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Showing posts from April, 2012

Australian Development Scholarships

Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) are long term development awards administered by AusAID. ADS aim to contribute to the long term development needs of Australia's partner countries in line with bilateral and regional agreements. They provide opportunities for people from developing countries to undertake full time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions. The study and research opportunities provided by ADS develop skills and knowledge of individuals to drive change and contribute to the development outcomes of their own country. Scholarship benefits ADS are offered for the minimum period necessary for the individual to complete the academic program specified by the Australian higher education institution, including any preparatory training. The following benefits generally apply: Full tuition fees. Return air travel—payment of a single return, economy clas

The CDSSEA Scholarship Program

The Consortium of Development Studies in Southeast Asia (CDSSEA) is awarding scholarships to candidates from Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand who would like to pursue a Master’s degree in development studies in Thailand. Under the CDSSEA scholarship Program , applicants can choose to study on one of three leading development programs, namely: the Master of Arts in International Development Studies (MAIDS) at Chulalongkorn University, the Master of Arts in Sustainable Development (MASD) at Chiang Mai University or the Master of Science in Gender and Development Studies (MGDS) at the Asian Institute of Technology. MAIDS Master of Arts in International Development Studies Chulalongkorn University MASD   Master of Arts in Sustainable Development Chiang Mai University MGDS Master of Science in Gender and Development Studies  Asian Institute of Technology The scholarship program is administered by CDSSEA, which was esta

Protecting Burma’s Heritage from Above

Irrawaddy The Bagan archaeological area and the so-called Ancient Cities of Upper Myanmar (Innwa, Amarapura, Sagaing, Mingun and Mandalay) are classified as “At Risk” by GHN while the Myauk-U archaeological area in Rakhine State, which has come under threat with the building of a railroad The ancient site of Bagan in Mandalay Division includes more than 10,000 Buddhist temples and monasteries, and was built between the 10th and 13th centuries. A satellite network watching over Burma’s most revered archaeological sites is being used to help the country develop a sustainable tourism industry and alleviate poverty—but all that could be jeopardized by poor planning management. About 90 percent of Burma’s population live at or below the poverty line while GDP per capita is the lowest in the region; however the tourist industry could be harnessed to turn that around if key sites are looked after and everything is managed responsibly. With this in mind, the Globa

Tsunami scare tests new life-saving procedures

CNN (CNN) -- Indonesia's response to a massive earthquake and a tsunami scare Wednesday highlights a critical reality: Warning systems and emergency responses have come a long way since the catastrophe of eight years ago. But there's still work to be done -- not just in Indonesia, but in some other countries throughout the region as well. Fears that Wednesday's 8.6-magnitude quake and resulting tsunami alert could bring a repeat of the 2004 disaster dissipated quickly as seismologists determined that Wednesday's events were very different and much less dangerous. In the intervening hours, Indonesia put in place many of the procedures it has worked on for years, including some practiced at a drill witnessed by CNN in 2009. "The lesson of 2004 is something that we're not going to repeat at this stage," vowed Teuku Faizasyah, a spokesman for the Indonesian president's office. Speaking to CNN while evacuations were under way in parts of his co

Syria nears ceasefire deadline under Annan plan

BBC The Syrian authorities have made no mention of troop withdrawals from urban areas Continue reading the main story Syria Crisis Divisions laid bare Opposition disunity Guide: Syria Crisis Year of protest A ceasefire for Syria proposed by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is due to come into force in the next few hours, but Western countries have publicly doubted Syria's willingness to comply. On Wednesday, Syria said it would abide by the ceasefire but reserved the right to respond to attacks. The US said Syria's pledge held "little if any credibility". The main armed rebel group said it would not stop shooting if government troops continued to attack. Mr Annan received written assurances from the Syrian foreign ministry that government troops would "cease all military fighting throughout Syrian territory as of 06:00 (03:00 GMT)... while reserving t

Indian Ocean tsunami alert lifted

Aljazeera Indonesia, India and Thailand have downgraded tsunami alerts that had been issued following powerful earthquakes off the coast of Indonesia's Aceh province, prompting evacuations from coastal regions. Wednesday's first quake was measured at a magnitude of 8.6, according to the US Geological Survey, which revised down an earlier 8.9 estimate. "Sea level readings now indicate that the threat has diminished for most areas, therefore the tsunami watch issued by this centre is now cancelled," said the US Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii, which monitored currents in the Indian Ocean following the earthquakes. A bulletin from the National Tsunami Early Warning Centre in the South Indian city of Hyderabad said: "The expected period of significant tsunami waves is now over for all threatened Indian coastal areas." LIVE BLOG An official at the centre, SA Kishore, said the highest tsunami warning level issued for the Andaman and Nicobar isl

Massive Indonesia quake triggers tsunami alert

AFP ©AFP / Chaideer Mahyuddin Acehnese people run for safety shortly after a powerful earthquake hit the western coast of Sumatera BANDA ACEH (AFP) - A massive earthquake struck off Indonesia's Sumatra island on Wednesday, triggering an Indian Ocean-wide tsunami alert and evacuation orders to clear people away from the coast. The quake's magnitude was 8.6, according a revised reading from the US Geological Survey, and struck 431 kilometres (268 miles) off the Indonesian city of Banda Aceh where terrified residents poured into the streets. The city was near the epicentre of a devastating 9.1-magnitude quake in 2004 that triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean which killed 220,000 people, including 170,000 in Aceh province which lies on the northern tip of Sumatra. The latest tremor was felt as far afield as Thailand, where skyscrapers in the capital Bangkok swayed. India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand all issued evacuation orders. ©AFP/Graphic

Huge quakes off Indonesia stir panic, but no big tsunami

Reuter y Reza Munawir BANDA ACEH, Indonesia | Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:13am EDT (Reuters) - A powerful 8.6 magnitude earthquake and a series of strong aftershocks struck off Indonesia on Wednesday, sending people scurrying from buildings as far away as southern India, but there seemed little risk of a disastrous tsunami as in 2004. Indonesia said it was checking for damage and casualties but remarkably, no such reports had been received for several hours after the quakes, including in Aceh, the closest province and the area decimated by the disaster eight years ago. However, some areas close to the epicenter are remote so it could take some time to find out if there was any damage. Many people were frightened of further tremors. "It's dark out here but I am scared to go home," said Mila, a 41-year-old woman taking refuge in the grand mosque in the town of Banda Aceh, the provincial capital. "I just want to stay alert because I fear there will be more quake

sunami fears recede after Indonesia earthquake but nations across Indian Ocean remain on alert

Tre News An 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesia this morning, raising fears of a huge tsunami as in 2004, but authorities said there are no reports suggesting a major threat. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage in Aceh, the Indonesian province closest to the earthquake. The quake struck at 9.38am Irish time and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said soon afterwards a tsunami watch was in effect for the entire Indian Ocean. It later said the threat of a big tsunami had receded, although the warning remained in place. "It doesn't look like a major tsunami. But we are still monitoring as tsunamis come in waves," Victor Sardina, a geophysicist on duty at the Hawaii-based institute, told Reuters. Individual countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India, issued their own warnings. People near the coast in six Thai provinces were ordered to move to higher ground and au

Big quake strikes off Indonesia, tsunami warning issued

Yahoo News BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - A powerful 8.6 magnitude earthquake and a series of strong aftershocks struck off Indonesia on Wednesday, sending people scurrying from buildings as far away as southern India, but there seemed little risk of a disastrous tsunami as in 2004. Indonesia said it was checking for damage and casualties but remarkably, no such reports had been received for several hours after the quakes, including in Aceh, the closest province and the area decimated by the disaster eight years ago. However, some areas close to the epicentre are remote so it could take some time to find out if there was any damage. Many people were frightened of further tremors. "It's dark out here but I am scared to go home," said Mila, a 41-year-old woman taking refuge in the grand mosque in the town of Banda Aceh, the provincial capital. "I just want to stay alert because I fear there will be more quakes coming. We are human, it is only natural tha

Wall Of Water: The Tsunami Explained

Sky News During a tsunami the ocean suddenly floods the coast, smashing everything in its path, and then just as quickly recedes. Large quakes are the main cause of tsunamis, but they can also be sparked by other cataclysmic events, such as volcanic eruptions and even landslides. During a strong quake, oceanic plates can lurch many metres and rupture the ocean floor. This movement can suddenly move a massive amount of water. :: Read about today's quakes in Indonesia Major quakes that rupture the ocean floor are usually shallow quakes occurring at a depth of less than 44 miles (70km). The 9.1 magnitude quake that caused the devastating 2004 Boxing Day tsunami was 18 miles (30km) below the seafloor. Recent Deadly Quakes and Tsunamis     :: Japan, March 2011 - A 9.0-magnitude earthquake hits underwater, causing a tsunami that kills more than 19,000 people     :: Haiti, January 2010 - A 7.0-magnitude earthquake kills between 250,000 and 300,000 people     :: Sichu

Tsunami Warnings Lifted After Indonesia Quake

Sky News Tsunami warnings triggered by a powerful earthquake and aftershock off the coast of Indonesia have been lifted in countries surrounding the Indian Ocean. An 8.6-magnitude earthquake southwest of Indonesia's Sumatra island on Wednesday morning (GMT) was followed hours later by an 8.2-magnitude aftershock. Tsunami warnings were issued in countries around the region, including in India, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. Terrified people fled their homes and headed for higher ground, as disaster officials scrambled to assess the nature of the seismic events. The US Geological Survey said the first quake originated 20 miles (33km) underground and 271 miles (437km) from Banda Aceh, on Sumatra. The second incident was detected 10 miles (16km) beneath the ocean floor and some 383 miles (617km) from the Indonesian town. Just before the powerful aftershock, reports said the sea at Simeulue Island, south of Sumatra, had receded by about 10 metres. Location of initial