Indonesia

April 9, 2014 Edition

Valerie Castro

This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.

  1. MILF forms political party

    The Moro Islamic Front (MILF) has created is own political party, the United Bangsamoro Justice Party, in preparation for joining mainstream politics. Ghadzali Jaafar, MILF vice chair for political affairs, said Wednesday, April 9, they finalized plans to form the party late 2013 after meeting with local leaders and the policy-making body of the MILF. The group had recently signed a historic peace agreement with the Philippine government that seeks to end more than 4 decades of conflict in the south.

    Read the full story on Rappler.

  2. Bishops on RH law: Stop being reactionary

    File photo by Roy Lagarde/Rappler

    Catholic bishops on Tuesday, April 8, urged Catholics to stop being an “RH-law-reactionary group” and instead move on. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines led by Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said the Church should have a “positive message” even as hardliners like former senator Francisco Tatad called for civil disobedience. This was in reaction to the Supreme Court decision to uphold the constitutionality of the RH law, at the same time striking down 8 of its provisions either partially or in full.

    Read the full story on Rappler.

    The story on the Supreme Court decision is also on Rappler.

  3. US, China defense chiefs clash over China territorial disputes

    AFP Photo/Paul J. Richards

    While diplomatically calling for more dialogue between their two countries, US defense chiefs Chuck Hagel and his Chinese counterpart General Chang Wanquan traded warnings and rebukes during a meeting in Beijing. One member of the audience told Hagel the US feared China’s rise and was sowing trouble among its neighbors to “hamper” Beijing because it will one day be too big a challenge to cope with. Hagel denied this, even as he emphasized that the US commitment to its allies in the region is “unwavering.”

    Read the full story on Rappler.

  4. WHO: West Africa’s outbreak ‘most challenging’

    Ever since the deadly Ebola virus surfaced in Africa 4 decades ago, the latest unprecedented outbreak in West Africa is regarded by health workers as the “most challenging” yet. World Health Organization assistant director-general Keiji Fukuda said they are concerned about the spread of the virus from its epicenter in the forests of southern Guinea, a place in Africa they had never had an outbreak before. Ebola leads to hemorrhagic fever, causing, among others, muscle pain, vomiting, and in severe cases, organ failure and unstoppable bleeding. Most severe strains have had a 90% fatality rate.

    Read the full story on Rappler.

  5. Indonesians troop to polling stations

    Polling stations opened for Indonesia’s parliamentary elections expected to bring Jakarta governor Joko Widodo or “Jokowi” a step closer to being president. The incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is unlikely to be re-elected after his Democratic Party emerged No. 4 in polls, following a string of corruption scandals. This year’s elections, the 4th since the end of authoritarian rule in 1998, will determine who can run in presidential polls on July 9. Widodo is expected to be challenged by Prabowo Subianto, although he lags far behind in the polls.

    Read the full story on Rappler.

  6. US senator pleads not guilty to gun smuggling

    File photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/AFP

    California state senator Leland Yee, a Democrat and ally of Filipino-Americans, pleaded not guilty to bribery and gun-running charges that could land him behind bars for life. Yee, now suspended, appeared before a San Francisco federal courthouse on Tuesday, April 8. He is the highest profile among 29 defendants caught in an FBI sting operation that initially targeted San Francisco Chinatown’s gang underworld but ended up with an exposé of political corruption as well. An arrest warrant affidavit showed Yee desperate to pay campaign debt.

    Read the full story on Rappler

  7. ‘Heartbleed’ bug found in encryption software

    Heartbleed graphic from Heartbleed.com

    Hackers can take advantage of a freshly discovered bug, called “Heartbleed,” and retrieve passwords and other personal data coursed through the Internet. The bug was discovered in OpenSSL encryption software which is used to protect passwords, credit card numbers and other private data and information. One of the security research teams that discovered the security flaw, Codenomicon, set up the Heartbleed.com website and tested the flaw on their own systems. They were able to steal from themselves secret keys, “user names and passwords, instant messages, emails and business critical documents and communication,” Codenomicon said. In a tweet, it also advised, “Patch now.”

    Read the full story on Rappler.

  8. Roach: Religion alone won’t win fight for Pacquiao

    Photo by Jhay Otamias/Rappler

    Long-time Manny Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said it’s not religion or faith, but conditioning that will make his boxer win against Timothy Bradley on Saturday, April 12. “God doesn’t win the fight, God doesn’t care who wins the fight,” Roach told Rappler. “I think the guy who works the hardest will win the fight. We don’t need to thank anybody but ourselves for working hard. The best shape fighter that night will win the fight.” Pacquiao lost by split decision his first fight against Bradley.

    Read the full story on Rappler.

  9. Twitter has a new face

    On Tuesday, April 8, Twitter rolled out to a select group of users its latest design that appears to be more visual. Bearing a striking resemblance to Facebook, it has enhanced profile pages that are not only more visual but also more personal. The new redesign, which now features a larger header photo, was first tested last February, just a month after a January redesign that mirrored aesthetics of its smartphone apps. Twitter said new users will automatically get the new profile redesign, while everyone else will have to wait for the rollout in the coming weeks.


    Read the full story on Rappler.

  10. Gabriel Garcia Marquez in ‘delicate’ state

    Nobel literature laureate Gabriel Garcia Marquez went home to his Mexico City residence after a week-long hospitalization for pneumonia. The 87-year-old Colombian writer, however, remains in a “delicate” condition, officials said. He was hospitalized on March 31 and treated with antibiotics for lung and urinary tract infections. He had “quite severe pneumonic symptoms,” Health Minister Mercedes Juan said. He will recover at home where an oxygen tank, medical bed and yellow roses, have been sent.

    Read the full story on Rappler.

Add a comment

Sort by

There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.

Summarize this article with AI

How does this make you feel?

Loading
Download the Rappler App!