had been backing him, possible political games that attempt to curb the large political party Golkar from power, etc. Many ask if these are not just attempts by higher powers to keep the news from uncovering the real and more significant corruption issues in Indonesia. As of January 19th, Gayus is sentenced to seven years in prison.
Thanks for checking in! See you soon!
SEASA <3's
Starting off, our first news piece of the year, Suu Kyi Gets Access to Internet
Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi has finally had Internet access installed at home after her years of isolation were brought to an end two months ago, an aide said on Friday.
Her security chief Win Htein said, 'but she cannot use the Internet now as she is not feeling well and is coughing.’ It is believed that the Nobel laureate has never before surfed the web. Suu Kyi, who was locked up for seven straight years with no telephone or Internet until November, has expressed an interest in using the micro-blogging site Twitter or the social network Facebook to reach young people.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_626742.html
New Vietnam General Secretary
picture from vietnamembassy-usa.org
Vietnam’s Communist elite picked Nguyen Phu Trong, 66, current chairman of the lawmaking National Assembly, to be the next general secretary of the Communist Party. In addition, three high ranking party members were re-elected.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_625720.html
Malaysia - Increase in Alcohol Permits
The number of permits to sell liquor in Malaysian has increased since 2008 owing to the influx of foreign tourists. He added that the Malaysian Government would not prevent non-Muslims from consuming alcoholic beverages because it was their right to do so. Tourism and Culture committee chairman Mr. Takiyuddin said the money collected from such permits was not included in the municipal council accounts. 'Such monies will either be donated to temples or used to finance minor projects within the municipality,' he said.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_625866.html
Malaysia - Police Crackdown on Baby-selling Syndicate
Police rescued the babies - one aged five days and two who were seven days old - during an operation conducted by the Bukit Aman vice, gambling and secret societies unit. They expect to make more arrests soon. Initial investigations revealed that the babies were sold for between RM15,000 and RM20,000 (USD4,900and USD 6,500) each, depending on their appearance and health.
Commissioner Bakri said police had monitored the syndicate's movement since July when two raids in Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur saw the rescue of 22 babies and arrest of 30 people. http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_625758.html
Singapore - Gary Ng Arrested for Sex Offences
Gary Ng sentenced to 50 months in prison and a USD15,600 fine. Chen Guilin alias Gary Ng, 28, had admitted to having 507 obscene films, mostly of himself having sex with other women. Some of the women were willing parties for the filming while others were not. He had hidden a video camera in a plastic bag with a slit to film his acts and uploaded some on the Internet.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_626141.html
Vietnam - Cold Spell Disrupts Country
A cold spell over the past three weeks has killed at least seven people as well as more 20,000 cows and buffalos. Temperatures have plunged as low as -3.6 degrees C, whereas the norm for this period is typically around 15 degrees C. Children and the elderly also have swamped hospitals, mostly with respiratory illness. The cold spell was forecast to last at least two more weeks.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_626745.html
Thailand - Closing Dive Site due to Bleaching
Thailand is closing dozens of dive sites to tourists after unusually warm seas caused severe damage to coral reefs in the Andaman Sea, one of the world's top diving and beach resort regions, authorities said on Thursday. The coral bleaching is caused by an increase in the ocean temperatures.
Other parts of South-east Asia have also suffered. An international team of scientists studying bleaching off Indonesia's Aceh province found that 80 per cent of some species have died between May and August.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_626618.html
Indonesia - Blackberry to Stop Access to Porn
Indonesia’s Information Minister says he's happy so far with BlackBerry's efforts to filter pornography from its smartphones in the world's most populous Muslim nation. Among the websites no longer visible are Playboy and many other porn websites.
BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion Ltd agreed earlier this week to filter out porn in the nation of 237 million by Friday after the government threatened to revoke its operating license here.
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_626246.html
OPINION
Indonesia - Tax Collector who Has Rp 25 Billion
For the past year, Indonesia has been shocked by the case of Gayus Tambunan, a low-ranking tax collector, who has a fortune of Rp 25 billion, or approximately USD 3 million, in his bank account. Day after day, many newspapers put the case developments on the front page. They follow the controversies related to his ability to attain such large amount of cash, for instance the possibility of existence of an international money laundering syndicate that had been backing him, possible political games that attempt to curb the large political party Golkar from power, etc. Many ask if these are not just attempts by higher powers to keep the news from uncovering the real and more significant corruption issues in Indonesia. As of January 19th, Gayus is sentenced to seven years in prison.
Thanks for checking in! See you soon!
SEASA <3's
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