THE STRAITS TIMES – Authorities on the Indonesian tropical island Bali released 33 endangered green sea turtles into the ocean on Saturday in an effort to boost a population threatened by poachers and illegal traders. More details in Sunday’s Borneo Bulletin.
PHNOM PENH (AP) – Cambodia’s Foreign Minister on Saturday defended Prime Minister Hun Sen’s trip to Myanmar, the first by a foreign leader since the military takeover last year plunged the country into turmoil, though there was little evidence the mission yielded any immediate breakthrough. More details in Sunday’s Borneo Bulletin.
BEIJING (AP) – A strong overnight earthquake shook a sparsely populated area in western China early on Saturday and forced the suspension of high-speed rail service because of tunnel damage, authorities said. More details in Sunday’s Borneo Bulletin.
CHONGQING (XINHUA) – Three people were killed and 14 remained trapped after a blast rocked a canteen of a subdistrict office in Wulong District, southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality at noon yesterday.
The accident took place at 12.10pm as suspected gas leakage triggered the explosion and caused the collapse, trapping 27 people inside. As of 6pm yesterday, 10 people were rescued and three were found dead. Rescuers are still looking for the 14 others trapped in the damaged building.
According to witnesses, people were having lunch in the canteen when the blast took place.
The Ministry of Emergency Management has dispatched a workgroup and several experts to guide the rescue efforts.
More than 150 firefighters and professional rescuers as well as a group of rescue dogs are racing against time to search the trapped people.
UPI – A viral video showing a woman carrying a lion in her arms on a Kuwait street shows the aftermath of the animal’s escape, local authorities confirmed.
The video, which circulated widely online after being shared on social media, shows a young woman carrying a young lion in her arms last Sunday in the Sabahiya area, south of Kuwait City, while the animal appears to struggle.
Environmental police said the lion belongs to the woman and her father. Officers helped capture the big cat when it was spotted wandering the streets, and it was returned to the woman’s custody.
Exotic animals, including lions, are legal to be kept as pets in Kuwait.
Daniel Lim
A 63-year-old man died following a car crash at the U-turn along the 84.1km mark of the Lumut Highway on Thursday night.
The driver of the other vehicle, meanwhile, sustained serious injuries.
Four other passengers who sustained minor injuries are reported to be in stable condition.
The accident was reported on the emergency hotline 993, the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) stated.
Preliminary investigations revealed one driver was found unconscious when RBPF personnel arrived at the scene.
The drivers and the other passengers were rushed to the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Kuala Belait by Emergency Medical Ambulance Services (EMAS) personnel with help from the Fire and Rescue Department.
The RBPF is investigating the cause of the accident, and urged drivers to always be alert and drive carefully.
They also highlighted the importance on the use of safety belts, adhering to speed limits, and to pay attention on the road, especially at night.
UPI – A rare copy of Marvel Comics’ The Incredible Hulk #1 smashed a world record when it was auctioned for USD490,000.
ComicConnect.com, which handled the sale, said the comic book, which was sold to an anonymous buyer, is a rare object for collectors. The auctioned comic is made all the more rare by its 9.0 Very Fine/Near Mint quality grading.
“Highly-graded copies of Hulk #1 are notoriously hard to find, due to the cheap paper used and the smudging of the grey colour on the front cover,” ComicConnect.com Chief Operating Officer Vincent Zurzolo said in the company’s announcement.
Zurzolo said there are only seven copies of the same issue known to exist with higher ratings, and it is extremely rare to find one offered for sale.
“The new owner of this book now owns a special piece of American mythology that will continue to gain in value,” Zurzolo said.
“It will be a cornerstone of his collectible investment portfolio. Hulk will only continue to get bigger with time, if you know what I mean.”
Zurzolo said the sale represents the highest price ever paid for a copy of The Incredible Hulk #1. He said the sale is part of a growing trend in vintage comic book sales.
MOSCOW (AP) – The President of Kazakhstan said yesterday he authorised law enforcement to open fire on “terrorists” and shoot to kill, a move that comes after days of extremely violent protests in the former Soviet nation.
In a televised address to the nation, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev blamed the unrest on “terrorists” and “militants” and said that he had authorised the use of lethal force against them. “Those who don’t surrender will be eliminated,” Tokayev said.
He also blasted calls for talks with the protesters made by some other countries as “nonsense”. “What negotiations can be held with criminals, murderers?” Tokayev said.
Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry reported yesterday that 26 protesters had been killed during the unrest, 18 were wounded and more than 3,000 people have been detained. A total of 18 law enforcement officers were reported killed as well, and over 700 sustained injuries.
Kazakhstan is experiencing the worst street protests since the country gained independence three decades ago. The demonstrations began over a near-doubling of prices for a type of vehicle fuel and quickly spread across the country, reflecting wider discontent over the rule of the same party since independence.
Protests have turned extremely violent, with government buildings set ablaze and scores of protesters and more than a dozen law enforcement officers killed. Internet across the country has been shut down, and two airports closed, including one in Almaty, the country’s largest city.
In a concession, the government on Thursday announced a 180-day price cap on vehicle fuel and a moratorium on utility rate increases. Tokayev has vacillated between trying to mollify the protesters, including accepting the resignation of his government, and promising harsh measures to quell the unrest, which he blamed on “terrorist bands”.
A Bangladeshi national was issued a BND500 compound fine for committing an offence under S34(2) of the Telecommunications Order, 2001 by offering for sale and selling telecommunications equipment without a valid licence.
The offender was given 14 working days to settle the fine.
During an investigation, the officers from the Enforcement Unit of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) found the man offering for sale several walkie-talkies and other telecommunication accessories.
The offender did not possess a valid dealer’s licence from the AITI to sell telecommunications equipment.
The walkie-talkies were also not approved and there was no evidence of any import permit documents necessary to assure that the walkie-talkies conformed to national safety and technical standards.
AITI cautioned the public that using non-conforming telecommunications equipment may cause interference to other telecommunications equipment, stations, networks or systems.
Other effects include power disruptions or leakages, inability of the device to function as intended as well as causing harm.
The public can also help in the efforts to stop unlawful activities by e-mailing info@aiti.gov.bn to lodge complaints.
Adib Noor
The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) held a Doa Kesyukuran ceremony yesterday to welcome the return of 30 RBAF personnel who were deployed for 13 months as part of the Malaysian Battalion 850-8 (MALBATT) under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission.
The RBAF contingent, led by Major Zulazri bin Gapor returned to Brunei Darussalam on
December 3, 2021.
The event, held at Surau Ad-Difa’, Bolkiah Garrison were attended by Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof and Commander of the RBAF Major General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin
Haji Sahat.
Service Commanders, RBAF Joint Force Commander, Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, officers and personnel of the Ministry of Defence and the RBAF were also present.
The event, which coincided with the ministry and RBAF’s Halaqah Jumaat, began with Sayyidul Istighfar, recitation of verses of Al-Quran, a Tazkirah and Dikir Marhaban.
The ceremony concluded with the recitation of Doa Kesyukuran and Sunat Dhuha prayers.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi presented certificates to the contingent officers and personnel.
RBAF has participated in UNIFIL peacekeeping missions for more than a decade since 2008 as part of RBAF’s commitment towards international peace and security under the United Nations’ Resolution 1701 (UN Resolution 1701:2006).
According to RBAF, the international mission is in line with the Sultanate’s aspirations highlighted in the Brunei Darussalam Defence White Papers. These peacekeeping missions are an important investment not only for the image of RBAF and the personnel involved but also for the country in the context of defence diplomacy.
On September 3, 2021, RBAF continued its deployment of personnel to the UNIFIL peacekeeping mission under MALBATT 850-9 contingent.
