News Briefs (October 2007)

Indonesians to Celebrate End of Ramadan

Indonesia began its annual mass exodus Sunday when millions of people pour out of the major cities to return to their home villages to celebrate the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Thousands have started crowding bus and train stations in the capital, Jakarta six days before Eid al-Fitr to beat the mass exodus later in the week when buses, cars and motorcycles create massive traffic jams on roads across the world's most populous Muslim nation. Transport officials estimate that nearly 15 million people will head to their home villages—up 6 percent from last year—for the two day celebration next weekend.

Every year, families form long lines at train and bus stations and tens of thousands wait for ferries at seaports around the country that is spread across more than 17,000 islands. Nearly 90 percent of Indonesia's 235 million people are Muslims. During the four weeks of Ramadan, Muslims are not supposed to eat, drink or have sex during daylight hours. On the first day of Eid al-Fitr, people flock to early morning prayers and families later gather to eat specially prepared snacks and offer them to friends and neighbors. (AP)

Friday, October 05, 2007

Vietnam's Economy Grew 8.16 percent in First 9 Months

Vietnam's economy grew an estimated 8.16 percent in the first nine months of the year, its fastest pace for the January-September period in the last ten years, the General Statistics Office said in a report published Friday. In the same period a year ago, the economy grew 7.84 percent. Gross domestic product, the value of all goods and services produced in the country, was estimated to be worth 787 trillion dong (US $49 billion) in the first nine months, the GSO said. The manufacturing and construction sector grew 10 percent from a year ago to 328 trillion dong ($20 billion) during the three quarters, representing 42 percent of total GDP. The services sector was grew 8.5 percent to 301 trillion dong (US$19 billion), accounting for 38 percent of GDP.

Slower farming production, however, dragged on overall growth. The agricultural sector grew 3 percent to 158 trillion dong (US$10 billion), accounting for 20 percent of the economy. "The agricultural sector has been beset by the outbreaks of disease which hurt poultry and animals," the GSO said. The government targets economic growth of 8.5 percent in 2007, compared with 8.17 percent growth last year. The Asian Development Bank predicts Vietnam's economy could growth 8.3 percent this year. (AP)

Philippines on Alert against Dengue

Philippine health authorities, worried about a rise in mosquito-borne dengue infections, warned residents to get rid of stagnant water and use nets to protect against mosquito bites. The Health Department declared a nationwide dengue alert after recording more than 24,000 cases and 283 deaths so far this year. There were 4,000 infections in September alone, said Eric Tayag of the National Epidemiology Center. During the same period last year, 15,000 people were infected and 188 died, the Health Department said. With the onset of the rainy season, Tayag said he expected the number of cases to rise further.

Southeast Asia has seen levels of dengue fever jump after the last major outbreak in 1998, when about 350,000 cases were reported, including nearly 1,500 deaths, the World Health Organization said. As of July, Indonesia recorded about 68,000 cases, Thailand 24,000, and Cambodia 17,000, with 748 deaths in the first half of the year, according to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. (AP)

Hollywood Supports Burma

Hollywood actor Jim Carrey will make a speech in New York on Friday calling for the United Nations Security Council to ban all international arms shipments to Burma and for strong action against the Burmese government.

Carrey is also expected to appeal to China, Russia and India to support such a resolution against the Burmese junta.

Jim Carrey is one of many Hollywood celebrities to join the effort to support human rights and democracy in Burma, with a focus on Aung San Suu Kyi, the world's only imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize recipient.