Jakarta cracks down on air polluters
JAKARTA (ANN/THE JAKARTA POST) – Indonesian Environment and Forestry Ministry’s Law Enforcement for Environmental and Forestry Director General Rasio Ridho Sani declared on Wednesday an immediate and complete cessation of operations for the four companies, which stand accused of engaging in activities that have led to substantial pollution in the Greater Jakarta area.
The four companies are PT Wahana Sumber Rezeki and PT Unitama Makmur Persada both in Marunda, North Jakarta, PT Maju Bersama Sejahtera in Cakung, East Jakarta and PT Pindo Deli 3 in Karajan, West Java.
Rasio said the decision was made after the ministry launched a probe on the impacts of industrial activities on worsening air pollution in the Greater Jakarta area.
Starting August 21, the ministry deployed 100 personnel to conduct surveys in six locations in Greater Jakarta, known to have a concentration of industrial activities. The areas are Marunda, Cakung and Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta, Pulo Gadung in East Jakarta, Bekasi and Karawang in West Java.
In the past few weeks, the government has been rushing to take action to address Greater Jakarta’s air pollution problem amid public outcry over worsening air quality in the region.
Jakarta has consistently ranked among the 10 most polluted cities in the world since May. But last week, it topped global charts compiled by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, sparking heated debate.
Jakarta and its surrounding cities form a megalopolis of about 30 million people, and its airborne concentration of the tiny particles known as PM 2.5 recently surpassed other heavily polluted cities such as Riyadh, Doha and Lahore.
Activists blame the toxic smog on clusters of factories and coal-fired power plants near the capital, but the government has dismissed such claims, arguing that Jakarta’s recent worsening air pollution was mainly due to weather and traffic.
Earlier this month, President Joko Widodo convened a limited meeting with several ministers and regional leaders to discuss short- and long-term strategies to tackle the issue.
In the press conference on Wednesday, the Environment and Forestry Ministry also proposed ways to curb pollution in the Greater Jakarta area, including the spraying of mist from tall buildings populating the region.
The ministry’s Pollution and Environmental Problems Director General Sigit Reliantoro said more attempts should be made especially if the government-sponsored cloud-seeding efforts did not yield maximum results.
Sigit said that as the country was already in the midst of the dry season and with the effect of the El Niño weather pattern currently in full swing, it would be difficult to conduct a cloud-seeding experiment on a bigger scale.
“Weather modification technology should not only be in the form of pouring out more salt from an aircraft. On a micro-scale we can just spray water from the city’s tall building,” Sigit was quoted by Antara as saying.
Sigit said the ministry was currently making a list of buildings that could be suitable for this attempt.
The ministry would also enlist state-owned oil and gas firm PT Pertamina to execute the plan on the ground, given the company’s experience in using the same method to fireproof their fuel storage facilities.
Samsung to unveil new food app at IFA
ANN/KOREA HERALD – On Thursday, Samsung Electronics announced its plans to unveil a novel food platform application during this year’s IFA event, scheduled to take place in Berlin in the coming month. The innovative application will utilise artificial intelligence to provide users with personalised recipes and tailored diet plans.
The new platform, Samsung Food, would integrate all the food-related functions and services Samsung has launched previously, such as Family Hub’s Smart Recipe, the company said.
Through the utilisation of this application, individuals can engage in global recipe exploration, preservation, and the formulation of personalised dietary regimens.
Samsung said it has prepared over 160,000 recipes in collaboration with Whisk, the British food tech startup company it acquired in 2019. The number of recipes will increase when the platform officially launches, with the data accumulated by the users as well, the company said.
Like the Family Hub’s Smart Recipe function, Samsung Food can also be connected with Samsung’s cooking-related appliances like refrigerators, and users would be able to control the gadgets and also manage food ingredients using the app, the company added.
“Samsung has been introducing various appliances such as Family Hub refrigerators and Bespoke Cooker, differentiating the products to offer smart cooking experiences for users, using AI and Internet of Things technologies,” head of Samsung’s Home Internet of Things Business Park Chan-woo said.
“We expect Samsung Food to play the role as a personal nutritionist and offer highly-personalized food experiences for the users.”
Set to make global debut at IFA, one of the largest consumer electronics and home appliances trade shows, on August 31, Samsung Food will be launched in 104 countries in eight languages, Samsung said.
The official emphasised the value of using AI to offer quite personalised recipes.
For instance, if a vegan user wants to make a foreign dish that has meat in it, they can select different modes and the app and based on the choice, the app would modify the recipe to replace meat and other ingredients. Dishes could not only be converted into vegan menus, but also into ones that are more family-friendly in taste or use ingredients that are easier to find in the user’s country, Park explained.
Under the different modes, the app can also simplify a recipe to reduce cooking time, or make adjustments so that the user can make a dish using only the ingredients at hand.
Park said Samsung Food seeks to bring together food enthusiasts around the world, and that the company expects to secure at least a million users around the end of this year.
The new platform will have an online community function, where the users can share their own recipes and experiences related to food and cooking.
Within this year, the new platform will also offer connected service with Samsung Health to utilise the health-related information such as the user’s BMI, body composition and calorie intakes, saved from the health app to offer optimal diet plans.
From next year, Samsung will also adopt Vision AI technology, which will enable the app analyse the food in a photo and provide the nutrition information and the recipe.
Samsung’s introduction of the food app comes amid growing interest in cooking around the globe. According to data from Korea Rural Economic Institute, the size of the global food tech market is expected reach USD360 billion by 2025.
Thaksin won’t be allowed to transfer to private hospital, says official
ANN/THE NATION THAILAND – A senior Justice Ministry official and the Corrections Department chief insisted on Thursday that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was still receiving treatment at the Police General Hospital and would not be easily allowed to be moved to a more comfortable private hospital.
Deputy Permanent Secretary for Justice Ministry Sahakarn Phetnarin and Commander of the Bangkok Remand Prison Nassathee Thongplad held two separate press conferences to dismiss speculations that Thaksin had been moved from the police hospital to Phraram 9 Hospital, in which Thaksin’s family has a major shareholding.
Thaksin was rushed from the prison hospital of the Bangkok Remand Prison to the Police General Hospital at 1am on Wednesday after doctors inside the prison hospital found he had chest pain and constantly high blood pressure.
His opponents cried foul over the report of his transfer outside the prison to the hospital, speculating that he might receive VIP treatment on the 14th floor of a building with a spectacular view of a pristine green golf course nearby. Some even suspected he might have been moved to the more comfortable Phraram 9 Hospital, as the authorities have never shown his photo inside the Police Hospital.
“He’s definitely inside the Police Hospital but his photos cannot be shared because dissemination of inmates’ photos is prohibited, whose rights are protected by the law,” Sahakarn said.
He added that patients also have their privacy rights protected by the law.
The deputy permanent secretary said there was no reason to transfer Thaksin from the police hospital to a private hospital because doctors at the Police General Hospital can handle his medical conditions.
Sahakarn added that four officials of the Corrections Department were deployed in front of Thaksin’s room and police would provide security to ensure that no untoward incident would happen as Thaksin might have antagonists.
“The officials and police will ensure no untoward incident would happen. If anything happens, they would be held responsible,” Sahakarn added.
He reiterated that Thaksin had four co-morbidities – heart lacking enough blood flow, adhesion in lungs, hypertension, and herniated discs – and once he was put behind bars, tension and worries caused his conditions to worsen.
The deputy permanent secretary said relatives could not visit Thaksin during the first five days of his stay in the hospital.
After the first five days, relatives could seek permission from the Bangkok Remand Prison to visit him during the normal visiting hours of the Police General Hospital, which are from 11am to 1pm and 5pm to 7pm.
He added that Thaksin would not be allowed to use telephones during his stay in the hospital.
Apart from close relatives, only important persons, such as diplomats and executives of international organisations could seek to visit him, Sahakarn added.
He said doctors would be the ones to make a decision on when Thaksin should be sent back behind bars.
Sahakarn said Thaksin had not requested any special favours and he knew about the air-conditioners on the floor being out of order from the media.
He said he had met Thaksin only once when he was first sent to the prison when Thaksin had not yet changed into the inmate uniform.
“It’s essential for the officials to save the life of inmates. If doctors diagnose that they cannot save a life, they would have to transfer him to another hospital. This is a normal thing to try to save his life. But as of now, the Justice Ministry has affirmed he would not be transferred anywhere,” Sahakarn said.
“He will be transferred only if doctors come up with a clear medical report that they cannot treat him.”
He expressed belief that doctors of the Police General Hospital could handle Thaksin’s conditions so he would definitely not be transferred.
He said several ill inmates had earlier been transferred from hospitals inside prisons to the police hospital, but they did not make headlines because the inmates were not big names.
Meanwhile, the commander of the Bangkok Remand Prison said his prison had been regularly updated on Thaksin’s condition at the police hospital.
Nassathee said Thaksin could not meet visitors during the first five days of the Covid-19 quarantine period. He said the prison allowed only 10 relatives to visit him each day and 10 names had already been submitted and granted permission to visit Thaksin on August 28.
Empowering impactful dakwah
State Mufti stresses the crucial role of a da’ie in spreading Islamic teachings.
Da’ie, or Islamic propagators, play a pivotal role in maintaining the dakwah, propagation of Islamic teachings, and spreading the message of Islam to the masses.
“Regarded as individuals who have been bestowed with the responsibility by Allah the Almighty to nurture the faith and utilise their approaches to convey the dakwah effectively, particularly in terms of their readiness and techniques, which are crucial components in assessing the efficacy of the dakwah process.”
These were the words expressed by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned in his premiere paper Empowering the quality of da’ie during a recent International Seminar on Usuluddin Education. He also mentioned that in the pursuit of bolstering the capabilities of da’ie, it becomes imperative for them to augment their proficiency, know-how, and understanding through a variety of methodologies.
Furthermore, given the context of our existence within Industrial Revolution 4.0, it is essential for them to embrace the utilisation of cutting-edge technological platforms. This integrated approach contributes to the enhancement of da’ie’s effectiveness in their mission.
The State Mufti observed that dakwah is more virtuous when the movement is being empowered by referring to three factors that contribute to its effectiveness, including the commands of Allah the Almighty, how dakwah is being conducted – which is by facilitating it with wisdom and good advice; and using a better approach and good preparation.
“Dakwah is a fundamental characteristic to promote goodness among humanity, and it serves as guidance and platform for the introduction to Islam.
“The work of disseminating dakwah and strengthening the eminence of Islam cannot be stopped, it needs to be carried out continuously, but at the same time, dakwah still needs to be empowered in order to achieve its goals and success.”
In the State Mufti’s opinion, the empowerment of dakwah can be realised through one of many ways, which is for a da’ie to polish and strengthen their methods of dakwah, along with their knowledge and skills.
He went on to say that they also need to enhance the three methods of dakwah – Dakwah Bil Lisan (verbal delivery through lectures), Dakwah Bil Kitabah (written dakwah), and Dakwah Bil Hal (action-oriented dakwah).
Focusing on Dakwah Bil Lisan, the State Mufti highlighted the importance of conveying the message verbally, emphasising that this form of dakwah centres on advocating virtuous practices and discouraging prohibited actions.
“Wisdom must be exercised in its execution to effectively engage the intended audience or recipients of the dakwah.” He emphasised that in the realm of Dakwah Bil Lisan, a da’ie should adeptly employ techniques that encompass the art of communication, using precise language selection as this proficiency applies whether they are delivering lectures, sermons or engaging through other platforms.
“Accomplishing this signifies the empowerment and success of the dakwah effort,” said the State Mufti.
He also stressed the crucial point that Dakwah Bil Lisan’s effectiveness is contingent upon the da’ie’s proficiency in mastering the subject matter or themes they aim to convey. Without the capability to possess sound knowledge or when the discourse lacks impact, the potential for failure or a lack of empowerment in the Dakwah Bil Lisan becomes evident.
In this regard, the State Mufti clarified that the acquisition of skills and expertise primarily stems from knowledge, particularly the teachings derived from Al-Quran and Hadith transmitted by Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) companions and their successors, alongside insights from Islamic scholars.
The pivotal aspect of enhancing the influence and effectiveness of their dakwah delivery hinges on the da’ie’s proficiency in judiciously selecting topics or themes. This is further amplified by aligning these choices with the prevailing circumstances and the specific requirements of their audience.
“Empowering the quality of da’ies, in reality, depends on the da’ies themselves. They are the propagators of dakwah. Continuous dakwah means the da’ies must continuously refine their dakwah.
“However, if they carry out dakwah once and then disappear for months, it means they are letting their dakwah wither and their qualities weaken. This needs to be overcome to empower da’ies and sharpen the dakwah.”
Reflecting on the significance of dakwah and counsel, the State Mufti concluded that careful consideration of the approach taken is essential to instil a compelling impact within people’s hearts and minds. – Rokiah Mahmud
Going against the grain
Amidst a fitness journey, a novice runner recounts his first ever obstacle course set on a beach.
In practising a healthy lifestyle, the most common exercises one can engage in that is beginner-friendly is perhaps running. Regardless of speed, pace and distance, the activity involves diverse environments and settings.
There is no single approach to running but the most natural way is to run on an even and flat surface. Running on paved roads is the most optimal as it allows maximum stability and balance.
When running is performed on compromising surfaces however, that is where the difficulty of such a simple activity is taken up a notch. Beach running for example is a different kind of experience, one that not only tests your endurance but also your overall strength.
Recently, the organisation that hosts the world-renowned Spartan event, the Spartan Singapore, held the Sprint and Kids trademark events at the Palawan Green in Sentosa.
Set on a beach, it covers a five-kilometre distance and 20 obstacles with the majority of the race route requiring participants to run on sand.
It is appropriate to state that such condition will affect the performance of an individual compared to road running because it requires a lot of effort and strength, which may provide difficulties in managing breathing or maintaining their form such as the area of striding.
For someone who rarely performs beach run activities, it came as a shock when I realised how my running form suddenly took a turn for the worse.
The first feelings I’ve gathered towards beach running were how uncomfortable it felt with every stride and it seemed that I didn’t have control of my movement.
From that moment, I was anticipating more challenges and trials in a competition where I was determined to post a personal best.
The volatility of my running stance contributed towards concerns with my breathing as I needed to use more power especially through my leg and calf muscles.
As I would normally be comfortable with managing my breathing owed to my classes at a local gym back home, I knew instantly that this will not be plain sailing by any stretch of the imagination.
It took me longer than usual to complete one kilometre and I felt a huge burden lying on my shoulders as I tried to catch up with the other competitors.
Since it was an obstacle race, the sandy surface made it even difficult to complete a bucket and sandbag carry as it sapped most of my energy. In truth, I was deeply exhausted and I was literally on my knees as I waited for my turn to perform the spear throw.
At that leg of the course, I needed to carry myself and the weights of the equipment, and it made my heart pump faster.
In my short competitive career since I embarked on this journey late last year, I have never experienced such struggles but this was exactly what I have signed up for; to find the willpower in the face of adversity.
Beach running requires a lot of resistance in the lower body muscles and some of the obstacles involves such region.
For instance, the Atlas Carry – carrying a heavy round stone approximately weighing 100 kilogrammes – would require strength in the legs to drive an individual forward while the upper body lends support.
It would have been an easier race had it been performed on a road or pavement but striding along a sandy surface brought the race and the entire experience to a whole new level.
However, it must also be acknowledged that beach running also carries benefits such as improving athletic performance.
Sand training challenges not only your muscles, joints, ligament and tendons, but it also helps with the cardiovascular system in ways that stable surfaces will fail to.
After discovering the hard truth of how beach running generally feels, consistency is the key that will help in the adaptation of such conditions in a way that an athlete can switch from road to trail running. – Fadhil Yunus
Neymar, Benzema to get first taste of Asian Champions League action
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – Saudi Pro League superstar Neymar will get his first taste of Asian Champions League football after last season’s runners-up Al-Hilal were drawn against Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran FC, Mumbai City FC of India and Uzbekistan’s Navbahor in the group stage on Thursday.
Al-Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo and Al-Ittihad’s Karim Benzema will also debut in the group stage of Asia’s premier club football competition, where they will seek to power their clubs to victory against sides from central to east Asia.
With billions of dollars in oil wealth, Saudi Arabia has been on a buying spree of sports assets as part of plans to diversify its economy and attract tourism and investment.
Al-Hilal lead the AFC Champions League for most title wins, with four to its name.
With the flamboyant Brazilian playmaker Neymar in their ranks for the 2023-24 season, Al-Hilal hope to win the title for a record fifth time.
Al-Nassr, semi-finalists in the 2020 and 2021 editions, will play Iran’s Persepolis FC, Al-Duhail SC of Qatar and Tajikistan’s FC Istiklol.
Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad will have their sights set on a first Asian Champions League title since winning back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005 after securing the services of French stars Benzema and N’Golo Kante.
They will take on Iran’s Sepahan SC, Air Force Club of Iraq and Uzbekistan’s AGMK FC.
Defending champions Urawa Red Diamonds of Japan, bidding for the title from the competition’s eastern division, will face China’s Wuhan Three Towns FC, Pohang Steelers of South Korea and Vietnam’s Hanoi FC.
After the draw at the Asian Football Confederation headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, secretary-general Windsor John said all of the qualified teams faced tough ties across the competition.
“No easy matches,” he told AFP, adding that “a video assistant referee (VAR) system will be introduced from the group stage”.
The group stage will run from September 18 to December 13, with the knockout stage to kick off on February 12.
The two-leg final will be played on May 11 and 18, 2024.
Workers in Disney World district criticise DeSantis appointees’ decision to eliminate free passes
AP – Employees of Walt Disney World’s governing district on Wednesday confronted new board members appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis over a decision to eliminate their access to free passes and discounts to the theme park resort, saying it makes park visits unaffordable.
During a monthly board meeting, several current and former district firefighters spoke emotionally about how the free passes to Disney parks were a benefit for them and their families that played a major role in their decision to work for the 56-year-old district, which provides municipal services like mosquito control, drainage, wastewater treatment, planning and firefighting to Disney World.
“The removal of this benefit takes away, for some, their entire reason for working here,” said firefighter Pete Simon.
The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District earlier this week said that USD2.5 million in season passes and discounts on hotels, merchandise, food and beverages that their Disney-supporting predecessors provided the district’s 400 employees amounted to unethical perks that benefited the company, with the district footing the bill. The district on Monday submitted a complaint to a state Inspector General, which investigates fraud, mismanagement, waste and abuse.
The five members of the district’s board were appointed by DeSantis earlier this year after his takeover of the district in retaliation for Disney’s opposition to a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades.
Firefighter Aaron Clark, whose father was also a district firefighter, choked up as he recounted how growing up his dad took him to the parks using the passes and how he now does the same thing with his three daughters.
His father, Ricky Clark, called the elimination of the passes “disturbing” and said that the adversarial attitude the district and DeSantis have taken toward Disney “has nothing to do with district employees.”
“My family had many memories at the park, spending time together, memories that can never be taken away,” Ricky Clark said.
Board chair Martin Garcia defended the decision. The passes and discounts unfairly favored Disney over other restaurants and shops that operated within the district, employees with large families got a greater benefit than single employees and a private company can’t give gifts to government workers who provide services to it, Garcia said.
In its place, the district was offering employees more than USD1,400 in a wage increase, he said.
The tussle over whether the free passes and discounts were an unethical benefit came as the new district administrator, who board members appointed last May, faced an ethics dilemma of his own. Glen Gilzean, who earns USD400,000 annually in his new job, also was chair of the Florida Commission on Ethics. A legal opinion last week said he was unable to simultaneously be a commission board member and work for the district because the commission prohibits public employees from serving on its board.
Gilzean announced at Wednesday’s board meeting that he had resigned from the ethics commission.
A fight between DeSantis and Disney began last year after the company, facing significant pressure internally and externally.
As punishment, DeSantis took over the district through legislation passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature and appointed a new board of supervisors to oversee municipal services for the sprawling theme parks and hotels. But the new supervisors’ authority over design and construction was restricted by the company’s agreements with Disney-supporting predecessors, which were signed before the new board took over.
In response, Florida lawmakers passed legislation that repealed those agreements.
Disney has sued DeSantis in federal court, claiming the governor violated the company’s free speech rights. The district has sued Disney in state court, seeking to nullify the agreements.
During a budget presentation at Wednesday’s meeting, Gilzean said that USD4.5 million was targeted for litigation expenses for the 2024 fiscal year, as well as USD1.9 million for the 2023 fiscal year.
Unknown individuals vandalise local goldsmith shop
Proprietor of long-standing family goldsmith business Lau Shiew Choi woke up to a shocking discovery after finding his storefront vandalised by an unknown group.
The incident occurred in the early hours of August 21, marking an unfortunate turn in the business’ nearly five decades of operation in the Belait District.
“Never in the 50 years of running our humble shop have we encountered such an incident,” Lau shared during an interview with the Bulletin.
Lau recounted the distressing moment he learned of the incident, describing how a barrage of messages from friends alerted him to the presence of red paint splattered across the front barriers of his store and his vehicles.
More details on Friday’s Borneo Bulletin.
Drake shows off reflex during performance
ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES – In addition to their singing and dancing abilities, musicians must now possess lightning-fast reflexes.
Canadian rap sensation Drake is well-acquainted with the experience of having unexpected items like undergarments and e-cigarettes hurled onto the stage during his performances.
Across several videos recorded by fans, the 36-year-old was seen effortlessly snagging a thrown blue book while performing on his It’s All A Blur Tour in San Francisco last Friday.
The object thrown was a copy of Drake’s new poetry book, Titles Ruin Everything: A Stream Of Consciousness, which he co-wrote with long-time songwriting partner Kenza Samir.
“You’re lucky I’m quick,” said Drake sternly to the fan before tossing the book to the side. “I would’ve had to beat you if that hit me in the face.”
Perhaps the concertgoer who threw the book was unhappy that Drake did not offer a designer handbag, which he did at an earlier concert in Inglewood, California.
Last Wednesday, the singer generously gifted a pink Hermes Birkin bag, supposedly worth USD35,000, to a female fan in the front row, declaring that “Drake ain’t cheap”.
In a 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Drake said he had been collecting Hermes Birkin bags for years as he intended to give them to the woman he settles down with.