Indonesia News
K-Pop Fans Raise Palestine Funds to Spite Trolls
Indonesian trolls were quick to criticize the outpouring of grief online over the alleged suicide of Jonghyun, of the massive K-Pop group SHINee. They accused the K-Pop fans of caring more about one celebrity than thousands of Palestinians. So a team of Jonghyun started raising funds for Palestine, as well as social and animal welfare groups in Jakarta. They’ve brought in more than Rp 63 million ($4,797 USD) to date. —CNN Indonesia
US Immigration Wants to Deport 51 Indonesian Christians
The US immigration police (ICE) is fighting a legal battle against the federal courts, which ordered a delay in the deportation of 51 Indonesians, all of Chinese descent, who have been living in the country since the `98 riots. The courts say the Indonesians need time to explain why they would face danger if they are sent home. ICE says they’ll be fine. —Republika
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Courts Jail Another Corrupt Businessman In e-KTP Graft Case
A court handed down another guilty verdict in the widening investigation into allegations that a cadre of politicians and businessmen made off with more than half the money allocated to the e-KTP project. Andi Narogong, a businessman, was sentenced to eight years behind bars for paying House Speaker Setya Novanto $7 million USD in bribes to secure the contract. —Kompas
Persib’s Michael Essien Isn’t Going Anywhere
The Ghana-born footballer, a star foreign player for Persib Bandung, says he will renew his contract for another season. The ex-Chelsea FC midfielder’s signing raised hopes in Bandung, but his first season with Liga 1 was widely seen as a disappointment. —Liputan6
International News
Cambodia Considers Thai-Style Lese Majeste Laws
PM Hun Sen’s government, which is currently shuttering newspapers and cracking down on all opposition voices, wants another weapon in its already sizable arsenal to combat free speech: lese majeste laws. Cambodia now wants to make it illegal to criticize the king, a move that will likely allow authorities to jail anyone critical of Hun Sen as well, since he is endorsed by the king. —Asian Correspondent
MLM Scammer Detained in Malaysia Moments After Release From Singapore Jail
James Phang Wah, the founder of the multi-level marketing Sunshine Empire, was recently brought up on fresh charges mere moments after being released from a Singaporean jail. He was previously sentenced to nine years behind bars for masterminding Singapore’s biggest ponzi scheme to date. But his Sunshine Empire also can an office in neighboring Malaysia, where he now faces new charges based on the same crime. —Channel News Asia
Taiwan Arrests Members of Pro-Beijing Party In Spying Investigation
Four members of the tiny New Party—a pro-Beijing political party with no elected officials—were arrested early this week, prompting allegations of “persecution” by Chinese officials. Authorities say they found a large about of renminbi in one of their homes and accused them of plotting with another man, who was already charged with spying. All four deny the allegations. —NY Times
Myanmar Bans UN Human Rights Investigator From Entering Country
Yanghee Lee, a UN special rapporteur investigating allegations of ethnic cleansing in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, has been barred from entering the country after making statements critical of the government following a previous visit. The ban, she said, suggested that there was “something terribly awful happening” in the country.—Reuters
Everything Else
How Indonesia’s Aura Photography ‘King’ Helped Me See the ‘Real’ MeKing Gunawan went to the US in the ’90s to study under under Guy Coggins, the US engineer who discovered aura imaging photography. Now he photographs people from his Central Jakarta studio to help them find their “full potential.” —VICE
KFC Japan Debuts Low-Odor Fried Chicken You Can Eat on Public TransitUntil the end of December, you can go to the temporary KFC location in Tokyo’s Shinjuku subway station to get two pieces odorless fried chicken for just $4.44 USD. —VICE
Queer Women Ruled Pop This YearThank you, St. Vincent, Kehlani, Syd, and other queer women who are holding it down in 2017. —Noisey
The Site Tracking Sexual Misconduct Allegations Linked to Every MovieOverwhelmed by the allegations of sexual harassment in the film industry? Don’t worry, Rotten Apples will help you remember which of your favorite movie was made by alleged harassers. —VICE
