Asia Briefs: Indonesia raises Bali's volcano alert

Indonesia raises Bali's volcano alert

JAKARTA • The Indonesian authorities have raised the alert status level for a volcano in Bali following increased activity, senior officials said yesterday.

Head of the mitigation department of the national volcanology agency, Devy Kamil Syahbana, said the alert level of the Gunung Agung volcano in Karang Asem district was raised to the second-highest level on Monday night because of a spike in seismic activity.

XINHUA


Thailand acts to speed up development plan

BANGKOK • Thailand's Cabinet yesterday approved a measure to accelerate a US$45 billion (S$61 billion) plan to develop the industrial east and attract foreign investors, as the ruling junta seeks to boost long-term economic growth, a government official said.

The junta hopes the Eastern Economic Corridor development plan will lift growth to about 5 per cent a year by 2020.

REUTERS


Hunger Games sign of protest in Philippines

MANILA • Critics of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte have adopted the three-finger salute from the Hunger Games films as a sign of resistance against his rule and drug-war killings.

Opposition lawmakers and other members of a new anti-Duterte coalition performed the salute in unison on Monday while announcing protests against what they said was his "path filled with violence, contempt for law and hate".

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 20, 2017, with the headline Asia Briefs: Indonesia raises Bali's volcano alert. Subscribe