INFO: Mesothelioma Law Firm

For decades, mesothelioma, a life-threatening disease that can affect the lungs, abdomen, and several other major organs, has been linked to prolonged exposure to asbestos, resulting in many people seeking a mesothelioma law firm to get justice and help them cover the overwhelming expenses associated with the disease.

Typically, mesothelioma victims were exposed to asbestos while working at a job site that used asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). 

In many cases, the manufacturers of asbestos and ACMs knew of the hidden dangers and risks of asbestos, yet failed to inform the public, as asbestos was an extremely profitable mineral. 

Because of the hindrance of information, workers who developed health issues from asbestos exposure may be eligible for financial compensation to cover expenses such as lost wages, medical bills, emotional suffering, physical pain, and more.

If you suffer from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for a large amount of compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds, set up for those who have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. 


What Does a Mesothelioma Law Firm Do?

Law firms specializing in mesothelioma are different from any other type of law firm. Whereas other firms may specialize in areas like car accidents or nursing home abuse, mesothelioma law firms focus primarily on mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. 

It’s not recommended to retain legal representation from a general practice law firm or even a personal injury firm that specializes in a wide array of injury cases. 

You’ll need an attorney who specifically specializes in mesothelioma cases, as these types of lawsuits are extremely intricate and require vast, in-depth understanding of asbestos exposure and diseases.

Attorneys at these law firms have knowledge and experience regarding federal and state laws concerning asbestos use and its history in the workforce. 

They also have sharp investigative skills and are able to dig deep to uncover when and where companies and/or other entities exposed workers to asbestos. 

Additionally, these law firms are comprised of educated attorneys who understand the legal process involving courts, trials, settlements, and appeals.

Moreover, an experienced firm understands that the victim is already suffering enough because of the medical and financial problems associated with asbestos-related diseases. 

As a result, the firm will handle most everything regarding the lawsuit, including fighting for the legal rights of the client, interviewing witnesses, obtaining medical history, litigation, and more.

An experienced law firm also understands the severe emotional impact that living with mesothelioma brings, not only to victims, but to family members and loved ones as well. An good firm takes this into account and helps ease the minds of victims and their loved ones throughout this enduring process.


What Should I Look for When Hiring an Asbestos Law Firm?

Unfortunately, not all law firms specializing in mesothelioma are the same. While some may have several years of experience, other firms are relatively new to the area of mesothelioma. 

In addition, some law firms may concentrate on other areas of law besides mesothelioma while another firm may solely focus on asbestos cases.

Aside from using your good judgement when determining which law firm you should use, there are several factors you should consider:

The law firm should have experience in dealing with mesothelioma cases.

The law firm should be extremely knowledgeable in asbestos laws and prior cases.

Look for a law firm that focuses solely on asbestos-related cases.

Look for law firms with a stellar reputation in handling asbestos cases.

The law firm should not only understand asbestos laws, but should also have extensive knowledge of medical problems associated with asbestos diseases.

The law firm should always keep you updated on what’s going on in your case. Although attorneys are busy people, they should be accessible.

You should always get an initial consultation at no charge before deciding on a firm.

Keep in mind that it’s not recommended to retain a law firm that promises you that you will win your case no matter what. Although statistics show that the majority mesothelioma victims do go on to win their lawsuits, there are a variety of factors involved, and no case is guaranteed. 

An experienced law firm will help you to understand your chances and what is involved, but will never assure that your case is 100% guaranteed.

Making Things Easier

Although a law firm will do the majority of your case work, it’s always a good idea to be prepared and make things easier so that the process gets rolling faster.

First, make sure to gather your medical documents, including when and where you were diagnosed, and bring this information to your initial meeting. This will allow the firm to determine if your case can be taken on.

Next, be prepared to provide the law firm with your work history and information including the full company name, address, phone number, your job role, and how long you worked there.

Finally, start keeping track of all expenses used pertaining to your disease. For example, always keep a copy of medical bills, hospital visits, mileage used to get to appointments, medical supplies, and anything other expense you paid out due to your illness.

How Can a Law Firm Personally Help Me?

When first getting started, victims usually have a plethora of unanswered questions regarding asbestos and their rights. A good law firm should be able to provide you with following information:

Evidence Related to Your Exposure: Once you provide the law firm with your work information, they should be able to investigate and determine how asbestos was used at your workplace. In some cases, they may already have the information available.

If You Truly Have an Asbestos Claim: Asbestos law firms understand what’s needed in order to have a true asbestos claim. With this knowledge, they are able to determine how strong your case is and what the estimated chances are that you’ll win. 

Most attorneys make sure they’re confident in your case before taking it on. Be wary of any attorney who promises to take your case without knowing any of the details or an attorney who claims they can get you an exact amount of compensation before reviewing your case.

Your Case Worth: If the firm decides you have an asbestos case, they will then be able to come up with an average figure of how much your case is worth. 

This is including past expenses, daily expenses, medical bills, lost wages, emotional trauma, physical suffering, future expenses, and much more. 

Keep in mind, however, that there is no set formula as to how much your award amount may be. The aforementioned factors, along with other details, such as if your former company has a trust fund set up or not, will also come into play.

Who Exactly is Responsible: It can be difficult for the average person to determine who exactly is responsible for exposing victims to asbestos. For example, companies can move, go out of business, hide, suppress relevant information, and change ownerships. 

In some cases, your former company is responsible, the manufacturer of the asbestos products may be responsible, or supervisors and/or owners may be responsible. 

In other instances, there may be just one sole responsible entity, yet in a different case, there may be several responsible parties. Remember that part of the law firm’s job is to research, seek out, and determine the entity or responsible parties that are liable for your exposure to asbestos.

What Are Law Firm Fees?

Law firms may have different fees as well as different payment options. However, an experienced and caring law firm understands that victims of asbestos-related diseases more than likely have enough financial burden in dealing with their illness, and are unable to afford up-front fees for legal representation. 

As a result, many firms work on what’s known as a contingency fee basis, meaning that they only get paid when you get paid.

If the law firm doesn’t win your case, they don’t receive compensation either in most instances. The good news, however, is that a firm has to be confident enough in your case to take it on, meaning there is a good chance that if your case is picked up, it will be successful.

Law firm fees are percentages taken out of your total settlement or verdict amount, and again, the percentage amount will vary depending upon the firm. Make sure you understand how the fees and percentages work with the firm beforehand so that there will be no confusion later on.

If a law firm doesn’t provide a contingency fee basis, there is a good chance that they don’t have the financial resources to successfully prove your case. Keep in mind that you’ll want a firm that has the financial capability to take on your case on a contingency fee basis.

Attorneys without the resources to handle your case usually can’t provide you with the best representation. An ideal rule of thumb is to ask up-front about how the fees work so that there are no surprises later on. Attorneys with your best interest in mind will have no problems answering any questions you have regarding fees and prices.


AUTHOR: LEIGH EGAN
Leigh Egan has been a writer, editor, and reporter since 2005. She’s an award-winning journalist who specializes in conducting in-depth research on mesothelioma and the legal options available to asbestos victims. She has been the head writer at MesotheliomaLawyerCenter.org since 2012.

Perasaan Ayah Aishah, 3 Anaknya Meninggal Muda dan Ketika Beribadah

DIOLAH OLEH: MOHD EZLI MASHUT

KHUSNUL KHATIMAH: Andi Bahar Jufri adalah satu-satunya individu yang mendampingi Almarhumah Aisyah Bahar saat sedang sakratul maut Khamis (4/1/2018) pagi.

Agensi Berita Portal Indonesia TRIBUN-TIMUR.COM melaporkan Ayah Aisyah Bahar ini sempat menyaksikan detik-detik kematian anaknya.

Malahan beliau sempat membantu menuntun Aisyah mengucapkan kalimat syahadat dipenghujung nafasnya.

Menyaksikan anaknya meninggal di depan mata, bagaimana perasaan Andi Bahar Jufri?

Bahar mengaku sangat sedih dengan kematian anak kelimanya itu.

Namun disisi lain ia mengaku tegar lantaran anak mengucapkan nama Allah SWT di akhir hayatnya.

Apalagi dua kakak Aisya terdahulu juga meninggal dalam keadaan beribadah.

ketika Abang Aisyah iaitu Andi Ibrahim yang meninggal 2009 lalu disebut meninggal saat  sedang Solat Tasbih di bulan Ramadan.

Saat itu Ibrahim baru berusia 21 tahun dan hendak menghadapi peperiksaan.

Kakak Aisyah, yang meninggal dunia selanjutnya ialah Andi Astri.

Sama seperti Aisyah, ia meninggal saat menunaikan salat malam, tepat di tahiyat terakir salatnya.

Andi Astri sendiri meninggal di Pondok Gede, Jakarta, tahun 2011 lalu.

"Sedih sekaligus bahagia melihat anak-anak saya meninggal dalam keadaan menyebut nama Allah. Insya Allah mereka semua husnul khatimah,” ujarnya.

Entah apa penyebab alumnus Fakultas Peternakan pada Universitas Hasanuddin tersebut meninggal dunia pada usia muda.

Pihak keluarga mengakui jika Aisyah sehat sebelum meninggal atau dia tak memiliki riwayat penyakit kronis.

Namun, sepertinya Allah SWT lebih menyayanginya sehingga lebih cepat memanggilnya.

Kematian Aisyah pun ramai diperbincangkan masyarakat pada media sosial, walaupun dia bukan sosok figur masyarakat.

Yang menarik perhatian publik adalah cara meninggalnya.

http://ezli007.blogspot.my/2018/01/aishah-bahar-cara-kematiannya.html


Berikut 7 aktiviti dilakukan Aisyah menjelang meninggal

1. Meninggalkan Kota Watampone, Kabupaten Bone pada Rabu (3/1/2018) malam menuju ke Kota Makassar dan tiba pada Khamis (4/1/2018) dinihari,

2. Saat pamit berangkat ke Makassar, Ica sapaannya, mencium kaki ibunya,

3. Tiba di Makassar, Ica langsung sahur untuk puasa sunnah Khamis,

4. Usai sahur, dia ke Masjid Roudhotul Jannah, Jl Berua Raya, Kelurahan Paccerakang, Kecamatan Biringkanaya, Makassar, untuk salat subuh berjamaah, 

5. Sesuai salat subuh berjamaah, dia mengaji sejenak di masjid,

6. Lalu, balik ke rumah hingga sempat cuci piring,

7. Usai cuci piring dia muroja’ah hafalan ayat Alquran di depan ayahnya, Bahar Jufri.

Sembari murojaah hafalan, tiba-tiba Icha seperti orang yang akan pingsan dan mengucapkan syahadat, “ Lailahaillallah”.

Dia lalu dipangku ayahnya hingga menghembuskan nafas terakhir. 

Sang ayah heran seolah-olah anaknya hanya pingsan dan bermain-main karena tanda-tanda zakaratul maut.

Jenazah Aishah pada Khamis siang kelmarin telah dimakamkan.

GAMBAR SUMBER; FACEBOOK/MEDIA

Kenapa 11 Putera Raja Arab Saudi Ditahan?

GLOBAL: Pergolakan dalaman pemerintahan terkini di Arab Saudi nampaknya seperti ada yang tidak kena apabila terus mendapat perhatian media besar antarabangsa.

Terbaharu seramai 11 putera Arab Saudi ditahan pihak berkuasa selepas didapati berkumpul di istana raja di sini, bagi membantah beberapa langkah kerajaan termasuk menggantung pembayaran bil utiliti mereka.

Agensi Berita Antarabangsa REUTERS melaporkan bagaimanapun, pihak berkuasa Arab Saudi enggan mengulas mengenai laporan media tempatan negara itu.

Arab Saudi yang juga pengeksport minyak terbesar dunia, sudah melaksanakan pelbagai pembaharuan, termasuk memperkenalkan Cukai Nilai Tambah (VAT), memotong peruntukan subsidi, selain perbelanjaan kepada ahli keluarga diraja.

Langkah itu diambil susulan penurunan harga minyak mentah, yang menyebabkan negara itu dilanda bajet defisit tahun ini dianggarkan sebanyak 195 bilion riyal (RM207.85 bilion).

Sementara itu, laman web berita dalam talian, sabq.org melaporkan, semua putera terbabit berkumpul di istana, Qasr a-Hokm bagi mendesak pembatalan perintah diraja yang dikeluarkan sebelum ini.

Perintah itu mengarahkan supaya pembayaran bil elektrik dan air kepada semua ahli keluarga diraja dihentikan.

Selain itu, sabq.org turut melaporkan bahawa semua putera itu menuntut bayaran pampasan terhadap hukuman mati yang dikenakan terhadap seorang ahli keluarga mereka.

"Mereka sudah dimaklumkan mengenai kesilapan dalam tuntutan itu, tetapi mereka enggan meninggalkan Qasr al-Hokm.

"Berikutan itu, satu arahan diraja dikeluarkan kepada pengawal diraja untuk campur tangan dan semua putera itu ditahan.

"Mereka kini ditempatkan di penjara al-Hayer sebelum dibawa ke mahkamah untuk dibicarakan," lapor sabq.org yang memetik sumber.

Bagaimanapun, laporan itu tidak mendedahkan identiti semua putera itu tetapi ia diketuai individu dengan tanda nama S.A.S. 

Keropok Udang Ini Nampak Sedap, Tetapi Rupa- Rupanya...

NASIONAL: Mahu mencari makanan dan produk halal memerlukan kesungguhan dan penelitian, sebabnya baharu ini Kementerian Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan (KPDNKK) Perak di sebuah kilang pembungkusan keropok di Gopeng, dekat sini kerana menggunakan logo halal palsu.

Menurut laporan media serbuan pada jam 11 pagi itu dilakukan empat pegawai penguat kuasa KPDNKK negeri yang turut dibantu tiga pegawai Jabatan Agama Islam Perak (JAIPk) hasil maklumat orang awam dan risikan KPDNKK selama seminggu.

Hasil pemeriksaan terhadap premis berkenaan mendapati syarikat terbabit menjalankan perniagaan menggoreng dan membungkus keropok udang yang mempamerkan logo halal tidak diiktiraf Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Kemajuan (JAKIM) pada pembungkus keropok berkenaan.

Siasatan awal mendapati premis berkenaan beroperasi sejak dua tahun lalu dan memperoleh keropok mentah dari Indonesia sebelum dipasarkan di sekitar sini.

Pemeriksaan pada bungkusan keropok berkenaan mendapati logo halal yang dipamerkan pada pembungkus keropok menggunakan penandaan tulisan rumi dan jawi.

Bagaimanapun, pengesahan awal oleh pegawai JAIPk menyatakan syarikat berkenaan tidak pernah membuat permohonan sijil halal terhadap pembungkusan keropok berkenaan.

Dalam serbuan itu pihaknya merampas 396 bungkus keropok yang siap dibungkus dan satu paket besar keropok yang belum digoreng.

Turut dirampas, 1,600 plastik pembungkusan yang mempunyai logo halal tulisan jawi dan rumi untuk siasatan lanjut dan nilai keseluruhan barang dirampas berjumlah RM1,786 dan pemilik premis turut ditahan bagi merakam percakapan bagi siasatan lanjut.

Siasatan diteruskan sama ada syarikat berkenaan turut memasarkan keropok berkenaan di lokasi lain dan kes disiasat mengikut Perenggan 8 (b) Perintah Perihal Dagangan (Perakuan dan Penandaan Halal) 2011 Akta Perihal Dagangan 2011.

GAMBAR SUMBER: MSTAR/ BH ONLINE

Aishah Bahar, Cara Kematiannya Menghidupkan Jiwa

PENGAKHIRAN KHUSNUL KHATIMAH: Nama gadis itu, Aishah Bahar yang masih berumur 22 tahun. Kematiannya menjadi viral dan bualan netizen apabila menghembuskan nafas terakhir ketika sedang membaca Al-Quran dan selepas menunaikan Solat Subuh pada 4 Januari 2018 lalu.

Pemergian Aishah Bahar juga mendapat liputan meluas media atas talian di Indonesia malahan turut mendapat laporan media atas talian di Malaysia.

Lebih memilukan, gadis itu itu dikatakan rebah dan meninggal dunia di pangkuan ayahnya.

Menurut sumber keluarga, pelajar Universiti Islam Hasanuddin, Makassar itu bakal melangsungkan perkahwinannya tidak lama lagi.

“Meninggal setelah Solat Subuh, sedang membaca ayat Al-Quran. kondisinya sedang puasa sunnah. Akhir hayatnya mengucap Laa ilaaha illallah. 

Innalillah..Padahal beliau sebentar lagi akan menikah,” ujar Andi Wahyuni yang juga merupakan sepupu paling rapat arwah seperti dilaporkan media.

Sementara itu, ayah Aishah iaitu Andi Bahar Jufri menceritakan, pada malam kejadian anaknya itu memaklumkan mahu berpuasa Sunat Hari Khamis.

“Selepas selepas bersahur, kami pergi sembahyang Subuh berjemaah di masjid. Sebaik sahaja pulang dari masjid, arwah meminta izin untuk memperdengarkan ayat-ayat Al-Quran sambil saya memeriksa bacaaannya.

“Hanya dalam beberapa ayat, arwah rebah secara tiba-tiba dipangkuan saya sebelum mengucap dua kalimah syahadah dan meninggal dunia,” katanya.

Menurut Bahar, selama ini arwah tidak pernah mengalami penyakit yang serius, namun sehari sebelum kejadian arwah mengadu sakit kepala.

Sementara itu menurut Muharni Arny yang merupakan sahabat Aisyah di bangku kuliah di Fakultas Peternakan UNHAS menyatakan Aisyah digambarkan sebagai individu yang suka menolong.

Aisya juga disebutnya rela berkorban bukan hanya tenaga tapi hingga material.

“Ya Allah temanku sayang....selama kuliah kita selalu bersama... saya bisa PkL karna bantuanmu, km kasi aku tempat tinggal, makanan,setiap hari kamu bonceng aku dari makassar ke pangkep. Kita singgah shalat dijalan. Kamu ke kosku bawakan aku makanan, kasi aku pakaian, selalu ingatkan aku...kasi aku alquran kasi aku jilbab.

"Tidak ada yg tidak kamu kasi aku..kamu kasi aku uang, kamu traktir aku di kampus, kamu berusaha carikan aku pekerjaan. Kamu selalu telfon aku...” tulisnya.

Tak hanya itu bahkan Aisya juga selalu mengingatkan sahabatnya itu untuk tak melupakan ibadah.

“Tiap ketemu kita pelukan...saat kkn kita bersama, tiap subuh kamu bangunkan aku shalat,mengaji dan tidak ada hal yang tak baik,kamu ajarkan ke aku.....” kenangnya.

“Kamu temanku yg terbaik selama dalam hidup. Namun takdir berkata lain,,Innalillahiwainnailaihirojiun, surga menantimu syangq Andi Sitti Aisyah...... Maafkan aku selama ini menjadi temanmu yg selalu menyusahkanmu............Alfatiha,” tutup Muharni.

Tanda Khusnul Khatimah

Bersumber dari buku berjudul 'Misteri Malam Pertama di Alam Kubur' karya Jubair Tablig Syahid, berikut tanda seseorang jika meninggal dalam kondisi khusnul khatimah.

Berikut ini di antaranya:

1. Meninggal dengan mengucapkan syahadat (HR. Abu Daud).

2. Meninggal dalam keadaan sedang berkeringat (HR. Tirmidzi).

3. Meninggal pada waktu siang/malam Jumaat (HR. Tirmidzi).

4. Meninggal dalam keadaan mati syahid/terbunuh di medan perang di jalan Allah SWT (QS. 3: 169-171).

5. Mati di jalan Allah SWT (HR. Muslim).

6. Meninggal kerana penyakit radang selaput dada (HR. Ahmad).

7. Meninggal kerana penyakit thaun (HR. Bukhari).

8. Meninggal kerana sakit perut (HR. Muslim).

9. Meninggal kerana tenggelam.

10. Meninggal kerana tertimpa reruntuhan (HR. Bukhari dan Muslim).

11. Meninggal karena kehamilan disebabkan anak yang sedang dikandungnya (HR. Ahmad).

12. Meninggal karena membela agama/nyawa (HR. Bukhari).

13. Meninggal kerana membela harta (HR. Abu Daud).

14. Meninggal kerana terjangkit penyakit TBC (HR. Ath Thabrani).

15. Meninggal kerana sedang berjaga di jalan Allah SWT.

16. Meninggal tatkala sedang beramal soleh (HR. Ahmad).

17. Meninggal kerana terbakar api (HR. Ahmad).(*)

Aisyah bersama keluarga

Aisyah Bahar bersama teman-temannya

Aisyah sedang memberi makan ayam

GAMBAR SUMBER: FACABOOK/ LAPORAN MEDIA

Apa Ada Pada Projek Terusan Segenting Kra?

OLEH: MOHD EZLI MASHUT

GLOBAL/ ASEAN:  Idea pelaksanaan Projek Terusan SEGENTING Kra apabila dicetuskan kira-kira 300 tahun lalu kembali bergema semula pada 2017. Realitinya projek ini menggerunkan beberapa negara ASEAN ekoran ancaman kemerosotan ekonomi maritim kesan projek ini.

Persepsi awal terbayang Projek Terusan Segenting Kra bakal menjejaskan kerukunan dan kerjasaman negara ASEAN, khususnya Singapura, Malaysia dan Indonesia. Yang paling terkesan diramalkan adalah Singapura.

Nikkei Asian Review pada 7 Ogos 2017 melaporkan beberapa individu berpengaruh Thailand termasuk ahli politik, pesara tentera berpangkat tinggi, pakar akademik dan ahli perniagaan yang mempunyai hubungan rapat dengan China sedang memujuk Perdana Menteri, Jeneral Prayuth Chanocha untuk meneruskan projek berkenaan.

Projek itu apabila dilaksanakan merangkumi terusan yang boleh dilalui hampir kebanyakan jenis kapal laut dengan mempunyai terusan laluan sepanjang 135 kilometer (km) bernilai AS$28 bilion (RM120 bilion).

Rancangan dicadang sekumpulan jeneral dan ahli perniagaan Thailand itu adalah salah satu mega projek infrastruktur paling bercita-cita tinggi dan transformasi besar di Asia – pembinaan terusan perkapalan sepanjang 135 kilometer (km)untuk menghubungkan lautan Pasifik serta India.

Menurut pakar, jika Prayuth bersetuju meneruskan kajian laluan itu, maka pembinaan terusan berukuran 450 meter lebar dengan kedalaman 26 meter itu mampu dilalui oleh kapal kontena minyak terbesar dunia dan kapal kontena lain, dalam tempoh lima tahun akan datang.

Projek terbabit akan membelah bahagian selatan Thailand iaitu kira-kira 800km di selatan Bangkok dan kira-kira 200km di sempadan Thailand dengan Malaysia.

Cadangan Terusan Segenting Kra muncul lagi, ancaman Selat Melaka?

Apabila siap, ia bakal menghubungkan Teluk Thailand dengan Laut Andaman pada anggaran latitud sama dengan Pulau Phuket.

Terusan itu adalah laluan pintas dari Selat Melaka yang menghubungkan China, Jepun dan negara Asia Timur selain perdagangan minyak negara Asia Barat serta negara pasaran utama Eropah, Afrika dan India.

Jarak perjalanan bagi kapal yang melalui Laut Pasifik dan Laut Hindi mampu dipendekkan sekurang-kurangnya 1,200 km atau tiga hari pelayaran jika melalui terusan berkenaan.

Di manakah lokasi Segenting Kra?

Segenting Kra adalah bahagian genting dan sempit di selatan Thailand dan di utara Semenanjung Tanah Melayu. Bahagian barat Segenting Kra menjadi milik Myanmar.

Bahagian timur menjadi milik negara Thailand. Segenting Kra menghadap Laut Andaman dan Lautan Hindi. Pantainya menerima kesan yang teruk akibat dari tsunami Acheh, pada 26 Disember 2006.

Muara Sungai Kra menjadi daratan paling sempit dengan lebar 44 kilometer. Tingginya 75 meter dari aras laut. Bandar utama ialah Kra Buri dalam wilayah Ranong, Thailand.

Segenting Kra12Segenting Kra adalah sebahagian daripada rantaian gunung yang menganjur dari Tibet. Selatannya digelar rantaian kepulauan Phuket. Bahagian utara ialah Banjaran Tenasserim sepanjang 400 km dan dikenali sebagai “Banjaran Tiga Pagoda”.

Cadangan pembinaan bermula lebih 340 tahun lalu

Sejak tahun 1677  iaitu ketika era pemerintahan Raja Narai, beberapa pihak mencadangkan satu terusan dibina di Segenting Kra yang terletak di selatan Thailand tetapi langkah untuk menghubungkan Lautan Hindi dan Laut China Selatan melalui terusan itu masih belum menjadi kenyataan hingga kini.

Rancangan itu menemui jalan buntu kerana kerajaan Siam tidak memiliki dana untuk menampung kos pembinaannya serta tiada kepakaran teknologi untuk meneruskan projek berkenaan, namun tidak pernah dibatalkan.

Apabila British bertapak di Singapura pada 1819, pulau itu ditransformasikan daripada sebuah kampung nelayan kepada pelabuhan utama di rantau Asia. Oleh itu, British tidak pernah bersetuju dengan projek terusan itu kerana khuatir pangkalan maritim mereka di Singapura terjejas.

Siam yang menjadi negara boneka Jepun sewaktu Perang Dunia Kedua, dianggap musuh British dan pihak tentera Berikat. Apabila Jepun menyerah kalah pada 1945, kerajaan Siam terpaksa menandatangani perjanjian dengan pihak British untuk menamatkan status perang di antara dua negara.

Artikel 7 Perjanjian ini mencegah Siam daripada menggali terusan menembusi wilayahnya untuk menghubungkan Laut Andaman dengan Telukan Siam bagi melindungi kepentingan British di Singapura. Perjanjian ini dibatalkan pada 1954.

Selat Melaka antara laluan terpenting laut dunia

Menurut analisis angka STRAITREP Jabatan Laut Malaysia oleh Nippon Maritime Centre (NMC) yang disediakan secara eksklusif untuk Seatrade Maritime News menyatakan lalu lintas di lorong perkapalan tersibuk di dunia – Selat Melaka dan Singapura (SOMS) naik 3.4 peratus ke tahap tertinggi dengan 83,740 transit, pada 2016 .

Jumlah purata pemindahan harian yang dilaporkan kepada Port Klang VTS di Malaysia pada 2016 adalah 229, naik tujuh dari 2015, dan dibandingkan dengan 201, pada tahun 2011.

Jumlah Aliran trafik lautMemimpin pertumbuhan jumlah transit dalam peratusan pada 2016 adalah VLCC dengan 5,973 transit di Selat, peningkatan sebanyak 649 atau 12.19 peratus lebih 5,324 transit oleh kapal tangki lebih daripada 150,000 dwt pada tahun sebelumnya. Ini jauh melebihi purata pertumbuhan tahunan 4.8 peratus dalam transit VLCC yang dilihat sejak 2007.

Sebagai keseluruhan akaun VLCC adalah enam peratus daripada semua transit Selat.

VLCC yang dimeterai menuju ke Singapura dan Timur Laut Asia mengangkut lorong laut dalam yang hanya 1.3 km lebarnya di “Pos” di Selat Melaka Satu Fathom di Selat Melaka dan hanya selebar 800 meter di satu saluran di Selat Philip di Selat Singapura, jika pelayaran Timur ke luar Singapura.

RUJUK: http://www.seatrade-maritime.com/news/asia/malacca-and-s-pore-strait-traffic-hits-new-high-in-2016-vlccs-fastest-growing-segment.html

Kekuatan ekonomi Singapura ‘kiamat’

Antara negara yang paling menerima kesan pelaksanaan projek Segenting Kra adalah negara berasaskan sumber terbesarnya kepada aktiviti pelabuhan dan perkapalan. Dalam hal ini Singapura dilihat antara negara yang paling terkesan.

Setakat 2013, Singapura diiktiraf sebagai pelabuhan tersibuk di dunia. Menurut sumber Institut Maritim Malaysia (MIMA), lebih kurang 75 peratus kapal dagang yang menelusuri Selat Melaka tidak berlabuh di pelabuhan Malaysia. Kebanyakannya akan berhenti di Singapura atau meneruskan pelayaran ke destinasi terakhir.

Ekoran kekuatan dan kemakmuran ekonomi Singapura banyak bergantung kepada industri perkapalan dan diandaikan terusan Segenting Kra ini bakal memberi implikasi buruk kepada Singapura, pada masa hadapan.

Apa masalahnya laluan di Selat Melaka kelak?

Pada tahun 2025, dianggarkan 122,500 kapal dijangka melalui Selat Melaka. Institut Pengangkutan Antarabangsa Jepun (JITI) menganggarkan bahawa terdapat 140,000 kapal pada 2020.

Menurut pengiraan yang dibuat oleh HM Ibrahim dan Mansoureh Institut Maritim Malaysia (MIMA), Selat Melaka dapat menampung 122,640 kapal setiap tahun [ Kadar tamat pada (TFR = 0.27 = 7vessel / jam cc = 7 x 24 x 365 x 2 = 122,640)]

Menjelang 2024, laluan Selat Melaka akan lebih padat. Ia tidak akan dapat memastikan laluan yang tepat untuk kapal laut dan tidak menjamin laluan selamat mereka.

Kapal itu tidak mempunyai pilihan lain selain memilih laluan alternatif yang lebih lama melalui Selat Sunda dan Selat Lombok.

Bagaimanapun, dianggarkan kos navigasi di antara Lautan Hindi dan Lautan Pasifik pasti akan meningkat.

Maka, dengan jangkaan Selat Melaka bakal menjadi laluan laut sesak akan datang, maka ia meningkatkan risiko kemalangan kapal dan tumpahan minyak. Oleh itu, alternatif laluan laut baharu perlu diwujudkan.

RUJUKAN: http://kracanal-maritimesilkroad.com/en/story/the-malacca-straits/

Malah, isu lanun di Selat Melaka serta kejadian tumpahan minyak menjadi ancaman kelestarian hidupan laut disebabkan kesesakan di Selat Melaka dan pada masa sama menjadi tumpuan industri perikanan dan nelayan, di Malaysia dan Indonesia.

Jadikan Segenting Kra projek kerjasama ASEAN

Dengan gabungan Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) sebanyak US$ 2.6 trilion, ASEAN adalah ekonomi keenam terbesar di dunia dan dijangka menjadi ekonomi keempat terbesar di dunia menjelang 2050 dengan sesetengah pihak menganggarkan bahawa ASEAN mencapai kedudukan itu, menjelang 2030.

ASEAN juga meraikan ulang tahun ke-50 tahun ini. Atas semangat ini, maka adalah wajar projek terusan Segenting Kra ini menjadi projek ASEAN dengan dana pelaburan dibiayai  negara ASEAN seperti Malaysia, Singapura, Indonesia dan Thailand serta negara ASEAN lain yang berminat.

ASEANDengan sumber dana kewangan daripada ASEAN maka kemakmuran ekonomi dapat dinikmati bersama secara menang-menang semua negara ASEAN tanpa membabitkan campur tangan kuasa besar dunia yang dibimbangi mempunyai agenda perluasan kuasa dan pengaruh tersendiri.

Melalui terusan ini negara penyumbang dana boleh memperoleh keuntungan berdasarkan nilai sumbangan dana melalui cukai dan tol dikenakan terhadap kapal yang melalui terusan Segenting Kra serta pembangunan wilayah setempat.

Adalah sangat penting semangat ASEAN diterap dan diperkukuhkan dari semasa ke semasa melalui pelbagai projek memakmurkan ASEAN secara bersama.

Kesimpulan

Tiada gunanya jika isu Segenting Kra ini hanya merenggangkan keutuhan dan keakraban negara ASEAN. Adalah penting kemakmuran ekonomi dan pembangunan ASEAN dapat dinikmati semua demi generasi masa hadapan.

Kita perlu meninggalkan legasi kemakmuran ekonomi dan kehidupan lebih baik untuk generasi ASEAN masa hadapan bukan menambah konflik serta pertikaian yang hanya memusnahkan kasih sayang juga persaudaraan sesama manusia demi kesejahteraan lebih 630 juta rakyat ASEAN.

US Braces For Coldest Night In Its History

BY: SKY NEWS

Parts of the US are expecting what could be the coldest night in the country's history, with temperatures expected to feel as cold as -35C.

The east coast is in the grip of an Arctic blast with a storm that brought more than a foot of snow, hurricane-force winds and coastal floods.

In Boston, cars were frozen into the ground after floodwater turned to ice, while conditions were so bad in some places that diggers were needed to rescue people.

Sky's US Correspondent Hannah Thomas-Peter said "much worse" was forecast for the weekend, including "record-breaking temperatures and strong winds".

The wind and cold air will move through the region from the mid-Atlantic to New England, with wind chill leaving people shivering in what will feel like -35C in the Berkshire Hills area of Massachusetts, forecasters said.

The region may not start to feel warmer until late next week.

The storm began in the Gulf of Mexico and, by Thursday, it had sparked blizzard warnings and states of emergency along the Eastern Seaboard.

Schools and businesses were closed, flights and train travel were suspended, and many thousands of people had their power cut.

Winds of up to 70mph hit, while some parts saw as much as 18 inches (46cm) of snow.

The American Falls, seen from the Canadian side of Niagara Falls
Southeast Georgia saw a rare half foot of snow and iguanas in South Florida were left so lethargic that they began falling from trees.

At least 10 people were killed, including four in North Carolina and South Carolina who died after their vehicles ran off snowy roads.

Near Philadelphia, a driver was killed after his vehicle failed to stop on a snow-covered hill and crashed into a commuter train.


A girl in Virginia was sledging when she was hit by a truck; and an elderly man was hit by a snow plough.

Meanwhile, eastern Canada has also had extreme winter weather.

Winds of up to 105mph in some parts of Nova Scotia and -23C recorded at Toronto's international airport on Friday morning - the coldest 5 January on record, beating the record set in 1959.

Toronto's armouries have been opened to homeless people for the next two weeks, as the usual shelters ran out of space and some officials expressed concerns that people would freeze to death on the streets.

An elderly couple died on their property in the town of Bluewater, about 120 miles west of Toronto.

Grant Triebner, 90, was found dead inside a barn and his wife Ada, 83, died outside while looking for him.

Eastern parts of Quebec saw up to 20 inches of snow and hundreds of thousands of Canadians had their power cut, much of it restored by late on Friday.

Huge Winter Storm Brings Snow And Hurricane-Force Winds To Eastern US

Frigid temperatures, some that could feel as cold as -30F (-34C), moved across the east coast on Friday as the region attempted to clean up from a massive winter storm that brought more than a foot of snow, hurricane-force winds and coastal flooding a day earlier.

At least seven people died in weather-related accidents under the storm.

Four people were killed in North Carolina and South Carolina after their vehicles ran off snow-covered roads, authorities said. 

Another fatality was reported near Philadelphia when a car could not stop at the bottom of a steep, snow-covered hill and slammed into a commuter train. A passenger in the vehicle was killed. No one on the train was hurt.

In Virginia, a girl was struck by a pickup truck while sledding and a 75-year-old man was hit by a snow plow while clearing business parking lots, authorities said. Both died at hospitals from their injuries, police said.

Forecasters predict strong winds and record-breaking cold air will sweep the region, from the mid-Atlantic to New England, and hang around through the weekend.

In northern New England, temperatures will be below zero. The high in Burlington, Vermont, on Saturday may only be -5F (-21C), said Brian Hurley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) Weather Prediction Center in College Park, Maryland.

“This is chilly, chilly stuff,” said Hurley.

The Arctic blast could make temperatures feel as low as -15F to -25F from Philadelphia to Boston and make residents of states like Maryland and Virginia shiver from temperatures ranging from 10F to 15F.

The wind chill could make it feel like -35F in the Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts, the NWS said.

The storm began days ago in the Gulf of Mexico and first struck the Florida Panhandle. By Thursday it was wreaking havoc as blizzard warnings and states of emergency went into effect along the eastern seaboard. Wind gusts hit more than 70mph in places and some areas saw as much as 18in (46cm) of snow.

The storm caused school and business closures, airline and rail service cancellations or reductions and thousands of utilities outages, many of them restored quickly. Some ferry services even had to be shut down along the Canadian coast.

In the south, the weather forced portable toilets to be put in place outside Mississippi’s Capitol after pipes burst and it caused iguanas to become sluggish and topple from trees in south Florida. Residents of south-east Georgia were treated to a rare half foot of snow (15cm).

In New England, powerful winds brought coastal flooding that reached historic levels in some communities with icy water overflowing piers, streets and restaurants and stranding some people who had to be rescued.

The only place where blizzard conditions were reported during Thursday’s storm, however, was Block Island, Rhode Island.

The south will not be spared, either. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia can expect temperatures around 15F to 20F (-7 to -9C), Hurley said. Northern Florida will be in the 20s to low 30s.

Sunday morning should bring the coldest temperatures from Portland, Maine, to Washington DC. “That’s when you’ll see records being challenged or broken, with temperatures at or near zero in many places,” Hurley said.

More seasonable weather is expected to return early next week with temperatures in the high 30s and near 40s, he said. For some, it will feel downright balmy.

SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

And suddenly The Sea Disappeared!

Major water receding in Santa Elena frightens fishermen in Ecuador

By Strange Sounds 

After the powerful hailstorm that buried several cars in ice in Biblian, another strange phenomenon occurred on the coast of Ecuador. 

After several months, the strange phenomenon of the ‘disappearing sea’ has been reported again by frightened fishermen in Santa Rosa, a small port located in the province of Santa Elena, Ecuador. 

Yes, the sea receded ‘a little more than normal‘, stranding at least 800 fishing boats on January 3, 2018 as well as two days before.

Fishermen from Santa Rosa decided not to go out to work on Wednesday afternoon for two reasons: the strong winds and because the sea began to recede, causing concerns among the locals. The receding was so powerful that hundreds of boats were left stranded in dry sand.

Although known as ‘Aguaje‘ or ‘Syzygy Tides‘ to fishermen in Ecuador, the intensity of the creepy natural phenomenon was unprecedented and unusually strong on January 3, 2018. The sea has returned now, but again more slowly than normally.

According to scientists, such tides occur when the sun, the moon and the earth are aligned, producing high tides and low tides of unexpected intensity. 

I would also add the power of the Supermoon on January 1, 2018 and the strong winds.

The water is now back, but the tides were unprecedentely low. 

So the water disappearing wasn’t related to a tsunami. 

Hutang Global Meningkat Kepada USD$233 Trilion

GLOBAL: Tahukah anda berapa jumlah hutang dunia pada 2017?  Menurut Institut Kewangan Antarabangsa (IIF) hutang global meningkat kepada AS$233 trilion pada suku ketiga 2017, lebih tinggi sebanyak AS$16 trilion dari akhir tahun 2016.

Menurut laporan itu hutang sektor swasta bukan kewangan merekodkan kadar tinggi di Kanada. Perancis, Hong Kong, Korea Selatan, Switzerland dan Turki.

Walau bagaimanapun, pada masa yang sama, nisbah hutang kepada Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) turun untuk suku keempat berturut-turut apabila pertumbuhan ekonomi berkembang.

Nisbah sekarang sekitar 318 peratus, 3.0 mata peratusan di bawah penetapan pada suku ketiga 2016, menurut IIF.

“Kombinasi pelbagai faktor termasuk pertumbuhan global yang berpotensi di atas, kenaikan inflasi (China, Turki) dan usaha-usaha untuk mengelakkan hutang hutang yang tidak stabil (China, Kanada) telah menyumbang kepada penurunan itu,” kata penganalisis IIF dalam nota penyelidikannya.

Tambahnya, namun timbunan hutang boleh bertindak sebagai ‘brek’ kepada bank-bank pusat yang cuba menaikkan kadar faedah, memandangkan kebimbangan mengenai kemampuan membayar hutang syarikat dan kerajaan yang berhutang. 

New estimates Show U.S. Muslim Population Continues To Grow

BY BESHEER MOHAMED

Recent political debates over Muslim immigration and related issues have prompted many people to ask how many Muslims actually live in the United States. 

But coming up with an answer is not easy, in part because the U.S. Census Bureau does not ask questions about religion, meaning there is no official government count of the U.S. Muslim population.

Still, based on our own survey and demographic research, as well as outside sources, Pew Research Center estimates that there were about 3.45 million Muslims of all ages living in the U.S. in 2017, and that Muslims made up about 1.1% of the total U.S. population.

Muslims in the U.S. are not as numerous as the number of Americans who identify as Jewish by religion, according to our estimate. At the same time, our projections suggest that the U.S. Muslim population will grow much faster than the country’s Jewish population. 

By 2040, Muslims will replace Jews as the nation’s second-largest religious group after Christians. And by 2050, the U.S. Muslim population is projected to reach 8.1 million, or 2.1% of the nation’s total population — nearly twice the share of today.

The latest estimate combines information from our 2017 survey of U.S. Muslims — which reported on the prevalence of Muslims among immigrants and other demographic groups —  with official Census Bureau data on the number of people in these groups.

Muslims are not evenly distributed around the country. Some metro areas, such as Washington, D.C., have sizable Muslim communities. Likewise, certain states, such as New Jersey, are home to two or three times as many Muslim adults per capita as the national average. But there are also states and counties with far fewer Muslims.

Since our first estimate of the size of the Muslim American population, the number of U.S. Muslims has been growing rapidly, albeit from a relatively low base. 

When we first conducted a study of Muslim Americans in 2007, we estimated that there were 2.35 million Muslims of all ages (including 1.5 million adults) in the U.S. 

By 2011, the number of Muslims had grown to 2.75 million (including 1.8 million adults). Since then, the Muslim population has continued to grow at a rate of roughly 100,000 per year, driven both by higher fertility rates among Muslim Americans as well as the continued migration of Muslims to the U.S.

Religious conversions haven’t had a large impact on the size of the U.S. Muslim population, largely because about as many Americans convert to Islam as leave the faith. 

Indeed, while about one-in-five American Muslim adults were raised in a different faith tradition and converted to Islam, a similar share of Americans who were raised Muslim now no longer identify with the faith.

* Besheer Mohamed is a senior researcher focusing on religion at Pew Research Center.

Suhu Amerika Syarikat Lebih Sejuk Dari Marikh?

GLOBAL: Suhu yang melanda beberapa kawasan di Amerika Syarikat kini dilaporkan lebih sejuk secara perbandingan dengan Planet Marikh.

Agensi Berita Amerika Syarikat CNN NEWS melaporkan kapal penjelajah milik NASA iaitu Curiosity merekodkan suhu di Marikh adalah -11 Darjah Fahrenheit pada awal tahun baharu 2018.

Keadaan suhu ekstrem dicatakan ekoran berlakunya apa yang dikatakan pakar "bombogenesis" yang besar - satu kawasan tekanan rendah yang cepat menurun.

Ia-akan mendatangkan malapetaka di Timur Laut minggu ini, mengancam angin angin musim sejuk yang memaksa angin badai dan menyeberang salji.

Bombogenesis akan menghasilkan apa yang dikenali sebagai "bom siklon." 

Menurut data cuaca dari rover Rasa Curiosity di Marikh, suhu memuncak di planet merah di minus 9 darjah Fahrenheit pada 20 Disember, sebagai

The Atlantic melaporkan. Musim sejuk baru bermula di Marikh.

Michael Mischna, seorang saintis penyelidikan di Makmal Propulsion Jet di NASA California, berkata perbandingan itu adalah tepat.

Tetapi, katanya, atmosfera Mars lebih tipis daripada Bumi, yang bermaksud suhu akan berasa berbeza di kedua-dua planet, walaupun data itu berkata mereka sama.

"Sekiranya anda melompat ke kolam yang 70 darjah, ia akan berasa lebih sejukuntuk badan anda daripada berdiri di udara pada 70 darjah, dan itu kerana air boleh menghisap haba daripada badan anda, "kata Mischna, mencadangkan ia tidak akan berasa sejuk di Marikh.

"Minus 100 darjah di Marikh mungkin hanya berasa kurang dari -30 dajah," katanya.

The Washington Post melaporkan bahawa ia hampir kepada -112 darjah di Marikh pada malam.