Indonesia News
Man Shot Wife with Illegally Purchased Guns
Ryan Helmi, a doctor with a record of domestic violence, fatally shot his wife Letty Sultri yesterday. Gun-related homicides are relatively rare in Indonesia. Helmi illegally purchased two guns at Rp 45 million ($3,326 USD). The police is now trying to find the person who sold the guns to Helmi. —Detik
Jokowi: No ‘Clash’ Between KPK and Police
SetNov has been named a suspect in the high profile national ID corruption case by the anti-graft commission (KPK), again. In response, his lawyer reported two KPK officials, Agus Raharjo and Saut Situmorang for allegedly abusing their power. Today, President Joko Widodo reminded the police to stop their investigation if there’s no legal proof. “I don’t want any clash [between KPK and police],” he said. —Kompas
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Indonesia Loses WTO Appeal Over Food Dispute with US and New Zealand
Indonesia is going to get more food and meat products from the US and New Zealand, since Indonesia lost an appeal ruling at the World Trade Organization to keep its import restrictions. Previously, Indonesian officials had argued that they’re concerned about halal standards from the two countries and the temporary surpluses of food in Indonesia. —Reuters
Holocaust Victim Advocates Condemn Hitler Wax Figure at a Yogya Museum
De Mata Museum in Yogyakarta shows off a wax figure of Adolf Hitler placed against the backdrop of a picture of Auschwitz concentration camp, and it’s pissing people off. Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC), a Los Angeles-based organization that advocates for Holocaust victims, has spoken against the exhibit. “”Everything about it is wrong. It’s hard to find words for how contemptible it is,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the center. Hitler’s wax figure is placed next to that of Darth Vader and President Joko Widodo, and is popular with visitors. —Associated Press
International News
Japan Wants to Cash-In on Casinos, But Will the Yakuza Take Over?
As the country mulls a proposal to legalize casinos inside of resort towns, as US industry expert offered two points of advice: keep the yakuza out and drinking to a minimum. The yakuza previously seized control of Japan’s only legal gambling option: pachinko. —Japan Times
Singapore Arrests 38-Year-Old Housewife Attempting to Join ISIS
Police say Munavar Baig Amina Begam was radicalized online and prepared to undergo military training and take up arms to defend ISIS territory in the Middle East if asked. She was detained with two men, both of them known Islamic radicals with links to the transnational terror syndicate Jemaah Islamiyah (JI). —Channel News Asia
Myanmar Court Sentences Malaysian, Singaporean Journalists to Two Months Behind Bars
A Singaporean producer, Malaysian cameraman, and two local fixers were sentenced to two months in jail for flying a drone too close to a government building. Myanmar authorities accused the four of trying to record what was going on inside the House of Representatives without permission. —Straits Times
Najib Razak May Call Snap Election Soon
The Malaysian prime minister might be mired in controversy surround the $700 million USD that entered his account as part of the 1MDB scandal, but it’s not hurting his chances of winning a snap election. The opposition is in building strength, but the ruling UMNO party has already positioned itself along ethnic and sectarian lines as the defenders of Malay Muslims. That, along with aggressive gerrymandering, may secure Najib another term in office. —The Economist
Everything Else
There’s a Very Indonesian Problem at the Heart of ‘American Horror Story’
The new season of the hit US horror anthology focuses heavily on a murderous newscaster’s ability to take advantage of people’s morbid curiosity with violence and tragedy to spread a message of fear. Sound familiar? —VICE
The Nutella Recipe Has Changed and People Are Freaking Out
Big news in the world of chocolate hazelnut goo, questionably sourced palm oil, and squirrel sterilization methods: the recipe for Nutella has changed, according to a post on a German consumer group Facebook page. And people have aren’t having any of it. —MUNCHIES
Facebook is Messing With Kids’ Brains, Says Its Ex President
The former president of Facebook now says the social media platform is “exploiting a vulnerability in human psychology” and messing with kids’ brains. “It literally changes your relationship with society, with each other …” —VICE News
Pay-Per-Beat: Inside the Underground Market Shaping Soundcloud Rap
As beat leasing becomes a common practice, artists gain independence, but what is lost?—Noisey
