PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Wrists bent and fingers curled, the immaculately dressed dancers perform a series of gestures that, according to ancient custom, carry the wishes of the Khmer kings to the heavens.

Sporting golden head-dresses, the dancers slowly stretch back their wrists and - standing on one leg - perform a set of moves with their hands representing offerings of leaves, flowers and fruit to the gods.

Apsara dance, a classical style of the Angkorian era, nearly vanished in the 1970s under Cambodia's Khmer Rouge communist regime, which exterminated much of the country's heritage along with up to two million people.

But the dance is making a comeback after its unique moves were painstakingly recorded by experts who studied sculptures and wall carvings from Angkor Wat's temples, which are roughly 1,000 years old.

Come April 1, Myanmar media to write history with daily papers

YANGON (AFP) - After embracing the Internet age and filing breaking news on Twitter and Facebook, Myanmar's long-muzzled reporters are gearing up for another revolution - daily newspapers.

Thailand sentences man to 3 years in prison for royal insult

BANGKOK (AP) - A Thai man has been sentenced to three years and four months in prison for selling video CDs of an Australian TV news segment deemed offensive to Thailand's royal family.

Half of Indonesians live in areas at risk of landslides, says official

JAKARTA (AFP) - More than half of Indonesia's population live in areas at risk of landslides, an official said on Thursday, with traditional farming methods blamed for the widespread vulnerability.

Thailand kicks off peace talks with rebels with an ice-breaking session

KUALA LUMPUR - Peace talks between the Thai government and a major southern Thailand Muslim rebel group are set to begin in earnest on Thursday with an ice breaking session between the groups, a senior Thai government official said.

 

 

Cold Storage, Tangs to roll out mobile positioning technology in stores by year-end

Shoppers at selected Cold Storage supermarket outlets and Tangs department stores will be among the first to be able to use their mobile devices to navigate within these stores.

$77 million worth of service charge rebates for 800,000 HDB households

Around 800,000 Singaporean HDB households can expect to receive $77 million worth of Service & Conservancy Charges rebates in 2013. These rebates were announced during Budget 2013 to help households cope with increases in the cost of living.

Competition Commission of Singapore fines 12 motor traders for bid-suppression

The Competition Commission of Singapore (CCS) fined 12 motor vehicle traders for breaching the Competition Act.

LTA revamps its One.Motoring website after survey feedback

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has revamped its One.Motoring website to make accessing information more convenient.

Decision on ex-UBS banker's commercial sex with a minor case in late April

The defence and prosecution gave closing arguments on Thursday after a three-day trial of Swiss national Juerg Buergin, who is accused of two counts of obtaining commercial sex with a minor in the online vice ring case. District Judge Eddy Tham adjourned the case for the parties to submit further. He will give his verdict on April 30.

 

 

28 March 2013

Rosewood haul snared near border

More than seven cubic metres of rosewood with an estimated value of at least $218,000 was seized by joint border authorities as smugglers attempted to cross from Thailand into Banteay Meanchey.

 

Activist Yorm Bopha denied bail

Supporters of imprisoned Boeung Kak lake land activist Yorm Bopha surged into the grounds of the Supreme Court in Phnom Penh, screaming and crying, after Bopha's second appeal for bail was rejected and she was escorted to a van bound for Prey Sar prison.