SUMMARY
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The latest updates on AirAsia QZ8501, new fuel prices come the New Year, travel schedule preparations to avoid traffic on New Year’s eve and more on today’s wRap from Indonesia.
1. Seven bodies found; sonar detects AirAsia QZ8501 wreckage at bottom of sea
Following the finding of debris and 3 bodies in the waters on Tuesday, the Indonesian Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) found 4 other bodies by Wednesday morning. It brings up to the total of seven. One of the bodies found on Wednesday was wearing an AirAsia uniform, presumably one of the flight crew members.
The bodies and debris found are for the time being gathered in the Bung Tomo warship in Pangkalan Bun airport, in Central Kalimantan. They will be transported to Surabaya for identification. The search was suspended due to stormy weather on Wednesday. “We are experiencing bad weather now. Rains and winds prevented us from resuming the search operation this morning,” air force rescue coordinator S.B. Supriyadi told the Agence France-Presse.
CNN reports Wednesday, however, that Indonesian searchers say sonar equipment has detected the wreckage of AirAsia QZ8501 at the bottom of the Java Sea. It’s still unclear whether the aircraft is in one piece or broken up. Follow Rappler’s LIVE BLOG of the AirAsia flight QZ8501 here.
2. Indonesia announces new fuel prices beginning January 1
The Indonesian government on Wednesday, December 31, announced a decrease in subsidized fuel prices, following the global oil prices going down.
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration will implement a fixed diesel subsidy of IDR 1,000 (US$ 0.08) a liter. The price for diesel will be IDR 7.250 per liter. The price for premium gasoline was decreased to IDR 7.600, from IDR 8.500. “The new prices will be effective at 00:00 am on January 1, 2015,”
Energy Minister Sudirman Said said on Wednesday. In November, the Jokowi administration increased the price of premium gasoline by 31 percent and diesel by 36 percent in a bid to reallocate costly fuel subsidy spending to growth-generating infrastructure projects.
3. Sumatran tiger found dead in Solo Zoo
A Sumatran tiger at Taru Jurug Zoo in Solo was found dead on Monday, December 29. “The tiger was found dead around dusk yesterday,” Lilik Kristianto, the zoo director, told reports on Tuesday. He said that the tiger’s condition was deteriorating since found sick on Sunday.
The zoo attempted medical rescue brought from other zoos around the country to no help, according to him. “From the autopsy, we found liquid in its lungs. Not only in the lungs, but also its heart,” Lilik added. In the past one year, the Solo Zoo has lost a camel, two orangutans, and a lion.
4. Road closures ahead of Jakarta Night Festival
The Jakarta Traffic Police announced several road closures to give way for the Jakarta Night Festival in the capital’s two main roads on New Year’s eve. “[We will close the roads] from Dukuh Atas to the western part of Monas (National Monument),” A Jakarta Traffic Police head Budyanto said. The road closures will begin from 4 p.m. on Wednesday, starting from the slow lanes and will gradually close the whole roads by 6 p.m. The festival will start at 7 p.m. and will go on until 1 a.m. on Thursday, January 1, 2015. Roads will be opened again at 2 a.m.
5. Daughter of MH370 chief steward reaches out to QZ8501 pilot’s daughter
“Papa, come home. I still need you. Bring back my father. Papa, come home, Pa. Papa has to be found. Papa must come home,” Angela Anggi Ranastianis, the daughter of AirAsia QZ8501 pilot Irianto, posted on her Path account.
As a gesture of solidarity, Maira Elizabeth, the daughter of missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 chief steward Andrew Nari, reached out to Angela on Tuesday. Having been in a similar situation, Maira hoped that Angela would have faith in God and stay strong. “Yes, it is not easy, but if you leave it to God, you’ll be calm. Take it slowly and you’re gonna be fine. Know that he loves you. Pray whenever you feel sad or angry, for it’ll guide you,” Maira told Angela, as quoted by the Straits Times. —Rappler.com
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