pgs

For the benefit of those in/around Sydney that may not be aware, next weekend (10 & 11 March, 2012), the Thai Grand Festival is on at Darling Harbour.
Listed start time is 11:00 both days - previous years, this meant 10AM.

Probable 'bit after 9PM finish on Saturday' - Fireworks if the weather allows.

From today's Sydney Morning Herald, adding it because people go there:



Malayasian airports to install money detectors
February 2, 2012 - 10:36AM

Malaysia is installing scanners to detect bank notes at airports and border crossings to curb illegal money outflows believed to be in the hundreds of billions of dollars over the past decade.

The move comes after Washington-based watchdog group Global Financial Integrity said in a recent report that Malaysia lost $US338 billion between 2000 and 2009 to such outflows, ranking it fifth in the world.

The Star daily quoted customs deputy director-general Zainul Abidin Taib as saying seven such scanners were already operating at Kuala Lumpur International Airport and the rest would be installed by the end of the year.
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A customs official confirmed the report.

Prime Minister Najib Razak announced in December a special task force to check the illegal flight of funds.

He has come under fire from the political opposition which accuses his government of massive corruption, incompetence and inefficiency that is costing the country dearly.

Global Financial Integrity said Malaysia was fifth behind China, Mexico, Russia, and Saudi Arabia in illicit outflows.

Its report did not specify the causes of the Malaysian outflows but a earlier report by the group said possible causes were corrupt business practices and the large population of about 2 million illegal foreign workers in the country.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.a...l#ixzz1lC8cyGc1 (not actually more, just the same thing)