Latest Southeast Asia News
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Indonesia to raise subsidized fuel prices
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono 's governing coalition pushed through this week. Because of its heavy subsidies, Indonesia the end of 2012 had the lowest fuel prices of any net oil-consuming nation in the world, the World Bank said. While the United States was ranked second-lowest, U.S. gasoline is nearly twice as expensive. The budget approved Monday calls for prices to increase 44 percent per ...
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Fujairah Crown Prince receives Sudanese Ambassador and Consuls General of Algeria Tajikistan Singapore
WAM FUJAIRAH, June 19th, 2013 (WAM) -- H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Mohammed Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, has received in his office at the Emiri Court, the Sudanese Ambassador to the UAE, Ahmed Sadeeq Abdul Hai, who paid a courtesy visit at the end of his tenure in the country. Sheikh Mohammed wished the Sudanese Ambassador success in his new assignment. Sheikh Mohammed also ...
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Singapore in smog alarm as Indonesia forest fires rage
SINGAPORE (AFP) - Smog levels in Singapore hit a record high on Wednesday as raging forest fires from neighbouring Indonesia triggered a major health alarm and sent residents of the densely populated city-state scrambling for face masks.Singapore's air pollutant index soared past the government-designated "hazardous" level of 300 before midnight as officials in both countries ...
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Conquering Everest begins with safe landing at a tiny Nepal airstrip
LUKLA, Nepal // As soon as the decades-old Twin Otter landed at Lukla airport, passengers burst out in applause. They do that for nearly every safe landing at the often terrifying airport at the gateway to Mount Everest. At an altitude of 2,843 metres, the small airstrip here has earned a reputation as one of the most extreme and dangerous airports in the world. The single runway is narrow, ...
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Fuel consumption up ahead of price rise
State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina's corporate communication vice president Ali Mundakir in Jakarta on Wednesday described significant increases in premium and diesel fuel consumption ahead of price rises expected later this week.On Tuesday, consumption of premium reached 90,000 kiloliters, up by 12.5 percent from the normal 80,000 kiloliters.Meanwhile, the diesel fuel consumption ...
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Gyula Horn former Hungarian prime minister dies
BUDAPEST, Hungary -; Gyula Horn, a former Hungarian prime minister who played a key role in opening the Iron Curtain, has died at the age of ...
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FIFA suspension could hit exhibition games
Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president Worawi Makudi has warned Thailand may not be able to host the coming exhibition matches featuring four European clubs - including English and Spanish league champions Manchester United and Barcelona - if Fifa suspends the Thai FA's membership. The world soccer governing body threatened to suspend the association following the cancellation of ...
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Singapore chokes in smoke from Indonesian blazes
Singaporeans rolled back military training, kept cough-stricken children indoors and considered wearing protective masks to work after a smoky haze triggered by forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia caused air pollution to briefly hit its worst level in nearly 16 years. Singapore's main measurement of air quality has hovered in the "unhealthy" classification as smoke from roaring blazes on ...
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Indonesia Military tribunals being used to shield human rights violators
The trial of 12 Kopassus (Special Forces Command) soldiers accused of the extrajudicial execution of four detainees is likely to be little more than a sham warned Amnesty International as the military hearing opens on Thursday."These courts should never be used to try those accused of human rights violations. They are biased, and they create an intimidating environment for witnesses to ...
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Indonesia To Make Rain To End Sumatra Fires
Indonesia is to use weather changing technology to try to produce rain to put out raging fires on Sumatra island that have cloaked neighbouring Singapore in thick haze. The city-state, home to 5.3 million inhabitants, has been pressing Jakarta to take action over the fires which have pushed air pollutant levels on the island to a 16-year high. The government planned to use a technology ...
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Sri Lanka will fight - Mathews
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews on Wednesday vowed that his fighting team were prepared to put recent history behind them when they face India in the semifinals of the Champions ...
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Singapore smog reaches record high govt
SMOG levels in Singapore from Indonesian forest fires have hit the highest level on record as the air pollutant index approached the "hazardous" ...
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Karzai boycotts US-backed talks with Taliban because of Pakistani hand
Hamid Karzai suspended negotiation with Washington on Wednesday over a bilateral security agreement, angered by the perceived betrayal of Kabul by the Americans, who in turn appeared to have been suckered by Taliban. The terrorist group, given political stamp of approval by the Obama administration on Tuesday, killed four US soldiers in an attack hours after the talks agreement, despite ...
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British Supreme Court ruling threatens Western sanctions against Iran
By Clare Hutchison LONDON (Reuters) - Western government sanctions against Iran suffered a big setback on Wednesday when Britain's top court ruled that the government was wrong to have imposed sanctions on the biggest Iranian private bank ...
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Rights Group Prosecute Alleged Arms Dealer
A human rights group is calling on Sierra Leonean authorities to investigate a suspected arms dealer. U.N. investigators have alleged Ibrahim Bah supplied arms to rebels during Sierra Leone’s civil war. to De Capua report on Ibrahim Bah The civil war lasted 11 years, ending in 2002. During that time, RUF and AFRC rebels committed many atrocities, including murder, amputations, ...
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Foundation to Mark Mandelas 95th Birthday
The foundation says that on July 18, the former South African president's birthday, charities, businesses and individuals will take part in a day of service called the Mandela Day campaign. Participants are being asked to do good deeds for 67 minutes to mark Mr. Mandela's 67 years of activism and public work. Some of the suggested actions include volunteering at schools, ...
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President Obama Delivers Berlin Speech
Flanked by Chancellor Angela Merkel and Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit, U.S. President Barack Obama waves at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin June 19, ...
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Paris Exhibit Captures Mandelas Journey
PARIS -- The fragile health of former South African president Nelson Mandela has been making headlines in recent days. But a new exhibition in Paris takes a step back - looking at Mandela's evolution from political prisoner to one of the world's most beloved and respected politicians. Produced by the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, the show kicks off a year of cultural events in ...
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Inmates Fight Fires Gain Skills for Life After Prison
LOS ANGELES -- The western state of California is known for wildfires that can quickly burn out of control, and this year the fire season has been extremely busy. Because of the fire risk, the state has some of the most experienced firefighters in the industry. It also enlists the help of prisoners to stop the fires. Every morning, a select group of inmates in orange jumpsuits heads to work ...
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Stock Markets Watch Bernanke
Top officials of the U.S. central bank are discussing how much and how soon to reduce their efforts to speed up economic growth. The chairman of the Federal Reserve will report their decisions Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. Ben Bernanke has previously said the bank will cut stimulus efforts if the unemployment situation improves further or inflation rises strongly. Stock markets have ...
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WikiLeaks Founder Completes Full Year in Ecuador Embassy
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange waves from a window with Ecuador's Foreign Affairs Minister Ricardo Patino (R) at Ecuador's embassy in central London June 16, ...
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Obama Silent on US Arms to Syrian Rebels
U.S. President Barack Obama says Syria's government has lost its legitimacy by killing tens of thousands of its citizens in a bloody civil war, but he refused to describe the type of military support Washington will provide rebel forces. Speaking at a news conference Wednesday in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Obama said reports the United States is heading into a new ...
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Southeast Asian Nations Partners to Discuss Regional Security
BANGKOK -- Foreign Ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and their dialogue partners are gathering in Brunei for a three-day meeting beginning June 29. The ASEAN meetings are expected to discuss a range of security and economic issues. Top diplomats representing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, 16 Western and Asian countries, and the European Union will meet in ...
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Sri Lankas Mathews vows fight against India
CARDIFF, United Kingdom (AFP) - Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews on Wednesday vowed that his "fighting team" were prepared to put recent history behind them when they face India in the semi-finals of the Champions Trophy.Thursday's match in Cardiff is a repeat of the 2011 World Cup final, which India won by six wickets in Mumbai despite a superb century from Sri Lanka's ...
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Paris tackles rudeness to tourists with new manual
PARIS, June 19 | Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:29pm EDT PARIS, June 19 (Reuters) - One of the world's most visited cities but also famous for its rudeness, Paris has embarked on a campaign to improve its reputation and better cater to the needs of tourists. Waiters, taxi drivers and sales staff in the French capital all too often come off as impolite, unhelpful and unable to speak foreign ...
Myanmar Focus
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Foreign couple's novel approach to helping Burmese village
The political situation in Myanmar is well-known throughout the world, but often overshadows the circumstances of local people and our rich culture. A couple overseas have combined the two to create an unusual approach to helping the people of one village in the country.
Myanmar is one of the most politically and socially isolated countries in the world, much bad press is leveled at our country for decisions made and actions taken that the people are not responsible for and while attention focuses on the political dynamic of the country, the plight of many Burmese such as poverty, lack of access to water and education, become overshadowed. One family in the United States has taken a novel approach to giving back to a country that has stolen their hearts. Read more
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