Topping up the coffers

More than 1,500 people from over 20 countries have registered for a major gems auction in Myanmar opening today, despite calls from human rights groups to block the purchase of precious stones from the military-ruled country. Merchants from China and Hong Kong usually constitute the largest contingents of buyers at the auction. This auction includes some 5,140 lots of jade,274 lots of gems and 259 lots of pearl that will be sold by the government and private dealer.

Worker falls 7 storeys to death in city

A Bangladeshi worker fell to his death yesterday from International Plaza, to the shock of commuters at a bus stop just metre away. The man, in his 30s, an employee of Seiko Architectural Wall Systems, was installing an overhead aluminium panel with two other Bangladeshis workers at the seventh-floor car park when he fell at about 2.45pm.

Sympathy verdict.’ Upped to 3-year term

The jilted man who pushed his ex-girlfriend into the path of an MRT train last year had received a “sympathy verdict”, the Court of Appeal head yesterday. Kwong Hok Hing, a permanent resident from Malaysia, had been given one year jail for attempted manslaughter and has served his sentence. Yesterday, the three judges hearing the appeal upped his total jail term to three years after unanimously agreeing he deserved a stiffer punishment.

Blast at Philippines congress kills Basilan lawmaker, raises tensions in capital

A powerful bomb ripped through a section of the Philippines house of representatives yesterday, killing two people including Philippine congressman Wahab Akbar, who represent Basilian island, a stronghold of Islamic militants, remnants of the Abu Sayyaf, an Al Qaeda linked extremist group. Mr Akbar have received death threats in the past.

‘Naval presence a problem’

Malaysia told the United Nation’s highest court yesterday that Singapore was seeking to enlarge its sea border by claiming sovereignty over Pendra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge –islets close to key shipping lanes and seeks to disrupt the longstanding arrangements in the straits. Singapore is endeavouring to create for itself a maritime domain.